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Venom - Blu-ray Review

“Wow.  I have a parasite,” says Eddie to the clerk.  He just ATE a man threatening her with a gun.  She's speechless.  What better words could there be to describe Eddie Brock’s transformative condition?   “I am NOT a parasite,” roars the raging monster within him.  We hear it. We understand it NOT to be Eddie himself, and we laugh appropriately.  In this fashion, Venom, directed by Ruben Fleischer, scores BIG points with me (and other Marvel Studios fans). The comedy!  The carnage!  The crazy! It's all here.

Pinch me, I’m dreaming.  I have FINALLY seen a representation of Venom that I can get behind and, by God, I loved so much about the movie, and the chemistry between Tom Hardy and the lifeform within him that I too dare to dream that we might actually get that Spider-Man and Venom crossover that Sony feels a wee bit more confident about lately.  After all, this film – regardless of the negative reviews – was a genuine money maker at the box office this past fall. 

"Tom Hardy, a great actor, simply nails his performance as Eddie Brock, everyone’s loveable loser. "


So many snacks.  That is what Venom first has to say to us about the humans he watches on the street.  But, as he hops from host to host, this alien soon discovers that in investigative journalist Eddie Brock’s body, he has found a compatible home.  Brock, tipped off about Life Foundation’s shady business dealings from a scientist (Jenny Slate), is not sure what is going within himself.  He just knows something is . . . off. 

And now, after receiving a ton of new powers, it is Brock’s nemesis at Life Foundation, Dr. Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), that he must face.  Because that probe crash (featured at the beginning of the movie) was crawling with symbiotes . . . and you never know when and where or who these lifeforms are. {googleads}

Sure Venom has similar issues that plague most of comic book films – especially the origin tales – but it does its damnedest to overcome them by tacking on the crazy.  It is hard to keep the story human and focused when two towering giants clash with all of the world below them simply watching and waiting.  But few heroes are as engaging as Brock is as he argues with the alien within him while dishing it out with his opponent. 

Sony, bowing to Marvel Studios’ wishes (now that they share the Spider-Man character), kept a safe distance from the red-suited wallcrawler for this narrative and delivered a great beginning for the character to spring forward from.

Venom - Blu-ray Review

Tom Hardy, a great actor, simply nails his performance as Eddie Brock, everyone’s loveable loser.  He has the right spark as the anti-hero, the right smirk, and the right chemistry as he plays host to the alien symbiote known as Venom.  And, thanks to all involved (including the San Francisco location), the movie is simply a fun introduction into the bizarre world of Marvel’s symbiotic lifeform

Finally, an on-screen version of Venom which we can get behind.  Funny and full of a pretty cool chase sequence upon a motorcycle through the streets of San Francisco, the movie succeeds in being a fun.    

We ARE Venom.

4 stars

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Venom - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for language
Runtime:
112 mins
Director
: Ruben Fleischer
Writer:
Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg
Cast:
Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Genre
: Action
Tagline:
Embrace your inner anti-hero.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Okay, okay, have it your way... Mask!"
Theatrical Distributor:
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Official Site: www.venom.movie/site/
Release Date:
October 1, 2018
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
December 18, 2018
Synopsis: When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.

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Venom - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Sony Pictures
Available on Blu-ray
- December 18, 2018
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles
: English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD); Digital copy; Movies Anywhere; DVD copy
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.39:1, Sony Pictures’ presentation of Venom is striking with visual aplomb. The color palette is naturally well balanced with warm and rich hues. Contrast is excellent, with solid and deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Fleshtones are naturally cast. The action scenes – both during the day and the night – do intensify the overall effect of the picture, which effectively enhance the excitement of Brock/Venom as they battle both inside and outside of apartments and facilities. It is these action scenes that deliver impressive visuals and dynamically shape the sense of natural space and effective depth. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamically and spatially engaging. A digital copy and a DVD copy is included with the release.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • There is no commentary but there is VENOM MODE!!!  Should you choose to watch this way, you will get the movie with informative pop-ups and more!

Special Features:

Cool featurettes, great interviews about the character, AND a digital copy and a DVD copy?  Wow.  It feels like Sony really want this release to do well.

  • Venom Mode
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes
  • From Symbiote to Screen
  • The Anti-Hero
  • The Lethal Protector in Action
  • Venom Vision
  • Designing Venom
  • Symbiote Secrets
  • Select Scenes Pre-Vis
  • Music Videos
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sneak Peek
  • Previews

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Venom - Blu-ray Review

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