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: “WandaVision: The Complete Series”
As the first official MCU series out of the gate, “WandaVision” had a lot of pressure on its shoulders, as many fans wondered whether Marvel would be able to translate its big-screen success to the small screen. In hindsight, an experimental show like “WandaVision” probably wasn’t the best choice to launch Marvel’s Phase Four — “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” was supposed to debut first before COVID impacted filming — but the series does such a good job of blending its various genres as a vehicle for exploring Wanda’s mental health that the risk paid off in spades. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany are a big part of the show’s success thanks to the richer notes that both actors are given to play compared to their previous MCU appearances, while Kathryn Hahn proves an excellent addition to the larger cinematic universe as the witch Agatha Harkness. Though “WandaVision” is not without its faults, much like “Loki,” it stands as a shining example of how to tell longform stories within the MCU.
Extras include the “Assembled” making-of documentary, deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“A Haunting in Venice” — Loosely based on the 1969 Agatha Christie novel “Hallowe’en Party,” Kenneth Branagh’s third installment in his Hercule Poirot series is the one that deviates the furthest from its source material. Nevertheless, “A Haunting in Venice” is definitely a step up from the disappointment of “Death on the Nile,” thanks in large part to Branagh’s performance as the eccentric detective. The rest of the cast is pretty forgettable except for a brief appearance by Michelle Yeoh as a psychic medium, and the middle section really drags, but there’s enough good to be found throughout the film that it doesn’t feel like a complete waste of time, even if Branagh’s talents would be better spent on something else. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
