It feels like March just began, and just like that, it's over. Short and Sweet, welcome to Episode 46 of our weekly look of the highlights of home video releases and news of what is yet to come.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There is a single 4K disc release this week. If you missed the opportunity to get the limited-edition release of Tremors from Arrow Video, they are releasing a scaled-back 'Special Edition' version this week.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Somewhat average week for Blu-ray releases. Here are the highlights...
LionsGate this week releases a new feature titled Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar, which at first glance looks like an animated film, but, surprise, it's not! It actually is a comedy film that could be fun. Also from LionsGate, Shadow in the Cloud and Son of the South. I said "Son of the South" and NOT "Song of the South", sorry but the latter title will remain 'lost' pretty much forever.
Carole Lombard fans should note that Kino is releasing the Second Collection this week. Also getting a volume 2 this week, Western Classics.
Suidio Ghibli's latest, Earwig and the Witch debuts on disc this week, available as a standard release and as a SteelBook release via GKIDS and Shout Factory. I have said this before, I wish their SteelBooks would be a little more exciting, the cover arts are a rather bland solid color with a character or two on the cover itself.
Other animated releases, look for a standard release of Elfen Lied: Complete Collection, if you bought the SteelBook, this one could be to use while the collectible SteelBook remains untouched, or maybe you've been waiting for it to be more affordable. Also look for Sunday Without God, no doubt a potentially controversial title just by its name.
The single Warner/Warner Archive release this week is the complete animated series for Thundarr the Barbarian.
There is a single release scheduled for Friday, a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert from 1976, Live at Knebworth.
Notable announcements from last week:
In addition to The Bird With The Crystal Pluamge 4K coming in June, Arrow Video is also releasing Irezumi, Major Dundee, The Stylist and Years of Lead: Five Classic Italian Crime Thrillers.
The next releases for the Paramount Presents label are Mommie Dearest (Spine number 17) on June 1st and Last Train from Gun Hill (Spine number 18) on June 15th.
Vinegar Syndrome has announced its next 4K release, Six-String Samurai. It is unclear if this title release of May 2021 will be for their web site exclusively and then in June on Amazon and other sites or if May is the general release. Usually their announcements have street dates for their site and then 30(ish) days later on Amazon and other sites.
Blue Underground has revealed the street date for Dead & Buried on 4K disc to be July 20th, and they have announced 2 additional slip cover variants as well. Do check out the 4K release schedule for details.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I did preorder Sunday Without God and the Elfen Lied Collection. I will likely pick it up locally, Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar. I sort of expect the standard release for Earwig and the Witch to be available locally too, which I will buy. Mild interest in the other two LionsGate releases, Shadow in the Cloud and Son of the South.
This July, the Criterion Collection will present a fitting tribute to the man dubbed "The Worst Director Of All Time" with the 6-film, 5-disc set The Visions of Ed Wood. Synonymous with low-budget B-Movie schlock, Edward D. Wood Jr. admittedly produced some of the worst movies ever made, but he carried the true spirit of an independent filmmaker stretching budgets and recycled stock footage to their breaking point. He was also a collector of cast-off Hollywood stars, most famous was his long-time friendship and collaboration with Dracula star Bela Lugosi. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Glen or Glenda (1953), Jail Bait (1954), Bride of the Monster (19545, Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957), Night of the Ghouls (1959), and The Sinister Urge (1960).
PLUS a 100-page collection of Ed Wood's Science Fiction and Adult-themed Short Stories
With the new year comes the promise of fresh new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases - those previously announced, those hinted, or those fans have hoped for. Unfortunately, the first couple months of the year are usually pretty rough for interesting releases - especially in these plague times where new theatrical releases are relatively few and far between. Now that we're through March with some better releases, some deep dive fan favorites hit in April leading into a packed month of May and through the end of the year with studios pulling out the big guns for new special editions and fan favorites finally making it to the format. As theaters start to reopen and new releases hit theaters, the slate of 4K releases should only get better and better!
Technically, nothing is scheduled for this day. However, after the botched release of Batman v. Superman Remastered 4K UHD Blu-ray, April 6th is the earliest ship date we've seen from any retailer we were able to pre-order from before. Some stores are listing a ship date well into mid-May. We'll cover this one ASAP - we have pre-orders with Amazon, Target, and Best Buy so it's a race to see who gets this to us first.
If you had a tough time finding Arrow's deluxe release of Tremors on 4K UHD Blu-ray - you weren't alone. Even before that set went out of print it was commanding steep gray-market prices. Now you can get the not-so-deluxe single-disc release at a much more reasonable price.
The month starts a bit on the slow side of things without any new 4K UHD Blu-ray titles the first week but jumps in nicely on the 13th with this hilarious fan favorite that has had a long history of lackluster home video releases. As we already reviewed Spaceballs - this one is well worth the upgrade!
I can't believe this one's already 20 years old! After Arrow already gave this modern cult classic an excellent deluxe release, they're following it up with a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. Richard Kelly's brain bender is a welcome addition to the format offering fans both the Theatrical Cut and extended Director's Cut with Dolby Vision HDR and a host of excellent bonus features.
Severin follows up their excellent releases of Perdita Durango and The Day of the Beast with a dive into the beautiful madness of Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre. This three-disc set includes the 4K disc, the 1080p Blu-ray, the soundtrack CD and a massive assortment of new and archival bonus features.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics returns to one of their most popular releases to give Segio Leone's iconic The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly the 4K UHD Blu-ray treatment it deserves. However, only the Theatrical Cut is offered and no HDR - but - the film is getting new color timing work so it won't be he same as their previous 50th Anniversary release.
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey sell this teenage coming of age film with hit music and some sultry dance moves. Made on a shoestring budget, it's been a fan favorite success ever since it hit theaters. Lionsgate is giving this film the full 4K UHD Blu-ray treatment with an exclusive SteelBook release to Best Buy. As of right now, this film isn't available anywhere else - if that changes we'll keep you posted.
That does it for this month - Arrow was supposed to drop a single release of Django on 4K on the 27th, but since we can't locate any pre-order info for that release anywhere, it looks like they're holding onto their May 25th slate for the big deluxe two-film set.
While this wasn't a huge month of releases, it leads us into May which is going to be packed to the gills with fan favorites the liks of The Sting, Speed, Shrek, and My Fair Lady among numerous others. In the meantime, we'll also be picking away at some exciting import titles as we can get to them. This should be an exciting summer! Thanks for reading and thank you for all of the pre-orders! We really appreciate it and all of the feedback. Here's to the start of an awesome summer season!
In like a lion, out like a lamb. To anyone that has no idea what I just said, I can tell you it's folklore that describes the weather for the month of March. Also this week, beware of April Fool's Day (or as it says on some calendars, "All Fools Day"). It would have really been interesting had April Fool's Day been on Friday, just saying. Welcome to Episode 45 of our weekly look at home video releases and news.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Another busy week for 4K disc releases, and there's probably a bit for everyone.
First from Severin, foreign films The Day of the Beast and Perdita Durango. I won't pretend to know these films, there is an English dub on their respective discs for those that prefer it. Look in the Blu-ray releases section if you prefer them instead.
From Sony, on the heels of video game base Monster Hunter, this week we see Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV becomes available. Logically they would also be releasing The Spirits Within at some point as well, but perhaps not, the age of the film might not translate well.
A week after the UK release, Wonder Woman 1984 his the U.S. shores on disc. Look for a standard edition, Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a standard edition double feature release, which also includes the Wonder Woman film from 2017.
BBC's next nature release, still featuring narration by Sir David Attenborough is titled A Perfect Planet. Different from prior releases, this one also includes the Blu-ray in the same package and there is no SteelBook option this go around.
And last, but certainly not least in the 4K category this week, Cecil DeMille's classic film The Ten Commandments. David Krauss turned in his review and it looks to be another stunning effort. Sadly the original silent version is not included - so hold onto that special edition Digibook from last year.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Anime highlights of the week include Asteroid in Love - Complete Collection, Black Clover: Season 3 Part 3 as a standard release, and as a box release meant to hold the rest of the season when you buy them. Also, Cagaster of an Insect Cage, Goblin Slayer - Goblin's Crown, Lupin III: Missed by a Dollar and Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine.
Sony Pictures is releasing a few random vanity titles each month. Two such films this week are 55 Steps, a biography/drama based on the life on Eleanor Riese, and Girl, Interrupted.
Paramount's catalog releases include The Bad News Bears (1976). The 2005 release of the same title was announced for this week as well but seems to have been possibly delayed, Under the "Paramount Presents" label, Cecil DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth.
Warner Archive brings TV movie The Bermuda Depths to disc this week. Previously announced by Scream Factory, but now released by Warner Archive, Isle of the Dead also debuts this week. Also from Warner Bros, no doubt a tie in to the upcoming 2021 movie, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook of the original two Mortal Kombat movies. And just like the 4K releases above, Wonder Woman 1984 on Blu-ray gets several SKUs this week as well; standard edition, 3D edition, Target Exclusive and as a double feature that includes the 2017 film. Target dropped the ball on this one, their exclusive is not the 4K release nor a gallery book, which is sad as I prefer that cover art over all of the other ones available, which as I mentioned last week, the Amazon UK Exclusive SteelBook indeed has that same cover art.
Criterion Collectors have more than one release to get this week. Look for Defending Your Life, Persona and Secrets & Lies. There are some well-known names in these films, I vaguely remember Defending Your Life but again will not have a discussion pretending to know them well.
Lionsgate's obligatory appearance of the week is brought to you by The Toll.
Notable announcements from last week:
Although there were no major Blu-ray announcements last week I would like to mention two 4K titles. First, Smokey and the Bandit is being released on June 1st. And second, Arrow video has announced The Bird With the Crystal Plumage for June 29th. The latter looks very similar to the fat-pack Blu-ray released previously, but of course now 4K. Reminds me of the double-dip I did for Donnie Darko, but I still will get it any way!
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? Just like last week, if I get all the 4K titles I want, it could be a wallet buster. I did order the Best Buy SteelBook of Wonder Woman 1984. I am pretty sure I will get The Ten Commandments as well, looking to see if it is available locally first. I like the BBC releases so A Perfect Planet is on my radar, and Kingsglaive is also on the wish list too. Blu-ray releases, I did preorder Greatest Show On Earth, but I really wish it were a 4K disc. Also ordered the Mortal Kombat SteelBook. Impulse buy will likely get The Toll as it will likely be available locally. Wishlist: Black Clover Season 3 Part 3 Box Set, the Goblin Slayer Goblin's Crown movie, Cagaster Insect Cage and The Widow.
Happy Spring to those in the Northern Hemisphere. What good things happened to you last week? Welcome to Episode 44 of our weekly look at what's new in home video, let's get right to it.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
It seems like feast or famine with 4K discs and this week, it's a huge feast with all the fixins' and dessert, sure to loosen up your wallets just a little bit.
Starting out first with worthy imports with Monday street dates, Second Sight's Dawn of the Dead, but this time as a standard, more budget friendly release. And next, a week before the domestic release, Wonder Woman 1984 in a couple of packaged options. Zavvi's Exclusive includes a figure of Wonder Woman in her golden outfit. Amazon's Exclusive SteelBook features what I consider the best cover art of all the options available, import or domestic. Next week's Target Exclusive release includes the same cover art, but that one is NOT a 4K set, and just when I thought Target was getting it all together and offering their exclusives as 4Ks.
Let us now move on to domestic, Tuesday releases, all eight of them.
Warner Bros. has a busy week. First the Warner Archive's first 4K release, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This one is not a recycled disc available previously, it has been reworked.
And no doubt to celebrate the upcoming Godzilla vs King Kong movie, Godzilla (2014) gets a 4K disc upgrade. The Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook cover art shows a very familiar cover art that was previously used on an Asian Metalpak release, and the standard edition features a cover art very similar to the ugly(ish) teal & orange cover art for the release of Godzilla: King of Monsters.
Sony Pictures is offering the 1997 Sci-Fi Gattaca as a SteelBook release this week.
Universal releases the recent Tom Hanks drama News of the World.
And closing out 4K discs for the week, Disney Pixar releases Soul this week in its usual array of options. Again, it's great to see new releases from Disney on 4K disc, but my issues with them are they have yet to offer a triple-layer disc on any releases, they won't deal with Amazon on preorders and they have all but ignored their catalog releases beyond what is already out unless it ties in to a new movie. Anyway, Soul gets three 4K releases, a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Target Exclusive Gallery Book edition.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Fortunately for our line of credit, Blu-ray releases this week are below average volume.
Arrow Video offers the horror/mystery The Bloodhound this week.
Recent comedy/crime film Breaking News in Yuba County comes from Warner Bros this week. Also from Warner Bros, look for 2020's The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant.
In the animation category, look for Castlevania: Season Three this week. I'm glad to see them releasing more streaming service titles on disc, hello Shout Factory, Bojack Horseman beyond Season Two please?? That show got better as it went on. Anime fans look for Fruits Basket: Season 2 Part 2, and like previous releases, available as a standard release and as a Limited Edition release. Finally, One Piece is getting released on blu-ray. Season Eleven - Voyage One comes out this week.
It might be finally happening! Event Horizon (Collector's Edition) might actually be streeting this week after what seemed like half a dozen delays.
Criterion Collection's single title this week is the mega-set titled World of Wong Kar Wai.
The above mention News of the World also gets a Blu-ray release this week.
Disney Pixar's Soul gets a standard Blu-ray release as well.
Friday releases consists primarily of the arts (Symphony, Opera, Ballet, Opera Ballet).
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection's June batch of titles has been announced, and no, 4K titles are still not on the horizon. Their titles for the month include The Human Condition, Pariah, Pickup on South Street, The Signifyin' Works of Marlon Riggs, Streetwise / Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell and Visions of Eight. My sheltered life says I know none of these titles, but you can still bet that the quality of these releases will still be top notch, as is the Criterion motto!
Look for Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon on 4K disc and Blu-ray disc on May 18th. Going with the normal routine, I sort of expect to see a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Target Exclusive Gallery Book edition added to the mix as well.
20th Century Studios (via Disney) is bringing Speed (1994) to 4K disc on May 4th, available as a standard release and a rather f'ugly SteelBook release. And before you jump all over me as to how I was wrong and that Disney *is* releasing a catalog title on 4K disc, keep in mind that all the back work on this title was already done before Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. Also expect to see Michael Mann's action/crime/thriller Heat (1995) later this year as well, with the same back story. Both films are logical choices of the Fox catalog to be released in a new format. As media collectors, if these titles sold like hotcakes, it should get someone at Disney's media division to work on more catalog releases. Disney being Disney though means these will not be available to preorder on Amazon, if there's Dolby Vision it will be streaming only, and another site is suggesting that Dolby Atmos will be on streaming only as well, not on the disc. Reminds me of the term "jumbo shrimp." Atmos, streaming, really? Stay tuned for final specs.
Sony will be releasing Snatch (2000) on 4K disc on June 1st.
Paramount has officially released info about the Indiana Jones 'quadrilogy' set on 4K disc and as Matthew suspected when he broke the original news article, there will be a different SKU, as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook set.
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? For me, the wallet-busting factor is thanks mostly to 4K releases. I preordered the SteelBooks of Godzilla and of Soul. Gattaca and News of the World also interest me, but I have not preordered them. Regular Blu-ray I have in interest in Breaking News in Yuba County and Event Horizon. Doubtfully, neither of the latter will be available at local brick-and-mortar stores.
Just in time to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark - Paramount Home Video has officially announced the June 8th release date of the 4-film 4-Disc deluxe box set release of Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection 4K UHD Blu-ray. Each film will be presented in Dolby Vision HDR (and standard HDR10), with new Dolby Atmos audio mixes to match! Now - some of the pictures of the packaging make it look like each disc gets its own SteelBook package - but nothing in the press release actually indicates "SteelBook." If that's a retailer exclusive we'll keep you posted as we learn more.
So save the bucks and plan for June 8th!
The full press release from Paramount is below
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark with All Four Indiana Jones Movie Adventures on 4K Ultra HD for the First Time
Deluxe 4K Ultra HD Set Arrives June 8, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (March 15, 2021) – Relive the unforgettable exploits of world-renowned, globetrotting hero Indiana Jones in spectacular 4K Ultra HD when the INDIANA JONES 4-MOVIE COLLECTION arrives in a new 4K Ultra HD set June 8, 2021 from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Entertainment.
The cinematic classic that started it all—Raiders of the Lost Ark—celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, having first introduced audiences to the man with the hat on June 12, 1981. Forty years later, the legendary hero continues to captivate new generations of fans.
Now, for the first time ever, all four films are available together in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision® and HDR-10 for ultra-vivid picture quality and state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos® audio*. Each film has been meticulously remastered from 4K scans of the original negatives with extensive visual effects work done to ensure the most pristine and highest quality image. All picture work was approved by director Steven Spielberg.
In addition, all four films were remixed at Skywalker Sound under the supervision of legendary sound designer Ben Burtt to create the Dolby Atmos® soundtracks. All original sound elements were used to achieve the fully immersive Dolby Atmos® mixes while staying true to each film’s original creative intent.
The INDIANA JONES 4-MOVIE COLLECTION includes a collectible booklet with behind-the-scenes images from all four films. Each film is presented on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc with original theatrical trailers and access to digital copies. The set also includes a Blu-ray™ with seven hours of previously released bonus content as detailed below:
· On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark
§ From Jungle to Desert
§ From Adventure to Legend
· Making the Films
§ The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981 documentary)
§ The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark
§ The Making of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
§ The Making of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
· The Making of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (HD)
· Behind the Scenes
§ The Stunts of Indiana Jones
§ The Sound of Indiana Jones
§ The Music of Indiana Jones
§ The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones
§ Raiders: The Melting Face!
§ Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies (with optional pop-ups)
§ Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations (with optional pop-ups)
§ Indy’s Women: The American Film Institute Tribute
§ Indy’s Friends and Enemies
§ Iconic Props (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
§ The Effects of Indy (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
§ Adventures in Post Production (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
This week, the Northern Hemisphere counts down its last week of Winter as Spring is on the horizon, while those down under welcome Fall after a long hot Summer. Welcome to Episode 43 of our weekly look at the highlights in home video and upcoming releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
As mentioned last week, March is a slow week for 4K disc titles. This week we have none to report.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Moving right along into the Blu-ray release category, let's see what the highlights are for the week....
Warner Archive releases this week are Crossfire, Damn Yankees, Driving Miss Daisy (reissue) starring the great Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy and a reissue of What's Up, Doc?
In the obligatory weekly visit from LionsGate, look for Dark Web: Cicada 3301 and Don't Tell a Soul.
Criterion's non-4K disc release for the week is Céline and Julie Go Boating, another film I know nothing about but will likely get 11 stars from the critics.
Looks like Mill Creek is into new title releases, this week they release I Am Lisa, having not seen it, is it a werewolf story? The 1986 film Rad also gets a SteelBook release this week.
From Universal Pictures this week, recent revenge-film Promising Young Woman. Also, a film titled Songbird, a frightening take on the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the anime category, look for BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt So I'll Max Out My Defense, available as a standard release and as a Limited Edition Set. I have noticed a growing number of MMORPG-type releases in anime, this has me curious though to see how they pull it off. Shout Factory/GKIDS rereleases, but now as a SteelBook releases include The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. I myself think these covers are a bit bland, a solid color background with a character or two imposed over it. And lastly, Nickelodeon's The Legend of Korra gets a 'Complete Series' release, Amazon has two SKUs listed, I cannot seem to tell the difference between the two other than price. SKU1 is labeled as a SteelBook and SKU2 is simply the complete collection, but both SKUs show the same second image of a SteelBook collection, thus the confusion.
Friday releases above average this week, mostly the arts category. The John Williams release piques my interest, it's got Dolby Atmos to boot! This title was delayed a couple of times.
Notable announcements from last week:
Universal has announced a 4K disc release of George Roy Hill's The Sting (1973) that will be available on May 18th as a standard edition and as a SteelBook edition. Additional 4K SteelBooks announced include The Birds, another realase of Psycho and National Lampoon's Animal House. Also from Universal but on May 11th, celebrating its 20th Anniversary and available on 4K disc for the first time, the animated smash Shrek.
Shout! Factory has announced a bunch of releases for June. They are The Awakening, Battle Beyond the Stars (SteelBook), Embattled, Human Nature, Hunter Hunter, Just a Gigolo, Kindred, Sphinx, Stardust (2020) and The Unhealer. For Studio Ghibli releases getting a SteelBook Edition, look for The Secret World of Arrietty and The Wind Rises.
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? Anime wise, I already ordered the Bofuri Limited Edition set and once the SKUs are sorted out, I want to consider The Legend of Korra set. I will likely get Dark Web: Cicada 3301 and Don't Tell a Soul as they will likely be at my local store. If Songbird is available locally it too might be bought on impulse. Damn Yankees, I Am Lisa and Money Plane interest me as well, I sort of expect to have to buy those online. Friday's release of John Williams in Vienna really interests me too.
In a continuation of my gripes from previous weeks, new releases from major studios continue to be a struggle to find at local brick-and-mortar-stores. And don't give me that crap about COVID-19, something else is going on here. In a few months we will see reports on how physical media sales are down double digit percentage points and the primary reason for that is availability, not a digital stream take over conspiracy that they will try to make us believe. Come on studios, keep physical stores as a viable option to buy your products. On that note though, welcome to Episode 42 of our weekly look at what's new in home video this week, as well as what's coming.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
As mentioned last week, March is a slow month for 4K disc releases. This week we have none. The Dredd SteelBook may or may not have been pushed back another week, again, but that cannot be confirmed.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Blu-ray on the other hand, we have a fair amount of them to ponder, albeit most of them are catalog titles.
Mill Creek releases a handful of titles this week, a couple of them under their 'Retro VHS Covers' series. Look for The Babe, Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain, Gorillas in the Mist, My Girl / My Girl 2 (Double Feature) and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.
The ever present Kino Lorber (and affiliated partners) has a few memorable titles releasing this week, they are Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, The Choirboys, The Don is Dead and The Forest.
Film Movement has a handful of British war film titles this week worth mentioning too. Before Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, British cinema released a movie by the same name in 1958, check it out. Other British cinema titles include The Dam Busters and Ice Cold in Alex. Film Movement has other titles licensed as well, keep your eyes peeled for upcoming releases.
The Scream Factory label gives us Rent-A-Pal this week.
Criterion Collection has one release this week, Touki Bouki, and I will not even pretend to say I have ever heard of this film, but Criterion does what they do best, bring us some of the best cinema from around the world.
A slow week for LionsGate, their single title this week is Vanguard, and it sounds like a typical Jackie Chan flick, which isn't a bad thing.
For Friday releases, there are two arts related titles to look for.
Notable announcements from last week:
If ever there was a pattern it would be that the same companies continue to support physical media while other companies do NOT. Absent almost every week is Disney/20th Century Studios. What is it going to take to tell them we are still buying discs?
Paramount has updated their May slate of titles. A couple of titles were scheduled for March, a couple are brand new. Look at May 25th for these titles: Days of Heaven, Don't Look Now, Get Rich or Die Tryin', The Last Castle, The Legend of Bagger Vance, A Night at the Roxbury, Rosemary's Baby, The Saint, Tupac: Resurrection and The Tuxedo. A reissue of Snake Eyes has now been pushed to May 18th. This is an interesting mix as some of these titles have not been on Blu-ray til now and a couple were done previously by Criterion Collection. I did import Don't Look Now in 4K so why Paramount decided to pass on a transfer that is already done is beyond me.
Warner Archive has announced their April 2021 titles. Links and exact dates coming soon. The titles are: Annie Get Your Gun, Another Thin Man, Broadway Melody of 1940, Doctor X, Each Dawn I Die, Green Dolphin Street, Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space and Quick Change.
And on the 4K disc front, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing us John McTiernan's (Director of Die Hard) Last Action Hero on George Strait's Birthday (May 18th.) Any chance to get a Schwarzenegger movie in 4K is welcome! There are actually a lot of new titles coming that day, maybe it's a convergence of some sort.
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? This week's list includes The Forest, Gorillas in the Mist, My Girl double feature and Rent-a-Pal. If Vanguard is available locally, I will likely pick that one up, if not, it will be on my wishlist.
And just like that, *poof*, February is in the rear view mirror. Welcome to Episode 41 of our weekly look at the highlights of what's coming to home video. No witty anecdotes or remarks this week, just right down to business.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Thus far, it looks like March in general is going to be a slow month for 4K disc releases.
As far a fresh content, this week look for the video-game inspired movie Monster Hunter starring Milla Jovovich. I am quite surprised there are no retailer exclusives or even a line of toys, all of which I think would sell in this case. What kid (or big-kid) wouldn't like to buy a monster action figure? I have not seen this film, but come on, Jovovich, monsters, it will certainly sell a few copies in each sku available! I wish FUNimation would release the rest of the "Ride On" episodes on Blu-ray, but that's a different topic. Agree or disagree with me, I tend to be on the 'sort of like / to really like' video game based movies. Hitman is still near the top of my list, I don't care how awful the reviews were for it.
Next, a reissue, but this time as SteelBook edition. Doesn't appear to be Best Buy Exclusive, but Amazon does not seem to have it available as of this writing.
The 2005 reboot of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise & Dakota Fanning. This specific cover has been used on Blu-ray SteelBooks and Metalpaks previously, I like it better than the standard cover.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
March has got five new-release Tuesdays and they all have got a good amount of titles on each one. Let's dive right in on the highlights.
The above mentioned Monster Hunter also gets released on Blu-ray as well.
Shout Factory this week releases another independent action film, this one is titled 400 Bullets.
This week's Anime releases should offer something for everyone. A Rightstuf exclusive titled Ah My Buddha!!, which also has an English dub, Aragne - Sign of Vermillion gets a reissue this week, so no more paying inflated prices from 3rd party resellers, but still no English dub. Want to save a few dollars, Attack on Titan Season 3 this time as a complete set. A Certain Scientific Railgun T, Dragon Ball Z SteelBooks for Season 8 and Season 9 and InuYasha: Set 4 finish out the category.
Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-4 will be available this week.
Universal Studios releases a 2020 drama/romance titled All My Life this week. Also from Universal, the 2020 comedy/drama Half Brothers debuts on disc.
LionsGate brings us Fatale this week, it sounds a bit like Femme Fatale, but I cannot say for sure if it was based on it or not.
Bob Hope fans be on the look out for Caught in the Draft, My Favorite Blonde and Nothing But the Truth by Kino Lorber.
This one interests me, Disney's trend nowadays is to do live action versions of their animated features. An Italian company did Pinocchio and it looks pretty good. Don't worry, there is an English dub on this disc. For some reason LionsGate is doing the digital release but Samuel Goldwyn is doing the actual disc. Although I prefer physical over digital, had LionsGate done the disc version, it would have also included a digital code.
Notable announcements from last week:
There has been a trickle of new title announcements last week. Although there are a bunch of 'decent' titles announced, I do not consider them major or mass appeal.
What did get announced in the 4K arena though were a few random ones. First up, Tim Burton's Big Fish got a surprise 4K announcement. Expect to see it on May 4th. And next, Paramount has released more details about My Fair Lady 4K and Super 8 4K, both slated for May 25th. Super 8 will be getting a standard release and a SteelBook release. It is unknown at this time if the SteelBook will be a Best Buy eclusive or a general release, but I expect it to be Best Buy Exclusive. Maybe by next week we will have working links for both Paramount releases.
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? Again, except for the major releases, good luck finding them in your local B&M store, but the titles that interest me are as follows: Monster Hunter 4K has already been preordered. I do like the War of the Worlds cover, but not enough to double-dip. Wishlist includes 400 Bullets, Pinocchio, Certain Scientific Railgun T, Dragon Ball Z 8 & 9 SteelBooks, InuYasha #4 and Fatale.
The last genuinely wonderful Tim Burton movie - 2003's Big Fish is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on May 4th, 2021.
This one isn't up for Pre-order quite yet, but as soon as it is, we'll update our listing. Also - so far no news for a SteelBook or alternate release as of yet. This disc will offer HDR10 and feature a new Dolby Atmos mix as well as the original DTS-HD MA 5.1 track.
Read our original 2007 Blu-ray Review
Here is the full press release:
FROM VISIONARY DIRECTOR TIM BURTON
STARRING EWAN McGREGOR, ALBERT FINNEY, BILLY CRUDUP AND JESSICA LANGE
AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 4K ULTRA HD™ MAY 4TH
WITH HOURS OF BEHIND-THE-SCENES BONUS MATERIALS
SYNOPSIS
