The critically-acclaimed animated sports thriller The First Slam Dunk is coming to Blu-ray on January 25 from GKIDS.
The animated feature film is based on the manga "Slam Dunk" by Takehiko Inoue and has broken box-office records in several countries and won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Animation in 2023.
Shohoku’s “speedster” and point guard, Ryota Miyagi, always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball.
In his second year of high school, Ryota plays with the Shohoku High School basketball team along with Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui as they take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship. And now, they are on the brink of challenging the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.
The first print of the Blu-ray will include team stickers and the following supplements:
Pre-order your copy of The First Slam Dunk now - Happy Collecting!
Just a little quote from Major League (and there were some good ones, but most of them were too long for a title):
Harry Doyle: The post-game show is brought to you by...
[searches through his papers]
Harry Doyle: Christ, I can't find it. To hell with it.
The right answer is of course Amazon, Walmart and readers like you for using our links to shop.
With the week of Easter upon us, an average week of 4K disc releases this week, how well did you fare last week? I'd be lying if I said I bought nothing.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 44 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 31st - April 6th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
Another week of catalog titles in the 4K category, which is A-OK as there are so many releases we would like to see!
Coming off the wish list and moved to the now list, first from Paramount Pictures, sports comedy Major League. This one is also available as a SteelBook edition.
And next, from Criterion collection, French drama La haine.
Next, let's put a spotlight on Walmart for taking over the "Exclusive SteelBook Edition" releases after Best Buy chose to abandon physical media. This week all the exclusives are LionsGate releases. Debuting to 4K disc for the first time, action/adventure Cutthroat Island. Currently out of stock, just keep checking is the advice I would give you. Just this past week I ordered Silent Night 4K, it was out of stock since release date (January) but is now available again.
Next are a few double (or triple or quadruple, or I lost count) dips, we see where John Rambo started and ended, referring to First Blood and Last Blood. These are the kind of releases that if you "maybe" want them, but then hold off and miss out, you might kick yourself. Sounds like a justifiable excuse, no?
And if you know which movies I am referring to when I say retired and extremely dangerous, you win bragging rights this week! Formerly available as single releases, and an obsure 2-movie collection that went OOP, now you can get Red 1 & 2 as a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook. I call these sleeper titles, I had never heard of them, then sat down and watched the first and was pretty impressed, so I had to seek the sequel as well, then of course 4K.
Next week, more of the same with regards to it being a catalog title week. Still ample opportunities to spend spend spend.
There are no Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, hey, recharge that wallet from last week right?
As far as blu-ray releases in general this week, there are a lot of "B" titles on the list. One person's junk is another person's treasure. Without judgment, here are the highlights.
Anime highlight this week includes just Black Bullet - Complete Collection, which is a reissue with a different cover.
Who wouldn't want a cheap-budget trash Easter horror during the week of Easter? Check out Easter Bloody Easter.
MPI now has the rights to distribute Stigmata, and it is available as both a Mediabook and a standard edition.
To the rescue comes the land from down under. Imprint Films' and Imprint Asia's March batch of titles is available at Amazon USA this week, they include:
Warner Bros has announced an offical street date of May 14th for American Sniper to 4K disc. In their standard formula, the UK will be getting a more elaborate release with more special features and swag. Editor Matthew Hartman made a comparison of the UK getting a far superior release of this film to the UK getting an all out deluxe release of The Patriot (Mel Gibson). I would love to hear from Warner Bros why they think the US market doesn't want the nicer releases. I know they tried it in the past, but those releases had f'ugly covers and less desirable swag.
Last week I mentioned that Se7en was likely going to be released in May. No sooner did the article publish and we found out the film is getting an IMAX revisit and a newer scan, so it has been pushed to probably Winter 2024.
Arrow Video has announced their June 2024 titles. American Gigolo will be available on blu-ray, 4K and an Arrow Store Exclusive 4K. The latter offers a much better cover art, nothing else, but that's enough for me to order it. Mute Witness will also be getting a blu-ray and 4K release. Arrow UK will also be releasing Withnail and I and Madman to 4K. Madman was released by Vinegar Syndrome last year. For UK blu-ray, they will be releasing Nightsiren (Svetlonoc) as well.
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?
Blue Underground presents directors Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi's infamous 1971 Italian mondo-docudrama Goodbye Uncle Tom in limited edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray releases arriving April 23.
The American south slave trade themed shocker was so graphic that the film was heavily cut in the U.S. prior to its release - with Roger Ebert calling this cut version, “… the most disgusting, contemptuous insult to decency ever to masquerade as a documentary.” Blue Underground includes both the original uncut Italian version and the cut version fully restored in 4K from the original camera negatives.
The film considered too shocking for the world! Written, edited, produced and directed by Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi of MONDO CANE fame, this epic recreation of the American slave trade atrocities was both condemned as depraved exploitation and acclaimed as an unprecedented cry of Black anguish and rage. The Detroit Chronicle hailed it as "a graphic, moving, nerve-paralyzing film." Legendary film critic Pauline Kael called it "the most specific and rabid incitement of the race war." It became one of the most reviled and misunderstood films of its time. Five decades cannot diminish GOODBYE UNCLE TOM's impact or quiet its controversy as it has become even more relevant TODAY!
In 1971, distributors forced the filmmakers to completely re-cut the film and radically re-write its extreme narration, removing more than 13 minute of race-war politics and inserting alternate scenes - creating what would become an entirely different film - before it could be released. Now more than 50 years later, both versions of GOODBYE UNCLE TOM can finally be seen in brand-new restorations, scanned in 4K 16-bit from their original negatives, with Dolby Vision HDR (on the 4K Blu-ray) & newly restored DTS-HD Master Audio, and packed with over 5 hours of Extras!
Goodbye Uncle Tom - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
You can pre-order Goodbye Uncle Tom on 4K UHD and Blu-ray now!
If you like Bruce Lee and exploitation movies, you'll love the Blu-ray boxed set of "Bruceploitation" films being put out by Severin now available for pre-order only available on their website with limited quantities so if you need this for your collection don't wait too long!
Also available is the 2023 documentary 'Enter the Clones of Bruce' that delves deep into the Bruceploitation genre.
The Game Of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection, Vol.1 (Limited Edition Website Exclusive)
“Many films tried to capitalize on the popularity of Bruce Lee. Some amped up the craziness as far as it would go. Others played it straight, delivering seriously good films. At its best, Bruceploitation was some of the most uninhibited and exciting martial arts cinema of the age.”
Den Of Geek
Hours after Bruce Lee’s death, Bruceploitation was born. And for the next 10 years, talented martial artists were enlisted to mimic iconic aspects of Lee’s life, style and mannerisms. Fueled by equal parts deception and demand, these films instead created one of the most wildly entertaining sub-genres in movie history. THE GAME OF CLONES: BRUCEPLOITATION COLLECTION, VOLUME 1 now presents 14 of the very best – and frequently very bizarre – films starring Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Dragon Lee, Bruce Liang and more, all restored for the first time ever from original film elements.
Each of these 14 Bruceploitation classics – THE CLONES OF BRUCE LEE (1980), ENTER THREE DRAGONS (1978), ENTER THE GAME OF DEATH (1978), GOOD BYE, BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST GAME OF DEATH (1975), THE DRAGON LIVES AGAIN (1977), BRUCE AND THE IRON FINGER (1977), CHALLENGE OF THE TIGER (1980), CAMEROON CONNECTION (1984), SUPER DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY (1974), THE DRAGON LIVES (1976), THE DRAGON, THE HERO (1980), RAGE OF THE DRAGON (1980), THE BLACK DRAGON VS. THE YELLOW TIGER (1974), and the never-before available THE BIG BOSS PART II (1976) – also feature exclusive bonus programming that includes all-new interviews, audio commentaries and revealing featurettes, as well as a 100-page Bruceploitation book filled with essays, posters, rare photos and more.
THE GAME OF CLONES: BRUCEPLOITATION COLLECTION, VOLUME 1
Blu-ray: $199.95srp
Catalog #: SEV15660BR
Disc 1:
ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE (2023)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Co-Executive Producer/Director David Gregory, Co-Producers Frank Djeng, Vivian Wong And Michael Worth And Director Of Photography Jim Kunz
• Working At Shaw Brothers – Outtakes With Godfrey Ho, David Chiang, Yasuaki Kurata, Lee Chiu, Lo Meng, Mars And Phillip Ko
• Bruce Lee And I – Outtakes With Sammo Hung, Phillip Ko, Yasuaki Kurata, Mars, Angela Mao, Andre Morgan, Lee Tso Nam And More
• The Lost World Of Kung Fu Film Negatives – Outtakes With Godfrey Ho, Joseph Lai, Angela Mao, Lee Tso Nam And Film Preservationists
• Bruce's Hong Kong – Location Tour With Frank Djeng
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Trailers
Runtime: 94 mins
Audio: Stereo Audio / English Subtitles, Chinese Subtitles, French Subtitles
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Disc 2:
THE CLONES OF BRUCE LEE (1980)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Michael Worth And Frank Djeng, Co-Producers Of ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE; Bruce Lee Historian Brandon Bentley; Chris Poggiali, Co-Author Of These Fists Break Bricks; Matthew Whitaker, Co-Host Of The Clones Cast; Action Film Historian Mike Leader; Stunt Coordinator/Author John Kreng; And Rick Benn, Brother Of Actor Jon T. Benn
• The Big Boss Remembered – Interview With Actor Jon T. Benn
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 90 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
ENTER THREE DRAGONS (1978)
Special Features:
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Disc 3:
ENTER THE GAME OF DEATH (1978)
Special Features:
• Partial Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Scene Specific Commentary With Actor Chi Ling Chiu
• Kung Fu Movie Hustle – Interview With Chi Ling Chiu
• Talking A Good Game – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 90 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions/
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
GOODBYE, BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST GAME OF DEATH (1975)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Frank Djeng, Co-Producer Of ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE, With Contributions From Chris Poggiali, Co-Author Of These Fists Break Bricks
• The Last Kung Fu Picture Show – The Bay Area's Movie Theater Era
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Radio Spot
• Trailer
Runtime: 83 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Disc 4:
THE DRAGON LIVES AGAIN (1977)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Michael Worth And Frank Djeng, Co-Producers Of ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE
• Deleted Scenes From French Version
• Audio Essay By Cult Cinema Critic Lovely Jon
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
BRUCE AND THE IRON FINGER (1979)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• My First Bruceploitation – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
• Deleted Scenes
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• U.S. Trailer
• Hong Kong Trailer
Runtime: 89 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Disc 5:
CHALLENGE OF THE TIGER (1980)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth And Film Historian C. Courtney Joyner
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 89 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
CAMEROON CONNECTION (1984)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Writer/Criterion Reflections Podcast Host David Blakeslee
• Lights... Cameroon... Action! – The Life And Films Of Alphonse Beni
• 2022 Q&A With Alphonse Beni At Cine Club N'Kah
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: French Mono / English Subtitles
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Disc 6:
SUPER DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY (1974)
Special Features:
• Partial Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• TV Spot
• Trailer
Runtime: 93 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
THE DRAGON LIVES (1976)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Actress Caryn White Stedman And Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Audio Interview With "He’s A Legend, He’s A Hero" Songwriter Anders Gustav Nelsson
• The Taiwan Connection – Interview With Caryn White Stedman
• Bruce Biopics – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• TV Spots
Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Disc 7:
THE DRAGON, THE HERO (1980)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Director Godfrey Ho And Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Godfrey, The Hero – Interview With Director Godfrey Ho
• Deleted Scenes
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
RAGE OF THE DRAGON (1980)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth With Contributions From Chris Poggiali, Co-Author Of These Fists Break Bricks
• Kung Fu Theaters – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 90 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Disc 8 (Limited Edition Bonus Disc):
THE BIG BOSS PART II (1976)
Special Features:
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: Cantonese Mono / Burned-In English Subtitles, Burned-In Chinese Subtitles
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
THE BLACK DRAGON VS. THE YELLOW TIGER (1974)
Special Features:
• Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth With Contributions From Actor Clint Robinson
• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
• Trailer
Runtime: 88 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions?
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
In the “fascinating gem of a documentary” (Culture Mix) ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE, director David Gregory tracks down the surviving Bruces – along with martial arts legends, producers, directors, distributors, historians and more – to reveal the entire shocking and bittersweet saga behind a celluloid phenomenon that still refuses to die. Gregory – whose award-winning documentaries include LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU and BLOOD & FLESH: THE REEL LIFE & GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON – now examines this fascinating phenomenon via interviews with Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Bruce Liang and Dragon Lee; martial arts legends like Angela Mao, David Chiang, Phillip Ko and Sammo Hung; and the producers, directors, distributors and experts – along with copious clips from the films themselves – that for the first time reveal the history, controversy and legacy behind one of the most bizarre genres in movie history. The documentary will also be available on all leading digital outlets on April 30, and as a standalone Blu-ray on May 21.
Pre-orders for The Game Of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection & Enter the Clones of Bruce are up now and there are very limited quantities available!
Get ready to sweep your collection's leg! Sony continues to dive deep into their archives for a new 40th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of John G. Alvidson's classic The Karate Kid. If you didn't pick up the trilogy collection, this edition kicks in the door with weathered VHS-style packaging with some exciting new bonus features.
While the previous trilogy set is barely two years old, Sony is already revisiting the first The Karate Kid on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. More than a simple repressing with weathered VHS-style packaging, this disc offers some new bonus features in the form of a new audio commentary track with the creators of Cobra Kai and if that wasn't enough, the disc also comes with 30-minutes of never-before-seen deleted scene dailies. Maybe not enough for some to go for a double dip, but for fans that only wanted the classic first film, they can now have it in the collection.
The Karate Kid: 40th Anniversary - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
SYNOPSIS
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the coming-of-age classic — from Academy Award®-winning director John G. Avildsen (1976, Rocky) — that will leave you cheering! There is more to karate than fighting. This is the lesson that Daniel (Ralph Macchio), a San Fernando Valley teenager, is about to learn from a most unexpected teacher: Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita in his Academy Award®-nominated performance, Best Supporting Actor, 1984), an elderly handyman who also happens to be a master of the martial arts. His training and these vital lessons will be called into play when an outmatched Daniel faces Johnny (William Zabka), the skilled leader of the Cobra Kai — a vicious gang of karate school bullies — in a no-holds-barred karate tournament for the championship of the Valley.
DISC DETAILS AND BONUS MATERIALS
4K ULTRA HD DISC:
Restored from the original camera negative, presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
English Dolby Atmos + English 5.1 + English Stereo
Special Features:
BLU-RAY DISC™
Feature presented in high definition
English 5.1
Special Features:
CAST AND CREW
SPECS
Pre-orders aren't live yet - but as soon as they are we'll update our listings ASAP. Happy Collecting!
Warner Brothers is preparing Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated 'American Sniper' starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release on May 14. There will also be a 4K SteelBook edition arriving on the same day.
The 2014 film based on Chris Kyle's best-selling autobiography received six Academy Award nominations including Best Actor and Best Picture. It will be presented for the first time in 4K with HDR and comes with a Digital download.
From director Clint Eastwood comes “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, whose skills as a sniper made him a hero on the battlefield. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield, and as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the spirit of the SEAL creed to “leave no one behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind
American Sniper - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
American Sniper - Limited Edition 4K SteelBook
The 4K UHD Blu-ray includes the following supplements:
Pre-orders for American Sniper 4K UHD Blu-ray and SteelBook are up and here is the full press release:
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If keeping up with your collection wasn't already tough enough, some amazing independent labels dropped some great opportunities on Kickstarter! 3-D Film Archive, Deaf Crocodile, and Rifftrax have some exciting campaigns running right now!
Sometimes a project needs a little extra cash or a guaranteed number of sales to get going. Ever since crowdfunding took off, it's been a fantastic revenue stream for independent levels and entertainers to fund their next projects. Restorations of films and media of all kinds is rarely cheap. It's often a laborious process and if a title is a little obscure or not a big noteworthy release, the prospect of funding a project like that out-of-pocket can be dodgy financially. In recent years Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sources have become a haven for companies to not only fund their restoration efforts but also guarantee a number of unit sales. Right now on Kickstarter, there are a bunch of great campaigns rolling that physical media fans won't want to miss out on.
In the last couple of years, Deaf Crocodile has been steadily delivering one amazing Ptushko disc after another. Right now on Kickstarter you can punch in a pledge of $100 to get a beautiful boxset with Ilya Muromets, Sampo, The Tale of Tsar Saltan, and the upcoming Ruslan and Ludmila. These discs are the same ones available through Vinegar Syndrome's Partner Label selections, but now with a new box set and new slipcovers. But what if you already have the previous Ilya Muromets, Sampo, and The Tale of Tsar Saltan discs? Don't worry, the great people at Deaf Crocodile has your back. You can pick up the box on its own for $20 or snag the box with a copy of Ruslan and Ludmila with the Vinegar Syndrome slipcover for $50! So you've got some nice cash-affordable options if you don't want to break the bank re-purchasing discs you already have. But act fast - as of this writing there are only four days left in the campaign!
Next, the masters of stereoscopic Blu-ray releases, 3-D Film Archive has designs to unleash Arch Obler's final film Domo Arigato with a new fully restored 3-D Blu-ray release. No stranger to the crowdfunding process, 3-D Film Archive had delivered incredible 3-D Blu-ray releases time and again. Their previous crowdfunding effort Robot Monster was a phenomenal success and this shouldn't be any less impressive. The entry point for this release is nice and low; $30 guarantees your copy. Stretch goals have already flown by so you're going to get a fully-loaded disc with plenty of great bonus features. Now if you don't have a 3-D ready TV or projector, do not worry, this disc will also include an Anaglyph 3-D (Red/Cyan) version with a pair of glasses so you can experience the film on any home theater setup. As of this writing, you have nine days left in the campaign. So a little time yet to jump on the preorder option, but don't wait too long!
For years now, MST3K alums Mike, Kevin, and Bill have been delivering hilarious new commentaries for our favorite A-list blockbusters and Z-list forgotten gems. A staple of Rifftrax has been their annual live-show events streamed to theaters. Past heavy hitters included Plan 9 From Outer Space, Return of Swamp Thing, The Room and the biggest title (so far) has been Starship Troopers. MKB and the Rifftrax team are digging in for their biggest show yet - Point Break! That's right, the classic 90s Swayzee/Reeves action thriller will be riffed live in theaters across the country. Backers can choose their entry point to get a bunch of swag items and digital goodies, but best of all - there will be a physical media release for this show! Unlike Starship Troopers and Anaconda which only got a studio-recorded commentary track, we'll be able to enjoy the full show on DVD or Blu-ray! The campaign was quickly funded and stretch goals were destroyed opening up a Blu-ray release option! But to get that physical media option, you do have to punch in at the $100 tier level, but if you just want a digital release - you can opt-in at $40 to secure your spot. As of this writing, the show is already fully funded with fourteen days left in the campaign.
Of course when and where possible as these releases come to our home collections we aim to offer a thorough review - until then, happy collecting!
Luc Besson's action thriller classic La Femme Nikita aims for its first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release from Sony on June 11th with a single-disc SteelBook release.
And just like that, Sony keeps the deep catalog classics coming. On top of their massive range of Columbia Pictures 100th Anniversary releases, Sony is making sure fans keep feeling that collecting pinch with another heavy from their archive. La Femme Nikita (or just "Nikita" depending on where you live in the world) was a surprise smash hit for Luc Besson leaping from the Parisian theater houses to become an international sensation spawning the Americanized remake No Return and the Hong Kong version Black Cat. Nearly 35 years after its theatrical run, we'll soon be able to enjoy this great action thriller in full Dolby Vision glory!
La Femme Nikita - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook
From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) comes the must-see thriller about a vicious street punk turned sexy, sophisticated and lethally dangerous assassin. Starring Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau and Jean Reno, La Femme Nikita is "slick, stylish and tremendously entertaining" (The New York Times)! Rescued from death row by a top-secret agency, Nikita (Anne Parillaud) is slowly transformed from a cop-killing junkie into a cold-blooded bombshell with a license to kill. But when she begins the deadliest mission of her career, only to fall for a man who knows nothing of her true identity, Nikita discovers that in the dark and ruthless world of espionage, the greatest casualty of all...is true love.
CAST AND CREW
DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS -
4K ULTRA HD DISC:
*This 4K UHD release does not include a Blu-ray
SPECS:
At the moment this one isn't up for pre-order yet, but it should be soon. As soon as that pre-order goes live, we'll update our listings ASAP. Happy Collecting!
Whether it's 4K or blu-ray, this week is a whopper. All I can say is do your best to not break the bank. The image above was created on Bing's AI image creator. My first attempt.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 43 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 24th - March 30th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
It's another boutique label week in the 4K category, and that is A-OK. The 4K category is almost reasonable to manage this week.
Import Monday begins with A Blade in the Dark from 88 Films. (Vinegar Syndrome did this release one year ago.)
Also from 88 Films, a pair of releases listed as part of their "Tigon Collection", The Blood on Satan's Claw. The other title being Witchfinder General. I would not be surprised if these titles to be delayed, 88 Films releases frequently get pushed back at least once.
Formerly done by Cauldron Films in the US, Arrow Video's take on City of the Living Dead. Currently only available via Arrow's direct site. If we get an Amazon or Zavvi link, we will provide it for you.
Moving on to Domestic Tuesday, let's begin with Kino Lorber and comedy/sports film North Dallas Forty, starring Nick Nolte. Then let's go to a comedy/musical with Clint Eastwood titled Paint Your Wagon. I know you might be confused right about now with Eastwood not being in a Western back then, but it did happen!
The Criterion Collection this week has the comedy To Die For with Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix and Matt Dillon.
Spine number 43 in the 'Paramount Presents' line comes out this week, Primal Fear with Richard Gere.
Severin has your back if you're not looking to import, this week Burial Ground becomes available. Also, if you did not opt for the limited edition, a standard edition of The Spider Labyrinth is also available.
We don't see Blue Underground very often, but when we do, their releases are usually top-notch. What have they got for us this week? Try Night of the Blood Monster (The Bloody Judge) with Christopher Lee.
A standard release this week of Phase IV is available on Amazon from Vinegar Syndrome. Check out our review to decide is this one is a smash or a dud. Visit Vinegar Syndrome if you want the fancier edition.
Tinto Brass in 4K? Tinto Brass in 4K! Cult Epics this week has All Ladies Do It.
A pair of Indicator Series horror releases that were delayed a month or so, Patrick and Snapshot truly appear to be on track for a Tuesday release.
For those waiting for a standard release of The Warriors from Arrow video, the wait is over.
Import Friday (well, not really import) offers up Dead End Drive-In via Umbrella Entertainment and Amazon US.
Next week we can collect our thoughts and recharge, just a few catalog titles to look at, some of them are Walmart Exclusives.
It has been a long time since we have had a big week like this. If I told you there were close to a hundred titles, I would not be that far off. Selectively pick or splurge, your choice!
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include North Dallas Forty and Paint Your Wagon from Kino Lorber, To Die For from Criterion, The Spider Labyrinth from Severin, Night of the Blood Monster (The Bloody Judge) from Blue Underground, All Ladies Do It from Cult Epics, The Warriors (Standard Edition) from Arrow Video, and, Patrick and Snapshot from the Powerhouse Indicator Series.
New comedy from Sony with The Book of Clarence.
Criterion also has something in the blu-ray category this week, foreign drama titled Saint Omer.
TV on disc this week includes Midsomer Murders: Series 24, Monk: Season Five and Wednesday: The Complete First Season. The latter title is a big hit and available in 4K with Dolby Vision, just a bit frustrating we get neither on disc at home. Maybe later, or maybe an import.
Warner Archive Collection this week has 3 Godfathers, The Boob and Why Be Good?, The Little Drummer Girl, Money Talks, Stand and Deliver and They Drive by Night.
Anime highlights include Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 17, Berserk - The Complete 1997 TV Series, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War: Part 1, also available as a Limited Edition, 'Fist of the North Star: The Legend of the True Savior - Legend of Kenshiro Movie' and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.
From Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures, Good Burger 2 arrives this week.
Several more Indicator releases this week, but in the blu-ray category, look for The Bat Woman, The Panther Women and Santo vs. the Riders of Terror.
From LionsGate this week, a biography/sports drama titled The Iron Claw.
Special Mention of two titles that Shout Factory has released as shop exclusives, The Crow: Salvation and Venomous.
Honorable Mention: Volume 18 is out this week, talking about Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XVIII. If you've been collecting them, here is another.
There are three releases from Via Vision and Umbrella Entertainment available via Amazon US on Friday.
Al Pacino: Triple Film Collection, Bully and The Chaser.
I recently watched the 70s TV show CHiPs on Prime video and I got to tall ya, it looks absolutely fantastic. The 16:9 reframing looks great too. If they can give us HD upgrades on classic TV shows via streaming, the work is half done, sell us the show on disc! Even if Mill Creek does it, offering an upped bitrate from their norm, I would be all over it.
Although not officially announced yet, I would expect to see the UK 4K release of Se7en to have an official street date of April 22nd. Amazon US has both the What's in the Box? and Ultimate Collector's releases listed as May 3rd. A US release in the typical movie-only setup (Warner usually gives the UK deluxe sets while giving the US barebones releases) would also be expected around that time.
Warner Bros appears on track to be releasing The Terminator to 4K in the near future.
Paramount Pictures has Rango due for a 4K SteelBook on June 4th. They also rumored to be working on Purple Rain and Team America for 4K release.
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?
From director Jeymes Samuel and starring LaKeith Stanfield, The Book of Clarence is finally officially announced for March 26th on Blu-ray Physical Media. Preorders are now live!
From visionary filmmaker Jeymes Samuel, The Book of Clarence is a bold new take on the timeless Hollywood era Biblical epic. Streetwise but struggling, Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is trying to find a better life for himself and his family, make himself worthy to the woman he loves, and prove that he’s not a nobody. Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah and His apostles, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, a journey through which he finds redemption and faith, power and knowledge.
The Book of Clarence - Blu-ray
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