You can't keep a franchise in the Home Video grave for long. Resident Evil returns for a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 6-Film SteelBook!
While fans of the franchise have been clamoring for single-title releases of the long-running Paul W.S. Anderson-helmed franchise, Sony Home Entertainment decided to go the 6-Film Collection SteelBook Dolby Vision upgrade route one last time. Since all of the films look like they're coming in packed with the same set of extras and Atmos audio tracks, the only apparent benefit would be Dolby Vision HDR over the previous HDR10 masters. Which if that's the case that's fine, but might not be enough to get folks to redip over the previous 4K Ultra HD Collection from 2020
Resident Evil - Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook Collection
Here's the full glory shot of the SteelBook set...
The set isn't up for pre-order yet, and we don't have a price point, when that info comes in we'll update our listing ASAP.
Here's the full specs from the press release:
Run Time:
Rating:
4K UHD Features Picture: All films presented at 2160p Ultra High Definition resolution with Dolby Vision; aspect ratios vary
4K UHD Features Audio: Dolby Atmos immersive audio + DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio tracks (DTS-HD MA 7.1 for RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER)
Blu-ray Discs: All films presented at 1080p High Definition resolution; aspect ratios and audio configurations vary
Hope you got rather deep pockets because this week is ginornmous for both 4K and blu-ray categories. It's nearly the perfect storm. All that is missing are some large box-sets.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 17 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 24th - September 30th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
OK, let's kick off first with Import Monday. First from Arrow Video, The Psycho Collection. Where Universal released only the original film to 4K, Arrow has the three sequels in glorious 4K as well. Note: I took one for the team and imported this, so Universal will probably announce a similar set next week! My copy arrives Monday.
Next, although Kino Lorber did an excellent job with this title, we do get in import as part of Eureka's 'Masters of Cinema Series' for Touch of Evil. Right off the bat we see this edition has physical swag included, similar to an Arrow Video Fat-Pack. The on-disc features probably vary some, still worth a look.
Closing out Import Monday, StudioCanal offers up a 5-disc edition of The Wicker Man under their 'Vintage Classics' label. I took one for the team on this one too, but thus far LionsGate is only matching it with a SteelBook 2-disc swagless release in October, so the import is probably the most comprehensive (minus the digital code).
Domestic Tuesday begins with new releases, and first this week we have Disney Pixar's Elemental. And following their current unusual release pattern, the Standard 4K is currently only available via the Disney Movie Club, but there is a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Walmart Exclusive. Again, Target seems to have lost interest in physical media, no gallery book edition, no art card edition, nada.
Staying with Disney, their first of a recent wave of surprise Disney+ releases, Loki: The Complete First Season comes to SteelBook this week.
Paramount this week is offering Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Three to 4K disc.
On to catalog titles, Vinegar Syndrome's general release for A Blade in the Dark is available via Amazon (and other retailers).
Arrow Video offers up a fat-pack release of Carlito's Way. If you want the more traditional cover art, you can get the Arrow Store Limited Edition instead.
Teen horror sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is available via Sony Pictures.
Paramount has broken up the Scream Factory trilogy set and brought us Halloween H20: 20 Years Later as a single film SteelBook release. What this means for the other two movies is currently unknown.
Sony has Reprint SteelBooks in case you missed out the first go round, titles include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, plus The Equalizer, The Fifth Element and Ghostbusters & Ghostbusters II.
Criterion Collectors can pick up Moonage Daydream starring the late David Bowie this week.
A label we don't see very often, Blue Underground releases The Girl from Rio this week, and our review says it is highly recommended.
Happy belated (or early) Valentines Day from Scream Factory with My Bloody Valentine.
Under their Shout Select label, Natural Born Killers is available as a Standard Edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. This might be the first "Select" release I have seen with a slipcover.
How about a pair of great films from Kino Lorber? First a WWII masterpiece starring Burt Lancaster, The Train. And second, Clint Eastwood stars in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.
Next week no reprieve on your wallets, It Came from you know where, Hulu original Prey, more monsters, more 4K upgrades and more Disney 100 SteelBooks. Oh, and an appearance from Turbine Medien on Friday.
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K titles include Disney Pixar's Elemental, Disney+ original Loki: The Complete First Season, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Season Three and Moonage Daydream from Criterion.
Other TV on disc this week includes Interview with the Vampire: Season One, Mayfair Witches: Season One, Pennyworth: The Complete Third Season and Pennyworth: The Complete Series.
The Warner Archive has a majority of their September titles pushed back a month, but what is available this week is Cats Don’t Dance, Saratoga (1937) and Westward the Women.
Kino Lorber has Death Wish 4: The Crackdown and Death Wish V: The Face of Death. Completionists take note.
La Bamba gets a Criterion Collection release.
Let's call this one a double-tease because they're blu-ray releases and not 4K releases, and I have questions. Just a few weeks ago Sony gave us a 4K release for the original Insidious movie, this week they give us the newest movie in that series, Insidious: The Red Door on blu-ray. This week in the 4K section above, we get the first sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, but the next sequel, I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer is available on blu-ray only. Don't get me wrong, Sony has been a very good supporter of the 4K format, it's just cases like this that makes me scratch my head a bit.
From Universal, 2023 crime/drama A Thousand and One. Also look for Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken, which again, 4K buyers have an insatiable appetite, and this one would probably look very good in that format.
If you were waiting for the next release, wait no more, Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1 - Episodes 11 - 20 comes this week via Paramount.
LionsGate's action/thriller this week is The Engineer.
Anime highlights this week include Gatchaman Complete Collection, Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Rent-A-Girlfriend: Season 2 and Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon - Season 2, Part 2, which is available as a Standard Edition and as a Limited Edition.
Warner Bros has announced thelatest DCU film Blue Beetle will be available October 31 in all the various formats and retailer exclusives. I dig the Walmart SteelBook and the Target Exclusives the best, but unfortunately neither of them include a 4K release.
Criterion Collection's December slate has been announced. It doesn't have a large quantity of releases, but there might be something that interests you!
Hey, act fast if you want an upgraded 4K SteelBook release for M3GAN. The UK has it and supplies are very limited.
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?
It's time once again to wrap up the week with another abridged version of the latest news. As always, be sure to check out our release calendars as new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray titles are being added nearly every day and there's just too many of them to include everything here (especially if you are an anime fan).
Starting things off is the December slate from The Criterion Collection has been revealed and it appears to be a light month. This wave includes Blast of Silence and The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse on Blu-ray, as well as Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray.
Warner Archive has announced their October release slate. The titles include: Mad City (1997), In Love and War (1996), Rapa Nui (1994), The Devil Doll (1936), Double Trouble (1967), and Dance, Fools, Dance (1931). All of them are available on October 31. As a side note, Warner Archive is also prepping Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2 for November.
Warner's latest DC superhero flick Blue Beetle is set to release on home video on October 31. There will be a 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray, plus each will have a retailer exclusive steelbook as well. Check out those details in this post.
Severin has revealed two upcoming cult classics for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray: Zombie Holocaust (includes Doctor Butcher M.D.) and Count Dracula (1970). They've even got Cuadecuc, Vampir / Umbracle on the way as well, however only for Blu-ray. Look for these on October 24.
Sony is bringing Apple TV's For All Mankind: Season One to Blu-ray on November 14. The science fiction series is created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. The studio also just added Justified: City Primeval: Season One - which brings back Timothy Olyphant in his iconic role as Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens - to Blu-ray on the same date.
Paramount is set to beam the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on December 5. You can read all about that coverage here.
Turbine has the world Blu-ray debut of The Exorcist spoof, Repossessed, starring Leslie Nielson and Linda Blair available for purchase next Friday. Bob Logan's 1990 comedy will be available in four exclusive special edition mediabooks.
And in case you overlooked them late last week, we also covered the announcement for Shout Factory's collector's edition of Fargo on 4K UHD Blu-ray arriving November 7, as well as Studiocanal UK's 4K UHD Blu-ray of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai starring Forest Whitaker hitting stores on October 23. The latter will also have a SteelBook.
That's all we have for now, but the churning machine is always going so tune in next time when we have more things to report and have yourselves a wonderful weekend!
You can't keep a good lawman down for long. After the thrilling and satisfying conclusion of Justified, Timothy Olyphant dusts off the white hat for one last rodeo.
With just about every series or film getting some sort of legacy revival, Olyphant and friends returns for FX's Justified: City Primeval, based on the unrelated but excellent novel from Elmore Leonard. What's most intriguing about this announcement is that what was apparently supposed to be a limited series event may be getting another spin with this Blu-ray being dubbed "Season one." Considering the breadth of Leonard's novels and characters, Kentecky's finest Rayland Givens could pop up in any of them. If we're going to keep bringing back Michael Keaton, I say we bring back his Ray Nicolette from Jackie Brown and Out of Sight. "Givens and Nicolette - they're cops!"
Justified: City Primeval Season One - Blu-ray
We don't have a list of bonus features yet, and the Amazon listing is up but not yet up for pre-order. Here's the disc specs as we know 'em from the press release:
Having left the hollers of Kentucky 15 years ago, Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, a walking anachronism balancing his life as a U.S. Marshal and part-time father of a 15-year-old girl. His hair is greyer, his hat is dirtier, and the road in front of him is suddenly a lot shorter than the road behind.
A chance encounter on a desolate Florida highway sends him to Detroit. There he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and aims to do so again. Mansell’s lawyer, formidable Motor City native Carolyn Wilder, has every intention of representing her client, even as she finds herself caught in between cop and criminal, with her own game afoot as well. These three characters set out on a collision course in classic Elmore Leonard fashion, to see who makes it out of the City Primeval alive.
CAST AND CREW
Executive Producers: Dave Andron, Michael Dinner, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, Graham Yost, Peter Leonard, Timothy Olyphant, Taylor Elmore, Chris Provenzano, VJ Boyd
Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis, Vondie Curtis Hall, Adelaide Clemens, Marin Ireland, Victor Williams, with Norbert Leo Butz, and Boyd Holbrook
Developed for Television by: Dave Andron & Michael Dinner
Based on: “City Primeval” and “Fire in the Hole” by Elmore Leonard
SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 372 Mins.
Rating: Not Rated
Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 2.00:1 • Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color
DVD: 2.00:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color
Warner Brothers brings the fan-favorite DC superhero Blue Beetle to home video on Halloween with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (and Best Buy exclusive 4K SteelBook) as well as a Blu-ray (with Walmart exclusive SteelBook). Even Target has a Blu-ray exclusive with art cards here. Digital arrives September 26.
Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.
Blue Beetle - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Blue Beetle - Target Exclusive Blu-ray
Blue Beetle - Best Buy 4K Ultra HD SteelBook
Blue Beetle - Walmart Exclusive Blu-ray SteelBook
The 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases will have Dolby Atmos soundtracks and bonus features include:
Pre-orders for Blue Beetle on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are up now and here is the full press release:
“Blue Beetle is highly entertaining thanks to its irresistible family at its center”
DEADLINE / Pete Hammond
“Blue Beetle is a breath of fresh air.”
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER / David Rooney
“Refreshing and inspired.”
USA TODAY / Brian Truitt
“Thrillingly action-packed”
IGN / Alyssa Mora
Blue Beetle
The DC Super Hero’s First Feature Film
Debuts For Premium Digital Ownership on September 26
4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on October 31
Burbank, CA, September 20, 2023 – Prepare for the action-packed, modern origin story that takes a fresh, fun look at the Super Hero genre in a can’t-miss spectacle of vibrant visuals, humor and heart when “Blue Beetle” arrives for purchase Digitally at home on September 26. The film is directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (“Charm City Kings”) with Xolo Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) starring in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film. The film will also be available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 31.
The “Blue Beetle” ensemble cast also includes Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).
“Blue Beetle” is written Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC. The film is produced by John Rickard and Zev Foreman and executive produced by Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant.
Synopsis:
Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.
DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS
“Blue Beetle” Premium Digital Ownership, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
Consumer Products
From toys and collectibles to apparel and home goods, WBDGCP’s “Blue Beetle” merchandise comes from premier licensees around the world and includes exclusives direct from Warner Bros. to fans through its DC Shop. Here are just some of the not-to miss “Blue Beetle” products for every member of la familia, designed exclusively for the official DC Shop: “Blue Beetle” Scarab Exclusive New Era Hat, “Blue Beetle” I Love Palmera City Exclusive T-shirt, “Blue Beetle” Big Belly Burger Logo Exclusive T-shirt and more!
Premium Digital Ownership: September 26, 2023
4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 31, 2023
4K Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish
4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
BD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish
BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
DVD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish
DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
Running Time: 127 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references
DVD: DLBY/DGTL
Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD
PRODUCT
4K UHD + Digital
Blu-ray + Digital
DVD
THE CREDITS
About “Blue Beetle”
From Warner Bros. Pictures come the feature film “Blue Beetle,” marking the DC Super Hero’s first time on the big screen. The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.
Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).
Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.
The director’s creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), production designer John Billington (“Bad Boys for Life”), editor Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “The Lost City”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Jojo Rabbit,” the “Thor” films), visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Suicide Squad,” “Aquaman”) and composer Bobby Krlic (“Midsommar,” the “Snowpiercer” series).
A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, a Safran Company Production, “Blue Beetle” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The first season of the Apple TV original science fiction series created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi comes to Blu-ray via Sony in a 4-Disc set on November 14.
Imagine a world where the global space race never ended. This thrilling “what if” take on history spotlights the high-stakes lives of NASA astronauts and their families.
For All Mankind: Season One Blu-ray includes 10 episodes on four discs and has a English 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack. No supplements have been revealed at this time.
Pre-orders for For All Mankind: Season One should be available in the coming days and here is the full press release:
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Boldly Beaming To Blu-ray and 4K, Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season Two Arrives In Time For The Holidays!
Between Star Trek: Picard Season Three and these last two seasons of Strange New Worlds, the galaxy of Trek finally feels like it's in good hands, staying true to what made the various films and series great, but also boldly going in new directions. Including a damned entertaining song-and-dance episode! Now you can plan on adding this latest season to your 4K or Blu-ray shelf ahead of the holidays. Arriving on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with standard edition releases as well as nifty SteelBooks:
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
Blu-ray
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two
Blu-ray SteelBook
I know SteelBooks aren't everyone's bag, but I dig the alternate magnetic character cover cards so if you don't like Captain Pike's square-jawed mug you can swap him out for the more attractive Rebecca Romijn. But then the extra cool feature for both SteelBook sets is the "Subspace Rhapsody" poster! I'm genuinely over the moon they've really leaned into how fun that episode was. Sure it was a bit of high-camp for the series, but after so many years of Trek being taken so deathly seriously with massive convoluted conspiracy theory poppycock plots, I'll take that episode over Discovery any day.
Here's what's coming in the set:
Prepare to explore Strange New Worlds with more than 2 hours of special features, including featurettes that take you behind the scenes of this remarkable series. Plus, get even more Strange New Worlds with deleted, extended, and alternate scenes, including an alternate take of the Klingon song from “Subspace Rhapsody.”
U.S. Rating: NR
Canada Rating: PG
4K UHD Format: 4K Ultra HD in Dolby Vision with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Includes English SDH and French Subtitles
Blu-ray™ Format: 1080p HD with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Includes English SDH and French Subtitles
December is a quiet month for The Criterion Collection with Allen Baron's Blast of Silence and The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse hitting Blu-ray, as well as Guillermo Del Toro's Oscar-winning Pinocchio on both 4K and Blu-ray formats.
On December 5, Allen Baron's 1961 crime noir Blast of Silence will arrive on Blu-ray.
Blast of Silence - The Criterion Collection
Swift, brutal, and blackhearted, Allen Baron’s New York City noir Blast of Silence is a sensational surprise. This low-budget, carefully crafted portrait of a hit man on assignment in Manhattan during Christmastime follows its stripped-down narrative with mechanical precision, yet also with an eye and ear for the oddball details of urban living and the imposing beauty of the city. At once visually ragged and artfully composed, and featuring rough, poetic narration performed by Lionel Stander and written by Waldo Salt (both uncredited), Blast of Silence is a stylish triumph.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration presented in two aspect ratios, 1.85:1 (widescreen) and 1.33:1 (full-screen), with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Requiem for a Killer: The Making of “Blast of Silence”
Rare on-set Polaroids
Photos of locations from the film in 2008
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty and a graphic-novel adaptation of the film by acclaimed artist Sean Phillips (Criminal, Reckless, Fatale)
Cover by Sean Phillips
After that on December 12 comes The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse to the Blu-ray format.
The Red Balloon and Other Stories: Five Films by Albert Lamorisse - The Criterion Collection
Everyday life becomes an adventure in the wide-eyed fables and fantasies of Albert Lamorisse. Balancing imaginative whimsy with documentary-like authenticity, his beloved short films Bim, the Little Donkey; White Mane; and the Academy Award–winning The Red Balloon find unforgettable emotional, spiritual, and moral resonance in the realms of children and animals, while his captivating but now rarely seen features Stowaway in the Sky and Circus Angel exult in the glories of two of his greatest loves: nature and flight. With their astonishing cinematography and purity of spirit, these five enchanting works invite viewers of all ages to experience the wonder, mystery, and poignancy of the world anew.
SPECIAL FEATURES
New 4K digital restorations of The Red Balloon and White Mane and new 2K digital restorations of Bim, the Little Donkey; Stowaway in the Sky; and Circus Angel, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-rays
U.S. English-language version of Bim, the Little Donkey
New interview with actor Pascal Lamorisse, director Albert Lamorisse’s son
My Father Was a Red Balloon, a 2008 documentary featuring Pascal Lamorisse and his daughter Lysa
French television interviews with Albert Lamorisse from 1957 and 1959
English narrations for White Mane, by Peter Strauss, and Stowaway in the Sky, by Jack Lemmon
English-dubbed track for Circus Angel
New English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic David Cairns
New cover by F. Ron Miller
After that on the same date Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio - The Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
A classic tale is reborn through the inspired imagination of cinematic dream-weaver Guillermo del Toro, directing alongside Mark Gustafson. Realized through boundary-pushing, breathtakingly intricate stop-motion animation, this dark rendering of the fable of the puppet boy and his maker—which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature—daringly transfers the story to Fascist Italy, where the irrepressible Pinocchio gradually learns what it means to be human through his experiences of war, death, and sacrifice. Featuring the voices of Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Christoph Waltz, this Pinocchio imbues the oft-told tale with a bold new resonance about living with courage and compassion.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
4K digital master, supervised by directors Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, with Dolby Atmos
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
Handcarved Cinema, a new documentary featuring del Toro, Gustafson, and cast and crew, including the film’s puppet creators, production designers, and animation supervisor
Directing Stop-Motion, a new program featuring del Toro and Gustafson
New conversation between del Toro and film critic Farran Smith Nehme
New interview with curator Ron Magliozzi on The Museum of Modern Art’s 2022 exhibition devoted to the film
New program on the eight rules of animation that informed the film's production
Panel discussion featuring del Toro, Gustafson, production designer Guy Davis, composer Alexandre Desplat, and sound designer Scott Martin Gershin, moderated by filmmaker James Cameron
Conversation among del Toro, Gustafson, and author Neil Gaiman
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
PLUS: Essays by film critic Matt Zoller Seitz and author Cornelia Funke
Cover by James Jean
Pre-orders for The Criterion Collection's December releases should be available soon!
There is little doubt that Disney's live-action release of The Little Mermaid will dominate the charts this week, but there are plenty of other catalog and semi-new release upgraded titles to choose from as well.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 16 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 17th - September 23rd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
As mentioned on the lead-in, Disney's live-action release of The Little Mermaid will dominate the charts this week, where will you be buying yours? Disney is following their strange Strange World model on this one again, which means the standard edition release is presently a Disney Movie Club Exclusive until some date further out, Cinderella was a DMC exclusive for four months, Strange World still is. Fret not though, there are other options available (just like Strange World had), look for either/both a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook Edition as well as a Walmart Exclusive Edition. Once again, absent from this category is a Target Exclusive Edition. Back in the day, their gallery books and art cards were something to look forward to. Hello, Target, are you listening?
4K upgrades for somewhat new titles, first from Universal Cocaine Bear gets 4K physical release. You're welcome by the way! I did not think this would get a domestic release so I imported it. Based on the source material, your biggest bang will come from the HDR aspect of it.
And LionsGate and A24's Fall gets a Best Buy Exclusive 4K SteelBook as well.
Whether you file this under B or under L on your video wall, Sony releases a SteelBook of Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon. I go with L, there was no Bruce Lee movie or any other film to be confused with here.
From Warner Bros, William Friedkin's The Exorcist gets two minimalist releases with a Standard Edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook Edition. Again, the UK gets far superior editions with much better cover arts. Can someone from Warner Bros please explain the US strategy here? Hideous covers, minimal special features, no swag.
From Shout! Factory, The Lost City of Z.
Before The Ring, there was Ringu (Japan), and Arrow Video has it in 4K this week. You can also opt for an Arrow Store Exclusive Edition if you wish.
And in closing the 4K category this week, The Trial (1962) gets a Criterion Collection release this week.
Next week, another Disney repeat with Elemental getting the same type 4K releases as Strange World and The Little Mermaid, Natural Born, Jack Ryan, Carlito, Psycho and Wicker Man imports and more.
Blu-ray counterparts of the 4K titles above includes The Little Mermaid, available as a standard edition, a two-film collection, and Criterion also offers up a blu-ray of The Trial (1962).
We get to recharge our wallets in the blu-ray category this week, next week though is a very different story.
A drama/romance from LionsGate titled Past Lives is available this week.
Anime highlights include AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline: The Complete Season, Girls Und Panzer (TV Series + OVA) Collection and Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World - Season 2, available as a Standard Edition and a Limited Edition.
Is this one so bad it's good? Gravitas Ventures is releasing Slotherhouse to audiences this week. Am I steering you wrong to even consider this one?
Honorable Mention: Mill Creek offers Director Spotlight: Kevin MacDonald which includes State of Play and Black Sea. Both these films have been out of print for awhile and considerably more expensive to purchase.
Next week, look out, a very active week for the blu-ray category.
No major announcements per se, but we do have something to cover. Check out our disc round up summary for more fun stuff.
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection Vol. 3 will be released October 31.
StudioCanal (UK) will have Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai in 4K on October 23rd. No word on a US release yet but it's likely coming, just from which label?
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?
Did you think William Friedkin's The Exorcist just wasn't funny enough?
Turbine is set to unleash the world-first Blu-ray of Bob Logan's hilarious Repossessed!
The king of spoof comedy Leslie Nielson took a break in between Naked Gun films to compel audiences to check out this hilarious satire of The Exorcist and its sequels and point a few fingers at shilling televangelists at the same time. Not a huge hit at release but it steadily grew a cult following and now after enduring years of a crappy DVD release, it's finally coming to Blu-ray with a two-disc Mediabook from German label Turbine Medien with four limited edition covers!
It's time for a Blu-ray world premiere: REPOSSESSED! Bob Logan's 1990 parody will be released on September 29 as an exclusive special edition in four limited mediabooks with Blu-ray and DVD. After her milestone performance in THE EXORCIST Linda Blair plays the role of the possessed again. However, this time around the devil will have to deal with none other than THE NAKED GUN legend Leslie Nielsen as the exorcist. What could possibly go wrong?
Bonus Features
Repossessed - Mediabook Cover A
Limited to 750 Units
Repossessed - Mediabook Cover B
Limited to 250 Units
Repossessed - Mediabook Cover C
Limited to 750 Units
Repossessed - Mediabook Cover D
Limited to 250 Units
Pre-orders are live - so get your order in while you can!
