Posted Sun Oct 22, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaine
There's no rest for our bifolds as we look at a couple of great imports, prehistoric sharks in Meg 2, that movie before Silence, a Paramount mega-set, and more!
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 21 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of October 22nd - October 28th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
Where to begin with Import Monday, that's a tough one as there are a couple of goodies.
Will Criterion or another label do this one in the US? For now though, StudioCanal offers us Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai to 4K disc. If you want to get the SteelBook instead, there's that option too.
Kino Lorber has Red Dragon this week, but Universal UK has Hannibal in a collector's edition SteelBook.
From Arrow video, Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment. This set includes all four films in 4K. Alternately, you can get the Arrow Store Exclusive with a different cover art.
I generally don't mention a title I already placed in the guide that gets moved back a few weeks at the last second, but this week I will because of its gravity. The Exorcist 50th Anniversary UK Collector's Set is available this week from Amazon US. The fancy Bible set also streets as well, but prepare to be scalped on that one.
Now on to Domestic Release Tuesday.
For the new release this week, Meg 2: The Trench comes as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
There's a handful of catalog titles this week too, beginning with a pair of Kino Lorber titles. First, from the mind of the horror master himself (Stephen King), Cujo. Nice doggie, sit.
Hannibal Lecter's next film, Red Dragon, also brought to us from Kino Lorber. This release officially means you should now own the trilogy, if you don't count the prequel that never made it to blu-ray disc.
From Powerhouse/Indicator, Fascination and Lips of Blood.
From Sony Pictures, The Muppets Take Manhattan. Muppets is an interesting property because most of it is owned by Disney, so it is doubtful the rest will come to 4K. Never say never though.
Godzilla (1998) gets a SteelBook upgrade with upgraded HDR (Dolby Vision). How many early Sony titles still remain that did not get DV?
From LionsGate, Le Mépris (Contempt) gets the 4K treatment. If you wish to also get it bundled with the original blu-ray for $5 more, there's this option too.
The Miramax thriller The Others gets a Criterion 4K release this week.
The Toxic Avenger Collection releases this week (I think) after several delays.
Paramount Scares Vol. 1, a rather handsome looking set also debuts this week just in time for Halloween. For some of us, this means double-dipping on just about everything. However as a marketing standpoint, film #5 claims to be a debut to 4K, check out or review for more info.
And lastly, Korean crime/drama Decision to Leave is also available from MUBI.
Next week offers up DC's Blue Beetle, the next Mission: Impossible, another Hitchcock Collection and more!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K titles include Meg 2: The Trench from Warner Bros, Cujo from Kino Lorber, Fascination and Lips of Blood from Powerhouse/Indicator and The Others from Criterion. Also, as we commonly see, there is a 2-film collection for The Meg.
From Warner Archive Collection this week, look for Before Night Falls, Christopher Strong, Palmetto and Rock Around the Clock.
Kino Cult #1, Lorna The Exorcist, Kino Cult #2, Alien Outlaw and Kino Cult #3, The Dark Power become available this week. Both #2 and #3 films star Lash La Rue while #1 is helmed by Jess Franco.
TV on disc this week includes The Boys: Season 3, Dark Winds: Season Two and Murdoch Mysteries: Season 16.
Anime highlights include just Overlord IV Season 4, which comes as a standard edition and as a limited edition.
Arrow Video brings more martial arts action with The Iron-Fisted Monk. This one has two choices for English dubbed audio.
On the same topic of martial arts action, Shout! Factory also offers Shaw Brothers Classics: Vol. Three this week. Maybe a Shaw Brothers fan can help me out here... between the Arrow Video sets and the Shout! Factory sets, is there a lot of overlap? Is it all fresh?
Honorable Mention: Hallmark Entertainment appears on track with releasing multiple titles to blu-ray. This week's batch includes Five More Minutes: Moments Like These, The Gift of Peace, Haul Out the Holly, A Magical Christmas Village and A Maple Valley Christmas.
Anyone that buys merchandise from Rightstuf Anime already knows this, to those that don't, here's the 4-1-1. They merged with CrunchyRoll (fka FUNimation) last year, now when you visit their site it directs you to CrunchRoll's site instead to fill your needs. This is not more doom and gloom for physical media, just another consolidation. We have seen other companies directly distribute their products, the case here is they will distribute their own product, as well as other related products. With rumors about Walmart negotiating to buy SDS, that could be a good thing too. Maybe not, your thoughts?
Criterion Collection's January Slate has been revealed. A considerable number of titles including several 4Ks. Do check it out.
Confirmed street dates round up includes Oppenheimer for 11/21, Saw X for 11/21, Titanic (James Cameron) for 12/5 and Expendables 4 for 11/21.
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 latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.
