Archive Page 536
December 6th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Halloween came and went, but if you stayed around for the after party, you would have known that your friends here at Why So Blu were going to keep it going with the brand new horror anthology film called Chillerama! From those whacky kids I will affectionately call out as Green, Rifkin, Sullivan, and Lynch comes Chillerama – a tour de force of cheesiness with a dash of bad taste sprinkled in. Don’t worry, I’ll be using their full names in the course of the full review. I gotta tease this out, yo! In the tradition of Grindhouse, but with a nostalgic attitude of the 50’s, Ed Wood, and good ‘ol fashioned Americana sensibilities thrown in for good measure, comes the cult hit film of the year. What makes it even better is that we will be talking about the Blu-ray, so you know that you’re in for a treat! Take a bathroom break, grab a snack, get some soda pop, put on your bomber jacket, because it’s going down! Literally. 😉 Continue reading ‘Chillerama (Blu-ray Review)’
December 6th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Region-Free Blu-ray enthusiasts unite! Arguably the defining cult film of the Reagan era, the feature debut of Alex Cox (Sid & Nancy, Walker, Straight to Hell) is a genre-busting mash-up of atomic-age science fiction, post-punk anarchism, and conspiracy paranoia, all shot through with heavy doses of deadpan humour and offbeat philosophy. After quitting his dead-end supermarket job, young punk Otto (Emilio Estevez) is initiated as a “repo man” after a chance encounter with automobile repossessor Bud (Harry Dean Stanton). An illicit, high-voltage life follows, including an adrenalised search for a mysterious ’64 Chevy Malibu loaded with radioactive – and extragalactic – cargo… With an iconic soundtrack (Iggy Pop, Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies), stunning Robby Müller cinematography, and iconoclastic direction, Repo Man remains one of the great debuts of the 1980s. Continue reading ‘‘Repo Man’ Released in the UK on February 20, 2012′
December 5th, 2011 by Brian White
I know what you are already thinking. Believe me. You are probably thinking the same thing I thought when I received the press release for this book we are about to cover here. Oh yes…I’m talking about your temper flaring and accusations accosting as you proclaim out loud how many damn, boring screenwriting books can you possibly read. But what if I told you there was one out there that was a completely different take on the art that’s both bold and refreshing to read? Would you believe me? I wouldn’t. But that’s where you and I would both be dead wrong. Sure, there’s no replacing Syd Field’s Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting or Blake Snyder’s heralded Save The Cat!, but perhaps there’s a companion book that would bode well sitting next to these two classics on your writing desk. Would you write off such a possibility? I sure hope not because that’s exactly why you are still reading this. Isn’t it? Like me…you want to know all you can about the art of screenwriting. Well, that’s good! Because that means you’re in the right place. Read on! Continue reading ‘Screenwriting Tips…You Hack (Book Review)’
December 5th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Game of Thrones, one of the most elaborate and visually striking series on television, makes its highly-anticipated Blu-ray, DVD and digital download debut on March 6, 2012. Based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the sweeping fantasy saga instantly became one of HBO’s biggest hits and won two 2011 Emmy awards including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage). The drama follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. Two powerful families are engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. As betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdoms, their bloody struggle for the Iron Throne will have unforeseen and far-reaching consequences. Continue reading ‘Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season Arrives on Blu-ray March 6!’
December 5th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Going Places aka Les Valseuses (The Testicles) is one of Kino’s latest offerings in the realm of classic films, this being a classice French film in the sense of it being one of the highest grossing films of 1974, and the film that propelled Gerard Depardieu to stardom. I am a lover of all things French and it was a no brainer tackling this Blu-ray for review. I love French cinema, so we will see if Going Places stands up to scrutiny. You know, this is a thirty seven year old film, so it may suck, right? Sorry, that was me being sarcastic for those that don’t like “old” films. With that little jab out of the way let’s see how it goes with Going Places on Blu-ray. Entrez! Continue reading ‘Going Places (Blu-ray Review)’
December 5th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
I was a little apprehensive about going in and reviewing the Blu-ray of 30 Minutes or Less, because I never cared for the trailer or marketing materials that were released for it. It looked like a try-hard comedy film. Hey, but you gotta do what you gotta do when reviewing films, right? That’s what I did. I settled down, popped in the Blu-ray and hoped that the sights and sounds would take me away to this magical world of laughs and hijinx. It also helped that the guy who directed Zombieland also directed 30 Minutes of Less. Let us now see if this flick was worth the grueling one hour and twenty three minute running time. Strap yourself in! Continue reading ’30 Minutes or Less (Blu-ray Review)’
December 2nd, 2011 by Brian White
Unbeknown to anyone else beside myself, at the beginning of the year I decided there were a total of three movies I was really looking forward to in 2011. The first, not a critic’s choice by any means, is the Independence Day sequel (joking), Battle: Los Angeles. Unlike the majority of critics, I was able to enjoy myself immensely throughout the film. Wait! That doesn’t sound right. LOL. Anyway, the second was Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Why was I looking forward to this? Well, being a huge fan of the first film, I was really curious to see if Michael Bay could knock this one out of the ballpark and totally redeem himself for that POS he put out in 2009 or if he would fail miserably much like most of his horror produced films do. And needless to say, I would rather not converse about the outcome in this format. However, neither one of these two flicks compare to the loving endearment and the overwhelming anticipation I had reserved in my heart for The Hangover Part II. You know how people always warn you to get your hopes up? Well, let’s talk about that some more here. Continue reading ‘The Hangover Part II (Blu-ray Review)’
December 2nd, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
I remember being all excited about
Moneyball (review
here), when it was coming out back in September. The film based on a true story, staring Brad Pitt as Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane, had a lot of good ingredients to make for a solid feature. I was happy to find that the movie was pretty solid as well. Featuring strong performances and a way of presenting statistics and what goes into managing baseball in an entertaining way. Now, come this January, everyone will have the chance to catch up with this potential award contender.
Moneyball arrives on Blu-ray January 10th in a variety of combo pack formats as well and looks to be filled with special features. Read on to find out more details about this film’s home media release.
Continue reading ‘‘Moneyball’ Slides Home On Blu-ray, DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack This January’
December 2nd, 2011 by Blu-ray Brian
Wow! We are back with yet another Blu-ray contest! Aren’t freebies a great way to live life? I think so! So should you! Up for grab this weekend for two lucky winners we have the Blu-ray of Tora! Tora! Tora! which comes out this Tuesday, December 6th. This classic Pearl Harbor epic, one of the most spectacular action films ever made, meticulously recreates the stunning attack on U.S forces by the Japanese. Tora! Tora! Tora! (The Japanese signal to attack) features a joint U.S. and Japanese production team, chronicling both sides of the unforgettable Pearl Harbor story with awe-inspiring accuracy and explosive action. Read on to find out how to win a Blu-ray copy below! Continue reading ‘Tora! Tora! Tora! Blu-ray Giveaway!’
December 1st, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Celebrate the most magical time of the year with this Special Edition of the irresistible holiday movie inspired by Disney’s beloved classic. For the first time in spectacular Blu-ray High Definition this captivating gem reunites the original voice cast! Share the wonder as Mrs. Potts recounts another “tale as old as time” about a Christmas past that almost wasn’t – thanks to the scheming of former court composer Forte, who is determined to keep Belle and Beast apart forever. This enchanting adventure boasts exciting bonus features, delightful songs, spellbinding visuals and enduring themes of hope, friendship and love. Your family will enjoy the spirit of the season all year long with the timeless magic of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. Continue reading ‘Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Special Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
December 1st, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
From the “tale as old as time” comes a new Special Edition inspired by the original classic, Beauty and the Beast. Join Belle, Disney’s spirited princess, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere, plus some charming new friends, as they discover how teamwork and friendship can turn a once-gloomy castle into a dazzling palace fit for a princess! Bundled with bonus features, your favorite characters and enchanting songs, this lesson-filled, sequel is sure to entertain and teach young children.
Continue reading ‘Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World Special Edition (DVD Review)’
December 1st, 2011 by Scott Wampler
In the horror genre, upstart sub-genres may come and go—you’ve got “torture-porn”, “zombies”, “vampires”, “werewolves”, “Olsen Twins Musicals”, and many more—but the “slasher” sub-genre will always reign supreme. Indeed, when one thinks of “horror”, one generally thinks of characters like Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, Leatherface, and Michael Meyers (the stabby one, not the Shrek one). Recently, Paramount released a somewhat-limited-edition “Ultimate Collection” for Jason’s Friday The 13th series, and fans of the long-running franchise might be interested to know that the Friday The 13th Ultimate Collection might be the best gift for the slasher-horror fan in your life this Christmas. I mean, nevermind all these extras (and the 8 films the boxed set comes packaged with). Instead, imagine the joy that finding a (slightly-scaled down) Jason mask under the Christmas tree will inspire. If that doesn’t shriek “Happy Holidays!”, I dunno what does. Continue reading ‘Friday the 13th: The Ultimate Collection (DVD Review)’
December 1st, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
I was pretty open to taking a chance on this Comedy Central stand-up series, hosted by Mexican-American comedian Gabriel Iglesias. As with a lot of comedians who seem to have a known presence on Comedy Central, it can be hit or miss by the time that particular person is given the chance to be seen weekly with their own series. It has worked in the past for comedians like Dave Chapelle (Chapelle’s Show) and currently with Daniel Tosh (Tosh.0), but has also missed for people like Jeff Dunham (Jeff Dunham Show). So given my open mind and the desire to laugh at some stand-up, I gave Gabriel Iglesias’ Stand-Up Revolution a shot and checked out the entire seven-episode series on DVD. Continue reading ‘Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution (DVD Review)’
December 1st, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
Two gangs of robbers descend on the same bank, but hearts are what may be stolen instead in Flypaper, a madcap crime comedy from the screenwriters of the blockbuster The Hangover. Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy) stars as a nervous customer with a crush on beautiful teller Ashley Judd (Double Jeopardy, Crossing Over). They and the other staff and customers become hostages when two very different groups of crooks hit the bank simultaneously: a high-tech trio who plan to break into the vault and a pair of small-timers whose idea of a big score is knocking off the ATMs. When people begin mysteriously dying one by one, everyone involved begins to wonder if there’s someone else in the bank up to no good. Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?), Mekhi Phifer (Dawn of the Dead) and Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) also star in this comic blast of a mystery.
Continue reading ‘Flypaper (Blu-ray Review)’
December 1st, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
See Michael Jackson, one of the most recognizable and popular entertainers of all time, like never before in the feature-length tribute Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon. Known to millions of fans worldwide for his record-breaking albums, groundbreaking music videos, mesmerizing dance moves and humanitarian efforts, his true story has never really been told…until now. This unprecedented look into the King of Pop’s fascinating life includes all-new interviews with his mother Katherine Jackson as well as siblings Tito and Rebbie Jackson, family, friends and music legends such as Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and many more. Continue reading ‘Michael Jackson – The Life of an Icon (Blu-ray Review)’
November 30th, 2011 by Blu-ray Brian
I think it’s pretty safe to say that Drive is a 2011 staff favorite film of many here at Why So Blu. And why would’t it be? The movie kicked a$$! So without further ado, I am happy to announce that Drive will be debuting on the glorious Blu-ray format next January 31st. Drive‘s all-star cast includes Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman and Christina Hendricks. Bonus features include four behind-the-scenes featurettes and a filmmaker documentary. Rush, don’t go slow, as you click the pre-order link to bring this MUST-OWN film of the year home just in time for the Super Bowl next year. Continue reading ‘Make a Quick Getaway with DRIVE on Blu-ray This January!’
November 30th, 2011 by Gregg Senko
The wait is nearly over. On December 20th, PC gamers will finally be able to get their hands on an official copy of the latest MMO (massive multiplayer online) title to hit store shelves; Star Wars: The Old Republic. A few weeks back, I had the opportunity of being selected as a beta tester. This past weeked, I managed to grab a few hours of adventure in a galaxy far, far away…
Continue reading ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic (Beta Test Review)’
November 29th, 2011 by Matt Goodman
If only we could solve all our problems through interpretive dance. In this modern day adaption of Shakespeare’s classic tale Romeo & Juliet, which was adapted from Ernest Lehman’s Broadway production, it’s a singing and dancing group of gangs. There are two gangs pitted against each other in this town, first being the Jets, a group of hard-banging American-teens, and the Sharks, a group of Puerto Rican immigrants. For the time it took place/was filmed in, West Side Story looks, and sounds fantastic, and that was BEFORE the Blu-ray conversion. And I thought my trashy old DVD copy sounded great… West Side Story is a massive achievement in American cinema, so much so that it won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way! Continue reading ‘West Side Story (Blu-ray Review)’
