Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This week, there aren’t any big Hollywood releases, but there is plenty of interesting international and independent fare arriving on disc. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE CHILDE – After discovering that his mother needs an extremely expensive life-saving operation, an amateur boxer from the Philippines decides to track down his father. The trail leads him to South Korea, but things get dangerous for the protagonist when he finds himself being followed by an eccentric and threatening figure. Soon, the lead uncovers family secrets as more violent parties start to appear out of the blue. This foreign-language action film from South Korea earned plenty of positive responses from critics. A few complained that the predictability of the story was too big a flaw to ignore. However, the majority were impressed by the cast, particularly the quirky but cool figure hunting down the lead. They were also thrilled by the elaborate action set-pieces. It stars Kim Seon-ho, Kang Tae-Ju, Kim Kang-woo and Go Ara.
DEMONIC TOYS: JACK-ATTACK – The original Demonic Toys was released on video way back in 1992, and the latest direct-to-disc sequel is a spin-off featuring one of the title creations. A young woman goes through a major trauma that leaves her orphaned and a mute. She is taken in by a new family at a remote farmhouse. Unfortunately, a violent, oversized jack-in-the-box arrives at the home and starts picking off the characters. So far, reaction from online genre reviewers has been more positive than negative. One did state that the series was well past its prime and that this entry didn’t offer much that was fresh or interesting. Still, the majority called the flick an entertainingly campy effort that moved at a rapid pace and would please fans of the series. It features Taylor Abigail Rice, Sean Ramey, Carson Polish, Christine Brunner, Maddie Small and Donna Steele.
ERNEST & CELESTINE: A TRIP TO GIBBERITIA – This sequel to the critically lauded and Academy Award-nominated 2012 French animated feature Ernest & Celestine reintroduces viewers to a pair of best friends who happen to be a mouse and a bear. After accidentally breaking his violin, the friendly bear returns to his home country to get the instrument repaired, with his small female pal joining him. They learn that music has been banned in the country and then set out to correct this injustice. This French-language film was universally praised and has yet to receive a single negative notice. It has been described as a sweetly moving and beautiful hand-drawn film that is just as strong as the original. Reviewers stated that it features a dynamic plot structure without a wasted moment that gently stresses the great importance of creative outlets and personal expression. The voice cast includes Andrew Kishino and Ashley Boettcher.
FIREWORKS – Also known as Stranizza d’Amuri, this Italian-language effortis inspired by a true story. The tale is set in 1982 in a small village in Sicily. Two teenage boys become friends and begin to fall in love with one another. When relatives notice the kids becoming too friendly, they strive to keep them apart. The two have to deal with not only narrow-minded parents, but nasty comments and potential violence from townspeople. The picture hasn’t been seen by many members of the press in North America, but it did win awards in its homeland (as well as in Spain). Write-ups from Europe have called the film beautifully shot, noting that the movie effectively builds tension as threats arise, leading to a powerful and heartbreaking finale. The cast includes Samuele Segreto, Gabriele Pizzurro, Simone Raffaele Cordiano and Antonio De Matteo.
JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM – If you’re looking for a faith-based musical feature, this family title may be of interest. It tells the story of Mary and Joseph, their trip to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus, all using song and dance. Described in the press synopsis as an “epic holiday musical,” the final product received decent reviews from critics. About one-quarter wrote that this version of the story came across as gaudy and overblown, failing to move them. Still, the majority suggested that while elements were ridiculous, the music was catchy and that this modernized version of the famous story did manage to entertain them. They also commented that among recent religious films, this one was one of the stronger efforts. Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim, Lecrae, Moriah, Omid Djalili, Stephanie Gil, Rizwan Manji and Antonio Banderas headline the picture.
SPRING LAKES – The title location is described as a “bad place” in the trailer for this film and that seems like something of a massive understatement. The story involves a struggling filmmaker who is searching for his sister after she vanishes at the lake. He encounters a Satanic cult and soon begins to experience strange phenomena. As it turns out, the forest surrounding the water may be alive and the lead must locate his sister and escape before meeting a terrible fate. This independent chiller from the UK appears to have been a part of the London-area Lift-Off Global Network, a program which strives to help young filmmakers get their start in the industry. As of this writing, no one in this part of the world has seen it. The move features Carl Wharton, James Jaysen Bryham, Djonny Chen and Oris Erhuero.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There are plenty of unique older arrivals appearing as well. Arrow Video is delivering the Blu-ray box set, Inside the Mind of Coffin Joe in a “Limited Edition” run. It contains 10 films by Brazilian Jose Mojica Marins, an independent filmmaker who created some unusual and daring pictures over the course of his career (often featuring the legendary boogeyman, Coffin Joe). This package contains a selection of horror and genre films that include AtMidnight I’ll Take Your Soul (1964), This Night I’ll Possess Your Corpse (1967), The Strange World of Coffin Joe (1968), Awakening of the Beast (1970), The End of Man (1971), When the Gods Fall Asleep (1972), The Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures (1976), Hellish Flesh (1977), Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind (1978) and Embodiment of Evil (2008).
Those who purchase this box will get 4K restorations of the titles from the original 35mm camera negatives or the best available elements. Naturally, it is also jam-packed with extras that include numerous video essays on Marins and his career. There are several discussions with genre critics analyzing his works, including the subversive elements and common themes featured in many of his titles. The authoritative documentary The Strange World of Jose Mojica Marins (2001) is also included. You’ll also get an early shot and excerpts from other works by Marins, alternate endings and credits for some features, footage of the director attending the Sundance Film Festival in the early 2000s, tons of publicity materials and more. Read a detailed review of the Blu-ray set right here!
88 Films is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of Police Story III: Supercop (1992) starring Jackie Chan. This is one of the performer’s best titles. It is filled with outrageous stunts and some very funny moments. Chan plays a policeman who is paired with an undercover agent (played by Michelle Yeoh) to take down a drug cartel. The set comes with both the Hong Kong cut and US version, both with vastly improved picture quality. Additionally, there is an audio commentary by a Hong Kong cinema expert, as well as outtakes, a director and Michelle Yeoh interview, not to mention numerous promotional materials like a 1984 commercial featuring the two stars. Sounds like a lot of fun!
Cause for Alarm! (1951) is arriving on Blu-ray from ClassicFlix. Loretta Young stars as a troubled housewife dealing with an invalid war veteran husband who mistakenly believes that she is cheating on him with his best friend. The disc contains a trailer.
Criterion is giving the very well-regarded John Sayles murder/mystery Lone Star (1996) the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment (you can also pick it up as a Blu-ray without the 4K version). Chris Cooper plays a Texas sheriff investigating an unsolved murder that occurred during his father’s time as law enforcer. The picture earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and features Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Morton and Elizabeth Peña. Besides the sharper picture, the set comes with a new conversation with writer/director Sayles, a trailer and plenty more.
White Rush (2003) is an action/thriller with Judd Nelson, Taylor Sheridan and Costas Mandylor about campers who walk into the middle of a drug deal and are forced to try and escape with their lives. Dark Force Entertainment is putting out a Blu-ray of the movie that contains a new 2K picture master from the camera negative, new interviews with director Mark L. Lester (Class of 1984, Firestarter, Commando, Class of 1999) and the screenwriter.
The Devil’s Partner (1960) is a B-movie arriving on Blu-ray from Film Masters. The Roger Corman production follows a man who arrives to collect his uncle’s estate, but instead finds himself having to deal with the Devil. The disc also comes with the entertainingly cheesy monster movie Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961), which it was typically paired with at the drive-in. The disc comes with featurettes on Corman’s productions during this era, a film enthusiast commentary, an interview with Corman himself and a re-cut trailer for the title film.
Fun City Editions is presenting a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of the English drama Radio On (1979), which features Sting in a supporting role. It’s a cult classic about a young man driving from London to Bristol to investigate the death of his brother. The disc features an interview with the director, a film historian commentary, an archival interview with the filmmaker, a 1998 digital video essay on the movie and promotional materials.
The distributor is also putting out a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of the Candace Bergen/James Caan drama T.R. Baskin (1971), containing a new interview with the producer/writer and a film expert commentary track.
Kino is delivering a trio of “Special Edition” Blu-rays. The first is for the Hal Ashby drama, Coming Home (1978). This Oscar-winning feature (for Best Actor, Actress and Original Screenplay) stars Jane Fonda and Jon Voight is about a wife who falls in love with a paralyzed Vietnam vet while her husband serves in the Marines. The disc arrives with a commentary track, as well as an archived commentary with Voight, co-star Bruce Dern and the cinematographer. There are also archival featurettes on the production and a collector’s booklet with an essay on the movie.
The Devil’s Brigade (1968) is a WWII movie with William Holden about a special group trained to attack a hidden Nazi base in the mountains. The “Special Edition” includes a movie historian commentary and trailer.
Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) is a Robert Wise (The Day the Earth Stood Still, West Side Story) movie about a mutiny on a US submarine. Starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster, this “Special Edition” Blu-ray arrives with a film historian commentary and trailer.
You can also pick up a “Special Edition” Blu-ray of the comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) from Norman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rollerball, Moonstruck). Alan Arkin plays the lead and the title is about a Soviet sub that gets lost and accidentally runs aground off the New England coast. Disc extras include a movie expert commentary, a making-of hosted by Jewison and a trailer.
Lionsgate is rereleasing several recent catalog titles in Blu-ray and DVD combo packages. You can now pick up the comedies Bad Moms (2016) and A Bad Moms Christmas (2017), as well as the action picture Den of Thieves (2018) and the coming-of-age comedy, The Edge of Seventeen (2016). Additionally, the Jackie Chan film The Foreigner (2017) is getting the same combo treatment, alongside the period film Free State of Jones (2016) and the effectively creepy thriller, The Gift (2015). There is also The Happytime Murders (2018) and I Feel Pretty (2018), as well as Molly’s Game (2017), Secret in Their Eyes (2015) and The Space Between Us (2017).
Mademoiselle (1966) is a BAFTA-winning UK/France co-production that MGM is now releasing on Blu-ray. It involves a group of French townspeople who accuse a man of arson because he has seduced many of the town’s women. In the process, they completely miss the real culprit.
For comedy fans, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) is being re-released on Blu-ray yet again in a Wal-Mart Exclusive Steelbook package called the Hard as Steel Ultimate Edition.
MVD Visual is distributing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the cult horror movie Cutting Class (1989). It’s a slasher set in a high school that is best known for featuring Brad Pitt in an early role as one of the students/suspects. Besides a significant image upgrade of the uncut version of the title, bonuses include interviews with cast members Jill Schoelen, Donovan Leitch, an R-rated version of the movie, a “kill comparisons” featurette, a VHS video store promo, promo materials, a mini-poster, reversible artwork, a special slipcover and more. A Blu-ray only edition is also available from the distributor.
The Australian horror film Boar (2017) is arriving in a Blu-ray Steelbook from RLJ Entertainment. It follows a group of teenage hikers who are terrorized by the enormous razorback. Extras have not been made available at this time.
Shout! Factory is delivering a Blu-ray of the Aussie movie Chopper (2000), a biopic of real-life criminal Mark “Chopper” Read. It stars Eric Bana in his first movie leading role. Bonuses include an audio commentary with the director, another with the actual “Chopper” Read, deleted scenes with optional filmmaker commentary, a recorded meeting between Bana and Read and a trailer.
The Raid: Redemption (2011) is a multinational production set in Indonesia about a S.W.A.T. team who are trapped in a tenement run by a mobster that is filled with killers. It is one of the best action pictures of recent memory and now Sony is putting out the film in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook package. The movie is presented uncut with image quality that will be even sharper than before. It also appears as though all previously released special features will be included.
The horror remake Blood Feast (2016) is arriving from Synapse Films in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack, or as a standalone Blu-ray. This version (based loosely on the 1964 original) follows the lead character moving to France, getting a job at an Egyptian museum and seeking sacrificial victims to bring an ancient goddess back to life. This extremely gory effort is presented uncut for the first time in North America and includes trailers, a making-of featurette, a music video and footage from its premiere.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Unfortunately, there is the only child-friendly option arriving this week.
Pins and Nettie: Volume 2 (Dreamscape Media) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And all TV-related releases are listed below.
Billions: The Final Season (Paramount) DVD
Harry Wild: Series 2 (Acorn) DVD