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Add Some New Discs To The Shelf! HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, July 22 2024
Posted Mon Jul 22, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineBoth 4K and blu-ray releases see quite an uptick this week. Not going to see it as a scorcher, but it's definitely a hot week.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 8 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 21st - July 27th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Oh the choices! New releases, catalog titles, there are a lot of 4K discs to ponder. No UK releases to post, so let's move on to domestic new releases first.
First, from the ever busy LionsGate, The Strangers: Chapter 1. This one also has a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook option as well.
In almost an echo, but from Universal Pictures, The Fall Guy, with the Walmart Exclusive SteelBook as well. This SteelBook is unusual as Universal has not been doing Walmart Exclusives as much, usually general release.
Paramount's TV side of things has Halo: Season Two, which, yup, also comes as a Limited Edition SteelBook. This time though, not a Walmart exclusive. Read a headline stating Season 2 would be the last season.
And the last new release title of the week, from Warner Bros and DC animation, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three. This one comes as a SteelBook, with no standard case release available.
Let's move on to catalog titles and Criterion Collection, which has a pair of releases. They have the Mandarin language drama/romance Farewell My Concubine. And if that's not enough for you, the comedy/romance Risky Business starring Tom Cruise.
A gaggle of Jaws sequel skus from Universal. First up, Jaws 3, which also comes as a Limited Edition SteelBook.
Then there is Jaws: The Revenge, which also comes with a Limited Edition SteelBook option.
And of course, there's the 3 sequels in one package with the Jaws: 3-Movie Collection.
Paramount has classic cinema this week, The Lady from Shanghai with Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles. You can thank me for this one, I bought the most recent Kino Lorber blu-ray release this year. SIGH.
Bumped from last week, still showing up as last week on Amazon, the two Kino Cult titles Cannibal Apocalypse and Nightmare Beach. The other two Kino titles slated for this week have moved to next.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include The Strangers: Chapter 1, The Fall Guy, Halo: Season Two, Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three, Farewell My Concubine and Risky Business.
Even if you exclude the reissues and very-special interest titles, this week is still quite busy for the blu-ray category.
Under the Janus Contemporaries label, this week look for Anselm.
Anime highlights include My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 - Crunchyroll Exclusive Complete Set, Oshi no Ko: Season 1 Collection SteelBook, Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon - Season 1 and Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion - The Complete Season.
If you can't get enough Nic Cage, RLJ/Shudder this week delivers the horror/thriller Arcadian.
And if you did not import the 4K a couple of weeks ago from StudioCanal, this week Universal has the blu-ray of Back to Black.
Under the MVD Marquee Collection line, The Linguini Incident with David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette.
Honorable Mention: From Eureka Entertainment, this week look for some kung fu action with The Double Crossers: Collector's Edition.
Next week, the flood gates are wide open for blu-ray releases.
Notable announcements from last week:
The Criterion Collection has revealed their October 2024 slate. Do check it out.
Sony Pictures has announced that Columbia Classics: Volume 5 4K will be released on October 1st.
There were a lot of other single title announcements last week as well, just check out our release calendar for the latest listings.
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?
Continue Reading -
Yo, Adrian, We did it... We did it. - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, July 15 2024
Posted Mon Jul 15, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineAs we approach mid-July, we continue to chug along with a constant flow of 4K releases. If blu-ray is your thing, you get a little bit of a break though. Don't forget, Amazon Prime Day is Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 7 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 14th - July 20th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday begins with another great looking swag-filled StudioCanal release with Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation (1974). It sure looks pretty, but it also looks like 80 bucks when you factor in shipping. Thus far though, any of these I have bought look wonderful!
Keeping with StudioCanal, they like their (Western) SteelBooks to be orange in color, this one being Soldier Blue. It actually works in this case and matches the color pallette of so many such films. The other one that comes to mind is Red Sun, which comes in September.
The U.S. already got theirs, now it's time for the UK to do so, talking about The Last Starfighter from Arrow Video.
Domestic Releases Tuesday is next....
Kino Lorber offers two titles this week, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Brokeback Mountain. The two Kino Cult titles are bumped to next week.
Criterion Collection this week has the Japanese drama Perfect Days.
Shout Factory has just one offering this week, the horror sci-fi/thriller Phantoms.
Sony Pictures continues to woo us with SteelBooks, this time it's Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks. Saw a meme one day that made me chuckle -- if you ever board a vessel and Tom Hanks is the guy manning it, leave now, run like hell.
Single title from Paramount this week, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie - 20th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook.
Two more SteelBooks and a mega-collection. Warner Bros delivers Rocky V, Rocky Balboa and Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection. The latter includes corrected audio for Rocky I - IV. You are not left in the dark though if you bought the original discs, replacement discs can be requested by emailing [email protected]. Generally, if I bought it from Amazon, I state the reason for request, my info, and my Amazon order number.
For a Thursday release, Amazon U.S. has Scarface (1983) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray UK Limited Edition Vault Series SteelBook, which was released in the UK on July 8th. I tried really hard to collect this series of movies, but they were too limited in quantity and hard to get. Many of the early ones had a bunch of swag to go with them. The U.S. got the Essentials Collection releases which are nice by themselves, but not as fancy.
With a Friday release date, A24 Shop has The Zone of Interest.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases? For imports, and do keep in mind some may be region B locked, The Last Starfighter and Soldier Blue. For domestic releases, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Brokeback Mountain and Perfect Days. Friday would include A24's The Zone of Interest.
The rest of the category is a little bit light this week.
Anime highlights include Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out, Soul Eater - The Complete Series and Tomo-chan Is a Girl! - The Complete Season, which also comes as a Limited Edition.
Criterion Collection goes Portuguese crime drama with Black God, White Devil.
Kino Lorber has more TV on disc with Columbo: The Return (1989-2003) and Monk: Season Eight. With Monk, that closes out the series. The movie event recently seen on Peacock TV is also slated to be coming to blu-ray soon.
An interesting release from a label called Not Quite Reality, The Flock. Also available in a Collector's Edition. See... a small unknown label with several different cool looking options! That's how it is done people.
With a Wednesday release date, Umbrealla Entertainment a couple of skus that might interest you:
- Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey 2: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey 2 (Australian Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
Last week we saw a lot of boutique onesie twosie announcements and reveals.
British label Second Sight is releasing Robert Harmon's 1986 film The Hitcher to 4K and 4K Limited Edition on September 30th.
Stardust is coming to 4K SteelBook on September 24th.
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?
Continue Reading -
Building a Collection Can Be Such a Monster - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, July 8 2024
Posted Mon Jul 8, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineAnother week, another manageable selection of discs to choose from. Unlike the past couple of months, we get it nice and steady for much of the month!
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 6 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 7th - July 13th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday this week, the UK gets Monkey Man as a 4K release. The US got theirs 2 weeks ago, so, we move on to Domestic Tuesday titles.
There are TWO new release titles this week, with TWO skus each.
From GKIDS and Hayao Miyazaki, animated feature The Boy and the Heron. This one also gets a Limited Edition SteelBook.
From LionsGate, the action/thriller Civil War. The second sku available is an Amazon Exclusive edition, which we cannot determine what is exclusive about it. I suspect it has a difference cover, but Amazon has thoroughly confused me here by posting both covers for the standard edition.
Also from LionsGate in the new(ish) category, 2023 action/crime/thriller Boy Kills World.
Warner Bros brings us the 1996 action/thriller Twister with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. This one is also available as a SteelBook. As tornado films go, I have always found this one to be the most entertaining.
Shout! Factory brings us the Dolph Lundgren horror Dark Angel.
Unsure about having a 4K option in the beginning, but now most certain and delivered, MVD Laservision Collection has Ghoulies II this week.
Criterion Collection has French thriller Le Samourai this week.
Closing it out, previously delayed and now on track for a Tuesday release, Kino Lorber sends us the thriller Turbulence with Ray Liotta.
Delayed again (and probably for another 88 days), the 88 Films release The Project A Collection now has an October 15 street date.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include The Boy and the Heron, Civil War, Boy Kills World and Turbulence.
The new horror Tarot is available from Sony Pictures.
Anime highlights include BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt So I'll Max Out My Defense - Season 2, which is also available as a Limited Edition, One Piece: Season Thirteen - Voyage Eight, School-Live!: Complete Collection and Summoned to Another World for a Second Time - The Complete Season.
Universal gives us short notice for the drama/romance Challengers to be released this wek.
Sounding like an echo here, another zero notice release that probably should get a 4K, horror/thriller Abigail (2024). Currently the US blu-ray gets (an overused term) a 'Collector's Edition', while the UK gets a Blood Bath Edition. I doubt there's a difference.
Mill Creek has comedy/horror Deer Camp '86 this week.
Slowly but surely, we can fill the gaps in our Doctor Who collection, this week BBC offers us Doctor Who: Tom Baker - Complete Season Four.
More TV on disc with True Detective: Night Country (Season 4).
Barring any last second 88 (day) delay, both The Inspector Wears Skirts III and The Inspector Wears Skirts IV should be available this week from 88 Films.
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, William Holden, that would be The Country Girl from Kino Lorber.
Honorable mention this week goes to Titanic: The Musical. I'm sure we know how this one ends.
Notable announcements from last week:
Shout! Factory has revealed and announced their September slate. Titles (in no particular order) include The Stepfather 4K, The Strangers 4K, Doomsday 4K, The Boy 4K, The Amityville Horror (2005) 4K, Village Of The Damned (1995) 4K, as well as general releases of Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey [SteelBook], Creepshow 4K SteelBook, and a reissue of Dances with Wolves: Collector's Edition SteelBook.
The blu-ray was hard to find and sold out quickly, now Dark Star will be releasing The Farmer (1977) to 4K later this year.
More TV on disc later this year, Mill Creek will be releasing Bewitched: The Complete Series.
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?
Continue Reading -
Let's Stay Classy! HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, July 1 2024
Posted Mon Jul 1, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineWhat a week last week was for disc buyers, agreed? This week ain't no slouch though. I can thank a large major retailer for keeping my impulse buying in check last week, they did not reset their new movies section in weeks, so I only ordered a couple online from a competitor. THANK YOU!
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 5 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 30th - July 6th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
This week we begin Import Monday with Back to Black, the story of Amy Winehouse. Also available as a SteelBook. Universal Pictures in the US seems to be in a holding pattern on an actual street date --- will it even get a 4K here?
And on to Domestic Tuesday, nothing in the new release category, if you exclude the special reissues, it's a rather slowish week.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary and available from Paramount Home Entertainment, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. The UK is (of course) getting a deluxe release of this in August.
Kino Lorber has a pair of releases this week that were street dated for early June, the ever great film Blown Away starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones, and Gene Hackman crime/thriller Narrow Margin. I got my shipping notice on these two, so they will be out for sure Tuesday.
List as "now available" last week from Unearthed Film, but listed as July 2nd everywhere else, The Guyver gets a 4K release that a lot of us are happy to see!
From the Criterion Collection this week, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
Anime in 4K, an Aniplex of America release and as a CrunchyRoll Store exclusive at that, look for Gurren Lagann The Movie - Childhood's End/The Lights in the Sky Are Stars.
Shout! Factory has a new 4K of Weird Al's UHF. Also, general release of a handful of SteelBooks that were formerly retailer exclusives. Natural Born Killers, Point Break and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story can now be had at many retailers that carry Shout! Factory releases.
Speaking of Exclusive SteelBooks, this week Walmart has Angel Has Fallen and The Meg as new edition releases. My double-dip for Angel Has Fallen was to import the Fallen trilogy from Germany. That probably means a domestic release is coming very soon.
Turbine Media this week offers us Pearl in several different mediabook variations:
- Pearl - Turbine Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Mediabook Cover D
- Pearl - Turbine Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Mediabook Cover B
- Pearl - Turbine Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Mediabook Cover C
- Pearl - Turbine Exclusive 4K Ultra HD Mediabook Cover A
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include (probably region B locked) Back to Black (UK Import), and domestic releases of Blown Away, The Guyver and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
For the rest of the blu-ray category, we really do see a light week and a chance to catch up from last week.
Anime highlights include Bungo Stray Dogs - Season Four, Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time [SteelBook], In Another World With My Smartphone - Season 2 and Vinland Saga - Season 2 Part 1.
Walmart SteelBook exclusives this week are Diary of the Dead and Escape Plan Triple Feature.
Mill Creek has a romance double feature of Evening/Once Around. These two titles had not been released to domestic blu-ray previously.
Shout Select this week has the Madonna film Who's That Girl. Thanks, now I cannot get that song out of my head.
Friday means lots of Aussie imports via Amazon US:
- Zu Warriors (2001) – Imprint Asia #6 (AU Limited Edition)
- The Wandering Earth II (2023) – Imprint Asia #4 (AU Limited Edition)
- Hero (2002) – Imprint Asia #5 (AU Limited Edition)
- Rambling Rose (1991) – Imprint Films Limited Edition (Australian Import)
- The United States Of Leland (2003) – Imprint Films Limited Edition (Australian Import)
- Secretary (2002) – Imprint Films Limited Edition (Australian Import)
- Martin Scorsese: Films Of Faith (1988 – 2016) – Imprint Collection #326 – 328 (Australian Import Limited Edition)
- After Dark: Neo-Noir Cinema Collection Three (1991 – 2002) – Imprint Collection #320 – 325 (Australian Import Limited Edition)
- Fresh (1994) - Imprint Films Limited Edition (Australian Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
LionsGate and Bloody Disgusting has partnered with Walmart for a handful of Exclusive SteelBooks on August 20th. Do check it out!
Also from LionsGate, they have revealed that The Strangers: Chapter 1 will be available on blu-ray, 4K and DVD on July 23rd.
Arrow Video has revealed their September 2024 releases. Do check out our article.
The Warner Archive has also posted five titles for August. Read more about it here.
You may have seen recently a UK announcement for Tinto Brass' release of Caligula. Small label Unobstructed View has revealed they are releasing it to blu-ray and 4K in the US, with a tentative date of September 17th.
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?
Continue Reading -
Are You The Discmaster? HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, June 24 2024
Posted Mon Jun 24, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineIt would be ironic if the film Groundhog Day came out on disc this week, this is the third month in a row where at the end of the month the floodgates have opened, the dam has burst, a large dump truck drove up and dumped us with a load of discs. Yeah, it's pretty heavy!
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 4 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 23rd - June 29th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday begins with a trio of titles...
From Curzon, Bong Joon-ho's Memories of Murder (Limited Edition).
From Arrow Video, '87 comedy/drama Withnail and I. For some reason there appears to be no Amazon UK link, but that's OK, Arrow UK should be able to fill your need here.
And lastly from Warner Bros., Purple Rain. Surprisingly, there is no ultra-deluxe edition at the same time like so many other catalog Warner titles get in the UK market. The SteelBook has been pushed back to the end of July.
Next, there are several new releases to get Domestic Tuesday going.
First from Sony Pictures, long-awaited (by some) sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Also available as a Limited SteelBook. If you missed out on this new franchise, there's a slo the 2-Movie Collection offering as well. If you were anxious for a Walmart Exclusive, theirs is in the blu-ray category, not 4K.
Next up and from LionsGate, action/war film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. There is also an Amazon Exclusive SteelBook Edition of this one too.
In the short notice release (if you guessed Universal Pictures, you would be correct), action/thriller Monkey Man.
Closing out New Releases for the week in this category, delayed from a couple of weeks ago, Godzilla/Kong Monsterverse 5-Film Collector's Edition.
On to catalog titles and starting with David Lynch's crime/mystery Blue Velvet.
Small label Celluloid Dreams offers The Case of the Bloody Iris to 4K for the first time. I did see the 'product in hand' social media post for this one, so it will be available!
The Vinegar Syndrome label always has something fresh. This week standard editions (via Amazon) of China O'Brien 1 & 2, Little Darlings and Navy Seals, and limited editions only via their web site, The Sadness (Slipcover Edition SOLD OUT) and Supermarkt.
The House of Seven Corpses is available via the DarkStar store, with a wider release in the future.
Shout Factory this week offers us some classic John Goodman comedy with Matinee.
The U.S. counterpart for Purple Rain is available just one day ofter the UK edition. There is no SteelBook slated for the U.S. market.
Pair of releases from Paramount this week, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut - 25th Anniversary Limited Edition and Team America: World Police - 20th Anniversary Limited Edition. Holy %@#%, has it been that long for both of these?!?
Closing out 4K for the week, Sony Pictures breaks away Taxi Driver from the Columbia Classics Volume Two set and offers it as a Limited Edition SteelBook. The previous release within the set had Dolby Vision, so there's that factor.
Blu-ray releases-
Phew! You thought we had a lot of 4K titles to list, the blu-ray category is close to 100 titles. Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, also available as a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook, and of course the 2 Movie Collection as well, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Monkey Man.
New drama from Universal Pictures with The Boys in the Boat. In the zero notice category, a decumentary about Paul Simon titled In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.
It's Warner Archive Collection Week, titles becoming available this week include Act of Violence, The Flash: The Original Series, The Man I Love (1947), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) and The Shining Hour.
Have some Sonny Chiba action with Beast Fighter (Karate Bullfighter / Karate Bearfighter) (Limited Edition) from Eureka Classics.
From Janus Contemporaries, the documentary Orlando, My Political Biography.
For the Criterion label, a drama titled The Underground Railroad.
If you did not buy the 4K release from Paramount for War of the Worlds, they have now separated the blu-ray of When Worlds Collide as a single release.
Anime highlights include (be prepared for long titles) The Aristocrat's Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far - The Complete Season, Demon Slayer - Swordsmith Village Arc (Crunchyroll Exclusive), The First Slam Dunk, I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too - The Complete Season and Oshi no Ko: Season 1 Collection.
Honorable Mention: Delayed from a few weeks back, Kino Cult Label, spine number 7, Bettie Page Double Feature is available this week.
Notable announcements from last week:
The Criterion Collection has announced their September 2024 slate of titles. Do have a look see!
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be coming to 4K and blu-ray August 27. I may be mistaken, but I believe this is where Sony takes over the disc business itself.
Also on August 27, Warner Bros will be bringing The Watchers to 4K and blu-ray the same date.
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?
Continue Reading -
Don't Forget It Jake, It's HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, June 17 2024
Posted Mon Jun 17, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineThe month continues to ramp up in volume as it has done so for a couple of months now, next week the floodgates open up yet again! But let's get through this week first, shall we?
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 3 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 16th - June 22nd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
No actual 'new' releases this week, catalog titles though, some pretty good ones. The 4K category would have been much busier, but without any notice, all of the Kino Lorber releases for the last couple weeks of the month got moved to July.
It's hard to decide which label to start with, so let's begin with Arrow Video and American Gigolo. If you caught it early enough, you could have also gotten the Arrow Store exclusive, which has a seemingly better cover art.
Criterion Collection has the 1996 thriller/romance Bound this week.
Spine number 45 of the Paramount Presents label debuts this week, following a familiar pattern, Chinatown/The Two Jakes. Chinatown gets a 4K disc while The Two Jakes is considered a bonus blu-ray. If you live in the UK, the same/counterpart release comes out Monday in your market.
Shout! Factory has a pair of titles related to each other. First, classic Robocop 2 with Peter Weller and Nancy Allen. And a modern (2014) take of the original idea, Robocop. When I saw the 2014 film, I felt it was a decent remake.
Lastly, Sony Pictures offers The Karate Kid in a 40th Anniversary edition with VHS special packaging.
Next week is a very busy week, even with Kino Lorber moving their titles into July. Prepare yourself.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include just a couple, American Gigolo from Arrow Video and Bound from Criterion.
The Sony MOD label this week has Beverly Hills Ninja, The Burglars, Cat Ballou (1965) and Shotgun Stories.
The 2023 comedy American Fiction comes to us via Warner Bros.
Criterion Collection brings us some Mexican cinema with Victims of Sin.
You know who you are when I say calling all collectors of this series, the next set, Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XIX comes to us via Kino Lorber.
Eureka Entertainment's The Masters of Cinema Series sub-label has action/crimer series Prison Walls: Abashiri Prison I-III posted this week.
Believe it or not, we got just one Anime highlight this week, Mars Express.
Next week in this category, ouch, just, OUCH! There are a ton of titles to ponder.
Notable announcements from last week:
Nothing MAJOR to announce really. CrunchyRoll has an interesting September slate. Sony continues to reissue HDR10 titles as Dolby Vision upgraded releases, as well as a few more. Kino Cult is adding a few Corman classics that were previously done by Scream Factory. Walmart has finally listed the exclusive SteelBook release for The Last Unicorn 4K.
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?
Continue Reading -
HDD's Monstrous 4K UHD x Blu-ray Shopping Guide, June 10 2024
Posted Mon Jun 10, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineSlight uptick in titles overall this week. Summer is just around the corner, which of course brings the Summer Movie Season! Are you excited to see something on the Coming Soon list? To me it has been a bit lackluster, but there are sure to be a few.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 2 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 9th - June 15th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
This week in 4K, there probably is something for everyone, and the month is beginning to ramp up like it has the past couple of months, with the end of the month opening up the flood gates yet again.
Import Monday has one entry, Michael Mann's 2023 drama/bio Ferrari. If that title sounds familiar, it should, Decal Releasing released a blu-ray of it in the U.S. back in March.
On to Domestic Tuesday titles and first the new release this week, which edition of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is in your shopping cart? The standard release or the Walmart Exclusive SteelBook. On the latter, maybe we should call it the 'Elusive' SteelBook. Unless you preordered it before it was even official, you can only hope your local store will have a couple copies or that online has a restock event. If you were hoping for the complete (up to this point) Monsterverse set that would have been out this week, it has been moved to the end of the month, as if that week isn't crowded enough already.
Catalog titles this week, let's start with Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita (1990), which comes as a SteelBook from Sony Pictures.
From Dreamworks Animation and Universal Pictures, the 4K franchise completes with Shrek Forever After. You can also opt for the Shrek 4-Movie Collection. It appears that most of the made for TV specials carry over to the 4-film collection as well, so you might be able to box up or sell the blu-ray edition already on your shelf.
In what felt like a somewhat long wait from the first film, Shout! Factory this week has Species II.
From the Arrow Label first, a horror thriller titled Mute Witness.
Also this week from Arrow, a 'Standard Special Edition' of Wild Things.
These final two titles are very street-date subject to change, as they are smaller labels and I have not seen the usual 'product in hand' posts on social media.
From MPI, SteelBook release of action film The Last Kumite.
And from Eureka Classics' 'The Masters of Cinema Series' Asian Cinema The Valiant Ones gets a special 4K release.
Next week, the ramp up continues, if ever so slightly.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Mute Witness, Wild Things, The Last Kumite and The Valiant Ones.
Before we mention domestic Tuesday titles, let's mention that 101 Films UK has a fancy box set titled The Lawnmower Man Collection. This set does not implicitly state region-free, as it is a 101 Films release though, there is a chance it could be, purchase accordingly.
And now on to domestic releases...While Capelight delivered us region free 4K editions in Germany, this week Universal delivers a blu-ray of Luc Besson's Dogman. Not trying to dissuade you from buying the blu-ray, maybe it was not considered an A-list movie, or, could be the usual blu-ray now, soon to be a 4K double-dip. Who knows?
In almost an echo here, Immaculate gets a blu-ray release from Decal Releasing. Capelight did a 4K, and in the 4K section above you see me mentioning the import of Ferrari in 4K, while a domestic release gets a blu-ray from Decal Releasing.
Criterion Collection this week has the special interest title Querelle.
TV on disc includes Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker and Superman & Lois: The Complete Third Season.
Anime highlights include Buddy Daddies - The Complete Season, Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning, My Love Story!! Complete Collection and The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist in Another World - The Complete Season.
MGM is reissuing a couple of titles that are considered out of print, they include Class (1983) and The Mighty Quinn.
Sandpiper Pictures makes a reapparance on the chart with Article 99, A Family Thing, Warriors of Virtue and Winter People.
The 'small label item in hand' comment from above applies here too, on track to release this week from 88 Films are A Queen's Ransom and Royal Warriors (In the Line of Duty). In the Line of Duty 2, 3 and 4 are coming soon!
From Paramount, South Park special event South Park: Joining the Panderverse gets a blu-ray this week.
Honorable Mention: Mill Creek appears to be all in with regards to Ultraman. This week look for Battle Kaiju Series #3: Ultraman Vs. Gomora.
Another Friday batch of Australian Imports to woo you;
- Y/N: You Lie You Die (Australia Import)
- The Great Escaper (Australia Import)
- Mr. Holmes [Australia Import]
- The Prisoner: The Complete Series - Imprint Films Limited Edition
Notable announcements from last week:
Shout Factory has revealed their August slate of titles. In no particular order, they are Death To Smoochy, Observe and Report, Poltergeist II: The Other Side 4K, Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Trilogy 4K, Evil Dead (2013) 4K SteelBook, Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Complete Series [Shout Shop Exclusive Deluxe Limited Edition], Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey 4K, Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Complete Series, The Delta Force 4K, The Last Unicorn 4K and 4K SteelBook, Bill & Ted Face the Music 4K, and general SteelBook 4K releases of Dragonheart and Hackers.
It has been announced that Shawscope Volume 3 (Arrow Video) will be coming on November 26th.
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?
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Let's Rango Up Some Discs - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, June 3 2024
Posted Mon Jun 3, 2024 at 07:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineYear Five Begins! A little more than four years ago I was asked about putting together a weekly release guide of home video releases for the site. As a hardcore collector, I already have a passion for new releases, so why not share some with our readers as well? Hope you have followed and enjoyed over the years, and of course make a purchase via our links.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 1 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 2nd - June 8th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
As it seems, the past couple of months have started out with a handful of titles and as the month continues, it ramps up. June is no different!
Import Monday begins with a pair of titles, first from Paramount, The Italian Job (1969), available as a handsome looking collector's edition set. The US release was done by Kino Lorber, minus the swag.
From MediumRare, another recent Universal Pictures blu-ray release gets the 4K treatment, referring to Lisa Frankenstein. It is inevitable, but not guaranteed that the US will get a 4K double-dip at some point. I chose not to wait, I ordered mine already.
Moving to Domestic releases next, they are all catalog titles at that.
Starting off with Paramount, Johnny Depp animated feature Rango gets a 4K debut with a SteelBook release.
From Sony Pictures, Glory (1989) gets one of those Dolby Vision upgrades, in a SteelBook release.
From the Criterion Collection, more Johnny Depp (directed by Terry Gilliam), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This one seemed quite inevitable, afterall, I bought the Arrow UK release a few months back. Am I disappointed? No.
Kino Lorber has just one 4K release this week, the crime/thriller Bad Lieutenant.
Our last new to 4K release this week is Typhoon Club, a Japanese drama/romance from Cinema Guild. Would not be surprised to see it bumped back a few weeks.
Formerly Walmart Exclusive SteelBooks, this week Shout Factory offers them as general SteelBook releases, The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Platoon.
Import Friday (via Amazon US) are a couple of recent UK 4K releases, Fist of Legend from 88 Films, and The Long Good Friday from Arrow Video
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, just Typhoon Club from Cinema Guild.
Sort of a repeat in the blu-ray category as well, start out with a manageable selection and the ramp up and dump a large load at the end of the month.
A couple of anime highlights this week, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill - The Complete Season and Is the Order a Rabbit: Season 1. That's it!
Doctor Who fan? Doctor Who: Peter Davison - Complete Season Two comes out this week. I want to collect these. The releases are sporadic and they bounce all around, era-wise.
Honorable mention: My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert is probably something that most everyone should recognize. We eagerly await for all their movies to hit 4K. Have a concert in the mean time.
Friday brings us multiple imports from Umbrella Entertainment and Imprint Films. For some reason Amazon missed Queen of Spades, we will update our listings when we get the listing.
- The Queen of Spades - Imprint Films Limited Edition - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import]
- Black Moon - Imprint Films Limited Edition - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import]
- Catacombs (The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die) - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import]
- The Man Who Haunted Himself - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import]
- Woman Who Came Back - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import]
- The Uninvited (1944) / The Unseen (1945) - Imprint Films Limited Edition [AU Import]
Notable announcements from last week:
The smash hit TV series Friends will be coming to 4K disc on September 24th. More TV on disc is a good thing, on 4K whenever possible is even better!
Arrow Video's August 2024 slate has been revealed. US and UK titles include Desperado 4K, The Mexico Trilogy: El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Desperado is in 4K, the other 2 films on blu-ray), When Titans Ruled The Earth: Clash of the Titans & Wrath of the Titans (4K and blu-ray), The Woman & Offspring (4K Double Feature) and an Arrow Store exclusive blu-ray set of Memento Mori: The Jörg Buttgereit Collection. For the UK only, The Silence of the Lambs (4K, Store Exclusive 4K and blu-ray) and Heathers (4K and a store exclusive 4K).
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?
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Every Little Disc, Gonna Be Alright - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, May 27, 2024
Posted Mon May 27, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineThe heat is on! Ouch, just, OUCH! There are a ton of releases in both the 4K and blu-ray categories. In what feels like a repeat of last month starting off slow then ramping up as the month continues, there are plenty of titles to pick from this week!
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 52 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 26th - June 1st, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Getting right down to business, Domestic New Releases begins with Bob Marley: One Love, which is also available as a SteelBook Edition. Respect, yeah.
In the zero-day notice category (yup, if you guessed Universal Pictures you would be right) we see the return of the Furious Five with Kung Fu Panda 4.
Catalog titles are next, from Kino Lorber we get the comedy/musical Cry Baby with Johnny Depp.
Severin Films is up next. The Great Alligator get a standard release as well as a Web Exclusive Edition, Cathy's Curse gets a standard release and an uber fancy Web Exclusive Edition, Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker as a standard edition and a Web Exclusive Edition, The Devil's Honey as a standard edition and a Web Exclusive Edition and Cemetery Man gets a standard release.
From Discotek, Japanese language release of Belladonna of Sadness.
The A24 shop has a site exclusive release of (Talking Heads) concert film Stop Making Sense: Collector's Edition.
Vinegar Syndrome site exclusives of Invasion U.S.A., Lifeline and Navy Seals are out this week, general releases usually follow in a month or two. A standard release of Witch Story is also available this week.
Closing it out, Paramount has a double-dip of sort, a SteelBook release of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Warner Bros has Batman (1989) as a SteelBook release too!
More of the same pattern begins next week, as the month begins we get a handful or releases, then it ramps up as the month goes on.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases includes Bob Marley: One Love from Paramount, Kung Fu Panda 4 (and a 4-Movie Collection) from Universal, Cry Baby from Kino Lorber, The Great Alligator, "Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker" and Cemetery Man (Standard Edition) from Severin and Stop Making Sense from the A24 shop.
From Janus Contemporaries, a documentary titled All That Breathes.
Criterion Collection has the drama/thriller Anatomy of a Fall. For drama this week, look for Girlfight.
LionsGate offers up a bit of adventure with Arthur The King. As far as a crime/thriller releases, Damaged releases this week, as does Knox Goes Away.
Anime highlights include Bluelock Season 1 Part 2, Digimon: Digital Monsters - Season 2, IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix - The Complete Stage, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple: The Attack of Darkness - The Complete OVA Series, My Home Hero: The Complete Season and Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: The Complete Fifth Season.
You bought the first Six right, so now it's time for Monk: Season Seven.
Arrow Video continues to churn out the releases, this week the horror Pandemonium.
Friday import releases via Amazon US include both UK and Australian titles:
- 13 Frightened Girls - Indicator Series [UK Import]
- Zotz! - Indicator Series [UK Import]
- The Old Dark House (1963) - Indicator Series [UK Import]
- Upstream Color (2013) (Australian Import)
- Primer (2004) (Australian Import)
- Trash Humpers (2009) (Australian Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
Just to be a wise ass, I would like to mention that Kung Fu Panda 4 will be coming to blu-ray and 4K disc May 28th. Yes, it was announced last week. Seems to me if a studio were to give more advance notice it would offer a chance to build up excitement and a preorder window. Nope, let's ship the movie to retailers and as they are scratching their heads on a release date, then announce it 3 hours later.
Halo: Season 2 will be coming to blu-ray and 4K on July 23rd. Just like Season 1, there will also be a 4K SteelBook option.
Warner Bros has officially announced Rocky V, Rocky Balboa and the Ultimate Knockout Collection for July 16th release.
Sony has made Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire official for June 25th.
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?
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Do the Hustle! - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, May 20, 2024
Posted Mon May 20, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineNot pressing pause by a long shot. Both 4K and blu-ray categories have a lot of decent titles to ponder.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 51 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 19th - May 25th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
This category looks pretty crowded at first glance. Even if you were to purchase everything on the list, you would come out well under $250, not the $600 mountain that it looks like.
Import Monday has the 2011 Sci-Fi Thriller Source Code via StudioCanal. As LionsGate did this already in the US, most of us have little reason to even consider it.
Domestic Tuesday consists of all catalog titles. Before I get the the mini-flood from Paramount, let's post all the others.
First up, from Sony Pictures and the first time to 4K disc, comedy American Hustle gets a SteelBook release.
From Blue Underground and what is sure to be another definitive release, horror/thriller Deathdream (aka Dead of Night).
From Scream Factory, 2020 fantasy/horror Gretel & Hansel, previously released in regular HD by Universal.
Closing out the category before we hit up Paramount, Arrow Video has a pair of titles. First up, a 4K upgrade to Guillermo del Toro's goth/horror Crimson Peak. There is word that del Toro is revisiting this film for some future project, don't let that stop you from buying it, these Arrow LE's sell fast and increase in value.
And last but not least, crime film Narc. Our most recent review lists it as a "Must Own." Owning it, I must!
OK, those Paramount releases. Dubbed All 4 Formats Editions, they include a DVD, Blu-ray, 4K disc and Digital Codes, housed in a DVD case, all for a value price of $10.99! These have crept up at many local Walmarts for some time now and are now made available elsewhere. Preorders sold well, so just keep checking, or visit your Walmart for mixed results.
This batch includes Beverly Hills Cop, Cloverfield, Escape from L.A., The Hunt for Red October, Interstellar, The Lost City, A Quiet Place, Shutter Island and The Untouchables.
Next week we see a significant ramp up for general titles. Prepare Yourself.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Deathdream from Blue Underground and Narc from Arrow Video. I wouldn't be wrong by saying that the 9 titles from Paramount are also counterparts, but let's just move on to the rest of the category.
Sony Pictures releases the 2016 drama/fantasy The Cleanse. Under the Sony Pictures Classics label, drama film The Vertical Ray of the Sun.
New (2024) release crime film Dead Wrong comes via Mill Creek.
Somewhat busy week for Anime highlights, look for Dead Mount Death Play - Part 1, Dr. STONE - Season 3 Part 1, Food Wars!: The Second Plate, A Galaxy Next Door: The Complete Season, The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World - The Complete Season and Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement - The Complete Season.
Shout Factory has a Collector's Edition of The Island Of Dr. Moreau (1996).
Criterion Collection's special interest title this week is Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène.
Honorable Mentions: If you have been collecting the Kino Cult Releases, this week they have Kino Cult #7, Bettie Page Double Feature [Varietease | Teaserama]. Time to scoop it up!
Kino also has a pair of collections of classic films to consider this week as well, Philo Vance Collection and Republic Pictures Horror Collection. The Sci-Fi Chillers Collection got bumped to next week.
Notable announcements from last week:
Orson Welles' iconic thriller The Lady from Shanghai will be coming to 4K disc on July 23rd from Sony Pictures.
Sony Pictures will also be releasing The Three Stooges Blu-ray Collection on July 23rd as well. The 20-disc set includes 8 full length features, as well as 120 Stooge shorts.
Criterion Collection's August batch of titles has been announced. Do have a look see.
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?
Continue Reading -
Let's Get Spicy - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, May 13, 2024
Posted Mon May 13, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineThe Summer movie season is just around the corner which means blockbusters and new releases. For the disc market, we are ramping up again to what will be a busy end of month schedule, for this week though, a few more titles than last.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 50 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 12th - May 18th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
The week begins with Import Monday and the erotic drama/romance The Dreamers.
And from Warner Bros, another deluxe release, American Sniper 10th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook [UK Import].
On to Domestic Release Tuesday and starting with Warner Bros, and no doubt a title most of us have been anxiously awaiting, Dune: Part Two. You can also get this in a SteelBook Release, and the obligatory Two-film Collection release.
Warner Bros also leads the catalog releases section as well. First, award winning American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood. This one also has a Steelbook option available. Standard Warner Bros M.O here, the UK gets a much nicer release, seen above in the import Monday section, the US gets a standard release. On a plus note, they did not use an alternate cover art for these release and they actually did put more than one special feature on the disc this time.
A bit of comedy goes a long way too with Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike, popcorn tub not included.
And then, lastly from Warner Bros, 12 Strong, a film based on a true story of a post 9/11 U.S. Special Forces team.
Paramount Presents Spine Number 44 becomes available this week, referring to Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West, starring several familiar names like Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda.
The Criterion Collection this week has the 1960 mystery/thriller Peeping Tom.
Closing out the 4K category, Shout! Factory has Killer Klowns from Outer Space, which can also be had in a snazzy SteelBook.
Next week looks like a bear, but a lot of them are those "All 4 formats edition" releases that have been on the shelves of your local Walmart on and off for awhile, and seem unavailable to order now via Amazon.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Dune: Part Two, Dune: 2-Film Collection and Peeping Tom.
New release from LionsGate - Imaginary. On my maybe list, but would be on a for sure list if it was a 4K. Someone tell Blumhouse there is a hungry market for 4K discs.
In the zero notice category, Universal Pictures also brings us a new release comedy/fantasy titled The American Society of Magical Negroes.
The Warner Archive Collection has a few more treats for us this week with Friendly Persuasion, The Nun's Story and You're a Big Boy Now.
LionsGate delivers a pair of previously released Vestron Video titles, but as Walmart Exclusive SteelBooks, look for The Gate and The Lair of the White Worm.
Anime highlights include The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague - The Complete Season, KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! - The Complete Season, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch - Season 2, Naruto Shippuden Set 3, A Place Further Than The Universe: The Complete Series [Collector's Edition] and Uzaki-Chan Wants to Hang Out! The Complete Season 2, which can also be purchased as a Limited Edition Release.
Shout! Factory releases Wes Craven's Dracula 2000 this week. Also the 2009 thriller Orphan gets a Collector's Edition.
Notable announcements from last week:
Warner Bros has detailed the release for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire to 4K and blu-ray disc, with a street date of June 11th.
Not an announcement, but rather news. We just want to mention the passing of B-movie great Roger Corman at the grand age of 98. There would have been a lot of ideas never made in to movies if it were not for his vision.
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?
Continue Reading -
Is That a 4K I Smell? HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, May 6, 2024
Posted Mon May 6, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineLately, the release schedule for each month looks like a pattern, just a few titles on the beginning of the month, a linear curve throughout, and then a flood at the end. If you're ready, we are at the beginning and have just a few to pick from.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 49 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 5th - May 11th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday begins with Night Swim, with yet another familiar pattern. Release a blu-ray in the US, then a 4K overseas, and then (possibly) a 4K in the US after that.
Domestic Tuesday this week has zero New Releases. With all the catalog title possibilities out there, this is A-OK, bring them!
Starting the week, cult classic The Crow with Brandon Lee. You can also choose the SteelBook if you so desire.
From Shout Factory, animated double-feature The Addams Family 1 & 2.
How about an Oscar winning Western from Kino Lorber, High Noon?
In the "you're welcome" category (because I recently bought the import), LionsGate brings us Francis Ford Coppola's One From The Heart: Reprise. Had I not bought it, you would all still be waiting for it. What other import purchases would you like me to make?
In the 'maybe' release listing, Frivolous Lola. Has been pushed back a couple of times, now listed as May 3rd on Amazon. The next 3rd of the month Tuesday is in August.
A pair of music concert releases come out on Friday,
- Peter Gabriel: Back to Front - Live in London - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
- Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid - 4K Ultra Blu-ray
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include just High Noon from Kino Lorber and (maybe) Frivolous Lola from Cult Epics. There is also a Friday release of Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid from Mercury.
Warner Archive Collection releases this week include Devil's Doorway, The Mask of Fu Manchu, The Rain People and Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island / Return to Zombie Island.
Delayed several times, and finally here, Hardware Wars: Collector's Edition comes to us via the MVD Rewind Collection. And, just because, let's also pick up Joysticks and Sabotage while we are at it. If you follow MVD on Facebook, they are very transparent about the whys for street date changes, which is very admirable.
Arrow Video has the crime/thriller Night Falls on Manhattan for us this week.
Criterion Collection this week has A Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu.
Anime highlights include KamiKatsu: Working for God in a Godless World - The Complete Season, Mob Psycho 100 III - Season 3, also available as a Limited Edition, One Piece - Collection 34 and One Piece: Season Thirteen - Voyage Seven.
Monk: Season Six comes to us this week via Kino Lorber.
Honorable Mention: Mill Creek has a double feature for us, Director Spotlight: Sydney Pollack, which includes OOP title Bobby Deerfield and the previously unreleased blu-ray of Castle Keep.
Closing out the week, a couple of Austrailian imports this Friday via Amazon US:
- Clint Eastwood: Film Collection (AU Import)
- Scent of a Woman (AU Import)
- May December (AU Import)
- Road House (AU Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
Shout Factory has revealed their July title slate. For 4K releases, Dark Angel, House of Gucci, Phantoms and UHF. For blu-ray, Ali G Indahouse: The Movie, Storytelling and Who's That Girl. Getting that SteelBook double-dip, Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time (yeah I know, why not the 4K), and 4K general SteelBook releases of titles that were retailers exclusives previously, Natural Born Killers, Point Break and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Somewhere out there, there's a site listing Red Sonja for blu-ray release as well. With a previous StudioCanal 4K release of that title, I wonder if that listing is in error.
Warner Bros is on track to announce a 4K release of Twister (1996) and (rumored, but inevitable) that they are working on Nightmare on Elm Street for 4K as well. Expect the usual formulas we have seen with the UK vs US releases with cover arts, swag/no swag, extra/no extras.
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?
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Hope You Saved Some Shelf Space! - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Apr 29, 2024
Posted Mon Apr 29, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineWe joke a lot about busting your bank account or kissing your wallet goodbye. Ain't no easy way to say it, this week certainly appears to be on par with that statement.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 48 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 28th - May 4th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
If you religiously buy new releases when they come out, then this week is not quite as painful to keep up with, as there are a handful of standard editions from both Severin and Arrow Video. But, it is still very busy!
Before we engage the hyperdrive with Tuesday titles, import Monday has China O'Brien 1 & 2 from Eureka Classics. I don't know these films, but they sound like a lot of fun! (Vinegar Syndrome recently had their take on this collection as well!)
Even if they were not new releases, Disney's Disney+ TV SteelBooks would probably come up first on Domestic Tuesday. Without further adieu, let's cover them!
In the Star Wars universe, both Andor: The Complete First Season and Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series get similar style SteelBooks as the last wave of releases.
And moving on to Marvel Studios, familiar style SteelBook releases of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: The Complete First Season and Moon Knight: The Complete First Season.
In the last wave of their Disney+ SteelBook releases, some of them were hard to find at first, so shop accordingly.
Next up from Sony Pictures, action/sci-fi Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson. This one is also available as a (semi)Limited SteelBook Edition too.
Paramount is up next with Mean Girls (2024). Would that be considered a reboot? And also for the first time to 4K disc, Mean Girls (2004) is also available the same day.
Moving on to catalog titles, Warner Bros. brings us the films that star fictional character and heist master Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and an all-star cast to back him up, with an award winning director. Yup, I am referring to Ocean's Trilogy, as well as the individual films as SteelBooks, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen.
From Arrow Video, 1982 Midnight Movie classic Basket Case. You can also get this as an Arrow Store Exclusive with alternate cover art.
Just for the sake of mentioning because not everyone wants or needs the Limited Editions, Arrow Video also has available this week, Standard Special Editions of Barbarella, Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer.
The standard release of Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is available from Vinegar Syndrome.
Standard releases of The Church and The Sect come to us from Severin Films.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, a whole bunch again this week! Disney's Star Wars Disney+ TV SteelBooks of Andor - The Complete First Season, Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Complete Series, Marvel's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: The Complete First Season, Moon Knight: The Complete First Season, Sony's Madame Web, Mean Girls (2024) from Paramount, Arrow Standard Special Editions of Barbarella, Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer. Severin's standard releases for The Church and The Sect (which might be pushed back a week.) One has to wonder of the 4Ks will be as well of those last two, or if this is simply an Amazon error. We have decided to leave them listed for this week!
OK, another big week for the blu-ray category. Let's jump right in.
New 2024 drama from Lionsgate, Ordinary Angels with Hilary Swank.
New to the Criterion Collection this week, drama/romance Dogfight, and having never heard of the movie, not what I was thinking when I read the title.
Anime highlights include Blue Giant and The Dangers in My Heart: Season 1.
From Arrow Video, a crime/western titled The Tin Star.
TV on disc from CBS/Paramount, Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
Honorable Mention: Shout Factory Shop Exclusives Death and the Maiden and The Getaway (1994) are available this week.
Excluding the Lee Greenwood music title, we get more Australian imports on Friday via Amazon US. Here's the full list:
- An All Star Salute To Lee Greenwood
- Wes Craven Film Collection – 3D Lenticular Limited Edition (AU Import)
- Halloween II (1981) - 3D Lenticular Limited Edition (AU Import)
- Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - 3D Lenticular Limited Edition (AU Import)
- Dune (1984) - 3D Lenticular Limited Edition (AU Import)
- Film Focus: Kim Novak (1957 – 1959) – Imprint Limited Edition
- Tales Of Adventure – Collection 3 (1951 – 1966) – Imprint Limited Edition
- Directed By… John Farrow (1942 – 1953) – Imprint Limited Edition
- Against the Storm: Herbert Kline in a Darkened Europe (Crisis: A Film of "The Nazi Way" & Lights Out in Europe)
Notable announcements from last week:
Paramount has confirmed that 4K releases of South Park: Bigger, Longer' & Uncut and Team America: World Police will be coming June 25th. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy may also come the same day, but that title has not been locked in quite yet.
Warner Archive Collection has listed their June 2024 slate of titles. Check out the News Story for details. I can feel it coming any month now, a release of the animated feature Quest For Camelot!
Arrow Video's July slate has been revealed. Titles include The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) 4K and blu-ray, blu-rays of Red Line 7000 and The Nico Mastorakis Collection, and it looks like the UK is catching up with getting The Last Starfighter to blu-ray and 4K, and a blu-ray of Loop Track.
One last thing --- is Target discontinuing support for physical video media? Initially it was leaked that they were, and they vehemently denied the story stating they were stocking select releases, which we already have seen in most locations, as well as continuing with full online offerings. Now some sites are saying YES, they are going to do the same (ignorant) move Best Buy did, which was pulling it all, both online and in stores. So they still carry vinyl and books in stores, which apparently doesn't count. That makes little sense to me. Periodically I take advantage of their BOGO sales online, but the in store selection has tons to be desired so I have obviously bought less in store. We will keep you posted. The important thing to note is that all those other sites could just be rehashing the same bad story, or there could be something behind it. Competition is always a healthy thing, support any merchant that still carries movies to fill our shelves!
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?
Continue Reading -
Let's Whet Your Appetite/The Statham Sting - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Apr 22, 2024
Posted Mon Apr 22, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineTitle volume ticks up quite a bit this week. Call it a bit of an appetizer to the smorgasbord of titles next week. Statham returns as a 'beekeeper,' no doubt Stathaming as best as Statham knows how!
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 47 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 21st - April 27th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Try not to buy something this week, just try!
Import Monday has a couple of titles to choose from. First, StudioCanal's premium label, their "Vintage Classics" presentation of The Lavender Hill Mob. A comedy/crime classic starring Sir Alec Guinness. I might have just bought my first title of the week and we are not even on to Domestic titles yet.
In my slightly annoyed leer, recent hit comedy/drama The Holdovers gets a 4K import. The leer is aimed at Universal Pictures, not Dazzler Media who brings it to us in 4K, while Uni does not. I totally get that not every film gets 4K, but this one should!
And a hard rock music title, somehow now showing up as a January release, but probably an error on Amazon's part, Mötley Crüe: The End - Live in Los Angeles.
And on to Domestic Tuesday titles we go as we look at two new release from Warner Bros!
First up, a Jason Statham action/thriller (bet you thought I was going to say romcom right?) The Beekeeper. How are you holding up for the buy nothing challenge?
Next, DC Animation's Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 2.
Starting off catalog releases, might as well stick with Warner Bros for their star-filled, award winning director release of The Departed. You can also opt for the SteelBook if you wish.
Sony Pictures has the SteelBook of Steel Magnolias this week.
Up next, a pair of Indicator Series Limited Editions with The Demoniacs and The Nude Vampire.
A label we don't see every week, Blue Underground has Goodbye Uncle Tom, presented as a 4-Disc Limited Edition. Personally have never been steered wrong yet with the quality of any of their releases.
Criterion has foreign film I Am Cuba this week.
From team Kino, Andrei Tarkovsky's Nostalghia.
And closing out the week for 4K, Shout Select release Rolling Thunder.
How did you fare? I got 5 for sures and 3 maybes. Next week, Disc-ocalypse returns with way too many titles to summarize! (Although, a bunch of them are standard edition reissues, so there is hope yet of not quite destroying your account balance.)
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include a lot, The Beekeeper and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two from Warner Bros, The Demoniacs and The Nude Vampire under the Indicator Series, Goodbye Uncle Tom from Blue Underground, I Am Cuba from Criterion, and Nostalghia from Kino Lorber.
The blu-ray category looks quite busy, even if we exclude the off-brand boutiques, there are still a lot to look at. (And maybe there are some lesser known boutique titles you want to look at.)
New action/comedy Drive-Away Dolls comes to us via Universal.
From Eureka Entertainment, Jet Li stars in Black Mask, available as a 2-disc limited edition. Wouldn't be a Eureka week if there were only one title. Also look for The Cat and the Canary, all the way back from 1927.
MPI has a mediabook of Hansel and Gretel (1987) this week. If you opt for the standard release, there's that too.
From Arrow Video, The Scarface Mob, a crime/drama based on a TV pilot of the hunt for ruthless gangster Al Capone.
Friday via Amazon US, lots of Umbrella Entertainment and Via Vision (Australia) imports become available to the US market:
- Bill Nighy Triple Film Collection (AU Import)
- Kate Winslet Triple Film Collection (AU Import)
- Nicole Kidman Triple Film Collection (AU Import)
- Half Light (AU Import)
- Judi Dench: Triple Film Collection (AU Import)
- Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (AU Import)
- The Umbrella Academy: Season Three (AU Import)
- Tank Girl (1995) (Australian Import)
- Time Addicts (2023) (Australian Import)
- Coffy (1973) (Australian Import)
- Ransom (1974) (Australian Import)
- Masters of the Universe (Australian Import)
- Jacob's Ladder (1990) (Imprint Standard Edition)
- Body Parts (1991) (Imprint Standard Edition)
- The Mothman Prophecies (Imprint Standard Edition)
- Let's Scare Jessica to Death (Imprint Standard Edition)
- The Brotherhood of Satan (Imprint Standard Edition)
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion has announced their July 2024 disc slate. Look for Black God, White Devil blu-ray, Farewell My Concubine blu-ray and 4K, Le Samouraï in 4K, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid blu-ray and 4K, Perfect Days blu-ray and 4K, and Risky Business blu-ray and 4K.
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?
Continue Reading -
Happy IRS Day! - Spend Your Refund with HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Apr 15, 2024
Posted Mon Apr 15, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineHappy IRS day! Got a big refund coming? Dolby is tugging at your refund check. That is, Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision! And how bout that backlog of discs?
We get another below average slow week this week, with another disc-ocalypse just around the corner. If every week were busy, burning the candle at both ends would not really be very sustainable, agreed?
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 46 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 14th - April 20th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
We actually do have a new release this week, that being Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: The Final Season, brought to us via Paramount. And since it's a final season, why not include The Complete Series while we are it it? Let us also offer up the obvious money grab, Jack Ryan Ultimate 5-Movie Collection. Maybe you held off buying this collection?
From the Criterion Collection, Hungarian film Werckmeister Harmonies.
On the delayed list, The Faculty from Shout Factory to an undetermined date, and High Noon from Kino Lorber to May 7th. The latter still shows up on Amazon for a release this week, but official listings at Kino Lorber indicate otherwise.
Word of caution -- Disc-ocalypse, part two is just 2 weeks away!
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases includes Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: The Final Season (not available to order at press time-alternate WALMART LINK) and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: The Complete Series from Paramount. Also available, Werckmeister Harmonies from Criterion.
For the rest of this category, it is a bit slow. But as always, here are the highlights...
Shout Factory has a new 'Select' release of 1997 drama Affliction.
Universal has the latest comedy sequel, Half Baked: Totally High. Amazon has their stupid Allied Vaughn placeholder for the studio still, but it really is Universal.
Also from Universal, the latest season in the series, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.
From Sony Pictures, 1991 crime drama City of Hope. Under the Sony Pictures Classics label (NOT Allied Vaughn as Amazon shows), the Polish animated drama The Peasants.
Just one release in the anime category this week, Rozen Maiden: The Complete Series.
Star Trek: Lower Decks - Season Four comes to disc this week via Paramount.
Notable announcements from last week:
In the 'You're Welcome' category, Francis Ford Coppola's One from the Heart: Reprise will be coming to domestic 4K from LionsGate on May 7th. You're Welcome because I bought the import literally a month ago. Any other titles you would like me to import?
Warner Bros. has announced that Dune: Part Two will be coming to blu-ray and 4K on May 14th. Specs would indicate it will *not* include the IMAX ratio.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced that Madame Web will be released on April 30th to blu-ray and 4K format.
In entertainment industry news, Universal All-Access Rewards will be completely closed on July 31st. Seldom did this program offer physical rewards, but I would use it to add digital copies to my locker of titles that often times got licensed out to boutique labels for disc production. Boutique labels almost never include digital copies, so that was a nice side gig.
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?
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Picnic at the Empire State Building - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Apr 7, 2024
Posted Sun Apr 7, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineIs not a lot of witticism to open with this week, it basically being an ordinary slow week. As far as physical media and entertainment, we keep chugging along.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 45 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 7th - April 13th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
4K catalog week, part deux, or is it part tres. No matter, here's what to look for this week. Two weeks to the next wallet-buster.
From Paramount Pictures, the SteelBook of King Kong (1976). Shout Factory very recently did a blu-ray release of this one. The lesson we learned from the Shout release was not to go in with high expectations as the source material has a few issues. Still, I expect this release to look the best of all the previous releases.
From the Criterion Collection, Picnic at Hanging Rock. When I ordered the Second Sight UK fat-pack some time back, I did so knowing full well that Criterion would probably be doing a US release. But at the same time, Criterion does not offer it in a fancy edition or a swag filled fat-pack, so I am still happy with what I got.
From Massacre Video and (maybe) this week, action/horror Postal.
Closing out the category, an MPI Mediabook of Don Lee's The Roundup: No Way Out. For now, to get the original film with a Mediabook, it's blu-ray only.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases? This week look for The Roundup: No Way Out, in a standard edition blu-ray.
The rest of the category has a little bit of wallet-recharge vibe to it. Here are a few things though that you may want to ponder.
Two entries from Universal Pictures, Lisa Frankenstein: Collector's Edition and Night Swim: Collector's Edition. Are studios overusing the term Collector's Edition? If you are hollaring Where's the 4K? to truly make it a Collector's Edition, I won't disagree with you here. Not every movie gets such a physical release, but then some just seem inevitable. Whether a 4K double-dip is on our future, by Universal or Turbine, that is to be determined. [Edit: A UK 4K edition for Lisa Frankenstein is already available for preorder with a sttreet date in June, and it looks like Night Swim is coming in May, so, back to posing the original question to Universal/Blumhouse. Some people don't link importing though as there is a small chance of compatibility issues. Often times the enclose blu-ray on these UK releases are region locked.]
Doom Patrol: The Complete Fourth and Final Season comes to us via Warner Bros. You can also get a Complete Series set if you waited for this point of the series.
From the MVD Rewind Collection label, action flick Mean Guns: Collector's Edition.
The only Anime Highlight this week is Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time Super Extra (Season 2). I feel like we have been stuck at the previous season for awhile, so this is quite welcome.
If you have been waiting for the non-Walmart Exclusive edition of Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey, it comes as a standard release this week. Can you believe there are already two sequels to this? One is already made, the other is in the works. The film was made on a low budget, and there are a couple of territories which it is available as a 4K disc, but those releases are probably not much of an upgrade.
Worthy Mention: Fourteen years after Warner Bros releases it, Shout Factory brings us a new edition of Lost in Space: Collector's Edition.
Notable announcements from last week:
Paramount has revealed the next Paramount Presents label title to be Chinatown, as a 4K release with a bonus blu-ray of Two Jakes. Expect to see this release June 18th.
LionsGate will be releasing a blu-ray of Blumhouse's Imaginary on May 14th. Yup, I will say it again this time .... Blumhouse, what's with the lack of 4K releases of so much of your library? Time to catch up with 2024.
Shout Factory's various labels have revealed releases for June. They are an interesting slate that include Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning, Matinee 4K, Robocop (2014) 4K, Robocop 2 4K, The First Slam Dunk and Species II 4K. Yeah, my video wall is probably going to burst with that slate.
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?
Continue Reading -
HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 31, 2024 is Brought To You By...
Posted Sun Mar 31, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineJust 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.
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?
Continue Reading -
Disc-ocalypse Is Here - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 24, 2024
Posted Sun Mar 24, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineWhether 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.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
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.
Blu-ray releases-
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.
Notable announcements from last week (and other stuff):
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?
Continue Reading -
No Rest For The Wicked (Or the Good) - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 17, 2024
Posted Sun Mar 17, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineYeah, as we somehow survived the barrage of titles last week, we get that one-two punch that carries into this week. You really didn't need to make that mortgage payment anyway, did you?
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 42 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 17th - March 23rd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
This week is a good news bad news week in the 4K category. The good news, there are no new releases pining for your attention. The bad news, there are a lot of great catalog/boutique labels that are pulling at your purse strings that much harder. Resistance is futile.
Import Monday includes several titles. First from Second Sight, a pair of "fat-pack" limited edition releases, Green Room and Possessor. You can also get those as standard editions as well if you are not down with the swag, Green Room and Possessor. I am a sucker for these Second Sight fat-packs. I don't mind giving Diabolik DVD my business, but the going price of $50 a piece price tag is something to balk at. That actually is cheaper than buying directly from Amazon UK and my orders do not get regularly canceled.
From 88 Films, their take on The Amityville Horror (1979).
On to Domestic Tuesday. Beginning with Kino Lorber, the drama/thriller Changing Lanes is up first, and it stars Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck.
And next on the 'inevitable' release docket, The Manchurian Candidate (2004). When we saw the original 1962 version come out, it was merely a matter of time. Which version do you prefer? This time though it wasn't the original studio releasing one and Kino Lorber the other.
Scream Factory is the next label this week and they have a trio of skus coming Tuesday. The first two are considered remakes, we get Child's Play (2019) and Carrie (2013).
Delayed from 3 months ago, but finally seeing light of day, The Ring Collection materializes this week. Not too long after I imported the trilogy from Germany on blu-ray, this was announced. The story of my life. Hopefully The Grudge films is next?
Under the same house, but with the "Select" Label, Shout releases K-19: The Widowmaker to 4K disc.
Arrow Video has the original Japanese release of the film titled Dark Water. Also available as an Arrow Store Exclusive Cover Edition. Does this mean that Scream Factory will do the English language remake? We went from Ringu to The Ring, so maaaayybe.
Also from Arrow Video, a standard edition to Witness. This one sold out pretty fast as a limited edition, so here is a swagless release.
Import Wednesday comes from the land down under via Umbrella Entertainment with Dead End Drive-In: Collector's Edition. A standard edition will be available at Amazon US in a couple of weeks.
Donning a 4K slip SteelBook Edition, Barb Wire gets a release from Turbine Entertainment. Follow our link to the article to decide which one is best for you.
Next week the spigot is still blasting, Paramount Presents, Indicator, Criterion and more!
Blu-ray releases-
There are no blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, that wallet in your pocket thanks you.
TV on disc include The Act: The Complete Limited Series, Doctor Who: The Daleks in Color and Suits: The Complete Series.
From Janus Contemporarires this week, the documentary Lynch/Oz debuts to blu-ray disc.
From Criterion Collection, foreign drama The Runner.
Under the Sony Pictures Classics label comes Shadow Magic, a drama/romance from 2000.
Next week's domestic blu-ray release calendar is APOCALYPTIC! I don't think you could possibly prepare yourself unless you win the lottery.
There are some Umbrella Entertainment imports available Wednesday. We will post domestic links when they become available as standard releases.
- Them (Ils) (2006): Collector's Edition (Australian Import Website Exclusive)
- Them (Ils) (2006) (Australian Import)
- Bully (2001): Collector's Edition (Australian Import Website Exclusive)
- The Chaser (2008): Collector's Edition (Australian Import Website Exclusive)
Notable announcements from last week:
Criterion Collection has announced their June slate of titles. For 4K, the titles are Blue Velvet, Bound and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. For blu-ray, titles are Bound, Querelle, The Underground Railroad and Victims of Sin. When I imported Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas via Arrow Video, I knew it was inevitable that Criterion would do it, but I am not disappointed with my Arrow release one bit.
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?
Continue Reading -
Falling Into The Financial ABYSS - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 10, 2024
Posted Sun Mar 10, 2024 at 09:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineBetween this week and next, you might need to draw from your equity line of credit if you truly buy everything you want. Those three James Cameron titles finally (maybe?) hit the streets, three new title releases, and more. And that's just the 4K category. If you are budgeted to buy just 4 titles this week, you will probably buy the 3 Cameron releases, so which one is your 4th title?
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 41 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 10th - March 16th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
In general, we normally post the new releases first. But this week is not a normal release week. Let us begin with the three James Cameron titles we have waited decades for to hit blu-ray, but now (maybe) get them in 4K and blu-ray in the same package. BONUS! My reluctance to say they are finally here is that I do not have them in my hands, nor have I seen them in retailer back rooms yet either. Some merchants have even pushed the street date to next week, which tells me the ETA in their stock rooms will be Monday afternoon, or Tuesday if we're lucky.
The Disney company has overused the term Ultimate Collector's Edition, but this week all three Cameron titles don that label, for a good reason. Dolby Vision, BD100 discs, lots of extras, this batch has it all.
First in the trio of releases, the title that got a remaster a couple of years ago and was on Prime video among other sites and had a lot of us speculating a future release, The Abyss finally arrives. Finally my video wall will have this one, Deepstar Six and Leviathan all over again! At press time Amazon's stats say they sold over 10K+ copies in the last month.
Next in our trio of James Cameron releases, Aliens. In addition to it being a serious action thriller, the scene that sticks out the most to me in a comical sense was Bill Paxton's character saying "Game Over Man!" Amazon's stats show 7K+ were ordered last month.
Someone pinch me, the third title is here (maybe) and hopefully is a major upgrade to that blu-ray we had to import from Spain, referring to True Lies. Don't be 'stuck' in the van unless it has a big screen and a killer sound system, grab your copy NOW, if you can find it. Just like Aliens, 7K+ were ordered last month alone.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming, let's see what New Releases we are getting this week.
First from Warner Bros, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Ranked 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, but with an 81 audience score, not sure what to really think about this one. You can also/alternately snag a Walmart Exclusive Steelbook.
Also from Warner Bros, The Color Purple (2023) get a 4K disc release, and this one ranks 82% on the Tomatometer, with an audience score of 95. What does the remake do that the original does not? The simplest answer is it adds elements from the stage musical. Hopefully by press time we will have a review ready.
And the third (and final) new release 4K this week is Disney's Wish - Walmart Exclusive SteelBook. When it was originally announced we expected a standard 4K from the Disney Movie Club. In light of recent news of the club closing its doors, that is not happening.
On to catalog titles, first with Dreamworks Animation, Kung Fu Panda. With Kung Fu Panda 4 hitting theaters, releasing the first 3 only make sense. Now if they would release the TV Series to blu-ray! (hint hint)
The Shout Select label this week is offering Quigley Down Under. Tom Selleck NOT driving a Ferrari? Yeah, he did do that.
From Paramount, because they were so successfuly, reprints of SteelBooks of Dragonslayer, Event Horizon and The Running Man are available this week.
Now then, that wasn't too damaging, was it? If there were multiple box sets, one would say YES. Next week is a bunch of boutique label releases, we finally get The Ring Collection, more Shout Factory, Kino Lorber and Arrow Video.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Color Purple (2023) from Warner Bros, and Wish from Disney. You can also get the Aquaman 2-Film Collection from Warner Bros.
The rest of the blu-ray category looks pretty crowded, so best of luck resisting temptation on a spending spree.
New release from 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures, Poor Things. Available in 4K via streaming, getting just a blu-ray is slightly infuriating and more common now that Disney owns the Fox label. Could be worse I suppose, DVD only!
New rom-com from Sony Pictures with Anyone But You. I'd swear this came out a couple of weeks ago, but apparently not.
From Universal Pictures, The Prince of Egypt: The Musical.
Get your fill of action and suspense with I.S.S. from Decal Bleecker. While we are on sub-labels and action films, Freelance comes out from Relativity Media. And the Michael Mann biography/drama Ferrari comes via Neon.
Ever heard the names John Wayne, Lauren Bacall or Ron Howard? How 'bout Don Siegel ? This week from Arrow Video we get all four with The Shootist (Limited Edition).
Warner Archive Collection has a couple of titles for us this week, Colt .45: The Complete Series and Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3.
Boutique label Criterion Collection has a pair of blu-ray releases this week. First, 1941's fantasy romance All That Money Can Buy (a.k.a. The Devil and Daniel Webster). Then, shifting gears to a documentary, Laura Poitras’s All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.
Anime highlights include Akiba Maid War: Complete Collection, The Legendary Hero Is Dead! - The Complete Season, One Piece: Season Thirteen - Voyage Six and Suzume: Movie, which is also available as a Limited Edition and as a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
TV on disc other than Warner Archive Collection also includes All Creatures Great and Small - Season 4, Rick and Morty: Season 7, also available in a SteelBook Edition, Sonic Prime: Season One and Stephen King's The Shining (1997).
Notable announcements from last week:
Shout Factory has announced much of their May releases. In no particular order, look for blu-rays of The Island of Dr. Moreau Collector's Edition (1996), Dracula 2000 and Orphan, and for 4K, look for The Addams Family 1&2, Gretel & Hansel and Killer Klowns from Outer Space, which the latter will also have a SteelBook release.
Disney is releasing more Disney+ content to blu-ray and 4K disc. Andor, Moon Knight, Obi-Wan and Falcon and the Winter Soldier are coming April 30th.
Jason Statham's The Beekeper is coming to blu-ray and 4K disc on April 23rd.
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?
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