Welcome to another look at the newest 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD releases coming your way. This is a relatively slow edition, but there are a few interesting new efforts, as well as some major studio catalog attractions receiving major upgrades. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE GINGERDEAD MAN: MURDER-THON – If you enjoy the Gingerdead Man horror/comedy series or are curious about the character, this release might be for you. It is essentially a collection of the best bits from the original film (co-starring Gary Busey), and its follow-ups, as well as appearances in the Evil Bong series. Don’t expect much to link it all together, this is essentially a franchise “greatest hits” package. As you might have already guessed, the picture is debuting on disc and streaming services, so there aren’t any major outlet reviews available for it. A few online genre enthusiasts have posted video reviews, noting that while there is nothing new here, it is fun to watch the best moments from all of the pictures. Besides Busey, the flick features John Patrick Jordan, Robin Sydney, Sonny Carl Davis and Peter Donald Badalamenti II.
HAUNT SEASON – This independent creeper received a limited release at theaters and a digital debut last year, but is only now arriving on Blu-ray. The plot involves a group of teens who decide to visit a Halloween attraction. Walking through, they become concerned that some of the elements they are experiencing seem a little too real. Of course, the group are right and soon find themselves locked in and being pursued by a killer. The movie was only seen by a handful of reviewers during its original run, but response was more positive than negative. A few critiqued the story for being predictable and thought it didn’t offer much that was new or original. However, more thought the dramatic (and occasionally comedic) work of the main cast was endearing and they appreciated this little low-budget slasher as a fun throwback to 80s horror. It features Brent Bentley, Craig Benzine, Ana Dragovich and Sarah Elizabeth.
IN OUR DAY – A 40-something actress goes on vacation and stays with her best friend, as well as the woman’s pet cat. Meanwhile, a lonely aging poet in declining health finds a new and delicious dish to keep his spirits up. Both artists are visited by students hoping to follow similar careers. They have conversations and talk about their life experiences and work, giving advice to the youngsters. This South Korean drama is essentially two sets of staged conversations about two individuals and their lives as artists. It received a cinema release in its homeland back in 2023, but is only now arriving on disc in North America. Members of the press who saw the small feature enjoyed it. While few believed the end product was a masterpiece, all thought the participants had interesting things to say and called the film sweet and sincere. The cast includes Kim Min-hee, Song Seon-mi and Kim Sunghyun.
MR. DRESSUP: THE MAGIC OF MAKE BELIEVE – Those who grew up in Canada will remember Mr. Dressup (aka Ernie Coombs), an iconic children’s television host. The Mr. Dressup series was broadcast on the CBC for nearly 30 years, with the title character teaching children about patience and kindness. The show also featured puppet characters, Casey and Finnegan, whom the morals and messages were often directed at. This award-winning Canadian documentary was released last year in its homeland and is now arriving on disc in the US. The film profiles the entertainer, along with his collaborator Judith Lawrence, who operated the puppets. Response towards the movie was very upbeat. One reviewer called the movie pleasant, but also felt that it was simply a nostalgia piece with little depth. However, all others stated that they learned a lot of details about the performer and Lawrence that they never knew before. They wrote that the picture was charming and helped them realize the grand impact this host made on their lives.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH – If you’re looking for more documentaries, this effort chronicles the life of Andy Kaufman. For those unfamiliar with the entertainer, he made a huge impression on the comedy scene in the 1970s, using new performance art techniques to earn laughs, while also creating the memorable character Latka Gravas on the hit TV-series Taxi, and baffling some with bizarre personal appearances and stunts that were later revealed as hoaxes. Kaufman tragically died of lung cancer at the age of 35. In this feature, viewers are shown rare, never-before-seen footage of the performer, as well as interviews with friends, colleagues and family members. The press admired the movie. A few felt that they already knew most of the facts presented here and wished for more insight on the figure. Still, the vast majority did assert that anyone who appreciated comedians or comedy would be enthralled by this tribute. They felt that while viewers will never fully understand the inner workings of Kaufman’s mind, this film reveals some insights and interesting observations.
A WORLD APART – Released as Un Mondo a Parte in its homeland, this Italian comedy follows a teacher who is forced to move and work, against his wishes, in a country village at a tiny school. He has some difficulty settling in with staff and locals, but eventually befriends the academy’s other central employee. Though they have very different personalities, when they learn that the site is going to be closed, they unite to try and keep the school open. While the picture hasn’t been seen by many in this part of the world, it did win awards in its home country. Online notices suggest that while the story is a familiar one, the cast are charismatic and empathetic. They write that the movie will ultimately win over the viewer and might even inspire a few to stand up for what they believe in. For now, this is a DVD-only release in North America. Antonio Albanese and Virginia Raffaele headline the feature.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re looking to revisit or catch up with older films, this is another strong edition. Arrow Video is releasing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD only set, as well as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD only Arrow Video exclusive, “Limited Edition” Blu-ray only version and a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray only Arrow Video exclusive. Based on the independent comic book, these adaptations took the title characters, heroic young mutant turtle crimefighters, and placed them in a live-action scenario. This is the original film trilogy that includes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993). For me, the first picture is by far the best of the bunch, but I know several individuals who prefer one sequel to the other, so there are a wide variety of fans of each title.
Specs include a 4K restoration of the first film taken from the original 35mm camera negative and presented in Dolby Vision, along with the 4K restorations of the sequels taken from the original 35mm interpositives, also presented in Dolby Vision. There are new director commentaries on all three pictures and an extra film historian on the first feature, tons of new interviews with cast and crew, and promo materials. Additionally, there is an alternate UK version of the original film, a featurette on the locations used, an alternate ending from a VHS workprint, and alternate Korean version footage. The third film contains an alternate UK opening. The Arrow store exclusive version comes with double-sided foldout posters with new and original art for the films, a poster recreation of the scroll from the third picture, trading cards, stickers and a Roy’s Pizza loyalty card. Read a full and very detailed review of the set by clicking this link.
Arrow Video is also putting out a 4K Ultra HD “Special Edition” of the amusing Kevin Smith comedy, Mallrats (1995). Unlike the earlier “Limited Edition”, this version contains only the theatrical cut, along with a selection of bonus features.
Radiance Films is known for its international arthouse fare, but this week they are delivering a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of the raunchy teen comedy O.C. and Stiggs (1985). The reason for this actually is clear, as legendary director Robert Altman (McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, The Player, Gosford Park) was behind the camera. The filmmaker was struggling a bit during the 80s, coming off of flops like Popeye, and so he tried his hand at a commercial genre project. It follows two bored teens who decide to cause havoc in their middle-class neighborhood. The movie wasn’t well-received and is considered one of the weakest efforts by the moviemaker, but many still remember and admire the wacky effort. The disc contains a new documentary on the troubled production featuring cast and crew interviews, an interview with the camera operator, a 2005 interview with Altman on the movie, a trailer, and a gallery of rare production images. It also comes with a booklet featuring archival writing on the film by Altman.
Saga of the Phoenix (1989) is a Hong Kong martial arts/fantasy feature with Biao Yen that is arriving on Blu-ray from 88 Films. The original camera negative received a 2K restoration for this release and extras include a film expert commentary, alternate Japanese footage, promo materials, an artcard for the movie and a 40-page book on the feature.
Anchor Bay Entertainment is making a Blu-ray available of the indie comedy Mutant Swinger from Mars (2009). The film was sold as a recently discovered “lost” 1950s science-fiction about Martians attempting to lure Earth women back to their home planet. Shot in Michigan in 1998, it is perhaps most notable for featuring musician Jack White in a small role. The feature was made just before the artist released the first White Stripes album.
It’s another busy week for Criterion. First, you can pick up David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or as a standalone Blu-ray. Spike Lee directed this film that captures the Broadway production of the Byrne album and tour. A 4K master of the movie was used for this presentation, supervised by the director of photography. A new documentary on the project is present on the disc with Bryne, Lee, and others involved in the show. You’ll also get a trailer on this release.
Frankly, the other title from Criterion might be the biggest release of the week. You can also purchase a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) (a Blu-ray only edition is also available). The cult classic comedy stars Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, a unique man child who loses his bike and goes on a hunt across the west to find it. It’s a wonderfully zany film filled with memorable moments. The picture also marked the feature-film debut of Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Big Fish, Frankenweenie, as well as the recent Netflix series Wednesday). You’ll get a new 4K restoration of the movie supervised and approved by Burton, also presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with an archival commentary from Burton and Reubens, as well as one from composer Danny Elfman. There is a new interview between Burton and Richard Ayoade, various new crew interviews, a 2005 discussion with Reubens, excerpts from the 40th anniversary screenings of the movie. Deleted scenes and a trailer are also included. Sounds like a fantastic package that I will certainly be picking up.
If you enjoy “spaghetti westerns,” you can pick up a Blu-ray of Forgotten Pistolero (1969) from Diabolik DVD. Leonard Mann plays a gunman who seeks revenge on his mother and her lover for murdering his dad. This is a two-disc set containing English and Italian versions of the movie, an interview with Mann and a trailer.
The fun William Castle chiller House on Haunted Hill (1959) with Vincent Price is arriving on Blu-ray from Film Masters. It follows a millionaire who offers a huge cash reward to five people if they can survive the night in a haunted mansion. The film has been “newly restored” for this release and comes with a movie expert commentary.
Kino is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the Oscar-nominated family picture Babe (1995). George Miller (of Mad Max fame) co-wrote and co-produced this tale of a piglet with a talent for sheepherding trying to find his place on a farm. For this release, a new 4K restoration has been taken from the original camera negative, and is presented in Dolby Vision. There is a film critic commentary included, along with one by Miller. It also comes with interviews with star James Cromwell, Miller, making-of featurettes and a trailer.
Babe: Pig in the City (1998) was the sequel that arrived a few years later and was helmed by George Miller himself. It’s also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release. This time out, Babe travels to a bustling metropolis to make some money for his struggling farm and gets lost. He meets other homeless animals and attempts to help them survive in a harsh and seemingly uncaring world. The movie was misunderstood during its original release and is every bit as good, and in some respects even more powerful than its predecessor. Its visuals are absolutely stunning and I can’t recommend this movie highly enough (although it will be too intense for small children). Once again, you’ll get a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision. Additionally, there is a film critic commentary track and an interview with Miller about creating a “darker world” for the sequel. A trailer is also included.
And, if you’re okay with only owning the Blu-rays, a double-feature set of the two movies is also available on the format.
The Hammer horror feature Scars of Dracula (1970) is also arriving as a 4k Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. Christopher Lee returns in this, the sixth film of the Hammer series involving the famous vampire. You’ll get a 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, as well as a new film expert commentary, an archival director and cast commentary, a documentary on the production, and trailers.
And the remake of the biopic Walking Tall (2004) with Dwayne Johnson is getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo release. The original told the story of Buford Pusser, a real-life cop looking for retribution on those he accused of murdering his wife. Curiously enough, just last year the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported that, after reopening the case and reexamining remains, evidence now suggests that Pusser’s story was a complete fabrication and that he actually murdered his spouse and blamed others for the crime. Thankfully, this version uses the story as inspiration for a fictional take about a cop fighting corrupt forces in his hometown. Besides a new 4K master sourced from the original camera negative and presented in Dolby Vision, this edition includes a recently recorded film historian commentary, an archival Johnson commentary, an archival director and crew commentary, a featurette on the production, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, gag reel and trailer.
Stranger on Horseback (1955), a western from Jacques Tourneur (Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, Night of the Demon) is available on Blu-ray from Kit Parker Films. It follows a man who arrives in a lawless Arizona town and uncovers a conspiracy. The film has been newly restored in 2K and comes with a film historian commentary, a documentary on the production, a trailer and an extensive image gallery.
Rockers (1978) is a music-based feature set in Kingston, Jamaica about a drummer who dreams of making it big. When his motorcycle is stolen, he and other musicians from the area try to find it and take down those exploiting their community. The cast includes notable musicians like Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, Burning Spear, Big Youth, Dillinger, Robbie Shakespeare and others. MVD Visual is now delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the title, as well as a Blu-ray only version. Specs include a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative, a writer/director commentary, a feature-length documentary on the making of the movie, archival interviews with the filmmaker and the producer, music videos, a poster gallery, radio spots and a trailer. You’ll also receive a “4K laservision” mini-poster of the cover art and more.
Paramount Pictures is putting out a couple of sets with the same name. Be warned though, as the contents are different depending on the format. The Totally Awesome 80s 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Amazon exclusive” set includes Trading Places (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Top Gun (1986) and The Untouchables (1987). This is a fantastic collection of titles. All the discs are identical to previously released 4K editions, but packaged together in a box.
The Totally Awesome 80s Blu-ray edition has entirely different features on it. You’ll receive the Friday the 13th 8-Movie Collection (made between 1980 and 1989), the Crocodile Dundee trilogy (1986, 1988 and 2001), Top Gun (1986), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) and Coming to America (1988). Again, these are all previously released Blu-rays repackaged in a box set.
The studio is also reissuing the out-of-print 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). So, if you missed it the first time around, you now have another chance to pick it up.
Young, Violent, Dangerous (1976) is an Italian crime picture arriving on Blu-ray from RaroVideo U.S.. The original English and Italian language tracks are included on the disc, along with an archival documentary on the production and a film historian commentary.
Shout Factory is delivering the Oscar-winning drama Leaving Las Vegas (1995) on 4K Ultra HD (no Blu-ray is on this release). The gritty tale follows an alcoholic planning to commit suicide while visiting Vegas. His plan is delayed after befriending a prostitute. Nicolas Cage won a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance. You’ll get a 4K transfer of the original Super 16mm camera negative presented in Dolby Vision. A commentary track with writer/director Mike Figgis is also included.
David Croncenberg’s Rabid (1977) is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” from the distributor. It’s an early body horror feature from the director about a woman who develops a strange condition. She eventually attacks others, spreading her horrific infection across the Canadian province of Quebec. The film has been given a 4K scan from the original camera negative for this release, presented in Dolby Vision. There is a commentary with writer/director David Cronenberg, a commentary with a Cronenberg historian, and a track with an authority on star Marilyn Chambers. There are interviews with multiple Canadian film experts about the picture, a talk with cast member Susan Roman, an archival interview with Cronenberg, a discussion with executive producer Ivan Reitman, as well as co-producer Don Carmody. Additionally, a video essay on Canadian horror is featured, along with promo materials.
SRS Cinema has Death-Scort Service: Trinity, a Blu-ray containing three independent slashers made between 2015 and 2018. They follow a serial killer targeting escorts in Las Vegas. The set includes numerous extra features. The Japanese revenge thriller Liverleaf (2018) is also arriving on Blu-ray with plenty of extras. And the Truth or Dare: Legacy 5-Movie Blu-ray set contains five pictures from the cult direct-to-video slasher series made between 1986 and 2018.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Universal Studios is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of the war drama Jarhead (2005) starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx. This title from director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Skyfall, 1917) follows two Marines serving in the Middle East. The release includes a commentary with Mendes and one with the screenwriter, an intro from the director, new interviews with the cast, deleted scenes, featurettes and more.
Warner Archive is adding several made-to-order Blu-ray titles to their catalog. You can now purchase I Love Melvin (1953), Interrupted Melody (1955), On Borrowed Time (1939), San Antonio (1945) and The Valley of Decision (1945).
Finally, Warner Bros. is releasing a 4K Ultra HD and a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook of Boogie Nights (1997) from Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread, Licorice Pizza, One Battle After Another). This all-star feature follows workers in the adult film industry. It was nominated for three Academy Awards. The disc contains a HDR presentation of the film, two new panel discussions with the director about the movie, an archival director commentary, an archival cast commentary, nearly 30 minutes of additional scenes, a music video, outtakes, as well as extended bits with John C. Reilly
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the horror picture Chernobyl Diaries (2012), which features tourists being hunted down by mutated townspeople from the site of the Ukrainian nuclear reactor disaster.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a list of new, kid-friendly releases.
Babe (1995) (Kino Lorber) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
Babe: Pig in the City (1998) (Kino Lorber) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
Babe/Babe: Pig in the City Blu-ray Double-Feature (Kino Lorber)) Blu-ray
Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har: The Complete Series (1962-1963 animated series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
Wally Gator: The Complete Series (1962-1963 animated series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And the week’s TV-related titles can be found below.
Beyond Paradise: Season 3 (BBC) DVD
Blakes 7: The Collection – Series 2 (BBC) Blu-ray
Holiday in the Hamptons (Legacy Distribution) DVD
Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har: The Complete Series (1962-1963 animated series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
Monk: The Complete Series and Movie (Kino Lorber) Blu-ray
Wally Gator: The Complete Series (1962-1963 animated series) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
