December 9th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Willow exists in a time where a live-action fantasy film could appeal to not just children, but adults too. The film, once a revolutionary one for the advent of computer-generated special effects was a minor hit in 1988. Thanks to home video and repeated viewing from Gen X and Millennials, the film’s cult following came to a Blu-ray release in 2013, and a TV show sequel all the way in 2022. The show has since disappeared from Disney+, but Disney did think of the fans in bringing the film to a new format. This is why we now have a Willow 4K UHD Blu-ray, and it’s a steelbook edition too! Read more about the film and its shiny new transfer, or Madmartigan may come after you!
Continue reading ‘Willow (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
December 9th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
In case you readers didn’t know, I am a teacher. I have been a preschool teacher for nearly 14 years. My love of animated films often comes into play with my students. I always hear about the latest Disney princess and then I’m inundated with the soundtrack for months on end before I ever lay an eye on the film. Then there are the ones I become interested in, much like The Wild Robot, that I never hear these children mention. I have wondered why it works that way with films targeted at children. I can say before I even delve into my critical point of view that The Wild Robot is a very special film, and one that children and adults can find lovable and totally entertaining. Read more about the film and it’s exceptional 4K release below!
Continue reading ‘The Wild Robot (Collector’s Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
December 9th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Have you ever heard of twin cinema? I don’t know if this is the proper term, but this is what I’m calling it. Twin cinema is where two movies come out and are similar enough that one does better than the other. It’s a phenomenon that happens only so often but it’s always the same way. Notable twin cinema films are Girls Trip and Rough Night or Dante’s Peak and Volcano. These films were both released in the same years, 1997 and 2017 respectively, and one always performed better than the other. In 1999, The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes debuted. Both took place in mid-west/east-coast settings in the fall. Both dealt with spirits who talk to young children. Both had a James Newton Howard score… But what ever happened to Stir of Echoes? It’s one of those films I heard about in 1999, but forgot about shortly after, while The Sixth Sense went on to become a huge cultural hit. Read more about Stir of Echoes here. You’ll be glad you did!
Continue reading ‘Stir Of Echoes (25th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
December 9th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Pulp Fiction is one of the finest examples of pure cinema to come out of the US in the 90’s. The film was a cultural phenomenon, capturing the minds of younger generations, bewildering older ones and garnering universal acclaim for what has turned out to be a timeless crime caper. Told in many layers, the film never fails to be entertaining no matter how many watches you’ve given it. Now, the film comes home in the form of the Pulp Fiction: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition! Read more on my appreciation of Pulp Fiction, along with links to the original 4K review we published in 2022!
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December 9th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Loki began as a deliciously catty villain. A great foil for his brother Thor, Loki made for an interesting character in his own right. As we learned in the first season, Loki actually had more depth than we had imagined. The second season seemed to match the efforts of the original, adding so much more value to the character and fleshing him out as another someone you could feel for in the MCU. Read more about Loki: The Complete Second Season below and keep watch so you don’t fall into a time-slip!!
Continue reading ‘Loki: The Complete Second Season (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
December 9th, 2024 by Gerard Iribe
“In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the thrilling trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run, pursued by relentless forces from both of their worlds. With the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s unforgettable last dance. Packed with action, emotion, and explosive moments, Venom: The Last Dance delivers a thrilling conclusion to their epic saga. The film is released on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD Blu-ray January 21, 2025!” Continue reading ‘‘Venom: The Last Dance’ on 4K UHD Blu-ray Janaury 21!’
December 9th, 2024 by Gerard Iribe
While Hong Kong horror cinema is more often associated with the jiangshi or “hopping vampires” of Chinese legend, it has also embraced (and, more often than not, lampooned) the Western vampire tradition. One of the more outrageous films to bring European bloodsuckers to Hong Kong is Jamie Luk’s Doctor Vampire – a perfect blend of horror and comedy with shades of Vamp, Fright Night and, of course, Hong Kong’s own Mr Vampire series. Offering a variation on the jiangshi craze kick-started by Encounter of the Spooky Kind and Mr Vampire, Doctor Vampire is one of a handful of films – along with Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires and Vampire vs Vampire – to bring Hollywood’s creatures of the night to Hong Kong. Eureka Classics is proud to present this ghoulish horror-comedy on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a brand-new 2k restoration. Continue reading ‘‘Doctor Vampire’ on February 24, 2025!’
December 9th, 2024 by Gerard Iribe
A Japanese box-office sensation directed by the revered Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale), Legend of the Eight Samuraibrings together an impressive ensemble cast, including Hiroko Yakushimaru (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun), Hiroyuki Sanada (Ring), Sonny Chiba (Message from Space) and Etsuko Shihomi (The Street Fighter), in a sweeping epic that blends fantasy with historical drama. Following Message from Space, which transported the story to a science fiction setting, Legend of the Eight Samurai is Fukasaku’s second loose adaptation of Toshio Kamata’s Shin Satomi Hakkenden, itself an adaptation of Kyokutei Bakin’s earlier epic novel Nanso Satomi Hakkenden. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present Legend of the Eight Samurai on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a new 4K restoration February 17, 2025!
Continue reading ‘Legend of the Eight Samurai on Blu-ray Ferbruary 17!’
December 9th, 2024 by Gerard Iribe
An undisputed master of melodrama, director Douglas Sirk is best known for the lavish, sweeping romances he made during the last decade of his career, including Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind and Imitation of Life. But by the time Sirk – born Hans Detlef Sierck – arrived in Hollywood, he had already made several films in his native Germany. The Masters of Cinema series is honoured to present this collection of Sirk’s earliest films, all of which established a blueprint for his later work: April, April!, The Girl from Marsh Croft (Das Mädchen vom Moorhof)and Pillars of Society (Stützen der Gesellschaft). Sirk in Germany 1934-1935 is released on Blu-ray in the UK February 24, 2025!
Continue reading ‘‘Sirk in Germany 1934-1935’ on Blu-ray February 24, 2025!’
December 7th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Confession Time: I was fearing a little bit of series fatigue after watching two Star Wars series back-to-back. Delving into Hawkeye: The Complete Miniseries, I was pleasantly surprised by the developments. Imperfect but charming and a whole lot of fun, I was happy to move from episode to episode. Read more about the team of Barton and Bishop and don’t forget, a paid link to get your own copy of Hawkeye is at the end of the review! Continue reading ‘Hawkeye: The Complete Miniseries (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
December 5th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Star Wars was always at the top of my list of film series as a kid. I loved the battles, the spaceships, the speeders and those characters were just so cool to me. After the original trilogy, the prequels were fine, and then as I was much older the next trilogy of films came along and initially felt like they were closer to the original trilogy. Between all the gaps in film trilogies, Animated series, novels, comics and more dropped out of everywhere to entice even bigger fans of Star Wars than I ever was. Ahsoka comes from an animated series, Star Wars Rebels to be exact, and then the character appeared in The Mandalorian capturing a villain and teaming with Din Djarin. Now, Ahsoka is her own character with her own show. Is it any good? And how’s the 4K disc?! Read more about Ahsoka: The Complete First Season, and may the force be with you!
Continue reading ‘Ahsoka: The Complete First Season (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
December 5th, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
I am ecstatic thinking of how this is the 3rd round of Disney+ Series to be released on UHD Blu-ray. What was once thought of as an impossible feat now gives us not one but all three seasons of The Mandalorian with gorgeous Steelbook packaging and full bodied Atmos sound and HDR picture quality. Cash grab you say. Take my money, house of Mouse I say. As we follow Din Djarin and Grogu on their next journey, how does The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season hold up on disc? Find out inside the review. This is the way.
Continue reading ‘The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)’
December 2nd, 2024 by Gerard Iribe
Ken Kaneki is a loner. In a world where ghouls—human-like creatures who survive on human flesh—and people are at war, his biggest concern is which novel to pick up next. But when a date with the mysterious Rize turns deadly, a life-saving operation horrifyingly transforms him into a human-ghoul hybrid. Struggling with his new identity, Kaneki must navigate a dangerous world where survival means choosing between humanity and the monstrous side of himself. Can he find his place in a society where it’s hunt or be hunted? Tokyo Ghoul: Complete Series – 10th Anniversary Edition will be available on Blu-ray December 17, 2024!
Continue reading ‘Tokyo Ghoul – Complete Series – 10th Anniversary on Blu-ray December 17!’
December 2nd, 2024 by Gerard Iribe
Kumiko wasn’t sad after missing nationals in junior high, until her bandmate Reina told her why she should be. Simultaneously scared and inspired by Reina’s commitment, she joins the high school band and decides whether music is just a hobby—or her whole life. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or new to the world of Sound! Euphonium, this is a must-own release for your collection. Sound! Euphonium – Season 1 is released on Blu-ray from Crunchyroll December 17, 2024! Continue reading ‘Sound! Euphonium – Season 1 on Blu-ray December 17!’
December 1st, 2024 by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Just in time for the holidays, it seems I have been bombarded with horror films lately. Funny how that works, right? I have to admit, the films I’ve seen have been campy, tense and interesting. So now that I’m stumbling upon Never Let Go, Alexandre Aja’s newest entry into scary stuff, where does the film fit in my recent horror leanings. Halle Berry leads the film along with two talented kiddos. Read more about the film and DON’T LET GO OF THE ROPE!
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December 1st, 2024 by Aaron Neuwirth
Like Godzilla, the other Criterion Collection film recently released on 4K UHD, Seven Samurai also turns 70 this year. It’s been treated to a full-on 4K restoration that was toured worldwide in theaters. Often regarded as the “Best Japanese Film of All Time” and one of the greatest and most influential films in cinema history, Akira Kurosawa’s epic samurai action classic is easily one of my favorite films. Whether it’s the story, the characters, the action, the grand sweeping nature of the film, or just the excitement and fun that comes with this story, it is satisfying in pretty much any way I look at it, along with being as essential as plenty of other classics, be it Citizen Kane, The Battle of Algiers, or 2001: A Space Odyssey. Now presented with a new restoration, the film looks better than ever at home, with the continued presence of the terrific extras that have accompanied previous releases.
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Continue reading ‘Seven Samurai – The Criterion Collection (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
November 29th, 2024 by Aaron Neuwirth
At this point, it’s pretty clear that I’m happy to talk about anything Godzilla-related. I’ve written my share of posts on Why So Blu regarding the King of the Monsters. The original 1954 Gojira was previously released by the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray over a decade ago at this point, followed by a massive Showa Era collection release for Criterion’s #1000 spine. A 4K upgrade for director Ishiro Honda’s classic made plenty of sense. Fortunately, it delivers as well as it can. Along with maintaining the fun extras from the previous release, this newest version has stomped its way onto a UHD disc and looks and sounds excellent as a result.
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Continue reading ‘Godzilla – The Criterion Collection (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)’
November 29th, 2024 by Aaron Neuwirth
A lovely surprise from last year that wasn’t released in US theaters until the Spring of 2024, Robot Dreams is now available for everyone to enjoy, and it’s well worth the time. The tragi-comic journey of two characters (a dog and a robot) is very well done, touching, occasionally humorous, and inventive in its presentation. What could have been a simple story turns into something greater, and it’s now available on this nice Blu-ray package that adds plenty of additional perspective, along with a good enough audio/video transfer.
– Continue reading ‘Robot Dreams (Blu-ray Review)’
