Archive Page 217
June 13th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
The curtain has permanently closed on the illustrious 20th Annual Dances With Films Festival 2017 and we’re frankly movie exhausted. (In a good way!) With over a dozen feature films and a gaggle of shorts given critical skinny and even a layered leading lady turn highlighted with some additional interview insight, this year WhySoBlu.com has been bloody busy. But as the curtain closes it’s time to give a final farewell with our own awards, highlighting what we consider the best of the best via the Dances with Films Fest and the competition was high. But in the end (or in each category!) there can be only one – welcome to the our picks of the… Continue reading ‘Dances With Films Festival 2017 – Best of Fest ‘Wrap Up’’
June 13th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
I think of Pixar’s Cars franchise as a harmless source of income for the acclaimed studio. Yes, Pixar is matched more frequently now by other animation studios than when Finding Nemo came out, so Cars is put down for so clearly resting on a lower tier than other Pixar efforts. I am no different as far as general regard for the Cars films goes and while you may think this summation is leading to a declaration of how Cars 3 changes everything, it isn’t. Cars 3 does its job. It’s a decent animated effort that is entertaining enough and the best of the series thanks to some additional emotional weight.
Continue reading ‘‘Cars 3’ Cruises With Lightning (Movie Review)’
June 13th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
The shows almost over via our coverage of the 20th Annual Dances With Films Festival 2017 and it’s been a busy movie ride indeed. But before we head into out final Best of Fest article we’re slapping down a few more reviews just for good measure. So below are an additional six features and 4 shorts with topics ranging from saints to safe crackers to make this movie meal complete. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of DWFF 2017 feature flicks Resistance Is Life, The Midnighters, Tater Tot & Patton, Jimmy The Saint, The Scent Of Rain And Lightning and All I Want, plus shorts Land of Happy Dreams, G-4, Hidden Daylight and Supermom below! Continue reading ‘Dances With Films Festival 2017 – Final Film Reviews’
June 13th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Two years ago, one of the dumber, bad ideas came to fruition: The LEGO Movie. Sure, really young kids would go and enjoy, yeah. But, they can deserve better. Low and behold, it was BETTER and one of the best films of the year and animated films of the last ten years. Everything was awesome! One of the scene stealers in the film was Batman, and so, logically, they gave him a spin off. While slapping a big LEGO logo on it, it did prove you can have multiple Batmen and Batman movies in pop culture at the same time. And yeah, there may be darkness and no parents, but the film was loaded and became a big box office hit. LEGO is now building a quality animated brand with a unique touch to their humor. I had no desire to see a LEGO Ninjago movie (I don’t even know exactly anything about it other than…Ninjas?), but I’m on board and that trailer was pretty hilarious. Here now, lets look back at The LEGO Batman Movie, coming June 13th to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘The LEGO Batman Movie (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
June 12th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Evil just can’t catch a break as the hilarious, critically acclaimed horror series “Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 2 arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD August 22 from Lionsgate. Locked and loaded with the same twisted humor and gory kill scenes groovy fans of the franchise are used to, “Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 2 continues the chainsaw-slicing, shotgun-blasting fun from the first season. “Ash vs Evil Dead”: Season 2 stars Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead franchise), Lucy Lawless (TV’s “Spartacus: War of the Damned”), Ray Santiago (In Time), and Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas), as well as this season’s introduction of Lee Majors (TV’s “The Six Million Dollar Man”) as Ash’s father. Continue reading ‘Join Us For ASH VS EVIL DEAD SEASON 2 On Blu-ray August 22nd!’
June 12th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Based on the best-selling novel by Lissa Evans, the delightful and heartwarming period piece, Their Finest, arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital HD) and DVD on July 11 from Lionsgate; Digital HD on June 30 and On Demand on July 11 from EuropaCorp. From the producers of Brooklyn and Carol, Their Finest takes place in Britain during World War II and tells the story of a film crew as they create a movie to boost the country’s morale after the Blitz. Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Golden Globe® winner Bill Nighy (2007, Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television, Gideon’s Daughter) lead an all-star cast in what Andrew Barker at Variety considers “a relentlessly charming romantic comedy.” Continue on to learn more about this release.
Continue reading ‘Prepare for ‘Their Finest’, which arrives on Blu-ray this July’
June 12th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Based on the novel by Kevin Wignall, the action-packed thriller The Hunter’s Prayer arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital), DVD, and Digital HD August 8 from Lionsgate. The film is currently available On Demand. Sam Worthington stars as a deadly assassin assigned to kill a young woman named Ella. When his conscience gets the best of him, he defies orders and instead protects Ella. Together they must escape the formidable enemies who are determined to kill them both at all costs. This film is from Jonathan Mostow, the director of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Breakdown. Continue on to learn more about this upcoming release.
Continue reading ‘Get Your Sights Locked, THE HUNTER’S PRAYER arrives on Blu-ray This August’
June 9th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With the still ongoing 20th Annual Dances With Films Festival 2017 (taking place June 1-11 at the Chinese 6 Theaters at Hollywood and Highland – go to www.danceswithfilms.com for more details!) heading into its final weekend there’s still plenty of time and tickets to check find that cinematic hidden gem you’ve been looking for. (I’m going to be there all day Sunday movie watching myself!) But to get you excited about heading into the unknown we’re checking out a second wave of flicks and the results are pretty spectacular. Meaning in the three features and five shorts covered below there are a lot of notable items that prove Dances With Films know their stuff. Depressed teens looking for solace, strange gals from outer space and homeless hustlers, plus angry zen masters, ladies who love themselves, worry warts, tainted tots and the effects of dementia are all themes explored in the Encapsulated Movie Reviews below. Check out the critical opinions on the features Holden On, Imitation Girl and Landing Up and the shorts Herbie, Wink, Panic Attack!, Thirteen, and Tonight And Every Night below! Continue reading ‘Dances With Films Festival 2017 – Three Features/Five Shorts Reviews’
June 9th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With the lack of big budget quality hitting the cinemas this week, wanted to positively counteract its seemingly DOA status with a old school good guys and bad guys past picture notable to provide some needed movie pleasure – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today’s tale mixes old school police investigations with a distinctive techno angle for a flick with plenty of memorable moments. It focuses on a squad whose sole job it is to take down artificial intelligence that has malfunctioned, but they’re about to get a lesson in the real damage a mastermind of robotics can do. Smart bombs, small heat seeking bullets, strange circuits and robotic spiders with acid for blood all make up the world of Michael Crichton’s…Runaway!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Runaway”’
June 9th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
The use of space, darkness and an ominous red door are all great assets for It Comes at Night. This is the second film from director Trey Edward Shults, who arrived on the scene with 2015’s Krisha, another film dealing with family-related intensity. With It Comes at Night, that intensity is structured around a thriller with a familiar setup – how does a small group of people last in a cabin in the woods, while evil abounds outside? The intrigue is naturally there, but perhaps not delivered upon in a way that’s friendly to the multiplex audience expecting something along the lines of a simple scare fest.
Continue reading ‘‘It Comes At Night’ And Brings Dread (Movie Review)’
June 8th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Not that all similar films need to be mentioned together, but 2016 offered two films that dealt with important interracial relationships that helped shape history. One was the Oscar-nominated Loving from director Jeff Nichols, which focused on an American couple. The other is A United Kingdom, from director Amma Asante (Belle). While having received good notices at various film festivals and carrying that goodwill toward strong enough reviews, A United Kingdom was only able to garner a small release in America. Still, the film made back its budget and only added to the resumes of the various talented players involved. Now the film is available on Blu-ray for everyone to check out.
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Continue reading ‘A United Kingdom (Blu-ray Review)’
June 8th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Balancing two films festivals plus the weekly haul of indie flicks recently has proved taxing to say the least, but I’m all about seeking out great films, hailing those that surpass expectations and letting readers who are interested what to watch for. (And what not to of course!) So going beyond the sites featured Blu-ray’s and big budget fare, I’ve managed to squeeze in six new indie titles (my small and humble contribution to the amazing site that is WhySoBlu.com!) in between fests to help the avid movie fan get more bang for the movie buck. Awkward meals, killers with remorse, aging icons, rocky relationship trios, vampires and art and a killer camera all get covered via this weeks Encapsulated Movie Reviews. Check out the critical skinny on Beatriz At Dinner, The Hunter’s Prayer, The Hero, I Love You Both, Manhattan Undying and Camera Obscura below!
Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Six New Indie Titles’
June 7th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
As proven this past February, A Cure for Wellness has few tricks up its sleeves that audiences have not seen before. I believe director Gore Verbinski knew this going in but still wanted to go all in. Fitting in the same league as gorgeously designed, but narratively challenged films such as Shutter Island and Crimson Peak, A Cure for Wellness plays like a film where the destination is perhaps clear, but the journey is still cinematically interesting. Like those other films, it may be overlong and overstuffed, but the fact that a major studio funded such an odd project feels like a triumph for film in general. It doesn’t hurt to note just how disturbing some of the visuals are, which does play well to the genre fans looking for strange jolts. Of course, the film flopped, but now anyone can go and discover it for themselves on Blu-ray.
a Continue reading ‘A Cure For Wellness (Blu-ray Review)’
June 7th, 2017 by Brian White
Despite loving Sofia Boutella in Kingsman: The Secret Service I must admit I wasn’t too keen on this newest monster tale reboot when I saw the first theatrical trailer. Yawn! I thought to myself another modern day movie that feels like it has to insert a woman into a leading role normally occupied by a man. I know that’s a sexist way to look at things, but I’m an old, tired man now and sick of all the ultra sensitivity in this world. Ha ha. But seriously, it wasn’t until the second trailer of The Mummy that got me semi-excited for things here. For some reason it just spoke to me more. After all though how could one refute the star power of Hollywood’s ageless vampire, Tom Cruise? That’s a rhetorical question because you can try, but ultimately you’ll fail. The man can do no wrong in modern day action films. By the way I don’t count the Jack Reacher films as action films. However, it was this news here that The Mummy would be the start of Universal’s Dark Universe that really made me take notice of. I’m all about a well planned out, shared universe full of continuity so I’m super stoked to see where things go from here. And truth be told I’m forever thankful that 2014’s Dracula Untold was a one off. Thank the Gods for that! Continue reading ‘The Mummy Unwraps The Bandages of a Dark Monster Universe (Movie Review)’
June 7th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Everyone was where they need to be and all of the objects were in place, and yet, when attempting to conjure up success, The Mummy did not rise. While I was wrapped up in anticipation for a new take on The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise, everything seemed to unravel rather quickly as the film shambled along. With all the mummy puns out of my system now, let me just say I can’t help but feel disappointed, as Cruise is one to fully commit and star in quality pictures, but The Mummy didn’t deliver the summer fun I was hoping for.
Continue reading ‘Cruise ‘Mummy’ Threatens Dark Universe (Movie Review)’
June 6th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Just in time for Arrow’s sixth season on The CW, viewers can catch up with the thrilling series as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Arrow: The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-rayTMand DVD on September 19, 2017. Averaging 3 million viewers weekly for each original episode, Arrow is the #2 series on The CW season to-date amongst Adults 18-34, behind only The Flash.* The release contains all 23 exhilarating episodes from the fifth season, the show’s 2016 Comic-Con Panel, never-before-seen featurettes, and much more. Arrow: The Complete Fifth Season is priced to own on DVD and Blu-ray which includes a Digital Copy. Arrow: The Complete Fifth Season is also available to own on Digital HD via purchase from digital retailers.
Continue reading ‘ARROW: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Comes To A ‘Terrific’ Blu-ray Set September 19th!’
June 6th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Los Angeles, CA –Shout! Factory has announced that Wakefield, the new 2017 feature starring Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner, is coming to shelves in a Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo on August 22, in conjunction with IFC Films. Wakefield is available for pre-order now on Amazon.com and Shoutfactory.com. Oscar® nominee* Bryan Cranston leads a tremendous cast in Wakefield, an adaptation of acclaimed author E.L. Doctorow’s short story by screenwriter and director Robin Swicord.
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. Continue reading ‘Brian Cranston & Jennifer Garner Star In WAKEFIELD On Blu-ray August 22nd!’
June 6th, 2017 by Bron Anderson
Emmy Award winner Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot”) stars in Writer/Director Sarah Adina Smith’s (The Midnight Swim) psychological thriller BUSTER’S MAL HEART, available on digital now and on Blu-ray and DVD July 18 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Malek plays a troubled man on the run who recalls the mysterious events that brought him to his present fugitive state. Buster’s Mal Heart also stars DJ Qualls (“The Man in High Castle”), Kate Lyn Sheil (Equals) and Lin Shaye (Insidious). The film is said to be a complex, funny, and thoughtful science fiction. See below for more details on this release. Continue reading ‘Buster’s Mal Heart Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD July 18th’
