BluTuesday - February 2, 2016
What’s going on, ProFans? I’m taking a break from watching Groundhog Day to bring you the newest releases to home media for February 2, 2016. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tom Hanks doing Tom Hanks stuff, Vin Diesel mumbling through stuff, The Dark Knight doing stuff, the fight for a woman’s right to vote on stuff in Britain, and aliens and stuff. We have a lot of stuff, so let’s get to it.
Bridge of Spies (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%
Based on the life of James Donovan and centered around the capture of Gary Powers in the 1960 U-2 Incident, this film centers around Donovan (Tom Hanks) being sent to the Soviet Union to get Powers (Austin Stowell) back from the Soviets. A lawyer hailing from Brooklyn, Donovan has to use his wits, his intelligence, and his charm to not only bring the pilot back home, but also to do his part to ease tensions between the two countries. This film, which also stars Alan Alda, Mark Rylance, and Billy Magnussen, is available in a two disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. When you put Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg together, you get magic. This is no exception to that rule. This will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and it’s my pick of the week.
The Last Witch Hunter (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 16%
Vin Diesel plays Kaulder, an immortal witch hunter who only has one purpose in life, and that’s to hunt and capture witches - hence the title. However, when a coven of evil witches brings the Queen Witch back to life, it’s up to him to save humanity as we know it. This film, which also stars Elijah Wood, Rose Leslie, and Michael Caine, is available in a two disc 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray + Digital Copy version, a two disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. Here’s a bit of trivia for you: Kaulder is based on Diesel’s own Dungeons & Dragons character. If you were uninitiated or unaware, Diesel is a huge fan of D&D, and has tried everything in his musculature to bring his love of the genre to the big screen. Here’s hoping his next attempt - because, let’s be honest…there will be a next attempt - will be better than this one.
Batman: Bad Blood (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: N/R
The Bat’s gone missing from Gotham! What will the citizens do when the inevitable evil strikes? Well, they’ll turn to the rest of the Bat family: Nightwing (Sean Maher) and Robin (Stuart Allen), who are eventually joined by Batwoman (Yvonne Strahovski), and Batwing (Gaius Charles). Together, these four heroes must find what happened to The Dark Knight and hope that the rumors of Batman turning to the wills of evil are untrue. This film, which also stars Jason O’Mara, James Garrett, and Ernie Hudson, is available in a single disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. DC has done exceedingly well with animated movies, and I suspect this is no exception to the rule. Plus, they brought Smash Williams in to do a voice. How cool is that?
Suffragette (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 73%
Set against the backdrop of the women’s rights movement in early 20th century Britain, this tells the story of Maud (Carey Mulligan) as she takes inspiration from the fiery fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep) to become an activist for all women, from the highest of the high-class to the lowest of the low class. Turning from peaceful protests to those a bit more violent, they show that they’re willing to risk everything to gain the equality they so richly deserve. This film, which also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, and Anne-Marie Duff, is available in a single disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. This is a very important movie, albeit one that’s as dry as week old toast, and that’s because it shows what protests of all stripes can do. Funny how that works, innit?
Falling Skies: The Complete Fifth Season
It’s the beginning of the end for this beloved franchise. With all manner of mutant and beast roaming free, the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment is finally ready to fight against the alien horde that seeks to wipe all humans from the face of the planet. This series, which stars Noah Wyle, Drew Roy, and Maxim Knight, is available in a single disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. If you’re gonna go out, go out with a bang, and this show promises to do just that. If you’ve been onboard since the beginning, this will hopefully bring everything to a satisfying conclusion.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for this week. Got any questions or comments? Did I miss something you wanted to discuss? Please feel free to hit me up in the comments section below.
Until next time…
