Archive Page 77
June 18th, 2021 by Peter Paras
Back in March, far too many fans of the King of the Monsters and the Big Ape didn’t have the opportunity to experience their epic brawl, Godzilla Vs. Kong on IMAX (or any traditional theater, really) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most, if not everyone I knew in Los Angeles, avoided the big screens unless it was a drive-in. Fortunately, the fourth film in Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse was available, like other major releases from Warner Bros. this year, simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max for one month. For those of us with 4K TVs, this meant a pretty pristine – although small no matter how big your television was – presentation. And this is assuming you had a fast internet to stream that fancy 4K Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos. So does this traditional boxed version hold up? Is it noticeably superior to what you saw on HBO Max? Let’s find out!
Continue reading ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
June 17th, 2021 by Brandon Peters
The terrifying new chapter in the book of Saw comes home when Spiral arrives on Digital July 13 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand July 20 from Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures. Spiral: From the Book of Saw is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Repo! The Genetic Opera) and written by Josh Stolberg (Jigsaw, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”) & Peter Goldfinger (Jigsaw, Piranha 3D). It stars Chris Rock (“Fargo,” Top Five), Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” The Ides of March), Marisol Nichols (“Riverdale,” “Teen Wolf”) and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Snakes on a Plane).
Continue reading ‘SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW Copies Itself To 4K Ultra-HD On July 20th! Steelbook Available, Too!’
June 15th, 2021 by Aaron Neuwirth
This September, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s groundbreaking coming-of-age film and beloved sports romance Love & Basketball will join the Criterion Collection in a new restoration. Never before available on home video, the genre-blending judo tale Throw Down is a perfect introduction to Hong Kong’s most prolific and offbeat auteur, Johnnie To. Luchino Visconti’s most savagely subversive film, The Damned traces the rot of Nazism through the decline of one decadent family. And Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa, a dreamlike journey through London’s criminal underworld starring an Oscar-nominated Bob Hoskins, will appear on Blu-ray. Plus: our previously announced box set Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films celebrates a cinematic renegade whose uncompromising vision established a new model for Black creative independence.
Continue reading ‘Love & Basketball, Mona Lisa & More Coming to The Criterion Collection September 2021’
June 14th, 2021 by Brandon Peters
Following the overwhelming response to last year’s award-winning Volume 1 collection, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is proud to debut six more acclaimed and beloved films from its library on 4K Ultra HD disc for the first time ever, exclusively within the COLUMBIA CLASSICS 4K ULTRA HD COLLECTION VOLUME 2, available September 14. This must-own set includes cherished star-studded favorites from six iconic and distinctive filmmakers: ANATOMY OF A MURDER, OLIVER!, TAXI DRIVER, STRIPES, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Each film is presented in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range.
. Continue reading ‘Sony Announces The COLUMBIA CLASSICS 4K ULTRA-HD COLLECTION VOLUME 2!’
June 14th, 2021 by Brandon Peters
He can see the future. But can he escape it? On July 27, 2021, Scream Factory proudly presents the classic psychic thriller from Stephen King and David Cronenberg The Dead Zone in a definitive Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release, featuring a brand-new 4K scan of the original camera negative. The release comes loaded with bonus features including new interviews with actress Brooke Adams, production manager John M. Eckert and associate producer Jeffrey Chernov, alongside four new audio commentaries with director of photography Mark Irwin and film historians Michael Gingold, Dr. Steve Haberman, Constantine Nasr, and Daniel Schweiger.
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. Continue reading ‘Own THE DEAD ZONE: Collector’s Edition July 27th From Scream Factory!’
June 10th, 2021 by Aaron Neuwirth
Presenting the latest box set from The Criterion Collection: Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films. Director, writer, composer, actor, and one-man creative revolutionary Melvin Van Peebles jolted American independent cinema to new life with his explosive stylistic energy and unfiltered expression of Black consciousness. Though he undeniably altered the course of film history with the anarchic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, that pop-culture bombshell is just one piece of a remarkably varied career that has also encompassed forays into European art cinema (The Story of a Three Day Pass), mainstream Hollywood comedy (Watermelon Man), and Broadway musicals (Don’t Play Us Cheap). Each facet of Van Peebles’s renegade genius is on display in this collection of four films, a tribute to a transformative artist whose caustic social observation, radical formal innovation, and uncompromising vision established a new cinematic model for Black creative independence. Also included in the set is Baadasssss!, a chronicle of the production of Sweet Sweetback made by Van Peebles’s son Mario Van Peebles—and starring the younger Van Peebles as Melvin.
Continue reading ‘The Criterion Collection To Deliver The One-Man Revolution: Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films’
June 9th, 2021 by Brandon Peters
It doesn’t feel like it happens a lot anymore, but in the case of The Courier, titles can be changed from theatrical release to home video or whatnot. Sure, some get subtitles or shortened versions of their titles when they come to home video/digital. But, The Courier premiered at Sundance about a year and half ago and it was at that time titled Ironbark. That’s a much more interesting title, though The Courier is safer and does suit the film as well. So Ironbark is arriving on Blu-ray as The Courier and comes with a nifty little featurette on the making of the film along with the DVD and a digital copy of the movie. The film was released on Blu-ray on June 1st and you’re able to order it using the Amazon link below. Continue reading ‘The Courier (Blu-ray Review)’
June 8th, 2021 by Aaron Neuwirth
When considering the racy nature of Merrily We Go To Hell, it’s interesting to think about how long certain struggles have been going on within a media-driven culture. While one can look to the 1960s and 70s to get more of an idea of what women went after during the counter culture days, it’s not like Susan B. Anthony didn’t accomplish plenty in the 1910s and 20s. Merrily We Go To Hell is similarly tackling early-feminist ideas on the modern marriage. The film arrived in 1932, long before growing reactions became more common coming out of the conservative American 50s. The Criterion Collection has now delivered the Dorothy Arzner-directed film on a new Blu-ray, with some extras providing further insight into what the movie was commenting on.
– Continue reading ‘Merrily We Go To Hell – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
June 7th, 2021 by Brandon Peters
Prey. Slay. Display. On July 13, 2021, Scream Factory proudly presents the modern cult classic House of Wax (2005) in the ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release, featuring a new 2K scan of the interpositive. The release comes packed with bonus features including new interviews with actors Paris Hilton and Robert Ri’Chard, composer John Ottman and makeup effects artist Jason Baird. Fans who order from shoutfactory.com will also receive an exclusive poster featuring brand-new artwork, while supplies last.
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. Continue reading ‘2005’s HOUSE OF WAX Gets A Scream Factory Collector’s Edition July 13th!’
June 3rd, 2021 by Brandon Peters
Experience every bone-crunching, sword-clashing, blood-spattering moment when “Mortal Kombat” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on June 11. The film is directed by award-winning Australian commercial filmmaker Simon McQuoid, marking his feature directorial debut. The film will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD beginning on July 13. The ensemble includes Lewis Tan (TV’s “Into The Badlands”) as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee (“The Meg”) as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson (“The Little Death”) as Kano, Tadanobu Asano (“Battleship”) as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks (TV’s “True Blood”) as Jax, Ludi Lin (“Power Rangers”) as Liu Kang, with Chin Han (“The Dark Knight”) as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim (“The Raid: Redemption”) as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, and Hiroyuki Sanada (“The Wolverine”) as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion. Also featured are Max Huang as Kung Lao and Sisi Stringer (“Bloody Hell”) as Mileena. Continue reading ‘MORTAL KOMBAT Is About To Get Its Soul Sucked On 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray July 13th!’
June 3rd, 2021 by Peter Paras
Another week, another horror sequel. Say what you will about the quality of The Conjuring Universe’s eight entries (if you count The Curse of La Llorona), at the very least, they originated from a strong debut that completely worked as a stand-alone film. Now, the ever-expanding series returns with our favorite ghost hunter duo in the non-numbered third entry, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. This time the Warren’s will need to use sleuthing skills too, as what exactly is happening is not entirely clear. Thankfully, right when you think the formula might get stale, this third iteration is something else. Still, with James Wan out of the director’s chair, is The Curse of La Llorona‘s Michael Chaves ready to invoke that which lingers in the dark?
Continue reading ‘The Third ‘Conjuring’ Has New Unholy Tricks Up Its Sleeve (Movie Review)’
June 2nd, 2021 by Brandon Peters
Seeing what catalog films get the 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray upgrade has been a bit of a wild card at times. Sometimes they are films obviously hitting some sort of milestone, but many times its like “Oh, okay”. Sony has been one of those studios turning out those “Oh, okay” titles on the regular. Their latest is the love it or hate it John McTiernan/Arnold Schwarzenegger team up for a satirical look at a the genre that both made them big names – Last Action Hero. In its original release, it’ll be in a collectible steelbook packaging, with the regular release slated for the street date of June 15th. The release finally comes with some bonus features, including deleted scenes presented in 4K, as well as a few archival features. You can order yourself a copy by using the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
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Continue reading ‘Last Action Hero (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
June 1st, 2021 by Gerard Iribe
SPARE PARTS is set in a godforsaken bar in the middle of nowhere where an all-girl band – Ms. 45 – rips the stage apart with their punk spirit. But their performance impresses an enthusiastic fan who lures the girls into a trap, sedates them, and starts…customizing them. Slowly they begin to gain consciousness and, in total shock, realize their arms have all been replaced with axes and chainsaws to fight gladiator-style in a junkyard arena owned by a sadistic “emperor,” forcing them into the battle of their lives with one prize in mind – their freedom. Spare Parts is available on Blu-ray NOW! Continue reading ‘Spare Parts (Blu-ray Review)’
June 1st, 2021 by Brandon Peters
Four groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed films will receive new high-definition releases this fall when Coraline (LAIKA Studios Edition) and The Boxtrolls (LAIKA Studios Edition) are released on August 31, and ParaNorman (LAIKA Studios Edition) and Kubo and the Two Strings (LAIKA Studios Edition) are released on September 14 by lauded animation studio LAIKA and multi-platform entertainment distributor Shout! Factory. The Blu-ray™+DVD combos are loaded with exciting new special features, including “Inside LAIKA interviews with the studio’s animation team”, Never-Before-Seen Animation Test Footage, and Feature-Length Storyboards for each of the films. All four films were nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Animated Film.
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Continue reading ‘LAIKA STUDIOS EDITIONS Of ‘CORALINE,’ ‘BOXTROLLS,’ ‘PARANORMAN’ AND ‘KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS’ Coming 8/31 and 9/14 From Shout Factory!’
June 1st, 2021 by Brandon Peters
A new edition to the Vestron Video Collector’s Series, the thrilling, iconic 80s film The Wraith arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) July 20 from Lionsgate. The Wraith stars Golden Globe® winner Charlie Sheen (2002, Best Television Actor — Musical/Comedy Series, “Spin City”), Nick Cassavetes (Face/Off, The Hangover Part II, TV’s “Entourage”), Golden Globe® nominee Sherilyn Fenn (1991, Best Supporting Actress — Television, “Twin Peaks”), and Academy Award® nominee Randy Quaid (1973, Best Supporting Actor, The Last Detail). The Wraith will be available on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital) July 20th.
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. Continue reading ‘THE WRAITH Debuts On Blu-ray From Lionsgate’s Vestron Video July 20th!’
May 30th, 2021 by Aaron Neuwirth
What a picture! That can apply to many of these great releases from the Criterion Collection, but 1947’s Nightmare Alley is quite the film noir. This Edmund Goulding classic features Tyrone Power, cast against type, as a traveling con man who experiences both a rise to the top and a descent to the bottom. It’s an expertly crafted feature, with several solid performances and enough going on to provide a terrific reminder of how effective a movie can be when relying merely on atmosphere and angst to craft genuine thrills. This new Criterion Blu-ray features a fantastic new restoration and a nice collection of extras to go with it.
– Continue reading ‘Nightmare Alley – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
May 28th, 2021 by Peter Paras
Over a year since A Quiet Place Part II was originally scheduled to release, Paramount hopes enough of us are vaccinated and ready to return to the multiplex to embrace a story concerning a global disaster that keeps its survivors afraid to venture outside. Still, scary movies are the kind of entertainment that can definitely fare better with a crowd (even if the venue is only at 25% capacity). Returning writer/director John Krasinski has delivered the kind of bare-knuckled sequel any fan of the 2018 original starring Emily Blunt would want, mostly. With other returning members of the cast and new addition Cillian Murphy, is this the movie to christen one’s return to a darkened theater, albeit with masks and other safety protocols? Overall, I think so. Besides, if someone breaks the rules, just grab a cochlear implant and turn up your portable speaker to ward them off, amirite?
Continue reading ‘‘A Quiet Place’ Sequel Still Knows When To Get Loud (Movie Review)’
May 27th, 2021 by Aaron Neuwirth
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Super 8, J.J. Abrams’ nostalgic, kid-focused sci-fi film, which is packed to the gills with homages to producer Steven Spielberg, who happened to serve as producer. The film was a decent success for its time and at the very least served as a chance for Elle Fanning to breakout earlier in her career and for Abrams to show much he loves the 80s Amblin era. Now the film has made its way to a 4K re-release, and even for a moderately budgeted feature, the gloss of a Bad Robot/Amblin production ideally means getting a superb picture and sound to go with the film. So, how the film has held up, and what does this new release has to offer?
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Continue reading ‘Super 8 (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
