‘Hopping Mad: The Mr. Vampire Sequels’ on Blu-ray May 22!
After the huge success of Mr. Vampire, Hong Kong audiences were desperate for more vampire-hopping action and the films’ producers were more than happy to oblige. A steady stream of jiangshi content was produced over the following years, and presented here are 4 of these classic titles from stunning new restorations. In Mr Vampire II (aka Vampire Family) an archaeologist and his students unwittingly set free a family of hopping vampires who wreak havoc in 1980s Hong Kong. Mr Vampire III returns to a period setting and sees Lam Ching-ying’s Taoist priest battle an evil witch (a brilliant performance by veteran actress Pauline Yuk-Wan Wong). Mr Vampire IV (aka Uncle Vampire) two feuding neighbors (a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk) must join forces when their village is overrun by vampires. And finally in Vampire vs Vampire, Lam Ching-ying’s Taoist priest finds his jiangshi-fighting knowledge is of little help when he goes up against a European vampire. Featuring a bevy of Hong Kong legends including Lam Ching-ying, Yuen Biao, Wu Ma, Richard Ng, Yuen Wah, and many more – this collection brings together four beloved films in definitive presentations in a very special edition. Filled with screams and laughs, Eureka Classics is proud to present Hopping Mad: The Mr Vampire Sequels on Blu-ray May 22, 2023!
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Rocky movies mean the world to me. Let me start by saying that. The Rocky films are sacred to me and have personally got me through some tough times in life, which I’ll elaborate on in a moment. However, is the price of admission here to get these films on the 4K UHD Disc format worth it? I think that’s the more relevant question to be addressed here. Truth be told when these were announced I didn’t even get excited. I’ve been so disappointed with the quality of some of the catalog films I have seen recently on 4K Disc that I just wasn’t whet with anticipation here. But come on man! We’re talking Rocky Balboa. So let me do this. Let me set aside some of the problems I have with this “Knockout” release for the moment and tell you about my love for the Rocky and now Creed film franchises. Deal? Don’t worry. We’ll get to my beefs soon enough. 
Whitney Houston lived an entire life in the public eye. From her early days as a background singer and model, to TV guest actress and finally singing superstar and leading lady, Whitney never really shed the pre-destined image of herself. She was a chameleon, working through each circle, code switching along the way. This drew sharp criticism from the peanut gallery and often caused her to publicly act out when she grew tired of putting on the brave face of America’s Sweetheart. Kasi Lemmons, Naomi Ackie, The Estate of Whitney Houston, Anthony McCarten, and Clive Davis among a huge number of others came together to create a definitive film portrait of the decade long gone Whitney, and for the sum of its parts, it feels a little flat. I go in depth below on Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody and you can click the paid link at the end if you want to get your own copy of the recently released Blu-ray.
Warner Bros. Discovery has meticulously remastered Max Fleischer’s treasured set of 17 animated Superman shorts from the original 35mm source elements. Max Fleischer’s Superman 1941-1943 will be available to purchase Digitally on HD and on Blu-ray May 16, 2023. Superman made his comic book debut in 1938, appearing in Action Comics #1 (dated June 1938, but officially published on April 18, 1938), and the Man of Steel’s popularity grew with his subsequent radio program. Max Fleischer gave the world’s first Super Hero his initial animated spotlight, producing 17 theatrical animated shorts from September 1941 to July 1943 that further elevated the character’s profile, and added many significant aspects to his canon – including coining many of Superman’s patented catchphrases and attributes. 
When I was making my Top 10 films of 2022 list, Sarah Polley’s Women Talking was one of my very last cuts. Its a terrific film that wound up being pretty silent come awards season chatter whereas it seemed like it was going to be a big player. For the Academy Awards, its been nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Nonetheless, some recognizing is better than none. You’ll be able to bring the film home on standard Blu-ray when it hits the market on March 7th. Unfortunately no 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray at this time, but a physical release is something to be grateful for (I’M STILL WAITING BARBARIAN ON AT LEAST REGULAR BLU-RAY!). The film with a stacked cast full of great performances is available to pre-order now and you can do so by scrolling all the way to the bottom of this page and clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
The Spider-Man universe has a lot going on right now. I’m talking traffic at Times Square busy. Spider-Gwen has clones, Silk is back, Miles Morales is trying to find his way, and Dark Web made a chaotic splash, and then there’s Janine Godbe. Godbe is the former girlfriend of Ben Reilly, a clone Spider-Man. When Reilly’s memories were erased and he became the villain Chasm, Janine Godbe hit the road with her collection of supernatural masks to become Hallow’s Eve.
Last week Image launched its newest series, and despite its title, the concept is definitely from out of town. Local Man is created and written by the duo of Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) and Tony Fleecs (Star Wars Adventures) and the tandem has approached the first issue in a most unique way. Jack Xaver, better known by his hero name Crossjack, is a former member of the super team Third Gen. The comic book is actually set up quite unconventionally where the back cover starts with Third Gen in action ripping through a horde of supposed baddies. If you flip the comic book over to the other cover, however, it delves into the modern day aftermath of Jack Xaver back home at his parents’ place in a small town called Farmington. So what got this guy the boot?
As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, five films featuring the iconic DC Super Hero Superman – Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III, and Superman IV – will be available for purchase in a five-film collection on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital on April 18. Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the Superman films star Christopher Reeve as the legendary “Man of Steel.” On April 18, the Superman 1978 – 1987 5-Film Collection will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature films in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc with the feature films and special features in HD, and a Digital version of each film. Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before. 
Like a Scream sequel, Puss In Boots laid in hibernation for 11 years before returning to theaters with another adventure. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish came at the Holiday time in December and fare well against the mighty Avatar: The Way Of Water. The movie looked like something of an afterthought and then surprised and wowed audiences and critics alike. Now its coming home for hopefully more people to jump on board The Last Wish train. Released on February 28th, the movie will include an Atmos track and a slew of extras (including a new short) to keep the party going after the credits roll. You can order yourself a copy of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Embark on Magic Mike’s last hurrah, featuring Channing Tatum reprising his role as Mike Lane when “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on February 28th . The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh from a script by Reid Carolin, with help from Soderbergh’s creative team behind the scenes includes production designer Pat Campbell (TV’s “The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself”), costume designer Christopher Peterson (“The Irishman”) and music supervisor Season Kent (“KIMI,” “Let Them All Talk”), with choreography by Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, both part of the “Magic Mike” franchise, starring “Magic” Mike Lane (Tatum). The film also stars Salma Hayek Pinault (“House of Gucci,” “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”), along with dancers from the “Magic Mike Live” shows in London and Las Vegas. The film will be available on Blu-ray and DVD beginning on April 18th . The film also stars Ayub Khan Din (TV’s “Ackley Bridge”), newcomer Jemelia George, Juliette Motamed (TV’s “We Are Lady Parts”) and Vicki Pepperdine (“Johnny English Strikes Again”). The film was produced by Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Tatum, Carolin and Peter Kiernan with Julie M. Anderson executive producing. The film was recently released in limited theaters as a special opportunity for fans and they came out in numbers to experience this final film. 
The perennial, cult-status epic starring David Bowie, The Man Who Fell to Earth, arrives on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray™ + Digital in an Exclusive Steelbook only at Best Buy on April 25 from Lionsgate. Based on the 1963 novel by Paul Mayersberg and directed by sci-fi legend Nicolas Roeg, this impressionistic film offers contemporary audiences a timeless, poignant mirror in its exploration of the impact of capitalism and industrialization on the future of humanity and the planet. Newly restored for the first time in 4K Ultra HD, this ’70s classic will be available for purchase on April 25th.
Norman Osborne, better known as the Green Goblin, is easily Spider-Man’s greatest nemesis. The sled-flying psycho has changed his tune in recent years, most recently donning the unwilling moniker of the Gold Goblin. After his son Harry’s death, a gap was left in the world of law-refusing goblindom. Enter Normie Osborn, Harry’s son, grandson of Norman. But this little scarlet menace is quite different than his science-based predecessors. What secret does he hold that his family does not?
Warner Bros is celebrating its 100th Anniversary with the release of many high profile classic titles new the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. The look like they’ll all come with a nifty slip cover that has newer art and a header logo signifying the century of cinematic existence. I believe the first one under that look will be Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 Academy Award winning film Training Day (nabbing Denzel Washington the Best Actor trophy). In addition to a brand new 4K transfer, the police thriller will be getting a brand new Dolby Atmos track, the first time it will be presented at home in a lossless format. All of the extras originating from the first DVD release are carried over and provided here, too. Training Day will be released on February 28th and you can pre-order yourself a copy using the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of this review to secure yourself a copy. 
All four big-screen adventures featuring 
Heroic Gerard Butler teams up with Mike Colter when Plane is scheduled for arrival on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand March 28 from Lionsgate. From director Jean-François Richet (Blood Father, Assault on Precinct 13, Mesrine), Plane stars Gerard Butler (300, Law Abiding Citizen, The Phantom of the Opera), Mike Colter (TV’s “Luke Cage,” Men in Black 3, TV’s “Jessica Jones”), Yoson An (Mulan, Mortal Engines, TV’s “Creamerie”), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World: Dominion, TV’s “The Vampire Diaries,” “Cowboy Bebop”), and Paul Ben-Victor (The Irishman, Get Hard, TV’s “True Detective”), and Tony Goldwyn (Ghost, The Last Samurai, TV’s “Scandal”).
