Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s a quieter week due to the big holiday, but there are a couple of interesting smaller films and fun older titles that will be coming your way. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
COME OUT FIGHTING – This war movie is inspired by the real 761st Battalion and other African American soldiers who served their country during WWII. When a small squad of soldiers are sent behind enemy lines to find their commander, they unexpectedly encounter a downed US. Army fighter pilot. The group manage to contact and get help from the 761st tank battalion as they endure a series of Nazi attacks and attempt to get back into safe territory. Reaction towards this picture wasn’t very upbeat. A small number wrote that it was a fast-paced effort with a strong cast that would entertain action fans. Unfortunately, the vast majority complained that while the movie was well intentioned, the characters weren’t well developed and that the final product was neither exciting or tense. It stars Dolph Lundgren, Michael Jai White, Kellan Lutz, Tyrese Gibson and Hiram A. Murray.
IN THE COMPANY OF ROSE – Playwright/stage director/film director James Lapine (Life with Mikey, Six by Sondheim) details his unique friendship with Rose Styron in this documentary. Styron is the widow of American novelist Willian Styron (Sophie’s Choice) and also a poet, journalist, human rights activist who crossed paths with the Kennedys, Carly Simon, the Clintons, Leonard Bernstein, Meryl Streep and other luminaries. She shares her life story with Lapine and describes some of her most remarkable experiences. Not a lot of critics have seen the picture, but those who managed to did enjoy it. They commented that the movie was a sweet look at the life and times of an incredible figure, noting that she has and continues to live life to its fullest. For the time being, this a DVD-only release.
PERSONALITY CRISIS: ONE NIGHT ONLY – In addition to his narrative output, legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Aviator, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Irishman) has also spent his career making remarkable documentaries. His latest (which debuted as a Showtime Original) tells the story of David Johansen, who was lead singer of The New York Dolls in the 1970s, and performed in the 80s as lounge artist Buster Poindexter. Viewers get an intimate portrait of the artist as well as details about his life and musical accomplishments. Everyone who saw this documentary raved about it and there were no negative write-ups. All reviewers stated that viewers would learn a lot more about Johansen and his ambitions, as well as see a number of knockout performances from the 70s and 80s up to present day. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release.
SLAVA UKRAINI – This stirring documentary was shot during the second half of 2022 and chronicles the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moving from Kharkiv and Bahkmut in the eastern part of the country to Kherson in the south, the film allows viewers to witness and follow soldiers and civilians being bombarded with attacks from Russian forces. It shows the horrors of war and the incredible struggles of the citizens of Ukraine. So far, those who have seen the picture have been uniformly positive about it. They suggest that it does an impressive job of placing people in the middle of the chaos and helping them understand its awful effects, including destruction and loss of life, on a deeply personal level. At present, the only disc format the movie is available on is DVD.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
As mentioned, a noteworthy older title or two is arriving on disc as well. Arrow Video is debuting the Tom Skerritt action flick Fighting Back (1982) on Blu-ray. This Dino De Laurentiis production was conceived as a new take on the Death Wish-style vigilante flick. Set in Philadelphia, it follows a shop owner who tires of hoods terrorizing his neighborhood. He organizes a civil patrol and things quickly escalate between the lead and the area’s criminal organizations. These types of flicks were popular in the late 70s and 80s, but at least the protagonist employs some unusual tactics in this title. It also marks an early directing effort from Lewis Teague (Alligator, Cujo, Cat’s Eye, The Jewel of the Nile). The disc includes a lengthy interview with Teague about his career, a discussion with the camera operator, as well as the UK trailer, a US TV commercial and an image gallery. Read a full review of the disc here.
Kino is putting out an interesting double-feature Blu-ray that contains Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece (1961) aka Tintin et le mystère de la Toison d’Or, along with Tintin and the Blue Oranges (1964) aka Tintin et les oranges bleues. These are French/Belgian co-productions featuring Hergé’s famous comic character and both are live-action adaptations. The first involves Tintin and his pal Captain Haddock inheriting a ship that everyone around him seems desperate to possess. In the second title, Tintin helps a scientist who creates a new fruit that could end world hunger. When villains try to steal it, the lead and Haddock try to recover the item.
Paramount is giving the wild and thrilling Face/Off (1997) a Blu-ray reissue. This film from John Woo (The Killer, Hard Boiled, Hard Target, Windtalkers) stars John Travolta and Nicolas Cage as an FBI agent and a terrorist targeting one another. To foil the villain’s plans, the government agent takes part in a secret face-swapping procedure, but soon learns that the terrorist has done the same thing with his visage. It adds plenty of confusion for everyone around them. This disc contains all previously released extras.
Last week, the studio put out 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions of the first two Mission: Impossible films with Tom Cruise. This week Mission: Impossible III (2006) and its follow-up Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011) arrive with a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray upgrade. As with previous releases, they all arrive with the same extras from earlier editions.
Additionally, the brilliant satire The Truman Show (1998) is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release in celebration of its 25th Anniversary. This wonderful title from Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli, Witness, The Mosquito Coast, Dead Poets Society) stars Jim Carrey as an insurance salesman who begins to suspect that his entire life is nothing but a reality show. The movie was ahead of its time on many levels and earned three Academy Award nominations. One assumes the package will not only include a sharper 4K image transfer, but all previously released extras.
If you’re looking for B-movie fun, RaroVideo US is delivering Star Pilot (1966) on Blu-ray. This is an Italian science-fiction film about aliens who crash on the island of Sardinia and kidnap locals to help them repair their ship. The disc includes a 4K picture restoration, a film historian commentary and an alternate English-language cut of the movie.
Shout! Factory is releasing the phenomenal independent action picture Upgrade (2018) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. The movie is set in the near-future and follows a widowed quadriplegic who is offered a computer chip that can enable him to walk once again. But when he discovers background details about the people involved and their connection to his deceased wife, he ends up being hunted. The disc includes a new 4K master of the movie along with all previously released extras, including a director commentary.
And Universal is noting the 45th anniversary of the sequel Jaws 2 (1978) by releasing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. Nothing compares with the original Jaws, but this sequel is a whole lot of fun and features another shark terrorizing Amity Island… in particular, its teenage population. Once again, the bonuses (deleted scenes, a making-of, a talk with co-star Keith Gordon and more) are all from previous editions, but you will also get a nice 4K Ultra HD disc with great picture quality.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Alas, there isn’t much available for kids this week.
ON THE TUBE!
You will find all the week’s TV-related releases listed below.
Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 6-Movie Collection: Campfire Christmas, Christmas in Toyland, My Grown-Up Christmas List, Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane, Welcome to Christmas, Gingerbread Miracle (Hallmark Channel) DVD
Personality Crisis: One Night Only (Showtime) DVD
The Wedding Veil Journey (Hallmark Channel) DVD