Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The previous edition was incredibly busy, which means that this one is much quieter. But still, there are a few intriguing efforts both old and new that are arriving on disc. 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!
BADLAND RISING – A man working on a construction site more than a day’s drive away from his family finally completes his assignment. But suddenly, an armed figure appears and tries to steal his truck. The lead hits the crook, who accidentally falls in front of a train. It is revealed that this man was part of a criminal organization, and that they’re now looking for him. The protagonist discovers that it might be because of a bag filled with cash left in the vehicle before the altercation. He races to get back home and protect his family before they’re targeted. This Australian independent action picture hasn’t been seen by many in this part of the world and reaction has been mixed. Most note that the budget here is quite low and the dialogue and some performances are a little stiff. However, they also admit that the lead actor is good, the fight scenes are impressive, and that those who enjoy action B-movies might get a kick out of it. The movie stars Jake Ryan, Nathan Phillips, Steve Mouzakis and Robert Rabiah.
MARRIED TO COMICS – This documentary traces the history of autobiographical comics. These are the honest stories of real-life figures, told in comic book form. The filmmakers talk to several famous non-fiction writers and artists like Robert Crumb and Art Spiegelman, only to learn their techniques in part originated from married couple Justin Green and Carol Tyler. Despite being the innovators of a now familiar narrative style, few know about their life together, which apparently had a lot of ups and downs. The feature goes over their marriage and work together. This picture was completed a couple of years ago and won a documentary award at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con, but is only now arriving on disc. In fact, this is a DVD-only release for the time being. One assumes that comic book enthusiasts will likely appreciate the film. Phoebe Gloeckner and Denis Kitchen also appear in the movie.
THE STRANGER – Based on the 1942 novel of the same name by Albert Camus, this French drama takes place in Algeria. A young Frenchman who seems very calm, subdued and almost distant, goes through a major trauma when his mother dies unexpectedly. A later encounter with another young man on the beach ends in a brutal death. The main character is put on trial while those around him attempt to figure out what occurred between him and his victim, as well as why it all ended in tragedy. This picture was a box office hit in its homeland, was nominated for César Awards, and took home one prize for Best Supporting Actor. Critics were also impressed. One or two did criticize the central character, calling him so completely aloof that they never understood his motives and had trouble deciphering the story. But everyone else claimed that this was the point of the tale and the source material. They stated that the film effectively examined a chilling figure and his natural ability for committing dastardly deeds. The cast includes Benjamin Voisin, Rebecca Mardar, Pierre Lottin and Denis Lavant.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There is plenty of great older material being given high-definition upgrades. Arrow Video is releasing The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008) as a “Special Edition” 4K Ultra HD disc. This South Korean period action/dark comedy is a homage of sorts to the famous Spaghetti western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It is set just before the beginning of World War II and follows three underworld figures competing against each other to locate and steal a fortune from a train passing through Japan-occupied Manchuria. The 4K master of the movie, presented in Dolby Vision, was approved by director Kim Jee-woon (A Tale of Two Sisters, I Saw the Devil).
You’ll see both the international and Korean versions of the movie in 4K via seamless branching, along with a new film historian commentary, archival commentaries on the two versions of the movie with the director along with cast and crew. Additionally, there is a director introduction to the movie, an interview with the filmmaker, a discussion with the martial arts coordinator, archival making-of featurettes, and promo materials. A book with writing on the picture is included, with three postcard-sized artcards, a double-sided fold-out and reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork for the movie.
Troy (2004) is also arriving as both a “Limited Edition” 4K Ultra HD only, as well as a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray only release. This epic, box office smash was based on Homer’s The Iliad (the prequel to The Odyssey) and deals with the decade-long Trojan War. The film hones in on warrior Achilles, as well as Troy’s crown prince Hector, and his brother Paris doing battle. The all-star cast includes Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, Peter O’Toole, Saffron Burrows and Rose Byrne and the film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot, Enemy Mine, The Neverending Story, In the Line of Fire, Outbreak).
This edition contains the director’s cut and the theatrical version of the movie. The director’s cut runs 34 minutes longer than the regular edition. Both are presented in 4K (the original 35mm camera negative of the theatrical cut was scanned in 4K, and the added bits from the director’s version are from a 2K digital interpositive), all presented in Dolby Vision. I’ve already checked the disc out, and it looks pretty seamless. The filmmaker’s preferred version has an introduction from Petersen, and a Blu-ray “Bonus Features” disc comes with tons of production featurettes, a theatrical cut commentary with picture-in-picture interviews with cast and crew (from those featurettes), an archival introduction to Greek Gods, an easter egg feature, trailer, image galleries. There is also a booklet with writing on the movie and a reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned art for the film. Read a full review of the disc right here.
It’s a busy week for Kino Lorber. First off, you can now pick up the Sylvester Stallone New York tunnel-set disaster movie Daylight (1996) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. This title was originally released on these formats about a year ago, but was immediately pulled from shelves. Apparently, director Rob Cohen (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, The Fast and the Furious) was unhappy with the color timing on the original disc and preferred the version that was available in Europe. So, Kino recalled it and now the director-approved version is finally arriving. This edition delivers a 4K image restoration from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, and comes with a director commentary, a 34-minute making-of, an EPK featurette, a music video, an archival production slideshow and trailers.
The Denzel Washington airline drama Flight (2012) is appearing as both a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, and as a standalone Blu-ray. The star plays a pilot who manages to avoid an air disaster and land his commercial flight safely, only to come under scrutiny from the media when they examine his past personal issues. This is a new 4K master of the movie that is presented in Dolby Vision. Extras include a film historian commentary, an interview with director Robert Zemeckis (the Back to the Future series, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, The Polar Express) and screenwriter John Gatins, production featurettes, Q&A interview highlights, and a trailer. The disc comes packaged in a slipcase too.
This one hasn’t been available for a while. The Island (1980), based on the novel by Peter Benchley (Jaws) stars Michael Caine as a journalist who decides to take his young son along while investigating a story off the Florida coast. The pair run into real pirates and the boy is kidnapped. The protagonist must hunt the pirates down in order to reclaim his boy. This movie from Michael Ritchie (Downhill Racer, The Bad News Bears, Semi-Tough, Fletch) is pretty outrageous and let’s just say that it doesn’t compare to Jaws, but its eccentricities have built a small cult following over the years. The film is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo and can also be purchased as a Blu-ray only title. It comes with a reportedly stunning 4K restoration from the original camera negative presented in Dolby Vision, two film historian commentaries, and a trailer. You’ll also get a reversible sleeve for the title and a slipcase.
You can also purchase the Gregory Peck war biopic MacArthur (1977) as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, or as standalone Blu-ray. The title figure was the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II and United Nations Commander during the Korean War. Specs listed state that the camera negative has been given a 4K restoration and a Dolby Vision presentation. Additionally, there is a film historian commentary featured, as well as radio spots and a trailer.
The science-fiction/action film Repo Men (2010) is also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo release. Jude Law and Forest Whitaker star in this tale about repo men who specialize in reclaiming body organs from those who haven’t fully paid for their operations. This is a three-disc set that contains a 4K disc (and a Blu-ray too) of the theatrical cut with a new 4K master, as well as a director and writer commentary track, along with an entertainment journalist commentary. There is an additional Blu-ray with the unrated version of the film, that also promises deleted scenes, commercials for the repo service, and a visual effects featurette.
Back in the day, famed director Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, The Player, Gosford Park) was tapped to lead a big-budget adaptation of a famous comic strip character (with musical elements). The film was Popeye (1980) with Robin Williams as the lead and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl, and it was a huge critical disappointment. In fact, it wasn’t well-liked for decades by the majority of audiences who saw it (I recall as a child many viewers didn’t care for the songs, and took issue with the make-up on Popeye and being disturbed, instead of amused, by his unusual features). Paramount Pictures is now giving Altman’s take on the character a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo. You’ll get a 4K image upgrade presented in Dolby Vision, a look back at the film with Robin and the Altmans, a featurette on the performers in the movie, premiere footage and a medley of the musical sequences.
Last year, the compelling and creepy Jake Gyllenhaal thriller Nightcrawler (2014) received a Steelbook release through Shout Factory. Now, the distributor is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the movie in normal packaging. All the disc contents should be the same, just housed in a standard case.
Sony Pictures is delivering Abandon Ship! (1957) aka Seven Days from Now as a 4K Ultra HD release. This British/US feature with Tyrone Power is based on a true story about a luxury cruise liner that sinks, leaving twenty-six passengers struggling to survive on a lifeboat made for twelve. Contents include a 4K Dolby Vision transfer of both the domestic edition and the international version (which is two-and-a-half minutes longer) of the film, as well as a movie scholar commentary.
I’ll Do Anything (1994) is arriving once again on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures. This comedy/drama from James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good as It Gets) and starring Nick Nolte, Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Joely Richardson and Tracey Ullman has been out-of-print for 13 years. It tells the story of a talented but struggling actor who gains custody of his six-year-old daughter and must juggle raising her with his busy career. Once again, it doesn’t appear that this disc arrives with any bonuses, which is a shame. For those who have forgotten, this movie was originally a musical (with songs by Carloe King, Prince and Sinead O’Connor). Test audiences responded… poorly to previews, and there were reshoots taking out all of the music. I’d be very interested to see some deleted footage or the original cut (which probably doesn’t exist anymore) as it was intended.
The studio is also putting out a 4K Ultra HD-only edition of the critically well-received animated family film, The Swan Princess (1994), based on the classic Swan Lake ballet. The voice cast includes the likes of Jack Palance, John Cleese and Sandy Duncan among others. Besides the new 4K restoration, there is currently no information on extras.
Finally, Warner Archive is putting out made-to-order Blu-rays of All Through the Night (1942), Montana (1950), Sergeant Rutledge (1960), Torrid Zone (1940) and the more recent spin-doctor satire Wag the Dog (1997) with Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Woody Harrelson, Denis Leary and Willie Nelson.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Below are a couple of upcoming releases that may appeal to kids.
Pokemon Spooky Stories (Viz Media) DVD
The Swan Princess (1994) (Sony Pictures) 4K Ultra HD only
ON THE TUBE!
And here is the week’s sole TV-related release.
Hallmark Channel 3-Movie Collection: The Journey Ahead, The Presence of Love, North to Home (Hallmark) DVD
