Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “Minari”
Writer/director Lee Isaac Chung has been making feature films since 2007, but “Minari” is the first one to gain any sort of mainstream attention, and it’s sure to put him on the map in a big way. Loosely based on Chung’s own life experiences, “Minari” tells the story of a Korean immigrant family that moves to Arkansas in search of the American Dream, only to be tested in ways they never imagined. The cinematography by Lachlan Milne and the score by Emile Mosseri are both wonderful, but “Minari” wouldn’t be nearly as engaging and affecting without its excellent cast. Steven Yeun delivers yet another outstanding performance as the headstrong patriarch determined to give his family a better life, and Oscar winner Yuh-jung Youn brings some much-needed comedic relief as the foul-mouthed grandmother, but it’s Yeri Han’s subtle, overlooked turn as Yeun’s long-suffering wife that is the glue of the film. Though the movie isn’t without its faults, particularly as it pertains to Yeun’s character, “Minari” is a beautifully poetic and heartfelt tale about what it means to be a family.
Extras include an audio commentary by Lee Isaac Chung and Yuh-jung Youn, as well as a making-of featurette and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“The Father” — Florian Zeller’s “The Father” will likely go down in history as the film that prevented Chadwick Boseman from winning a posthumous Oscar, but that would be an incredible disservice to both the movie and Anthony Hopkins’ superior performance, which is among the actor’s finest work. Equal parts heartbreaking and terrifying, “The Father” is an extremely believable depiction of what it’s like to live with dementia — so much so that it makes the audience feel like they’re experiencing the effects right along with the main character. Adapted from Zeller’s award-winning stage play of the same name, “The Father” is very theatrical in the way that it seamlessly uses its sets and production design to visualize the confusion, anger and sadness of its protagonist’s deteriorating memory. While many initially dismissed “The Father” as mere Oscar bait, the film proves that it’s so much more thanks to some remarkable performances, brilliant editing and strong direction. Extras include a making-of featurette and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
“Raya and the Last Dragon” — “Raya and the Last Dragon” is hands down one of Disney’s most beautiful animated films to date, thanks in large part to the colorful locales and other cultural references inspired by Southeast Asia. It’s also just a really enjoyable movie that plays like a fun blend of Disney favorites like “Mulan,” “Moana” and “Black Panther.” Kellie Marie Tran and Awkwafina are both perfectly cast in their roles, while the rest of the voice cast is filled out with other great Asian talents like Sandra Oh, Daniel Dae Kim, Gemma Chan and Benedict Wong. Though the story beats are pretty familiar, thus removing any real element of surprise from the proceedings, “Raya and the Last Dragon” manages to entertain nonetheless thanks to its memorable characters, engaging plot and cool martial arts-inspired action sequences. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, deleted scenes, outtakes and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
“Star Trek: Lower Decks – Season One” — The “Star Trek” franchise has played a major role in helping to build Paramount’s streaming service into something that can compete with the likes of Netflix and Disney — first with “Discovery” and “Picard,” and now with “Lower Decks.” Created by Mike McMahan, who cut his teeth as a writer on “Rick and Morty,” “Lower Decks” is an animated comedy that’s accessible to diehard “Star Trek” fans as well as those who don’t know the difference between a targ and a tribble. But while the show definitely has a “Rick and Morty” feel in both the style of animation and humor, it’s not nearly as clever or funny. Like regular “Trek,” the episodes are fairly self-contained and pretty hit-and-miss, but there’s enough to enjoy about this first season to keep you coming back. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the series and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Tom & Jerry” — This live-action/animation hybrid starring Hanna-Barbera’s famous cat and mouse duo is without a doubt one of the dumbest films released this year. Though the stuff involving Tom and Jerry is exactly what you’d expect from a pair of cartoon characters who have been doing pretty much the same thing for the past 80 years, the human component is an absolute drag. Michael Peña earns a few laughs as the film’s main villain (though he really needs to take it easy with these goofy kid movies), while Chloë Grace Moretz is perhaps the only actor who walks away from the project with any dignity. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that “Tom & Jerry” is such a miserable experience — my expectations were pretty low going into it — but the film somehow manages to be even worse. Extras include a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, a gag reel and more. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
