{"id":22434,"date":"2021-03-29T15:16:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T22:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=22434"},"modified":"2021-03-29T15:16:26","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T22:16:26","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-march-30th-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=22434","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for March 30th, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new week is here, which means it\u2019s time to look at some of\nthe highlights that are arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This edition features a\nsmall but impressive selection of big studio epics and Oscar-nominated fare,\nwhich means that there is likely something to appeal to everyone. So, since you\ncan\u2019t or likely shouldn\u2019t be going out to the movies right now, be sure to give\none of these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big New Releases!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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55 Steps<\/em> \u2013 Eleanor Riese is the subject of this\nEnglish-language German\/Belgian biopic. Set in San Francisco during the 1980s,\nthe story follows her trials as she is involuntarily detailed and committed to\na mental health facility. She manages to get in contact with a lawyer, who\nsteps in and discovers that the patient is being forced to endure severe and\ninhumane treatment at the hospital. This feature was made a couple of years ago\nand has been released everywhere else in the world, but had some difficulty\nfinding a US distributor. Reaction among critics in this part of the world to\nthe feature was split. About half suggested that it all came across as unexciting\nand stated that the movie needed more fire and passion. Just as many thought it\nwas powerful and had a great cast and strong performances. They also\ncomplimented the performances as being authentic and realistic. It stars Helena\nBonham Carter, Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Tambor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another Round<\/em> \u2013 Four high school teachers going through a mid-life crisis in Denmark lament how dull and predictable their lives have become. To combat their malaise, one of them proposes an unusual experiment based on a study suggesting that maintaining a specific blood-alcohol level can bring happiness and creativity. The friends try it out for themselves and find their experiment having unexpected effects. This foreign-language feature received rave reviews and has been nominated for Best International Film and Best Director at this year\u2019s Academy Awards. A small number of critics didn\u2019t like the characters or the fact that the movie avoided making judgments about their behavior. However, the vast majority called the movie one of the year\u2019s best for that very reason, saying it was brilliantly conceived and well-acted drama that would get viewers thinking and talking long after it ended. The cast includes Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe and Magnus Millang. To read a full review of the film, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Haymaker<\/em> \u2013 A retired Thai boxer looking for work\ndecides to take a job as a bouncer at a nightclub. One evening, he rescues a\ntransgender performer from a nasty thug. The two become friends and the fighter\nbecomes the artist\u2019s bodyguard and confidant. In the process, the protagonist\nalso begins to consider returning to the ring despite the potential dangers\ninvolved. This film received mixed reviews from the press, earning a few more\nnegative write-ups than positive ones. Those who liked it said that it was an\ninteresting tale that took viewers in a few unexpected directions. The rest\nfound it forced and dramatically flat, complaining that it didn\u2019t make the most\nof its unusual characters and situations. It features Nick Sasso, Nomi Ruiz, John Ventimiglia, Zoe Bell\nand D.B. Sweeney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Projectionist<\/em> \u2013 Most know filmmaker Abel Ferrara\nas the writer and director of gritty cult movies like Ms. 45<\/em>, King of\nNew York<\/em>, Bad Lieutenant<\/em> and Body Snatchers<\/em>. In this\ndocumentary, he meets with and talks to the owner of a notable cinema in\nQueens. They discuss the 1970s and how independent films of that era were made\nand distributed. The pair also discuss how much edgier and more interesting the\nold ways of moviemaking were than the current film scene. This feature received\nuniformly excellent notices from reviewers. While some of them feared that the\ntwo would simply attack recent moviemaking trends, they suggested that the mood\nwas upbeat. In fact, they called it an enjoyable tribute and wrote that the men\nshared some incredible stories about their experiences working in the movie\nbusiness in New York.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Toll<\/em> \u2013 A young woman decides to travel internationally and visit her father. After her plane lands, she hires a taxi to take her out to her dad\u2019s country home. On the way there, the car breaks down, leaving the two stranded in the middle of nowhere. It isn\u2019t long before the driver and fare begin to suspect they are being watched. Then, a series of threats and increasingly dangerous situations occur as the two find themselves being pursued by what they believe is a supernatural entity. It seems that critics didn\u2019t mind this independent horror flick. A few of them did critique the picture for being overly familiar and having too many plot holes to truly scare. However, the majority thought the actors were engaging and the movie maintained a creepy vibe. They also said the villain was a memorable foe. Jordan Hayes, Max Topplin and James McGowan headline the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Widow<\/em> \u2013 According to this film\u2019s press release, for\nmore than three decades people have been going missing in an isolated forest\nnorth of St. Petersburg in Russia. A team of volunteers decide to go into the\nwoods to try and find one of those who has recently gone missing there. They quickly\nlose communication with their basecamp and are soon hunted by a dark and\nviolent spirit known as the Limping Widow. There aren\u2019t a lot of reviews for\nthis foreign-language title yet and the ones that have appeared online have\nbeen mixed. Apparently, most have said that the concept is solid and that there\nis a lot of style and atmosphere on display. However, they also asserted that\nthe story takes too long to get going and that the climax was something of a\nletdown. The cast includes Viktotiya Potemina, Anastasiya Gribova and Margarita Bychkova. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wonder Woman 1984<\/em> \u2013 This DC sequel to the 2017 picks up decades after the events of the first movie. We see the title character now living in Washington, DC at a museum. A new threat arises after a magic stone with the power to make anyone\u2019s wish come true arrives for study. Then, a sinister figure steals the item and begins using it, causing worldwide chaos. Wonder Woman must stop the threat, as well as resist the corruptive power of the object. The movie received more positive reviews than negative ones, although several weren\u2019t as enthusiastic about this follow-up as they were about the original. Some complained that it was too long and bloated, also suggesting that they didn\u2019t care for the change in setting and new characters introduced. Still, slightly more said that while it was trying to do too much, it was still had its heart in the right place, had some memorable antagonists and was an enjoyably silly ride. It stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen. To read this site\u2019s review of the film, click here<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blasts from the Past!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If this week\u2019s new titles aren\u2019t enough for you, there are\nalso plenty of older flicks getting Blu-ray upgrades. In fact, it\u2019s an\nembarrassment of riches right now. Last year, Arrow released an amazing new\nversion of the classic horror\/comedy, An American Werewolf in London <\/em>(1981).\nNow, they\u2019re offering the film in special Limited Edition Steelbook packaging.\nIt comes with all the same fixings as the previous version, including a sharp\nnew remaster of the movie itself. So, if you haven\u2019t picked up the movie yet,\nyou can now do so and get it in a fancy tin with new artwork.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AGFA have a Blu-ray of the low-budget genre feature, Jungle\nTrap<\/em> (2016). The movie was made back in 1990 by an exploitation filmmaker\nwho never quite managed to finish it off. After recently discovering the\nunfinished flick, the man behind the movie finally managed to complete it. Five\nyears later, it\u2019s getting a fancy new release on disc with loads of extras.\nThis includes a commentary track with the director and star, a making-of featurette,\nouttakes, surviving footage from another production that ran out of funding and\na bonus movie from the filmmaker called Run Coyote Run<\/em> (1987).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MVD Visual have a special Marquee Edition Blu-ray of the\nMichael Jai White picture, Falcon Rising<\/em> (2014). In this throwback to\naction films of the 1980s, the actor plays an anti-hero with post-traumatic\nstress disorder. To combat his illness, he searches for a villain to take his aggression\nout on. He gets his wish after flying down to Sao Paulo, Brazil and\nencountering a crime syndicate in the city. The disc comes with a\nbehind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout! Factory have some Blu-ray exclusives available as\nwell. The first is a double-feature containing the fantasy B-movies Amazons<\/em>\n(1985) and Barbarian Queen<\/em> (1986). This release is limited to 1,000\nunits and it looks like they\u2019ve all been pre-sold, so if you\u2019re interested you\ncan follow Shout! Factory for updates and snag an order cancelation. They\u2019re\nalso offering The Big Bust-Out<\/em> (1972), a futuristic prison break movie featuring\nladies fighting their way to freedom. The negative has been given a 2K scan and\nit arrives with a trailer. This title is also an exclusive. Thankfully, it\nhasn\u2019t sold out yet, so for the time being it still can be ordered through\ntheir official site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Severin are offering a couple of big cult movies this week\nby Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia. The Day of the Beast <\/em>(1995) is\nan incredibly stylish and funny horror\/comedy about a rogue priest who\ndiscovers that the Antichrist is about to return. To find and stop the end of\nthe world, he begins taking part in illegal activities, listening to heavy\nmetal and fraternizing with Satanists so that he can get close to his target. The\naward-winning film is being made available as a 2-Disc Special Edition and a regular\nBlu-ray single disc Special Edition. It has been restored in 4K from the\noriginal negative and comes with a feature-length documentary, interviews with\nthe director, cast members and the director of photography. The disc also\nincludes a short by the filmmaker and some trailers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Perdita Durango<\/em> (1997) aka Dance with the Devil<\/em>\nwas Alex de la Igelsia\u2019s follow-up to the previous title. This English-language\neffort marked his first and only attempt to break into the US market. It was\nbased on a supporting character from the David Lynch 1990 film, Wild at\nHeart<\/em>. Viewers follows her as she heads out on a violent crime spree with\nher boyfriend. The movie featured an incredible cast including Rose Perez,\nJavier Bardem, James Gandolfini and Demian Bichir, but was far too graphic and\nshocking for North American audiences. It ended up being heavily edited and\ndidn\u2019t get much of a release here. Now you can pick a 4K version of this title completely\nuncut for the first time ever in this part of the world. Besides the upgraded\npresentation, you\u2019ll get an interview with the director, a talk with the\nscreenwriter, discussions with the film\u2019s composer and director of photography,\na new scholar reappraisal of the flick, as well as an interview with another\nmovie expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vinegar Syndrome have a small helping of rare genre films\ngetting the Blu-ray treatment. These releases will be available exclusively\nthrough their own website. The first title is the independent slasher The\nFear<\/em> (1995), about a group of college kids who arrive at a cabin, only to\nbeing pursued by a large wooden carving that they initially believe to be a home\ndecoration. The movie also features an onscreen appearance of late, great\nhorror filmmaker Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street<\/em>, the Scream<\/em>\nseries). This is a 4K restoration of camera negative and is presented uncut. The\ndisc comes with a director commentary and a second track with the executive\nproducer. You\u2019ll also get a 50-minute making-of documentary.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Frightmare<\/em> (1983) involves a horror movie host who\npasses away. When a horror film society decides to steal his body and have\ntheir own memorial for him, they\u2019re shocked to see the celebrity return from\nthe dead and hunt them down. This film has been restored in 2K from the camera\nnegative. Bonuses includes an interview with the cinematographer, an archival\ndiscussion the director, a historical commentary track and a trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributor also has a 4K restoration Blu-ray of the\nslasher Graduation Day<\/em> (1981). This release comes with a producer\ncommentary, a fan audio track and video interviews with various crew members. Hitcher\nin the Dark<\/em> (1989) is about a psychopath who drives around in a camper\nlooking for hitchhikers to murder. This disc includes a newly restored 4K\nimage, a film historian commentary, an archival interview with writer\/director\nUmberto Lenzi (Nightmare City<\/em>) and publicity materials. And you can also\npick up Nightmare Weekend<\/em> (1985) restored in 2K. It\u2019s a crazy and absurd\nflick about a computer that turns young women into bloodthirsty mutants. Like\nthe other titles being released, the distributor is presenting the movie uncut.\nIt is presented in 2K and comes with the alternate R-rated version, as well as\ninterviews with the make-up effects artist and associate producer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Underground are putting out a new, cost-friendly\nedition of the slasher, The New York Ripper<\/em> (1982). You\u2019ll get all the\nsame special features as the previously released disc and the identical 4K\nrestoration of the uncensored version from the original camera negative, all\nfor an even lower price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For years, Kino have been doing an excellent job of finding\nand distributing studio catalog titles on Blu-ray. This week, they have the\nBette Midler\/Nathan Lane comedy, Isn\u2019t She Great<\/em> (2000). The disc\nincludes a film historian commentary and a trailer. Lust, Caution<\/em> (2007)\nwas an early feature from director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain<\/em>, Life\nof Pi<\/em>). It\u2019s getting a new Blu-ray with a movie expert audio track, as well\nas a making-of featurette. The French\/Italian crime comedy A Pain in the Ass<\/em>\n(1973) is also arriving in high definition. This release includes a 2K\nrestoration and a critic commentary, as well as a trailer. The identical specs\nare included on the Blu-ray of Rosebud <\/em>(1975), a thriller with Peter\nO\u2019Toole. Stiletto<\/em> (1969) follows the adventures of a mafia hitman. This\ntitle arrives on disc with a 4K restoration, film historian track and multiple\ntrailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The big studios also have plenty to choose from. They\u2019re\ngiving the excellent sports comedy The Bad News Bears<\/em> (1976) its Blu-ray\ndebut. Walter Matthau plays a hard-drinking little league coach who, in his own\neccentric way, attempts to inspire his team of misfits into winning their league\nchampionship. Writer\/director Kevin Smith (Clerks<\/em>, Mallrats<\/em>) is a\nfan of the film and offers his thoughts on the movie as a bonus. Co-star Jackie\nEarl Haley also discusses the feature and presents home movies from the set.\nAdditionally, the release includes a talk with the producer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just in time for Easter, the studio is also putting out a 4K\nedition of the religious epic, The Ten Commandments<\/em> (1956). In addition\nto a cleaned-up version of the movie for those with an enhanced video and audio\nset up, you\u2019ll also get a regular Blu-ray with all the previously released\nextras for the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greatest Show on Earth<\/em> (1952) is also coming\ncourtesy of the studio\u2019s Paramount Presents line. This Best Picture Oscar-winner\nabout a circus stars Charlton Heston and Jimmy Stewart. It arrives with\nimproved picture quality and a discussion on the movie with film critics\nLeonard Maltin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Criterion also have some new titles arriving on Blu-ray. Defending\nYour Life<\/em> (1991) is a hilarious comedy from Albert Brooks (Lost in\nAmerica<\/em>) about an insecure and neurotic man who dies unexpectedly. To get\ninto Heaven, he must take part in a trial and argue that he lived a selfless\nand noble existence. The movie has been given a 4K digital restoration\nsupervised by Brooks. Bonuses include conversation with the performer, a talk\nwith a theologian about the afterlife, archival interviews with the cast and\ncrew and a trailer.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have a Blu-ray of the Ingmar Bergman classic, Persona<\/em>\n(1966). This Swedish art film arrives with a 2K digital restoration, a visual\nessay on the movie\u2019s prologue, an interview with one of the actors and\nfilmmaker\/fan Paul Schrader (First Reformed<\/em>, Affliction<\/em>),\narchival discussions with the cast and crew, on set footage and a feature\ndocumentary on Bergman and his movies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Additionally, the distributor is releasing the\nOscar-nominated drama Secrets & Lies<\/em> (1996) in high definition. It\u2019s\nabout a London woman who decides to find and meet her biological mother. She\narrives while her parent is in the middle of a personal crisis leading to more tension.\nYou\u2019ll get a 2K digital restoration of this film. It also comes with a new\nconversation with director Mike Leigh (Waterloo<\/em>, Another Year<\/em>), a\ntalk with the composer, an interview with a cast member, an audio discussion\nwith the moviemaker and a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sony are presenting a Blu-ray of the Angelina Jolie drama, Girl\nInterrupted<\/em> (1999), which also features Winona Ryder and Elizabeth Moss. And\nif you\u2019re a gamer, then you might be interested in the studio\u2019s 4K release of Kingsglaive:\nFinal Fantasy XV<\/em>  (2016), an animated\nfeature based on the video game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of games, you can also pick up the Mortal Kombat\n2-Film Collection<\/em> Blu-ray from Warner Brothers. The set includes Mortal\nKombat<\/em> (1995) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation<\/em> (1997). This release is\nobviously arriving to coincide with a new reboot of the franchise that should\nbe arriving in a few weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, the studio\u2019s made-to-order Warner Archive line is\nalso delivering a Blu-ray of the Boris Karloff horror pic, Isle of the Dead<\/em>\n(1945). Set on a Greek island, this tale involves a group of people trying to\ndetermine if a series of deaths in the area might be the result of an evil spirit\nrumored to reside nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Know, For Kids!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for something for younger viewers, here\u2019s\nwhat\u2019s available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers<\/em>: The Complete Series<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Tube!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you\u2019ll find all the TV-themed releases arriving on disc\nlisted below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alienist: Angel of Darkness<\/em> (Season 2)
American Experience: Voice of Freedom<\/em> (PBS)
Journeys Through French Cinema<\/em> (2017-2018) mini-series
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers<\/em>: The Complete Series
A Perfect Planet (with David Attenborough)<\/em> 4K (BBC)
The South Westerlies\ufeff<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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