By Megan Maiden, Assistant Manager at Bookmans Mesa

As a child my best friend and greatest teacher, was, truly, cable television. With this magical box, I was transported to anywhere I wanted to be, which was especially useful during the cold Wisconsin winters. In 1989, I discovered one of my all-time favorite places to go — Truvy’s Beauty Spot in Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana. I had become obsessed with Steel Magnolias.

Steel Magnolias Make Meg Cry

Steel Magnolias made its glorious debut on Blu Ray with the Twilight Time release, limited to only 3000 copies. While the special features are limited, the quality of the film transfer means that I can see every makeup free line on Shirley MacLaine’s face. It means that Sally Field’s hair TRULY looks like a brown football helmet. It means that I literally want to take a whack at Ouiser. I feel so close to the action!

There are some who feel above this hokey melodrama, but I implore you to give it another watch. Julia Roberts, in her break out role, is lovely as Shelby; Olympia Dukakis will be your best and fiercest friend, Clairee; Sally Field will break your heart as M’Lynn the matriarch; see Dolly Parton with most of her original parts! Then luxuriate in the transcendent Shirley MacLaine as Ouiser Boudreaux. Steel Magnolias makes me want to have amazing female friendships in my life. It continues to provide me with more amusement than a movie about loss should. It amazes me how a movie can make you laugh and cry in equal amounts but these women are truly steel magnolias.