Warner Brothers/Discovery has just launched Max (formerly HBO Max), an upgraded streaming service with loads of more 4K content including over 1000 films and episodes in 4K HDR (with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos available for certain devices) on May 23rd.
The service provides something for everyone - from HBO, Max Originals, WB movies (such as all eight Harry Potter films, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy), DC Universe, documentaries, family-friendly content and more.
Max has introduced a new Ultimate Ad-Free tier for $19.99 per month ($199.99 a year) allowing four concurrent streams, 100 offline downloads, and as previously mentioned, close to 8x more films and episodes in 4K HDR, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for certain content.
The 4K library is quite extensive, including yet-to-be-released films on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray such as classics like East of Eden and Rio Bravo, plus Avatar: The Way of the Water will also be available for streaming on June 7. All Warner Brothers films releasing this year will be available in 4K HDR after their theatrical release windows.
Here is the 4K listing of what is available (subject to change):
“We understand the value of offering our users a cinematic playback experience and to that end, we’ve implemented more advanced technology workflows that allow us to release more 4K content in a faster, more efficient way,” said Sudheer Sirivara, Global Technology Platform, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Max will offer more than 1,000 films and episodes in 4K at launch, and we’ll be adding more every month as we move forward.”
If you have previously subscribed to HBO Max, no worries. The Max app will either update itself or prompt subscribers to do so and previous plans, profiles, avatars, settings, "Continue Watching", and "My List" will be ported over unchanged. Subscribers to HBO Max will also be able to keep their current plans for six months.
However, it does appear that Max is currently not available in some regions, as I am in Canada and the link at the top of this article notified me that that is indeed the case. Hopefully that gets worked out soon.
Source: Warner Bros. Discovery Press Release.
James Cameron's sci-fi fantasy adventures Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water are finally coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs on June 20th. After following the advanced Streeming-only release structure similar to last year's mega-hit Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water will finally come to disc with new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, AND Blu-ray 3D - with retailer exclusives to boot! There's a lot to dig into for each of these releases, but at the start - it's nice to see some effort from Disney in this regard.
Read Bryan's Theatrical Review - Read Matthew's 4K Streaming Review
Now that is A LOT of Avatar to digest! So on top of the remastered original Avatar getting its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut, the sequel charges onto disc with multiple editions and retailer exclusives. Of the retailer exclusives, I'd be into that Best Buy SteelBook if it was actually accurate to the movie with Jake sporting his machine gun and NOT a stupid spear, so I'm giving Walmart the edge on the exclusives. Target once again shows their cards for not really caring about Physical Media with what is basically the standard 4K package... with a decal you can stick on your phone, tablet, or water bottle apparently! Whoohooo! (sarcasm)
Now for the best and most important details - the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will finally see Disney/20th Century Studios release a BD-100 disc. Our press assets didn't list HDR grade, but I'm assuming they'd simply opt for HDR10 only. Atmos will be included along with an extra Blu-ray disc set for Bonus Features. The standard Blu-ray will only offer DTS-HD MA 5.1 but wildly enough the Blu-ray 3D disc will include DTS-HD 7.1 audio - it's not Atmos, but hey, it's better than the standard Blu-ray! Sadly there doesn't appear to be a 4K UHD + 3D Blu-ray combo pack available, at least here in the states. Other territories like Japan might offer that, they've been the one carrying the Disney 3D torch the last few years with their combo releases, so we'll keep our eyes out for that.
These aren't yet up for pre-order yet - but we expect them to start popping soon and when they wdo we'll update our listings so you can secure those orders ASAP.
Here's the full press release and spec sheet:
4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY™ 3D, BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL
PRODUCT AND SPECS FACT SHEET
Product Specifications
Street Date
Digital: March 28
Physical: June 20
Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + Digital Code), & DVD
Feature Run Time
Approx. 192 minutes
Rating
U.S. Rated PG-13
**For sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity, and some strong language
Aspect Ratio
Digital: 1.85
Physical: 1.85:1
Disc Size
4K UHD: 100GB
Blu-ray 3D: 50GB
Blu-ray: 50GB
DVD: 8.5GB
Bit Rate Actuals
4K UHD: 45 ABR
Blu-ray 3D: 29.5 ABR
Blu-ray: 23.3 ABR
DVD: 4 ABR
U.S. Audio
Digital: English 5.1/2.0, English Atmos (for some platforms), English 7.1 (for some platforms), English AD, French (for some platforms), Spanish (for some platforms)
Physical:
4K UHD: English 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital
3D Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA , English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA , English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
DVD: English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
U.S. Subtitles
Digital: English SDH, French (for some platforms), Spanish (some platforms)
Physical: English SDH, French, Spanish
Bonus Features*
Inside Pandora's Box (A series of featurettes on the challenges facing cast and crew as filmmakers devise new technologies to push the limits of cinema)
Building the World of Pandora – James Cameron and a team of talented artists combine years of research with their design skills to build the world of Pandora with new characters, creatures, indigenous clans, underwater environments and the take-no-prisoners hard-tech world of the RDA.
Capturing Pandora – James Cameron’s approach to performance capture has the cast performing in a volume rigged with infrared cameras to capture their movement, and head rig cameras to capture emotion on their faces with only the boundaries of imagination to limit them.
The Undersea World of Pandora – Co-production designer Dylan Cole and his team conceive of the marine creatures required for Avatar: The Way of Water while James Cameron and his stunt team devise extraordinary means to bring those creatures to life in a performance capture tank.
The Challenges of Pandora's Waters – James Cameron tackles the “non-trivial challenge” of performance capture above and below the water’s surface, utilizing a wave machine and current generator to reproduce ocean conditions, and underwater vehicles to replicate creature movement.
Pandora’s Returning Characters – James Cameron reunites with his returning cast – Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang. Together they discuss the amazing evolution of their characters in Avatar: The Way of Water.
Pandora’s Next Generation – Meet the talented young newcomers who have been cast as the next generation of Na’vi and follow them through the adventure of making Avatar: The Way of Water.
Spider's Web – James Cameron introduced the human character of Spider into the fabric of Pandora – thus creating a host of technological challenges on set…and an incredible journey for the young actor, Jack Champion.
Becoming Na’vi – The Avatar cast is immersed in the culture of the indigenous Na’vi, living off the land in the Hawaiian rainforest and training in a multitude of disciplines in preparation for their roles.
The Reef People of Pandora – In true James Cameron-style, the Metkayina reef clan has been developed with great attention to detail, bearing unique evolutionary traits and a culture – with new dwellings, new clothes and different way of life – all a result of living off the ocean.
Bringing Pandora to Life – Once James Cameron completes his virtual production process, every sequence is turned over to Wētā FX to bring Pandora to life – with unprecedented advancements in facial performance, environments and making CG water look real.
The RDA Returns to Pandora – Co-production designer Ben Procter and his team present an armada of new vehicles and human technologies that the RDA brings to Pandora – in concept design and with practical builds.
The New Characters of Pandora – Meet the important new characters of the Avatar saga played by Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell and Jemaine Clement.
The Sounds of Pandora – Hear how James Cameron worked with composer Simon Franglen to create the distinctive music of The Way of Water while building on James Horner’s brilliant score for Avatar, and learn how Chris Boyes created the immersive sounds of Pandora.
New Zealand – Pandora’s Home – The production of the Avatar sequels is so thoroughly ensconced in New Zealand that James Cameron considers The Way of Water a “New Zealand film.” Hear reflections from the cast and crew, including the remarkable New Zealand crew, on making the film.
More from Pandora's Box (Additional featurettes that highlight special teams within the production)
Casting – Discover the screen tests that won the talented young cast their roles in Avatar: The Way of Water.
Stunts – The Avatar stunt team isn’t just creating breathtaking action, they’re driving the story. From racing underwater on ilus, flying the skies on ikrans, to maneuvering RDA speed boats, the stunt team leaves you breathless and wanting more.
The Lab – Explore the Lightstorm Lab, the backbone of virtual production for the Avatar films. Comprised of specialized teams, the Lab builds & supports every aspect of the production – environments, motion edit, Kabuki, sequence, post-viz and software development.
The Troupe – Avatar’s Troupe is the Swiss Army Knife of acting, while playing dozens of roles on set, in the performance capture volume and on live-action sets, they bring life to Na’vi clans and RDA Recoms. They also play Na’vi-scale puppets on the live-action sets.
Marketing Materials & Music Video (Marketing materials used to build audience awareness of the film)
Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) Music Video – Multi-Grammy-winning, music superstar, The Weeknd, performs his emotionally packed end title song in the official music video for the smash hit “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength).”
Theatrical Trailers 1 & 2 – Avatar: The Way of Water used two theatrical trailers to engage the audience. The first was a teaser trailer released 7 months before the film. The second was a standard trailer that premiered 5 weeks before the film’s release.
English Family Audio Track – 5.1 Dolby Digital
*Bonus features vary by product and retailer
From the 'fury' of the gods to the latest Creed, or maybe even an import, I think this week has at least one movie for everyone.
Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 51 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 21st - May 27th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
The week begins with Import Monday and Arrow Video's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Limited Edition). If I were to take one for the team and order it, it would most certainly be a guarantee that Criterion Collection would announce the domestic 4K of this within 5 minutes of my shipping notice. I just have that kind of effect on the home video market.
Domestic Tuesday New Releases are dominated by Warner Bros and they start with Creed III, which is available as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.
The sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods has three options to ponder, the standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook with a pretty bad-ass cover art, and a Walmart Exclusive that has some pretty tight imagery as well. Still missing from the 4K exclusives field as you have probably noticed is Target, they apparently have decided to take a step backwards and support the previous format.
Catalog titles: From Scream Factory, Brotherhood Of The Wolf.
Double-dips of sort, Crank gets a new SteelBook @ Best Buy and The Running Man gets a standard case release.
Next week looks like it's going to sting just a little bit, there are 16 skus domestically including the latest D&D movie, Adam Driver in '65,' some anime, and a few catalog titles get a 4K upgrade.
As we do every week, let's get the fresh blu-ray counterparts for any of the above titles listed first. Creed III gets a single release as well as a 3-film collection, almost an echo, Shazam! Fury of the Gods gets a single release, a Target Exclusive blu-ray edition that I would have considered if it was a 4K, and a 2-film collection is also an option.
The rest of the category is a bit slow though. I guess it's to save a bit of dough in preparation for next week.
From Vertical Entertainment, thriller Last Sentinel.
Anime highlights include DATE A LIVE IV - The Complete Season, Majestic Prince: The Complete Series and Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs - Season 1.
Criterion Collection has drama/fantasy Petite Maman this week.
TV on disc this week has one title, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Complete Series.
Honorable mention: Fans of the original film should recognize it, V/H/S/99 comes out this week via RLJ/Shudder Originals.
Although there were a handful of announcements, they have been onesie twosie sort of announcements, and may not have a wide appeal, so we will keep this section brief this week.
Criterion Collection's August Slate has been announced, do check it out.
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?
The 1993 romantic-comedy thriller starring Mike Myers, Nancy Travis, and Anthony LaPaglia is getting a 4K upgrade on July 25.
When it comes to love, poet Charlie MacKenzie (Mike Myers) has had his share of bad luck. But when he meets Harriet (Nancy Travis), he thinks he’s found “the one” – until a series of coincidences lead him to believe that Harriet might be the serial honeymoon killer “Mrs. X.” Charlie and his cop best friend (Anthony LaPaglia) must find out the truth before it’s too late in this madcap comic thriller.
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release will have a new Dolby Vision transfer as well as a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The package will also include over 30 minutes of never-before-seen deleted scenes, theatrical trailers, and a digital copy.
So I Married an Axe Murderer - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
4K ULTRA HD DISC
Pre-orders should be available soon and here is the full press release:
THE COMIC THRILLER CELEBRATES ITS 30th ANNIVERSARY WITH OVER 30 MINUTES OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN DELETED SCENES!
AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 4K ULTRA HD™
JULY 25TH
SYNOPSIS
When it comes to love, poet Charlie MacKenzie (Mike Myers) has had his share of bad luck. But when he meets Harriet (Nancy Travis), he thinks he’s found “the one” – until a series of coincidences lead him to believe that Harriet might be the serial honeymoon killer “Mrs. X.” Charlie and his cop best friend (Anthony LaPaglia) must find out the truth before it’s too late in this madcap comic thriller.
DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS
4K ULTRA HD DISC
Feature scanned from the original camera negative and presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision.
All-new Dolby Atmos audio + 5.1 + 2-Channel Surround
Special Features:
NEW: 30+ Minutes of Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
Theatrical Trailers
CAST AND CREW
Directed By: Thomas Schlamme
Written By: Robbie Fox
Produced by: Robert N. Fried, Cary Woods
Executive Producer: Bernie Williams
Co-Producer: Jana Sue Memel
Cast: Mike Myers, Nancy Travis, Anthony LaPaglia, Amanda Plummer, and Brenda Fricker
SPECS
Run Time: Approx. 93 minutes
Rating: PG-13
4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 1:85:1
4K UHD Feature Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible) | English 5.1 DTS-HD MA | English 2-Channel Surround DTS-HD MA
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Instagram: @SonyPicturesHomeEntertainment
Facebook: facebook.com/sonypictureshomeentertainment
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sonypictureshomeent
Twitter: @SonyPicsHomeEnt
The end of Tom Cruise's long-running franchise is inching closer with the latest trailer for Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One
While the trailer doesn't offer a whole lot of plot details, it gives fans highlights of some of the exciting stunts and action sequences we'll see on the big screen. Normally I'd be worried about this kind of trailer showing too much of the film, but if Rogue Nation and Fallout proved, there's a lot more excitement than the few seconds we get in these trailers.
In Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and dark forces from Ethan's past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission - not even the lives of those he cares about most.
Starring:
Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Frederick Schmidt, Cary Elwes, Mark Gatiss, Indira Varma, Rob Delaney
Directed By:
Christopher McQuarrie
Produced By:
Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie
Executive Produced By;:
David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Tommy Gormley, Chris Brock, Susan E. Novick
The film is slated to hit theaters July 12th with the big grand finale followup Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part Two arriving in theaters next summer.
In time for this new film's release in theaters, you can pre-order brand new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBooks of the entire franchise:
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August's Criterion Collection titles include Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray), as well as Blu-ray editions of Wayne Wang's Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart, Bo Widerberg's New Swedish Cinema - a boxed set of four poetic and political films, and finally Cauleen Smith's Drylongso.
Starting off the month on August 8 is a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams.
Unfolding in a series of eight mythic vignettes, this late work by Akira Kurosawa was inspired by the beloved director’s own nighttime visions, along with stories from Japanese folklore. In a visually sumptuous journey through the master’s imagination, tales of childlike wonder give way to apocalyptic apparitions: a young boy stumbles on a fox wedding in a forest; a soldier confronts the ghosts of the war dead; a power-plant meltdown smothers a seaside landscape in radioactive fumes. Interspersed with reflections on the redemptive power of creation, including a richly textured tribute to Vincent van Gogh (who is played by Martin Scorsese), Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams is both a showcase for its maker’s artistry at its most unbridled and a deeply personal lament for a world at the mercy of human ignorance.
1990 • 120 minutes • Color • 2.0 surround • In Japanese with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• 4K digital restoration, supervised by cinematographer Shoji Ueda, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary featuring film scholar Stephen Prince
• Feature-length documentary from 1990 shot on set and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
• Interviews with production manager Teruyo Nogami and assistant director Takashi Koizumi
• Documentary from 2011 by director Akira Kurosawa’s longtime translator Catherine Cadou, featuring interviews with filmmakers Bernardo Bertolucci, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Martin Scorsese, Hayao Miyazaki, and others
• Trailer
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri and Kurosawa’s script for a never-filmed ninth dream, introduced by Nogami
Up next on August 15 is Wayne Wang's Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart.
Wayne Wang’s follow-up to his watershed indie Chan Is Missing is a family portrait that gracefully combines the director’s signature gentle humanism and eye for poignant detail. Offering another fresh perspective on San Francisco’s Chinese American community, Wang takes a bittersweet look at the generational pas de deux between an aging immigrant widow and her devoted daughter, torn between filial duty and her own desires. Soulfully performed by an ensemble including real-life mother and daughter Kim and Laureen Chew and Victor Wong, the Yasujiro Ozu–inspired Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart is as lovingly made as the home-cooked cuisine it celebrates.
1985 • 84 minutes • Color • Monaural • In English and Cantonese with English subtitles • 1.78:1 aspect ratio
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• High-definition digital master of a new director’s cut, supervised by director Wayne Wang, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New conversation between Wang and filmmaker and film scholar Arthur Dong
• Interview from 2004 with actor Laureen Chew
• English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by scholar Brian Hu
Bo Widerberg’s New Swedish Cinema - a collection of four films from the Swedish auteur arrives on August 22.
Driven by a desire to forge a socially conscious Swedish cinema—one that broke with the inward-looking psychodrama of Ingmar Bergman to give dynamic expression to the everyday experiences of working-class Swedes—writer Bo Widerberg turned to filmmaking in the early 1960s, realizing his ambition in politically committed yet poetic works that merge social-realist themes with a refined, often breathtakingly beautiful visual sensibility. Dramatizing the struggles of ordinary people fighting to chart their own destiny, these four acclaimed, popular, and pivotal films from Widerberg’s most prolific period live and breathe with a rare vitality—and helped launch a new Swedish cinema.
FOUR-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New restorations, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• New introduction to director Bo Widerberg by filmmaker Ruben Östlund
• New interviews with actor Tommy Berggren and cinematographer Jörgen Persson
• The Boy and the Kite (1962), a short film by Widerberg and Jan Troell, with an introduction by Troell
• Swedish television interviews with Widerberg from the 1960s
• Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Elvira Madigan
• PLUS: An essay by film historian Peter Cowie and excerpts by Widerberg from his 1962 book Vision in Swedish Film
|
THE BABY CARRIAGE 1963 • 95 minutes • Black & White • Monaural • In Swedish with English subtitles • 1.33:1 aspect ratio
Infused with a jazzy, nouvelle vague–inspired energy, Bo Widerberg’s feature debut has the freshness of youth. Building on his manifesto’s call for a socially relevant Swedish cinema, the writer turned director offers a vivid portrait of a young factory worker (Inger Taube) finding her way toward independence as she weathers unexpected pregnancy, learns hard lessons from relationships with two very different men, and leaves behind the only home she has ever known. Abetted by fellow filmmaker Jan Troell’s coolly beautiful monochrome cinematography, Widerberg takes a bold first step in his mission to create a cinema that is both engaged and engaging.
RAVEN’S END 1963 • 100 minutes • Black & White • Monaural • In Swedish with English subtitles • 1.37:1 aspect ratio
A period piece that forgoes nostalgia in favor of a stark examination of working-class struggle, Bo Widerberg’s second feature unfolds in 1936 in the director’s hometown of Malmö. It’s there, in the poor district of Raven’s End, that young Anders (Widerberg’s regular collaborator Tommy Berggren) chases his dream of becoming a writer while growing increasingly disillusioned with the dead-end world that surrounds him: an alcoholic father, a toiling mother, and the ominous specter of Nazism. Delivering a bracing jolt of kitchen-sink realism to Swedish cinema, Widerberg paints an unsparing portrait of youthful idealism bumping up against economic despair.
ELVIRA MADIGAN 1967 • 90 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Swedish with English subtitles • 1.66:1 aspect ratio
Bo Widerberg reached new heights of visual lyricism with this sublime retelling of a real-life nineteenth-century romantic tragedy. Bound by their all-consuming desire, a young circus tightrope walker (Pia Degermark, winner of the Cannes Best Actress prize) and a lieutenant (Tommy Berggren) with a wife and children forsake everything to be together and escape to the countryside—only to see their lovers’ idyll gradually give way to poverty and desperation. With its painterly, sun-dappled images and indelible use of Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 21, this 1960s art-house sensation is the most ravishing expression of Widerberg’s recurring theme of the tension between individual freedom and social responsibility.
ÅDALEN 31 1969 • 114 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Swedish with English subtitles • 2.39:1 aspect ratio
One of Bo Widerberg’s most explicitly political works imbues the true story of a 1931 labor strike with a powerful contemporary resonance. In the industrial district of Ådalen, in the north of Sweden, a peaceful demonstration takes a tragic turn, leading to a historic general strike. Amid these events, the teenage Kjell (Peter Schildt) experiences sacrifice and strife, love and loss, and the consequences of this shocking violence. Working once again with Elvira Madigan cinematographer Jörgen Persson—who captures shimmering, light-filled images in graceful widescreen—Widerberg entwines a stirring portrait of resistance with an intimate coming-of-age journey for a vision of history that feels vibrantly, urgently alive. |
And finally on August 29 is the Blu-ray debut of Cauleen Smith's Drylongso.
A rediscovered treasure of 1990s DIY filmmaking, Cauleen Smith’s Drylongso embeds an incisive look at racial injustice within a lovingly handmade buddy movie/murder mystery/romance. Alarmed by the rate at which the young Black men around her are dying, brash Oakland art student Pica (Toby Smith) attempts to preserve their existence in Polaroid snapshots, along the way forging a friendship with a woman in an abusive relationship (April Barnett) and experiencing love, heartbreak, and the everyday threat of violence. Capturing the vibrant community spirit of Oakland in the nineties, Smith crafts both a rare cinematic celebration of Black female creativity and a moving elegy for a generation of lost African American men.
1998 • 81 minutes • Color • Monaural • 1.33:1 aspect ratio
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New 4K digital restoration, approved by director Cauleen Smith, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New conversation between Smith and film scholar Michael B. Gillespie
• Short films by Smith, including Chronicles of a Lying Spirit by Kelly Gabron, Songs for Earth & Folk, Lessons in Semaphore, Egungun (Ancestor Can’t Find Me), Remote Viewing, and Suffolk, with a new introduction by Smith
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar Yasmina Price
Pre-Orders should be available soon!
Happy Mother's Day... or as some calendars say, Mothers Day. Whichever is correct, hope you have a good one.
With a trio of Ant-Man releases, it's ant season all around, both on the small screen and on my kitchen counters, plus Guy Ritchie's Operation Fortune, Star Trek, as well as a remake of a classic, and a classic, and that's just the 4K category.
Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 50 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 14th - May 20th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
The 4K category is ramping up after a few weeks of calm, the next peak will be May 30th. There are no notable Monday imports so let's roll with domestic Tuesday.
From the MCU and Disney, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, with three options to pick from. We can choose from a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and lastly a Walmart Exclusive. Standard Disney Disclaimer: Run time >2 hours, BD66 disc with HDR10 on the disc and Dolby Vision on the streaming version only.
New Guy Ritchie film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, starring Jason Statham, an action comedy at that.
If you waited for the 4K, that is great, but if you did not preorder, you might be out of luck. I'm referring to the SteelBook release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season One. A standard edition is coming next month though, and there's always the possibility of other retailers (NOT Amazon) having it in stock.
Paramount Pictures gives us the 2003 version of The Italian Job. Kino Lorber did the original 1969 release back in January. Also from Paramount, a non-SteelBook/standard release for Shooter.
And closing out the category, Kino Lorber brings us the original 1974 release of The Longest Yard. Does this mean Paramount will flop when Kino flips and give us the remake in 4 months?
Next week looks similar to this, with just different titles. A trio of Shazam releases, Creed III, and a few classics.
Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles, Disney releases Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, LionsGate releases Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and Kino Lorber offers up The Longest Yard (1974).
New comedy from LionsGate with Moving On.
Currently on track for Tuesday, Hong Kong action films In the Line of Duty: I - IV from 88 Films.
Anime Highlights include Aharen-san wa Hakarenai: The Complete Season, The Dawn of the Witch: The Complete Season and The Greatest Demon Lord is Reborn as a Typical Nobody: The Complete Season.
TV on disc this week has only one title, Walker: Season Two.
From MVD's Rewind Collection, L.A. Wars.
New Wave Thriller from Criterion Collection titled Targets.
Warner Bros. has Max Fleischer's Superman this week. There have been reports though that this release might have some issues, so do proceed with caution.
Shout! Factory is bringing us The Magic Flute (2023).
Honorable Mention: The IP Man Universe gets another film from Well Go USA with Young Ip Man: Crisis Time.
Next week in the blu-ray categry it's all but a trickle.
Warner Bros has announced plans for National Lampoon's Vacation to 4K disc, with a street date of June 27. Again, absent from the US market is the Collector's Edition, you need to shop the UK market for that.
Kino Lorber has revealed that To Live and Die in L.A. is coming to blu-ray and 4K disc on July 18th.
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?
The first announced titles include Jerzy Skolimowski's Cannes Jury Prize winner and Academy Award nominee EO, Jafar Panahi's No Bears, Louis Garrel's The Innocent, Hlynur Pálmason's Godland, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's Tori and Lokita, and Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch's The Eight Mountains.
The Criterion Collection and Janus Films' Janus Contemporaries home video library will feature first-run theatrical films on Blu-ray and DVD following their streaming premieres on The Criterion Channel.
As the premier U.S. distributor of international art house cinema, Janus is widely known for some of the greatest movies of all-time -- from legends such as Chantal Akerman, Michelangelo Antonioni, Ingmar Bergman, Jean Cocteau, the Coen brothers, Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa, David Lynch, Yasujiro Ozu, Satyajit Ray, Ousmane Sembène, François Truffaut, Melvin Van Peebles, Agnès Varda, Wim Wenders, and Wong Kar.
"It's an exciting moment for Janus Films," said Peter Becker, president of Criterion and a partner in Janus Films. "With a more robust first-run lineup than it has had since the 1960s and powerful partnerships with theatrical specialists Sideshow and the Criterion Channel streaming service, Janus is uniquely well positioned to bring the best films from around the world to theaters and homes across North America. The launch of Janus Contemporaries completes that picture."
Janus Contemporaries Blu-ray titles will retail for $29.95 and DVDs will have a MSRP of $24.95 and it has been revealed that these titles will include new interviews from The Criterion Channel's Meet the Filmmakers series.
More to follow soon as autumn approaches, but you can check out the the full press release: in the meantime below:
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The classic Harold Ramis comedy starring Chevy Chase goes down the 4K UHD Blu-ray holiday road on June 27. The digital release and a Best Buy exclusive SteelBook will also be available on the same day.
Everything is planned, packed – and about to go hilariously wrong. The Griswolds are going on vacation. In the driver’s seat is Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), an Everyman eager to share the open road and the wonders of family togetherness. Myriad mishaps, crude kin (Randy Quaid), encounters with a temptress (Christie Brinkley), financial woes, Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) on the roof, one security guard (John Candy) and 2,460 miles later, it’s a wonder the Griswolds are together. There’s never been a family vacation like it. Except maybe yours. And that helps explain why National Lampoon’s Vacation remains so popular… and so very funny.
The 4K Blu-ray Combo Pack will present the film in HDR and will include the previously released audio commentary with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Matty Simmons, Harold Ramis, Anthony Michael Hall, and Dana Barron (98 Minutes).
Pre-orders are now live! Here's the full press release from WB.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION
NEW TO 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAYTM AND DIGITAL
HAROLD RAMIS’ ROAD TRIP COMEDY FILM STARRING CHEVY CHASE AND BEVERLY D’ANGELO WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)
Own it on 4K Ultra HD and Digital on June 27
Burbank, Calif., May 10, 2023 – National Lampoon’s Vacation, directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo as Clark and Ellen Griswold, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Digital on June 27. As Warner Bros celebrates its 100th anniversary, this film is highlighted as a studio gem on its 40th anniversary.
The 1983 classic comedy film from Warner Bros. Pictures was written by John Hughes and was based on his short story “Vacation ’58 which appeared in the publication “National Lampoon.” The film was produced by Matty Simmons and also stars Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, John Candy, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, and Christie Brinkley in her acting debut. National Lampoon’s Vacation also features special appearances by Eddie Bracken, Brian-Doyle Murray, James Keach, and Eugene Levy.
Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.
National Lampoon’s Vacation will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray for $33.99 SRP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film. Fans can also own National Lampoon’s Vacation in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on June 27.
About the Film:
Everything is planned, packed – and about to go hilariously wrong. The Griswolds are going on vacation. In the driver’s seat is Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), an Everyman eager to share the open road and the wonders of family togetherness. Myriad mishaps, crude kin (Randy Quaid), encounters with a temptress (Christie Brinkley), financial woes, Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) on the roof, one security guard (John Candy) and 2,460 miles later, it’s a wonder the Griswolds are together. There’s never been a family vacation like it. Except maybe yours. And that helps explain why National Lampoon’s Vacation remains so popular… and so very funny.
Ultra HD Blu-ray Elements
National Lampoon’s Vacation Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS
On June 27, National Lampoon’s Vacation 4K UHD will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers and will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.
BASICS
PRODUCT ERP
Ultra HD Blu-ray $33.99*
Standard Street Date: 06/27/23
EST Street Date: 06/27/23
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 98 minutes
Rating: R
THE CREDITS
About Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels, and through physical Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD retail sales. WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.
Guy Ritchie's action-thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim will be released in a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Combo Pack on June 20.
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant follows US Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim). After an ambush, Ahmed goes to Herculean lengths to save Kinley’s life. When Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given safe passage to America as promised, he must repay his debt by returning to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban hunts them down.
There doesn't appear to be a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, and specs and supplements have not been revealed.
Order your copy today and here is the full press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Guy Ritchie delivers a gripping, memorable tale about the hell of modern war and the universal nature of sacrifice and heroism.”
Chicago Sun-Times / Richard Roeper
"Intense and urgent!"
FOX-TV / Shawn Edwards
GUY RITCHIE’S THE COVENANT
ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY AND DVD
ON JUNE 20
Burbank, CA, May 9 – Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 20.
Directed by prolific filmmaker Guy Ritchie (Wrath of Man, Aladdin) from a screenplay by Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, the film is produced by Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, John Friedberg and Josh Berger.
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant stars Jake Gyllenhaal (Ambulance, Spider-Man: Far from Home), Dar Salim (Game of Thrones), Antony Starr (The Boys), Alexander Ludwig (Bad Boys for Life, Vikings), Bobby Schofield (Cherry), Emily Beecham (Cruella) and Jonny Lee Miller (T2 Trainspotting).
ABOUT THE FILM
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant follows US Army Sergeant John Kinley (Gyllenhaal) and Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Salim). After an ambush, Ahmed goes to Herculean lengths to save Kinley’s life. When Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given safe passage to America as promised, he must repay his debt by returning to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban hunts them down.
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Screenplay by: Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies
Produced by: Guy Ritchie p.g.a., Ivan Atkinson p.g.a., John Friedberg and Josh Berger
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Antony Starr, Alexander Ludwig, Bobby Schofield, Emily Beecham and Jonny Lee Miller
BASICS
PRODUCT SRP
Blu-ray $34.98
DVD $29.98
DVD Languages: English
Blu-ray Languages: English
DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish
Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish
Running Time: 123 minutes
Rating: R for violence, language throughout and brief drug content
THE CREDITS
About Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world's deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network EPIX, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco and digital distributors. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms and interactive ventures and is producing premium short-form content for distribution. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through physical Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD retail sales and digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels. WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.
