The Satanic Rites Of Dracula (Blu-ray Review)
We are finally living in the riches of the Hammer Dracula films on Blu-ray (As well as hopefully other classics next year). In the final 3 months of the year we’ll have seen The Horror of Dracula, Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Dracula AD 1972 and the film for this review The Satanic Rites of Dracula. Globally, The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires will complete the canon, domestically (In the US) its that and a Scars of Dracula shy. The Satanic Rites of Dracula was originally slated for an October release but was delayed until November. But, its now here and maybe for the first time in its existence, people are very excited for it. While no bonus features (Aside from the trailer) are present, just the fact that this film has been rescued from public domain hell and will have a nice transfer, audio and be presented in a correct anamorphic view is bonus enough. Order yourself a copy to help complete your Hammer Dracula collection by clicking the Amazon link below. Continue reading ‘The Satanic Rites Of Dracula (Blu-ray Review)’
When we talk about character longevity, are there any greater than Tarzan? The Blu-ray I’m about to review is for a 1959 film that is the 26th (I believe) either film or serial based on the character. That’s a lot. Surprisingly its one of the best received of the bunch too. What makes this one stand out? After Lex Barker carried the mantle clear of Weissmuller’s long shadow, Gordon Scott was free to claim the crown of King of the Jungle. His Tarzan was keen, intelligent, and literate – much as Tarzan’s creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs, had envisioned – and in the aptly named Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure, Scott’s run as the jungle lord reached a peak in what is widely regarded as one of the best entries in the prodigious series of action adventure classics. Warner Archive Collection has released it on Blu-ray (November 13th), which you can order from the Amazon link following the review.
One of the most anticipated released of the year is undoubtedly Scream Factory’s Complete Collection of the four Critters films. On Blu-ray for the first time ever, you’ll remember this as a Wishlist (2019’s is coming folks, be patient) title from me many moons ago. I have to say I would have settle for bare bones releases, but I’m tickled that these are getting some full on love now! And, I’m really encouraged by the excitement this release has brought. My social media alone was blowing up when I posted a picture of my review copy when it arrived. People from left field were very enthusiastic about it. Needless to say, I hope it translates into some good dollars for the good people at Shout! Factory. I’m LOVING this Warner Bros deal this year. Many many many dreams have come true. Make yours come true by pre-ordering a copy of this impressive set in time for Tuesday’s (November 20th) release date. Act fast as its currently set at a little over $10 a film. 
One of Shout Factory’s biggest and most popular releases of its Shout Select line has been Walter Hill’s Streets Of Fire. It was a pretty impressive release that was loaded to the brim with bonus materials. A film that fittingly serves as a musical cult classic of sorts turns 35 years old next year, but they are making way on putting the anniversary edition for it out now. The film is not only getting some fresh new steelbook packaging, but a new audio track from the original mix is going to be presented here as well. The rest of the release and video transfer remain intact. If you’re an audio nut, Streets of Fire completionist or simply haven’t picked up the film yet, now you have a new version to drop your dollars on. Streets of Fire – 35th Anniversary Edition Steelbook was released on November 20t, so you can order a copy now. 
We are just weeks away from the sneak peak and then ultimate release of James Wan’s Aquaman starring Jason Momoa and Amber Heard. Because of Wan’s involvement, my worry about the DC project is less so than many of the others. To celebrate the new film and to help people brush up or learn Aquaman, the DC Animated Universe is rereleasing and upgrading their film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis on a new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release. This is the story that introduced the character to the current roster after a tease at the end of Justice League: War. This particular version is widely available now and you can nab yourself a copy by clicking the Amazon link below the review.
Flicks from 2018 new and old are once again up on the cinematic chopping block in time for Thanksgiving – and to keep everyone’s year-end list up to date to boot. Docs on the damning effects of social media plus fictitious flicks featuring tales set in the old west, teens facing conversion therapy, internet models with doppelgangers, dysfunctional families that somehow work, wolves who hunt humans and South Korean murder mysteries make up the seven flicks dissected in this week’s edition of Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on The Cleaners, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Cam, Shoplifters, Hold The Dark and Burning all below.
Where do I even begin here? I don’t want to bore my readers talking about how much these Rocky franchise of movies adoringly mean to me. They are absolutely everything to me! They are my main sources of both perseverance and inspiration in life. One could even them call them my soundtrack for success, but I digress. If you’re interested in knowing the full story, you can catch up 
This is going to be a very short, but great press release! Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm and Chris Hemsworth lead an all-star cast in this powerful thriller filled with gripping suspense and startling revelations. Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption…before everything goes to hell. Add BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE to your Digital collection on Movies Anywhere December 18 and buy it on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD January 1st. Check it all the specs and extras below. 
The infamous killer Michael Myers strikes again inHalloween, arriving on Digital and via the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on December 28, 2018, as well as on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM, DVD and On Demand on January 15, 2019. Hailed by critics as “a near perfect blend of craft, character growth and nostalgia” (Perri Nemiroff, Collider), Halloween takes place four decades after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween Franchise, “Scream Queens”) narrowly escaped the masked Michael Myers’ brutal killing spree. Packed with bonus features including chilling deleted and extended scenes as well as special featurettes showing behind the scenes looks at creating the film, Halloween delivers spine-chilling, hair-raising intensity and thrills to both new and repeat viewers. 
Christopher Lee’s second outing as the eponymous Dracula pushes the cinematic boundaries of graphic gore and terror in this 1966 Hammer Films classic. Available as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray December 18th from Scream Factory, this ghoulish tale from Hammer’s golden era includes both the UK and US version of the film and a new 4K scan of the US version of the interpositive from the 20th Century Fox vaults, as well as brand-new bonus features including a new audio commentary with author Troy Howarth, a new audio commentary with filmmaker Constantine Nasr and writer/producer Steve Haberman, and much more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com. 
Scream Factory has really found it rejuvenated in 2018 with a load of great new Collector’s Editions of classic horror films both new and old, any era really. I’m really looking forward to them tackling a Hammer Dracula film next month. Right now, we have Mike Dougherty’s modern cult classic and absolutely beloved Trick ‘r Treat film. The iconic Halloween anthology film is has been given a definitive and iconic release. Shipping delays and production issues have lead me to being one of the last people to have a copy of it, as many fans already have one in hand. Late or on time, it doesn’t matter, Why So Blu is going to have some coverage as someone will be searching for it at some time. Available since October, you can order this bad boy by clicking on the Amazon link below. 
One of the biggest holes in the United Stats Blu-ray library has been 1992’s Candyman, inspired by the Clive Barker short story “The Forbidden”. Available on a straightforward UK Blu-ray for many years, its come as a shocker considering its iconic villain (Played by the brilliant Tony Todd) and the fact it is considered one of the greatest horror films of the 1990s and all time. FINALLY, this is drought is over and it’ll will be releasing in spectacular fashion on November 20th when Scream Factory brings their 2-Disc Blu-ray to the table. Last month saw Arrow release a deluxe edition for the UK, but now its Scream Factory’s turn to wow us. Pre-order is available for this MUST HAVE title by clicking the Amazon link following the review. 
Much of Disney’s live action output has been live action renditions of previously animated films. There are some that have been interesting aspects or sort of follow ups to what may have come before. Christopher Robin, one of Disney’s later movies in its summer output, follows the life of Winnie the Pooh’s Christopher Robin long after he’d grown and left his childhood friends behind. The film did some solid box office, ALLLLMOST clearing $100 million in the US alone. I’m not sure the budget on the film as to know what degree of success it was or wasn’t. You can pick up the film already on Blu-ray as it was released on November 6th. The release comes with a DVD and a digital copy and nice little set of featurettes. Blu-ray only, no 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. 
While it shouldn’t have been, the box office success and juggernaut attitude of Crazy Rich Asians took the US by storm at the end of the summer. It played like a programmer of old, opening to $26 million and legging it all the way to over $173 million. I mean, damn, the movie almost did $200 million in the states alone. Its been awhile since we had a big dominant comedy of that stature. Its all but guaranteed we will get to see the full trilogy of novels adapted to the big screen. And hopefully will kick off some more heavily Asian casted and cultured movies in the United States that aren’t just imports. You’ll be able to pick this one up when Warner Bros releases the film on November 20th. Pre-order a copy to have ready for watching and rewatching over the the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! 
