Posted Sun Mar 24, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaine
Whether it's 4K or blu-ray, this week is a whopper. All I can say is do your best to not break the bank. The image above was created on Bing's AI image creator. My first attempt.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 43 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 24th - March 30th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
It's another boutique label week in the 4K category, and that is A-OK. The 4K category is almost reasonable to manage this week.
Import Monday begins with A Blade in the Dark from 88 Films. (Vinegar Syndrome did this release one year ago.)
Also from 88 Films, a pair of releases listed as part of their "Tigon Collection", The Blood on Satan's Claw. The other title being Witchfinder General. I would not be surprised if these titles to be delayed, 88 Films releases frequently get pushed back at least once.
Formerly done by Cauldron Films in the US, Arrow Video's take on City of the Living Dead. Currently only available via Arrow's direct site. If we get an Amazon or Zavvi link, we will provide it for you.
Moving on to Domestic Tuesday, let's begin with Kino Lorber and comedy/sports film North Dallas Forty, starring Nick Nolte. Then let's go to a comedy/musical with Clint Eastwood titled Paint Your Wagon. I know you might be confused right about now with Eastwood not being in a Western back then, but it did happen!
The Criterion Collection this week has the comedy To Die For with Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon.
Spine number 43 in the 'Paramount Presents' line comes out this week, Primal Fear with Richard Gere.
Severin has your back if you're not looking to import, this week Burial Ground becomes available. Also, if you did not opt for the limited edition, a standard edition of The Spider Labyrinth is also available.
We don't see Blue Underground very often, but when we do, their releases are usually top-notch. What have they got for us this week? Try Night of the Blood Monster (The Bloody Judge) with Christopher Lee.
A standard release this week of Phase IV is available on Amazon from Vinegar Syndrome. Check out our review to decide is this one is a smash or a dud. Visit Vinegar Syndrome if you want the fancier edition.
Tinto Brass in 4K? Tinto Brass in 4K! Cult Epics this week has All Ladies Do It.
A pair of Indicator Series horror releases that were delayed a month or so, Patrick and Snapshot truly appear to be on track for a Tuesday release.
For those waiting for a standard release of The Warriors from Arrow video, the wait is over.
Import Friday (well, not really import) offers up Dead End Drive-In via Umbrella Entertainment and Amazon US.
Next week we can collect our thoughts and recharge, just a few catalog titles to look at, some of them are Walmart Exclusives.
It has been a long time since we have had a big week like this. If I told you there were close to a hundred titles, I would not be that far off. Selectively pick or splurge, your choice!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include North Dallas Forty and Paint Your Wagon from Kino Lorber, To Die For from Criterion, The Spider Labyrinth from Severin, Night of the Blood Monster (The Bloody Judge) from Blue Underground, All Ladies Do It from Cult Epics, The Warriors (Standard Edition) from Arrow Video, and, Patrick and Snapshot from the Powerhouse Indicator Series.
New comedy from Sony with The Book of Clarence.
Criterion also has something in the blu-ray category this week, foreign drama titled Saint Omer.
TV on disc this week includes Midsomer Murders: Series 24, Monk: Season Five and Wednesday: The Complete First Season. The latter title is a big hit and available in 4K with Dolby Vision, just a bit frustrating we get neither on disc at home. Maybe later, or maybe an import.
Warner Archive Collection this week has 3 Godfathers, The Boob and Why Be Good?, The Little Drummer Girl, Money Talks, Stand and Deliver and They Drive by Night.
Anime highlights include Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 17, Berserk - The Complete 1997 TV Series, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War: Part 1, also available as a Limited Edition, 'Fist of the North Star: The Legend of the True Savior - Legend of Kenshiro Movie' and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.
From Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures, Good Burger 2 arrives this week.
Several more Indicator releases this week, but in the blu-ray category, look for The Bat Woman, The Panther Women and Santo vs. the Riders of Terror.
From LionsGate this week, a biography/sports drama titled The Iron Claw.
Special Mention of two titles that Shout Factory has released as shop exclusives, The Crow: Salvation and Venomous.
Honorable Mention: Volume 18 is out this week, talking about Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XVIII. If you've been collecting them, here is another.
There are three releases from Via Vision and Umbrella Entertainment available via Amazon US on Friday.
Al Pacino: Triple Film Collection, Bully and The Chaser.
I recently watched the 70s TV show CHiPs on Prime video and I got to tall ya, it looks absolutely fantastic. The 16:9 reframing looks great too. If they can give us HD upgrades on classic TV shows via streaming, the work is half done, sell us the show on disc! Even if Mill Creek does it, offering an upped bitrate from their norm, I would be all over it.
Although not officially announced yet, I would expect to see the UK 4K release of Se7en to have an official street date of April 22nd. Amazon US has both the What's in the Box? and Ultimate Collector's releases listed as May 3rd. A US release in the typical movie-only setup (Warner usually gives the UK deluxe sets while giving the US barebones releases) would also be expected around that time.
Warner Bros appears on track to be releasing The Terminator to 4K in the near future.
Paramount Pictures has Rango due for a 4K SteelBook on June 4th. They also rumored to be working on Purple Rain and Team America for 4K release.
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.