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My pick today is a movie that was one of those glorious films that get dumped in Januarys. Yep, I’m about to ask for a movie that got an 11% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes (68% audience score though). A film so bold, it scored a 14 on Metacritic.
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. Continue reading ‘Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist – April 17, 2014′
Action, romance and the most famous volcanic event in recorded history collide in the epic adventure POMPEII, available May 20 on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, DVD* and Digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Kit Harington (TV’s “Game of Thrones”), Emily Browning (Sucker Punch), and Kiefer Sutherland (TV’s “24”) star in this heroic tale of a young slave-turned-gladiator in a race against time to save his true love during the cataclysmic eruption of Italy’s deadly volcano, Mount Vesuvius. Continue reading ‘‘Pompeii’ on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD May 20th!’
Just before he directed The Italian Job, Peter Collinson helmed Up The Junction. This tale of a rich woman deciding to leave that life behind and try and slide into the ranks of the working class was based upon true events. Nell Dunn wrote a book of the same name that chronicled herself sliding in and observing the culture and life of the people in the slums of Battersea and Clapham Junction. Before coming to the big screen, the story was adapted into a BBC miniseries 3 years prior as a part of an anthology series called The Wednesday Play. That version had a big audience and apparently plenty of complaints about its content. While the film didn’t do too well in the US, its soundtrack did. And this movie’s title may indeed be more known as a song than it is a film, but I think the film deserves a second look. Continue reading ‘Up The Junction (Blu-ray Review)’
“A stellar cast” (Jeffrey Lyons, Lyons Den Radio), including Oscar®winner Kevin Costner*, Oscar® nominee Hailee Steinfeld** and Amber Heard, lead this “undeniably entertaining” (Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter) action-thriller. Costner plays a daring International spy with lethal skills and a hard-earned reputation for tackling the most dangerous missions imaginable. But when a seductive CIA operative (Heard) makes him an offer he can’t refuse, he’s forced to juggle his two toughest assignments yet: looking after his rebellious teenage daughter (Steinfeld), while hunting down the world’s most ruthless terrorist. Continue reading ‘‘3 Days To Kill’ on Blu-ray & DVD May 20th!’
While some of us at Why So Blu are concerned whether or not MMA fighter Gina Carano can be considered an actress (I personally felt she was fine in Haywire), she has another starring role to prove herself in with In The Blood. Here are some official words about it: Gina Carano stars as Ava, a trained fighter with a dark past. When her new husband (Cam Gigandet) vanishes during their Caribbean honeymoon, Ava uncovers a violent underworld of conspiracy in the middle of an island paradise. Armed with a deadly set of skills, Ava sets out to discover the truth – and to take down the men she thinks are responsible for his abduction, one by one. This will likely be action packed and arrives on Blu-ray for all to find out on June 3rd. Continue on to learn more about this upcoming release.
Continue reading ‘Gina Carano “Acts” & Kicks Butt in ‘IN THE BLOOD’ on Blu-ray This June’
A deadly virus turns the good citizens of Amsterdam into the bloodthirsty undead in the horror-comedy KILL ZOMBIE!, debuting on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital June 10th from Well Go USA Entertainment. After spending the night locked safely away in the local jail, two brothers and two criminals emerge to find their hometown devastated and ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Joining forces with a lithe and beautiful officer, they embark on a reluctant rescue mission using everything at their disposal – mallets, crossbows, bowling balls, shotguns and heavy artillery. “Writer Tijs van Marle and Directors Marijn Smits and Erwin Ven Den Eshof create a Zom-Com which uses charmingly outdated wit to its advantage. With an entertaining kill count and arsenal that makes Shaun of the Dead look like My Little Pony,Kill Zombie! is a truly entertaining piece worthy of your time.” (Boxofficebuz.com)
Continue reading ‘‘Kill Zombie!’ on Blu-ray & DVD June 10th!’
Grand Piano, the Fantastic Fest darling and hit Video OnDemand horror film starring Elijah Wood and John Cusack is on its way to Blu-ray next month courtesy of Magnolia Home Entertainment. Horror (though this is listed as “Thriller”) and VOD have started becoming really good friends and turning out some great product, be it a VOD debut or a festival film’s avenue to a wider release. I was actually planning on finally getting to this one this weekend, but it looks like I’ll just put it on hold a little longer until it comes for review. It arrives on May 20th and you can start pre-ordering it by clicking the Amazon link below (help your fellow Why So Blu reviewers!). Also, below are some of the details regarding the release from Magnolia. Continue reading ‘Sing Us The Song, You’re The GRAND PIANO Man, Sing Us A Song May 20th (On Blu-ray)!’
Emanuel (Kaya Scodelario), a troubled young woman, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious new neighbor (Jessica Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. When an unexpected discovery results in a shared secret between the two, their relationship intensifies, and Emanuel’s already-fragile world begins to spin out of control. Continue reading ‘The Truth About Emanuel (Blu-ray Review)’
Legendary director Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker is a landmark in American filmmaking. This was the first Holocaust/World War II film to tell it from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor. And its an unrelenting and ruthless film for the times in terms of the suggestive events in the flashbacks. Its also the first mainstream film to have nudity approved by the Production Code. The Production Code was something that was in place before we had a ratings system. A pair of breasts is what is on display, but due to the manner in which its used it was given the OK. The film also features the role that landed actor Rod Steiger on the A-list and launched him into stardom. Olive Films has taken this landmark film and restored it and will be releasing it to the lovely Blu-ray format. Continue reading ‘The Pawnbroker (Blu-ray Review)’
Let’s be honest here. Who with a smartphone, tablet, gaming console and even a computer has never enjoyed, partakes in or even still enjoys the many incarnations of the smash hit mobile game Angry Birds? I think if I asked this question in front of a live studio audience, I would be hard pressed to see anyone not raise their hands unless Christopher Nolan was there or something. But I digress. The Angry Birds are coming back to your living room with Angry Birds Toons: Season One, Volume Two! And thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment we have some exciting prizes to give away to 6 lucky readers here at Why So Blu! Sound good to you? Read on below to learn more about Angry Birds Toons: Season One, Volume Two and how you can win the ultimate grand prize we have to give away! Continue reading ‘Win Angry Birds Toons: Season One, Volume Two on DVD!’
Crossing another feature off my list of modern classics that are favorite films mine, which I have now written a review for, Fargo has returned to Blu-ray once again, with a new remastered transfer. This Oscar-winning Coen Brothers film has had its share of releases in the past and even if there is still bound to be another release in the future (its 20th anniversary is a couple years away), the film is still as strong as ever, with a great new transfer to make it look and sound better than ever. You betcha can read on to learn more about this new Blu-ray release.
Those keeping up with the news may have heard today that David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en, Zodiac) will likely not be directing a Steve Jobs biopic, scripted by Aaron Sorkin. Given my love for their previous collaboration, The Social Network, that is unfortunate news, but with that said, the day was also met with a trailer for Fincher’s upcoming 2014 film, Gone Girl, based on the bestselling novel by Gillian Flynn. After The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it seems that Fincher is fine with adapting popular pulp novels found in grocery stores, but I am not one to complain, if he at least continues to make these films entertaining via his visual and directorial style and stocked with a great cast. This film features Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Kim Dickens, Scoot McNairy, Patrick Fugit, and of course, Tyler Perry. The film looks like a fun pulpy ride to me, check it out for yourself in this post.
Continue reading ‘GONE GIRL Teaser Trailer, The Latest From Director David Fincher’
Olive Film’s will release another title from the classic film noir era on April 15. This time its 1948’s Sleep My Love, starring Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings, Don Ameche and Raymond Burr. It’s helmed by German director Douglas Sirk, later known for his Hollywood melodramas in the 1950s. The film received a lukewarm response upon its release, with some complaints and criticisms that still hold up on it today. Douglas Sirk even acknowledged the film as a failure. Looking back, its not a perfect film, but its definitely not the catastrophe its director made it out to be. Most of the pleasantries come from a great hook and some wonderfully nightmarish photography from the film’s DP Joseph Valentine. So, now, let’s take a look at this 66 year old film. Continue reading ‘Sleep My Love (Blu-ray Review)’
Nelly (Felicity Jones) is haunted by her past. Her memories take us back in time to follow the story of her relationship with Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) with whom she discovered an exciting but fragile complicity. Dickens – famous, controlling and emotionally isolated within his success – falls for Nelly. As Nelly becomes the focus of Dickens’ passion and his muse, for both of them secrecy is the price, and for Nelly a life of “invisibility.” Continue reading ‘The Invisible Woman (Blu-ray Review)’
Cry Freedom was the film directorial debut of child star Robert Parrish. He shot the movie over just twenty two days back in 1950-51. As anyone can tell you, that’s an incredibly short amount of time. However, when you see how concise and focused the film is, you can tell Parrish set out and knew exactly what he was doing and precisely what he was wanting. In 2011, the film received a newly restored print from two 35 mm negatives courtesy of the Film Noir Foundation (in cooperation with Paramount and Warner Brothers. The film then premiered on March 14, 2011 at the UCLA Festival Of Preservation. This well reviewed piece of classic film noir is coming to Blu-ray courtesy of our friends over at Olive Films. Continue reading ‘Cry Danger (Blu-ray Review)’
Olive Films has brought 1968’s sci fi cult classic, The Bamboo Saucer to Blu-ray. I tried to do some research on this film for this review because I’d never seen it. But, to no avail, there’s not a whole lot of information regarding this film’s production on the usual legitimate movie researching tools found on the web. And after seeing the film, it became even more of a bummer that there weren’t and supplemental materials (even if it were just film historians and fans discussing it) provided on the disc. But, as I always say, at least its on Blu-ray. Just getting a film to this glorious format is triumph enough! Continue reading ‘The Bamboo Saucer (Blu-ray Review)’
Get your head out of the gutter, pervert! This is a kids movie! The Nut Job was a little animated feature that came out in the behemoth of “soon to be classics” release month of January. It hopped over its budget but didn’t really make a massive intake like a lot of animated gems do nowadays. Whatever your thoughts, its apparently getting a sequel aimed for the year 2016 in its stronghold month of January. Universal brings this family friendly affair to Blu-ray on April 15 making for a quick quick turnaround. I’ll be reviewing the regular Blu-ray combo release of the film, but there is a 3D version coming out the same day if that’s your cup of tea.
Oculus is a clever, well-crafted, and scary good time at the movies. As far as horror movies go, for having a premise with the logline: a brother and sister try to outsmart a killer mirror, the screenplay for this film is very smart. The film is a strong character drama that just happens to have a supernatural element, but the acting is very strong and the approach to the story keeps things moving. Oculus has its share of scares too, but they are well-earned, with developed suspense and a nastiness that is more implied than on display. I am always happy to enjoy a good horror movie, regardless of the sub-genre or filmmaking style on display, but Oculus really caught me off guard with how effective it felt in a variety of ways.
Continue reading ‘‘Oculus’ Hit Me In The Center Of My Horror Fandom (Movie Review)’
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