Posted Sun Nov 12, 2023 at 09:00 AM PST by D. LaFontaine
Yep, it's ramping up to be an expensive month for us collectors and enthusiasts. This week in 4K we see a bunch of SteelBooks that we were led to believe were Walmart exclusives, but aren't, an early Steven Spielberg movie titled Duel, Rudy, Equalizer 3 and more.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 24 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of November 12th - November 18th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
We have no import Monday releases to mention this week. Kicking off New Release Tuesday, The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington comes as a Standard Edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and as a 3-film Collection. This makes two weeks in a row that Sony breaks the mold and makes their SteelBook release a Best Buy Exclusive instead of a general release. WHY? Did they miss the memo that Best Buy is ending support for movie discs?
Next, from Warner Bros, The Nun II gets a standard edition release. Considered a relatively weak film in the franchise, we would still love to be able to get all of them in 4K. Plus you would get the completionists buyers too. Hint Hint.
Where to go from here with the hefty list if catalog titles? Why not Terms of Endearment, a "Highly Recommended" Paramount Presents release?
Last week had an early George Lucas film, this week we get an early Steven Spielberg release titled Duel. This one comes as a Standard Edition and as a Gruv Exclusive SteelBook and released by Universal Pictures.
Doubling back with Sony, NOT a retailer exclusive and returning to a normal Sony release pattern, Rudy dons a 4K SteelBook release this week. And sort of a double-dip, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse / Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse gets a Collector's Edition release this week.
Criterion Collection this week has The Last Picture Show.
First time to 4K disc, The Twilight Saga 15th Anniversary Edition gets a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook collection.
Now for that list of SteelBooks from RLJ & Image Entertainment that were originally listed to be Walmart Exclusive SteelBooks, Arizona, Color Out of Space, The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (first time to 4K disc in the U.S.) and Sympathy for the Devil, which also debuts to 4K disc.
Next week there are three new releases (Expend4bles, Oppenheimer and Saw X), Harrison Ford stars as Richard Kimble, Stalag 17, Mean Streets and more!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include The Equalizer 3 and The Equalizer 3-Movie Collection from Sony, The Nun II from Warner Bros. and The Last Picture Show from Criterion. Doubling back, The Equalizer 3 also has a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook option. Again, Walmart is opting for a blu-ray exclusive and not a 4K.
The rest of this category has got a decent quantity of releases this week.
From Sony Pictures Classics, The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara to a catalog Tri-Star Pictures of Guarding Tess. Lookie, a third release from Sony's catalog, Johnny Five in Short Circuit 2.
Under the LionsGate label, a week almost never passes without an action/thriller release. This week look for Desperation Road in a DVD case that also includes the blu-ray and digital. Still unsure of the strategy of their recent blu-ray in a DVD case releases.
The next Vestron Collectors Series release via LionsGate comes out this week, Blue Steel with Jamie Lee Curtis.
Anime highlights include Bluelock Part 1, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations: Set 16, and a live-action title Spirited Away: Live on Stage.
Under the Warner Archive Label this week, look for In Love and War and Rapa Nui.
For All Mankind: Season One debuts to disc as well this week. This is the more recent highly rated TV series from Apple TV.
More TV on disc includes Justified: City Primeval Season One from Sony and Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Series from Universal.
Shout Factory has martial arts action with The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2.
Just like the last entry in the 4K releases section above, RLJ and Image Entertainment has blu-ray SteelBooks (not Walmart exclusives) for Bone Tomahawk, Clean, I Kill Giants, PG: Psycho Goreman, Vesper and Werewolves Within .
Extra Special Interest: This week the Disney Legacy Animated Film Collection (Walmart Exclusive) streets. If I had a spare $1.5K laying around, I would seriously consider grabbing it.
Next week in the blu-ray category we get sort of a break. Some of us will need it because there is a little think called Black Friday!
Paramount has revealed 4K and blu-ray discs for Pet Sematary: Bloodlines with a December 19th street date. I find it a pleasant surprise to see a 4K of this.
Sony has revealed that Spike Lee's School Daze 35th Anniversary Edition will be getting a 4K release on December 12th.
This section might be a little weak this week but believe me, it's not doom and gloom. There were a lot of smaller announcements and reveals during the week. Check out our release calendar for updates.
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.
