The final full week of February is upon us. For the Northern hemisphere, Spring is just around the corner and tell you what, I certainly look forward to it, February has been more Winter-like than January was. Welcome to Episode 40 of our weekly look at the week's highlights of new releases and upcoming releases news.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week's best seller 4K disc will no doubt be The Croods: A New Age. Having not personally seen it, am not going to pre-judge, I myself generally like these releases. I'm surprised there are no retailer exclusives this time though.
Vinegar Syndrome's general release of The Beastmaster was supposed to happen this week. Our listing will remain for posterity and (Vinegar Syndrome website) purchase link will be updated to Amazon accordingly when it becomes available. Do read our review, it is a "Must Own" release.
Import of significance of the week is Fanny Lye Deliver'd, our link brings you to a domestic seller.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
As far as regular Blu-ray releases, this week has got an above average number. A bunch of them are Miramax reissues, but that just means it's an opportunity to get them at a more reasonable price. I certainly took advantage of the last round of reissues.
Carrying over from the 4K section above, The Croods: A New Age is also available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo, a 3D Blu-ray Combo and as a Croods/Croods 2 double feature Blu-ray.
LionsGate's obligatory weekly appearance to release a Covid-era new film brings us Silk Road, a story based on true events involving the dark web. Also this week, after a rather short theatrical run, Wrong Turn gets a reboot and this film hits home video. Our review indicates it is worth your time if you enjoy this genre.
Anime highlights of the week include a couple. Discotek releases their February titles this month as well, but they are mostly Japanese language only with English subs. Other titles include Fairy Tail: Part 26, Food Wars! The Fourth Plate and Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World: Complete Second Season + OVA.
Criterion Collection's busiest week of the month as they are bringing us Man Push Cart as well as Chop Shop. The latter is actually a sequel to Man Push Cart. Both are set in New York and no doubt poke a little bit at the culture of the city. And lastly, a drama/romance film titled Smooth Talk, for which I will not even pretend to know what it is about, but if you collect Criterion titles, no doubt it's on your list.
Shout Factory brings us another IFC film, this one is titled Centigrade.
Warner Archive Collection delivers one of those live-action animated hybrids this week titled My Dream Is Yours, which by the way stars Doris Day among others. This is one of the ones I can vagualy remember and it was decent for its time. Sticking with Doris Day and musicals, also look for On Moonlight Bay this week as well. And still going strong with musicals, the 1951 rendition of Show Boat streets this week as well. Also from Warner Archive, a more recent title that celebrates free speech, Pump Up The Volume.
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection has announced its May 2021 batch of titles. Although every title except one mentions "4K" in their descriptions, it's to merely indicate a 4K Restoration, not a 4K presentation. Look for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Flowers of Shanghai, Merrily We Go to Hell, Nightmare Alley and Trances to be released on various dates in May. Order links are live.
Friday releases offer us two Music related titles and two Arts related titles, Alice Cooper, The Go-Gos, Cathy Marston: The Cellist, John Gay: Beggar's Opera (2020).
Paramount has officially announced My Fair Lady for 4K disc with a street date of May 4th. The cover art has been updated and partial features are listed. Although we have an Amazon link, the page is temporarily unavailable. Stay tuned though
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 Croods: A New Age 4K is on the top of my list, and I have no doubt it should be available at most stores. I did pre-order the Konosuba release and will likely get the Wrong Turn release also on Tuesday. Keeping it brief, I have an interest in ten or so of the Miramax reissues. More wishlist titles, Fairy Tail #26, New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, Pump Up the Volume, Puppet Princess and maybe a Friday release or two.
Continuing from last week, more and more new releases seem to be unavailable at local stores if you're looking for something other than crappy, obsolete, low-resolution DVDs. Seriously, the industry and stores wonder why Blu-ray and 4Ks see a decline in sales, it should be pretty obvious why. Compare it to a chicken and the egg or even a famous quote, "if we build it, they will come." Welcome to Episode 39, our weekly look at what's coming out on Home Video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K discs slated for this week. Perhaps if Criterion or Disney were on board for catalog titles, there would be something.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Somewhat average week for Blu-ray releases this week. And here we go....
Shout Factory continues to release Indie films and catalog titles. This week look for A Call to Spy, a biography/drama that tells the story of women spies duing WWII.
Warner Archive Collection releases 1956 comedy/drama classic film Baby Doll. Also, a more recent animated release, Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons. Clark Gable's San Francisco also releases this week as well.
When you think H.P. Lovecraft you mostly think of Cthulhu, the TV series Lovecraft Country: The Complete First Season releases this week. Also available as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Mill Creek releases their February batch this week, they include Breach, Cowboy Way and The Net Double Feature.
Criterion Collection's release this week is a foreign film titled Mandabi, which no doubt has a following, and myself personally has never heard of, oh well.
LionsGate continues to churn out films during the COVID pandemic, this week look for Fear of Rain, a film of the Drama/Thriller category that no doubt might keep us on the edge of the seat til the end, and then still keep you wondering. Also look for The Informer this week as well, a different genre. And if you're wondering what Paul Hogan's been up to these days, check out The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.
The randomness and consistency of Anime, this week look for Gourmet Girl Graffiti - Complete Collection, now back in print. Also back in print, Motto To Love Ru - The Complete Second Season. The next reissue of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, this one subtitled Golden Wind Part 2 streets this week. My Hero Academia Season Four Part Two comes in two different options, a Standard release and a Limited Edition release. Naruto: Set 2 also comes out this week.
Universal releases a thriller this week titled Horizon Line. The synopsis makes me scratch my head however, how does one get totally lost within minutes of takeoff? Might be worth a look, but based on the trends, I doubt you will find it at your local stores.
Notable announcements from last week:
The Disney company has announced a release date for the animated feature Soul to be March 23rd. Of course as this is a new film, it will get a disc release. Disney seemingly ignores its vast Disney (and Fox) library that just itches for releases on disc, recently they released Upside Down Magic on DVD only, despite being available in HD online. Anyway, back to Soul, for 4K SKUs there will be a standard release, a Best Buy Exclusive Edition and a Target Exclusive Edition, as well as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo release. Our links will point to Best Buy as their dispute with Amazon continues indefinitely. Deep rumors are out overseas that Disney will be releasing Michael Mann's Heat, as well as the movie Speed on 4K disc this year. I hope it is more than a rumor, I like both movies and would buy them both. Still no True Lies or Abyss, but it shows the faucet might at least be doing a slow drip.
Warner Bros. announced DC Universe's Justice Society: World War II available as a 4K disc release as well as a Blu-ray release for May 11th. I sort of expect a Best Buy edition with figure to creep up as well. Also, Wonder Woman '84 has its final details posted and a confirmed street date of March 30th, both as a Blu-ray Edition and a 4K Disc. Not done with Warner yet, they also have announced the street date for Supernatural Season 15 as May 25th, but what makes this special is also the Complete Series mega-set they have announced as well. Check it out.
Shout Factory has announced their May slate of titles, which includes all of their various sub-labels. The titles are All About the Benjamins, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold, Explorers, Eyes of a Stranger, The Final Stand, The Hand, He Knows You're Alone, King Kong (1976), The Legend of Hei, The Nest (2020) and Wildcats.
There are other 4K discs in the works from the major players as well (Sony, Paramount, Universal) which we will keep you in the loop on. Kino Lorber has also announced they are working on Orson Welles' Touch of Evil.
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? My list is a bit short this week. Finding any of these titles at local stores on anything but low-rez DVD will likely be pointless but ya never know. Am looking at A Call to Spy, Horizon Line, Lovecraft Country Season One and The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.
Anyone that regularly purchases new releases has likely observed like I have that certain movies are not available in any physical stores. An even larger kick in the face though is that the same titles, the DVD is available for sale. More and more stores are pushing 4K into our faces but they only sell DVDs of new releases? Pixel wise, you could play 24 DVDs on your 4K screen simultaneously. Recent releases absent from stores were Come Play, Fatman and Born a Champion Blu-rays and the 4K of Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Welcome to Episode 38 of our weekly look at what's new to home video. My above rant is abbreviated by the way.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
In the 4K disc arena, first a reissue, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, this time though as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
Next, making its 4K disc debut, Sci-Fi/Action film Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jody Foster. Elysium was one of those titles on the survey Sony offered late last year to gauge what customers wanted next.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Paramount's next "Paramount Presents" releases debut this week, the week before Valentines Day, look for Elizabethtown, a more recent comedy/romance. And the other release is Love Story. I would expect these to be decent presentations and not cash-grabs, I don't think Paramount is looking to tarnish their flagship label.
Keeping with the theme, LionsGate releases the comedy/romance The Right One this week. Not Valentines day, but still Lionsgate, look for Wander Darkly this week as well.
What else does Valentines mean other than to watch My Bloody Valentine, right? Scream Factory now offers it as a SteelBook release.
Arrow Video releases The El Duce Tapes for the first time on Blu-ray.
The Criterion Collection's release of the week is The Parallax View. Another film I must have missed, but it's got creds that make it worth looking at.
From my opening rant, (good luck finding) Freaky and Greenland in stores, released by Universal by the way. We have reviewed the latter in its digital format.
All Creatures Great and Small seems to have a rising following and Season 1 comes out this week. I'm sorry to say I have not watched broadcast TV for quite some time so I am semi-clueless with that regard.
In the Anime/animated category, the sequel to Ne Zha streets this week, it's titled Jiang Ziya. Ne Zha got a 4K release but it looks like the sequel does not. Paramount releases The Little Prince (2015), previously only available as an import.
Baltic/Russian film makers are at full speed ahead and it seems each week we see something from them. This week Scream Factory is releasing a Horror/Sci-Fi titled Sputnik, and yes, it is reported to have an English dub.
Still looking for 3D discs to keep your 3D gear in use? This week, Wings of the Hawk debuts, and our review indicates it was restorted quite well.
Friday releases comprises mostly of arts releases.
Notable announcements from last week:
All of this week's Mondo Macabro releases got delayed a month, look for them now on March 9th. No doubt COVID and other related delays.
Arrow Video has announced their next batch of titles, which span the month of April. As far as 4K, they're prepping a "fat pack" release of Donnie Darko. It seems as though I had just bought their Blu-ray of this one (not to say it was a bad release, I just hate the back-to-back double dips.) The other 4K release on the docket is Battle Royale, but that one's a UK only release. Now for Blu-ray releases, they are (alphabetically) Death Has Blue Eyes, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (Arrow / SteelBook Edition) and Switchblade Sisters. A Blu-ray release of Battle Royale also remains a UK exclusive and, oddly enough, Clapboard Jungle appears to be a UK and Canada only release.
Warner Archive's March titles include The Bermuda Depths, Crossfire, Damn Yankees, The Great Caruso, Isle of the Dead and Thundarr the Barbarian: The Complete Series. Isle of the Dead was originally to be a Shout/Scream factory release in 2019, looks like that had fallen through. If you remember The Berrmuda Depths it is likely because you know your Rankin and Bass TV!
Warner Bros has announced the 4K release of Godzilla (2014) and it will be available on March 23rd as a Standard Release (with a rather f'ugly cover) and a SteelBook release that looks very much like the Asian import of the Blu-ray SteelBook I bought years ago. The latter, Godzilla's tail was nicely embossed/textured. I recall people complaining how dark the picture was on this movie, I doubt, but really do hope that HDR will change that aspect much. I think the dark look was the intention of the film.
The next 'Paramount Presents' release will be Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth, expected on March 30th. Featuring another 4K restoration but presented in 2K format. Paramount (unlike DISNEY) at least is releasing multiple catalog titles on Blu-ray that never were available before and offering a handful of actual 4K titles as well from the catalog. My Fair Lady, Super 8 and The Ten Commandments will be on 4K disc soon.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I currently have none of this week's titles on preorder, but I'm certainly interested in Elysium 4K. My wish list for the rest of the titles are Freaky, Greenland, Sputnik, Jiang Ziya, Wander Darkly and The Little Prince.
For many of us, the month of February is a welcome sight as it also means Spring is near, being the shortest month of the year, it's that much nearer. Filing your income taxes has been delayed until the 12th at the earliest, what's on your wishlist this year?
Welcome to Episode 37 of our weekly look at what's coming out on home video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week there is a single 4K disc release, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. In addiiton to the 4K and HDR upgrade, this one has got an updated DTS:X audio track. The BD100 disc should indicate there is a decent bit rate as well. Alternately, a Target Exclusive SteelBook is also available as well, and this time Target the the right thing by offering a SteelBook in 4K.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
This week is the slowest week of the month for Blu-ray discs, here are the highlights.
Sammy Davis Jr. releases seem far and few, this week Kino delivers Anna Lucasta, which also stars Eartha Kitt. Another of his films, A Man Called Adam also releases this week as well. Known director James Whale's The Kiss Before the Mirror also debuts this week on Blu-ray, check out our review, buy the disc. Delayed a few times, but now on track for this week, Kino partner Code Red releases The Great Alligator, one of those schlocky fun horror films from the 70s.
Paramount's (new to Blu-ray) catalog batch this week includes Lassie, Mouse Hunt, Small Soldiers & Yours, Mine & Ours (2005). Also, reissues of Ladybugs and Revolutionary Road means these OOP titles can be had again for a reasonable price.
The weekly dose of anime highlights include just Black Clover: Season 3 Part 2 & Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather.
Universal releases Let Him Go, the 2020 Crime/Thriller movie starring Diane Lane and Kevin Costner.
Lionsgate's weekly infusion includes just Love, Weddings & Other Disasters, this one's got a bit of star power in it worth checking out if you like the comedy/romance genre.
Notable announcements from last week:
Shout Factory/GKIDS has announced and added details for the 2020 Studio Ghibli animated film Earwig and the Witch. The feature is directed by Gorô Miyazaki is expected to release on Blu-ray on April 6th. It will be available as a standard release and a SteelBook edition, no word on if 4K is even an option. If it is, it will likely release like Weathering With You did, ie: a couple of months later, and they did warn us beforehand.
LionsGate has announced three more titles for Feb/Mar, they are Don't Tell a Soul, Vanguard and Wrong Turn (2021). Our own Matthew Hartman has reviewed the theatrical release of Wrong Turn, check it out.
Information has been leaked of Universal releasing National Lampoon's Animal House on 4K disc later in 2021. Details are not available as of yet and the cover art is likely temporary (their 4K disc releases generally offer digital 4K streams, not digital HD.)
Kino Lorber's 4K disc release of Spaceballs now has a street date, expect it on April 13th.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I did preorder Mouse Hunt and Small Soldiers. Wishlist includes Black Clover S3#2, Ladybugs, Lassie & Sky Sharks. Let Him Go sounds interesting but this could have been a good 4K candidate, it might still be actually, hard to say if they will release in on 4K domestically or overseas. I will also look at Love, Weddings & Other Disasters first, no blind buy there.
With COVID still penning in theatrical release dates from the major studios, new releases have been a bit soft of late. January had only a few new domestic U.S. 4K UHD Blu-ray releases, and February looks to be a bit of a repeat. There are some great flicks coming, but nothing like the huge majors we saw from October through December of 2020.
Once again we're faced with a 4K UHD Blu-ray release that apparently won't be available through the Criterion Collection. Do The Right Thing had a hell of a Blu-ray release so hopefully, this 4K disc brings something to the table to make it worthwhile. Also on that note - Target is getting more aggressive in the SteelBook arena taking some punch out of Best Buy with a Do The Right Thing Exclusive SteelBook and a little less interesting is a Fifty Shades Trilogy Exclusive SteelBook. Target tended to offer their own exclusive Book-style packaging. Recently they've been selling in stores SteelBooks that were past Best Buy and Walmart exclusives at fairly cheap prices. Best Buy is offering up a 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Exclusive SteelBook - however, much like their Interstellar 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook - it's a simple repackaging of the older Blu-ray SteelBook.
Still, while we may not be getting some huge releases, we are getting a few decent back catalog hits. Import markets will be offering other solid releases Old Boy from the UK, Possession from France - we'll be covering those as best we can but with international shipping being what it is, it might take us a little longer to get those.
The last full week of January 2021 is upon us, and thus far the new disc announcements still remain rather slow. They will ramp up, they always do after the holidays. Welcome to Episode 36 of our week's highlights on what's coming to home video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week we see three UPCS on 4K disc, animated features at that. First from Warner Bros. look for Batman: Soul of the Dragon, available as a standard release and as a (increasingly more common) Best Buy Exclusive release that includes a figure.
Next, in the anime category, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro comes at you from Discotek. I do not follow the Lupin series much but it appears to me to be well established and goes quite a ways back, proven by the fact this title is from 1979.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For Blu-ray releases, this week is probably the busiest week of the month.
Warner Bros also releases Batman: Soul of the Dragon on Blu-ray this week as well. More DC Universe material, Doom Patrol: The Complete Second Season hits home video this week as well. I must have missed the boat, but apparently Snowpierecer got a TV series? Season One is releases this week on Blu-ray.
Warner Archive releases the 1936 vintage film After the Thin Man, perhaps worth a look if you want to complete the entire sequelogy (is that even a word? If not, it should be.) Also from Warner Archive, Good News starring June Allyson & Peter Lawford and The Pajama Game starring Doris Day, and finally Room For One More starring Cary Grant.
Criterion Collection releases foreign film The Ascent this week.
LionsGate keeps cranking them out, at a fair price to boot, look for the action/drama Born a Champion this week.
Universal releases Come Play this week, perhaps the kind of movie you would watch to break cabin fever.
In the anime category, alphabetically, significant releases include Ascendance of a Bookworm - Complete Collection, Case File no221: Kabukicho - Season 1 Part 2, No Guns Life: Season 1 and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Season 1.
The next Paramount Presents release becomes available this week, this time The Court Jester, which is also the first time it's been released on Blu-ray anywhere in the world. Thus far this line has been produced fairly well, I just wish they would include 4K where applicable, seeing as how many of their sources are 4K scans. Days of Thunder getting a 4K disc the same day as a Paramount Presents version was released is a good example.
Also from Paramount, albeit a month late, what sounds like a fun take on a Christmas movie, Fatman debuts on disc this week.
Random oddity from AGFA that sounds potentially interesting, The AGFA Horror Trailer Show. Also from AGFA, another interesting plot summary, The Curious Dr. Humpp.
Arrow Video Releases I have been looking forward to after missing out on the mega-box set last year, despite ordering it on DAY ONE!! Gamera comes to us now in snazzy SteelBook packages. The Heisei Trilogy, The Heisei Era and The Showa Era. These appear to be the same discs from the box set but not inclusive of the swag. I really hate mail ordering Steelbooks though. Most of the order pickers and packers are unaware of the care they need in handling and shipping, so good luck not having to return them because of damage. (Note the two 'era' SteelBooks below, side-by-side form a single picture.) Also from Arrow, the 2006 feature starring Dwayne Johnson, Southland Tales comes out this week too!
Grindhouse Releasing now releases the 1968 Burt Lancaster film The Swimmer this week as well, did I miss something? This film has had multiple releases over the years. Someone please educate me, what am I missing?
Friday releases, one concert and one arts/ballet feature.
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection has announced its April 2021 slate. They missed the deadline to be in last week's update and it looks like April 2021 will not be the month they release their first 4K disc. Any way, the list of Blu-ray for April includes The Furies, History Is Made at Night, Irma Vep, Masculin Féminin and Memories of Murder. Amazon preorder links are already live.
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has announced another wave of catalog releases for Blu-ray. The list includes Girls Rule Collection (She's the Man comes to Blu-ray for the first time), The Bad News Bears (1976), The Bad News Bears (2005), The Saint, Snake Eyes (reissue), Tupac: Resurrection and The Tuxedo.
On the same topic, Disney are you reading this? Not only have you abandoned the 4K disc market for catalog titles, but apparently since you've acquired Fox and started Disney +, you have also abandoned Blu-rays as well. I would like to legally own so much of your catalog on Blu-ray, sell them to me! There are so many sites out there selling discs that it's not always clear if they're legit.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? I have an interest in both 4K titles, but neither are on preorder at this time. Other wishlist items, in order of importance: Doom Patrol Season 2, Fatman, Gamera Heisei Era and Showa Era, Born a Champion, Court Jester and the Friday release of Snow Queen.
While this flick wasn't everyone's favorite trip back to the 80s - the 4K UHD Blu-ray release looks to be hitting the market March 22nd in the UK according to Zavvi. Since that's a Monday and US releases hit on a Tuesday, it's a safe guess that WW1984 will be arriving in the U.S. on the 23rd or damn close to that date. We don't know the final specs for this release, HDR, Dolby Vision, or if it'll even have an Atmos audio mix or not. The HBOMax presentation had Dolby Vision and Atmos, so we'd be very surprised if the 4K UHD Disc didn't include those specs.
Zavvi has a pair of releases to offer fans of the film - if you are one - available for pre-order:
Wonder Woman 1984 - Standard Edition
or - Wonder Woman 1984 Exclusive with Figurine
For the price of the Exclusive with figurine, I hope that's a Hot Toys 1/6 figure or a damn impressive sculpt and scale! $229.99 seems a bit much if it's just a tiny little figure.
Since this movie has yet to be announced on home video for the North American market, we don't know if that figure release will come this way, but considering previous DCEU releases - or just any big movie release in general, we're pretty sure a SteelBook will probably be available from Best Buy. As we hear new news we'll update this article with details and pre-order info.
Here's the list of bonus features according to the listing from Zavvi:
"I bring you these Fifteen...CRASH... Ten!! Ten Commandments!"
Quite timely after a literal plague hit the planet - the 1956 epic The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston and Yule Brynner comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray on March 30th, 2021 for the first time featuring a Native 4K transfer with Dolby Vision HDR! This three-disc set features the film on one single BD-100 4K UHD disc, with 2 BD-50 discs offering the film in 1080p SDR and extra bonus features.
Unfortunately, this set does not appear to include all of the bonus features of the DigiBook set that came out last year which were carried over from the 2011 set. The biggest omission would be the original 1923 version of the film. Specs may not be 100% finalized so that and some of the other bonus content could make its way to the set before street date, but just in case, don't go trading in that older release just yet.
The Ten Commandments - so far - is only up for Pre-Order at Target, but we anticipate Amazon and Best Buy to add it soon now that it's been officially announced.
Check out the full press release from Paramount:
4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray™ Combo with Digital Debuts March 30, 2021 in Time for Easter
Renowned director Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 epic THE TEN COMMANDMENTS arrives in spectacular 4K Ultra HD for the first time on March 30, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Bringing to life the inspiring story of Moses in all its stunning glory, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS has withstood the test of time. To commemorate the film’s 65th anniversary in 2021, DeMille’s groundbreaking cinematic triumph will be available to watch at home in time for Easter in sparkling 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range.
As part of the restoration done in 2010, the film was scanned in 6K and those files were the basis for this brand-new Dolby Vision version, which shows off the full beauty of the original VistaVision negative. The VistaVision format used special cameras to feed 35mm film into the camera horizontally in order to capture a wider image spread over two 35mm film frames, giving VistaVision twice the resolution of regular 35mm film. In addition, Paramount spent well over 150 hours doing new color work and clean-up on the scan. The move to Dolby Vision created the opportunity to further improve the look of the film: blacks are enhanced and improvements were made to smooth out special effects mattes to create the most vibrant and pristine image possible.
The 4K film presentation contains an introduction by DeMille, an intermission, an overture/exit music card, and an entr’acte card, along with a DTS-HD 5.1 lossless soundtrack.
The new set includes a 4K Ultra HD disc, two Blu-ray discs, and access to a Digital copy of the film. Following is a breakdown of the disc contents:
4K Ultra HD Disc
· 1956 feature film in 4K Ultra HD
· Commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of “Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic The Ten Commandments”
Blu-ray Disc™ #1
· 1956 feature film in high definition (Part 1)
· Commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of “Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic The Ten Commandments”
Blu-ray Disc™ #2
· 1956 feature film in high definition (Part 2)
· Commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of “Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic The Ten Commandments”
· Newsreel footage of the film’s New York premiere
· Theatrical trailers, including at 10-minute “making of” trailer
For sheer pageantry and spectacle, few motion pictures can claim to equal the splendor of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. DeMille’s last motion picture made Charlton Heston a superstar and remains an unprecedented achievement and perennial fan favorite. Filmed in Egypt and the Sinai with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS tells the story of the life of Moses (Heston). Once favored in the Pharaoh's (Yul Brynner) household, Moses turned his back on a privileged life to lead his people to freedom.
When there's barely any room left on the shelf... Dawn of the Dead will get a smaller release...
If you missed out on Second Sight's incredible Seven-Disc Dawn of the Dead Limited Edition set, you still get a crack at their 4-Disc Standard Edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray releases on March 22nd 2021!
While these Standard Edition releases miss out on the book and three Soundtrack CDs, you do get the better end of all the best bonus features. Note - the standard Blu-rays are Region-B locked while the three triple-layered 4K UHD Blu-rays are per usual Region Free. A domestic U.S. release is yet to happen - and probably will at some point - but this is a great option for fans who are tired of waiting. Also, if the price tag of that Limited Edition set was a little shocking, these standard releases are much more agreeable.
As of right now, the only place I've seen these available for pre-order is on Zavvi. If/When Amazon UK or DiabolikDVD has these to offer for pre-order/sale, we'll update our listings accordingly. I personally ordered my Limited Edition 4K set from Zavvi and it was shipped and packed safely in a nice big box and crossed the Atlantic Pond and through customs and shipping during the busy holiday rush without issue. I heard some horror stories about some damaged deliveries, but that hasn't been my experience importing from UK retailers thus far.
Here are the specs:
DISC 1 - THE THEATRICAL CUT (Region Free)
DISC 2 – THE EXTENDED (‘CANNES’) CUT (Region Free)
DISC 3 – THE ARGENTO CUT (Region Free)
BLU-RAY DISC 4 - SPECIAL FEATURES (Region B Blu-ray Both Sets)
Has certainly been an interesting tumultuous month outside of the entertainment industry. The goal of these weekly updates though serves one purpose, home entertainment updates.
Welcome to Episode 35 of our weekly look at the highlights of the week's home video releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week we see see three catalog titles hitting 4K disc.
Sony Pictures brings us the Roland Emmerich 2009 disaster film 2012. Films of this nature were never meant to be entirely and scientifically accurate, but they still entertain us for a couple of hours and make us think of how life in our reality could be different. This one has an array of camera sources and a 2K DI, but how Sony produces the final 4K disc, I do not know, you can bet that bare minimum the HDR aspect will improve this release.
Next, a pair of John Carpenter classics from the 80's, Prince of Darkness and They Live, brought to you by Scream Factory. These were restored by StudioCanal and released in the UK in 2018. Scream Factory no doubt took the same source but upped the ante a little bit by adding Dolby Atmos audio. We have done reviews of both releases already and they are favorable, follow the links and check them out. I hope they also release the other two films from the StudioCanal batch in 4K, Escape From New York and The Fog.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
For 2K/HD disc releases this week, there's quite an assortment. As always, the highlights are here.
From Mill Creek, Accepted debuts on Blu-ray for the first time globally. Your Higness gets a Mill Creek reissue in case you missed the actual Universal Pictures release from 10 years ago.
Anime releases every week are expected, it's a huge industry and a fair market across the globe. Shout Factory releases a 15th Anniversary edition of Bartender. Note this does not have an English dub though. Sentai Filmworks releases Blade of the Immortal - Complete Series.
FUNimation brings us Part Two of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba as well as Season 6 and Season 7 of the Dragon Ball Z SteelBook releases.
2019's Drama/Thriller Dreamland debuts from Paramount this week,
The synopsis sounds interesting, Dead Reckoning is being released by Shout/Scream factory this week. Keep in mind though that a synopsis doesn't paint the whole picture.
Still on track for this week, Arrow Video's reissue of JSA: Joint Security Area. This one is worthy of mention as the previous release is listed for upwards of $100 from 3rd party sellers.
Criterion Collectors should be eager to ponder Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese, two big names right there.
Notable announcements from last week:
There are a few B movie delays this week, no doubt related to the fact that there are not many places to produce discs any more and the COVID virus.
Warner Archive has announced their February titles, which include Baby Doll, Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons, My Dream Is Yours, On Moonlight Bay, Pump Up the Volume, San Francisco, Show Boat (1951), Six by Sondheim and A Tale of Two Cities (1935).
Will you be singing 'Happy Trails To You' when I mention that MVD Rewind Collection will be releasing Mackintosh and T.J. on May 18th? I certainly hope so. So many of the classic westerns need to be preserved and this one is no exception.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price? Slow week for me. I certainly want all three of the 4K releases, I actually preordered the Shout Factory ones on impulse when they were at a pretty low price on Amazon. Also have Demon Slayer Part Two and the DBZ #6 and #7 on order as well.
