Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s a remarkably busy edition with plenty of titles in various genres for every member of the household. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors, be sure to give one of these films a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE ADVENTURES OF JURASSIC PET 2: THE LOST SECRET – Also known as The Adventures of Jurassic Pet: The Lost Secret, this live-action family feature is a sequel to a 2019 film about a teenager who saves a friendly baby dinosaur from a mad scientist. This follow-up involves a new young lead and her grandmother. The pair guard a doorway to a world filled with dinosaurs. When a baby dino escapes into our world and ends up being pursued by criminals, the two leads and a new friend try to save the creature and get it back home. This title is only being released on DVD. It is premiering on disc and besides a somewhat cheesy trailer, there is no information or reviews currently available for the movie. It features Sophie Proctor, Myles Currin-Moore, LaRonn Marzett, Carolyn Josephine Wright and Drew Pollock.
DETECTIVE KNIGHT: INDEPENDENCE – The final chapter in the low-budget Detective Knight action series finds the title protagonist back in his hometown working on the streets. On Independence Day, an unbalanced EMT worker decides to go on the rampage by impersonating a cop. The lead attempts to locate and capture the maniac before any more lives are taken. Curiously enough, all three chapters in this series have received similar critical notices, with generally more positive reviews than negative ones. About one-third of write-ups commented that the plot didn’t provide any thrills or make an emotional impact and was merely a by-the-numbers action picture. The rest thought that the story allowed the lead to question some of his values and noted the series finale was strong enough to earn a recommendation. It stars Bruce Willis, Lochlyn Munro, Willow Shields, Jack Kilmer and Trevor Gretzky.
DEVOTION – Set in 1950, this tale follows two recruits who are paired up while serving in the Navy Fighter Squadron. They are asked to fly a Vought F4U Corsair together and soon form a close friendship in the process. When the Korean War breaks out, the two are sent as support for South Korean forces and must risk their lives flying into battle with North Korea and China. The press admired this feature and gave it solid marks. A small contingent complained that the relationship between the two lead characters wasn’t particularly well developed and that their interactions came across as stiff, hurting the film. Regardless, most thought the cast were engaging, the screenplay delivered interesting subtext and that it was an impressive effort promoting the power of friendship. The film is available in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set or just as a Blu-ray. The cast includes Glen Powell, Jonathan Majors, Joe Jonas and Christina Jackson.
FOXHOLE – This independent war drama has an unusual concept. It is set over a period of 36 hours and details three groups of soldiers trapped in confined spaces during different wars – The American Civil War, World War I and the Iraq War. Viewers see them grapple with combat and see connections and similarities between the various time periods. Response towards the feature was generally good. One-third stated that the movie struggled to build tension and resorted to false sentimentality in order to elicit sympathy from the viewer. Still, the majority admired the film’s ambitiousness and thought it was a unique and impactful little title. It features James Le Gros, Andi Matichak, Alex Breaux and Alex Hurt. Unusually enough, this title is a Vinegar Syndrome exclusive and will only be available on their website until March 28th (when it will be available on other sites).
GOD’S COUNTRY – Based on a short story by New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke, this film involves a college professor living in the remote mountains of the American West. When she catches two hunters trespassing on her property and confronts them, they don’t respond well to being chided. In fact, they start playing tricks and frustrating the property owner. The professor stands up for herself, but as events progress a violent showdown begins to look inescapable. The press rated this feature highly. A tiny number of reviewers thought the movie had tonal imbalances, veering from drama to western to thriller and losing them in the process. Still, this approach didn’t bother many other reviewers. They thought the performances were outstanding and that all of the characters were flawed, making the story more interesting and unpredictable. It stars Thandiwe Newton, Joris Jarsky, Jefferson White, Tanaya Beatty and Jeremy Bobb.
HUNT – After a North Korean official requests asylum and reveals shocking information about a spy, two leaders from different divisions of South Korea’s top spy agency are tasked with handling the case. They learn that a mole is embedded somewhere within their group and is sending vital information across the border. Both agents end up investigating each other’s team members in order to find the individual – tensions build between everyone as secrets are revealed. Response towards this thriller from South Korea was generally positive. A fair number of critics called the film so overly complicated and filled with red herrings that it all became a bit silly. However, the consensus was that the film was fast-paced and well-acted, providing viewers with a wild story that delivered subtle nods to the complicated relationship between the two countries. The cast includes Lee Jung-jae, Go Yoon-jung and Kim Nam-gil.
INBETWEEN GIRL – After the sudden divorce of her parents, a teenage artist is pressured by a friend to attend a school dance. Of course, the protagonist is immediately grilled about who she’d like to go with. She ends up mentioning a schoolmate (who has a girlfriend) that regularly gives her rides home. When he finds out and talks to her about it, she feels even more awkward as she is forced to navigate her way through new feelings and relationships. This independent coming-of-age comedy/drama was well-received by reviewers. One or two thought that it attempted to address too many elements and ultimately didn’t feel true to any of them. But everyone else liked how all the youths were developed and wrote that they were amused by the scenarios presented, complimenting the final product. Emma Galbraith, William Magnuson, Emily Garrett and Liz Waters headline the film.
LITTLE DIXIE – In this crime/thriller, a Special Forces operative is hired to negotiate a truce between a Mexican drug organization and an ambitious US state governor. Things initially go smoothly, but when the governor celebrates the execution of a high-ranking cartel member in public, the truce immediately dissolves. Caught in the middle, the mediator finds himself and his young daughter being targeted. This picture garnered a few more positive write-ups than it did negative ones. Those who disliked it thought the hero made too many obvious mistakes and that it all felt like a poor clone of a Liam Neeson-esque action picture. A few more thought the lead was good and that the movie was lean and mean, presenting plenty of gritty moments. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. It features Frank Grillo, Eric Dane, Peter Greene, Beau Knapp, Sufe Bradshaw and Annabeth Gish.
THE MAN IN THE BASEMENT – If you’re looking for some international fare, this French mystery/thriller is another option. The plot follows a Jewish couple who decide to earn extra money by selling the unused basement of their house. They choose a former history teacher who seems like a nice man. Unfortunately, the couple discover that the man living beneath them is an anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist. As the husband and wife try to figure out how to cancel the sale, the buyer befriends their teenage daughter. This effort was well-received by the press. A small number thought that the film lost momentum as it progressed and described the ending as unsatisfying. However, all others called the movie gripping from beginning to end. They praised it as a sharply written cautionary tale that sends chills down the spine. At present, this title is a DVD-only release in North America. It stars François Cluzet, Jérémie Renier and Bérénice Bejo.
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH – The sword-wielding cat returns once again in this sequel and Shrek series spin-off. After an accident, the title character discovers that he has used up almost all of his nine lives. Fearful that his next brave act might finish him off for good, he finds himself on the run from a mysterious and threatening figure. When the cat learns of a way to restore his nine lives, he decides to embark on a fateful journey. Critics adored the latest chapter and it has been nominated for Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards. A lone voice or two found it dull and didn’t think it compared to previous entries. But the consensus was that the film was visually gorgeous, had a lot of great characters and funny moments, and even dealt with issues like mortality in a compelling manner. The title is available for purchase in a Blu-ray and DVD combo set. The voice cast includes Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Olivia Colman, Florence Pugh, Harvey Guillén, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
WHITNEY HOUSTON: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY – This biopic charts the life and career of award-winning vocalist Whitney Houston. The story tracks her rise from obscurity as she is unexpectedly discovered by a record executive. It also follows her as she records her first album and soars to the top of the charts, as well as showing the many struggles she endured in her personal life after reaching superstardom. This title didn’t wow as many members of the press as it hoped to. A small contingent thought the performances were good and the movie did a solid job of recounting some of the negative aspects of her life that led to trouble. However, most thought that the movie was a superficial effort that felt phony and didn’t really get into the heart and soul of its subject. It stars Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Nafessa Williams, Tamara Tunie, Clarke Peters and Ashton Sanders.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s an incredibly busy week for older titles receiving high-definition upgrades. Arrow Video is presenting Millionaires’ Express (1986) as a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray. Directed by and starring Sammo Hung (along with a cast of all-stars from Hong Kong cinema), it is an action film with western overtones. The story follows a low-level crook on the run from a bounty hunter who winds up back in his hometown. When a train arrives carrying a desirable item, thugs arrive to rob the passenger and anyone else who crosses their path. The lead and other quirky personalities have to work together to prevent the theft. The 2-disc set contains four different versions of the movie, two film historian audio commentaries (and a third scene specific track with co-star Cynthia Rothrock), and a recent interview with Rothrock. You’ll also get archived discussions from 2007 with Hung, co-stars Yuen Biao and Yukari Oshima.Additionally, it comes with alternate credits, numerous trailers and more. Read a detailed review of the disc here.
The British David Farrar/Geraldine Fitzgerald murder/mystery Obsessed (1951) is arriving on Blu-ray from ClassicFlix. It involves a wealthy dowager who drops dead. Soon, just about everyone in town ends up being a suspect in her death, including the woman’s husband. The picture has been given a 4K restoration, meaning it’ll look better than ever on this release.
Criterion is presenting the hilarious independent Robert Townsend comedy Hollywood Shuffle (1987) on Blu-ray. The actor plays, well, an actor in Hollywood going to auditions and trying to make a name for himself in show business. Of course, he finds it hard when he is offered nothing but stereotypical roles. The film has been given a 4K restoration approved by co-writer/director/star Townsend. You’ll also get a new Townsend commentary track, interviews with co-stars Rusty Cundieff, Anne-Marie Johnson and Bobby McGee. The disc also includes a radio program with the filmmaker, a trailer and an essay on the movie by a critic.
If you enjoy Japanese anime titles, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of the True Savior – Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Death in Love (2006) is being released by Discotek Media. This is the first time the movie is being made available on Blu-ray in North America. It comes with the original language track (with English subtitles) and a new English dub.
A few weeks back, Disney re-released a few animated titles as Wal-Mart exclusives as part of their 100th company anniversary celebration. Each new set contained a Blu-ray and DVD of a film along with a Collectible Pin. This week sees even more films arriving under the Disney100 banner. You can now purchase 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Aristocats (1970), Frozen II (2019), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Robin Hood (1973), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Tangled (2010), Wreck-It-Ralph (2012) and Zootopia (2016).
Kino is putting out the Arsène Lupin Collection, which contains the French titles The Adventures of Arsène Lupin (1957), Signed, Arsène Lupin (1959) and Arsène Lupin vs. Arsène Lupin (1962). They all follow the exploits of a master thief. The set also contains a trailer for the third film and arrives in a “limited edition” cardboard slipcover.
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) is also arriving from the distributor. It stars Shirley MacLaine as a lonely housewife who takes a lover. He decides to hide in the attic and ends up living there for years until detectives show up looking for the missing man. The disc includes a 4K restoration of the movie and a film historian commentary.
The fantastic thriller Marathon Man (1976) is being put out as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. Dustin Hoffman plays a graduate student and jogger who is terrorized by a Nazi fugitive (played by Laurence Olivier). Besides the new restoration from the original camera negative, it comes with a film historian commentary, a featurette on the movie, rehearsal footage and publicity materials.
You can also pick up an “educational documentary” on nudists called, appropriately enough, Nudist Life (1961). Also included on this Blu-ray is the feature 10 Days in a Nudist Camp (1957), Shangri-La (1961) and short films including Back to Nature (1955) and more.
Additionally, Kino is releasing the adventure flick Secret of the Incas (1954) on Blu-ray. Charlton Heston stars as a man searching for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungle. It includes a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative, a film critic commentary and trailers.
A24 is a great independent studio that has released some excellent features over the past decade. This week, Lionsgate is putting out a Horror 5-Film Collection Blu-ray containing several memorable titles from the outlet. They include Green Room (2015), Hereditary (2018), It Comes at Night (2017), The Witch (2015) and X (2022). All of the movies have been previously released, but this is an excellent way to get several together in one package. This box set is a Wal-Mart Exclusive.
Lionsgate is releasing B’Twixt Now and Sunrise – The Authentic Cut (2011) on Blu-ray. This is a reworked version of the film Twixt from Francis Ford Coppola, which suffered some studio enforced cuts before it was released. Made independently in the filmmaker’s backyard, it stars Val Kilmer as an author who gets mixed up with Satanists and a spooky entity. The disc includes a 40-minute documentary on the production.
In anticipation of the next chapter in the series, the distributor is making available the John Wick 1 – 3 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook box set. This is a Best Buy exclusive that presents each film in the series with an upgraded picture.
If you enjoy movies from Michael Mann (The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, Collateral), you can now pick up Miami Vice (2006) on Blu-ray as a Wal-Mart Exclusive Steelbook. This is the feature film adaptation of the TV series that starred Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell. The packaging states that it contains the Unrated Director’s Cut of the film.
MPI Media Group is proud to announce the iconic horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) as a 4K Ultra HD release (you can also pick it up in Steelbook packaging). The movie was shot on 16mm film, but it has been given a shiny new 4K picture upgrade that apparently looks great. Extras include four archived cast and crew commentary tracks, as well as a Blu-ray of a new, never-before-seen feature-length documentary that chronicles the production. It comes with so many other bonuses that there isn’t enough space here to list them all.
Paramount is releasing the Oscar-winning John Wayne/Maureen O’Hara classic The Quiet Man (1952) on Blu-ray. And on a completely different note, you can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of the original Scream (1996) from the same studio.
Looking for some genre titles? Severin is delivering The Dogs (1979) on Blu-ray. Not to be confused with the 1977 San Diego-shot chiller Dogs, this French thriller stars Gerard Depardieu as a trainer who investigates a series of vicious dog attacks in an affluent Paris suburb. The disc includes a 2K restoration of the movie, an interview with the score composer, a discussion about the title with a film critic, and a trailer.
I Miss You, Hugs and Kisses (1978) is a Canuxpolitation title (basically, a low-budget genre picture from Canada) with Elke Sommer about a former model who is murdered. The film details a complicated investigation that leads deep into the criminal underworld. The film has been given a 2K restoration and includes a film historian commentary, cast and crew interviews and more. It even comes with a second Canuck flick called Recommendation for Mercy (1975). This one is inspired by true events and recounts a horrifying child murder and accusations made against another local teen. It arrives with two movie expert commentary tracks, the original ending to the film and an interview with a cast member.
And Severin is putting out the Jess Franco title Sex is Crazy (1981). It comes with a 2K restoration of the title, interviews with Franco experts and more bonuses.
Shout! is delivering the underrated Laika animated feature The Boxtrolls (2014) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook set. It comes with an upgraded image, new packaging and all of the previously included extras. The same goes for the well-regarded Laika film, Kubo and the Two Strings (2016).
Additionally, the distributor is putting out a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the fantasy flick, Dragonheart (1996). The movie features Dennis Quaid as a man who befriends a talking dragon (voiced by Sean Connery). Once again, you’ll get an upgraded picture along with previously released extras like a director commentary and outtakes.
Shout! is also debuting two double-feature discs as exclusives only available on their store website. The first contains the female bank-robber flick The Great Texas Dynamite Chase (1976) (pictured above and to the right) and Eat My Dust! (1976) starring Ron Howard. This Blu-ray includes new restoration of the movies, as well as some cast and crew interviews on the second movie. The other combo includes the post-apocalyptic features Wheels of Fire (1985) and Raiders of the Sun (1992). This set contains some bonus interviews and an alternate cut of the second featured title.
The well-regarded Spanish feature Amigo (2019) is appearing on Blu-ray through Dekanalog as a Vinegar Syndrome exclusive until Mar 28th. This festival favorite is a darkly comic psychological thriller depicting a bitter power struggle between two best friends. The disc comes with a making-of, deleted scenes and tons of interviews with cast and crew.
Finally, Warner Bros. is releasing Rocky: The Knockout Collection box set. It contains 4K Ultra HD versions of Rocky (1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985), all with improved picture quality. No Blu-rays are included in this release, but you can purchase Rocky separately in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set exclusively from Best Buy.
The Best Actor Oscar-winning drama Training Day (2001) is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray upgrade from the studio. Denzel Washington took home his first Academy Award as a rogue detective showing the ropes to a rookie cop.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
If you’re a child, this is a fantastic week for titles. Just remember that some are exclusives and can only be purchased at a particular retailer.
101 Dalmatians (1961) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection: Season 1 (1968 – 1969) (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
The Adventures of Jurassic Pet 2: The Lost Secret (Lionsgate) DVD
The Aristocats (1970) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
The Boxtrolls (2014) (Shout!) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray and Steelbook 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Edition
Frozen II (2019) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) (Shout!) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray and Steelbook Edition
Lady and the Tramp (1955) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
The Last Kids on Earth – Book Two (Ncircle) DVD
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) Blu-ray and DVD combo
Robin Hood (1973) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
Sleeping Beauty (1959) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
Tangled (2010) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
Wreck-It-Ralph (2012) (Disney100) Wal-mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
Zootopia (2016) (Disney100) Wal-Mart Exclusive Blu-ray and DVD with Collectible Pin
ON THE TUBE!
And you’ll find all of the TV-themed releases listed below.
The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection: Season 1 (1968 – 1969) (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
The Last Kids on Earth – Book Two (Ncircle) DVD
Masterpiece Mystery! – Miss Scarlet & The Duke: Season 3 (PBS) DVD
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Season 1 (Warner Bros.) DVD
Resident Alien: Season 2 (Universal) Blu-ray
Whitstable Pearl: Series 2 (Acorn) DVD