Cars
3 4K (2017/PIXAR/Disney
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray)/DC
Universe Original Movies: 10th
Anniversary Collection
(2017 Compilation/Warner Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set)/Home
Alone 2: Lost In New York
(1992/Fox Blu-ray w/DVD)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: A Picture: B+/B/B+ & B Sound: A &
B+/B/B+ & B Extras: B/B/D Films: C+/B/B
PLEASE
NOTE:
The DC
Universe
Blu-ray is limited to only 20,000 copies, so get it while supplies
last.
With
holiday season upon us, a selection of high profile family
releases...
Cars
3 4K
(2017)
One
of Disney/Pixar's biggest properties is Cars,
started in 2006 with the first entry and is the only Pixar property
to date that has had spin-off films (Disney's Planes
and TV series Mater's
Tall Tales
and Tales
from Radiator Springs).
While
the franchise is obviously aimed for kids, there is still enough cool
animation and jokes to keep the adults entertained short term. Not
as creative and funny as other properties under the company's belt
like Toy
Story
or Monsters
Inc.,
the Cars
movies have been a safe bet for the studio, with each installment
being a huge financial success. Of course, the animation in this new
third installment is a bit more polished and 'realistic' than
previous entries and still delivers many of the same characters (and
some new ones) that audiences have become attached to.
Cars
3
(2017) has an all-star voice cast, which includes Owen Wilson,
Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Larry the Cable Guy, and Bonnie Hunt.
Racing
is starting to become tough for our aging race car hero Lightning
McQueen (Wilson), as he is become an aging model. As new cars enter
the racing world, it's going to take a lot for good ole' Lightning to
prove that he is still top dog. With help from an eager young female
car named Cruz Ramirez (Alonzo), who agrees to train him and get him
'up to speed'. Our fearless leader, Lighting McQueen, will do
whatever it takes to be the best in order to compete in an epic World
Grand Prix race where he will be tested like never before.
This
is Disney's third 4K UHD release in recent months and the first Pixar
film to land on the impressive new format. Presented in 2160p
HEVC/H.265, HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition
image with a 2.39:1 widescreen aspect ratio and an impressive new
Dolby Atmos 11.1 lossless sound mix, it is a great playback
performer. Also on the disc, for older systems, is the customary
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix that it foes to if you don't chose for Atmos and
a 2.0 Stereo mix as well. Additionally, we get a 1080p Blu-ray with
similar specs but lacks the clarity of the 4K image (or HDR) and a
lossless DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 7.1 mix that is also solid, if not as good as the
Atmos.
Some of the more impressive moments with the animation are the subtle
reflections in the bodies of the cars and textures of the
environments. Everything is detailed and realistic, while still
maintaining a cartoony-type feel.
Also
included is a digital UV copy for your on the go movie watching.
Special
Features in this edition are PACKED and included in the set as an
additional 1080p Blu-ray:
Miss
Fritter's Racing Skoool
(Exclusive new mini-movie) - Enjoy blindsided testimonials from the
Crazy 8's, touting the transformative impact Miss Fritter's Racing
School has had in reshaping the direction of their lives.
Theatrical
Short: Lou
- When a toy-stealing bully ruins recess for a playground full of
kids, only one thing stands in his way: the "Lost and Found"
box.
Let's.
Get. Crazy.
- Get schooled in the world of demolition derby, the "rules"
of figure 8 racing, and how Pixar puts the crazy in the Thunder
Hollow Crazy 8 race. This piece is hosted by Lea DeLaria.
Legendary
- a close, historical look at the racing legends Wendell Scott and
Louise Smith, whose tenacity and perseverance got them into the race
even when they weren't invited.
Ready
for the Race
- Disney Channel's Olivia Rodrigo and NASCAR Racer William Byron
check out the Hendrick Motorsports campus to showcase how real-world
race training influenced the filmmakers.
World's
Fastest Billboard
- Blink and you will miss all of the graphics and "car-ified"
advertisements created by Pixar's Art team to make the Cars
3
world as believable as possible.
Cruz
Ramirez: The Yellow Car That Could
- Join Cristela Alonzo and the filmmakers on their journey to create
a race-car trainer turned champion racer.
Generations:
The Story of Cars 3
- For the story team, creating Lightning McQueen's next chapter
didn't involve just a tune-up, but a complete overhaul.
My
First Car
- A collection of illustrated first-car stories as narrated by
members of the Cars 3 cast and crew. "A Green Car on the Red
Carpet with Kerry Washington," "Old Blue," and "Still
in the Family."
5
Deleted Scenes - Each deleted scene is set up with an introduction as
to why it was removed from the film. Deleted scenes include "The
Boogie Woogie," "The Jars of Dirt," "Lugnut,"
"The Bolt," and "More Than New Paint."
Cars
To Die(cast) For
- Take a look at the phenomenon of die-cast toy collecting and the
more than 1,000 unique designs that exist in the Cars universe.
Commentary
- Brian Fee (Director), Kevin Reher (Producer), Andrea Warren
(Co-Producer) and Jay Ward (Creative Director).
Cars
3 is
more of the same (near) G-rated fun that families are sure to enjoy,
but nothing really new or groundbreaking for the aging franchise.
The 4K UHD presentation here is on point, and continues to impress
with each new release. The previous film will inevitably get 4K
releases, but in the meantime, here's our coverage pf the previous
films in the series...
Cars
Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6186/Cars+(Blu-ray/Disney+-+Pixar
Cars
3D
Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12428/Cars+3D+-+Ultimate+Collector%E2%80%99s+Edit
Cars
2
Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11254/Cars+2+++Pirates+of+the+Caribbean:+On+Stran
The
DC Universe Original Movies: 10th
Anniversary Collection
is a new 2017 Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set Compilation that
features 30 animated films,
many of which we've covered over the last decade. Here is the list,
with links to those we have officially shared...
SUPERMAN:
DOOMSDAY
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5981/Superman+Doomsday+(Animated+Feature/DVD-Vid
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: THE NEW FRONTIER (COMMEMORATIVE EDITION)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7049/Justice+League:+The+New+Frontier+(Blu-ray+++H
BATMAN:
GOTHAM KNIGHT
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7218/Batman+%E2%80%93+Gotham+Knight+%E2%80
WONDER
WOMAN (COMMEMORATIVE EDITION)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14921/Wonder+Woman:+Commemorative+Edition+(2009
GREEN
LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8881/Green+Lantern:+First+Flight+(2009/Warner+Premie
SUPERMAN/BATMAN:
PUBLIC ENEMIES
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9360/Superman/Batman+%E2%80%93+Public+Enemies
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS
BATMAN:
UNDER THE RED HOOD
SUPERMAN/BATMAN:
APOCALYPSE
ALL-STAR
SUPERMAN
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10824/All+Star+Superman+(2010/Warner+Blu-ray+++DV
GREEN
LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS
BATMAN:
YEAR ONE
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: DOOM
SUPERMAN
VS. THE ELITE
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11679/Superman+vs.+The+Elite+(2012/DC+Comics/Anim
THE
DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, PART 1
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11835/Batman:+The+Dark+Knight+Returns+%E2%80%9
THE
DARK KNIGHTS RETURNS, PART 2
SUPERMAN:
UNBOUND
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12343/Justice+League+%E2%80%93+The+Flashpoint+Pa
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: WAR
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12659/Justice+League+-+War+(2014/Warner/DC+Comics
SON
OF BATMAN
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12768/Son+Of+Batman+(2014/Warner/DC+Blu-ray+w/DV
BATMAN:
ASSAULT ON ARKHAM
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12943/Batman:+Assault+On+Arkham+(2014/DC+Comics/
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: THRONE OF ATLANTIS
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13362/Justice+League:+Throne+Of+Atlantis+(2015/DC+C
Now
also issued on 4K 2160p Blu-ray:
www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/15319/Adventures+Of+Hajji+Baba+(1954/Fox/Twilight+Time+Li
BATMAN
VS. ROBIN
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13450/Batman+Vs.+Robin:+Gift+Set+[including+Batman
JUSTICE
LEAGUE: GODS AND MONSTERS
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13676/Justice+League:+Gods+and+Monsters+(2015/DC
BATMAN:
BAD BLOOD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14148/Batman:+Bad+Blood+(2016/DC+Comics/Warner+B
JUSTICE
LEAGUE VS. TEEN TITANS
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14151/Justice+League+Vs.+Teen+Titans+(2016/DC+Comi
BATMAN:
THE KILLING JOKE
JUSTICE
LEAGUE DARK
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14754/Justice+League+Dark+(2017/Limited+Edition+w/C
TEEN
TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14854/Peppa+Pig:+Around+The+World+(2017/E1/EOne
and
BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/15053/Batman+and+Harley+Quinn+(2017/DC+Comics/W
The
films for the most part have been pretty good, but are not part of
one larger narrative, but variations of the characters taking them
into different, even almost contradictory directions. Some are more
memorable than others, more than a few are shorter than they ought to
be and some have segments that are better than others within their
own films. Still, they are enough of a critical and commercial
success that it makes sense they make three a year and they can go
further than the TV series productions (as did the theatrically
released Batman:
Mask Of The Phantasm)
so it is an outlet for storytelling that may not be appropriate for
minors. I still look forward to seeing what they do next, so that;s
a plus.
The
bonus Blu-ray is the main reason besides not having all the films
already or just having such a limited package to get this, so in
this, we get this (mostly from the press release)...
Featurette
- 'The
Super Human In Us All'
- Some Heroes are born in the pages of DC comic books (Superman,
Batman, Wonder Woman), some are the real life heroes that have faced
life or death, and triumphed against the odds. The quest in this film
is to find that common ground, reminding everyone that there is a
hero in all of us... waiting to rise!
Featurette
- A
Comic Book History of Justice League Dark
- Take a mystical journey through the comic book history of the
Justice
League Dark:
John Constantine, Zatanna, and Deadman, magical heroes who flourish
in the shadows - and their specialty, the supernatural side of the DC
Universe.
Featurette
- 'Mark
Hamill: Finding The Laugh'
- This mini-documentary follows the journey of celebrated actor Mark
Hamill from his portrayal of heroic Luke Skywalker to the role of one
of the most feared DC Super-Villains of all-time, the Joker.
DC
Universe Original Movies 10th
Anniversary Panel at 2017 Comic-Con International - Ten Years. Thirty
films. Five shorts. And innumerable fan-favorite moments. Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment celebrates a decade of animated DC-infused
films with an exciting panel spotlighting the DC Universe Original
Movies: 10th Anniversary Collection. Filmmakers and an array of
luminary voice actors guided fans through an entertaining look into
the making of these popular movies. Included in the panel discussion
are producers Bruce Timm & James Tucker and
co-producers/screenwriters Alan Burnett & Jim Krieg alongside
actors Kevin Conroy, Tara Strong, John DiMaggio, Vanessa Marshall and
Christopher Gorham.
Lookbooks
for Batman: The
Dark Knight Returns, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Batman:
The Killing Joke, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
and Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.
Panel
Discussion - A Tribute to Darwyn Cooke - Legendary writer and artist
Darwyn Cooke left the world far too early. This panel gathering
celebrates through personal and professional anecdotes the
achievements and heart and wisdom Darwyn brought to his projects, and
his life.
2008
Comic-Con International Wonder Woman (Animated) Panel - Harken back
to 2008, during the infancy of the DC Universe Original Movies, when
the Comic-Con stage filled with some of the key players in the
production of the highly-acclaimed animated film, Wonder Woman.
Included on the panel is former DC Publisher Paul Levitz, DC Universe
executive producer Bruce Timm, Wonder Woman director Lauren
Montgomery, eight-time Emmy Award-winning dialogue/casting director
Andrea Romano, and geek god himself, Nathan Fillion, who voiced Steve
Trevor in the film. DC executive Gregory Noveck moderated the panel.
There
are also three short animated films that offer alternate versions of
the characters that intertextually reference other parts of the DC
Comics narrative history or even storytelling and franchises out of
its own back yard, but they are also interesting and worth a look.
All
30 films are presented in 1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition
quality and either lossless
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) or Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mixes that have
been consistently good, but some have complained about visual flaws
at times or even sonic limits on each film depending on the release.
Why this happens is odd, but I've been mostly satisfied with the
series and even non-fans should be pleased.
Home
Alone 2: Lost In New York
(1992)
After
the huge success of the original Home
Alone,
the sequel Home
Alone 2: Lost In New York
was a no brainer and a huge hit as well for Director Christopher
Columbus and Producer John Hughes. Once again returning in starring
roles are Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern along with Tim
Curry, Catherine O'Hara, Rob Schneider, John Heard and an
unforgettable cameo by (a pre-President) Donald Trump. This 25th
anniversary disc has a decent transfer of the film but barely any
extras, which is a pretty big disappointment.
Following
the same story structure as the original film only putting a slight
slant on it, Kevin (Culkin) gets separated from his family again on
Christmas time. As Kevin boards a plane for NYC as his Family goes
to Florida for vacation, Kevin ends up alone in the Big Apple. After
conning his way into a fancy hotel suite, he crosses paths once again
with his adversaries, the Sticky Bandits, who are in the midst of a
toy store robbery. He also meets a strange homeless lady with a love
for pigeons, but will Kevin be reunited with his family or will the
Bandits get their revenge on him once and for all?
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and
a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless track, the film looks and
sounds nice on the Blu-ray format and has still looks great as it was
shot on the 35mm film format. Also included is a standard
definition, anamorphically enhanced DVD with a lossy 5.1 Dolby
Digital mix, and a digital UV copy. John Williams score this time is
the highlight of the sound mix, although much like the film, is very
similar to the first installment. Again, no extras.
For
more on the films in the series, try these links, starting with the
first film on Blu-ray...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8058/Home+Alone+%E2%80%93+Family+Fun+Edition
and
the older Blu-ray of this film...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9312/Home+Alone+2+(1992/Fox+Blu-ray
-
Nicholas Sheffo (DC
Comics)
and James
Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
