Believe it or not, this is the busiest week in some time for new Blu-ray/DVD releases. This edition details highlights that include just about every film genre imaginable – it looks like there’s something for everyone out there right now. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Brahms: The Boy II – This sequel to the underrated 2016 chiller finds a new family moving into the estate once terrorized by a porcelain doll. Once on site, they discover the very same creepy figure popping up in and around the property in strange places. Soon, the young son of the new owners takes a liking to it and befriends the toy. However, it isn’t long before the horrific history of the home is discovered and the lives of all of the residents are put in danger. Reaction was negative towards this horror flick. One or two enjoyed the added story wrinkle in making one of the characters take a shine to the film’s doll. However, almost all others complained that the surprise was gone, said that the script didn’t add anything new to the story and found the pacing was too slow. It features Katie Holmes, Owain Yeoman, Christopher Convery and Ralph Ineson.
Buffaloed – A blue-collar woman from Buffalo yearns to get out of her home town, go to an Ivy League school and become a financial success. She manages to get accepted into an impressive post-secondary school, but quickly realizes she can’t afford the tuition. With the help of a debt collector, the protagonist plots and begins an elaborate scheme to earn the funds to pay for her university stint. This independent comedy earned solid reviews. There were a few who criticized the picture as being cute but unmemorable, and stating that it didn’t really delve into the socioeconomic issues it raised, Still, most complimented this feature as being a fun ride with charismatic leads set against a colorful and quirky backdrop. The cast includes Zoey Deutch, Judy Greer, Jai Courtney, Jermaine Fowler and Noah Reid.
Downhill – An American family take a vacation to the Austrian Alps. A sudden and unexpected avalanche results in the husband making an instinctive and less-than-heroic decision. His actions result in some awkward conversations and ripples in their marriage as they try to analyze exactly what happened and how to move forward. This remake of the Swedish, 2014 critically lauded feature Force Majeure did not earn many accolades from the press. There was a small contingent who liked the flick, admitting that it was a plainer and blunter version of the story, but noting that it still provided a few striking moments. However, the consensus was that it just couldn’t match the original, and that its dulled and less-nuanced approach did not suit the material nearly as well. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Will Ferrell, Zach Woods, Zoe Chao and Miranda Otto. To read this site’s review of the film, click here.
Emma. – Jane Austin’s famous novel receives yet another adaptation in this fresh take on the story. Set in England during the 1800s, it follows a wealthy, well-intentioned but selfish woman trying to influence and manipulate the love lives of her various friends. Along the way, she ends up involved in the fracas and comes to some life-altering conclusions about her own relationships. Overall, critics were very positive about this update of the tale. A few voices suggested that this was never one of the author’s best works and called the picture light and pretty, but overlong and insubstantial. Still, most thought that it improved as it progressed and the excellent cast helped make for a sweet and charming concoction. Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth and Miranda Hart headline the picture.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War – Like your DC comic book flicks grimy, dark and apocalyptic? This animated direct-to-disc effort is a sequel to the 2017 release Justice League Dark (as well as a finale to the series in general, which includes all other movies from the past 7 years featuring individual heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman). Set after the all-powerful and villainous Darkseid has laid waste to many areas on Earth, the remaining superheroes reform and team-up to take a last stand against their foe before the planet is destroyed. Write-ups were generally upbeat for this effort. While most stated that the movie had some issues, they commented that it was fast and exciting, with some big moments and R-rated thrills that would impress adult comic book fans. The voice cast includes Jerry O’Connell, Shermar Moore, Tony Todd, Rebecca Romijn, Rosario Dawson, Rainn Wilson and Matt Ryan.
The Longevity Film – This documentary looks into human life expectancy… specifically, communities in the world with the happiest, healthiest and longest-living populations. The filmmakers involved in this production visit three spots with an extraordinarily high quality of life. Viewers are taken to Okinawa, Japan, Loma Linda, California and Ikaria, Greece. Once there, the crew examines their lives and tries to determine exactly what is helping the aged live happier, more fulfilled lives with significantly fewer cases of disease. This title appears to be debuting on disc and as such there isn’t much buzz about it. There also haven’t been many festival screenings or even reviews posted at this point, so it’s impossible to know exactly what to expect from the title.
The Mover – Based on a true story, this Latvian foreign-language feature tells the story of Zanis Lipke and his family. Set in the port town of Riga during WWII, the country falls under German occupation. Horrified by Nazis enlisting the local population into their army, as well as and their horrific attempts to arrest and execute the Jewish population, the clan sets out to maintain their humanity by rescuing, hiding and protecting as many people as they can. This 2018 picture hasn’t really been seen outside of eastern Europe and was only recently picked up for distribution in this part of the world. However, it was well-received at various festival screenings. The movie won numerous awards in Latvia, as well as at the Moscow International Film Festival. It features Arturs Skrastins, Ilze Blauberga and Matiss Kipluks.
Onward – The latest animated feature form Pixar (who made the Toy Story, Incredibles and Cars films), was released only a couple of weeks before the Corona-virus outbreak before finding its way onto the Disney+ site. Today, it’s officially being released on physical media. The plot is set in a modernized, suburban fantasy world where trolls and elves have forgotten about the power of magic. When a young elf gets a birthday message from his deceased father, he and his brother set out on an adventure to be reunited with their dad. The press was generally positive about the film. There were a couple of naysayers who didn’t like the characters or visuals as much as in other projects from the studio. Still, most called it a potent and likable mixture of humor and observations about family and loss. The voice talent includes Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Octavia Spencer and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. To read this site’s review, click here.
The Postcard Killings – Based on the New York Times bestseller, this independent mystery/suspense film is about a detective whose daughter and son-in-law are murdered while visiting London. He determines that it is the work of a maniacal killer moving across Europe who leaves postcards at the sites of his many slayings. The protagonist decides to do whatever it takes to find the responsible party and deliver justice. This little thriller didn’t make much of an impact on reviewers. A few were positive and stated that the story was predictable, but that the cast were strong and it offered some thrills and lovely locations. More suggested that the plotting and execution was simply too run-of-the-mill, wishing that filmmakers had spruced the tale up with more invention. It stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Famke Janssen, Cush Jumbo and Joachim Krol.
Promare – If you’re a fan of Japanese anime, you might be interested in this animated feature. The story is set in a future where firefighters use giant robots to battle blazes. They also need their machinery to battle the Burnish, a group of villainous mutants who can control fire and use it to cause panic and destruction. When the Burnish attack, the heroic team set out to do battle and save the world before it’s completely burnt to ash. Critics in North America were quite taken by the picture. One or two described it as being all spectacle that otherwise made little narrative sense. Still, the vast majority commented that this was an eye-popping visual treat with incredible action and sights that you could only see in an animated film. It is assumed that this release includes the original Japanese track with English subtitles and an English-language version.
The Raft – In the 1970s, a university professor studying anthropology and the origins of violence, secured funding for an incredible social experiment. He interviewed and selected several participants to join him on a raft and drift at sea for months on end. Little did those chosen know that their leader would be manipulating them, trying to drum up conflict in order to gain data for his thesis. Using archival footage and interviews with participants, the movie details what happened on the journey. Notices were very good for the non-fiction feature. A couple of write-ups found it too dry and expected more anger and fury from the participants. Still, most reviewers complimented those subjects who endured this ordeal and called it a fascinating and strange tale. This release is arriving exclusively on DVD. To read a full review of the movie, click here.
Sonic the Hedgehog – Based on the popular Sega video game, this live-action involves a magical blue hedgehog who travels to Earth in order to hide his immense powers from enemies. When a nasty scientist arrives with the intention of capturing the animal and stealing his powers, Sonic teams up with a small-town sheriff to evade capture and stop a potential invasion from another world. Write-ups were slightly more positive than negative for this title. Those who didn’t care for the flick said that it was a safe and bland adaptation, suggesting it would only appeal to the youngest of family members. Slightly more thought that the movie was simple escapist entertainment that came with a nice message. They stated that while it wouldn’t set the world on fire, the end results could have been much worse. It stars James Marsden, the voice of Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Jim Carrey and Neal McDonough. To read this site’s review of the flick, follow the link here.
The Way Back – In this sports drama, an alcoholic construction worker finds his life in shambles after his wife leaves him. He receives a call from his old high school, where he was a revered basketball player who helped the institute earn several championships. They ask him to coach their team and try to help return the school to its glory days. With nothing to lose, he takes the job, hoping to encourage new talent and overcome his own personal issues. Reaction was positive towards this effort. A limited number of reviews thought that while the cast was good, the story was too predictable and never quite reached its potential. Still, the majority were pleased by the production, noting that the lead performance was so strong that it made up for the familiar plotting. The cast includes Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins and Glynn Turman.
Blasts from the Past!
And there are just as many older titles getting new Blu-ray releases this week. Shout! Factory have a big one in the form of Danger: Diabolik (1968), an outrageous Italian caper from director Mario Bava (Black Sunday, Black Sabbath, Blood and Black Lace, Planet of the Vampires) that oozes style and eye-popping color and set design from just about every frame. Inspired by a comic book series, it’s about a thief who steals from the super-rich to fund his own lavish lifestyle, kind of like a comic cross between Robin Hood and James Bond. Cult movie fans should be thrilled about this release.
The movie has never been put out on Blu-ray in this part of the world, and the disc includes a new film historian audio commentary, an archived audio track with the star and a director biographer, a featurette on the production, the Beastie Boys music video “Body Movin’” (which was inspired by the movie) along with a commentary from band member Adam Yauch. It also comes with a teaser and theatrical trailer.
Hammer fans will be happy to see a Collector’s Edition of The Evil of Frankenstein (1964). This is the third chapter in the studio’s Frankenstein series and once again features Peter Cushing as the mad doctor. In this follow-up, Frankenstein retreats to a mountain and finds his creation frozen in a block of ice. He thaws the monster out, eventually causing more chaos. This Blu-ray features a new 4K scan of the inter-positive and comes with a film historian audio track, a special on director/cinematographer Freddie Francis, an interview with the assistant director and a cast member, a TV version of the film, a lengthy making-of featuring interviews with most of the cast and crew, a TV pilot to a spin-off show, publicity materials, and even more extras.
Kino also have some fascinating Blu-rays coming your way. The first is an early live-action adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (1933). This one features Cary Grant, Gary Cooper and W.C. Fields in supporting roles. The Captive Heart (1946) is a British thriller from Ealing Studios (Dead of Night, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Man in the White Suit, The Ladykillers) about a Czech soldier who assumes the identity of a dead British officer during WWII. Both of these releases include a film historian commentary track and trailers.
Kirk Douglas stars in Lonely Are the Brave (1962), a well-regarded western about a man on the run from the law who is hunted by a sympathetic sheriff. Walter Matthau also appears as the man tasked with catching the criminal. The new Blu-ray disc includes a movie expert information track, a tribute to the movie featuring star Douglas, Steven Spielberg and Michael Douglas (among others), a featurette on the score and the theatrical trailer.
They also have a couple more British titles on the way. The first is The Long and the Short and the Tall (1961) aka Jungle Fighters, a war picture. And the second is The Night My Number Came Up (1955), a story about an air marshal. When his friend has a nightmare about a flight going wrong and leading to disaster, the protagonist laughs it off, only to find himself on board a plane and experiencing everything that was foretold by his pal. All of the UK productions mentioned above were nominated for BAFTA awards and the latter disc comes with a film historian commentary and trailer.
If you enjoy classic cartoons, the distributor is also putting out The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection (1964 – 1980), which contains just about every cartoon featuring the popular animated character that was ever produced. And they have The Runner Stumbles (1979), a drama about a priest who is accused of murdering a nun whom he recently befriended. This one stars Dick Van Dyke and was the final film of director Stanley Kramer (On the Beach, Inherit the Wind, Judgment at Nuremberg, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner). The Blu-ray includes trailers and a movie authority audio track.
And there’s more! Scorpion are also planning on bringing some cult flicks to Blu-ray. The first is Johnny Cool (1963), a Henry Silva crime flick about some crooks who pull a fast on a Sicilian mob boss, only to be targeted by an assassin for their actions. The second is a new edition of Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) in which Chuck Norris plays a Texas Ranger who squares off against a devious criminal played by David Carradine. If memory serves, the action is good and it’s quite funny in an over-the-top sort of way (I recall the lead living in a trailer and drinking a lot of beer and romancing the ladies, when he isn’t taking on his foes). This disc is supposed to include a new 2K scan from the inter-positive, a recently recorded commentary with the director, producer and some of the cast members, as well as bonus interviews. A May 21st release has been planned for these two Blu-rays, but the date hasn’t been confirmed. Hopefully it’ll make the release, but If not, keep checking the Ronin Flix website (roninflix.com) for updates.
Their third Blu-ray title is Pretty Smart (1987), a comedy starring Patricia Arquette, Tricia Leigh Fisher and Joely Fisher. It’s about a student who gets into trouble and tangles with a headmaster while attending a posh school in the Mediterranean. Scorpion have teamed up with Kino for this release. The movie has been given a new 2020 2K master and arrives with trailers.
Many of those who saw the bonkers Nicolas Cage flick, Mandy (2018) were very taken by the outrageousness on display. Distributor RLJ have decided to rerelease the picture on Blu-ray (presumably with all the same bonuses included previously) with special Steelbook packaging, so the disc with extra-large art and packaging can now sit proudly in your personal collection.
Criterion are presenting a Blu-ray of the drama, Dance, Girl, Dance (1940). Set in the show business world, the story follows two chorus girls and their attempts to succeed in Los Angeles. This is one of the few Hollywood films of its era to have been directed by a woman and is noted for its feminist sensibility, especially as it attempts to deal with the trials facing young female performers. The movie has been given a restored 4K digital transfer and includes a film expert introduction and an interview with director Francis Ford Coppola about the movie and its influence.
Additionally, this is a big week for genre film distributor Vinegar Syndrome. Towards the end of the week is their Halfway to Black Friday Sale, beginning on May 22nd at vinegarsyndrome.com. During the event, they traditionally offer 50% off of all of their previously released Blu-ray and DVD titles. And they always put out a couple of new secret films that no one knew was coming.
They have also announced a limited edition of one new product for the event. Although it won’t be discounted, it is available for preorder right now. It’s an ultra HD/Blu-ray combo of the BMX flick, Rad (1986). This is huge news, as this film hasn’t been in print since its VHS release more than 30 years ago. In fact, it has never been put out on disc in any format due to rights and licensing issues – I wrote about it and other missing titles about four years ago in this article. The story involves a group of small-town BMX riding kids who decide to take part in a special competition involving a “Hell Track” and some of the country’s best BMXers. Directed by Hal Needham (The Cannonball Run, Megaforce, Stroker Ace) with a cast that includes Bill Allen, Lori Loughlin, Talia Shire and Ray Walston, it’s totally absurd in just about every respect (if memory serves, I believe there’s a dance sequence with the young male and female leads bouncing around on their bikes in a high school gymnasium). Still, this was the first film of its kind and made a big impression with kids from the era.
While it’ll run you $30 to pick up, the title will sell out immediately and then go for larger sums on secondary sites. If you’re a fan, you need to go preorder it right now while you can. Besides being scanned and restored in 4K from the original camera negative, the disc includes a new commentary track with co-star Talia Shire and interview with writer/co-producer Sam Bernard. But that’s not all! The disc also promises archival interviews with the cast and crew, an archival group commentary with more people who worked on and acted in the film, behind-the-scenes stills, promo materials and much more. And it comes with a 3D Lenticular front and Holographic back slipcover so those bikes on the poster will almost pop right out at you.
Sony are also digging into their vaults for some new Blu-ray releases. The first is American Madness (1932), a title from writer/director Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life). They also have the Oscar-nominated period romantic comedy, Enemies: A Love Story (1989), with Ron Silver and Angelica Huston. And you can pick up the Amanda Bynes teen flick, Sydney White (2007). This is described as a modern-day retelling of Snow White with freshman students at a college dormitory.
One of the most entertaining flicks I can recall viewing while growing was The Blues Brothers (1980), the Dan Aykroyd/John Belushi comedy that mixed incredible music with outrageous humor and jaw-dropping car stunts. It has now been 40 years since its original release, so Universal are delivering a 40th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray of the film. They are presenting both the theatrical and extended versions of the feature in pristine 4K. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a comedy classic and should be picked up immediately.
Paramount are also delivering some great stuff. Their first release is the Tom Cruise NASCAR-themed, Days of Thunder (1990), which has been given a 4K upgrade. A few weeks ago, the studio also started up a new Blu-ray product line called Paramount Presents, with special fold-out box art and the titles featured remastered in 4K. They’ve decided to add Flashdance (1983) as the fourth title in the series. Besides the nifty cover display and previously released features, you’ll also receive a new, 6-minute interview with director Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction), who discusses his memories of the production. And Paramount also have more Tom Cruise in 4K with the upgraded reissues of Top Gun (1986) and War of the Worlds (2005).
Finally, Warner Archive have a couple of new made-to-order Blu-rays. This week sees the release of the biopic, Selena (1997), with an early starring role for Jennifer Lopez as the famous singer. They also have the well-regarded romantic comedy, Sunday in New York (1963), starring Jane Fonda, Rod Taylor and Cliff Robertson.
You Know, For Kids!
Below you’ll find a list of some titles that might appeal to youngsters.
Arthur: Summer Stories (PBS Kids)
The Berenstain Bears: Fun and Games (PBS Kids)
The Berenstain Bears: Summer Vacation (PBS Kids)
The Loud House: Absolute Madness: Season 2, Volume 2 (Nickelodeon)
Nature Cat: Backyard Explorer (PBS Kids)
Onward
Pinkalicious & Peterrific: A Pinktastic Summer (PBS Kids)
PBS Kids: Outdoor Adventures (PBS Kids)
The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection (1964 – 1980)
Sonic the Hedgehog P
On the Tube!
And these are the week’s TV-related releases.
The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 6
Fear the Walking Dead: Season 5
Forever in My Heart (Hallmark TV-movie)
The Good Place: The Complete Series
Ken Burns Presents: The Gene: An Intimate History (PBS)
The Loud House: Absolute Madness: Season 2, Volume 2 (Nickelodeon)
Love to the Rescue (Hallmark TV-movie)
NOVA: Mysteries of Sleep (PBS)
Relieving Stress with Yoga with Peggy Cappy (PBS)