Do you think Only Fans accepts pudgy disc reviewers who only want to talk about movies? Gotta find a way to save some scratch for this month.
Once again studios and boutique labels are stacking up the usually quiet winter release frame of February with a number of high-profile new and classic releases. Normally this is where we get to take a breath and gear up for a big spring push ahead of a busy summer, but with new superheroes, junior Ghostbusters, some time-bending sci-fi, a classic prison drama, and a dozen other titles - February is anything but sleepy! As usual, this is a list of everything we know coming out domestically in the U.S. - of course, there's always room for some late additions and sudden release date changes or cancelations. In that event, we'll update our listings and this guide ASAP.
Kicking things off for the first week of the month is the latest and damned good Ghostbusters flick with a standard release or a deluxe franchise set. Those troublesome Mad Max The Roadwarrior and Mad Max Anthology sets get their reissue, Almost Famous hits with some regular packaging if SteelBooks aren't your thing.
For this second week of the shortest (and coldest) month of the year, we're getting the latest attempt to bring the Resident Evil game franchise to the big screen, Disney's newest magical animated offering, a Billy Wilder classic, and Will Smith's latest volley for an Oscar.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases - February 15th, 2022
Heading up the third week of the month, Marvel's latest yet not so greatest entry in their long-running franchise comes home with multiple retailer-exclusive releases, Rian Johnson's time-bending thriller gets a domestic release with director-approved HDR grade and Atmos mix, and Joe Dante's hilariously dark werewolf flick gets shipped stateside.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases - February 22nd, 2022
Not to go silently into that good night, February closes its run with a pretty large slate of new releases and fan favorites. There's a lot to cover so let's dig in!
And that just about does it! There are a few import titles we'll try and cover - but given the fun of international shipping, it'll take a bit of time to cover some of those.
Thanks again for all of the pre-orders, they really do go a long way towards keeping our little operation up and running. Again, this is the list as we know it, some more titles might squeak in or dates may still change. If and when that happens we'll update our listings and this article ASAP. What are you looking to grab?
Five titles are currently announced for a home video release this April from Arrow, although one of them looks to be UK only so you may have to import that one.
One of their most anticipated releases to the 4K format this month is Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt arriving on April 26th (U.S./Canada/UK).
THE FUTURE IS HISTORY
Following the commercial and critical success of The Fisher King, Terry Gilliam next feature would turn to science fiction and a screenplay by Janet and David Peoples (Blade Runner, Unforgiven) inspired by Chris Marker’s classic short film La Jetée.
In 1996, a deadly virus is unleashed by a group calling themselves the Army of the Twelve Monkeys, destroying much of the world’s population and forcing survivors underground. In 2035, prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis, Die Hard) is chosen to go back in time and help scientists in their search for a cure.
Featuring an Oscar-nominated turn by Brad Pitt (Fight Club) as mental patient Jeffrey Goines, Twelve Monkeys would become Gilliam’s most successful film and is now widely regarded as a sci-fi classic. Arrow Films are proud to present the film in a stunning new restoration.
4K UHD BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Next on Blu-ray, we have Chia-Liang Liu's action-drama The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter on April 5th (U.S./Canada) at that.
After one of its lead actors (cherub-faced action icon Alexander Fu Sheng) unexpectedly died midway through production, master director Lau Kar-leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) retooled his latest martial arts epic, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, as the ultimate action spectacular in tribute to the fallen star.
Loosely based upon the legendary Yang dynasty chronicled in Chinese folklore, the film starts as the family patriarch and all but two of his sons are brutally wiped out in a bloody battle. One surviving son (Fu Sheng) returns to his mother and two sisters, deeply traumatized; the other (Gordon Liu) escapes and joins a nearby monastery while in hiding. Once he learns his sister (Kara Hui) has been captured by their enemies, however, the warrior-turned-monk realizes he must renounce his peaceful ideals in order to mount a rescue mission and avenge his family.
Made during the legendary Shaw Brothers studio’s twilight years as a filmmaking powerhouse, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter is often regarded as director Lau’s masterpiece, as elegiac and suffused with anguish as it is thrillingly violent (not least in its bone-crunching, teeth-smashing climax).
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
On the 19th comes the two film set Rogue Cops and Racketeers: Two Crime Thrillers from Enzo G. Castellari .(U.S./Canada/UK).
Over a long and wide-ranging career, director Enzo G. Castellari (Keoma, The Inglorious Bastards) helmed some of the most infamous of all the poliziotteschi – the gritty, action-packed crime films that proliferated in Italy throughout the 70s. Buckle up for a heart-stopping thrill ride through the seedy underbelly of Italian society in two of his most celebrated thrillers!
In 1976’s The Big Racket, Inspector Nico Palmieri (Fabio Testi, What Have You Done to Solange?) is hot on the heels of a gang of ruthless racketeers. Realizing he’s not going to get anywhere within the confines of the law, Nico recruits a crack squad of civilians to dole out their own brand of justice. Then, in 1977’s The Heroin Busters, rule-flouting cop Fabio (Testi) goes deep undercover, chasing a globe-trotting ring of drug-smugglers suspected to be operating out of Rome. But can he and Mike Hamilton (David Hemmings, Deep Red), an Interpol agent with a hair-trigger temper, stay one step ahead of the criminals long enough to bring them down from the inside?
Featuring death-defying stunts, explosive shoot-outs and a pair of addictive, toe-tapping soundtracks courtesy of the De Angelis brothers (Torso) and legendary prog rock group Goblin (Suspiria), these two films represent the crème de la crème of the Italian crime thriller, both making their high definition debuts with stunning new restorations in this feature-packed box set from Arrow!
2-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
DISC 1 – THE BIG RACKET
DISC 2 – THE HEROIN BUSTERS
On the 26th, Claude Chabrol fans will see a four-film boxed set Twisting the Knife: Four Films by Claude Chabrol (Limited Edition) for a Blu-ray release (U.S./Canada/UK).
For five decades Claude Chabrol navigated the unpredictable waters of Cinema, leaving in his wake more than fifty feature films that remain among the most quietly devastating genre movies ever made. Sardonic, provocative, unsettling, Chabrol’s films cut to the quick with a clarity and honesty honed to razor sharpness.
The Swindle (Rien Ne Va Plus) sees Chabrol at perhaps his most playful as a pair of scam artists, Isabelle Huppert and Michel Serrault, get in over their heads. But who is scamming who and who do you trust in a life built on so many lies? The murder of a 10 year old girl sparks rumours and gossip in The Color of Lies (Au Coeur Du Mensonge), as suspicion falls on René (Jacques Gamblin) the dour once famous painter, now art teacher, who was the last person to see her alive. Enigmatic, perverse, seductive, Isabelle Huppert encapsulates everything that makes Nightcap (Merci Pour Le Chocolat) a film John Waters calls “Cinematic Perfection” in this tale of suppressed family secrets. Finally, in The Flower of Evil (La Fleur Du Mal), incest, old money and intergenerational guilt come under the scalpel as an outwardly perfect bourgeois family begins to unravel when the wife involves herself in politics.
Though influenced by Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock and Jean Renoir, Chabrol’s voice was entirely and assuredly his own, influencing in turn filmmakers like Bong Joon-ho, James Gray and Dominik Moll. His amused, unblinkered view of life and refusal to judge his characters makes his films timelessly relevant and accessible to all. Arrow Video is proud to present this second collection of films by Claude Chabrol with a wealth of new and archival extras.
BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION FEATURES
DISC ONE – THE SWINDLE (RIEN NE VA PLUS)
DISC TWO – THE COLOR OF LIES (AU COEUR DU MENSONGE)
DISC THREE – NIGHTCAP (MERCI POUR LE CHOCOLAT)
DISC FOUR – THE FLOWER OF EVIL (LA FLEUR DU MAL)
Finally, enter the mind of a demented mass murderer in John McNaughton's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray (Limited Edition)[UK Import] which will be released on Blu-ray on April 18th. The 4K disc itself will be all regions but the bonus features are Region B.
![Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray (Limited Edition)[UK Import]](https://cdn2.highdefdigest.com/media/2022/01/28/660/107684/henry-portrait-of-a-serial-killer-4k-import-front-cover.jpg)
Widely heralded as one of the greatest serial killer movies of all time, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer presents a bleak and unflinching dive into the mind of a mass murderer.
Recently released from prison, the nomadic Henry (Michael Rooker, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Walking Dead) finds temporary abode in the rundown Chicago lodgings of a former jail acquaintance and small-time drug dealer, Otis (Tom Towles). Hiding behind his unremarkable employment as a pest exterminator, Henry leads a double life, prowling the streets by night on a brutal and apparently motiveless killing spree. As the bodies mount up, Otis finds himself inducted into Henry’s dark secret world, but when Otis’ sister Becky (Tracy Arnold) moves in, herself fleeing from an uncomfortable domestic situation, it quickly becomes apparent that two’s company, but three’s a crowd.
Based on the horrific true-life crimes of Henry Lee Lucas, the harrowing controversial debut feature from John McNaughton (Mad Dog and Glory, Wild Things) returns to the UK in its best-looking release ever, in a new 4K restoration supervised by the director himself.
4K UHD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION FEATURES
DISC ONE – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
DISC TWO – BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY) REGION B
Which one(s) are you planning on adding to your collection?
The next film in the epic science fiction saga stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith and Neil Patrick Harris.
Lana Wachowski tries to resuscitate the genre-defining franchise that has been lying dormant for nearly two decades and sends it back down the rabbit hole with The Matrix Resurrections -- currently available for Premium Digital Ownership (or rental) on certain platforms and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on March 8. In case you missed it, be sure to check out our theatrical review here.
In The Matrix Resurrections,” return to a world of two realities: one, everyday life; the other, what lies behind it. To find out if his reality is a physical or mental construct, to truly know himself, Mr. Anderson (Keanu Reeves) will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more. And if Thomas…Neo…has learned anything, it’s that choice, while an illusion, is still the only way out of—or into—the Matrix. Of course, Neo already knows what he has to do. But what he doesn’t yet know is the Matrix is stronger, more secure, and more dangerous than ever before. Déjà vu.
The Matrix Resurrections - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
The 4K release of The Matrix Resurrections will include several featurettes -- most of which are exclusive to the 4K edition -- as well as a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. See the press release at the end of this article for complete details.
The Matrix Resurrections - Blu-ray
The Matrix Resurrections 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray - SteelBook (Final Artwork TBA) 
The Matrix 4-Film Déjà Vu Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
The Matrix 4-Film Déjà Vu Collection Blu-ray
Here's the full press release:
“Exacting and rapturous”
K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone
The Matrix Resurrections
COMES HOME FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Premium Digital Ownership
debuts early on January 25
4K, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on March 8
Burbank, CA, January 24 – Experience the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre when “The Matrix Resurrections” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on January 25. The film is directed by Lana Wachowski from a screenplay by Wachowski, David Mitchell and Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis, and stars Keanu Reeves (The “Matrix” franchise, the “John Wick” franchise) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The “Matrix” franchise, TV’s “Jessica Jones”). The film will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD beginning on March 8.
The film also stars Yahya Abdul Mateen II (“Candyman,” the “Aquaman” franchise), Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico”) and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”). The film was produced by James McTeigue, Wachowski and Grant Hill, with Michael Salven, Karin Wachowski, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman executive producing.
“The Matrix Resurrections” 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
In “The Matrix Resurrections,” return to a world of two realities: one, everyday life; the other, what lies behind it. To find out if his reality is a physical or mental construct, to truly know himself, Mr. Anderson (Keanu Reeves) will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more. And if Thomas…Neo…has learned anything, it’s that choice, while an illusion, is still the only way out of—or into—the Matrix. Of course, Neo already knows what he has to do. But what he doesn’t yet know is the Matrix is stronger, more secure and more dangerous than ever before. Déjà vu.
4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS
“The Matrix Resurrections” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
o Echo Opening
o Deus Ex Machina
o Welcome to IØ
o Bullet Time Redux
o Morpheus vs Neo
o Exiles Fight
o Neo vs Smith
o The San Fran Chase
o The San Fran Jump
“The Matrix Resurrections” DVD contains the following special feature:
ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE
Movies Anywhere is a digital movie platform that enables movie fans to discover, access, and watch their favorite digital movies in one place. Movies Anywhere brings together a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros., and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. By connecting participating digital retailers that include Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu, movie fans can now bring together their digital movie collections (whether purchased or redeemed) in one place and enjoy them from the comfort of their living rooms, and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Movie fans can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere – your movies, together at last.
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 $29.99
Blu-ray $24.99
DVD $19.99
Digital Ownership: January 25, 2022
PVOD: January 25, 2022
4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: March 8, 2022
DVD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish
BD Languages: Brazilian portuguese, Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish, Polish
4K Languages: Canadian French, English, German, Italian, Latin Spanish
DVD Subtitles: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
BD Subtitles: Brazilian Portugese, Canadian French, English, Greek, Korean, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
4K Subtitles: Canadian French, Danish, English SDH, Finnish, German, Italian, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Parisian French, Swedish
Running Time: 148 minutes
Rating: Rated R for violence and some language
DVD: DLBY/DGTL
Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD
4K: ATMOS TrueHD
The Credits
About “The Matrix Resurrections”
The film is directed by Lana Wachowski from a screenplay by Wachowski, David Mitchell and Aleksander Hemon, based on characters created by The Wachowskis, produced by James McTeigue, Wachowski and Grant Hill, with Michael Salven, Karin Wachowski, Jesse Ehrman and Bruce Berman executive producing.
The ensemble stars Keanu Reeves (The “Matrix” franchise, the “John Wick” franchise) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The “Matrix” franchise, TV’s “Jessica Jones”), alongside Yahya Abdul Mateen II (“Candyman,” the “Aquaman” franchise) Jessica Henwick (TV’s “Iron Fist,” “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens”), Jonathan Groff (“Hamilton,” TV’s “Mindhunter”), Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me”), Eréndira Ibarra (TV’s “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (TV’s “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (TV’s “Sense8,” “Treadstone”) and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, In Association with Venus Castina Productions, “The Matrix Resurrections.”
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.
Matthew Vaughn's action-comedy prequel starring Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, and Rhys Ifans will be available on home video in February.
The latest addition to Matthew Vaughn's stylish Kingsman franchise takes viewers on an action-packed thrill ride all the way back to the beginning to see how it all began. Both Wal-Mart and Target will have exclusive releases of the film plus SteelBook fans will also be able to get a collection of all three films in one package at Best Buy.
Set during WWI, The King’s Man tells the exhilarating origin story of Kingsman, the world’s very first independent intelligence agency. As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions across the globe, one man must race against time to stop them.
The King's Man - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Bonus features for The King's Man will include the multi-part The King's Man: The Great Game Begins Documentary and two featurettes. The 4K releases will include Dolby Atmos, while the Blu-ray looks to have a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack.
The Target exclusive appears to be a digibook:
The King's Man Collection 4K - SteelBook
Here's the full press release:
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A few weeks ago I mentioned how few preorders there were on Amazon for discs. Well, a positive step in the right direction, it's now up to just a few pages more than 15. All we can keep saying is, continue to buy em up, the studios will continue to produce em.
Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 36 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.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Let's call this week a slowish week for 4K releases. But there are a few appealing titles here, so don't fret.
Tuesday has got all catalog titles, which is fine. First from Severin (maybe finally?) comes Blood for Dracula. This one has been kicked back multiple times over several months. We did a review last fall actually so it's likely all replication delays.
From The Criterion Collection, The Piano deputs in 4K glory.
This next one has silently come to us from MPI/Capelight Pictures, it's titled The Lover, and it comes as a media book package. If I'm not mistaken, this makes MPI's first 4K release and it's a media book to boot! I'm curious to know what's inside it.
The Punisher (2004) is getting a reissue as a Best Buy Exclusive slipcover SteelBook.
In a semi-rare Friday 4K music release, Bob James Trio: Feel Like Making LIVE! comes to disc. Nowhere on the listing does it say this is a 4K release, but the photos of the package clearly illustrate that it is.
Blu-ray releases-
The listing for blu-ray this week looks pretty hefty, even when you exclude the reissues and B titles it still looks like an above average menu to look at. Surprisingly no LionsGate releases this week though.
Because we always get the blu-ray counterpart(s) first, look for The Piano on blu-ray if 4K isn't your thing.
Severin has another big release to ponder this week (in case you missed it on Black Friday Weekend on their site), All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror gets a wider general release at most major merchants. From what I read though, expect this to be delayed a week or two as they replicate more. A smaller Folk Horror set titled Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched also streets the same day. Severin has a few other releases this week too, but the one that probably will get the most attention is Eyes of Fire.
From Paramount, The Bad News Bears (2005) was supposed to get release the same day as the original 1976 movie, but for some reason got yanked without explanation. You can buy it now, 10 months later. Other Paramount Releases include Nickelodeon's animated feature Barnyard, along with more catalog titles including Clockstoppers, Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story and Going Ape.
Warner Archive Collection brings us Stage Fright. No, not stagefright literally, but rather the movie.
An additional Criterion Collection release this week is titled Dick Johnson Is Dead, a documentary/drama that I won't even pretend to know what it is about, but maybe you do!
Arrow Video releases Sleep, a German horror film that comes with a few nice looking goodies. Follow our link and click on the goodies picture to see more.
Anime Highlights include Appleseed: The Original 1988 OVA, Case Closed: Sunflowers of Inferno, Kakegurui: Season Two Collection, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - The Complete Second Season, Maesetsu! Opening Act - The Complete Season and Ninja Robots Tobikage: The Complete Series.
Friday releases are of all three categories, Ballet, Opera and Concert/Music.
Notable announcements from last week:
FUNimation has revealed their April titles. Some highlights include Dragon Goes House-Hunting, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Season 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Season Two Part 01, LBX Girls - The Complete Season, KING's RAID: Successors of the Will - Part 2, One Piece - Collection 29 and Wonder Egg Priority (as both a standard and limited edition).
Discotek has also revealed their March titles, the only one I am really familair with is Street Sharks.
Blue Underground will be bringing Uncle Sam to 4K this year. I call this one a surprise hit.
Criterion's April slate has been revealed, the 4K title will be For All Mankind. Read the article and say welcome back to Tom Landy!
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 film based on the inspirational true story of Hall of Famer quarterback Kurt Warner American Underdog starring Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin, Ser’Darius Blain, and Dennis Quaid arrives on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on February 22.
Directed by The Erwin Brothers (I Still Believe and I Can Only Imagine) and based on the book "All Things Possible” by Kurt Warner with Michael Silver, Lionsgate's American Underdog tells the tale of how a grocery store stockboy follows his dreams and becomes an NHL superstar. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and several bonus features including an audio commentary, multiple featurettes, and deleted scenes. Pre-Order the 4K UHD here.
American Underdog - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
American Underdog will also be available on Blu-ray and will include the same bonus features as the 4K release and both editions will present the film in 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Pre-Order the Blu-ray here.
Here's the full press release:
American Underdog Available on Digital February 4
4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD,
& On Demand on February 22 from Lionsgate®
SANTA MONICA, CA (January 18, 2022) – Based on the inspirational true story of two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, American Underdog arrives on Digital February 4 and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand February 22 from Lionsgate. From The Erwin Brothers (I Still Believe and I Can Only Imagine) and screenwriters Jon Erwin (I Still Believe and I Can Only Imagine) & David Aaron Cohen (Friday Night Lights) and Jon Gunn (I Still Believe), the film stars Zachary Levi (Shazam!, Thor: The Dark World, Tangled), Academy Award® winner Anna Paquin (Best Supporting Actress, The Piano, 1993; X-Men franchise, The Irishman), Ser’Darius Blain (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level, “Charmed”), and Primetime Emmy® Award nominee Dennis Quaid (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, The Special Relationship, 2010; The Day After Tomorrow, Far From Heaven, In Good Company).
American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is. American Underdog is an uplifting story that demonstrates that anything is possible when you have faith, family and determination.
Based on the Book “All Things Possible” by Kurt Warner with Michael Silver. Screenplay by Jon Erwin & David Aaron Cohen and Jon Gunn. Directed by The Erwin Brothers.
The American Underdog 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99, $39.99, and $29.96, respectively.
4K ULTRA HD / BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2021
Title Copyright: American Underdog © 2021 American Underdog, LLC. Artwork & Supplementary Materials ®, TM & © 2022 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: PG for some language and thematic elements
Genre: Inspirational Drama
Feature Run Time: 112 Minutes
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: Spanish, French, English SDH
4K Ultra HD™ Format: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 16x9 (2.39:1) Presentation
Blu-ray Format: 1080p High Definition, 16x9 (2.39:1) Presentation
DVD Format: 16x9 (2.39:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio
Blu-ray Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio
DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio, English Descriptive Audio
Six titles will be available from The Criterion Collection this April featuring a 4K upgrade of "the best moon movie ever made".
First up on the 4K front, For All Mankind - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will be getting a 4K/Blu-ray combo release on April 26th.
In July 1969, the space race ended when Apollo 11 fulfilled President John F. Kennedy’s challenge of “landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” No one who witnessed the lunar landing will ever forget it. Twenty years later, Al Reinert constructed a documentary that imparts the unforgettable story of the twenty-four astronauts who participated in the Apollo mission to land on the moon—told in their words and in their voices, using the images they captured. With its awe-inspiring, otherworldly footage and a haunting atmospheric soundtrack by Brian Eno, For All Mankind stirs us with a profound sense of compassion for the “pale blue dot” that is our home, and it is still the most radical, visually dazzling work of cinema that has been made about this earthshaking event.
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
The other five titles are Blu-ray only starting with the rock-and-roll 1950s musical The Girl Can't Help It starring Jayne Mansfield on April 19th.
In 1956, Frank Tashlin brought the talent for zany visual gags and absurdist pop-culture satire that he’d honed as a master of animation to the task of capturing, in glorious DeLuxe Color, a brand-new craze: rock and roll. This blissfully bonkers jukebox musical tells the story of a mobster’s bombshell girlfriend—the one and only Jayne Mansfield, in a showstopping first major film role—and the washed-up talent agent (Tom Ewell) who seeks to revive his career by turning her into a musical sensation. The only question is: Can she actually sing? A CinemaScope feast of eye-popping midcentury design, The Girl Can’t Help It bops along to a parade of performances by rock-and-roll trailblazers—including Little Richard, Fats Domino, Julie London, Eddie Cochran, the Platters, and Gene Vincent—who light up the screen with the uniquely American sound that was about to conquer the world.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Also on the 19th comes the fantastical comedy Miracle in Milan from director Vittorio De Sica.
Renowned filmmaker Vittorio De Sica followed up his international triumph Bicycle Thieves with this enchantingly playful neorealist fairy tale, in which he combines his celebrated slice-of-life poetry with flights of graceful comedy and storybook fantasy. On the outskirts of Milan, a band of vagabonds work together to form a shantytown. When it is discovered that the land they occupy contains oil, however, it’s up to the cherubic orphan Totò (Francesco Golisano)—with some divine help—to save their community from greedy developers. Tipping their hats to the imaginative whimsy of Charles Chaplin and René Clair, De Sica and screenwriter Cesare Zavattini, adapting his own novel, craft a bighearted ode to the nobility of everyday people.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
On the 26th, the directorial debut of twins Arie and Chuko Esiri Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) is set for a Blu-ray release.
This revelatory, award-winning debut feature from codirectors (and twin brothers) Arie and Chuko Esiri is a heartrending and hopeful portrait of everyday human endurance in Lagos, Nigeria. Shot on richly textured 16 mm film and infused with the spirit of neorealism, Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) traces the journeys of two distantly connected strangers—Mofe (Jude Akuwudike), an electrician dealing with the fallout of a family tragedy, and Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), a hairdresser supporting her pregnant teenage sister—as they each pursue their dream of starting a new life in Europe while bumping up against the harsh economic realities of a world in which every interaction is a transaction. From these intimate stories emerges a vivid snapshot of life in contemporary Lagos, whose social fabric is captured in all its vibrancy and complexity.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Next, Bertrand Tavernier directs Dexter Gordon in the critically-acclaimed jazz film ’Round Midnight which will be released on Blu-ray on April 26th.
’Round Midnight is a love letter from director Bertrand Tavernier to the heyday of bebop and to the Black American musicians who found refuge in the smoky underground jazz clubs of 1950s Paris. In a miraculous, sui generis fusion of performer and character that was nominated for an Oscar, legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon plays Dale Turner, a brilliant New York jazz veteran whose music aches with beauty but whose personal life is ravaged by addiction. Searching for a fresh start in Paris, Turner strikes up an unlikely friendship with a struggling single father and ardent jazz fan (François Cluzet) who finds his life transformed as he attempts to help the self-destructive musician. Herbie Hancock’s evocative, Oscar-winning score sets the mood for this definitive jazz film, a bittersweet opus that glows with lived-in, soulful authenticity.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Finally, Alex Cox's blistering biopic Walker leads off the month on April 12th.
A hallucinatory biopic that breaks all cinematic conventions, Walker, from British director Alex Cox, tells the story of nineteenth-century American adventurer William Walker (Ed Harris), who abandoned a series of careers in law, politics, journalism, and medicine to become a soldier of fortune and, for many months, the dictator of Nicaragua. Made with mad abandon and political acuity—and the support of the Sandinista army and government during the contra war—the film uses this true tale as a satirical attack on American ultrapatriotism and a freewheeling condemnation of “manifest destiny.” Featuring a powerful score by Joe Strummer and a performance of intense, repressed rage by Harris, Walker remains one of Cox’s most daring works.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
These titles aren't available for pre-order yet but we will post an update when they are ASAP. As always, thank you for your support and pre-orders!
When it comes to getting great genre movies on Blu-ray and/or 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray - Turbine Media Group has been doing a bang-up job. Between Twister, The Hills Have Eyes, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Leatherface - among numerous other releases like Norther Exposure - Turbine has been cranking out some great content while also going the extra mile with bonus features, audio, picture quality, and unique packaging. After their already damned impressive An American Werewolf in London the German label is turning their attention towards the 1997 pseudo-sequel An American Werewolf in Paris - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. While not the greatest movie ever, I still have fond memories of checking it out in the theater and am looking forward to revisiting this furry fright flick.
The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will sport Dolby Vision HDR (and HDR10), with German and English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio mixes. In addition, each media book has 24 pages with an essay (in German) by Christoph N. Kellerbach including photos and behind-the-scenes stills. Bonus features will include deleted scenes, an audio commentary with director Anthony Waller, and an alternate version of the film in SD with additional making-of content, music videos, and cast and crew interviews. This release is exclusive to Turbine's website so follow the shopping links in our listings - I've had no trouble importing their releases, every disc I've ordered has arrived quickly (for an overseas purchase) and in perfect shape.
Now not content with just one Media Book release - Turbine is cranking out three options for fans to choose from:
As soon as we get our hands on a copy we'll work it into our review rotation. Check out the full press release below:
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As the trailer above indicates, the festivities of this 50th Anniversary celebration kicks off with The Godfather returning to theaters for a limited engagement in Dolby Vision screens exclusively at AMC theaters across the country on February 25th, 2022. Click HERE for more info about showtimes.
Leave the Blu-ray, take the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Celebrating 50 years of the Corleone family on the silver screen, Paramount Pictures is bringing The Godfather Trilogy to 4K ultra HD Blu-ray on March 22 in a Standard Trilogy release and Limited Collector's Edition. The set will of course include The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and the recently re-edited and cumbersomely retitled Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. From the press release, it does not look like the original Theatrical Cut of The Godfather Part III is making it to the format. We've asked for clarification on that point and will update if that's any different.
We expect each film to be presented in full 4K with Dolby Vision HDR, the 5.1 audio tracks of previous releases, but as the press release now indicates, we'll also get the original Mono tracks for The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. In addition to legacy bonus features, a full slate of new extra materials will be coming exclusively to this set. So far we haven't seen any info about any kind of retailer exclusive but we'll keep you posted if that changes.
[UPDATE 1/14/22]
Alrighty, after a lot of back and forths and scouring the interwebs for final details to this confusing release announcement - here's EVERYTHING we now know will be included with BOTH the standard 4K and Limited Edition 4K collections coming March 22nd.
First: Both sets are going to be 5-Disc sets. There was some confusion when Zavvi dropped their listing of a 9-Disc set, but that appears to be a UK/EU exclusive release that includes the same 5 4K UHD discs we'll get here in the states with an additional 4 standard Blu-rays of the films.
- Each film will get Dolby Vision/HDR10 grading.
- Previously available 5.1 TrueHD audio + Newly restored Mono tracks for The Godfather and The Godfather Part 2
- We'll also get all THREE cuts of The Godfather Part III - how that breaks out is ONE disc for Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone and then another disc for The Godfather Part III Theatrical Cut and The Godfather Part III Director's Cut from 1991.
How that all breaks down is ONE Disc for The Godfather, ONE Disc for The Godfather Part II, TWO Discs for all three of the different cuts of The Godfather Part III with one final disc to cover all of the legacy bonus features that are listed in the press release below.
Now that very expensive Limited Edition is the same five discs as the standard 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set, but with a coffee table book and three art prints. Personally, I wish they offered the chronological television version of The Godfather Legacy featuring The Godfather and The Godfather Part II edited together as one long movie experience as a bonus. It's a pretty cool and very unique presentation of both films together. I've only ever seen it once on AMC and wish it was more widely available. Maybe next time. If anything new breaks or changes with this release, we'll update our listings and this article ASAP.
Both sets are now up for pre-order on Amazon - but don't let that price for the Limited Collector's Edition give you sticker shock. That's pretty darn high so I doubt it's with any kind of sale price included. As always your preorders through our affiliate links are very much appreciated, they go a long way towards keeping our little operation up and running.
For more information, we've included the press release below:
Paramount Pictures Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of
Francis Ford Coppola’s Cinematic Masterpiece
Experience the Acclaimed Classic
in Theatres and on Home Entertainment Platforms
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – January 13, 2022 — In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s Academy Award®-winning* masterwork The Godfather, Paramount Pictures announced today that the film will have a limited theatrical release in Dolby Vision beginning February 25, 2022 exclusively in Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres in the U.S., as well as in international territories around the world. All three films in the epic trilogy have been meticulously restored under the direction of Coppola and will be made available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on March 22, 2022.
“I am very proud of The Godfather, which certainly defined the first third of my creative life,” said Francis Ford Coppola. “With this 50th anniversary tribute, I’m especially proud Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone is included, as it captures Mario and my original vision in definitively concluding our epic trilogy. It’s also gratifying to celebrate this milestone with Paramount alongside the wonderful fans who’ve loved it for decades, younger generations who still find it relevant today, and those who will discover it for the first time.”
Coppola’s masterful film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel chronicles the rise and fall of the Corleone family and the film trilogy is rightfully viewed as one of the greatest in cinematic history. In preparation for the 50th anniversary of the first film’s original release on March 24, 1972, Paramount and Coppola’s production company American Zoetrope undertook a painstaking restoration of all three films over the course of three years.
Every effort was made to create the finest possible presentation for today’s audiences who can watch the films using technology that has advanced dramatically since 2007 when the last restoration was completed by eminent film historian and preservationist Robert Harris. Using that work as a blueprint, the team spent thousands of hours to ensure that every frame was evaluated to create the most pristine presentation while remaining true to the original look and feel of the films.
The monumental effort included the following:
“We felt privileged to restore these films and a little in awe every day we worked on them,” said Andrea Kalas, senior vice president, Paramount Archives. “We were able to witness first-hand how the brilliant cinematography, score, production design, costume design, editing, performances, and, of course, screenwriting and direction became famously more than the sum of their parts. It was our commitment to honor all of the filmmakers’ exceptional work.”
Newly restored and remastered in Dolby Vision, all three films in the landmark trilogy will be released together with HDR-10 on 4K Ultra HD Digital and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™ for the first time ever. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set will include The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Coppola’s recently re-edited version of the final film, Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. The disc set includes legacy commentaries by Coppola, as well as access to Digital copies of The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II and Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.
In addition to the widely available 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set, a 4K Ultra HD Limited Collector’s Edition will also be released in deluxe packaging and includes a hardcover coffee table book featuring stunning photographs, as well as portrait art prints on archival paper. Both 4K Ultra HD sets include new bonus content including an introduction to The Godfather by Coppola, a featurette about the preservation process, photos by acclaimed photographer Steve Schapiro, home movie footage, and comparisons of the new restoration to earlier versions of the films. A full list of new and legacy bonus content follows:
NEW BONUS CONTENT:
· Introduction to The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola
· Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather—Paramount Pictures archivists detail the incredible restoration process with archival footage showing the evolution of the film through various home entertainment incarnations as picture and audio technologies make quantum leaps over the decades.
· Capturing the Corleones: Through the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro— In this reflective and frank discussion, special photographer Steve Schapiro shares his unique perspective and cherished memories as a witness to the making of this seminal film. Commentary on curated archival images makes for a fascinating, never-before-seen addition to the production’s history.
· The Godfather: Home Movies— An assortment of 8mm home movie footage shot in 1971 offers a candid glimpse into the production of The Godfather. Shot on location at the Norton family estate on Staten Island’s Emerson Hill, this is the first time it’s been made available to the public.
· Restoration Comparisons— Before and after highlights showcase extensive picture quality improvements to The Godfather.
LEGACY BONUS CONTENT:
o The Godfather vs. The Godfather: Part II
o Cannoli
o Riffing on the Riffing
o Clemenza
· The Family Tree
· Crime Organization Chart
· Connie and Carlo’s Wedding Album
· 2008 Credits
· Behind the Scenes
o A Look Inside
o On Location
o Francis Ford Coppola’s Notebook
o Music of The Godfather
§ Nino Rota
§ Carmine Coppola
o Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting
o Gordon Willis on Cinematography
o Storyboards – The Godfather: Part II
o Storyboards – The Godfather: Part III
o The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971
· Additional Scenes
· Galleries
· Trailers
· Acclaim & Response
· Additional Material
· The Filmmakers
· The Godfather: Part III—newly remastered and restored versions of the original theatrical cut and Coppola’s 1991 cut (note: these are exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD Collections)
Newly restored and remastered versions of The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Mario Puzo’s THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will also be available together on Blu-ray™ with access to Digital copies and the new and legacy bonus content detailed above.
In looking at upcoming releases, this is probably the slowest I have seen it in a very long time. Pre-orders on Amazon currently occupy 13 pages, not too long ago there were 30 pages worth. But hey, it's 1st quarter, so at the moment, no reason for alarm. Your best course of action is to continue to buy discs that you want to keep the medium alive. Just like any business, if you still got the demand, you make the product.
Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 34 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.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Considering it is January, this week is uncharacteristically (I think I made up a word) huge for 4K disc releases. New releases first:
The 2021 Sci-Fi epic Dune arrives as both a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Hope my SteelBook arrives intact because preorders are sold out as procuring a replacement could get expensive. A sequel has been green-lit so expect more greatness in the future.
What's touted as part of the 'new trilogy,' Halloween Kills also gets a double release, a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. This release also includes an alternate ending.
On to back catalog titles, first from Paramount, 1992 action/drama Juice, available as a standard edition and as a wide-release SteelBook edition.
Finally, from Kino, The Great Escape gets a 4K disc release. Previously, Criterion had released a 4K scan blu-ray edition.
Blu-ray releases-
Just like every week, let's get the blu-ray counterparts done first.
Dune gets a standard release, a Walmart Exclusive release and a 3-D release. It would be nice if the Walmart Exclusive were a 4K combo, that's a handsome package in its own way. I feel that that is Walmart's decision, not Warner Bros.
Halloween Kills also gets a standard blu-ray release via Universal Pictures.
Anime highlights include A3! Season Autumn & Winter, El-Hazard: The Alternative World Collection, Heaven's Lost Property The Movie: Eternally My Master and Strike Witches: Road to Berlin Season 3.
Criterion Collectors look for The Celebration this week.
Kino Lorber brings us war film The 7th Dawn starring William Holden. Burt Reynolds 'safe cracker' film Breakin In gets a nod as well. Not done with Reynolds yet, Impasse also gets a disc release. I've never seen Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine in the same film, but Kino shows us they were in Gambit. Partner label Scorpion Releasing delivers Dario Argento's The Card Player.
Friday releases? All Arts/Opera.
Notable announcements from last week:
We did expect it to be a dead week last week, but we do in fact have some buzz.
Warner Bros. has slated a domestic release for The Green Mile on February 22nd. See our news story here for the details. Looks like if you don't need the digital streaming code then the Zavvi Exclusive version is the ultimate experience.
Kino also added details for their 4K release of The Apartment, March 8th specifically. It will be 4K SDR, but you can still bet it is going to look stunning. There will also be a blu-ray release as well.
Paramount Pictures has a handful of catalog titles recently added for February - April, more will probably be added this week as well. In no particular order look for Hey Arnold! The Movie, In Dreams, Nick of Time, Intersection, Orange County, Soapdish, The Rugrats Trilogy Movie Collection, EuroTrip (Unrated Editrion) and Let It Ride. The next Paramount Presents release will be Ordinary People on March 29th.
From Peter Jackson and via the Disney label, The Beatles: Get Back gets a 3-disc blu-ray collector's edition on February 8th.
We have also got order links up for all the various skus for Disney's Encanto. With a release date of February 8th, a standard blu-ray release will be overshadowed by a multitude of 4K skus that include a standard edition, Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, Target Exclusive Lithograph Art Edition as well as a Walmart Exclusive that includes a pin.
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?
