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: “Star Trek: The Next Generation 4-Movie Collection”
The “Star Trek” films starring the “Next Generation” cast aren’t talked about as much as those with the original cast or the reboot cast, and for good reason — with the exception of 1996’s “First Contact,” they aren’t very memorable. Nevertheless, while Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise failed to transfer their small-screen success to the big screen, there’s some good to be found in each of the four outings, although more so in the first two installments than the widely panned “Resurrection” and “Nemesis.” Case in point: 1994’s “Generations” may play like a supersized episode of the TV series, but the Kirk/Picard team-up is a fun passing of the cinematic torch that hasn’t lost its appeal in the decades since. Though it would normally be hard to justify rebuying a collection that has been released several times before, the new 4K upgrades make this latest box set worth the double dip.
The eight-disc set contains an extensive collection of legacy bonus features, including multiple audio commentaries on all four films, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and much more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“The Maltese Falcon” (4K) — For a film that’s widely considered to be one of the first (and most influential) film noirs, “The Maltese Falcon” is a pretty average movie on all counts. Based on Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 detective novel of the same name, “The Maltese Falcon” is a rather straightforward story made unnecessarily overcomplicated by its endless bluffs and double-crosses. The story also lacks intrigue and suspense, while Mary Astor’s femme fatale never quite works, largely due to Humphrey Bogart’s callous and unlikable protagonist nullifying her at every turn. Despite this, it’s only because of Bogart (and, to a lesser extent, Peter Lorre) that the film manages to be somewhat engaging, even if the big reveal is a bit of a damp squib. Extras include an audio commentary by Bogart biographer Eric Lax, as well as a making-of featurette, a studio blooper reel, makeup tests and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Rebel Without a Cause” (4K) — Nicholas Ray’s “Rebel Without a Cause” might be one of the most overrated films of all time. The fascination with the movie seems to stem more from star James Dean’s untimely death than its actual quality, as it’s a rather listless coming-of-age drama that is not only hampered by a weak script but is also overly melodramatic and overacted. It certainly doesn’t help that Dean is supposed to be playing a teenager but looks about 10 years older than everyone else, making the whole affair seem pretty silly at times. But while “Rebel Without a Cause” doesn’t live up to its reputation as a cinema classic, it remains an interesting study of a would-be movie star whose life was tragically cut short before reaching his full potential. Extras include an audio commentary by film historian Douglas L. Rathgeb, as well as a making-of featurette, the 1974 TV special “Remembering James Dean,” an interview with Dennis Hopper and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
