Archive Page 357
January 22nd, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
There was a time when I used to say I was not a fan of submarine movies. I have since found that to be inaccurate, given how much I appreciate the ones considered to be the best and even some of the more average attempts. I believe it to come down more to whether or not the film is effective in getting across the key idea of what works best in a submarine movie, which is effectively building the claustrophobic tension that comes from having multiple characters stuck with each other in a narrow enclosure, deep below the ocean’s surface. Black Sea manages to do this. It takes the premise of a heist film and combines that with what you can get from a submarine thriller, making for a unique sort of drama held together by some solid performances and an interesting play on what these characters actually desire most.
Continue reading ‘Enjoy The Depths Of ‘Black Sea’ (Movie Review)’
January 21st, 2015 by Blu-ray Brian
The Book of Life, the Golden Globe Best Animated Feature nominee, is a film that completely slipped past me in the theaters and I never was able to make it during its run. However, that’s all about to change when The Book of Life releases on Blu-ray January 27th. Wait! I have even more splendid news that that! Our friends at 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have hooked us up with a Blu-ray of the film to give away to one very lucky reader of Why So Blu! Whaaaat! I know, right? So check out all the pertinent details of the Blu-ray release with some fun trivia below and find out how you can win your own Blu-ray of the film! Continue reading ‘The Book of Life Blu-ray Giveaway Contest’
January 21st, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Black Sea is a heist film with an interesting twist. It features Jude Law as a submarine captain, who is recruited to lead a crew of men in one submarine to the bottom of the Black Sea in order to recover lost Nazi gold from a sunken U-Boat. I have a review for this film HERE, but Black Sea is a solid entry into the heist genre, with an emphasis on how obsession and distrust can overtake logic and reason, even in the most dire of scenarios, when teamwork is most important. The film was directed by Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland), who I had the pleasure of interviewing. Continue on to learn more about his influences for the story, his favorite submarine movies, the nature of filming with real submarines, and more!
Continue reading ‘‘Black Sea’ Interview with Director Kevin Macdonald’
January 21st, 2015 by Brandon Peters
The world is turned upside down when one of the world’s greatest super heroes – Batman – finds himself under attack by his own son in the newest DC Universe Original Movie – Batman vs. Robin. This all-new original film arrives April 14, 2015 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-Ray™ Deluxe Edition, Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD. The brand-new product offering, Blu-ray™ Deluxe Edition, will include the Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack, along with a Batman figurine in a gift set.
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Continue reading ‘Warner Bros Home Entertainment Announces BATMAN VS ROBIN’
January 21st, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Okay, here we go. I don’t know a thing about this little Italian post apocalyptic Mad Max/Escape From New York-looking action movie from 1983 that Scream Factory is going to be putting out. However, as a kid who grew up living in ma and pa VHS rental stores where you thought the box looked awesome so you gave it a shot and as a connoisseur of low budget action/sci fi/horror/exploitation trash; I’m pretty excited to check this out. IMDB’s plot synopsis reads “They killed to survive…” and I think that’s all I really need to go on at this point. I also love to marvel at pristine Blu-ray quality of these low budget films that have no business looking as gorgeous or cleaned up as they do. Is anyone with me here? Details and a pre-order follow below. Continue reading ‘Scream Factory Presents EXTERMINATORS OF THE YEAR 300 On Blu-ray March 3!’
January 21st, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Steve McQueen was certainly “the man” when it comes to the start of action heroes, and his run in the 1960s and 1970s. Bullitt, The Getaway, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Great Escape and many others are downright staples of anyone studying action in film. And McQueen was easily a star. Here we have a documentary celebrating that legendary career and also giving us the story who he was as a man too. This documentary features the likes of Robert Downey Jr, Pierce Brosnan, Gary Oldman and many others talking about his importance to film and the legacy. Shout! Factory has the honor of putting this out and it will be available on both DVD and Blu-ray this coming April (the 14th to be exact). Read below to get all the details on this exciting release! Continue reading ‘Shout! Factory Releases I AM STEVE MCQUEEN, Celebrating The Life & Work Of A Legend’
January 21st, 2015 by Brandon Peters
To celebrate the release of Disney’s Big Hero 6 nationwide on Digital HD/Disney Movies Anywhere Feb. 3 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack Feb. 24, Baymax was named the Most Huggable Character of 2015 on National Hugging Day™! Check out the press release and video clip below.
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. Continue reading ‘BIG HERO 6’s Baymax Celebrated for National Hugging Day’
January 21st, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
When five year-old Oliver Hughes disappears while on holiday in France, it sets off a nearly decade-long search for his whereabouts. “The Missing,” a STARZ Limited Series, is a dramatic thriller that takes you inside the mind of a father, Tony (played by James Nesbitt of The Hobbit trilogy and Jekyll), desperate to locate his lost son. With help from a legendary detective (played by Tchéky Karyo of Goldeneye and The Patriot), Tony embarks on an obsessive quest to find his son and those responsible for his disappearance. A gripping puzzle with twists and turns at every stage, Tony’s exhaustive search fractures his relationship with his wife, Emily (played by Frances O’Connor of “Mr. Selfridge” and A.I.: Artificial Intelligence), and threatens to destroy his life. Told through a complex narrative, “The Missing” unfolds over two time frames simultaneously. Continue reading ‘‘The Missing: Limited Series’ on Blu-ray & DVD April 14th 2015′
January 20th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
Julian Michaels (Willis) has designed the ultimate resort: VICE, where anything goes, and the customers can play out their wildest fantasies with artificial inhabitants who look, think and feel like humans. When an artificial (Childers) becomes self-aware and escapes, she finds herself caught in the crossfire between Julian’s mercenaries and a cop (Jane) who is hell-bent on shutting down VICE, and stopping the violence once and for all. Continue reading ‘‘Vice’ on Blu-ray & DVD March 17!’
January 20th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
In this twisted thriller, a young detective becomes an unwilling participant in a sadistic game of cat-and-mouse when he is kidnapped by a masked serial killer. In order to survive, the detective must use the wisdom imparted to him by senior detectives on their regular poker night. Continue reading ‘‘Poker Night’ on Blu-ray & DVD February 10!’
January 20th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
Led by a stellar ensemble cast, the inspirational dramedy REACH ME tells interwoven stories from a diverse group of people who are united by one thing a powerful book from an anonymous and reclusive author (Tom Berenger). When the book’s positive message goes viral, a journalist (Kevin Connolly) and his editor (Sylvester Stallone), a former inmate (Kyra Sedgwick), a hip-hop mogul (Nelly), an actor (Cary Elwes) and an undercover cop (Thomas Jane) are inspired to change their lives by facing their fears. REACH ME also stars Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Cohan, Ryan Kwanten and Tom Sizemore. Continue reading ‘Reach Me (Blu-ray Review)’
January 20th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
From executive producer Martin Scorsese and the director of Infernal Affairs comes a gritty crime thriller set in 1980’s New York City, based on real events. Two immigrant brothers (Justin Chon and Kevin Wu) join the Green Dragons gang. They quickly rise up the ranks and become notorious in the community, drawing the attention of the NYPD’s Detective Bloom (Ray Liotta). But when an ill-fated love affair pits one of the brothers against the gang’s leader (Harry Shum Jr.), he sets out for revenge on the group. Continue reading ‘Revenge of the Green Dragons (Blu-ray Review)’
January 20th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Drop is a strange sort of film, as it is ostensibly a crime drama rooted in its characters, but not quite focused enough to claim to be about one thing in particular. Sure, Tom Hardy is the lead in this film and we are basically following his mysterious character, who seems like a simple enough guy that could blow at any minute; but the film, while fairly straightforward, puts a number of things in front of its characters in a way that makes it hard to describe simply. As it stands, The Drop is a well-acted feature about criminals, gangsters, abuse, sorted pasts, moving on in one’s life, just trying to get by, and a cute little dog. Now you can see that cute little dog on Blu-ray.
Continue reading ‘The Drop (Blu-ray Review)’
January 20th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
I’m really interested in finally checking this one out! Two-time Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke (Best Supporting Actor: Training Day, 2001; Boyhood, 2014) reunites with the Spierig Brothers directing team (Daybreakers) for the ingeniously constructed time-travel thriller PREDESTINATION, debuting on Blu-ray™ and DVD Feb. 10 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Based on the mind-bending short story “All You Zombies” by Robert A. Heinlein, the film also stars Sarah Snook (Jessabelle) and Noah Taylor (“Game of Thrones”). PREDESTINATION chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent (Hawke) sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to prevent future killers from committing their crimes. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must stop the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time and prevent a devastating attack in which thousands of lives will be lost.
Continue reading ‘PREDESTINATION – The Acclaimed Time-Travel Mind-Bender Coming to Blu-ray & DVD Feb 10’
January 20th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
On February 10, 2012, Sir Paul McCartney was honored as the 2012 MusiCares® Person of the Year. At a gala event in Los Angeles, Paul and a cast of superstar guests performed some of the quintessential songs from his renowned and celebrated career. On March 24, 2015, Shout! Factory will releaseA MusiCares Tribute to Paul McCartney, a collection of these never-before-seen performances on DVD and Blu-ray. This features artists such as Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl, Coldplay and Neil Young in addition to Sir Paul McCartney himself. Fans can pre-order their copy by visiting ShoutFactory.com or Amazon.com.
. Continue reading ‘A MUSICARES TRIBUTE TO PAUL MCCARTNEY On Blu-ray March 24th From Shout! Factory’
January 20th, 2015 by Brandon Peters
Terry Gilliam returned to his realm of unique science fiction last year (or 2013 for some) with The Zero Theorem. Many want to believe this is the third part in some sort of trilogy that include Gilliam’s earlier works of Brazil and 12 Monkeys. 12 Monkeys, by the way, is one of my most cherished and favorite films of all time (No-brainer Top 10). So, I’m down with Gilliam’s ideals and style that may not appeal or even turn off your common movie-goer. Gilliam has denied any sort of intentional connection between the three films. I can see where folks might connect dots or be trying to string them together, but I have to side with Gilliam. In all honesty, this is just him doing his thing more than it is crafting some sort of masterwork or trilogy in theme. But, its there if people want it to be, I suppose. This was a film I was really looking forward to last year in its small release, but it somehow got by me, but here I am with the Blu-ray and very excited to dig into this recent Terry Gilliam opus. Continue reading ‘The Zero Theorem (Blu-ray Review)’
January 20th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
Here’s one that I was a big fan of and wish had a bigger run with audiences: A journalist in Iran endures an unthinkable ordeal when he is falsely accused of spying in Rosewater, a political thriller coming to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on February 10, 2015, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Based on the thrilling true-life story of Maziar Bahari, the film features first-rate performances from an international cast, as well as an impassioned script that infuses wit and humor into a terrifying and all-too-real situation. Available on DVD and Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Rosewater comes with bonus content that sheds additional light on this important story.
Continue reading ‘Find Your Courage With ROSEWATER, Coming To Blu-ray This February’
January 20th, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
Nick Tortano (Ben Barnes) is a mafia criminal whose life spirals out of control once he becomes a made man. With the lives of his loved ones at risk, including his girlfriend (Leighton Meester), he must decide what’s truly important to him. BY THE GUN is directed by James Mottern and also stars Harvey Keitel, Toby Jones, Slaine, Kenny Wormald, Paul Ben-Victor, and Jay Giannone. Continue reading ‘By the Gun (Blu-ray Review)’
There was a time when I used to say I was not a fan of submarine movies. I have since found that to be inaccurate, given how much I appreciate the ones considered to be the best and even some of the more average attempts. I believe it to come down more to whether or not the film is effective in getting across the key idea of what works best in a submarine movie, which is effectively building the claustrophobic tension that comes from having multiple characters stuck with each other in a narrow enclosure, deep below the ocean’s surface. Black Sea manages to do this. It takes the premise of a heist film and combines that with what you can get from a submarine thriller, making for a unique sort of drama held together by some solid performances and an interesting play on what these characters actually desire most.
