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We Ain't Fool'n You - April 2024 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Shopping GuideNow that we've gotten past the intense craziness of three James Cameron releases all in one shot, we can get back to enjoying a full schedule of exciting new and catalog titles on everyone's favorite 2160p disc format. If March wasn't busy enough, one specific director dominated the release slate with three of his biggest hits delivering three impressive albeit controversial discs. Compounding the problem was the scarcity issue as online retailers struggled to get product out failing to meet preorders by weeks at a time. Well, now that's all over with, we can get back looking at some new and exciting gems while letting our wallets recover a bit. Overall April is a pretty slim month compared to recent frames, but what's coming in is pretty exciting. We have a range of new recent theatrical hits on top of a nice selection of deep-cut comedy, action, drama, and horror titles debuting on the format. April 2024 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Shopping Guide April 2nd, 4K UHD Releases The first week of the month is a mix of reissues, rescheduled, with a couple of eclectic catalog titles. Who'da thought that Cutthroat Island would come to 4K UHD, let alone command a SteelBook release at that? Major League is a sports comedy classic so let's hope it looks and sounds great! Now, we have seen images of new Mondo X 4K SteelBooks for Doctor Strange, The Avengers, Black Panther, and Guardians of the Galaxy popping up. Supposedly these are Walmart exclusives, but we couldn't find them on Walmart's website so we don't know if the release has been pushed back, or if they're so limited you can't order them online at all. We'll keep an eye out all the same and update if that changes. And just like that things change, the Mondo Walmart Exclusive Marvel SteelBooks are now available online and in stores, but they are selling fast! Technically arriving April, 5th since it's a music release: April 9th, 4K UHD Releases The second frame of the month sees a little bit of a slowdown. A small mix of new and catalog titles, it gives us a slight financial breather but there are still some good ones to keep an eye on. April 16th, 4K UHD Releases For another quiet week, how well did you enjoy the cinematic and television versions of Tom Clancy's favorite CIA analyst? The only other major new 4K release this frame is only one of the greatest films ever made... April 23rd, 4K UHD Releases A busy frame from one end to the next, it's also a pretty wild and eclectic slate featuring some classic exploitation flicks, animated superheroes, weepy dramas, Jason Statham, and the movie that finally nabbed Scorsese his Best Director Oscar. April 30th, 4K UHD Releases Not to go out quietly, April ends on one of the busiest, most diverse notes for new title and catalog 4K releases. And that is what we have for domestic 4K releases aiming to crash into our collections through the month of April. It starts slow, but some great titles are coming and the final week of the month is a hell of a frame (and an expensive one!). As always some of these release dates could be changed and some last-minute releases have been known to sneak in - if and when that happens we'll update the shopping guide ASAP. Until then - Happy Collecting!Posted Tue Apr 2, 2024 at 06:23 AM PDT by: -
Forget it Jake, it's 4K - Chinatown 50th Anniversary - Paramount Presents 4K UHD Coming June 18Paramount celebrates the 50th anniversary of the classic noir Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson with a limited edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release on June 18. Pre-orders are now available. Chinatown was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture and is now preserved in the U.S.'s National Film Registry at the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." This limited-edition release not only includes Chinatown fully restored on 4K UHD Blu-ray, but also the sequel - The Two Jakes on Blu-ray as well as new and legacy content. Jack Nicholson is unforgettable as private eye Jake Gittes, living off the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-war Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite (Faye Dunaway) to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together for one, unforgettable night. Chinatown 50th Anniversary - Paramount Presents 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray + Digital Limited Edition release presents the fully restored Chinatown in 4K, plus the film's sequel, The Two Jakes, on Blu-ray. The release also includes new and legacy supplements as follows: New bonus content is detailed below: A State of Mind: Author Sam Wasson On Chinatown – Sam Wasson, film historian and bestselling author of The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years Of Hollywood, on the importance of the film and its legacy. Chinatown Memories – Legendary producer Hawk Koch shares stories from his time as assistant director on the film. The Trilogy That Never Was – Sam Wasson discusses the planned third installment of what would have been a trio of movies featuring the character Jake Gittes. Additional legacy bonus content: Commentary by screenwriter Robert Towne with David Fincher Water and Power The Aqueduct The Aftermath The River & Beyond Chinatown: An Appreciation Chinatown: The Beginning and the End Chinatown: Filming Chinatown: Legacy Theatrical Trailer Pre-orders for Chinatown 50th Anniversary - Paramount Presents 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray are now live!Posted Mon Apr 1, 2024 at 12:18 PM PDT by: -
'The First Slam Dunk' Dribbles to Blu-ray on June 25The 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 Slam Dunk - Blu-ray The first print of the Blu-ray will include team stickers and the following supplements: Interview with the Director Takehiko Inoue Behind the Starting Line-up: English dub featurette Color commentary with the English dub team Trailers & Teasers Pre-order your copy of The First Slam Dunk now - Happy Collecting!Posted Mon Apr 1, 2024 at 10:42 AM PDT by: -
HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 31, 2024 is Brought To You By...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. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases- 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. Blu-ray releases- 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: Lost in the Stars - Imprint Asia (AU Import) The Sea is Watching - Imprint Asia (AU Import) The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi - Imprint Asia (AU Import) Strange Invaders (1983) – Imprint Films Limited Edition Ravagers - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import] Let's Get Harry - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import] Green Ice - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import] Cold Steel - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import] *Batteries Not Included - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import] Notable announcements from last week: 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. 4K Release Calendar 2K/BD Release Calendar 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?Posted Sun Mar 31, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Blue Underground Reveals 'Goodbye Uncle Tom' Restored and Uncut 4K UHD & Blu-ray April 23rdBlue 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 Goodbye Uncle Tom - Blu-ray Ultra HD Blu-ray Dolby Vision (2160p) Widescreen 2.40:1 feature presentations Audio: 1.0 DTS-HD MA (English); 1.0 DTS-HD MA (Italian) English Version (123 Mins.) with Optional English SDH and Espanol Subtitles + English Trailer Italian Version (136 Mins.) with Optional English and English SDH Subtitles + Italian Trailer THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOCKING: GUALTIERO JACOPETTI – A feature-length documentary by Director Andrea Bettinetti (94 Mins.) THE GODFATHERS OF MONDO – A feature-length documentary by Director David Gregory (89 Mins.) Goodbye Cruel Mondo - Interviews with Writers/Directors Gualtiero Jacopetti & Franco Prosperi, and Composer Riz Ortolani (20 Mins.) Behind-the-Scenes 8mm Footage with Audio Commentary by Production Manager Giampaolo Lomi (50 Mins.) Mondo Mercenaries - Interview with Author & Academic Mark Goodall (27 Mins.) Abjection Under Authoritarianism - Interview with Professor Matthew J. Smith (20 Mins.) Extensive Still Galleries, including Giampaolo Lomi’s Behind-the-Scenes Photos BONUS! GOODBYE UNCLE TOM Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD by Riz Ortolani BONUS! Collectible Booklet with new essay by Dan Madigan You can pre-order Goodbye Uncle Tom on 4K UHD and Blu-ray now!Posted Thu Mar 28, 2024 at 09:09 AM PDT by: -
The Game Of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection, Vol.1 Blu-ray Limited Edition Box Set Available for Pre-order!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 minsAudio: Stereo Audio / English Subtitles, Chinese Subtitles, French SubtitlesRegion FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed Captions/Region: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: French Mono / English SubtitlesRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed CaptionsRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: Cantonese Mono / Burned-In English Subtitles, Burned-In Chinese SubtitlesRegion: FreeAspect 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 minsAudio: English Mono / Closed Captions?Region: FreeAspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Enter the Clones of Bruce 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!Posted Wed Mar 27, 2024 at 08:16 PM PDT by: -
"The Karate Kid" Celebrates 40 Years of Crane Kicks with a New 4K UHD Blu-ray June 18thGet 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 SYNOPSISCelebrate 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 MATERIALS4K ULTRA HD DISC: Restored from the original camera negative, presented in 4K resolution with Dolby VisionEnglish Dolby Atmos + English 5.1 + English StereoSpecial Features: ALL-NEW: Commentary with the Creators of Cobra Kai Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg ALL-NEW: Over 30 Minutes of Deleted Scene Dailies – go behind the scenes of this classic favorite like never before with raw footage from a variety of unused scenes! 4 Deleted Scenes Remembering The Karate Kid Featurette Theatrical Trailer BLU-RAY DISC™ Feature presented in high definitionEnglish 5.1Special Features: Blu-Pop™ Pop-Up Track Commentary with Director John G. Avildsen, Writer Robert Mark Kamen and Actors Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita “The Way of The Karate Kid” Multi-Part Making-Of Featurette “Beyond the Form” Featurette “East Meets West: A Composer’s Notebook” “Life of Bonsai” Featurette CAST AND CREW Directed By: John G. Avildsen Produced By: Jerry Weintraub Written By: Robert Mark Kamen Cast: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Martin Kove, William Zabka SPECS Run Time: Approx. 127 minutes Rating: PG 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 Stereo DTS-HD MA Pre-orders aren't live yet - but as soon as they are we'll update our listings ASAP. Happy Collecting!Posted Wed Mar 27, 2024 at 07:31 AM PDT by: -
'American Sniper' Shoots for a May 14th Deployment on 4K UHD and SteelBookWarner 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: One Soldier's Story: The Journey of American Sniper Chris Kyle: The Man Behind the Legend Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – The Heart of a Hero Navy SEALs: In War and Peace Bringing the War Home: The Cost of Heroism The Making of American Sniper Guardian Pre-orders for American Sniper 4K UHD Blu-ray and SteelBook are up and here is the full press release: AMERICAN SNIPERCOMES TO 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAYTM AND DIGITAL THE 2014 BIOGRAPHICAL WAR DRAMA DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD AND STARRING BRADLEY COOPER WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)Purchase the film on 4K Ultra HD Disc with Collectible Steelbook Packaging, 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital on May 14 Burbank, Calif., March 26, 2024 – American Sniper, the 2014 biographical war drama directed by Academy Award®-Winning Director Clint Eastwood and starring Academy Award® nominee Bradley Cooper will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital for the first time on May 14. American Sniper will be available to purchase on May 14 on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. American Sniper stars Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle. A two-time Oscar® nominee for his work in Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, Cooper stars alongside Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban and Keir O’Donnell. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven) directed American Sniper from a screenplay written by Jason Hall, based on the book by Chris Kyle, with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The autobiography was a runaway bestseller, spending 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, 13 of those at number one. The film is produced by Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan. Tim Moore, Jason Hall, Sheroum Kim, Steven Mnuchin and Bruce Berman served as executive producers.American Sniper was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor and won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. American Sniper will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc with collectible steelbook packaging for $40.43 ERP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the theatrical version of the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film, and on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc for $33.99 ERP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the theatrical version of the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film. Fans can also own American Sniper in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on May 14. About the FilmFrom 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. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, A Mad Chance Production, A 22nd & Indiana Production. American Sniper Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contains the following previously released special features:• One Soldier's Story: The Journey of American Sniper• Chris Kyle: The Man Behind the Legend• Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – The Heart of a Hero• Navy SEALs: In War and Peace• Bringing the War Home: The Cost of Heroism• The Making of American Sniper• Guardian BASICS PRODUCT ERPAmerican Sniper 4K Ultra HD Steelbook $40.43 American Sniper 4K Ultra HD $33.99 American SniperUltra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, French, SpanishUltra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English French, SDH, SpanishRun Time: 132 minutesRating: R Street Date: May 14, 2024Digital Street Date: May 14, 2024Posted Tue Mar 26, 2024 at 07:38 PM PDT by: -
Crowdfund Your Entertainment - 3-D Film Archive, Deaf Crocodile, & Rifftrax on Kickstarter Right Now!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. Deaf Crocodile - Aleksandr Ptushko Fantastika Box 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! 3-D Film Archive - Arch Obler's Domo Arigato 3-D 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! Rifftrax Live - Point Break! 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!Posted Mon Mar 25, 2024 at 08:30 AM PDT by: -
Luc Besson's "La Femme Nikita" Targets 4K UHD SteelBook Release June 11thLuc 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 Directed By: Luc Besson A Gaumont-Gaumont Production-Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica France-Italy Co-Production Original Screenplay By: Luc Besson Cast: Anne Parillaud, Jean Hugues Anglade, Tcheky Karyo DISC DETAILS & BONUS MATERIALS - 4K ULTRA HD DISC: Restored from the original camera negative and presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision French & English 5.1 + French 2-Channel Surround *This 4K UHD release does not include a Blu-ray SPECS: Run Time: Approx. 117 minutes Rating: R 4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 2.35:1 4K UHD Feature Audio: French, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 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!Posted Mon Mar 25, 2024 at 07:19 AM PDT by:
