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: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”
Following the failure of director Paul Feig’s 2016 “Ghostbusters” reboot, it’s easy to understand why fans of the franchise may have been hesitant about another installment. But while that film aimed to create its own legacy with a brand new story and characters, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is very much interested in continuing the one that began in 1984. Though not without its faults and perhaps a little too dependent on its nostalgia-driven fan service, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is nonetheless a satisfying continuation of the franchise that honors the past while also paving the way for the future. The new characters are largely good additions to the series, especially McKenna Grace’s eccentric science nerd, while the real-life death of Harold Ramis (whose Egon Spengler serves as the emotional core of the story) is handled with grace and care. That’s to be expected with Jason Reitman, son of original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman, behind the camera, and it’s ultimately the reason why the film works so well. The younger Reitman understands what makes a “Ghostbusters” movie — he literally grew up on the set of the first two installments — and while “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” certainly isn’t perfect, he’s captured the spirit of the series in a way that no one else can.
Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the movie, a guide to the film’s various Easter eggs, some deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Clifford the Big Red Dog” — As far as movies based on popular children’s properties go, “Clifford the Big Red Dog” isn’t a complete disaster, but it’s the kind of overly sincere family film that only younger audiences will truly enjoy. Parents, grandparents and even older siblings will find very little to appreciate apart from a handful of funny moments involving Jack Whitehall’s character. The movie is all over the place narratively, with several major plot holes and an antagonist whose villainous ways don’t really make sense. It’s hardly surprising coming from the director of such cinematic stinkers as “Wild Hogs” and “Old Dogs,” but it doesn’t make the final product any less disappointing, especially when studios like Disney and Pixar have continuously churned out much better family content. Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
