• I Gotta Finish Feedin' These Chickens! 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide July 23, 2023

    Posted Sun Jul 23, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    One False Move backdrop

     "Ray Malcolm? That's my brother's boy. I gotta finish feedin' these chickens. It's gettin' hot as hell around here at noontime." ( Old Man Malcolm - One False Move)

     If you are in the market for 4K titles, this week definitely has a few to pick from. From a new DC animated, we also get Needful Things, get married to an axe murderer, World War Z gets upgraded, more Bill Paxton and much more! Now if you are looking for blu-ray this week, prepare to deflate your wallet because there are close to 100 skus to pick from!

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 8 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 23rd - July 29th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     As far as New Releases this week, Sony brings us a SteelBook of Resident Evil: Death Island.

     

     Next, we get another DC animated title from Warner Bros, Justice League: Warworld.

     

     Moving on to catalog titles, in alphabetical order (more or less) let's start with a horror titled Black Magic Rites from Powerhouse Films. Be aware that the blu-ray is delayed a month, I expect this to be delayed as well.

     From Vinegar Syndrome and their related partner labels, we get general releases of The Boogey Man, EffectsNight Screams and Undefeatable. Site exclusives of Gorgo and Terror at Tenkiller, which are only available direct from their site, and typically become general releases on Amazon and other merchants 2 months later.

     

     Another appreciated boutique label, Kino Lorber brings us Needful Things.

     

     

     Criterion Collection releases One False Move this week, a crime/thriller with Bill Paxton. Since Paxton's death, it's nice to see more of his films on disc, 4K no less!

     

     Sony Pictures has So I Married an Axe Murderer, a romcom thriller.

     

     Shout! Factory upgrades World War Z to 4K this week.

     

     Not quite a double-dip, Paramount releases The War of the Worlds (1953). This go round it's just the single film package with no bonus blu-ray for When World Collide.

     Next week, Bueller, Bueller, Bueller, GOTG3, James Dean and Dean Martin classics, more Disney 100 SteelBooks, and so much more!

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above releases include Resident Evil: Death Island from Sony Pictures, Justice League: Warworld from Warner Bros, Needful Things from Kino Lorber and One False Move from Criterion.

     The remainder of this category is very crowded this week even when we omit any reissues. Doing our best to bring the highlights, the daunting task of where to begin starts now.

     Arrow Video presents Blood Money - Four Western Classics Vol. 2. No doubt another top rated presentation from Arrow.

     

     New sports documentary titled It Ain't Over. With a cast of Yogi Berra, Bob Costas, Billy Crystal, Joe Garagiola, Derek Jeter and Vin Scully, this one sounds interesting.

     Anime highlights include The Ancient Magus' Bride: The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm, Animal Treasure Island, High School of the Dead Complete Collection, Iria: Zeiram the Animation, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Complete Collection and Sailor Moon S: Complete Third Season.

     

     TV on disc includes just Gangs of London: Season Two. Feast or famine is what this category is all about.

     Warner Archive Collection's primary drop of July titles is this week and the titles are The Broadway Melody (1929), Cimarron (1931), Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), The Fastest Gun Alive (1956), Helen of Troy (1956) and The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954).

     

     The general release for Robot Monster - 3-D is available this week.

     The next Vestron Video Collector's Series release, My Best Friend is a Vampire debuts to blu-ray this week via LionsGate.

     

     Honorable Mention: Barring any last second delay, Screen Media/Cinedigm has a special interest release that sounds intriguing, Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story.

     Next week in this category, a polar opposite. Aside from the reissues, there are probably less than ten titles.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Criterion Collection has announced their October 2023 slate, and although there are no Halloween themed movies, it is quite a list nonetheless. Check out the news story here.

     A24 has an over the top collector's edition for Everything Everywhere All at Once, both blu-ray and 4K releases with an August 7 street date. The A24 shop uses the same page for blu-ray and 4K versions, just be certain which version you are proceeding with before checking out.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Gotta Get Down, Gotta Get Fungi! 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide July 16, 2023

    Posted Sun Jul 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by
    The Last of Us HBO backdrop

     With Prime Day in the rearview, and other retailers also having tried to get a piece of the pie, how well did you do? Yes, Movies and TV is my primary category on Prime Day, but Books, Toys and Games and Computers & Accessories always gets a look from me. You? Amazon announced they had their best Prime Day event ever.

     For 4K this week we get a most excellent Bruce Lee import, that Evil Dead Rise SteelBook I told you to wait for, TWO Criterion releases, and so much more.

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 7 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 16th - July 22nd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     Import Monday new release begins with Evil Dead Rise in a SteelBook package, the US domestic release of a standard case edition was a couple of weeks ago.

     

     No waiting a couple of weeks for the SteelBook release of The Last of Us: The Complete First Season, and our links bring you over to Amazon UK.

     

     Import Catalog title of Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest should grab your attention. Some of Bruce Lee's finest work, all in 4K. At present, the US market is only getting Enter The Dragon in 4K on August 8th, and I really doubt the rest of these films will, so it might be wise to import this set. Alternately, the Arrow Video Store has their store exclusive set for purchase as well.

     Moving on to Domestic Tuesday,  there's one new release, HBO's The Last of Us: The Complete First Season. Best I can tell, there is no digital copy included in this set, so go with whichever case/cover art you prefer. It would be ironic that a TV series based on a video game would be played on a gaming console that the actual game is installed on. Be careful, you might cause dimensional paradox right there.

     

     Criterion Collection has Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless, a new-wave crime film.

     

     TWO Criterion 4K releases the same week? Yup, next let's snatch The Ranown Westerns: Five Films Directed by Budd Boetticher, a collection of five Western films from director Budd Boetticher starring Randolph Scott. With the Barnes & Noble Criterion Sale going on right now, almost every one of these Criterion titles is half price at  B & N physical stores, online, and on Amazon.com as well.

     

     From Arrow Video, 2011's Martin Scorsese hit Hugo gets a 4K upgrade. This one has the 3D disc inside as well.

     

    Universal releases Les Misérables (2012). If you can figure out the formula in which Uni uses to determine which releases they do themselves and which ones Shout! Factory gets to do, you might be on to something, please let us know.

     

     Kino Lorber keeps cranking out what movie buffs want, this week William Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A..

     

     Next week more Resident Evil, another DC animated, more Kino, more in general!

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles include The Last of Us: The Complete First Season from HBO, Hugo 2D/3D from Arrow Video and To Live and Die in L.A. from Kino Lorber.

     Look for some fresh comedy from LionsGate titled Fool's Paradise.

     

     New romcom from Sony Pictures with Love Again.

     Delayed from a couple of weeks ago, Land of the Pharaohs is now available from Warner Archive. Reading David's review makes me chuckle, an exposed navel was considered obscene back then.

     

     TV on disc includes Moonhaven: Season One and South Park: Seasons 21-25.

     

     Anime highlights include The Devil Is a Part-Timer!: Season 2, Medaka Box (Seasons 1 & 2) Complete Collection and Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan.

     In the zero-day advance notice category (I'm sure you can tell I am talking about Universal again!), action/thriller Kandahar with Gerard Butler comes to blu-ray. Can't say for certain if this film merits a 4K disc, but undoubtedly the digital release will be 4K and in general, this type of movie would sell as a 4K disc.

     

     Honorable Mention: Kino's Audie Murphy Collection II is available this week.

     Next week, if you shop a lot of blu-rays, Tuesday alone currently has just under a hundred skus listed, prepare yourself!

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     East of Eden 4K and Rio Bravo 4K got moved to August 1st. Warner Bros has seemingly done this a fair amount of times for older catalog titles, no doubt for all the right reasons.

     Warner Bros has announced the 2023 film for The Flash to have a disc street date of August 29th.

     LionsGate has announced Tim Story's The Blackening to disc release on August 22.

     Although not officially announced, Fast X appears on track, on, track, for an August 8th street date. Expect an announcement by August 5th.

     Parts 4-7 of the Chucky movies have been pushed back a month to August 29.

     Last week, the SAG joined the WGA in a strike. How is this going to affect the entertainment industry in general?

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • What's Your Favorite Scary Movie? - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide July 9, 2023

    Posted Sun Jul 9, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    Scream VI backdrop

     Won't exactly call it a return to normal, but after a holiday week, any sort of release schedule is much more normal than that. It's a tossup on whether Scream 6 or Sisu will be the 4K title of the week. I lean towards Sisu because that category generally gets more attention.

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 6 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 9th - July 15th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     With no Imports Monday to report, thes get New Releases Tuesday first.

     From Paramount, Scream VI, which comes as a Standard Edition and as a SteelBook Edition.

     

     From LionsGate, Sisu, which comes as a Standard Edition and as a SteelBook, but the latter is a Best Buy Exclusive.

     

     Moving on to catalog releases, Criterion Collection releases After Hours, listed as a 'Dark' Comedy. And, The Watermelon Woman, which is in the romcom category.

     

     From Scream Factory, a horror titled The Burning.

     

     Closing out the 4K category this week, a few double-dips of sort. Invaders from Mars (1953) gets a standard release and both Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation get a SteelBook repackage.

     Next week, Bruce Lee imports, that Evil Dead Rise SteelBook I told you about, Les Mes, James Dean, John Wayne and more!

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above releases include Scream VI from Paramount and Sisu from LionsGate for the new releases, and After Hours from Criterion for a catalog title. The double-dip/standard release of Invaders from Mars also is available this week.

     This week and next are pretty slow for blu-ray releases. Again, a good week to be a boutique label.

     New comedy/drama from LionsGate titled Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.. Not done with LionsGate yet, also look for Beau Is Afraid, which is a comedy/horror.

     

     From Sony Pictures Classics, Drama/Romance titled Carmen.

     Under the standard Sony label, based on the anime of the same name, Knights of the Zodiac gets a live action film. As a fan of the series, is a 4K import an option?

     

     A new comedy from Universal titled Book Club: The Next Chapter. Were there previous chapters?

     

     TV on disc includes just Doctor Who: Jon Pertwee: Complete Season Three.

     Collectors of the series from Kino Lorber should know that Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XV releases this week.

     There is practically no anime this week, what we do see are movies with One Piece Film: Red and Ranma ½ OVA & Movies Collection.

     

     A little bit of action from Vertical Entertainment with To Catch a Killer.

     Honorable Mention: Richard Pryor Double Feature is available this week and is currently the only way to get both Which Way Is Up? and 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings' on blu-ray. And if you were looking for White Noise 2, you can get it with another double feature from Mill Creek, White Noise / White Noise 2.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Shout Factory has revealed a slew of titles for September. In no particular order (except maybe from their social media account) they are Lost Souls, The Pack (1977), Night of the Comet 4K, My Demon Lover, My Bloody Valentine 4K, The Lost City of Z 4K, What's Love Got to Do with It?, Irwin Allen: Master of Disaster Collection, Natural Born Killers 4K and Lonely Castle in the Mirror. I would expect another anime title or two to be added, but this is still quite a list!

     Disney has revealed the release of The Little Mermaid (2023) for a date of September 19th. Keeping up with their usual formula, Best Buy SteelBook, Walmart Exclusive, and the best cover art among all the choices remains with the blu-ray edition.

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Is It Safe To Go Back Into The Water? 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide July 2, 2023

    Posted Sun Jul 2, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    Jaws 2 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Universal Pictures Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Joseph Mascolo

     In the USA, there is a major holiday this week, which is pretty much why there are fewer releases, both in the 4K category and the blu-ray category. What are some of your favorite films or TV shows with July 4th / Independence Day in them? Uncle Sam and Independence Day are some obvious ones. Stranger Things 3 also revolved around this holiday.

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 5 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of July 2nd - July 8th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     There are no new release titles and no notable imports this week.

     Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Jaws 2 debuts to 4K disc with a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

         

     

     Paramount Pictures delivers The Truman Show, perhaps one of Jim Carrey's better known films besides Ace Ventura or The Mask.

     

     Shout Factory upgrades another Universal Pictures film to 4K, this one coincidentally is titled, Upgrade.

     

     In the double-dip category, Paramount offers two existing films, but as collectible SteelBooks, Mission: Impossible - III and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

     Next week, a semi-normal week, with two major titles, Sisu and Scream 6, plus another Criterion 4K, and several other upgrades too!

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     There are to blu-ray counterparts of the above titles this week. Actually, this entire category is nearly devoid of any activity.

     On a busier week we might pass right over this one, but it has Dolph Lundgren in it and we have the space. An action movie titled Come Out Fighting from Screen Media.

     

     Anime highlights include The Executioner and Her Way of Life Complete Collection, One Piece: Season Thirteen - Voyage One and Re:Cycle of the Penguindrum Movie Collection.

     

     Crime/Drama from Arrow Video titled Fighting Back.

     

     There is one added bonus this week. June's slate of Imprint Films releases is available on Amazon this Friday, here's what to look for:

     

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     With the Independence Day holiday this week in the US, last week's announcements were a bit slow. (Thus two UK companies with the biggest news)

     Arrow Video has revealed their September releases. For the US and Canada, look for Borsalino, Carlito's Way 4K, The Prodigal Son and Ringu 4K. If you don't mind importing 4K titles (or getting them from Diabolik), Blood and Black Lace gets a 4K, and a bit of a surprise, The Psycho Collection (1960-1990) gets a 4K set as well. I personally doubt that Universal will be doing 4K discs if the 3 sequels of Psycho, so this might be the set to get.

     Second Sight UK also has a couple of surprises for August, Crimes of the Future as a 4K Special Edition, and It Follows, as a 4K Special Edition too. We have also linked a standard edition release of the latter because there is no 4K disc option in the US.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • They'll Swallow Your Soul! 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide June 25, 2023

    Posted Sun Jun 25, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    Evil Dead Rise Warner Bros. Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher

     This week offers a mixed bag of titles, which might be just what the doctor ordered. Fun fact, the sound of a fly has been used in all of the Evil Dead films, Evil Dead Rise actually opens with that sound.

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 4 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 25th - July 1st, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases

     Too late for press time last week, Turbine Media Group releases three 4K media books for The Deep House. Still, check it out. They have other 4K titles in the works as well, Black Phone and Renfield among others. Why Universal isn't doing them, I couldn't really say.

     The new release this week is Evil Dead Rise from Warner Bros. There have been mixed reviews with this one. And if you want the shiny SteelBook, the USA has been snubbed again, seek overseas markets. There is a European SteelBook coming July 17th, as well as other editions elsewhere.

    Catalog releases next.  Got to thinking, what a missed opportunity. Waiting until this week to get Creepshow, especially when there is an episode titled "Father's Day." All he ever wanted was his cake! The episode I remember most is the one with the cockroaches, but I was rather young when I had seen this film. A little more comedy to the horror mix, also look for Motel Hell.

    When you think of classic Chevy Chase, no doubt you think of National Lampoon's Vacation (or the sequels). This one is available as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. The US market was snubbed (again) for the Ultimate Collector's Edition, which releases on Import Monday.

     

     From Arrow Video, Kevin Smith's Mallrats. Next, even though Universal recently did their release, Arrow Video's 'fat pack' edition of Waterworld is available this week as well. A higher bit rate and a different mix of special features.

     

     Powerhouse Films' Indicator Series has Cold Eyes of Fear this week.

     

     SteelBooks of the first two films of the franchise, Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible - II are available this week.

     Standard Editions for Daughters of Darkness and Dead & Buried close out the category.

     Next week a Jaws sequel, an 'Upgrade,'  Truman Show, and more MI steels.

     

    Blu-ray releases

     And like the 4K category, just past press time for last week's shopping guide, Turbine Media Group announced several media books for the film Harry and the Hendersons.

     Blu-ray counterparts for the above category, one new release, one catalog release. Look for Evil Dead Rise from Warner Bros and Cold Eyes of Fear (Limited Edition) from Powerhouse Films.

     Warner Archive has been focusing most of their releases to street on the same week each given month, their June slate this week includes Angel Face, Caged!, Dangerous When Wet, The Damned Don't Cry and The Old Man and the Sea. Land of the Pharaohs got moved to July 18th.

     

     New bio/drama from Sony Pictures titled Big George Foreman. This man has touched several generations and the story itself sounds well worth a look.

     

     TV on disc has just one title this week, Tales of the Walking Dead: The Complete First Season.

     More Sandpiper Pictures releases with The Barefoot Contessa and The Secret of Santa Vittoria.

     Anime highlights are not so high this week, look for just Skeleton Knight in Another World: The Complete Season in this category. Yes, there are other fine anime releases, but they do not fit the right criteria for this guide.

     

     If you're not a Disney Movie Club Member and was forced to wait, Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts - Volume 2 is now available to general release.

     Just a single sku from Criterion this week, but it is a collection of Italian films on 9-discs, Pasolini 101.

     Let's talk special interest. With a drought of 3D discs, no doubt you might want to consider Prison Girls 3D from Kino Lorber.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be released to 4K and blu-ray discs on August 1.

     I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is coming to 4K disc on September 26.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Choose Your Avatar! - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide June 18, 2023

    Posted Sun Jun 18, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    Avatar: The Way of Water - 3D Blu-ray Review James Cameron

     Choose Your Avatar! At least that is what people in targeted campaigns on Facebook have been seeing. When I see it, I yell the 4K BD100 with Dolby Vision, but it's probably the answer they are looking for. If you are a 4K buyer, this week Avatar is gonna cost you around $70, if you are a little more hardcore collector of physical media, more like $200. Yes, there are a few other good catalog titles to ponder as well. Until the discs are in my hand though, Avatar is still just a mirage to me. I have seen pictures of The Way of Water in store backrooms already and my 3D copy has shipped, but not quite yet on the 4K SteelBook though.

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 3 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 18th - June 24th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases

     Which 4K discs are you getting this week and which SKUS of the Avatar films are they?

     The original Avatar (2009) is up as a first time to 4K disc. Hard to believe it goes way back to 2009.

     

     Avatar: The Way of Water is probably the reason we get the original film to 4K. The Way of Water is available as a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook edition, a Target Exclusive, and last but not least, a Walmart Exclusive. See the Blu-ray category for a pleasant surprise, a 3D edition as well.

        

     On to other films now, Paramount brings us Tom Cruise day with both a great classic The Firm, and well-known fantasy film, Vanilla Sky. Hard to resist not buying both.

     

     Keeping with releasing films in pairs, Kino Lorber brings us The Manchurian Candidate (1962) and Ronin. Makes me wonder if The Manchurian Candidate (2004) will follow as Paramount has done the remakes on two other films so far where Kino Lorber did the original ones.

     

     Next week, a National Lampoon classic, Creepshow gets the 4K upgrade, Mallrats, Waterworld by Arrow Video and more.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles, Avatar: The Way of Water from 20th Century Studios, with what I consider a better cover art than the 4K version, and Ronin gets a Kino Lorber edition as well.

     

     Avatar: The Way of Water also gets a 3D blu-ray edition.

     

     Super slow week for anime, look for Aoashi - Season 1 Part 2 and Haikyu!! To The Top (Season 4) Premium Box Set.

     New Guy Ritchie action/thriller The Covenant comes to us via Warner Bros. No 4K in the states on this one.

     

     Catalog releases from MGM, Best Seller, City of Ghosts (2002), Diary of a Hitman, Golden Gate and Stormy Monday.

     Another short-notice release from Universal, the 2023 action/comedy Polite Society. (Most likely a not available at Walmart release, again. Not sure what determines if a new Uni release will be available there).

     

     Pair of Criterion Collection releases Medicine for Melancholy, a "lo-fi" drama/romance, and The Servant, a film of the drama category.

     TV on disc this week includes just Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 16. I would certainly buy seasons 1-15 if they offered it!

     Arrow Video has Japanese action/thriller The Game Trilogy.

     Honorable Mention (?) -  Dinosaurs are always hot, this week Well Go USA has I Am T-Rex. It looks worth a gander in my book.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Warner Archive's next batch, Cowboys & Aliens 4K as well as Kill Bill 4K and Kill Bill 2 4K, check out the news story here.

     Roman Holiday is getting a 4K release on August 15th. Hustle & Flow is getting a 'Paramount Presents' 4K release on August 29th. How about a 'Paramount Presents' 4K of Roman Holiday? Feel like Days of Thunder again!

     Criterion Collection's September slate includes FOUR 4K titles, including The Princess Bride! That leaves the 4K restoration of La Bamba available as a blu-ray only, but hey even so, I might have to buy every title in September. Goodbye wallet, it's been nice knowing you.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything (Marquis, JW4) - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide June 11, 2023

    Posted Sun Jun 11, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    John Wick 4 Highdef Digest Lionsgate Keanu Reeves

     What a great quote (above) from John Wick 4. And there ain't no doubt about it, this week John Wick 4 will decimate the charts. With so many skus available though, there probably will not be a clear winner of which sku (always a safe bet with the standard release). On the other hand, maybe you waited for Insidious, Rain Man or Time Bandits. Why not get all four?

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 2 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 11th - June 17th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     Import Monday first, if you did not opt for the excellent A24 shop release, Arrow Video has it in one of their limited editions, I am referring to Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse.

     

     So, it was bound to happen, it did happen, a certain studio in the habit of officially announcing a release literally a week before street date, which then causes mass confusion, especially when the actual boxes that were shipped to retailers had a different date (6/6) than the official date (6/13). Am referring to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, on June 6th Universal announced it for a June 13th release. Literally every B&M store out there already had it on the shelves for sale ON 6/6. How dare they follow what the box says!

     Alrighty then, the new release that will sell oodles of copies among all the various skus is John Wick 4 from LionsGate. A run down of all the choices available, a Standard Edition, an Amazon Exclusive Edition, a Best Buy Exclusive and a Walmart Exclusive. Absent (again) from the 4K category is the Target Exclusive, how 2006 of them.

        

     

     If you missed out on the Limited Edition SteelBook, Paramount/CBS has Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season One as a standard edition this week.

     Moving on to catalog titles. First from the MVD Marquee Collection, after several street date pushbacks, it looks like Rain Man really is coming out on Tuesday.

     

     From Criterion, a 4K upgrade for Time Bandits. Before you pounce on this though, there is one small thing to consider, the Arrow UK import that is coming out on August 28th. Likely the same transfer, just in a different package and with a little bit of swag.

     

     Although originally listed for next week, the beginning of a franchise with Sony Pictures'/James Wan's SteelBook of Insidious. I hope that some day yesterday that Blumhouse will jump on the 4K disc bandwagon. Some day.

     

     From Dark Star, a 1981 horror titled Scream, aka The Outing.

     Next week, it will be all about the two Avatar movies. Yes there are a couple of decent catalog titles coming too, but they will certainly be in the shadows.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles, John Wick 4 gets a standard edition release, and Target sticks to blu-ray for their retailer exclusiveRain Man also is available via MVD. If you can handle region locked titles, Arrow Video's Limited Edition release of The Lighthouse also gets a blu-ray edition.

     It's bound to happen regularly, in a short announcement window, Universal Pictures releases the sports drama Sweetwater this week.

     

     New comedy from Sony Pictures titled The Man from Toronto. In the horror/thriller category, The Pope's Exorcist, maybe you have heard of Russell Crowe?

     

     Anime highlights include Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 15 (The Otsutsuki Awaken), Made In Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun Complete Collection, My Senpai is Annoying, available as a standard edition and a limited edition, and Spy x Family Season 1 Part 1.

     

     TV on disc this week includes Parenthood: The Compete Series and Quantum Leap: Season One.

     LionsGate's action/thriller of the week is titled One Ranger.

     

     Next batch of Indicator Series releases with From Hollywood to Heaven: The Lost and Saved Films of the Ormond Family and Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales from the Alameda Films Vault, 1959-1963.

     Sandpiper Pictures, known for rereleasing out of print Twilight Time titles, is releasing Lawman, One Man's Hero and Scorpio.

     Competing with Shawscope (Arrow Video), Shout Factory this week releases Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume One.

     

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     (Berry Gordy's) The Last Dragon will be coming to 4K SteelBook on September 19th.

     Sisu has been finalized for blu-ray and 4K disc with a July 11th street date.

     Ferris Bueller's Day Off arrives to 4K disc on August 1st.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • I Vant To Buy Some Deescs! - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide June 4, 2023

    Posted Sun Jun 4, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by

     Look at that, we have gone a full 3 years with our weekly shopping guide and kick off year 4 this week. If you had to look back, what's the most memorable disc/set you have purchased? There are so many good ones it's hard for me to put a finger on it. This week is probably dubbed the double (or triple) dip edition for the 4K area, but there still are a couple of new to 4K releases, and of course blu-ray too.

     Welcome to Volume 4 Episode 1 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of June 4th - June 10th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     Import Monday begins with The Changeling from Second Sight. No disrespect to Severin, but this edition is much more appealing to me.

     

     Tuesday *would* have begun with the new release title The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which has a standard release, a Walmart Exclusive and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. As of press time though, Universal has not given their zero-notice announcement. Retailers have this title in hand and some are selling it today. BullMoose shows a 6/13 release, everyone else shows it as not yet announced. Great marketing there Universal! We will of course update our listings if it changes. Target's weekly ad also shows it available. If Universal were to wait to next week, they would get creamed by John Wick 4!

     Tuesday begins with The Rules of the Game from Criterion.

     

     LionsGate gives us another Best Buy Exclusive slipcover style SteelBook with Lord of War.

     

     Sticking with Best Buy Exclusive SteelBooks, the next two 'Disney 100' editions to come out this week are Coco and Toy Story.

     Clear and Present Danger gets a single sku release this week. We also see standard case editions for Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

     Next week calls for John Wick 4 x 4, Super Mario Bros. Movie (maybe), Time Bandits and more.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Believe it or not, there are no counterparts to the above 4K releases this week. There is a region B standard edition for The Changeling, but this is a case of where the Severin release more than satisfies. The Super Mario Bros. Movie would have been the counterpart if it were on a 6/6 release. A Walmart Exclusive would also be available.

     Kino Lorber this week has blu-ray counterparts to the 4K releases from not too long ago, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More each get their respective blu-ray editions.

     From Paramount, the 2023 action/thriller Assassin Club.

     

     TV on disc include The Event: The Complete Series from Mill Creek, La Brea: Season Two from Universal and Tulsa King: Season One from Paramount, with the latter available as a standard edition and as a SteelBook Edition. Looks like no physical 4K option as of yet (if ever) for Tulsa King.

     

     The next Giallo set Giallo Essentials V5 Blue Edition gets the general release this week from Arrow Video.

     Literally just announced, comedy/horror Renfield with Nicolas Cage comes to us via Universal. You just might vant to buy this movie, har har!

     

     Super slow week for anime, just one highlight, Platinum End - Part 2.

     May 2023's batch of Imprint Films Limited Editions are available at Amazon US on Friday, titles include:

     

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Shout! Factory's various labels have revealed their August titles. Subject to change, plus or minus, so far they include Assault On Hill 400, Coma, Hackers 4K, Little Nicky, Nightbreed 4K and Shaw Brothers Classics: Vol. Two.

     MVD has revealed that they are bringing Ghoulies to 4K and blu-ray discs. Ghoulies 2 is also getting their special treatment for blu-ray. Keep your fingers crossed, they have indicated they are trying to also bring this film to 4K as negotiations continue.

     The next Vestron Collector's Series release has been announced as My Best Friend Is a Vampire, with a street date some time in July.

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

     Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Thieves With Honor? - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide May 28, 2023

    Posted Sun May 28, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by

     Ah yes, what it feels like to go broke. 65, D&D, Violet Evergarden, Criterion, Arrow Video all beckoning. A relatively busy 4K Tuesday and a pretty large blu-ray slate too.  Thieves with honor that are not Robin Hood, hmmmmm.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 52 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 28th - June 3rd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     New releases first. We have moved the Cocaine Bear 4K UK import to 'Postponed' as it still seems unavailable to order, despite having a Monday release date. So, on to domestic Tuesday releases.

     From Sony Pictures, 65 with Adam Driver. The premise gives me a bit of a Planet of the Apes vibe, but having never seen it, I'm probably wrong.

     

     Next, from Paramount, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, available as a standard edition and as a SteelBook edition. This film is not your father's D&D film, but each have their own merits.

        

     

     Closing out new releases, a genre that doesn't frequent the 4K charts, Violet Evergarden: The Movie, which is available as a standard edition and a limited edition.

     

     Pair of horror/thriller release from Scream Factory with The Haunting and Wes Craven's The People Under The Stairs.

     

     From Arrow Video, The Last Starfighter debuts to 4K disc. Memories of playing the video game on the Atari computer come out for this one.

     

     Classic Film-Noir The Night of the Hunter comes to us via Kino Lorber.

     'Paramount Presents' release The Nutty Professor (1963) also dons a 4K disc this week. Oh that Jerry Lewis!

     

     Severin Films also plays the 4K game this week with Drowning by Numbers.

     Thelma & Louise gets the Criterion Collection treatment this week.

     

     If you purchase direct from their site, Vinegar Syndrome's releases of A Blade in the Dark and Showgirls come out this week. If you prefer to wait for a different merchant, it's probably going to be two months.

     In the double-dip category, Sony Pictures follows their standard playbook and upgrades Cliffhanger from HDR10 to Dolby Vision, with a SteelBook instead of a regular case. And Paramount releases another mega-set, Transformers Limited Edition 6-Movie Collection [SteelBook], no doubt to tie in with the latest upcoming Tranformers Beast Wars film.

     Just for reference, next week has a bunch of double-dipping, but we do get another Criterion Collection release and the anticipated Super Mario Bros. Movie.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above releases: Sony releases 65, Paramount releases Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, anime Violet Evergarden: The Movie from Crunchyroll, Thelma & Louise from Criterion and Drowning by Numbers from Severin.

     From the Warner Archive Collection, The Boy with Green Hair, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Hey There, It's Yogi Bear, King Solomon's Mines (1950), Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1 and Queen Christina.

     

     A 2023 drama from Warner Bros titled A Good Person.

     Severin Films releases Danza Macabra Vol. One: The Italian Gothic Collection, a rather handsome looking box set if I do say so myself.

     

     Anime highlights include Requiem of the Rose King - Part 2, Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy and A Wind Named Amnesia.

     New drama/thriller from Universal titled Inside, which stars Willem Dafoe. Or how about a biography drama about Donna Summer titled Spinning Gold?

     

     Collectors of Kino Lorber's Film-Noir box sets should be looking for Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XIV this week.

     

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     One word: AVATAR - all other news is very small by comparision. Avatar is finally getting a 4K release and Avatar: The Way of Water is getting 4K, blu-ray and 3D blu-ray releases on June 20th. Don't forget all the retailer exclusives as well. Check out the news story here!

     

     Universal will be releasing Les Misérables (2012) and Battlestar Galactica: The Movie to 4K disc July 11. Jaws 2 will be available on July 4th, if you want the SteelBook/giftset this time though, you have to import it.

     Rio Bravo and East of Eden will both be available on 4K disc from Warner Bros on July 18.

     Arrow Video's August titles include Unman, Wittering and Zigo, New Fist of Fury, The Last House on the Left 4K and Weird Science 4K. The UK will also see Time Bandits on 4K, but the Criterion release is coming June 13th. The UK release has a little bit of swag if that is more appealing to you.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Wham, Bam, Shazam! - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide May 21, 2023

    Posted Sun May 21, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    Shazam! Fury of the Gods - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Zachary Levi David F. Sandberg

     From the 'fury' of the gods to the latest Creed, or maybe even an import, I think this week has at least one movie for everyone.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 51 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 21st - May 27th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases

     The week begins with Import Monday and Arrow Video's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Limited Edition). If I were to take one for the team and order it, it would most certainly be a guarantee that Criterion Collection would announce the domestic 4K of this within 5 minutes of my shipping notice. I just have that kind of effect on the home video market.

     

     Domestic Tuesday New Releases are dominated by Warner Bros and they start with Creed III, which is available as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

         

     

     The sequel,  Shazam! Fury of the Gods has three options to ponder, the standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook with a pretty bad-ass cover art, and a Walmart Exclusive that has some pretty tight imagery as well. Still missing from the 4K exclusives field as you have probably noticed is Target, they apparently have decided to take a step backwards and support the previous format.

     

     Catalog titles: From Scream Factory, Brotherhood Of The Wolf.

     

     Double-dips of sort, Crank gets a new SteelBook @ Best Buy and The Running Man gets a standard case release.

     

     Next week looks like it's going to sting just a little bit, there are 16 skus domestically including the latest D&D movie, Adam Driver in '65,' some anime, and a few catalog titles get a 4K upgrade.

     

    Blu-ray releases

     As we do every week, let's get the fresh blu-ray counterparts for any of the above titles listed first. Creed III gets a single release as well as a 3-film collection, almost an echo, Shazam! Fury of the Gods gets a single release, a Target Exclusive blu-ray edition that I would have considered if it was a 4K, and a 2-film collection is also an option.

     The rest of the category is a bit slow though. I guess it's to save a bit of dough in preparation for next week.

     From Vertical Entertainment, thriller Last Sentinel.

     

     Anime highlights include DATE A LIVE IV - The Complete Season, Majestic Prince: The Complete Series and Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs - Season 1.

     

     Criterion Collection has drama/fantasy Petite Maman this week.

     TV on disc this week has one title, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Complete Series.

     Honorable mention: Fans of the original film should recognize it, V/H/S/99 comes out this week via RLJ/Shudder Originals.

     

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Although there were a handful of announcements, they have been onesie twosie sort of announcements, and may not have a wide appeal, so we will keep this section brief this week.

     Criterion Collection's August Slate has been announced, do check it out.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Happy Mother's Day - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide May 14, 2023

    Posted Sun May 14, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by

     Happy Mother's Day... or as some calendars say, Mothers Day. Whichever is correct, hope you have a good one.

     With a trio of Ant-Man releases, it's ant season all around, both on the small screen and on my kitchen counters, plus Guy Ritchie's Operation Fortune, Star Trek, as well as a remake of a classic, and a classic, and that's just the 4K category.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 50 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 14th - May 20th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     The 4K category is ramping up after a few weeks of calm, the next peak will be May 30th. There are no notable Monday imports so let's roll with domestic Tuesday.

     From the MCU and Disney, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, with three options to pick from. We can choose from a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and lastly a Walmart Exclusive. Standard Disney Disclaimer: Run time >2 hours, BD66 disc with HDR10 on the disc and Dolby Vision on the streaming version only.

     

     

     New Guy Ritchie film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, starring Jason Statham, an action comedy at that.

     

     If you waited for the 4K, that is great, but if you did not preorder, you might be out of luck. I'm referring to the SteelBook release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season One. A standard edition is coming next month though, and there's always the possibility of other retailers (NOT Amazon) having it in stock.

     

     Paramount Pictures gives us the 2003 version of The Italian Job. Kino Lorber did the original 1969 release back in January. Also from Paramount, a non-SteelBook/standard release for Shooter.

     

     And closing out the category, Kino Lorber brings us the original 1974 release of The Longest Yard. Does this mean Paramount will flop when Kino flips and give us the remake in 4 months?

     

     Next week looks similar to this, with just different titles. A trio of Shazam releases, Creed III, and a few classics.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles, Disney releases Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, LionsGate releases Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and Kino Lorber offers up The Longest Yard (1974).

     New comedy from LionsGate with Moving On.

     

     Currently on track for Tuesday, Hong Kong action films In the Line of Duty: I - IV from 88 Films.

     Anime Highlights include Aharen-san wa Hakarenai: The Complete Season, The Dawn of the Witch: The Complete Season and The Greatest Demon Lord is Reborn as a Typical Nobody: The Complete Season.

     

     TV on disc this week has only one title, Walker: Season Two.

     From MVD's Rewind Collection, L.A. Wars.

     New Wave Thriller from Criterion Collection titled Targets.

     

     Warner Bros. has Max Fleischer's Superman this week. There have been reports though that this release might have some issues, so do proceed with caution.

     Shout! Factory is bringing us The Magic Flute (2023).

     

     Honorable Mention: The IP Man Universe gets another film from Well Go USA with Young Ip Man: Crisis Time.

     Next week in the blu-ray categry it's all but a trickle.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Warner Bros has announced plans for National Lampoon's Vacation to 4K disc, with a street date of June 27. Again, absent from the US market is the Collector's Edition, you need to shop the UK market for that.

     Kino Lorber has revealed that To Live and Die in L.A. is coming to blu-ray and 4K disc on July 18th.

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Is it a Bird? Nope. Is it a Plane? Nope - It's The 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide May 7, 2023

    Posted Sun May 7, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by

     From Superman to M. Night Shyamalan, there are a few 4K choices this week. Which iteration of Superman are you buying this week, or did you import the singles? As far as blu-ray, a few more than last week, but still kind of below average by volume. The Summer Movie Season is just a couple of weeks away, which film will you be anxiously awaiting a home release for?

    Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 49 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of May 7th - May 13th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     Just a couple of skus this week, but I'm sure most of us will be buying at least one of them.

     New title first, M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin gets two options, a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

     

     On to catalog titles starting with Criterion Collection, bringing us Japanese Cinema with Branded to Kill.

     

     Warner Bros. gives us another box set with Superman: 5-Film Collection, which includes Superman 1-4, with two cuts of Superman II. This set is available as a standard edition and as an Amazon Exclusive SteelBook set (which currently shows sold out).

     

     Next week a trio of Ant-Man releases, Star Trek SteelBook, the original Longest Yard and more.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Only one Blu-ray counterpart this week, Knock at the Cabin.

     If you did not pick up the 4K/blu-ray combo pack a few weeks ago, MPI Media Group this week has All Quiet on the Western Front on blu-ray. Kind of odd to split the releases, but I'm sure they have their reasons.

     TV on disc includes NCIS Hawaii: Season One and Yellowstone: Season 5 Part 1.

     

     Anime highlights include Aoashi - Season 1 Part 1, The Demon Girl Next Door - Season 2 Complete Collection, Restaurant to Another World: Season 2, which is available as a standard edition and as a limited edition and Unicorn Wars. The last title does not have an English dub which is too bad, if it did I would likely pick it up.

     

     Want some martial arts action? Arrow has Hand of Death and Shout Factory has The Tiger Cage Collection.

     

     Sandpiper Pictures, best known for reissuing of out of print Twilight Time releases, offering Absolute Beginners and I Could Go On Singing this week.

     Worthy of mention. Having not seen it, just letting our readers know that Children of the Corn (2020) debuts on blu-ray this week. I have questions on this. Is it a remake? Is it borrowing the name only? Is it enjoyable on its own?

     

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Some of the Shout/Scream Factory July releases have been revealed. For 4K they are World War Z, Upgrade, The Burning, Cult of Chucky, Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky and Curse of Chucky. For blu-ray so far, Team America: World Police.

     Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has an official street date of May 30th.

     John Wick Chapter 4 has a street date of June 13. That one has a plethora of retailer exclusives.

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Those Wings Of Desire Are Deeply Impacting Hanging Rock - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide April 30, 2023

    Posted Sun Apr 30, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by
    Deep Impact - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review Morgan Freeman Tea Leoni Mimi Leder

     A notable import, a modern classic distaster, three Disney 100 steels and more highlight the 4K category. Between 4K and blu-ray though, it's a semi-light week, giving you time to replenish your funds just a little bit, May 30th is the next big release date.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 48 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 30th - May 6th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     There are no new releases this week. Kicking off import Monday first, Second Sight offers Picnic at Hanging Rock with two available options, a standard edition and a limited edition. Standard disclaimed here, the blu-ray is likely region B locked. And you might be able to locate these at Diabolik DVD if using Amazon UK is not an option for you.

     

     Moving on to domestic Tuesday releases, Paramount offers up a modern classic disaster with Deep Impact. Now we just need a good release of Armageddon from that era and I'm set.

     

     Shout! Factory has another Universal Pictures catalog title with Skyline. Not to sound ungrateful, but is Universal prohibiting them from having slipcovers from these 4K upgrades?

     Criterion brings Wings of Desire to 4K in the U.S.. As it always goes, I choose to import it, two weeks after it arrives in my possession, the studio in question announces it as part of their upcoming release slate. My most recent acquisition is the trilogy of Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen. Any day now LionsGate will announce this trilogy for the USA. You're Welcome.

     

     The next batch of "Disney 100" Best Buy Exclusive SteelBooks arrive this week, they are Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back  and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.

     Next week the Superman Collection arrives (after a delay), someone Knocks at the Cabin and Criterion brings in a Japanese action thriller. Remember, May 30th will be the biggest release day this month, be ready.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts? There are none this week,  Picnic at Hanging Rock was already done by Criterion in 2019 and 2014, Wings of Desire was also a Criterion release back in '09, all of the other films have had multiple releases over the years. Let's move on to new stuff.

     New comedy from Paramount with 80 for Brady.

     

     Universal also has new comedy this week, this one is titled Champions. Do we see a pattern here? (comedy/sports) Also from Uni, drama/romance Of an Age.

     

     Warner Archive Collection this week has Border Incident and Clash By Night.

     

     Anime highlights include just a couple, Fate/Stay Night: Complete Collection, Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie: The Complete Season and Tomodachi Game: The Complete Season.

     LionsGate has Supercell this week on blu-ray. Maybe a missed opportunity, neither of the Warner Bros tornado films are on 4K disc, this might have been a hot seller for disaster-flick hungry collectors.

     

     Honorable Mention: Kino Lorber collectors look for Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XIII this week, it includes the films Spy Hunt (1950), The Night Runner (1957) and Step Down to Terror (1958).

     There are two Imprint Films Collections and a single title release available Friday via Amazon US (however the last one just got a 4K release 2 weeks ago in the US).

     

    Next week this category picks up the volume, ever so slightly.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Too early to tell but it probably is finalized, looks like Evil Dead Rise will be getting a blu-ray release in the US, but if you want the 4K (as of press time) look to the UK, hopefully this changes. Nothing official is announced yet so it could.

     Early indicators for National Lampoon's Vacation coming to 4K disc show a June 27th street date, with the UK also getting a collector's edition as well. The US market has been passed over for special editions and gift sets for quite awhile now, so I expect this one to be cemented in place.

     Paramount has finalized details for The Truman Show's 4K release, which will be on July 4th.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide April 23, 2023 - The Case of the Empty Wallet

    Posted Sun Apr 23, 2023 at 09:00 AM PDT by

     From a RWBY / Justice League crossover to Jackie Chan, this week offers a variety of titles that should satiate most movie buffs, and that's just the 4K category. Troubled waters ahead though, it's blu-ray's turn to assault our wallets.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 47 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 23rd - April 29th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

      New release first, from Warner Bros and DC Animation, Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One. Quite surprised to not see a Best Buy SteelBook on this one.

     

     Severin Films has the general release for Accion Mutante this week.

     A little Jackie Chan action with Police Story 3: Supercop from 88 Films. If you want all three films in 4K at this time you will need to import them from Eureka UK.

     

     There's a pair of vampire releases from Indicator Series this week, The Shiver of the Vampires and Two Orphan Vampires.

     

     Making a 4K debut, as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) comes to us via LionsGate.

     

     Criterion Collection this week offers some fresh (2022) comedy with Triangle of Sadness.

     

     Mentioned last week as a new titles announcement, Turbine Media has got three different editions of Naked Lunch for purchase. Check out the article to see the links.

     Next week, Second Sight's Picnic at Hanging Rock, Paramount makes a Deep Impact, Star Wars Steels, Wings of Desire hits domestic markets because I bought the import, and more.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray wallet assault engages fist first with a lot of blu-ray counterparts. Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One comes via Warner Bros, Accion Mutante comes via Severin, Police Story 3: Supercop comes via 88 Films, Powerhouse/Indicator brings us The Shiver of the Vampires and Two Orphan Vampires, and Criterion Collection offers up Triangle of Sadness. Wow, that literally was every title above, minus one.

     New drama from LionsGate with Jesus Revolution.

     TV on disc fan? Throw some more cash at these! Cheers: The Complete Series via Paramount and CBS Television, The Green Hornet (1940), His Dark Materials: The Complete Third Season, Primal: The Complete Second Season and Star Trek: Lower Decks - Season Three.

     

     From Arrow Video, Y2K horror titled Lovers Lane. Alternately, you can get the Exclusive Slipcover edition direct from Arrow.

     Anime highlights include Chivalry of a Failed Knight - Complete Collection [SteelBook], GATE: Complete Collection [SteelBook], Gunbuster - The Complete OVA series, New Gods: Yang Jian and Tweeny Witches: Complete Collection.

     

     Warner Archive Collection tugs at you as well with a pair of James Cagney titles with A Lion Is in the Streets and The Strawberry Blonde, One Way Passage with William Powell and Kay Francis, crime/drama Safe in Hell, and finally, Storm Warning with Ronald Reagan and Doris Day.

     

     Sandpiper Pictures, known for their reprints of out of print Twilight Time titles, this week has The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, The Fantasticks, Kid Galahad and Stanley & Iris.

     Shout Factory releases The Jackie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (1983 - 1993) after a brief delay.

     

     Criterion's blu-ray set this week is Small Axe - Five Films by Steve McQueen.

     

     You get a short reprieve next week in the blu-ray category, recharge your funds.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     There were no major announcements last week. Imprint Films announced their July slate which includes a peculiar release, a 4K among a blu-ray box collection, Paramount announced Mission Impossible SteelBooks, Warner Archive announced their May releases. Everything else is onesie twosie. No Avatar or Abyss announcement, just a slow week in general.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide April 16, 2023 - Please Do Not Feed The Bears!

    Posted Sun Apr 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by

     Whether you're looking for a Henry Fonda classic, a well known James Dean film or Al Pacino in a crime/drama, there are a fair amount of catalog titles to choose from this week.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 46 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 16th - April 22nd, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     As mentioned above, there are no New Releases this week, but a few gems worth picking up nevertheless. Let's get through the list by boutique label.

     Import Monday begins with Arrow Video's Naked Lunch. The general release is a traditional 'fat pack' as I call it, and then there is an Original Artwork Slipcase Limited Edition available via Arrow Video's site only. If you choose to hold off for the Turbine Media releases,  those street on April 28th. I opted for the Jean-Baptiste Chuat artwork, anyone that knows me knows I am a traditionalist cover art kind of guy, so this is quite a deviation from the norm.

     On to Tuesday Domestic releases, first from Warner Bros., the delayed release of Rebel Without a Cause comes to us as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

     

     Still with Warner Bros., the animated release All-Star Superman.

     Kino Lorber is next with two totally different crime dramas, first we get 12 Angry Men, a classic courtroom drama with a "Must Own" rating according to or own David Krauss.

     

     Next up from Kino Lorber is Serpico, a biographical crime drama starring Al Pacino.

     

     From Scream Factory, The Haunting of Julia.

     

     Finally, from Criterion Collection, Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal.

     

     Next week, what a RWBY / Justice League crossover looks like, (maybe) more Jackie Chan with Police Story 3, a pair of Indicator vampire flicks and more.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterpart of the above titles, the region B edition of Naked Lunch.

     The rest of this category is a bit slow. As far as units sold, the biggest title of the week is probably Cocaine Bear from Universal Pictures. Is it big enough to merit a 4K disc? Probably. A UK release by MediumRare Entertainment has just been announced for May 29 if you wanna wait. Also from Universal, look for Marlowe, a crime/thriller starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange.

     

     TV on disc this week includes Blondie: The Complete Television Series and Midsomer Murders: Series 23.

     From Warner Bros, Magic Mike's Last Dance.

     

     Just one single Anime title of mention this week, Ya Boy Kongming!: Complete Collection.

     Sandpiper Pictures, the crew behind reissuing out of print Twilight Time releases this week has Bulletproof Monk, The Quiet American and Year of the Comet.

     LionsGate's thriller of the week is Righteous Thieves. Adding an action element to the thriller and you get Transfusion. (Neither of these films star Bruce Willis).

     

     Next week's blu-ray category looks like walletmageddon all over again, even for those that pick up 4K stuff first!

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     The Criterion Collection has revealed their July 2023 titles, check out the article here. Sorry to achnowledge that I know none of them, and I won't pretend to based on just talent name familiarity.

     As we mentioned above, Turbine Media has announced 3 different media books for David Cronenberg's Naked Lunch with a street date of April 28th. I did take one for the team by ordering an import, so a U.S. release no doubt is coming very soon.

     Paramount Pictures will be releasing The Firm and Vanilla Sky to 4K disc on June 20th.

     Unless things change, the Super Mario movie will be streeting June 6th to blu-ray, 4K and 4K SteelBook.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide April 9, 2023 - Did Someone Press Pause?

    Posted Sun Apr 9, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by

     Throughout pretty much all of the calendar year so far, we have had a lot of 4K releases every single week. This week is without a doubt, the slowest release week of all, the tap is just a bit of a trickle for both formats. Let's take this pause to refill our wallets a bit.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 45 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 9th - April 15th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases:

     There are TWO titles this week, both of which are considered catalog titles. First from Paramount, Flashdance gets a 4K upgrade. The standard edition dons a golden shower cover art while the SteelBook has a more traditional poster cover. Although the SteelBook is not listed as a Best Buy Exclusive, it seems to not be orderable via Amazon.

         

     

     From Criterion, the 4K upgrade of The Fisher King. Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, why not?

     

     Next week we return to a normal release pattern with the delayed Rebel Without a Cause, Serpico, 12 Angry Men and more.

     

    Blu-ray releases:

     There are no blu-ray counterparts of the above titles this week as they have already been released in the past.

     New(ish) drama from Sony titled Living. And for a drama/romance under the Sony Pictures Classics label, One Fine Morning.

     

     Anime highlights include Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These: Season Three, One Piece - Collection 31 and To Love Ru: The Complete Series.

     

     No disrespect to '88' Films and the great releases they produce, but after the obligatory '88' day delay, Gorgeous (Jackie Chan) appears to be on track for release this week.

     

     Arrow Video is also in on the Jackie Chan train with Heart of Dragon. Alternately you can get the original artwork edition direct from Arrow Video. Shout Factory delayed their Jackie Chan release by two weeks, talk about missed opportunity.

     

     Generally I don't publicize reissues, but Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses celebrates 20 years with two special releases, a standard (but swag-filled) edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

     Honorable mention: Boutique label Shout! Factory has the crime/drama/horror Bless the Child.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Shazam! Fury of the Gods has a release date of May 23rd, it includes several retailer exclusives.

     Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has a release date of May 16th, also with a couple of retailer exclusives available.

     Shout! Factory's various labels have revealed much of their June slate. In no particular order they include Creepshow 4K, Creepshow III, Motel Hell 4K, Private Parts (1972), The Strangler and Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume One.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • I'm a Survivor Of Walletmageddon! - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide April 2, 2023

    Posted Sun Apr 2, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by

     As the title suggests, I survived Walletmageddon, how did you fare? Yeah, I probably bought a 'few' more things than I should have, but I did so knowing this week wasn't as crazy, so it all balances out I suppose. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

    Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 44 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of April 2nd - April 8th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     Import Monday has one title of great interest, well, it is if you want all the Warner Classics SteelBooks coming out in the batch. Annoyingly they opted to not do The Maltese Falcon as a Best Buy Exclusive, so ya gotta import it. Remind you of something that Universal did with a certain Monsters set?

     Domestic Tuesday has no new releases. Pairing with import Monday though here's what we got stateside. The Maltese Falcon gets a standard release. Cool Hand Luke comes as a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Delayed until April 18th, we would have also had a standard edition and a Best Buy SteelBook for Rebel Without a Cause this week. That all sort of fell apart a wee bit at the last minute.

     

     Midnight Run gets a Shout Select release. Been awhile since I've seen this one, loads of fun!

     

     One of Paramount's biggest money maker franchises finally gets the gaps filled in, I'm referring to the Star Trek: The Next Generation films. Each film gets a single title release, which include Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis. As like the previous films, you can also get all of these in a single box set as well.

     

     Next week is all but a trickle of releases, Flashdance and The Fisher King.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis are available this week. It is not entirely clear if these are just repackaged discs or if they're new masters.

     Not exactly counterparts of the above releases, but some are contained here, WB100 packaged box sets are here. They include WB 100th 25-Film Collection: Volume One - Award Winners, WB 100th 25-Film Collection: Volume Two - Comedies, Dramas & Musicals, WB 100th 25-Film Collection: Volume Three - Fantasy, Action & Adventure and WB 100th 25-Film Collection: Volume Four - Thrillers, Sci-Fi & Horror. These sets look nice, I feel they're just part of a limited market, is it for you?

     From Paramount, 2022 comedy/crime film Confess, Fletch.

     

     Anime highlights include Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary), available as a standard edition and as a Limited Edition, and Record of Ragnarok: Season 1.

     

     TV on disc includes Masterpiece Sanditon: Season 3 and South Park: The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season.

     File this one under special interest, Intervision/Severin Films releases Birdemic 3: Sea Eagle. Blockbuster, this is not, but it has grown a following. Not enough Birdemic, how about Wings of Disaster: The Birdemic Trilogy, which has a snazzy lenticular cover.

     

     Honorable Mention: Kino Lorber has Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema XII available this week. It seems like only yesterday we had Volume I released.

     Imprint Films' March slate will be available at Amazon U.S. Friday, titles include:

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     With a negative zero street date notice, Turbine Media Group has announced (and released) four Pitch Black Director's Cut 4K UHD Mediabooks last week Friday. Check out the article (with links) here.

     Arrow Video has revealed their June titles. Highlights include Waterworld 4K, The Lighthouse 4K (UK import only) and Mallrats 4K.

     Creed III's release date for blu-ray and 4K is May 23rd.

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Walletmageddon Is Here - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide March 26, 2023

    Posted Sun Mar 26, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by

     Warning! The following article contains wallet-busting content of biblical proportions. Proceed with caution.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 43 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 26th - April 1st, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     Import Monday is pretty busy as well.  Second Sight has George A. Romero's Martin, which is available as a standard release or as a Limited Edition release. We've provided Amazon UK alternate links for these titles, and last I checked, they were still available at Diabolik DVD.

     Now available with an English cover and English menus, Pirates of The Caribbean 1-5 4K box set comes to the UK. If I decide to import this, you can guarantee it will get a US announcement. Should I take one for the team?

     

     Closing out import Monday, Two Japanese Artwork Steelbooks will be available, Rampage and Ready Player One. They're not Zavvi exclusives, so if you are locked out from ordering due to Zavvi's current shipping policies, use the alternate links to Amazon UK instead.

     

     Alright, now on to domestic Tuesday with new releases first. From Netflix via MPI, All Quiet on the Western Front gets a media-book style release. While it does have an English dub in DTS-HD MA 5.1, the Atmos mix is exclusively German. With all that, I've still got it on preorder. Here's to hoping for considerably higher bitrates than the streaming version.

     

     From Warner Bros. and DC animation, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham.

     The next BBC nature feature, Frozen Planet II comes to us via Warner Bros/BBC.

     

     LionsGate's best known genre is the action/thriller and they usually include Bruce Willis, but this go round we have Gerard Butler in Plane.

     

     And now on to catalog titles. If you are a member of the Disney Movie Club, the animated classic Cinderella (1950) is available and shipping. The general release will be August 1st elsewhere. Bippity-boppety-boo!

     The killer doll genre Dead Silence (James Wan) gets a 4K release via Scream Factory. Will this be the last time I express frustration for M3GAN only getting a blu-ray and not 4K disc? Probably not.

     

     Sticking with Scream Factory, The Exorcist III gets a release too. The rumor mill says the original Exorcist film is being prepped for some time this summer. I've seen a SteelBook cover art that seemed real, so it's likely.

     

     And via the Shout Factory label, another semi-recent Universal film gets a 4K upgrade, I'm referring to Wanted (2008).

     Kino Lorber has upgraded Rawhead Rex to 4K, making triple-dippers like me happy everywhere. But seriously, I'm sure it is going to be an excellent release, maybe we can move our 4K disc to our SteelBooks.

     

     The general release for Sidekicks (Chuck Norris) debuts this week. The original deluxe version is still available direct from Vinegar Syndrome's site. Site exclusives for this week include Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby and Primal Rage, with general releases usually 2 months out.

     

     Severin Films has Dario Argento's The Five Days available this week.

     Closing the category out, G.I. Joe: Retaliation gets a SteelBook from Paramount.

     Next week offers up a little reprieve, Star Trek:TNG movies, go for a Midnight Run, Cool Hand Luke and two other Warner Classics.

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     Blu-ray counterparts of the above titles, the import of George A. Romero's Martin, domestic titles Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham and Plane each get their respective release. If you want Frozen Planet II you will need to get the combo pack above.

     New drama/thriller from Sony titled Missing. Keeping with Sony, under the Sony Pictures Classics line, new drama titled The Son.

     

     Anime highlights include Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest: Season 2, available as a standard edition and a limited edition, Attack on Titan - Final Season - Part 2, available as a standard edition and a limited edition, Deemo: Memorial Keys, Mieruko-chan - The Complete Season, available as a standard edition and a limited edition and Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon - Season 2, Part 1, available as a standard edition and a limited edition.

     Arrow Video has Black Sunday, the 1977 crime/drama. For Shawscope style action/comedy, Knockabout.

     TV on disc this week includes Chucky: Season Two, Dawson's Creek: The Complete Series, Doctor Who: William Hartnell - Complete Season Two, Gaslit: The Complete Limited Series, Maigret: Season Four, and lastly,  Rick and Morty: Season 6, available as a standard edition and a SteelBook edition. Just kidding on the 'lastly' part, import Friday you can also scoop up Rawhide: The Complete First Season, a Via Vision AU release.

     

     Warner Bros. animated Duck Dodgers: The Complete Series comes out this week.

     Here's a new genre, Anti-Romantic Comedy, the film is Chilly Scenes of Winter and it's from Criterion. Intriguing.

     

     Honorable mention - Severin Films has their next box-set ready for purchase, titled Violent Streets: The Umberto Lenzi/Tomas Milian Collection, our own Sam Cohen says it's recommended.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Too late to be included in this week's releases category, A24 has announced The Lighthouse [Collector's Edition] for blu-ray and 4K THIS WEEK from the A24 shop. Still waiting for "X", "Pearl" and "Fall" to hit 4K, but hey, do check it out.

     Kino Lorber has detailed The Longest Yard (1974) for blu-ray and 4K release, with a May 16th street date.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Spring Has Sprung! - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide March 19, 2023

    Posted Sun Mar 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by

     This week's 4K calendar is basically owned by Paramount. Excluding the last staggered Rocky steel, names like Wes Craven, Brad Pitt, and a recognizable movie from the 80s with a dragon in it are all brought to you by the same studio. And of course there are a few blu-rays worthy of checking out too. And yes, Spring begins officially on Monday, YAY!

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 42 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 19th - March 25th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

     

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     New release of the week is that other film about Hollywood, titled Babylon. This one is available as a standard edition and as a SteelBook edition. (If you haven't followed, The Fabelmans might easily be confused to those that have not seen either film yet as the descriptions of each talk about early Hollywood film.)

     

     Moving on to catalog titles, Dragonslayer also gets the same release structure, a standard edition and a SteelBook edition. The toughest choice here will be which one do you want most, they've both got some pretty iconic 80s poster/cover art. If you can't decide, get one of each! (Maybe that's the 80's geek in me talking right there!)

     

     Wes Craven gets the 'Paramount Presents' treatment this week with Red Eye. Wes Craven, 4K, thriller, yes please!

     

     The 4th and final (for now) staggered 4K SteelBook of the Rocky Collection comes out this week, Rocky IV.

     Walletmageddon is coming next week! Netflix's All Quiet on the Western Front, Gerard Butler's Plane, Chuck Norris is a Sidekick, several boutique releases, and so much more. Consider the imports on the calender too and it is going to be a wallet-buster, prepare yourself!

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     The Paramount blu-ray counterparts of the above titles this week include Babylon and Dragonslayer, both as standard editons.

     Overall, the blu-ray category is pretty light this week, but there's plenty to ponder.

     From Criterion, David Lynch's Inland Empire.

     

     From Universal and Blumhouse, M3GAN. This release has a gorier cut, and according to Bryan's review, though it is more enjoyable, it is not the ultimate cut we are thinking of. The only other thing missing is a 4K disc option.

     

     TV on disc includes Doc Martin: Series 10 and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season One, which is available as a standard editon and a SteelBook Edition. Keep in mind that 4K has been announced for Trek with a May 16th street date.

     

     How about a horror movie from Vertical Entertainment titled Lullaby?

     Comedy from LionsGate titled Seriously Red, a story about a Dolly Parton impersonator.

     

     Anime highlights include Final Examination Kujira, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 The Movie, which is available as a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Lenticular/Rightstuf Exclusive edition, Kill Me Baby - Complete Collection, Levius, One Piece: Season Twelve - Voyage Three and SAIYUKI RELOAD -ZEROIN- Complete Collection.

     Worthy of mentioning, Shout Factory has classic comedy this week with Crazy People (Dudley Moore, Daryl Hannah) and Critical Condition (Richard Pryor). Add a dash of horror to your comedy and you get Dr. Giggles.

     Don't feel left out of the upcoming 4K typhoon, next week is walletmageddon for blu-ray releases as well.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     Criterion Collection's June slate has been revealed. Look for The Rules of the Game 4K, Time Bandits 4K and more. Check out the news story for all the deets.

     HBO's The Last of Us Season One gets a 4K and blu-ray release July 18th. There have been images of overseas SteelBooks spotted, so one would expect the same here.

     Another James Wan film that's not M3GAN will be getting a 4K/SteelBook,  Insidious will be available on June 20th from Sony Pictures.

     M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin Arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray May 9th.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading
  • Ain't No Clowning Around - 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide March 12, 2023

    Posted Sun Mar 12, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT by

     Whether you're looking for a classic Dreamworks animated release, a sci-fi disaster movie, one of Walter Hill's best works, or more Rocky steel, this week has a bit for everyone, and just like last week, it's at a moderate pace. Two weeks to prepare ourselves for another case of walletmageddon.

     Welcome to Volume 3 Episode 41 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of March 12th - March 18th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

     So there are no new release 4K titles this week, but there are a few catalog titles to snag up.

     First, from Dreamworks animation, The Prince of Egypt gets a 4K release. Little by little we are seeing their catalog from that era come out. What's next, Shrek 3 or Road to El Dorado?

     

     The sci-fi disaster mentioned above is in the form of The Core, brought to us by Paramount. What a perfect time, the earth's core has been in the news very recently, which in reality will not result in what we are seeing in this film.

     

     One of Walter Hill's best known works, Streets of Fire gets a Shout Select release this week with a 3-disc combo pack.

     

     Rocky III is the next SteelBook to be released in Best Buy's spaced out Rocky releases, this means that Rocky IV will be next week.

     Phenomena gets a special edition release this week, just in case you missed out on the limited edition.

     Next week is almost exclusively owned by Paramount, the last of the initial batch of Rocky SteelBooks, that other movie (Babylon) that I keep confusing with The Fabelmans, Wes Craven's Red Eye gets the 'Paramount Presents' treatment and the long awaited Dragonslayer with two hard to decide choices (get em both!)

     

    Blu-ray releases-

     There are no blu-ray counterparts of the above releases. There are twice as many titles in this category compared to last week to pick from though, here are the highlights.

     If there are two single titles in the blu-ray category that get title of the week (or at least, the most attention), it's got to be A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, brought to us by Sony Pictures,

     

     and The Whale from LionsGate. With neither getting a 4K disc release, it has me scratching my head a bit.

     

     Drama/thriller this week from LionsGate titled Alice, Darling.

     TV on disc includes All Creatures Great and Small - Season 3, Highway to Heaven: The Complete Series, The Lost Symbol: The Complete Series and The Walking Dead: The Complete Eleventh Season.

     John Woo directed Last Hurrah for Chivalry is available from Criterion Collection.

     

     Anime highlights include Blue Thermal, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and Sing a Bit of Harmony - Movie and WATAMOTE: No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!.

     Busy week for the Warner Archive Collection, Confessions of a Nazi Spy, Flamingo Road, Neptune's Daughter and The Prince and the Showgirl.

     

     Honorable Mention: Ronin Flix is now offering the general release of Jet Li Double Feature: The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2. This was previously available direct from their own store front.

     Friday import releases include Hammer Horror Vol. 1 and Pumping Iron.

     

    Notable announcements from last week:

     No major activity this past week, but we didn't say no activity at all. Creed III already has preorder links for the 4K and blu-ray releases, and I have spotted artwork for an import SteelBook, which is done in the same style as the Rocky steels at Best Buy. So it is probable to see the same one offered at Best Buy shortly.

     Kino Lorber will be offering Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) to 4K this year, guessing late May.

     James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water has a streaming date of March 28th. This is a sign that a physical announcement is coming soon. Disney and Universal have both announced titles literally two weeks before street date. Sometimes retailers are receiving product with street dates on the box and the announcement has yet to be made. Will it be 4K, will it have Dolby Vision, will it be on a BD100 disc? How much closer are we to those other two movies we have seen hinted at over the past 10 years?

     Sony Pictures' next Dolby Vision/SteelBook upgrade will be Cliffhanger, with a street date of May 30th.

     

    4K Release Calendar

    2K/BD Release Calendar

    Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?



    Continue Reading

LATEST NEWS BLU-RAY

Really, He's a Goodguy! Chucky Seasons One & Two Scaring Up Blu-ray Mediabooks from Turbine

View All

ULTRA HD

SUPPLIES! UHF Debuts on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the Film's 35th Anniversary on July 2

View All

HD GEAR

Got A Spare Grand? Hot Toys Reissues 1989 Batman 1/6 Figure and Batmobile

View All

THE BONUS VIEW

Sorry, We’re Closed

View All