Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition isn’t as busy as the previous one, but it does feature a major studio picture, some well-regarded independents, and plenty of older efforts being given high-definition 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!
31 CANDLES – A bar mitzvah is a coming-of-age event in Jewish communities celebrating a boy’s adulthood. Most occur when a youngster turns 13. This narrative follows a Jewish, New York-based movie director (whose most popular projects celebrate Christmas) who decides to finally have his bar mitzvah ceremony… on his 31st birthday. The process involves inviting all sorts of different people and dealing with complicated and awkward relationships. Persons include estranged family members, exes, and even his childhood crush. This small independent comedy was well-liked by critics who saw it. One or two found the movie uneven in the way it handled various conflicts, but everyone else found the lead charismatic and the picture charming and funny. They noted that the story handled its themes sweetly. For now, this is a DVD-only release. It stars Jonah Feingold, Sarah Coffey, Jackie Sandler, Dale Moss and Caroline Aaron.
731 – Also known in some territories as Evil Unbound, this Chinese World War II feature deals with deplorable bioweapons experiments conducted by the Japanese Army on Chinese citizens after invading Manchuria. A group of men, women and children are taken to a location and then subjected to horrific trials. Some of the prisoners attempt to escape. This story was previously told in the extremely graphic, controversial 1988 film Man Behind the Sun. Reaction was extreme towards this retelling, though most were critical of the results. A small number felt that while the movie wasn’t subtle, it delivered a disturbing and unsettling real story that more people need to know about. Unfortunately, the majority critiqued the filmmaker’s approach, stating that the slick photography wasn’t in keeping with the grim subject matter, and that the tonal shifts between horror and melodrama were jarring. It features Wu Jiang, Zhiwen Wang, Naiwen Li and Qian Sun.
HOPPERS – The latest animated family feature from Disney and Pixar follows a troubled college student who is consistently distracted from her studies by environmental causes. Specifically, saving a forested area from being developed into a highway that she used to enjoy with her late grandmother. One day, the teen discovers that her professor has developed technology to put a person’s consciousness into the body of a robotic beaver. She uses it to inspire animals to fight for their land. In general, the press rated the film highly. A small contingent suggested that while it had a funny premise, the frenzied pace wore thin and that it ultimately didn’t match other Pixar efforts. But all others stated that the movie was well-produced, funny and had an excellent message about saving our environment and the animal population. The movie can be purchased as a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Steelbook or as a Blu-ray/DVD combo. The voice case includes Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Eduardo Franco, Aparna Nancherla, Tom Law, Sam Richardson, Melissa Villasenor, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Steve Purcell, Ego Nwodim and Meryl Streep. Read a full review of the feature right here.
PROTECTOR – A war veteran living a quiet life with her daughter is horrified when her offspring is unexpectedly grasped from the streets by human traffickers. Convinced that the first 72 hours are essential in recovering her child, she ventures into her hometown’s criminal underworld. The protagonist goes on a rampage while various nasty gang members, as well as crooked cops and military figures, try to stop her. This action/thriller was largely panned. A small number stated that the premise was simple but engaging, and that the film was a well-paced, exciting and generally pleasing genre effort. However, the overall consensus was that this story had been told hundreds of times before in other films, and much better. They didn’t think it offered any details about human trafficking, and only used it as an excuse for a series of routine and uninteresting B-movie action bits. Milla Jovovich, Isabel Myers, Shane Williams, D.B. Sweeney, Matthew Modine and Michael Stahl-David headline the picture.
ROAD TO EVERYWHERE – An aging, struggling Los Angeles cab driver gets an unexpected fare when a stranger enters his vehicle and makes an unusual offer. The customer informs the man that he is a casino dealer who will pay $5000 to be driven many hours to the Navajo Reservation. This is so that he can see his grandson perform in a Native American rodeo. On the long journey, the fare explains that he left his home thirty years ago and is returning for the first time. The pair bicker about both their troubled situations, then slowly form a friendship as they approach their destination. This independent comedy/drama was shot in Los Angeles, California, as well as in Page and LeChee Rock in Arizona. It is debuting as a DVD-only release. At present, there are no reviews available for this title. It stars Whip Hubley, Robert Mirabel, Coby Larinde, Googy Gress and Daniel Roebuck.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There are plenty of older efforts arriving this week too. After a slight delay, Radiance Films is putting out their “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of the Japanese crime drama, Aesthetics of a Bullet (1973). It’s about a small-time street vendor who wants to become a big player with the yakuza. He sets out to become a hitman and learns first hand that it isn’t as good as advertised. The movie has been given a high-definition digital transfer and comes with a critical appreciation of the movie, an interview with filmmaker Kazuyoshi Kumakiri (Hole in the Sky) about the picture, as well as an archival talk with the director. It all comes packaged with a booklet containing writing on the movie, and a reversible sleeve with artwork based on the original posters for the film.
Criterion is releasing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the classic, Charade (1963). Cary Grant and Audry Hepburn star in this tale of a widow who learns that her late husband had stolen a fortune and that several individuals are now hunting her down in order to get it back. The woman doesn’t know who to trust as she is pursued through Paris. This edition features a new 4K restoration of the movie, as well as an archival 1999 commentary with director Stanley Donen (Singin’ in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Bedazzled) and screenwriter Peter Stone. You’ll also get a trailer and an essay on the movie.
They are also releasing the Oscar-nominated Jack Nicholson drama Five Easy Pieces (1970) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It follows a hard-drinking, womanizing man having trouble making ends meet. He heads back home to try and figure out what to do next with his life. This release contains a 4K image restoration and is presented in Dolby Vision. You’ll also get a commentary with director Bob Rafelson (Head, The Postman Always Rings Twice) and the movie’s interior designer, a 2009 program featuring Rafelson, a documentary about the production company with comments from Rafelson, Nicholson, as well as co-stars Karen Black and many others. A film critic documentary is included, audio excerpts from a 1976 interview with Rafelson, trailers, and an essay on the feature.
If you don’t mind shopping exclusively through the Vinegar Syndrome website, you can pick up a Cinematographe title a little early. They are making a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Limited Edition” Mediabook of The Boys in the Band (1970) available. Based on the play, the story involves a straight friend of a gay man who is invited to attend his friend’s house party. As the guests become more inebriated, raw opinions and emotions rise to the surface. This set comes with a new 4K restoration, a film professor commentary track, an archival commentary with director William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer, Cruising), a new video interview with cast member Laurence Luckinbill, discussions with film historians and journalists, a video essay on the movie, a 2018 feature-length documentary on Friedkin’s career, a Turner Classic Movies intro to the film, and new text essays on the title. Presumably, a “Standard Edition” of this disc will also be available in the coming months from most retailers.
If you don’t mind bare-bones discs, Leomark is releasing Blu-rays of the Rod Perry blaxploitation film The Black Godfather (1974). Perry plays a man attempting to rise to the top of the criminal underworld by taking down the mob. The distributor is also putting out a Blu-ray of the Tom Selleck/Jerry Reed TV-movie The Concrete Cowboys (1979). It involves two cowboys who open a private detective agency. Morgan Fairchild also appears. Based on the synopsis, this was probably a pilot for a TV series that never got picked up and simply aired as a TV-movie.
If you’re looking for more TV-movie entertainment, Leomark and Shoreline is also presenting a Blu-ray of Cry Panic (1974). John Forsythe takes the lead in this tale about a man who runs over a body with his car. He decides to report it to the sheriff, but begins to suspect that they may have had something to do with the death and are framing him. The program originally aired on ABC,
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Paramount Pictures is releasing a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of the science-fiction film, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016). Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman star in this effort about a woman who is taken by a man and kept hostage in his basement. The kidnapper claims that an alien invasion is occurring on the surface and that he is only trying to keep her safe. The contents of this release are the same as the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo released in 2016, only in new packaging.
Shout Factory is delivering a trio of Steelbooks. You can now pick up a 4K Ultra HD “Collector’s Edition” Steelbook of the Bruce Campbell/Ossie Davis horror/comedy, Bubba Ho-Tep (2002). It looks like the same discs as the previous edition, only in a Steelbook package. The same goes for the 30th anniversary 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of John Carpenter’s Escape from L.A. (1996). This sequel to the 1981 classic Escape from New York finds antihero Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) heading into a dilapidated Los Angeles on another dangerous mission.
The one all-new Shout Factory release is the family comedy The Flintstones (1994), which is appearing as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. John Goodman plays Fred Flintstone and Rick Moranis is Barney Rubble in this live-action adaptation of the popular animated series. The discs boast a 4K transfer from the original camera negative approved by director Brian Levant and director of photography Dean Cundey. The film is also presented in Dolby Vision. Additionally, there is an intro from Levant, a director commentary, a film historian commentary, a documentary on the production, a music video by the B-52s, opening sequence comparisons, art department concept sketches, production photographs, and promo materials.
And Warner Bros. is reissuing their Ben Affleck 4-Film Collection Blu-ray set. You’ll receive The Town (2010), Best Picture-winner Argo (2012), The Accountant (2016) and Live by Night (2016).
The teen romance Everything Everything (2017) with Amanda Stenberg and Nick Robinson is also arriving on Blu-ray. It follows a young woman who has a rare disease and can’t leave her home, but falls for the boy next door. If the contents are the same as for the previous 2017 Blu-ray, this title should come with a featurette and deleted scenes.
The Best Picture-winner One Battle After Another (2025) is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Limited Edition” Steelbook. The first version released a couple of months ago had no extras on it. This version contains the film on 4K and Blu-ray, with a second Blu-ray containing over one hour of extras. A 24-page behind-the-scenes booklet is also included.
And the studio is reissuing their impressive 4K Ultra HD of the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939). This disc looks and sounds fantastic, and comes highly recommended if you have 4K capabilities.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below is a list of some kid-friendly titles.
The Flintstones (1994 live-action film) (Shout Factory) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook
Hoppers (Disney/Pixar) 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray “Limited Edition” Steelbook or Blu-ray/DVD combo
Masters of the Universe: Revelation/Revolution (2021 animated series and animated movie) (Alliance/Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the week’s TV-themed efforts can be found here.
The Concrete Cowboys (1979 CBS TV-movie) (Leomark) Blu-ray
Covert Affairs: The Complete Series (Universal Studios) Blu-ray
The Creep Tapes: Season 2 (Shudder) Blu-ray
Cry Panic (1974 ABC TV-movie) (Shoreline Entertainment) Blu-ray
Doctor Who: Season 2 (2025 season) Blu-ray
Homestead: Season 1 (Angel) Blu-ray/DVD
Insecure: Season 1 (HBO) Blu-ray
Masters of the Universe: Revelation/Revolution (2021 animated series and animated movie) (Alliance/Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
You: Season 5 (Warner Archive/Netflix) DVD
The Young Pope (2016 series) (HBO) Blu-ray
