Hello readers! Hope you enjoyed Labor Day. As a result of the holiday, this week is an extremely quiet one, with only a couple of new releases and a handful of noteworthy older efforts receiving upgrades. Despite the limited number of discs, there may still be something here to pique your interest. 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!
BLUR: TO THE END – This effort was scheduled to come out in late July, but was unexpectedly delayed at the last minute. If you’re familiar with 1990s Britpop, then you’ll know that Blur were among the biggest acts of the era (and they’re still pretty great live if you get the chance to see them). This documentary follows a year in the life of the group, catching up with them during their recent reunion, as well as the recording and release of The Ballad of Darren in 2023. Each member gives their thoughts on making music and how their relationships have changed over the years. Viewers also get a behind-the-scenes look at their latest tour. The press was impressed with this music-related feature. One or two stated that they didn’t learn much about the band, why they were successful, or what motivates them to create. But all others thought it was a great documentary in which viewers really felt like a fly on the wall, witnessing the group deal with the complexities of recording, touring and friendship.
DANNY GOES AUM – This independent, English-language feature follows a young melancholic British man with a famous father who spent no time with him growing up. Now an adult, he works tireless hours as an editor, one day hoping to write and direct his own film. After he passes out and wakes up in a hospital, he realizes the need to deal with his personal problems. He travels to Goa (a coastal state in southwestern India), where his parents first fell in love. Looking for any kind of inspiration, he meets a local woman and the two talk, eventually developing a close relationship. This low-budget comedy/drama appeared on the festival circuit in 2023. The film is now arriving on steaming sites and as a DVD-only release. At present, there are no reviews available for the title. Interested parties will just have to trust that they might have an inner connection with the material. The cast includes Andrew Sloman, Anjali Patil, Marianne Borgo, Avinash Kuri and Divya Sharmaa.
STAN THE MAN – A successful football coach enjoys the limelight, but it all turns sour when his alcoholism begins to impact his personal and professional life. He is barred from coaching football permanently. After hitting rock bottom and losing his house, he’s offered a chance at figurative and literal redemption coaching a Christian high school team. He finds religion, tries to repair relationships, and leads the players to a state football championship. While this may seem like the type of story that is inspired by or based on a true story, this faith-based drama is a fictional tale. It is also arriving as a DVD-only release (you can also watch it on streaming platforms). No critics have seen the film or reviewed it as of this writing. Angus Benfield, Cameron Arnett, Jeremy Warner, Chase Ciacomo and Shazia Pascal headline the feature.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking for something older? Science-fiction fans may be pleased to see the feature adaptation of the popular TV series Lost in Space (1998) arriving as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD release from Arrow Video. This epic isn’t perfect, but provides plenty of popcorn-munching fun and adventure. It didn’t do well enough during its theatrical run to warrant a sequel, but the title was a massive hit on video and over the years has built a large following.
The story is set in the future, with the Earth ecologically devastated. The Robinson family are sent into outer space on a mission to a potentially habitable world that might be adapted for humanity. A saboteur sneaks onboard and tries to sabotage the mission. Ultimately, the entire group (including a trusty robot helper) end up being sent to a random and uncharted region of outer space. They attempt to fix their craft, while encountering new alien species. Some of these beings are friendly, but others are deadly threats. The film is directed by Stephen Hopkins (Predator 2, Judgment Night, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, and also co-executive producer of the hit series 24, directing half of the entire first season) and the impressive cast includes William Hurt, Gary Oldman, Matt LeBlanc, Mimi Rogers, Heather Graham, Lacey Chabert, Jack Johnson and Jared Harris.
The original 35mm camera negative has been given a 4K restoration for this release, approved by Hopkins. It is presented in Dolby Vision and comes with two archival audio commentaries (one with the director and the screenwriter, and another featuring the crew). There is a newly filmed interview with Hopkins, as well as screenwriter/producer Akiva Goldsman, director of photography Peter Levy, as well as the art director, sound mixer and rerecording mixer, and make-up team mold shop supervisor. Bonuses also include a new video essay on the movie, deleted scenes, bloopers, archival featurettes on the visual effects and the film’s vision of the future. Additionally, there is an examination of the original 60s TV series with the original cast. A booklet with new writing on the production is also listed as a feature, as well as a reversible sleeve featuring new and original artwork for the title. Read a full review of this release right here!
Film Masters is presenting Tarzan of the Apes (1918) on Blu-ray. This is a silent film and the first ever adaptation of the famous 1912 Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. Elmo Lincoln plays the title character. Curiously enough, this pre-code adaptation is noted for featuring its lead actor swinging from treetops in the nude, another first in cinema. The movie has been “newly restored” for his release, which also includes the bonus feature, The Adventures of Tarzan (a 1928 feature reedit of a 1921 serial also starring Lincoln).
It’s a busy week for Kino Lorber, with several titles arriving on store shelves. Huckleberry Finn (1931) is a follow-up to the 1930 Paramount hit Tom Sawyer, based on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. The plot involves two lead characters returning home with found treasure, having to adapt to a new lifestyle, and deal with various locals trying to get their hands on the fortune. Jackie Coogan stars in the picture. The disc contains a 4K restoration of the film and arrives with a movie historian commentary, and a trailer.
The Lords of Discipline (1983) is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack, and as a standalone Blu-ray. David Keith, Robert Prosky, G.D. Spradlin, Barbara Babcock, Michael Biehn, Judge Reinhold and Bill Paxton appear in this period title about a military academy in the Deep South. When a black cadet is accepted into the academy, another new cadet notes the racism and corruption within the institute and attempts to do something about it. The picture is taken from a 4K restoration of the original camera negative and presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a movie historian commentary, as well as recently recorded interviews with star Keith, and the director.
Also appearing as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray pack and a Blu-ray only release is the Chinatown sequel, The Two Jakes (1990), directed by and starring Jack Nicholson. This effort features private eye “Jake” Gittes uncovering a conspiracy involving oil, adultery and murder. Obviously, it’s a follow-up to one of the greatest movies ever made, so this effort can’t approach topping the original. Still, it may provide some interesting moments for fans of the classic. The cast also includes Harvey Keitel, Meg Tilly, Madeleine Stowe, Eli Wallach, Ruben Blades, Frederic Forrest, David Keith and Richard Farnsworth.
Specs on the disc include a 4K restoration from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, as well as a film historian commentary, a new interview with co-star Keith, a recently recorded discussion with the editor, an archival interview with Nicholson, and a trailer.
If you like extremely hard-boiled, tough-guy movies, Undisputed (2002) is an underrated effort that is coming out in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, as well as a standalone Blu-ray. This picture from director Walter Hill (The Warriors, The Long Riders, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire, Red Heat, Johnny Handsome, Trespass, Last Man Standing) is set in a penitentiary. A heavyweight champion has just received a prison sentence for rape, and a resident gangster arranges a private title boxing match between the new arrival and best fighter in their prison (a convicted murderer). The amazing performers in the movie include Ving Rhames, Wesley Snipes, Peter Falk, Michael Rooker, Jon Seda, Wes Studi, Fisher Stevens and Master P..
If memory serves, it’s an enjoyable effort with some great, grizzled performances, very creative uses of four-letter words, and a story in which you’re never one-hundred percent sure how things are going to play out in the end. I may be wrong, but I recall that the studio took issue with the picture when Hill turned it in, stating that there had to be reshoots in which one of the boxers was presented as a clear “hero”. When Hill and the cast refused, it was dumped into theaters with no advertising. I caught it on the big screen in an empty house (there wasn’t even a poster for it at the theater, which was very unusual at the time) and had a good time. It seems that over the years, others have come around to appreciating the picture too.
The film is being put out with a 4K restoration from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, and it comes with a film historian commentary (hopefully the track will go into the aforementioned standoff with the studio and confirm my memory of what occurred), as well as a new interview with director Hill, archival conversations with stars Snipes and Rhames, and a trailer.
Shout Factory is presenting Salvador (1986) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” pack. It should first be noted that the film is only on the 4K disc, while the extras appear on the Blu-ray. James Woods plays a “burnt-out” journalist who wants to make quick cash by traveling to El Salvador and reporting on a potential revolution. He ends up in way over his head as war breaks out and his life is put in danger.
This effort from writer/director Oliver Stone preceded Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July and JFK, but earned praise and Oscar-nominations for its lead actor and original screenplay. The 4K disc contains an Oliver Stone-approved 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision and comes with a director commentary. Bonuses on the Blu-ray include new interviews with Stone, Woods, co-stars John Savage, Michael Murphy, and Tony Plana. Additionally, there are recently captured discussions with the costume designer, and the prosthetic make-up artist. An archival making-of, deleted scenes and a trailer round out the extras.
Now that the recent Superman feature has come out and done well at theaters, Warner Bros. is rereleasing the Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set containing Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (shot in 1980, but not released until 2006), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) in the highest quality possible. As mentioned, this is a reissue of the 2023 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray presentations of the films in new packaging.
Finally, Warner Archive is presenting some great Blu-ray sets. The first is the 50s Sci-Fi Collection, which contains Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1958), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), Them! (1954) and World Without End (1956). Admittedly, this is also a rerelease of four Blu-rays together in one package, but for this reviewer, three of the four titles are big winners. Each has a couple of bonus features and the entire collection should please anyone interested in monster movies from this era.
The Errol Flynn Collection presents Blu-rays of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Sea Hawk (1940), Adventures of Don Juan (1948), Santa Fe Trail (1940), Edge of Darkness (1943) and Objective, Burma! (1945). Just like the previous set, these are rereleases in one package, and the discs should be chock full of extras.
Additionally, the Greta Garbo Collection collects the previously issued Anna Christie (1930), Camille (1936), Ninotchka (1939) and Queen Christina (1933) Blu-rays together in one pack.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
If you’re looking for new entertainment for youngsters, the title listed below is your best bet.
PAW Patrol: Fire Rescue (Paramount) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
Umm, it looks like the same goes for anyone hoping to watch something that originally aired on TV.
PAW Patrol: Fire Rescue (Paramount) DVD