Jack Ryan: Season One Blu-ray Review

Jack Ryan Season One Blu-ray Review

Story

When CIA analyst Jack Ryan stumbles upon a suspicious series of bank transfers his search for answers pulls him from the safety of his desk job and catapults him into a deadly game of cat and mouse throughout Europe and the Middle East, with a rising terrorist figurehead preparing for a massive attack against the U.S. and her allies

Review

John Kransinski is the latest actor to take on the role of Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who is suddenly thrust into action after sitting behind a desk for the majority of his CIA career. The series is of course based on the series of books written by Tom Clancy and is the first time that the books have been adapted into a show instead of a feature film.

I went into Jack Ryan blind, I might have watched a Jack Ryan film here and there but any major details about the character have been long forgotten. However it did catch my attention mainly because John Krasinski was front and center and his performance in A Quiet Place really opened my eyes to his range. This performance just builds on his growing resume. As Jack Ryan he is a goody two shoes who rarely bends on anything that goes against his moral code. There is more than meets the eye to him and he carries a very traumatic background that shows its ugly face throughout the show. With any show like this, that mostly focuses on a single character, you need your main actor to hit out of the park and Krasinksi most definitely did.

There are a few other stand outs in the cast who I thoroughly enjoyed watching on screen. Wendell Pierce plays James Greer, Ryan's new boss in the Terror, Finance, and Arms Division of the CIA. He of course butts heads with Ryan caught a bit and they have an interesting working relationship that develops throughout the season. Ali Suliman plays Mousa Bin Suleiman, the main antagonist of the show, a terrorist who is hell bent on getting revenge stemming from a childhood incident. I thought he did a great job of being unpredictable and also being a bit conflicted at times with who he was becoming.

One of the great things about the show is the top notch production quality. There was no cutting of corners here, it seems like they shot this show in many different locations and that only added to the viewing experience. I found myself intrigued plenty of times by things that came across the show and how realistic some of the situations really were so I took it upon myself to do some light research. I can confidently say that the show is really grounded when it comes to the details, of course some of the bigger plot points might be a bit exaggerated but overall the show really does take care of handling itself within the realms of reality.

I think one thing that might bother some people is that this first season does not feature a lot of action and doesn't make Jack Ryan look like some invincible super hero. This is almost an origin story, it seems like Ryan hasn't really made any kind of name for himself just yet and is really just getting his career started. I appreciated that because it gives me something to look forward to in future seasons. 

Video

Jack Ryan Season one is presented in 1080p and in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. From what I could gather the show is available on 4K on Amazon Prime so you can expect a step down in quality from that but watching the Blu-ray I can't imagine it being a massive difference. The show looked gorgeous to me. Plenty of overseas location were rich and color and looked extremely sharp. There are plenty of great colors and textures to admire but I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested in seeing this in 4K.

Audio

The English Dolby Atmos mix here is superb. The dialogue is super clear and all the different locations come to life and sound real. This wouldn't be a Jack Ryan series without some gunfights and they do not disappoint either. This is one of those shows you're going to want to turn the volume up and just completely enjoy the immersive experience.

Extras

Unfortunately this Blu-ray release is a little light on the extras.

• 4 Deleted Scenes

Language

• English, French, and English Audio Description

Subtitles

• English, English SDH, French, and Spanish

Final Thoughts

Jack Ryan Season One is an amazing first season and a must watch for any fans of the other films and source material in general.

Jack Ryan Season One is available now On Blu-ray from Paramount Home Entertainment.

The hilarious tragicomedy FUNNY STORY is NOW Available On Digital And On Demand!

The hilarious tragicomedy FUNNY STORY is NOW Available On Digital And On Demand! 

 

 BUY OR RENT FUNNY STORY HERE

Available on iTunes, Hoopla, Fandango, Google Play, Microsoft Store, YouTube, DirecTV, Spectrum, Xfinity, Amazon, Redbox

TRAILER

Synopsis

Walter Campbell (Matthew Glave, THE WEDDING SINGER, "Better Things") is an aging heartthrob struggling to keep up appearances- especially with his estranged adult daughter, Nic (Jana Winternitz). In an attempt to reconnect with his family, he invites himself to crash her vacation in Big Sur. Offering a ride to her friend Kim (Emily Bett Rickards, "Arrow"), the two bond in unexpected ways that are sure to ruin the lives of everyone in their path.

Directed by: Michael Gallagher

Written by: Michael Gallagher, Steve Greene

Produced by: Michael Gallagher, Jana Winternitz, Michael Wormser

Starring: Matthew Glave, Emily Bett Rickards, Jana Winternitz - With Nikki Limo, Lily Holleman, Jessica Diggins, Aschleigh Jensen, Jacob Wysocki, Pete Gardner, Reginald VelJohnson

Run Time: 85 minutes

Not Rated - English - USA

Gremlins will be released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 1st from Warner Bros.

 Gremlins will be released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 1st from Warner Bros.

CELEBRATING THE 35^TH ANNIVERSAY OF THE FILM,

GREMLINS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)

BURBANK, CA, June 4, 2019 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that 1984’s Gremlins will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 1. Directed by Joe Dante (Innerspace, The ‘Burbs) and written by Chris Columbus (The Goonies, Young Sherlock Holmes), the film stars Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer, Phoebe Cates as Kate Beringer, and Hoyt Axton and Randall Peltzer, along with the voices of Frank Welker as Stripe and Howie Mandel as Gizmo.

Gremlins was produced by Michael Finnell and executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Steven Spielberg. 

Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.  

Gremlins will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for $41.99 SRP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Blu-ray disc with the feature film and special features. Fans can also own Gremlins in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on October 1^st.  

SYNOPSIS

Gremlins is a wildly original roller-coaster ride of hilarious mischief.  One minute your hair will stand on end, the next you’ll hold your sides with laughter at the havoc these supposedly gentle furballs create when the rules surrounding their care and feeding are inadvertently broken one fateful Christmas.  Written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante, Gremlins unleashes special effects that dazzle and enchant and merriment that lingers in the memory.

Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Elements

Gremlins Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:

• Filmmakers’ Commentary with Director Joe Dante, Producer Michael Finnell and Special Effects Artist Chris Walas
• Cast Commentary with Director Joe Dante, Zack Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Dick Miller, and Howie Mandel
• Gremlins: Behind the Scenes Featurette
• Additional Scenes with Commentary
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailers
• Additional Scenes
• Cute.  Clever.  Mischievous.  Intelligent: Making Gremlins
• Gremlins: The Gift of the Mogwai (motion comic)
• The Last Gremlin (motion comic)
• From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures
• Hangin’ with Hoyt on the set of Gremlins

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

On October 1, Gremlins 4K UHD will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers including GooglePlay, Vudu, Xbox and others.

ABOUT DIGITAL

*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services like CinemaNow, Flixster Video, Vudu and more. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.

Standard Street Date: October 1, 2019

EST Street Date: October 1, 2019

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French

Running Time: 106 minutes

Rating: Rated PG

THE CREDITS

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

Domino arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital), DVD, and Digital on July 30th from Lionsgate.

Domino arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital), DVD, and Digital on July 30th from Lionsgate.

Street Date: 7/30/19

Blu-ray™ + Digital SRP: $21.99

DVD SRP: $19.98

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Experience legendary director Brian De Palma’s (Scarface, The Untouchables, The Black Dahlia, Mission: Impossible) brand-new, fast-paced action-thriller when Domino arrives on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital), DVD, and Digital July 30 from Lionsgate. This film is currently available On Demand. Featuring spectacular international sets from Scandinavia to Spain, the film stars Primetime Emmy^® nominee Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (2018, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, TV’s “Game of Thrones”), Carice van Houten, and Primetime Emmy^® winner Guy Pearce (2011, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries, TV’s “Mildred Pierce”). The Domino Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $21.99 and $19.98, respectively.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

A Copenhagen police officer, Christian (Nikolaj Coster-Wealdau), seeks justice for his partner’s murder by ISIS member Imran. Determined to hunt Imran down, Christian and Alex (Carice van Houten), a fellow cop and his late partner’s mistress, are unwittingly caught in a deadly cat-and-mouse chase with a duplicitous CIA agent (Guy Pearce) who is using Imran as a pawn to trap other ISIS members. Their quest for revenge becomes a race against time to save their own lives. Directed by Brian De Palma.

CAST

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau                    TV’s “Game of Thrones,” Oblivion, Gods of Egypt

Carice van Houten                           TV’s “Game of Thrones,” Black Book, Valkyrie

Eriq Ebouaney                                  Hitman, Transporter 3

Mohammed Azaay                           TV’s “Deadline,” Layla M.

Søren Malling                                               TV’s “The Killing,” A Hijacking

Paprika Steen                                               Applause, The Substitute

Thomas W. Gabrielsson                 A Royal Affair, TV’s “The Killing”  

and Guy Pearce                               TV’s “The Innocents,” Memento

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2018

Title Copyright: Domino © 2019 Schønne Film IVS. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2019 Saban Films LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Type: Theatrical Release

Rating: R for strong violence, some language and brief nudity

Genre: Action, Thriller

Closed-Captioned: N/A

Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH

Feature Run Time: 89 Minutes

Blu-ray Format: 1080p High Definition, 16x9 (1.85:1) Presentation

DVD Format: 16x9 (1.85:1) Presentation

Blu-ray Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™

DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

Swing Kids debuts on Blu-ray on June 18th.

SWING KIDS  Starring K-pop star Do Kyung-soo  Debuts on Blu-ray June 18th

“Infectious South Korean musical ‘Swing Kids’ finds a good beat” ~ LOS ANGELES TIMES "This tap dance extravaganza will make you want to dance in the aisles" ~ SCREEN ANARCHY   PLANO, TEXAS (June 3, 2019) – Beloved K-pop star Do Kyung-soo leads the rhythm in SWING KIDS, which is debuting on Blu-ray™ June 18th from Well Go USA Entertainment. In order to get through the trials and tribulations of war, soldiers at a POW camp find a way to cope through dance. Directed by Kang Hyoung-Chul, the film also stars Jared Grimes (“Manifest”), Park Hye-Su (Will You Be There?), Oh Jung-Se (Rosebud, Fabricated City) and Kim Min-Ho (“Queen for Seven Days”). Synopsis:  In this swinging musical drama set during the Korean War, the soldiers at a POW camp plan a tap show to distract both themselves and the prisoners from the hardships of war. Led by a former Broadway dancer and a rebellious North Korean soldier, the band of prisoners find a new sense of freedom in dancing.. Country of Origin: South Korea SWING KIDS has a runtime of approximately 134 minutes and is not rated. ABOUT WELL GO USA ENTERTAINMENT Well Go USA Entertainment (www.wellgousa.com) is a theatrical and home entertainment distribution label that specializes in bringing top content, including the best in Action, Genre and Independent films from the US and around the world, to North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms, including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment’s corporate headquarters is in Plano, Texas, with offices in Taiwan and China.

Deadwood: The Movie Album Now Available from Watertower Music.

Deadwood: The Movie Album Now Available from Watertower Music.

BURBANK, CA – (June 3, 2019) WaterTower music is excited to announce the availability of Deadwood: The Movie (Music from the HBO® Film), the soundtrack to Deadwood: The Movie.

The album features 22 songs composed, arranged, and produced by Golden Globe nominated composers Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek, and includes the “Deadwood Main Title Theme.”

The Deadwood: The Movie (Music from the HBO® Film), album is now available and the track list is as follows:

TRACKLIST: 

1. Deadwood Main Title Theme                                               David Schwartz
2. Trixie Accosts Hearst                                                           Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek
3. Exist in Your Repertoire / Your Deepest Nature               Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
4. Loch Lomond                                                                        The Gem Saloon Piano Player 
5. Wild Bill / Finding Charlie                                                    Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
6. Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes                                      The Gem Saloon Piano Player 
7. I'll Deliver Your Fucking Answer                                        Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
8. Al Speaks with Caroline / Fisherman's Haunting  Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
9. Is That the Old Ship of Zion                                                The Carson Creek Singers 
10. Charlie's Funeral                                                                  Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
11. The Auction                                                                           Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
12. Lynching Samuel                                                                  Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
13. Body Count / Haunted by Our Thoughts                           Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
14. All Bleeding Stops Eventually / Tomorrow We Marry      Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
15. Oh Promise Me                                                                     The Gem Saloon Piano Player 
16. Speed the Plow                                                                     The Deadwood Wedding Band 
17. Hearst Enters the Wedding                                                 Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
18. Money Musk                                                                          The Deadwood Wedding Band 
19. Beating Hearst                                                                      Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
20. Chorus Jig                                                                             The Deadwood Wedding Band 
21. Jane Saves Bullock                                                              Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek 
22. Waltzing Matilda                                                                   Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek

Cold Pursuit 4K Blu-ray Review

Cold Pursuit 4K Blu-ray Review

Story

Nels Coxman's quiet life as a snowplow driver comes crashing down when his beloved son dies under mysterious circumstances. His search for the truth soon becomes a quest for revenge against a psychotic drug lord named Viking and his sleazy henchmen. Transformed from upstanding citizen to coldblooded vigilante, Coxman unwittingly sets off a chain of events that includes a kidnapping, a series of deadly misunderstandings and a turf war between Viking and a rival boss.

Review

When I first saw a trailer for Cold Pursuit I wasn't too sure what to think of it. I've enjoyed most of Liam Neeson's films from the past decade and this one seemed like more of the same. I did my research and was surprised when I read that it was a dark comedy. Given the plot and setting it felt like I would be watching a Fargo-esque film and I was not wrong.

Neeson plays a grieving father who is out to find out what exactly got his son killed and to get his revenge on those responsible. He was not afraid to get his hands dirty whatsoever and I was honestly surprised by how unaffected he was by it all. Even for a film that plays as a dark comedy, it came off as too pedestrian for your everyday blue collar worker. Neeson's performance is pretty subdued and I think it needed to be a bit more over the top for this kind of movie. Something else that bothered me was the short screen time that Neeson actually got. It felt like it should have been his movie but I walked away wishing he had been involved in more scenes.

If you've watched Fargo, either the movie or the show, you know that there are rarely any happy endings for the characters involved. Cold Pursuit is a bit of the same. There are a lot of deaths throughout the entire movie. I won't go into spoilers but after someone died they would show their nickname and a little symbol to represent them. it was a nice little touch that I quite enjoyed.

There are some action scenes but overall the film does feel a bit dialogue driven. I know I keep mentioning Fargo but I also got some Tarantino vibes but obviously not at his level. There are plenty of interesting characters to get into but nobody really stood out more than the rest and honestly I would not have minded a smaller cast if it would have meant a bit more meat to the characters.

I do want to say that the main antagonist in this film was over the top cheesy. That is actually a compliment. He had a face that you would just want to punch and right away you want to this guy to go down. I gotta give it to Tom Bateman for knowing exactly what kind of performance this film needed from its villain, I just wish that Neeson had given a similar style performance.

Video

Cold Pursuit is presented in a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1 aspect ratio and looked great on screen. There are a ton of scenes that took place outdoors in snowy conditions and they looked super bright when necessary and still managed to look great in darker conditions. Scenes that took place indoors were crisp and demonstrated a great amount of detail.

Audio

The Dolby Atmos track here is nothing to write home about or reference quality as they call it. With that being said there are no major issues and the outdoor scenes stood out as a highlight. The mix of the constant wind blowing with the chaos going on throughout the movie were handled well and sounded great.

Extras

• Deleted Scenes
• Interview with Actor Liam Neeson
• Interview with Director Hans Petter Moland
• “Welcome to Kehoe: Behind the Scenes on Cold Pursuit” Featurette

Language

• English: Dolby Atmos
• English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
• Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles

• English, English SDH, Spanish

Final Thoughts

Cold Pursuit is another solid entry in Liam Neeson's revenge tour, if you're a fan of dark comedies then this one is worth spending a couple of hours with.

Crank 4K Blu-ray Review

Crank 4K Blu-ray Review

Story

Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops.

Review

Crank is the first film I ever remember watching that had Jason Statham front and center. This was before I knew anything about what actors or directors I enjoyed and I would instead go towards trailers that caught my attention or simple enough, if the cover looked cool. As soon as I saw that Crank was being given the 4K treatment, I was interested. I hadn't watched it in over 12 years.

Crank is a nonstop film that consistently keeps pushing the pace. It runs tight at 87 minutes and never seems to have a dull moment. I don't want to give away any scenes but just read the plot. An assassin has to keep his adrenaline flowing to keep his heart rate up, if he doesn't, he dies. You can already imagine the type of things that Chev has to do to survive.

The movie has great cinematography that makes you feel like your heart rate is elevated too, quick movements that don't take away from your viewing experience but keep you on the edge of your seat.

What I appreciate the most about Crank is how over the top it is because it has to be. This film would not work as well as it does if all of it's parts hadn't gone all in on it. All the performances buy into the ridiculousness that is this and I mean that in a good way. There is hardly any solid character development and that is sometimes a death sentence to a movie like this but not here. You don't want this film to slow down, you just want it to keep going, and it does.

I know this is a super vague review but I just don't want to give away any of the awesomeness that is Crank. Is comparable to that feeling you get after chugging an energy drink but just imagine putting it on film.

Video

Some scenes in Crank benefit from the 4K upgrade more than others. There is some slight grain present but nothing that consistently shows up throughout. The majority of the scenes look great and were really able to take advantage of the HDR. The film is darker than most, even in the scenes that took place outdoors had a darker tone to them that really helped this 4K transfer out in my opinion.

Audio

The Dolby Atmos track here is awesome. As face paced as this film is there are plenty of sounds to enjoy through your sound system. Anything from engine revs to constantly increasing heart beats are found here and they all sound great. 

Extras

• Shooting Crank
• The Stunts of Crank
• Pushing Crank
• Crank @ Comic-Con 
• More Stories from Crank

Language

• English

Subtitles

• English, English SDH, and Spanish

Final Thoughts

Crank is facst paced and a ton of fun, this is the quintessential popcorn movie. If you're a fan of the genre or Jason Statham, this is a must own.

Crank is availble now on 4K Combo Pack from Lionsgate.