Many of us have been looking forward to this week, for one reason or another. I'd proud to say I voted last week and look forward to the UPS truck on Tuesday as I am getting a much awaited delivery for one of this week's big releases! Welcome to Episode 24 of our weekly look at the highlights fn the week's home video releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
Winter is Coming, and no, I'm not trying to remind the Northern Hemisphere that December is coming, I am referring to this week's biggest 4K release, Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection. I'm just glad I wasn't assigned to do a review of this set, I have a full time job and do not exactly have 3 years of free time to work through it! Being offered as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook set and as a handsome looking traditional set, which one do you like the best? I hope that Warner Bros and Best Buy have learned from previous issues with mega-SteelBook sets and how easy they become damaged. For that matter, the standard set's weight might offer some challenges to any retailer that ships them.
Warner's other title this week is V for Vendetta. Like previous catalog title recent releases, this is being offered in a standard edition, as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and as an Amazon Exclusive Giftset.
Lionsgate releases the suspenseful-thriller Antebellum this week.
For reissues this week, but this time in SteelBook packages, the comic book obsession superhero movie, Kick-Ass, a trip back to high school for Grease, the bio-epic Forrest Gump and the Transformers spinoff, Bumblebee.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
A lighter than average week for Blu-ray releases.
Mentioned above, Antebellum also gets a Blu-ray release this week. Former soap opera star, Bruce Willis still remains busy these days, this week expect to see Hard Kill debuting on Blu-ray.
From Sony, the Complete Third Season of The Crown. Also debuting to Blu-ray, the late Robin Williams' Man of the Year.
Warner Archive is releasing Josie and the Pussycats: The Complete Series this week. For live action, a James Stewart classic title The Mortal Storm.
From Arrow Video, Lake Michigan Monster. I particularly mention this as I follow most films that are any bit related to H.P. Lovecraft.
Kino Lorber continues to release some well known classics every week, but the one that catches my eye this week is not a classic at all, I am referring to 2016's The Veil.
Anime highlights of the week... If you wanted a more expensive (but classier) way to get all the seasons of Dragon Ball Z, this week FUNimation releases Season 1, Season 2 and Season 3 as SteelBook editions. It looks like these are here to stay as they've already announced through Season 7. The description of Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit gives me a Law & Order TV show sort of vibe, I doubt they use the 'doink doink' sound between scenes though. Viz is releasing Naruto: Set 1. I had never realized with so many Naturo releases that the actual series had never been released on Blu-ray in this market.
For 'other than Tuesday' releases this week, there are a few, a Chuck Berry title and three arts releases
Notable announcements from last week:
Sony has chosen wisely when they changed the release date to the Resident Evil 4K movie set from November 3rd to November 17th. That week is still a bit tight for releases, but it's more managable.
Arrow Video is making the headlines again with Gamera. I personally pre-ordered the mega-set but never got it from Amazon, did they overbook? What's announced now are three SteelBook sets. Gamera: The Heisei Era, Gamera: The Heisei Trilogy and Gamera: The Showa Era. The cover arts are decent, they sort of remind me of the styles used by Criterion for the Godzilla Collection recently released.
The below screen grab *might* be what the individual disc cases look like inside the Game of Thrones 4K Standard Edition set. The screenshot comes from Film Arena. I had both editions on pre-order, but am taking to the standard release more and more, especially if the internal covers resemble the ones below.
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 am definitely getting Game of Thrones and I like to looks of both sets, so would I be crazy if I bought both versions? V for Vendetta is also a decent movie, if I see it at my local Walmart I might pounce on it this week, otherwise I might wait for a deal alert to pop up and order it online. I did opt for the DBZ releases, wish I had ordered the full set when it was offered by FUNimation. The wishlist contains Naruto Set 1, Special 7, They Reach and The Veil.
Unfortunately this time around, reports of Connery’s demise don’t appear to be greatly exaggerated. The BBC is reporting this morning that the iconic James Bond actor passed away today at 90 years of age leaving behind a legacy of incredible performances beyond his time donning tailored suits, a Walther PPK, and the keys to an Aston Martin with flamethrower, machine gun, and ejector seat.
I grew up in a James Bond house. My dad was a huge fan and bought all the tapes through Columbia House as they came available. I remember pulling You Only Live Twice out of a box of new VHS tapes and my dad putting that one on. It blew me away – the helicopter fight sequence remains my all-time favorite James Bond moment. While he remains most identifiable as 007, Connery had a long-ranging career.
One of my favorite theater-going moments of my childhood was seeing him play Dr. Jones Sr. in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Watching Connery and Ford on screen was a terrific pairing as two action superstars got to team up and stop the Nazis. The shot of a Nazi fighter plane on fire passing Indy and Dr. Jones in a car as they race through a tunnel still makes me laugh every time I see it.
While he finally earned his Oscar with a Best Supporting Actor win for The Untouchables, my absolute favorite Connery performance is his Daniel Dravot from Jon Huston’s 1975 classic The Man Who Would Be King. I loved the understated transition from being a con-man out to scam the natives of their wealth with his friend Michael Caine to becoming someone understanding the unfortunate weight of consequence. His final moment where he looks back at his friend one last time is a heartbreaker.
But trying to figure out what movie constitutes a favorite is a laborious process because you inevitably fall into the rabbit hole of constantly asking “What about that one? Oh yeah, that movie too!” To that end, here’s a quick list of my favorite Connery films ranging his entire career:
The Man Who Would Be King
Highlander
Woman of Straw
The Name of the Rose
Goldfinger
Hunt for Red October
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
You Only Live Twice
Outland
The Untouchables
The Rock
Zardoz
From Russia With Love
The Longest Day
The Wind and the Lion
Finding Forrester
While normally I would be filling today with scary movies, I was actually watching House of Wax when heard this sad news, I’m compelled to find a great Connery show. What is your favorite Connery film – or films since it’s so difficult to pick just one?
The last week of October 2020 is upon us, Halloween is this Saturday. As far as home video releases are concerned, I call it an 'in between' week. There are a handful of titles that might interest you, but there are no major releases this week. Welcome to episode 23 of our weekly look at what's coming out this week in the home video market.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
The 4K disc front originally was going to start out with a UK import for Dawn of the Dead (1978). Unfortunately, that got pushed back into November because of production delays - but this gives you more time to pre-order! Remember that 4K discs are region-free and this is currently the only way to own all three versions of the film on 4K disc, and Second Sight has loaded this edition with extras!
Next, from Blue Underground, screen icon Delphine Seyrig's Daughters of Darkness debuts to 4K disc this week. And finally, in case you didn't buy the individual releases already, Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection. Am not a fan of the art style of the latest Rambo SteelBooks.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
In a last minute annoucement, the digital release of Toys of Terror comes out this week from Warner Bros.
Abbott and Costello fans should be looking at Africa Screams this week. Read the review, buy the disc.
The gap in your Amityville collection will be filled this week, Vinegar Syndrome is releasing Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes, Amityville 5: It's About Time, Amityville 6: A New Generation and Amityville 7: Dollhouse.
Under the various Warner labels this week, Warner Archive is offering DC's Black Lightning, Season Two and Season Three. Also, The Flintstones: The Complete Series is coming this week. Warner's anime release this week is K: Seven Stories.
Criterion Collection's release of Parasite (2019) streets this week, but note that it is NOT a 4K release. It's still an extensive set so if you're a fan of the movie, check it out.
Kino Lorber has an assortment of titles this week. Highlights include Babylon Berlin, Seasons 1 & 2. Season 3 comes out in Novemeber. The trailers for this one are interesting. Clint Eastwood fan? This week is for you. High Plains Drifter has received the Kino treatment and it is deemed 'Highly Recommended' in our review, check it out. Also reviewed, Two Mules for Sister Sara. A lesser-appreciated Eastwood film, Joe Kidd also comes out this week.
Lionsgate's title of the week -- a comedy/drama titled Friendsgiving.
Previously delayed but now coming out this week, Arrow Video's release of The Last Starfighter. Am surprised they didn't make a 4K of this, but I would guess the available elements are not in good enough condition or it was determined there wouldn't be enough interest.
This week is a slightly above average for quantity of anime release, here's the highlights. Sentai brings us Akame ga Kill! Complete Series in a SteelBook package. Also, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon II in a Premium Ediiton. Get this one NOW if you intend to, volume I is listed upwards of $1,000 online from 3rd party sellers.
FUNimation is offering Black Clover: Season 3 Part 1, Ensemble Stars! Part Two, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, Stand My Heroes: Piece of Truth. Discotek is also releasing their October titles this week, including Isuca TV series, Lupin III: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure, Osamu Tezuka's Cleapoarta and Symphogear Season One,
Notable announcements from last week:
A week doesn't pass without at least a couple of announcements, which is a good thing. This past week has been pretty busy, but as far as major announcements, not so much.
Sony has revealed plans to release Roland Emmerich's disaster flick 2012 on 4K disc in January. Expect a purchase link very soon.
On the Blu-ray front, a bunch of announcements, FUNimation's next wave, Discotek's next wave, Mill Creek's next wave, and Criterion has announced its January releases. For Criterion releases, and no, this is not the month they start releasing 4K titles, the titles are The Ascent, Three Films by Luis Buñuel, Minding the Gap and Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese. The FUNimation title I am probably waiting for is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Part Two.
Warner's got the second season of Doom Patrol up, Snowpiercer apparently got a spinoff TV show and Season One is up for order, and Toys of Terror on disc is coming January 19.
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? Nothing screams out to me this week but the wishlist is still extensive. Daughters of Darkness 4K, but not at the $53 price. Flintstones is a strong candidate too. The Amityville movies, Zombie 5, Babylon Berlin as well. The Clint Eastwood movies if I get an impulse or shop a Kino sale. Handful of the anime releases too, I like the look of the Is It Wrong To Try... set, the Akame ga Kill SteelBook, K Seven Stories, Stand My Heroes and Lupin 3 are on the radar. The Tom & Jerry special is a maybe as well, haven't seen any modern T & J releases.
With movie theaters struggling to reopen around the country and offer film fans a reason to venture out - the studios are giving people more reasons to stay in with an aggressive slate of 4K UHD Blu-ray releases. As we saw with October, there's plenty of room for a saturated releases slate and November is proving to be no different. From Mad Max to Cinema Paradiso to Dawn of the Dead - there's literally something for everyone this month!
Game of Thrones Complete Collection
We knew that HBO would be eventually releasing the entire series onto 4K UHD at some point, but we figured they'd stagger the releases season by season. It's honestly refreshing to see them go for broke and put the whole show out in one big box set. The problem is a number of people who already bought the first season on 4K would ultimately be buying a second copy. So far there's no word that individual seasons will be available anytime soon. That said, you can choose from the standard option or Best Buy's exclusive SteelBook collection. It all depends on how much shelf space you have to offer.
Pre-order the standard 4K UHD Blu-ray set
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook set
The latest entry in the growing genre of social commentary horror, Antebellum lost out on an expansive theatrical release and went for the theater at home market with middling notices from critics and split audiences. Some folks loved this one, some folks were left nonplussed by it. If you're a fan Lionsgate is giving the film a proper 4K UHD Blu-ray release.
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray
A particularly loose and action-focused adaptation of Alan Moore's iconic graphic novel, the film is a visual feast and has developed a legion of fans ready to wear a white mask and hat at every screening. Fans of this one will have a variety of options, the standard 4K, an Amazon exclusive gift set, as well as a Best Buy exclusive SteelBook.
Pre-order the standard 4K UHD Blu-ray
Pre-order the Amazon Exclusive 4K UH Blu-ray Gift Set
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
Not new to 4KUHD Blu-ray, Lionsgate is now issuing a new Best Buy exclusive SteelBook set for Kick-Ass. There's nothing new in this set, it's the same set of discs with digital slip - the artwork is just, well, kick-ass! Read our review
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
Again - not a new release necessarily - just new SteelBook packaging that actually mirrors the original release's packaging. Same discs, you get a digital slip, so if you've been waiting to spring for this Travolta classic musical, now might be a good time to jump.
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
Okay, this is getting silly… Best Buy is also rereleasing this out of print SteelBook from paramount. This isn't like the recent Saving Private Ryan SteelBook rerelease where they actually included the 1080p Blu-ray disc, this is once again the same set and packaging available again.
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
After season two's shocking finale, HBO's science fiction series takes a dramatic left turn with familiar characters changing in radical ways - which some fans loved, and others not so much. Even as the series has had its ups and downs, Westworld has remained an impressive visual and auditory feast for the senses. Fans of the series get two options to continue their collection - the standard release or a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook that will arrive later on December 8th, 2020.
Pre-order the standard 4K UHD Blu-ray
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
The end of the 20th Century Fox era of X-Men movies whimpers to a close with this one. Having sat on the shelf for years, the film was dropped into theaters mid-pandemic and met with tepid audiences and a lackluster critical reception. Still, for fans or franchise completionists, there are options. There's the standard release with atrocious cover artwork - or you can opt for the classy SteelBook from Best Buy.
Pre-order the standard 4K UHD Blu-ray
Pre-order the Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
Resident Evil: The Complete Collection
Love one or two of the films - or none at all - the Resident Evil film franchise is a strange collection of films that deviate wildly from the games while pulling in a host of familiar characters with varying results. The first film is still solid stuff and holds up well, there have already been a couple of individual releases, so it's a tad frustrating that we're not getting single film releases right out of the gate.
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray set
Honestly, when this first came out it felt ling a longshot prospect that this film would enjoy any longevity but it's grown into a family favorite over the years and is now making its way to 4K UHD Blu-ray from Universal Studios with HDR10 and DTS:X audio.
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray
It's A Wonderful Life SteelBook
You know you're getting close to the holidays when this film gets another release. This film already got a terrific 4K UHD release, but SteelBook collectors have something to upgrade for - or if you haven't picked this set up yet, it's absolutely a must-own release.
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook
The sequel to the runaway zombie movie success Train To Busan gets a wild and crazy sequel released stateside from Well Go USA on 4K UHD Blu-ray. The film wasn't the critical darling of the first entry, but it still made its mark overseas and should be a terrific entry on 4K.
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray
After a long absence from the format after Hannibal - Kino Lorber Studio Classics is roaring back to 4K UHD Blu-ray with the first of the iconic Mad Max franchise. This apocalyptic road movie introduced the world to Mel Gibson's star power offering action fans a barrage of high-octane crazy-blood fueled vehicular mayhem - and it should look amazing on 4K with Dolby Vision HDR
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray
A tribute to the power and love of the movies, Giuseppe Tornatore's beautiful cinematic drama comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray from Arrow offering both cuts of the film with Dolby Vision HDR. A Genuine classic, this is a splendid piece of moviemaking that fits right at home on the format and should be a stunner.
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray
Deadly Games: Dial Code Santa Claus
Originally released October 27th exclusive to Vinegar Syndrome with Slipcover
Independent boutique studio Vinegar Syndrome continues to offer fans of the wild and weird of world cinema with this 1989 French holiday action flick. Think of it as a horror movie version of Home Alone where a small child has to defend his home and feeble grandfather from a psycho dressed as Santa on Christmas Eve! It's a perfect title for Vinegar Syndrome and should be a hell of a 4K UHD release
Pre-order the 4K UHD Blu-ray
We do our best to cover imports as best as we can, but obtaining them can be a bit tricky. More tricky now thanks to COVID as Amazon and other overseas retailers aren't shipping across the pond to the U.S. - but we have every intention of reviewing some of these as soon as we get our grubby little fingers on the copies we ordered.
Long in development from Second Sight, George Romero's Dawn of the Dead is getting the full restoration it's dearly deserved with a massive 4K UHD Blu-ray release. All three versions of the film will be available with the U.S. Theatrical Cut and Director's Cut getting new 4K restorations with HDR10+ with the Argento Cut recycling the same master previously available without HDR. This massive set is coming packed with booklet and tons of new and archival bonus features. While not directly available in the U.S., DiabolikDVD, Amazon, and Zavvi are making it easy for fans to import.
Import the 4K UHD Blu-ray
Arrow Video is delivering Abel Ferara's iconic 1990 thriller starring Christopher Walken, David Caruso, and Laurence Fishburne to 4K UHD offering up Dolby Vision HDR to sweeten the deal. Sadly not directly available in the U.S., outfits like Zavvi and DiabolikDVD make it easy for fans to import if Amazon UK won't ship.
Import the 4K UHD Blu-ray
Already available on 4K in German - with less than subtle cover artwork - David Cronenberg's bizarre thriller that marries sex and car crashes is one that needs to be seen to be believed as it speeds past any ability to cleanly describe what the heck this movie is about.
Import the 4K UHD Blu-ray
That's what we have in store for us this November. As more titles get announced or if there's a street date change we'll update everything. There are also a few more EU imports for films like Serpico, and Three Days of the Condor among a few others that are arriving in November, but because of COVID restrictions we can't guarantee we'll be able to import them. Rest assured as soon as we can we'll give full coverage to these titles.
Anything on your shopping list this month? Let us know in the Disqus Comments below!
Disaster movie fans rejoice! Roland Emmerich's 2012 is going to pummel 4K UHD Blu-ray in 2021! The Mayans foretold this film would be upgraded to 4K UHD Blu-ray - Woody Harrelson said so during that monologue, not sure if you caught that part...
This one isn't up for pre-order yet, January 19th is still a ways off, but it should be hitting online retailers soon. We also don't know if there will be any kind of retailer exclusives yet, but with Sony's recent output I'd put good money down on a Best Buy SteelBook as a possibility. We do know for sure that this film is getting a new Atmos audio mix - so while the movie itself is a bit iffy while proving to be wildly entertaining, it'll probably sound amazing! Plan your 4K budget accordingly.
Here's the full press release from Sony:
SYNOPSIS
Hope you didn't overspend on Prime Day, which we have seen evolve over the years. Originally an Amazon event, but this year we see Best Buy, Target and Walmart also hopping on for online deals, as well as a handful of random deals on other e-tailers. Welcome to Episode 22 of our weekly look at the highlights of what's coming out this week on home video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K digital releases slated for this week.
The next six weeks are going to be costly for us movie buffs. This week it's all about Back to the Future. I have bought this movie since it debuted on VHS and every media iteration since. This week the trilogy debuts in glorious 4K, options are a Standard Edition, Amazon Exclusive Giftset and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
There are no digital HD titles slated for this week.
On the Blu-ray front, not a huge week, but there is a good mix.
Shout Factory has a handful of releases under their various labels. The Shout Factory label brings another Star Trek related title, The Captains Collection, four Star Trek Documentaries directed by William Shatner. Under their Shout Select Line, comes 2002's Nic Cage/Meryl Streep Comedy/Drama Adaptation.. The GKIDS label, they've got some reissues this week, more Studio Ghibli titltes in a SteelBook package. My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke. Lastly under the Scream Factory label, Pumpkinhead gets a SteelBook this week.
LionsGate continues to regularly produce movies in 2020 despite theater closings, and the movie Alone comes out this week.
For Criterion Collection Offerings this week, Gregory Peck's The Gunfighter. Also this week, The Hit.
The Paramount Presents Label is releasing The Haunting this week.
Just what we've been waiting for, another direct to video Tremors movie right? Tremors: Shrieker Island debuts this week.
The weekly anime (excluding GKIDS) includes Negima! + Negima? - Complete Collection and a SteelBook of Your Name..
Notable announcements from last week:
Inner Sanctum Mysteries got delayed yet again, now the new date is November 17th.
Pretty active week for new titles being added, here's a couple of the highlights.
Shout Factory is releasing the next John Carpenter 4K flick previously released in Europe by StudioCanal, this time look for Prince of Darkness on January 19th. Just like Shout's release of They Live, this one is also getting a Dolby Atmos track, which by the way has been pushed back to January 19th as well.
Paramount has announced pre-orders (with street date pending) for Love and Monsters, available as a Blu-ray and as a 4K set. With as expensive as the next couple of months are going to be, maybe a January release date would be wise. Debuting on Blu-ray on November 10th also from Paramount are The Stooge and The Odd Couple II.
Friday releases this week are dominated by the arts.
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? If you couldn't tell from the opening, I will be getting Back to the Future 4K, I prefer the look of the SteelBook. On the wishlist, Adaptation., Alone, Captains Collection, the Negima set and the Tremors release.
Happy Friday the 16th!
As we work to pull together full coverage for this full set - we're breaking out coverage into three distinct eras of the franchise for convenience - Shout! Factory has issued a statement regarding some of the disc errors fans have noticed - and they will be replacing them ASAP. From their statement, they hope to have replacements out by November 2020 - so pretty fast turn around.
Discs affected are:
Friday the 13th Part 3 3-D: (When viewing in 3D) First instance of 3D opening credits does not come out of the screen correctly.
Jason Goes to Hell: (Unrated Cut) Missing “snapped wrist” gore in an uncut scene.
Jason X: Missing audio during a scene in the film in which Jason kills camp counselors in a sleeping bag.
CLICK HERE for details and how to request your replacement.
We hope to have our first round of coverage for this set very shorty, but with 12 films and 16 discs on top of HOURS of bonus features - this has been a big effort. As we get our replacement discs we'll keep you posted on those changes as well.
Have a great weekend!
Welcome to Episode 21 of our weekly look at what's coming this week in the home video market. Not much is going on that is newsworthy, so let's get right down to business.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no digital 4K releases this week. On the disc front though, there are two movies to mention. First, District 9, which I thought was a pretty peculiar movie, but feel that this would be worthy of an upgrade on my video wall. Available in a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Again, generally not a fan of cover art that is primarily RED in color, but this one is entirely appropriate to this movie (cover art shown is the standard edition). And the second title is Requiem for a Dream, which we have already reviewed, check out the review, buy the disc.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
There are no digital HD releases slated for this week.
On the disc front however, it looks like an average week.
Criterion Collection releases Claudine this week. Personally never saw this film, but no doubt it will be 4+ stars across the board when we review it.
LionsGate's new release of The Doorman comes out this week.
Kino Lorber offers a multitude of titles, but the one I remember the most is DeepStar Six. This one came out about the time that The Abyss was released so it's easy to confuse the two. The latter we still await James Cameron to act upon with a Blu-ray or 4K release.
Sony Pictures has an average week, but the title I think they are pushing the most this week is El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. I might be in that 10 percentile of people that hasn't seen an episode of the series. If it means anything, I did bookmark it on Netflix.
RLJ Entertainment releases The American West: Season 1 this week. This show has potential, and according to IMDB the ratings are decent.
Shout Factory, under the Scream Factory label is finally releasing their Friday the 13th Collection Deluxe Edition. Although it is inevitable that perhaps the first movie will get a 4K release, this complete collection is a definitive way to own the complete set.
Previously delayed, but appears to be coming out finally, Arrow Video's release of Mallrats.
Warner Bros. releases the animated title Batman: Death in the Family. For some reason the 4K was never officially announced so we have moved it to the 'Postponed' column, and honestly, I was just getting into these animated DC 4K releases.
RWBY Volume 7 is being released by Warner Bros this week as well. Also on the Warner release front, Cats & Dogs 3 gets a general release this week, looks like it snuck out as a Walmart exclusive a month ago, which is becoming more commonplace with their non-major releases. Still Going strong, Vikings Season 6 Volume 1 streets this week. From the Warner Archive Collection, Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series will be available. I remember watching this show years ago, something about it made me come back for more.
Elsewhere within the animated category, our weekly anime highlights are always present. Viz Video release Boruto: Naruto Next Generation Vol 7. FUNimation has two versions of ID: Invaded, a standard release edition and a Limited Edition. If you didn't buy the individual releases of Kakuriyo Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, it is now available as a Complete Series Set. Season Two of Kono Oto Tamare! Sounds of Life also debuts this week on Blu-ray.
There are two Friday releases this week, an arts release and a music/concert release.
Notable announcements from last week:
As far as new release announcements are, the week has proven to be very dry.
But, I did mention last week to expect a 4K Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy announcement. Do read our news story here which indicates a December 1st street date and get your orders in today. In both trilogies I think I prefer the SteelBooks, but they are on the pricier side.
Disney has also announced a street date for The New Mutants, November 17th. Available as a Blu-ray, 4K Blu-ray and 4K SteelBook. This does not count as a true commitment on Disney's part of the 4K format -- as previously mentioned and covered, it is rumored that they have abandoned catalog titles with regards to the 4K disc format, James Cameron titles excluded, and this of course is a 2020 film.
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 Friday the 13th set has been on preorder as has Space Ghost. I will decide on which version of District 9 4K I want soon, and most likely will order DeepStar Six too. Wishlist items include American West Season 1, the Mill Creek 3-pack Diabolique/Incognito/In Crowd, Imaginary Crimes/Silent Fall, Kakuriyo B&B, The Pledge & RWBY Vol 7.
Scream Factory's Friday the 13th Collection Deluxe Edition has been shipped out - those with pre-orders should be getting them any day now if you haven't gotten them already. Obviously from all of the coverage we've done and announcements the fine folks at Scream have put out - this is a massive set. Our man with a plan M. Enois Duarte will be handling the review of this beast, but it's going to take us some time to dig through everything.
\Some of the films got new transfers, Friday the 13th: Part 3 3-D actually has a genuine stereoscopic 3-D presentation, I briefly looked at it at 2:00am this morning and it looks so much better than the old anaglyph 3-D presentation. To that point - since it's going to take us a while to start posting in-depth coverage, we wanted to give you fine folks a look at this set with a quick unboxing. I ordered my set direct from Shout Factory to get the Limited Edition poster and lithograph - those extras being the only differences if you ordered this set from a different retailer.
As soon as we start breaking out the coverage we'll get those reviews posted and shared, but for now - have an awesome weekend, enjoy some fright flicks, or if you already have this amazing set in hand, enjoy digging through all of these movies in one epic binge!
After a flurry of posts and updates, pre-orders going live and then coming back down, incomplete info, and finally getting actual confirmation all of this was legit -- and a much needed night of sleep -- we have some firm details and pre-order information about The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy and The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases coming this December
FIRST - As how it's been reported, Peter Jackson and his team went back to the original elements to create new 4K masters for these releases - the original 35mm elements for LOTR and the digital elements for Hobbit. Both sets will include the Theatrical Cuts and the Extended Cuts. Both sets will feature HDR10 standard and Dolby Vision. Both sets will also get a Dolby Atmos audio upgrade - which should be a delight to fans all across Middle Earth. I haven't found a final slate of bonus features anywhere - there may not be many as a MUCH larger "Ultimate" set of all six films including remastered Blu-rays of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, all archival bonus features as well as new bonus features will be coming out mid-to-late 2021 to celebrate the franchise's 20th Anniversary. As for the current slate of sets arriving 12/1/2020 - you have some options...
Both trilogies are getting standard releases, 9-discs for LOTR with The Hobbit getting 6-discs. Both trilogies are getting fancy SteelBook sets from Best Buy while Amazon is issuing a special Limited Edition Giftset of LOTR with special book packaging and a prop replica of The One Ring - which reportedly will not turn you invisible. Now all you have to decide is which set to make you precious...
That's pretty much everything for now - as we learn more we'll update the listings. Hope this release makes your Holiday season a little extra awesome this year!
Both the standard releases of The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray and The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray sets are now available to pre-order on Amazon for $89.99 each. No word on specs, but from the look of the images these don't appear to include the 1080p Blu-rays - LOTR is a 9-disc set while Hobbit appears to only be a 6-disc set.
Again this is a developing story and as soon as we get official word from Warner Bros. we'll dish that info out. For now - here's what these standard sets look like.
Interestingly the Best Buy listings for the 4K UHD SteelBooks for both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit appear to have been taken down. We'll keep an eye on that as well. Stay tuned...
This is a developing story as Warner Bros. has yet to confirm or issue an official press release about The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray trilogies. However, Best Buy now has both The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook and The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook up with a street date of 12/1/2020. So far only LOTR is actually up for pre-order but both sets have a list price of $119.99.
Again - we don't have any technical details, don't know the final audio mix or the HDR grade. Judging from the only picture we have of the LOTR set - it looks to be a 9-disc set, each movie getting 3 discs + digital.
As soon as Warner Bros. issues a propper press release we'll update this article with links to standard editions as well as any other possible retailer exclusives that may be coming along.
