In the Heights Soars Onto 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD

In the Heights, the phenomenal film and Broadway adaptation, soars onto 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray for audiences to take in from home. Neither Jon M. Chu or Lin-Manuel Miranda are strangers to diverse productions. Chu hit it big with Crazy Rich Asians a few years ago. Miranda, meanwhile, has had no shortage of hits come from his visionary mind. Both In the Heights and Hamilton were hits on the stage. In a perfect world,…

"In the Heights Soars Onto 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD"

Bugsy Malone Joins Paramount Presents Line

Bugsy Malone, the gangster musical comedy, is the newest title to join the Paramount Presents line of Blu-rays with collectible packaging. Using children to play the gangsters makes for an interesting premise. However, the one thing that is weird and it is having adult voices coming out of their mouths. It’s weird and both director Alan Parker and songwriter Paul Williams have come to regret the decision since filming. But with having adult voices come…

"Bugsy Malone Joins Paramount Presents Line"

A Place in the Sun Joins Paramount Presents Line

The Oscar-winning A Place in the Sun is among the recent films to join the Paramount Presents Blu-ray line with collectible packaging. There’s no denying that A Place in the Sun is one of the greatest films ever made in cinematic history. The film took home six Oscars out of nine nominations. It lost Best Picture to An American in Paris. Had this film been in color rather than black and white, who knows what…

"A Place in the Sun Joins Paramount Presents Line"

Dug Days Is Sentimental After Ed Asner’s Death

Pixar’s Dug Days–launching Wednesday on Disney+–makes for sentimental viewing after the passing of Ed Asner over the weekend. All five shorts feature Dug (Bob Peterson) and his human, Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), with the lovable pooch taking in the backyard. The shorts focus on a wide variety of subjects be it puppies, flowers (okay, fireworks), a strange smell, etc. “Flowers” in particular is a short that is almost certainly going to resonate with every single…

"Dug Days Is Sentimental After Ed Asner’s Death"

Ed Asner: Remembering A Legend

Ed Asner, a former president of the Screen Actors Guild and star of both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant, died at 91 years old. The news of Asner’s passing comes on the 18th anniversary of my seeing The Second City in action for the first time in 2003. Prior to the Second City performance, I was preparing for a career in politics. My plans changed as a result of this show. In…

"Ed Asner: Remembering A Legend"

He’s All That: A Gender-Swapped She’s All That

He’s All That takes advantage of social media in this gender-swapped present-day remake of the 1999 high school comedy, She’s All That. There’s a few beats here and there that repeat themselves in the remake. You could not make the remake without the dance-off though. Of course, the film works with the present day’s typical social media usage. Most of which is spent going live on Instagram and posting photos for what feels like every…

"He’s All That: A Gender-Swapped She’s All That"

Vacation Friends: What Happens On Vacation, Well…

What happens on vacation doesn’t necessarily stay on vacation as we see in the raunchy Hulu Original comedy, Vacation Friends. Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji) are a run-of-the-mill couple vacationing in Mexico. Marcus, who owns a construction firm, is planning to propose. Almost as soon as they arrive, they meet their polar opposites in Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner). These two couples couldn’t be more different if they tried. Ron…

"Vacation Friends: What Happens On Vacation, Well…"

Under the Volcano: The AIR Studios Montserrat Story

Under the Volcano is a very intimate documentary that tells the story of Sir George Martin’s AIR Studios Montserrat and the surroundings. If you’re fan of The Beatles, you know the name Sir George Martin. He’s the man who produced the four lads from Liverpool. What you might not know is that he later started up a recording studio on Montserrat. It just so happens that said studio was build under the shadow of a…

"Under the Volcano: The AIR Studios Montserrat Story"

Together Is More Theatrical, Less Cinematic

Together, the new Stephen Daldry film starring James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan, is the latest pandemic comedy to hit the market. Perhaps the biggest thing about the very minimal cast is that Together feels much like a theatrical two-hander with its staging and monologues. For the record, I felt this way before reading the production notes. According to the film’s production notes: “Kelly originally conceived of Together as a stage play. The rapid-fire dialogue and…

"Together Is More Theatrical, Less Cinematic"

Netflix: Coming and Leaving in September 2021

Netflix announced the list of movies, television series, and specials that are coming and leaving the streaming service in September 2021. All titles and dates are subject to change Coming Soon Baki Hanma — NETFLIX ANIME ?? Baki Hanma continues his quest to become the most powerful fighter and prepares for his battle with the strongest creature in the world — his father. Bangkok Breaking — NETFLIX SERIES ?? Newly arrived in Bangkok, Wanchai joins…

"Netflix: Coming and Leaving in September 2021"