Purple Rain (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)
June 21st, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Purple Rain remains one of the most iconic moments in 80’s history. Maybe even music history at this point. 1984 was a huge year for music and for films and to put the two together in such an excellent way was unheard of at the time unless you had a popular musical. Prince was already an established musical multi-hyphenate, with talent unmatched until his untimely death. 40 years later, how does Purple Rain stand up to other films like it? Go down memory lane with me about Purple Rain below and be on the lookout for the 4K UHD Blu-ray on June 25th! You can get a copy by clicking the cover art at the end of the review, too!
The fate of the world is at stake when 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes arrives to digital retailers (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) on July 9 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on August 27. Director Wes Ball’s stunning new entry into the Planet of the Apes series has been heralded by critics as “a jaw-dropping spectacle” (Matt Neglia, Next Big Picture) and “a visual masterpiece” (Mark Hughes, Forbes). It is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ and has thrilled audiences worldwide, becoming one of the biggest global box office successes of the year and marking the beginning of a new era for the epic Planet of the Apes franchise.
I love when a movie just feels different from the pack. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, watching and then reviewing films, I find great pleasure in being refreshed by new ones. It’s very clear that movie fans and especially collectors take a big stake in watching films because they are a comfort to us. So, what happens when a film is able to warm your heart, then break it, and then make you laugh and feel so warm? American Fiction is just such a film. Read more about American Fiction below and be sure to click the cover art at the end to order yourself a copy!
Do you ever see an anniversary of a film or album you have seen a lot and think of how old you are now that those films are celebrating that milestone? It came with some utter shock when I learned that South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut was celebrating it’s 25th year. The show came out a mere 2 years before the film, and like wildfire had taken TV audiences by storm. Sophomoric, gross and totally inappropriate for kids, the controversary and the praise has kept South Park going ever since. But now, 25 years after my first viewing, how does the film hold up? Read more about the 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray edition of South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut below and be sure to order yourself a copy by clicking the cover art at the end!
Po is back for the 4th time in the latest installment of Kung Fu Panda. We have been on 3 adventures with the famed Dragon Warrior and this newest one sees Po having to find a replacement hero so that Po can become the newest spiritual leader in the Valley of Peace. One must wonder if the film is running full steam ahead or if it’s running on fumes. Read more about Po and his newest adventure below and purchase a copy by clicking the linked cover art at the end of the review.
Guy Ritchie is a director we see a lot of films from, but at least for me, I don’t see a lot of people mentioning the variety of his work. From crime capers like Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, or The Gentlemen to historical (using the term loosely) fare like King Arthur (something I liked despite it getting 0 praise…) to war films like The Covenant (an underseen excellent film), Ritchie excels at making medium scale films. Even when hes given bigger budgets for films like Sherlock Holmes or The Man from U.N.C.L.E., you can tell Ritchie is making movies he’d probably love to watch too. They are crowd pleasing, fun and never boring. So how does The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (or TMOUW) stack up to the rest of his films? Find out below and order yourself a copy by clicking the cover art at the end!
George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which reveals the captivating, never-before-told origin of Furiosa and her unrelenting drive to find her way back home, debuts for purchase and rental Digitally at home on June 25 and to Physical Media formats on August 13th.
Coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on September 10th!
From Radio Silence comes the bloodthirsty, wild, and critically acclaimed vampire romp, ABIGAIL, available to own with all-new exclusive content on Digital June 25, 2024, and on Blu-ray™ and DVD July 9, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed as “a Bloody Blast” (The Detroit News) and Certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, ABIGAIL brings a refreshing approach to the vampire genre – unleashing never-before-seen bonus content, deleted & extended scenes, and more off-camera bloody carnage.
Experience writer/director John Krasinski’s “heartwarming” (Joey Paur, GeekTyrant) and “hilarious” (Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky) original adventure IF when it arrives to buy or rent on Digital June 18, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film will debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, and DVD on August 13.
It’s a home run with this hilarious and beloved comedy, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna. With baseball lineups and locker rooms left empty during World War II, the newly-founded All-American Girls Baseball League brought talented women to the big leagues—and brought fans to the stands. The indomitable Dottie Hinson (Davis) finds herself leading a rag tag group of players who end up winning over the heart of their has-been coach, Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks). Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell and Jon Lovitz round out the all-star roster. Based on the true story of the pioneering women who blazed the trail for generations of athletes.
Dev Patel came seemingly out of nowhere with his directorial debut Monkey Man. Based off of the Hindu tale of Hanuman, the film shows us a darker side of India than we have been shown before. This side features exploitation, violence, drugs and horrible human beings. All of this makes for a very interesting ride for movie fans. Read more on Monkey Man below and click the cover art at the end to order a copy of this action-filled romp!
The Karate Kid is one of those films that was almost always a big part of my movie-watching as a kid. I was drawn to the underdog story of Daniel Larusso, who, with a great deal of spunk and determination, proved himself to be a teenage hero for some. We are now at the 40th Anniversary of The Karate Kid, and time sure has flown. The message of the film remains the same and continues to inspire its audiences to this day, as evidenced by the spin-off series Cobra-Kai. Read on about this new 4K edition below, and be sure to click the new retro cover art at the end to access a paid link to order yourself a copy!
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.
Bring up Chinatown to any fan of movies and you’ll most likely get an “I love that movie” as a response. Yes, Chinatown is that good, and has been widely praised in the 50 years since it was first released. Now we have a new 4K UHD Blu-ray edition of Chinatown to collect and for some, this will be an incredible experience of seeing the film for the first time. Read more about my own love for Chinatown below, and also of course my thoughts on this new presentation! Clicking the cover art at the end of the review will take you to a paid link to order a copy too! “Forget it Jake, you’ll wanna order Chinatown”
Get the party started with this 90’s cult classic in 4K Ultra HD! It’s graduation day at Huntington Hills High– a time for Pomp and Circumstance, tassels and mortarboards, and serious introspection about the future. But tonight, the seniors will leave all that behind for the things that really matter; romance, revenge and rock ‘n’ roll. Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green and Jennifer Love Hewitt star in one raucous comedy about the ultimate teen party, a once-in-a-lifetime alternate universe where class nerds become class studs, super-jocks are humiliated, and freshman crushes blossom into grown-up romance. From meathead to misfit, everyone will be there for a hormone-charged bash tapped for out-of-control fun.
