Do you even care to know how "gorgeous" the 1080P or 2/4 K scan transfer looks, or how cool the extra features are? By now, you are well-versed in what transfers look like and you know what's coming with the release. You're (hopefully) here because you want to know the experience I had watching this/these film(s).

New on Blu is a column from film pundit Chase Whale (that's me!), exploring studio, arthouse, underground, exploitation and cult cinema released on Blu-ray and DVD from some of the most cutting-edge independent distributors around the U.S. He talks about the movie and whether it's worth a buy or rent, not how amazing the transfer looks because you already know this system.

Moonlight

Writer/Director: Barry Jenkins
Cast: Mahershala Ali, Shariff Earp, Naomie Harris, Duan Sanderson, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Ashton Sanders
Rating: ★★★★★
Buy/Rent: BUY

Moonlight is the best film of 2016, and I will fight anyone who disagrees. (Must be under five feet and weigh less than one hundred pounds.)

If you watched last night's Academy Awards, or any notable award ceremony this year, you'll know one film stood out: Moonlight.

People at my day job ask me, "What is this film about? (I'm a copywriter by day, and moonlight as a film critic. I also thought all day how I would fit that sentence into this coverage of the film.) I don't want to spoil anything for them, but I've learned that no matter what you describe about Moonlight, it's still will not do this film justice. This is a film you need to buy. It's a film you need to show your children when they hit high school, and it's a film that doesn't need loud noises or CGI to move you.

That's what I'm going to leave you with. If there's any film you buy this year, make it Moonlight.

Doctor Strange

Writer/Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen
Rating: ★★★★★
Buy/Rent: BUY

Doctor Strange is visually everything Inception should have been. (Except that one scene with Joseph Gordon-Levitt is nothing short of breathtaking.) It's a shame Strange didn't win the Academy Award for its special effects two days ago, because it was surely warranted, especially of The Jungle Book (which is a cute little movie, but its amount of incredible effects do not beat Doctor Strange).

I call Doctor Strange a foot-in-mouth movie. I had zero interested in it, and in fact expressed how dull it seemed, but when I finally saw it, I was lucky my jaw is attached to my skull because it would have dropped to the floor. Doctor Strange is staggering spectacular; a cerebral film to bask at and is now my favorite Marvel film and one of the best superhero films ever made. The story is great, perfect cast, and those special effects are, excuse me, but this film deserves this pun, something to marvel at.

I'm a practical effects kind of fella, but Doctor Strange are a powerful reminder that, when done right, CGI isn't our enemy.