Rocketman
Biopics are a time-honored Hollywood tradition. And biopics about musicians are all the rage lately – just look at the popularity of the Oscar-nominated Bohemian Rhapsody. The problem is that most musician biopics are painfully formulaic, and in some cases, downright bad – again, just look at the Oscar-nominated Bohemian Rhapsody, an awful film that still managed to scoop up awards. If you’re burned out on bad biopics, you might be hesitant to check out Rocketman, which on the surface is a biopic of Elton John. But Rocketman rises above the standard biopic trappings to create something unique. Sure, it occasionally slips into cliche territory. But for the most part, Rocketman distinguishes itself by being a full-blown musical. There aren’t just scenes of Elton John performing at concerts – there are old school musical numbers, complete with dancers and fantastical elements galore. It makes for a more rewarding experience overall and makes you appreciate how bad other musician biopics are. Taron Egerton is excellent as Elton John – primarily because the actor actually creates a character here, rather than lean on a cheesy impression. A little trimming here and there and Rocketman could’ve been one of the best biopics in recent memory. Instead, we’ll just have to settle for a really good biopic instead.
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: Rocketman is a long movie, but it could’ve been even longer, as this Blu-ray confirms. The release comes packed with not just deleted scenes – most of which are forgettable – but also extended musical numbers. So instead of the trimmed-down versions of the songs you see in the film, you’ll be treated to the fuller versions as well. There’s also a “sing-along” feature – something that’s become standard in most popular musicals. So if you want to go ahead and belt out some of these tunes while you’re home alone, feel free. I won’t tell anyone. Overall, Rocketman is an entertaining, fantasized journey through Elton John’s career, and is thus inherently watchable – and rewatchable.
Special Features Include: Extended Musical Numbers: Introduction by Dexter Fletcher The Bitch Is Back Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache Honky Cat Deleted and Extended Scenes: Introduction by Dexter Fletcher I Love Rock And Roll You’ve Got to Kill the Person You Were Born To Be Arabella Elton in the Gas Oven Stylish Boots You’re Not the First Closet Queer with a Mummy Complex The Blood Test The Heart Attack The Launderette Do You Want Anything? It’s Going to Be a Wild Ride: Creative Vision Becoming Elton John: Taron’s Transformation Larger Than Life: Production Design & Costuming Full Tilt: Staging the Musical Numbers Music Reimagined: The Studio Sessions – Behind the scenes in the recording studio with Taron & Elton ROCKETMAN Lyric Companion: Sing-Along with Select Songs (English only): The Bitch Is Back I Want Love Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) Your Song Crocodile Rock Tiny Dancer Honky Cat Rocket Man Bennie and the Jets Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word Goodbye Yellow Brick Road I’m Still Standing
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Even by Godzilla sequel standards, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a bit undercooked. The script is messy to the point of incoherence – example: at one point the twin sister of another character shows up, but there’s zero indication that this is supposed to be a different character – and none of the humans are worth a damn, even though they’re played by strong actors like Vera Farmiga, Bradley Whitford and more. But it can’t be denied: when the monsters finally show up and start stomping all over each other, it’s a sight to behold. Sure, it somehow manages to rain every single time a monster attack happens. But the destructive enormity of these creatures is expertly handled. Pity about everything else, though.
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: If you’re a Godzilla completist, you’re going to want to own this, despite its flaws. Perhaps the best reason for checking this out is the commentary by director Mike Flanagan. Director’s commentaries are becoming a dying breed, so I always appreciate when a filmmaker takes the time to sit down and talk about their work. Beyond that, there are featurettes about creating all the monsters, as well as the many locations the film jumps to. It’s a solid package overall, even if the film itself is a bit lacking.
Special Features Include: Commentary by Director Godzilla: Nature’s Fearsome Guardian Mothra: Queen of the Monsters King Ghidorah: The Living Extinction Machine Rodan: Airborne God of Fire Godzilla 2.0 Making Morthra Creating Ghidorah Reimagining Rodan The Yunnan Temple Castle Bravo The Antarctic Base The Isla de Mara Volcano The Undersea Lair Millie Bobby Brown: Force of Nature Monster Tech: Monarch Joins the Fight Monsters Are Real Welcome to the Monsterverse Deleted Scenes
Brightburn
What if Superman was a full-blown sociopath? That’s the premise of Brightburn, a gory, inventive anti-superhero movie that takes the Superman mythos and turns it upside down. A childless couple (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman) from Kansas get a big surprise when something crashes on their farm. The unidentified crashing object contains a baby, and the couple decides to raise the infant as their own. Jump to 12 years later: that baby, named Brandon, has grown into a seemingly normal boy (played by Jackson A. Dunn). But Brandon soon discovers he has superpowers. If Brandon was a well-adjusted individual, he must use his newfound powers for good. But Brandon is an angry, violent creep, and he starts using his amazing abilities to commit brutal acts of vengeance against his perceived enemies. Brightburn is unapologetically nasty, loaded with gore and brimming with possibilities.
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: Above I praised Godzilla: King of the Monsters for featuring a commentary track. Which means I have to extend that same praise to Brightburn, which features a commentary track with director David Yarovesky, cinematographer Michael Dallatorre, and costume designer Autumn Steed. I’m surprised producer James Gunn didn’t sit in, since his name was slapped all over the marketing, but this will do. Brightburn was mostly ignored in theaters, and that’s kind of a bummer – because this is a fun, gory horror movie that is just waiting to find its audience. I think it eventually will – if people bother to check it out on Blu-ray.
Special Features Include: 3 “Quick Burns” Vignettes hosted by Actor Elizabeth Banks, Producer James Gunn & Director David Yarovesky “Hero-Horror!” featurette: It’s not often filmmakers successfully and seamlessly combine both Horror and Superhero into a genre-bending “Hero-Horror” category. Hear from Producer James Gunn and Screenwriters Brian and Mark Gunn as we will learn the methods of their filmmaking style and their dotting of the “i”’s and slashing of the “t”’s storytelling process. “Nature vs. Nurture” featurette: Hear from Actor Jackson A. Dunn, Producer James Gunn, Screenwriters Brian and Mark Gunn and understand the creative process involved in flipping the script of the traditional “Superhero” and diving into what motivates and moves our new Anti-hero, Brandon Breyer. Filmmaker Commentary with Director David Yarovesky, DP Michael Dallatorre, and Costume Designer Autumn Steed
By Chris Evangelista/Aug. 28, 2019 11:00 am EST
Calling all physical media phans! There are a whole lot of great new Blu-rays you must purchase. That’s right, I said must. Empty your bank account! Or don’t, whatever, I’m not your boss. But this week really does offer up some wonderful films, and I urge you to check them out. These are the new Blu-ray releases you should check out this week.
Rocketman
Biopics are a time-honored Hollywood tradition. And biopics about musicians are all the rage lately – just look at the popularity of the Oscar-nominated Bohemian Rhapsody. The problem is that most musician biopics are painfully formulaic, and in some cases, downright bad – again, just look at the Oscar-nominated Bohemian Rhapsody, an awful film that still managed to scoop up awards. If you’re burned out on bad biopics, you might be hesitant to check out Rocketman, which on the surface is a biopic of Elton John. But Rocketman rises above the standard biopic trappings to create something unique. Sure, it occasionally slips into cliche territory. But for the most part, Rocketman distinguishes itself by being a full-blown musical. There aren’t just scenes of Elton John performing at concerts – there are old school musical numbers, complete with dancers and fantastical elements galore. It makes for a more rewarding experience overall and makes you appreciate how bad other musician biopics are. Taron Egerton is excellent as Elton John – primarily because the actor actually creates a character here, rather than lean on a cheesy impression. A little trimming here and there and Rocketman could’ve been one of the best biopics in recent memory. Instead, we’ll just have to settle for a really good biopic instead.
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: Rocketman is a long movie, but it could’ve been even longer, as this Blu-ray confirms. The release comes packed with not just deleted scenes – most of which are forgettable – but also extended musical numbers. So instead of the trimmed-down versions of the songs you see in the film, you’ll be treated to the fuller versions as well. There’s also a “sing-along” feature – something that’s become standard in most popular musicals. So if you want to go ahead and belt out some of these tunes while you’re home alone, feel free. I won’t tell anyone. Overall, Rocketman is an entertaining, fantasized journey through Elton John’s career, and is thus inherently watchable – and rewatchable.
Special Features Include: Extended Musical Numbers: Introduction by Dexter Fletcher The Bitch Is Back Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache Honky Cat Deleted and Extended Scenes: Introduction by Dexter Fletcher I Love Rock And Roll You’ve Got to Kill the Person You Were Born To Be Arabella Elton in the Gas Oven Stylish Boots You’re Not the First Closet Queer with a Mummy Complex The Blood Test The Heart Attack The Launderette Do You Want Anything? It’s Going to Be a Wild Ride: Creative Vision Becoming Elton John: Taron’s Transformation Larger Than Life: Production Design & Costuming Full Tilt: Staging the Musical Numbers Music Reimagined: The Studio Sessions – Behind the scenes in the recording studio with Taron & Elton ROCKETMAN Lyric Companion: Sing-Along with Select Songs (English only): The Bitch Is Back I Want Love Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) Your Song Crocodile Rock Tiny Dancer Honky Cat Rocket Man Bennie and the Jets Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word Goodbye Yellow Brick Road I’m Still Standing
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: Rocketman is a long movie, but it could’ve been even longer, as this Blu-ray confirms. The release comes packed with not just deleted scenes – most of which are forgettable – but also extended musical numbers. So instead of the trimmed-down versions of the songs you see in the film, you’ll be treated to the fuller versions as well. There’s also a “sing-along” feature – something that’s become standard in most popular musicals. So if you want to go ahead and belt out some of these tunes while you’re home alone, feel free. I won’t tell anyone. Overall, Rocketman is an entertaining, fantasized journey through Elton John’s career, and is thus inherently watchable – and rewatchable.
Special Features Include:
Apocalypse Now (Final Cut)
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray:
As Coppola himself says in a new intro, Final Cut is his preferred version of the film. That on its own might be enough to ensure people pick this up. But to sweeten the pot, the 4K Final Cut release is jam-packed with material, making it the only release worth owning at this point. Not only do you get the Final Cut, you also get the Redux cut as well. Also included: Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, the documentary that recounts how insane the Apocalyse Now production was. In addition, you’ll find a wealth of behind-the-scenes featurettes – some of which were included in the previous releases of the film. But there are also new features devoted to the unique sound design of the film, as well as the restoration for the 4K release. The Q&A Coppola did with director Steven Soderbergh at the recent Tribeca Film Festival – where Final Cut premiered – is also included. If you’re a fan of Apocalypse Now, there’s no way in hell you should pass this release up.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Even by Godzilla sequel standards, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a bit undercooked. The script is messy to the point of incoherence – example: at one point the twin sister of another character shows up, but there’s zero indication that this is supposed to be a different character – and none of the humans are worth a damn, even though they’re played by strong actors like Vera Farmiga, Bradley Whitford and more. But it can’t be denied: when the monsters finally show up and start stomping all over each other, it’s a sight to behold. Sure, it somehow manages to rain every single time a monster attack happens. But the destructive enormity of these creatures is expertly handled. Pity about everything else, though.
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: If you’re a Godzilla completist, you’re going to want to own this, despite its flaws. Perhaps the best reason for checking this out is the commentary by director Mike Flanagan. Director’s commentaries are becoming a dying breed, so I always appreciate when a filmmaker takes the time to sit down and talk about their work. Beyond that, there are featurettes about creating all the monsters, as well as the many locations the film jumps to. It’s a solid package overall, even if the film itself is a bit lacking.
Special Features Include: Commentary by Director Godzilla: Nature’s Fearsome Guardian Mothra: Queen of the Monsters King Ghidorah: The Living Extinction Machine Rodan: Airborne God of Fire Godzilla 2.0 Making Morthra Creating Ghidorah Reimagining Rodan The Yunnan Temple Castle Bravo The Antarctic Base The Isla de Mara Volcano The Undersea Lair Millie Bobby Brown: Force of Nature Monster Tech: Monarch Joins the Fight Monsters Are Real Welcome to the Monsterverse Deleted Scenes
If you’re a Godzilla completist, you’re going to want to own this, despite its flaws. Perhaps the best reason for checking this out is the commentary by director Mike Flanagan. Director’s commentaries are becoming a dying breed, so I always appreciate when a filmmaker takes the time to sit down and talk about their work. Beyond that, there are featurettes about creating all the monsters, as well as the many locations the film jumps to. It’s a solid package overall, even if the film itself is a bit lacking.
Cruising
This Arrow Video release is the only version of Cruising you should own. If you don’t believe me, take it from the director himself.
— William Friedkin (@WilliamFriedkin) August 20, 2019
The 4K restoration preserves the harsh grain and heavy textures of James A. Contner’s cinematography, resulting in a viewing experience that has the ability to transport you back to an entirely different era.
Brightburn
What if Superman was a full-blown sociopath? That’s the premise of Brightburn, a gory, inventive anti-superhero movie that takes the Superman mythos and turns it upside down. A childless couple (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman) from Kansas get a big surprise when something crashes on their farm. The unidentified crashing object contains a baby, and the couple decides to raise the infant as their own. Jump to 12 years later: that baby, named Brandon, has grown into a seemingly normal boy (played by Jackson A. Dunn). But Brandon soon discovers he has superpowers. If Brandon was a well-adjusted individual, he must use his newfound powers for good. But Brandon is an angry, violent creep, and he starts using his amazing abilities to commit brutal acts of vengeance against his perceived enemies. Brightburn is unapologetically nasty, loaded with gore and brimming with possibilities.
Why It’s Worth Owning on Blu-ray: Above I praised Godzilla: King of the Monsters for featuring a commentary track. Which means I have to extend that same praise to Brightburn, which features a commentary track with director David Yarovesky, cinematographer Michael Dallatorre, and costume designer Autumn Steed. I’m surprised producer James Gunn didn’t sit in, since his name was slapped all over the marketing, but this will do. Brightburn was mostly ignored in theaters, and that’s kind of a bummer – because this is a fun, gory horror movie that is just waiting to find its audience. I think it eventually will – if people bother to check it out on Blu-ray.
Special Features Include: 3 “Quick Burns” Vignettes hosted by Actor Elizabeth Banks, Producer James Gunn & Director David Yarovesky “Hero-Horror!” featurette: It’s not often filmmakers successfully and seamlessly combine both Horror and Superhero into a genre-bending “Hero-Horror” category. Hear from Producer James Gunn and Screenwriters Brian and Mark Gunn as we will learn the methods of their filmmaking style and their dotting of the “i”’s and slashing of the “t”’s storytelling process. “Nature vs. Nurture” featurette: Hear from Actor Jackson A. Dunn, Producer James Gunn, Screenwriters Brian and Mark Gunn and understand the creative process involved in flipping the script of the traditional “Superhero” and diving into what motivates and moves our new Anti-hero, Brandon Breyer. Filmmaker Commentary with Director David Yarovesky, DP Michael Dallatorre, and Costume Designer Autumn Steed
Above I praised Godzilla: King of the Monsters for featuring a commentary track. Which means I have to extend that same praise to Brightburn, which features a commentary track with director David Yarovesky, cinematographer Michael Dallatorre, and costume designer Autumn Steed. I’m surprised producer James Gunn didn’t sit in, since his name was slapped all over the marketing, but this will do. Brightburn was mostly ignored in theaters, and that’s kind of a bummer – because this is a fun, gory horror movie that is just waiting to find its audience. I think it eventually will – if people bother to check it out on Blu-ray.
