BluTuesday - January 14, 2014

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What’s good, ProFans? Joseph here, and I’m pausing fro my packing to give you the latest in home media releases for January 14, 2014. In this week’s episode, we talk about powerful moments in Black history, Vin Diesel, tragic moments in Black history, angry teenagers, and a horror movie I will never ever see. We good? Let’s hop to it.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 73%

The Butler tells the story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades. The film traces the dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man’s life and family. Forest Whitaker stars as the butler with Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, and many more. Academy Award® nominated Lee Daniels (Precious) directs and co-wrote the script with Emmy®-award winning Danny Strong (Game Change). This movie comes in both a two disc Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this movie, but it is an intriguing film to watch. Give it a go.

Riddick (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 59%

Vin Diesel reprises his role as the antihero Riddick in the latest chapter of the groundbreaking saga. A dangerous, escaped convict wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy, Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he’s encountered. The only way off is for him to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. With time running out and a deadly storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won’t leave the planet without Riddick’s head as their trophy. Also starring Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Karl Urban (Star Trek Into Darkness) and Dave Bautista (WWE, Guardians of the Galaxy). This movie comes in both a two disc Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. I’ll always have an affinity for Vin Diesel, because it seems like he’d be a regular reader of this site…and that he’d probably break me into seventeen pieces if I criticized him harshly. So, we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.

Fruitvale Station (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%

Filmmaker Ryan Coogler makes his feature directorial debut with this drama centered on the tragic shooting of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a vibrant 22-year-old Bay Area father who was senselessly gunned down by BART officers on New Year’s Day in 2009, and whose murder sent shockwaves through the nation after being captured on camera by his fellow passengers. Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, and Kevin Durand co-star. This movie comes in both a two disc Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. Let’s get this out there right now: I have no intention of ever watching this movie…NONE. However, I recognize greatness when I’m exposed to it, and I could tell this movie would be greatness just from the trailer. So, this movie is my pick of the week, and it’ll be the centerpiece of my collection…even in its cellophane packaging.

Carrie (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 49%

Chloë Grace Moretz and Academy Award® nominee Julianne Moore star in this exhilarating reimagining of Stephen King’s iconic best seller. After merciless taunting from classmates and abuse at the hand of her religious fanatic mother (Moore), Carrie’s (Mortez) anger - and her telekinetic powers - are unleashed. And when a prom prank goes horribly wrong, events spiral out of control until the terrifying conclusion of this powerful, pulse-quickening horror story. This movie comes in both a two disc Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. This is a movie that tells you for certain that there is nothing scarier than a teenager. In fact, when my daughter gets older, I’m sleeping with the bedroom door locked; I’m not taking any chances here.

You’re Next (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 74%

Aubrey and Paul Davison decide to celebrate their wedding anniversary by inviting their four children and their significant others to a family reunion at their remote and slightly rundown weekend estate. But the family reunion goes awry when their home comes under siege by a mask-wearing team of crossbow-bearing assailants. The family has no idea who’s attacking them, why they’re under attack, or if the attackers are inside or outside the cavernous, creaking house. All they know for certain is that nobody is safe. This movie comes in both a two disc Bluray/DVD + Digital Copy version and a single disc DVD version. You know what? I’m good! Next!

Well, that’s all I have for now. Got any questions or comments? Wanna take me to task for not wanting to watch horror movies? Feel free to fire away in the comments section below.

Until next time…