POPEYE Celebrates 40 Years With A Blu-ray Release!
September 17th, 2020 by Brandon Peters
The beloved anvil-armed sailor of the seven seas comes magically to life in POPEYE, arriving on Blu-ray for the first time ever December 1, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Starring the incomparable Robin Williams in his first big-screen role and Shelley Duvall as his devoted sweetie, Olive Oyl, the delightful musical celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, having debuted in theaters back on December 12, 1980.
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Always waiting as the last Arrowverse show to premiere in the television season, Legends of Tomorrow has been my personal favorite of the bunch since its second season. While a rather eclectic and large group of heroes, only two of them really had some time out from under the sun during the big Infinite Crisis crossover, to which Sarah Lance made a funny remark to write it off. Their previous season left things in a rather interesting mostly happy cliffhanger, having had one of their members wiped from existence following a grand victory. As per clockwork, its their turn on the Blu-ray release conveyor belt. And like those hour hands prior, it contains a bonus disc with the entire Infinite Crisis run and all those bells and whistles of bonus features with it. You’ll be able to grab this season when it arrives in stores and on virtual shelves September 22nd. Pre-ordering form the paid Amazon Associates link below is always appreciated.
From the renowned animation powerhouse Production I.G. (Psycho-Pass, Ghost in the Shell, Attack on Titan) and director Kazuto Nakazawa (Parasite Dolls, animation director of Kill Bill: Vol. 1) comes the popular action suspense anime series, B: THE BEGINNING. Directed by Nakazawa and Yoshinobu Yamakawa (Little Busters!), this gripping, character-driven crime procedural uniquely blends the visual marvel of anime, dystopian sci-fi supernatural fantasy, and gritty mystery narrative in equal measures. The series music is composed by Yoshihiro Ike (Blood: The Last Empire, Tiger & Bunny), with the theme song provided by former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman. Hailed by anime enthusiasts and worldwide fans for its distinctive genre-bending storytelling, B: THE BEGINNING SEASON ONE arrives on national home entertainment shelves and digital download to own on October 6, 2020 from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Anime Limited. Debuting for the first time on North American home entertainment shelves, B: THE BEGINNING SEASON ONE Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) collects all twelve thrilling episodes (both versions – the original Japanese audio with English subtitles and the English dub), a mini-poster, two art cards, and insightful bonus content featuring the pilot film that inspired the series, a special video interview with director Kazuto Nakazawa, and more. The English dub boasts a popular voice cast of Johnny Yong Bosch, Allegra Clark, Ray Chase, Brianna Knickerbocker, among other notables! 
On September 8th (Yeah, I’m behind), The Criterion Collection released two films from director Jules Dassin. In addition to the subject of this review, 1948’s The Naked City, they also put forth the film Dassin had done the year prior; Brute Force (1947). Aaron Neuwirth wonderfully covered that one for Why So Blu, so if you’re seeking a review on that title as well, you can find that by clicking 
Pet Sematary is a Stephen King gem. The book itself is as creepy as can be and this 1989 adaptation really does a lot to catch the atmosphere of the macabre. The version included in the Stephen King 5-Film Collection is the same disc bundled with the excellent 4K Blu-ray 30th Anniversary Edition of Pet Sematary. Read more on the film and the disc stats below and be sure to click the paid link at the end to get your copy of the 5-Film collection!
Continuing my deep dive into the Stephen King 5-Film Collection, I took a look at Silver Bullet. The Gary Busey/Corey Haim led adaptation has its share of fans and also detractors. I hadn’t seen the film before, so it was the obvious next step for me. What I ended up with was one of the most quintessentially 80’s horror flicks I’ve seen in a while. Check out the review below and be sure to click the paid link at the end to order your copy of the collection!
Despite insane popularity, Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty had a two year hiatus which in part was do to some renewal contract negotiations. And once the dust settled, fans could find relief in that Rick and Morty was not only coming back, but that it would be here to stay for an additional 70 episodes (Which could like end up being 7 more years). The show returned for its fourth season in November of 2019, splitting it in half with the remainder beginning this past May. Needless to say, the show skipped zero beats, feeling like it had picked up just where it had left off. Warner Bros will be releasing the fourth season on Blu-ray (Along with a redeemable digital code) filled up with some fresh bonus features. There will also be a limited steelbook edition for the season available as well. You can pre-order these items to have for release day when Rick and Morty: Season 4 arrives on September 22nd. And if you’re of the thoughtful type, you’d use the Amazon Associates link below in doing so. 
Starting my coverage of the Stephen King 5-Film Collection, I knew immediately I wanted to begin with The Dead Zone. There were a few reasons for my choices – 1983, because it’s a great era for thrillers; Christopher Walken in a starring role, because I’ve rarely seen it; David Cronenberg, because people always talk about him and admittedly, I’ve never seen a film of his. As I delve in-depth to the collection, you’ll see updates from each film. Be sure to click the paid Amazon link at the end to grab yourself a copy of this 5-Film set!
Well, 2002’s Ghost Ship is now worthy of the Scream Factory Collector’s Edition, eh? All right. Time to revisit it, then. At the very least, new interviews and bonus features can paint an entertaining story about a film I’m pretty sure most people thought was a disappointment. I think the popular word on this one was that “it had an amazing opening scene!” For this new Blu-ray release they’ve rounded up director Steve Beck for a commentary and for interviews they have Gil Adler, Isaiah Washington and Jason Baird. Funny enough, like Steve Beck’s Thirteen Ghosts which also had a Collector’s Edition release, Ghost Ship was once packaged as a multi-feature Blu-ray with the remake of House of Wax. Could a Collector’s Edition of that film be around the corner as well? I actually like that one, so I’d be pretty enthused. Ghost Ship arrives with this new Scream Factory Blu-ray at the end of the month on September 29th. If you’re a fan, use the paid Amazon Associates link after the review to pre-order a copy.
Sherlock Holmes was not the film I thought it’d be. So much so that I was strongly apprehensive about the sequel. So much so that until I received my copy of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows on 4K disc that I did not make a point to view the film. Where I was totally disappointed in the first film, the second in what is now the Sherlock Holmes trilogy is a horse of a different color. Check out more about A Game of Shadows below and be sure to click the paid Amazon link at the end if you’d like to snag a copy!
I’m a sucker for 1970s science fiction in either television or film. Its likely a bit of a love for the style and aesthetic that comes across, but there are some great ideas explored through the writing. In the television medium, these weren’t always about action and blasting all the time, they had to provide good drama and character explorations. Gene Roddenberry, famous for creating Star Trek, tried his hand at the genre on television again a few years after the crew of the Starship Enterprise had gone off the air. His new attempt was an Earthbound story of a man out of time. The first attempt, Genesis II wasn’t picked up for series, leaving its pilot as a standalone TV movie. Just a year later, it would be rebooted as another pilot called Planet Earth. That one would also not make it to series. A third try, without Roddenberry’s involvement (But with Planet Earth star John Saxon returning) also failed. Regardless of success, these curious television oddities, Genesis II and Planet Earth are now coming to Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection on September 29th. Pre-order using the paid Amazon Associates link below.
When a new format breaks out, it should be mandatory that the entire catalog of Alfred Hitchcock be immediately upgraded, restored and released. Unfortunately, in these streamy times we live in, that doesn’t seem to be of interest as finally in 2020 we are delivered just a small sampling size of his collection of masterpieces. Luckily that sampling size comes in the form of 4 pictures many would have at the top of their favorites list. Universal delivers the “Classics Collection” which features Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho and The Birds. Four films that definitely showcase the master in different areas. It comes complete with digital copies and the standard Blu-ray editions. All bonus material is ported over to this set as well. I don’t know what else to tell you, as this is a must have from the jump for any real film collector. This set arrived on September 8th, so if you haven’t already, make sure you get your order in now and start sinking your teeth into this lovely set.
Sherlock Holmes made its way to the premier 4K Blu-ray format last week! Has time been kind to the big budget Guy Ritchie revamp? Let’s relive 2009 with Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams in a dingy dirty London and see how it holds up, shall we?
