Ready to buy more discs? Because we all know you did not overspend last week, right? Come on, just one more! Cyber week is here.
Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 28 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
Import Monday actually has got a pretty interesting title from Arrow Video, that would be Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The three options for this one are a Standard Edition, a Zavvi Exclusive SteelBook and a Zavvi Exclusive Collector's Edition. Will this get a similar U.S. release like say, True Romance eventually did? Hard to say at this time. I did take one for the team and order the Zavvi Collector's Edition, so it probably will.
Domestic release Tuesday's new releases, movie Don't Worry Darling. This one appears to be absent a slipcover, whilst the blu-ray has one, sort of like Three Thousand Years of Longing did.
And for new TV, Westworld: Season 4: The Choice, no SteelBook option for this one like previous seasons. Glad to see they are continuing with 4K disc seasons though, have seen other shows that gave us Season 1 in 4K and then went to blu-ray or were shot in 4K but no 4K disc options.
From Vinegar Syndrome, general releases of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and The Werewolf Versus Vampire Woman. And only available direct from their shop, Road House. A general release will no doubt come out next month.
Bonus: Import Friday from Turbine Media, Peter Jackson's The Frighteners Ultimate Edition. This one is available as a classic cover and a new cover variant. Looks like you get both covers with either edition, just, which one is the outer and which one is the inner.
Next week, 2-days, a sequel 2-more-days, city in the Netherlands, paper imagination, and more!
Somewhat average week in this category. First, blu-ray counterparts of the above titles include Don't Worry Darling and Westworld: Season 4: The Choice.
If you bought Amityville Karen, Amityville in the Hood, et al and want all things Amityville, this week The Amityville Curse gets a general release from Canadian Intl.
TV on disc includes a repackage of The Borgias: The Complete Series and Ghosts: Season One.
Because we know how much you missed Bruce Willis, we are happy to announce that Lionsgate is releasing Detective Knight: Rogue this week. From Vertical Entertainment, no Bruce Willis, a crime/thriller titled Emily the Criminal.
Anime highlights include Fruits Basket: Season 3, which comes as a standard edition and a limited edition, Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds, Love Live! Superstar!! - Season 1, Sherlock Hound - Complete & Unabridged and Urusei Yatsura Always My Darling.
Honorable Mentions: Some pretty good classic cinema from Kino Lorber with Detective Story. David Krauss says this one is 'Highly Recommended'. And take a look at Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XI while you're at it.
The fact that anything happened last week for new announcements would be considered a miracle.
Arrow Video did announce their February titles, and all the 4K options are UK only including a proper release of The Last Emperor. As far as US release though, blu-rays include .Com for Murder, Giallo Essentials V4 White Edition, Millionaires’ Express and The Vagrant.
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 DC Comics action-adventure starring Dwayne Johnson will be available for Premium Digital Ownership on November 22 and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on January 3.
Both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray will include several featurettes as well as Dolby Atmos. It is unclear if the 4K will include Dolby Vision.
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Black Adam - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Black Adam 4K Wal-Mart Exclusive
Pre-orders are now live and the full press release is available below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"One of the Best DC Superhero Films to Date”
Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
Black Adam
COMES HOME FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
debuts early on November 22
4K, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on January 3
Burbank, CA, November 21 – Experience the first-ever feature film exploring the story of the DC Super Hero in the action adventure, when “Black Adam” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on November 22. The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, screen story by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on characters from DC, and Black Adam created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, starring the voice of Dwayne Johnson (“the “Jumanji” films, “Moana”). The film will be available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning on January 3.
The film also stars the voices of Aldis Hodge (TV’s “City on a Hill,” “One Night in Miami” film) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” film) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (TV’s “Sex/Life,” “Rush Hour 3” film) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “The Mummy” films) as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell (“Voyagers,” film and TV’s “Trinkets”) as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui (TV’s “A Million Little Things”) as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan (the “Mamma Mia!” and James Bond franchises) as Dr. Fate. The film was produced by Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia, with Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Eric McLeod, Geoff Johns and Scott Sheldon executive producing.
“Black Adam” can be enjoyed at home with Filmmaker Mode TM. Developed by studios, TV manufacturers and some of Hollywood’s leading directors, Filmmaker Mode disables all post processing (e.g. motion smoothing), preserves the correct aspect ratios, colors and frame rates, and enables your TV to display the film precisely as it was intended by the filmmaker. Filmmaker Mode is available on televisions from select manufacturers.
“Black Adam” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.
SYNOPSIS
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS
“Black Adam” Premium Digital Ownership contains the following special features:
“Black Adam” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
Your Movies, Together at Last.TM MOVIES ANYWHERE lets you enjoy your favorite purchased or redeemed digital movies combined in one simplified, personal collection. MOVIES ANYWHERE brings together movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment), The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Twentieth Century Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), and Warner Bros. Entertainment. MOVIES ANYWHERE offers a library of over 7,900 digital movies, including new releases, and old favorites, and the user experience will continue to grow as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the MOVIES ANYWHERE app and website, consumers can connect their MOVIES ANYWHERE account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies across multiple devices and platforms. Participating digital retailers include Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Xfinity, Google Play/YouTube, Microsoft Movies & TV, FandangoNOW, Verizon Fios TV and DIRECTV. Consumers may also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray Discs™ and DVDs from participating studios: just look for the MOVIES ANYWHERE logo, redeem the code, then instantly enjoy your movie.
ABOUT DIGITAL
*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.
BASICS
PRODUCT SRP
4K UHD Combo Pack $49.98
Blu-ray $39.98
DVD $34.98
Digital Ownership: November 22, 2022
PVOD: November 22, 2022
4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: January 3, 2022
DVD Languages: Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, English
BD Languages: Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, English
4K Languages: Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, English, German, Italian
DVD Subtitles: Cantonese, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese (written), N/A, Canadian French, English SDH
BD Subtitles: Spanish, French, N/A, Canadian French, English SDH
4K Subtitles: Spanish, French, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Canadian French, English SDH, German SDH, Italian SDH
Running Time: 124 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, intense action, and some language
DVD: DLBY/DGTL
Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD
4K: ATMOS TrueHD
The Credits
About “Black Adam”
The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, screen story by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on characters from DC, and Black Adam created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, produced by Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia, with Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Eric McLeod, Geoff Johns and Scott Sheldon executive producing.
The ensemble stars the voices of Dwayne Johnson (“the “Jumanji” films, “Moana”), Aldis Hodge (TV’s “City on a Hill,” “One Night in Miami” film) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” film) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (TV’s “Sex/Life,” “Rush Hour 3” film) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “The Mummy” films) as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell (“Voyagers,” film and TV’s “Trinkets”) as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui (TV’s “A Million Little Things”) as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan (the “Mamma Mia!” and James Bond franchises) as Dr. Fate.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a New Line Cinema Production, “Black Adam.”
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.
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Both Abel Ferrara's 'R Xmas and J. Lee Thompson's The Evil That Men Do which will be limited to 1500 units and only available at Shout! Factory are now available for pre-order.
‘R Xmas (Shout! Factory Exclusive)
From the director of Bad Lieutenant comes a riveting tale of extortion, drugs, and greed! It's Christmastime in Manhattan, and one loving couple is leading a dual life: doting socialite parents by day ... and hard-hitting heroin dealers by night. Their dangerous life soon catches up with them when double-crossing dealers attempt to muscle in on the couple's reign over the local supply. When the husband (Lillo Brancato Jr., The Sopranos) is kidnapped, things spin out of control as the wife (Drea de Matteo, Sons Of Anarchy) is confronted with a heart-stopping ultimatum: pay a hefty ransom due in twenty minutes ... or face the unthinkable loss of her beloved.
Bonus Features
The Evil That Men Do (Shout! Factory Exclusive)
Charles Bronson is back in this tough-as-nails, hard-hitting action drama. Professional killer Holland (Bronson) is forced out of retirement to break a Central American government's political torture ring when one of his friends is assassinated. Posing as a journalist, Holland must stop the sadistic Dr. Molloch (Joseph Maher), the mastermind behind the political killings, to end his reign of terror once and for all. Theresa Saldana (Raging Bull) and José Ferrer (Cyrano De Bergerac, Dune) also star in this blistering saga of revenge from director J. Lee Thompson (The Guns Of Navarone).
Bonus Features
The SRP for each release is $29.98 and they are limited to 1500 copies only available on ShoutFactory.com. Pre-order your copies today.
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With Black Friday at the end of the week, what are you hoping to see? Did you snag a deal yet this month? A reminder to our readers that are thinking of doing a Vinegar Syndrome subscription --- you have got a reprieve, they are offering that in January. Meanwhile, there are huge deals coming though at just about every site out there, including VS, so, happy hunting, happy Thanksgiving, and all that jazz.
Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 27 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
There are no new releases this week, but there are a lot of catalog titles that are worthy purchases.
Let's begin with the Sony Pictures Classics: 30th Anniversary Collection. If you can swing it, this mega-set contains 11 films, with Dolby Vision HDR.
Shifting over to Kino Lorber, look for Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter, as well as 'super-hero' film Mystery Men with Ben Stiller.
The Criterion Collection has two titles this week in 4K, Spike Lee's Malcolm X, and a first for Criterion, Disney Pixar's WALL•E, which includes Dolby Vision HDR and a triple-layer disc, two things we have been wanting from Disney for a very long time.
From Universal, Shrek 2 and Puss in Boots. Sadly there is no SteelBook option for Shrek 2 in the US.
A pair of releases from Shout Factory, The Company of Wolves and Rollerball.
One cannot have Thanksgiving without watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Paramount has the 4K this week.
If you missed the complete collection set, Well Go USA has Ip Man and Ip Man 2 - Legend of the Grandmaster as singles this week. Ip Man 3 will release on December 6th. Amazon is listing Ip Man for next week but I believe that is an error.
Next week, no worries sweetie, a 4th run of robots, and a pair of well known botique label, well known titles.
Blu-ray counterpart this week is just one, single title, Malcolm X by the Criterion Collection.
New comedy from Universal titled Bros.
LionsGate has some comedy this week too with The Good House, which stars Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline.
If you've been waiting for the next one, Kino Lorber closes out the series with Night Gallery: Season Three.
Anime highlights include Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire - The Complete Season, The Heike Story - The Complete Season, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom - Part 2 and Princess Principal: Crown Handler - Chapter 2.
Honorable Mention of the Week: Cauldron Films offers us Lucio Fulci's Contraband. Described as a mafia story filmed through the eyes of an 'unrelenting horror master.'
Even slower than last week on the announcements, but that's sort of expected.
Paramount has revealed final details and release date for 4K/blu-ray releases of Smile. Keep your eyes peeled for a December 13th street date. Event Horizon will also be getting a standard 4K release on January 31st.
Sony Pictures will be releasing 4K SteelBook editions of Air Force One and The Mask of Zorro on March 7th. These two releases of course will upgrade the HDR to Dolby Vision.
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?
Spooks, Specters, and Ghosts better watch out, there's a new guy in town! Michael J. Fox stars in Peter Jackson's exciting horror/comedy
coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from Turbine Medien December 2nd!
A box office bust when it came to theaters (I don't know where y'all were but I was there opening night), Peter Jackson's hilariously terrifying special effects extravaganza has grown into a modern cult classic. Without this film's pioneering visual effects, we wouldn't have gotten The Lord of the Rings - let that sink in a minute. Now after languishing on a decent enough Blu-ray, German label Turbine Medien is giving fans what they've long been hoping for - a true 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of both the Theatrical Cut and the longer and arguably better Director's Cut fully restored and approved by Jackson with Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos Audio! But that's not all, much like their recent Pitch Black 4K Ultra HD Ultimate Editon, Turbnine isn't stopping at just a couple of discs and fancy packaging. This set is stacked with six discs including both cuts in 4K and 1080p Blu-ray, along with a new "Oppen Matte" edition as well as hours of new and archival bonus features PLUS a 196-page book AND a whole load of swag! Take a look
And if the screenshots below are accurate - we're in for a real treat!
Here's what you're getting for approximately $70 U.S. (it's a little less than that but exchange rates may fluctuate):
THE FRIGHTENERS - 6-Disc Ultimate Edition:
Director's Cut & Theatrical Cut Restored in 4K on UHD & Blu-ray - Approved by Peter Jackson
+ HDR and Dolby Vision + Sound in Dolby Atmos + Completed Dubbing + 2 Bonus Blu-rays + New bonus material and much more
Evil has awakened in the sleepy Californian town of Fairwater... and only one person can stop it: Frank Bannister earns his living as a ghost hunter - he frees haunted houses from their uninvited guests. In truth, however, he is in cahoots with the ghosts - a perfect deal! One day, however, when a truly evil spirit goes on a murderous rampage through Fairwater, suspicion falls on Frank. Now he urgently needs to prove his innocence and end the spook... without ending up in the afterlife himself!
In 1996, director Peter Jackson (THE LORD OF THE RINGS) and producer Robert Zemeckis (BACK TO THE FUTURE) created THE FRIGHTENERS, a crazy horror comedy with groundbreaking special effects, music by Danny Elfman and a brilliant cast.
In addition to 2 Ultra HD Blu-rays & 4 Blu-rays, this box set includes world exclusive interviews, the 196-page book Die Welt von Peter Jackson's THE FRIGHTENERS, posters, artcards and a replica business card by Frank Bannister.
Technical specifications:
Language / sound: DC: German & English Dolby Atmos, English - DTS-HD MA 5.1 & 2.0 (UHD), English - DTS 2.0 & 5.1 (BD) - KF German & English DTS-HD MA 5.1 & 2.0
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (2160p 4K Ultra HD) with HDR and Dolby Vision (UHD), 2.35:1 (1080p24) (Blu-ray)
Subtitles: German, German for the hard of hearing, English, English for the hard of hearing
Running time: DC: approx. 123 minutes, Theatrical version: approx. 110 minutes
Bonus material:
+ World premiere of the Director's Cut as open matte version - approved by Peter Jackson
+ 196-page book The World of Peter Jackson
+ World exclusive new artwork and poster by Ronan Wolf Chuat
+ Artcards and Replica Business Card
+ No Way to Make a Living* - New Bonus Featurette featuring 95 minutes of cast and crew interviews
+ The Making of THE FRIGHTENERS* (270 mins)
+ Audio Commentary by Peter Jackson*
+ Trailer
* The bonus material has optional German and English subtitles.
Both sets are up for pre-order right now! Follow the title links above to snag your copy, your pre-orders help keep HDD alive and well! Thank you!
Criterion isn't taking any time off in 2023 with five releases oncluding Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused and Krzysztof Kielowski's Three Colors trilogy on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Two Films By Marguerit wth Duras, Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (1967) and Robert Townsend's Hollywood Shuffle.
Starting things off on February 7, is a trio of films in Kieślowski's Three Colors on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
This boldly cinematic trio of stories about love and loss, from Krzysztof Kieślowski, was a defining event of the art-house boom of the 1990s. The films are named for the colors of the French flag and stand for the tenets of the French Revolution—liberty, equality, and fraternity—but that hardly begins to explain their enigmatic beauty and rich humanity. Set in Paris, Warsaw, and Geneva, and ranging from tragedy to comedy, Blue, White, and Red (Kieślowski’s final film) examine with artistic clarity a group of ambiguously interconnected people experiencing profound personal disruptions. Marked by intoxicating cinematography and stirring performances by Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Irène Jacob, and Jean-Louis Trintignant, Kieślowski’s Three Colors is a benchmark of contemporary cinema.
BLUE
In the devastating first film of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy, Juliette Binoche gives a tour de force performance as Julie, a woman reeling from the tragic death of her husband and young daughter. But Blue is more than just a blistering study of grief; it’s also a tale of liberation, as Julie attempts to free herself from the past while confronting truths about the life of her late husband, a composer. Shot in sapphire tones by Sławomir Idziak, and set to an extraordinary operatic score by Zbigniew Preisner, Blue is an overwhelming sensory experience.
1993 • 98 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In French with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
WHITE
The most playful and also the grittiest of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors films follows the adventures of Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski), a Polish immigrant living in France. The hapless hairdresser opts to leave Paris for his native Warsaw when his wife (Julie Delpy) sues him for divorce (her reason: their marriage was never consummated) and then frames him for arson after setting her own salon ablaze. White, which goes on to chronicle Karol’s elaborate revenge plot, manages to be both a ticklish dark comedy about the economic inequalities of Eastern and Western Europe and a sublime reverie on twisted love.
1994 • 91 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In French and Polish with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
RED
Krzysztof Kieślowski closes his Three Colors trilogy in grand fashion, with an incandescent meditation on fate and chance, starring Irène Jacob as a sweet-souled yet somber runway model in Geneva whose life dramatically intersects with that of a bitter retired judge, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant. Meanwhile, just down the street, a seemingly unrelated story of jealousy and betrayal unfolds. Red is an intimate look at forged connections and a splendid final statement from a remarkable filmmaker at the height of his powers.
1994 • 99 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In French with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Next hitting stores on the 14th is the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet from Franco Zeffirelli.
One of the great Shakespeare adaptations, this sublime take on the Bard’s immortal romantic tragedy by Franco Zeffirelli breathed new life into the oft-told tale by casting actual teenagers in the title roles. As the young lovers whose affair threatens to inflame the tensions between their feuding families in Renaissance Verona, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting vividly capture the mix of adolescent ardor and turmoil that fuels their destiny-driven liaison. A sensory banquet thanks to Nino Rota’s delicate score and the exquisite, Oscar-winning costumes and cinematography, Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare at its most deeply felt and passionately alive.
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
1968 • 138 minutes • Color • Monaural • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
A week later on the 21st comes Dazed and Confused on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format.
America, 1976. The last day of school. Bongs blaze, bell bottoms ring, and rock and roll rocks. Among the best teen films ever made, Dazed and Confused eavesdrops on a group of seniors-to-be and incoming freshmen. A launching pad for a number of future stars, the first studio effort by Richard Linklater also features endlessly quotable dialogue and a blasting, stadium-ready soundtrack. Sidestepping nostalgia, Dazed and Confused is less about “the best years of our lives” than the boredom, angst, and excitement of teenagers waiting . . . for something to happen.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
1993 • 102 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
Two Films By Marguerite Duras will be available on Blu-ray on the 24th.
Marguerite Duras had already established herself as one of the major figures of postwar French literature when she launched an equally fascinating and unclassifiable career in cinema, translating her elliptical, experimental style to the screen through an unprecedented fusion of hypnotic, highly stylized imagery and radically disjunctive sound. Boldly reimagining the possibilities of dialogue, music, silence, and architectural space, the tantalizing, sphinxlike evocations of soul-deep female malaise India Song and Baxter, Vera Baxter embody Duras’s singular multisensory approach, with each opening up new spaces for the expression of women’s interior worlds.
INDIA SONG
Marguerite Duras’s most celebrated work is a mesmerizing, almost incantatory experience with few stylistic precedents in the history of cinema. Within the insular walls of a lavish, decaying embassy in 1930s India, the French ambassador’s wife (Delphine Seyrig) staves off ennui through affairs with multiple men—with the overpowering torpor broken only by a startling eruption of madness. Setting her evocatively decadent visuals to a desynchronized chorus of disembodied voices that comment on and counterpoint the action, with India Song Duras creates a haunted-house movie unlike any other.
1975 • 119 minutes • Color • Monaural • In French with English subtitles • 1.37:1 aspect ratio
BAXTER, VERA BAXTER
Marguerite Duras reunited with India Song collaborators Delphine Seyrig and composer Carlos d’Alessio for Baxter, Vera Baxter, a hypnotically unsettling journey into one woman’s existential emptiness. Ensconced in a sprawling rental villa, the world-weary Vera Baxter (Claudine Gabay) receives visits from two women, including a mysterious stranger (Seyrig) to whom she recounts a shocking story about her marriage, the way she lives, and the reasons for her malaise. Setting her languid images to d’Alessio’s incongruously breezy, endlessly looping score, Duras fashions a quietly shattering portrait of marriage as a kind of prison.
1977 • 95 minutes • Color • Monaural • In French with English subtitles • 1.66:1 aspect ratio
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Finally and also on the 28th is the satire Hollywood Shuffle on Blu-ray.
This debut feature by Robert Townsend is an ingenious guerrilla satire that takes riotous aim at the typecasting of Black actors in 1980s Hollywood. The writer-director-star’s megawatt charisma propels Hollywood Shuffle, the hilarious tale of a struggling actor attempting to break into an industry where the only roles available to Black performers seem to be hustlers, butlers, slaves, and “Eddie Murphy types”—forcing him to choose between selling out and maintaining his self-respect. Lampooning everything from film noir to zombie flicks to Siskel and Ebert, Townsend and cowriter Keenen Ivory Wayans cannily turn the frustrations of the Black artist into a subversively funny pop-culture critique.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
1987 • 81 minutes • Color/Black & White • Monaural • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
We will update links on the site as soon as pre-orders become available or if there are any release date changes.
“Long Live Physical Media!” was the rallying cry heard from The Archive's Instagram account when their second location opened in Aurora, Colorado on October 21st. This new store is for the collectors, cinephiles, and fans hoping to rekindle their love of the local video shop and experience the joy that only a few have experienced visiting the home store in Bridgeport, CT.
For the unaware, The Archive is the brick-and-mortar retail location for the powerhouse home video label Vinegar Syndrome. Their original location opened in 2017 in Bridgeport adjacent to their film preservation facility where the celebrated label restores underground genre films and adult video titles. I had the amazing opportunity to visit the new location in Aurora and speak with manager James Neurath and video clerk Dave Britton about the store, their favorite titles, and what the shop will bring to the community.
Entering The Archive you’re met with a skeleton of Charon with his boat for crossing the River Styx. It's a commanding art piece that marks your transition from reality to the underworld of film collecting. A journey this reviewer made years ago. On the TV above the Vinyl section, Righting Wrongs is playing which caused me to pause for a moment to catch Cynthia Rothrock kicking some ass.
The handmade wooden aisles display rows and rows of Blu-rays, DVDs, and Vinyl records. You’ll find new 4k UHDs from Vinegar Syndrome next to classic titles from Arrow Video, Blue Underground, and Shout! Factory. Used titles also fill in the sections offering customers something extra to accompany their stack of fresh releases. If you’ve got used media you want to part with, give them a shout to see if they’re interested in buying it. In the back you’ll find a t-shirt wall featuring horror classics new and old. Looking up you'll notice an Elvira cardboard stand-up looking down on you from the corner as you peruse the pre-owned VHS and DVD shelves. Looking for a Peekarama title? They got it. Need that new banger from Saturn’s Core? They've got it. It’s a one-stop shop for your genre film needs.
Behind the no-frills front counter store manager James Neurath and video clerk Dave Britton greet the customers pouring into the store. They’re both genuinely nice guys who will talk your ear off about movies and recommend the good stuff. We spent about 20 minutes dissecting the Angel trilogy. Most customers were keeping tabs on the store’s opening through social media. I witnessed the first few people in the store approach the counter with an armload of titles. Wow! Some even jokingly admitted they’ll never tell their spouse that the store exists!
James has been with the company for 8 years working on many titles released by Vinegar Syndrome while spearheading the new store’s development and opening. Dave has been with the company for 6 months but feels right at home helping customers and chatting about flicks. He walked me through the skeleton collection on display at the front counter which is yet another insane detail you’ll find browsing The Archive.
I felt at home in the store. It reminded me of all those video shops now lost to time with the streaming wars winning over the masses. From the eclectic decor to the warming embrace of the staff as you explore the aisles - this place just feels right. “Vinegar Syndrome is always looking for new projects, but we’re still a small company,” says Neurath, “We hope this place allows us to grow and reach the fans of what we do.”
The Archive is located at 1431 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010. The building is split between the retail store and a shipping and distribution warehouse space for Vinegar Syndrome. For those living out West, you may find your upcoming Black Friday orders shipping a bit quicker than expected!
As of the writing of this article, the store is open 11-6 on Fridays and Saturdays with plans to expand hours soon. Contact them directly for updated store hours and their used media buying policy.
Stuff those stockings this holiday season with the musical comedy based on the children's book of the same name arriving on streaming November 22 and on 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD December 13.
When the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle - a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and great music - living in the attic of his new home. The two become fast friends, but when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps, the Primm’s must band together with Lyle’s charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti, to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there’s nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile - Blu-ray
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Collector's Edition - Blu-ray
The full press release is available below.
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Parker Finn's critically-acclaimed horror film starring Sosie Bacon will be available digitally on Paramount+ on November 15 with a 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray arriving in stores on December 13. Read the theatrical review here.
Certified Fresh™ on Rotten Tomatoes®, critics called SMILE “haunting” (Erik Davis, Fandango) and “scary as hell” (Alyse Wax, Collider). The film stars Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter who, after witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Both the Blu-ray and the 4K UHD packages include some featurettes, an audio commentary and deleted scenes as well as a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
Preorder your copy now and the full press release is available below.
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Have the early Black Friday sales busted your wallet yet? It makes it hard to pass on your wish list items with some of the prices they have been at, that's for sure. My backlog of unwatched movies has not gotten any smaller.
Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 26 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
Real quick, import Monday includes two Zavvi Exclusive SteelBook releases. Jordan Peele's Nope and a mega-set for Jurassic Park/World. The latter might say sold out but keep on checking because they always have more here and there during release week. The Jurassic set originally had more zesty artwork, but now is the iconic T-Rex logo on every case.
And on to domestic Tuesday. There's two new releases, Halo: Season One, which aired on Paramount+. This one is also available as a SteelBook.
The other new release this week is Three Thousand Years of Longing, from Warner Bros. I won't even pretend to have heard of this movie before we listed it for preorder, the synopsis sounds interesting though, I will probably pick it up.
Doubling back to Paramount, Sonic the Hedgehog 2-Movie Collection [SteelBook] gets a release now. Had this been an option last August I can say without a doubt I would have bought it then. Wayne's World also dons a 4K release this week too, try not to get carried away when you hear the Bohemian Rhapsody blasting through your sound system.
And, more Paramount, but under the Paramount Presents label, Blue Hawaii. Little known fact, this title was not previously released on 4K disc or blu-ray anywhere in the world. This is a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray + Blu-ray combo pack, so order today!
Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs gets a pair of 4K releases, a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Robert Zemeckis' Used Cars comes this week via the Shout Select label.
Universal is also releasing a unique gift set of The Bourne Complete Collection.
Next week: More classic Clint Eastwood, internet protocol guy, modes of transport to get home for Thanksgiving, a famous ogre, a mega-classics collection, and lots more!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles first, Halo: Season One and Three Thousand Years of Longing each get their respective releases. Everything else has likely had releases over the years.
TV on disc includes A Discovery of Witches: Complete Collection a week after we got Season 3 on disc, and in a snazzy looking package, Doom Patrol: The Complete Third Season, The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection and Why Women Kill: The Complete Series.
Busy week for Lionsgate, first in the comedy category comes in the name of Christmas in Paradise. In the family drama category, Gigi & Nate. In the horror thriller category comes The Inhabitant. Ti West's follow up to the successful film 'X', this one is titled Pearl. You can also get a Walmart Exclusive cover edition of this one. Wonder if there will be a 4K of this overseas like there was for X? Or a 4K domestic set for the trilogy once it is completed?
Anime highlights include Bleach 4-Film Collection, Given - The Movie and Given - The Complete Season.
Paramount comedy drama Jerry and Marge Go Large is available this week.
Foreign cinema from Criterion Collection this week with The Infernal Affairs Trilogy.
Honorable Mentions: Those viewers still hungry for 3D can get The Diamond Wizard 3D from Kino Lorber this week.
I can't not mention Moonage Daydream from Decal - Neon, a documentary about the late David Bowie.
Was pretty much a drought for major announcements last week. With Black Friday coming and these announcements typically shooting for a February(ish) time frame, it is no surprise.
Halloween Ends has been made official for December 27th.
BFI has canceled the 4K release of Watership Down. It is unkown what the particulars are and if it is possible a different label will do it in the future.
Delayed yet again, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season One and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Two now move to November 29th.
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?
