New on Home Video: “Sinners” on 4K Ultra HD + Digital

July 8, 2025 by Keith Garlington

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is bringing one of most acclaimed films of 2025 to home video. “Sinners” comes from Oscar-nominated writer-director Ryan Coogler and sees him once again re-teaming with star and friend Michael B. Jordan. “Sinners” is an expertly visualized and culturally rich Deep South horror movie set in 1930s Mississippi. Jordan plays two twin brothers who encounter a supernatural evil while trying to leave their criminal lives behind. Coogler’s story crumbles in the final act. But there’s so much to enjoy with the film and this killer home video release.

This 4K edition of “Sinners” includes a digital copy and an array of great special features. It will be available to purchase on July 8th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information and a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 2025

Runtime: 138 Minutes

Director: Ryan Coogler

Screenwriter: Ryan Coogler

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Canton, Wunmi Mosaku, Jack O’Connell, Delroy Lindo, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Rebecca Cho

Rating: R for strong bloody violence, sexual content, and language

From Ryan Coogler—director of “Black Panther”and “Creed”—and starring Michael B. Jordan comes a new vision of fear: “Sinners.”

Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.

“You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.”

Written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Coogler, “Sinners” stars Jordan in a dual role, joined by Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo.

Special Features:

“Sinners” Digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

Dancing with the Devil: The Making of “Sinners” – featurette (32:35)
- Journey with director Ryan Coogler as he makes his most personal and powerful film yet. Featuring Michael B. Jordan and an all-star cast, filmed on location in IMAX, “Sinners” is an original genre-bending experience unlike any other.
Thicker than Blood: Becoming the Smokestack Twins – featurette (10:45)
- Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler take us through the development, creation and portrayal of the Smokestack Twins, revealing how make-up, costumes, and visual effects come together to support these seamless performances.
Blues in the Night: The Music of “Sinners” – featurette (13:44)
- Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson explores the musical landscape of Sinners, including the iconic sounds of the Delta Blues, and the creation and recording of the unique and inspired performances written for the film.
Spirits in the Deep South – featurette (7:58)
- Prof. Yvonne Chireau explores the backdrop of Hoodoo in the deep south and how its beliefs and traditions in spirituality, ancestors, the hereafter, and defense against evil inform the world and characters of “Sinners.”
The Wages of Sin: The Creature FX of “Sinners” – featurette (10:51)
- Creature Makeup FX Designer Mike Fontaine reveals the secrets behind the supernatural horrors that terrorize the Juke, Ryan Coogler’s fresh take on vampires, and the various gore and blood effects used throughout the film.
Deleted Scenes (18:41)
- Includes deleted and/or extended scenes for a more immersive experience.

REVIEW: “Jurassic World Rebirth” (2025)

July 7, 2025 by Keith Garlington

It was 32 years ago that Steven Spielberg wowed audiences with his blockbuster mega-hit “Jurassic Park”. Since then it has been an interesting road for the Jurassic franchise. Spielberg returned to direct the sequel “The Lost World” but not the third film, “Jurassic Park III”. Both movies made money, but they didn’t reach the heights of the original. The series was relaunched in 2015 with “Jurassic World”, followed by two underwhelming but wildly profitable sequels.

Now the dinosaurs are back for a seventh time in “Jurassic World Rebirth”, a standalone sequel that follows “Dominion” while in many ways wisely distancing itself from it. Gareth Edwards was brought in to direct and David Koepp (the writer of the 1993 film) was hired to pen the script. The result is a story that tries a little too hard to follow Spielberg’s original recipe. Yet in the process it delivers an improvement over its most recent (and ultimately forgettable) predecessors.

“Rebirth” is slow out of the gate as it sets up its story and moves its characters into place. As humans and dinosaurs are still trying to co-exist, people have grown tired of their massive planet-mates. Many of the earth’s climates aren’t fit for the dinosaurs, leading the massive creatures to migrate towards the equator which causes all sorts of headaches around the globe.

**Image Courtesy of Universal Pictures**

As frustrated mankind focus on this problem, Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), a noticeably slimy pharmaceutical rep, has his eyes fixated elsewhere. He and his company have developed a new miracle drug that has the potential to cure heart disease. They’ve yet to bring it to trial because they’re missing key blood samples. Those samples are from the three largest living dinosaurs which reside on an outlawed island in the Atlantic. Once he secures the samples Martin’s company can begin testing and then secure a patent which will be worth billions.

Martin approaches a former special ops soldier turned mercenary, Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) with a lucrative offer to lead a team to the forbidden island. Accompanying them is Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a good-hearted but naive paleontologist who dreams of seeing living dinosaurs in their natural habitat. Zora charters a ship belonging to her old friend Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) who plots their course and leads the team to the island.

Elsewhere a father Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), his daughters Teresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella (Audrina Miranda ), and Teresa’s deadbeat boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono) are on an ill-advised sailing trip across the Atlantic when their boat capsizes after an encounter with a massive Mosasaurus. Zora and her team rescue the family, but not before the Mosasaurus run’s Duncan’s ship on shore of the forbidden island.

From there the movie splits the story into two tales of survival. After some rather obvious casualties, the survivors are forced into two groups – the frightened family trying to find their way to a village and Zora’s team who set out to complete their mission. Of course both groups encounter an array of prehistoric dangers, eye-popping wonders, and unexpected secrets. The story has a predictable trajectory, but it remains entertaining.

The movie works in large part due to the thrilling set pieces. It takes a while to get to them, but the big screen payoff is pretty satisfying. The dinosaurs look great and Edwards manages to create some pretty good tension. The characters don’t hold up as well. It’s not hard to root for the heroes and the villains are appropriately vile. But none feel fully fleshed out despite the strongly committed performances from the sizable cast.

“Jurassic World Rebirth” does its best to bring the series back to its roots and it mostly succeeds. And while it may rely a little too much on nostalgia, Edwards and company deliver the kind of big screen summer spectacle than fans will be drawn to. The early box office returns have been huge which equals a big win for Universal. It also all but assures another dino adventure in the not too distant future. “Jurassic World Rebirth” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

New on Home Video: “Lethal Weapon” on 4K Ultra HD + Digital

July 2, 2025 by Keith Garlington

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has brought the beloved 1987 action romp “Lethal Weapon” to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. The film features the classic duo of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a pair of mismatched LAPD detectives. It is directed by Richard Donner and written by Shane Black. “Lethal Weapon” was a box office success which paved the way for three big screen sequels and a television series. But it’s the energy and chemistry of the first film that people remember most.

This new 4K edition of “Lethal Weapon” is light on special features, but it does include a digital copy. It became available to purchase on June 24th. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information including a list of special features.

About the Film:

Year: 1987

Runtime: 117 Minutes

Director: Richard Donner

Screenwriters: Shane Black

Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Tom Atkins, Mitchell Ryan, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson, Damon Hines, Grand L. Bush, Jack Thibeau

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

Mel Gibson stars as a one-man killing machine, a Los Angeles policeman who recently lost his wife and has been acting increasingly unstable. Danny Glover plays a by-the-book homicide detective with an impeccable record and a loving family. Now the two are stuck with each other as partners, investigating a suicide that leads to an international crime ring and ever-increasing danger in this blockbuster action thriller.

Special Features:

A Legacy of Inspiration: Remembering Richard Donner
“I’m Too Old for This…” Featurette

REVIEW: “M3GAN 2.0” (2025)

July 1, 2025 by Keith Garlington

I’m still not sure how, but “M3GAN” turned out to be one of the surprise hits of 2022 both with audiences and critics. It was yet another movie delving into the world of artificial intelligence yet with its own potentially fun twist. Unfortunately the feature never quite hit its marks. It wasn’t scary enough to be good horror, and it never fully embraced the absurdity of its story.

But “M3GAN” made enough money for Universal Studios to green-light a sequel. Sadly “M3GAN 2.0” is a mind-boggling misstep. It’s a movie plagued by baffling choices that’s sure to alienate many established fans while failing to convert any new ones. Returning director Gerard Johnstone ditches the horror genre altogether and instead makes a science fiction action movie. In reality, it’s a grueling two-hour slog, hampered by endless exposition, uninspired action, and a story as emotionless and robotic as the film’s eponymous AI.

Allison Williams returns as Gemma, a high-tech roboticist who created an AI-powered humanoid doll named M3GAN. But when M3GAN gained self-awareness, she began killing anyone who came between her and her human companion, Cady (Violet McGraw). Since those events, Gemma has become a crusader pushing for regulations against AI, especially involving children. Meanwhile her niece Cady is mostly over her encounter with M3GAN, but her relationship with Gemma is a bit complicated.

Elsewhere (and this is where the movie immediately flies off the rails) a secret branch of the United States Army is giving a demonstration of their new secret weapon – an android named AMELIA. Built on technology copied from the original M3GAN, AMELIA is designed to carry out covert infiltration missions and assassinations. But the demonstration goes south after AMELIA reveals herself to be self-aware. She breaks from her mission, kills a key asset, and escapes.

Desperate to regain control of their dangerous AI creation, the military approach Gemma about obtaining another copy of M3GAN’s code. Their plan is to create another android to hunt down the rogue AMELIA (brilliant). But Gemma doesn’t have a copy – or so she thinks. It turns out M3GAN installed a backup of her mind into Gemma’s smart house. When M3GAN finally reveals herself to Gemma, she offers to help stop AMELIA in exchange for a new body.

From there it’s mostly scene after scene of bone-dry exposition as the movie lumbers onward. A few action scenes are thrown in to no effect and there are some vain attempts at humor. Meanwhile the cast of characters struggle to earn our interest. It’s especially tough for Williams who does everything she can to make things interesting and add a human pulse. Sadly “M3GAN 2.0” spends too much time reinventing itself. And the results are near catastrophic. “M3GAN 2.0” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 1.5 STARS

REVIEW: “F1” (2025)

June 30, 2025 by Keith Garlington

You don’t have to be a hardcore Formula One fan to enjoy “F1”, the latest big budget blockbuster from director Joseph Kosinski. In fact, you could say “F1” uses car racing much like “Top Gun” used flying fighter planes. And much like “Top Gun”, Kosinski’s film features its own perfectly cast A-lister who brings some notable star wattage to an already brilliant movie.

There’s no denying that “F1” sticks close to a tried and true blockbuster formula. But who cares when it’s executed this flawlessly? Kosinski directs with such energy and confidence. And while the script may hit some familiar dramatic beats, screenwriter Ehren Kruger fully immerses us in the world of Formula One Racing. He does so while creating compelling characters and dodging many of the usual pitfalls that can come with sports related movies.

**Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures**

Much of the film’s success starts with its star, Brad Pitt. Bursting with charisma and personality, Pitt gives a terrific performance playing a race-car driver named Sonny Hayes. Sonny once had a bright future as a young driver in Formula One. But his reckless reputation and a nasty wreck ended his once promising F1 run. That was three decades ago. Since then, Sonny has been driving cars in a number of smaller circuits.

After winning an IMSA series race, Sonny is visited by his old friend and former teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). Ruben owns a struggling Formula team called APX Grand Prix. As they enter the second half of the season, APX hasn’t scored a single point. And with only nine races left, Ruben needs a win or he could potentially lose his team. He recently lost his best driver, and his #2 is an extremely talented yet inexperienced and immature rookie named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) who could use a little guidance.

A desperate Ruben offers Sonny a seat on his Formula One team – an offer which Sonny initially turns down but ultimately accepts. But he’s greeted with skepticism from a Ruben’s established yet frustrated team, especially young Pearce who’s determined to be the team’s new #1 driver. With the prospect of losing their jobs looming over them, the APX team is forced to hang their hats on a driver some say is over the hill and washed up.

“F1” has numerous things going for it starting with the exhilarating racing scenes. Everything from the cinematography, editing, and sound design adds to the electricity. Even Hans Zimmer’s pulse-pounding score feeds the white-knuckle energy that can be felt in every rev of the engine, every pop of the exhaust, and every screech of a tire. It’s especially kinetic on the big screen which is where everyone should watch it.

The collection of characters add to the fun starting with Pitt, whose effortless charm and old-fashioned star power has a Paul Newman-like draw. Idris is a good foil, playing a character who proves to be more than some shallow hothead. Bardem fits nicely as an antsy team owner while Academy Award nominee Kerry Condon gets a good role as the team’s technical director and Sonny’s potential love interest. And since the film was shot during the 2023 and 2024 F1 seasons, a number of real-life drivers, team owners, and commentators make appearances.

“F1” is an impressively balanced feature that will appeal to every audience. Whether you’re a die-hard Formula One fan or an uninitiated newbie (like me), Kosinski’s throwback summer spectacle taps into what makes going to the theater special. While it’s hard to call its story original, it is consistently entertaining, from its propulsive start to its satisfying finish. And having Brad Pitt in his charismatic groove is the icing on the cake. “F1” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS

REVIEW: “The G” (2025)

June 27, 2025 by Keith Garlington

The insanely versatile and always authentic Dale Dickey is an actress who can express more in one stare than many can with heavy direction and pages of dialogue. She has always been a captivating screen presence, often playing gritty and menacing characters while at other times conveying an unvarnished Southern charm. Her performances are often subtle yet they’re almost always memorable.

Dickey gets a terrific lead role in “The G”, a gripping crime thriller from Canadian writer-director Karl R. Hearne. The film premiered two years ago at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and since then has been making its rounds across the globe. Now it’s getting a wide distribution courtesy of Dark Sky Films, hopefully followed by the kind of audience the movie deserves.

Dickey plays Ann Hunter, a leathery and tough-minded 72-year-old who spends too much of her day smoking cigarettes and swigging vodka. She has no family outside of her ailing husband Chip (Greg Ellwand) and his granddaughter from his first marriage, Emma (Romane Denis). Emma admires Ann and the two have gotten close. But Ann has a dark past that she has kept hidden from Emma. And she’s forced back into that past after a vile chain of events threatens those closest to her.

Everything turns when a group of men arrive at their home with a court order to move Ann and Chip to a care facility. The court puts them under the care of a man named Rivera (Bruce Ramsay). As their legal guardian, Rivera immediately gets control of their assets. It goes something like this – the “guardians” target isolated elderly people who they believe may have money. They then get diagnoses from corrupt doctors who say the patients are incapable of caring for themselves. It then goes before the courts where judges give the “guardians” control.

But Ann is no normal target and she’s certainly not the helpless old woman they assume she is. Rivera and his cronies find it out once Emma is put in danger while trying to help her grandparents. The gritty Ann turns grittier and Dickey captures it with striking authenticity. Her quiet stoicism turns menacing as she slowly peels back some of her character’s layers. But the best quality of her performance is in how Dickey is able to have us rooting for Ann and fearing her at the same time.

While it may sound as if “The G” turns into a prototypical violent payback thriller, the film actually has much more going on than that. Hearse takes his time developing his story. Much more of a slow-burn than an edge-of-your-seat nailbiter, the story earns our investment and rewards our patience. It does so on the back of the fearless and formidable Dale Dickey, who remains an actress deserving of more recognition than she gets. “The G” releases June 27th in theaters and on VOD.