Home Video Releases Archives | Page 11 Of 52

Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning is Here on Home Video!

The end is neigh in Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning, but as for what it means, only some people will be curious to check this film out.

Digimon Adventure 02 The Beginning Blu Ray — **Available to order on Amazon USA**

Shout! Studios
Released: Jun 11, 2024

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Digimon movie that’s as sad as Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning. This film continues after the last. Here, the team meets Lui (Megumi Ogata). This lad says he’s the very first person to become DigiDestined and everyone is surprised.

His story is quite the opposite to others who embrace the role; he never wanted the job, and when he rejects his little pet monster, the way it self-destructs is quite graphic! It was at that moment where I realised this franchise is finally growing up. In addition to learning about why some individuals have a digital partner, there’s also whether everyone really needs one. When there’s a mysterious voice saying everyone should have a Digi-Partner to signal the start of this drama, not everyone agrees.

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Between Duty and Obligation, Ultraman Rising Delivers DreamWorks Style Quality To This Japanese IP

The beauty that’s found in Ultraman Rising is that it’ll appeal to anyone who doesn’t know a thing about this franchise.

Ultraman Rising Poster Coming to Netflix Nov 14, 2024

Just how many Ultramen exist depends on who you ask. With Netflix hosting its own series simply titled after this hero (which feels like a rehash of Iron Man Armoured Adventures) and also Ultraman Rising, the count has unofficially increased by two. Back in 2013, Tsuburaya Productions acknowledged thirty-six heroes existed since Ultra Q’s debut in 1966. As for how many more have existed since then, I believe at least eight have been added

Here, Ken Sato (Yuki Yamada) is an all American baseball star by day, and a Japanese hero by night. The only reason he’s pulling double duty is that his father, who was the previous incarnation, suffered an injury. Someone said it’s best for him to come home.

Even though everybody in Japan loves Ultraman, not everyone agrees. There are other folks who see him as a vigilante. Dr. Onda (Fumihiko Tachiki) is kind of like Harvey Bullock in the Batman universe; he’s a staunch opponent, although both protect Japan from monsters. This scientist leads the Kaiju Defence Force whereas the sports personality is solo. And that attitude won’t get him far in a sport dependent on teamwork.

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Going Behind the Scenes with The Creation of the Gods in Chinese Lore

The look behind how The Creation of the Gods 1: Kingdom of Storms is made defines why this home video release is vital.

Now available on home video
For the movie review, please click here.

The Creation of the Gods is going to be an epic trilogy when it all comes out, and in the meantime, fans of Chinese mythology can marvel at part one, titled Kingdom of Storms at home. The video is beautifully crisp and colour saturation in par with the film version I saw many moons ago, and to be able to pause and take breathers between chapters was heartily welcomed. Had there been a 4K release, I’m sure the flaws can be seen a mile away. Not all of the effects are immaculate and require a bit of suspension of belief (like setting the characters riding on a horse on fire during an early scene).

Also, to learn about the behind the scenes, there’s four featurettes made to reveal how this film was put together. From makeup to set designs to special effects and onset lighting, the gambit is well covered.

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Examining Madame Web’s Lost Threads on Home Video

And we also got ideas on how to fix it, had Madame Web dealt more with the mythical lore that’s barely spun.

Madame Web Bluray Cover — **Available to purchase on Amazon USA**

After watching the bonus features of the home video release of Madame Web, I’m surprised that showrunner S. J. Clarkson actually knew what she was doing. She looked into what made this supporting character from the Marvel Comics Spider-Man comic books special. She got some bits right which gets quickly explained in “Oracle of the Page” but to change it around lots resulted in making it the mess that it is. Between getting a copy to review versus paying to see it made the difference in when I’d eventually watch this film.

By radically changing specific details up and having this story take place early in the MCU continuity might cause problems. There’s a moment concerning Ben Parker, the father to Peter, but will enough people catch the reference? The bigger question concerns how much of this tale is also part of that grander design versus being Sony Spidey-verse specific? The only good part of the film is in how the second incarnation of Spider Woman looks perfect. Sydney Sweeney (instead of Carpenter from the books) is perhaps the best part of the film when she finally dons the black and white costume.

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The Tiger’s Apprentice Mewling Roar. Looking into the Bold Differences.

Just what viewers can learn from The Tiger’s Apprentice is buried in a fairly standard monomyth. Had there been more emphasis on this aspect of the narrative, this work could have roared.

Now Available to purchase on Amazon USA (DVD)

Raman Hui‘s attempt to adapt the novel, The Tiger’s Apprentice, to become a possible new animated franchise sort of works. When it’s supposed to look at Chinese folk beliefs, what’s shown feels quite light. It lacks that sense of wonder which Light Chaser Animation‘s works excels at. The differences is well explored with the home video release due to the bonus content, and although this film has its heart in the right place, I wished it could’ve done more with why Ming yun (destiny) matters.

Tom Lee (Brandon Soo Hoo) must be ready to become the next guardian and when he’s not even sixteen yet, the force determined to kill him must do so before the coming of every Lunar New Year. Most people know that a select group of animals represent each lunar cycle, and I get the sense that Loo (Michelle Yeoh) is not picky on when to destroy him. I’m also not sure if she’s been trying those few weeks before the end of every twelve months, but if she doesn’t do so quickly, he’ll be strong enough to defeat her! That sense of urgency isn’t conveyed, because during this film, the last time she successfully chased the boy down is during the Year of the Ox.

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It’s Wild and Wacky with Invaders from Proxima B

and we got to talk to the creative mind behind this work too! Ward Roberts brings some funky ideas into Invaders from Proxima B.

Invaders from Proxima B Movie Poster Coming to Fandango at Home
May 31, 2024

Ward Roberts certainly knows everything about UFOs and it manifests is lots of fun ways in his third outing as a movie director. From shapechangers to fuzzy versions and even reptiles, the gambit is well covered in Invaders from Proxima B. As for himself, he plays a character whose time on the road as a musician prevents him from being the father that he needs to be. Some viewers will remember him from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where he plays Hugo.

And I feel this work excellently showcases not only his comedic talent but also his skill as a director. I’m fairly certain I laughed at every bit he wanted to be hilarious. Viewers not only get treated to a cartoon style adventure but also enjoy the heartfelt payoff. What’s presented is a tale I always wanted the 80s sitcom ALF to end at. After a prologue inspired by Lilo & Stitch, what happens next is certainly expected and chuckle-worthy. When Steve the Alien meets Howie (Roberts) there’s some good natured chaos and eventually, this little fuzzy thing gets “adopted” by the family.

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