Blu-Ray – Page 5 – StuffWeLike

Blood Father – Blu-ray Review

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Blood Father is a suspenseful, action-packed film that shows what lengths a father will go to to help his estranged daughter get out of a pretty complex situation. Mel Gibson delivers a powerful and intense performance as John Link, an ex-con and recovering alcoholic whose daughter, Lydia (Erin Moriarty), has been missing for years. When the two reunite, she’s got the weight of the world on her back and a price on her head. It’s a good thing her dad’s got a few tricks up his sleeve and few friends to enlist for help along the way.

From that point forward, John and Lydia are on the run, dodging bullets, hotwiring cars, and hitching rides to stay off the beaten path to keep Lydia out of harm’s way. Will the cartel catch up to her and make her pay for her transgressions? Will John keep her safe?

Blood Father is an exciting and tense ride that also includes the talents of William H. Macy (Shameless), Michael Parks (Django Unchained), Miguel Sandoval (Jurassic Park), and Dale Dickey (Hell or High Water). Director Jean-François Richet delivers an excellent balance between the father-daughter dynamic and the action sequences that gives both depth and nuance as the film progresses. No shot or scene is wasted in this well-crafted film.

The lone special feature is a very intriguing and insightful documentary, Lost Souls: On the Road With Blood Father, which gives us a closer look at the production and the process of adapting a novel into a feature film. Very enjoyable!

I highly recommend Blood Father. It’s a solid piece of filmmaking with excellent performances from Gibson and the entire cast.

Blood Father is available now on DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Download.

What’s your favorite Mel Gibson movie? Leave a comment and let us know!

Disney’s Beauty and The Beast: 25th Anniversary Edition – Blu-ray Review

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A masterpiece in every sense of the word, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast marked a new age for animated films. Part of Disney’s Golden Age of Animation that included The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King, Beauty and The Beast delivered memorable songs, dimensional characters, and a strong narrative that attracted audiences of all ages.

No longer were cartoonish antics at the forefront; instead audiences were treated to a strong story with adult themes that was truly a moving and emotionally involving experience. It’s no wonder that the film went on to be the first animated film to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

If you haven’t seen it, stop reading this and go and get it now! Everything about the film is pure perfection, and the combination of traditional 2D animation and computer effects is a glorious sight to behold as the world of Beauty and The Beast comes to life before your eyes. Each character is fantastic, each song unforgettable, and each scene builds on the next until the final frame fades to black.

And, of course, let’s not forget the top-notch voice cast that includes Paige O’Hara (Belle), Robby Benson (Beast), Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere), David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth), and Richard White (Gaston). It’s no wonder that this was one of the top three highest grossing films of 1991!

So, what are the Bonus Extras that accompany this 25th Anniversary Edition?

You get THREE versions of the film: Original Theatrical; the Special Edition (this includes new songs and scenes); and a Sing-Along Version if you want to do some Beauty and The Beast Karaoke.

Menken & Friends: 25 Years of Musical Inspiration

A look at the geniuses who have brought the music and songs of Disney animated films to life.

The Recording Sessions

Watch as the voice actors from the film bring their characters to life.

Always Belle

A look back at the film and its impact with actress Paige O’Hara who does the voice of Belle in the film.

#1074: Walt, Fairy Tales & Beauty and The Beast

A look at Walt Disney’s original plans for Beauty and The Beast and its eventual influence on the 1991 film.

25 Fun Facts About Beauty and The Beast

A fast-paced look at some fun trivia with Disney Channel Stars Gus Kamp (Best Friends Whenever) and Kayla Maisonet (Stuck in the Middle).

And a quick sneak peek at the upcoming live-action version of Beauty and The Beast starring Emma Watson! Just from what I saw, it looks amazing!

I can’t express enough how amazing, wonderful, magical, and superb Disney’s Beauty and The Beast is. It is a timeless classic that will forever be a testament to the power of beautiful animation and great storytelling. I highly, highly, highly recommend it!

Disney’s Beauty and The Beast: 25th Anniversary Edition is available NOW on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD.

What is your favorite song, character, or moment in the film? Leave a comment and let us know!

Marauders – Blu-ray Review

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Christopher Meloni is back kicking ass and taking names in the action flick, Marauders. Meloni – who’s best known to TV audiences as Detective Elliot Stabler from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – plays Montgomery, an FBI agent with the Robbery/Homicide Division in Ohio. He’s a no nonsense guy with a badge, a gun, and tragedy in his past that drives him to seek justice for those who have been wronged.

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When a bank robbery results in murder, Montgomery and his FBI team are ready to swoop in a make things right. The only problem is, someone’s trying to make it harder than it should be. Will they be able to put a stop to the chaos before it escalates beyond their control?

Along with solid action, Marauders is a clever whodunit that will have you guessing who’s responsible for the chaos that has erupted in the city until the very end. There are plenty of twists, plenty of surprises, and lots of mayhem as bank after bank is hit, and the team of robbers uses technology to their advantage.

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Joining Meloni’s Montgomery on his quest to track down those responsible for the city’s bank robbing spree are Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Adrian Grenier (Entourage) who make up an elite team of FBI Agents ready to take whatever actions are necessary to quell the succession of robberies. As the pieces begin to fall into place, the stakes are raised, and Montgomery and his team find themselves in the middle of something bigger than they ever imagined.

Also along for the ride is a very subdued Bruce Willis (Die Hard film series, Armageddon, The Sixth Sense) who plays the owner of the banks that have been hit. It’s an interesting turn for Willis. He’s not in the center of the action, but it’s nice to see him in and out of the story throughout the film.

Meloni and Willis

Director Steven C. Miller does an excellent job creating a gritty underworld where crime runs amok and the most corrupt are sometimes those we least expect. From its sweeping vista shots over the city, to it’s in-your-face ugliness, Marauders succeeds visually as well as narratively.

Special features include Commentary from Director Steven C. Miller and Cinematographer Brandon Cox; The Making of Marauders featurette; Deleted/Extended Scenes; and Interviews with the Cast & Crew.

For a solid crime-drama with plenty of action and lots of twists, I recommend Marauders.

Marauders is available September 13, 2016 on DVD and Blu-ray!

The Flash: The Complete Second Season – Blu-ray Review

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

Barry Allen has come a long way since a particle accelerator explosion transformed him into Central City’s biggest savior, The Flash. He’s honed his powers, teamed with other metahumans to fight notorious villains, and even become a reluctant hero. In the midst of all that, Barry has seen friends die, others double-cross him, and the mystery over his mother’s murder has been resolved giving him some much sought-after answers.

Following the tragic aftermath of the events in the season one finale, Barry has distanced himself those around him to keep them out of harm’s way. But superheroes and their closest friends have a tendency to attract evil no matter the circumstances, and The Flash must once again rely on those he pushed away for their own protection.

The second season of The Flash continues the adrenaline-fueled momentum that catapulted the first season into the hit it quickly became. There’s so much happening; tons of action, suspense, and cross-overs with other series that it’ll make your head spin. And if you like The Flash, boy are you in for a special treat!

How many special features can you pack into a single season of a TV series on Blu-ray? How about four hours worth! That’s right, the Blu-ray edition of season two contains over 23 featurettes that cover just about every possible thing you have ever wanted to know about what goes into making a superhero-themed TV series.

A few include a featurette that goes behind-the-scenes of the episode Kevin Smith (yes, that Kevin Smith) directed, “The Runaway Dinosaur;” Six VFX Featurettes highlighting a variety of big effects moments in the season; Character Profiles; and a Gag Reel. There’s so much to watch it’s insane!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, DC knows how to make their heroes shine on TV. It’s an amazing thing to watch as three – and soon four with Supergirl joining the ranks – series work in tandem to create a brilliantly interconnected universe for all of its characters to shine in. Well done, DC!

For some fast-paced, action-packed excitement, I highly recommend The Flash: The Complete Second Season!

The Flash: The Complete Second Season is available September 06, 2016 on DVD and Blu-ray!

What’s your favorite cross-over moment from Arrow, The Flash, or DC’s Legends of Tomorrow? Leave a comment and let us know!

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Ninth Season – Blu-ray Review

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.

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It’s hard to believe that The Big Bang Theory is about to enter its tenth season on TV. I still remember going to Warner Bros. Studios one hot L.A. afternoon nearly a decade ago to watch a taping of the second episode of the series, “The Big Bran Hypothesis.” Little did I know, nor did the half-full audience, that this series about a group of intelligent socially awkward nerds would explode into an international comedy hit.

Now, it’s nearly impossible to get into a taping due to the show’s legions of loyal fans who patiently wait in line to see their favorite TV scientists perform live.

As season ten commences, it’s time to re-watch and enjoy the ninth season that brought some very unexpected and exciting changes to the lives of Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Amy (Mayim Bialik), Howard (Simon Helberg), Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), and Raj (Kunal Nayyar). And of course, with big changes come big laughs!

When you look back at the first season to where the series and its characters are now, it’s amazing to think that things have developed and changed so much over the years. Who ever thought that Penny and Leonard would get married? Who ever thought Howard would find true love? And who ever in a million years could fathom that there was woman out there who was willing to love and tolerate Dr. Sheldon Cooper?

And yet, here we are with so many changes, so many classic comedy moments, and even a milestone or two. Season nine brings us the 200th episode of the series – “The Celebration Experimentation” – featuring special guest star Adam West! Along with West, look for great moments from Bob Newhart, Judd Hirsch, Wil Wheaton, Christine Baranski, and Laurie Metcalf.

The Big Bang Theory has resonated with audiences worldwide and will continue to live on forever in syndication long after the series ends its initial run. Series creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady have done an excellent job keeping the series fresh and funny after almost a decade of episodes, which makes it pretty clear why Lorre continues to be the king of the sitcom hill.

The Blu-ray of The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Ninth Season includes the following special features:

#JustAskBBT: Who Will Get the Couch…/If I Had to Go to Mars…

Two segments with the cast answering fan questions from Twitter.

The Big Bang Theory 2015 Comic-Con Panel

The Big Bang Theory Gives Back

Did you know there’s a “Big Bang Theory S.T.E.M. Scholarship”? This featurette talks about the program and celebrates its recipients.

Love Is Rocket Science

The cast reflects on their characters’ romantic relationships throughout the course of the series.

The Big 200!

The cast and creative team celebrate the 200th episode and reflect on how far the series has come since the pilot.

Gag Reel

Funny stuff as always!

The Big Bang Theory always puts a smile on my face, and whether it’s season one or this latest season, there’s always something that makes me laugh out loud. I highly, highly recommend The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Ninth Season!

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Ninth Season is available September 13, 2016 on Blu-ray and DVD!

What is your favorite moment from the series? Leave a comment and let us know!