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!
9. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
After following his Uncle into the Subway, teenager Miles Morales is bitten by a genetically enhanced spider. Miles soon gains the abilities of Spider-Man.
The other Spider-Man, Peter Parker is murdered after he is critically wounded fighting the Green Goblin by The Kingpin. Miles witnesses this and soon finds out that there are other Spider-Mans/Womans out there in the Spider-Verse!
One of the most visually impressive films to ever be released Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one hell of a movie. It’s animated like a comic book come to life and is unlike anything I have ever seen. Spider-Verse also has great characters you really care about. And that is the most amazing thing about this film. It looks pretty and it has heart to spare.
What I really love is as a long time Spider-Man fan, the creators of Spider-Verse really gave us a Spider-Man we all could relate to. And Nic Cage finally has a superhero character and film he can be proud of. His take on Spider-Man Noir is hilarious and heroic.
Of course, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is stunning on UHD. The higher resolution brings out more textures and nuanced colors throughout the film. Already a stunner in theaters Spider-Verse leaps of your home screen with vivid colors and one of the best-looking films on UHD period.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse absolutely demolishes your sound system. The music in the film is a definite highlight and it is brought out crystal clear Dolby Atmos. Everything sounds great, dialogue, music and sound effects will but your sound system through a workout.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse features some pretty awesome features and actually puts two of them on the UHD disc, a fun commentary with the directors and writers delves into the making of the film and some funny ancedotes. Also, on the UHD is the Spider-Ham short, ‘Caught in a Ham” presented in Looney Tunes style this quick look at Ham as he fights Crawdaddy is fun.
On the included Blu-Ray you will find an Alternate Universe Mode which plays along while you watch the film giving you interviews and alternate scenes that blend into the film. Also included is about an hour of featurettes that spin you through the Spider-Verse’s web.
An Academy Award Winner for best Animated Film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an amazing achievement in storytelling and in the world of animation.
Film: A+
Video: A+
Audio: A+
Extras: A
Overall: A