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Home Video Releases For The Week of February 9, 2021Anyone that regularly purchases new releases has likely observed like I have that certain movies are not available in any physical stores. An even larger kick in the face though is that the same titles, the DVD is available for sale. More and more stores are pushing 4K into our faces but they only sell DVDs of new releases? Pixel wise, you could play 24 DVDs on your 4K screen simultaneously. Recent releases absent from stores were Come Play, Fatman and Born a Champion Blu-rays and the 4K of Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Welcome to Episode 38 of our weekly look at what's new to home video. My above rant is abbreviated by the way. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- In the 4K disc arena, first a reissue, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, this time though as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Next, making its 4K disc debut, Sci-Fi/Action film Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jody Foster. Elysium was one of those titles on the survey Sony offered late last year to gauge what customers wanted next. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- Paramount's next "Paramount Presents" releases debut this week, the week before Valentines Day, look for Elizabethtown, a more recent comedy/romance. And the other release is Love Story. I would expect these to be decent presentations and not cash-grabs, I don't think Paramount is looking to tarnish their flagship label. Keeping with the theme, LionsGate releases the comedy/romance The Right One this week. Not Valentines day, but still Lionsgate, look for Wander Darkly this week as well. What else does Valentines mean other than to watch My Bloody Valentine, right? Scream Factory now offers it as a SteelBook release. Arrow Video releases The El Duce Tapes for the first time on Blu-ray. The Criterion Collection's release of the week is The Parallax View. Another film I must have missed, but it's got creds that make it worth looking at. From my opening rant, (good luck finding) Freaky and Greenland in stores, released by Universal by the way. We have reviewed the latter in its digital format. All Creatures Great and Small seems to have a rising following and Season 1 comes out this week. I'm sorry to say I have not watched broadcast TV for quite some time so I am semi-clueless with that regard. In the Anime/animated category, the sequel to Ne Zha streets this week, it's titled Jiang Ziya. Ne Zha got a 4K release but it looks like the sequel does not. Paramount releases The Little Prince (2015), previously only available as an import. Baltic/Russian film makers are at full speed ahead and it seems each week we see something from them. This week Scream Factory is releasing a Horror/Sci-Fi titled Sputnik, and yes, it is reported to have an English dub. Still looking for 3D discs to keep your 3D gear in use? This week, Wings of the Hawk debuts, and our review indicates it was restorted quite well. Friday releases comprises mostly of arts releases. Notable announcements from last week: All of this week's Mondo Macabro releases got delayed a month, look for them now on March 9th. No doubt COVID and other related delays. Arrow Video has announced their next batch of titles, which span the month of April. As far as 4K, they're prepping a "fat pack" release of Donnie Darko. It seems as though I had just bought their Blu-ray of this one (not to say it was a bad release, I just hate the back-to-back double dips.) The other 4K release on the docket is Battle Royale, but that one's a UK only release. Now for Blu-ray releases, they are (alphabetically) Death Has Blue Eyes, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (Arrow / SteelBook Edition) and Switchblade Sisters. A Blu-ray release of Battle Royale also remains a UK exclusive and, oddly enough, Clapboard Jungle appears to be a UK and Canada only release. Warner Archive's March titles include The Bermuda Depths, Crossfire, Damn Yankees, The Great Caruso, Isle of the Dead and Thundarr the Barbarian: The Complete Series. Isle of the Dead was originally to be a Shout/Scream factory release in 2019, looks like that had fallen through. If you remember The Berrmuda Depths it is likely because you know your Rankin and Bass TV! Warner Bros has announced the 4K release of Godzilla (2014) and it will be available on March 23rd as a Standard Release (with a rather f'ugly cover) and a SteelBook release that looks very much like the Asian import of the Blu-ray SteelBook I bought years ago. The latter, Godzilla's tail was nicely embossed/textured. I recall people complaining how dark the picture was on this movie, I doubt, but really do hope that HDR will change that aspect much. I think the dark look was the intention of the film. The next 'Paramount Presents' release will be Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth, expected on March 30th. Featuring another 4K restoration but presented in 2K format. Paramount (unlike DISNEY) at least is releasing multiple catalog titles on Blu-ray that never were available before and offering a handful of actual 4K titles as well from the catalog. My Fair Lady, Super 8 and The Ten Commandments will be on 4K disc soon. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I currently have none of this week's titles on preorder, but I'm certainly interested in Elysium 4K. My wish list for the rest of the titles are Freaky, Greenland, Sputnik, Jiang Ziya, Wander Darkly and The Little Prince.Posted Sun Feb 7, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Home Video Releases For The Week of February 2, 2021For many of us, the month of February is a welcome sight as it also means Spring is near, being the shortest month of the year, it's that much nearer. Filing your income taxes has been delayed until the 12th at the earliest, what's on your wishlist this year? Welcome to Episode 37 of our weekly look at what's coming out on home video. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- This week there is a single 4K disc release, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. In addiiton to the 4K and HDR upgrade, this one has got an updated DTS:X audio track. The BD100 disc should indicate there is a decent bit rate as well. Alternately, a Target Exclusive SteelBook is also available as well, and this time Target the the right thing by offering a SteelBook in 4K. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- This week is the slowest week of the month for Blu-ray discs, here are the highlights. Sammy Davis Jr. releases seem far and few, this week Kino delivers Anna Lucasta, which also stars Eartha Kitt. Another of his films, A Man Called Adam also releases this week as well. Known director James Whale's The Kiss Before the Mirror also debuts this week on Blu-ray, check out our review, buy the disc. Delayed a few times, but now on track for this week, Kino partner Code Red releases The Great Alligator, one of those schlocky fun horror films from the 70s. Paramount's (new to Blu-ray) catalog batch this week includes Lassie, Mouse Hunt, Small Soldiers & Yours, Mine & Ours (2005). Also, reissues of Ladybugs and Revolutionary Road means these OOP titles can be had again for a reasonable price. The weekly dose of anime highlights include just Black Clover: Season 3 Part 2 & Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather. Universal releases Let Him Go, the 2020 Crime/Thriller movie starring Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. Lionsgate's weekly infusion includes just Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, this one's got a bit of star power in it worth checking out if you like the comedy/romance genre. Notable announcements from last week: Shout Factory/GKIDS has announced and added details for the 2020 Studio Ghibli animated film Earwig and the Witch. The feature is directed by Gorô Miyazaki is expected to release on Blu-ray on April 6th. It will be available as a standard release and a SteelBook edition, no word on if 4K is even an option. If it is, it will likely release like Weathering With You did, ie: a couple of months later, and they did warn us beforehand. LionsGate has announced three more titles for Feb/Mar, they are Don't Tell a Soul, Vanguard and Wrong Turn (2021). Our own Matthew Hartman has reviewed the theatrical release of Wrong Turn, check it out. Information has been leaked of Universal releasing National Lampoon's Animal House on 4K disc later in 2021. Details are not available as of yet and the cover art is likely temporary (their 4K disc releases generally offer digital 4K streams, not digital HD.) Kino Lorber's 4K disc release of Spaceballs now has a street date, expect it on April 13th. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I did preorder Mouse Hunt and Small Soldiers. Wishlist includes Black Clover S3#2, Ladybugs, Lassie & Sky Sharks. Let Him Go sounds interesting but this could have been a good 4K candidate, it might still be actually, hard to say if they will release in on 4K domestically or overseas. I will also look at Love, Weddings & Other Disasters first, no blind buy there.Posted Sun Jan 31, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Home Video Releases For The Week of January 26, 2021The last full week of January 2021 is upon us, and thus far the new disc announcements still remain rather slow. They will ramp up, they always do after the holidays. Welcome to Episode 36 of our week's highlights on what's coming to home video. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- This week we see three UPCS on 4K disc, animated features at that. First from Warner Bros. look for Batman: Soul of the Dragon, available as a standard release and as a (increasingly more common) Best Buy Exclusive release that includes a figure. Next, in the anime category, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro comes at you from Discotek. I do not follow the Lupin series much but it appears to me to be well established and goes quite a ways back, proven by the fact this title is from 1979. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- For Blu-ray releases, this week is probably the busiest week of the month. Warner Bros also releases Batman: Soul of the Dragon on Blu-ray this week as well. More DC Universe material, Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season hits home video this week as well. I must have missed the boat, but apparently Snowpierecer got a TV series? Season One is releases this week on Blu-ray. Warner Archive releases the 1936 vintage film After the Thin Man, perhaps worth a look if you want to complete the entire sequelogy (is that even a word? If not, it should be.) Also from Warner Archive, Good News starring June Allyson & Peter Lawford and The Pajama Game starring Doris Day, and finally Room For One More starring Cary Grant. Criterion Collection releases foreign film The Ascent this week. LionsGate keeps cranking them out, at a fair price to boot, look for the action/drama Born a Champion this week. Universal releases Come Play this week, perhaps the kind of movie you would watch to break cabin fever. In the anime category, alphabetically, significant releases include Ascendance of a Bookworm - Complete Collection, Case File no221: Kabukicho - Season 1 Part 2, No Guns Life: Season 1 and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Season 1. The next Paramount Presents release becomes available this week, this time The Court Jester, which is also the first time it's been released on Blu-ray anywhere in the world. Thus far this line has been produced fairly well, I just wish they would include 4K where applicable, seeing as how many of their sources are 4K scans. Days of Thunder getting a 4K disc the same day as a Paramount Presents version was released is a good example. Also from Paramount, albeit a month late, what sounds like a fun take on a Christmas movie, Fatman debuts on disc this week. Random oddity from AGFA that sounds potentially interesting, The AGFA Horror Trailer Show. Also from AGFA, another interesting plot summary, The Curious Dr. Humpp. Arrow Video Releases I have been looking forward to after missing out on the mega-box set last year, despite ordering it on DAY ONE!! Gamera comes to us now in snazzy SteelBook packages. The Heisei Trilogy, The Heisei Era and The Showa Era. These appear to be the same discs from the box set but not inclusive of the swag. I really hate mail ordering Steelbooks though. Most of the order pickers and packers are unaware of the care they need in handling and shipping, so good luck not having to return them because of damage. (Note the two 'era' SteelBooks below, side-by-side form a single picture.) Also from Arrow, the 2006 feature starring Dwayne Johnson, Southland Tales comes out this week too! Grindhouse Releasing now releases the 1968 Burt Lancaster film The Swimmer this week as well, did I miss something? This film has had multiple releases over the years. Someone please educate me, what am I missing? Friday releases, one concert and one arts/ballet feature. Notable announcements from last week: Criterion Collection has announced its April 2021 slate. They missed the deadline to be in last week's update and it looks like April 2021 will not be the month they release their first 4K disc. Any way, the list of Blu-ray for April includes The Furies, History Is Made at Night, Irma Vep, Masculin Féminin and Memories of Murder. Amazon preorder links are already live. Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has announced another wave of catalog releases for Blu-ray. The list includes Girls Rule Collection (She's the Man comes to Blu-ray for the first time), The Bad News Bears (1976), The Bad News Bears (2005), The Saint, Snake Eyes (reissue), Tupac: Resurrection and The Tuxedo. On the same topic, Disney are you reading this? Not only have you abandoned the 4K disc market for catalog titles, but apparently since you've acquired Fox and started Disney +, you have also abandoned Blu-rays as well. I would like to legally own so much of your catalog on Blu-ray, sell them to me! There are so many sites out there selling discs that it's not always clear if they're legit. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I have an interest in both 4K titles, but neither are on preorder at this time. Other wishlist items, in order of importance: Doom Patrol Season 2, Fatman, Gamera Heisei Era and Showa Era, Born a Champion, Court Jester and the Friday release of Snow Queen.Posted Sun Jan 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Home Video Releases For The Week of January 19, 2021Has certainly been an interesting tumultuous month outside of the entertainment industry. The goal of these weekly updates though serves one purpose, home entertainment updates. Welcome to Episode 35 of our weekly look at the highlights of the week's home video releases. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- This week we see see three catalog titles hitting 4K disc. Sony Pictures brings us the Roland Emmerich 2009 disaster film 2012. Films of this nature were never meant to be entirely and scientifically accurate, but they still entertain us for a couple of hours and make us think of how life in our reality could be different. This one has an array of camera sources and a 2K DI, but how Sony produces the final 4K disc, I do not know, you can bet that bare minimum the HDR aspect will improve this release. Next, a pair of John Carpenter classics from the 80's, Prince of Darkness and They Live, brought to you by Scream Factory. These were restored by StudioCanal and released in the UK in 2018. Scream Factory no doubt took the same source but upped the ante a little bit by adding Dolby Atmos audio. We have done reviews of both releases already and they are favorable, follow the links and check them out. I hope they also release the other two films from the StudioCanal batch in 4K, Escape From New York and The Fog. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- For 2K/HD disc releases this week, there's quite an assortment. As always, the highlights are here. From Mill Creek, Accepted debuts on Blu-ray for the first time globally. Your Higness gets a Mill Creek reissue in case you missed the actual Universal Pictures release from 10 years ago. Anime releases every week are expected, it's a huge industry and a fair market across the globe. Shout Factory releases a 15th Anniversary edition of Bartender. Note this does not have an English dub though. Sentai Filmworks releases Blade of the Immortal - Complete Series. FUNimation brings us Part Two of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba as well as Season 6 and Season 7 of the Dragon Ball Z SteelBook releases. 2019's Drama/Thriller Dreamland debuts from Paramount this week, The synopsis sounds interesting, Dead Reckoning is being released by Shout/Scream factory this week. Keep in mind though that a synopsis doesn't paint the whole picture. Still on track for this week, Arrow Video's reissue of JSA: Joint Security Area. This one is worthy of mention as the previous release is listed for upwards of $100 from 3rd party sellers. Criterion Collectors should be eager to ponder Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese, two big names right there. Notable announcements from last week: There are a few B movie delays this week, no doubt related to the fact that there are not many places to produce discs any more and the COVID virus. Warner Archive has announced their February titles, which include Baby Doll, Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons, My Dream Is Yours, On Moonlight Bay, Pump Up the Volume, San Francisco, Show Boat (1951), Six by Sondheim and A Tale of Two Cities (1935). Will you be singing 'Happy Trails To You' when I mention that MVD Rewind Collection will be releasing Mackintosh and T.J. on May 18th? I certainly hope so. So many of the classic westerns need to be preserved and this one is no exception. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? Slow week for me. I certainly want all three of the 4K releases, I actually preordered the Shout Factory ones on impulse when they were at a pretty low price on Amazon. Also have Demon Slayer Part Two and the DBZ #6 and #7 on order as well.Posted Sun Jan 17, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Let Him Go Starring Kevin Costner & Diane Lane Hits Blu-ray February 2nd.Ma and Pa Kent from Man of Steel and Batman V Superman reunite for the thriller Let Him Go - now coming to Blu-ray on February 2nd from Universal Home Entertainment. Check out the trailer: If you didn't check it out during it's Theater At Home run on various streaming platforms, this family thriller hits Blu-ray in a two-disc Blu-ray & DVD set with Digital Copy. No news on a 4K UHD Blu-ray option at this point, there was one rumored a while back but we don't know what happened with that plan. Preorders for Let Him Go are now live - I wouldn't worry about that initial price point, I'm sure it'll go down well before release day. Check out the full press release with tech specks below. AVAILABLE TO OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH EXCLUSIVE NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN BONUS CONTENT WITH CAST AND CREW DIVING DEEPER INTO THE EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT STORY“CERTIFIED FRESH” ON ROTTEN TOMATOES BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL JANUARY 19, 2021BLU-RAYTM AND DVD FEBRUARY 2, 2021FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT “WILDLY ENTERTAINING” – PETE HAMMOND, DEADLINE Universal City, California, January 12, 2021 – Witness how far one family will go to rescue one of their own in the riveting and emotionally charged action-drama LET HIM GO, available to own for the first time on Digital on January 19, 2021 and on Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on February 2, 2021 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Based on the novel of the same name by New York Times acclaimed author Larry Watson, the intense thriller reunites Academy Award® nominee Diane Lane (Trumbo, Unfaithful) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (“Yellowstone,” Hidden Figures) as a husband and wife who set out to save their young grandson from the clutches of a ruthless family. Hailed as “original and suspenseful” (Owen Gleiberman, Variety), the visually stunning, Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh® film is set in the 1960’s American West and explores the bonds of family, the power of love and the necessity of sacrifice. Featuring never-before-seen bonus content with the film’s cast and crew, LET HIM GO on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital includes exclusive extras taking audiences behind the scenes with the cast and crew diving deeper into the western-tinged drama. After their life is set off course following the tragic loss of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge (Costner) and his wife Margaret (Lane) leave their Montana ranch on a mission through the North Dakota desert to rescue their young grandson from a dangerous family living off the grid. Navigating tragedy and tumult, the couple soon discover that the Weboy family, a deep-rooted local clan led by ruthless matriarch Blanche (Academy Award® nominee Lesley Manville; Phantom Thread, Ordinary Love) has no intention of letting the child go, forcing George and Margaret to ask how far they will go to fight for their family. Proclaimed by critics as “beautifully acted by Costner and Lane” (Glenn Kenny, The New York Times), LET HIM GO is filled with powerful performances and explores the strengths of family ties, the bittersweet and brutal cost of vengeance and the true stakes of heroism set against an iconic American backdrop. Writer and director Thomas Bezucha (The Family Stone, Big Eden) delivers a “compelling” (Pete Hammond, Deadline) and intensely visceral adaptation that authentically brings a bygone era to life in the heart-pounding revenge rescue tale. With an exceptional cast lead by Lane, Costner and Manville, LET HIM GO is rounded out by Jeffrey Donovan (“Fargo,” Sicario), Kayli Carter (Bad Education, “Mrs. America”), Booboo Stewart (The Twilight Saga, The Grizzlies) and Will Brittain (Kong: Skull Island, Everybody Wants Some). Accompanied by a hopeful and haunting score by Academy Award® winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up, Jurassic World series) that pulls the audience deeper into the story, LET HIM GO’s phenomenal performances and majestic landscapes are punctuated by palpable tension and shocking moments of terror, raising the ominous mood of the “searing thriller” (Glenn Kenny, The New York Times) that will have everyone on the edge of their seats throughout the film. With the purchase of LET HIM GO on disc or digital, fans are eligible to earn points towards special rewards via the Universal All-Access Rewards program. Members can redeem their points for digital movies, signed collectables, box sets, win exclusive prizes and more! For FREE registration and details please visit www.MyUniversalRewards.com. BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAYTM, DVD AND DIGITAL: The Blackledges: Kevin Costner & Diane Lane – Stars Diane Lane and Kevin Costner share personal insights into their characters and why finally having the chance to work together was an opportunity neither party could pass up. The Making of LET HIM GO – Take a deeper look at the emotional journey the Blackledges embark on, the period specific production design, and Director/Writer Thomas Bezucha's inspiration in adapting the novel for screen. Lighting the Way: Thomas Bezucha – Director/Writer Thomas Bezucha shares his process in developing the story while the cast and crew discuss what makes him the perfect person to bring this film to life. LET HIM GO will be available on Blu-rayTM, DVD and Digital. Blu-rayTM unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound. Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download. MOVIES ANYWHERE is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-rayTM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com. FILMMAKERS:Cast: Diane Lane, Kevin Costner and Lesley ManvilleCasting By: Avy Kaufman, CSAMusic By: Michael GiacchinoCostume Designer: Carol CaseEdited By: Jeffrey Ford, ACE Meg RetickerProduction Designer: Trevor SmithDirector of Photography: Guy Godfree, CSCExecutive Producers: Jeffrey Lampert, Josh McLaughlin, Kimi Armstrong Stein, Kevin CostnerProduced By: Paula Mazur, Mitchell Kaplan, Thomas BezuchaBased on the Novel By: Larry WatsonWritten for the Screen and Directed By: Thomas Bezucha TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™: Street Date: February 2, 2021Selection Number: 62211532 (US) / 62214399 (CDN)Layers: BD-50Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 WidescreenRating: R for ViolenceSound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0, French European DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 7.1, Latin American Spanish DTS Digital Surround Sound 5.1Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French-Canadian, French European and Latin American Spanish Subtitles Run Time: 1:53:28 TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:Street Date: February 2, 2021Selection Number: 62211531 (US) / 62212616 (CDN)Layers: DVD 9Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Anamorphic WidescreenRating: R for ViolenceSound: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0, French European and Latin American Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, French European and Latin American Spanish SubtitlesRun Time: 1:53:28Posted Wed Jan 13, 2021 at 07:20 AM PST by: -
Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-4 Coming March 2With Rick and Morty Season 5 arriving maybe possibly (who knows really) sometime in 2021 - Warner Brothers collects the previous seasons into one nice convenient box set. This has been their habit throughout the series' run thus far so this isn't too surprising a release. They did a Season 1 & 2 box ser, a Season 1 & 3 box set - and I'm sure eventually after Season 5 arrives - there will be a box set for that too. If you've been on the fence picking the series up, it's still damn funny. Season 4 wasn't peak material in my book, but it was still pretty damn funny. Those last few episodes saved what was starting out to be a pretty mediocre season. And in case you're worried about extra features or anything like that, these sets are merely collecting the already available discs so nothing new in that regard. As of this writing, Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-4 is not yet available for pre-order but should be soon. When it's up we'll update the listing. Here's the full press release from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment: Adult Swim’s Two-Time Emmy® Award Winning Series Brings Home All the Antics Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-4 Own the Out-of-this-World Box Set on Blu-ray™ & DVD March 2, 2021 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment BURBANK, CA (January 12, 2021) Wubba-lubba-dub-dub! From creators Justin Roiland (“Adventure Time”) and Dan Harmon (“Community”), go on an intergalactic journey across the multi-verse with the release of Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-4 boxed set from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 2, 2021. Get ready to binge on one of cables #1 watched comedies - and follow the misadventures of America’s favorite crazy scientist and his grandchildren with this outrageous boxed set which includes all 41 episodes from the first four seasons of the award-winning series, along with copious special features, including audio commentary, deleted scenes, “Inside the Episode” segments, numerous featurettes, past animatic sketches, and more. For a limited time, fans who purchase the set will receive an exclusive poster from the series. Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-4 is priced to own at $79.99 SRP for the DVD ($89.99 in Canada) and $89.99 SRP for the Blu-ray ($99.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Rick and Morty also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers. After having been missing for nearly 20 years, Rick Sanchez suddenly arrives at daughter Beth's doorstep to move in with her and her family. Although Beth welcomes Rick into her home, her husband, Jerry, isn't as happy about the family reunion. Jerry is concerned about Rick, a sociopathic scientist, using the garage as his personal laboratory. In the lab, Rick works on a number of sci-fi gadgets, some of which could be considered dangerous. But that's not all Rick does that concerns Jerry. He also goes on adventures across the universe that often involve his children, Morty and Summer. With Blu-ray’s unsurpassed picture and sound, Rick and Morty: Season 1-4 Blu-ray release will include 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. Featuring all 41 episodes from the season 1-4 in high definition, as well as a digital code of the seasons (available in the U.S. only). DIGITAL Rick and Morty is available to own on Digital. Digital allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital is available from various retailers including iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox and others. A Digital Code is also included in the U.S. with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage. BONUS FEATURES Season 1 Commentaries for Every Episode Animatics for Every Episode Behind the Scenes Deleted Scenes Season 2 Commentaries for Every Episode Animatics for Every Episode Deleted Animatic Sketches Rick and Morty Season 2 Premiere Party Featuring Chaos Chaos Season 3 Commentaries for Every Episode Animatics for Every Episode “Inside the Episode” for Every Episode Exclusive “Inside the Recording Booth” Origins of Rick and Morty Part 1 & 2 Season 4 A Day at Rick and Morty: Inside Season 4 “Inside the Episode” for Every Episode Creating Snake Jazz Directing Rick and Morty Samurai and Shogun Prop Process Character Creation Animation Challenges 41 (22 Minute) EPISODES Season 1 Pilot Lawnmower Dog Anatomy Park M. Night Shaym-Aliens! Meeseeks and Destroy Rick Potion #9 Raising Gazorpazorp Rixty Minutes Something Ricked This Way Comes Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind Ricksy Business Season 2 A Rickle in Time Mortynight Run Auto Erotic Assimilation Total Rickcall Get Schwifty The Ricks Must Be Crazy Big Trouble In Little Sanchez Interdimensional Cable 2: Tempting Fate Look Who’s Purging Now The Wedding Squanchers Season 3 The Rickshank Rickdemption Rickmancing the Stone Pickle Rick Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy Rest and Ricklaxation The Ricklantis Mixup Morty’s Mind Blowers The ABC’s of Beth The Rickchurian Mortydate Season 4 Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat The Old Man and the Seat One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty Claw and Hoarder: Special Ricktim’s Morty Rattlerstar Ricklactica Never Ricking Morty Promotyus The Vat of Acid Episode Childrick of Mort Star Morty Rickturn of the Jerri BASICS DVD Release Date: March 2, 2021 Presented in 16x9 widescreen format Total Runtime: Approx. 919 8 DVD-9 / 4 BD-50 Audio – English (5.1) Subtitles – English SDH Rated: TV-MA DVD Price: $79.99 SRP ($89.99 in Canada) Blu-ray Price: $89.99 SRP ($99.99 in Canada)Posted Tue Jan 12, 2021 at 11:37 AM PST by: -
Home Video Releases For The Week of January 12, 2021Not a lot to really bring front and center this week about the entertainment industry, other than to say welcome to Episode 34 of our weekly look at what's coming to Home Video. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- There are no 4K discs slated for this week in the U.S. market. This whole month is a bit light actually. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- On the Blu-ray front though, it's an average week. So, without further adieu, let's get right to it. The anime category has a handful of titles this week worth your time. In no particular order (except maybe alphabetical) they are: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 8 (Shadow of the Curse Mark), Fruits Basket: Season 2 Part 1, available as a standard edition and as a Limited Edition, Girls und Panzer: This is the Real Anzio Battle!, a movie titled Lupin III: The FIrst available in a standard edition and as a SteelBook, Mill Creek has another batch of VHS Retro Look titles this week, they are Blind Fury, Crossroads, The Freshman and Like Father Like Son. Also from Mill Creek, the next Ultraman release, this one is titled Ultraman Taro - The Complete Series and is available as a standard edition and as a SteelBook. If you're a Criterion collector, there is one title this week that I personally know nothing about, Minding the Gap. Lionsgate has an action sci-fi release titled Skylines. Somehow this one looks familiar but yet it is not, and no, I'm not thinking of Pacific Rim either. The 2020 horror/thriller Spell comes to you this week from Paramount. Notable announcements from last week: Very slow week for announcements, as expected, but with the holidays over they will resume. Amazon has listed a street date of February 23 for The Croods: A New Age, I probably would accept that as accurate. Severin films has announced their April slate of titles, some of them were pending since 2012 and were to be released by Scorpion Releasing. The titles are Day of the Animals, Deep Blood, Grizzly and Santa Sangre. The latter will also be available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a 4-disc deluxe editon, look for them under April 27th. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? One title preordered, the Lupin III SteelBook release. I've got a very short wishlist this week, Buried Alive and Skilines. A couple of the Mill Creek retro titles mildly interest me as well.Posted Sun Jan 10, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Goodbye Family Video - The Last Remaining Major Rental Shop Chain To CloseIn an announcement released yesterday to email subscribers and on the Family Video Website and social media accounts, Keith Hoogland has announced the end of an era. You can read the letter here. As people moved to the convenience of online streaming platforms to get their movie fixes, the video rental shop business model steadily disappeared. Except for Family Video. Where the dominoes fell fast for chains like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video (where I slung videos from 2008-2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) the small spunky upstart managed the impossible - it hung on. Understanding rural areas didn't get the same fast dedicated internet speeds needed for a quality streaming experience, the company adjusted its business model to keep to small towns and cities. But just because they catered to the needs of a smaller local audience, didn't mean they sidestepped new format advancements or tastes. Where my in-laws live there's a Family Video and while renting something never made sense for how short our visits usually are (and I have vastly different tastes in movies), I always liked to drop in and look around. It was a delightful dip through nostalgic memories complete with raiding the Previously Viewed titles for great deals. I also loved they had a dedicated Criterion Collection section - something I hadn't seen since my Hollywood Video days. Sadly, I won't get to do that again. As COVID-19 swept across the country it knocked out their foot traffic and with precious few new releases coming to disc, they couldn't survive. Lasting over 10 years longer than the likes of Movie Gallery, Blockbuster, or Hollywood Video, Family Video's end effectively closes the last chapter of an era where people actually left their homes to find a new movie to watch for the weekend. While this doesn't come as much of a consultation, the Family Video website will live on. In recent years they've become a great resource for collectors offering solid deals on previously viewed discs but also great sales from niche and boutique studios. I personally take advantage of their Arrow, Criterion, and most recently their Blue Underground sale. Their regular 50% off Arrow Video sale alone has helped me save a ton while adding some great titles to my collection that I otherwise would have waited on or passed altogether. So far, I haven't seen any details for closing sales and deals on the store level - if you live near one let us know! One of the worst parts of helping my Hollywood Video close and then visiting subsequent Blockbuster locations was picking through the bones of the shops for titles. But at the same time, I felt like I was preserving a part of a larger collection. I still have several of my old Hollywood Video titles with clunky thick plastic cases and genre stickers covering up part of the spines. Even as I've replaced those titles with Blu-ray or even 4K UHD, I haven't had the heart to let those old memories go. If you're lucky to live near one of these shops that will be closing its doors, see if you can't mask up and make a final visit.Posted Thu Jan 7, 2021 at 04:43 AM PST by: -
Home Video Releases For The Week of January 5, 2021First full week of 2021 right here folks! Have you broken your New Year's resolution yet? Here's hoping this year will be a good one. Welcome to Episode 33 of our weekly look at the highlights of what's coming out on home video this week. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- Just a single 4K disc this week, the 2020 Adventure/Comedy Love and Monsters. I don't know enough about this one to comment any further. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- So far it looks like the month of January is pretty evenly divided for Blu-ray releases. Here's the highlights for this week. Warner Archive brings us The 100: The Complete Seventh and Final Season. Seven seasons seems a compfortable number with a lot of great shows. With Sir Sean Connery gone, it's fitting to have a reissue of 1975's The Man Who Would Be King, which no doubt is simply a more exonomical package. Maybe one of our readers could comment, is there any basis to this movie and the more recent The Kid Who Would Be King. In the Anime category, Black Bullet - Complete Collection might be worth your time. R-Rated anime includes Blood Sisters and Devilman - Special Edition, Amazon lists them as next week but the studio's site and other retailers indicate they are out this week. Kino Lorber has a few noteworthy titles each week, but the one that might catch your eyes is Captain Newman, M.D., starring Gregory Peck & Tony Curtis. A previously delayed title Ingagi comes out this week, but relabeled as one of their Forbidden Fruit titles, this one is Volume 8 for those keeping track. It's dubbed as "the greatest movie hoax" which piques my interest a little. Kino Partner, Code Red, has a fun 80's title this week, Savage Streets. Those growing up on Vestron Video, MTV when they played music and even HBO when it was in its infancy should remember this one. Kino's other partner, Scorpion Releasing, brings us Tintorera, another shark movie trying to make a buck from the success of Jaws. On its own this one is not a bad movie. Love and Monsters also gets a Blu-ray release as well. Criterion Collectors have one release to ponder this week, Three Films by Luis Buñuel, which include The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The Phantom of Liberty and That Obscure Object of Desire. Both Friday releases are Operas, Beethoven: Lenore and The Fiery Angel. Notable announcements from last week: The Time Travelers (1964) was slated for this week, but sort of went *poof* with no new date listed. Another 3D Blu-ray announcement, this time from Kino Lorber, the Kung-Fu action filled title Dynasty. Featuring Digital 3D, analyph 3D and digital 2D, plus restored 4 channel sound. Monster Hunter now has order links, both for the Blu-ray and the 4K Combo, and has a tentative street date of March 30. I would expect all sorts of retailer exclusives on this one, if not domestically, perhaps overseas. Castlevania: Season Three just got listed as well, but no official announcements yet. Also, from the same distributer, His Dark Materials: Season Two also got a listing, announcement expected very soon. Season One in my opinion had a much better release in the UK. This show was produced in 4K, so the lack of a 4K disc option annoys one to no end. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I do have Blood Sisters, Devilman and Shrine of the Morning Mist on order. Love and Monsters 4K could be an impulse buy. A Gravitas release that I might consider, Nina of the Woods. Savage Streets and Tintorera are distant wish list items.Posted Sun Jan 3, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Home Video Releases For The Week of December 29, 2020At the end of the week, we will be saying HAPPY NEW YEAR as we reign in 2021! This could be interesting with a pandemic raging, no Times Square event for sure. Having lived in the country and in the city, there is still a commonality at midnight, that pop pop pop sound of either fireworks or gunshots! Welcome to Episode 32 of our weekly look at what's coming to home video. Just like last week, the selection is pretty light, if not lighter. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases- There are no 4K releases slated for this week. If we were in the UK I would mention His Dark Materials Season Two. HD Blu-ray/Digital releases- In the Blu-ray anime category, Discotek titles dominate. The titles are Battle Athletes TV Series + OVA, Case Closed: The Crimson Love Letter, Devilman Lady - The Complete Series, GinRei The Complete OVA Series, Lupin III: Tokyo Crisis and Thermae Romae - The Complete Series. FUNimation releases Case File no221: Kabukicho - Season 1 Part 1. Universal Pictures brings us 2020's Action Crime Drama Honest Thief starring Liam Neeson. From Sony Pictures, 2020's The Last Shift, considered as a Comedy Drama. The cast should be familar to you any way, might be worth a look. If you're a Marx Bros. fan, the previously delayed A Night in Casablanca appears on track for this week. For a Friday release, a previously delayed title, Asia: Symfonia - Live In Bulgaria 2013. Asia was a pretty decent rock back back in their day. Notable announcements from last week: Often times I do not post complete announcements from the independent houses, it is is not out of lack of respect, it's that many of the titles have a very limited audience and these weekly posts are highlights. Any way, early this past week Vinegar Syndrome announced Silent Madness 3D with a street date of January 26. I know 3D fans are always looking for new titles so this is big news to such fans. This release includes 2D, digital 3D and analyph 3D. The latter means you put on the colored glasses (included) and view them on any TV. Details and street date have been finalized for the follow up to the movie Ne Zha, this one is titled Jiang Ziya. No 4K listing yet, hard to say if there will be. Paramount has announced the next batch of Miramax reissues, they have a street date of February 23rd. What's great is that if you missed your chance to buy these when they originally came out, the reissues are typically a little less money this time around, and you no longer have to have that much desired released dangled in front of you by a third party seller at $100 or more! This batch contains mostly R rated titles and so far they include Chasing Amy, Doubt, The English Patient, Finding Neverland / Ella Enchanted (Double Feature), Frida, Gone Baby Gone, Hostage, Like Water for Chocolate, Rounders, Shakespeare in Love, Sling Blade and Trainspotting. The 1997 sci-fi masterpiece Gattaca is getting a 4K release, as a SteelBook to boot on March 23rd. Check out our news story here. Also announced for 4K disc, the 2020 video-game based film Monster Hunter and the 2016 video-game based film Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. FUNimation has revealed their Late February/March 2021 titles. As expected, the SteelBooks for Dragon Ball Z Season 8 and Season 9 are there. Additionally, Fairy Tail: Part 26, A Certain Scientific Railgun T - Part 1, Attack on Titan: Season 3, BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt So I'll Max Out My Defense - Season 1 (as a standard release and as a Limited Edition release,) Fruits Basket: Season 2 Part 2 (also as a standard and a Limited Edition release,) One Piece: Season Eleven - Voyage One (first season of this series on Blu-ray,) Black Clover: Season 3 Part 3 (additionally a different SKU with an empty box to hold the entire season,) Asteroid in Love - The Complete Series and Goblin Slayer - Goblin's Crown. Also debuting in May, Phantasy Star Online 2 - Episode Oracle Part 1. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? The only one I preordered was Devilman Lady, Honest Thief and Last Shift are wishlist items, as well a Case File 221 S1P1.Posted Sun Dec 27, 2020 at 12:00 PM PST by:
