Latest news with #Blu-Ray
Geek Vibes Nation
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Good Madam' Blu-Ray Review - The Horrific Lingering Trauma Of Subjugation
Tsidi, a single mother, is forced to move in with her estranged mother Mavis, a live-in domestic worker caring obsessively for her catatonic white 'Madam'. As Tsidi tries to heal her family however, a sinister spectre begins to stir. For in-depth thoughts on Good Madam, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn's review from its original streaming debut here. Video Quality The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio that delivers on all fronts. The movie taps into darkness to ratchet up tension, and the transfer provides deep black levels that do not suffer from crush or other shortcomings. There is no observable damage or digital noise in this transfer. Objects hold up considerably well in the shadows and retain their depth with only the slightest banding at hand. There is a minimal loss in detail when it comes to some of the panning shots in the shadows, but it is not a standout issue throughout. The movie has a conservative color palette that is faithfully saturated in what is mostly straightforward interiors with flashes of strong lighting. Some colors make an impression, but we are more impressed by the detail and clarity at hand. You can truly appreciate the subtle facets on display, especially in the production design and makeup effects brimming with unique textures. Shudder has treated this video presentation very well on Blu-Ray. Audio Quality Good Madam arrives on Blu-Ray with an unsettling Dolby Atmos track in the original mixture of English and Xhosa. Dialogue and various sound effects stay capably balanced throughout the duration. All elements play well with the music where nothing gets overshadowed in the track. Surround channels provide some creepy activity with the interior tones and other bumps in the darkness during any build-up to any creepy development. The addition of height channels is a major positive as they tastefully expand the soundscape to complement the overall ambiance. The track's low end provides some exquisite texture when the tension is building. The movie digs deep when called upon, and environmental sounds provide a clear atmosphere for the story. The experience suits the requirements of the narrative and will be appreciated by horror fans who pick up this disc. Optional English (Xhosa Dialogue), English (All Dialogue), and English SDH subtitles are provided. Special Features Audio Commentary: Director, cinematographer, co-writer and co-producer Jenna Cato Bass, co-writer and co-producer Babalwa Baartman, and actress and co-writer Chumisa Cosa provide a track that provides some great insights into the production process, the background with the talent, the shooting locations, shooting during the height of the pandemic, and more. Interviews: There is an array of interviews provided with the talent on-screen and behind the scenes that allow the creatives to discuss how the project came together, the challenges faced during production, the creation of the music, and much more which is a valuable listen. Co-Writer / Co-Producer Babalwa Baartman (10:49) Director / Co-Writer Jenna Cato Bass (9:23) Actress Chumisa Cosa (8:44) Co-Writer / Actress Nosipho Mtebe (3:39) Musicians Kanyisa Mavi and Nasfa Ncanywa (20:05) Original Trailer (1:40) Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay 'Black Hands, White Ghosts' from film critic Jourdain Searles is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film. Final Thoughts Good Madam is a very effective representation of the lingering trauma of apartheid and the manifested horror of racism and class disparity. The Cape Town setting brings a lot of history and personality to this claustrophobic story in which a single house holds so much meaning and power over the residents. The performances from both the professional and non-professional actors are excellent, and the direction of Jenna Cato Bass conjures up some effective thrills to accompany the heavy themes. The build-up to terror is gradual, but it lands once all of the pieces are in play. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a first-rate A/V presentation and a favorable assortment of special features. Recommended Good Madam is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Shudder and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amazon is selling a $110 mini projector for $40 — get it now before the price goes up
Spring is just a few weeks away, bringing warmer weather and the return of outdoor movie nights. But why wait? Whether you're watching indoors, outdoors or anywhere in between, this miniature projector for the iPhone lets you enjoy your favorite flicks wherever you want. And right now, you can grab it for an unbelievable $40, thanks to this deal. Aside from the impressive discount (nearly 65% off), the Elephas is one of the most affordable options in its price range. Right now, it's marked down lower than even the budget-focused options. Miniature projectors typically start around $65 and go up from there. This is one of the lowest prices we've ever seen for this little gadget. Being able to watch a movie wherever and whenever you like is a treat — and this projector is the real deal. Despite its small size, it uses an efficient cooling system that keeps fan noise to a minimum — so you can hear what's happening on the screen instead of an annoyingly loud whirring. The screen size goes up to 200 inches. For reference, most movie theater screens are between 700 and 1,500 inches. Since you likely don't have a space that size to project onto, this nifty device can re-create the theater experience on a smaller scale. It works with your iPhone but is also compatible with a variety of other devices, including laptops, streaming sticks and even Blu-Ray players. The built-in speakers are small but powerful (although you can extend the audio to an external system if you have one). Unlike many projectors, this one is bright and color-accurate enough that you'll get a viewing experience faithful to what the director intended. Over 4,200 happy home moviegoers have given this mini projector a five-star rating. "I am really impressed with [this] mini projector, especially considering the affordable price. The value you get with this compact projector is incredible!" praised one five-star reviewer. "It's going to be perfect for our beach nights and camping trips. Despite its small size, the quality is excellent, and it easily projects a screen over 100 inches — a huge plus for outdoor movie nights!" "I've had this set up on my deck under an easy-up with a waterproof cover over it for storage for three years! It stays outside all summer. I bring it inside when the easy-up cover gets taken off in really bad weather or in the winter, but we do use it in all seasons, including wintertime. It's been a wonderful little projector," one watcher raved. Another user commented on the ease of use. "This is the perfect little projector to take on the go. Its compact design and convenient carry case make it a great option for traveling, with quick setup and takedown. Used with my iPhone so I needed to purchase an extra cord, but [that] was referenced in the listing so the expectations were set. Streamed multiple apps from it so far with no real issues. Highly recommend!" Some otherwise pleased reviewers would prefer not to fuss with a cable. One fan said, "This is a great small, portable projector. We bought this to watch movies outside and to take camping. Comes with a nice storage/carrying case. Great picture quality and brightness! Performs better than expected. The only downside is it doesn't have Bluetooth audio capabilities. Easily fixed by using an aux audio cable, though." (Note: If you prefer Bluetooth, this fancier Elephas is also on sale.) "You have to have an iPhone HDMI adapter ... to view your photos and/or watch a video," cautioned one reviewer. "The good news is that they give you a free accessory. Bad news is you have to order and wait for it to arrive (takes a few days)." If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Christopher Walken makes surprise admission about how he watches Severance
Christopher Walken has revealed that he does not stream his own TV show and instead watches Severance on DVD, which the production team on the Apple TV+ show is 'good enough to send me'. The Dune star, 81, said in a new interview that his relationship with technology is minimal at best and that he has never even sent an email. Starring Adam Scott and Britt Lower as employees of a company called Lumon Industries, the psychological series sees staff undergo a procedure called 'severance', which divides their work and home lives completely in a daring experiment to find a balance. Walken stars as Burt Goodman, retired head of optics and design at Lumon, who develops a friendship with John Turturro's Irving Bailiff, which turns romantic. While Apple TV+ did not release any physical editions for the 2022 series, Blu-Ray sets for season one with 1080p resolution were released on 17 December last year. There have been no further plans or announcements regarding any similar physical copies for Severance. 'I don't have technology. I only have a satellite dish on my house. So I have seen Severance on DVDs that they're good enough to send me,' the actor told The Wall Street Journal when asked if he had studied the first season of Severance before filming for the second began. 'I don't have a cellphone. I've never emailed or, what do you call it, Twittered. I've never had a watch either. But if I need the time, I just ask somebody. Likewise, once in a while when I need to use a phone, I just ask if I can borrow one.' Walken described the onscreen relationship as a 'nice change'. 'It is romantic. Who knew that was coming? When I was getting started, there was once or twice when I was a kind of leading man. That was gone pretty quickly,' he said. 'So to play somebody's love interest at this point is a nice change,' Walken has talked about his lack of desire for technology of any kind before as well, confirming earlier this month he hasn't even watched all of the episodes because he doesn't have the 'equipment'. 'Not all of them. I can't. I don't have the equipment,' he told host Andy Cohen on Sirius XM's Andy Cohen Live. Asked if he at least has an Apple TV+ subscription, he said: 'I don't have anything.' Back in 2020, when promoting Wild Mountain Thyme, Walken had to explain to Stephen Colbert that he needed someone to set up the Zoom interview because 'I don't have a cellphone or a computer'. He added that mobile phones are like watches because 'if you need one, somebody else has got it'. He said he is given a cellphone sometimes on film sets, but it's more like a 'tracking collar'. 'Sometimes on a movie they'll give me a cell phone, but it's more so that they can find me,' he said. 'Like a tracking collar. If I want to use it, someone has to dial it for me, that kind of thing.' On the second season, which started releasing weekly episodes on Apple TV+ from 17 January, Walken explained that he didn't expect his role to continue on, and that it was a 'very special job'. 'I thought the first season was it. It was a very special job. It was mysterious, but funny and scary, which I've always felt was a good combination,' he said. The Catch Me If You Can actor added that the cast and crew involved in the show were a big draw for him. 'Then there was the fact of Ben Stiller. I was in a play with him 30 years ago, and his mother and father were friends of mine,' he said, referring to the series director. 'There's John Turturro. I've known him for 40 years and we were young actors together. When you know somebody for a long time, it shows. You can tell that these actors like each other.' In a five-star review of Severance season two, The Independent's Annabel Nugent called it 'strange, stylish and totally engrossing'. 'Severance easily could've buckled under the weight of its conceit, but has been held together by the very human connections at its heart,' she wrote. 'Thankfully, it is still one of the best shows on TV – certainly, one worth rushing home from the office to watch.' The first two episodes of Severance season two are available on Apple TV+. The next eight episodes will be released on Fridays until the series finale on 21 March 2025.
