Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Remaster Class: Alien
Chris Chiarella  |  Aug 09, 2019
An unprecedented fusion of science fiction and horror, Alien burst upon the scene some 40 years ago in a spray of blood to the screams of audiences everywhere. Envisioned by artist H.R. Giger, realized by craftsman Carlo Rambaldi, and brought to life by performer Bolaji Badejo, the intruder of the title has remarkably little screen time, which only enhances his terror, Jaws-style, as he stalks the hapless crew of the spaceship Nostromo.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Remaster Class: Star Wars
Chris Chiarella  |  May 22, 2020
Enthralling in every way a movie can be, George Lucas' Star Wars (retconned as Episode IV: A New Hopein 1981) is simply one of the greatest achievements to ever hit the screen. A wildly imaginative yet classically inspired adventure, it has been entertaining audiences—and spawning prequels, sequels and spinoffs—since 1977.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Remaster Class: Superman
Chris Chiarella  |  Feb 07, 2019
In part because it has now endured for 40 years, but also because it is the sort of thrilling cinematic entertainment we never seem to tire of, Superman has appeared on just about every home entertainment format, and deservedly so. The first comic book blockbuster, director Richard Donner's visually stunning epic stars Christopher Reeve as the only survivor of a brilliant but arrogant alien culture who finds his place in our world as a god-like protector.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction
Chris Chiarella  |  Dec 31, 2022
Reservoir Dogs, 99 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Pulp Fiction, 155 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
When an immensely talented young screenwriter with something to prove fights to make his movie his way—and wins—every once in a while, we get a Reservoir Dogs. Quentin Tarantino's auspicious directorial debut is rough and raw and all the better for it, the story of a heist gone wrong and the rat in the criminals' midst, with copious amounts of blood spilling and bodies piling up as plans spin wildly out of control.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
Corey Gunnestad  |  Sep 15, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
In 2002, Sony Entertainment kicked off the Resident Evil film series based on the popular zombie apocalypse video game of the same name. Fifteen years and five sequels later, the beleaguered franchise comes to a close… sort of. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is technically the last installment in the long-running series, but plans are already afoot to reboot the entire franchise and start over again from square one. The expression “beating a dead horse” springs to mind, but I digress.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Resident Evil: Vendetta
Brandon A. DuHamel  |  Nov 10, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
Resident Evil: Vendetta picks up the mantle yet again for the Capcom strain of this popular video-game franchise. Sticking to the animé-oriented roots and offering some visceral action without the frenzied camera panning and ADD editing of the live-action The Final Chapter, the film brings together favorites from the franchise. Game characters Leon S. Kennedy (voiced my Matthew Mercer), Chris Redfield (Kevin Dorman), and Rebecca Chambers (Erin Cahill) battle wanted bioterrorist Glenn Arias (John DeMita), who plans to release a deadly virus in New York City as revenge for the government killing his wife.
Continue Reading »
Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Rio Bravo
Ralph Potts  |  Dec 01, 2023
Picture
Sound
Extras

Director Howard Hawk’s Rio Bravo is based on the short story of the same name by B.H. McCampbell. It takes place in the American West and tells the story of a small-town sheriff, John T. Chance (John Wayne), who enlists the help of “Dude,” a hard drinker with a past, “Stumpy,” an ornery codger with a bum leg, and “Colorado,” a quick-with-a-gun whippersnapper, to help him prevent the leader of a local band of outlaws from busting his brother — whom Chance arrested for murder — out of jail.

Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
RoboCop
Chris Chiarella  |  Apr 29, 2022
Picture
Sound
Extras
Let's get right to the point: This new RoboCop boxed set gets my highest recommendation. For starters, director Paul Verhoeven's cheeky tale of a crimefighting cyborg is still thrilling, still funny, and still uniquely satisfying.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Rocketman
Mike Mettler  |  Nov 22, 2019
Picture
Sound
Extras
Few biopics could get away with recurring nonlinear narrative beats the way Rocketman does, but given the larger-than-life nature of its titular subject, Sir Elton John, the movie's storytelling trajectory makes perfect sense. Director Dexter Fletcher's unabashed commitment to occasionally mirroring those classic MGM musical moments of yore—with Elton's full blessing, of course—succeeds with much audio/visual aplomb.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Rocky in IV K
Chris Chiarella  |  Apr 07, 2023
Rocky II, 120 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Rocky IV, 119 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Rocky, 100 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Rocky III, 92/94 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras

Continue Reading »
Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Roman Holiday
Ralph Potts  |  Nov 17, 2023
Picture
Sound
Extras

Ranked as the fourth greatest love story of all time by the American Film Institute, Roman Holiday — director William Wyler’s 1953 fairy tale — memorably captures the bustling streets and iconic sites of Rome. The story is set against the backdrop of post-war Europe, expressing the exhilaration of not only embracing long-awaited peace but joyously breaking free as young Princess Ann retreats from her royal obligations and finds adventure. This movie put Audrey Hepburn on the map, and I thoroughly enjoy the story’s unapologetically schmaltzy romance blended with light humor.

Continue Reading »
Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie ReviewsAudio Video NewsNew Products
S&V Gift Guide: The Sequel
Chris Chiarella  |  Apr 25, 2024
When you have a hit, don't quit! Inspired in some measure by Dune: Part Two's recent smash success on the big screen, we thought, why not revisit our curated sampler of new and exciting gifts you can treat yourself or someone else to? After all, Mother’s and Father’s Days are right around the corner, and then there are all those birthdays and anniversaries that fall throughout the year. So we bring you this “sequel,” packed with more 4K and Blu-ray discs and some cool gear — 25 items in all.
Continue Reading »
Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Sequelitis: Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X Limited Editions on 4K
Chris Chiarella  |  May 20, 2025
Two horror franchise entries featuring the iconic Jason Voorhees have received impressive 4K treatment from Arrow. These ninth and tenth installments in the Friday the 13th series showcase the killer's supernatural evolution and eventual space adventure.
Continue Reading »
Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Sequelitis: Riddick and The Chronicles of Riddick on 4K
Chris Chiarella  |  Mar 20, 2025
Two different home entertainment labels have released impressive 4K editions of the two sequels to Universal’s 2000 sci-fi actioner, Pitch Black. And yes, I know that the headline above lists the movies in reverse release order, but "The Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick" sounded awkward.
Continue Reading »
Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Shadow
Al Griffin  |  Aug 30, 2019
Picture
Sound
Extras
Set in third century A.D. China, Shadow tells the story of the uneasy truce held by the Pei and Yang kingdoms. Years earlier, the Pei kingdom lost possession of the city of Jing following a duel between Pei army commander Zi Yu and the formidable warrior Yang Kang. As the kingdom's debauched monarch aims to maintain power by acquiescing to Yang Kang, Zi Yu plots to retake the lost city, an objective carried out with the help of a lookalike his family has been grooming since childhood. Directed by Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers), a filmmaker known for his elegant visuals and bold use of color, Shadow's palette is mostly restricted to black-and-white and skin tones.
Continue Reading »

Pages

X