Happy holidays and welcome to a look at some of the highlights arriving this. This particular edition is filled with some huge titles and independent efforts – there is plenty to choose from and even a few gift ideas. So as always, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER – After its theatrical release at the end of 2022, the third-highest grossing film of all time worldwide (behind the original Avatar and Avengers: Endgame) is finally arriving on a variety of formats. In fact, there’s a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition, a Best Buy exclusive in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, and a 3D Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray version. This sequel is set many years after the previous installment, where main characters Jake Sully and Ney’tiri have nurtured a family. When invading military forces arrive on Pandora once again, the leads move to a water-based community on the other side of the planet in order to protect their children. But they can only hide for so long and are eventually forced to face the villains in direct combat. The movie was generally well-received by critics and earned Oscar nominations in numerous categories, including Best Picture. One-quarter of reviewers stated that the movie was too long and predictable with characters that weren’t particularly interesting. However, the majority called the movie visually spectacular, action-packed and that the end result was the definition of epic filmmaking. They also appreciated the film’s environmental themes. It stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Kate Winslet. Read a full review of the movie here.
THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER – Those looking for holiday counter-programming may be interested in this horror sequel. A photographer and widower panics after learning that his daughter has disappeared with a friend from school. The two are eventually located, but have no memory of what occurred and begin exhibiting strange behavior. Soon enough, the initially skeptical protagonist begins to believe that his daughter may have been possessed by a demonic force. He ends up receiving help on how to proceed from a face that will be familiar to fans of the original. The press largely panned this effort. Less than one-quarter of notices were upbeat. They commented that the movie effectively delivered chills and enjoyed the message about various faiths working together to exorcise evil forces. All others wrote that the movie was a cheaply produced and ineffective knock-off of a classic with an absurd story. Most importantly, they stated that the film didn’t frighten them. The cast includes Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Ann Dowd, Lidya Jewett, Olivia O’Neill and Raphael Sbarge. Read this site’s review of the movie by clicking this link.
THE GHOST STATION – A train station attendant becomes fearful after a series of horrible accidents and workplace death occur. The individual contacts a reporter and friend, asking them to look into the incidents. Before long, the pair become certain that something supernatural is occurring at the station and begin to learn some disturbing secrets that may have caused the hauntings. Very few critics in North America have seen this foreign-language South Korean effort and reaction to it has been weak. One reviewer called it unoriginal, but well-paced and stylishly made. The writer who panned the film commented that its lack of any new or original elements made it feel like an uneventful and unnecessary ghost yarn. The movie features Kim Bo-ra, Kim Jaehyun and Shin So-yul.
ONYX THE FORTUITOUS AND THE TALISMAN OF SOULS – This independent horror/comedy involves an “average joe” struggling within his community of Satanists. He agrees to attend a ritual by a powerful leader, hoping it will inspire him. However, the protagonist discovers that the important figure may actually be using his followers and planning to do something horrible to all of them. The lead must find a way to stand up to the threat and protect the other attendees. Reaction towards this picture was slightly more positive than negative. Those who disliked it weren’t taken by the main character and thought that the filmmakers failed to land many of the potentially humorous beats. Still, the majority liked the movie’s quirkiness and called it both amusing and charming, saying it managed to amuse on a small budget. Andrew Bowser, Arden Myrin, Jeffrey Combs, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Rivkah Reyes and Terrence “T.C.” Carson headline the picture.
PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES – And there’s more horror arriving this week. This tale is a prequel inspired by the famous Stephen King novel and films. It is set in 1969 and features a young Jud Crandall (the senior who lived next to the leads in the 1989 and 2019 adaptations and advised them that, “Sometimes dead is better.”). After he and other teens discover the resurrecting power of the titular location, they do everything in their power to protect their town from undead forces. This follow-up was initially made available for streaming on Paramount+ and is now arriving on disc. Notices were quite poor for the title. A small handful thought the movie presented an interesting backstory that would entertain fans of the original films. However, the consensus was that the flick never felt scary or delivered anything memorable, coming across like a missed opportunity at expanding on the source material. It stars Jackson White, Natalie Alyn Lind, Forrest Goodluck, Isabella LaBlanc, Henry Thomas, David Duchovny, Samantha Mathis and Pam Grier.
THE RETIREMENT PLAN – A woman and her daughter get into trouble with a local criminal organization. Fearing for their lives, they decide to hide out with the mother’s estranged and retired father, who is now a beach bum living in the Cayman Islands. When the villains suddenly arrive and threaten to kill the entire family, the dad surprises everyone by jumping into action. As it turns out, he has a secret past that his family never knew about. This independent action/comedy earned decent reviews from the press. A sizable number did comment that the story was convoluted and that the action and jokes could have been handled with more skill. Still, more suggested that the cast was excellent and that once the picture veered away from action and focused comedy elements, it improved significantly. Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Ashley Greene, Jackie Earle Haley, Grace Byers and Ernie Hudson headline the feature.
RUMBLE THROUGH THE DARK – A cash-strapped ex-fighter living in the Mississippi Delta is desperate to save the family home of his dying foster mother. When he loses cash to a powerful figure in town, the lead is forced to take part in bare-knuckle cage fighting in order to pay off the debt. A fight is eventually arranged with a particularly intimidating foe, and those closest to the hero beg him not to go through with the match. Reaction was more positive than negative for this independent action feature. Some critics called all the characters unlikeable and couldn’t get into the story, complaining that it was formulaic. But the majority complimented the lead performance. They noted that the star’s work made an impression and that he got them through the predictable plot elements. The movie features Aaron Eckhart, Bella Thorne, Ritchie Coster, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Viginia Newcomb.
THE WANDERING EARTH II – The 2019 Chinese science-fiction epic The Wandering Earth followed a group of astronauts and scientists tasked with finding a new planet for humanity after ours ends up on a collision course with Jupiter. This prequel begins with the Earth facing another threat after the leads discover that the sun is dying out. The group must find a way to reignite the star and save the world. Surprisingly, reaction to this follow-up was a little more upbeat than it was for the original film. A few reviewers did sound off that the movie was overlong and heavy-handed in its depiction of the world on the brink of disaster. But the vast majority admitted that the production was an entertaining spectacle. They wrote that the special effects were impressive and that the feature did a good job of developing characters so that viewers would be invested in their plight. It stars Andy Lau, Jinh Wu and Xuejian Li.
WHAT HAPPENS LATER – This romantic comedy catches up with a pair of ex-lovers who cross paths at an airport. When they get snowed in and have to spend the night in each other’s company, they start bickering once again. But as the time passes, the two discuss their past and begin to figure out why their relationship might have gone wrong. It leads them both to wonder if they could reconcile and perhaps even start anew. The press was split right down the middle about this feature. Exactly half felt that the comedy wasn’t quite up to snuff and that there was so much conflict between the leads that watching the character reunite wasn’t much fun. Yet the same number thought the leads were great and had chemistry. They also appreciated the focus on older characters and thought it added something fresh and new to the mix, ultimately winning them over. The cast includes Meg Ryan and David Duchovny.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
If you’re looking for something a little older, you’ve got some great options as well. The Warriors (1979) is one of those unusual cult films in that it was actually a big hit during its original theatrical run. It follows a gang from Coney Island who are set-up by a rival group for a murder they didn’t commit. The leads must travel across Manhattan and get home before other outfits wipe them out. The film garnered a lot of public attention, but the studio began to pull it out of theaters because of a few incidents of gang violence at screenings. Critics didn’t take to the movie at the time either.
They were wrong though. The movie is fast-paced, stylish and dynamic with solid work from its young cast and several iconic lines and sequences. The movie was released on DVD, but went out-of-print soon after. In 2005, Paramount reissued the movie in a new director’s cut, first on DVD and later in Blu-ray with added visual effects that made the picture resemble a comic book. Many fans (myself included), didn’t like the changes. After years in limbo, Arrow Video is now presenting the original cut of the movie and the director’s cut in either a “Limited Edition” 2-disc 4K Ultra HD set, or a “Limited Edition” 2-disc Blu-ray.
It comes with a 4K remaster from the original camera negative of both cuts. You’ll also get a film expert commentary track, a new interview with director Walter Hill (The Long Riders, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire, Red Heat, Trespass, Last Man Standing), a lengthy roundtable discussion in which Josh Olson (co-writer of A History of Violence) and directors Lexi Alexander (Green Street) and Robert D. Kryzkowski (The Man Who Killed Hitler and then Bigfoot) discuss their love of The Warriors and the work of Walter Hill. There’s a new interview with the editor, the costume designer, as well as the costume designs, an appreciation piece on the score and a look at the locations used. There are a ton of archived extras included from the 2005 release as well that are wonderful. Additionally, it comes with a 100-page book on the movie, special packaging, a double-sided fold-out poster with original and newly commissioned artwork, 6 postcard-sized art-cards and gang logo stickers. Click here to read a full review of the set.
Arrow is also releasing the Blu-ray box set Savage Guns: 4 Classic Westerns, which contains the four spaghetti westerns I Want Him Dead (1968), El Puro (1969), Wrath of the Wind (1970) and The Four of the Apocalypse (1975). The set contains 2K restorations of all movies from their original camera negatives. It also comes with two different versions of El Puro and Wrath of the Wind, film historian audio commentaries on every title, cast and crew interviews, publicity materials and much, much more. Read a full review of this Blu-ray box set right here.
Radiance Films is releasing a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray of the Japanese effort, Elegant Beast (1962). According to the distributor synopsis, it’s about a greedy, materialistic family that attempts to cover-up the embezzlement committed by the son while keeping their other schemes active. They discover there are other, equally conniving players involved. The disc includes a new 4K picture restoration, an interview and an appreciation of the movie with film critics, a visual essay on the movie and a trailer, as well as a double-sided sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork and a booklet with writing on the movie and its importance. Only 3000 copies will be made available and you can read a review of the disc by clicking this link.
Life is Cheap… But Toilet Paper is Expensive (1989) is another Hong Kong title, this time arriving on Blu-ray from Arbelos. It’s about a courier who gets into trouble while trying to deliver a briefcase to a mob boss. The disc comes with a new 4K restoration of the final cut approved by co-director Wayne Wang (Smoke, Blue in the Face). Extras include an interview with Wang, another with Wang and the co-writer/co-director, the original chase sequence, a US trailer and an essay on the movie.
35 Shots of Rum (2008) is arriving on Blu-ray from Cinema Guild. This French/German effort comes from Claire Denis (High Life) and involves the complicated relationship between a father and daughter after a handsome man comes between them. The disc includes interviews with Denis and more.
Kino is delivering Jess Franco’s Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac (1973) on Blu-ray. It contains both the original English and French language tracks, in addition to interviews with cast members and the editor. Those who purchase the disc early also get a slipcase.
Underworld (1985) aka Transmutations is a cheesy genre film about mutants living beneath London that is based on a story by Clive Barker. It must have developed a following, because it is now arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. Besides the picture upgrade, it comes with a director commentary, an alternate cut of the movie (on the Blur-ay), archival behind-the-scenes footage and publicity materials.
Les Vampires (1915) is a French silent feature about a reporter who battles a secret society of crooks (who are just known as “The Vampires” and aren’t actually bloodsuckers). This Blu-ray was mastered from a 1996 picture restoration and comes with a trailer for the similarly-themed French movie Fantomas, as well as a slipcase.
Massacre Video is putting out a series of historical narrative horror/war/exploitation films set during WWII about the atrocities committed by the Japanese on Chinese prisoners. These movies are extremely violent and very hard to sit through, so be warned. They are limited to 5000 copies and you can pick up Blu-ray of Men Behind the Sun (1988) aka Man Behind the Sun, Men Behind the Sun 2: Laboratory of the Devil (1992) and Men Behind the Sun 3: Narrow Escape (1994). The first title has been given a 4K restoration and the sequels are cleaned up too. All are presented uncut for the first time in North America.
Made in Hong Kong (1997) is a Hong Kong crime picture about a marginalized loner who serves a Triad gang. Metrograph Pictures is delivering a Blu-ray of the movie with a film critic commentary track, interviews with the director and two of the producers, as well as a re-release trailer.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is releasing some out-of-print titles on Blu-ray. You can now pick up AmericanEast (2008), the ice-skating sequel, The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold (2006), the Gene Hackman drama, Eureka (1983) and (pictured above) the British comedy, The Rachel Papers (1989), starring a young Dexter Fletcher.
Sandpiper Pictures is making Blu-rays available of the out-of-print titles like the comedy High Spirits (1988), the sci-fi remake Invaders from Mars (1986) and The Sure Thing (1985). No of them have extras, but at least you can own them again on disc.
Shout! Factory would like readers to know that The Dead Zone (1983) is receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” this week. This amazing chiller from David Cronenberg (The Brood, The Fly, EXistenZ, A History of Violence) is based on a novel by Stephen King and stars Christopher Walken as a schoolteacher who gets into an accident and awakens from a coma with horrifying visions of the future. He does his best to try and prevent these events from occurring. It’s one of the best adaptations of King’s work and packs a powerful punch.
Besides the sharper picture, contents include a new commentary track from director and fan Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Doctor Sleep) and two film experts, separate archived commentaries featuring the director of photography, film historians and music historians. There are also cast and crew interviews, featurettes, tons of publicity materials and much more.
Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991) is also getting a “Collector’s Edition” that contains the theatrical cut of the film on Blu-ray, and a director’s cut on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. This biopic on the investigation surrounding the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was nominated for several Oscars. Besides the picture improvement, the set arrives with a Stone commentary and new director, as well as crew interviews. And 12 deleted/extended scenes are included, publicity materials and even more bonuses.
Shout! is also presenting a set of Japanese animated titles called Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films. It contains Mind Game (2004), The Night is Short, Walk on Girl (2017), Lu Over the Wall (2017), Ride Your Wave (2919) and Inu-Oh (2022). There are a ton of extras on this set too – too many to go through here, but be sure to read up on the release at the Shout! website.
The same goes for their Shaw Brothers Classics Volume 4 box set. It comes with The Rebel Intruders (1980), Two Champions of Shaolin (1980), Legend of the Fox (1980), Black Lizard (1981), Masked Avengers (1981), The Sword Stained with Royal Blood (1981), House of Traps (1982), Five Element Ninjas (1982), Shaolin Prince (1982), Shaolin Intruders (1983), Holy Flame of the Martial World (1983) and Opium and the Kung-Fu Master (1984).
And finally, Warner Bros. is delivering The Hangover Trilogy on Blu-ray. It’s a set that contains all three Hangover films that were made between 2009 and 2013 on Blu-ray. One imagines this is a repackaging of the previously released Blu-rays, but you can now pick all of them up together in one set.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Sorry, looks like it’s a slow week for kids.
ON THE TUBE!
And listed below are this edition’s TV-related releases.
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: The Complete Series (MPI Home Video) DVD
Columbo: Seasons 1 – 7 (also includes Columbo TV-movies) (Kino) Blu-ray
Groundbreakers – Celebrating 50 Years of Female Excellence in Sports (PBS) DVD
Monk: Season 2 (Kino) Blu-ray
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Season 2 (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray