LUCA [4K UHD] (2021): "A gentle coming of age tale, Luca offers a mostly likable tale. However, it falls short of the better Pixar efforts, as it seems too derivative to become better than average." Starring Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer. Disney, $39.99, 8/3/2021.

THE KARATE KID PART II [4K UHD] (1986): "While the first movie provided a pretty enjoyable underdog story, The Karate Kid Part II is a drag. Parts of it just rehash elements of its predecessor, and the plot tends to be so stale and hackneyed that it plods along toward its inevitable – and unsatisfying – conclusion." Starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita. Sony, $75.99, 12/7/2021.

HALLOWEEN KILLS [4K UHD] (2021): "After a successful sequel/reboot in 2018, 2021 brought more of the same with Halloween Kills. Though better than average for the genre, Kills never becomes especially memorable." Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer. Universal, $44.98, 1/11/2022.

IVANHOE [BLU-RAY] (1952): "Given that it earned an Oscar Best Picture nomination, I expected more from Ivanhoe than it could give. While the movie offers a professional production, it lacks much real drama or excitement." Starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor. Warner, $21.99, 12/14/2021.

RESPECT [BLU-RAY] (2021): "Given the nature of her life story, it seems impossible that a biographical film about Aretha Franklin could become anything other than compelling. However, Respect seems so thin and superficial that it makes its narrative oddly boring and flat." Starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker. Universal, $34.98, 11/9/2021.

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE [BLU-RAY] (2004): "If you want to see a movie with a strong plot and a lot of thought-provoking material, stay far away from Resident Evil: Apocalypse. If you want to see a movie with flashy, visceral action and a lively videogame feel, Apocalypse should be up your alley. Starring Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory. Sony, $14.99, 1/16/2007.

Colin Jacobson (Publisher, Webmaster and Reviewer): colinjacobson@dvdmg.com