A Star Is Born To Shine Brightly on 4K Ultra HD This February!
Woohoo! Been waiting for this news! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today the early 2019 release dates of the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, the Blu-ray Combo Pack, the DVD Special Edition and Digital versions of the critically acclaimed box office hit “A Star Is Born.” The 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD editions will be available to consumers on February 19, or fans can own it early on Digital on January 15. The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, the Blu-ray Combo Pack, the DVD Special Edition and Digital versions of “A Star Is Born” feature almost 10 minutes of never-before-seen musical performances by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, including “Baby What You Want Me To Do,” “Midnight Special” and “Is That Alright.” Continue reading ‘A Star Is Born To Shine Brightly on 4K Ultra HD This February!’
Warner Archive has been killing it for a while now, but its been especially exciting the last few months as they’ve unleashed three Hammer Horror Dracula films on Blu-ray that were previously not available in the United States. Following The Satanic Rites of Dracula and Dracula AD 1972 comes the one that started it all, Horror of Dracula. Odd that it came AFTER those two (As well as a set released a few years ago that had Dracula Has Risen From The Grave and Taste The Blood Of Dracula), but I’ll take it in whatever order they are going to give it. You’ll be able to see the film that launched a successful, flagship franchise from Hammer, our first look at Christoper Lee and Peter Cushing in their iconic iterations of Dracula and Van Helsing. You’ll be able to sink your teeth into the Blu-ray (Which sadly only features a trailer) when it arrives on the last new release Tuesday of the year, December 18th. Make sure you pre-order your copy using the Amazon link below before returning to your coffin. 
Grammy Award® winning superstar Janet Jackson makes her big screen debut for Academy Award® nominated Writer/Director John Singleton (Best Director & Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Boyz N the Hood, 1991) in the acclaimed and beloved romantic drama POETIC JUSTICE, newly remastered and debuting on Blu-ray™ February 5 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Also available on February 5, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings Writer/Director John Singleton’s bold look at college life to Blu-ray: HIGHER LEARNING, starring Omar Epps (“House”), Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michael Rapaport (Deep Blue Sea), Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly (Best Supporting Actress, A Beautiful Mind, 2001) and Ice Cube (Ride Along). Newly remastered and debuting on Blu-ray as well, continue on to learn more about these upcoming releases.
Experience Luca Gudagnino’s outrageously twisted re-imagining of Dario Argento’s 1977 horror cult classic that has been called a “grim and glorious work of madness” (IndieWire, David Ehrlich) when Suspiria arrives on Digital January 15 and on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) January 29 from Lionsgate. Starring Dakota Johnson, Oscar® winner and Golden Globe® nominee* Tilda Swinton (2007, Michael Clayton, *Best Supporting Actress; 2012, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama), Mia Goth, and Chloë Grace Moretz and featuring a mesmerizing haunting score by Thom Yorke, Guadagnino’s directorial follow-up to the Oscar®-winning Call Me by Your Name(Best Adapted Screenplay, 2017), written for the screen by David Kajganich, has received incredible critical praise with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman calling it a “lavishly cerebral high-end horror film” and a “divinely demonic spectacle of womanly power.” The Suspiria Blu-ray (plus digital) will be available on January 29th. 
I’m very excited for this one! Follow the gripping and captivating true story of the first manned mission to the moon in FIRST MAN, arriving on Digital and via the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on January 8, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on January 22, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed by critics as “the best movie of the year” (Collider) and “exhilarating” (Entertainment Weekly), FIRST MAN comes from acclaimed Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) and stars Ryan Gosling (La La Land, The Big Short) as Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy (“The Crown,” Breathe) as Janet Armstrong in the heroic and emotionally driven journey through a pivotal moment in the history of mankind. Receiving two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Foy) and Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz), the critically acclaimed film is packed with bonus features including deleted scenes and special featurettes showing behind-the-scenes looks at creating the film. 
In a remote 19th-century Cornish village, an evil presence lurks within the darkness of the witching hour. A mysterious plague relentlessly consumes lives at an unstoppable rate. Unable to find the cause, Dr. Peter Tompson enlists the help of his mentor, Sir James Forbes. Desperate to find an antidote, they instead find inexplicable horror: empty coffins with the diseased corpses missing! Following a series of strange and frightening clues, they discover a deserted mine where they discover a world of black magic and a doomed legion of flesh-eating slaves … the walking dead! On January 15, 2019, SCREAM FACTORY™ is proud to present horror cult classic THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES, starring André Morell (Ben-Hur), Diane Clark (The Haunting), and John Carson (Doomsday) on Blu-ray™. Directed by John Gilling (The Saint), this film also stars Alex Davion (Valley of the Dolls), Jacqueline Pearce (Doctor Who), and Brook Williams (Where Eagles Dare). Available for the first time on Blu-ray, this definition Blu-ray release contains insightful bonus content. A must-have for movie collectors, pre-order for THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES Blu-ray is available now at ShoutFactory.com 
As the years have passed, I have drifted significantly from video games and focused that time more on boardgaming. I just find the ability to use my imagination and the skill of critical thinking far more engaging in something like Terraforming Mars or Memoir ’44 as opposed to the button mashing of Mortal Kombat or the run ‘n gun of Call of Duty. Nevertheless, there is that occasional title of pixel fun that just captures my attention and won’t let go. Whereas last year that honor went to the DC Comics street fighting game Injustice 2, this year just happens to be another comic book-influenced title. No, that is not a requirement. It’s just that this game was done so incredibly well, I almost want to use the word ‘perfect’ in describing it.
One cool thing that can happen with the horror genre is that team ups of legends tend to happen with a low-key frequency. Not in the shared universe sense, but camera from behind and in front of the lens. The Mangler, coming from Scream Factory on December 11th, boasts the written talents of icon Stephen King, the directorial mastery of Tobe Hooper and the performance bliss of one Robert Englund. Quite a trifecta. One other thing under the radar for The Mangler is that Ted Levine, who put a legendary stamp on Silence of the Lambs is here too. Its packed, and Scream Factory is giving it the beloved Collector’s Edition treatment. See their showcase by pre-ordering a copy using the Amazon link below and having it just in time for those mangy, mangling holidays! 
Yours truly originally covered the first season of Westworld, also known as The Maze, on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray over 
Seems to be a lot of these former wishlist titles have mine have been getting scratched off in just the last couple of months. A big and surprising one has been Howard Hawks’ classic The Thing From Another World. We are finally getting it here (Available NOW, I believe, after being delayed from November) in 2018. While John Carpenter’s remake of the film has scored itself quite a few editions on Blu-ray, this one has seemingly been collecting dust. Unlike Carpenter’s version, we unfortunately get no special edition or any bonus materials to speak of (Aside from trailers). What needs to be remembered, is its important that at least the film carries on and is restored to the newer and better format first and foremost. Hawks’ film is an important piece of genre history for both horror and science fiction and should grace every genre collector’s shelves. Have it grace yours by using the wonderful Amazon link below. 
Over a decade ago, Why So Blu founder Brian White brought to my attention a website based out of Winnipeg that did reviews of recently released Blu-rays. When he asked the lone admin of that site how he accumulates the material to write about, Brian was rather surprised to learn that the film studios send them out. “Do you send them back when you’re done?” The answer was a simple ‘no’. As the gears started turning in Brian’s head, his love for movies started dating a knack for writing and it wasn’t long after that the two got married.
Silent Night, Deadly Night is a film franchise that is notoriously legendary in its first two entries for entirely different reasons. As has been noted, the first film was one of the most controversial and protested films of the 1980s. Part 2 didn’t catch its legacy until 2006 when it became and internet meme for one of its most outrageous moments and line readings. Its not the holidays around my house if “Garbage Day” isn’t referenced 10,000 or more times. The film’s star had dropped off the map, leaving Hollywood in 1992. Like Mark Patton before him, Eric Freeman finally resurfaced a couple years ago, and we can now finally get his story about working on the film he’s most known for. And you’ll be able to see that on the Scream Factory Collector’s Edition of Silent, Night Deadly Night Part 2. They’ve loaded this one up with interviews and a short film follow up on the character made for this Blu-ray. It’ll sit nicely next to the first one in your collection, so pre-order your copy from the Amazon link below today! 
Smallfoot, which kinda seemed like a smaller movie, actually surprised me when I checked out its Box Office report. It didn’t cross the $100 million mark domestically ($82 million), but did cross it on the global release scale with over $200 million. It opened solid at the end of October neck and neck with Night School and than sorta snuck through the powerhouse October of Venom, Halloween and A Star Is Born as the kids animated movie of choice. It features the powerhouse vocal stylings of Channing Tatum, LeBron James, James Corden and Gina Rodriguez. And hey, smart move here, as Warner Brothers is getting this one out to Blu-ray (No 4K, boo!) before/during the Holiday season. It’ll be out next Tuesday, so go ahead and get the pre-order in for the kiddos to watch now or throw in as a gift from them or your fellow Yeti enthusiast. 
This riveting mystery thriller by Brian De Palma (Carrie, Raising Cain) will leave you breathless. On January 15th, 2019, Shout! Factory will release this sinister melodrama as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray. Obsession features new bonus material including a new audio commentary with author Douglas Keesey, and new interviews with producer George Litto and editor Paul Hirsh, as well as the vintage featurette “Obsession Revised”, theatrical trailer, still gallery and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com.
Back with more films from 2018 new and old counting down to the end of the year and those highly anticipated Top Ten lists. This week sees three new outings, an exclusive single night director’s cut and a couple of notables that film folks have been chatting up all on the critical chopping block. Tales of unlikely friendships, aging hitmen, Christmas tales with bite, the damning cycle of abuse, killing in five parts and a murder mystery hatched out of self preservation all make up the six flicks covered via this week’s Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the short opinions on Green Book, Asher, All The Creatures Were Stirring, Gemini, Back Roads and The House That Jack Built: Director’s Cut below.
