Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The last edition was a quiet one, which means that the latest is jam-packed with major titles across a wide variety of genres. I’m not sure why one busy week, one quiet week has been the release model and things aren’t more spaced out, but at least that means there is no shortage of good material right now. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
BETTER MAN – English musician Robbie Williams is the subject of this unique biopic. It tells the story of how he became a performer, being cast in the boy band Take That, and his solo career. Over the years, he faces many professional and personal challenges, including addiction. These elements aren’t so odd for this kind of a picture, but what is unusual is that for the entirety of the running time, the performer is depicted as an anthropomorphic chimp. Reviews were very strong for this title. A small number did not care for the monkey angle (and the fact that no one in the movie ever makes mention of it) and found it too distracting. But all others thought the technique worked, that the film had fantastic musical numbers, and that it was brutally honest in its depiction of the life of a celebrity. This review can vouch for it being much better than you might expect and deserving of more attention than it received. The movie is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. It features the voice of Robbie Williams, as well as Steve Pemberton, Kate Mulvany and Alison Steadman.
BLACK BAG – This spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven, Contagion) follows a husband and wife who work for MI6 aka the British Secret Intelligence Service. When the husband is tasked with rooting out a mole who may be leaking out a top-secret software program to enemies, he must meet with and secretly root out the responsible party. Unfortunately, his wife is one of the central suspects. Critics rated this picture very highly. One or two reviewers didn’t care for the characters or find the story suspenseful. However, everyone else stated that it was brilliantly acted, tense, dryly funny, and had absolutely no fat on its bones. They noted it was a very pleasant surprise in a movie season that is normally filled with weaker titles. The film is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomi Harris, Rege-Jean Page and Pierce Brosnan.
BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY – The fourth entry in the Bridget Jones romantic-comedy series catches up with the title character, who is now a widow and single parent. After several years of grieving, she is convinced by others to restart her career and get back out on the dating scene. Of course, the lead finds big changes in the working landscape and the art of courtship, comedically trying to find her place in the modern world. Notices were generally good for this follow-up. A small contingent called the movie a mediocre and ultimately unnecessary instalment that strained to earn laughs. However, most stated that while it didn’t match the original, there were plenty of effectively bittersweet and heartfelt moments, and that the star’s charisma made it a worthwhile entry. In North America, this film premiered on the Peacock streaming service and is now being given a Blu-ray release. The cast includes Renée Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, James Callis, Shirley Henderson, Sally Phillips and Sarah Solemani.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD – The latest edition in this Marvel series sees Sam Wilson aka Captain America working under a newly elected president of the United States. He is asked to reform The Avengers, but is weary of the official and his motivations. After one of his friends attacks the president, Wilson investigates and uncovers a conspiracy involving the adamantium mineral. He also ends up encountering an enraged red Hulk who goes on the rampage in Washington, D.C.. Notices were split on this superhero film. Almost half stated that the new lead made a charismatic debut and that the action scenes were fun and exciting to watch. Unfortunately, slightly more called the story bland and complained that the overabundance of exposition overshadowed the few dynamic moments. Multiple versions of the title will be available, including a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, a regular 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, a Blu-ray-only edition, a Walmart exclusive Blu-ray, and a 4-film Blu-ray containing all Captain America titles. Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly and Tim Blake Nelson headline the film. Read a full review of the movie right here.
THE END – Looking for an apocalyptic musical film? Then this might be the release for you. The film is set years after an environmental disaster has rendered the world uninhabitable. A wealthy family who made their fortune drilling oil lives safely in a palatial underground bunker. One day, a young woman appears at their domicile. The family’s lonely son is thrilled to meet a new person from the outside world, but his parents are suspicious of the new arrival. Slightly more members of the press recommended the film than panned it. Those who disliked the movie commented that the film tried to juggle too many elements, resulting in an overstuffed, overlong product. Slightly more called the picture incredibly ambitious and suggested that, once you got onto its unusual wavelength, would entertain and pose a lot of interesting moral questions on the viewer. Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, Lennie James, Bronagh Gallagher, George MacKay, Tim McInnerny and Moses Ingram.
MICKEY 17 – In this science-fiction satire from Bong Joon Ho (The Host, Snowpiercer, Parasite), a debt-ridden man being hunted by loan sharks signs up for a space mission. He learns that his role in helping colonize a faraway planet is to take on impossibly difficult tasks in which he will likely die. Then, he is cloned, retaining all previous memories. After surviving a near fatal accident, he returns home to find an identical replacement living there. Realizing they will both be eliminated if anyone finds out, they try to form a survival plan. Notices were generally upbeat for this film. Almost one-quarter of reviews did critique the movie as being less effective than the director’s previous works, complaining that the humor and political satire didn’t land. However, the majority found it to be a darkly funny and impressive satire bolstered by an incredible lead performance. The film is available as a 4K Ultra HD only release, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, and a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Robert Pattinson, Steven Yuen, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo and Naomi Ackie. Read a full review of the movie here.
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE – After serving in the US Army in Afghanistan, a veteran returns home and reunites with her Vietnam vet grandfather. Their relationship becomes increasingly strained when the lead begins spending the majority of her time conversing with her best friend from the service… who happens to be deceased. Over the course of the story, the protagonist (as well as her grandad) must come to terms with what occurred on the battlefield. The press rated this independent drama/comedy very highly. One or two suggested that while the concept was interesting, they didn’t care for the tone and dashes of humor involving a ghostly figure. Everyone else thought the performances were excellent and that the film did a wonderful job of authentically handling trauma, grief and mental health issues of war veterans. For now, this is a DVD-only release. Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman headline the picture.
PANDA BEAR IN AFRICA – A panda living in China is shocked when his best friend, a dragon, is kidnapped. It turns out that the mythical creature is being sent to a lion ruler in Africa. The protagonist decides to travel an incredible distance to find and rescue his friend. Along the way, the animal meets and forms relationships with hippos, hyenas, gorillas and other animals. This animated family feature is a co-production between Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Estonia. It contains an English-language edition and a French version with English subtitles. Not many critics have seen the picture and thus far reviews that have appeared are middling. Most state that the animation on display is quite pleasing, but that the story is routine and there is an emphasis on yammering between the characters instead of action and fun. It also sounds like it may be a title exclusively for younger audiences. This is a DVD-only release.
STRIKING RESCUE – This release was supposed to arrive on disc last month, but there was a last-minute delay. It is now arriving this week. The film is an action picture from Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior series) about a man whose wife and child are murdered by assassins from a crime syndicate. Furious, he goes on the rampage and exacts revenge on the entire organization. The protagonist also teams with a skilled, fighting teen he encounters along the way. Not too sure where the “rescue” from the film’s title comes into play, but most of the limited number of reviewers who saw this Chinese production didn’t seem to mind the confusing title. One suggested that the story was so predictable that even the fight scenes became dull, but others thought this movie was amusing and delivered all of the wince-inducing thrills one could hope for. Besides Jaa, the movie features Philip Keung, Michael Mao, Bo Peng and Xing Yu.
YOUNG HEARTS – This Dutch/Belgian family drama is a coming-of-age tale about a 14-year-old boy living in a country village. When a new family arrives next door, he begins hanging around with their son, who also happens to be 14. The protagonist begins to develop feelings for his charismatic friend and has difficulty dealing with them. He veers from happy to sullen and then angry as he attempts to understand why he feels this way and whom to tell about it. Apparently, the screenplay is partly based on the filmmaker’s experiences growing up. This French-language title earned raves at film festivals, winning awards while also receiving unanimously positive reviews from the press. They all called it a remarkably authentic and beautifully told tale of a boy coming out, detailing the pain, as well as joy, that this entails. For now, this title will only be available on DVD. It stars Lou Goossens, Marius De Saeger, Geert Van Rampelberg and Emilie De Roo.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There is no shortage of older films one can pick up either. This week Arrow Video is putting out The Andromeda Strain (1971) on 4K Ultra HD (there is no Blu-ray included in this release). This is the first adaptation of a Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) novel. After a deadly alien microscopic lifeform wipes out almost everyone in a small town, a select group of scientists are sent to get samples, analyze them in a top -secret lab, and determine how to stop its deadly spread.
This release includes a 4K image restoration (In Dolby Vision) from the original camera negative, a film historian commentary, an appreciation by critic Kim Newman, a 2001 archival making-of featurette, another 2001 special with Michael Crichton talking about his career, tons of publicity material, and an illustrated shooting script. Additionally, there is a booklet with new writing on the feature, as well as a reversible sleeve with newly commissioned and original art for the title. You can find a full review of this release right here.
Arrow is also releasing “Standard Edition” rereleases of a few titles with sold out “Special Editions”. You can now pick up a 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray of the Sylvester Stallone/Wesley Snipes action picture Demolition Man (1993) and a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of the Sammo Hung kung-fu/western Millionaires’ Express (1986).
Cauldron Films is presenting a group of Italian made-to-TV movies on Blu-ray from notable filmmakers. The House of Clocks (1989) is a feature from Lucio Fulci (Zombie, The Beyond) about a gang of thieves who try to rob a home, only to realize that the elderly occupants can turn back time and take revenge on them. The title was given a 2K restoration from the original camera negative for this release and comes with interviews with the cinematographer, composer, 1st assistant director and make-up effects artist, as well as archival discussions with cast members. A film expert commentary is also included.
The House of Lost Souls (1989) from Umberto Lenzi (Eaten Alive, Cannibal Ferox) follows a psychopathic landlord of a motel who torments his guests. This Blu-ray contains a 2K image restoration from the original negative, interviews with the make-up artist, the composer, two film historian commentaries and a career-spanning interview with Lenzi from 2001.
The House of Witchcraft (1989) is another Lenzi effort about a couple who rent a vacation house, only to encounter a witch living within it. Besides the 2K restoration from the original camera negative, bonuses include a film expert commentary, interviews with the cinematographer and the make-up effects man.
And The Sweet House of Horrors (1989) is a tale from Fulci about a married couple who come back from the dead to continue taking care of and protecting their young, orphaned children. This Blu-ray offers the same picture specs as well as a film historian commentary, new interviews with the set designer, editor and a cast member, as well as archival talks with cast and crew.
Criterion is offering a Blu-ray double-feature of the documentaries Room 666 (1982) and Room 999 (2023). The titles are frank discussions between the director and other filmmakers about the state of film at the time and whether or not the industry might be changing or even dying out. Those involved in the first film include director Wim Wenders, who talks to Michelangelo Antonioni, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Jean-Luc Godard, Yılmaz Güney, Werner Herzog, Steven Spielberg, and Susan Seidelman. In the follow-up Lubna Playoust poses updated questions to Wenders himself, as well as David Cronenberg, Claire Denis, Asghar Farhadi, James Gray, and Lynne Ramsay. Extras on this disc an interview with Playoust and trailers.
If you’re looking for a narrative film from the same distributor, The Wind Will Carry Us (1999) is an option. Pictured to the left, it’s an Iranian production about an engineer who arrives in a small village and gets treated with suspicion by locals. By the end of the picture, the reasons behind the behavior of all the characters are made much clearer. This Blu-ray offers a 4K picture restoration, a documentary on the production, a 2002 interview with the director, a video essay on the project, a trailer and a booklet with an essay on the feature.
Kino is presenting some interesting titles. The first is a science-fiction/disaster picture called Crack in the World (1965). It’s an amusingly silly effort about a scientist studying geothermal energy whose experimentations accidentally cause a geothermal crack that threatens to literally split the Earth in half. For its 60th anniversary, the movie is being given a Blu-ray release with a 4K image restoration (taken from the original negative). You’ll also get a film historian commentary, and two movie expert sidebar discussions on the feature. This “Limited Edition” arrives with reversible art and a slipcase.
A low-budget independent UK filmmaker is receiving a Blu-ray box set. Pete Walker Crime Collection contains The Big Switch (1968), Cool It, Carol! (1970) aka The Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met, Moon – Man of Violence (1970), and Die Screaming, Marianne (1971). These pictures were made just before the filmmaker turned his attention to the horror genre. The set includes movie expert commentaries on two of the pictures, as well as an interview with a Walker authority, and original trailers for the films.
The early black and white, silent feature Ramona (1928) is also arriving on Blu-ray. It’s a tragic romance about a wealthy woman who falls for Native American. The film was restored by the Library of Congress for this release from color-tinted 35mm materials. It comes with a film historian commentary.
Vice Squad (1982) is appearing from Kino in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack (containing one Ultra HD disc, a Blu-ray movie disc, and a third Blu-ray with extras). It is also available as a standalone 2-disc Blu-ray set. The story is set in Hollywood and involves a businesswoman-turned-prostitute who becomes the target of a psychotic pimp (played by Wings Hauser). A police detective teams up with the woman to try and take down the raging maniac. The 4K image scan comes from the original camera negative and was provided by Studio Canal. There is an audio commentary from an authority on co-star Wings Hauser, as well as an archival commentary with the director and the producer. You will also receive cast and crew interviews, a look at the filming locations, TV and radio spots, and a trailer.
Lionsgate Limited is a line of high-end releases available for purchase only through their website. This week, they have three new additions. The first is a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of The Crazies (2010). This is a pretty solid remake of the 1973 George A. Romero horror classic about a biological agent that is released in a small town and starts turning residents into killers. The film has been given a new 4K remaster in Dolby Vision and comes with all bonuses from earlier editions (like a director commentary, and much more). It also contains a newly recorded director commentary track, an interview with the filmmaker, a featurette on the production, an alternate ending and a storyboard to screen featurette on the car wash sequence.
Kick-Ass (2010) is also appearing as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Lionsgate Limited exclusive Steelbook. This comic book adaptation about a rookie crimefighter also comes with a 4K Dolby Vision presentation, most of the old bonuses from earlier editions like a director commentary, a making-of and more. You’ll also get new featurettes on the production and the teaser trailer that wasn’t on previous versions of the film. The impressive cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Clark Duke and Mark Strong.
The indie horror film May (2002) is being given a Blu-ray Lionsgate Limited exclusive release under the “Vestron Collector’s Series” line. This cult item from Lucky McKee (The Woods, The Woman) involves a socially awkward veterinary assistant who has a psychotic break after some stressful interactions with new associates. It includes a film historian commentary track, a commentary with McKee as well as cast and crew, numerous interviews with cast and crew, on-set footage and an analysis of the picture.
Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing a Blu-ray containing two animated Netflix He-Man series titled Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) and Masters of the Universe: Revolution (2024). The set will be packaged in a Steelbook. Although there’s nothing too extreme in it, these were designed as a more adult-oriented update of the franchise.
MVD Visual is releasing a double-feature Blu-ray of The Bikini Carwash Company (1992) and The Bikini Carwash Company II (1993). It’s a comedy series about a Midwesterner who inherits a carwash and, to generate interest and keep the business afloat, hires scantily-dressed employees. The movies were shot on video and so, according to press releases, both feature films have been up-converted, re-mastered and upgraded from their original standard definition 480p resolution to high definition 1080p resolution using the latest advanced up-conversion AI models and presented in their 1.33:1 original aspect ratio in order to provide the best possible viewing experience.
Tunnel Vision (1976) aka Tunnelvision is getting a Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” from the distributor. This is essentially a sketch comedy film in the vein of The Kentucky Fried Movie and Amazon Women on the Moon that features skits involving a typical day of programming on a bizarre television station. It was directed by Neal Israel (Bachelor Party, Moving Violations) and features an impressive cast, including Chevy Chase, John Candy, Al Franken, Lorraine Newman, Howard Hesseman, Ron Silver and more. Despite its production date, it sat on a studio shelf and didn’t end up getting released at theaters until 1982 after the many performers in it had become famous. It arrives on disc with a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, two presentations of the movie in 1.66:1 and 1.33:1, a lengthy interview with Israel and co-director Stuart Shapiro, a film historian commentary, a photo gallery, an archival photo gallery, radio spots, a continuity script, and a trailer.
Shout Factory is delivering a Walmart exclusive 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of the Angelina Jolie/James McAvoy action picture, Wanted (2008). The contents are likely identical to the previous 2023 Shout 4K and Blu-ray edition of the movie, only in new packaging.
The brutal Chilean horror picture Visceral: Between the Ropes of Madness (2012) is arriving on Blu-ray from Unearthed Films. It follows a boxer who is possessed by evil and begins attacking and tormenting victims.
VCI is delivering a Blu-ray of the independent horror picture The Naked Witch (1969) aka The Witchmaker, about a Louisiana researcher who decides to investigate a series of murders with his team of assistants. They all soon find themselves in danger. This disc comes with a film expert commentary, a poster gallery including this and other 60s drive-in titles, and publicity materials.
Finally, Warner Bros. is rereleasing their 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Mad Max 5-Film Collection, so fans of the series can pick up every one of the titles presented in the best possible quality.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a list of kid-friendly releases.
Panda Bear in Africa (2024 European animated feature) (Shout Kids) DVD
PBS KIDS: Let’s Go on a Trip! (PBS Kids) DVD
Tom and Jerry: 85th Anniversary Kids Collection (Warner Bros.) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And you’ll find all of this week’s TV-themed titles here.
Adventures of Superman: The Complete Series (rerelease) (Warner Bros.) DVD
The Drew Carey Show: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) DVD
Dune: Prophecy: Season 1 (Warner Bros.) 4K Ultra HD only or Blu-ray only
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: The Heiress and the Handyman, Finding Love in Mountain View (Hallmark) DVD
Hallmark Hall of Fame 3-Movie: The Lost Valentine, The Magic of Ordinary Days, The Valley of Light (Hallmark) DVD
The House of Clocks (1989 TV-movie) (Cauldron Films) Blu-ray
The House of Lost Souls (1989 TV-movie) (Cauldron Films) Blu-ray
The House of Witchcraft (1989 TV-movie) (Cauldron Films) Blu-ray
Landman: Season 1 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Masterpiece: Wolf Hall – The Mirror and the Light (PBS) DVD
Mystery 101: 6-Movie Collection: Mystery 101, Playing Dead, Words Can Kill, Dead Talk, An Education in Murder, Killer Timing (Hallmark) DVD
NOVA: Pompeii’s Secret Underworld (PBS) DVD
PBS KIDS: Let’s Go on a Trip! (PBS Kids) DVD
The Sweet House of Horrors (1989 TV-movie) (Cauldron Films) Blu-ray
Yellowjackets: Seasons 1 and 2 Collection (Showtime/Paramount) DVD