VFW 4K UHD (2019)

[Kubrick0730]

Originally Posted by persuazion

I wonder if it will have HDR?

Probably not Based on RLJ’s track record Mayhem,Brawl In Cell Block 99 and the Color Out Of Space none have HDR.

[cheez avenger]

It will probably have WCG, but that's about it. I think the director's film, Bliss is a great little film. I have the Eureka! Maters of Cinema BD coming in from Amazon UK. There's a domestic release but it's from Kino and barebones. The Eureka release is fully loaded.

[moviegeek1992]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

It will probably have WCG, but that's about it. I think the director's film, Bliss is a great little film. I have the Eureka! Maters of Cinema BD coming in from Amazon UK. There's a domestic release but it's from Kino and barebones. The Eureka release is fully loaded.

Have special features been announced for the US release of VFW? The UK release by Dazzler Media will no doubt have zero. Umbrella Entertainment in Australia are releasing a double feature of Bliss and VFW, the former will carry over most of the same features as the Eureka Blu-ray, but replaces the third commentary that featured Kat Ellinger and Samm Dieghan on the UK release with Begos, Josh Ethier, Matt Mercer plus Joe Lynch and Adam Green. VFW will also have two commentary tracks. Although it's a shame that both films are on 1 disc and have no subtitles to boot.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by moviegeek1992

Have special features been announced for the US release of VFW? The UK release by Dazzler Media will no doubt have zero. Umbrella Entertainment in Australia are releasing a double feature of Bliss and VFW, the former will carry over most of the same features as the Eureka Blu-ray, but replaces the third commentary that featured Kat Ellinger and Samm Dieghan on the UK release with Begos, Josh Ethier, Matt Mercer plus Joe Lynch and Adam Green. VFW will also have two commentary tracks. Although it's a shame that both films are on 1 disc and have no subtitles to boot.

I am not sure. I've yet to receive the PR release for it, so don't know if I'm reviewing it or not. I should also note that I doubt it will even have HDR. I believe it's being release by same studio that released Color Out of Space. It will definitely be 2160p but that's about it.

[emailking]

I streamed this the other night. It was ok. Not something I'd watch again though.

I guess they don't do HDR after the Galveston screwup, although they fixed that on streaming.

[Hellspawn28]

I love Bliss, so I can't wait to see this movie.

[Splatterpunk]

I first became interested in Joe Begos back in 2016 after watching his ALMOST HUMAN and THE MIND’S EYE (both of which he wrote and directed). I knew he would soon be making bigger films and in 2019 he released two pictures. I have yet to see BLISS, the first of the duo to be released, but last night I checked out VFW. Stacked with fan favorite actors and unapologetically violent, this cult flavored action throwback is drenched in grue and atmosphere.

Stephen Lang, who was likely born gruff and grizzled, plays Fred Parras, a Vietnam combat veteran and current bartender at a slightly rundown VFW post (“VFW” standing for “veterans of foreign wars,” of course). It being his birthday, his best friends and fellow long in the tooth vets have gathered at the bar to celebrate and give him a good ribbing. The group includes the jokey Walter (William Sadler), ladies’ man Abe (Fred Williamson), the petulant Lou (Martin Kove), stoner Doug (David Patrick Kelly), and the even-tempered Z (George Wendt). Before the old friends can move their party over to a strip club, they are joined by Shawn (Tom Williamson), a young soldier who has just arrived home from Iraq. Meanwhile, across the street in an abandoned building that’s teeming with manic junkies hooked on a new street drug known as “Hype,” a kingpin named Boz (Travis Hammer) has just discovered he’s been ripped off by Lizard (Sierra McCormick). The young girl flees into the bar with a virtual army of unhinged addicts and ruthless henchmen on her tail. The evening soon erupts into an orgy of violence as the elderly vets are forced to defend themselves against Boz, his minions, and a horde of mindless Hypers.

It’s a blast seeing such a collection of old school fan favorite tough guys on screen at the same time. Lang is clearly the lead and does a nice job of carrying the film with Sadler and Kove also receiving a decent amount of dramatic responsibility. The younger members of the cast do fine work, though they’re not nearly as engaging as their elders. In previous efforts, Begos always worked with his own script. However, this screenplay was written by Max Brallier and Matthew McArdle. Some of the dialog goes a little over the top, but the film isn’t overly concerned with realism, instead lovingly embracing a neo-grindhouse aesthetic. In any case, Begos directs the hell out of this thing, keying in on crowd-pleasing character moments, spectacular gore, and kinetic action sequences. The production design is excellent with the abandoned building set invoking an almost post apocalyptic wasteland feel and the bar looking appropriately rundown and dingy. Costumes are well done, playing up the divide between the old blue-collar vets and the young flashy punks. As I mentioned, Begos doesn’t shy away from presenting graphic violence. Blood splatters across the screen from gunshot wounds, hacked off limbs, and various impalements. That being said, there seems to have been a conscious choice to keep the visuals dimly lit. The vast majority of the film takes place at night in a bar where the power has been cut. I never had any trouble following the action, which is a testament to Mike Testin’s cinematography, but this is a dark looking flick. Steve Moore’s score enhances the midnight movie vibe, seeming to pay respects to the musical efforts of John Carpenter.

Joe Begos’ VFW capitalizes on its intriguing premise of old combat vets vs ruthless young punks and doesn’t overstay its welcome at 92 minutes. If I could nitpick anything, I’d say I wish the picture was just a little brighter (though I’m sure the upcoming 4K UHD will look better than the screener I watched) and that the dialog was slightly more polished. Really, those are pretty minor complaints, though, as the overall effort left me grinning. This is a film made for cult film fans and it absolutely embraces that approach. Highly recommended for fans of the original ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, JUDGEMENT NIGHT, and GREEN ROOM.

[HotRats]

Signing at Dark Delicacies https://www.darkdel.com/store/p1608/...FW_BluRay.html

[biggquis]

$10 in 4k on iTunes right now. I'm in

[biggquis]

Originally Posted by emailking

I streamed this the other night. It was ok. Not something I'd watch again though.

I guess they don't do HDR after the Galveston screwup, although they fixed that on streaming.

I'm about five minutes or so in... it doesn't look very clean to me. Did you have the same experience?

[LordSummerIsle]

Has this been pushed back?

[sonicyogurt]

Originally Posted by scwilli1

Has this been pushed back?

I don't think so. My pre-order from Best Buy is being prepped for shipping now.

[DR Herbert West]

Nice extras:

Bonus Material
Two Filmmaker Audio Commentaries
The Making of VFW
Meet the Cast of VFW
The Special Make-Up Effects of VFW)

[Comcam]

It dropped a couple bucks on amazon so I pre-ordered it. I really liked the trailer !

[Randy Miller III]

Originally Posted by scwilli1

Has this been pushed back?

Nope, I got a screener the other day. Will hopefully have a review of the 4K up this weekend.

[mansonfan666]

I just watched this and it was excellent!! When I first read about it, I thought it sounded kinda corny, but it was thoroughly entertaining. Good cast, incredible gore, and the score sounds like it was ripped from an early 80’s John Carpenter film. Really solid effort from this director.

[blackest]

Really big fan of his films. All 4 are really enjoyable.very promising director

[blackest]

Originally Posted by biggquis

I'm about five minutes or so in... it doesn't look very clean to me. Did you have the same experience?

I'm pretty sure it was shot on 16mm

[mansonfan666]

Originally Posted by blackest

I'm pretty sure it was shot on 16mm

Yeah it’s definitely got a decent level of grain

[mansonfan666]

Originally Posted by blackest

Really big fan of his films. All 4 are really enjoyable.very promising director

I’ve only seen Bliss, which I didn’t really care for. Visually impressive, but the movie itself just wasn’t my cup of tea.