Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. Last week was incredibly busy, so this edition is a bit slimmer. However, there are still a few notable releases worthy of attention. So, if you can’t make it out to the cinema this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
BEARING WITNESS: NATIVE AMERICAN VOICES IN HOLLYWOOD – This documentary deals with the portrayal of Native Americans in Hollywood films. When early movie production began, they were portrayed as villains and most of these features attempted to hide a history of genocide and push horrible messages of propaganda against their communities. In this feature, five Native Americans (Irene Bedard, Tantoo Cardinal, Darrell Redlead-Fielder, Hanay Geiogamah and Frank Javier Garcia Berumen) discuss how Hollywood depicted their people and culture in cinema. They note the change that began in 1970 with Little Big Man, looking at the gradual positive changes that have occurred and what still needs to be done. The film has been well-received at film festivals where it has played, but no full reviews are available just yet. This picture is currently a DVD-only release.
DEATH OF A UNICORN – A lawyer brings his teenage daughter after he is asked to assist a pharmaceutical magnate in creating a will. As they drive out to his client’s remote mansion, they strike a unicorn with their car. The father, desperate to get to their destination, plunks the creature in the back of the car and tries to hide it from the wealthy family. But when they arrive, the unicorn jolts to life, very unhappy with how it has been treated. This horror/comedy split the press, although a few more gave the movie a pass than suggested skipping it. Almost half complained that the script didn’t make the most of its concept, lacking biting wit and delivering a limp, tonally inconsistent satire. But the same number and a few more stated that the film was unique enough to keep them engaged, and that the great cast helped sell a few memorable moments. It stars Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Tea Leoni and Richard E. Grant. Read a full review of the movie here.
THE GREATEST THING EVER: A GARDEN CARTOON MOVIE – If you appreciate faith-based films, this effort is an animated feature that is aimed at kids. It is based on a series that began in 2019 featuring two characters, Lenny the Lion and Lucy the Lamb, who make discoveries in a large “garden” of sorts. In this feature-length effort, their “Boss” from above asks them to find and identify the title article. Their journey takes them on a wild search involving treasure, as well as a journey into space and a time-travel voyage to the era of dinosaurs. Eventually, the pair come to the realization that what they’re looking for may be more spiritual in nature. This picture is making its debut this week on streaming platforms and as a DVD-only release. There are currently no notices available for it. The voice cast includes James Arnold Taylor, Cristina Milizia, Brian Stivale, Delilah, Katie Leigh and Hillary Phillips.
LOST COUNTRY – This Serbian-language, multinational European effort is set in 1993 and deals with a 15-year-old living in Belgrade under the rule of the authoritarian Milosevic regime. After the leader commits electoral fraud and falsely claims that he has won the latest election, the boy and his friends set out to hold a protest. The youngster’s efforts get noticed, causing personal strife when he learns that his mother works for the government and may be complicit in their crimes against the people. This film played at various film festivals in 2023 and 2024 and is now finding a release in North America. The picture earned slightly more positive write-ups than negative ones. Those who disliked the film commented that while the message was important, the screenplay was clumsily written and came across as shallow and underdeveloped. Slightly more called the movie a low-key, haunting drama that effectively delivered a coming-of-age tale during an oppressive era. It features Jovan Ginic, Jasna Djuricic and Miodrag Jovanovic.
NINE-RING GOLDEN DAGGER – Also known as Blocking the House, this period Chinese production involves a great warrior who dies on the battlefield. Following his passing, the nation’s emperor decides that the deceased’s prized possession and the titular weapon should be given to an enemy kingdom. Furious, two female relatives of the leader vow to recover the dagger and bring it back to their homeland. Along the way, they befriend a disrespected ex-general who tries to help them accomplish their goal. At present, there aren’t a lot of reviews available for this foreign-language title and the few that have appeared online in this part of the world aren’t overly upbeat. They suggest that at 90-minutes, the action is frantic, but the story and characters aren’t properly fleshed out and that, overall, the film doesn’t make a lasting impression. Zhang Xintong, Liu Xinlei, Song Tianshuo and Wu Yue headline the feature.
RIDE ABOVE – A young girl is raised by her parents at a stable. She spends all of her time around horses, and as a teen takes up riding. After forming a bond with a young horse, a storm scares the animal, resulting in a tragic accident. Unable to walk, the youth still sets out to find a way to ride and compete professionally on the animal. This France/Canada foreign-language co-production came out in its home countries and Europe in late 2022/early 2023, but had difficulty finding US distribution. It is now arriving exclusively on DVD. Reaction towards the feature has been good. While all admit that the story is a weepy melodrama, they note that it works surprisingly well, and is bolstered by great performances, beautiful photography and assured direction. Curiously enough, the film’s director is a Quebecois movie-maker who got his start in genre pics like Scanners II: The New Order, Scanners III: The Takeover, Screamers and Extreme Ops. Over the last decade, has become a reliable drama film director in France. The movie stars Mélanie Laurent, Pio Marmaï, Carmen Kassovitz and Danny Huston.
SOUND OF THE SURF – This documentary focuses its attention on surf music. It takes viewers back 50 years, when rock and roll artists noted the rising popularity of the sport and began composing music for it. Many believed their melodies mirrored the movement of waves and the ocean. Viewers will learn about Dick Dale, The Bel-Airs, The Challengers, Eddie and the Showman, and many other artists, as well as modern day bands. This feature also shows how Hollywood began popularizing surf culture and sounds for the general public in the Beach Party film series and other titles. This picture has played at and earned award nominations at movie festivals over the past couple of years, but is only now arriving on disc. A few online notices call it a fun picture that features plenty of rare footage and interviews with notable figures from the movement. This is a DVD-only release.
WARFARE – Co-written and co-directed by an Iraq war veteran, this film is inspired by his own experiences on the battlefield. It is set in 2006 and involves a team of American Navy SEALs in enemy territory in Iraq on a surveillance mission. The men begin to notice armed forces moving on their position and come under fire. They must endure waves of attacks while waiting for assistance. The other co-writer/co-director of this picture is Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War) and the film was highly rated by critics. A small number felt that while the attempt to keep events focused on US soldiers generated tension and a fast-pace, the characters weren’t well developed and the Iraqi people were largely ignored. However, the consensus was that this was an incredibly authentic and powerful effort that shows the horrors of what really happened to soldiers stationed in an unflinching and realistic manner. This picture can be purchased on either 4K Ultra HD or on Blu-ray. The cast includes D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai,Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Aaron Mackenzie and Alex Brockdorff.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re hoping to catch up with something older, you have a few options. The first is The Big Heat (1953), which is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo and as a standalone Blu-ray. This film noir classic from legendary director Fritz Lang (Metropolis, M) stars Glenn Ford and follows a police detective whose wife is murdered by the mob. He is frustrated to learn that other officers are on the take and won’t help him arrest the organization. But the lead does end up meeting the girlfriend of the crime lord and convinces her to help him take down the outfit.
The picture has been given a 4K restoration in Dolby Vision for this release and extras include a film-noir expert commentary, a video essay about the movie’s female characters, audio interview with Lang, interviews with filmmaker fans of the movie Michael Mann and Martin Scorsese, as well as a trailer, and an essay in the accompanying booklet.
Shout Factory is delivering Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut (2004) as a 4K Ultra HD only release (extra features are included on an accompanying Blu-ray). Writer/director Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street, JFK) brings his take on historical figure Alexander the Great. In the 4th century this leader took Greece, Persia, Afghanistan and India, building a massive empire in the process, before his exhausted forces revolted against him. The film tells his life story, until his death, in which the territories broke free of his control. Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Rosario Dawson, Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer star in the picture.
The movie arrives with a 2025 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision, as well as a new film critic commentary, an archival track with Oliver Stone, interviews with Stone, the editor and the visual effects supervisor. There is also a feature-length documentary on the production, featurettes on the movie, and the Vangelis score, as well as a behind-the-scenes still gallery and trailers. Early copies ordered through the official Shout website arrive with an 18×24 poster featuring original art for the movie.
Also arriving from the distributor is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the political drama/comedy, Primary Colors (1998). John Travolta and Emma Thompson play the lead roles in this Oscar-nominated effort about a charismatic candidate running for President of the United States. A young man joins the campaign and learns everything about the politician’s life and personal conflicts with his wife. The feature was directed by Mike Nichols (The Graduate) and co-written by Elaine May (A New Leaf) and is believed to have used the Clintons as inspiration for the story. The cast includes Adrian Lester, Kathy Bates, Larry Hagman, Billy Bob Thornton, Maura Tierney, Diane Ladd, Rob Reiner, and Allison Janney.
The original camera negative has been given a 4K restoration for this release and is presented in Dolby Vision. The disc comes with a film historian and Elaine May biographer commentary, as well as two supporting cast member interviews, and a talk with the author of the book upon which the film is based. It also comes with theatrical trailers.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below are some titles that may appeal to kids.
The Greatest Thing Ever: A Garden Cartoon Movie (faith-based animated film) (BMG) DVD
Ultraman USA aka Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And here is a list of the week’s TV-themed releases.
Tales from the Void: Season 1 (Cinedigm) Blu-ray
Ultraman USA aka Ultraman: The Adventure Begins (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray