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: “Superman”
James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy is one of the best things to come out of the MCU, so it’s hardly surprising that his first film in the relaunched DC Cinematic Universe (which Gunn is helping shepherd as the new co-head of DC Studios) is equally as good. Balancing big comic-book action with humor, heart and the hopefulness that Superman has become synonymous with over the years, Gunn’s film not only understands what makes the character who he is but delivers the message in a way that doesn’t feel as hokey as previous renditions. The movie is also impeccably cast; the main trio of David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult all deliver great work in iconic roles, while Edi Gathegi and Nathan Fillion deliver fun supporting turns as Mr. Terrific and Guy Gardner, respectively. Though it remains to be seen whether this new cinematic universe will resonate with audiences or crash and burn like the last one, “Superman” is a solid launching point that proves that the DCU is in very good hands.
Extras include an audio commentary by writer/director James Gunn, an extensive behind-the-scenes look at making the film, deleted scenes, a gag reel and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“Peking Opera Blues” (4K) — Shout! Studios’ acquisition of the Golden Princess film library was a big deal for Hong Kong cinema fans due to the inclusion of several John Woo and Ringo Lam hits, but those aren’t the only movies worth getting excited about. The collection contains many other notable titles, including Tsui Hark’s 1986 action-comedy “Peking Opera Blues,” which is arguably the director’s most celebrated film outside of the “Once Upon a Time in China” series. Breathlessly paced and boasting gorgeous set design and costumes, “Peking Opera Blues” feels ahead of its time in the way that it subverts gender roles and blends genres, even if the massive tonal shifts don’t always pay off. It’s by no means a perfect movie, but even with its faults, “Peking Opera Blues” succeeds thanks to the excellent chemistry among its three leading ladies. Extras include an audio commentary by film critic James Mudge, as well as a collection of interviews with actors Mark Cheng and Sally Yeh, cinematographer Ray Wong, composer James Wong and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“M3GAN 2.0” — 2023’s “M3GAN” is a shockingly bad film, even by Blumhouse standards, but it made $180 million worldwide on a $12 million budget, so it was pretty much guaranteed to receive a sequel. What many people probably didn’t expect, however, is just how different the sequel would be from its predecessor. While “M3GAN” is primarily a slasher film with hints of comedy, “M3GAN 2” swaps horror for action by turning its killer robot into a good guy à la “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” It’s a pretty extreme tonal shift that will likely irritate fans of the original film, especially since the few deaths it does contain are tame for a PG-13 movie. That makes it an incredibly risky gamble from writer/director Gerard Johnstone, and one that ultimately doesn’t pay off, as “M3GAN 2” is every bit as terrible as its predecessor — and this time around, it doesn’t have the box office to make up for it. Extras include a making-of featurette, an in-depth look at the film’s special effects and stunts, and a breakdown of the convention sequence. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Corpse Bride” (4K) — Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of Tim Burton’s animated films. “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which he produced and helped develop, is probably the best of the bunch, but even that film is only passable thanks to some interesting character designs and catchy songs. The rest of his animated work is pretty forgettable, including this 2005 dark fantasy based on a 17th-century Jewish folktale. All of the typical Burton trimmings are on display (from the casting of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to the gothic aesthetic and Danny Elfman score), but it’s a rather lifeless film — no pun intended — that lacks the charm of his live-action outings. Extras include a series of production featurettes and two new retrospectives with co-director Mike Johnson, writer John August and producer Allison Abbate. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
