It’s a new year and 2019 has come to a close. I always like to reflect on my favorite physical releases of year. Consumers seem to be moving more and more to streaming services with the launch this holiday season of Disney Plus being the latest. However, 2019 was also a banner year for physical media as well. Several companies really stepped up their game with incredible packaging, extras and in some cases sparkling new transfers of classic films. I will always make the case of physically owning a copy of a movie because it is permanently in your collection, it won’t be dropped or eventually removed from your shelf.

Being that it is 2019, I decided to list my favorite 19 releases of the year. So sit back relax and let’s watch some movies!

Number 14: Mary Poppins Returns Best Buy Exclusive 4K Steelbook

It’s been over 50 years since the world was introduced to the practically perfect nanny Mary Poppins. In Mary Poppins Returns, however about 25 years have passed since the Banks’ children first met Mary and things appear dire. Michael (Ben Whishaw) has children of his own, John, Annabel and Georgie. Their mother has passed away and Jane (Emily Mortimer) has come to 17 Cherry Tree Lane to help Michael out. Michael is not only in a fragile state emotionally but the he is about to lose his house to the bank in one week.

Enter Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt). She is determined to help the children and the adult Banks’ recapture the love of life. Mary enlists the help of a lamplighter named Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda) to help in her quest.

Truth be told I love the original Mary Poppins.  I did not know how much I loved it until I watched this movie. When Mary appears on screen floating down, a tear welled up in my eye. I had to stop and think, “Really?” But yes, really. I love Mary Poppins and that my favorite actress Emily Blunt was playing her made this film an easy winner for me. Of course I am bias but I don’t care. The film itself is an explosion of color and imagination, with every actor bringing their A-game.

Emily Blunt absolutely dominates the screen as Poppins. I read in interviews that she was very nervous about taking the role over for Julie Andrews, and I totally understand that. Ms. Andrews’ portrayal of Mary Poppins is iconic and it netted her an Academy Award. Blunt however is astonishing. She brings her incredible acting chops to the screen and she can also sing! Blunt is so charming and so lovely in the film, she deserves a heap of praise for making Poppins her own with a little bit of Andrews added in.

I did cry once more, seeing Dick Van Dyke dancing and having fun was everything this Mary Poppins fan could possibly want.

Mary Poppins Returns dazzles on Ultra HD. Where the film really shines in 4K is the colorful animation segments and in the details throughout Mary’s world. When the film shifts to a foggy London it never loses its sharpness or clarity. It has a stable beautiful picture throughout.

Mary Poppins Returns sings stunningly on Ultra HD. The surround sound is out to the test not only in the musical numbers but also in bringing London alive. Birds chirp, cars and citizens add to the ambiance of the film. Dialogue and singing comes through crystal clear. I like how the film isn’t overly aggressive in its sound design, it’s practically perfect.

The UHD does not have any extras but the accompanying Blu-Ray has several fun and informative featurettes. Feel like singing there is a Sing-Along mode, bloopers and deleted scenes. Also included is a deleted song “The Anthropomorphic Zoo”. The meat of the bonus content is two separate making of, one that focuses on the construction of the songs and how they were shot for the film. The other, ‘The Practically Perfect Making of Mary Poppins Returns” is an enjoyable behind the scenes documentary. And for the nostalgic fans the best of the bunch is a quick look at the return of Dick Van Dyke in “Back To Cherry Tree Lane: Dick Van Dyke Returns”. Van Dyke is always such a joy to listen to and his and the cast’s enthusiasm about his return is infectious.

The Steelbook for Mary Poppins Returns is a fun colorful addition to your Disney library, with blues and reds being the prominent colors. The Steelbook has an almost painted quality to it that makes it very attractive.

Although I may be biased, Mary Poppins Returns is a winning film that is given an all-star treatment on UHD. Although the standard packaging for the film is great too, I love the colors and the painted quality of Best Buy’s exclusive Steelbook.

Film: A

Video: A

Audio: A

Extras: A-

Steelbook: A

Overall: A