Hollywood Shuffle – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)
Fed up with his experiences as a black actor in Hollywood, comedian and performer Robert Townsend delivered his feature directorial debut built around those challenges. The result was 1987’s Hollywood Shuffle, a satirical and semi-autobiographical comedy reflecting what it meant to be a black actor that wasn’t Eddie Murphy or Denzel Washington at that time. The Criterion Collection has given this film proper treatment, complete with a new 4K digital transfer and a collection of extras to further expand Townsend’s vision, ideally opening it up to new audiences and reflecting how little things have changed. At the same time, a funny comedy is contained within, featuring many memorable moments and characters.
– Continue reading ‘Hollywood Shuffle – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist III will rise to a 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Collector’s Edition on March 28, 2023 from Scream Factory™. From the creator of the original The Exorcist, this terrifying third installment of the popular horror franchise creeps in 4K UHD for the first time. Fans can possess William Peter Blatty’s original version of the novel Legion with this director’s cut of The Exorcist III. Customers who pre-order their copy at ShoutFactory.com will receive an exclusive 18” x 24” rolled poster featuring the original theatrical artwork while supplies last.
She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film, presented from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse and produced by Atomic Monster in association with Divide/Conquer, has crossed $167 million at the global box office. M3GAN is produced by masters of horror—Atomic Monster’s James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Anabelle) and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum (Halloween franchise, The Invisible Man, The Black Phone) and directed by Gerald Johnstone (Housebound). The M3GAN UNRAT3D VERSION delivers more distressing violence and profanity and features never-before-seen bonus content including a breakdown of the creation of M3GAN and behind-the-scenes featurettes showcasing the film’s complex stunts and gory deaths. 
Do nothing. Stay and fight. Or leave. Experience the “haunting” and “deeply timely” (Tomris Laffly, The Wrap) drama about a remote colony’s fight for freedom against all odds in Orion Pictures’ WOMEN TALKING. It’s “unlike any film you’ve seen before” (Peter Debruge, Variety) and available to own for the first time on Digital February 21, 2023 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD on March 7, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, three classic and beloved films from the Warner Bros. library – The Maltese Falcon, Cool Hand Luke, and Rebel Without a Cause – will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital this April. On April 4, The Maltese Falcon and Cool Hand Luke 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. On April 4, Rebel Without a Cause will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc from online and in-store at major retailers. On April 18 it will be available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. The Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc will include each feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital version of the feature film.
Director Adrian Lyne’s electrifying classic FLASHDANCE celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. To celebrate the milestone, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the film for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD on April 11, 2023. Newly remastered and approved by Lyne, FLASHDANCE looks and sounds incredible on 4K Ultra HD. The new release also includes the remastered film on Blu-ray™, as well as access to a Digital copy of the film and legacy bonus content.Originally released on April 15, 1983, FLASHDANCE was a massive hit—becoming the third highest-grossing film of the year in the U.S.—as well as a pop culture sensation. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards® and Irene Cara won for her iconic song “Flashdance…What a Feeling.” Filled with music, drama, and, of course, dance, FLASHDANCE remains an influential and wildly entertaining cultural touchstone.
On March 14, 2023, Scream Factory™ presents Dead Silence (Collector’s Edition), a 2-disc set featuring the terrifying film starring Rwan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg and Bob Gunton, on 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™. Special features include new 4K masters, and brand new interviews with director James Wan, writer Leigh Whannell, and ventriloquist dummy creator Tim Selberg.
A couple months back, the fine folks over at Shout! Factory began the upgrade movement of the LAIKA films onto the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format with their first two films. Now, its time to complete that movement with their third and fourth as Kubo And The Two Strings and The Boxtrolls make their debut onto the format. As was before, these will feature new transfers and carry over all of the extras from the previous standard Blu-rays that were released by Shout! Factory. Again, there will be an option to pick these up in the collectible limited edition steelbook packaging if you’re wanting something spiffier for these wonderful movies. You can pre-order your copy now using the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of the review. The Boxtrolls and Kubo And The Two Strings will be available on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on February 28th. For this review, we’ll take a look at Kubo And The Two Strings. 
A couple months back, the fine folks over at Shout! Factory began the upgrade movement of the LAIKA films onto the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format with their first two films. Now, its time to complete that movement with their third and fourth as Kubo And The Two Strings and The Boxtrolls make their debut onto the format. As was before, these will feature new transfers and carry over all of the extras from the previous standard Blu-rays that were released by Shout! Factory. Again, there will be an option to pick these up in the collectible limited edition steelbook packaging if you’re wanting something spiffier for these wonderful movies. You can pre-order your copy now using the paid Amazon Associates link at the bottom of the review. The Boxtrolls and Kubo And The Two Strings will be available on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on February 28th. For this review, we’ll take a look at The Boxtrolls. 
After a decade-long wait, DreamWorks Animation presents an all-new adventure in the Shrek universe with PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH Collector’s Edition available on Digital February 21, 2023 and on 4K UHD, Blu-rayTM and DVD February 28, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Nominated for Best Animated Film by both the Academy Awards® and the BAFTA Film Awards, Puss in Boots’ latest adventure now includes over an hour of bonus content featuring an all-new exclusive animated short “The Trident”, deleted scenes, a lyric video, and a cast of characters.
The year 2022 saw a lot of big films trying to remind you of why you go to the theater as well as plenty of “this is why we love the movies” type films from many of our favorite creators. Sam Mendes put his hat into the ring with the awards hopeful Empire Of Light which stars Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Toby Jones and Micheal Ward. Its been nominated for Best Cinematography for the (GOAT) Roger Deakins. The film currently is only set to receive a standard Blu-ray release. Equipped with a 5.1 surround track and a single featurette, Empire Of Light releases on February 21st. You can pre-order yourself a copy of this disc by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of this page.
I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention or taking note, but Steven Spielberg is on somewhat of a creative hot streak recently. I’ll even count Ready Player One in that mix to go with The Post and West Side Story. He’s delivered some top notch material and that continues with his second consecutive Best Picture & Best Director nominations in that of The Fabelmans. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off in theaters, but those who saw it rather loved it, and for us film people, its a giant love letter to the craft and one of the greatest to ever go behind the lens. It arrived on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on February 14th (A Valentine’s Day treat?). The disc will carry a set of 3 featurettes and a 7.1 surround. You can order yourself a copy by clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review at the bottom of the page.
Coming from Kyle Starks and Dark Horse Comics, Where Monsters Lie is a mini-series I had heard nothing about, yet came highly recommended at my local comic book shop. Starks is the creator behind Sexcastle, an 80’s-themed story about an assassin who’s retired to become a small town florist. While I can’t say I’ve read it, Starks must be doing something right because Sexcastle was just optioned to become a major motion picture, according to Image Comics. Hats off to Starks’ success, but can he match that with Where Monsters Lie?
Brendan Fraser’s captivating performance as withdrawn but sweet-natured English teacher Charlie in The Whale arrives on Blu-ray™ + Digital and DVD March 14 from A24 and Lionsgate. Directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, mother!), and based on the play by Samuel D. Hunter, The Whale is an intimate and gut-wrenching exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and humanity. Also starring Golden Globe® nominee Hong Chau (2018, Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Downsizing), Academy Award® nominee Samantha Morton (2003, Best Actress, In America), and Sadie Sink (TV’s “Stranger Things”), The Whale will be available on Blu-ray and DVD, respectively. As of January 24, the film has earned three Academy Award® nominations, including Best Actor for Fraser, Best Supporting Actress for Chau, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling for Adrien Morot, Judy Chin, and Anne Marie Bradley. 
DC and Warner Bros. Animation keep churning out hit after hit with their animated films. While some are certainly better than others, this line of films seems to do quite well in the direct-to-disc format. The first DC Universe film this year is Legion of Super-Heroes directed by Jeff Wamester. Wamester is no stranger to the animated scene as he previously directed Batman: The Long Halloween and Justice Society: World War II, just to name a mere few from his lengthy resumé.
