The Pawnbroker (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! 
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. 
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. 
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! 
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.
Today we’re off to see the Wizard…again…
You’re going to have to forgive me. I’m a little late to this party here. I had every intention of posting this video when it was released yesterday, but I never got around to it. It’s not that I didn’t want to or that I was procrastinating, but maybe like a lot of you, the death of Kurt Cobain had a very profound impact on my life. And quite honestly, that’s hard to admit sometimes. As soon as you utter the name Kurt Cobain to an elder and profess your mad affinity for the man you kind of instantly get mislabeled as a druggie or a degenerate, sort of the bad rap he received himself. So I would think it’s odd to hear praise of the man’s career coming from someone like me who has sworn off drugs his entire life, not even touching a cigarette once, to say my love for the man and his art knows no boundaries, even in his death. And that’s truly where our story begins. 
Never before available on DVD, Shout! Factory will release the award-winning International series Prisoners of War: Season One on July 8th. Created by Gideon Raff (Homeland) the series follows the story of three Israeli soldiers held captive for 17 years and the lives they return to after being released.
“Planes: Fire & Rescue” is a new comedy-adventure about second chances, featuring a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Dane Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous team, including spirited super scooper Dipper (voice of Julie Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero. Directed by Bobs Gannaway (“Secret of the Wings”), “Planes: Fire & Rescue” hits theaters in 3D on July 18, 2014. Today, check out this new trailer! And keep scrolling down to see a few character pictures complete with descriptions! 
A little side note to my Blu-ray review of Norma Rae to start off. My screenwriting professor in college’s big claim to fame in his movie making career was working on this movie. It was an Academy Award nominated film and the one that nabbed Sally Field her first Best Actress statue. While I don’t think the university was happy with him (he was usually 20 minutes late to a 50 minute class), for the short time we did have him he had terrific stories and was a very positive and informative when it came to writing. I wrote a sitcom pilot for one of my projects in his class and he kept e-mailing me throughout his read to tell me how much enjoyed it. Anywho, while Norma Rae is the prestigious one he can flaunt, I think the coolest credit on his resume is being the assistant director on the Chuck Norris epic, THE OCTAGON! 
