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Friday, January 31, 2020
FRIENDS TV - WE WERE ON A BREAK! - EXCLUSIVE CLIP
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Coming soon to HBO...
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Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Wanna Watch Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood With Quentin Tarantino?
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Beverly Hills Cop: 3 Movie Collection Blu-ray Disc Set Review
In 1984 Eddie Murphy solidified his movie stardom as perhaps the funniest man in America in the 1980s with the action comedy classic Beverly Hills Cop. After his friend is murdered by what appears to be professional hit men, Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) goes against orders and pretends to go on vacation when in reality he is investigating the death of his friend seeking to bring down those responsible for the killing. The screenplay by Daniel Petrie, Jr. had been under consideration as a more straight forward cop action picture with a touch of the “fish out of water” scenario, but the inclusion of Murphy changed the entire tone of the film and one could argue that both Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours may have inspired buddy cop action films with a touch of comedic moments to follow with movies like Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout. Murphy was under contract with Paramount Pictures and was one of the last big screen movie stars to have worked in what was the very last vestiges of the old Hollywood Contract Player System. That is the reason why the majority of Murphy’s films if not all of his films from the 1980s were released by Paramount Pictures.
Murphy has both directly and maybe indirectly been responsible for giving comedians a shot in his feature films. Examples include Louie Anderson in Coming To America and in the three Beverly Hills Cop movies produced one will spot fellow SNL alumni and future successful comedians alike including Damon Wayons, Gilbert Gottfried, whose scene in the second film was so memorable, he not only got great recognition, but he stole the scene he appeared in from Murphy. Chris Rock has a small appearance in the third film as well. As far as the original is concerned , it could not have been cast better with Paul Reiser as Axel’s friend at the Detroit Precinct and John Ashton and Judge Reinhold as Beverly Hills Police Detectives assigned to follow Axel, but eventually the characters form a bond that enables Axel to bring the people behind the killing to justice. Other cast members include Ronny Cox, Bronson Pinchot in a role that made him a sitcom star in the 1980s, Steven Berkoff, Jonathan Banks, James Russo and Frank Pesce. Sadly the sequels do not hold a candle to the original though they do have talented actors that include Jurgen Prochnow , Dean Stockwell, Brigette Nielsen and the third film features Hector Elizondo, Stephen McHattie, Joey Travolta, and John Saxon. A number of filmmakers also have cameos in the third film, which was directed by John Landis and the filmmakers include John Singleton, Barbet Schroeder, George Lucas, and Joe Dante. The second film was directed by Tony Scott and has a slick sheen to it while the original directed by Martin Brest does not. It is also the only film in the series what appears to be a wider anamorphic lens. The other two are presented in (1.78:1) aspect ratio although to me the presentation of the original Beverly Hills Cop seemed kind of cropped compared to how I recall seeing it when it was first released in theaters back in 1984. Of course since that is a long time ago, I could be mistaken.
Though Beverly Hills Cop has been remastered, it sadly does not look as good as the two sequels. All three films are presented in 1080p full HD with English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Soundtracks and while all three still look good, they much sound better. French and Spanish Language Audio options are included on all three discs along with an English Descriptive Audio Track On Beverly Hills Cop. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired are encoded on all three discs as well as additional English, French and Spanish Language Subtitles as options. Actually the menus appear to offer even more options, but I am only listing these because these are what was noted on the packaging. Outside of that the onscreen menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. Beverly Hills Cop is the only film in the collection with any extra value materials and these include two deleted scenes (3:49) four new featurettes that incorporate vintage 1984 interviews (6:49), an isolated score track by Harold Faltermeyer, and a feature that allows one to jump directly to scenes featuring the hit songs “The Heat Is On,” “Neutron Dance,” “New Attitude,” “Stir It Up,” “Do You Really,” and “Nasty Girl.”
The previously released Commentary by Director Martin Brest, Beverly Hills Cop - The Phenomenon, a glimpse into the casting process (9:37), The Music Of Beverly Hills Cop, an Interactive location map and the theatrical trailer (2:33) are included and wrap up the contents on the Beverly Hills Cop Blu-ray Disc. Sadly Digital Copy codes are not included within this three disc set. The discs are packaged within a single sized three-disc Blue BD case within a cardboard slip. Beverly Hills Cop: 3 Movie Collection is available now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment.
(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
One Wolf. Two Sheep.: Comparing The Cult Actions And Goals In Hereditary and Midsommar.
Hereditary and Midsommar appear to be akin to bookends and imply the viewer is coming in at the later point of a much longer drama. Spoiler warnings for both films here on out. In Hereditary the Grandmother had planned out the entire Satanic sacrifice even going so far as to have told her grandaughter she wished she was a boy. The reason being is that is the demon's preferred gender to inhabit. So right from the beginning the granddaughter is the temporary vessel for the demon hence her clicking sound she makes with her tongue that is heard throughout the film long after she is dead. The demon is said to be a trickster and the demon appears to enjoy tormenting the host family by making the clicking noise intended to be the sound their heads will make when chopped off and the use of her head for the mockery of Jesus like statue in the structure outside the house.
In Midsommar, I think not only did the Cultist pick the girl to be his future wife, but it could also be implied that since he had to have known them for some time before the film, that perhaps he took advantage of their hereditary mental illness in the same way the Satanic followers use the bloodline of the chosen host as the means for them to bring about the physical incarnation of their master whom they worship. He may have somehow been responsible for and or engineered the murder suicide of the girl's sister and parents to force her into the isolation we perceive was a tragic accident. Perhaps the visions she has of her departed sister later in the film are warnings from beyond.
Lucifer is the "light bringer." He is Prometheus and it is no coincidence that the Swiss Cultist's first name rhymes with Hell. In both cases the characters are doomed because they are blind to what is front of them. The house within a house in Hereditary serves as an almost Kubrick callback to The Shining where Jack Nicholson looks at the maze layout and we see Shelly Duvall's character and her son Danny exploring the labyrinth slowly closing in from an overhead point of view and transitioning from Nicholson's character's point of view to their own within the maze. When the cult is successful in Hereditary the last shot is framed within a doll's house like environment because they have been all manipulated like puppets on strings.
In Midsommar, the paintings illustrate exactly what is going to happen yet these visiting scholars are too blind to realize it. Christians are despised by pagans in no small part for the inhuman torture and death inflicted upon perceived foes, such as the burning of pagans at the stake who refuse to convert and go and fight in the Crusades as seen in the movie Valhalla Rising. So you know it is not a stretch for viewers to intuit the character of the girl's boyfriend, who is named Christian, as their scapegoat to be placed in the bear carcass and be sacrificed for the impurities they see the outsiders bring and to cleanse themselves of actions committed.
They were all doomed as soon as they arrived and one could argue that although the two cults that act in the films have different objectives on the surface, essentially they serve the same master for the Devil has many names.
(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Friday, January 24, 2020
New Pics From GRETEL & HANSEL
Osgood Perkins' GRETEL & HANSEL starring Sophia Lillis (IT Chapter 2), Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact) and introducing Sammy Leakey as Hansel. Follow the crumbs as the terrifying twist on a classic tale we all know and love hits theaters everywhere next Friday, January 31st!
Krypton: The Complete Second And Final Season Blu-ray Disc Set Review
After two seasons, Krypton ended it's run on Syfy, but Warner Brothers has released to the complete second and final season on Blu-ray Disc, which includes an insert within the Blue BD case with a limited time only code for a free digital copy of the entire second season too.
Set 200 years before the destruction of Krypton, the series follows Seg-El, the grandfather of Superman, who comes from a family that has been shamed. Zod now controls the city of Kandor. Seg-El must attempt to unite forces on Krypton to defeat Zod and save their planet. The second season also features some other villains and or antiheroes like Lobo. Sadly, they got a thin actor to play the character and I prefer a more muscle bound version like the statue released a few years ago by Sideshow Collectibles that is below.
As one should expect for a Blu-ray release, Krypton looks vibrant and detailed and features a very aggressive and well mixed soundtrack. The set also includes “The Fate of Superman” a short featurette in which David S Goyer discusses the lineage of Superman and the issues some of the relationships create.
A 38-minute “Villains: Modes of Persuasion” which covers villains across the DC Universe not specific to Superman alone is also included among the extra vale features of this two-disc set. Krypton: The Complete Second And Final Season is available now on Blu-ray Disc courtesy of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.
(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
I completed Alien Isolation. Thank you very much!
While it is a 2014 game, it was released for Nintendo Switch users last year and that was also the fortieth anniversary of the theatrical release of Ridley Scott’ Alien in 1979. I played it on XBOX ONE and I don’t think there will ever be a Survival Horror/Sci-Fi game as lovingly crafted with attention to every detail in recreating the look and terror of Alien quite like this game by SEGA and Creative Assembly. I highly recommend it. I also could not have completed Alien Isolation without watching the YouTube play through videos of both theRadBrad, whose comments and sense of humor made the stress endurance test that is Alien Isolation more fun and the straight forward non stop demonstrations by Ross Mahon Thank you both so much.
(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Gemini Man 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc Review
Gemini Man is a popcorn action picture that takes itself a little too seriously. It can be fun, but it is not particularly remarkable when compared to some of Will Smith's other genre film outings.
Paramount delivers Gemini Man to 4K UHD in a two-disc 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital set. The 4K UHD Disc features an exclusive 60fps special effects breakdown from Weta Digital.
The image quality detailed and sharp. Gemini Man also has an enveloping Dolby Atmos audio mix. The extra value features are detailed as follows:
4K UHD Disc
Exclusive VFX Breakdown in 60fps (UHD 3:02)
Blu-ray Disc
Alternate Opening (HD 5:50)
Deleted Scene (HD 3:55)
The Genesis of Gemini Man (HD 2:54)
Facing Your Younger Self (HD 5:41)
The Future is Now (HD 18:33)
Setting the Action (HD 15:46)
Next Level Detail (HD 3:46)
The Vision of Ang Lee (HD 5:26)
Gemini Man is available now on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc, HD Blu-ray and Digitally at retailers on and offline courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment.
(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
TBS PROGRAMMING ALERT WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10
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Animated family film NE ZHA on digital 2/25, on Blu-ray & 4K March 3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“In some very important ways, it's competing right up to the level of Pixar or Disney themselves.”
~ Tim Brayton. Alternate Ending
“Residing just beneath all the visual razzle dazzle is a stirring message of empowerment.”
~ Michael Rechtshaffen, LOS ANGELES TIMES
“… it escalates into a full-fledged emotional animated blockbuster.” ~ Kevin L. Lee, Film Inquiry
The Critically Acclaimed Animated Fantasy-Adventure
for the Whole Family Debuts on Digital February 25
and on DVD, Blu-ray Combo & 4K Ultra Blu-ray Combo March 3
PLANO, TEXAS. (January 22, 2020) – One of the biggest successes in the history of animation and Chinese cinema, the internationally-acclaimed animated fantasy-adventure NE ZHA weaves it magic on digital February 25 and on DVD, Blu-ray Combo and 4K Ultra Blu-ray Combo March 3 from Well Go USA Entertainment. First-time feature film director Jiaozi brings to the screen the enchanting story of a boy with unique powers who is recruited to fight demons and save the community that initially fears him. NE ZHA is the first animated film selected as the Chinese entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Synopsis:
A young boy, Nezha, is birthed from a heavenly pearl by the Primeval Lord of Heaven. Born with unique powers, Nezha finds himself as an outcast who is hated and feared. Destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, the young boy must choose between good and evil in order to break the shackles of fate and become the hero.
Country of Origin: China
NE ZHA has a runtime of approximately 111 minutes and is not rated.
Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil: Multi-Screen Edition Review
Angelina Jolie as Maleficent is just fantastic casting and when the first film came out, the trailers made it appear as though it was a vision of the Disney classic brought to vivid life, but while the take of turning her into the victim of a disreputable King as a part of her origins gave depth to her character, it also turned her into the antihero. I still prefer the Disney Cartoon and wish they had adopted that more closely, but the film was successful and now the sequel has been released on Blu-ray Disc following a theatrical run earlier last year.
With Aurora as queen of the Moors, there is finally peace between her two worlds. But when Philip proposes, the future inlaws must meet and Maleficent and Queen Ingrith have irreconcilable differences. A new war is brewing and Aurora appears to have found herself on the wrong side this time. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil builds upon the story of the first, but the trailers kind of gave away the real villain this time and I think it is pretty easy to guess just by looking at the Blu-ray cover art.
Bonus Features on the Multi-Screen Edition include:
Origins of the Fey (3:02) – The world of Maleficent’s kind is explored, including the biome sets and character designs.
Aurora’s Wedding (2:31) – Costume design and decor from the wedding of Aurora and Philip are examined in a comedic way with 1990’s style home video footage from the set.
If You Had Wings (4:15) – An exploration of how the film’s many flying scenes were achieved and how computer effects make Maleficent’s wings possible.
Maleficent: Mistess of Evil VFX Reel (2:11) – This visual effects reel allows you to see how much of the sets were practical vs. how much was digital to help you appreciate the artistry that went into bringing this film to life.
Extended Scenes:
The Queen Confronts Aurora (2:05)
Philip and Aurora Dance (1:37)
Outtakes (1:55) – The cast goofs off in front of the camera in this short blooper reel.
“You Can’t Stop the Girl” Music Video (2:43) – Bebe Rexha performs her end credit song from city streets and sets from the film.
There are also Digital Exclusives that are detailed as:
Lickspittle (4:15) – Go behind the scenes of Warwick Davis’ character with an exploration of the actor and Lickspittle’s laboratory set.
Art Galleries (iTunes Exclusive)
The high-definition transfer presents the film in its extra wide aspect ratio of 2:39:1 with crisp and clear colors and a nice contrast too. The primary audio track on the Blu-ray is a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. Other audio options include a 2.0 Descriptive Audio track plus French and Spanish Language 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. A DVD and an insert containing a limited time only redeemable code for a Digital Copy are also included within the blue BD case.
Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil: Multi-Screen Edition is available now at retailers on and offline.
(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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