What to say, what to do. It's kind of one of those in between weeks that a lot is business as usual. Begin Volume 2 Episode 4 of our weekly release guide.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
First let's talk imports, which means a Monday street date. Paul Verhoeven’s classic 1992 erotic thriller BASIC INSTINCT. Available as a standard release and as a Zavvi Exclusive SteelBook. It is a StudioCanal project so who knows if a U.S. distributor might not pick it up. I'd bet on Shout Select if it were to happen.
Now for North America releases, which have a regular Tuesday release date...
Getting the double-dips first, Gattaca comes out now in a standard package instead of a SteelBook. Also from Sony, Last Action Hero, the same way, a standard release instead of the SteelBook. And just the opposite from LionsGate, Sicario as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, previously released in a standard edition.
For fresh content, Clint Eastwood's action/thriller In the Line of Fire.
Delayed from last week, LionsGate releases Voyagers. This title breaks the norm in that it does NOT have Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision. Probably a good reason for that.
Last but not least, Godzilla vs. Kong, just like the previous two Godzilla movies, available as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. These new movies remind me of the reinvention of Batman under Christopher Nolan. Edgy, gritty and good. And the effects budget certainly helps!
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For Blu-ray releases this week looks to be average.
First, Godzilla vs. Kong, available as a standard release blu-ray, a 3D blu-ray combo, and as a trilogy of the new franchise.
Shout Factory's various labels this week will release The Awakening, Kindred and Sphinx.
Michelle Pfeiffer's latest film, French Exit comes this week from Sony.
Spine Number 18 from Paramount Presents is available this week, titled Last Train from Gun Hill.
LionsGate also releases Voyagers on Blu-ray. Other entries from this week also include SAS: Red Notice and Rock Dog 2.
Mill Creek releases Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle and Ultraman Zero Chronicles this week.
Anime has a very slow week. Highlights are One Piece - Collection 26, Queen's Blade Rebel Warriors Collection and To Love Ru Darkness: Season 3: Complete Collection.
From Universal, the hit TV series Parks and Recreation: The Complete Series.
Criterion Collection's release of the week is Streetwise / Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell.
Friday releases are the norm, music/arts releases.
Notable announcements from last week:
Paramount has been busy this past week. The Paramount Presents label has three titles slated for August, Bugsy Malone, Nashville and A Place in the Sun. Bugsy Malone is set to release 8/31 while the other two are for 8/10. They've sent info to retailers that their next batch of Miramax reissues will be coming in July. There looks to be about 25 (and growing) of them, and just like last time, some of these titles went out of print so get ready to buy them again for a more reasonable price. All of them are likely the exact same discs as before so don't expect audio upgrades on the lossy audio ones.
Criterion will be announcing its next batch of titles soon, for now they just added Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films for release on September 28. They usually announce one title, then a week later the next batch.
Discotek has got the next batch in the works as well, all due on August 31st. Titles include Future Robot Daltanious, Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics - Season 2, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - The Complete First Season, Lupin the 3rd Part III: The Pink Jacket Adventures and Mitchiri Neko.
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?
With Summer being just around the corner, which films do you look forward to seeing in the theater, or do you feel like waiting to enjoy it at home?
Begin Volume 2 Episode 3 of the Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Guide.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
A few choices to ponder this week in the 4K disc category.
Quickly getting the double-feature bundle packs out of the way, Paramount has repackaged 10 Cloverfield Lane / Cloverfield, Bumblebee / Transformers, Jack Reacher / Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.
LionsGate's Voyagers got pushed back a week, no doubt out of respect (or fear) of lost sales when pitted against this week's must have purchase, Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection, available as a standard edition release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook edition.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Mill Creek's bulk of June releases come out this week, the titles are Alpha Dog, The Adjustment Bureau / The Good Shepherd (Matt Damon Double Feature), Contraband / Fear (Mark Wahlberg Double Feature), Finding Forrester, Miami Vice / The Kingdom (Jamie Foxx Double Feature) and Safe House. Toy Soldiers / December has been pushed back to the end of the month.
Paramount brings us a 2021 action thriller Assault on VA-33 and recent action comedy The Lovebirds. The Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection also gets a new Blu-ray package as well. Reissues, but as SteelBooks this round include Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful.
LionsGate's appearance this week gives us City of Lies, a crime drama from a couple of years ago and Flashback, a recent drama thriller.
Anime highlights include Fruits Basket: Season 1, Nana Seven of Seven - Complete Collection, number24 - The Complete Series, Wave, Listen to Me! - The Complete Season and World Trigger - Complete Collection.
Criterion Collectors look for The Human Condition.
Arrow Video's release of The Stylist is still on track for a release on Tuesday.
Friday release are all arts/music related,
Notable announcements from last week:
Amazon has listed preorders for a lot of TV series, some of them pretty high quality. Listed are Batwoman: The Complete Second Season, The Flash: The Complete Seventh Season, The Nevers, Season 1 Part 1 and Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season.
Shout Factory has a slew of titles announced for August, they are Fast Vengeance, Havoc, The Oh, God! Collection, The Rebels of PT-218, A Return to Salem's Lot and Take Back. Thjey also broke up the LAIKA Studios collection into four individual releases. Those titles are The Boxtrolls, Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings and ParaNorman. These editions are loaded with extra features.
LionsGate adds titles every week, this week the next Vestron Collector's title announced is The Wraith, with a street date of July 20th. Those titles usually go in pairs so I wonder what/if the other one will be. Also from LionsGate with July 20th in mind, Die in a Gunfight, Initiation and The Walking Dead: The Complete Tenth Season.
The upcoming Arrow Video release of Dune can now be ordered on Amazon in all editions except the Deluxe Limited SteelBook. Reference the release calendar to August 31st.
Amazon and Best Buy have listed preorders for Mortal Kombat (2021) in 4K combo, Best Buy 4K SteelBook and Blu-ray combo packs.
Speaking of Best Buy, a recent trip to my closest one caused a fit of rage -- they ripped out more than 80% of their movies to make room for phone cases. Really?!??! Do you not want me to enter your store any more?
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?
Memorial Day week, many of us have a long weekend and many people will be running the grill and entertaining family. Of course the holday itself was never intended to be such a day, it started out as a military remembrance day, so let's take a moment to do just that.
Begin Volume 2 Episode 2 of our weekly release guide.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
After last week, we needed a slower week for releases in general, not just 4K. This week we get a single new title and two double-dip skus.
Double dips first, Backdraft gets a snazzy looking SteelBook, apparently not even available at Best Buy this go round. Universal had previous SteelBook 4K releases that were not Best Buy Exclusives but seemingly only available at Best Buy.
The next double dip is Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider 2 as a double feature.
The new release of the week is a comedy that's still funny today, Smokey and the Bandit. What a great cast, what they made together was memorable!
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
In the Blu-ray release category, this week is slightly below average. Here are the highlights.
Highlights in the Anime category include APPARE-RANMAN! The Complete Series, Black Clover: Season 3 Part 4 and Shachibato! President It's Time for Battle! - The Complete Season.
From Universal Studios, 2021 drama Boogie.
Our weekly dose of LionsGate includes catalog title But I'm a Cheerleader, The Courier (no, not that one) and Endangered Species.
Paramount has finally decided to release the Showtime TV series Billions: Season Two. Additionally, TV mini-series Your Honor also arrives on an MOD format.
Spine number 17 of the Paramount Presents catalog is available this week, the title is Mommie Dearest, starring Faye Dunaway.
The next classic Doctor Who season is available from BBC and Warner Bros, this one of Jon Pertwee: Season Two. From Warner Archive, Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal: The Complete First Season.
After several delays, Wisconsin: The Bill Rebane Collection appears to be on track for release from Arrow Video.
Honorable mention -- The Classic Flix restoration of The Little Rascals: Volume One comes out this week.
Notable announcements from last week:
Kino Lorber has confirmed that they will be doing a 4K disc release of Van Damme's Hard Target. At this time it looks like it will have Dolby Vision HDR. I would suspect the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track to be reused, which isn't a bad thing.
FUNimation has announced its August slate of titles. Nothing jumps right out at me, but there are a few that might vy attention. We have also added the Sentai Filmworks titles for August as well.
Arrow Video has announced its August slate of titles. I would say the biggest announcement is the 4K release of David Lynch's 1984 flick many of you may have heard of, Dune. To be released on August 31, Arrow is outdoing themselves on this one. Offered as a "fat pack" Limited Edition, a SteelBook Limited Edition and a "fat pack" SteelBook Deluxe Limited Edition. I know if former blog writer Josh is reading this, he's probably saying "son of a [email protected]$&@%" as he has to buy three more skus of the film. If you also count the 2 disc Blu-ray edition, that's four skus. Other U.S. and Canada releases for August include Blind Beast, The Brotherhood of Satan and The Sergio Martino Collection.
According to other sources, Paramount Pictures also looks to be releasing A Quiet Place Part II on July 27th in both a 4K disc edition and on Blu-ray, and of course digital. Expect an official press release soon.
Wrath of Man will be released on July 13th on Blu-ray. No 4K announced, and as is Warner Bros I doubt one will come later, except maybe as an import.
Lastly, what I feel might be bad for physical media, Amazon.com has purchased MGM. Surely it is to bolster their streaming platform and potentially get legal rights to do spinoffs. I almost feel as though this is a parallel to Disney buying Fox and making their new business model primarly streaming. Would Kino have been able to license Spaceballs for 4K in this new environment? Is everything unreleased now up to independents negotiating release rights? Does this full circle their releases back to Warner Bros, who have already released Amazon titles on disc?
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 last Tuesday of May is upon us and this week is probably the busiest week of the month. Welcome to Volume 2, Episode 1 of our weekly look at the highlights of the week for new disc releases, as well as a look at major announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
First, let's get the 4K reissues out of the way. Universal releases a couple of additional SKUs from the Alfred Hitchcock Collection. The Birds, available as a standard release and as a SteelBook package. A release of Psycho (1960) as a standard release and as a SteelBook package. Again with so many Universal SteelBook releases, the SteelBook is not a Best Buy exclusive but seems to be available only at Best Buy. Maybe it is an exclusive release window.
Paramount's offerings for the week start with My Fair Lady, a great title I don't think needs much of an explanation. And second, J.J. Abrams' Super 8, available as a standard release and as a SteelBook.
LionsGate's 4K offering is 2021's Chaos Walking, available as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. The technical specs for this one indicate it should be a reference quality presentation.
Specialty label releases include Arrow Video's Django, which also includes a blu-ray disc of Texas, Adios, Blue Underground's release of The Final Countdown (1980) and Screen Media's 4K release of The Outpost (2020).
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
In the Anime/Animation category, Ahiru no Sora Collection Two, as a standard release and a Premium Edition, BAKI - Complete Collection, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Set 9, Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics - Season 1, Made in Abyss - Theatrical Collection (SteelBook), Medabots - Complete 3rd Season and Plunderer - Part 1, standard edition and limited edition.
LionsGate's entries for Blu-ray are American Figher and Chaos Walking.
Paramount has a couple of catalog titles this week, they are Days of Heaven, Don't Look Now (available in 4K overseas), Get Rich or Die Tryin', La Dolce Vita, The Last Castle, The Legend of Bagger Vance, A Night at the Roxbury, Rosemary's Baby, The Saint, Tupac: Resurrection and The Tuxedo.
For recent film, 2021's Happily also releases this week.
Warner Bros. brings us Supernatural - The Complete Fifteenth and Final Season and Supernatural - The Complete Series. I would love to have the Complete Series set, it has a little bit of swag and is a decent value, considering it is 15 seasons worth of TV.
Criterion Collection releases Nightmare Alley.
WWE fans probably already know Wrestlemania 37 comes out this week, but just in case, hey, Wrestlemania 37 comes out this week.
Friday releases are a bit different this week, in addition to the usual music/arts releases,
Notable announcements from last week:
Christmas is coming, that's a pretty sure thing. Criterion Collection releasing a 4K disc, probably not a safe bet. But, their August slate of Blu-ray/DVD releases have been announced, they are After Life, Ashes and Diamonds, Beasts Of No Nation and Original Cast Album: "Company".
The film Almost Famous has a confirmed street date of July 13th, but what becomes a bit annoying is that there are two SKUs available that compete with each other. The 4K disc release is in a SteelBook case while the regular Blu-ray release is part of the 'Paramount Presents' line. Come on Paramount, Days of Thunder all over again. If Paramount Presents is supposed to be the best you have to offer, are you saying the Blu-ray presentation is better than the 4K?
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 "fun" part of collecting your favorite movies on disc is dissecting the A/V Presentation. Since LaserDisc, high-end video formats have been promoted for offering your favorite films with the best image and sound quality possible. Well - as we know with past experience that's just not the case. Blu-ray offered some impressive titles early on, but there were quite a few that dropped the ball leaving fans wondering why they even bothered to upgrade from DVD - let alone the thousands of dollars spent on new A/V equipment. One of the most controversial home video releases has been Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi masterpiece RoboCop.
This one saw half a dozen questionable releases on DVD alone before it arrived on Blu-ray in 2007 from Fox/MGM with a resounding and very expensive "Thud." Prior to that there supposed to be another Blu-ray release from Sony but it was so bad it was pulled from the market before it could get wide distribution - even though a few discs slipped out. Then in 2014 we finally got the 4K sourced remaster we've long been hoping for approved by Verhoeven himself. Then in 2019, Arrow gave the film the genuine Limited Edition treatment with an ever so slightly brightened transfer sourced from the same 2014 remaster.
For this Blu-ray Comparison Video, we're going to showcase the MGM/Fox 2007 disc, the MGM/Fox 2014 disc, and the 2019 Arrow Video release.
As you can see there's a pretty big difference from the MGM/Fox 2007 disc and the MGM/Fox 2014 disc and less so with the 2019 Arrow Video release. The Arrow presentation is slightly brighter, maybe a little bluer in a couple of scenes, but that's it. The Arrow Video release has the advantage of offering both cuts of the film along with hours of excellent bonus features. If you can find the Limited Edition or the SteelBook - that's your best way to go.
Welcome to Episode 52 of our Blu-ray/4K Release Guide. This week marks the 1 Year Anniversary of our weekly guide, bringing you the highlights of what's coming out to home video, and as an added bonus, any major announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
We are really getting into the nitty gritty of the month of May. This month has a lot of great titles that are sure to bust your bank account.
First, let's get to the release that will get the most attention this week, I am referring to Raya and the Last Dragon. This title was stewing on a soft-release date of May 18th, but not a single retailer had an order link available until May 10th. Maybe someone can tell me their strategy, something other than self-sabotaging physical media. For 4K this release has your standard slew of releases, do you buy one, both, or all three because you love Disney releases? The standard 4K release, the Target Exclusive 4K release and the Best Buy 4K Exclusive SteelBook release all beckon you.
Delayed from last month, Severin Films releases their 4K disc of Santa Sangre.
Sony Pictures releases the SteelBook of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Last Action Hero. The standard (non-SteelBook) is due in June. I still have my laserdisc somewhere, this is one of those films you either love or hate. It too seems to be unavailable to order, maybe it will get delayed (?)
Universal Pictures has two titles to pick from this week. The oddity though is that the SteelBooks are not available on Amazon, but yet they are not Best Buy Exclusives, but seem only available from there.
First, National Lampoon's Animal House. Standard Release Here and SteelBook Release Here.
And second, look for The Sting (1973), Standard Release Here and SteelBook Release Here.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Slightly above average week for Blu-rays. Here are some of the highlights...
Lets start with dragons first. Raya and the Last Dragon gets a Blu-ray combo this week if you choose. And from Universal, the Dragonheart: 5 Movie Collection. This compilation was previously only available on DVD.
LionsGate's obligatory releases this week include Above Suspicion and Minari.
Bruce Willis in a mecha suit? That's what it looks like in Cosmic Sin from Paramount Pictures. Academy nominee The Father starring Anthony Hopkins debuts this week. Also from Paramount/CBS TV, Charmed: The Complete Third Season (2000). Let me remind them that they left us hanging with MacGyver Season One and never gave us a hint at more seasons. From CBS this week also, Star Trek: Lower Decks Season One, available as a standard release and as a SteelBook release.
Anime/Animated titles to consider this week include Cannon Busters - The Complete Series, available as a standard release and as a Limited Edition release. InuYasha: Set 5, Sakura Wars the Animation and The Prince's Voyage close out Anime. From Warner Bros, Tom & Jerry - The Movie.
Drunken Master II comes this week from Warner Archive Collection.
Criterion Collectors look for the foreign film Flowers of Shanghai.
Friday releases are all Opera or Classical Music titles:
Notable announcements from last week:
Visual Entertainment has just announced that Baywatch - The Complete TV Series will be available for purchase on May 28th. The show has been remastered and will be presented in a 1.77:1 widescreen format.
On the 4K front from Universal, Howard the Duck and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World were announced and have a confirmed date of July 6th. From Warner Bros. Space Jam also has a street date of July 6th. A 3D release of Godzilla vs. Kong has been added to the mix and the order link for the Best Buy Exclusive 4K SteelBook has gone live.
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?
Why not celebrate Mother's Day with dinner and a movie. This week's bill has got a few decent choices to ponder. Welcome to Episode 51 of our Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release guide. A look at the highlights of the week as well as announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are seven SKUs this week for 4K discs, which cover four movie titles. Next week there are potentially seven (or more) SKUs and the week after, there are ten.
This week, direct to video comes the animated release Justice League: World War II from Warner Bros.
Next in the animated category, the original smash hit Shrek debuts on 4K disc, available as a standard edition release and as a SteelBook release. The SteelBook is not touted as a Best Buy exclusive but seems to not be available on Amazon.
In the reissue category, the original The Fast and the Furious gets a SteelBook release. Best Buy is also offering an exclusive version SteelBook which also seems to come with swag.
And in the last minute announcement to release date category, LionsGate brings us the original Saw movie, as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook release.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For Blu-ray releases, I like to think this is a good healthy average week.
In the Anime/Animated category, look for 7 Seeds - Part Two, Babylon - Complete Collection, Infinite Dendrogram - The Complete Series, available as a standard release and as a limited edition box set, Naruto: Set 3 as a standard release and One Piece: Season Eleven - Voyage Two.
From Warner Bros., if you didn't opt for the 4K, Justice Society: World War II is available on Blu-ray.
Criterion Collections releases for the week? First, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I have heard the name of this one a lot but can't say I ever have seen it. Would this one be worthy of a 4K disc? And also look for Merrily We Go To Hell (1932).
From Shout Factory, among other titles, King Kong (1976) gets a Collectors Edition this week.
Universal's 2021 drama Land debuts this week on Blu-ray. The action thriller The Marksman also comes out this week.
Friday releases comprises of just Bizet: Carmen, a well known opera.
Notable announcements from last week:
Arrow Video has revealed their July title line up. The UK will be getting a 4K and Blu-ray release for True Romance. The U.S. and Canada will get The Cat o' Nine Tails - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Daimajin Trilogy, Threshold and Vengeance Trails: Four Classic Westerns.
For 4K disc news, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory will be coming on June 29th. Also from Warner Bros, it looks like The Lost Boys (1987) will be coming soon as well, most likely on the same date. And last but not least with Warner Bros, Godzilla vs. Kong will be coming to home video on June 15th as a 4K/Blu-ray Combo Standard Edition, a 4K/Blu-ray Combo Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook edition, a standard Blu-ray/DVD combo edition and as a three film blu-ray edition.
Word is that Universal is also prepping Howard the Duck for 4K disc on or around the same time period.
Lionsgate will be releasing the 2021 Sci-Fi Voyagers on June 8th in both 4K+Blu-ray and Blu-ray + DVD combo packs.
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?
"May the 4th be with you" should connect with a lot of our readers. I was not fortunate enough back in 1977 to be a part of the hubbub, going to movie theaters back then was quite the luxury. I never really was able to see the original Star Wars until years later. Welcome to Episode 50 of our weekly release guide, bringing you the highlights of what's being released this week, as well as news from last week about upcoming releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
For 4K discs this week, we have all catalog titles, which isn't really a bad thing is it? My Fair Lady was on the list but it got pushed to May 25th.
Director Tim Burton's Big Fish gets a 4K disc debut this week. The movie has an all star cast and no doubt Sony did a fine job on the presentation.
And next, look for the 1994 surprise hit Speed to hit 4K disc as well, and this one will be available as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Both have reinvented cover art and while the standard release is tolerable, WTH are they thinking with the SteelBook? Both of our links go to Best Buy as the dispute between Disney and Amazon continues, years later.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Fortunately for our wallets, this week is a little bit light. The rest of the month, not so much.
In the Anime/Animated category there are several titles of interest, for starters look for Bleach: Set 10. A RightStuf exclusive, Emma: Victorian Romance Season One debuts this week. Sentai Filmworks brings us Gate - Complete Collection. NCircle releases Sonic Boom: Season One.
From Arrow Video, known for bringing us many lost gems, a 2020 film titled A Ghost Waits. I know people that write plots are goot at what they do, but this one realy does sound pretty good.
From Warner Bros this week, a bio/history drama titled Judas and the Black Messiah. Not stopping there, Warner also releases The Little Things, a crime thriller with Denzel Washington.
Mill Creek releases a handful of titles this week. They include Hellfighters, Macgruber and Scars of War: 4 Vietnam Stories.
Criterion Collection's single release this week is Trances, which appears to be a foreign film in a very specific dialect, 'Moroccan Arabic.'
LionsGate's obligatory appearance this week is to bring us The Virtuoso, an action thriller featuring Anthony Hopkins, someone that pops up every so often just to let us know he's still around.
Notable announcements from last week:
Blue Underground has announced Two Evil Eyes for 4K disc on August 24th. This film is directed by both George Romero and Dario Argento. It will feature Dolby Vision HDR and a ton of extras.
Paramount will be releasing several 2021 films soon, Action/Thrillers Night of the Sicario on June 22nd and Assault on VA-33 on June 8th, Action/Comedy The Lovebirds on June 8th, the Crime/Thriller The Vault on June 1st and Comedy/Romance Happily on May 25h.
Under the Paramount Presents label, look for 48 Hrs. and Another 48 Hrs. on July 6th. If these two movies were 4K discs I would rate my likelihood of buying them close to 100%, but as standard Blu-rays, I am looking at perhaps 75%. Paramount, THANK YOU for keeping physical media alive, but this seems like a blown opportunity to me. How about the original as a 4K and the sequel as Blu-ray?
Mill Creek has announced its July 13th releases, they include I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series, Saving Silverman, Skin Deep and Two If By Sea. Pretty exciting to see more classic television coming our 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?
A return to normal volume this week for disc releases. I will buy the ones that most interest me of course, but in a month there are a ton of good titles coming so I am going to be a little more selective in what I actually buy to maintain an appearance I am trying to be making the right choices financially, ha ha ha. Welcome to Episode 49 of our weekly guide to releases for the week, as well as a look at the highlights of what was announced (last week) for upcoming titles.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Nice assortment of catalog titles highlight the 4K disc category this week.
Dirty Dancing, the surprise smash hit from the Vestron Video days leads off as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. There is no standard release as of yet, best guess would be a couple of months. Watch the back story of how this movie was rejected by every studio except Vestron on the Netflix series The Movies That Made Us. A lot of smash hit movies had the same sort of beginning.
Next from Arrow Video, look for Donnie Darko in the familiar 'fat-pack' release format. When I had bought the Blu-ray release I thought it would never see 4K but I'm kind of glad it did. I almost expect a last minute delay but we shall see.
Closing out the 4K category this week, Kino Lorber brings us one of Sergio Leone's finest Westerns, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Extensive work was done to bring us this release so kudos goes to team Kino. This one does not feature HDR, but it is the best this film has ever looked.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Compared to last week, this week is huge as far as Blu-ray releases.
From Warner Archive look for Another Thin Man, the third 'Thin Man' movie released by Warner Archive. Film-Noir release starring James Cagney titled Each Dawn I Die sees a release this week. A more recent film starring Bill Murray titled Quick Change also debuts on Blu-ray.
If you like Rock Hudson or Douglas Sirk films, look for Battle Hymn from Kino Lorber this week. Also from Kino this week and done previously by Twilight Time, Heartworn Highways and Heartworn Highways Revisited is back in print! Kirk Douglas' A Lovely Way To Die also gets the Kino treatment this week.
Maybe not a brand new release, but Elvira: Mistress of the Dark gets a spiffy looking SteelBook release this week.
Arrow Video's other Blu-ray this week is a release titled Switchblade Sisters.
Anime releases have been sporadic the past month or two. This week though there are a couple to ponder. HERO MASK Seasons 1 & 2 for starters. Discotek's releases this week are pretty much Japanese only (no dubs) but if that interests you, go for it. Their only English dubbed release this week is s-CRY-ed - The Complete TV Series.
Just like last week, Criterion Collection is gaining two (non-4K) entries this week. Irma Vep is the first one, and French film Masculin Féminin being the second one.
LionsGate's obligatory weekly entry this week is titled Vanquish, an action/crime/thriller starring Ruby Rose and Morgan Freeman. And speaking of Morgan Freeman, it looks like Shawshank Redemption might finally be getting a 4K disc this year.
Notable announcements from last week:
FUNimation's July batch of releases have been announced, the titles are Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater, Arte - The Complete Season, Plunderer - Part 2, Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar - The Complete Series (Classics), Listeners - The Complete Season, Uzaki-Chan Wants to Hang Out! The Complete Season, Uzaki-Chan Wants to Hang Out! The Complete Season (Limited Edition), A Certain Magical Index: Season 1 (Essentials), Isekai Quartet2 - Season 2, Gleipnir - The Complete Season, All Out!!: The Complete Series (Essentials), The Vision of Escaflowne - Complete Series (Classics), One Piece: Season Eleven - Voyage Three and Shironeko Project ZERO Chronicle - The Complete Season.
Shout Factory has also added State and Main and House of Wax (2005) to their July title mix.
TV on Blu-ray is good. A couple of years ago CBS decided it was going to release the original MacGyver and the original Charmed TV series on blu-ray. Out came season 1, then season 2 for Charmed, and now for this coming May, Charmed gets Season 3 released. Did they forget MacGyver?
LionsGate has announced the 2018 Bio/Crime/Drama City of Lies will be available for purchase on Blu-ray and DVD on June 8th. Also a 2019 film titled Siberia (not the Keanu Reeves film) will be available on June 22nd.
One last side note -- those curious about what's going on with blu-ray.com, if you visit their Facebook page or try going directly to their forum (forum.blu-ray.com), they indicate there was a drive failure, among other things. We take pride in HighDefDigest and never wish an ill will of other sites. I find their site useful on several avenues so I am a bit anxious too to see the outage going so long.
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? All the 4Ks this week interest me. I preordered Dirty Dancing and Donnie Darko, will most likely get The Good, The Bad and The Ugly soon. I will probably finally break down and get the Elvira movie thanks to the new cover art SteelBook. Wishlist? Hero Mask Season 1 & 2, Nomadland, s-CRY-ed The TV Series, Vanquish and the Saint Seiya Collection. I really with the Saint Seiya had an English dub, I have the DVDs of Knights of the Zodiac tucked away somewhere.
This week is one of those in-between weeks as far as entertainment releases. But there are a few decent titles to pick from, so do take a look. Welcome to Episode 48 of our Home Video Release Guides.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K discs slated for this week
Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre was originally slated for this week but now it is next week on Severin's website and May 18th elsewhere (including Amazon).
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
One of the slowest weeks in a long time for Blu-ray releases. I may not be a marketing genius but it seems as though a slow week would be more advantageous to release reissues as there are fewer titles to ponder when making a purchase. There are some titles in the calandar too that would take advantage of the Tuesday street date of 4 20, if you know what I mean. I've never touched the stuff but I know culture well enough to know. Even LionsGate has nothing for us this week, which is quite rare.
Warner Archive Collection has a couple of titles this week. First the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Next, look for a reissue of Chariots of Fire. Often times the reissues are semi-pointless as I have observed that the original Digibooks are still available at the same price, but not the case here. And not stopping there, Warner Archive brings us a reissue of the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty.
Criterion Collection has a pair of (non-4K) titles for us this week. First the Drama/Romance/Western The Furies starring well known actress Barbara Stanwyck. Also this week, Criterion brings us Bong Joon-ho's 2003 film Memories of Murder.
The next chapter of the animated films Space Dogs releases this week, this one's titled Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure. The first film was from Universal Pictures and this one is not, so I'm not entirely sure what's up with that.
Friday's release is another arts/opera release titled Puccini: La Bohème.
Notable announcements from last week:
Sony has announced the 4K disc release for In the Line of Fire starring Clint Eastwood. Expect to see it on June 15th.
LionsGate will be bringing us Chaos Walking both on 4K and Blu-ray on May 25th. This film was shot in 6.5K and a 4K DI was used for mastering, so it should look stunning. I thought I had seen a 4K SteelBook for it in a Zavvi email, but may have been mistaken. Additionally, they will also bring us a movie titled Flashback on June 8th.
If you've been waiting for Criterion Collection to announce their first 4K disc release, keep on waiting as July will not be the month for that. But, they do have a rounded assortment of Blu-ray releases coming. The titles are Bringing Up Baby, Deep Cover, La Piscine (The Swimming Pool), Mirror and Working Girls.
Shout Factory has also announced their July Blu-ray slate as well and several of the titles have never been on commercial Blu-ray anywhere in the world.The titles include Brotherhood of the Wolf, Chamber of Horrors, Dark Spell, The Dead Zone, Eight Legged Freaks, Ernest & Célestine, Fire, Little Big League, The Night, No Man's Land, The Pianist and A Stranger Is Watching. The Pianist did make HD-DVD, but not Blu-ray domestically.
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'm down for all three 4K releases this week. Truthfully, I might take this week off on buying discs, nothing sticks out to me that I must buy. Annie Get Your Gun is a maybe.
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.
