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: “Thor: Love and Thunder”
The fourth installment in the “Thor” film series isn’t as bad as some might suggest, but it’s still a bottom-tier Marvel movie that suffers from some pretty major issues. Clearly emboldened by the success of “Thor: Ragnarok,” director/co-writer Taika Waititi doubles down on the overly comedic tone, sometimes to its detriment, while the overall execution is a bit messy. What the movie does get right is a lot of the character stuff, from Jane Foster’s fight with her own mortality to the emotional complexity of its villain. Though Christian Bale isn’t given a lot to do as Gorr the God Butcher, he makes the very most of his limited screen time, creating yet another fantastic (and sympathetic) Marvel villain who’s more than just a one-dimensional baddie. “Thor: Love and Thunder” runs pretty hot and cold as a result, but it contains enough great elements to keep you engaged even as it seems determined to get in its own way.
Extras include an audio commentary by Waititi, as well as three behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” — Screenwriter Kevin Williamson enjoyed a fairy tale start to his Hollywood career in the late ‘90s with the one-two punch of “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” leading many to credit him for single-handedly reviving the teen slasher genre. But while both films were box office hits and spawned numerous sequels, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” isn’t nearly as clever or entertaining as “Scream.” Though the movie boasts a promising setup and a decent cast of some of the hottest young actors of the 1990s, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” is bogged down by some truly awful dialogue and an overreliance on slasher film clichés. It’s the anti-“Scream” in many ways, which is why it’s not at all surprising that the movie hasn’t enjoyed the same longevity as the Wes Craven classic. Extras include an audio commentary by director Jim Gillespie and editor Steve Mirkovich, as well as brand-new interviews with Gillespie and actor Muse Watson, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Bullet Proof” — For a direct-to-video action movie that already comes preloaded with low expectations, “Bullet Proof” is spectacularly bad. The script is poorly written and clichéd; the direction and editing are amateurish; and the acting is so terrible that Vinnie Jones, who’s built a career around his hard-man image, is the best performer of the bunch, which is certainly saying something considering that the ex-footballer has never really shown much range. The whole thing is pretty embarrassing to watch unfold and marks a new low for the DTV market, hopefully ensuring that director/star James Clayton never steps behind (or in front of) a camera again. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
