‘West Side Story’ Reimagines A Classic (Movie Review)
West Side Story, the second filmed adaptation of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical, is, shockingly, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s first full foray into the world of singing and dancing. Besides a USO number in 1941 and that time Kate Capshaw belted a mostly Mandarin “Anything Goes” in the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom opener, the Spielberg-verse has been sorely lacking in show-tunes. Finally, two decades into the 21st century, we’re being treated to an outright stunner of a picture featuring songs many know by heart and a story that’s both timeless and timely. Starring Ansel Elgort alongside newcomers Rachel Zelger, Ariana Debose, and Mike Feist. Rita Moreno, who won Best Supporting Actress in the 1961 original, also returns in a different but no less important role. The gang’s all here, so why not feel pretty instead of making with a rumble? Faithful, invigorating, and at the top of the heap when it comes to pure filmmaking, West Side Story is one of the year’s best films.
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After six supercharged seasons, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC mark the end of an epic era with the final installment of the action-packed series with the release of Supergirl: The Sixth and Final Season on Blu-ray & DVD March 8, 2022. Fans can purchase the sets which, in addition to all 20 super-powered episodes from season six, also contains an all-new featurette and deleted scenes. Supergirl: The Sixth and Final Season is priced to own on DVD and Blu-ray, which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Supergirl: The Sixth and Final Season on is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
Get ready for more finger snaps! The eccentric and unconventional Addams family is back in the all-new full-length animated comedy, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2, available to own for the first time on Blu-ray™ and DVD January 18, 2022 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed by critics as “creepier and kookier than the first” (Owen Gleiberman, Variety), MGM’s hilarious sequel brings the beloved macabre squad closer than ever before as they squeeze into the family RV and embark on a cross-country road trip. Packed with family-friendly laughs and spooky hijinks, THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital is filled with brand-new exclusive bonus features for all ages to enjoy including a road trip checklist and featurettes with cast and crew, taking audiences behind the scenes of the wonderfully weird world of the Addams family and the film’s messages of family, love and acceptance. THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2-MOVIE COLLECTION is also available to own on DVD on January 18, 2022.
Encanto
Evil dies tonight. Jamie Lee Curtis (“Scream Queens”, Knives Out), Judy Greer (The Village, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Andi Matichak (Blue Bloods, Orange is the New Black) and the entire town of Haddonfield band together to take down the infamous killer Michael Myers in the never-before-seen Extended Cut of HALLOWEEN KILLS, arriving on Digital December 14, 2021, as well as on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM and DVD January 11, 2022. Hailed as “A bloodthirsty sequel” (Bloody Disgusting), HALLOWEEN KILLS features the original theatrical release, the Extended Cut with Alternate Ending and exclusive bonus content which includes extended and deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes look at creating the film, special gag reel and more!
This year has been a very interesting one for the film world. Some movies were sent straight into the home. Some had hybrid releases. Some came and went without so much as a peep. Copshop is one of the latter variety. The film came and went with little to no fanfare from its distributor Universal and even makes its debut on Blu-ray quietly tomorrow (12/7/21) with not much going for it publicity wise. I wonder if the filmmakers knew something we didn’t or if they were hoping audiences would find a diamond in the rough. Read on for my thoughts below and be sure to click the paid link at the bottom to get yourself a copy of Copshop.
Rolling on through their catalog and still putting out 4K physical media, I’m grateful Disney is still doing it and has also landed on 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The Robert Zemeckis film not only was a hybrid of animation and live action, but also the perfect mesh of youth and adult enjoyment. The film comes to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray with an upgrade in the picture department and a new Atmos track to hear it by. Unfortunately there are no new extras to add this time around, but the former Blu-ray is included for those. This arrives on the format on December 7th. At some point, the Amazon ordering link will reappear, and then I’ll post the paid Amazon Associates link if you so choose to order from this site. But until then, there are other places you can secure yourself a pre-order.
October was quite a crowded month in terms of big new theatrical releases. When that happens, of course some thing or things get left by the wayside and aren’t the prime choice of movie goers. One of the biggies that happened to was Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. There’s been a lot of huffing and puffing about Ridley Scott’s hypothesizing as to why it didn’t pan out, but that’s beside the point. The film is excellent and you should certainly check it out whenever you have the time, wherever you can find it to watch (Hopefully not on your phone though, but if that’s your thing, so be it). Next to theatrical, its coming the best way for home possible, as a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release with an Atmos track. There is one featurette with it, but its over 30 minutes long, so that’s at least a nice conceit. The Last Duel arrives on the format online and in stores on December 14th. You can pre-order yourself a copy of it by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review below.
Snake Plissken is back in the high-octane thrill-ride JOHN CARPENTER’S ESCAPE FROM L.A., arriving on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever February 22, 2022 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Released in 1996, JOHN CARPENTER’S ESCAPE FROM L.A. was the highly anticipated follow up to the fan-favorite hit Escape from New York. Kurt Russell returns as anti-hero Snake Plissken, who is called upon to save the world from a doomsday device after a 9.6 quake levels most of Los Angeles. 
One of cinema’s greatest and most true blue, time honored cult classics is turning 50 years young this year, which is right smack dab in the middle of the age gap between our two leads. That fil is Hal Ashby’s dark romantic comedy Harold and Maude. Paramount is commemorating the milestone by adding it to the Paramount Presents line. The film is receiving a new 4K make-over from the original negative as well as a new 5.1 mix from newly discovered materials. Yusuf / Cat Stevens has sat down for a brand new interview and you get a commentary with Cameron Crowe and the writer of Ed Wood as bonus features. This new disc will arrive on December 7th, and you can order yourself a copy now by using the paid Amazon Associates link following the review.
Its rather nice and refreshing to have Rick and Morty back in regular rotation on Adult Swim. It feels almost too good to be true. The fifth season of the show just concluded its terrific run and we’ll be heading into a sixth season in the next year. Warner Bros and Adult Swim are putting it out onto Blu-ray, which will also come with a collectible steelbook packaging. The release comes with a nice array of short featurettes and a digital code for every episode of the season. You’ll be able to pick up the complete season on Blu-ray when it arrives in stores, both online and physical on December 7th. If you’d like to order one, you can use the paid Amazon Associates link that follows this review.
