Scream Queens: The Complete First Season (DVD Review)
January 3rd, 2017 by Aaron Neuwirth
Because writer/director/producer Ryan Murphy was not busy enough with American Horror Story and American Crime Story, he also decided to follow up Fox’s Glee with another over-the-top series that takes on the horror genre to a lighter degree with Scream Queens. Packed with both veteran and younger stars, the concept is fun enough, with this series challenging MTV’s Scream to be the best horror/dark comedy about teens on television. However, does Scream Queens deliver the goods or miss the mark when it comes to being a proper horror send-up? The first season is now available on DVD, so anyone can catch up.
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It was certainly a turbulent year in the entertainment business as 2016 saw the passing of numerous stars. Bowie left us, then Alan Rickman and the list went on with Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds passing just days apart. While they have moved on to whatever the next stage may bring, we will always have them on film. Music and movies are two things that can bring people together so take a moment to remember those we admired while continuing to enjoy to the films we loved in 2016. Keep in mind this is not a list of the most artistic films of the year, just my personal favorites as well as a few that had me squirming in my seat in boredom.
I’ve been waiting like 15 years or so for this movie. The fifth and final Phantasm movie. And it was done in super secret with the trailer surprising the hell out of EVERYONE when it randomly popped up a year or so ago. For years there were rumors and such, but Reggie Bannister was the voice of honesty shooting it down. Now, the final chapter, Ravager is here (Well, its been here, but its finally here for the Blu-ray review, Jason Coleman covered it a few months back. It features the final appearance by Angus Scrimm, and fitting it being in his most signature and iconic role. The main players are all back, and its up to Reggie, the guitar slaying ice cream man, to save the world from the Tall Man. Don Coscarelli oversaw the film, but for some reason stepped back and let someone else take the director’s chair on the last film in his most famous series of films. What started way back in 1979 finally comes to a head here in 2016. 
If you’ve been an avid reader of my stuff here on this site (And let’s be honest, why wouldn’t you be?), its been pretty consistent that one of the most massive movies on my Blu-ray bucket list has been Phantasm. The whole series, really, but mainly this first movie. I honestly didn’t realize how much of a cult film with a smaller following it really was. Growing up, it (and its sequels) were at really every video store I went to. The Tall Man was a common figure to hold up among the 80s slasher/monster icons. Years, pass, no further entries and nobody involved with the series is of any massive stature (To hold in a “look where such and such superstar got their start” fashion). But one certain director/producer with clout was a big fan. And in 2016, Phantasm came back in a big way, with a 4K restoration and theatrical rerelease headed up by JJ Abrams. Also in tow was a brand new sequel serving as the closing chapter in this unique horror series. But, what about Blu-ray? Everyone was tossing their guess as to who would have it. Scream Factory? Arrow? NOPE! Well Go USA?!?!?!?! I say , Well, go give them a chance. And now we can see what they’ve done and what they haven’t done. 
Of all my years of fervent movie watching, 2016 is by far my most proud. Thanks to my new home 
As always when I do these “Best” lists, I ask two things of you, the reader. Take the words best or top and replace it with “favorite”. And importantly, number or ranking doesn’t matter, what is included does. 2016 was an interesting year for me, in that I feel a hair underqualified, but still, this is the best films of the ones I saw over the year. During the summer, I found myself purchasing a new home (still trying to sell the other) and all that sort of “real life” stuff preventing some trips to theater for me. Also, sometimes I was just flat out exhausted or just selfishly wanting some time to myself. Who knows. But, I figure, while I’m not Aaron Neuwirth, I probably did see more than the average bear through going to the theater, reviewing Blu-rays or renting. There were a lot of disappointments during this year in terms of highly anticipated blockbusters, but many bright spots as well as some I look forward to checking out next year that I wasn’t able to see (Edge of Seventeen; Scott, I friggin TRIED to get to it and Moonlight; the night I was gonna go was the first night it wasn’t playing). I realize though, that of the “prestige” films I may or may not have missed, high end critics will be talking about them and my picks may be more unique. Aside from my #1, a lot of these could swap around their functional order. Anyway…I’ll just shut my yap and get to the ten films that made my list when I sat down and had to choose. 
It’s that time of the year again, and I’m not referring to the expensive Holiday season. I’m talking about the dreaded TOP 10 Favorite Films lists us reviewers annually face. While some of us love putting these lists together others I know absolutely dread it. It could be the notion of the extra work involved or just the burdened thought of the controversy and negative, judgemental comments these can carry. Therefore, Top 10 annual lists like this can be quite cumbersome, at least for me. The good thing about all of this is you the reader can definitely feel free to disagree with my choices below. You can also completely dismiss them too. For me, Top 10 Favorite Films lists are all about instilling and creating controversy in the critical sense. I don’t expect anyone to whole-heartedly agree with my choices. After all, the below selections as I’ll go on to explain are all very much personal ones. However, I believe as a reviewer it is your duty to stir that proverbial pot of controversy. You should desire to create that insatiable dish of debate that follows in the wake of such a list like this. That’s what the comments section below are all about. Down there’s it’s your turn to provide the voice of undeniable reason. Go for it! 
Underworld is one of those films that I’ll never forget where in life I was when I saw it. I’ll spare you the details, but I remember that evening vividly as it was a good one. It also came out at just the right time when the vampire craze was just ramping up and ironically was both the rise and downfall of Kate Beckinsale’s career. That’s what happens when you fall for your film’s director. You’re forced to do sequel after punishing sequel. Just ask Milla Jovovich how that works out for you. However, there’s no disputing how fine Kate has always looked filling that tight, black leather corset coupled with those stunning Blu-ray eyes. Even though we had the pleasure of spending time with the lovely Rhona Mitra in the third film, Rise of the Lycans, no Underworld fan can deny Selene’s (Beckinsale) presence and assets were greatly missed. On the flip side, I really liked the third entry. Ha ha. I digress. Let’s rewind back to 2003 as we nostalgically discuss the one that started it all, Underworld, which coincidentally sees a 4K Ultra HD release December 27th. 
For a thorough movie purist like myself putting together a year-end list of stellar standout performances is a truly taxing task. Not one to simply cherry pick from work within my Top Ten Films of the year, I scour movies in every genre and performances both big and small to bring the best of the best to the film forefront. As a result this year’s list of favorites I feel is my most eclectic yet – in some cases even elevating the subpar cinema that surrounds it. And while I did watch the year end group of Academy hopefuls (both Natalie Portman in Jackie and Jessica Chastain in Miss Sloane were good, but a tad one-note!) and critical darlings (Viggo Mortensen’s work in Captain Fantastic missed the list by a hair!), my findings are from a year-long dissection featuring five-star work that stands and delivers. From layered ladies to mysterious men, from bitter broads to silent but deadly equalizers these are tasty turns that deserve to be recognized for possessing a memorable character quality that’s undeniable. (At least in my humble movie geek opinion!) Proud to present my list of the…Top Five Male & Female Performances of 2016!
Currently watching Fences, a play turned movie that feels a tad stagnate, it reminds me that this week’s current stage to screen hidden gem is once again due to delight – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today’s selection is a great example of how to take a former piece of theater and make it cinematic. Expanding on characters and locations, taking inspiration from real life people and matching it with the style of the controversial voice of the day are surefire signs of a movie to remember. So let’s hit the airwaves for some quick witted opinions via our humiliation loving host. He’s crass, he’s crude, but most of all he’s got ratings in the world of…Talk Radio!
This is it short review film fans – my final edition for 2016! I’m still combing the cinematic remains of year end films to possibly fill out the Top Ten list but these are the last titles I’m giving you critical skinny on. Taking on missing daughters, politicians and religion check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews for Julieta, Miss Sloane and Silence below!
Hey hey! Here’s some news for you! “Tom Cruise is better than ever” (Pete Hammond, Deadline) in the “breathlessly exhilarating”(Simon Thompson, Forbes) action-thriller JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK, which hits the road on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand January 31, 2017 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Hailed as “a fun action-packed ride” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), fans can be the first to get it two weeks early on Digital HD January 17. 
