Welcome to another look at some of the latest Blu-ray and DVD highlights. This edition is a little quieter, but there are a few notable releases arriving on disc, as well as some interesting older features. 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 titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS – On Christmas Eve, a record shop owner looks forward to closing for the holiday and partying. Her plan goes wrong when a robotic Santa Claus at a nearby toy store goes haywire, breaks out and begins murdering anyone it encounters. The owner, some other employees and customers become targets and must fight for their lives against the sinister Saint Nick. The press responded favorably to this independent horror flick. One quarter of reviewers didn’t think that it made the most of its concept and wrote that the end result felt derivative and predictable. However, most commented that the movie succeeded at delivering some gross-out moments, as well as plenty of laughs. The movie stars Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Jonah Ray, Dora Madison, Jeremy Gardner and Jeff Daniel Phillips.
LET IT BE MORNING – This foreign-language feature follows a Palestinian-born Israeli citizen who receives an invitation to his brother’s wedding in the village where he grew up. After heading to the Arab ceremony, the entire town is put under military blockade lockdown by Israeli soldiers. Trapped, the lead finds himself cut off from the outside world. He talks to locals and attempts to find out why this has occurred and how he might assist in ending the standoff. Critics gave this comedy/drama high marks. A small contingent thought the tone was off and that the feature didn’t present a deep enough examination of the tense situation. Still, the consensus was the film offered low-key but effective moments. They also commented that it had excellent performances that cleverly commented on relations between Israel and Palestine. The cast includes Alex Bakri, Juna Suleiman and Salim Dau.
WOMEN TALKING – Based on the book by Miriam Toews, this feature is loosely based on a real incident. The plot begins with the women of an isolated religious community discovering that a series of rapes committed against various members was performed by one of their leaders. The ladies initially feel powerless to do much about it, but ultimately get together to discuss whether to stay and mount a fight, leave as a group, or allow the abuse to continue. The film earned a lot of praise and has been nominated for two Academy Awards (for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay). A tiny group complained that the film was unsubtle, too talky and the story’s resolution disappointing. Everyone else thought the performances were fantastic and that the screenplay was smartly written. They also noted that it would also give viewers plenty to talk about afterwards. It features Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw and Frances McDormand.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
While there aren’t many new titles this week, there are tons of older films receiving high-definition upgrades. Arrow Video is putting out The House That Screamed (1969). The film is a period Spanish chiller about a young woman who is sent to a boarding school that feels more like a prison. After arriving, students are murdered and the lead has to find a way to escape the grounds before she also becomes a victim. The movie has been given a 2K restoration and the disc includes the 105-minute uncut version and the 94-minute US edition. It also comes with a film critic commentary, interviews with cast and crew (including the author of the original written story the movie is based on), a featurette on the history of the film, alternate footage and publicity materials.
Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of what is considered one of the best movies ever made. Mildred Pierce (1945) is a melodrama from Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, White Christmas, King Creole) starring Joan Crawford as a devoted mother who divorces her husband and tries to set up a successful restaurant business to support her spoiled daughter. In addition to the picture upgrade, this latest edition includes a conversation between to film critics on the movie, an excerpt from a 1970 interview with Crawford, a feature-length documentary on Crawford, a Q&A with co-star Ann Blyth, a discussion with the author of the original novel the movie is based on, as well as trailer.
Kino is making plenty of Blu-rays available to customers. Asphalt (1929) is a German thriller about a traffic cop tasked with escorting a beautiful thief to the police station. She turns on the charm, making his job more difficult than anticipated. It comes with a film historian commentary. The Crusades (1935) is a historical epic by Cecil B. DeMille (The Greatest Show on Earth, The Ten Commandments) about the King of England going to the frontlines in a war, all so that he can avoid getting married to a woman he doesn’t love. Apparently, it’s not historically accurate and many liberties have been taken. The Blu-ray contains a 2K restoration of the film, a film expert commentary and a trailer.
Little Miss Marker (1954) stars Shirley Temple as the daughter of a compulsive gambler who loses her in a bet and commits suicide. The father’s bookie takes the girl in and the two slowly begin to form an unexpected bond. This title also comes with a movie historian commentary.
If comedies from the 1980s are more to your liking, the long out-of-print feature Making Mr. Right (1987) is reappearing on Blu-ray. This underrated romantic-comedy is about a publicist hired by a space agency to help promote their newest achievement. She is told that a scientist has created an android to command shuttle missions. The robot looks exactly like its maker, but is much kinder. This innocent robot ends up forming an unexpected friendship with the ad woman. It stars Ann Magnuson and John Malkovich (playing both the robot and the scientist).
The trailer isn’t great (which is probably why it flopped during it original release), but it’s a very funny little film with great performances and a few big laughs. The Blu-ray contains a 2K restoration of the film and a new audio commentary with producer/director Susan Seidelman and star Magnuson. You’ll also get interviews with the pair and a trailer. The first copies of the disc come in a special cardboard slipcase.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the comedy, Secret Admirer (1985). This tale is about a high school love letter that keeps finding its way into the wrong hands, causing various complications between the teen leads and their parents. The movie features an entertaining supporting turn by Fred Ward and stars C. Thomas Howell, Lori Loughlin and Kelly Preston. This edition includes a 2K restoration of the movie, a director commentary, radio spots, a theatrical trailer and a limited cardboard slipcase for those who purchase the title early.
Mill Creek is adding a few titles to their Retro VHS Collection, which contains Blu-rays of movies in their original VHS cover packaging. The first title is the thriller The Fan (1996), in which an obsessed psychopath stalks a professional baseball player. It stars Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes.
You can also pick up the thriller, Fear (1996). In this title, a teenager is stalked by an obsessive ex-boyfriend who ends up terrorizing the youth’s entire family. The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen, Amy Brenneman and Alyssa Milano.
And Problem Child (1990) is the third title arriving with the special packaging. This film follows a couple who are tormented by the youngster whom they decide to adopt.
Paramount is releasing some noteworthy titles as well. The first is a discounted repressing of the hit musical Grease (1978) with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. This version includes all bonuses from previous editions, including the singalong track.
The Running Man (1987) is receiving a 35th Anniversary Blu-ray. The action film is set in a dystopian future where a game show is the most watched program in history. It features convicts being forced to compete against gladiators and battle to the death. When a heroic figure is set-up for a crime he didn’t commit, he sets out to fight his way to freedom. The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and is based on a story by Stephen King. The disc contains a Blu-ray with a recent 4K restoration.
Radiance Films is putting out a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of Fill ‘er Up with Super (1976), a French comedy about a car salesman driving across the country to deliver a vehicle. Along the way, he encounters and picks up some quirky hitchhikers. The disc presents a 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative. Archival interviews with the cast, a nearly 30-minute critical appreciation of the movie, a reversible sleeve and booklet with info about the production are included, as well as other extras.
Sony is giving a couple of catalog titles the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook treatment. Air Force One (1997) is a popular action film with Harrison Ford as the President. When his plane is hijacked by terrorists, he decides to take them on himself. The feature also stars Gary Oldman and Glenn Close. Besides the upgraded image quality, this release comes with a trailer and an archival commentary track with director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot, The NeverEnding Story, In the Line of Fire, Outbreak, The Perfect Storm).
The period adventure film The Mask of Zorro (1998) with Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins is also getting an upgrade. The legendary hero takes on a nasty tyrant trying to buy California from Mexico. Extras include an audio commentary with director Martin Campbell (No Escape, Goldeneye, Casino Royale, The Protege), a Zorro documentary, a dozen or so deleted scenes, a music video and a trailer.
Last week, Warner Bros. released a Rocky box set with the first four titles presented exclusively in 4K Ultra HD. They also put out the first film as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive. Now, they’ve done the same with Rocky II (1979). One assumes other sequels from the set will follow in the coming weeks.
Finally, the Warner Archive line is presenting the Greta Garbo drama Camille (1936) on Blu-ray. It’s about a Parisian courtesan who falls for a young man while being pursued by a wealthy but nasty baron. You can also pick up a Blu-ray of I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955), a drama with Susan Hayward portraying singer-actress Lillian Roth, a star who battled alcoholism. The lead was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award and won an Oscar for Costume Design. These titles can be ordered on Amazon.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
This isn’t a good time for kid’s titles, but upcoming editions should be more plentiful.
ON THE TUBE!
And here are the week’s TV-themed releases.
Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Marry Go Round & Wedding of a Lifetime (Hallmark) DVD
NOVA: Rebuilding Notre Dame (PBS) DVD