At HDD we hope everyone is having a relaxing long Labor Day holiday weekend! We are giving away one Blu-ray of The King of Staten Island starring Pete Davidson and directed by Judd Apatow. This delightful comedy could be yours... if you follow some simple steps:
1: Leave a funny joke (keep it PG13-ish) comment in the Disqus section below.
2: Share our Facebook post about this giveaway and include @highdefdigest in your so we can find you!
That's it! Pretty simple. The contest is open to all U.S. residents with a valid mailing address, no P.O. boxes. The contest closes 12:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 8th. After that time I will hunt through all valid entries and select a winner at random.
Have fun out there everyone - we've got some great reviews in the pipeline to share with you next week!
For much of the country, there is some relief from the very hot weather that's been betroved upon us. When I try to sit down and be serious and watch a movie, I personally do not like to hear the AC running in the background, or an overhead fan distorting the soundscape, or even the tick tick tick of the clock in the kitchen. The latter, I move it to another room when I do a serious viewing.
This week is probably the slowest week of the month, but that doesn't mean you're not spending any money on a title you've just got to have. Welcome to Episode 16 of our weekly series on the highlights of what's coming out on home video.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no digital 4K releases this week.
For 4K disc releases though, there are a few choices this week. For animated titles, we see the 1995 version of Ghost in the Shell. Available as a standard edition and a Best Buy SteelBook. If you've known me over the years, I am sort of a critic on cover art, and each version seems to have their own merit here, personally I opted for the Best Buy edition but every time I look at the choices, I still feel a bit undecided on which one I like or hate. The SteelBook reminds me of a Mondo edition in that it has a slip cover that reveals something different underneath. This one is priced to sell in either edition. Next, a Superman animated title named Man of Tomorrow. This one is available as a standard release or as a Best Buy Exclusive, which the latter includes an exclusive collectable figure.
And now for live action titles. In case you missed this year's release of Invisible Man (2020), it is now available as a Best Buy SteelBook. Personally not a fan of this cover, but maybe you are, if so, enjoy. It appears to have a lower MSRP than the standard edition does, so there's that. And lastly in the live action 4K category, the Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection. I'm sure many of you are probably looking forward to Psycho, Rear Window or Vertigo, but my favorite is The Birds. Thus far, we have seen some incredible 4K discs of classic films, hopefully this set continues with the trend. Best Buy is also offering a 4K SteelBook of just Psycho.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
There are no digital HD releases slated for this week.
Now for disc releases though, there are a few to choose from. This week is sort of a 'low' week for September, which is OK.
Criterion Collection is releasing the Burt Lancaster film Brute Force this week. Also from Criterion this week, The Naked City. I have no insight on either, sorry.
In another pandemic skipped the theaters release, LionsGate brings us The Big Ugly this week. It has star power and the synopsis is generic enough that it could be a fair movie. As I've said in the past though, don't look for an Oscar from a film of this calibre. Also from LionsGate this week, maybe an afterthought, maybe a good movie? Anyway, they're releasing First Cow on disc this week. This one sounds like a comedy, but is listed as a drama, interesting, no? First Cow was released on 4K digital already, but no 4K disc is in sight. Just when you thought that was it for LionsGate this week, they're also releasing Retaliation, described as a 'taut thriller.'
Warner Archive releases Bad Education on Tuesday, starring a couple of people you have probably heard of, do check it out. The series Prodigal Son sounds like it could be interesting, The Complete First Season streets this week.
From the Warner label, Superman: Man of Tomorrow gets a standard BD release, and also this week, Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season. I actually got tuned into Supergirl at one of my many boring nights in a hotel room as I was away from home doing some job training during the day shifts.
Kino's got a couple of releases this week as well. One highlight that might interest you is the Cary Grant Collection which offers three of his films in one box set. Stay tuned for a review. Also from Kino this week, the previously delayed Peter Cushing as Dr. Who movies, Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' - Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D..
Surprisingly slow week for Anime releases (my wallet thanks thee.) Sentai Filmwork is releasing Diabolik Lovers: Complete Collection this week. I had only been starting to buy anime regularly in the past 12 months, it's quite a connected system, the videos, the swag, the books, even the cosplay stuff available out there, and the convention scenes.
Again, I do not normally mention a DVD release unless there's no alternative. I'm referring to the hit animated everything Pokémon. In this case, it appears that Viz entertainment did not sell enough Blu-ray copies of Season 21 to merit a Season 22 release. How I wish I was in Japan right now, where DVDs have pretty much been stopped altogether. Everyone has an HDTV or a 4K TV, so why the low-rez discs? The first 18 episodes come out this week of Season 22, dubbed Pokémon Sun and Moon Ultra Legends: The Last Grand Trial.
There are a couple of Friday releases, which are most often times Concert or Arts themed. In this case, one is music and three are arts related. Most interesting cover art for Ekman: Eskapist which features the Royal Swedish Ballet.
Notable announcements from last week:
To me, the biggest announcement of the week is that Paramount has announced that they are releasing the entire TV series Mission: Impossible on Blu-ray on November 17th. The Amazon pre-order price is no doubt temporary, as I have already seen it for less elsewhere, so stay tuned.
Sentai Filmworks has also listed their November releases, and we have them here too. This go round, most of them do not have English dubs available. They are Granbelm: Complete Collection, Hayate the Combat Butler: Ultimate Collection, The Garden of Words (SteelBook), Val X Love: Complete Collection, Assassins Pride: Complete Collection, Locke the Superman.
Showtime Networks has announced Penny Dreadful: City of Angels - Season One for release on September 29th. I never got thru the original series but I will some day, did not realize there was another series in the works.
Sony also listed something that caught my attention, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, slated for October 13th. The trailer had me interested, can't wait to check this one out. IMDB ratings did not fare it too well, but there is a trailer there for you to watch.
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 myself, of course I want more in my 4K library, overall though it's a pretty slow week. Already on order, Ghost in the Shell Best Buy version. The Alfred Hitchcock Collection is very high on my want list, might be ordered by the time you read this. Probably saying the same about the Superman 4K release, likely the standard edition. Standard wishlist, Diabolik Lovers Collection. I'm weighing my options on the Pokémon release. I've emailed Viz about the continuation of Blu-ray releases, maybe they will wait til the whole season is ready, maybe I will find an import with English langauge.
[BIG UPDATE 9:35 EST]
Lionsgate will be releasing the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 30th Anniversary of Total Recall domestically in the U.S. with the 3-Disc SteelBook edition. CONFIRMED in the press release the 4K Disc will include Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.
Here's the full Lionsgate Press Release:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic gets the ultimate high-definition treatment when Total Recall arrives as a 3-disc 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray™ and Digital) and Digital 4K Ultra HD December 8 from Lionsgate. Restored in 4K from a scan of the original 35mm negative, the visionary film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator franchise, Predator, The 6th Day), Rachel Ticotin (Con Air, Falling Down, The Eye), Oscar® nominee Sharon Stone (1995, Best Actress, Casino), and Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers, Scanners, Top Gun).
Undertaken by STUDIOCANAL, the restoration was supervised by Paul Verhoeven himself. The restoration crew paid particularly high attention to preserving special-effects continuity, as Total Recall was one of the earliest films to use computer-generated images for special effects winning the Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the 1990 Academy Awards®.
Available for the very first time in this absolutely stunning format, the Total Recall 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will include a never-before-seen exclusive documentary feature as well as two brand-new featurettes. Experience four times the resolution of full HD with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes Dolby Vision, bringing entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker. Additionally, the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack features Dolby Atmos, which will transport viewers from an ordinary moment into an extraordinary experience with moving audio that flows all around them. Fans will feel like they’re inside the action as the sounds of people, places, things, and music come alive with breathtaking realism and move throughout the space.
The Total Recall 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99.
Inspired by the Short Story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick ● Screen Story by Ronald Shusett & Dan O’Bannon and Jon Povill ● Screenplay by Ronald Shusett & Dan O’Bannon and Gary Goldman ● Directed by Paul Verhoeven
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
Fully reimagined in stunning 4K for its 30th anniversary — and remastered in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos — Paul Verhoeven’s out-of-this-world sci-fi thrill ride can now be experienced like never before! In this splintered-reality mind-bender, it’s the year 2084, and construction worker Quaid (Schwarzenegger) is haunted by dreams of Mars, a place he’s never been. Against his wife’s (Sharon Stone) wishes, Quaid goes to Rekall, a memory-implant company that promises a thrilling virtual trip to the red planet. But what Quaid “remembers” is that he’s a secret agent whose cover has been blown…and that he must return to Mars at any cost.
4K ULTRA HD / BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
Disc 1 (4K Feature Film and Special Features):
Disc 2 (Blu-ray Feature Film and Special Features):
Disc 3 (Blu-ray – Special Features):
CAST
Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator franchise, Predator, The 6th Day
Rachel Ticotin Con Air, Falling Down, The Eye
Sharon Stone Basic Instinct, Casino, The Quick and the Dead
Michael Ironside Starship Troopers, Scanners, Top Gun
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 1990
Title Copyright: © 1990 STUDIOCANAL. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Closed Captioned: NA
Subtitles: French, Spanish, English SDH
Feature Running Time: 113 Minutes
4K Ultra HD™ Format: Dolby Vision, 2160p Ultra High Definition 16x9 (1.85:1) Presentation
Blu-ray Format: 1080p High Definition 16x9 (1.85:1) Presentation
4K Audio Status: English Dolby Atmos, English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio
Blu-ray Audio Status: English Dolby Atmos, English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Audio
StudioCanal is bringing Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 Schwarzenegger science fiction mind-bending classic to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on November 23 in the UK You have two options at the moment - a 5-Disc Collector's Edition similar their Flash Gordon release - or a trimmed down and slightly cheaper Zavvi Exclusive SteelBook.
[UPDATE 7:45 EST]
Listings have been updated with Amazon.co.uk pre-order links for BOTH releases. It turns out the SteelBook is not a Zavvi Exclusive as previously reported.
Total Recall 4K UHD Blu-ray 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition
Currently only available on Zavvi – this is a massive 5-disc 4K UHD + 2-Disc Blu-ray + 2 CD soundtrack set with a 48-page booklet, 6 art cards, and a double-sided poster. Amazon UK doesn’t have this set listed yet but I imagine it will be soon.
This appears to only be on Zavvi’s UK website at the moment, so if you're out of that territory open the embedded link in an incognito browser:
30th Anniversary Collector's Edition
This shouldn’t prevent you from shipping stateside – I’ve had to do this for some of their releases in the past and NECA figures that are impossible to find in stores. Again, I'm sure Amazon UK will have it up at some point but for now, I've only found it on Zavvi.
As mentioned in the update above - Amazon UK does have both releases available for pre-order on their website - were just very difficult to find. Both listings have been updated with pre-order links. Still no word on a North America / U.S. domestic release.
Total Recall 4K UHD Blu-ray 30th Anniversary SteelBook
A 3-Disc SteelBook is available that loses the two soundtrack CDs and the swag. But the custom artwork looks pretty cool. It’s also about 20 bucks cheaper than the Collector’s Edition so that’s something to consider if we have to import this one.
So far, I haven’t been able to find any information about HDR grading or audio mix. As soon as I find concrete info, I’ll update these listings accordingly. Also – there is no word yet of a domestic North America release of this one on 4K. It’s a popular title so one has to figure Lionsgate or a boutique studio will release it. With Arrow’s successful collaboration with StudioCanal on Flash Gordon – I hope they add this to their lineup, but we’ll see. For now, it’s awesome knowing this one is getting a 4K release and it’ll be relatively easy to import.
Obviously, as more news comes in we'll keep you updated!
As you probably had read last week, September could be considered a pretty expensive month. Although Matthew's article mostly covered 4K wallet busters, regular HD/2K has a lot to offer this month as well. I know if I buy every title I want to this month, it literally could add up to a grand.
Unsure if there has been a production issue or a delay, but I still am awaiting my Gamera Collection (Arrow Video) from Amazon, Amazon has actually delisted it, showing unavailable.
Welcome to Episode 15 of our weekly take on what's hot or worthy for home video releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no 4K digital releases slated for this week.
For 4K releases, there are a handful, and some of them have choices as to which one to get. First let's cover the single sku releases. From Arrow Video, the sci-fi/horror Vin Diesel flick Pitch Black. Early reviews thus far have been favorable for this release, our review should be live by the time you read this. Next, the Robert Downey Jr versions of Sherlock Holmes. The first movie Sherlock Holmes, and the sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I seem to recall from reviewers that the Sherlock Holmes movies were love or hate flicks, mostly hate.
And now for the multi-sku releases.
First up is Beetlejuice. There are a lot of people pretty excited to see this one coming, and it is available in 3 different SKUs. A standard 4K release, a Deluxe Giftset 4K release, and a Best Buy 4K SteelBook release. Do you buy the one you really love, but then have to buy the standard release to keep that one in mint condition? Do you buy two, keeping one back and enjoying the other? Do you simply buy the one you want and no worry about any of that? The Deluxe Giftset's selling point is it's a Handbook For the Recently Deceased edition, which includes special packaging and some swag.
And the next of the multi-SKU releases, The Goonies. This one also has three different skus, similar to Beetlejuice. And they are the standard 4K release, the deluxe giftset 4K release and the Best Buy 4K SteelBook.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
There are no digital HD releases for this week.
Shout Factory highlights of the week. Foreign film Baba Yaga: Terror of the Dark Forest. This one is dubbed in English, but the original Russian language track also remains in case you're curious about the native track or trying to learn Russian. The GKIDS label this week offers the animated feature Children of the Sea. Having seen the manga, but not having read it, I am going to go in this one blind, it looks interesting.
Universal is releasing the Steve Carell comedy/drama Irresistible this week. It's another movie that woud have been in theaters but was put on hold due to the pandemic shutdown. I had never really connected Carell til I had watched him on the Netflix series Space Force, which I enjoyed the first season, looking back I see he's voiced a couple of animated films I have seen. He's also played in a few other movies, so he is a significant player in the field.
Another movie that fell victim to the theater closures, LionsGate is bringing us Rogue, an action film starring Megan Fox. The plot doesn't sound like anything entirely new, but it might have enough variations in it to be an enjoyable flick, so long as you're not looking for Oscar material here.
A piece of the Warner Archive's next batch of titles comes out this week, Young Sheldon: The Complete Third Season. I personally could never understand the draw to The Big Bang Theory, maybe it's one of those shows I might check out someday on a streaming service, starting with episode one so as to get some background on it.
In the anime category, there are a bunch of first time releases that might interest you, I will be picking a few up myself for sure. Aside from the above mentioned GKIDS release, from FUNimation this week, Africa Salaryman which gives me a Zootopia sort of vibe. Also from FUNimation, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest: Season 1, available as a standard edition and as a limited edition, and A Certain Scientific Accelerator: The Complete Series, and before you ask, yes it is based on the similarly named series, A Certain Scientific Railgun. Radiant: Season 2 - Part 1 also streets this week. Sentai brings us The Demon Girl Next Door - Complete Collection.
There are two titles announced with Friday street dates, and both are concert/music releases. Just last week we listed the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels concert, in three different skus. This week, their Goats Head Soup gets a Deluxe Edition release.
Notable announcements from last week:
Kino just announced Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Collection, which includes both seasons of the TV show as well as the movie. I consider this pretty big news and look forward to the release. Also from Kino, a title I have been waiting for, Amazon Women on the Moon, coming November 10th. Something about that one makes me smile every time I watch it. Play Misty For Me is getting the Kino treatment, with a street date of November 10th, and this one is loaded with extras.
Order links for the upcoming November Criterion titles mentioned in last week's article are now available. A couple of these titles might have to end up in my collection, sooner than later.
There is a newcomer in the field of releasing blu-ray discs, the company's name is Cauldron Films. In their debut, they've announced two movies, Abrakadabra and American Rickshaw. Do check them out, hopefully you've got an interest in one or both of them and do the right thing by placing a preorder.
Mill Creek has announced two collections for November 17th, Hammer Films - Ultimate Collection and Rita Hayworth - Ultimate Collection. I know there are some Hammer films currently available, just not to this extent.
Arrow UK has just revealed 4K discs coming for the 1996 Cronenberg film Crash as well as the 1990 film King of New York starring Christopher Walken and many other big names. There is no definite U.S. release announced, rights to films vary from country to country, but one can hope and expect that Arrow is actively seeking the rights to a U.S. distribution.
Finally, early listings have appeared on Amazon for "Best of" decades collections from Warner Bros. They span 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s. Look for them under PENDING on our release calendar. I expect a couple more to be added as well in the next few days. If I had to guess, I would say late November or early December.
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?
Where do I begin? I probably want all the 4K titles this week, probably the exclusive giftset for Beetlejuice, with the rest of the titles to be the standard editions. My copy of The Demon Girl Next Door has already arrived. I have on order Arifureta, the box set to keep and the standard edition to use and enjoy, also on order, A Certain Scientific Accelerator. Children of the Sea is high on my list as well. Also on order, I took a chance with Rogue, and on the wishlist is Irresistible, Terrified and Z.
Remember, supporting the studios on disc purchases is more important now more than ever. With physical media dropping in sales double digits year after year, showing your support by buying is the best way you can combat decisions from the studios on not offering a physical release. Purchasing from our links also helps us to bring you news and reviews every week. Your support is greatly appreciated. Not sure what you want to buy today? Click the Amazon logo below and shop til you drop!
September is fast approaching, and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, Fall is just a month away. After a hot and humid week for much of the country this past week, Fall probably seems pretty appealing. My copy of Flash Gordon 4K (Arrow fat-pack) arrived Thursday, not too bad of a delay, I presume Matthew is still waiting for the 4K mega-pack from Amazon UK, which still reigns supreme of all the sets.
Welcome to Episode 14, our weekly look at the highlights of new releases, and news on recent announcements.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no digital 4K releases for this week.
For physical releases, Blue Underground is providing two Lucio Fulci titles this week. The House by the Cemetery and The New York Ripper. Both offerings appear to be loaded with features and the previous Blu-ray offerings were fantastic, so if you're fans of either, a purchase is merited!
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
There are no digital HD title releases for this week. For disc releases, the quantity of titles streeting this week is quite large.
If you opt for this week's 4K titles, know that Severin Films has more Lucio Fulci, this being Aenigma, Demonia & a documentary about him titled Fulci For Fake.
Warner Bros. is offering a couple of titles this week, a general release of Deep Blue Sea 3 streets this week (just in case you missed it at Walmart this past month.) It's probably not a top notch movie, but I want to mention that the available assets for this movie are in 4K, but the home release is only 2K. I would suspect Germany would get a 4K release if anywhere, there are a ton of shark movies available there. Also from Warner, DC's The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season.
Followers of the TV series Endeavour can purchase season seven this week.
There are a handful of titles from Kino Lorber this week, no doubt some great classics, for which I have never seen, and our staff writer David Krauss will enamour us with some great reviews as the days and weeks pass. The title I do remember seeing from this week's batch is more recent, titled Hollywoodland. It's not a solid "A" title, but I liked it.
Just announced not long ago and streeting this week and considered a 'sleeper hit,' The King of Staten Island. The audio format is still unclear for this title, but I doubt it is Dolby Digital, let alone 2.0 as the sell sheets say.
For Anime titles, there are course plenty to pick from. Discotek Media releases titles once a month, and this week is the week for theirs, do have a look. You've seen me mentioning how Sentai Premium titles seem to be a good investment, this week they're offering Domestic Girlfrind: Complete Collection in such a package. Under the Shout Factory/GKIDS label, you can get the SteelBooks for Kiki's Delivery Service and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind this week.
Also from Shout Factory this week, Tales From the Darkside: The Movie. Check out our review, buy the movie! Look this week for Universal Horror Collection: Volume 6 as well. A lot of those movies would be lost if it were not for the likes of companies like Shout Factory, Kino Lorber, Criterion, Severin, Vinegar Syndrome, etc.
A Friday release that's probably worth your time, S&M2: Metallica and San Francisco Symphony. When the original S&M came out, it was quite a breakthrough. It's been done multiple times before, but every time I have seen a hard rock/metal band team up with an orchestra, it's quite a treat. How many of you remember Guns 'n Roses' November Rain music video?
Notable announcements from last week:
Delayed: Arrow Video's The Comic has been pushed to September 8. Also from Arrow, another delay for Cinema Paradiso, both the Blu-ray and 4K Discs have been pushed back to November 24.
The Criterion release of Parasite has been delayed until October 27, which is a rairity for Criterion (to have a delayed title).
Warner Archive has finalized their titles for the next 6 weeks, they are Bad Education, Flying Leathernecks, Kentucky Kernels, Genesis II / Planet Earth (Double Feature), Prodigal Son: Season One & Young Sheldon: Season Three. There is also a reissue of the That's Entertainment collection coming out as well.
Kino Lorber's biggest announcement of the week is they're bringing us Mad Max (1979) on November 24th. Semi-exciting news, right? Okaaaayyy. What if I also told you that they're also bringing it to you in 4K with HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR? Extras and other details are not known yet, but the 4K specific page is right here.
Criterion Collection has also announced their November titles. They include Essential Fellini, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Girlfriends, The Irishman and lastly, Moonstruck. I had misspoken and said I only knew one of these titles. I should have said I had only *seen* one of these titles (Moonstruck) but I am familiar with The Irishman. And now for a little Criterion rant... one of the selling points of these titles is that they're from a 4K Remaster. With that being said, again, why are we not seeing these titles in a 4K disc release option. If anything, at least the ones that make sense to make a 4K disc. When The Elephant Man was restored and released overseas in 4K, Criterion announces said title, but not as a 4K disc release. The labor involved was already done so it was just a matter getting the proper rights to do so. I love Criterion's work, but come on folks, it's time to join the bandwagon. When I reached out to Shout Factory about Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure getting a 4K disc in the UK, they responded that they did not have the rights to a 4K disc release in the USA, but they were certainly interested in pursuing such avenues.
Carrying over the same rant, the next Paramount Presents release has just been announced and is coming on October 20th, I'm referring to the 1999 release of The Haunting. Remastered in 4K is another selling point to this release, and maybe this film is not 4K disc worthy, but when there are not many releases from week to week of 4K discs, it might be worth taking a chance, viewers are hungry for more titles! Days of Thunder and Airplane! should have most certainly had Paramount Presents 4K disc releases, the former title had a 4K day and day release, but it was barebones and not Paramount Presents.
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, I'm definitely interested in Tales From the Darkside and the Metallica S&M2 releases. The ole' wishlist, House By the Cemetery 4K, NY Ripper 4K, The Flash Season 6, Human Lost The Movie, Hollywoodland, Pet Girl Sakurasou and the Domestic Girlfriend Premium set. I already got Deep Blue Sea 3 from Walmart last month.
September 2020 is going to be a damn fun – and expensive – month for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray collectors. Hope you saved your allowance, blood, and tooth fairy payday money! While there’s been some recent scuttlebutt about various studios perhaps possibly ending or at the very least severely cutting back on their live-action catalog additions to physical 4k media – September is a damned robust release slate full of fan favorites with deluxe editions and SteelBooks.
As we receive review product - or purchase these ourselves - we'll be providing reviews for each of these great titles ASAP!
Pitch Black
Due to an unfortunate delay, one of Arrow’s inaugural 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases got a temporary delay – but no worries it’s still coming, just later than the original August 18th release window.
Pre-order Pitch Black 4K UHD Blu-ray
The Goonies
“Goonies never say die!” Richard Donner’s childhood adventure movie gets a welcome 4K upgrade – with several options for purchase! You have the standard release, the fully stuffed Giftset, and then Best Buy’s exclusive SteelBook. So… all you got to do is choose which Goonies is right for you.
Pre-order The Goonies 4K UHD Blu-Ray Standard Release
Pre-order The Goonies 4K UHD Bl-uray Amazon Exclusive Giftset
Pre-order The Goonies 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Beetlejuice
While you don’t need to say his name three times to buy the 4K UHD Blu-ray – you do get to choose between three releases! Just like The Goonies – Warner Bros. is releasing a standard release, a giftset, and a Best Buy exclusive SteelBook. As one of my favorite Tim Burton movies, I’m excited for this one – so I went for the SteelBook, but that Handbook For The Recently Deceased looks really fun!
Pre-order Beetlejuice 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard Release
Pre-order Beetlejuice 4K UHD Blu-ray Amazon Exclusive Giftset
Pre-order Beetlejuice 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Sherlock Holmes / Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Guy Ritchie and Robert Downy Jr. teamed up for a lively reimagining of the world’s greatest detectives adding some extra punch and pizzazz to the proceedings through a solid first film and a decent enough sequel. As we await the possibility of a third spin with this franchise, a welcome 4K UHD Blu-ray upgrade will have to hold us over.
Pre-order Sherlock Holmes 4K UHD Blu-ray
Pre-order Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows 4K UHD Blu-ray
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection
Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, and Rear Window are all making their 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray debut from Universal in a snazzy 4-film set. If Universal’s recent efforts for back catalog 4K UHD releases are any early indication, these four classics from the master of suspense should be impressive and well worth the upgrade!
Pre-order The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 4K UHD Blu-ray
Psycho - Best Buy SteelBook
Hitchcock’s seminal shocker gets its own solo release for those only interested in upgrading this one single film to native 4K complete with Best Buy exclusive SteelBook packaging. If you’re a collector – this is very tempting but it’s also a bummer none of the other Hitchcock films of the Classics Collection will be getting solo SteelBook releases.
Pre-order Psycho 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Invisible Man Best Buy SteelBook
Where was this SteelBook when the movie first came out on 4K? While I don’t normally like to buy a movie twice just to get collectible packaging, this is a pretty slick piece of work and far more interesting than the common ½ face artwork of the standard release. Damn tempting.
Pre-order The Invisible Man 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Mamoru Oshii’s classic anime adaptation of the iconic manga series will be given a grand 4K Ultra HD debut from Lionsgate. Fully restored in native 4K, this release will offer Dolby Vision / HDR10 as well as a new Japanese Dolby Atmos audio mix. Choose from the standard release or the snazzy SteelBook from Best Buy – this is a big one for fans.
Pre-order Ghost in the Shell 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard Release
Pre-order Ghost in the Shell 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Superman: Man of Tomorrow
Follow a younger more inexperienced superhero as he adjusts to life at the Daily Planet, saving Metropolis, and intergalactic threats in the form of bounty hunter Lobo and the power-hungry alien Parasite. DC animated movies can be hit and miss, but at the very least it should be worth checking out. Once again Best Buy also gets an exclusive figurine set.
Pre-order Superman: Man of Tomorrow 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard release
Pre-order Superman: Man of Tomorrow 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive
21 Jump Street / 22 Jump Street
Movie adaptations of classic television shows have a pretty rocky reputation. Somehow 21 Jump Street found a way to make it work – and pull off a funny as hell sequel. Sony is rolling both films onto 4K UHD Blu-ray in separate releases, or if you’re a big fan of both, Best Buy is running an exclusive SteelBook for both films.
Pre-order 21 Jump Street 4K UHD Blu-ray
Pre-order 22 Jump Street 4K UHD Blu-ray
Pre-order 21 / 22 Jump Street 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Home Alone
The now-iconic family holiday favorite about a serial killer in training mercilessly causing physical and psychological torment on two hapless would-be thieves on Christmas Eve is finally getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray release. On top of that Best Buy is also prepping a SteelBook as well – something to get excited for come the holidays!
Pre-order Home Alone 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard Release
Pre-order Home Alone 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Hocus Pocus
Just in time for the Halloween holiday season – Disney’s hilarious fan-favorite about three hapless witches is getting a new 4K restoration. After some decent but far from amazing past releases, fans have been eager for a reason to upgrade and this should be a major highlight for parents aiming to entertain their sugar-fueled kids – or enjoy some childhood nostalgia of their own.
Pre-order Hocus Pocus 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard Release
Pre-order Hocus Pocus 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Goodfellas Best Buy SteelBook
While not a new release, Martin Scorsese’s seminal gangster classic is getting a snazzy SteelBook rerelease from Best Buy. If you already own this on 4K, the packaging may not be a reason to purchase again – but if you haven’t picked it up yet, this is a pretty slick-looking set.
Pre-order Goodfellas 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Full Metal Jacket
This is my rifle this is my 4K UHD Blu-ray! This is for fighting this is for the best possible home viewing experience! After a successful first outing with The Shining and 2001: A Space Odyssey – Warner Brothers is releasing another Stanley Kubrick classic to 4K Ultra HD. While Eyes Wide Shut has been teased for a while – this amazing Vietnam War film is a welcome addition to the format. Again – Best Buy is offering up their own exclusive SteelBook option for collectors.
Pre-order Full Metal Jacket 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard Release
Pre-Order Full Metal Jacket 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Stanley Kubrick 3-Film 4K Collection
If you didn’t already buy The Shining or 2001: A Space Odyssey – this set lets you pick up those two excellent 4K releases alongside Full Metal Jacket. However, one has to assume that Eyes Wide Shut, A Clockwork Orange, and a 4K UHD Bly-ray release of Barry Lyndon aren’t too far off on the horizon so maybe a full Kubrick 4K Collection box set makes more sense?
Pre-order Stanley Kubrick 3-Film 4K Collection
Whiplash
Damien Chazelle’s 2014 drama starring Miles Teller and earned J.K. Simmons a deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar is getting the A/V upgrade it deserves with an upscaled 4K UHD HDR transfer and Dolby Atmos audio. For the collectors out there – Best Buy is offering up a pretty slick looking SteelBook.
Pre-order Whiplash 4K UHD Blu-ray Standard Release
Pre-order Whiplash 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Evil Dead / Evil Dead 2 Double Feature SteelBook
Getting ready for the Halloween season? If you already bought LionsGate’s excellent 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell's hilarious horror flicks – you’re not getting anything new here. However – this SteelBook packaging recreates two iconic poster images for both films and conveniently packages both movies in one nice little case.
Pre-order Evil Dead Double Feature 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Halloween (1978) Best Buy SteelBook
Lionsgate continues to help fans get ready for the spooky season with a new SteelBook release of John Carpenter’s slasher classic Halloween. Nothing is inherently new with this set beyond the autumn-themed artwork and it will apparently include a digital code this time. If you already bought the previous release you’re all set – but if you’re a SteelBook collector this one may be hard to pass up at this price point.
Pre-order Halloween 1978 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Mad Max Fury Road Best Buy SteelBook
There have been more than a few releases of Max Max Fury Road in the last few years. While this SteelBook certainly is attractive – but without the Black and Chrome edition or the 3D disc, it’s not exactly a “complete” experience. Still, if you haven’t picked this one up on 4K yet – this is a nice package, especially if you’re a SteelBook collector.
Pre-order Mad Max Fury Road 4K UHD Blu-ray Best Buy SteelBook
Well - that's eveything that's been announced to-date. While something new could come up, with October and November 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles already being announced, this appears to be a fully scheduled slate of releases. With all the rumors of various studios pulling back on the format or undergoing worrisome restructuring, it's encouraging to see a month like this just filled to the gills with great content.
Any of these on your pre-order list? How many of you are going to snap them all up? Any favorites you look forward to coming to the format soon? Sound off in the comments below!
Welcome to Episode 13 in our series of weekly articles highlighting what's new and upcoming in the home video market.
This past week a fair amount of news has been coming out of the studios regarding business direction. The one that got me to most is that Disney is focusing more in its Disney + platform, and as a result, they will be slowing down or stopping altogether with live-action catalog titles coming to 4K disc. This fall we see Hocus Pocus and Home Alone getting 4K disc releases, but nothing else past that. I do encourage you to read the article at The Bits. I have already done my part and sent feedback to Disney. If you do so, remember to be respectful. How many people exactly do they need to devote to Disney+ development? How many people are needed to continue to produce discs? How does a $6 a month subscription service make more sense than $28-30 disc sale? Yeah, it's a numbers game, but still, of that $6 monthly fee, what is the cost involved? A $27 disc could result in $6+ in profit alone. An unnamed source at Disney has responded with an official, but rather flatulent statement, ""There are no plans to discontinue releases in a particular format. We evaluate each release on a case by case basis and pursue the best strategy to bring our content into consumer homes across platforms that meet a variety of demands."" I personally believe the respondent did a great job NOT saying specifically what their 4K disc plans are, thus, talking out their behind, and just like that, their answer stinks.
Also, Warner Media has entered a restructuring phase and is currently laying off 600 people. What does this mean for physical media? Hopefully it's just a response to their deal with Universal to distribute discs, and nothing more. Do read that one too if you got a moment. Meanwhile Warner Bros has responded with "we're not going anywhere" which is a better response to any rumors.
Purchasing your favorite movies is the best way to show the studios that you are still out there and are hungry for more. This site has evolved over the years from being primarily physical disc, to now where digital options are being offered as well. Each format has its pros and cons so we are not here to tell you what you should do to build up your collection. Lastly, if you do make a purchase, please remember to do so from our product links, it also helps us continue to provide you news, title info and reviews even during these uneasy times.
Sorry to make the intro so long, but one last thing of importance. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment wants your input on the next batch of 4K releases, including Columbia Classics Volume 2. Read our news story here.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
There are no digital releases slated for this week.
As far as physical disc releases, this week, barring any last minute issues should be the week that Arrow Video releases the recently restored (by StudioCanal) presentation for Flash Gordon! Available as a standard movie release with minimal extras, and a Two-Disc 'fat pack' edition with an extra disc loaded with bonus material and some swag as well. I've opted for the latter as you probably have surmised.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
There are no digital releases slated for this week.
Just like last week, there are a bunch of physical titles coming out, here are some of the highlights.
DC Universe's Batwoman: The Complete First Season arrives this week from Warner Bros. Also another DC universe title, Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons should be released this week barring any delays.
A Criterion Collection Fan? The Comfort of Strangers debuts this week, as well as Town Bloody Hall.
How many of you remember the movie Clara's Heart, starring Whoopi Goldberg? Warner Archive releases this title this week on Blu-ray.
In the anime category, there are of course multiple titles from several vendors. Beyond the Boundary - The Complete Series is getting a SteelBook release this week. Just like so many other Sentai releases, this one is likely to be priced quite high in the secondary market in a few years. Another SteelBook with a 2 month Best Buy exclusive window releases this week, Your Name. If you want to wait for the general Amazon release, that's your choice of course, but if you want it now, do click the provided link.
A Dog's Courage might be out this week. Another title that was delayed a time or three as well.
Arrow Video makes our headlines again, this time with the release of Flash Gordon (Restored Edition) as a standard edition Blu-ray set, and just like the 4K offering, a 'fat pack' 2-disc edition. Also this week from arrow, Gamera: The Complete Collection. Check out the details on this one, they've been recently updated, and I never knew there was so much Gamera! As mentioned last week, the Arrow release for Pitch Black 4K was pushed back to September, but the standard Blu-ray is still on schedule (allegedly.)
LionsGate is releasing AMC's The Terror: Infamy - Season Two this week on Blu-ray. Has AMC had an recent shows that are terrible? (Don't answer that)
You will almost never see me plug a DVD release, my preferred format is Blu-ray, even if the show was never produced in HD, releasing SD on BD looks a lot better than SD on DVD, the codecs and bit rate look much better on Blu-ray. Any how, this week look for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Galactic Battles to be issued on DVD again. To those that have bought this series as it has progressed over the years, the sets got to be quite expensive. If you have a partial set, it's very very expensive to fill in the gaps. I have provided a Best Buy link as it would appear Amazon is not currently offering it for sale. I could certainly hope some day that Viz decides to release each season on Blu-ray in some form. I did buy the Indigo League (Season One) and season Twenty-One on Blu-ray.
Notable announcements from last week:
Delayed: Code Red's Conquest has been delayed again, this time to September 29th. The last time it was delayed it actually disappeared altogether.
Day the World Ended has disappeared from pre-order pages and from Shout's own store site, but other sites seem to list it as November 10th. Usually they're (Shout) good at communicating such delays, but not so much this time.
Additional Miramax reissues have been added to last week's list, and they too have a street date of September 22nd. The titles are Adventureland, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Chicago, The Crow, Cop Land: Collector's Edition, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Ella Enchanted, From Dusk Till Dawn, Gangs of New York, Good Will Hunting, Halloween 3-Movie Collection, Hero, Kill Bill: 2-Movie Collection, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Mimic: 3-Movie Collection, No Country for Old Men, The Others, The Prophecy: The Complete Collection, Pulp Fiction, Scary Movie Collection, Scream: 3-Movie Collection, Serendipity, She's All That.
Kino has revealed details and street date for DeepStar Six. October 13h is the date, and details are aplenty, just click on the link for more information.
Another 4K title was announced at the end of the week, V for Vendetta. The one provided at the link is the Amazon Exclusive Giftset, stay tuned for a standard edition and no doubt a Best Buy SteelBook. When I first viewed this movie, I did not know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by it.
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 should expect a ship notice any day now for Flash Gordon 4K (Arrow) 'fat pack', Beyond the Boundary SteelBook has already shipped, Your Name SteelBook should ship by the time this article goes live. I do need the Pokémon release mentioned above to fill in a gap, usually these reissue complete sets go for $30, perhaps this one is larger than most. I broke down and also ordered the Gamera Collection. Wishlist contains Ensemble Stars Part 1 and Open 24 Hours. The two DC Universe titles might be in my collection at some point - sometimes Best Buy has some crazy deals (that Amazon sometimes matches) so I am watching.
Want Sony to release Anaconda on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray? - Now's your chance to let them know
Sony needs your help deciding their next wave of back catalog 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases. Just as they did with their Columbia Classics 4k Ultra HD Volume One set, they're requesting fan input for the roster of titles.
Just like last time, they want fans to request a genuine classic title from the 1930s through the 1950s. Some of the featured classics include:
... and many more classics. A number of these already have great Blu-ray releases - several are members of the Criterion Collection - but it'd be nice to see these in native 4K with HDR.
Next on the survey, they want to know what other titles you'd love to see on the format. This section isn't specifically classics-driven and these aren't entirely intended for the next Columbia Classics collection either. These are the fan favorites voting that influenced Sony to bring out The Mask of Zorro to 4K and other big hits. You can pick three titles here. This part of the survey from last year is also where they got the idea for Jerry Maguire coming to 4K so vote with caution, they take these seriously! Hudson Hawk is on the list - just saying...
Some of the featured fan favorites include:
... and many many more great titles - and some that raise an eyebrow but hey, every movie has its fan. After that is a comments section where you can make specific requests about their releases - Dolby Vision/HDR10+, audio format, new bonus features for these releases, SteelBook packaging - OR - you can request titles that weren't on the list - I personally requested 7th Voyage of Sinbad and the rest of Ray Harryhausen's extensive catalog from Columbia. I'd love to see those childhood favorites fully restored in 4K with HDR.
Given all of the news and recent speculation that Disney may or may not release live-action catalog titles on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Warner Bros. restructuring - this is a good thing. It means Sony is happy with the results from the fist Columbia Classics release as well as their other catalog titles we enjoyed from last year. So don't wait to fill that survey out! Let them know you're down to buy your favorites on the best physical media format available.
Welcome to Episode 12 of our weekly home video releases series. It's not a witty week for me so I am getting right on to business. In case you were wondering what I decided for my 4K purchase of Flash Gordon, I opted to cancel my UK order and get the Arrow Video release instead. I did opt for the 'fat pack' offering that includes the extra disc and swag. Another deciding factor was the new, considerably higher shipping rates Amazon UK is charging, currently £14.38 for just about any movie. If you order more than one item it appears to still stay the same cost however. Zavvi has also seemingly done the same thing with Shipping Rates.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
For 4K offerings this week, if you have opted to import Flash Gordon, it should ship on Monday. Also shipping on the import release schedule is the 4K restoration of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, also done by StudioCanal.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Digital:
There is a single digital offering this week, The King of Staten Island. The street date for this movie was just announced, the physical release will be available August 25. All resolutions are selling at the same price, which is boggling, 4K, 2K, SD, same price, say what?
Physical:
Disc offerings this week are aplenty. Here's a run down of some of the highlights...
From Sony, followers of the TV show Blacklist can expect Season Seven this week.
Handful of offerings this week for anime, as there always is. Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card is getting a complete series set this week, instead of a split set that was previously offered. InuYasha Set 2 is coming out this week, Set 1 came out not too long ago.
SteelBook collectors might be insterested in Casper this week at Best Buy. It wasn't a horrible movie, but the only way I am going to buy it again is if it was a 4K release.
Criterion Collection brings us The Complete Films of Agnès Varda - Criterion Collection. Sorry, I'm not familiar with these, but with Criterion doing this release, it's sure to be thorough.
While Kino has got a handful of titles this week, the ones I remember the most from the 80's are Date With an Angel and The Quest, the latter having been in limbo for awhile, but is finally getting released. The trailer for Lucky Grandma is quite amusing, Kino releases this disc this week as well.
Shout Factory is releasing the previously delayed Phantom of the Opera (1962) this week. I'm used to the Robert Englund version, but just like so many other movies that have been remade multiple times, everyone has their favorite version.
Eureka - The Complete Series does appear to finally be coming out this week. I had this on preorder since the early announcement days, but it was delayed a time or two it seems. Mill Creek has been doing a so/so job on their TV releases. A lot of them would never see the light of day on Blu-ray so I'm thankful they're still releasing titles, I think their lacking is with video bit rates.
On the subject of TV shows, Warner Archive is releasing Final Space: The Complete First & Second season this week. Not a TV show, but back to movies, remember when John Travolta played the role of an angel? Michael debuts on Blu-ray this week.
This year's drama/romance The High Note comes out this week from UPHE.
Recent action movie I Am Vengenace: Retaliation comes out this week from LionsGate.
I've come to dig some of the IFC and Shudder films coming to disc lately, this week we see The Wretched coming from the IFC label.
Notable announcements from last week:
Delayed: Pitch Black 4K was coming out next week, according to Amazon it's now September 1st. The Blu-ray is still on schedule, subject to change of course. I'm still waiting for the Flash Gordon delay even though it's due this next week. I did get an email from Amazon indicating an unknown delivery date, which to me translates to a delay. I guess when it gets here, it will get here, and I'm sure I will enjoy it.
Normally I do not make much mention of title reissues, but this is one of those exceptions. Towards then end of 2019 Paramount acquired a large stake in the Miramax company. The fruits of these labors is now coming to bear. Paramount has distribution rights to their home video releases, and come September 22, there are a bunch of reissue releases. This might not seem like a big deal, but a lot of their releases have been out of print for quite some time, the secondary market has been asking for upwards of $80 for some of the titles that are in the September release slate, and Paramount is asking a mere $14.99 MSRP for these titles. The title list includes Bad Santa, Bridget Jones's Diary, The Brothers Grimm, Children of the Corn Series: 4-Movie Collection, Dracula: Double Feature, Extract, Extract / The Switch (Double Feature), The Faculty, Finding Neverland, Jackie Brown, Hellraiser Series: 4-Movie Collection, Kevin Smith: 3-Movie Collection, Shall We Dance?, Sin City, Spy Kids: Triple Feature & The Switch. Do check these out under the release calandar, September 22. Previously both Disney and LionsGate had the rights to release their titles at various points in time.
For 4K announcements, Warner has announced 300 for October 6th, and Sony has announced the Resident Evil collection for November 3rd.
Naruto fans will probably look forward to Naruto Triple Feature - SteelBook Collector's Edition, which includes Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow / Legend of the Stone of Gelel / Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom. This set is also available as a standard release.
RLJ Entertainment continues to announce its release titles, including multiple Shudder Originals, the one non-Shudder title that caught my attention though is The American West: Season 1. I've been waiting for this one actually, I thought it was a well produced show when it debuted. I do not watch much broadcast TV, so the current state of the show as best as I can tell is it is still being produced.
Arrow continues to add more titles to their October slate. The one I most recognize is The Last Starfighter. This could probably be a decent 4K release but it's not so much mainstream, so I would likely be happy with a standard 2K/BD release. Add the Arrow Video treatment, it should be a well produced disc. Still, I'd be open to a 4K disc.
The Last Kingdom: Season Four also has an announced date of October 6th. I thought the cover art for the UK releases were better for this series, I'm just saying!
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?
Myself, for anime I did not buy the individual CardCaptor releases, so do I want the single release this week or do I want the previous offerings? As a person that likes slip covers, it's a tough choice as the single release does not have one. I have the InuYasha #2 on order, and as I've mentioned, The Wretched is a wishlist/strong maybe.
From entertaining the troops in the Pacific during WWII to a brief cameo in Toy Story 4, Carl Reiner's entertainment legacy spans decades. He was that rare multifaceted entertainer who was just as comfortable in front of the camera as well as behind, be it as a director, writer or producer. When looking back at his career, we find a man who never achieved the level of fame or notoriety as those he felt privileged to have worked with, the sort of celebrityhood we'd expect given the wealth of memorable films and TV sitcoms he has left behind. But neither did he seek the stardom nor publicity. Mr. Reiner truly was that unique, genuine talent who simply wanted to share his gift and make people laugh.
For many contemporary audiences, Carl Reiner is not a well-known name or hardly rises to the level of acclaim as Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, George Clooney, Bette Midler and so many others fortunate enough to have known the legendary comedian personally. Nevertheless, his impact on comedy and the entertainment industry is immeasurable and can be felt everywhere. As an actor, he usually played supporting roles, but his performances always stood out and his presence always brightened every scene. Mr. Reiner is a true legend and he will be dearly missed, and so, we celebrate his legacy by revisiting some of our personal favorites from his oeuvre.
After coming to prominence working on Sid Caesar's variety shows Your Show of Shows and Ceasar's Hour, Carl Reiner began working on a sitcom loosely based on his experiences as a writer for those aforementioned shows while trying to raise a family. Originally titled Head of the Family with Reiner as the star, Reiner reworked his pilot script with Dick Van Dyke in the lead and co-starring Mary Tyler Moore. With Reiner playing Alan Brady, the host of a variety show and Van Dyke's boss, the sitcom was a smash hit for CBS and is today considered a TV classic that still delivers the laughs and heartwarming smiles.
After the show ended in 1966, Reiner tried his hand at film directing, but Hollywood success didn't come as easily with one box-office fail after another. Of his first three directorial efforts, Where's Poppa? has actually garnered a well-respected cult following, and it's for good reason. It features an absolutely delightful and hilariously memorable performance by Ruth Gordon as the most embarrassing mother ever. More importantly, Reiner demonstrated a talent for telling a witty tale with an unobtrusive camera and excellent timing, trusting his cast to sell the silly premise of a son struggling with a moral quandary.
A few years later, Reiner went on to co-write and direct Steve Martin to box-office success and A-list stardom in the cult comedy favorite about a naïve dolt on a personal, self-discovery journey. Admittedly, the movie is rather stupid, and for some contemporary viewers, it may be a challenge to see the humor or fuss. But the moronic absurdity is precisely what makes it hilarious because the daffy nonsense is surprisingly clever and Steve Martin sells it with deadpan seriousness. The premise of a white man too dense to realize he was adopted by a black family is more than enough to see this beloved comedy immediately.
A few years later, Reiner and Martin reunited for another absurd comedy about another hapless oaf drifts through a world he doesn't belong. Only this time, the two comedians go further into complete absurdity by inserting Martin into vintage 1940s noir films. As a private eye hired to investigate the murder of noted scientist, Martin's hysterical performance flawlessly interacting with a laundry list of legendary actors of classic film noir is the movie's most memorable comedic achievement. It's a bizarre, quirky parody, but as the saying goes ("Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."), this beloved cult comedy has to be the most lovingly heartfelt homage to the bygone-popularity of the pulp detective genre.
Another Reiner-Martin team-up introduced audiences to a Martin at his most weird, wacky and absolutely bonkers, playing a renowned neurosurgeon who created a brain transplant procedure he called "cranial screw-top." How could any movie-lover possibly go wrong in a strangely ludicrous romantic tale of a well-intentioned doctor who literally falls in love with a brain in a vat named Anne (voiced by Sissy Spacek), which was placed there by a mad scientist played by David Warner. All the while, he's fighting for his life from his scheming, murderous wife Dolores (Kathleen Turner). The movie demands to be watched for the tagline alone: "HEALTH WARNING: Watching This Movie May Cause Severe Brain Damage!"
Ten years after not letting Steve Martin wear plaid, Carl Reiner returned to lampooning the film noir genre in this ridiculously dumb but much too fun to watch comedy. With Armand Assante as a lawyer who moonlights as a police detective, which means he also defends the same criminals he arrests, the jokes practically write themselves. But if we're going to be honest, the movie is pretty bad, and I would never argue it's an underrated gem. Still, it has its moments and comes with enough chuckles for a lazy Sunday afternoon watch. Besides, seeing Sean Young and Sherilyn Fenn intentionally overacting is worth the price alone.
At the height of the Cold War, Norman Jewison directed Reiner in this cult black comedy classic about a Russian submarine accidentally grounding off the coast of a small New England island. Reiner is terrific as Walt Whittaker, a loving father and husband to Eva Marie Saint, and he plays opposite a hysterically wonderful Alan Arkin in his feature-film debut. Looking back at the film, it was rather bold of Jewison and crew to make light of a very serious and terrifying fear many Americans were experiencing at the time, and some of the political sentiments underlining the plot and characters are also somewhat prophetic.
There is absolutely no way of talking about Carl Reiner without also mentioning Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's movies. It's near sacrilege not to point out his stupendously memorable performance as the always-scene-stealing con man Saul Bloom. It may be a supporting role and arguably, a bit part amongst a large ensemble cast with a majority of the attention favoring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. But Reiner, nonetheless, stands out, which speaks volumes of his comedic talent. His Saul is proof "There are no small parts, only small actors," and in Ocean's, Reiner is a huge star.
Here are other memorable Carl Reiner features deserving of HD releases:
