Archive Page 240
January 18th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Poltergeist took its final journey with trilogy capper, Poltergeist. Who knows, though, if Heather O’Rourke hadn’t tragically passed right after filming this, how many they would have done following. This film was dealt with toughly upon release, but has found its band of faithful fans and really does offer much to be appreciated. Showing their appreciation for it and the fans is Scream Factory. Coming into the Collector’s Editions series (Along with the second one) in the month of January, you’ll get the film with a brand new transfer and a wealth of bonus materials. Be sure to complete your Poltergeist Collection by pre-ordering it and the third film in time for release on January 31st! Continue reading ‘Poltergeist III – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
January 18th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
The original Poltergeist still holds as one of the greatest horror films of all time and to this day finds itself scaring new audiences and being celebrated, copied or poorly remade. Its celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. But, did you know its sequel was pretty damn solid, too? Well, fright flick fans have been appreciating it for many years, and now’s the time to be alive as we have a company like Scream Factory that’s giving it some love. Coming into the Collector’s Editions series (Along with the third one) in the month of January, you’ll get the film with a brand new transfer and a wealth of bonus materials. Be sure to complete your Poltergeist Collection by pre-ordering it and the third film in time for release on January 31st! Continue reading ‘Poltergeist II: The Other Side – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
January 18th, 2017 by Brian White
The Resident Evil franchise is a series I nearly gave up on had it not been for my friend Susan’s advice back to me in 2008. You see, quite honestly, I take my films very seriously and well, Resident Evil movies just didn’t cut it for me in that department. I was just not able to take the lunacy, stupidity and over-the-top nature of them. Resident Evil: Extinction was that final nail in the coffin. I liked the first film, hated the second outing and just thought the third one was okay. But what was really wrong with me? I’ll tell you what it was…I forgot how to have fun in life. I forgot how to not be serious all the time. I mean after all, I liked Crank, so what was my deal? Susan opened my eyes up to this world as she encouraged me to take a closer look at these films and to see them how her husband views them…purely as nonsensical entertainment. I embraced Susan’s encouraging words and took the leap of faith. The Blu-ray trilogy set eventually became my Valentine’s Day gift in 2008 (isn’t that sweet?) and I never looked back. I found a way to appreciate these films and have fun with them while looking past everything else (I’m not perfect). Thanks Susan!
Continue reading ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
January 18th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Hailed as “gripping, powerful, and epic ” (Scott Mantz, “Access Hollywood”) Academy Award®-winning* director Robert Zemeckis’ (Forrest Gump, Cast Away) seductive thriller ALLIED makes its home entertainment debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand February 28, 2017 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD February 14.
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Continue reading ‘ALLIED Starring Marion Cotillard & Brad Pitt Comes To 4K UHD On February 28th’
January 18th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Hard-drinking, pill-popping, bong-ripping Lou (Natasha Lyonne, Orange in the New Black) and her best friend Sadie (Chloë Sevigny, Boys Don’t Cry, American Horror Story) spend their days adrift in a druggy haze. But one wild night out becomes a bad trip that never ends when Lou wakes up with symptoms of an unexplained, highly abnormal pregnancy. Who — or what — is growing inside of her? Making its Blu-ray and DVD debut February 7th, 2017 from Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight, Anitbirth also includes psychedelic clips, storyboards and theatrical trailer as bonus features. Continue reading ‘ANTIBIRTH Is ProBlu-ray February 7th!’
January 18th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
The story behind McDonald’s is almost as fascinating as the world’s obsession with the McRib. The Founder is a straightforward attempt to tell that story (of the history, not the pork sandwich), with a focus on Ray Kroc, the man who turned McDonald’s into what it would come be today, for better or worse. Given what took place, the topic is ripe for a solid film, but despite a screenplay full of ideas and potential to morph into something cinematically great, the film feels undercut by fairly standard direction that takes less of a bite into the material than the customers do into their Big Macs.
a Continue reading ‘‘The Founder’ Has A Well Done Screenplay Served With Undercooked Direction (Movie Review)’
January 17th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
This April, Criterion is serving up a special edition of Tampopo, Juzo Itami’s delirious, genre-bending “ramen western,” fresh from its theatrical run. The kitchen becomes a battleground in Woman of the Year, where Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy play journalist spouses with different ideas about what makes for a successful marriage. There’s also Francis Ford Coppola’s feverish “art film for teenagers,” Rumble Fish, whose stunning black-and-white cinematography weaves expressionistic shadows around an all-star cast, including Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, and Dennis Hopper. Another unforgettable ensemble is the title act of Buena Vista Social Club, Wim Wenders’ exuberant portrait of the performers who made Cuban music an international sensation. And for an encore: Jacques Demy’s color-drenched musicals The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (a big inspiration for current awards favorite La La Land) and The Young Girls of Rochefort step into the spotlight, in new stand-alone editions.
Continue reading ‘UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG, RUMBLE FISH and More Coming to The Criterion Collection in April 2017’
January 17th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Academy Award® nominee Michael Fassbender (Best Actor, Steve Jobs, 2015) and Golden Globe® nominee Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) star in the riveting action-filled crime thriller Trespass Against Us on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD March 7 from Lionsgate. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie examines the tension between family loyalty and personal salvation. Theatrically released by A24, the film features an original score by the Grammy® Award-winning Chemical Brothers. The Trespass Against Us Blu-ray has plenty look into. Continue on to learn more.
a Continue reading ‘TRESPASS AGAINST US Arrives On Blu-ray This March’
January 16th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Lionsgate’s USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage tells a true tale from World War II about a ship that help transport parts of an Atomic Bomb and then was shot up in the water with its survivors hanging afloat for 5 days. Headlining the cast is Academy Award Winner Nicolas Cage (The Wicker Man, Left Behind) along with Tom Sizemore (Slumber Party Slaughter, Pauly Shore Is Dead), Thomas Jane (LOL, Pawn Shop Chronicles) and James Remar (Deleted Scenes from Aliens). USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage is directed by Mario Van Peebles. It will be available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate on January 24th. You can pre-order the film now from Amazon and be able to have it right on release day if you’re a Prime member. Continue reading ‘USS Indianapolis: Men Of Courage (Blu-ray Review)’
January 16th, 2017 by Brian White
Jack Reacher is one of those films I had to go back and revisit to not only freshen up going into the premiere of Jack Reacher Never Go Back, but make sure I liked it too. I honestly could not remember as I hadn’t seen the first film since 2013 when I reviewed the Blu-ray here. Fret not! Despite only having three action scenes to write home about I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I get so confused with the Mission Impossible films that I had to distance myself from them to get into the whole psyche of who the character of Jack Reacher really is. I’m all good now and ready to tackle the second entry in the Jack Reacher film franchise made possible only because the first flick grossed $200 million worldwide. That’s not a whole lot of money, but Paramount felt comfortable in it nonetheless to invest in a sequel so who am I to argue. I love all new 4K Ultra HD releases. Bring ’em!
Continue reading ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
January 16th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
It’s that time of year film festival fans – Park City movies time! That’s right, yours truly will be covering both the Sundance Film Festival (stay tuned!) and the even more illustrious Slamdance Film Festival for the great WhySoBlu.com to include reviews, interviews and even special stuff you won’t see anywhere else. (A very cool announcement coming this week!) But since the films are coming fast and furious (an on purpose movie pun!) even before the festivals star let’s get this ride underway!
Continue reading ‘Slamdance 2017 Interview: Dynamic Directing Duo Behind “Who Is Arthur Chu?” Talk Doc’
January 15th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Death Race, the original, was made in 1975, considered a cult classic piece of B-grade genre filmmaking from the master of such, Roger Corman. We went a whole 33 years with no sequels, TV spin-offs or remakes. In 2008, the film was remade as is popular to do nowadays, but it spawned a straight-to-video surge for this franchise, and now in just over 8 years, we have 4 films added to the original. Two not mentioned are sequels to the remake (Which Paul WS Anderson apparently feels is a prequel to the original). Now, Corman is back behind it all (Though his name is over the title, he only produced, GJ Echtenkamp directs), and he’s making sequel-reboot (Rebootquel, legacy sequel…all the terms) to the original. There’s been a surprising amount of press for this. Not much, mind you, but much more making the common movie watcher aware than you would think for something like this. Continue reading ‘Death Race 2050 (Blu-ray Review)’
January 15th, 2017 by Brian White
Spencer Strasmore and his boys are back to “ball out” in Season 2 of the hit HBO comedy Ballers. I couldn’t be more excited about this! Not only am I a fan of NFL football, which this show revolves around, but HBO’s Ballers also brought me closer to The Rock as an actor. I love him now even more than I did in the Fast & Furious films (and I did not think that was possible). Dwayne Johnson takes the reins with his larger-than-life charisma in this series that looks at the whirlwind lifestyles and real-life problems of former and current football players in sun-soaked Miami (a paradise on Earth). In case you missed it you can read all about my Season 1 coverage over here. So without further ado Ballers: The Complete Second Season will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on January 31st and we’ll be talking about it all down below. Continue reading ‘Ballers: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)’
January 13th, 2017 by Brian White
The Accountant makes for a stupid film title in my opinion. I don’t care how good the movie is, I still hate the name given. I probably couldn’t come up with anything better, but that’s why I am writing Blu-ray movie reviews and not films themselves. However, you can’t say it doesn’t grab your attention. Come on! I don’t know about you, but my mind strays to thoughts of how boring this flick can be with a name like this. I can’t help it. I’m high maintenance and like my lifestyle I want a zinger of a movie title to accompany the features I adore. Whoa! Stop the press! This one stars Ben Affleck! The man brought Batman back to life. You can Argo F#%* yourselves. He deserves our undivided attention. So listen up as here comes the 4-1-1 on The Accountant releasing on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray January 10th.
Continue reading ‘The Accountant (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
January 13th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Both my breakdancing and 80’s vibe are in full boogaloo swing as I continue to check out high hair flicks – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This week it’s all about comedy and crazy characters as we head into what can only be described as Tootsie in high school with a side of Yentl. Featuring a fed up gal who decides to see how the other sex lives, there’s plenty of laughs, love and teen debauchery (courtesy of the great Billy Jacoby!) running rampant as a very fetching female tries to be…Just One Of The Guys!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Just One Of The Guys”’
January 13th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana, the sweeping story of a spirited teenager who sets sail on a daring adventure to save her people, starring newcomer Auli‘i Cravalho as the voice of brave and tenacious Moana and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (HBO’s “Ballers,” “Central Intelligence”) as the larger-than-life demigod Maui, has dazzled both critics and audiences. The film earned a 95% critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes and the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office opening weekend. Now, “Moana” sets a new course, sailing home on Digital HD/3D and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on Feb. 21, and on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on March 7. Pre-order now! Continue reading ‘Disney’s MOANA Comes To Blu-ray March 7th!’
January 12th, 2017 by Brandon Peters
In its most-watched season to date, season 5 of the hit HBO® comedy series Veep is the winner of three 2016 Emmy® awards including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who has won an Emmy® for each season of Veep), and Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. The 10-episode VEEP: The Complete Fifth Season will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on April 11, 2017, including a free digital download copy of the full season, plus exclusive new bonus content containing more than 30 minutes of hilarious deleted scenes and entertaining audio commentaries from cast and crew including Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, David Mandel and more! Continue reading ‘VEEP: The Complete Fifth Season Available April 11th!’
January 12th, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Filling in the slot for requisite January horror film, The Bye Bye Man seeks to push a new supernatural baddie on audiences and hope the thrills he brings are worthwhile. Married duo Stacy Title (director) and Jonathan Penner (writer) have put together a fast-paced thriller that brings together elements from many horror favorites, including Candyman, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween. Working with a decent budget (for horror standards), The Bye Bye Man does plenty to reward viewers on a sensory level, but it doesn’t do much with its concept to build any sort of clever mythology or engage beyond simple horror delights.
a Continue reading ‘It’s A Coat, It’s A Dog, It’s ‘The Bye Bye Man’ (Movie Review)’