Ever wanted to own a little Michael Keaton? After going out of print a few years ago, Hot Toys is now reissuing two of their most popular 1/6 scale figures based on Tim Burtan’s iconic 1989 film. Maybe a new Jack Nicolson Joker is on the horizon?
If collecting your favorite movies in the highest quality format wasn’t enough for you to express your love for your favorite movies, the action figure market is a whole other game - and can be quite expensive and addicting! Now with 2023’s The Flash trailer revealing the long-awaited return of Michael Keaton as Batman, Hot Toys is reissuing two of their most popular 1/6 scale figures - Keaton’s 1989 Batman and Batmobile. Not stopping at a simple re-issue, it looks like fans can expect something new in the box as well!
Expected ship date April 2024-September 2024
While scoring this excellent figure may be a boon for those who initially missed out several years ago, this new Deluxe Edition will feature a new display base depicting the church gargoyle from the film’s climax. If that wasn’t cool enough, the gargoyle is apparently removable allowing you to give Batman a dramatic perch to spot any crime in your home theater room!
If the description of the figure is accurate, it looks like collectors can expect a new head with separate rolling eyes. For many collectors (myself included), the previous edition of this head was a pain and the eye mechanism could jam or break leaving your figure looking cross-eyed and rather stupid. On top of the base figure, you get some extra hands, batarangs, ninja stars, grappling hooks, remote, and other items to spice up your display.
This figure is currently up for pre-order at Sideshow Toys and rolls for a pretty hefty $345 before shipping and taxes.
Expected ship date April 2024-September 2024
Now if you’re not interested in a fancy display base, a more basic version of the figure is also up for pre-order and will only run you a modest $279 before shipping and taxes. With that, you get pretty much everything the Deluxe Edition figure has to offer, minus the fancy display base.
But what’s the point of owning a Batman figure without his car?
Expected ship date April 2024-September 2024
Talk about a grail accessory for any number of collectors! For many fans, the Batmobile design peaked in 1989 and has never been improved upon. This classic piece of machinery in 1/6 scale form was expensive and hard to come by when it was first issued. While it’ll be easier to pick up now with a new pre-order, it’s not going to be cheap. Sideshow has it pegged at $715 before taxes and shipping!
But, this is a hell of an accessory item. Designed to fit your 1/6 1989 Batman figure, it is massive stretching roughly 40 inches long (about the size of my three-year-old!), almost 16 inches wide, and ten inches high at the wings. But this isn’t just a fancy model to look at. The wheels turn, it has hidden front machine guns, side disc launchers, complete with light-up LED dash display, headlights, tail lights, and jet engine!
Of course, these are high-tier collector’s items and cost a pretty penny, but Sideshow does offer financing and a rewards program for members to help you build your collection. Happy collecting!
Atomic Monster and Blumhouse' surprise hit horror/comedy M3GAN attacks Blu-ray from Universal on March 21st with both Theatrical & Untrated Cuts...
No 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to be found.
The Blumhouse and Atomic Monster machines keep cranking along with the surprise killer doll hit M3GAN. Reportedly cut down to secure a more audience-friendly PG-13 didn't hurt its box office as the film soaked in an impressive $168million global box office haul on the back of a meager $12million production budget. Now with it's Blu-ray release hitting at the end of March (digital streaming sales and rentals hit February 24th), fans can check out the longer, gorier, and more profane Unrated Cut as well as enjoying the version they saw in theaters.
Here's what you're getting in the box:
Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The “existentially scary” (Collider) film, presented from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse and produced by Atomic Monster in association with Divide/Conquer, has crossed $167 million at the global box office. M3GAN is produced by masters of horror—Atomic Monster’s James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Anabelle) and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum (Halloween franchise, The Invisible Man, The Black Phone) and directed by Gerald Johnstone (Housebound). The M3GAN UNRAT3D VERSION delivers more distressing violence and profanity and features never-before-seen bonus content including a breakdown of the creation of M3GAN and behind-the-scenes featurettes showcasing the film’s complex stunts and gory deaths.
M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, Get Out), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. As Gemma faces pressure at work from her boss (Ronny Chieng, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) to deliver a finished version of M3GAN, she suddenly becomes the unprepared caretaker of her newly orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House). Gemma decides to pair the M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL:
Run Time: Theatrical : 1 Hour(s) 42 Minutes / : Hour(s) Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Language & Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 / English DVS (Descriptive Video Services) / French Canadian DTS Digital Surround 5.1 / Latin Spanish Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Subtitles:English SDH / French Canadian / Latin Spanish
Number of Discs: 2
Now up for pre-order! Thank you for all of your pre-orders. They really do go a long way toward keeping our little operation up and running.
Warner Brothers sets The Maltese Falcon and Cool Hand Luke on 4K UHD on April 4th with Rebel Without a Cause following on April 18th.
Best Buy Exclusive Steelbooks for at least Cool Hand Look and Rebel Without A Cause are up for pre-order!
Academy Award® winner Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir as tough San Francisco private detective Sam Spade in the classic, convoluted story of Spade's involvement with a deadly band of international thieves who will lie, double cross and murder to obtain a small, jewel-encrusted statue known as The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade's (Bogart) partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan), accepts a job protecting a young woman (Mary Astor). Neither Spade nor Archer believe the woman or the story she tells them, but they do believe her money. Then, when Archer is murdered, Spade's search for the killer drags him in the web of lies and death spun by the desperate people seeking The Maltese Falcon.
The 1941 film is directed by John Huston in his directorial debut. The screenplay is by Huston and is based on the 1930 novel by Dashiell Hammett. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, and Sydney Greenstreet.
The Maltese Falcon was nominated for three Academy Awards® for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Sydney Greenstreet) and Best Adapted Screenplay (John Huston). Considered one of the greatest films of all time, it was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress to be included in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The Maltese Falcon Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
In the UK a SteelBook option is available, we just haven't seen it pop up stateside at Best Buy yet, when/if they add it we'll update our listings.
Academy Award® winner Paul Newman stars with George Kennedy in this story of a man who will not surrender to authority--even at the cost of his life. When Luke Jackson (Newman) is sentenced to a Southern prison for a minor infraction, his intelligence, calm under pressure and inability to accept defeat soon gain him the respect of his fellow inmates on the chain gang--and the nickname Cool Hand Luke. But they also earn Luke the enmity of the warden, who cannot allow any inmate to challenge his authority. When Luke's mother dies, he decides to escape ... and he will not allow anyone to stop him.
The 1967 film is directed by Stuart Rosenberg. The screenplay is by Donn Pearse and Frank R. Pierson and is based on the Pearce’s 1965 novel of the same name. The film is produced by Gordon Carroll and stars Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Canon, Robert Drivas, Lou Antonio, Strother Martin, and Jo Van Fleet.
Cool Hand Luke was nominated for four Academy Awards® for Best Actor (Paul Newman), Best Supporting Actor (George Kennedy) and Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium (Don Pearce and Frank Pierson) and Best Original Music Score (Lalo Schifrin) and won for Best Support Supporting Actor.
Cool Hand Luke Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
The 1955 film is directed by Nicholas Ray from a story by Ray, a screenplay by Stewart Stern, and an adaptation by Irving Shulman. It is produced by David Weisbart and James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, and William Hopper.
In 1990, Rebel Without a Cause was added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
Rebel Without a Cause Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
Rebel Without a Cause - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook)
All of these are ready to pre-order! Thank you in advance for your pre-orders, they really do go a long way toward keeping our little operation up and running.
The critically-acclaimed 2011 DC Comics animated movie will be soaring to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on April 18.
Grant Morrison's beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Superman's heroic final days on Earth is brought to exquisite, animated life in All-Star Superman. The film begins as the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) but, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation - which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms - finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor's perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth's safety before his own impending end with one final, selfless act.
The release will include new featurettes and previously released content including an audio commentary and a digital comic book.
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
Suggested list price is $33.99
Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise hits the Criterion road in May with a Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. The month's slate also includes Targets as well as Petite Mama on Blu-ray and 4K releases of both Wings of Desire and Branded to Kill.
Once again The Criterion Collection expands its content with a mix of old and new titles seeing some extra TLC on physical media. With Wings of Desire already getting an excellent EU 4K release it was only a matter of time before Criterion would update theirs, but there are some other pleasant surprises for their May slate. Lets take a look at what's getting added to our shelves:
Up first on May 2 is Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Wings of Desire is one of cinema’s loveliest city symphonies. Bruno Ganz is Damiel, an angel perched atop buildings high over Berlin who can hear the thoughts—fears, hopes, dreams—of all the people living below. But when he falls in love with a beautiful trapeze artist, he is willing to give up his immortality and come back to earth to be with her. Made not long before the fall of the Berlin Wall, this stunning tapestry of sounds and images, shot in black and white and color by the legendary Henri Alekan, forever made the name of director Wim Wenders' synonymous with film art.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Seijun Suzuki's 1967 New Wave Branded to Kill will also be available on 4K UHD on May 9
When Japanese New Wave bad boy Seijun Suzuki delivered this brutal, hilarious, and visually inspired masterpiece to the executives at his studio, he was promptly fired. Branded to Kill tells the ecstatically bent story of a yakuza assassin with a fetish for sniffing steamed rice (the chipmunk-cheeked superstar Joe Shishido) who botches a job and ends up a target himself. This is Suzuki at his most extreme—the flabbergasting pinnacle of his sixties pop-art aesthetic.
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Peter Bogdanovich's Targets starring the legendary Boris Karloff arrives on Blu-ray on May 16
Old Hollywood collides with New Hollywood, and screen horror with real-life horror, in the startling debut feature from Peter Bogdanovich. Produced by Roger Corman, this chillingly prescient vision of American-made carnage casts Boris Karloff as a version of himself: an aging horror-movie icon whose fate intersects with that of a seemingly ordinary young man (Tim O’Kelly) on a psychotic shooting spree around Los Angeles. Charged with provocative ideas about the relationship between mass media and mass violence, Targets is a model of maximally effective filmmaking on a minimal budget and a potent first statement from one of the defining voices of the American New Wave.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Céline Sciamma’s 2021 film Petite Maman is due on Blu-ray on May 23
Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to Portrait of a Lady on Fire transcends time and space to weave a delicately emotional fable about grief, family, and connection across generations. In the wake of her grandmother’s death, eight-year-old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) accompanies her distraught mother (Nina Meurisse) to her childhood home. There, Nelly’s encounter with another young girl (Gabrielle Sanz) brings mother and daughter together in a way neither could have ever imagined. Evoking childhood’s perpetual state of wonder through luminous, richly textured images, Petite maman takes viewers on a journey inward for a quietly miraculous tale of emotional time travel.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Lastly on May 29 is Ridley Scott's Thelma & Louise on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
Two women, a turquoise Thunderbird, the ride of a lifetime. With this pop-culture landmark, screenwriter Callie Khouri and action auteur Ridley Scott rewrote the rules of the road movie, telling the story of two best friends who find themselves transformed into accidental fugitives during a weekend getaway gone wrong—leading them on a high-speed Southwest odyssey as they elude police and discover freedom on their own terms. Propelled by irresistible performances from Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis (plus Brad Pitt in a sexy, star-making turn)—and nominated for six Academy Awards, winning one for Khouri—the exhilaratingly cathartic Thelma & Louise stands as cinema’s ultimate ode to ride-or-die female friendship.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Preorders for Criterion's May releases should be available soon!
The Academy Award-nominated animated comedy starring the voices of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek Pinault is headed for a DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray release on February 28. Digital arrives February 21.
Everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline, Puss in Boots, returns in a new adventure from the Shrek universe as the daring outlaw discovers that his passion for adventure and heroic missions have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star on his grandest quest yet. With only one life left, Puss is forced to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: Kitty Softpaws. They are joined in their journey by a chatty and cheerful mutt named Perrito. Together, our trio of heroes will need to stay one step ahead of the fairy tale realm’s craftiest crooks including Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Both the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and several bonus features:
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Wal-Mart Exclusive)
TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD:
Street Date: February 28, 2023
Selection Number: 1000824057 (US) / 1000824497 (CDN)
Layers: BD 100
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 16:9 2.39:1
Rating: PG for Action/violence, rude humor/ language, and some scary moments
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature), French European (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content)
Run Time: 01:42:20
TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY:
Street Date: February 28, 2023
Selection Number: 1000817627 (US) / 1000824496 (CDN)
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 16:9 2.39:1
Rating: PG for Action/violence, rude humor/ language, and some scary moments
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature), French European (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 5.1 for Bonus Content)
Run Time: 01:42:20
Happy Valentines Day. What does it mean for you? Are you of the horror or romance genre lover, or even a horror romance? This week marks a missed opportunity of releasing My Bloody Valentine to 4K disc, afterall, we get a Christmas film (Christmas with the Campbells). But there's always next year, or Christmas, right?
Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 37 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of Febrary 12th - February 18th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
This week's 4K category is pretty arid. Don't fret though as there are tons of upcoming titles and this break won't last long.
We have two (sort of) new releases this week, first from Universal, The Fabelmans, directed by Steven Spielberg. I keep confusing this film with Babylon, which comes out in March. Maybe it's the cover art, maybe because they're both about film.
The 'sort of' comment comes from the next release, Strange World from Disney. If you want the 4K your two primary options are to get the SteelBook from Best Buy or the standard edition from the Disney Movie Club. This is strange indeed, LionsGate has done this more than Disney has.
Import Wednesday (not Monday this time) is for the edition we should have in the US, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a Zavvi Exclusive Collector's Edition. This may not be orderable, look at the announcements below.
Next week, stunned and incoherent, beastly organ, fantastic lucky number, tidbits of an interval, sleepover gone wrong and more!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above two titles, The Fabelmans and Strange World each get their respective releases.
TV on disc includes American Gigolo: Season One and Longmire: The Complete Series.
From Arrow Video, Giallo Essentials V4 White Edition. Between Arrow Video and Vinegar Syndrome, we are sure to eventually fill our library with all of Giallo's films, if we haven't already.
New comedy from Warner Bros with House Party (aka House Party 5).
The next 'Paramount Presents' label release is available this week with Just Another Girl on the I.R.T..
Anime highlights include Demon King Daimao - Complete Collection, The Slime Diaries: The Complete Season and World Witches Take Off!: The Complete Season.
If you were hoping to satiate your need for Bruce Willis, you got to wait 2 more weeks, but this week from Vertical Entertainment there is an action/thriller titled Savage Salvation.
Just in time for Valentines Day, Criterion Collection has the 1968 edition of Romeo and Juliet. There was a recent lawsuit brought up on this one regarding the on screen nudity aspect of it.
Honorable mention: Available from RLJ Entertainment this week, Dark Glasses, a film by Dario Argento.
There has been word online that Zavvi will no longer be shipping SteelBooks to the US. There will only be a few going forward but they need to be ordered from the US site. Speaking from experience, I have often received damaged goods from them and have asked if there was a way to pay extra for better packaging, to which they said no. Hard to say what the official reason is, but that could be it.
How familiar are you about the place where everyone knows your name? Paramount/CBS has just revealed that Cheers: The Complete Series is coming to blu-ray on April 25th. Shot on film, this show looks pretty decent on pARAMOUNT pLUS (VIA aMAZON pRIME vIDEO). I must say I will be awaiting delivery on this one. Maybe some day we can get the modern crime shows on disc too, including their spin-offs --- CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, et al.
Paramount/CBS has added Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season One to 4K SteelBook on May 16th. Another positive direction release. Just add DS9 to the remaster projects and Trek fans will be elated. Also coming to Paramount 4K disc on May 16th, the 2003 remake of The Italian Job.
Here's an interesting crossover -- Warner Bros will be releasing Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One to 4K and blu-ray on April 25th.
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?
2022 was an absolutely insane year for cult and horror 4K Blu-ray releases, with great offerings from both major studios and boutique labels arriving nearly every week! Add on the fact that exclusive 4K Blu-ray releases were coming out in countries like Germany, UK and France, and you’ll have a tough time keeping track of everything that was coming out each and every day. Our wallets certainly felt the hit! It’s absurd that we got all of Argento’s Animal Trilogy in 4K in the same year that Alligator finally hit HD and 4K as well as a ton of nearly fogotten SOV favorites finding new life on Blu-ray. Hell, even Poltergeist and Fright Night got gorgeous new 4K transfers, with Criterion delivering the mother of all Zombie films in 4K. With so much great stuff coming out this last year, it was nearly impossible to narrow the field so Bruce Douglas, Sam Cohen, and Matthew Hartman offer up a few of their favorites and honorable mentions.
Full disclosure: The only context I had for this film was that it was some sort of grindhouse classic that Tarantino had cited as being a major influence on him, plus the general reputation it has in cult film communities of being a full-throated blend of sleazy sex and violence. What I was not prepared for was the ugly and caustic revenge film it is, like it’s in fierce opposition to the leagues of fans who have held it up as an energetic, sleazy time. Vinegar Syndrome presented us with a full 4K Blu-ray package during their big Halfway to Black Friday Sale, which of course sold out quickly and has since reappeared in a standard edition. With both cuts of the film sourced from a new 4K restoration from the negative, an incredible making-of doc that includes interviews with Christina Lindberg and Gunnar Palm, plus a stellar 4K transfer supported by HDR, Thriller: A Cruel Picture gets my highest recommendation. Just, uh…expect to be shocked. - Sam Cohen
What cult film list would be complete without a nod to The Sultan of Sleaze himself, John Waters! Back in June we reviewed a beautiful Criterion Collection release of his notorious film Pink Flamingos. Fully restored from 4K scans of the original 16mm source elements, the shockingly hilarious satire has never looked better. Bonus features are mostly archival but worth it for collectors to double dip. - Bruce Douglas
David Lynch’s Dune is a fascinating failure. An expensive flop in theaters, the film steadily grew into a cult following with fans picking over every shred of footage to untangle the cinematic storytelling web of Frank Herbert’s iconic novel. As Arrow arranged a pretty terrific release for the U.K. and the United States, Koch Media delivered the genuine Ultimate Edition offering up not only Lynch’s Theatrical Cut in gorgeous 4K and 1080p, but also the Extended Television Cut in HD as well as the fabled Spicediver fan-edit in 720p. If that wasn’t enough there are tons of swag items including a production design booklet, the Marvel comics adaptation, and tons of new and archival bonus features including the excellent Ballyhoo Film’s feature-length documentary The Sleeper Must Awaken: The Making of Dune which was supposed to be on the Arrow disc but sadly didn’t make it due to some delays. - Matthew Hartman
My personal favorite 4K horror import from 2022 was Second Sight’s hardbox digipack release of Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers. Yeah, I know what you’re going to say: why didn’t I buy Shout’s version in the US? Absolutely no offense is given toward Shout’s version, but I’ve been following Second Sight’s efforts on this particular title very closely and wanted to support that. Marshall shot this rough and tough horror film on Super 16mm, then it was blown up to 35mm for theatrical release. Prior releases had been sourced from 35mm prints with noise reduction really softening the whole film terribly, but here we get a stunning 2160p presentation sourced from a 4K restoration of the original 16mm camera negative. The film grain looks incredible here and colors are so much more natural, plus the bloodletting on display still hits just as hard as it did upon its original release. And for the physical media fiends, this one comes in a terrific hardbox case with a digipack and booklet inside. Scream Factory delivered their own excellent 4K release utilizing the same A/V elements with plenty of great bonus features, it just wasn't as elaborate as what Second Sight delivered. - Sam Cohen
The Sonny Chiba Collection brings seven underseen films from the action star’s career in a mix of sleazy exploitation actioners, yakuza crime thrillers, and samurai epics. Fans couldn’t get enough of this Shout! Factory box set in 2022! To see features like Shogun’s Shadow and Bodyguard Kiba 2 finally make their jump to home video made this set worth every penny. A/V presentations for each film are impressive given the age and availability of the earlier features. Limited special features here, but the films speak for themselves! Pair this set with Shout! Factory's excellent 2019 Street Fighter Collection and Arrow's Sister Street Fighter Collection. - Bruce Douglas
Another gift from the import markets was the one-two-punch of Arrow UK and Germany’s Turbine Medien dropping their respective editions of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. This grossly unnerving and shocking horror film is loosely based on real events and was shot on location in Chicago in 16mm for an extra grimy and creepy vibe. The new Dolby Vision transfer is fantastic and the film has never looked or sounded better after years of dodgy releases that left much to be desired. Both sets feature an excellent assortment of bonus features - the Arrow has more commentaries, but the Turbine disc offers up an alternate widescreen framing on Blu-ray. - Matthew Hartman
Again, how can I choose one Dario Argento 4K Blu-ray release from 2022 to like the most? Simply, you can’t! But the Black Friday-exclusive 4K Blu-ray package of Argento’s Four Flies on Grey Velvet from Severin Films gets a special mention. The 1971 giallo film features Argento at his spine-tingling best, and the violence is frequently punctuated by farcical comedy and visual conceits that the Italian maestro would revisit throughout his career. You could even say that Four Flies on Grey Velvet is the rollicking genesis of Argento’s obsession with voyeurism, writ large into a rock anthem of sorts. Severin’s beautiful new 4K transfer is sourced directly from the original 2-perf negative, restoring all of the various differences between the Italian Director’s Cut and English Language Version and gifting the whole thing with Dolby Vision HDR that’s tuned perfectly. Add the huge collection of supplements spread across the four discs included (one 4K disc, two Blu-ray and one CD) and you have a horror fan’s dream. Here’s to hoping that Severin follows this exclusive release up with a standard edition down the road. - Sam Cohen
The queen of absurdist sexploitation cinema received much attention in 2022 with lavish box sets featuring her avant-garde body of work. From Something Weird Video and AGFA the two collections we reviewed feature a number of cult favorites including Bad Girls Go to Hell, Double Agent 73, and Let Me Die A Woman. Lovingly restored with breathtaking restoration work the films have never looked better. Accompanied by a wealth of bonus features, The Films of Doris Wishman is a must-have for any cult collector. - Bruce Douglas
Larry Cohen’s masterstroke in genuine terror, God Told Me To is just a damn unsettling piece of filmmaking. I got this disc to review right as another horrific mass shooting was hitting headlines making this release unfortunately timely and prescient. As we struggle to understand why the latest incident happened in the real world, in the film, Tony Lo Bianco is obsessing over his latest case where a string of murders happened with each perpetrator uttering the same terrifying four words. Blue Underground continued their incredible streak of reference-quality catalog releases giving this film an amazing Dolby Vision transfer complete with a new Atmos track and plenty of bonus features. - Matthew Hartman
The love I have for this film knows no bounds, therefore picking up a newly minted 4K Blu-ray release wasn’t really a tough decision to make. There were some well-documented issues with the original audio tracks included in Shout’s 2016 Blu-ray release, to which Shout responded back then by sending out replacement discs with an improved-but-still-bunk single-channel track. For this new release, though, they present both newly restored versions of the original mono track and 5.1 upmix. Sound engineer Brett Cameron, who gets his own special feature in this release, spent hundreds of hours restoring the original mono track to repair the many missing moments of sound effects and dialogue from previous releases. As for the new 2160p transfer aided by Dolby Vision HDR, it’s the best this dark-as-hell film has ever looked. Turn the lights off for maximum effect! - Sam Cohen
2022 was a huge year for SOV productions getting the HD treatment. Vinegar Syndrome's OCN partner label Saturn’s Core has been painstakingly reviving its catalog of lost SOV horror thrillers with impressive results. My favorite of the year was 1995’s Red Lips, the trashy erotic epic that launched the 90’s lesbian vampire boom. Starring Ghetty Chasun, Michelle Bauer, and Kitten Natividad the film is packed with sleazy vibes but courting an honest love story at the center of it all. Thankfully Saturn’s Core brought the film to Blu-ray preserving the analogue patina for a new generation of fans. Special features allow fans to dive deeper into film with interviews and archival footage. It’s not for everyone, but that’s the beauty of these films making their way into our collections. - Bruce Douglas
Robin Hardy’s shocking folk horror film The Wicker Man has been remade (hilariously) and inspired numerous films in its wake. The film has had multiple cuts over the years with tons of informative bonus features, but never before has everything been pulled together into a single fantastic box set. This edition offers up the Theatrical Cut, Director’s Cut, and Final Cut of the film along with hours of bonus features complete with the film’s iconic and damned creepy soundtrack. Imprint went full out for this release and it’s a genuine treat for fans of the film and Christopher Lee enthusiasts. - Matthew Hartman
Yes, I am aware that Tobe Hooper’s classic horror film is being released in the US on 4K Blu-ray in a matter of weeks, however, attention must be paid to Turbine’s wonderful 4K Blu-ray steelbook release of the film from March 2022. As an owner of Turbine’s 2016 4K Blu-ray release of the film, which lacked HDR and had some wonky encoding, it’s my great pleasure to report that Turbine’s 2022 4K Blu-ray is a huge upgrade. Some may say that presenting a film shot on 16mm in 4K doesn’t really make sense, but to this reviewer, the enhanced resolution helps to refine the grain even more. The Dolby Vision HDR is tuned just right as well, bringing the most out of highlights, close-ups, and primaries. That way you can appreciate all the baked-in details without softening the impact of something as gritty as this film. And not that it was needed, but Turbine provides this release with a true murderer’s row of audio options, including original mono, Dolby Atmos, and even a 13.1 Auro-3D mix for those who have the equipment. These SteelBooks quickly sold out but Turbine has reissued the discs and artwork for new Mediabooks. - Sam Cohen
In November we had a chance to sit down with the b-movie classic Attack of the 50ft Woman. The Warner Archive Collection delivered the goods for a fantastic Blu-ray release sporting a gorgeous transfer, clean audio, and a nice audio commentary. Our editor said the restoration sported “impressive details and a gorgeous grayscale”. While the film may leave much to be desired in terms of plot and execution, its impact on drive-in films and genre staples can’t be understated. - Bruce Douglas
Before The Lord of the Rings and King Kong, Peter Jackson made another special effects extravaganza - that no one went to see in theaters. The Frighteners starring Michael J. Fox as an unscrupulous paranormal investigator didn’t become a hit until home video when word of mouth slowly turned this expensive theatrical flop into a genuine cult classic. Now thanks to the good folks at Turbine Medien, The Frighteners scares up one of the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases of the year with new Dolby Vision HDR transfers for both the Theatrical Cut and Director’s Cut with the DC also scoring a terrific Atmos mix to match. Then as an added bonus, They have the Director’s Cut with a new open matte presentation on Blu-ray on top of hours of new and archival bonus features. It’s a beautiful box set that is a genuine Ultimate Edition for one of the best horror comedies ever made - and for a while at least, this is the only place you'll be able to score this great flick in 4K! - Matthew Hartman
There are just too many great cult classics and horror releases this year to properly highlight them all. In addition to some of our favorites listed above we had a lot of love for the following releases:
What were some of your favorite cult classics or favorite horror flicks you picked up this year on 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray?
Darren Aronofsky's The Whale featuring the critically-acclaimed performance by Brendan Fraser will emerge on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital on March 14.
Read our theatrical review for The Whale here.
From Darren Aronofsky comes The Whale, the story of a reclusive English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Starring Brendan Fraser and based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter.
The Blu-ray will include a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, two behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a digital copy.
BLU-RAY / DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
Order your copy today and here is the full press release:
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The boxed set available on February 28 includes the first four films in the franchise (Rocky I-IV) plus the Director's Cut of Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
The four films will be presented in 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) with Dolby Vision. Digital versions of the movies will also be included. We haven't gotten a firm answer for why Rocky V (beyond it not being very good) and Rocky Balboa aren't included in this set, but as soon as we know more, we'll update. Each of these films is also getting SteelBook a solo SteelBook option as well.
Rocky: The Knockout Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards®, this 1976 Best Picture Winner inspired a nation. A struggling Philadelphia club fighter (Sylvester Stallone) gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for love, glory and self-respect. Featuring a legendary musical score and thrilling fight sequences, this rousing crowd-pleaser scores a knockout!
The film is directed by John G. Avilsden from a screenplay and story by Sylvester Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, and Burgess Meredith.
ROCKY received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture. Best Director and Best Film Editing. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected ROCKY for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
After club fighter Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) goes the distance with the world heavyweight champion, boxing fans clamor for a rematch. But Rocky, having sustained massive injuries announces his retirement. Though he tries to make a new life for himself, Rocky realizes that he can’t escape his true calling. The ring beckons once more, and the “Italian Stallion” must prepare for the fight of his life.
The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, and Burgess Meredith.
As Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) fights his way into the hearts of millions, life couldn’t be better. But when Clubber Lang (Mr. T) KOs Rocky in a humiliating defeat, it becomes apparent that the “Italian Stallion” has lost his edge. Considering hanging up his gloves, Rocky receives encouragement from an unlikely ally: his old nemesis, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With Creed’s help, Rocky strives to regain the “eye of the tiger” before confronting Lang in a grueling rematch!
The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, Burgess Meredith, and Mr. T.
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) holds the world heavyweight boxing championship but faces a new challenger: Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a 6'4", 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union. Rocky prepares for a powerfully charged fight, in which he must defend not only himself but the honor of his country!
Also included is Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago. Stallone masterfully reshapes Rocky IV in the ultimate director’s cut!
The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, Brigitte Nielsen, and Dolph Lundgren.
This set will also include a Blu-ray disc featuring the making-of documentary for the extended director’s cut of Rocky IV - Rocky IV: Rocky VS. Drago plus assorted previously released supplements.
Order your copy now and here is the full press release:
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Burbank, Calif., February 6, 2023 – Get knocked out by the new 4K contender – the ROCKY I-IV 4K 4-Film Collection newly remastered in stunning 4K Ultra HD. Sylvester Stallone stars in the greatest boxing saga of all time and triumphs as one of the most inspirational characters in cinematic history. Witness every epic, action packed fight and unforgettable moment as Rocky punches his way to the top against impossible odds when the ROCKY I-IV 4K 4-Film Collection is released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack on February 28. Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network MGM+, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution. For more information, visit www.mgm.com. Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels, and through physical Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD retail sales. WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.
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