The first full week of August is upon us. I myself have got a very busy week ahead of me at work, so keeping up with movie releases is a bit of a challenge, but I still do manage my time and take a slice out of my day to update you on what's new this week. Welcome to Episode 11 of our featured Home Video releases article series.
Folowup on a previous discussion - my trip to Barnes & Noble was a BUST. I planned on picking up War of the Worlds and a couple of other titles. War of the Worlds was sold out and their selection of Blu-ray had shrunk considerably -- square footage was lost to DVDs. That alone angered me enough to leave. How many people nowadays do not had a hi-def TV? So why are we getting more exposure to low-def video? Blu-ray has been out long enough that there should be ample opportunity to make the prices comparable to what DVDs were. Why can't we do like they did in Japan, stop making DVDs? Fortunately Amazon had a price of $22.99 on that movie, so I bought it from them.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
On the 4K disc front, if you've ordered the UK import of Flash Gordon, it has been delayed a week, as I mentioned towards the bottom of last week's article. The domestic release is still on track to be released on the 18th. I did preorder the import premium set, but I am still having second thoughts. It was a decent movie with a stellar soundtrack, but do I want to wait and get the domestic release? I don't want both, I usually watch extras just once, so is the Collector's Edition Arrow set the set for me? When I did preorder the import set, it was at a lower price, so the difference between the two is minimal, unless of course Amazon USA were to offer a one-day low price somewhere in there.
For actual substance in the 4K disc realm, we get a Best Buy exclusive SteelBook release of a movie that's already out, The Town. I once made the mistake of thinking this one was The Village. Oh Well, Shyamalan movies have always had a unique and confusing to me (sometimes) flair. It would appear that this one, as with a few other Warner Bros titles carries a lower retail price. Also this week, apparently it was delayed, the 4K Best Buy SteelBook for Inception.
There are no digital 4K titles slated for this week.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
As far as physical disc HD (Blu-ray) releases this week, it is a rather slow week.
Kino Lorber is pushing forward on its "collections" releases. This week we see the Audie Murphy Collection, Carole Lombard Collection I & the Tony Curtis Collection. Thus far these 'collections' have been a good value.
The weekly obligatory fill of anime titles worth mentioning.... FUNimation has Astra: Lost in Space, which having not seen the series, I wonder if this is an anime take on the popular classic TV show Lost in Space, which also had a reboot series and movie. Those following the series Fairy Tail, Part 23, the Final Season is releasing this week. As far as I know, Part 24, coming in October is the final release of the series.
Sentai has Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? II Complete Collection coming this week. The first collection has a deluxe edition where third party sellers are asking for >$1000.00. Whoa.
Not sure if this merits a mention, but MPI media is releasing Coma, both as a standard disc and a SteelBook edition. Generally speaking a company will not offer two editions if the feature is terrible, but I guess it is possible.
Dispatches From Elsewhere Season 1 is brought to you by RLJ entertainment. I do not watch a lot of regular TV, this being an AMC series, was it a hit or not? Your thoughts?
Doctor Who fans looking to complete their classic series collections, the Tom Baker Season Three set comes out this week. I feel as though Doctor Who is much like music, being that, the music most people think is the best is generally and commonly the music they listened to during their teen years. I remember Tom Baker the most. Although I do follow some of the other doctors, Tom Baker is still my favorite.
HBO, via Warner Bros is releasing His Dark Materials: Season One this week. As I do not have HBO, I'm not sure what to think about it. This series is based on The Golden Compass lore, so I am pretty sure that unless they totally blow it, I will like it. I've seen two different covers for this one making two different domestic releases, oddly enough the edition withOUT the digital code costs $7 more. Zavvi had a SteelBook release for this one too, if they didn't want £10 for shipping, I probably would want it. Why they rose shipping so high is beyond me, I highly doubt it was to package the movies better. Some of the assets available for this series are available in 4K, so I wonder if this is another decision to not release the set in 4K.
A Friday release this week titled Fantashmphony - previously delayed. We often take movie soundtracks for granted, but if you pay attention to the minute details, there is a lot of music and effects and without that, movies and TV shows are pretty bland. This disc covers many popular titles, and is worth checking out.
There are no digital releases slated for this week.
Notable announcements from last week:
Perhaps the biggest announcement from last week is the 4K box set release of the Back to the Future trilogy. I've lost count how many times I have personally bought these movies. The original BTTF was gold when it came out, and it is one of those movies I have watched multiple multiple times. We have an article on this release, and there are multiple SKUs available to order. I usually opt for the SteelBook of any release, unless of course the cover art is hideous. This go round Best Buy is releasing a pretty classy set. They are releasing another Blu-ray editon of this as well, but like Matthew says in the article, most of us interested are going 4K on this. The original Back to the Future was also known as one of the first VHS tapes to have Macrovision employed. I guess I took it for granted, I had a Panasonic AG-1240 VHS machine, so when my circle of friends talked about how it was impossible to make a copy, it never clicked to me why they could not. Back then VHS tapes for $100+ for new releases, so it made sense to want to make a personal copy.
More details for Ghost in the Shell (1995) have emerged as well, along with a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, which in my opinion has a much better cover art than the standard release.
RLJ Entertainment contines to keep announcing Shudder Originals. The Pale Door might sound like a Western version of From Dust Til Dawn. It's got a cover art I rather like, hopefully the street date will be less than $20.
Sony and Best Buy have added a SteelBook option for the 4K release of District 9, I generally loathe cover arts with too much red, but this one is appropriate to the film.
Discotek announced their first release of Lupin III movies to 4K, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro.
Paramount has also added a couple of more catalog titles to their budget-friendly line (around $10 each.) Notably, Uncommon Valor is one of the title's they've added that I will most likely purchase. All of their movies in this line release on September 15th.
Sony has also added a couple of catalog titles for September release as well. Whether they're considered Sony MOD titles or Sony Pictures Classics, take your pick, either way they're limited run release titles that typically do not include a digital code. As fans of physical media, that should not bother us too much. If I'm vegging on my bed watching TV though, sometimes the digital stream is a convenience. These titles release on Septemebr 22nd.
Kino continues to build on their October release list. They have officially announced an October 27 release for High Plains Drifter. Those demanding 4K releases of some of these Western films should know that Kino had full intention of releasing them, but when they tried to do so, they determined the quality of the product was going to suffer based on the elements they had available to them. This does not write off a future 4K release, but for the time being, this is the best available.
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've got His Dark Materials (with digital) on order. As I do not currently own The Town in 4K, the SteelBook might merit a purchase. The Sentai release of Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon Volume 2 is a wish list item, I guess I missed the boat on the first set. There's a 0% chance I will get that for $1000. Of course my copy of Flash Gordon (4K Import) would have shipped this week as well, maybe it was meant to be to give me more time to ponder on the domestice release.
Celebrating 25 years - this iconic anime feature film is getting a brand new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. With Dolby Vision HDR and Japanese Dolby Atmos audio, this looks to be an exciting September! I was digging the standard cover art but that Best Buy Steelbook with slip looks pretty slick. I was already torn with this release since I already have the Mondo Exclusive SteelBook - but I don't think I can pass up the dip into 4K. The movie is just too damn good and I have great memories devouring the original Shirow Masamune manga before going to my local arthouse theater to see the movie and being completely blown away by it and then endlessly playing the Playstation game for hours when I probably should have been doing homework.
Preorders are now live - and the price point for both is right on - no need to break the bank!
Standard 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Release
Check out the full press release from Lionsgate below.
It found a voice… now it needs a body.
One of Anime’s Most Beloved Films Is Reborn on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack and Digital 4K Ultra HD September 8th from Lionsgate®
4K Ultra HD to Include Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®
SANTA MONICA, CA (July 29, 2020) – Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of one of the most critically acclaimed anime films of all time when Ghost in the Shell arrives on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray™ and Digital 4K Ultra HD) and Digital 4K Ultra HD on September 8th from Lionsgate. Based on the beloved manga from Japanese writer and illustrator Shirow Masamune, the film’s voice cast includes Atsuko Tanaka (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, TV’s “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”, “Ghost in the Shell 2.0”), Akio Ôtsuka (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Paprika, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots), and Kôichi Yamadera (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Ninja Scroll). Remastered in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and featuring fan-favorite commemorative artwork from pop illustrator Martin Ansin – along with brand new bonus material – this will be the most definitive Ghost in the Shell package to date.
2029: A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together with her fellow agents from Section 9, Kusanagi embarks on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity. Director Mamoru Oshii’s award-winning cyber-tech thriller, based on the comic book by Shirow Masamune, is lauded as one of the leading Japanese animation films of all time.
The Ghost in the Shell special features include an audio commentary as well as two brand new bonus featurettes: “Accessing Section 9: 25 Years into the Future” and “Landscapes & Dreamscapes – The Art and Architecture of Ghost in the Shell.” 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 Ghost in the Shell 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99.
4K / BLU-RAY / DIGITAL SPECIAL FEATURES
· Full-length audio commentary of Ghost in the Shell with Mary Claypool (Animation Writer and English Language Scriptwriter), Eric Calderon (Animation Producer and Writer), Richard Epcar (Voice of “Batou”), and Charles Solomon (Animation Historian and Critic)
· “Accessing Section 9: 25 Years into the Future” Featurette
· “Landscapes & Dreamscapes: The Art and Architecture of Ghost in the Shell” Featurette
ADDITIONAL ARCHIVAL BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
· Production Report & Digital Works Featuretes
· Theatrical Trailer
Year of Production: 1995
Title Copyright: Ghost in the Shell © 1995 Masamune Shirow / Kodansha Ltd. / Bandai Visual Co. Ltd. / Manga Entertainment Ltd. Artwork & Supplementary Materials © 2020 Lions Gate Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Theatrical Release
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Anime, Action, Crime, Thriller
Closed-Captioned: N/A
Subtitles: English, Spanish, English SDH
Feature Run Time: 83 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: Japanese 2.0 LPCM Audio, Japanese Dolby Atmos, English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Audio
Blu-ray Audio Status: Japanese 2.0 PCM Audio, English 5.1 DTS-HD Master AudioTM
For a time, it seemed like Olivia de Havilland might live forever...and through her gallery of indelible performances in an array of classic films, she will. The gallant, gracious, and beloved star of such wonderful films as Gone with the Wind, The Heiress, and The Adventures of Robin Hood died July 25 at her home in Paris at the grand old age of 104. Along with screen legend Kirk Douglas, who also passed away this year at age 103, she was the last gleaming light and surviving giant of Hollywood's storied Golden Age, a two-time Best Actress Oscar winner and five-time nominee whose boundless talent and breathtaking beauty enlivened more than 60 movies over the course of an enviable career that spanned half a century.
De Havilland was born in Tokyo to British parents, but became an American icon. She made her film debut in 1935 at age 19 and became an instant star. De Havilland made eight pictures with the dashing Errol Flynn between 1935 and 1941, portrayed Melanie Hamilton Wilkes to great acclaim in Gone with the Wind in 1939, and over the next several decades co-starred with such accomplished actors as James Cagney, Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Henry Fonda, Montgomery Clift, Richard Burton, and Ray Milland.
In 1943, she won a historic legal victory, effectively freeing actors from being forced to make up time spent on suspension at the end of their contracts. The "De Havilland Law," which forever changed the Hollywood studio system, is still in effect today and stands as arguably the actress's greatest contribution to her industry. Gossip-mongers had a field day over her decades-long feud with her equally famous sister Joan Fontaine, but the regal, refined De Havilland always rose above such tabloid fodder, and as her Golden Age compatriots began to pass away one by one over the past 30 years, she became the enduring ambassador and grande dame of a bygone era defined by glamor, myth, and magic.
De Havilland always will be ranked as one of cinema's greatest actresses, and her portrayals of strong, vibrant, dimensional women resonate with truth and remain timeless. The following list contains 10 films in chronological order that best represent her talent and versatility and stand as shining examples of the beauty, strength, elegance, grit, vivacity, and warmth that define Olivia De Havilland, a woman every movie fan will forever hold in high regard and deeply miss.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - Of all the movies in which she co-starred with Errol Flynn, this quintessential swashbuckler directed by Michael Curtiz earns the highest marks. De Havilland is a vision of loveliness as the fresh-faced Maid Marian. Her role is largely ornamental, but in glorious three-strip Technicolor, who cares?
Gone with the Wind (1939) - Melanie Hamilton Wilkes may be a Plain Jane by Hollywood glamor standards, but her inner beauty and enviable strength - and De Havilland's marvelous portrayal - make her a luminous presence in David O. Selznick's sweeping adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's saga of the Old South. As the patient, adoring wife of Leslie Howard's noble yet weak Ashley and devoted friend to Vivien Leigh's selfish Scarlett O'Hara, De Havilland proved she was an actress to be reckoned with and much more than a pretty face. She also garnered a well-deserved supporting Oscar nomination, but (rightfully) lost to her castmate Hattie McDaniel.
Hold Back the Dawn (1941) - De Havilland received her first Best Actress Oscar nomination (and lost to her sister) for this literate, nuanced romantic drama about an unscrupulous Romanian expatriate (Charles Boyer) who manipulates a naive American schoolteacher (De Havilland) into marriage so he can obtain entry into the U.S. Directed by Mitchell Leisen and written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, Hold the Back Dawn is an underrated gem filled with emotion and substance. It's also surprisingly timely, given the tensions swirling about U.S. immigration issues today.
The Dark Mirror (1946) - Playing twins is both a challenge and a hoot for many actresses, and De Havilland makes the most of her chance in this noirish Freudian murder mystery that received an Oscar nomination for its original story. Directed by Robert Siodmak (The Spiral Staircase) and written by Nunnally Johnson (The Three Faces of Eve), the film showcases De Havilland's versatility and builds to a stunning climax.
To Each His Own (1946) - Though it's all too easy to dismiss this story of unrequited mother love as shameless soap opera, De Havilland's measured, heart-wrenching portrayal diffuses the melodrama and lends authenticity to the tale of a woman who gives up her illegitimate son and becomes a shadowy figure on the periphery of his life. To Each His Own was De Havilland's first film following a two-year period of inactivity resulting from an industry backlash after her historic court victory, and she justly earned her first Best Actress Oscar for her bravura performance. Amazingly, To Each His Own has never been released on Blu-ray; hopefully, Paramount will right that wrong soon.
The Snake Pit (1948) - De Havilland nabbed another Oscar nod for her riveting, highly believable portrayal of a mentally disturbed woman who must endure harrowing treatments and painful therapy sessions during her turbulent stay in a state psychiatric hospital. Director Anatole Litvak's drama was one of a series of social issue films in the late 1940s that tackled taboo topics with sensitivity and insight.
The Heiress (1949) - Arguably De Havilland's crowning achievement, director William Wyler's impeccable adaptation of Henry James' portrait of a painfully shy, sheltered, insecure, impressionable, yet very rich young woman who's dominated by her cold, disparaging father (Ralph Richardson) and courted by a handsome suitor with questionable motives won the star her second Best Actress Oscar. De Havilland is tender, tragic, and ultimately chilling in an understated, tour de force performance that's just as powerful today as it surely was 70 years ago.
My Cousin Rachel (1952) - Is she or isn't she? This brooding, atmospheric adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's gothic novel casts De Havilland as an English lord's mysterious widow who might be both a greedy opportunist and ruthless murderess. A young Richard Burton co-stars as the dead lord's impetuous heir, who's either the love of Rachel's life or her next victim. De Havilland doesn't give away much in a fascinating performance that will keep you guessing...even after the movie ends.
Light in the Piazza (1962) - De Havilland gives an empathetic performance as the concerned mother of a mentally challenged young woman (Yvette Mimieux) who falls in love with a dashing Italian (George Hamilton) while vacatoning in Florence. Director Guy Green's delicate drama, which was adapted into a successful Broadway musical in 2005, features gorgeous Italian locations and addresses important issues. Hopefully, along with To Each His Own, it will see a Blu-ray release in the not-too-distant future.
Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) - Guilty pleasures don't get much guiltier (or provoke more pleasure) than this captivating bit of Grand Guignol melodrama that casts De Havilland as the duplicitous cousin of a deranged woman (Bette Davis) who's haunted by the brutal murder of her lover 35 years ago. De Havilland rarely played bitches, but she's a humdinger of one here, and recites every deliciously nasty line with relish. Packed with plot twists and scenery-chewing performances galore, Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a ghoulishly good thriller that elevates camp to high art.
It was only a matter of time...
The Back to the Future: Ultimate Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set will smash fans' wallets on October 20th, 2020 in a 7 disc set - 3 4K UHD discs, 3 Blu-ray discs, plus an additional Blu-ray bonus disc! Per the specs supplied from Universal Pictures, each film will enjoy HDR10 / Dolby Vision / HDR10+ grading along with Dolby Atmos audio tracks! Tons of bonus features are included in the set. There are also going to be some retailer exclusives from Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. This new set will also be available on Blu-ray - but considering how many times this has been issued in 1080p, more folks will be interested in the 4K sets. Pre-orders are now live for the standard release, the Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook - The Amazon Exclusive Giftset with a floating hoverboard is pending but the listing is live now.
Back to the Future: Ultimate Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Amazon Exclusive Back to the Future: Ultimate Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook Back to the Future: Ultimate Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Check out the full press release below for all the details!
Universal City, California, July 27, 2020 – Great Scott! In 1985, Director Robert Zemeckis, Executive Producer Steven Spielberg and Producer/Screenwriter Bob Gale embarked on a three-part journey through time that broke box-office records worldwide and catapulted BACK TO THE FUTURE into one of the most beloved trilogies in motion picture history. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the groundbreaking first film with BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on October 20, 2020 - just in time to celebrate “Back to the Future Day” on October 21! This collection is loaded with bonus material including a bonus disc that comes with over an hour of brand-new content such as rare audition footage from Hollywood stars Ben Stiller, Kyra Sedgwick, Jon Cryer, Billy Zane, Peter DeLuise and C. Thomas Howell, a tour of the film’s props and memorabilia hosted by co-writer/producer Bob Gale, a sneak peek at the new musical show, and a special episode of the popular YouTube Series “Could You Survive The Movies?” Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and a time traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they travel to the past, present and future, setting off a time-shattering chain reaction that disrupts the space-time continuum!
BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY will include all three movies in collectible discbook packaging plus a bonus disc including all-new bonus content. For the first time, the past, present and future collide in eye-popping Ultra HD resolution for a time-traveling celebration. New 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray™ deliver the highest quality picture, more colors than ever before, and immersive, multi-dimensional sound. From filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, this unforgettable 35th anniversary collection features hours of bonus features and is an unrivaled trilogy that stands the test of time making this a must-own for everyone’s movie library. All three BACK TO THE FUTURE films will also be available on 4K Ultra HD digitally for the first time ever and BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE COMPLETE TRILOGY will also be available on DVD.
Three premium collections will be available at select retailers for a limited time only:
BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY will be available on 4K Ultra HD combo pack, which includes 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, & Digital Code and on Blu-ray™ which includes the Blu-ray™ & Digital Code.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE TRILOGY bonus DISC FEATURES ON BLU-RAY™:
BACK TO THE FUTURE bonus FEATURES ON 4K Ultra Hd & BLU-RAY™:
*Only on the Blu-ray™ disc
BACK TO THE FUTURE II bonus FEATURES ON 4K Ultra Hd & BLU-RAY™:
*Only on the Blu-ray™ disc
BACK TO THE FUTURE III bonus FEATURES ON 4K Ultra Hd & BLU-RAY™:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K ULTRA HD:
Street Date: October 20, 2020
Selection Number: 61212628 (US) / 61212662 (CDN)
Layers: BD-100
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.85:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG
Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Video: 2160p UHD Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR 10
Sound: English Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 2.0 ; French European DTS Digital Surround 5.1 ; Latin American Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Run Time:
Back to the Future – 01:55:57
Back to the Future II – 01:47:55
Back to the Future III – 01:58:14
Where has the time gone? This week is last week of July, and for some of us, that means Summer will stick around for about another month. When I lived out West though, it was just another ordinary week, Summer never really ended until around the last week of November. Around Thanksgiving or so was when I could harvest the oranges from the tree in my front yard, assuming that the grackles didn't get to them.
Welcome to Episode 10 of our weekly Home Video Releases page, a wrap up of noteable releases for the week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week in 4K disc releases, just another reissue of the Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook for Wonder Woman (2017). No doubt another plug for the upcoming Wonder Woman movie, dubbed Wonder Woman 1984, or WW84 for short, currently on schedule for an October 2nd release. You can read about it HERE.
There are no 4K digital releases scheduled for this week.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Kino Lorber has a handful of offerings this week. Many of them I do not recognize, but that does not detract from the great work they are doing. There are a few titles in the next few months from them I would like to own, and I eagerly await the release of Amazon Women on the Moon.
If you've ever wondered what the first on-screen adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea looked like, they're releasing the very first version that I know of, from 1916. This of course would be a silent film, with music playing. Lorenzo's Oil also comes out this week, I do admire Nick Nolte, and this was a decent film in my book. A Joe Pesci movie also debuts on Blu-ray this week, The Public Eye. I like a lot of the movies he is in, and enjoy his potty mouth antics, can I expect more of the same on this one? Hopefully our staff does a review on this one. Another great 80's flick this week from Kino is The River.
This week's random title release, Samuel Goldwyn Films releases Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. This Disney/Touchstone owned title went out of print a long time ago and the prices went through the roof on the secondary market. This is the only film that I can think of that the dialog is in the Mayan language.
The Shout Factory label brings a few titles this week. I still have my laserdisc somewhere of Graveyard Shift. IMDB viewers didn't rate this one too high, but I remember enjoying it way back when. Roman Polanski's The Tenant gets released this week after a delay, as does Thirteen Ghosts, which also had an earlier street date that got pushed to this week.
Warner Bros brings us The Outsider: The First Season this week. I do not have HBO so I cannot attest to the strength of this series, many of their shows are worthy to watch, they're less likely to cancel a show without resolution or solid conclusion. Speaking of WW84, Warner is releasing the classic 70's TV series Wonder Woman on Blu-ray this week as well. This is a bit of a rarity as TV studios do not seem to release enough of their shows on high-def disc, hell, sometimes the DVDs they release are pixelated messes that look worse than an old VHS tape being played on a 75 inch screen. The audio on this series is slated as Dolby Digital Mono, which is what we got for the Batman TV series as well, and that sounded fine for what it was. Hopefully the bit rate will be a bit higher to compensate. If you're curious of the pixelate mess I refer to, try viewing this screen grab at full screen, you might have to save it to your computer first.
RLJ Entertainment is releasing James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction. Any time I see Cameron's name on another project, the question of True Lies and The Abyss always comes up. There's always finger pointing on where the hold up is, and with Disney acquiring Fox now, where does this leave those releases?
For Anime this week, Discotek is set to release their July titles. They are Case Closed TV Special: Episode One, Demon City Shinjuku, Galaxy Express 999: The TV Series Collection 02 - Layover, Love Hina Again & Medabots: Season Two.
Sentai is releasing the Limited Edition to Revue Starlight. You've probably read these comments from me before, some of these Limited Edition anime box sets get priced into insane figures as the years go by. A $100 set could go as high as $1500. The trick is to figure out which ones.
There are a couple of off-Tuesday releases this week that I would not doubt are actual Tuesday releases, just that Amazon has it listed wrong. On Friday, Arrow is set to release Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz (Collector's Set). For a Wednesday release, Slave of the Cannibal God comes out from Code Red.
DELAYED TITLES - Flicker Alley's The City Without Jews has been pushed to August 25th.
A lone Digital release this week, Deep Blue Sea 3 which debuts in direct to video format. I never got around to watching the 2nd movie, is this one a desperate cash grab or is it any good? We shall see.
Notable announcements from last week:
In the delayed category, Shout! Factory has announced that Event Horizon (Collector's Edition) has been delayed until January 5, 2021. Most likely related to COVID and production. Shout Factory has also announced that a 4K Collector's Edition of Weathering With You will be arriving two months after the blu-ray set, which will be November 17th. I certainly appreciate the forewarning, double-dips are a bit annoying, and this 4K set promises to have exclusive content.
Shout Factory though has also announced a 4K release for Weathering With You, but it will be streeting two months later than the HD release. That's OK with me, I was mildly interested in the title anyways
Paramount/CBS has announced Star Trek: Picard - Season One in a SteelBook package as well, and there is a street date of October 6th for both editions. I don't play the cut the $120 cable and then sign up for $120 in streaming services, CBS All Access might have a lot to offer but at some point I personally have to draw a line.
Warner Bros has released early details of a Bugs Bunny Collection coming to Blu-ray. Although I doubt we will see the "War Time Bugs" cartoon any time soon, this collection still promises to bring back a lot of great episodes. There has also been an announcement of the classic animated series The Flintstones too. Keep em coming Warner!
Paramount is bringing a handful of catalog titles on September 15th, these titles debuting on Blu-ray and with a price of under $10, I ask you, why not? Unless of course you loathe these titles, <g>. I myself might be in for Timeline as well as The Phantom. I did enjoy Private Parts back in the day, do I care enough about the Howard Stern story now in 2020? I have not heard any of his broadcasts on Sirius radio, I'm sure without the FCC rules his show is more amusing, I just have never had a desire to subscribe to radio.
Flash Gordon (UK Import) has been delayed a bit. Our own staff writer/editor Matthew Hartman has received a 4K proof copy from StudioCanal, and the review he has done on it shows it is certainly worthy of owning. I still have the 5-disc set on order from the UK, but I'm torn on canceling that and getting with the Collector's Set that Arrow is offering here domestically instead. Do read the article here.
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? Remember, we ask that you purchase your movies via our links, doing so allows us to continue to bring you news and reviews. We really do appreciate it.
Myself this week? Already on order from Amazon, Wonder Woman TV Series, Outsider Season One. Already received, Revue Starlight Limited Edition box set, Love Hina Again. Titles of interest but not ordered yet, Thirteen Ghosts, Apocalypto, Demon City Shinjuku, Galaxy Express Layover, The River.
Roman Holiday, the classic 1953 romantic comedy that won Audrey Hepburn a Best Actress Oscar, has been spectacularly restored and will finally make its Blu-ray debut in a limited collector's edition on September 15 as part of the Paramount Presents line. Directed by two-time Oscar winner William Wyler and co-starring Gregory Peck, this charming Cinderella-in-reverse tale, which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, follows the adventures of a rebellious princess who goes undercover as a commoner so she can enjoy the simple pleasures of Rome. Yet little does she know her handsome male tour guide is really a journalist who hopes to get the scoop of the century.
Andrea Kalas, Paramount's Senior Vice President of Archives, and film historian Leonard Maltin shared details about the 4K restoration, which was completed back in 2015, during a recent Zoom press briefing. Because the original nitrate negative of Roman Holiday no longer exists, Paramount used the best existing sources - a 35 mm dupe negative and fine grain print - for this restoration.
Roman Holiday was shot on location in Rome, and problems in the Italian film laboratory during the movie's production reportedly compromised the original film elements. According to Kalas, issues like over-handling of the negative and primitive, careless splicing techniques plagued the film over the years and made its eventual deterioration almost inevitable. The original negative's fragile nature eventually spurred the production of a dupe negative, which had to be blown up a few thousandths of an inch to cover all the splice tape that previously had been applied to the original negative to hold it together.
Thanks to the miracles of digital technology, the film has been meticulously repaired, cleaned, and restored to its original splendor without compromising its artistic integrity. The original mono track also has been restored and appropriately corrected. (Elements to upmix the soundtrack to 5.1 do not exist.) Below are a few capture frames from the film that illustrate the video restoration.
This new Blu-ray edition also marks the first time a home video release of Roman Holiday will feature Dalton Trumbo's screenplay and original story credits on both the film itself and its packaging. Trumbo was blacklisted by the film industry after refusing to comply with demands from the House UnAmerican Activities Committee but continued to surreptitiously work on many productions - without screen credit, of course - for years. Writer Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for Trumbo on Roman Holiday, which won an Oscar for Trumbo's original story. In 1993, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at last presented that Oscar to Trumbo's widow, but it wasn't until 2011 that the Writer's Guild of America restored his name to the film itself. Now those credits will be etched onto home video versions of Roman Holiday forevermore.
The limited-edition Blu-ray release of Roman Holiday will be presented in collectible packaging that includes a fold-out image of the film's re-release theatrical poster and "an interior spread with key movie moments." In addition to previously released featurettes, the Blu-ray will include an all-new "Filmmaker Focus" with Maltin, as well as access to a digital copy of the film.
Video excerpts of the comments made by Maltin and Kalas at the press briefing, including some restoration comparison clips, can be viewed in the video below:
Kalas also confirmed during the press briefing that A Place in the Sun, another Paramount classic that has been long overdue for a Blu-ray release, has received the same type of meticulous restoration as Roman Holiday, and will be released on Blu-ray in the U.S. sometime in the future. The 1951 adaptation of Theodore Dreiser's classic novel An American Tragedy won six Oscars, including Best Director for George Stevens, and stars Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters is also on deck for a future release. Kalas mentioned that producer George Stevens, Jr. was involved in the restoration...more evidence of Paramount's commitment to quality as the studio continues to restore and preserve its catalog of classic films.
Pre-order Your Copy of Roman Holiday HERE
Read the full press release below
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – The treasured and enduring classic ROMAN HOLIDAY debuts on Blu-ray for the first time ever as part of the Paramount Presents line on September 15, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
The exquisite Audrey Hepburn lights up the screen in her first starring role opposite the charismatic Gregory Peck in this funny, beautiful, and intoxicating romantic comedy. Ranked as the #4 greatest love story of all time by the American Film Institute, ROMAN HOLIDAY earned 10 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and won Best Actress for Hepburn, Best Costume Design for legendary designer Edith Head, and Best Writing for Dalton Trumbo.
About the Film
Director William Wyler’s 1953 fairy tale was one of Hollywood’s first on-location motion pictures and memorably captures the bustling streets and iconic sites of Rome. ROMAN HOLIDAY expresses the exhilaration of joyously breaking free as the lead character escapes her royal obligations against the backdrop of post-war Europe embracing long-awaited peace.
Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee and his name was not included in the film’s original credits. In 1992 the Board of Governors of the Academy voted to finally credit Trumbo for the “Story Writing” Oscar and his widow received a statuette in 1993. In 2011, the WGA restored Trumbo’s name to the screenwriting credits. This is the first physical home entertainment release to correctly credit Dalton Trumbo with both the screenplay and story by credits both on packaging and the film itself.
About the Restoration
The original negative was processed at a local film lab in Rome and was unfortunately badly scratched and damaged. The film had to be pieced back together, but the splices were so weak due to the damage that extensive amounts of tape had to be used to allow the negative to make it through a printing machine. Because of the fragile state of the negative, a Dupe Negative was made and then blown up a few thousandths of an inch to cover all the splice tape that held the original negative together.
In anticipation of this new Blu-ray release, the film was digitally restored using the Dupe Negative and a Fine Grain element to capture the best possible image. Every frame was reviewed, and the film received extensive clean up to remove thousands of scratches, bits of dirt, and other damage. Because audio elements to properly up-mix to 5.1 do not exist, the original mono track was remastered, and minor anomalies were corrected. The result is a film returned to its original vibrancy and beauty that remains true to director William Wyler’s vision.
About the Release
The limited-edition Paramount Presents Blu-ray Disc™ is presented in collectible packaging that includes a foldout image of the film’s theatrical re-release poster, and an interior spread with key movie moments. Newly remastered from a 4K film transfer, the ROMAN HOLIDAY Blu-ray also includes a new Filmmaker Focus with film historian Leonard Maltin, access to a Digital copy of the film, as well as previously released featurettes on Academy Award®-winner Audrey Hepburn, Edith Head’s Oscar®-winning* costumes, the blacklisting of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, and much more.
Bonus Features:
- Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on Roman Holiday
- Behind the Gates: Costumes
- Rome with a Princess
- Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years
- Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist
- Paramount in the '50s: Remembering Audrey
- Theatrical Trailers
- Four Photo Galleries: Production, The Movie, Publicity, The Premiere
Rather hot weather for much of the U.S. coming into this week.
Participation poll: What is your home theater experience like? I like the room to be dark and comfortable (temperature and seating), as well as any background noise silenced, surround system at a decent volume. Even tick tick of a clock takes away from my personal experience.
Welcome to episode 9 of Home Video Releases. Lastly, remember if you purchase a title via one of our links, it helps this site continue to bring you news and reviews.
There are a couple of gems this week, read on...
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week there are several 4K disc releases available.
First in the new title category, Scoob! This movie was recently in the Premium Rental category, I did not expect to see it til at least September, but here it is, being released this week.
More recent movies being released this week, Midsommar is getting a 4K debut as an A24 shop exclusive, with a Monday street date. When you follow the link, it will default to the Blu-ray. It was announced just a week or so ago and the shop immediately said Sold Out, but does offer a sign up list as it will be replenished. Not sure why LionsGate chose not to release this as a 4K disc, but I'm sure they have got their reasons. Also this week, another LionsGate title, John Wick is getting a general release of the current trilogy. Before this, these movies were available individually, and as a Best Buy and a Walmart Exclusive. The way the third movie ended, you can bet they will continue to churn these out every couple of years.
For the catalog titles category, Spartacus debuts in the 4K disc format this week. Available in a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook release. Classic Cinema thus far has looked astonishingly fantastic in the 4K disc format, I look forward to this release.
For digital 4K releases this week, Scoob! is getting a same day release as the disc release. It is unusual for this to happen, usually they come 2 or 3 weeks earlier. Amazon's link appears to be unavailable for the 4K release, not a problem though, we've provided a link to Fandango Now. Remember that when you connect all your accounts across Movies Anywhere, your library will populate across every linked platform as well.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Paramount is bringing us Airplane! under its Paramount Presents label. This one is also available in a SteelBook too, although it is unclear if it is the same offering or not. Also on the Paramount Presents label this week, Ghost. Again, if Paramount is listening, I personally would be buying more of these releases if they were on an actual 4K disc. I like the premium offering idea, and thus far I've bought two of these releases, but I would buy more of these 4K remasters were offered on a 4K disc. I like collecting, and the spine numbers make me want to, but it's a hard sell when they could be 4K.
From the standard Paramount label and as promised in last week's article, the SteelBook release of Clueless hits stores this week.
This week there are a handful of Kino titles with some common themes. The Ali Baba theme, pirates and the era of WWII/Third Reich. Ali Baba theme, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Arabian Nights and Son of Ali Baba. For pirates, Against All Flags, Buccaneer's Girl, and lastly, World in His Arms. For the WWII era, Colonel Redl, Confidence and Mephisto, Also, unrelated, but connected to the WWII theme, Shout Factory is releasing Resistance this week.
Warner Bros is bringing us Castle Rock Season Two. I personally am a bit disappointed as I bought the first season on 4K disc. I'm sure it was a careful business decision but still, I wish the 4K trend continued. Also from Warner Bros. this week, the Blu-ray release of Scoob! .
Midsommar is also getting a Deluxe Release on Blu-ray as well. Just follow the link in the 4K release section above.
Universal has a relatively lazy week, except for Spartacus 4K, their releases are reissues of already exiting titles.
Anime releases each week? Yeah, there are some. If you've been outpriced from the Patlabor Mobile Police series, it again is being offered this week from Sentai. Previous releases have seen the prices skyrocket. Million Arthur: The Complete Series is also out this week.
As for Friday releases this week, they are all in the arts category. I don't generally follow this genre too much. A Royal Ballet feature, two operas, a Plácido Domingo commemoration and an opera about the Orpheus and Eurydice. I had seen the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker a couple of years ago and thought it was one of the best renditions I had seen, it was a massive production with a lot of talent. Plácido Domingo's 50 years is an amazing feat, and Orpheus and Eurydice looks like it could be a huge show as well. If only the wallet was bottomless.
Notable announcements from last week:
The title announcement machine is in full swing even though it is Summer (Summer is often slow for home video announcements.)
Shout Factory has a couple of SteelBooks that mike pique your interest. Pumpkinhead and Motel Hell. Both of these were done well from Shout previously. I've lost count how many times I've bought Pumpkinhead over the years in various formats. I would like to see all the cheesy sequels on Blu-ray someday as well, I think only number 2 and 3 are available. Shout's biggest title announcement is for their upcoming Friday the 13th Megaset, titled Friday the 13th Collection Deluxe Edition. It's quite an extensive set that I am most undoubtedly purchasing. If you've got concerns about an eventual 4K release, I will tell you the odds of 4K are really pretty slim. If they do release it, it will likely only be the first movie, don't forget we are talking about Paramount, a company that doesn't cherish their catalog titles as well as they should. You can also see our news story about Friday the 13th.
From Shout Select comes Adaptation.. This one was previously released by Image Entertainment. For animated, under the Shout label (NOT GKids) expect to see The Wonderland coming as well. All of these titles are to be released in October.
Mill Creek has posted their October slate as well. Ultraman R/B The Movie: The Crystal of Bond!, Ultraman R/B Series + The Crystal of Bond Movie, The Pledge, Imaginary Crimes / Silent Fall (Double Feature), and Diabolique / Incognito / The In Crowd (Triple Feature). All of these titles are slated for October 13th.
Universal has slated The Alfred Hitchcock Classics - 4K Collection for September 8th. Details and specs have been added, expect to see an order link very soon. Universal looks to be releasing or reissuing a handful of titles in September, but perhaps their biggest reissues of note are the 10-Movie collections. They are: Blumhouse of Horrors: 10-Movie Collection, DreamWorks 10-Movie Collection, Focus Features 10-Movie Spotlight Collection & Illumination Presents: 10-Movie Collection.The 10-movie mega sets are obviously catered to people that don't already own these, and are offered in a nice compact package.
Sony Pictures is bringing 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street to 4K on September 15th. Order Links coming soon, one would expect the same SteelBooks at Best Buy as well, TBD.
Criterion Collection has announced its next batch which span September 29th - October. Honestly, I have no idea what any of these are, but every time I see a review of a Criterion title, the story is almost always rated 5/5 and the AV presentation top notch, and of course the extras are also something to talk about. The titles are Claudine, The Gunfighter, The Hit, Pierrot le fou (reissue) and lastly, the 2019 hit Parasite. I know I sound like a broken record, but correct me if I'm wrong, Parasite did get a 4K disc release, so why are we going an HD release again? I sure wish Criterion would hop on to the 4K disc bandwagon. By the time you read this, I will have gone to Barnes & Noble to see what I can get for the semi-annual Criterion Collection sale. I am looking for War of the Worlds, then anything else is impulse.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?
Slow week for me. I will likely pick up Scoob! in 4K at the local Walmart. I have Spartacus SteelBook on order at Best Buy. I might get the standard release as well, to leave the SteelBook intact. I am interested in the Misdommar 4K release, when the email comes in I have a decision to make. For regular HD Blu-ray discs, Castle Rock Season 2 maybe, and maybe the anime release of How clumsy you are Miss Ueno. If Airplane! were a 4K disc release I would also be all over that, but for the time being, it is on a wish list.
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We'd heard rumblings of a new Friday the 13th set for some time now without confirmation of who will be or when it will be released. Well, Scream Factory cleared things up today with their announcement of this massive 16-disc collection! Parts 1-4 will enjoy new 4K restorations, Part 3 will finally be available in proper 3-D Blu-ray. Jason Goes To Hell gets both the Theatrical and Unrated with new 2K scans. Pre-orders are not yet live, but they should be soon.
Friday the 13th Collection Deluxe Edition
There's a lot to unpack here so I'll let you all just read the press release:
Happy Week of July 14th! You may ask yourselves why I am so jovial, and honestly, I could not tell you. Maybe it has just been a good week overall - Welcome to Episode 8 of the week in home video releases.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
This week there is a single 4K disc release, but it is minor. It was released on May 5th as a standard 4K, but the Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook got delayed. I am talking about Bloodshot. I have not seen it so I cannot tell you if there's anything to this movie or if it is living on Vin Diesel's name.
There are no 4K digital releases this week.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Mill Creek is releasing the previously delayed 12 Monkeys - The Complete Series this week. This series is a spinoff of a movie by the same title, prior to this, each season was available individually.
Criterion's biggest release this week would be Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits. This set appears to be just as inclusive as their previous Godzilla Collection released last October and certainly a welcome addition to fans of the late and great Bruce Lee.
Ironically, Well Go USA is releasing their own Kung Fu movie this week, titled Enter the Fat Dragon. The trailer of this one is pretty good, I would probably get it as a random title and probably would enjoy it. Great timing on this one folks.
Paramount is releasing a 25th Anniversary Edition to the movie Clueless. If you wait til next week, it's coming in a SteelBook as well. It is likely the same disc as the previous releases, if you've already got the movie, you might want to wait for a review to be sure.
A pair of animated titles from Warner this week that might interest you. Legion of Superheroes: The Complete Series, a series that ended in 2008, and the next LEGO DC series, this one titled Shazam! Magic and Monsters. The latter title was released a month ago, but that one included a figurine, this one does not, so it should eventually be had for a lower price.
Under their Warner Archive label, the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice is released this week. This one has been remade a couple of times, as they say, mimicry is the strongest form of flattery.
Universal Pictures brings us the final season of The Magicians. Also available in case you haven't been keeping up, the complete series is available as well.
Notable from Kino this week, volume IV of the series Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema.
The Shout Factory label doesn't disappoint with the release of The Kiss of the Vampire this week. Our review says this one is Highly Recommended. After what seemed like 38 delays, Ron Howard directed, all-star cast film The Missing finally sees light of day, under the Shout Select label. I'm pretty excited to own this one actually.
In Anime news, fans of the Boruto series will get part 6 of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations from Viz Media. Also look for InuYasha: Set 1 this week as well, I've got this one on preorder myself, as well as Set 2 coming soon.
FUNimation has a few releases this week. Highlights include a SteelBook release of Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Series. The general release of this SteelBook will follow in September after Best Buy has a 2 month exclusive window. I had never bought this series so I am getting this in the SteelBook package. Two other titles this week that interest me is Kochoki - The Complete Series and The Ones Within - The Complete Series. With all the anime titles released every week, it is a bit difficult weeding through the ones you will like, but at some point one becomes pretty good at determining this through various resources.
Sentai & Discotek have a few titles this week as well, check out the release calendar for details.
There are no late week titles this week, which are usually Concert or Arts releases.
There are no digital releases this week.
Notable announcements from last week:
A handful of announcements for the week. Kino added a few more titles for September. The one I remember most is Variety, slated for September 29th. Maybe it was a late night HBO binge, I don't recall. Order links coming soon.
HBO & Warner Bros Entertainment have announced Game Of Thrones: The Complete Series coming to 4K this November. The series will be presented in Dolby Vision HDR as well as Dolby Atmos audio. The set promises to be all inclusive, with over 15 hours of bonus material. Two purchase options will be available, a standard box set, and also a Best Buy Exclsusive SteelBook set. I actually like the looks of both of these. The Best Buy set looks very similar to the Batman movie collection they did a little bit ago, which turned out to be quite fragile. Hopefully they will ship these out with care.
RLJ Entertainment is continuing to announce and release Shudder Originals, this week's announcements include Z, Blood Quantum and Terrified.
In import news, StudioCanal has announced the 4K disc release of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. I reached out to Shout Factory to see what their thoughts, and although their attention was drawn to this release, they have indicated that they currently do not hold distribution rights to the 4K release of this movie. That could change soon, or we could see an announcemen from Arrow Video in coming days. If you opt to import it, remember the 4K disc is not region locked, the Blu-ray remains a different story.
Closing out this week's article, Criterion's biannual sale at Barnes & Noble is live, both in the stores as well as online. My desire list is pretty short, I do want War of the Worlds. If my list doesn't grow to meet the free shipping threshold, chances are that Amazon will still offer this title within a dollar or two.
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've got the 12 Monkeys set on order, Kochoki, Tokyo Gore Police as well as the Cowboy Bebop SteelBook. I'm interested in the Bruce Lee Greatest Hits Collection, but not enough to pre-order it.
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Oscar-winning legendary composer Ennio Morricone died today in Rome at 91 years old after what is being reported as complications from a broken leg from a fall. The Italian maestro lent his unique skills and compositions to over 500 television and film projects. Perhaps best remembered for his contributions to Sergio Leone’s westerns, Morricone was an adept composer seamlessly moving between genres from action gangster films like The Untouchables to horror science fiction like The Thing to sweeping period epics like The Mission.
Growing up the way I did with the father I had, The Good The Bad and The Ugly theme was just as recognizable to me as the opening of any Star Wars film. Once I got my own CD player in my room, I quickly stole my father’s copy of Leone’s seminal score and would listen to it every night before bed. Long about the time where Tuco was being beaten to the tune “The Story of a Soldier” is when I’d drift off to sleep only to be woken up by the beautiful “The Ecstasy of Gold.” Later Yo-Yo Ma would collaborate with Morricone to craft Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone – a collection of the composer's greatest tunes beautifully orchestrated for Yo-Yo Ma’s cello – if you’ve never heard it check it out.
To this day whenever I’m watching a classic catalog title I’ve never seen and I hear some of those familiar note progressions I instantly get excited. Seeing his name in the opening credits elevates nearly every movie he lent his talents to. That doesn’t mean every movie to feature his music was amazing – I still have issues with The Hateful Eight but I love that brooding score that also incorporated cut music cues from John Carpenter’s The Thing soundtrack. It’s often a struggle for me to pick just one iconic score from his oeuvre, but his Spaghetti Western scores are stalwarts in my collection. I once paid far too much to acquire an out-of-print release of his Navajo Joe only for it to get a deluxe re-release at a quarter the price. Such is life.
The Sergio Leone Westerns
With Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Once Upon A Time in the West and Fistful of Dynamite – they’re all iconic pieces of music for these seminal westerns. It’s nearly impossible to choose one over the other so this collection from Kino Lorber Studio Classics is the best way to enjoy all of these great movies and Ennio’s music.
John Carpenter’s The Thing
It’s shocking to me that 38 years ago this now-classic science fiction horror film wasn’t only a titanic flop at the box office but Ennio Morricone’s hypnotic and brooding score was nominated for Worst Musical Score at the 1983 Razzie Awards! Granted, it’s the least “Morricone” sounding of Morricone’s music but just as The Thing wouldn’t be the same without the incredible Rob Bottin creature effects, it wouldn’t be the same without the music.
The Hateful Eight
As I said earlier I don’t particularly like this film – least of all in it’s truncated theatrical version – Morricone hit it out of the park with the score. I can watch the movie because the score is terrific. Just 11 years prior Morricone had been recognized with an Honorary Oscar – only for him to finally and justifiably win one for this film.
Days of Heaven
Terrence Malick has always brought a lyrical fluid visual quality to his films that lend naturally to whatever composer happens to be working with him. Such is the case with Ennio’s work here. It’s a sweeping piece and unlike anything he composed for the Italian Westerns. It’s romantic and grand – “The Harvest” is a particularly beautiful piece I often listen to while I work.
The Untouchables
Alright, things don’t get much more badass and “Morricone” than this film’s opening track “The Strength of the Righteous” – that jazzy dissonant piano with steady snare, it gets the hairs standing on the back of your neck right out of the gate. Then you get the “Al Capone” suite that almost comically depicts his opulence with a full orchestra. The “Death Theme” also hits hard when two essential characters are murdered in the film. It’s just a great score that fits the film beautifully.
The Mission
Roland Joffé’s adventure drama demanded an epic score and Morricone delivered. It’s sweeping in its majesty conveying the scope of the film filling each scene with romantic overtures and leaning into the necessary action beats. “Gabriel’s Oboe” is a particular favorite piece of mine.
Navajo Joe
Burt Reynolds may have absolutely hated working on this film calling it one of the worst movies he was in – but I love it! It’s an action-fueled western that has a delightful pulp quality that only Sergio Corbucci could deliver to the screen. Capping it off is another engaging score from Morricone. That theme whenever Joe caps off one of the bad guys is glorious and beautifully used by Tarantino for Kill Bill.
Malena
This 2000 romantic comedy is delightful as it captures the excitement of a young man falling for an older woman. Plus it features Monica Bellucci in the lead and what better way to highlight her beauty than this wonderful piece of music? It’s not an action score. It’s not an epic. It’s simple and delightful and probably his most playful composition. The jangly guitar and strings are familiar and signature Morricone, but everything is just pure whimsy and a delightful listen. Sadly, this has yet to get a Blu-ray release here in the states, but it’s worth seeking out just for the music.
Obviously, it’s impossible to quantify a career as expansive as Ennio Morricone. Working up until the day of his injury, the iconic composer showed no signs of slowing down. He leaves behind an incredible library of music that can be enjoyed over and over again. Everyone has a favorite Morricone score – what’s yours?
