The Hobbit Trilogy Arrives on 4K

The Hobbit Trilogy–brought to life from Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson–finally makes its arrival on 4K Ultra HD. The three films include An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies.  Both theatrical and extended movies are spread across six discs.  You also get a digital copy.  Unfortunately, the downside to this collection is the lack of bonus content.  New bonus content is coming though.  If you’re willing to wait until…

"The Hobbit Trilogy Arrives on 4K"

The Lord of The Rings Trilogy Arrives On 4K

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy–brought to life from Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson–finally makes its arrival on 4K Ultra HD. The three films include The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and Best Picture winner The Return of the Ring.  Both theatrical and extended movies are spread across nine discs.  The extended versions get two discs, of course.  You also get a digital copy.  Unfortunately, the downside to this collection is the lack of…

"The Lord of The Rings Trilogy Arrives On 4K"

Happiest Season: The Not-Out-To-Family Trope

The release of Happiest Season on Hulu has led to a stir of debates but this critic is done with the trope of not being out to family in films. Where are the films about being out and having an accepting family?  Why is it that the biggest LGBTQ rom-com this year forces a love interest into the closet?  There are other ways of presenting LGBTQ rom-coms but shoving someone into the closet isn’t it. …

"Happiest Season: The Not-Out-To-Family Trope"

HBO Max: Coming and Leaving in December

HBO Max announced the movies, television series, and specials that are coming and leaving the streaming service in December. The big highlight is Wonder Woman 1984 after much debate over whether to release now or delay again until it is safe. TITLES COMING TO HBO MAX IN DECEMBER December 1: 3 Godfathers, 1949 40 Days And 40 Nights, 2002 (HBO) Absolute Power, 1997 Adam Ruins Everything, Seasons 2-3 The Adventures of Pinocchio, 1996 Amanpour: Sex…

"HBO Max: Coming and Leaving in December"

Superintelligence: A New A.I. Comedy

An artificial intelligence becomes self-aware in the HBO Max comedy, Superintelligence, launching this week on Thanksgiving day. The gist of the film is that Superintelligence (James Corden) studies average Earth human Carol Peters (Melissa McCarthy) and the fate of humanity rests on her shoulders.  It’s not unlike Abraham arguing with G-d when it comes to trying to save the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  If you remember the Book of Genesis, Abraham had to plead…

"Superintelligence: A New A.I. Comedy"

The Solzy Awards for Short Films in 2020

If it is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving weekend, this means that it is time to present the Solzy Awards for Short Films in 2020. This certainly is not the traditional year for films. I’ll admit right now that I have not watched nor covered anywhere close to the amount of short films like in prior years.  Some of this definitely comes down to festivals getting cancelled. While SXSW and Tribeca got cancelled this year, many…

"The Solzy Awards for Short Films in 2020"

Netflix: Coming and Leaving in December

Netflix announced the list of movies, television series, and specials that are coming and leaving the streaming service in December. ? denotes that the film is a part of the Netflix holiday slate. All titles and dates are subject to change PODCASTS More Like This. Launching November 25. A podcast from Netflix Queue, the journal that celebrates the people, ideas, and process of creating great entertainment on Netflix and beyond. Host Krista Smith is joined…

"Netflix: Coming and Leaving in December"

The Killing Floor Restored In 4K

The Killing Floor, an essential piece of Black, labor, and cinematic history, is now available on Blu-ray following a 4K restoration. It may have take the UCLA Film & Television Archive but the 1985 Sundance Special Jury Prize winner is now available on both Blu-ray and DVD for the first time in North America.  This is also another one of those parts of history in which I knew nothing about while growing up.  To be…

"The Killing Floor Restored In 4K"

Black Beauty: Disney Finally Makes Their Film

The new live-action adaptation of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty arrives on Disney+ over fifty years after the studio released a LP adaptation. Disney finally did it.  Until this year, the studio was never successful in making either an animated or live-action film.  From what I can tell, this is the sixth adaption–the first since Alan Cumming voiced the horse in 1994.  Unlike previous adaptations, Ashley Avis puts a contemporary twist on her take.  Her take…

"Black Beauty: Disney Finally Makes Their Film"

Hillbilly Elegy: Oscar Bait Falls Short

Hillbilly Elegy launches on Netflix this fall as an awards contender for Amy Adams and Glenn Close but their performances cannot save the film. I’m a Kentucky native so naturally, I like that there were scenes set in Jackson, Kentucky.  Having a film directed by Ron Howard and starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close is enough to pique my interest.  But there needs to be more here in order to elevate the film and take…

"Hillbilly Elegy: Oscar Bait Falls Short"