Posted Sun May 9, 2021 at 12:00 PM PDT by D. LaFontaine
Welcome to Episode 52 of our Blu-ray/4K Release Guide. This week marks the 1 Year Anniversary of our weekly guide, bringing you the highlights of what's coming out to home video, and as an added bonus, any major announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-
We are really getting into the nitty gritty of the month of May. This month has a lot of great titles that are sure to bust your bank account.
First, let's get to the release that will get the most attention this week, I am referring to Raya and the Last Dragon. This title was stewing on a soft-release date of May 18th, but not a single retailer had an order link available until May 10th. Maybe someone can tell me their strategy, something other than self-sabotaging physical media. For 4K this release has your standard slew of releases, do you buy one, both, or all three because you love Disney releases? The standard 4K release, the Target Exclusive 4K release and the Best Buy 4K Exclusive SteelBook release all beckon you.
Delayed from last month, Severin Films releases their 4K disc of Santa Sangre.
Sony Pictures releases the SteelBook of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Last Action Hero. The standard (non-SteelBook) is due in June. I still have my laserdisc somewhere, this is one of those films you either love or hate. It too seems to be unavailable to order, maybe it will get delayed (?)
Universal Pictures has two titles to pick from this week. The oddity though is that the SteelBooks are not available on Amazon, but yet they are not Best Buy Exclusives, but seem only available from there.
First, National Lampoon's Animal House. Standard Release Here and SteelBook Release Here.
And second, look for The Sting (1973), Standard Release Here and SteelBook Release Here.
HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-
Slightly above average week for Blu-rays. Here are some of the highlights...
Lets start with dragons first. Raya and the Last Dragon gets a Blu-ray combo this week if you choose. And from Universal, the Dragonheart: 5 Movie Collection. This compilation was previously only available on DVD.
LionsGate's obligatory releases this week include Above Suspicion and Minari.
Bruce Willis in a mecha suit? That's what it looks like in Cosmic Sin from Paramount Pictures. Academy nominee The Father starring Anthony Hopkins debuts this week. Also from Paramount/CBS TV, Charmed: The Complete Third Season (2000). Let me remind them that they left us hanging with MacGyver Season One and never gave us a hint at more seasons. From CBS this week also, Star Trek: Lower Decks Season One, available as a standard release and as a SteelBook release.
Anime/Animated titles to consider this week include Cannon Busters - The Complete Series, available as a standard release and as a Limited Edition release. InuYasha: Set 5, Sakura Wars the Animation and The Prince's Voyage close out Anime. From Warner Bros, Tom & Jerry - The Movie.
Drunken Master II comes this week from Warner Archive Collection.
Criterion Collectors look for the foreign film Flowers of Shanghai.
Friday releases are all Opera or Classical Music titles:
Notable announcements from last week:
Visual Entertainment has just announced that Baywatch - The Complete TV Series will be available for purchase on May 28th. The show has been remastered and will be presented in a 1.77:1 widescreen format.
On the 4K front from Universal, Howard the Duck and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World were announced and have a confirmed date of July 6th. From Warner Bros. Space Jam also has a street date of July 6th. A 3D release of Godzilla vs. Kong has been added to the mix and the order link for the Best Buy Exclusive 4K SteelBook has gone live.
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 latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.