BluTuesday - February 14, 2017
What’s going on, ProFans? I’m taking a break from my Valentine’s Day plans (playing Destiny and watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.…what?) to bring you the latest releases to home media for February 14, 2017. In this week’s episode, we discuss linguistics, puberty, and medical care in the time of the Civil War. Let’s get this started, shall we?
Arrival (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is in high demand, but it’s not for a good thing. Seems that UFOs have landed throughout the globe, and no one can talk to them. So, it’s up to Louise and her team to try to communicate with the spacecraft, but this could end up either helping or harming humanity. No pressure, right? This film, which also stars Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, and Michael Stulhbarg, is available in a two disc 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray + Digital Copy version, a single disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy version, and a single disc DVD version. This film turned heads upon release, both by way of Amy Adams’ acting and Denis Villenueve’s direction. It’s a gorgeous looking film with a compelling story that’s certainly worth your time.
The Edge of Seventeen (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95
Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. Between her and her brother Darin (Blake Jenner), she’s the awkward one in the family. And, when her brother starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson), things go from bad to worse. But, when she meets Erwin (Hayden Szeto), she begins to see a glimmer of hope that maybe things won’t be so bad after all. This film, which also stars Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, and Katie Stuart, is available in a two disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. Each generation has its coming of age story; the 80s had Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, the 90s had With Honors, She’s All That, and Can’t Hardly Wait, and the 2000s had Bring it On and Get Over It. This movie joins Easy A in the pantheon of good teen coming of age films, and I think it’s worth your time.
Mercy Street: Season 2
Season two of this PBS drama picks up where season one left off as they explore life in Alexandria, VA during the Civil War. The doctors handle the sick soldiers and citizens, as well as the burgeoning Black community. We also look at the horrible living conditions the newly freed slaves have to endure in the newly formed “contraband camps”. This series, which stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Gary Cole, and McKinley Belcher III, is available in a two disc Blu-ray version and a two disc DVD version. This is a series that I had no idea existed, but now that I do, I think I’ll be going back to give it a watch. I highly recommend you do the same.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Got any questions or comments? Did I miss something you wanted to discuss? Feel free to hit me up in the comments section below.
Until next time…
