Category Archives: Film reviews

4k releases, Film reviews, Warner Bros

Warner Bros 4k Releases: Lethal Weapon (1987)

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Lethal Weapon, a Look Back:

From Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, Lethal Weapon is available now on 4K UHD. One of the many classics that has built a following for decades. With the dynamic between both detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, it is a gem that thrives in its nostalgic treasure. Mel Gibson (Braveheart,The Patriot) plays  loose cannon detective Martin Riggs, and Danny Glover (Sorry to Bother You, The Old Man & the Gun) portrays a “by the book” family man nearing retirement in Roger Murtaugh. The dynamic duo of different personalities are forced to find a cohesive partnership  to catch drug smugglers threatening the streets of Los Angeles.

4K Features:

The 4K edition has both the theatrical and the director’s cuts of the film. It also offers limited, but meaningful bonus features. The bonus features contain just enough to maintain the essential importance of Lethal Weapon. The special features include a delightful retrospective on the undeniable chemistry shared between stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as well as a special look back at director Richard Donner. Finally the 4K provides a delightful analysis of the alchemy behind the film’s most famous quotable moment. The importance of what was taken into account in developing Lethal Weapon thrives vividly in its 4K UHD release.

Purchase or Pass?

For those who are truly lifelong fans of Lethal Weapon this package is worth the purchase. That also depends on how much of a “die-hard” fan one is.  Any fan of 80’s action films will feel that the packaging of this release will add nicely to their collection. However, the limited amount of features provided may leave fringe fans thinking otherwise.

Film reviews, the criterion collection

Godzilla (1954) on The Criterion Collection

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Godzilla, the Early Era

From the Criterion collection, Godzilla (also known as Gojira) is available on the Criterion Collection in 4K UHD. As one who is a fan of the franchise, I always felt this first installment thrived on authenticity to make monsters feel real. With the limited technologies surrounding the making of Godzilla, the restored 4K cut brightens it up for it to feel more horrific and authentically captivating. Not only because of the fact that it’s a giant monster, but the hidden layers that the making of the film was tied in with politics in an era many decades ago. The vision of director Ishiro Honda created a cult, and the Criterion 4K UHD loops in many facts and important, yet brilliant information. Much of this is intended to help audiences grasp the true realistic moments from the works of the 4K edition.

Criterion Features

Consumers who adore Godzilla will feel like Godzilla rises right from their hands. As the movie box is opened, a carving of the head of the monster unfolds from the box. Inside the case, there are two discs and an essay. Consumers receive both editions of the film. One is on 4K and the other is Blu-ray. There is also audio commentary by film historian David Kalat. However, the most comprehensive aspect of this feature is the featurette with the interview of the score composer Akira Ifukube. That is because what is discussed in that segment is the photographic effects to heighten the fascination of Godzilla. Finally, the essay by film critic J. Hoberman. It is lengthy and detailed talking about how Godzilla was a development going many ages back, and how it was written and rewritten. The roar of Godzilla enraptured many before it was able to rise to the biggest cult following it has today. Godzilla on Criterion 4K UHD is a keepsake that truly feels like an appreciation that is an art form of cinema to always remember.

Purchase or Pass?

For those who love and adore Godzilla, this is a purchase that is worth it. However, what should be considered is all the materials in the box itself. It is one to be treated like a bible. That is because what is written in the essay contains information that is enticing and that many audiences do not think about much today when they watch anything related to the franchise. Godzilla on Criterion 4K UHD is one of the most prized possessions of importance. The thriving aspects of cinematography, writing, and the process of making Godzilla rise all thrive immensely.

Review is also available on MovieArcher at the link below!

https://www.moviearcher.com/movie-archer/classic-targets-in-4k/godzilla-1954

Film reviews

Weapons Review

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For the first time in quite a while, I felt scared. My gut was wrenching, and I jumped from my seat many times. Writer and director Zach Cregger brings in believable scares along with rapid twists and angles that are mortifying. Weapons is a circus ride of terror that is a mystery full of hidden truths. A lot can go wrong in a small town, but when children continue to go missing and weird things happen, no one is safe. There are a whole of unanswered questions and plenty of frights lying within Weapons.

The film takes place in a small-town setting, and the first person of interest is a schoolteacher named Justine Grandy (Julia Garner). Her class is the one from which children go missing.  There is a police officer named Paul (Alden Ehrenreich) who is involved in many strange scenarios. There is also Anthony (Austin Abrams) an adult junkie adult always looking for drugs. There is also Archer Graff (Josh Brolin) who is looking for answers in the search for the missing children. While Justine builds a strange reputation, the town begins to have one itself. This is in part because there is only one kid standing named Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher). Alex’s grandma is Gladys Lilly (Amy Madigan). Why is Alex the only kid that has not disappeared? Why did the other kids disappear? What is the strange force that lingers in this town?

The writing of the film is boiling over with scares that roll their way down the aisle quite unexpectedly. Based on Cregger’s direction, my skin was crawling. However, even though there are many moments of flash frights, his incorporation of laughing moments combined with those that were creepy boggled my mind and made me crave more. I especially appreciated thedynamic where there is someone who seems easy to blame, but then the truth comes out in the most unexpected ways.

It is one of those thrillers that truly give fans of terror exactly what they come to the movies looking for. Cregger nails it in just the right way! By creating a foundation of hatred among a community but then looping in the bigger picture in small increments, he creates a pattern of shock value that tests the boundaries of his audience. Weapons is in a league of its own because of the way it rapidly boggles the brain. Overall, it is a unique film which spirals at moments that feel like a zombie thriller with more to offer. The story being based upon a community having terrors caused by an unknown secret works.

 I found Weapons to be one of the most fun summer’s end horror flicks with notes of comedy. A lot of its appeal is due to how karma related to choices leads to mortifying scenarios. The film is a real gem. Weapons is not a masterpiece, but the film effectively tests the waters. What happened to the missing children? Why does only the scene remain? Who is to blame? Find out in Weapons. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.