Posted Sun Dec 17, 2023 at 09:00 AM PST by D. LaFontaine
With our last full week before the Christmas holiday, there are still several ways to lighten that wallet a bit. From James Cameron asking for more cash, (I'm a) Believer, Bloodlines, Kino Cult, JFK and more.
Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 29 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of December 17th - December 23rd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
Just like last week, new releases first, sorted by Rotten Tomatoes ratings, new(ish) releases and then catalog titles.
First up, with an RT score of 22 and an audience score of 59, The Exorcist: Believer from Warner Bros. This one comes as a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
If scores of 22/59 led the category, it only goes down from there. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines sees an RT score of 22 and an audience score of 45. I saw it on Paramount+ and think those ratings are a bit harsh, but to each their own.
Listed at the top rated release of the week two weeks ago, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season Two gets a standard (non-SteelBook) release this week.
On to the new(ish) release category, Avatar: The Way of Water gets a Collector's Edition. Is this the shortest time frame we have double-dipped on a James Cameron release? Don't get me wrong, with each dip we get a lot more.
And now sort of bridging our way to catalog titles, the original Avatar also gets a Collector's Edition.
And NOT a colector's edition, Avatar gets that SteelBook we should have seen in June when they also released The Way of Water to Best Buy SteelBook. This is the same transfer as the one in June as well, same extras and such. Some sites are posting it as the 'Collector's Edition', which, except for the SteelBook, it is not.
Shout Factory has a pair of releases this week, Stephen King's The Dead Zone, directed by David Cronenberg. I had watched the TV series long before the movie, both are fun. Would love to see the TV series get an HD release as well (hello LionsGate, or boutique label).
And, Oliver Stone's JFK. This one looks like a fat-pack, but the four discs more than anything give it that size. Still, I think the wait for 'that' edition is over with this release.
How about a Kino Cult release, but in 4K? Underworld (1985) debuts this week.
From Arrow Video, a fat-pack release for The Warriors. And just like a few other recent releases, the traditional cover art is available as an Arrow Store exclusive.
Next week we have to s p r e a d o u r w o r d s a bit with just one single title on the docket. Maybe I will post a couple of extra pictures too.
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include The Exorcist: Believer, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines and The Warriors.
A loose counterpart, Avatar gets a remastered 3D special edition release.
Some new, some reprints, MGM this week has AmericanEast, The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold, Eureka (1983) and The Rachel Papers.
The Sandpiper label with the same mission, this week they release High Spirits, Invaders from Mars and The Sure Thing.
LionsGate's thriller of the week is Rumble Through the Dark.
Anime highlights include Carole & Tuesday (Limited Edition), Farming Life in Another World - Complete Collection, Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films and My Hero Academia: Season 6 Part 1.
TV on disc this week brought to us from Kino Lorber includes Columbo: Seasons 1-7 and Monk: Season Two.
Arrow Video has a box set for us this week, Savage Guns: Four Classic Westerns Vol 3.
Shout Factory releases their next Shaw Brothers box set, Shaw Brothers Classics: Vol. Four.
Worthy Mentions: Following the footsteps of the first most excellent box set release, Severin Films this week offers Danza Macabra Vol. Two: The Italian Gothic Collection.
Meg Ryan 2023 romcom What Happens Later comes to us via Decal Releasing.
And if you have been following the Kino Cult series, the next blu-ray of the series releases this week, that title is Sinner.
The blu-ray category (unlike the 4K category) is actually quite normal next week, despite the Christmas holiday.
For those that were waiting for the third movie, Beverly Hills Cop 3 in 4K has finally been announced for February 20th, as well as the trilogy, in 4K.
Arrow Video has revealed its March 2024 slate. US/Canada title The Shootist, US/Canada/UK includes Dark Water 4K and Dark Water 4K (Arrow Video Store Exclusive), and the UK only title City of the Living Dead 4K. The latter title was already done in the USA by Synapse, with a couple of different options available.
Criterion Collection has also revealed their March slate, for blu-rays, All the Beauty and The Bloodshed, The Runner and Saint Omer. For 4K and blu-ray editions, To Die For.
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.
