Jump Across the Street to ’22 Jump Street’ For a Jumping Good Time! (Movie Review)
It should be no surprise to anyone that the dynamic duo, hilarious tag team of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, are back on the big screen reprising their respective roles from 2012 in the appropriately titled 22 Jump Street (I’ll expand upon that more down below). I last talked about 21 Jump Street in my Blu-ray review over here in 2012 and I’m happy to report that I still have not seen a single episode from the original television series, but I’ve studied enough pop culture and seen enough comedies to pick up on references here and there. I’m smart like that. However, make no mistake. I wasn’t looking forward to this one very much. Like the sequel to the original Hangover film I had my doubts and wondered if this second outing would simply be a cash grab with the same story, etc. set in a different locale. Even if it was, I’d probably laugh, but I’m a movie critic and I want more. I deserve more. Hear me roar! So the question that really matters is did I get what I was looking for? Oh yeah! I got that and so much more! Continue reading ‘Jump Across the Street to ’22 Jump Street’ For a Jumping Good Time! (Movie Review)’
While I tend to be a very impatient fellow who’s always wanting something else as fast as it can be handed to me, there are some things worth the wait. There are such things as the perfect film. Lightning can surely strike the same place twice. And for those reasons and so many more, that’s why were gathered here today. We’re here today to discuss my favorite film of 2014 thus far, How To Train Your Dragon 2. Quite frankly, I don’t care if I ruin the rest of the review by bestowing my feelings upon you this early within. How To Train Your Dragon 2 was about as perfect as they come in my opinion, a film the whole family (young and old) can rally behind and truly enjoy. The filmmakers broke the mold when they crafted the first one in 2010 and this second one is “the Holy Grail” or The Empire Strikes Back of which all sequels should strive to live up to. It really doesn’t get any simpler than this. Now that the origin story was told some four years ago, there’s a whole new world to explore within How To Train Your Dragon 2 and let me assure you, the stakes have never been higher. 
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the wishlist!
The exhilarating and terrifying journey of the Winchester brothers continues as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group delivers the ninth season of Supernatural on Blu-ray™ and DVD on September 9, 2014. Supernatural: The Complete Ninth Season contains all 23 gripping episodes from Season Nine and is packed with over four hours of bonus content – including featurettes, commentaries, a Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Fans that purchase the Blu-ray™ will also have access to a Digital HD copy of all 23 episodes. How do you deal with a fallout of heavenly proportions? With the angelic Host’s descent to Earth, Sam and Dean are now facing a world inhabited by thousands of powerful beings, who soon form their own chaotic agendas. Before tackling the threat of the “loose nukes” roaming the globe, however, the Winchesters engage in their most personal conflict yet. Meanwhile, Castiel finds he’s more vulnerable – and yet capable of more humanity – than ever. As the threat escalates, a way must be found to reopen the gates of Heaven and head off a demon insurrection in Hell. The whole time, darkness leaves its mark on Dean, but has he finally crossed the line to protect his family? The excitement of this 23-episode ninth season is positively epic. 
Let’s get one thing straight from the start. When I went into the press screening earlier this year I was completely against this movie. While it looked unique and looked like it could be fun, I just did not want to invest the time in it and regret it later because you know life’s too short, yada, yada, yada. How could they possibly tie all these different brands together and cohesively make it all work? But then again I thought, what IF this was really good? What IF I would be missing out on something really special? Quite frankly, that’s too many what ifs for me. I must admit that I had a small glimmer of hope that I just might like this one because like the tagline says, it’s the story of a nobody who save everybody. That’s me! And anyway, aren’t all great movies like billed this? So I figured as long as The LEGO Movie can take me on a journey through the eyes of a hero and I fall for his character arc then just maybe I might be able to have a good time with this one. If not, then there was always the promise of popcorn to be had! So as nonsensical as this first paragraph really is, what do you say we talk about some LEGOs…on Blu-ray? 
I got to admit, although I have not tuned in the past two seasons I used to love The Vampire Diaries as evident from my Comic-Con coverage years ago 
Go behind-the-scenes and beneath the streets to discover the real origin story of four of pop culture’s most enduring heroes in the captivating new film TURTLE POWER: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, debuting on DVD, VOD and Digital HD August 12, 2014 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Written and directed by Randall Lobb, the film chronicles the birth of a franchise and reveals the remarkable journey of four of the most unlikely super heroes of all time. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael with this must-see documentary and the August 8th theatrical debut of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles starring Megan Fox and Will Arnett. 
For several of the reviewers here at Why So Blu, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a HUGE title releasing next week on the Blu-ray and DVD formats. So why not celebrate its release by giving away a free Blu-ray of the film to one lucky winner next week? That sounds like a swell idea to me! And just to prove how huge of fans we are of this film here I would like to call your attention to all of Aaron Neuwirth’s roundtable coverage of interviews this past March 
I had never heard of this film, but it sounds all sorts of under your skin-type creepy. Synapse Films is bringing this festival hit to DVD on August 12. It came out of a film that was originally made for a 48 hour film festival (if you don’t know what those are, check them out). Below are the release details provided to us from Synapse Films as well as the cover art. Be sure to check WORM out when it drops on August 12!
Finally some more Spike Lee “joints” are getting the love on Blu-ray. The Spike Lee Joint Collection features two volumes and four films. I don’t know if there is any more planned beyond these two releases, but I hope its the start of something. This first volume of the set covers 1998’s He Got Game and 2002’s (overlooked for awards) 25th Hour. Both films feature brand spanking new commentaries with Spike Lee himself as well as Edward Norton and Ray Allen. For 25th Hour, the bonus material from the DVD has made its way over as well. These are two films that feature very New York stories as we are accustomed to seeing from Spike Lee, one of history’s more interesting, strong spoken and bravest filmmakers. 
I’ll admit it. I realize that I’m one of the rare fans of 2005 comedy The Ringer who quite honestly has been waiting an awful long time for this one to make it to the Blu-ray format. While it may not be the best that the comedy genre has to offer, there’s no denying that like most films the Farrelly brothers are behind the feature has some heart, bite and merit. You can chalk it up to my past and my involvement with the Special Olympics, on the field volunteering and behind the scenes creating websites for them, but regardless whatever reasons I have for liking this one so much it always comes down to the kids and how special they really are. The comedy is only secondary. Now I realize maybe that’s not the correct way to market this film, but after sitting down with this one again, finally on the Blu-ray format, and taking in all the behind the scenes footage and interviews with cast, crew and athletes the message this one hits home becomes so much more apparent, one of understanding, recognition and above all else, love. This is The Ringer! 
It’s the reboot that seemed an interesting but dangerous venture. The original Paul Verhoven classic is damn near as perfect a movie as you can get. As unnecessary as the reboot sounded, interesting names kept popping into it. At the outset, this was a Darren Aronofsky project, but he exited. Even the eventual director Jose Padilha was kind of an exciting choice. Then the cast of side characters came with friendly names. Robocop himself was an actor that I am a big fan of in The Killing and Snabba Cash’s Joel Kinnaman. And apparently, by rule of Brian White, I must review every Joel Kinnaman film that comes across the desks at Why So Blu. So, unfortunately that meant I had to go back to modern Detroit and visit Alex Murphy again in a movie I have dubbed “Fauxbocop”. I really wanted this movie to be good, but in the end it struggled to battle being generic. My feelings alone and America aside, the film was a pretty solid global hit with a worldwide take of over $242.5 million in box office. 
