{"id":23002,"date":"2021-06-28T16:33:24","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T23:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=23002"},"modified":"2021-06-28T16:33:24","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T23:33:24","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-june-29th-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=23002","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for June 29th, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray\nand DVD. This edition includes plenty of quirky offerings as well as a number\nof older features receiving high-definition upgrades. So, if you can\u2019t make it\nout or shouldn\u2019t be attending the movies just yet, be sure to give one of these\ntitles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Adoration<\/em> \u2013 This Belgian\/French drama follows a 12-year-old\nwho lives in the country. The boy spends days on his own while his mother heads\noff to her job at a nearby psychiatric hospital. One day, he meets a teenage\ngirl who happens to be a patient from the institute. The youngster becomes\ninfatuated with her and agrees to help her escape. However, as they travel into\nthe woods, her condition worsens and she begins acting out in rash and\nunpredictable ways. Critics were very taken by this foreign-language feature.\nOne or two had issues with the lead\u2019s unfailing puppy love and were frustrated\nby his poor choices. But all others commented that the movie was intriguing throughout\nand, for a story about a pair of lovelorn kids, managed to address and examine\nserious issues. The cast includes Thomas Gioria, Fantine Harduin, Beno\u00eet\nPoelvoorde and Gwendolyn Gourvenec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donny\u2019s Bar Mitzvah<\/em> \u2013 A lost videotape from 1998\nshows a young man celebrating his Bar Mitzvah with a large gathering of friends\nand family. A camera crew follows the lead and other attendees through the entire\nevent. It becomes clear that the youngster\u2019s parents aren\u2019t the nicest people\nin the world and that undercover agents may be readying a sting operation as\nthe party progresses. Obviously, this independent mockumentary was shot to look\nlike an old home video and the press appeared to be split on the results. About\nhalf thought the movie was obnoxious and over-the-top in every way imaginable,\nmaking it a chore to sit through. The same number appreciated it for that very\nreason, saying they found the many uncomfortable and awkward moments extremely\namusing to watch. It stars Steele Stebbins, Jeremy Tardy, John DeLuca, Tricia\nO\u2019Kelley, Noureen DeWulf, Wendy Braun and Danny Trejo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here Are the Young Men<\/em> \u2013 A trio of unstable teenagers\nin Dublin, Ireland skip class and go on a wild rampage in this drama.\nInitially, the truant kids simply drink and party among themselves. But as time\npasses, their behavior becomes brasher and more destructive. Soon, they\u2019re\ncommitting crimes and causing havoc around the community. Naturally, as things\nget out of hand they must grapple with their own instincts and actions.\nReaction was mixed-negative towards this feature. Some found it to be an\neffective and disturbing portrait of disaffected young men on a sharp and toxic\ndownward spiral. Unfortunately, the majority commented that the message of the\nfilm felt muddled and that the supporting characters were actually better\nwritten than the protagonists. Dean-Charles Chapman, Finn Cole, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo and Anya Taylor-Joy\nheadline the feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions <\/em>\u2013\nPress releases for this documentary from Severin say that the movie is the\nfirst true and uncensored account of W.A.V.E. Productions, a New Jersey-based\nindependent horror movie studio. The company has made more than 400 extremely\nlow-budget, straight-to-video titles since the 1980s. Oddly enough, many of these\nflicks are scripted by fans, who also provide funding for the outfit. Using\ninterview footage with W.A.V.E. founder\/director Gary Whitson and those who\nhave worked on various projects, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at this\nunusual company and their eccentric working methods. There currently aren\u2019t any\nreviews available for the film. It will be available to purchase on Blu-ray\nexclusively on the Severin website. Tina Krause, Pamela Sutch, Debbie D, Dave\nCastiglione, Laura Giglio, Deanna Demko, Aven Warren and Clancy McCauley make\nappearances in the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Percy Vs Goliath<\/em> \u2013 Based on real events from a 1998\nlawsuit, this movie tells the story of a farmer who was sued by global\nconglomerate Monsanto. Decades after the company\u2019s genetically modified canola\nseed is accidentally blown onto his field from a neighboring farm, executives assert\nthat the resultant crop is their property and insist that the landowner pay them\nan enormous licensing fee. The shocked farmer fights them in court to maintain\ncontrol of his farm. Write-ups were generally positive for this drama. A few\ncomplained that the movie wasn\u2019t memorable enough compared to other underdog\nstories about individuals forced into fight greedy corporations. Still, most\nthought that the cast were excellent and that the low-key feature was not only compelling,\nbut inspiring as well. For the time being, it is only being released on DVD. It\nstars Christopher Walken, Zach Braff, Christina Ricci, Adam Beach and Martin\nDonovan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shiva Baby<\/em> \u2013 This tale follows a college student attending\na wake with her parents. The somber occasion is stressful enough, but things\nget out of hand when the lead\u2019s sugar daddy and ex-girlfriend arrive to pay\ntheir respects. They decide to take the opportunity to address their own personal\nissues with the protagonist, creating a tense situation all around. Critics\nwere impressed with this independent comedy. There were only a few negative\nnotices that said the central character was unlikable and that the concept had\nbeen stretched out to an interminable length. Still, the vast majority called\nthe movie extremely sharp and clever. They stated that they were impressed by\nthe performances and darkly humorous examinations of jealousy and other\ncomplicated aspects of relationships. It was also described as a memorable\ndebut film for the writer\/director and lead actress. The cast includes Rachel\nSennott, Molly Gordon, Polly Draper and Danny Deferrari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stardust <\/em>\u2013 Iconic musician David Bowie is the focus\nof this biopic. It details the artist at the beginning of his career and making\nhis first visit to the US in 1971 to promote the album \u201cThe Man Who Sold the\nWorld\u201d. While traveling with his publicist, Bowie becomes upset at the lack of press\nhe\u2019s receiving from the record company. The highs and lows of the trip\nultimately inspire him to create his Ziggy Stardust stage persona. The press\ndidn\u2019t have a favorable reaction towards this biopic (which was not officially\nendorsed by the Bowie estate and does not use music from the artist). Those who\nenjoyed it said that it was a small but interesting take on Bowie that featured\nstrong performances and effectively detailed the difficulties he had breaking\ninto the North American market. However, the majority complained that the film didn\u2019t\noffer anything new or exciting about its subject and wanted actual Bowie songs\nto be featured. Johnny Flynn, Marc Maron, Jena Malone, Anthony Flanagan and\nAaron Poole headline the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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There are plenty of options this week if you\u2019re looking to watch something a little older. Arrow Video are releasing a 2-disc Limited Edition Blu-ray of Major Dundee<\/em> (1965). This western from legendary director Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch<\/em>, Straw Dogs<\/em>, The Getaway<\/em>) follows a demoted but vainglorious Union Cavalry officer who decides to assemble a team of criminals to help him track down an enemy force. It stars Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, James Coburn and Warren Oates. The disc includes 4K scans of the theatrical and extended versions, multiple audio commentaries with film historians, a visual essay on the movie, a feature-length making-of documentary, an interview with filmmaker Mike Siegel about his ongoing project on the life and work of Peckinpah, extensive publicity materials and much, much more. If you want to know more, read this review<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFGA are putting out a Blu-ray of the British feature, The\nLeather Boys<\/em> (1968). It\u2019s a drama about a teenage girl who weds a biker\ngang member and quickly becomes disillusioned with married life. Directed by\nSidney J. Furie (The Ipcress File<\/em>, The Entity<\/em>), the movie has\nbeen given a new restoration from the original 35mm negative. In addition to\nthe picture upgrade, you\u2019ll also get an audio commentary with Furie, audio\ninterviews with stars Rita Tushingham and Dudley Sutton, as well as a short\nfrom the era dealing with some of the themes of the feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shout! Factory have a new Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray\nof the low-budget, Roger Corman Star Wars<\/em> knock-off, Battle Beyond\nthe Stars<\/em> (1980). This movie is perhaps most notable for the crew members\ninvolved in the production, who would all go on to greater things. The disc\nfeatures a new 2K scan of the interpositive, one audio commentary with\nOscar-nominated screenwriter John Sayles and producer Corman, a second with\nproducer Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator<\/em>, Aliens<\/em>, Armageddon<\/em>,\nThe Walking Dead<\/em> TV-series). It also comes with a featurette on the\ntechnical challenges of creating a low-budget sci-fi movie, an interview with\nstar Richard Thomas and all sorts of publicity materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a Gigolo<\/em> (1978) is a drama that features a\nstarring role for musician David Bowie (it was his second onscreen appearance\nafter The Man Who Fell to Earth<\/em>). In this title, he plays a veteran who\ncan\u2019t find work after the end of WWII and becomes a gigolo in Berlin. The\nBlu-ray arrives with a 32-page booklet about the movie, a making-of featuring\nthe writer\/producer and the director, as well as an audio commentary with the\nfilmmaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you like Mae West movies, you\u2019re in luck this week. Kino\nhave collected a number of her features together for the Mae West Collection\n(1932 \u2013 1940)<\/em> Blu-ray box set. Alphabetically, it includes Belle of the\nNineties<\/em> (1934), Every Day\u2019s a Holiday<\/em> (1937), Goin\u2019 to Town<\/em>\n(1935), Go West Young Man<\/em> (1936), I\u2019m No Angel<\/em> (1944), Klondike\nAnnie<\/em> (1936), My Little Chickadee<\/em> (1940), Night After Night<\/em>\n(1932) and She Done Him Wrong<\/em> (1933). Many of the titles have been given\nrestorations (some in 4K) and it look like every disc comes with at least one\nfilm historian commentary and other trailers. If the set is a bit of an\noverload, all of the titles included can also be purchased individually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And for those looking for something more recent, Kino also\nhave a Blu-ray of the Jessica Lange\/Kathy Bates drama, Bonneville<\/em> (2006).\nThe disc includes a trailer for the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those looking for art house classics can pick up a Blu-ray\nof Pariah<\/em> (2011) courtesy of Criterion. It\u2019s an award-winning\ncoming-of-age tale detailing the experiences of a Brooklyn teenager wrestling\nwith her sexual identity. The movie has been given a 2K digital transfer and\nbonuses include a discussion with the director, a cast and crew reunion, a new\nprogram on the making-of the film (that features interviews with most of the\ncast and crew), as well as an interview with a scholar who discusses the story\u2019s\nthemes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pickup on South Street<\/em> (1953) is a film noir about a\nNew York City subway pickpocket who ends up accidentally stealing top secret\ngovernment information. It leads to a lengthy chase in which authorities try to\nhunt him down and retrieve the important details. This Oscar-winning classic\nfrom Samuel Fuller (Shock Corridor<\/em>, The Naked Kiss<\/em>) has been\nreleased on Blu-ray in the past, but went out-of-print a few years ago. It has\nnow been repressed and comes with a new 4K digital restoration, a critic\ninterview detailing the film\u2019s importance, an archival interview with Fuller\nand plenty more.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Genre fans have a few items to choose from. Code Red are\nreleasing a Blu-ray of the Italian slasher, Delirium<\/em> (1987). It\u2019s about\na psychopath targeting models doing photo spreads for a men\u2019s magazine. Besides\na 2016 HD master of the film itself, interviews with the director,\ncinematographer, art director and cast members. In addition, there are vintage\ninterviews with the participants and trailers for other features from the\ndistributor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scorpion has Night Terror<\/em> (1977) aka Night Drive<\/em> on Blu-ray. Pictured just to the left of this paragraph, this is a well-regarded made-for-TV thriller starring Valerie Harper as a housewife who witnesses a murder on the highway and then becomes the target of the killer. This release includes a TV-movie critic audio commentary who gives viewers details about the production and how effective and successful the program was when it first aired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who enjoy anime can pick up a Blu-ray of the Japanese\nfeature Memories<\/em> (1995) from Discotek Media. It\u2019s an animated anthology\nfeaturing a trio of science-fiction stories. The picture has been restored for\ndisc and there\u2019s a new subtitle translation. A recently recorded\nEnglish-language audio track is also present on this disc, as well as publicity\nmaterials and featurettes about the movie.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthouse film enthusiasts can now purchase Poison<\/em> (1991)\non Blu-ray from Zeitgeist Film. It\u2019s the first feature from writer\/director\nTodd Haynes (Far from Heaven<\/em>, Carol<\/em>, Wonderstruck<\/em>, Dark\nWaters<\/em>). The narrative drama involves three different stories about\noutsiders whose lives intersect as events progress. The disc includes a new\nintroduction by Haynes, a Sundance Film Festival Q&A with the filmmaker and\nproducers celebrating the movie\u2019s 20th<\/sup> anniversary, an archival\ndirector commentary track and other extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paramount are also digging into their back catalog. They are\nreleasing the war flick Flight of the Intruder <\/em>(1991) on Blu-ray. The\nstory follows an unauthorized bombing mission and features Danny Glover and\nWillem Dafoe. On a similar bent, The General\u2019s Daughter<\/em> (1999) is a\nmilitary base-set murder-mystery starring John Travolta. John Wayne and Kirk Douglas\nlead the cast of In Harm\u2019s Way<\/em> (1965). It is about a disgraced captain\nin the US Navy who tries to make amends by completing a dangerous and\npotentially deadly mission. The studio is also putting out a Blu-ray of the\nSteve McQueen racing drama, Le Mans<\/em> (1971). This movie is noted for its\nauthentic mood and many critics praised it upon its release as feeling almost\nlike a documentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warner Brothers is giving the 4K treatment to a family\nfavorite this week. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory<\/em> (1971) was\nthe first adaptation of the beloved Roald Dahl book, Charlie and the\nChocolate Factory<\/em>. For those unfamiliar, it\u2019s about a poor, starving child\nwho wins a ticket to tour the enormous workshop of a very eccentric\nchocolatier. The movie features some trippy psychedelic imagery and an iconic\nperformance from Gene Wilder as the title character. Bonuses on the 4K are\nidentical to previous releases, just with improved picture quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, Warner Archive are making the biopic Madame\nCurie<\/em> (1943) available as a made-to-order Blu-ray. The movie details the\nlife of the famous female physicist who conducted ground-breaking research on\nradioactivity. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and is finally making\nits high definition debut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Here are some titles that may appeal to youngsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts<\/em>: The Complete Series
Nyanbo!<\/em>: The Complete Series <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

And these are some of the TV-themed releases coming your\nway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloodlands<\/em> (Acorn Original)
Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing<\/em> (Hallmark Channel) DVD
Drunk History<\/em>: The Complete Series
A Fixer Upper Mystery<\/em>: 3-Movie Collection (Hallmark Channel) DVD
Hallmark 3-Movie Collection: Bottled with Love \/ Follow Me to Daisy Hills \/ Falling for Look Lodge<\/em> DVD
Hallmark 3-Movie Collection: Crown for Christmas \/ A Christmas Melody \/ It’s Christmas, Eve<\/em> DVD
Hallmark 3-Movie Collection: Just Add Romance \/ The Sweetest Heart \/ Easter Under Wraps<\/em> DVD
His Dark Materials<\/em>: Season 2
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts<\/em>: The Complete Series
I Know This Much Is True<\/em> (HBO movie) DVD only
Masterpiece: Us<\/em> (PBS)
The Murders<\/em>: Season 1
Nyanbo!<\/em>: The Complete Series
The Purge<\/em>: The Complete Series
The Purge<\/em>: Season 2
The Watch<\/em>: Season 1 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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