Welcome to Episode 47 of our Home Video Release Guide, our weekly look at the highlights of what's coming out this week, as well as noteable announcements from last week. Let's get right down to business, shall we?
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
For 4K releases, may the schwartz be with you! I'm referring to one of my favorite Mel Brooks tiltes Spaceballs. When it came out I had heard of this title for years from friends but was sort of 'meh'. I bought the laserdisc and loved it and wondered why I did not buy it sooner! Don't judge a book by its cover, or title!
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For Warner Archive look for Fred Astaire's Broadway Melody of 1940. The more I watch of the classics the more I appreciate the stars that made them. Also from Warner Archive, look for Doctor X and Green Dolphin Street. And lastly, if you've been waiting for the next release of Josie and the Pussycats, Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space is available this week.
3D releases are far and few, so when there is one, we try to point it out. This week Kino Lorber releases the 1977 film Dynasty in 3D. Check out our review by following the link, then buy the disc via the link in the review. Speaking of Mel Brooks, Kino is releasing his 1968 movie The Producers this week as well. In case you don't need the 4K release of Spaceballs, the Blu-ray is also available.
If ever you were interested in what could have been, the film Fukushima 50 covers the selfless acts of those involved when the Fukushima plant melted down and what could have happened had they not reacted the way that they did.
In another non-4K week, Criterion Collection releases History is Made at Night. This title may not be 4K material, but some of the releases they chose for a U.S. release have been 4K releases in other countries by other studios.
The anime category is somewhat slow this week. Look for Kids on the Slope - Complete Collection and nothing more.
Friday release is an Arts/Ballet title.
Notable announcements from last week:
The order link for Arrow Video's 4K release of The Bird With the Crystal Plumage is live.
I called it when I said there would be a 4K disc announcement for Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. It will have a street date of June 8th.
Warner Archive Shop has ceased operation, but the good news is that it is now part of Amazon.com. The label will live on and I would expect availability to improve a little bit. Their May batch of titles has been announced. Except for a Jackie Chan film, the rest of the slate includes a lot of classic cinema with big name talent. The titles are: Athena, Bachelor in Paradise, Drunken Master II, Escape from Fort Bravo, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Tender Trap, They Won't Believe Me and The Yearling.
I got a notification from Amazon regarding delivery date for Spaceballs 4K. It may take a few weeks to get stock and ship them. I have seen this a lot with Arrow Video titles as well. Pandemic related or not, it annoys me when I preorder something on day one and see it cancelled 2 months later and then the scalpers take over. *cough**cough*Gamera
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I did preorder Spaceballs 4K. Wishlist items are Fukushima 50, Killer Pinata and Laidbackers.
It feels like March just began, and just like that, it's over. Short and Sweet, welcome to Episode 46 of our weekly look of the highlights of home video releases and news of what is yet to come.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There is a single 4K disc release this week. If you missed the opportunity to get the limited-edition release of Tremors from Arrow Video, they are releasing a scaled-back 'Special Edition' version this week.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Somewhat average week for Blu-ray releases. Here are the highlights...
LionsGate this week releases a new feature titled Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar, which at first glance looks like an animated film, but, surprise, it's not! It actually is a comedy film that could be fun. Also from LionsGate, Shadow in the Cloud and Son of the South. I said "Son of the South" and NOT "Song of the South", sorry but the latter title will remain 'lost' pretty much forever.
Carole Lombard fans should note that Kino is releasing the Second Collection this week. Also getting a volume 2 this week, Western Classics.
Suidio Ghibli's latest, Earwig and the Witch debuts on disc this week, available as a standard release and as a SteelBook release via GKIDS and Shout Factory. I have said this before, I wish their SteelBooks would be a little more exciting, the cover arts are a rather bland solid color with a character or two on the cover itself.
Other animated releases, look for a standard release of Elfen Lied: Complete Collection, if you bought the SteelBook, this one could be to use while the collectible SteelBook remains untouched, or maybe you've been waiting for it to be more affordable. Also look for Sunday Without God, no doubt a potentially controversial title just by its name.
The single Warner/Warner Archive release this week is the complete animated series for Thundarr the Barbarian.
There is a single release scheduled for Friday, a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert from 1976, Live at Knebworth.
Notable announcements from last week:
In addition to The Bird With The Crystal Pluamge 4K coming in June, Arrow Video is also releasing Irezumi, Major Dundee, The Stylist and Years of Lead: Five Classic Italian Crime Thrillers.
The next releases for the Paramount Presents label are Mommie Dearest (Spine number 17) on June 1st and Last Train from Gun Hill (Spine number 18) on June 15th.
Vinegar Syndrome has announced its next 4K release, Six-String Samurai. It is unclear if this title release of May 2021 will be for their web site exclusively and then in June on Amazon and other sites or if May is the general release. Usually their announcements have street dates for their site and then 30(ish) days later on Amazon and other sites.
Blue Underground has revealed the street date for Dead & Buried on 4K disc to be July 20th, and they have announced 2 additional slip cover variants as well. Do check out the 4K release schedule for details.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I did preorder Sunday Without God and the Elfen Lied Collection. I will likely pick it up locally, Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar. I sort of expect the standard release for Earwig and the Witch to be available locally too, which I will buy. Mild interest in the other two LionsGate releases, Shadow in the Cloud and Son of the South.
This July, the Criterion Collection will present a fitting tribute to the man dubbed "The Worst Director Of All Time" with the 6-film, 5-disc set The Visions of Ed Wood. Synonymous with low-budget B-Movie schlock, Edward D. Wood Jr. admittedly produced some of the worst movies ever made, but he carried the true spirit of an independent filmmaker stretching budgets and recycled stock footage to their breaking point. He was also a collector of cast-off Hollywood stars, most famous was his long-time friendship and collaboration with Dracula star Bela Lugosi. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Glen or Glenda (1953), Jail Bait (1954), Bride of the Monster (19545, Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957), Night of the Ghouls (1959), and The Sinister Urge (1960).
PLUS a 100-page collection of Ed Wood's Science Fiction and Adult-themed Short Stories
In like a lion, out like a lamb. To anyone that has no idea what I just said, I can tell you it's folklore that describes the weather for the month of March. Also this week, beware of April Fool's Day (or as it says on some calendars, "All Fools Day"). It would have really been interesting had April Fool's Day been on Friday, just saying. Welcome to Episode 45 of our weekly look at home video releases and news.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Another busy week for 4K disc releases, and there's probably a bit for everyone.
First from Severin, foreign films The Day of the Beast and Perdita Durango. I won't pretend to know these films, there is an English dub on their respective discs for those that prefer it. Look in the Blu-ray releases section if you prefer them instead.
From Sony, on the heels of video game base Monster Hunter, this week we see Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV becomes available. Logically they would also be releasing The Spirits Within at some point as well, but perhaps not, the age of the film might not translate well.
A week after the UK release, Wonder Woman 1984 his the U.S. shores on disc. Look for a standard edition, Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a standard edition double feature release, which also includes the Wonder Woman film from 2017.
BBC's next nature release, still featuring narration by Sir David Attenborough is titled A Perfect Planet. Different from prior releases, this one also includes the Blu-ray in the same package and there is no SteelBook option this go around.
And last, but certainly not least in the 4K category this week, Cecil DeMille's classic film The Ten Commandments. David Krauss turned in his review and it looks to be another stunning effort. Sadly the original silent version is not included - so hold onto that special edition Digibook from last year.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Anime highlights of the week include Asteroid in Love - Complete Collection, Black Clover: Season 3 Part 3 as a standard release, and as a box release meant to hold the rest of the season when you buy them. Also, Cagaster of an Insect Cage, Goblin Slayer - Goblin's Crown, Lupin III: Missed by a Dollar and Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine.
Sony Pictures is releasing a few random vanity titles each month. Two such films this week are 55 Steps, a biography/drama based on the life on Eleanor Riese, and Girl, Interrupted.
Paramount's catalog releases include The Bad News Bears (1976). The 2005 release of the same title was announced for this week as well but seems to have been possibly delayed, Under the "Paramount Presents" label, Cecil DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth.
Warner Archive brings TV movie The Bermuda Depths to disc this week. Previously announced by Scream Factory, but now released by Warner Archive, Isle of the Dead also debuts this week. Also from Warner Bros, no doubt a tie in to the upcoming 2021 movie, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook of the original two Mortal Kombat movies. And just like the 4K releases above, Wonder Woman 1984 on Blu-ray gets several SKUs this week as well; standard edition, 3D edition, Target Exclusive and as a double feature that includes the 2017 film. Target dropped the ball on this one, their exclusive is not the 4K release nor a gallery book, which is sad as I prefer that cover art over all of the other ones available, which as I mentioned last week, the Amazon UK Exclusive SteelBook indeed has that same cover art.
Criterion Collectors have more than one release to get this week. Look for Defending Your Life, Persona and Secrets & Lies. There are some well-known names in these films, I vaguely remember Defending Your Life but again will not have a discussion pretending to know them well.
Lionsgate's obligatory appearance of the week is brought to you by The Toll.
Notable announcements from last week:
Although there were no major Blu-ray announcements last week I would like to mention two 4K titles. First, Smokey and the Bandit is being released on June 1st. And second, Arrow video has announced The Bird With the Crystal Plumage for June 29th. The latter looks very similar to the fat-pack Blu-ray released previously, but of course now 4K. Reminds me of the double-dip I did for Donnie Darko, but I still will get it any way!
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? Just like last week, if I get all the 4K titles I want, it could be a wallet buster. I did order the Best Buy SteelBook of Wonder Woman 1984. I am pretty sure I will get The Ten Commandments as well, looking to see if it is available locally first. I like the BBC releases so A Perfect Planet is on my radar, and Kingsglaive is also on the wish list too. Blu-ray releases, I did preorder Greatest Show On Earth, but I really wish it were a 4K disc. Also ordered the Mortal Kombat SteelBook. Impulse buy will likely get The Toll as it will likely be available locally. Wishlist: Black Clover Season 3 Part 3 Box Set, the Goblin Slayer Goblin's Crown movie, Cagaster Insect Cage and The Widow.
Happy Spring to those in the Northern Hemisphere. What good things happened to you last week? Welcome to Episode 44 of our weekly look at what's new in home video, let's get right to it.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
It seems like feast or famine with 4K discs and this week, it's a huge feast with all the fixins' and dessert, sure to loosen up your wallets just a little bit.
Starting out first with worthy imports with Monday street dates, Second Sight's Dawn of the Dead, but this time as a standard, more budget friendly release. And next, a week before the domestic release, Wonder Woman 1984 in a couple of packaged options. Zavvi's Exclusive includes a figure of Wonder Woman in her golden outfit. Amazon's Exclusive SteelBook features what I consider the best cover art of all the options available, import or domestic. Next week's Target Exclusive release includes the same cover art, but that one is NOT a 4K set, and just when I thought Target was getting it all together and offering their exclusives as 4Ks.
Let us now move on to domestic, Tuesday releases, all eight of them.
Warner Bros. has a busy week. First the Warner Archive's first 4K release, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This one is not a recycled disc available previously, it has been reworked.
And no doubt to celebrate the upcoming Godzilla vs King Kong movie, Godzilla (2014) gets a 4K disc upgrade. The Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook cover art shows a very familiar cover art that was previously used on an Asian Metalpak release, and the standard edition features a cover art very similar to the ugly(ish) teal & orange cover art for the release of Godzilla: King of Monsters.
Sony Pictures is offering the 1997 Sci-Fi Gattaca as a SteelBook release this week.
Universal releases the recent Tom Hanks drama News of the World.
And closing out 4K discs for the week, Disney Pixar releases Soul this week in its usual array of options. Again, it's great to see new releases from Disney on 4K disc, but my issues with them are they have yet to offer a triple-layer disc on any releases, they won't deal with Amazon on preorders and they have all but ignored their catalog releases beyond what is already out unless it ties in to a new movie. Anyway, Soul gets three 4K releases, a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Target Exclusive Gallery Book edition.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Fortunately for our line of credit, Blu-ray releases this week are below average volume.
Arrow Video offers the horror/mystery The Bloodhound this week.
Recent comedy/crime film Breaking News in Yuba County comes from Warner Bros this week. Also from Warner Bros, look for 2020's The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant.
In the animation category, look for Castlevania: Season Three this week. I'm glad to see them releasing more streaming service titles on disc, hello Shout Factory, Bojack Horseman beyond Season Two please?? That show got better as it went on. Anime fans look for Fruits Basket: Season 2 Part 2, and like previous releases, available as a standard release and as a Limited Edition release. Finally, One Piece is getting released on blu-ray. Season Eleven - Voyage One comes out this week.
It might be finally happening! Event Horizon (Collector's Edition) might actually be streeting this week after what seemed like half a dozen delays.
Criterion Collection's single title this week is the mega-set titled World of Wong Kar Wai.
The above mention News of the World also gets a Blu-ray release this week.
Disney Pixar's Soul gets a standard Blu-ray release as well.
Friday releases consists primarily of the arts (Symphony, Opera, Ballet, Opera Ballet).
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection's June batch of titles has been announced, and no, 4K titles are still not on the horizon. Their titles for the month include The Human Condition, Pariah, Pickup on South Street, The Signifyin' Works of Marlon Riggs, Streetwise / Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell and Visions of Eight. My sheltered life says I know none of these titles, but you can still bet that the quality of these releases will still be top notch, as is the Criterion motto!
Look for Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon on 4K disc and Blu-ray disc on May 18th. Going with the normal routine, I sort of expect to see a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Target Exclusive Gallery Book edition added to the mix as well.
20th Century Studios (via Disney) is bringing Speed (1994) to 4K disc on May 4th, available as a standard release and a rather f'ugly SteelBook release. And before you jump all over me as to how I was wrong and that Disney *is* releasing a catalog title on 4K disc, keep in mind that all the back work on this title was already done before Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. Also expect to see Michael Mann's action/crime/thriller Heat (1995) later this year as well, with the same back story. Both films are logical choices of the Fox catalog to be released in a new format. As media collectors, if these titles sold like hotcakes, it should get someone at Disney's media division to work on more catalog releases. Disney being Disney though means these will not be available to preorder on Amazon, if there's Dolby Vision it will be streaming only, and another site is suggesting that Dolby Atmos will be on streaming only as well, not on the disc. Reminds me of the term "jumbo shrimp." Atmos, streaming, really? Stay tuned for final specs.
Sony will be releasing Snatch (2000) on 4K disc on June 1st.
Paramount has officially released info about the Indiana Jones 'quadrilogy' set on 4K disc and as Matthew suspected when he broke the original news article, there will be a different SKU, as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook set.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? For me, the wallet-busting factor is thanks mostly to 4K releases. I preordered the SteelBooks of Godzilla and of Soul. Gattaca and News of the World also interest me, but I have not preordered them. Regular Blu-ray I have in interest in Breaking News in Yuba County and Event Horizon. Doubtfully, neither of the latter will be available at local brick-and-mortar stores.
This week, the Northern Hemisphere counts down its last week of Winter as Spring is on the horizon, while those down under welcome Fall after a long hot Summer. Welcome to Episode 43 of our weekly look at the highlights in home video and upcoming releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
As mentioned last week, March is a slow week for 4K disc titles. This week we have none to report.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Moving right along into the Blu-ray release category, let's see what the highlights are for the week....
Warner Archive releases this week are Crossfire, Damn Yankees, Driving Miss Daisy (reissue) starring the great Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy and a reissue of What's Up, Doc?
In the obligatory weekly visit from LionsGate, look for Dark Web: Cicada 3301 and Don't Tell a Soul.
Criterion's non-4K disc release for the week is Céline and Julie Go Boating, another film I know nothing about but will likely get 11 stars from the critics.
Looks like Mill Creek is into new title releases, this week they release I Am Lisa, having not seen it, is it a werewolf story? The 1986 film Rad also gets a SteelBook release this week.
From Universal Pictures this week, recent revenge-film Promising Young Woman. Also, a film titled Songbird, a frightening take on the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the anime category, look for BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt So I'll Max Out My Defense, available as a standard release and as a Limited Edition Set. I have noticed a growing number of MMORPG-type releases in anime, this has me curious though to see how they pull it off. Shout Factory/GKIDS rereleases, but now as a SteelBook releases include The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. I myself think these covers are a bit bland, a solid color background with a character or two imposed over it. And lastly, Nickelodeon's The Legend of Korra gets a 'Complete Series' release, Amazon has two SKUs listed, I cannot seem to tell the difference between the two other than price. SKU1 is labeled as a SteelBook and SKU2 is simply the complete collection, but both SKUs show the same second image of a SteelBook collection, thus the confusion.
Friday releases above average this week, mostly the arts category. The John Williams release piques my interest, it's got Dolby Atmos to boot! This title was delayed a couple of times.
Notable announcements from last week:
Universal has announced a 4K disc release of George Roy Hill's The Sting (1973) that will be available on May 18th as a standard edition and as a SteelBook edition. Additional 4K SteelBooks announced include The Birds, another realase of Psycho and National Lampoon's Animal House. Also from Universal but on May 11th, celebrating its 20th Anniversary and available on 4K disc for the first time, the animated smash Shrek.
Shout! Factory has announced a bunch of releases for June. They are The Awakening, Battle Beyond the Stars (SteelBook), Embattled, Human Nature, Hunter Hunter, Just a Gigolo, Kindred, Sphinx, Stardust (2020) and The Unhealer. For Studio Ghibli releases getting a SteelBook Edition, look for The Secret World of Arrietty and The Wind Rises.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? Anime wise, I already ordered the Bofuri Limited Edition set and once the SKUs are sorted out, I want to consider The Legend of Korra set. I will likely get Dark Web: Cicada 3301 and Don't Tell a Soul as they will likely be at my local store. If Songbird is available locally it too might be bought on impulse. Damn Yankees, I Am Lisa and Money Plane interest me as well, I sort of expect to have to buy those online. Friday's release of John Williams in Vienna really interests me too.
In a continuation of my gripes from previous weeks, new releases from major studios continue to be a struggle to find at local brick-and-mortar-stores. And don't give me that crap about COVID-19, something else is going on here. In a few months we will see reports on how physical media sales are down double digit percentage points and the primary reason for that is availability, not a digital stream take over conspiracy that they will try to make us believe. Come on studios, keep physical stores as a viable option to buy your products. On that note though, welcome to Episode 42 of our weekly look at what's new in home video this week, as well as what's coming.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
As mentioned last week, March is a slow month for 4K disc releases. This week we have none. The Dredd SteelBook may or may not have been pushed back another week, again, but that cannot be confirmed.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Blu-ray on the other hand, we have a fair amount of them to ponder, albeit most of them are catalog titles.
Mill Creek releases a handful of titles this week, a couple of them under their 'Retro VHS Covers' series. Look for The Babe, Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain, Gorillas in the Mist, My Girl / My Girl 2 (Double Feature) and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.
The ever present Kino Lorber (and affiliated partners) has a few memorable titles releasing this week, they are Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, The Choirboys, The Don is Dead and The Forest.
Film Movement has a handful of British war film titles this week worth mentioning too. Before Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, British cinema released a movie by the same name in 1958, check it out. Other British cinema titles include The Dam Busters and Ice Cold in Alex. Film Movement has other titles licensed as well, keep your eyes peeled for upcoming releases.
The Scream Factory label gives us Rent-A-Pal this week.
Criterion Collection has one release this week, Touki Bouki, and I will not even pretend to say I have ever heard of this film, but Criterion does what they do best, bring us some of the best cinema from around the world.
A slow week for LionsGate, their single title this week is Vanguard, and it sounds like a typical Jackie Chan flick, which isn't a bad thing.
For Friday releases, there are two arts related titles to look for.
Notable announcements from last week:
If ever there was a pattern it would be that the same companies continue to support physical media while other companies do NOT. Absent almost every week is Disney/20th Century Studios. What is it going to take to tell them we are still buying discs?
Paramount has updated their May slate of titles. A couple of titles were scheduled for March, a couple are brand new. Look at May 25th for these titles: Days of Heaven, Don't Look Now, Get Rich or Die Tryin', The Last Castle, The Legend of Bagger Vance, A Night at the Roxbury, Rosemary's Baby, The Saint, Tupac: Resurrection and The Tuxedo. A reissue of Snake Eyes has now been pushed to May 18th. This is an interesting mix as some of these titles have not been on Blu-ray til now and a couple were done previously by Criterion Collection. I did import Don't Look Now in 4K so why Paramount decided to pass on a transfer that is already done is beyond me.
Warner Archive has announced their April 2021 titles. Links and exact dates coming soon. The titles are: Annie Get Your Gun, Another Thin Man, Broadway Melody of 1940, Doctor X, Each Dawn I Die, Green Dolphin Street, Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space and Quick Change.
And on the 4K disc front, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing us John McTiernan's (Director of Die Hard) Last Action Hero on George Strait's Birthday (May 18th.) Any chance to get a Schwarzenegger movie in 4K is welcome! There are actually a lot of new titles coming that day, maybe it's a convergence of some sort.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? This week's list includes The Forest, Gorillas in the Mist, My Girl double feature and Rent-a-Pal. If Vanguard is available locally, I will likely pick that one up, if not, it will be on my wishlist.
And just like that, *poof*, February is in the rear view mirror. Welcome to Episode 41 of our weekly look at the highlights of what's coming to home video. No witty anecdotes or remarks this week, just right down to business.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Thus far, it looks like March in general is going to be a slow month for 4K disc releases.
As far a fresh content, this week look for the video-game inspired movie Monster Hunter starring Milla Jovovich. I am quite surprised there are no retailer exclusives or even a line of toys, all of which I think would sell in this case. What kid (or big-kid) wouldn't like to buy a monster action figure? I have not seen this film, but come on, Jovovich, monsters, it will certainly sell a few copies in each sku available! I wish FUNimation would release the rest of the "Ride On" episodes on Blu-ray, but that's a different topic. Agree or disagree with me, I tend to be on the 'sort of like / to really like' video game based movies. Hitman is still near the top of my list, I don't care how awful the reviews were for it.
Next, a reissue, but this time as SteelBook edition. Doesn't appear to be Best Buy Exclusive, but Amazon does not seem to have it available as of this writing.
The 2005 reboot of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise & Dakota Fanning. This specific cover has been used on Blu-ray SteelBooks and Metalpaks previously, I like it better than the standard cover.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
March has got five new-release Tuesdays and they all have got a good amount of titles on each one. Let's dive right in on the highlights.
The above mentioned Monster Hunter also gets released on Blu-ray as well.
Shout Factory this week releases another independent action film, this one is titled 400 Bullets.
This week's Anime releases should offer something for everyone. A Rightstuf exclusive titled Ah My Buddha!!, which also has an English dub, Aragne - Sign of Vermillion gets a reissue this week, so no more paying inflated prices from 3rd party resellers, but still no English dub. Want to save a few dollars, Attack on Titan Season 3 this time as a complete set. A Certain Scientific Railgun T, Dragon Ball Z SteelBooks for Season 8 and Season 9 and InuYasha: Set 4 finish out the category.
Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-4 will be available this week.
Universal Studios releases a 2020 drama/romance titled All My Life this week. Also from Universal, the 2020 comedy/drama Half Brothers debuts on disc.
LionsGate brings us Fatale this week, it sounds a bit like Femme Fatale, but I cannot say for sure if it was based on it or not.
Bob Hope fans be on the look out for Caught in the Draft, My Favorite Blonde and Nothing But the Truth by Kino Lorber.
This one interests me, Disney's trend nowadays is to do live action versions of their animated features. An Italian company did Pinocchio and it looks pretty good. Don't worry, there is an English dub on this disc. For some reason LionsGate is doing the digital release but Samuel Goldwyn is doing the actual disc. Although I prefer physical over digital, had LionsGate done the disc version, it would have also included a digital code.
Notable announcements from last week:
There has been a trickle of new title announcements last week. Although there are a bunch of 'decent' titles announced, I do not consider them major or mass appeal.
What did get announced in the 4K arena though were a few random ones. First up, Tim Burton's Big Fish got a surprise 4K announcement. Expect to see it on May 4th. And next, Paramount has released more details about My Fair Lady 4K and Super 8 4K, both slated for May 25th. Super 8 will be getting a standard release and a SteelBook release. It is unknown at this time if the SteelBook will be a Best Buy eclusive or a general release, but I expect it to be Best Buy Exclusive. Maybe by next week we will have working links for both Paramount releases.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? Again, except for the major releases, good luck finding them in your local B&M store, but the titles that interest me are as follows: Monster Hunter 4K has already been preordered. I do like the War of the Worlds cover, but not enough to double-dip. Wishlist includes 400 Bullets, Pinocchio, Certain Scientific Railgun T, Dragon Ball Z 8 & 9 SteelBooks, InuYasha #4 and Fatale.
The final full week of February is upon us. For the Northern hemisphere, Spring is just around the corner and tell you what, I certainly look forward to it, February has been more Winter-like than January was. Welcome to Episode 40 of our weekly look at the week's highlights of new releases and upcoming releases news.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week's best seller 4K disc will no doubt be The Croods: A New Age. Having not personally seen it, am not going to pre-judge, I myself generally like these releases. I'm surprised there are no retailer exclusives this time though.
Vinegar Syndrome's general release of The Beastmaster was supposed to happen this week. Our listing will remain for posterity and (Vinegar Syndrome website) purchase link will be updated to Amazon accordingly when it becomes available. Do read our review, it is a "Must Own" release.
Import of significance of the week is Fanny Lye Deliver'd, our link brings you to a domestic seller.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
As far as regular Blu-ray releases, this week has got an above average number. A bunch of them are Miramax reissues, but that just means it's an opportunity to get them at a more reasonable price. I certainly took advantage of the last round of reissues.
Carrying over from the 4K section above, The Croods: A New Age is also available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo, a 3D Blu-ray Combo and as a Croods/Croods 2 double feature Blu-ray.
LionsGate's obligatory weekly appearance to release a Covid-era new film brings us Silk Road, a story based on true events involving the dark web. Also this week, after a rather short theatrical run, Wrong Turn gets a reboot and this film hits home video. Our review indicates it is worth your time if you enjoy this genre.
Anime highlights of the week include a couple. Discotek releases their February titles this month as well, but they are mostly Japanese language only with English subs. Other titles include Fairy Tail: Part 26, Food Wars! The Fourth Plate and Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World: Complete Second Season + OVA.
Criterion Collection's busiest week of the month as they are bringing us Man Push Cart as well as Chop Shop. The latter is actually a sequel to Man Push Cart. Both are set in New York and no doubt poke a little bit at the culture of the city. And lastly, a drama/romance film titled Smooth Talk, for which I will not even pretend to know what it is about, but if you collect Criterion titles, no doubt it's on your list.
Shout Factory brings us another IFC film, this one is titled Centigrade.
Warner Archive Collection delivers one of those live-action animated hybrids this week titled My Dream Is Yours, which by the way stars Doris Day among others. This is one of the ones I can vagualy remember and it was decent for its time. Sticking with Doris Day and musicals, also look for On Moonlight Bay this week as well. And still going strong with musicals, the 1951 rendition of Show Boat streets this week as well. Also from Warner Archive, a more recent title that celebrates free speech, Pump Up The Volume.
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection has announced its May 2021 batch of titles. Although every title except one mentions "4K" in their descriptions, it's to merely indicate a 4K Restoration, not a 4K presentation. Look for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Flowers of Shanghai, Merrily We Go to Hell, Nightmare Alley and Trances to be released on various dates in May. Order links are live.
Friday releases offer us two Music related titles and two Arts related titles, Alice Cooper, The Go-Gos, Cathy Marston: The Cellist, John Gay: Beggar's Opera (2020).
Paramount has officially announced My Fair Lady for 4K disc with a street date of May 4th. The cover art has been updated and partial features are listed. Although we have an Amazon link, the page is temporarily unavailable. Stay tuned though
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? The Croods: A New Age 4K is on the top of my list, and I have no doubt it should be available at most stores. I did pre-order the Konosuba release and will likely get the Wrong Turn release also on Tuesday. Keeping it brief, I have an interest in ten or so of the Miramax reissues. More wishlist titles, Fairy Tail #26, New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, Pump Up the Volume, Puppet Princess and maybe a Friday release or two.
Continuing from last week, more and more new releases seem to be unavailable at local stores if you're looking for something other than crappy, obsolete, low-resolution DVDs. Seriously, the industry and stores wonder why Blu-ray and 4Ks see a decline in sales, it should be pretty obvious why. Compare it to a chicken and the egg or even a famous quote, "if we build it, they will come." Welcome to Episode 39, our weekly look at what's coming out on Home Video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K discs slated for this week. Perhaps if Criterion or Disney were on board for catalog titles, there would be something.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Somewhat average week for Blu-ray releases this week. And here we go....
Shout Factory continues to release Indie films and catalog titles. This week look for A Call to Spy, a biography/drama that tells the story of women spies duing WWII.
Warner Archive Collection releases 1956 comedy/drama classic film Baby Doll. Also, a more recent animated release, Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons. Clark Gable's San Francisco also releases this week as well.
When you think H.P. Lovecraft you mostly think of Cthulhu, the TV series Lovecraft Country: The Complete First Season releases this week. Also available as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Mill Creek releases their February batch this week, they include Breach, Cowboy Way and The Net Double Feature.
Criterion Collection's release this week is a foreign film titled Mandabi, which no doubt has a following, and myself personally has never heard of, oh well.
LionsGate continues to churn out films during the COVID pandemic, this week look for Fear of Rain, a film of the Drama/Thriller category that no doubt might keep us on the edge of the seat til the end, and then still keep you wondering. Also look for The Informer this week as well, a different genre. And if you're wondering what Paul Hogan's been up to these days, check out The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.
The randomness and consistency of Anime, this week look for Gourmet Girl Graffiti - Complete Collection, now back in print. Also back in print, Motto To Love Ru - The Complete Second Season. The next reissue of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, this one subtitled Golden Wind Part 2 streets this week. My Hero Academia Season Four Part Two comes in two different options, a Standard release and a Limited Edition release. Naruto: Set 2 also comes out this week.
Universal releases a thriller this week titled Horizon Line. The synopsis makes me scratch my head however, how does one get totally lost within minutes of takeoff? Might be worth a look, but based on the trends, I doubt you will find it at your local stores.
Notable announcements from last week:
The Disney company has announced a release date for the animated feature Soul to be March 23rd. Of course as this is a new film, it will get a disc release. Disney seemingly ignores its vast Disney (and Fox) library that just itches for releases on disc, recently they released Upside Down Magic on DVD only, despite being available in HD online. Anyway, back to Soul, for 4K SKUs there will be a standard release, a Best Buy Exclusive Edition and a Target Exclusive Edition, as well as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo release. Our links will point to Best Buy as their dispute with Amazon continues indefinitely. Deep rumors are out overseas that Disney will be releasing Michael Mann's Heat, as well as the movie Speed on 4K disc this year. I hope it is more than a rumor, I like both movies and would buy them both. Still no True Lies or Abyss, but it shows the faucet might at least be doing a slow drip.
Warner Bros. announced DC Universe's Justice Society: World War II available as a 4K disc release as well as a Blu-ray release for May 11th. I sort of expect a Best Buy edition with figure to creep up as well. Also, Wonder Woman '84 has its final details posted and a confirmed street date of March 30th, both as a Blu-ray Edition and a 4K Disc. Not done with Warner yet, they also have announced the street date for Supernatural Season 15 as May 25th, but what makes this special is also the Complete Series mega-set they have announced as well. Check it out.
Shout Factory has announced their May slate of titles, which includes all of their various sub-labels. The titles are All About the Benjamins, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold, Explorers, Eyes of a Stranger, The Final Stand, The Hand, He Knows You're Alone, King Kong (1976), The Legend of Hei, The Nest (2020) and Wildcats.
There are other 4K discs in the works from the major players as well (Sony, Paramount, Universal) which we will keep you in the loop on. Kino Lorber has also announced they are working on Orson Welles' Touch of Evil.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? My list is a bit short this week. Finding any of these titles at local stores on anything but low-rez DVD will likely be pointless but ya never know. Am looking at A Call to Spy, Horizon Line, Lovecraft Country Season One and The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.
Anyone that regularly purchases new releases has likely observed like I have that certain movies are not available in any physical stores. An even larger kick in the face though is that the same titles, the DVD is available for sale. More and more stores are pushing 4K into our faces but they only sell DVDs of new releases? Pixel wise, you could play 24 DVDs on your 4K screen simultaneously. Recent releases absent from stores were Come Play, Fatman and Born a Champion Blu-rays and the 4K of Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Welcome to Episode 38 of our weekly look at what's new to home video. My above rant is abbreviated by the way.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
In the 4K disc arena, first a reissue, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, this time though as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Next, making its 4K disc debut, Sci-Fi/Action film Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jody Foster. Elysium was one of those titles on the survey Sony offered late last year to gauge what customers wanted next.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Paramount's next "Paramount Presents" releases debut this week, the week before Valentines Day, look for Elizabethtown, a more recent comedy/romance. And the other release is Love Story. I would expect these to be decent presentations and not cash-grabs, I don't think Paramount is looking to tarnish their flagship label.
Keeping with the theme, LionsGate releases the comedy/romance The Right One this week. Not Valentines day, but still Lionsgate, look for Wander Darkly this week as well.
What else does Valentines mean other than to watch My Bloody Valentine, right? Scream Factory now offers it as a SteelBook release.
Arrow Video releases The El Duce Tapes for the first time on Blu-ray.
The Criterion Collection's release of the week is The Parallax View. Another film I must have missed, but it's got creds that make it worth looking at.
From my opening rant, (good luck finding) Freaky and Greenland in stores, released by Universal by the way. We have reviewed the latter in its digital format.
All Creatures Great and Small seems to have a rising following and Season 1 comes out this week. I'm sorry to say I have not watched broadcast TV for quite some time so I am semi-clueless with that regard.
In the Anime/animated category, the sequel to Ne Zha streets this week, it's titled Jiang Ziya. Ne Zha got a 4K release but it looks like the sequel does not. Paramount releases The Little Prince (2015), previously only available as an import.
Baltic/Russian film makers are at full speed ahead and it seems each week we see something from them. This week Scream Factory is releasing a Horror/Sci-Fi titled Sputnik, and yes, it is reported to have an English dub.
Still looking for 3D discs to keep your 3D gear in use? This week, Wings of the Hawk debuts, and our review indicates it was restorted quite well.
Friday releases comprises mostly of arts releases.
Notable announcements from last week:
All of this week's Mondo Macabro releases got delayed a month, look for them now on March 9th. No doubt COVID and other related delays.
Arrow Video has announced their next batch of titles, which span the month of April. As far as 4K, they're prepping a "fat pack" release of Donnie Darko. It seems as though I had just bought their Blu-ray of this one (not to say it was a bad release, I just hate the back-to-back double dips.) The other 4K release on the docket is Battle Royale, but that one's a UK only release. Now for Blu-ray releases, they are (alphabetically) Death Has Blue Eyes, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (Arrow / SteelBook Edition) and Switchblade Sisters. A Blu-ray release of Battle Royale also remains a UK exclusive and, oddly enough, Clapboard Jungle appears to be a UK and Canada only release.
Warner Archive's March titles include The Bermuda Depths, Crossfire, Damn Yankees, The Great Caruso, Isle of the Dead and Thundarr the Barbarian: The Complete Series. Isle of the Dead was originally to be a Shout/Scream factory release in 2019, looks like that had fallen through. If you remember The Berrmuda Depths it is likely because you know your Rankin and Bass TV!
Warner Bros has announced the 4K release of Godzilla (2014) and it will be available on March 23rd as a Standard Release (with a rather f'ugly cover) and a SteelBook release that looks very much like the Asian import of the Blu-ray SteelBook I bought years ago. The latter, Godzilla's tail was nicely embossed/textured. I recall people complaining how dark the picture was on this movie, I doubt, but really do hope that HDR will change that aspect much. I think the dark look was the intention of the film.
The next 'Paramount Presents' release will be Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth, expected on March 30th. Featuring another 4K restoration but presented in 2K format. Paramount (unlike DISNEY) at least is releasing multiple catalog titles on Blu-ray that never were available before and offering a handful of actual 4K titles as well from the catalog. My Fair Lady, Super 8 and The Ten Commandments will be on 4K disc soon.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I currently have none of this week's titles on preorder, but I'm certainly interested in Elysium 4K. My wish list for the rest of the titles are Freaky, Greenland, Sputnik, Jiang Ziya, Wander Darkly and The Little Prince.
For many of us, the month of February is a welcome sight as it also means Spring is near, being the shortest month of the year, it's that much nearer. Filing your income taxes has been delayed until the 12th at the earliest, what's on your wishlist this year?
Welcome to Episode 37 of our weekly look at what's coming out on home video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week there is a single 4K disc release, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. In addiiton to the 4K and HDR upgrade, this one has got an updated DTS:X audio track. The BD100 disc should indicate there is a decent bit rate as well. Alternately, a Target Exclusive SteelBook is also available as well, and this time Target the the right thing by offering a SteelBook in 4K.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
This week is the slowest week of the month for Blu-ray discs, here are the highlights.
Sammy Davis Jr. releases seem far and few, this week Kino delivers Anna Lucasta, which also stars Eartha Kitt. Another of his films, A Man Called Adam also releases this week as well. Known director James Whale's The Kiss Before the Mirror also debuts this week on Blu-ray, check out our review, buy the disc. Delayed a few times, but now on track for this week, Kino partner Code Red releases The Great Alligator, one of those schlocky fun horror films from the 70s.
Paramount's (new to Blu-ray) catalog batch this week includes Lassie, Mouse Hunt, Small Soldiers & Yours, Mine & Ours (2005). Also, reissues of Ladybugs and Revolutionary Road means these OOP titles can be had again for a reasonable price.
The weekly dose of anime highlights include just Black Clover: Season 3 Part 2 & Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather.
Universal releases Let Him Go, the 2020 Crime/Thriller movie starring Diane Lane and Kevin Costner.
Lionsgate's weekly infusion includes just Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, this one's got a bit of star power in it worth checking out if you like the comedy/romance genre.
Notable announcements from last week:
Shout Factory/GKIDS has announced and added details for the 2020 Studio Ghibli animated film Earwig and the Witch. The feature is directed by Gorô Miyazaki is expected to release on Blu-ray on April 6th. It will be available as a standard release and a SteelBook edition, no word on if 4K is even an option. If it is, it will likely release like Weathering With You did, ie: a couple of months later, and they did warn us beforehand.
LionsGate has announced three more titles for Feb/Mar, they are Don't Tell a Soul, Vanguard and Wrong Turn (2021). Our own Matthew Hartman has reviewed the theatrical release of Wrong Turn, check it out.
Information has been leaked of Universal releasing National Lampoon's Animal House on 4K disc later in 2021. Details are not available as of yet and the cover art is likely temporary (their 4K disc releases generally offer digital 4K streams, not digital HD.)
Kino Lorber's 4K disc release of Spaceballs now has a street date, expect it on April 13th.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I did preorder Mouse Hunt and Small Soldiers. Wishlist includes Black Clover S3#2, Ladybugs, Lassie & Sky Sharks. Let Him Go sounds interesting but this could have been a good 4K candidate, it might still be actually, hard to say if they will release in on 4K domestically or overseas. I will also look at Love, Weddings & Other Disasters first, no blind buy there.
The last full week of January 2021 is upon us, and thus far the new disc announcements still remain rather slow. They will ramp up, they always do after the holidays. Welcome to Episode 36 of our week's highlights on what's coming to home video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week we see three UPCS on 4K disc, animated features at that. First from Warner Bros. look for Batman: Soul of the Dragon, available as a standard release and as a (increasingly more common) Best Buy Exclusive release that includes a figure.
Next, in the anime category, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro comes at you from Discotek. I do not follow the Lupin series much but it appears to me to be well established and goes quite a ways back, proven by the fact this title is from 1979.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For Blu-ray releases, this week is probably the busiest week of the month.
Warner Bros also releases Batman: Soul of the Dragon on Blu-ray this week as well. More DC Universe material, Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season hits home video this week as well. I must have missed the boat, but apparently Snowpierecer got a TV series? Season One is releases this week on Blu-ray.
Warner Archive releases the 1936 vintage film After the Thin Man, perhaps worth a look if you want to complete the entire sequelogy (is that even a word? If not, it should be.) Also from Warner Archive, Good News starring June Allyson & Peter Lawford and The Pajama Game starring Doris Day, and finally Room For One More starring Cary Grant.
Criterion Collection releases foreign film The Ascent this week.
LionsGate keeps cranking them out, at a fair price to boot, look for the action/drama Born a Champion this week.
Universal releases Come Play this week, perhaps the kind of movie you would watch to break cabin fever.
In the anime category, alphabetically, significant releases include Ascendance of a Bookworm - Complete Collection, Case File no221: Kabukicho - Season 1 Part 2, No Guns Life: Season 1 and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Season 1.
The next Paramount Presents release becomes available this week, this time The Court Jester, which is also the first time it's been released on Blu-ray anywhere in the world. Thus far this line has been produced fairly well, I just wish they would include 4K where applicable, seeing as how many of their sources are 4K scans. Days of Thunder getting a 4K disc the same day as a Paramount Presents version was released is a good example.
Also from Paramount, albeit a month late, what sounds like a fun take on a Christmas movie, Fatman debuts on disc this week.
Random oddity from AGFA that sounds potentially interesting, The AGFA Horror Trailer Show. Also from AGFA, another interesting plot summary, The Curious Dr. Humpp.
Arrow Video Releases I have been looking forward to after missing out on the mega-box set last year, despite ordering it on DAY ONE!! Gamera comes to us now in snazzy SteelBook packages. The Heisei Trilogy, The Heisei Era and The Showa Era. These appear to be the same discs from the box set but not inclusive of the swag. I really hate mail ordering Steelbooks though. Most of the order pickers and packers are unaware of the care they need in handling and shipping, so good luck not having to return them because of damage. (Note the two 'era' SteelBooks below, side-by-side form a single picture.) Also from Arrow, the 2006 feature starring Dwayne Johnson, Southland Tales comes out this week too!
Grindhouse Releasing now releases the 1968 Burt Lancaster film The Swimmer this week as well, did I miss something? This film has had multiple releases over the years. Someone please educate me, what am I missing?
Friday releases, one concert and one arts/ballet feature.
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection has announced its April 2021 slate. They missed the deadline to be in last week's update and it looks like April 2021 will not be the month they release their first 4K disc. Any way, the list of Blu-ray for April includes The Furies, History Is Made at Night, Irma Vep, Masculin Féminin and Memories of Murder. Amazon preorder links are already live.
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has announced another wave of catalog releases for Blu-ray. The list includes Girls Rule Collection (She's the Man comes to Blu-ray for the first time), The Bad News Bears (1976), The Bad News Bears (2005), The Saint, Snake Eyes (reissue), Tupac: Resurrection and The Tuxedo.
On the same topic, Disney are you reading this? Not only have you abandoned the 4K disc market for catalog titles, but apparently since you've acquired Fox and started Disney +, you have also abandoned Blu-rays as well. I would like to legally own so much of your catalog on Blu-ray, sell them to me! There are so many sites out there selling discs that it's not always clear if they're legit.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I have an interest in both 4K titles, but neither are on preorder at this time. Other wishlist items, in order of importance: Doom Patrol Season 2, Fatman, Gamera Heisei Era and Showa Era, Born a Champion, Court Jester and the Friday release of Snow Queen.
Has certainly been an interesting tumultuous month outside of the entertainment industry. The goal of these weekly updates though serves one purpose, home entertainment updates.
Welcome to Episode 35 of our weekly look at the highlights of the week's home video releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week we see see three catalog titles hitting 4K disc.
Sony Pictures brings us the Roland Emmerich 2009 disaster film 2012. Films of this nature were never meant to be entirely and scientifically accurate, but they still entertain us for a couple of hours and make us think of how life in our reality could be different. This one has an array of camera sources and a 2K DI, but how Sony produces the final 4K disc, I do not know, you can bet that bare minimum the HDR aspect will improve this release.
Next, a pair of John Carpenter classics from the 80's, Prince of Darkness and They Live, brought to you by Scream Factory. These were restored by StudioCanal and released in the UK in 2018. Scream Factory no doubt took the same source but upped the ante a little bit by adding Dolby Atmos audio. We have done reviews of both releases already and they are favorable, follow the links and check them out. I hope they also release the other two films from the StudioCanal batch in 4K, Escape From New York and The Fog.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For 2K/HD disc releases this week, there's quite an assortment. As always, the highlights are here.
From Mill Creek, Accepted debuts on Blu-ray for the first time globally. Your Higness gets a Mill Creek reissue in case you missed the actual Universal Pictures release from 10 years ago.
Anime releases every week are expected, it's a huge industry and a fair market across the globe. Shout Factory releases a 15th Anniversary edition of Bartender. Note this does not have an English dub though. Sentai Filmworks releases Blade of the Immortal - Complete Series.
FUNimation brings us Part Two of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba as well as Season 6 and Season 7 of the Dragon Ball Z SteelBook releases.
2019's Drama/Thriller Dreamland debuts from Paramount this week,
The synopsis sounds interesting, Dead Reckoning is being released by Shout/Scream factory this week. Keep in mind though that a synopsis doesn't paint the whole picture.
Still on track for this week, Arrow Video's reissue of JSA: Joint Security Area. This one is worthy of mention as the previous release is listed for upwards of $100 from 3rd party sellers.
Criterion Collectors should be eager to ponder Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese, two big names right there.
Notable announcements from last week:
There are a few B movie delays this week, no doubt related to the fact that there are not many places to produce discs any more and the COVID virus.
Warner Archive has announced their February titles, which include Baby Doll, Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons, My Dream Is Yours, On Moonlight Bay, Pump Up the Volume, San Francisco, Show Boat (1951), Six by Sondheim and A Tale of Two Cities (1935).
Will you be singing 'Happy Trails To You' when I mention that MVD Rewind Collection will be releasing Mackintosh and T.J. on May 18th? I certainly hope so. So many of the classic westerns need to be preserved and this one is no exception.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? Slow week for me. I certainly want all three of the 4K releases, I actually preordered the Shout Factory ones on impulse when they were at a pretty low price on Amazon. Also have Demon Slayer Part Two and the DBZ #6 and #7 on order as well.
Ma and Pa Kent from Man of Steel and Batman V Superman reunite for the thriller Let Him Go - now coming to Blu-ray on February 2nd from Universal Home Entertainment. Check out the trailer:
If you didn't check it out during it's Theater At Home run on various streaming platforms, this family thriller hits Blu-ray in a two-disc Blu-ray & DVD set with Digital Copy. No news on a 4K UHD Blu-ray option at this point, there was one rumored a while back but we don't know what happened with that plan.
Preorders for Let Him Go are now live - I wouldn't worry about that initial price point, I'm sure it'll go down well before release day.
Check out the full press release with tech specks below.
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With Rick and Morty Season 5 arriving maybe possibly (who knows really) sometime in 2021 - Warner Brothers collects the previous seasons into one nice convenient box set. This has been their habit throughout the series' run thus far so this isn't too surprising a release. They did a Season 1 & 2 box ser, a Season 1 & 3 box set - and I'm sure eventually after Season 5 arrives - there will be a box set for that too. If you've been on the fence picking the series up, it's still damn funny.
Season 4 wasn't peak material in my book, but it was still pretty damn funny. Those last few episodes saved what was starting out to be a pretty mediocre season. And in case you're worried about extra features or anything like that, these sets are merely collecting the already available discs so nothing new in that regard.
As of this writing, Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-4 is not yet available for pre-order but should be soon. When it's up we'll update the listing.
Here's the full press release from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment:
Not a lot to really bring front and center this week about the entertainment industry, other than to say welcome to Episode 34 of our weekly look at what's coming to Home Video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K discs slated for this week in the U.S. market. This whole month is a bit light actually.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
On the Blu-ray front though, it's an average week. So, without further adieu, let's get right to it.
The anime category has a handful of titles this week worth your time. In no particular order (except maybe alphabetical) they are: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 8 (Shadow of the Curse Mark), Fruits Basket: Season 2 Part 1, available as a standard edition and as a Limited Edition, Girls und Panzer: This is the Real Anzio Battle!, a movie titled Lupin III: The FIrst available in a standard edition and as a SteelBook,
Mill Creek has another batch of VHS Retro Look titles this week, they are Blind Fury, Crossroads, The Freshman and Like Father Like Son. Also from Mill Creek, the next Ultraman release, this one is titled Ultraman Taro - The Complete Series and is available as a standard edition and as a SteelBook.
If you're a Criterion collector, there is one title this week that I personally know nothing about, Minding the Gap.
Lionsgate has an action sci-fi release titled Skylines. Somehow this one looks familiar but yet it is not, and no, I'm not thinking of Pacific Rim either.
The 2020 horror/thriller Spell comes to you this week from Paramount.
Notable announcements from last week:
Very slow week for announcements, as expected, but with the holidays over they will resume.
Amazon has listed a street date of February 23 for The Croods: A New Age, I probably would accept that as accurate.
Severin films has announced their April slate of titles, some of them were pending since 2012 and were to be released by Scorpion Releasing. The titles are Day of the Animals, Deep Blood, Grizzly and Santa Sangre. The latter will also be available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a 4-disc deluxe editon, look for them under April 27th.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? One title preordered, the Lupin III SteelBook release. I've got a very short wishlist this week, Buried Alive and Skilines. A couple of the Mill Creek retro titles mildly interest me as well.
In an announcement released yesterday to email subscribers and on the Family Video Website and social media accounts, Keith Hoogland has announced the end of an era. You can read the letter here.
As people moved to the convenience of online streaming platforms to get their movie fixes, the video rental shop business model steadily disappeared. Except for Family Video. Where the dominoes fell fast for chains like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video (where I slung videos from 2008-2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) the small spunky upstart managed the impossible - it hung on. Understanding rural areas didn't get the same fast dedicated internet speeds needed for a quality streaming experience, the company adjusted its business model to keep to small towns and cities. But just because they catered to the needs of a smaller local audience, didn't mean they sidestepped new format advancements or tastes.
Where my in-laws live there's a Family Video and while renting something never made sense for how short our visits usually are (and I have vastly different tastes in movies), I always liked to drop in and look around. It was a delightful dip through nostalgic memories complete with raiding the Previously Viewed titles for great deals. I also loved they had a dedicated Criterion Collection section - something I hadn't seen since my Hollywood Video days. Sadly, I won't get to do that again. As COVID-19 swept across the country it knocked out their foot traffic and with precious few new releases coming to disc, they couldn't survive. Lasting over 10 years longer than the likes of Movie Gallery, Blockbuster, or Hollywood Video, Family Video's end effectively closes the last chapter of an era where people actually left their homes to find a new movie to watch for the weekend.
While this doesn't come as much of a consultation, the Family Video website will live on. In recent years they've become a great resource for collectors offering solid deals on previously viewed discs but also great sales from niche and boutique studios. I personally take advantage of their Arrow, Criterion, and most recently their Blue Underground sale. Their regular 50% off Arrow Video sale alone has helped me save a ton while adding some great titles to my collection that I otherwise would have waited on or passed altogether.
So far, I haven't seen any details for closing sales and deals on the store level - if you live near one let us know! One of the worst parts of helping my Hollywood Video close and then visiting subsequent Blockbuster locations was picking through the bones of the shops for titles. But at the same time, I felt like I was preserving a part of a larger collection. I still have several of my old Hollywood Video titles with clunky thick plastic cases and genre stickers covering up part of the spines. Even as I've replaced those titles with Blu-ray or even 4K UHD, I haven't had the heart to let those old memories go. If you're lucky to live near one of these shops that will be closing its doors, see if you can't mask up and make a final visit.
First full week of 2021 right here folks! Have you broken your New Year's resolution yet? Here's hoping this year will be a good one.
Welcome to Episode 33 of our weekly look at the highlights of what's coming out on home video this week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Just a single 4K disc this week, the 2020 Adventure/Comedy Love and Monsters. I don't know enough about this one to comment any further.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
So far it looks like the month of January is pretty evenly divided for Blu-ray releases. Here's the highlights for this week.
Warner Archive brings us The 100: The Complete Seventh and Final Season. Seven seasons seems a compfortable number with a lot of great shows.
With Sir Sean Connery gone, it's fitting to have a reissue of 1975's The Man Who Would Be King, which no doubt is simply a more exonomical package. Maybe one of our readers could comment, is there any basis to this movie and the more recent The Kid Who Would Be King.
In the Anime category, Black Bullet - Complete Collection might be worth your time. R-Rated anime includes Blood Sisters and Devilman - Special Edition, Amazon lists them as next week but the studio's site and other retailers indicate they are out this week.
Kino Lorber has a few noteworthy titles each week, but the one that might catch your eyes is Captain Newman, M.D., starring Gregory Peck & Tony Curtis. A previously delayed title Ingagi comes out this week, but relabeled as one of their Forbidden Fruit titles, this one is Volume 8 for those keeping track. It's dubbed as "the greatest movie hoax" which piques my interest a little.
Kino Partner, Code Red, has a fun 80's title this week, Savage Streets. Those growing up on Vestron Video, MTV when they played music and even HBO when it was in its infancy should remember this one. Kino's other partner, Scorpion Releasing, brings us Tintorera, another shark movie trying to make a buck from the success of Jaws. On its own this one is not a bad movie.
Love and Monsters also gets a Blu-ray release as well.
Criterion Collectors have one release to ponder this week, Three Films by Luis Buñuel, which include The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The Phantom of Liberty and That Obscure Object of Desire.
Both Friday releases are Operas, Beethoven: Lenore and The Fiery Angel.
Notable announcements from last week:
The Time Travelers (1964) was slated for this week, but sort of went *poof* with no new date listed.
Another 3D Blu-ray announcement, this time from Kino Lorber, the Kung-Fu action filled title Dynasty. Featuring Digital 3D, analyph 3D and digital 2D, plus restored 4 channel sound.
Monster Hunter now has order links, both for the Blu-ray and the 4K Combo, and has a tentative street date of March 30. I would expect all sorts of retailer exclusives on this one, if not domestically, perhaps overseas.
Castlevania: Season Three just got listed as well, but no official announcements yet. Also, from the same distributer, His Dark Materials: Season Two also got a listing, announcement expected very soon. Season One in my opinion had a much better release in the UK. This show was produced in 4K, so the lack of a 4K disc option annoys one to no end.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I do have Blood Sisters, Devilman and Shrine of the Morning Mist on order. Love and Monsters 4K could be an impulse buy. A Gravitas release that I might consider, Nina of the Woods. Savage Streets and Tintorera are distant wish list items.
At the end of the week, we will be saying HAPPY NEW YEAR as we reign in 2021! This could be interesting with a pandemic raging, no Times Square event for sure. Having lived in the country and in the city, there is still a commonality at midnight, that pop pop pop sound of either fireworks or gunshots!
Welcome to Episode 32 of our weekly look at what's coming to home video. Just like last week, the selection is pretty light, if not lighter.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K releases slated for this week. If we were in the UK I would mention His Dark Materials Season Two.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
In the Blu-ray anime category, Discotek titles dominate. The titles are Battle Athletes TV Series + OVA, Case Closed: The Crimson Love Letter, Devilman Lady - The Complete Series, GinRei The Complete OVA Series, Lupin III: Tokyo Crisis and Thermae Romae - The Complete Series.
FUNimation releases Case File no221: Kabukicho - Season 1 Part 1.
Universal Pictures brings us 2020's Action Crime Drama Honest Thief starring Liam Neeson.
From Sony Pictures, 2020's The Last Shift, considered as a Comedy Drama. The cast should be familar to you any way, might be worth a look.
If you're a Marx Bros. fan, the previously delayed A Night in Casablanca appears on track for this week.
For a Friday release, a previously delayed title, Asia: Symfonia - Live In Bulgaria 2013. Asia was a pretty decent rock back back in their day.
Notable announcements from last week:
Often times I do not post complete announcements from the independent houses, it is is not out of lack of respect, it's that many of the titles have a very limited audience and these weekly posts are highlights. Any way, early this past week Vinegar Syndrome announced Silent Madness 3D with a street date of January 26. I know 3D fans are always looking for new titles so this is big news to such fans. This release includes 2D, digital 3D and analyph 3D. The latter means you put on the colored glasses (included) and view them on any TV.
Details and street date have been finalized for the follow up to the movie Ne Zha, this one is titled Jiang Ziya. No 4K listing yet, hard to say if there will be.
Paramount has announced the next batch of Miramax reissues, they have a street date of February 23rd. What's great is that if you missed your chance to buy these when they originally came out, the reissues are typically a little less money this time around, and you no longer have to have that much desired released dangled in front of you by a third party seller at $100 or more! This batch contains mostly R rated titles and so far they include Chasing Amy, Doubt, The English Patient, Finding Neverland / Ella Enchanted (Double Feature), Frida, Gone Baby Gone, Hostage, Like Water for Chocolate, Rounders, Shakespeare in Love, Sling Blade and Trainspotting.
The 1997 sci-fi masterpiece Gattaca is getting a 4K release, as a SteelBook to boot on March 23rd. Check out our news story here. Also announced for 4K disc, the 2020 video-game based film Monster Hunter and the 2016 video-game based film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV.
FUNimation has revealed their Late February/March 2021 titles. As expected, the SteelBooks for Dragon Ball Z Season 8 and Season 9 are there. Additionally, Fairy Tail: Part 26, A Certain Scientific Railgun T - Part 1, Attack on Titan: Season 3, BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt So I'll Max Out My Defense - Season 1 (as a standard release and as a Limited Edition release,) Fruits Basket: Season 2 Part 2 (also as a standard and a Limited Edition release,) One Piece: Season Eleven - Voyage One (first season of this series on Blu-ray,) Black Clover: Season 3 Part 3 (additionally a different SKU with an empty box to hold the entire season,) Asteroid in Love - The Complete Series and Goblin Slayer - Goblin's Crown. Also debuting in May, Phantasy Star Online 2 - Episode Oracle Part 1.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? The only one I preordered was Devilman Lady, Honest Thief and Last Shift are wishlist items, as well a Case File 221 S1P1.
