Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

**SYNOPSIS**


There are growing dangers in the wizarding world of 1926 New York. Something mysterious is leaving a path of destruction in the streets, threatening to expose the wizarding community to the No-Majs (American for Muggles), including the Second Salemers, a fanatical faction bent on eradicating them. And the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, after wreaking havoc in Europe, has slipped away…and is now nowhere to be found.

Unaware of the rising tensions, Newt Scamander arrives in the city nearing the end of a global excursion to research and rescue magical creatures, some of which are safeguarded in the magical hidden dimensions of his deceptively nondescript leather case. But potential disaster strikes when unsuspecting No-Maj Jacob Kowalski inadvertently lets some of Newt’s beasts loose in a city already on edge—a serious breach of the Statute of Secrecy that former Auror Tina Goldstein jumps on, seeing her chance to regain her post as an investigator. However, things take an ominous turn when Percival Graves, the enigmatic Director of Magical Security at MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), casts his suspicions on both Newt and Tina.

Now allied, Newt and Tina, together with Tina’s sister, Queenie, and their new No-Maj friend, Jacob, form a band of unlikely heroes, who must recover Newt’s missing beasts before they come to harm. But the stakes are higher than these four outsiders—now branded fugitives—ever imagined, as their mission puts them on a collision course with dark forces that could push the wizarding and No-Maj worlds to the brink of war.








**MOVIE REVIEW**


Director David Yates brings back the magic that he had with the Harry Potter films into a new series with Fantastic Beasts. I love the Harry Potter series but always wanted to learn what was beyond the world of Hogwarts and this film delivers that. The pacing is perfect and once the chase begins to find the Fantastical creatures Newt has lost it barely lets up with endearing performances from the main and supporting cast. My personal favorite was Dan Fogler who plays Jacob Kowalski, a no-maj thrown in to the world of magic and wizards of 1926 New York. The visual effects are seamless and I really enjoyed seeing the various creatures Newt has in his magical suitcase. The score by James Newton Howard is full of life and beauty. I can't wait to see where this new series goes in the future. 9/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray with a 2160p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - The standard Blu-ray is already a visual stunner but the 4K Ultra HD presentation is worth the upgrade. HDR produces gorgeous shades of color that have an almost 3D pop to them. The stunning fine details in the city streets and fabrics in clothing are fully realized in 4K. Black levels were inky and rich with no sacrifice in shadows. This is without a doubt one of the finest 4K Ultra HD discs on the market. 10/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a Dolby Atmos track. - The audio presentation is just as demo worthy as the visuals. Dialogue reproduction was crisp and clear. The added channels of the Atmos track lends itself to a thrilling 360 degree soundscape with excellent use of surround effects. There is one scene where it feels as though bricks and rubble are going to cave in on top of you. LFE performance exhibited gut punching bass that showed no signs of being to heavy or broken up. It also adds depth to the lush score from James Newton Howard that was perfectly balanced in the mix. Absolutely no signs of hissing or popping. Sorry for the pun but this Dolby Atmos track is magic. 10/10


**BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Before Harry Potter: A New Era of Magic Begins (HD, 15:31) - Join J.K. Rowling as she, David Yates and David Heyman return to Leavesden Studios to build a new and exciting corner of the wizarding universe.

* Characters (HD, 24:19)
- The Magizoologist
- The Goldstein Sisters
- The New Salemers
- The No-Maj Baker
- The President and the Auror

* Creatures (HD, 21:00)
- Meet the Fantastic Beasts
- Bowtruckle
- Demiguise
- Erumpent
- Niffler
- Occamy
- Thunderbird

* Design (HD, 34:55)
- Shaping the World of Fantastic Beasts (360°)
- New York City (360°)
- MACUSA (360°)
- Newt’s Magical Case (360°)
- The Shaw Banquet
- The Blind Pig (360°)

* Deleted Scenes (11 scenes) (HD, 14:33 Play All)

Heat Director's Definitive Edition Blu-ray May 9th

Fox Home Entertainment has officially announced they will release Heat Director's Definitive Edition to Blu-ray and DVD on May 9, 2017. The Blu-ray specs are set to be 1080p video in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for audio. Below are the official details:





**SYNOPSIS**


Oscar® winners Al Pacino* and Robert De Niro** both drive one of the most powerful and complex crime dramas of all time - four-time Oscar nominee Michael Mann’s*** 1995 classic HEAT, arriving in an all-new Director’s Definitive Edition May 9 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

In the wake of a precision heist of an armored van, the crew of a fierce, professional thief (De Niro) and an obsessively driven LAPD detective (Pacino) are locked in deadly opposition as they vector towards each other in Mann’s dazzling, twilight vision of Los Angeles. As the stakes escalate and their lives begin to unravel, the crew initiates its most dangerous and complex heist.

Taking inspiration from the late Chicago police detective Charlie Adamson – who killed the actual Neil McCauley in a shootout in 1963 – HEAT was the culmination of years of research by Mann resulting in its depth and range of characters and choreography of action. With its epic scale and stunning performances from Pacino, De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Diane Venora, Natalie Portman and Jon Voight, HEAT is as incendiary as it was 20 years ago.

*Actor, Scent of a Woman, 1992
**Actor, Raging Bull, 1980; Supporting Actor, The Godfather: Part II, 1974
***The Aviator, 2004, Best Picture (Michael Mann and Graham King, Producers)
The Insider: Directing, Best Picture (Michael Mann and Pieter Jan Brugge, Producers), Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth, Michael Mann)


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* NEW Academy Panel reuniting Mann, Pacino and De Niro and moderated by Christopher Nolan

* NEW Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Mann

* Commentary by Michael Mann

* The Making of Heat
- True Crime
- Crime Stories
- Into the Fire

* Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation

* Return to the Scene of the Crime

* Additional Footage - Deleted Scenes
- Scene 5 - Season's starting early
- Scene 42 - Nicest guy on the block
- Scene 55 - Albert and Hanna (Alternate Take)
- Scene 62 – Shakedown
- Scene 76 - Murder in C-Block
- Scene 96A - Let's Dance
- Scene 125 - Late arrival
- Scene 148/147 - Where's Anna?
- Scene 177B - Double the worst trouble
- Scene 191 - Nate delivers
- Scene 204A - No response

* Theatrical Trailers
- Surprise of a Lifetime
- Two Actors Collide
- Closing In

Live by Night Blu-ray Review

**SYNOPSIS**


What you put out into this world will always come back to you, but it never comes back how you predict. Taking fatherly advice is not in Joe Coughlin’s nature. Instead, the WWI vet is a self-proclaimed anti-establishment outlaw, despite being the son of the Boston Police Deputy Superintendent. Joe’s not all bad, though; in fact, he’s not really bad enough for the life he’s chosen. Unlike the gangsters he refuses to work for, he has a sense of justice and an open heart, and both work against him, leaving him vulnerable time and again—in business and in love. Driven by a need to right the wrongs committed against him and those close to him, Joe heads down a risky path that goes against his upbringing and his own moral code. Leaving the cold Boston winter behind, he and his reckless crew turn up the heat in Tampa. And while revenge may taste sweeter than the molasses that infuses every drop of illegal rum he runs, Joe will learn that it comes at a price.








**MOVIE REVIEW**


Ben Affleck has become a respected director over the past decade and was rewarded with a Best Picture Academy Award for Argo. Live by Night is his latest effort and it seemed to be not as beloved by critics as his past films but in my opinion it was a well made and entertaining 2 hours. There is a thrilling car chase about 25 minutes in that was one of the best action sequences from movies released in 2016. The cast fits into their roles well with solid performances all around. Worth giving this one a look if you're on the fence. 8/10


**VIDEO QUALITY**


Live by Night arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - Warner provides a filmic and richly detailed presentation. Colors vary from crisp whites, moody greys and browns in Boston to bright and lush Florida settings. Fine detailing was excellent with pores, individual hairs and textures looking sharp. Black levels were deep without any signs of crushing. Shadow detail was perfect. No signs of edge enhancement or artifacts. If there is one negative it would have been something to see what this would have looked like on 4K Ultra HD. 9/10


**AUDIO QUALITY**


Audio is provided by a Dolby Atmos track. - Dialogue has no problem with the Boston, NY and southern accents with all of them being presented clearly. LFE performance assaults the viewer with gun blasts and cars crunching. Surrounds work to bring the city to life in Boston and really open up in the Florida settings. Dynamic range was brilliant. No issues to report on this stunner. 10/10


**SPECIAL FEATURES**


* Director’s Commentary

* Angels with Dirty Faces: The Women of Live By Night (HD, 08:54)

* The Men of Live By Night (HD, 08:30)

* Live By Night’s Prolific Author (HD, 06:53)

* In Close Up: Creating a Classic Car Chase (HD, 07:35)

* Deleted Scenes (Includes Director's Commentary) (HD, 15:36) - Includes 5 deleted scenes in total. Play all option only with or without commentary.