The Best New Blu-Ray Releases: Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Raging Bull On The Criterion Collection, And More

The prospect of Sam Raimi returning to directing was enough to get me excited for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," one of the latest entries in the MCU. However, I was also worried that Marvel's oppressive directing-by-committee style would hamper Raimi. The end result was somewhere in the middle: Raimi was able to inject some of his trademark style, but not enough to overcome the Marvel machine. 

The plot involves Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange teaming up with America Chavez (a spirited Xochitl Gomez, who is sadly wasted here in a thankless part) to jump through dimensions and save the world from Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who has gone off the deep end. The best parts of the movie are the weird little bits Raimi is able to add, like a fight involving flying music notes, and the prerequisite Bruce Campbell cameo. But too much of the film is designed to be just another Marvel movie, and that's not enough to make this worth repeated viewing. 

Special features:

Featurettes

• Method to the Madness – Join various crew members and Marvel employees in interviews as they discuss their love of Sam Raimi and all the details of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that make it quintessentially Raimi.
• Introducing America Chavez – In this short and fun profile piece, we'll learn about America's humble beginnings in the comics. We'll meet Xochitl Gomez and discuss the complications her character's unique power presents for the future of the MCU.
• Constructing the Multiverse – Writing a feature film for Marvel is no easy task. In this playful yet informative featurette, we'll dive into the challenges that writer Michael Waldron faced in creating the twisting and turning story of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Bloopers

• Gag Reel – Take a look at some of the fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Deleted Scenes

• A Great Team – A journalist questions Doctor Strange's integrity.
• Pizza Poppa – Bruce is relieved when Doctor Strange's spell ends.
• It's Not Permanent – Bruce tries to accuse Doctor Strange of being an imposter.

Audio Commentary

• View the film with audio commentary by Sam Raimi, Richie Palmer, and Michael Waldron.

Another 4K release from Criterion, Bong Joon Ho's "Okja" is a wonderful movie that's very hard to watch. It's so difficult, in fact, that it changed my life forever — it turned me into a vegetarian. The film follows a superpig, which is a gigantic, cuddly creature created in a lab for one purpose — meat. There are many superpigs, but Okja, who is being raised by Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun), afarm girl who thinks of the animal as her best friend.

When the evil company that created Okja comes calling to collect the animal, Mija sets off on a quest to retrieve her beloved friend. As is usually his style, Bong blends together several different genres here, creating a film both whimsical and horrifying. The stuff with Mija and Okja is incredibly sweet, but soon gives way to nightmare as Okja is tormented at every turn. A final sequence involving a slaughterhouse for superpigs was so disturbing that it made me swear off meat forever. 

In the midst of all of this is a genuinely unhinged performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, who seems to be in a completely different movie while also having the time of his life. 

Special features:

• 4K digital master, approved by director Bong Joon Ho, with Dolby Atmos sound on the Blu-ray and 4K UHD editions
• In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• New conversation between Bong and producer Dooho Choi
• New interviews with actors An Seo Hyun and Byun Heebong
• New interviews with members of the crew about the film's cinematography, visual effects, and costume and production design
• Short programs including a director's video diary, featuring Bong; actors Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton, and Steven Yeun; and others
• Teaser, trailer, and web promos
• English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by critic Karen Han

"The Bob's Burgers Movie" is basically an extended episode of the animated show, but that doesn't make it a bad thing. Once again, the constantly groaning Bob Belcher has to deal with trouble with his restaurant while his three kids go off on their own "Goonies"-like adventure. The thing that separates this from the show is a sharper animation style, but otherwise, fans will get what they wanted. That includes some delightfully silly songs, some genuinely surprising twists, and laugh-out-loud funny lines (my favorite involved someone bringing up a guy named Cotton Candy Dan, to which Bob's wife Linda comments, "Cotton Candy Dan? Isn't he the guy who sold corn dogs?"

You may find that joke stupid. To me, though, it is the height of comedy. 

Special features:

Audio Commentary

• Watch the movie with audio commentary by H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, Directors Loren Bouchard and Bernard Derriman, Writer Nora Smith and Production Designer Ruben Hickman.

Featurette

• Making Of the Movie: Bob's Burgers Creator Loren Bouchard talks about turning Bob's Burgers the TV show into Bob's Burgers the show that's a movie.

Theatrical Short (Seen Only in Limited Theaters)

• My Butt Has a Fever – Theatrical Version: The Belcher children perform in the school talent show in order to share their very important and powerful message.
• My Butt Has a Fever – Animatic Version: A look Behind-the-scenes, the animatic of the theatrical short My Butt Has a Fever.

Deleted Scenes

• Metal Detector: Bob and Linda go to City Hall in a version of the movie where they went to City Hall.
• Burning Piers: The turbulent history of Wonder Wharf.
• Grover's Office: Bob and Linda go to Grover's office in a version of the movie where they went to Grover's Office.

Deleted Scenes with Audio Commentary

• The Movie We Didn't Make: Creator Loren Bouchard and Writer Nora Smith discuss trying to make a movie, particularly The Bob's Burger Movie.
• Metal Detector: Bob and Linda go to City Hall, with commentary by Creator Loren Bouchard and Writer Nora Smith.
• Burning Piers: The turbulent history of Wonder Wharf, with commentary by Creator Loren Bouchard and Writer Nora Smith.
• Grover's Office: Bob and Linda go to Grover's Office, with commentary by Creator Loren Bouchard and Writer Nora Smith.

Animation Extras – Animatics

• "Sunny Side Up Summer" Storyboards and Rough Animation: The work-in-progress not-even-color-yet animatic of the song "Sunny Side Up Summer."
• "Lucky Ducks" Storyboards and Rough Animation: The work-in-progress not-even-color-yet animatic of the song "Lucky Ducks."
• "Not That Evil" Storyboards and Rough Animation Featuring David Wain: David Wain performs an entire dance routine, with no formal training, to his character Grover's song "Not That Evil." Plays alongside the song's animatic.
• "End Credits" Storyboards and Rough Animation: The work-in-progress animatic of the End Credits, comes with provocative dance moves and unconventional rhythm.

Animation Extras – Animating the Scene

• Linda Through the Pass-Through with Commentary by Director Bernard Derriman: The progression of a scene from storyboard to animation, with commentary by Director Bernard Derriman, and also Linda is in it.
• Bob And Linda Go to The Bank: A time lapse of the bank scene being animated.
• Bob And Linda Go to The Bank with Commentary by Director Bernard Derriman: A time lapse of the bank scene being animated, with commentary by Director Bernard Derriman.
• Louise Grabs the Fuse: A time lapse of the "Louise Grabs the Fuse" scene being animated.
• Louise Grabs the Fuse with Commentary by Director Bernard Derriman: A time lapse of the "Louise Grabs the Fuse" scene being animated, with commentary by Director Bernard Derriman.