Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This isn’t as busy an edition as previous ones, but there are plenty of notable releases both new and old that are worth your consideration. 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!
BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN – Led Zeppelin are considered one of the best rock bands that has ever existed, selling more than 140 million albums worldwide. This documentary goes into the early years of the group, detailing their work as session artists, before eventually joining up and starting their outfit. It also goes into detail on the recording and release of their first two records. Surviving band members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones deliver their recollections of this period, while archival clips are used for the late drummer John Bonham. This movie was well received by the press. A very small number complained that the artists told sanitized versions of their experiences and that there wasn’t much new information here. However, everyone else called the film fascinating, noting that they learned interesting details about the members (including the famous songs some played on as session musicians). And of course, they all appreciated the excellent music and early tour footage. The movie is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook.
HEARTS OF DARKNESS: THE MAKING OF “THE FINAL FRIIDAY” – While most new movies receive wide releases, for now this documentary is an exclusive only available through the Synapse Films website. It follows the interesting production of the 1993 horror film “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday”. The movie tells the story of young director Adam Marcus, a 23-year-old recent film school graduate who was handed the reins of the franchise. The movie took risks and the shoot was filled with unexpected drama, with the final product dividing fans. According to Synapse, this two-Blu-ray edition (containing a second disc full of extras) will be on the site until it sells out. Then a one-disc standard edition will be made available at most retailers. There have only been a couple of reviews so far for the title, but reaction has been generally upbeat. They note that the interviews with Marcus and the cast and crew who rallied behind the young director are very interesting (curiously, producer Sean S. Cunningham did not participate and the film goes into why). They note there is a lot of insight into what happened on-set, which will even appeal to horror movie enthusiasts who don’t like the sequel.
MDWINTER BREAK – Based on a 2017 novel by Brenard MacLaverty, this co-production between the UK and Netherlands is a drama about a retired Irish couple living in Scotland. The pair set out on a vacation to Amsterdam, but the trip exposes deep tension and a widening rift between the pair. It is revealed that the husband has a drinking problem and his wife has long wanted to leave him and start anew as a nun. The press gave this effort more positive notices than negative ones. Slightly more than one third of write-ups stated that the characters were so muted and the drama so glum that it was difficult to feel for the characters or their situation. Still, the majority complimented the work of the actors, calling the leads exceptional and noted that the film earnestly and authentically dealt with issues like a deteriorating relationship in a compelling manner. It stars Leslie Manville, Ciarán Hinds, Niamh Cusack and Leila Laaraj.
A PRIVATE LIFE – A Jewish-American psychiatrist working in Paris struggles after one of her clients threatens to sue her for not curing him of his addictions, and a female patient/mother passes away (with the lead being blamed by some of the family members for her death). Even at home, her relationship with her son is falling apart. The psychiatrist goes to see the hypnotist whom her first patient credits with curing his illness, revealing details about herself. A connection between all the parties is revealed, suggesting the patient’s death may not have been accidental. This French mystery/thriller is a notable release in that its star is typically known for speaking and performing in English. Critics were generally impressed with the movie. A handful wanted the tale to focus on the mystery instead of the characters and found the picture slow and meandering. Still, the vast majority called it a surreal take on Hitchcock with a great lead performance (who reportedly speaks French flawlessly) and some intriguing twists and turns. For now, this is a DVD-only release. The cast includes Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira, Mathieu Amalric and Vincent Lacoste.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re in the mood for something older, you’ll find a wide variety of options. Criterion is releasing Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) as a 4K Ultra HD-only release (with an added Blu-ray containing special features), along with a two-disc, Blu-ray-only edition. It’s a black comedy and religious satire about a man named Brian Cohen, who is born next door to Jesus Christ on the very same day, and ends up being mistaken for the Messiah. The movie generated plenty of controversy upon its release, but was a huge hit. It is now considered by many to be one of the best comedies of all time, thanks to the talents of writer/performers Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
For this release, the movie has been given a new 4K restoration supervised by Monty Python member Gilliam. The feature is also presented in Dolby Vision. Additionally, there are two commentaries from Gilliam, Cleese, Idle, Jones and Palin, a 2007 making-of documentary on the movie, a 1979 on-set documentary about the shoot, behind-the-scenes Super 8 film from the production shot by Palin, five deleted scenes with commentary, original radio ads featuring the cast (and Palini’s dentist), an illustrated recording of an early draft of the screenplay, an animated stills gallery and a trailer. A booklet with an essay on the movie is also included.
Trouble in Paradise (1932) is also arriving from the distributor in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack or as a standalone Blu-ray. This is a pre-code feature (which are a little wilder and more explicit in terms of character traits, dialogue and events being depicted than other titles of its era) about a high-society thief who falls for a pickpocket in Venice, Italy. The two end up in France, getting involved in schemes together while also trying to scam each other. This film arrives with a 4K restoration provided by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. You’ll also get an introduction from late director Peter Bogdanovich about the movie, an introduction about the director Ernst Lubitsch (The Shop Around the Corner) from a biographer of the filmmaker, a video essay on the movie, and a booklet with more writing on the feature.
It’s a busy week for Kino Lorber. B-movie horror fans may be inclined to check out Death Ship (1980), either as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a Blu-ray-only release. This film is about an ocean liner that sinks at sea. A group of survivors find a large, empty ship and take refuge on it, only to discover that it was once used by very horrible people long ago to torture others. I was never a fan of this feature, but with an impressive new transfer, it might be worth reappraisal. The cast includes Richard Crenna, Geroge Kennedy, Nick Mancuso, Sally Ann Howes and Saul Rubinek. For this release, the theatrical edition has been given a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, presented in Dolby Vision. There are two new film expert commentary tracks on this version of the movie. The accompanying Blu-ray contains the commentaries and an extended cut with its own commentary track, as well as the isolated score for the longer version, a documentary on the movie, a movie authority featurette on the production, a short story script that inspired the full movie, and two trailers.
The Phantom (1996) is also arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray and a standalone Blu-ray. This tongue-in-cheek take on the famous comic-strip superhero character wasn’t well-received during its original release, but the year was dominated by disaster pictures and more serious fare like The English Patient and Trainspotting. For those who can get on its wavelength, the throwback adventure film is a lot of light-hearted, entertaining fun. It stars Billy Zane, Treat Williams, Catharine Zeta-Jones, Kristy Swanson, James Remar and Patrick McGoohan and was directed by Simon Wincer (Lonesome Dove, Free Willy). The release promises an exclusive new 4K restoration of the movie from the original camera negative, presented in Dolby Vision. It comes with a new commentary with Wincer, a recent discussion with Zane (who cites this picture as his favorite), a recent talk with the composer of the score, and a trailer.
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985) was an attempt at bringing the literary hero The Destroyer to the big screen and creating a franchise around the character – a New York cop who is rescued from death and trained to be a secret government operative. As you might have already guessed, that plan didn’t work and the movie flopped. I imagine it has aged incredibly poorly too, but action fans may still be interested in checking it out. The distributor is now bringing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the title, as well as a single Blu-ray. This is another new 4K restoration of the film taken from the original camera negative and presented in Dolby Vision. It stars Fred Ward as the title character and was directed by James Bond alum Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun). An archival commentary with the producers of the movie and a new film historian commentary are listed as extras, along with a new interview with actor Patrick Kilpatrick, an archival examination of the book series, archival interviews with the producers, the production designer, the score composer, and co-star Joel Grey. Promo materials are also featured.
Runaway Train (1985) is a fantastic movie from The Cannon Group that surprised everyone during its initial release and ended up earning Oscar-nominations for Best Actor (Jon Voight), Best Supporting Actor (Eric Roberts), and Best Editing. The movie is about a pair of convicts in Alaska who escape prison and end up accidentally hopping on a runaway locomotive. They must and try to help the assistant driver (Rebecca De Mornay) stop the train. It’s incredibly tense and much more grounded than other action pictures of its era. A 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo is being released, containing a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative that is presented in Dolby Vision. You’ll also get an archival commentary with Roberts, as well as a new interview and an archival talk with the performer. There is also is discussion from many years ago with Voight and his experiences on the picture, as well as an archival interview with Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky, as well as a previously recorded interview with co-star Kyle T. Heffner and the unusual circumstances in which he shot his scene. A trailer is also included.
UFOria (1985) is a comedy with Cindy Willaims (Laverne & Shirley) about a lonely, religious woman in Arizona who becomes convinced that aliens are about to land. Fred Ward and Harry Dean Stanton also appear in the picture. This title wasn’t a big hit when it was released, but received great reviews and has become a cult item. It is arriving on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, as well as a standalone Blu-ray. You’ll get a 4K restoration from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, as well as a commentary from writer/director John Binder (who also wrote the film Endangered Species) and associate producer Jeanne Field. A trailer is also included.
Mondo Macabro is delivering a “Standard Edition” Blu-ray of Aatma (2006), an Indian Hindi-language genre picture about a vengeful spirit who possesses a wealthy doctor’s wife. This Blu-ray contains a new 4K transfer of the movie from the original negative, a film expert intro to the movie and a trailer.
Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight (1973) is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD-only release. It is a Japanese crime story about a suicidal swordsman who finds new meaning fighting off a group of vicious pimps. As expected, you’ll receive a 4K picture restoration, a film historian commentary, an archival commentary with Japanese moviemakers on the title, an interview with director Shinya Tsukamoto (Tetsuo: The Iron Man) about his time working with this this feature’s director, Teruo Ishii (Horrors of Malformed Men). And a trailer is on the disc too.
Finally, Universal Studios is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the comedy sequel Meet the Fockers (2004), the sequel to the 2000 hit, Meet the Parents. This follow-up sees the lead character newly married and fitting in well with his in-laws. Only now, he dreads having to introduce his wife’s family to his own very eccentric parents. The cast features Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Teri Polo, along with new cast members Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand. Besides the improved picture quality, it comes with deleted scenes, bloopers, multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a commentary track with the director alongside the editor/co-producer.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Sorry, not much available for kids this time out.
ON THE TUBE!
Below is a list of the week’s TV-themed releases.
Masterpiece: The Forsytes: Season 1 (PBS) DVD
Midsomer Murders: Series 25 (Acorn Media) Blu-ray
