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Might Need a Second Mortgage - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Oct. 22, 2024
Posted Sun Oct 20, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineThat October air is definitely getting more crisp by the day. Yeah I know, some regions still seeing 100 degree heat, but hey, it's not 115. Compared to last week, there is definitely an uptick in volume of titles, both 4K and blu-ray. If you are like me and 'must have' every major 4K release, ya might wanna take out a second mortgage. Or switch over to Ramen for the three months. Maybe this picture is more appropriate for the week... (Bing AI)
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 21 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of October 20th - October 26th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday has definitely got a handful to choose from. Again it's one of those things, do you pounce at the opportunity or do you wait and hope a domestic release is coming?
When you think classic cinema, you might think The African Queen when you list your top 10. This one is from StudioCanal's Vintage Classics label. It's a major enough title that one would imagine a domestic 4K would be coming. Maybe?
Did you pass on Turbine Medien's German release or Barb Wire? Here is a more basic UK release that might entice a purchase.
The final title of UK Import Monday is something you might already have recently acquired as part of a box set. Referring to the action/thriller Breakdown. The box set I was referring to was Paramount Scares Volume 2.
You might need to dig deep into that wallet for Domestic Release Tuesday, there a a few great releases this week.
There are three big title New Releases this week. For many, it's all about Deadpool & Wolverine. Here's a rundown of the three editions being offered. There is the Standard Edition, the Deadpool SteelBook edition and the Wolverine SteelBook edition. Both SteelBooks seem unavailable to order at press time, even with the $55 each price tag they sold out fast. Whether Amazon adds more or whether you need to seek other avenues, that is the question. If you buy all three at a retail outlet, this is a $130 movie.
I myself might enjoy a Deadpool or Wolverine film, but I think I might enjoy Twisters just a wee bit more. This one comes in a Standard Edition and a somewhat snazzy looking Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
And the third new release title this week would be Borderlands from LionsGate. With three options to pick from, a Standard Edition, a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook, and an Amazon Exclusive SteelBook.
From Sony Pictures, a long awaited release of Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5. Keep buying them, they will keep making them. Simple Satisfaction, right?
Under the Paramount Presents label, Ghost finally gets that 4K release so many have been waiting for. Unchained Melody is such the perfect song for this film.
Criterion Collection this week offers the dark comedy Gummo.
Not really sure if these next two titles from Hollywood/Touchstone Pictures (Disney) puts us one step closer to one of my favorite popcorn action movie Armageddon getting a 4K release or if it is just in time for the Halloween season, referring to M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense and Signs.
Thank me for this one, I took a hit for the team and imported the UK set under the premise that a US set would never materialize, referring to Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment from Arrow Video. There is also an Arrow Video store exclusive available as well.
Shout! Factory has a pair of releases this week, Death Becomes Her and The Wolfman (2010).
Warner Bros this week is offering several movie-only (no digital codes included) releases of The Hitcher, The Intern, Tag and Vacation (2015). These releases are likely small batch MOD type titles and would not be released any other way.
Kino Classics has German silent cinema The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari available this week.
More Tinto Brass from Cult Epics with Cheeky! The limited edition variants are very limited and only available via their direct site.
In the, still not really sure it will release category, the Ultimate Edition of Caligula. Indicators are saying we might be at the end of our wait.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include the UK import of The African Queen (potentially region B locked), Deadpool & Wolverine, also with a Walmart Exclusive edition, Twisters (which also has a double-feature available), Borderlands, Gummo, The Hitcher, Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment and Cheeky!.
From Janus Contemporaries, the drama About Dry Grasses.
Anime highlights include Afro Samurai: Resurrection, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War: Part 2, which also comes as a Limited Edition, GOBLIN SLAYER - Season 2, The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior - Complete Collection and Outlaw Star - The Complete Series.
TV on disc this week includes Doctor Who (David Tenant): Complete Series 1-4 and Veep: The Complete Series.
Collectors of Kino's Cult Series discs can get #17 in the series, Hussy. Yes, this one was previously released, as a Twilight Time title.
Australian Import Friday (via Amazon US) includes:
- Under the Dome: The Complete Series (Australian Import)
- Doppelganger (Australian Import)
- From Dusk Till Dawn: The Complete Series (Australian Import)
- As Good As It Gets - Imprint Films Standard Edition
Notable announcements from last week:
In another "you're welcome" moment because I had recently bought the blu-ray, White Christmas is getting a 4K upgrade as it celebrate's its 70th anniversary. The title is expected to street November 5th.
Universal Pictures has announced the latest Dreamworks animated feature, The Wild Robot will be releasing to disc on December 3rd.
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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1, 2, Gonna Shop HDD's Guide (4K UHD & Blu-ray - Oct. 15, 2024) - 3, 4, Click Buy-It-Now, 5, 6, Wait For U-P-S
Posted Mon Oct 14, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineOne, two, Freddy's coming for you. Three, four, Better lock your door. Five, six, grab a crucifix. Seven, eight, Gonna stay up late. Nine, ten, Never sleep again.
(Now reread the title above in that key.)
Hey just think, we are in the middle of the month already and Halloween is just a couple of weeks away. The volume of discs is somewhat steady, so there is plenty to ponder here.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 20 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of October 13th - October 19th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
There are no UK imports posted for Monday, and no actual "new" releases on Domestic Tuesday. Let's get this party started.
The closest thing to a new release is Eli Roth's horror Thanksgiving, which comes to us in a limited edition SteelBook. I was in the crowd yelling "Where's the 4K?" when this came out on blu-ray last January, and importing a 4K was odd for this one, the imports were region locked. Here we are finally, a 4K for the US market. Overseas customers might want to wait in case this one is locked as well.
Staying with Sony for the moment, 1999's comedy American Movie also comes out this week. Note: It is a Sony Pictures Classics release, meaning no digital code.
The beginning of a franchise with Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street. Also available as a SteelBook Edition too. And of course, as to be expected, a swaggier UK release would have been on our Monday UK Imports calendar, buuuut you cannot buy it from the usual sites such as Amazon UK.
Paramount is next with a Paramount Presents line title, well known director, Alfred Hitchcock Classic To Catch a Thief. Oh, and two other well known people you might know, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.
Is this considered a too-soon double-dip? The Ring (2002) gets a new Standard Release as well as a Limited SteelBook release from Paramount as well. Yeah, you probably just got the 3-film set from Shout! Factory.
And speaking of Shout! Factory, George Romero's Land of the Dead gets a Collector's Edition release this week.
After being delayed from last month, Kino Lorber brings us a pair of releases, Brick and Cowboys & Aliens.
Criterion's appearance on the calendar this week is to bring us Japanese horror Demon Pond.
Dark Sky Selects has an over the top The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - 50th Anniversary Limited Edition available this week as well. As specialty swag editions go, this one ranks right up there!
And the final domestic release that may or may not be out this week, The Project A Collection. This one at one point was tentatively set for early in the year and saw its street date bump multiple times.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Demon Pond from Criterion and The Project A Collection (maybe) from 88 Films.
Criterion Collection this week also has the 1929 drama/thriller Pandora's Box.
TV on disc this week, look for Babylon Berlin: Season 4 (German language), The Crown: The Complete Series and Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Collection.
Anime highlights include NieR:Automata Ver1.1a - Volume 1, One Piece - Collection 35 and Vinland Saga - Season 2 Part 2.
Sony Pictures Classics has a title in the blu-ray category as well, this week the crime/thriller Nine Queens.
Notable announcements from last week:
The Crow (2024) has been officially announced for blu-ray and 4K releases on November 5th.
Joker: Folie à Deux will be released to disc on December 17th.
Warner Archive Collection's November Lineup has been announced. Check it out.
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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Find a Quiet Place And Shop HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Oct. 8, 2024
Posted Wed Oct 2, 2024 at 07:04 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineAs mentioned last week, this week and the weeks that follow this month are very busy for us collectors. If you read Matthew's 4K Guide for October, you got a sneak peek for this week, and the weeks to come.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 19 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of October 6th - October 12th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
The October wallet fatigue begins with a sum total of 24 skus to look at this week. Let's begin with UK Import Monday...
101 Films' The Sword and the Sorcerer got pushed back to November 4th.
First up, from StudioCanal's Vintage Classics line, An Inspector Calls: 70th Anniversary Edition with Alastair Sim. Thus far, many of the titles in this line have not had US releases. Wicker Man is the only one that comes to mind and the US counterpart was barebones by comparison.
Nope, not that radio program by the same name, Air America with Mel Gibson comes to us via StudioCanal's standard label.
Arrow Films closes out UK Import Monday with The Exorcist III, which also gets an Arrow UK Site Exclusive release as well, which dons the poster cover art seen on the US Shout! Factory release.
Several Domestic Tuesday New Releases to get through first.
A Quiet Place: Day One from Paramount. This one is considered the prequel/origin story to the other two films already out. You can also get this as a SteelBook Release, or if you prefer a little more of the color red, a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
Moving over to A24 and LionsGate, the third part of the Ti West/Mia Goth trilogy, MaXXXine. To get the first two installments in 4K you have to import them. Perhaps with this out now, maybe a domestic 4K box set will be coming (?)
Well Go USA this week has Asian thriller Exhuma. There is an English dub included for those that prefer it.
On to catalog titles, and the first one is semi-new. Not often we see a streaming platform's physical disc on a 4K new release calendar, but here we are with Arcane: League of Legends – Season One, distributed by GKIDS and Shout! Factory. You can also head over to their shop directly and get a Shop Exclusive, over the top swag induced release as well.
Universal Pictures has a couple of entries this week.
New to 4K disc, Friday Night Lights, which also is available as a SteelBook Release.
They know SteelBooks are an additional incentive for some buyers, so we get Steels of Five Nights at Freddy's - Walmart Exclusive, Halloween Trilogy (2018 - 2022) - Walmart Exclusive, The Mummy (1932) and Us / Get Out (Double Feature).
Criterion 4K RKO Pictures Double Feature with I Walked with a Zombie / The Seventh Victim: Produced by Val Lewton.
Infrequent to the weekly guide, Synapse Films offers us The Convent this week.
Shout! Factory brings us Devil (2010), directed by John Erick Dowdle and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. Also, a few weeks after the standard release, a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook of The Strangers (2008) is available.
And closing out domestic releases, last year we had a digipak, this year Sleepy Hollow gets listed as a 25th Anniversary SteelBook.
Wednesday release, Thesis drops a Collector's Edition release direct from Umbrella Entertainment. A standard release comes out next week.
Friday, if you did not directly import this last week, Amazon US has Second Sight's The Hitcher, available as a Standard Edition and a Limited Edition. Warner Bros has a domestic release in 2 weeks, but it is a barebones MOD title, no digital code and probably no slipcover. Pricing wise, both the Second Sight standard release and WB's are almost the same.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include (possibly region B) An Inspector Calls, Air America, domestic region A or region free releases of A Quiet Place: Day One, MaXXXine, which also has a Walmart Exclusive option, Exhuma, Arcane: League of Legends – Season One standard, as well as SteelBook, I Walked with a Zombie / The Seventh Victim: Produced by Val Lewton, The Convent and (possibly region B) The Hitcher.
From Searchlight Pictures and Sony, 2024 fantasy Kinds of Kindness.
Also from Sony, and the street date on this one is not entirely clear, but I am counting it as a Tuesday release, adventure/fantasy Harold and the Purple Crayon should be available!
Ain't it great to also get TV on HD or 4K disc? This week we can buy Interview with the Vampire: Season Two and Las Vegas: The Complete Series. Count me in for Las Vegas. Which shows would you love to see? If there were blu-ray box sets for the franchises of CSI, NCIS, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, Chicago (Dick Wolf) and other type dramas, I would be all over them, even in 5 or 10 season increments.
Anime/Animated highlights include Castlevania Nocturne - Season One, Ouran High School Host Club: The Complete Series, Red vs. Blue: Restoration and Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead - Season 1, which also comes as a Limited Edition.
Friday AU imports (via Amazon US) include:
- Beverly Hills Ninja (Australian Import)
- Bend It Like Beckham (Australian Import)
- Hell House LLC Collection I-IV Collector's Edition (Limited Edition Australian Import)
- Triangle (Limited Edition Australian Import)
- The Isle (Limited Edition Australian Import)
- Intruder (Limited Edition Australian Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released to blu-ray and 4K discs on November 19th.
In a short notice window, Twisters will be releasing on October 22nd.
Shout! Factory says Merry Christmas with December releases. In no particular order, 4K titles include 'Aguirre, the Wrath of God', Ted, The Holdovers, The Gift (2000), The Faculty, Riddick, Rock 'n' Roll High School, Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection (not all titles in 4K), Far and Away and Silent Night, Deadly Night. Blu-rays include The Dead Don't Hurt, Golden Harvest Vol. 2: Shining Stars and Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey II.
Legends of the Fall and Talk of the Town will be landing on 4K on December 3rd from Sony.
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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Start October With HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Oct. 1, 2024
Posted Mon Sep 30, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineWelcome to the first week of October. Relatively slow start to the month for video releases. For a lot of us, October means Halloween, horror movies, and all the jazz! Visited your local Spirit Halloween yet?
And speaking of Spirit Halloween, SNL did a skit about it. Want a laugh? Check it out!
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 18 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 29th - October 5th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Believe it or not, there are only TWO new SKUS this week in the 4K category and they're both appropriately themed for October.
First up, very recent release Imaginary gets a 4K Amazon Exclusive SteelBook. There is no standard edition 4K available, and as with so many Blumhouse releases, they dropped a blu-ray only release on the original release day, making us wonder if a 4K was en route any time soon, or at all.
Paramount offers up another box set of various titles, that would be Paramount Scares Vol. 2. No mystery movie this go round, but it is priced right for four decent films.
Coming off retailer exclusive, The Blob (1988) SteelBook gets a general release.
Next week is like night and day. Instead of two releases, there are roughly twenty when you also count the imports.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases? Not this week. We pretty much already got them!
Import Monday has a few that might interest you. Always keep in mind though that they may be region B locked, and not playable on your setup.
- Papaya: Love Goddess of the Cannibals (Limited Edition UK Import)
- The Valley of the Bees (UK Import)
- Blur: To the End & Live at Wembley Stadium (UK Import)
- Vital (2004): 20th Anniversary Edition (UK Limited Edition)
- Crawlspace (UK Import)
Anime highlights include To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts (Monday release, standard edition CrunchyRoll Store Exclusive) and the Tuesday release of Outbreak Company: Complete Collection.
Shout Factory blu-ray horror arrives with As Above, So Below: Collector's Edition.
TV on disc this week, and it's a pretty big one, The West Wing: The Complete Series. Talk about good timing.
Notable announcements from last week:
Last week was a pretty busy week for announcements. In addition to the boutique label onesie twosies, and the leaks of Shout Factory's next batch, a few major ones are below.
Alien: Romulus will be coming to blu-ray and 4K on December 3rd from 20th Century Studios.
Deadpool & Wolverine is getting several choices for blu-ray and 4K releases on October 22nd. Both Alien: Romulus and Deadpool & Wolverine have been rumored to have Dolby Vision on them despite what the press release says, and new titles going forward as well. But this is as reported by an entertainment writer on Forbes, so accept it with a grain of salt. If true, this is very good news, now hopefully BD100s when needed.
All restaurants are Taco Bell, right? Arrow Video's December releases include 4K editions of Demolition Man, The Great Escape and The Addiction, blu-ray of The Last Video Store, a UK 4K of The Good, the Bad, the Weird, and a snazzy blu-ray box set of Critters 1-4.
I Love Lucy: The Complete Series will be coming to blu-ray on on November 5th.
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 -
Collecting 4K's Is Getting Scary! - HDD's October 2024 4K UHD Shopping Guide
Posted Sun Sep 29, 2024 at 03:02 PM PDT by Matthew HartmanSummer is over, fall is here, and the busy crush of new releases, catalog favorites, and indie label hits smashes into our collections. The October 2024 run of 4K releases is a beastly month.
October is a great month for watching horror movies, dressing up, and gorging on mini-sized candy. Fortunately for physical media collectors, it's one of the biggest months of the year for disc releases. Unfortunately, that also means our wallets take quite the hit too. 2024 was already a crazy year for some great releases, but it starts getting a little nuts this month as we gear up for the holiday shopping season. We're getting everything from gnarly classic horror flicks, new releases, deep-cut catalog titles, and everything in between. So let's get to it.
High-Def Digest's October 2024
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Shopping GuideOctober 1st - 4K UHD Releases
In an odd move from all studios and labels, the first week of the month is a shockingly slim slate. It's shocking because we're only seeing a couple of titles come out on 4K, but the following week is a true wallet-buster. So in some ways, this is nice because you get to save a little cash before things get nuts.
October 8th - 4K UHD Releases
And this is when things hit the proverbial fan... financially at least. This month is a crazy mix of new releases, retailer exclusives, and SteelBook re-releases. It's a lot to get through so hopefully you've stashed a few pennies.
October 15th - 4K UHD Releases
After that blistering second week of releases, the third release week of October 2024 isn't slowing down. While we might not have as many releases this week, we still have plenty of heavy hitters to budget for. From first-time releases to a big anniversary box set, there's some great stuff this frame.
October 22nd - 4K UHD Releases
As if this month wasn't scary enough, this fourth Tuesday of October 2024 will see some of the heaviest heavy hitters to punch out the format. We're seeing two of the creepiest flicks ever alongside 2024's second-highest-grossing mega box officer success. Funny enough, we're also seeing one of the biggest duds of the year drop this week - that's on top of all the classics and deep-cut catalog titles. Just note - a few of these titles were very late additions to the slate and pre-orders aren't yet live on all of them - as soon as they are, we'll double back and get those links embedded.
October 29th - 4K UHD Releases
For the rare fifth Tuesday in October, things slow down a little bit as get ready for a barrage of kids demanding free candy. Budget accordingly and remember - don't be that person who hands out apples and little boxes of raisins on Halloween. I don't want to advocate for full bars, but if you have a Costco membership, there's really no excuse to not go full bars. Unless of course you're adding a bunch of great flicks to the collection.
And that's all the news that's fit to print this month. Considering how many titles were added to the slate very last minute, we hope there won't be any availability issues. Some aren't even up for preorder yet, so when they do go live, don't hesitate.
Hope this shopping guide helps you have a great Halloween season - Happy Collecting!
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Could There BE Any More Discs This Week? HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Sept. 23, 2024
Posted Mon Sep 23, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontainePoof. Just like that, the last week of the month of September, and Autumn (Fall) is here in the Northern hemisphere, and oh yeah, there are a lot of titles to wade through this week.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 17 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 22nd - September 28th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday begins with Love, Death & Apocalypse: Three Films by Álex de la Iglesia from Arrow UK.
Domestic Tuesday has so many choices this week, some of us will rank them when making our decisions. New Releases go first, of course.
A few weeks ago we probably got tempted by, or bought Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, this week if you somehow did not own that and all the previous movies, you can not get Max Max: Five Film Collection.
From Decal/Neon, 2024 crime/thriller Longlegs. Am I seeing a lot of red?
In a short-notice window, Universal brings us the third sequel, referring to Despicable Me 4. With all the fanfare and money this franchise has made, no doubt expect a part 5 in the future.
And the final new release this week was literally officially announced towards the end of last week and it is another (third) sequel, Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Also available as a Limited Edition SteelBook.
Catalog titles begin with Sony and Body Double, considered an erotic crime thriller.
Not something we see very often, TV on 4K disc, especially something not produced in the past couple of years. This week we get Friends: The Complete Series from Warner Bros, all 86+ hours worth of sit-com TV!
Next on the list, a pair of releases from Criterion Collection. First, Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, categorized in the romcom category. And the 1998 comedy Happiness with Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Paramount brings us the adventure fantasy Stardust to 4K SteelBook. It seems like only yesterday when HD-DVD and Blu-ray were competing and this came out on HD-DVD.
Indie label Blue Underground is on track to release action comedy The Million Eyes of Sumuru this week.
Shout Factory makes an appearance this week with Village Of The Damned (1995).
Vinegar Syndrome has our regular monthly visit, new Limited Edition site exclusives, and standard editions available via Amazon and other merchants. For Limited Edition, Delirium: Photo of Gioia and Howling II: Your Sister Is A Werewolf. And for Standard Editions, Devil Times Five and Last Embrace.
Available Thursday as an import from Germany, Downfall, a history/war film from 2004.
Next week, not the pattern we have been seeing a lot the past few months, it is quite a lot less to sort through. The month does seem pretty consistent week to week if you exclude October 1st.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include the region B import of Love, Death & Apocalypse: Three Films by Álex de la Iglesia, region A/region-all releases of Longlegs, Despicable Me 4, which is also available as a 4-movie collection, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which is also available as a 4-movie collection, Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, Happiness and The Ladykillers.
The rest of the blu-ray category this week is pretty damned big! The trick though is a lot of it is indie labels and BD-R MOD releases.
Import Monday has a handful of titles that may or may not be Region B locked:
- The Outcasts (UK Import)
- Michael Powell: Early Works (UK Import)
- I Am Waiting (UK Import)
- Unlawful Entry (UK Import)
- Love, Death & Apocalypse: Three Films by Álex de la Iglesia (Arrow Limited Edition) (UK Import)
- When Tomorrow Comes - Indicator Series (Limited Edition UK Import)
- The Lady is Willing - Indicator Series (Limited Edition UK Import)
- You and Me - Indicator Series (Limited Edition UK Import)
- You'll Never Get Rich - Indicator Series (Limited Edition UK Import)
- Death Game (UK Import)
Domestic Tuesday has so many directions I could go. How about we explore TV on disc first with The Stand (2020) - Walmart Exclusive SteelBook, Young Sheldon: The Complete Sixth Season, Young Sheldon: The Complete Seventh Season and Young Sheldon: The Complete Series.
The Warner Archive Collection's September batch streets this week. Titles include Bathing Beauty (1944), Conflict (1945), I Remember Mama (1948), Jonny's Golden Quest / Jonny Quest vs. the Cyber-Insects (1992-1995), Journey Into Fear (1943) and A Prairie Home Companion (2006).
The Exorcism (2023) with Russell Crowe is available from Vertical Entertainment. (Note: Most of their releases use lossy audio, and this one has DD 5.1).
Anime highlights include The Eminence in Shadow (Season 2) Complete Collection, GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka - Complete Collection, Kite: Integral Version, Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island - Movie, Monster Musume: Everyday Life With Monster Girls - Complete Collection, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation - Season 2 Part 1 and Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage - Season 2.
The prequel to Shaolin Soccer, comedy/sport film The Champions comes to us via Eureka Entertainment.
Notable announcements from last week:
Sort of like the last week, there are a bunch of onesie twosie announcements from lots of different labels.
Galaxy Quest will be coming to 4K and 4K SteelBook on December 3rd.
Multiple Kino Lorber releases have had their details announced, new titles added, and several titles pushed back.
CrunchyRoll and Sentai Filmworks have revealed their December slates. Check our release calendar for full lists.
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 -
Bringing Out The Discs - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Sept. 16, 2024
Posted Mon Sep 16, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineSaw a funny video the other day, if you live in Australia you know it is magpie swooping season. Good times (at least for us watching!) Remember for them, it is almost Spring, not Autumn. As we enter the middle of the month, the disc market continues on strong with several great releases. Nope, no rest for us die-hard collectors. You know who you are.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 16 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 15th - September 21st, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
There are no imports to mention this week, however there is one title that could be considered a new release, that would be Reacher: Season Two, which is from Paramount Television.
Everything else this week would be considered catalog releases and that is A-OK.
Continuing with Paramount, spine number 47 of the Paramount Presents line, Bringing Out The Dead comes out this week. Scorsese, Cage, do I need to say more?
Arrow Video is next on the docket with The Chronicles of Riddick, Friday the 13th (2009) and Torso, the latter also is available as an Arrow Store Exclusive Edition.
From Shout! Factory this week, Doomsday.
Criterion Collection has The Long Good Friday this week.
And lastly, Universal Pictures releases Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection, which is another version of the many editions we have already seen.
For Thursday releases, first, an upgrade over last week's Blu-ray domestic release, Capelight Pictures brings us Late Night With The Devil. As 4K upgrades go, it is not likely we will get a domestic release of this, so, buy it if that is what you are wanting.
Announced literally on Mondaym a 4K mediabook for Mississippi Burning, also from Capelight.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Reacher: Season Two, The Chronicles of Riddick and The Long Good Friday.
TV on disc this week includes The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 10 and The Crown: The Complete Final Season (The Complete Series of The Crown will release on October 15).
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut debuts to Blu-ray this week, the 4K has been pushed back a few weeks.
Anime highlights include The Great Cleric - The Complete Season, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Set 9 - Stone Ocean Part 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Movie - Scarlet Bond and Ya Boy Kongming!: Complete Collection (Premium Box Set).
There would have been quite a few Kino Lorber releases this week, they are burned by the delay bug yet again. But what you can look forward to this week are Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XX and Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XXI. Disc replication is now done by fewer companies, so delays are pretty normal, especially for smaller labels.
One more checkmark off your Robin Williams list with Man of the Year this week.
Believe it or not, there are no Australian imports towards the end of the week. Monday has got a bunch of UK imports though!
Notable announcements from last week:
Sony Pictures will be bringing us a Frank Capra 20-Film Collection on November 19th, some of them will be 4K.
Many onesie twosie titles have been announced and we could get lost if we list them all. Kino Lorber has been the busiest with reveals.
If you are getting the Columbia Pictures Classics Volume 5, you are getting the 2019 remake, and just announced is the 1994 edition of Little Women to 4K on November 19th.
Each generation seems to have grown up with a blue TV dog in their life. Huckleberry Hound, Blues Clues, Bluey. BBC is offering Bluey Seasons 1 -3 as an Amazon Exclusive blu-ray on November 5th. More TV on blu-ray and 4K is great!!
Still not OFFICIAL but it would appear that Godzilla: Minus One will have its USA release on November 19th.
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 -
Turn That Wallet INSIDE OUT - Shop HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Sept. 9, 2024
Posted Mon Sep 9, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineOn to the second week of September and as we have seen in the past, the volume of titles increases by quite a bit as the month progresses.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 15 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 8th - September 14th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday has one title for sure, one title on the maybe column.
On the for sure column, another Western SteelBook, referring to Red Sun under the Studiocanal Cult Classics label.
And under the not likely release column, a 4K for American Pie.
Domestic Tuesday rolls in with a few of new releases. Starting off, Disney Pixar's Inside Out 2. The only way to own this one on a 4K disc is with a SteelBook edition, and in my opinion, the Blu-ray has a much better cover art. This one has made a TON of money at the box office, my only wish for the home video release was that it has Dolby Vision on the disc!
Next, from Lionsgate, not a horror film, but somehow titled Kill. This one is also available as a SteelBook.
The third new release this week is Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 with Kevin Costner. This film also has a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook option to choose from.
And yet, a 4th new release this week? Yup, the Paramount Plus TV series Knuckles gets a MOD style 4K release. If you want that fancy SteelBook, you got to downgrade the video to Blu-ray.
Catalog titles next, and we got more than a few. Where to begin? Somewhat alphabetically I suppose.
Criterion Collection this week has a drama/fantasy All of Us Strangers.
From Kino Lorber this week, a pair of previously delayed titles, The Antichrist and Zoltan, Hound of Dracula.
From Warner Bros., Batman 85th Anniversary 10-Film Collection.
What seemed like a canceled release or delayed indefinitely, we now get to see Dark Night of the Scarecrows: Ultimate Collector's Edition Double Feature.
Here is something we do not see very often, comedy in 4K, Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip comes to us via Sony Pictures.
Two Shout Factory releases are brought to you by the letter S. We get to purchase the horror thriller The Stepfather (1987) and a horror/mystery The Strangers (2008).
If you are looking to get a 4K upgrade of Wind River, Lionsgate is offering it as a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
On a bit of a budget? Arrow Video has the standard edition release of Tremors 2: Aftershocks.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include the region B release of Red Sun, domestic releases of Inside Out 2, Kill, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1, Knuckles, which also has a SteelBook Option, All of Us Strangers, Dark Night of the Scarecrows: Ultimate Collector's Edition Double Feature and Tremors 2: Aftershocks.
Even if you exclude the small B-label releases this week, we still see a pretty large amount of titles to choose from.
How about some comedy from Decal-Bleeker, with The Fabulous Four? There are some familiar names in this one.
Anime highlights include Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury - Season 1 - Exclusive SteelBook, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury - Season 2 - Exclusive SteelBook, Mobile Suit Gundam: the Witch from Mercury - Seasons 1 + 2 - Blu-ray Bundle - SteelBook, Naruto Shippuden Set 4, Spy Classroom (Seasons 1 & 2) Complete Collection, and TRIGUN STAMPEDE - Complete Series, which is also available as a Limited Edition Release.
Not to dissuade you (as this is available as a 4K if you import it), Late Night With The Devil gets a Blu-ray SteelBook from RLJ Entertainment.
I hope reception to this release is not a gauge of customer interest, Universal Television has Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twenty-Five on blu-ray. Give me seasons 1-10, 11-20 and so on as a set and I am all over it. Offer one of the shortest seasons on the show's running, you will not get an accurate feel for the demand.
More TV on disc, Ted: Season One from Universal and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live - Season One.
OOP reissues from MGM, Amos & Andrew, Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers, A Guy Thing, Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects, Speechless and Together.
No company is immune to the delayed release game. As of press time, Warner Archive Collection is on track to release Black Belt Jones and Boulevard Nights.
Honorable Mentions: Nearly 25 years in the making, Full Moon Features brings us The Primevals, a stop-motion spectacle. If you got the Umbrella AU Release, you would know it is region B locked, which is a rarity for that company.
Warner Bros has an animated mega collection titled Super Friends!: The Complete Collection. Yes, it's the entire series that aired on ABC TV back in the day.
Friday Australian Imports (via Amazon US) include:
- Irresistible (2006) (Australian Import Standard Edition)
- The Chain Reaction (Australian Import Standard Edition)
- The Emu War: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- The Demon Disorder (2024): Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
Universal Pictures has announced Despicable Me 4 will be coming to 4K and Blu-ray discs on September 24th.
Shout! Factory has revealed their November titles. Do check out our article!
I can confirm that the Godzilla store has shipped the Japanese edition of Minus One. Might even arrive by the time this article releases.
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 -
A Guide of Our Own - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Sept. 2, 2024
Posted Mon Sep 2, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineHappy September! This week is quite a contrast to last week with the number of releases. But just like any other month we have seen recently, it often times starts out slow, and then ramps up towards the end.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 14 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of September 1st - September 7th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday has a pair of titles to look at. First from StudioCanal, Orca gets a Steelbook release. The standard edition has yet to be announced, but there is cover art out there. If one were to wager, Shout! Factory will do their own 4K in the next few months or so, afterall, their blu-ray went OOP.
And from 101 Films, the Drama/Mystery film Incendies.
Domestic Release Tuesday has no New Releases, but there are some catalog titles to pick from.
Somewhat recent thriller The Boy gets a 4K release from Shout! Factory.
From the same label, The Amityville Horror (2005) also gets a shiny new release.
Getting a standard release (not retailer exclusive), the SteelBook of Creepshow becomes available as well.
Breaking away from their Paramount Scares set, the secret title Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street gets its own release.
Sony Pictures delivers A League of Their Own. Surprisingly, not a SteelBook.
We knew it was inevitable, Criterion Collection did the blu-ray, now it's time for the 4K, talking about Repo Man with Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez.
Friday releases (via Amazon US), Via Vision Australia offers Dredd and American Psycho Collection (2000 – 2002).
Next week, slight uptick in volume of titles.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, just one, and it is probably region B locked, referring to Orca. The Shout! Factory region A release is out of print, reinforcing the notion that there is a 4K coming soon!
TV on disc this week, Belgravia: The Next Chapter, but at the moment there is no order link. It will either be posted last second or the date moved back.
Sandpiper Pictures reissues Blame It on Rio, Clive Barker's Lord Of Illusions, The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), Lady in White, Marat / Sade, Moby Dick (1956) and Saving Grace. This is actually a good thing, these releases were out of print and are quite expensive to acquire.
Slow week for anime, highlights includes just Rent-A-Girlfriend: Season 3 and UN-GO - Complete Collection.
Wednesday Releases, Umbrella Entertainment's September slate. Some of these will get releases via Amazon US at a later date.
- Irresistible (2006): Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Irresistible (2006) (Australian Import)
- Goodnight Mommy (Ich Seh, Ich Seh): Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Goodnight Mommy (Ich Seh, Ich Seh) (Australian Import)
- The Chain Reaction: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- The Chain Reaction (Australian Import)
- NIGHT OWLS FAN CLUB - Late Night With The Devil: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Late Night With The Devil: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Late Night With The Devil (Australian Import)
Friday releases via Amazon US, more Aussie Imports:
- The Substitute Collection (1996 – 2001) – Limited Edition 3D Lenticular Hardcase + Art Cards (Australian Import)
- Pandorum (2009) – Limited Edition 3D Lenticular Hardcase + Art Cards (Australian Import)
- The Lords of Salem (2012) – Limited Edition 3D Lenticular Hardcase (Australian Import)
- Smokey and the Bandit Collection (1977 – 1983) (Limited Edition 3D Lenticular Hardcase + Art Cards) (Australian Import)
- Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) – The Complete Series (1969) – Imprint Television Limited Edition
- Jessica (1962) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Crossplot (1969) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Banning (1967) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Synanon (1965) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Woman of Straw (1964) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- The Taming of the Shrew (1967) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
Notable announcements from last week:
Amazon U.S. now has listings for 4K releases of Blazing Saddles and The Terminator. Both will also don a SteelBook option, and, no doubt, a classy looking UK releases with lots of swag.
Disney has revealed that The Sixth Sense and Signs are coming to 4K disc in October. Even with Disney's standard formula of BD66 HDR10 discs, these two discs should be worth looking at. But come on guys, Dolby Vision and BD100 (where merited) would be so nice!
A couple of crazy good 4K releases are coming from Imprint Australia. If money was no object, I would be all over them, all four of them!
Arrow Video's November batch has been revealed. Do check it out!
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 -
Kingdom Of The Video Discs - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, August 26, 2024
Posted Mon Aug 26, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineAmong all the doom and gloom talk on how "streaming has replaced disc", this week again offers up a huge selection of physical titles to pick from, both in the 4K and blu-ray categories, so that statement that doesn't exactly ring as entirely true.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 13 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of August 25th - August 31st, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday begins with a couple of boutique label releases.
First from 88 Films, Jet Li action/thriller The Bodyguard from Beijing.
And next, from Arrow Films UK, The Silence of the Lambs. This one also has an Arrow UK Store exclusive cover. Both editions come with a little bit of swag as well.
Moving on to Domestic Tuesday, Warner Bros starts out in the New Releases section. Produced by M. Night Shyamalan and directed by Ishana Shyamalan comes the suspense/thriller The Watchers.
From DC Animation and Warner Bros, a similarly named title as our domestic opener, Watchmen Chapter 1. But that's were the similarities end.
Next up from 20th Century Studios, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which comes as a Standard Edition and as a Limited Edition SteelBook. The frustration remains as, if there was a film that needs to break away from their standard BD66 HDR10 mold, it's this one, which runs 145 minutes for starters. And has a Dolby Vision release out there ever been worse than HDR10?
Moving to catalog releases, this week is pretty big for Arrow Video, who frequently only has one title on any given week. Double Feature The Woman & Offspring, which offers both films in 4K.
Next up, a triple feature, The Mexico Trilogy: El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Note: Only Desperado is presented in 4K. And speaking of Desperado, it is also available as a Limited SteelBook. Amazon seems to still not have that listing up, so we have a Walmart link in its place.
Just like Arrow Video, Criterion has more than one release this week. Both of them are comedies and both are directed by Albert Brooks. The two films are Mother (1996) and Real Life.
Kino Lorber has a trio of titles this week. First a pair of French cinema releases, award winning drama/romance Last Year at Marienbad and Jean-Luc Godard’s sci-fi-noir classic Alphaville.
And of course a film that really needs no introduction, JCVD's Sudden Death.
Warner Bros wants us to Focus on a film with Will Smith. Note: There is no digital code with this one. On a week with lots of titles and where one has to weigh the pros and cons, that might be a con to some.
From Shout! Factory, Poltergeist II: The Other Side. Warner Bros of course released the original film that started it all to disc a few months back.
Those that imported this one after seeing multiple editions and waiting for what seemed like forever, Sony Pictures now offers Drive, in a Limited SteelBook.
NOPE, not the Morgan Freeman film, Italian film High Crime (not plural) comes via Blue Underground.
Severin Films releases Castle of Blood to general special edition disc this week.
Vinegar Syndrome distributed standard editions (via Amazon US) this week are Reptilicus and Goin' South, and their August Limited Edition titles only available direct are Devil Times Five and Thieves Like Us. Standard editions usually follow in a month or so.
Former Paramount Presents title Double Jeopardy gets a standard release this week.
On to double-dips of sort.
Joker (2019) gets a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
Classic Movie Monster films Dracula and Frankenstein get different, more classic cover art SteelBooks from Universal. These do not appear to be Walmart Exclusives, but the only place to apparently get them is from Walmart. Yup, call me confused a little.
Next week gives us a chance to recharge our wallets just a little bit.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, both imports (likely region B locked) for The Bodyguard from Beijing and The Silence of the Lambs, and domestic region A (or region free) releases of The Watchers, Watchmen Chapter 1, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Mother (1996), Real Life, High Crime and Castle of Blood.
As with the 4K category, the blu-ray category this week is absolutely monstrous. There are close to 100 titles this week. Excluding the boutique label site exclusives, it is still pretty busy.
In a classic, announce it literally the week before street date, The Garfield Movie comes to blu-ray this week from Sony Pictures. I know there are some that might ask where the 4K is, and I am probably right there with you.
Anime highlights include Am I Actually the Strongest? - The Complete Season, Berserk - The Golden Age Arc - Blu-ray - Memorial Edition, Feast of Amrita, Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku: Season 1, which is also available as an Amazon Exclusive Limited Edition and My Hero Academia: Season 6 Part 2, which is also available as a Limited Edition.
TV on disc this week, The Alaskans: The Complete Series (1959-60)(maybe), Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Complete Series, which is also available as a Shout Exclusive Deluxe Edition, Resident Alien: Season Three, Sonic Prime: Season Two, Star Trek: Discovery - The Final Season, also available as a Limited Edition SteelBook, Star Trek: Discovery - The Complete Series and Vikings: Valhalla: Season One. I insert the maybe on The Alaskans because a bunch of their titles have changed dates after the last second. You read that right, I said AFTER the last second.
BBC documentary Mammals, narrated by Sir David Attenborough is available Tuesday.
Previously available from Shout! Factory, but now part of Kino Lorber's Cult Series, this week the next 5 are available, Empire of the Ants, Frogs, The Food of the Gods, Kingdom of the Spiders and Squirm.
Notable announcements from last week:
Lots of onesie twosie announcements.
First, (and you know how much I love these sets) Second Sight UK has a couple more Limited Edition swag-filled releases to mention for the fall. Late Night With the Devil will be getting a 4K release, and The Blair Witch Project a limited edition blu-ray. The latter of course will be region B locked.
If you have followed my comments, you know that I often times express frustration that the studios seem to have it in for the US market, in that they seem to releases these gorgeous gift sets anywhere but here. Warner Bros will be releasing a swag-filled set for Wizard of Oz on November 5th. Maybe not the most elaborate gift set out there, it is still quite nice.
Severin Films has revealed their next folk horror set, All The Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium Of Folk Horror Volume 2 will be coming October 15th.
There are many more smaller titles to announce, and by the time you read this, Vinegar Syndrome will also have revealed their September batch.
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 Shop HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, August 19, 2024
Posted Mon Aug 19, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineMid-August, releases still coming on strong. It is an ever so much of a reprieve this week, next week on the other hand, yeah, brace for impact!
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 12 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of August 18th - August 24th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Little bit of this, little bit of that, that's what 4K is about this week. (Sing it like the hokey pokey)
Import Monday begins with You're Next (Limited Edition) from Second Sight. This is also available as a Standard Edition. Thus far, many of these Second Sight releases have not been duplicated with U.S. counterparts, and their Limited Editions have for the most part grown in value over the years. I bought this one, so, LionsGate will likely release it in the U.S..
Domestic Tuesday has no New Releases. The closest title to new release status though is Let Him Go from Universal Pictures. Yup, you can thank me again. The blu-ray was on sale, I bought it, a 4K was announced shortly afterwards.
From Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1998 comedy Can't Hardly Wait.
From Shout! Factory, the animated film The Last Unicorn. Also available as a Walmart Exclusive SteelBook.
Also from Shout/Scream Factory, a reissue of the Evil Dead (2013) SteelBook, but not as a Best Buy Exclusive.
A pair of skus from Kino Lorber, the double feature Peril & Distress: And Soon the Darkness / Sudden Terror, and Prime Cut.
Closing it out, a reissue of Red Eye from Paramount. This one was previously available under the Paramount Presents line.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include You're Next (likely region B locked) from Second Sight and Prime Cut from Kino Lorber.
Fairly good size selection this week in blu-ray. Next week is a whopper here too, but let's get through this week first.
Anime highlights include The Ancient Magus' Bride - Season Two, Part One, Bungo Stray Dogs - Season Five and Helck (Season 1) Complete Collection.
Little by little, the Robin Williams shelf fills in. This week Shout Select offers us Death To Smoochy.
Special Interest right here.... Bloody Disgusting has partnered with Walmart to produce a line of Exclusive SteelBooks. They street this week, titles to get this treatment are Hannibal Rising, I Spit On Your Grave (2010), Leatherface, Sinister, Texas Chainsaw (2013), Wolf Creek and You're Next. Personal experience says YMMV when trying to find these in your local store. Assume nothing, even though they are Walmart Exclusives.
Criterion Collection this week has Not a Pretty Picture, a serious subject matter drama/documentary.
TV on disc, Universal has La Brea: Season Three, which is the final season. That being said, you can also get The Complete Series.
With a Friday release date, Shout Factory has Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045. This mega-set is also available in the UK from AlltheAnime.
Friday also brings us more Australian imports, most of them via Amazon U.S..
- Australian War Film Collection (Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan / Parer's War)(AU Import)
- Magnum P.I.: The Complete Series (2018 – 2024)(AU Import)
- The Outer Limits: The Complete Original Series (Australian Import)
- Broken Trail (2006) – Imprint Standard Edition
- Johnny Handsome (1989) – Imprint Standard Edition
- The Long Riders - Imprint Standard Edition
- The Driver - Imprint Standard Edition
- The Avengers: The Emma Peel Collection (1965-1967) - Imprint Standard Edition
- Hard Times - Imprint Standard Edition
- Extreme Prejudice - Imprint Standard Edition
- Dating The Enemy (Australian Import) (Slipcase Version)
Notable announcements from last week:
Universal will be releasing Friday Night Lights (2004) to 4K and 4K SteelBook on October 8th.
Criterion Collection's November slate of titles has been announced, several familiar titles, but with a 4K label.
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 -
Make Your Collection Epic - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, August 12, 2024
Posted Mon Aug 12, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineWhether you're shopping for 4K or blu-ray, or both, this week sees a considerable uptick in volume. I know I can't choose just one release, what about you?
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 11 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of August 11th - August 17th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Let's just say it. There's probably something for everyone this week. There are no imports to speak of, so let's get started with New Release Tuesday first.
Three titles this week are considered New Releases. First from Paramount, IF, which is short for Imaginary Friends.
Next, with their traditional 0-day street date notice, The Bikeriders from Universal Pictures.
And from Warner Bros, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. This one is also available as a Limited Edition SteelBook.
On to catalog titles. Titles getting a 4K upgrade, withOUT the digital code. Warner Bros brings us three titles with Black Mass, Game Night and Just Mercy, with Focus being pushed back two weeks, and it would be no surpirse to see these three being pushed as well. I want 4K upgrades as much as the next guy, but when money is tight or there are a lot of releases to pick and choose from, sometimes the lack of a digital code might be a deciding factor. Sometimes a lack of a slipcover is a decider for me as well, I know, maybe I am eccentric.
A double-feature special edition from Arrow Video, When Titans Ruled The Earth: Clash of the Titans & Wrath of the Titans. One has to wonder how the original Harryhausen masterpiece would look with a 4K upgrade. Bare minimum the HDR or DV grade would certainly make it worthwhile!
From the Criterion Collection, The Last Emperor. Previously Turbine did a release in Germany, and Arrow Video did one in the UK, read our review to see where this one ranks.
Because, Chuck Norris, am I right? This week from Shout studios, The Delta Force, with, Chuck Norris.
Kino Lorber has a pair of French crime-wave films directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, Bob le Flambeur and Le Doulos.
Still on track for this week, Dark Force Entertainment's general release of Mirror Mirror.
Synapse Films has broken the double-feature up in to single title releases, referring to Demons and Demons 2.
And nothing new really, but it's a 4K release. A less bulky repackage for Beverly Hills Cop: 3-Movie Collection.
Import Friday has one release (via Amazon U.S.), Umbrealla Entertainment's standard edition of JSA: Joint Security Area.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include IF prom Paramount, The Bikeriders from Universal, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga from Warner Bros, When Titans Ruled The Earth: Clash of the Titans & Wrath of the Titans from Arrow Video, and Demons and Demons 2 from Synapse.
Usually when I think Monday releases, I think UK imports. But not this week. CrunchyRoll Exclusives, B: The Beginning: Season Two, which comes as a Limited Edition as well as a standard edition.
And on to Tuesday releases, and we got close to 70 to look through.
Anime highlights include Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 18 (Farewell), The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy (Season 1) Complete Collection, The Devil Is a Part-Timer!: Season 2 Part 2, My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1: The Complete Season and One Piece: Season Thirteen - Voyage Nine.
The Criterion Collection has Ukrainian drama/romance films Brief Encounters / The Long Farewell: Two Films by Kira Muratov.
Those that got the first two seasons, you are now ready to own the third, that would be Chucky: Season Three.
Assuming no last minute delay, action/crime films In The Line Of Duty III and In The Line Of Duty IV should be released this Tuesday.
Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has a pretty extensive box set worthy of a purchase this week, The Three Stooges Collection. A 20-disc set with tons of Stooges action. I preordered mine.
Friday brings us more Australian Imports via Amazon U.S.:
- Emperor (AU Import)
- The Quiet Family (Australian Import)
- Lonesome Dove: The Ultimate Collection (Australian Import)
- Hamlet (1990) (Australian Import)
- Darling (1965)(Australian Import)
- Dating The Enemy (Australian Import)
- Love And Other Catastrophes (Australian Import)
Notable announcements from last week:
Disney has revealed that Inside Out 2 is coming to blu-ray and 4K on September 10th. At this time it looks like the 4K will be a SteelBook only, and it is unknown if that will be a Walmart Exclusive.
The elusive Godzilla Minus One is now available for preorder in the U.S market. Both as a standard release and SteelBook editions. If we had to guess, end of August on those.
Emmy winning TV series The West Wing: The Complete Series has been officially announced for a blu-ray release from Warner Bros, with an October 1 release date. Again, more TV on blu-ray and 4K is a wonderful thing! I got my preorder in before a street date was even announced.
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 -
Excellent!! Shop On Dudes! It's HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, August 5, 2024
Posted Mon Aug 5, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineThe heat is on! Although this week might seem a little average, there are still a fair amount to choose from. It is another one of those months that will ramp up and be huge at the end of the month. As we have said before, prepare yourselves!
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 10 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of August 4th - August 10th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
Import Monday has got a few more than usual. Actually, for the entire week, there are more imports to consider than there are domestic titles.
For actual new to 4K material, Arrow Video has comedy/crime film Heathers with Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. For a classier cover art, Arrow UK has an Arrow shop exclusive release as well.
Everything else (film-wise) we have seen available to the U.S. market already, but still worthy of mentioning as we do have readers on that side of the pond.
Something we see all too often, where the U.S. got a standard release, the UK gets a "classier" swag-filled release, this time it's for Anchorman, starring Will Ferrell.
Sounding like a broken record, Atomic Blonde gets a snazzy swag-filled release as well, this time it's Universal Pictures doing the deed. You might need to see another market (ebay or other seller) as Amazon sold out on their preorders.
Maybe not as over-the-top as the two releases above, but still more than the Shout! Factory U.S. release, Icon Film releases Point Break with a little more stuff in it.
Closing out Import Monday, the LionsGate counterpart release of Boy Kills World comes to us from Signature Entertainment, with what I consider a better cover art.
Shout! Factory. That is what most of the 4K domestic releases category this week consists of.
First up, Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Trilogy. This contains all three Bill & Ted movies. Previously, you could get the first film in 4K, and you had to import the third film, and were probably out of luck for the middle one.
If you already got the first film, the 2 sequels, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Bill & Ted Face the Music are now also available individually to 4K.
A double-dip of Collateral now finds itself available, but listed as a 20th Anniversary SteelBook.
Two previously released SteelBooks, as retailer exclusives but now general releases also come out on Tuesday, Dragonheart and Hackers.
Import Wednesday from Umbrella Entertainment Australia, JSA: Joint Security Area is available as a slipcase edition and a collector's edition. The standard edition is also available but we have that listed on the 16th via Amazon U.S.
Import Friday (via Amazon U.S.) you can snatch up The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy SteelBook Collection. This set looks identical to the previously released Best Buy set. It being an import, there is no digital code enclosed.
Blu-ray releases-
Import Monday (keep in mind some may be region B locked), StudioCanal's Vintage Classics label offers No Trees in the Street and The Weak and the Wicked.
Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings from 88 Films.
And, action/comedy Hundreds Of Beavers.
Domestic release Tuesday has some slim pickings.
From Neon Releasing, 2024 comedy Babes.
Two anime releases this week, Japanese language, Is the Order a Rabbit? BLOOM (Season 3) and (bilingual) Sweet Reincarnation: The Complete Season.
Just like the 4K category, import Wednesday is brought to you by Umbrella Entertainment out of Australia. Keep in mind that even though most of their releases are region free, The Primevals release has a Region B listing.
- Dating The Enemy: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Dating The Enemy (Australian Import) (Slipcase Version)
- Love And Other Catastrophes: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- Love And Other Catastrophes (Australian Import) (Slipcase Version)
- The Primevals (Australian Import) (Slipcase Version)
- The Quiet Family: Collector's Edition (Australian Import)
- The Quiet Family (Australian Import) (Slipcase Version)
And for Friday releases, Imprint Australia titles via Amazon U.S..
- Dead Boys: Return of The Living Dead Boys - Halloween Night (1986)
- The Juror (1996) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- 8MM (1999) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Smoke / Blue in the Face (1995) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Film Focus: Harvey Keitel (1992-1999) - Imprint Films Limited Edition
- Men of Respect - Imprint Films Limited Edition
Notable announcements from last week:
For those that took a chance chose to wait, and to not import the region locked 4K disc, you should be pleased to see that Eli Roth's Thanksgiving is getting a 4K domestic SteelBook release on October 15th.
Shout! Factory has revealed their October title slate. Do check out our article and pre-order today!
The Warner Archive Collection has revealed their September 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 -
Shop For Tomorrow Today! - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, July 29 2024
Posted Mon Jul 29, 2024 at 06:00 AM PDT by D. LaFontaineThe last week of July has approacheth! How has your Summer movie experience been this year? For me, has been a 'meh' sort of year.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 9 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 28th - August 3rd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
In a rather rare week, import Monday contains two titles that are also being released in the US market the very same week, they are Election from Paramount, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. from Arrow UK. The US release of Election is actually a Paramount Presents branded release.
Next, delayed from last month and with a different option, Purple Rain gets a SteelBook edition from Warner Bros UK. In a rarity, they did not swagify this one like they have done with so many other releases.
There are no new releases for Tuesday, but there are a handful of decent catalog titles.
First up, carrying over from import Monday and getting an actual US release that looks a bit snazzier, Election gets that Paramount Presents label release.
And from Arrow Video, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in their limited edition format, which usually carries a little bit of swag.
Next label on the docket is Kino Lorber with a trio of titles. A musical with Steve Guttenberg titled Can't Stop the Music, star studded romcom, In & Out, and thriller romance No Way Out starring Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman.
Universal's 2021 bio/drama House of Gucci get a 4K upgrade from Shout! Factory.
Sony breaks Run Lola Run from the Sony Pictures Classics megaset, as a single movie release.
From Vinegar Syndrome, standard editions of Invasion U.S.A. and The Sadness. The limited edition of The Sadness sold out pretty fast, collectors like me were not too pleased on the short order window!
And still available from their direct site and released this month, Last Embrace from the sub-label Cinématographe, and Reptilicus from their VS label.
For Friday releases, for some anime action with Mobile Suit Gundam Film Trilogy, Amazon US offers imports of Film One, Film Two - Soldiers Of Sorrow and Film Three - Encounters In Space.
Continuing with Amazon US, these films were released last week in the UK, but are available more locally now, Limited Edition Indicator Series title Bruiser, and from Second Sight, their limited edition fat-pack of A Bittersweet Life. Or, you could opt for the standard edition 4K if the cost and swag ain't for you, or want to leave that limited edition unopened.
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Can't Stop the Music, In & Out and No Way Out.
There are close to 80 titles in the blu-ray domestic releases category. The numbers are a bit skewed though, with this month's Vinegar Syndrom releases, and the previous month getting standard releases this month. Happy browsing!
From 20th Century Studios, The First Omen scares its way to Blu-ray. Having not seen this film, is it worth a complaint that there is no 4K release? Probably.
It is Warner Archive week, meaning their respective month's batch is available. Titles this month releasing on Tuesday include Harum Scarum, Idiot's Delight, Marie: A True Story, Northwest Passage, Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost/Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders (Double Feature), The Stars Fell on Henrietta and War of the Buttons.
Anime highlights include Dark Gathering Complete Collection, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s: TV Series 2, Mazinkaiser: The OVA Collection and To Your Eternity - Season One.
Kino Lorber has Bwana Devil 3D this week, which no doubt will end up in the libraries of the 3D hungry crowd!
You know who you are, those that bought the first two and await the third one. Referring to Severin's release of Danza Macabra Vol. Three: The Italian Gothic Collection.
TV on disc, the long awaited Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way comes out this week.
Arrow Video box set The Nico Mastorakis Collection is also available this week.
Honorable mention: Well Go USA revives the spider movie with Sting.
Notable announcements from last week:
Arrow Video has revealed their October slate of titles. Definitely a few good ones to match the month! Check out our news story here.
In the on then off, then back on again category, it looks like BFI is back on track to releasing Watership Down to 4K on November 11th. Naturally I recently bought a mediabook blu-ray, knowing that there would be no 4K release, or at least, that is what BFI was pretty adamant about. SIGH.
Continuing on with recent blu-ray purchases getting a 4K announcement, Paramount Presents title To Catch a Thief joins this prestigious double-dip honor too, with an October 15th street date.
If your favorite film needs a 4K upgrade, I'm open to suggestions on which blu-rays to buy!
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 -
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?
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