Welcome to the latest look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This is a remarkably busy edition with plenty of big titles, as well as a few interesting independent features. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to check out one of these titles!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
BONE COLD – A family man who works as a sniper receives a routine assignment to take out a target. He and his partner head out on foot to a remote area in order to complete the job. Unfortunately, the intel they are given turns out to be very wrong and it leads them into trouble. As they try to make their way back through the wilderness, they find themselves being stalked in the darkness by an inhuman being. There aren’t many reviews available for this independent thriller/horror picture, and thus far response from critics has been tepid. The only reviews state that while the concept is intriguing, the film becomes sillier and sillier as it progresses. One individual commented that the film’s message is poorly delivered and doesn’t make an impact. It features Jonathan Stoddard, Matt Munroe, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss and Jennifer Khoe.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 – The fourth and reportedly final chapter in the John Wick series finds the title character on the run and hiding out from The High Table (who are a guild of assassins). When the new leader of this threatening organization makes it his mission to wipe out Wick and establish his complete power over his members, the protagonist uses it as an opportunity to finally end his long standing battle with them. Wick is chased across the globe as he attempts to confront The High Table kingpin. Notices were very strong for this sequel. A small number complained that the movie was repetitive and the running time was too long to hold their attention. But while admitting it was overextended, the vast majority were impressed with the incredibly elaborate action sequences and called the film a fitting end to the action franchise (at least, for now). The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson, Bill Skarsgård, Lawrence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Hiroyuki Sanada, Clancy Brown and Lance Reddick. To read a full review of the movie, click here.
THE MAN FROM TORONTO – A fitness instructor gets unceremoniously fired from his job. Panicked about what his wife will think and the strain it will put on their marriage, he rents a lavish Airbnb as a gift for her birthday. Unfortunately, the lead arrives at the wrong address, where a murder involving the most dangerous assassin in the world is set to occur. The FBI arrive and tell the protagonist to help them capture the real killer. Our hero agrees, but is promptly kidnapped by the assassin. The two end up on the road and on the run, where they start to become friends. This picture debuted on Netflix last year and is finally arriving on Blu-ray. The press largely panned it. About one-quarter of them thought that the talented cast saved the movie and helped it deliver more than they were expecting. Everyone else complained that much of the humor fell flat. They wrote that the end result was scattershot and uninspired. It stars Kevin Hart, Woody Harrelson, Jasmine Matthews, Kaley Cuoco, Pierson Fode and Ellen Barkin.
ONE RANGER – This independent action picture involves a Texas Ranger tracking a bank robber across the desert. After a violent confrontation, the officer’s partner is killed. More is revealed about the criminal when a British intelligence agent arrives. The spy informs the lead that the murderer is actually an international terrorist who is planning on detonating a bomb in London. The two must team up to hunt down the villain and stop him in his tracks. Response towards this effort hasn’t been particularly strong. A handful liked the actors and appreciated the film telling a modern story with plenty of nods to old westerns. However, most found the plot preposterous and commented that the characters weren’t well-developed. They also suggested that the movie failed to generate much excitement. Thomas Jane, Dean Jagger, Dominique Tripper and John Malkovich headline the title.
THE POPE’S EXORCIST – Apparently, the Vatican has a Chief Exorcist, and this film claims that its story is based on a real event involving the figure. The Chief Exorcist is called to attend to a child who has been possessed by a powerful demon. After meeting with the youngster, the priest uncovers a devastating secret within the ranks of the Catholic Church. The exorcist also learns that the creature inside the boy wanted him to come, so that the demon can possess him and then move on to the Pope himself. This horror film split reviewers right down the middle. Half were surprised to see an Oscar-winner in this genre flick but thought his work elevated the feature considerably. They called it effective and stated it was better than many recent horror movies. Still, just as many wrote that the movie was a collection of cliches that didn’t frighten them for a moment. It features Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe and Franco Nero.
SAKRA – Set in 1100 A.D. in China, this tale involves a well-regarded martial arts expert who is accused of murdering a high-ranking official. While he didn’t commit the crime, the man is immediately branded as a traitor by everyone around him. He decides to prove his innocence, find out what really occurred and beat the heck out of anyone who tries to stop him in his quest. The journey soon unearths a major conspiracy. This foreign-language action picture earned more positive write-ups than negative ones. Those who disliked it found the story and political intrigue too confusing to follow and couldn’t get involved in the narrative. Yet two-thirds felt that the film was a visual treat and that the martial arts sequences were incredible. It stars (and was co-directed by) Donnie Yen. Yuqi Chen, Yase Liu, Yue Wu, Kara Wai and Eddie Cheung also appear in the movie.
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE – The famous Nintendo game characters get an updated movie adaptation with this animated fable that became a box office smash. Struggling plumbers Mario and Luigi open a new business and are accidentally transported to an alternate world on their first job. The two get separated and Mario learns from Princess Peach that an evil foe named Bowser is planning on taking control of this strange universe before invading those beyond. Reaction from critics was slightly more positive than negative. A large number felt that the movie was solely interested in making video game in-jokes, leaving viewers with an underdeveloped narrative and a routine final product. Still, slightly more enjoyed the references and thought the film was bright and unexpectedly funny. They believed it would appeal to the entire family. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen. Read a full review of the film by clicking this link.
SWEETWATER – This narrative biopic tells the story of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African American to sign an NBA contract and play basketball in the league. Viewers see his early life and how he rose in the ranks before joining the Harlem Globetrotters. After making an impression on the coach of the New York Knickerbockers, he overcomes adversity and ends up being signed and playing through the 1950s. The press didn’t give this feature high marks. Less than one-quarter of reviewers recommended the film, suggesting it was an interesting and inspiring story that would be of interest to basketball fans. Unfortunately, the majority called the tale bland and hackneyed, criticizing it for not providing a deeper understanding of the man or some of the behind-the-scenes issues the figure faced. It stars Everett Osborne, Carey Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Pollak, Richard Dreyfuss, Jim Caviezel, Emmaline and Eric Roberts.
TOMMY GUNS – This co-production is set in Angola in the year 1974, at the end of the liberation war conflict between the Portuguese and pro-independence groups. The film has two main plotlines. One involves a tribal girl who falls in love with a Portuguese officer, and the other details a group of Portuguese soldiers who find themselves trapped in a barrack and under attack from figures from the past. This foreign-language title mixes war, drama and horror elements and it ultimately split reviewers. Half thought the movie was overstuffed and that the sudden tonal shifts were bizarre and off-putting. The same number suggested that despite its flaws, this was an intriguing work with a unique sense of style and a memorable finale. It features João Arrais, Anabela Moreira, Gustavo Sumpta and Leonor Silveira.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re looking for something older, there are plenty of options as well. ClassicFlix is delivering Hi Diddle Diddle (1943) aka Diamonds and Crime on Blu-ray. It’s a well-regarded screwball comedy about a sailor who weds a bride while on leave – everything seems to go wrong for them and they get into a series of misadventures during their honeymoon.
Criterion is giving the cult classic Time Bandits (1981) the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment. This fantasy/dark comedy from Terry Gilliam (Brazil, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) follows a young boy who meets some time-travelers. He helps them square off against an evil wizard and ends up meeting unusual and amusing versions of figures like Napoleon and Robin Hood. Gilliam supervised the new 4K transfer of the movie, and it comes with a star-studded commentary (featuring Gilliam, co-write Michael Palin, co-stars David Warner, John Cleese and more), a program on how all the historical periods were created. You’ll also get a conversation with the director from 1998, Shelley Duvall speaking about the film with Tom Snyder in 1981, rare set photographs and a trailer.
The Dutch feature A Question of Silence (1982) is being released on Blu-ray by Cult Epics. The story involves a psychiatrist attempting to determine why three women killed a male shopkeeper. The disc presents a 2K restoration of the film, a movie scholar commentary, interviews and publicity materials.
Dark Force Entertainment is presenting a double-feature Blu-ray containing the swamp-based monster movie Bog (1979) (pictured to the left) and the Jaws knock-off Mako: Jaws of Death (1976). It also comes with a feature that allows you to view the movies in “drive-in” mode.
Additionally, you can pick up a 4K Ultra HD edition of the slasher Scream (1981) aka The Outing. The plot involves a group on a rafting excursion being hunted in a ghosttown by a maniac. No Blu-ray is included in this edition.
Subscribers of the Disney Movie Club can pick up two new exclusives. The first is a 70th anniversary edition of the animated classic, Peter Pan (1953), which contains both a Blu-ray and a DVD of the film. One assumes it has all of the same features as the out-of-print 65th anniversary Blu-ray. You can also pick up The Sword in the Stone (1963) Blu-ray and DVD as a Movie Club exclusive in celebration of the title’s 60th Anniversary.
Cheap Thrills (2013) is being rereleased on Blu-ray from Drafthouse Films. It involves a family man who is offered financial security from a wealthy couple if he partakes in a series of bizarre dares. The original edition included a director/star commentary as well as a lengthy making, so one assumes this edition will have the very same extras.
Kino is also reissuing some Blu-ray titles. They include the William Hurt mystery Gorky Park (1983) from director Michael Apted (the long-running Up documentary series, Gorillas in the Mist, The World is Not Enough). The distributor is making the Sean Connery/Donald Sutherland adventure The Great Train Robbery (1978) aka The First Great Train Robbery available as well. You can also pick up the entertaining Richard Harris disaster picture, Juggernaut (1974), in which the star plays a hero tasked with finding and diffusing a series of bombs hidden on an ocean liner. There’s an image of it on the right. Additionally, The Package (1989) is an effective little thriller with Gene Hackman. All of these Blu-ray reissues should carry the same bonuses as the previous versions.
The distributor is also presenting a Blu-ray of the silent German comedy The Oyster Princess (1919). The disc includes a film expert commentary track.
Here’s a curious one. Liberation Hall is set to put out a Blu-ray of Project: ALF (1996). The original ALF was a comedy TV-series about a fast-talking alien living with and frustrating a family with his eccentric behavior. It ran from 1986 to 1990 and ended on a cliffhanger. This TV-movie came six years later and attempted to wrap up all of the loose ends from the show. The cast includes Miguel Ferrer, Martin Sheen, Charles Robinson, Ed Begley Jr. and Ray Walston. There may be special features on the disc, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Mondo Macabro is putting out a Blu-ray of Dr. Caligari (1989), a horror/comedy about the granddaughter of the famous silent horror film character. It comes with a writer/director commentary, tons of cast and crew interviews and a trailer. The Witches Mountain (1973) is a hard-to-find Spanish horror film that was banned in its homeland and follows a photographer who sets out to get a picture of a coven of witches in the Pyrenees. This Blu-ray arrives with a documentary that explains the movie’s production and distribution woes, as well as a visual essay on the flick, an audio commentary, interviews with a cast member and a trailer.
MVD Visual is known for releasing cult titles, but this week the distributor is presenting a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray set of the famed Tom Cruise/Dustin Hoffman drama, Rain Man (1988). This Best Picture-winner is about a car exporter who attends his estranged father’s funeral and learns that he has an autistic brother who has inherited his dad’s entire estate. The lead initially kidnaps his sibling to try and find a way to get some of the inheritance, but soon begins to care deeply for his new brother. The movie also won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Director (Barry Levinson) and Best Original Screenplay. Besides the picture upgrade, extras include a director commentary, a commentary each from both co-writers, featurettes, a deleted scene and a trailer.
Don’t worry if you’d prefer something from MVD in the horror or action genre. You can also pick up Killzone (1985) from writer/director David A. Prior (Deadly Prey) on Blu-ray. It involves a Viet Nam veteran who has a psychological breakdown and goes on a rampage through his hometown. The disc has a 4K restoration of the film and includes an interview and commentary track with the producer/co-writer, as well as a VHS version of the movie and publicity materials.
Witchtrap (1989) from MVD Visual features a paranormal squad called in to deal with a vengeful spirit in a haunted mansion. This Blu-ray comes with a version emulating the 80s VHS release, as well as a writer/director commentary, interviews with cast members (including the filmmaker himself and scream queen Leanna Quigley), a photo gallery and a trailer.
Powerhouse Films is an international distributor who have begun securing rights to release some of their products on the US market. This week sees the release of the box set, Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales from the Alameda Films Vault on Blu-ray. It includes Black Pit of Dr. M (1959), The Brainiac (1962), The Curse of the Crying Woman (1963) and The Witch’s Mirror (1962), along with loads of extras. This reviewer thinks The Brainiac is a very entertaining Mexican B-movie with a memorable and somewhat cheesy monster and looks forward to checking out the set at some point in the future.
RaroVideo U.S. is presenting the Italian action/crime thriller Caliber 9 (1972) on Blu-ray. Gastone Moschin plays a man released from prison who wants to go straight. Unfortunately, everyone from his past is convinced he hid money before his arrest and tries to hunt him down. The title received a 4K restoration for this transfer and the disc arrives with a film critic commentary track, a documentary on the movie, featurettes on low-budget Italian crime pictures and more.
Sandpiper is releasing Blu-rays of the Burt Lancaster western Lawman (1971) and the Tom Berenger period film One Man’s Hero (1999). Burt Lancaster also appears in the thriller Scorpio (1973), in which the actor plays a CIA agent who wants to retire, only to find himself being hunted by his employers (and the younger man who he has mentored for years).
Shout! Factory is delivering the Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume 1 Blu-ray box set. It contains the Hong Kong productions The Assassin (1967), The Thundering Sword (1967), Golden Swallow (1968), The Jade Raksha (1968), The Bells of Death (1968), The Sword of Swords (1968), Killer Darts (1968), The Invincible Fist (1969), Dragon Swamp (1969), The Flying Dagger (1969) and The Golden Sword (1969). Some of those pictures sound worth viewing just on their titles alone… the Shaw Brothers certainly know how to sell their movies to the public. As you might have guessed already, all of these features come with film expert commentaries, publicity materials and other bonuses.
Silent film actor and comedian Raymond Griffith had an incredible career making hit comedies for Paramount Pictures during the early days of cinema, but few remember him today. Undercrank Productions is trying to correct that oversight with the Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian Blu-ray. It includes the well-received movies Paths to Paradise (1925) and You’d Be Surprised (1926) with 2K digital restorations, as well as a bonus featurette giving more background information on the performer and his life.
Finally, Zeitgeist Films is delivering a 40th anniversary Blu-ray of The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982) from writer/director Peter Greenaway (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover). The story follows a young artist hired to paint an estate by the wife of the landowner. He finds the job harder and more complicated than anticipated when the deceased body of the man who owns the mansion is discovered. The Blu-ray presents a 4K restoration of the film, along with a Greenaway intro to the film and audio commentary. It also comes with four deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, an interview with the movie’s score composer and some Greenaway short films.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
These releases may appeal to youngsters looking for some entertainment.
Barbie: 8-Movie Music Collection (Universal) DVD
Peter Pan (1953) (Disney Movie Club Exclusive) Blu-ray and DVD
The Sword in the Stone (1963) (Disney Movie Club Exclusive) Blu-ray and DVD
Turbo: The Complete Collection (Movie & 52 TV Episodes) (Dreamworks) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And all the week’s TV-related titles are listed below.
Call the Midwife: Season 12 (BBC) DVD
Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa (Hallmark) DVD
Hallmark 6-Movie Collection: Love at First Dance, The Art of Us, Tulips in Spring, Dating the Delaneys, Fly Away with Me & Romance to the Rescue (Hallmark) DVD
Holding (Acorn) DVD
Mayberry R.F.D.: The Complete Series (Warner Bros./Studio Distribution Services) DVD
Night Court: The Complete Series (Warner Bros./Studio Distribution Services) DVD
Parenthood: The Complete Series (Universal) Blu-ray
Project: ALF (1996) (TV-movie) (Liberation Hall) Blu-ray
Quantum Leap: Season 1 (2022 series) (Universal) Blu-ray
Turbo: The Complete Collection (Movie & 52 TV Episodes) (Dreamworks) DVD
The Venture Bros: The Complete Series (Warner Bros./Studio Distribution Services) DVD