Archive Page 383
September 24th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is one thing to put out a film that is a film that shows off the hundreds of hours of work that went into crafting a wholly unique world and set of characters, but it is another thing to merge that craftsmanship with a wonderful story about identity and societal roles of all things. Of course, it would be easier to just say The Boxtrolls is a high-spirited, mad-cap adventure-comedy that may not be as complex or tinged with darkness in the same way that Laika’s previous films, Coraline and ParaNorman, were, but still another fine entry from a studio that has done wonders in the stop-animation world in recent years.
Continue reading ‘Here Be ‘Boxtrolls,’ Delightful, Stop-Motion Fun (Movie Review)’
September 24th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
It may be most pleasing to former Why So Blu? writer Gregg Senko for me to say that Step Up All In was one of the better films of the summer and it is because it is true. I have quite the fondness for this ongoing dance-movie franchise and while I can acknowledge that various aspects of these films are certainly ridiculous and laughable that does not mean I do not derive just as much entertainment from these parts of the film (the story beats, character stuff) as I do the well-directed dance portions. With all that in mind, Step Up All In is coming to Blu-ray on November 4th from Lionsgate and it looks to be packed with extras as well. Get the lowdown by continuing to read this post!
Continue reading ‘The Latest Film in the Popular Step Up Franchise Step Up All In Arrives On Blu-ray This November’
September 24th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
John Cusack (Lee Daniel’s The Butler, The Frozen Ground) and Ryan Phillippe (The Lincoln Lawyer, Crash) star in the heart-racing thriller Reclaim, arriving on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD November 18 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The film is currently available on Demand. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Rachelle Lefevre (TV’s “Under the Dome,” The Twilight SagaFranchise), Veronica Faye Foo (Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame), Luis Guzman (The Last Stand, Boogie Nights), Academy Award®-nominee Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom) and introducing Briana Roy, Reclaim shows what happens when an American couple finds all is not what it seems when they become victims of an international adoption scam. Continue reading ‘John Cusack & Ryan Phillippe Star In RECLAIM Arriving On Blu-ray November 18’
September 24th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Based on a long-running hit play by Del Shores, SORDID LIVES became a hit movie where it had a record-setting 96-week run at the Camelot Theater in Palm Springs. On the festival circuit, it garnered numerous awards, including Best Feature awards at the Austin and Philadelphia LGBT Film Festivals, and Best Feature and Best Actor: Leslie Jordan awards at the New York Independent Film Festival. The story didn’t end there either. In 2008, the Logo network produced a season of Sordid Lives: The Series that sort of started before the events of the play but went past them as well. However, it was canceled after just that one season on the network. Continue reading ‘Sordid Lives (Blu-ray Review)’
September 24th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
RAM Releasing
, the New York-based noir film distribution company and a division of Film Movement, announces the DVD and Bluray release of MOEBIUS, the latest from shock auteur Kim Ki-duk (Pieta), available on October 28. Including exclusive interviews with cast and crew, as well as a post-screening Q&A from the film’s New York premiere at New York Asian Film Festival, the movie Twitchfilm.com calls “a terrifying and morbidly humorous narrative,” owning this one-of-a-kind thrill ride is a must for any fan of Kim’s boundary-pushing filmmaking. The feature film also becomes available to own digitally on October 28 on all major patforms. Continue reading ‘South Korean Thriller MOEBIUS On Bluray October 28’
September 23rd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
“Fast-paced and packed with eye-popping action” (Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News), Paramount Pictures’ and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ wildly entertaining epic adventureHERCULES debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and DVD November 4, 2014 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD October 21. Global superstar Dwayne Johnson delivers an unforgettable performance as the mighty Hercules in this thrilling story of strength, courage and heroism. When a terrifying new enemy threatens the innocent, Hercules and his fearless team of warriors must lead their army in a battle against overwhelming odds. HERCULES boasts a sensational cast of acclaimed actors including Ian McShane (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Joseph Fiennes (TV’s “American Horror Story”), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist), and John Hurt (Immortals).
Continue reading ‘HERCULES Extended Cut Lands On Blu-ray 11/4’
September 23rd, 2014 by Jordan Grout
The opening scene of The Dead 2 depicts a man lumbering through a town. That’s basically how the movie works: clumsy, plodding, and with no sense as to where it’s going. I did not see The Dead 1, and after this follow-up, it’s not likely I ever will. At least there are some pretty landscape shots and a handful of effective bursts of gore to tease the viewer, making them believe the film will improve. Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got. Continue reading ‘The Dead 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
September 23rd, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
If you have ever watched The Road Warrior and felt that film could use a lot more existential angst, well you are in luck, as writer/director David Michod has followed up his critically acclaimed crime drama Animal Kingdom with this slightly futuristic Australian western. Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson star in this cerebral thriller that attempts to balance style with a nihilistic take on a collapsed world of the future. It may or may not have been successful, but now the film is available on Blu-ray for all to check out. Continue on to read more about this film and its Blu-ray package.
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Continue reading ‘The Rover (Blu-ray Review)’
September 23rd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
HI! I’M MR. MEESEEKS! LOOK AT ME! RICK & MORTY SEASON 1 IS ON BLU-RAY & DVD OCTOBER 7TH! YOU CAN BUY IT NOW! I’M MR. MEESEEKS! IT HAS LOTS OF BONUS VIDEOS AND IS REAL FUNNY! DID YOU BUY IT YET? IT’S SO GOOD, YOU SHOUD BUY IT. HERE’S A VIDEO YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT! AND SHAAAARREEEE! – #RickandMorty
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September 22nd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Millennium Entertainment is proud to announce the home entertainment release of the genre-bending THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN. Directed by Adam Robitel, the spine-chiller stars Jill Larson (ABC’s “All My Children,” Shutter Island), Anne Ramsay (Planet of the Apes, A League of Their Own, NBC’s “Mad About You,” ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”), Michelle Ang (My Wedding and Other Secrets, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son) and Ryan Cutrona (Fox’s “24,” AMC’s “Mad Men”). Just in time for Halloween, the found-footage thriller will be available on Early EST October 21, 2014 before heading to VOD and DVD on November 4, 2014. Continue reading ‘THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN Available On DVD November 4’
September 22nd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart is a pretty high profile animated film being imported to us via Shout! Factory from France. This film has some pretty cool roots. Apparently this was based on a concept album by a French rock band (you can see some of the performances at their concerts on the bonus material videos). The singer of the band and songwriter didn’t just stop there, he took to a novel. Following that it became a hit movie that is finally making its way to theaters in the United States on September 4th followed by the Blu-ray we’re about to review on October 7th. And while the Blu-ray features an English track, you do have the option to listen to the French with the original singers performing the parts. Continue reading ‘Jack And The Cuckoo-Clock Heart (Blu-ray Review)’
September 22nd, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Join Colin and Mitch, two retired ex-brothers-in-law hoping to reclaim their youth on a road trip through Iceland, in LAND HO! This charming comedy adventure from Sony Pictures Classics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment debuts on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital HD Nov. 4, after earning “bravos!” from top critics and audiences at several U.S. film festivals, including Sundance, Los Angeles, Sedona and Tribeca. The film’s odd-couple, played by Paul Eenhoorn (This is Martin Bonner) and Earl Lynn Nelson (Pilgrim Song), look to “get their groove back” in the quirky tale that The New York Times hailed as “a delightfully funny road movie about two longtime friends.” Variety’s Justin Chang considered the performances to be “pitch-perfect,” and The Wall Street Journal heralded the film as “a breakout film in every way.” Continue on to read more about this upcoming Blu-ray release.
Continue reading ‘LAND HO! arrives On Blu-ray Combo Pack & Digital HD Nov. 4’
September 22nd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Mad Men has long been a hugely celebrated drama and is deserving of its many accolades over the years. It broke the Emmy barrier for Cable TV saying that not just premium channels were making great television, regular old cable was doing it too. The man behind the series is Matthew Weiner, who steps out of that light to direct the film we’re reviewing the Blu-ray of today. Are You Here was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and made a short theatrical run this past August. As we know, it did not topple Guardians Of The Galaxy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Now its ready for its debut on the glorious Blu-ray format. Let’s take a look, shall we? Continue reading ‘Are You Here (Blu-ray Review)’
September 22nd, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Bubba Sawyer (or you may refer to him as Leatherface) has turned 40 years old ladies and gents. It was that long ago that Tobe Hooper’s grimy, dark horror film about a group of unlucky youths traveling through Texas shocked and mortified audiences forever. For the 40th anniversary of course we have to get another home video release. But, rest easy folks, this new edition of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is just a nice Warner Bros-type “same disc with new packaging art” release. Nope, they’ve gone and done a 4K restoration job on it and it looks and sounds better than ever. They’ve also been so kind as to port over all your favorite old extras from the previous DVD and Blu-ray iterations. Unfortunately those won’t be a part of this review as we’ve only been sent the single disc edition. Let’s not boo hoo, though, this is the freakin’ Texas Chain Saw Massacre we’re talking about here. One of the greats! So, let’s do this! Continue reading ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Edition – Single Disc (Blu-ray Review)’
September 22nd, 2014 by Brian White
Transformers Age of Extinction, the fourth film in the Michael Bay Transformers franchise, is both a theatrical movie and a Blu-ray that I wanted nothing to do with. The last two, minus seeing Megan Fox and her sexy thumbs in the second film, were absolute bowel movements in motion. How many times can we see the same story repeated over and over again? Decepticons come down and want to destroy the Earth. Yada yada yada. I’m bored just typing this. I have seen it all before. Should we the movie going public have expected anything less than just more of the same simply because there’s a different looking cast? Initially, the curator of toys in me really couldn’t pass my initial theatrical press screening opportunity up just to see if Michael Bay got any better in the storytelling department or not. And now, the only saving grace for me, is to find out whether or not I was too harsh when I ripped apart Transformers Age of Extinction on my theatrical review. That sole reason, ladies and gentlemen, is why I bothered to show up here. I hope you enjoy the ride. It will probably get bumpy. Continue reading ‘Transformers Age of Extinction (Blu-ray Review)’
September 19th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
A Walk Among the Tombstones is a nice change of pace as far Liam Neeson’s career as a B-movie action star goes. While the film may be sold as another chance to see Neeson use a particular set of skills to beat up some bad guys, it is really more of a detective story that flirts with noir-ish elements, with some grisly thriller aspects thrown in for good measure. Based on a series of novels by Lawrence Bock, which is focused on the character Matthew Scudder, Neeson’s performance not only keeps this film together overall, but establishes a new potential franchise, which would be more interesting than watching him rescuing various kidnapped members of his family from European gangsters over and over again.
Continue reading ‘Hard Boiled Neeson Takes ‘A Walk Among The Tombstones’ (Movie Review)’
September 19th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Director Terry Gilliam falls into the category of filmmakers that make movies that fit entirely into their own genres. Quentin Tarantino makes Tarantino movies rather than straight comedies or action movies. Tim Burton used to not really make horror or fantasy films, but instead he made Tim Burton films (hopefully he gets back to that soon). I could go on, but Terry Gilliam does not really make science fiction films, he makes Terry Gilliam films, and that is what The Zero Theorem amounts to. While the film feels like it has too much indebted to his own past work, specifically his best film (arguably), Brazil, The Zero Theorem is still unlike any sort of traditional take on dystopian sci-fi worlds, because Gilliam operates on his very own level, even while battling studios to preserve his vision. As a result, while visually arresting and well-acted, it is not as conceptually interesting as it is a fun polish on some old ideas.
Continue reading ‘Gilliam Tries His Best To Construct ‘The Zero Theorem’ (Movie Review)’
September 19th, 2014 by Brian White
A Walk Among The Tombstones movie trailer could initially fool someone into thinking they should be expecting Taken 3. The trailer for A Walk Among The Tombstones shares some of the similar DNA to Taken with the same leading man, Liam Neeson, as well as familiar plot devices such as a tape recorder. However, the cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” by Nouela (it can be heard here) reminds us that this is a much more darker and grizzlier crime drama tale than the Taken films. It’s also based on a novel by Lawrence Block of the same name, and believe it or not, once upon a time in 2002 Harrison Ford was attached to star. So I honestly don’t feel tooted now that my movie has been in development for some three years now, but I digress. Continue reading ‘‘A Walk Among The Tombstones’ Mostly Thrills (Movie Review)’
It is one thing to put out a film that is a film that shows off the hundreds of hours of work that went into crafting a wholly unique world and set of characters, but it is another thing to merge that craftsmanship with a wonderful story about identity and societal roles of all things. Of course, it would be easier to just say The Boxtrolls is a high-spirited, mad-cap adventure-comedy that may not be as complex or tinged with darkness in the same way that Laika’s previous films, Coraline and ParaNorman, were, but still another fine entry from a studio that has done wonders in the stop-animation world in recent years.
