Surprising no one, yet delighting completist collectors, Marvel’s latest superhero blockbuster will of course get the SteelBook treatment on Blu-ray. Perhaps less expected are several other titles announced to receive metal case releases.
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’
Available at: Zavvi
Release date: TBA
Price: £24.99
Region code: Most likely region-free
This case looks pretty nice, though I really dislike Disney’s trend of not printing the movie title anywhere on the SteelBook packaging. Regardless, it should go well with existing (though now out of print) SteelBook editions of the first ‘Captain America’. I kind of regret not buying the older movie, even though I thought it was the worst of all the Marvel films released so far. I’ve heard almost nothing but positive buzz about the sequel.
The SteelBook contains both 2D and 3D versions of the movie.
Frustratingly, Zavvi lists the disc as “Sold Out,” but I don’t believe it ever actually opened up for sale. Check back on this once a firm release date is announced.
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’
Available at: Zavvi
Release date: May 26, 2014
Price: £22.99
Region code: Likely locked to Region B
Even though it looks decent enough, the Coen brothers’ period piece musical drama doesn’t strike me as a movie that calls out for a SteelBook case. Perhaps some sort of packaging in the theme of a guitar case or music pages might be more appropriate? I think I’ll pass on this.
‘Ghost in the Shell’
Available at: Amazon UK
Release date: Sept. 29, 2014
Price: £24.00
Region code: Unconfirmed, likely locked to Region B
As far as I’m aware, Mamoru Oshii’s anime classic has only been released on Blu-ray in North America as the inferior ‘Ghost in the Shell 2.0‘ revised version, which replaces much of the animation with modernized replacement footage that looks like TV-grade CGI from the early 2000s. The original 1995 theatrical version was released on Blu-ray in Japan in a disc with a very mediocre video transfer.
Based on the artwork, I assume that this UK edition is a clone of the latter. I honestly have no idea whom the character in the cover art is supposed to be. No one in the movie looks like that!
‘Braveheart’
Available at: Amazon UK
Release date: June 23, 2014
Price: £18.25
Region code: Unconfirmed. Fox often region-locks Blu-rays just to be jerks.
FREEEEE-DUMMMMBB!!! FREEEEE-DUMMMMBB!!!
Mel Gibson’s historical epic won an Oscar and is beloved by many, but I could never get past the scene where William Wallace hides a sword in his hair. People really take this thing seriously?
Anyway, I like the front artwork, but the logo on the back looks like something out of a ‘Popeye’ cartoon. Was that even in the movie?
‘The Toxic Avenger’
Available at: Zavvi
Release date: Aug. 18, 2014
Price: £16.99
Region code: Likely locked to Region B
I’m not sure that it’s actually a good idea to watch Troma’s cheapie exploitation flicks in high definition. They seem to me to be best experienced in ratty 16mm film prints and fourth-generation VHS copies. Do I really want to see the seams in Toxie’s sloppy latex makeup that clearly?
‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’
Available at: Zavvi
Release date: Aug. 25, 2014
Price: £29.99
Region code: Likely locked to Region B
I have as big a soft spot for ’80s B-movies as the next guy, but asking approximately $50 USD for a guilty pleasure like this seems unreasonable to me.
Drew
‘The Winter Soldier’ steel was definitely up for sale. Zavvi put it up, the same day that the film debuted, theatrically. I immediately bought a copy, fearing that it would sell out quickly.
Josh Zyber
AuthorHmmm… I suspect that it will still come back around again. Some of Zavvi’s Disney SteelBooks have come in and out of “Sold Out” status.
William Henley
The nice thing about waiting is Zavvi almost always has some steelbook sale where I can pick up a steelbook for under ten pounds. Shoot, it is sometimes cheaper to get the steelbook imported from one of Zavvi’s sales than it is to buy the domestic release. The sad thing is, if I am waiting, it is probably a movie that is not a day one buy for me. So most of the steelbooks I have are movies that I was kind of “meh” over.
There is really nothing here that I will pick up. I already have Braveheart, and that steelbook case doesn’t excite me. Captain America is a maybe for me – I am not paying 25 pounds for it, and haven’t really decided if its a day one buy for me or not. While I like Superhero movies, they just are not the same at home (no matter how big my screen is), so I normally pick them up when I find a good sale on them.
Ghost in the Shell is a “meh” anime for me. I know some people love it, but its just not my thing. I don’t see me picking it up no matter how cheap it gets. Now, tell me they are releasing Oh My Goddess on blu-ray with a steelbook, and I will be all over that!
The other two movies I could care less for.
Mike Attebery
Killer Klowns, probably the most famous alumni production from the RIT film program. Take that as you will.
Dennis Lafontaine
John, Toxic Avenger will be Region Free. Zavvi lists under the special features “All Region Codes”