BluTuesday - October 18, 2016
What’s going on, ProFans? I’m taking a break from lamenting seeing the first Christmas commercial of the year to bring you the latest releases to home media for October 18, 2016. In this week’s episode, we discuss unnecessary sequels, a seasonal movie, a seasonal TV series, and a topical TV series. Let’s get started.
Alice Through the Looking Glass (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 30%
Alice (Mia Wasikowska) just can’t catch a break. After falling through a mirror, she finds herself back in Underland. After meeting with the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), she discovers her friend the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) is depressed after the loss of his family. In order to save her friend, she goes and steals the Chronosphere from Time (Sasha Baron Cohen) in order to save her friend and her land, because that always works well. This film, which also stars Helena Bonham Carter - because Tim Burton is incapable of making a movie without her, Rhys Ifans, and Matt Lucas, is available in a single disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy version, and a single disc DVD version. Who asked for this? Was it you? Ask for a remake of Quantum Leap next time, please.
Independence Day: Resurgence (PG-13)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 31%
They’re back, and they’re out for revenge. The governments of Earth have come together to use the technology left behind from the previous encounter with hostile alien forces to strengthen their defenses and improve quality of life. But, when even more powerful forces come to play and they have the planet in its sights, it’s up to a few brave men and women across the globe to save the day. This film, which stars Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, and Bill Pullman, is available in a two disc 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray + Digital Copy version, a two disc 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray + Digital Copy version, a two disc Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy version, and a single disc DVD + Digital Copy version. This movie would’ve been awesome about a decade ago. Now, it seems like something that’s more fitting for a Sunday afternoon TNT showing. Plus, thanks to the ineptitude of director Roland Emmerich - someone who is still on my cracker eating list for Stonewall - I couldn’t enjoy this movie even if I wanted to.
What We Become (R)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 71%
The Johansson family’s idyllic vacation to Sorgenfri, a Copenhagen suburb, suddenly comes to a crashing halt as a virulent strain of the flu comes in and starts wiping out the citizens en masse. As panic and fear sets in with mandatory governmental quarantines, the family finds itself in a fight to survive not only the flu, but also the bloodthirsty citizens who are still alive. This film, which stars Millie Dinesen, Mikael Birkkjaer, and Ole Dupont, is available in a two disc Blu-ray/DVD version. Even though I don’t watch horror, I have a general idea of what makes a good one: it’s the fear of the unknown that lurks within us all. This movie taps into that, and it’s a terrifying look into something that theoretically could happen.
Bates Motel: Season Four
Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) is spiraling out of control. As he inches closer and closer to darkness, his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) frantically searches for a way to get her son some help, while trying to maintain their close bond. Meanwhile, Sheriff Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) finds himself back in the Bates’ lives, as things lead to a thrilling conclusion. This series, which also stars Max Thieriot, Olivia Cooke, and Damon Gupton, is available in a two disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy version, and a three disc DVD version. Freddie Highmore is creepy, Vera Farmiga plays fear like few others, and this look into what made Norman Bates one of the most terrifying horror icons of all time is perfect.
The Night Of
Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmed) is having the perfect night. He borrows his father’s cab to go to a party, meets a beautiful woman named Andrea (Sofia Black D’Elia), and they go to her place for…”coffee.” When Nasir awakes to find Andrea murdered beside him, this life begins to go down in a hurry. It’s up to defense attorney John Stone (John Turturro) to help Nasir find justice. This series, which also stars Michael Kenneth Williams, Jeannie Berlin, and Amara Karan, is available in a three disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy version and a three disc DVD + Digital Copy version. This series is a thrilling whodunit, and it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
That’s all I 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…
