Joining the upgrade of Michael Curtiz' Mildred Pierce to 4K Ultra HD is John Woo's Last Hurrah for Chivalry, David Lynch's Inland Empire, and Joan Micklin Silver's Chilly Scenes of Winter on Blu-ray.
First out of the gate is the 1945 classic Mildred Pierce on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray starring Joan Crawford on March 7th.
Melodrama casts noirish shadows in this portrait of maternal sacrifice from Hollywood master Michael Curtiz. Joan Crawford’s iconic performance as Mildred, a single mother hell-bent on freeing her children from the stigma of economic hardship, solidified Crawford’s career comeback and gave the actor her only Oscar. But as Mildred pulls herself up by her bootstraps, first as an unflappable waitress and eventually as the well-heeled owner of a successful restaurant chain, the ingratitude of her materialistic firstborn (a diabolical Ann Blyth) becomes a venomous serpent’s tooth, setting in motion an endless cycle of desperate overtures and heartless recriminations. Recasting James M. Cain’s rich psychological novel as a murder mystery, this bitter cocktail of blind parental love and all-American ambition is both unremittingly hard-boiled and sumptuously emotional.
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Conversation with critics Molly Haskell and Robert Polito
• Excerpt from a 1970 episode of The David Frost Show featuring actor Joan Crawford
• Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star, a 2002 feature-length documentary
• Q&A with actor Ann Blyth from 2006, presented by filmmaker Marc Huestis and conducted by film historian Eddie Muller
• Segment from a 1969 episode of the Today show featuring Mildred Pierce novelist James M. Cain
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith
1945 • 111 minutes • Black & White • Monaural • 1.37:1 aspect ratio
Next on March 14th comes John Woo's Last Hurrah For Chivalry on Blu-ray.
Before he became known as the master of the bullet-riddled heroic tragedy, John Woo sharpened his trademark themes and kinetic action choreography with this whirlwind wuxia spectacle. Unaware they are caught in a deadly game of deception, a pair of rambunctious swordsmen (Wai Pak and Damian Lau) join forces to help a nobleman (Lau Kong) in his quest for vengeance. Paying thrilling homage to his mentor, martial-arts innovator Chang Cheh, Woo delivers both bravura swordplay set pieces and a bloodstained interrogation of the meaning of brotherhood and honor in a world in which loyalty is bought and sold.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• 2K digital restoration, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• Alternate English-dubbed tracks
• Audio interview with director John Woo
• New interview with Grady Hendrix, author of These Fists Break Bricks
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by scholar Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park
1979 • 106 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In Cantonese with English subtitles • 2.39:1 aspect ratio
Fans of David Lynch will be pleased that Inland Empire will be joining the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray on March 21st.
“Strange, what love does.” The role of a lifetime, a Hollywood mystery, a woman in trouble . . . David Lynch’s first digitally shot feature makes visionary use of the medium to weave a vast meditation on the enigmas of time, identity, and cinema itself. Featuring a tour de force performance from Laura Dern as an actor on the edge, this labyrinthine Dream Factory nightmare tumbles down an endless series of unfathomably interconnected rabbit holes as it takes viewers on a hallucinatory odyssey into the deepest realms of the unconscious mind.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED TWO-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New HD digital master, made from the 4K restoration supervised by director David Lynch, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed stereo soundtracks, newly remastered by Lynch and original rerecording mixers Dean Hurley and Ron Eng
• Two films from 2007, LYNCH (one) and LYNCH2, by blackANDwhite, the makers of David Lynch: The Art Life
• New conversation between actors Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan
• More Things That Happened, seventy-five minutes of extra scenes
• Ballerina, a 2007 short film by Lynch
• Reading by Lynch of excerpts from Room to Dream, his 2018 book with critic Kristine McKenna
• Trailer
• New English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: Excerpts from Richard A. Barney’s book David Lynch: Interviews
2006 • 180 minutes • Color/Black & White • 5.1 surround • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
And finally, on March 28th we have Joan Micklin Silver's Chilly Scenes of Winter starring John Heard and Mary Beth Hurt on Blu-ray.
The trailblazing Joan Micklin Silver—one of only five women to direct a film for a Hollywood studio in the 1970s—digs fearlessly into the psychology of a thorny relationship in this anti–romantic comedy, based on Ann Beattie’s best-selling novel, about lovelorn civil servant Charles (John Heard) and his married-but-separated coworker Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). Months after their affair has ended, Charles is haunted by memories as he desperately attempts to rekindle a love that perhaps never was. Switching deftly between past and present, Micklin Silver guides this piercing deconstruction of male wish-fulfillment fantasy beyond standard movie-romance tropes into something more complicated and cuttingly truthful.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New program featuring producers Griffin Dunne, Mark Metcalf, and Amy Robinson
• Documentary from 1983 by Katja Raganelli about director Joan Micklin Silver
• Excerpts of a 2005 interview with Micklin Silver
• Original ending of the film, cut by Micklin Silver for its rerelease in 1982
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by scholar Shonni Enelow
1979 • 95 minutes • Color • Monaural • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
Pre-order info has yet to be published but as always we'll be sure to update as soon as they become available.
Disney's 61st animated feature blasts off to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital on February 14.
Strange World introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob called Splat; Legend, the family dog; and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast includes Academy Award®*- and Tony Award®-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Emmy®- and two-time Golden Globe®-nominee Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; comedian, actor, writer, filmmaker and musician Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old, adventure-seeking son, Ethan; actress, producer, bestselling author and TIME100 cover honoree Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and critically acclaimed actress, producer, director and fine artist Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world. Helmed by director Don Hall (Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer Raya and the Last Dragon), with Roy Conli (Oscar®-winning** Big Hero 6, Tangled) producing, Strange World is in theaters now.
The 4K UHD package includes a 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and Digital Copy with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The Blu-ray set will include a Digital Copy, however the cover art isn't available yet.
Strange World - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Here is the full press release:
.
“AN ENTERTAINING AND VIVID SCI-FI ADVENTURE
FILM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.”
– Mark Pacis, Nerd Reactor
Prepare for An Epic Adventure When Strange World Arrives on Digital December 23 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD February 14
BURBANK, CA (December 14, 2022) – Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 61st animated feature Strange World will soon be available to audiences to enjoy at home with never-before-seen bonus features and deleted scenes. The “stunning” (Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times) family adventure arrives on all major digital platforms this holiday season on December 23 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD February 14. Strange World will also be available to Disney+ subscribers starting on December 23.
Film Synopsis
Strange World introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob called Splat; Legend, the family dog; and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast includes Academy Award®*- and Tony Award®-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Emmy®- and two-time Golden Globe®-nominee Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; comedian, actor, writer, filmmaker and musician Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old, adventure-seeking son, Ethan; actress, producer, bestselling author and TIME100 cover honoree Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and critically acclaimed actress, producer, director and fine artist Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world. Helmed by director Don Hall (Oscar®-winning** Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer Raya and the Last Dragon), with Roy Conli (Oscar®-winning** Big Hero 6, Tangled) producing, Strange World is in theaters now.
*Best Supporting Actor, 2006 ** Best Animated Feature, 2015
Bonus Features*
Deleted Scenes
*Bonus features vary by product and retailer
Voice Cast
Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade
Dennis Quaid as Jaeger Clade
Jaboukie Young-White as Ethan Clade
Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade
Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal
Director
Don Hall
Co-Director
Qui Nguyen
Producer
Roy Conli
Screenplay
Qui Nguyen
Product Specifications
Street Date
Digital: December 23, 2022
Physical: February 14, 2023
Product SKUs
Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + Digital Code) & DVD
Feature Run Time
Approx. 95 Minutes
Rating
U.S. Rated PG
* Bonus Material Not Rated
Aspect Ratio
Digital: 2.39:1
Physical: 2.39:1
U.S. Audio
4K Ultra HD: English 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, Japanese 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, English AD 2.0 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English AD 2.0 Dolby Digital
DVD: English 5.1 Dolby, Spanish 5.1 Dolby, English AD 2.0 Dolby
Digital: English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)
U.S. Subtitles
4K Ultra HD: English SDH, Japanese, Spanish, French
Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish, French
DVD: English, English SDH, Spanish, French
Digital: English SDH, Spanish, French (some platforms)
LAIKA and Shout Factory will be bringing the modern day animated classics Kubo and the Two Strings & The Boxtrolls to the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format on February 28 2023 with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Both films will also be available for purchase in limited SteelBooks.
According to the press release, "The scrupulous remastering process for both titles was overseen by the team at LAIKA, led by LAIKA CEO (and Kubo and the Two Strings Director) Travis Knight, and Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson, who pored over each film shot-by-shot, paying close attention to every last detail and color to present these groundbreaking films in the most dynamic format."
"The use of Dolby Vision has made these films look more spectacular than ever before, with vivid colors and exacting picture quality, and with highlights brighter and essential dark elements darker, unleashing the full potential of HDR technology. The films were also mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, bringing out more details and clarity in the sound, resulting in an even more immersive experience for fans."
The four LAIKA 4K UHD titles (including the previously released Coraline and ParaNorman) will also available for digital purchase or rentals beginning December 13, 2022.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure set in a fantastical Japan. The film follows clever, kindhearted Kubo as he ekes out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town. But his relatively quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past which storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey and Beetle and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen - a magical musical instrument - Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King and the evil twin Sisters to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny.
Special Features:
The Boxtrolls
This comedic fable unfolds in Cheesebridge, a posh Victorian-era town obsessed with wealth, class, and the stinkiest of fine cheeses. Beneath its charming cobblestone streets dwell the Boxtrolls, foul monsters who crawl out of the sewers at night and steal what the townspeople hold most dear: their children and their cheeses. At least, that’s the legend residents have always believed. In truth, the Boxtrolls are an underground cavern-dwelling community of quirky and lovable oddballs who wear recycled cardboard boxes the way turtles wear their shells. The Boxtrolls have raised an orphaned human boy, Eggs, since infancy as one of their dumpster-diving and mechanical junk-collecting own. When the Boxtrolls are targeted by villainous pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher, who is bent on eradicating them as his ticket to Cheesebridge society, the kindhearted band of tinkerers must turn to their adopted charge and adventurous rich girl Winnie to bridge two worlds amidst the winds of change – and cheese.
Special Features:
These are now up for pre-order! And once again, thank you for your pre-orders. They really do go a long way toward helping us keep our little show rolling.
George A. Romero's iconic spin on the classic vampire legend puts a stake into 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray From Second Sight Films
Much like their incredible work on Romero's Dawn of the Dead 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set, Second Sight films again reteams with original Director of Photography Michael Gornick to deliver blood-thirsty fans a new restoration of Martin. After some delays and side-missions to try and acquire the fabled black and white "Director's Cut" - Second Sight delivers three options for fans looking to add this eccentric horror classic to their collections.
Limited Edition Contents
For those who live in the U.K. - Second Sight will ship direct from their shop. However, if you're looking to import the title to the U.S. (like me), you'll have to go through a third-party retailer. So far I've only seen Zavvi have it up for pre-order and we've linked to the various sets in each listing. We don't know if DiabolikDVD or anyone else will have it up for sale but keep your eyes and ears out. This one has been a long time coming and it's one of my favorites- not because I'm a Romero junkie either! I've always felt the Vampire genre was a little stale in the crypt and this was one of the first entries that really turned the horror creature sub-genre on its head. Ever since my ancient Anchor Bay DVD was stolen from me I've been hoping a great new set would come along, and here it is!
Get those pre-orders in!
The DC Comics action-adventure starring Dwayne Johnson will be available for Premium Digital Ownership on November 22 and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on January 3.
Both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray will include several featurettes as well as Dolby Atmos. It is unclear if the 4K will include Dolby Vision.
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Black Adam - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Black Adam 4K Wal-Mart Exclusive
Pre-orders are now live and the full press release is available below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"One of the Best DC Superhero Films to Date”
Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
Black Adam
COMES HOME FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
debuts early on November 22
4K, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on January 3
Burbank, CA, November 21 – Experience the first-ever feature film exploring the story of the DC Super Hero in the action adventure, when “Black Adam” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on November 22. The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, screen story by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on characters from DC, and Black Adam created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, starring the voice of Dwayne Johnson (“the “Jumanji” films, “Moana”). The film will be available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning on January 3.
The film also stars the voices of Aldis Hodge (TV’s “City on a Hill,” “One Night in Miami” film) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” film) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (TV’s “Sex/Life,” “Rush Hour 3” film) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “The Mummy” films) as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell (“Voyagers,” film and TV’s “Trinkets”) as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui (TV’s “A Million Little Things”) as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan (the “Mamma Mia!” and James Bond franchises) as Dr. Fate. The film was produced by Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia, with Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Eric McLeod, Geoff Johns and Scott Sheldon executive producing.
“Black Adam” can be enjoyed at home with Filmmaker Mode TM. Developed by studios, TV manufacturers and some of Hollywood’s leading directors, Filmmaker Mode disables all post processing (e.g. motion smoothing), preserves the correct aspect ratios, colors and frame rates, and enables your TV to display the film precisely as it was intended by the filmmaker. Filmmaker Mode is available on televisions from select manufacturers.
“Black Adam” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.
SYNOPSIS
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS
“Black Adam” Premium Digital Ownership contains the following special features:
“Black Adam” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
Your Movies, Together at Last.TM MOVIES ANYWHERE lets you enjoy your favorite purchased or redeemed digital movies combined in one simplified, personal collection. MOVIES ANYWHERE brings together movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment), The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Twentieth Century Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), and Warner Bros. Entertainment. MOVIES ANYWHERE offers a library of over 7,900 digital movies, including new releases, and old favorites, and the user experience will continue to grow as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the MOVIES ANYWHERE app and website, consumers can connect their MOVIES ANYWHERE account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies across multiple devices and platforms. Participating digital retailers include Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Xfinity, Google Play/YouTube, Microsoft Movies & TV, FandangoNOW, Verizon Fios TV and DIRECTV. Consumers may also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray Discs™ and DVDs from participating studios: just look for the MOVIES ANYWHERE logo, redeem the code, then instantly enjoy your movie.
ABOUT DIGITAL
*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.
BASICS
PRODUCT SRP
4K UHD Combo Pack $49.98
Blu-ray $39.98
DVD $34.98
Digital Ownership: November 22, 2022
PVOD: November 22, 2022
4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: January 3, 2022
DVD Languages: Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, English
BD Languages: Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, English
4K Languages: Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin Spanish, English, German, Italian
DVD Subtitles: Cantonese, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese (written), N/A, Canadian French, English SDH
BD Subtitles: Spanish, French, N/A, Canadian French, English SDH
4K Subtitles: Spanish, French, Italian, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Canadian French, English SDH, German SDH, Italian SDH
Running Time: 124 minutes
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, intense action, and some language
DVD: DLBY/DGTL
Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD
4K: ATMOS TrueHD
The Credits
About “Black Adam”
The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, screen story by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on characters from DC, and Black Adam created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, produced by Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia, with Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Eric McLeod, Geoff Johns and Scott Sheldon executive producing.
The ensemble stars the voices of Dwayne Johnson (“the “Jumanji” films, “Moana”), Aldis Hodge (TV’s “City on a Hill,” “One Night in Miami” film) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” film) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (TV’s “Sex/Life,” “Rush Hour 3” film) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express,” “The Mummy” films) as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell (“Voyagers,” film and TV’s “Trinkets”) as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui (TV’s “A Million Little Things”) as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan (the “Mamma Mia!” and James Bond franchises) as Dr. Fate.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a New Line Cinema Production, “Black Adam.”
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.
Spooks, Specters, and Ghosts better watch out, there's a new guy in town! Michael J. Fox stars in Peter Jackson's exciting horror/comedy
coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from Turbine Medien December 2nd!
A box office bust when it came to theaters (I don't know where y'all were but I was there opening night), Peter Jackson's hilariously terrifying special effects extravaganza has grown into a modern cult classic. Without this film's pioneering visual effects, we wouldn't have gotten The Lord of the Rings - let that sink in a minute. Now after languishing on a decent enough Blu-ray, German label Turbine Medien is giving fans what they've long been hoping for - a true 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of both the Theatrical Cut and the longer and arguably better Director's Cut fully restored and approved by Jackson with Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos Audio! But that's not all, much like their recent Pitch Black 4K Ultra HD Ultimate Editon, Turbnine isn't stopping at just a couple of discs and fancy packaging. This set is stacked with six discs including both cuts in 4K and 1080p Blu-ray, along with a new "Oppen Matte" edition as well as hours of new and archival bonus features PLUS a 196-page book AND a whole load of swag! Take a look
And if the screenshots below are accurate - we're in for a real treat!
Here's what you're getting for approximately $70 U.S. (it's a little less than that but exchange rates may fluctuate):
THE FRIGHTENERS - 6-Disc Ultimate Edition:
Director's Cut & Theatrical Cut Restored in 4K on UHD & Blu-ray - Approved by Peter Jackson
+ HDR and Dolby Vision + Sound in Dolby Atmos + Completed Dubbing + 2 Bonus Blu-rays + New bonus material and much more
Evil has awakened in the sleepy Californian town of Fairwater... and only one person can stop it: Frank Bannister earns his living as a ghost hunter - he frees haunted houses from their uninvited guests. In truth, however, he is in cahoots with the ghosts - a perfect deal! One day, however, when a truly evil spirit goes on a murderous rampage through Fairwater, suspicion falls on Frank. Now he urgently needs to prove his innocence and end the spook... without ending up in the afterlife himself!
In 1996, director Peter Jackson (THE LORD OF THE RINGS) and producer Robert Zemeckis (BACK TO THE FUTURE) created THE FRIGHTENERS, a crazy horror comedy with groundbreaking special effects, music by Danny Elfman and a brilliant cast.
In addition to 2 Ultra HD Blu-rays & 4 Blu-rays, this box set includes world exclusive interviews, the 196-page book Die Welt von Peter Jackson's THE FRIGHTENERS, posters, artcards and a replica business card by Frank Bannister.
Technical specifications:
Language / sound: DC: German & English Dolby Atmos, English - DTS-HD MA 5.1 & 2.0 (UHD), English - DTS 2.0 & 5.1 (BD) - KF German & English DTS-HD MA 5.1 & 2.0
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (2160p 4K Ultra HD) with HDR and Dolby Vision (UHD), 2.35:1 (1080p24) (Blu-ray)
Subtitles: German, German for the hard of hearing, English, English for the hard of hearing
Running time: DC: approx. 123 minutes, Theatrical version: approx. 110 minutes
Bonus material:
+ World premiere of the Director's Cut as open matte version - approved by Peter Jackson
+ 196-page book The World of Peter Jackson
+ World exclusive new artwork and poster by Ronan Wolf Chuat
+ Artcards and Replica Business Card
+ No Way to Make a Living* - New Bonus Featurette featuring 95 minutes of cast and crew interviews
+ The Making of THE FRIGHTENERS* (270 mins)
+ Audio Commentary by Peter Jackson*
+ Trailer
* The bonus material has optional German and English subtitles.
Both sets are up for pre-order right now! Follow the title links above to snag your copy, your pre-orders help keep HDD alive and well! Thank you!
Criterion isn't taking any time off in 2023 with five releases oncluding Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused and Krzysztof Kielowski's Three Colors trilogy on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Two Films By Marguerit wth Duras, Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (1967) and Robert Townsend's Hollywood Shuffle.
Starting things off on February 7, is a trio of films in Kieślowski's Three Colors on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
This boldly cinematic trio of stories about love and loss, from Krzysztof Kieślowski, was a defining event of the art-house boom of the 1990s. The films are named for the colors of the French flag and stand for the tenets of the French Revolution—liberty, equality, and fraternity—but that hardly begins to explain their enigmatic beauty and rich humanity. Set in Paris, Warsaw, and Geneva, and ranging from tragedy to comedy, Blue, White, and Red (Kieślowski’s final film) examine with artistic clarity a group of ambiguously interconnected people experiencing profound personal disruptions. Marked by intoxicating cinematography and stirring performances by Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy, Irène Jacob, and Jean-Louis Trintignant, Kieślowski’s Three Colors is a benchmark of contemporary cinema.
BLUE
In the devastating first film of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy, Juliette Binoche gives a tour de force performance as Julie, a woman reeling from the tragic death of her husband and young daughter. But Blue is more than just a blistering study of grief; it’s also a tale of liberation, as Julie attempts to free herself from the past while confronting truths about the life of her late husband, a composer. Shot in sapphire tones by Sławomir Idziak, and set to an extraordinary operatic score by Zbigniew Preisner, Blue is an overwhelming sensory experience.
1993 • 98 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In French with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
WHITE
The most playful and also the grittiest of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors films follows the adventures of Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski), a Polish immigrant living in France. The hapless hairdresser opts to leave Paris for his native Warsaw when his wife (Julie Delpy) sues him for divorce (her reason: their marriage was never consummated) and then frames him for arson after setting her own salon ablaze. White, which goes on to chronicle Karol’s elaborate revenge plot, manages to be both a ticklish dark comedy about the economic inequalities of Eastern and Western Europe and a sublime reverie on twisted love.
1994 • 91 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In French and Polish with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
RED
Krzysztof Kieślowski closes his Three Colors trilogy in grand fashion, with an incandescent meditation on fate and chance, starring Irène Jacob as a sweet-souled yet somber runway model in Geneva whose life dramatically intersects with that of a bitter retired judge, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant. Meanwhile, just down the street, a seemingly unrelated story of jealousy and betrayal unfolds. Red is an intimate look at forged connections and a splendid final statement from a remarkable filmmaker at the height of his powers.
1994 • 99 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • In French with English subtitles • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Next hitting stores on the 14th is the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet from Franco Zeffirelli.
One of the great Shakespeare adaptations, this sublime take on the Bard’s immortal romantic tragedy by Franco Zeffirelli breathed new life into the oft-told tale by casting actual teenagers in the title roles. As the young lovers whose affair threatens to inflame the tensions between their feuding families in Renaissance Verona, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting vividly capture the mix of adolescent ardor and turmoil that fuels their destiny-driven liaison. A sensory banquet thanks to Nino Rota’s delicate score and the exquisite, Oscar-winning costumes and cinematography, Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare at its most deeply felt and passionately alive.
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
1968 • 138 minutes • Color • Monaural • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
A week later on the 21st comes Dazed and Confused on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format.
America, 1976. The last day of school. Bongs blaze, bell bottoms ring, and rock and roll rocks. Among the best teen films ever made, Dazed and Confused eavesdrops on a group of seniors-to-be and incoming freshmen. A launching pad for a number of future stars, the first studio effort by Richard Linklater also features endlessly quotable dialogue and a blasting, stadium-ready soundtrack. Sidestepping nostalgia, Dazed and Confused is less about “the best years of our lives” than the boredom, angst, and excitement of teenagers waiting . . . for something to happen.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
1993 • 102 minutes • Color • 5.1 surround • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
Two Films By Marguerite Duras will be available on Blu-ray on the 24th.
Marguerite Duras had already established herself as one of the major figures of postwar French literature when she launched an equally fascinating and unclassifiable career in cinema, translating her elliptical, experimental style to the screen through an unprecedented fusion of hypnotic, highly stylized imagery and radically disjunctive sound. Boldly reimagining the possibilities of dialogue, music, silence, and architectural space, the tantalizing, sphinxlike evocations of soul-deep female malaise India Song and Baxter, Vera Baxter embody Duras’s singular multisensory approach, with each opening up new spaces for the expression of women’s interior worlds.
INDIA SONG
Marguerite Duras’s most celebrated work is a mesmerizing, almost incantatory experience with few stylistic precedents in the history of cinema. Within the insular walls of a lavish, decaying embassy in 1930s India, the French ambassador’s wife (Delphine Seyrig) staves off ennui through affairs with multiple men—with the overpowering torpor broken only by a startling eruption of madness. Setting her evocatively decadent visuals to a desynchronized chorus of disembodied voices that comment on and counterpoint the action, with India Song Duras creates a haunted-house movie unlike any other.
1975 • 119 minutes • Color • Monaural • In French with English subtitles • 1.37:1 aspect ratio
BAXTER, VERA BAXTER
Marguerite Duras reunited with India Song collaborators Delphine Seyrig and composer Carlos d’Alessio for Baxter, Vera Baxter, a hypnotically unsettling journey into one woman’s existential emptiness. Ensconced in a sprawling rental villa, the world-weary Vera Baxter (Claudine Gabay) receives visits from two women, including a mysterious stranger (Seyrig) to whom she recounts a shocking story about her marriage, the way she lives, and the reasons for her malaise. Setting her languid images to d’Alessio’s incongruously breezy, endlessly looping score, Duras fashions a quietly shattering portrait of marriage as a kind of prison.
1977 • 95 minutes • Color • Monaural • In French with English subtitles • 1.66:1 aspect ratio
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
Finally and also on the 28th is the satire Hollywood Shuffle on Blu-ray.
This debut feature by Robert Townsend is an ingenious guerrilla satire that takes riotous aim at the typecasting of Black actors in 1980s Hollywood. The writer-director-star’s megawatt charisma propels Hollywood Shuffle, the hilarious tale of a struggling actor attempting to break into an industry where the only roles available to Black performers seem to be hustlers, butlers, slaves, and “Eddie Murphy types”—forcing him to choose between selling out and maintaining his self-respect. Lampooning everything from film noir to zombie flicks to Siskel and Ebert, Townsend and cowriter Keenen Ivory Wayans cannily turn the frustrations of the Black artist into a subversively funny pop-culture critique.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
1987 • 81 minutes • Color/Black & White • Monaural • 1.85:1 aspect ratio
We will update links on the site as soon as pre-orders become available or if there are any release date changes.
“Long Live Physical Media!” was the rallying cry heard from The Archive's Instagram account when their second location opened in Aurora, Colorado on October 21st. This new store is for the collectors, cinephiles, and fans hoping to rekindle their love of the local video shop and experience the joy that only a few have experienced visiting the home store in Bridgeport, CT.
For the unaware, The Archive is the brick-and-mortar retail location for the powerhouse home video label Vinegar Syndrome. Their original location opened in 2017 in Bridgeport adjacent to their film preservation facility where the celebrated label restores underground genre films and adult video titles. I had the amazing opportunity to visit the new location in Aurora and speak with manager James Neurath and video clerk Dave Britton about the store, their favorite titles, and what the shop will bring to the community.
Entering The Archive you’re met with a skeleton of Charon with his boat for crossing the River Styx. It's a commanding art piece that marks your transition from reality to the underworld of film collecting. A journey this reviewer made years ago. On the TV above the Vinyl section, Righting Wrongs is playing which caused me to pause for a moment to catch Cynthia Rothrock kicking some ass.
The handmade wooden aisles display rows and rows of Blu-rays, DVDs, and Vinyl records. You’ll find new 4k UHDs from Vinegar Syndrome next to classic titles from Arrow Video, Blue Underground, and Shout! Factory. Used titles also fill in the sections offering customers something extra to accompany their stack of fresh releases. If you’ve got used media you want to part with, give them a shout to see if they’re interested in buying it. In the back you’ll find a t-shirt wall featuring horror classics new and old. Looking up you'll notice an Elvira cardboard stand-up looking down on you from the corner as you peruse the pre-owned VHS and DVD shelves. Looking for a Peekarama title? They got it. Need that new banger from Saturn’s Core? They've got it. It’s a one-stop shop for your genre film needs.
Behind the no-frills front counter store manager James Neurath and video clerk Dave Britton greet the customers pouring into the store. They’re both genuinely nice guys who will talk your ear off about movies and recommend the good stuff. We spent about 20 minutes dissecting the Angel trilogy. Most customers were keeping tabs on the store’s opening through social media. I witnessed the first few people in the store approach the counter with an armload of titles. Wow! Some even jokingly admitted they’ll never tell their spouse that the store exists!
James has been with the company for 8 years working on many titles released by Vinegar Syndrome while spearheading the new store’s development and opening. Dave has been with the company for 6 months but feels right at home helping customers and chatting about flicks. He walked me through the skeleton collection on display at the front counter which is yet another insane detail you’ll find browsing The Archive.
I felt at home in the store. It reminded me of all those video shops now lost to time with the streaming wars winning over the masses. From the eclectic decor to the warming embrace of the staff as you explore the aisles - this place just feels right. “Vinegar Syndrome is always looking for new projects, but we’re still a small company,” says Neurath, “We hope this place allows us to grow and reach the fans of what we do.”
The Archive is located at 1431 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010. The building is split between the retail store and a shipping and distribution warehouse space for Vinegar Syndrome. For those living out West, you may find your upcoming Black Friday orders shipping a bit quicker than expected!
As of the writing of this article, the store is open 11-6 on Fridays and Saturdays with plans to expand hours soon. Contact them directly for updated store hours and their used media buying policy.
Parker Finn's critically-acclaimed horror film starring Sosie Bacon will be available digitally on Paramount+ on November 15 with a 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray arriving in stores on December 13. Read the theatrical review here.
Certified Fresh™ on Rotten Tomatoes®, critics called SMILE “haunting” (Erik Davis, Fandango) and “scary as hell” (Alyse Wax, Collider). The film stars Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter who, after witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Both the Blu-ray and the 4K UHD packages include some featurettes, an audio commentary and deleted scenes as well as a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
Preorder your copy now and the full press release is available below.
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The conclusion to David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy will be available on Digital platforms on November 15 and will be available on physical 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on December 27.
The physical discs will include deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, featurettes, and an audio commentary and both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are equipped with Dolby Atmos. Check out our theatrical review here.
The most acclaimed and revered horror franchise in film history reaches its epic, terrifying finale as Laurie Strode (Curtis) faces off for the last time against the embodiment of evil, Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney). Michael hasn’t been seen for four years after the events of Halloween Kills. Laurie lives with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and has chosen to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. When a young man is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, a cascade of violence and terror is ignited with a final confrontation between Laurie and Michael unlike any ever captured on screen. Only one of them will survive.
Halloween Ends - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Halloween Ends 4K - Best Buy SteelBook
Halloween Ends 4K Zavvi Exclusive SteelBook
re-orders are now live and the full press release is available below:
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