‘Blackhat’ AKA Sexy Hackers (Movie Review)
Blackhat is a slickly-produced techno-thriller from co-writer/director Michael Mann. While Mann continually enjoy exploring the relationship between cops and crooks, this film and the last couple efforts from Mann (Miami Vice, Public Enemies) seem to feature same issue: personality vs. interest. The fact is, all of Mann’s films have tons of personality, given his stylish tendencies, but his recent efforts have unfortunately not left us with much to connect with, beyond the visuals, committed (yet somewhat shallow) performances, and visceral quality of the action in his features. Blackhat does nothing to really change that around and while a January release date is harsh sentencing for a director that continues to put what I imagine is tons of effort into his productions, it stands to reason that a film with a couple action-based highlights amidst a world filled with exotic locals, techno-jargon, and the handsomest hacker of them all could only draw up so much excitement. That in mind, I am still a Mann fan and while bloated, I tend to enjoy the visual language Mann puts on the big screen, overweighing my need for a more enjoyable screenplay, which is still unfortunately the issue with these recent Mann projects.
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American Sniper saw a limited release theatrically last year on Christmas Day. So if you are in the know with my usual rants, then you have already guessed it and hit the nail on the head. It wasn’t released or screened anywhere near me last Christmas, hence why there is this late film review and possible exclusion from countless Top 10 lists of last year across the multitude of websites comparable to ours. However, it juts goes to show you that you can’t have your cake and eat all the time too. You either pay the high taxes and live in a shoebox in LA or you stuff your face with fatty BBQ, sip back on sweet tea and watch the world pass you by, but I digress. We really do have a movie to discuss here. So ladies and gentlemen, I formally welcome you to my all-American movie review of American Sniper. 
Wow! What can really be said about this title? I have to be careful as I don’t want any terrorists ransacking my place or else it’s on like Rambo: First Blood! So I have to choose my words very carefully as I tip toe around egg shells on the very delicate divide of what has become of one of the controversial films of all time. That’s right ladies and gentlemen. If you weren’t paying attention to the title of this post or lead-in image, we’re talking The Interview, making its Blu-ray and DVD debut on February 17th. The collectible version of this Blu-ray is loaded with 90 minutes of bonus features, deleted scenes, a gag reel and more. Check it all out below! 
Kiss Me Kate — Cole Porter’s 1953 hit musical filmed with the most advanced 3D technology during the medium’s “golden era” – will be released March 3 in a new restored Blu-ray™ edition by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Viewers will now be able to experience the classic starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller exactly the way it was seen in its 3D release in theatres 62 years ago. 
You want to witness a vision of the techno-philosophical future from visionary director Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)? Well, that will all be possible when The Zero Theorem debuts on Blu-ray
Yo! Extra! Extra! Read all about it! On March 17th Anchor Bay Entertainment releases AMC’s powerful Revolutionary War drama TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray + Digital HD and DVD. Available as a 3-disc set, TURN: Washington’s Spies: The Complete First Season contains all 10 episodes from the series that tells the true story of spies during the American Revolution who helped give birth to modern spycraft and gave freedom to our country. The release is also fully loaded with insightful bonus features about the making of this thrilling series including featurettes and deleted scenes. Check out the full press release, trailer and pre-order below! 
From the mastermind producer behind Insidious and The Purge comes the ghostly tale of Jessabelle. The haunting, supernatural thriller, directed by Kevin Greutert (Saw VI, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter), written by Robert Ben Garant (Hell Baby, Night at the Museum) and starring Sarah Snook, Mark Webber and Joelle Carter, has arrived on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Jessabelle gives us another haunted tale in the land of the Bayou. While Saw 3D was absolutely abysmal, I did like Saw VI a lot, so I wanted to see Kevin Greutert away from a Saw film he was sorta forced to make and onto a horror film maybe he was a bit more passionate about directing. 
There are two things I’ve always been clamoring for on Blu-ray; more Blaxploitation films and more Pam Grier. Which, yeah a lot of that is one in the same. And this new release from Scream Factory covers both! Yes, I’m very aware of the title, but note that these were different times and the Blaxploitation era was all about taking things and making it their own. You’d find many a spin on titles like this. There was even Blackenstein. These Blacula movies are somewhat a relic of another time, but I also find them to be plenty enough of a campy hoot to enjoy. A fun trivia fact, Blacula himself is also the King of Cartoons from Pee-wee’s Playhouse (The guy from the second season onward). This double feature (awesome) will be out March 3rd, and here’s the details below! 
Millennium Entertainment brings April Mullen’s action-packed thriller, 88. Mullen also co-stars in the film alongside Tim Doiron who wrote the script. Featuring Katharine Isabelle (American Mary, Ginger Snaps, NBC’s “Hannibal”), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Futuretrilogy, The Addams Family, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), Jesse McCartney (“All My Children,” Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise, Chernobyl Diaries) and Michael Ironside (Top Gun, Total Recall, The Machinist), the film came out last week, January 6, 2015. 88 is a unique ride showcasing a strong female lead as well as Christopher Lloyd with a deviating and captivating performance as our villain, we are excited to share it with US audiences” states Mullen. 88 is the fourth feature from Mullen and Doiron, founders of WANGO films. 
Long requested by fans, the coming-of-age family favorites MY GIRL and TROOP BEVERLY HILLS will finally be available for the first time on Blu-ray™ Mar. 17 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Both films will be available separately and have been fully restored at 4K resolution for a pristine high-def experience on Blu-ray, making this the ideal way to re-visit these heart-warming and hilarious cinematic touchstones. Each film also includes all-new bonus features and Digital HD with UltraViolet.
The past three years, consistently in the horror world, we’ve been anticipating a film in the V/H/S series. Done in the classic horror anthology mode, but using the modern “found footage” aesthetic, the first film was a neat experiment that went pretty hit or miss. Last years’ followup was seen as a consensus improvement. It also contained a segment that had one of the most horrifying and disturbing horror stories I had seen in a long time. I’m eager to see what they are considering the finale, which is the Blu-ray information we have for you today. Pre-order is also available now, too, so click the Amazon link at the bottom to nab yourself a copy.
After terrifying audiences from coast to coast – Closing Night Event at ScreamFest 2014 Los Angeles and Opening Night Screening at 2014 New York City Horror Film Festival –FEAR CLINIC, the latest excursion into unrelenting terror will be released on Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 10, 2015 by Anchor Bay Entertainment. The highly anticipated shocker stars horror icon Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund, Fiona Dourif, Angelina Armani, Thomas Dekker, as well as Stone Sour and Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor in his acting debut, and is directed by Robert G. Hall (Lightning Bug, Laid to Rest, ChromeSkull: Laid To Rest II).
