Archive Page 2
May 19th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Film fanatics have long been enjoying the feasts of Bong Joon Ho’s labors. His films are visually striking, and his screenwriting is bitingly satirical and socially conscious. The challenging filmmaking goes noticed in all the best ways and those who see his films eat those ideas up! Mickey 17 sat waiting for release delayed for a while and when the film finally was released, unfortunately it failed to reach the audience it might have been able to generate with more promotion or stronger word of mouth. Now, Mickey and his 17…or is it…18??… are available to own on disc… Will you be wanting to bring him home?
Continue reading ‘Mickey 17 (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
May 19th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Let’s face it: half the fun of collecting movies is showing them off. For fans who still love the look and feel of physical media, it’s getting harder to find packaging that feels or looks special. Enter Blockbuster Boxsets – an online shop dedicated to recapturing that lost art of shelf appeal. In a world where most movie nights start with a scroll through endless streaming menus, there’s something satisfying about holding a beautifully crafted box-set in your hands. If you’re looking to add a bit of personality — and a hit of nostalgia — to your Blu-ray or 4K shelf, you might want to see what this boutique has to offer. *Please note that the Marvel MCU Phase 1 and Kill Bill Boxes/Cases will be available soon. This is an early look.
Continue reading ‘Elevating Physical Media: A Review of Blockbuster Boxsets’
May 18th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our Hokuriku Proxy War Blu-ray review dives into one of the most explosive yakuza films of the 1970s, now available in a sharp new Region A & B edition from Radiance Films. This 1977 Japanese crime classic arrives on Blu-ray with a strong HD transfer sourced from a 4K restoration, crisp English subtitles, and all the gritty style you’d expect from director Kinji Fukasaku. Whether you’re in the US, UK, or collecting worldwide, this Radiance Films disc is a no-brainer for fans of gangster epics, violent power struggles, or anyone searching for a deep cut in Japanese cinema. Continue reading ‘Hokuriku Proxy War (Blu-ray Review)’
May 18th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Rapacious Jailbreaker Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the wildest Japanese crime films from the 1970s, now getting a fresh Blu-ray release from Radiance Films. Starring Hiroki Matsukata as a relentless escape artist, this pulpy true-crime story throws you straight into the chaos of postwar Japan. The new Region A & B disc brings crisp picture and sound, making it a must for collectors of Japanese genre cinema or anyone who loves a good jailbreak flick.
Continue reading ‘The Rapacious Jailbreaker (Blu-ray Review)’
May 16th, 2025 by Aaron Neuwirth
Coming in August from the Criterion Collection: A Confucian Confusion / Mahjong, a pair of sharp satires from one of Taiwan’s most celebrated directors, Edward Yang; Cairo Station, Youssef Chahine’s noir-melodrama set on the streets of Cairo; Shoeshine, an Italian neorealist fable of innocence lost directed by Vittorio De Sica; Compensation, Zeinabu irene Davis’s portrait of Deaf African Americans and the complexities of love; and Saving Face, Alice Wu’s queer romantic comedy set in multicultural New York City. Plus: Fires on the Plain and The Burmese Harp, two powerful works from Kon Ichikawa, one of Japanese cinema’s most versatile filmmakers—now on Blu-ray and 4K UHD.
Continue reading ‘Cairo Station, Shoeshine, Compensation, and More Coming to The Criterion Collection August 2025’
May 15th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Dune is perhaps one of the more tricky properties ever to be chosen for filming ever. The 1984 film by David Lynch was a litmus test for what could be in 80’s. It’s a spectacular failure that never really lives up to the incredible filmmaker’s imagination. Other filmmakers tried in between, including one television adaptation that may have come close. Then Denis Villeneuve delivered with 2 incredible films that somehow made the saga of Paul Atreides and Arrakis accessible on-screen for the first time ever. Now, we are in a time where people want to see more going on in the “Dune-iverse” so to speak. Dune: Prophecy is the first such spin-off. Premiering on HBO in 2024, the show divided critics but seemed to find an audience with its first season. Now on Blu-ray and 4K, we have it to hold onto!
Continue reading ‘Dune: Prophecy (Season 1) (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
May 15th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
It goes without saying that many of us grew up with Paddington Bear in some form. Be it books, TV or even now films, the marmalade loving, rain hat sporting bear has been a part of many a childhood forever now. The film series has been a warm and pleasant surprise not only commercially but critically as well, with Paddington 2 legitimately becoming one of the best reviewed films of all time. 2024 brought us Paddington In Peru which was another critical success, and a sleeper hit in theaters. While not a monumental achievement like its predecessor (how can you top perfection, right?), the film is still a glowing representation of the sweet as marmalade personality inherent to the character.
Continue reading ‘Paddington In Peru (Blu-ray Review)’
May 14th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
As the new year dawned, it was time for a new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This could be a cause for commotion for some movie fans and a cause for a yawn for others. If you, like me are suffering from superhero fatigue you could be experiencing a curiosity and a cautionary feeling at the same time. Captain America: Brave New World brought the new phase into motion. For me, it feels like a soft launch. In general, how did the movie land? Did it soar above expectations like our new Falcon Captain America, or land with a thud?
Continue reading ‘Captain America: Brave New World (4K UHD Steelbook Review)’
May 13th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness Blu-ray review covers one of the strangest and most unexpected thrillers to come out of 1970s Japan. This 1977 genre-bender blends sports, scandal, and psychological breakdowns into something that feels both pulpy and unsettling. Radiance Films brings it to Blu-ray for the first time in English-friendly territory with a Region A & B disc, a new HD transfer, and excellent packaging. For collectors of Japanese cult cinema and fans of deep-cut imports, this release finally gives the film a proper spotlight.
Continue reading ‘A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness (Blu-ray Review)’
May 13th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Underworld Beauty Blu-ray review kicks off with Seijun Suzuki’s stylish 1958 noir, now available in a new transfer from Radiance Films that brings this cult classic to Region A & B audiences. Region A & B compatible, this disc makes it easier than ever to experience one of Suzuki’s earliest directorial efforts. Shot in crisp black and white CinemaScope, Underworld Beauty blends crime, pulp, and a dash of sex appeal into a lean, 87-minute thrill ride. It’s not as wild as his later films, but the style is already there — and it pops beautifully on this new Blu-ray edition.
Continue reading ‘Underworld Beauty (Blu-ray Review)’
May 11th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Our Weak Spot Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the more obscure political thrillers to resurface on disc, this time from the darker corners of 1970s European cinema. Directed by Peter Fleischmann and starring Michel Piccoli, the 1975 film La Faille is slow-burning, unsettling, and soaked in paranoia. It’s the kind of movie that quietly gets under your skin — not with flashy action or big twists, but with mood, menace, and unease. Radiance Films brings it back into circulation with a new transfer and an edition that finally gives this hidden gem some room to breathe. For fans of political thrillers or slow-burn dramas, this Weak Spot Blu-ray Review highlights why the film is worth rediscovering in high definition. Continue reading ‘Weak Spot (Blu-ray Review)’
May 9th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
The Prosecutor Blu-ray review looks at Donnie Yen’s latest genre-bender — a courtroom thriller that isn’t afraid to throw punches between the legal arguments. Released in 2024, this slick blend of legal drama and martial arts mayhem is part tense procedural, part action-packed throwdown. Donnie Yen directs and stars, bringing his usual intensity and precision to both the courtroom and the chaos. It’s a film that shifts gears often but never loses its grip on tension or style. Continue reading ‘The Prosecutor (Blu-ray Review)’
May 8th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Shōhei Imamura’s The Eel arrives on Blu-ray in a stellar special edition from Radiance Films, giving fans the definitive home video release of this Palme d’Or-winning gem. If you’ve never seen The Eel (1997), this is the perfect way to experience Imamura’s meditative and offbeat drama in its full context — complete with both the original theatrical cut and the extended director’s cut. The Eel Blu-ray is a must for collectors of Japanese cinema, especially those who appreciate the intersection of human strangeness, personal redemption, and the quietly surreal. Continue reading ‘The Eel (Blu-ray Review)’
May 8th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
This Cat Blu-ray review takes a look at one of the coolest crime thrillers to come out of 1980s Germany. Directed by Dominik Graf, this slick little heist film blends moody atmosphere, tight suspense, and sharp performances in a way that still feels fresh. Radiance Films gives The Cat a proper Blu-ray debut with a new HD restoration, English subtitles, and a nice batch of extras that dig into its legacy. If you’re into slow-burn tension, stylish criminals, and old-school analog grit, this one’s definitely worth checking out. Continue reading ‘The Cat (Blu-ray Review)’
May 8th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
Written and directed by Lo Wei, the man behind the Bruce Lee’s international hits The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, The Tattooed Dragon was designed to bring martial arts superstar Jimmy Wang Yu (The One-Armed Swordsman) to a global audience still hungry for kung fu cinema in the aftermath of Lee’s death. Featuring Sylvia Chang (Slaughter in San Francisco) and James Tien (Shaolin Boxer) in a villainous role, it follows The Big Boss in pitting a legendary fighter against organised crime. The Tattooed Dragon is a showcase for Jimmy Wang Yu following his move from Shaw Brothers to Golden Harvest in the early 1970s, boasting cinematography by Cheung Yiu-tsou (Police Story) and stunts coordinated by Simon Hsu (The Flying Guillotine). Eureka Classics is proud to present The Tattooed Dragon for the first time on Blu-ray anywhere in the world from a new 2K restoration. Continue reading ‘The Tattooed Dragon is released on Blu-ray July 22!’
May 7th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
The epic party continues at home as “A Minecraft Movie” debuts Digitally on May 13. From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures and starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, “A Minecraft Movie,” directed by Jared Hess, is the first-ever big screen, live-action adaptation of Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time. “A Minecraft Movie” has taken the box office by storm, earning more than $872 million worldwide and is the largest domestic opening for 2025 and the largest movie based on a video game.
Continue reading ‘A MINECRAFT MOVIE Brings the Party to 4K and Blu-ray June 24th!’
May 7th, 2025 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
The 80’s signified a death nell for the Western genre. People didn’t want to go and see action scenes of gunslingers and horseback chases. Nobody cared about the hard times of post-Civil War America and that historical time. As much a shame as it was, it happened. Now, in 2025, we have a luxury of revisiting some of those films we may have forgotten about. Pale Rider is one of a few Clint Eastwood films that flew under my radar but may be a fan favorite for some. This year, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Pale Rider is the 3rdrelease in Warner Bros.’ trio of Eastwood classics arriving on 4K UHD Blu-ray this spring. The film comes off the screen like a myth, and it’s a simple story that turns out to be quite excellent because of its simplicity.
Continue reading ‘Pale Rider (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
May 7th, 2025 by Gerard Iribe
In this newly restored Mosfilm release, our Zerograd Blu-ray review unpacks Karen Shakhnazarov’s darkly comic vision of a city where logic goes to die.If you like your surrealism dry and your bureaucracy soaked in absurdity, Zerograd might just be your next cult obsession. Newly restored in 2K and released on Blu-ray by Deaf Crocodile, this 1988 film from director Karen Shakhnazarov plays like Kafka by way of Monty Python, with a splash of Agatha Christie and a hint of Brazil. The story follows Varakin, a mild-mannered engineer who arrives in a remote Soviet city where the logic is circular, the locals are eerily polite, and the cake might be made of your own face. Zerograd is part noir, part social satire, and all weird. Continue reading ‘Zerograd (Blu-ray Review)’
