Black Panther is not only one of the more interesting and accomplished superhero movies ever made, it’s also the smartest and most socially-aware Marvel movie. Which is why it’s gratifying that the Black Panther Blu-ray has so many great extras, but also frustrating that it’s missing some key ones.
In 2008, about a week before The Dark Knight hit theaters, Warner Home Video and DC Comics released Batman: Gotham Knight, an excellent collection of six anime shorts from the studios behind Ghost In The Shell [Production I.G.], Paprika [Madhouse], Steamboy [Studio 4°C], and Noir [Bee Train]. Now, ten years later, we have its spiritual successor in Batman Ninja (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack, DVD, digital; with digital 4K to come), a full-length anime movie that ranks alongside Batman: Gotham Knight as one of the most unique, intriguing, and exciting Batman animated movies.
It would be easy to spend a thousand words talking about the technical achievement that is Avengers Infinity War. How it makes such a massive cast all fit without sacrificing any of them; how it’s the culmination of everything that Marvel Studios have been building towards over the course of eighteen films; and how it feels like a comic book come to life. And I’ll get to that. But if you know nothing else about Avengers Infinity War, know this: it is a kick ass action flick that’s clever and funny and heartbreaking and probably the most fun you will have at the movies this year.
1982’s Liquid Sky is one of those odd ’80s cult movies that not many remember, even fewer remember fondly, but is reveried among those who do. But it is for those latter people that the new Liquid Sky Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is made, as it not only presents the film with better picture and sound than any previous home version, but also has almost every extra you’d want, including some new ones.
Whether you thought it was triumph or a tragedy, there’s no denying that Star Wars: The Last Jedi was one of the most divisive movies in the Star Wars saga. Thankfully, the same cannot be said about the two tables that comprise the Star Wars Pinball The Last Jedi collection for Pinball FX3 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC) and Zen Pinball (iOS, Mac, Android), which will satisfy fans of pinball as well as people who both loved and loathed The Last Jedi.
Given how she’s an engaging, multi-layered character whose games are exciting and cinematic, you’d think it would be easy to make a good Tomb Raider movie out of the adventures of Lara Croft. And yet here we are again, watching as yet another attempt goes down in flames.
Though it had flaws which kept it from being DC’s answer to Marvel’s Avengers, the super hero team-up movie Justice League did end up being a halfway decent superhero action flick. Not surprisingly, the home version — which is available as a Blu-ray, DVD, digital combo pack; a 3D Blu-ray, DVD, digital combo pack; a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, digital combo pack; and on DVD — also ends up being fun but flawed. Or maybe that should be flawed but fun.
If I was a girl between the age of 8 and 10, I would love A Wrinkle In Time, the live action adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic sci-fi fantasy novel of the same name. And if I was the parent of a girl between the age of 8 and 10, I’d want her to see this movie for all of the positive encouragement it would give her. But as someone who is neither a girl, that young, nor the parent of a girl that young, but is a fan of the book, it pains me to say that A Wrinkle In Time is just awful.
While it was far from perfect, Thor: Ragnarok was still an exciting and unapologetically fun action movie.
Not surprisingly, you can say the same about the home versions — the Blu-ray, DVD, Digital combo pack; the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital combo pack; and the DVD — which have a lot of fun extras…but should’ve been better.