LAIKA continually pushes its animators and artisans to break new ground. Coming off the success of ParaNorman and Coraline, LAIKA could have returned to grim stories. Yet instead, they decided to tackle a far more challenging story about false narratives and government corruption. The Boxtrolls also forced LAIKA to develop as visual storytellers, especially with … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Boxtrolls’ Remains a 4K Technical Behemoth
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Gets a 4K Release
What can you say about a nearly perfect horror film that has not already been said? Upon it's release, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre forever changed horror. Barriers about what could be shown on screen felt like they were falling every ten minutes. Yet at the same time, it's a bloodless film. Texas Chainsaw remains one … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Gets a 4K Release
Blu-Ray Review: Kubo and the Two Strings – LAIKA and Shout Factory! Deliver Another Gem
In 2016, LAIKA Studios released its most ambitious project to date. Director Travis Knight had worked as an animator on their previous films and despite being CEO of LAIKA, had waited for the right project to step into the director's chair. Knight's choice brought East-Asian influence and centered storytelling above all else. Kubo and the … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review: Kubo and the Two Strings – LAIKA and Shout Factory! Deliver Another Gem
Shout! Factory Releases an Exciting 4K Restoration of ‘Coraline’ from LAIKA Studios
After releasing two stop-motion features for Disney, Henry Selick teamed up with a company without much of a reputation. A small studio reorganized after being purchased by Phil Knight (Nike's owner and CEO), adopting the new name of LAIKA Studios. After bringing in Selick, the new studio developed stop-motion features, the first of which would … Continue reading Shout! Factory Releases an Exciting 4K Restoration of ‘Coraline’ from LAIKA Studios
Shout! Factory and LAIKA Release the Perfect 4K of ‘ParaNorman’
One of the most endearing films of 2012, ParaNorman from LAIKA Studios became a phenomenon in animation circles. LAIKA had previously made waves with 2009’s Coraline, a stop-motion animation masterpiece directed by Henry Selick. By 2012, the small Portland-based animation company had pushed the boundaries of technology in every conceivable way. Not only had they … Continue reading Shout! Factory and LAIKA Release the Perfect 4K of ‘ParaNorman’
Review: ‘Into the Deep’ Struggles to Hold Your Attention
While trauma can certainly change a person, Hollywood continues to make it the motivation de jour. When the industry overuses a concept, it becomes much easier to spot the films that struggle to tell authentic stories. The latest Lionsgate film, Into the Deep, truly believes in its story. However, with poorly written exchanges, questionable performances, … Continue reading Review: ‘Into the Deep’ Struggles to Hold Your Attention
Review: ‘When I Consume You’ Delivers a Punishing Emotional Story of Grief
The stigma of asking for help dates back generations but continues to affect people worldwide. Whether pride or personal motivations make it impossible for us to reach out, many find themselves at a disadvantage facing off against any number of issues. My family worries about issues regarding addiction. Others may be haunted by diseases like … Continue reading Review: ‘When I Consume You’ Delivers a Punishing Emotional Story of Grief
2012 Retrospective: ‘ParaNorman’ – Grief and Parody Spawn Emotional Brilliance
When we're growing up, we believe that our parents and grandparents will guide us through life. As our family shares their interests with us, we often glom onto the moments we connect over. For some special families, those moments involve bad zombie movies. The young animation house, LAIKA Studios began production on their first feature, Coraline, in 2005. When 2012 … Continue reading 2012 Retrospective: ‘ParaNorman’ – Grief and Parody Spawn Emotional Brilliance
Blu-Ray Pick of the Week: ‘Princess Mononoke’ Returns With a Glorious Collector’s Edition
This week, we finally get the Princess Mononoke Blu-Ray package we deserve. Shout! Factory, GKIDS, and Studio Ghibli have partnered to release a collector's edition for Princess Mononoke, Hayao Miyazaki's landmark 1997 film. A fantasy story that preaches the ills of war, the importance of nature, and features stunning animation, the classic remains as essential today as it did when it … Continue reading Blu-Ray Pick of the Week: ‘Princess Mononoke’ Returns With a Glorious Collector’s Edition
Home-Video Tuesdays: ‘BlacKkKlansman,’ ‘The Incredibles 2,’ & Kurt Russell
We're beginning another new series this week. Moving forward, watch for our picks for new Blu-Rays and DVDs every week. Our first week kicks off with some of the summer's biggest hits, including BlacKkKlansman and The Incredibles 2. However, if you want collectors editions and some box sets, there are plenty of new features to check out! … Continue reading Home-Video Tuesdays: ‘BlacKkKlansman,’ ‘The Incredibles 2,’ & Kurt Russell