New Blu-ray Reviews

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Sony Pictures | 2019 | 161 min | Rated R | Dec 10, 2019 | Jeffrey Kauffman

A story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton, former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth. Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a new next-door neighbor, who may be a rising star…Sharon Tate.

Comedy / Drama / Thriller / Dark humor / Period

The Cotton Club Encore Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Lionsgate Films | 1984 | 139 min | Rated R | Dec 10, 2019 | Jeffrey Kauffman

The Cotton Club was a famous night club in Harlem. The story follows the people that visited the club, those that ran it, and is peppered with the Jazz music that made it so famous.

Crime / Drama / Music

The Red Rider Blu-ray Movie  

VCI | 1934 | 310 min | Not rated | Nov 12, 2019 | Jeffrey Kauffman

"Red" Davison (Buck Jones), the sheriff of Sun Dog, sacrifices his job and his good name to save his best friend, "Silent" Slade from the hangman's noose, following a framed-up court decision which sentences Slade to hang for the murder of Scotty McKee (J.P. McGowan). Davidson allows Slade to escape from jail and follows him to aid him in proving his innocence.

Action / Adventure / Drama / Western

Fail Safe Blu-ray Movie  

Criterion | 1964 | 112 min | Not rated | Jan 28, 2020 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

During the Cold War, U.S. bomber jets are equipped with fail-safe boxes that instruct pilots when and if to attack. When an attack order is inadvertently administered due to a system malfunction, the President of the United States must scramble to fix the mistake before the bombs are dropped on Moscow.

Drama / Thriller / War

Dracula Blu-ray Movie  

Collector's Edition with Theatrical & Badham color

Shout Factory | 1979 | 109 min | Rated R | Nov 26, 2019 | Dr. Stephen Larson

In early 20th-century England, the bloodthirsty, but also charming and seductive Count Dracula tries to create an immortal bride, but must contend with Professor Abraham Van Helsing.

Horror / Romance / Supernatural / Period

Dracula: Prince of Darkness Blu-ray Movie  

Collector's Edition

Shout Factory | 1966 | 1 Movie, 2 Cuts | 90 min | Not rated | Dec 18, 2018 | Dr. Stephen Larson

Dracula is resurrected, preying on four unsuspecting visitors to his castle.

Fantasy / Horror / Thriller / Supernatural / Period

Paddington 2 Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Warner Bros. | 2017 | 104 min | Rated PG | Apr 24, 2018 | Randy Miller III

Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.

Animation / Comedy / Family

Joan the Maid Blu-ray Movie  

Joan the Maid Part 1: The Battles / Joan the Maid Part 2: The Prisons | Jeanne la Pucelle

Cohen Media Group | 1994 | 2 Movies | 336 min | Rated R | Dec 03, 2019 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Joan the Maid is a two-part 1994 French film directed by Jacques Rivette. It chronicles the life of Joan of Arc. This film was released in two parts: Joan the Maid, Part 1: The Battles and Joan the Maid, Part 2: The Prisons.

Biography / Drama / History / Foreign

Joan the Maid Part 1: The Battles Blu-ray Movie  

Jeanne la Pucelle I - Les batailles

Cohen Media Group | 1994 | 160 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

A part of Joan of Arc's life. At the beginning, Jeanne (Joan) has already left Domremy, she is trying to convince a captain to escort her to the Dauphin. It ends during Jeanne's first battle, at Orleans. Meanwhile, Jeanne is depicted more as a warrior than a saint (all cliches are avoided), with only her faith for strength.

Biography / Drama / History / Foreign

Joan the Maid Part 2: The Prisons Blu-ray Movie  

Jeanne la Pucelle II - Les prisons

Cohen Media Group | 1994 | 176 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Film about the later life of Joan of Arc including her trial and execution.

Biography / Drama / History / Foreign

Voice of the Eagle: The Enigma of Robbie Basho Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD

MVD Visual | 2015 | 88 min | Rated E | Dec 13, 2019 | Jeffrey Kauffman

A documentary on the extraordinary life and visionary music of the American guitarist, singer and mystic Robbie Basho.

Biography / Documentary / Music

Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection Blu-ray Movie  

80th Anniversary Edition | One Night in the Tropics / Buck Privates / In the Navy / Hold That Ghost / Keep 'Em Flying / Ride 'Em Cowboy / Pardon My Sarong / Who Done It? / It Ain't Hay / Hit the Ice / In Society / Here Come the Co-Eds / The Naughty Nineties / Little Giant / The Time of Their Lives / Buck Privates Come Home / The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap / Meet Frankenstein / Mexican Hayride / Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff / in the Foreign Legion / Meet the Invisible Man / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Go to Mars / Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde / Meet the Keystone Kops / Meet the Mummy

Shout Factory | 1940-1955 | 28 Movies | 2273 min | Not rated | Nov 19, 2019 | Brian Orndorf

See individual titles for their synopses.

Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Musical / Mystery / Romance / Sci-Fi / Thriller / War / Western / Supernatural / Melodrama

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1955 | 79 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

In Egypt Peter and Freddie find the archaeologist Dr. Zoomer murdered before they can return to America. A medallion leads them to a crypt where a revived mummy provides the terror.

Adventure / Comedy / Horror / Supernatural

Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1955 | 79 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

Harry and Willie buy the Edison Movie Studio in the year 1912 from Joseph Gorman, a confidence man. They follow Gorman to Hollywood where, as stunt men, they find him directing movies as Sergei Trumanoff and stealing the studio payroll.

Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime / Family / Melodrama

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1953 | 77 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

Slim and Tubby are American cops in London to study police tactics. They wind up in jail and are bailed out by Dr. Jekyll. Jekyll has been murdering fellow doctors who laugh at his experiments. He has more murders in mind. At one point the serum that turns Jekyll into the murderous Hyde gets injected into Tubby.

Comedy / Crime / Horror / Mystery / Thriller

Abbott & Costello Go to Mars Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1953 | 77 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

Lester and Orville accidentally launch a rocket which is supposed to fly to Mars. Instead it goes to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. They are then forced by bank robber Mugsy and his pal Harry to fly to Venus where they find a civilization made up entirely of women, men having been banished.

Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-Fi

Lost in Alaska Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1952 | 76 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

Two bumbling private eyes help a man wrongly accused of murder who has become invisible to help clear his name.

Adventure / Comedy

Comin' Round the Mountain Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1951 | 77 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

Bud and Lou get mixed up with hillbillies, witches and love potions.

Comedy / Musical

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1951 | 82 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

Boxer Tommy Nelson is accused of killing his manager. While detectives Bud and Lou investigate they come across an invisibility formula with which Tommy injects himself rather than face the police. This sparks an idea for trapping gangster Morgan by having Lou fight champ Rocky Hanlon, with Tommy's invisible help.

Comedy / Horror / Sci-Fi

Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion Blu-ray Movie  

Shout Factory | 1950 | 80 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Brian Orndorf

The Foreign Legion has had its share of soldiers who don't belong there, but it may never have had any who've upset its ranks as much as Abbott and Costello! The chaos begins in Brooklyn. Jonesy (Bud Abbott) and Max (Lou Costello) are wrestling promoters whose star fighter runs out on them. Following him to Algiers, they get more than they bargained for when they're tricked into joining the Foreign Legion. A hot time follows as the comedians--still looking for their fighter--foul up basic training, dodge desert cutthroats and chase pretty slave girls. (At an auction, Max wonders if he can buy them at $1.25 down and $1.00 a month.) No opportunity for excitement is missed. There's a beautiful French spy (Patricia Medina), a traitorous legionnair (Walter Slezak), and plenty of local color, from Arabian horsemen to dancing girls. As for Abbott and Costello, both stock and new comedy situations make the most of their talents. Whether it's a mirage, or an oasis watched over by an alligator with false teeth, it's a setup for humor--which they deliver in their customary style.

Adventure / Comedy