{"id":26526,"date":"2023-06-14T00:32:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T07:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=26526"},"modified":"2023-06-14T00:32:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T07:32:04","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-june-13th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=26526","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for June 13th, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to the latest look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray\nand DVD. This is a remarkably busy edition with plenty of big titles, as well as\na few interesting independent features. So, if you can\u2019t make it out to the\nmovies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to check out one\nof these titles!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIG NEW RELEASES!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BONE COLD \u2013 A family man who works as a sniper receives a\nroutine assignment to take out a target. He and his partner head out on foot to\na remote area in order to complete the job. Unfortunately, the intel they are\ngiven turns out to be very wrong and it leads them into trouble. As they try to\nmake their way back through the wilderness, they find themselves being stalked\nin the darkness by an inhuman being. There aren\u2019t many reviews available for\nthis independent thriller\/horror picture, and thus far response from critics\nhas been tepid. The only reviews state that while the concept is intriguing,\nthe film becomes sillier and sillier as it progresses. One individual commented\nthat the film\u2019s message is poorly delivered and doesn\u2019t make an impact. It\nfeatures Jonathan Stoddard, Matt Munroe, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss and Jennifer Khoe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 \u2013 The fourth and reportedly final chapter in the John Wick<\/em> series finds the title character on the run and hiding out from The High Table (who are a guild of assassins). When the new leader of this threatening organization makes it his mission to wipe out Wick and establish his complete power over his members, the protagonist uses it as an opportunity to finally end his long standing battle with them. Wick is chased across the globe as he attempts to confront The High Table kingpin. Notices were very strong for this sequel. A small number complained that the movie was repetitive and the running time was too long to hold their attention. But while admitting it was overextended, the vast majority were impressed with the incredibly elaborate action sequences and called the film a fitting end to the action franchise (at least, for now). The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson, Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd, Lawrence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Hiroyuki Sanada, Clancy Brown and Lance Reddick. To read a full review of the movie, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE MAN FROM TORONTO \u2013 A fitness instructor gets\nunceremoniously fired from his job. Panicked about what his wife will think and\nthe strain it will put on their marriage, he rents a lavish Airbnb as a gift\nfor her birthday. Unfortunately, the lead arrives at the wrong address, where a\nmurder involving the most dangerous assassin in the world is set to occur. The\nFBI arrive and tell the protagonist to help them capture the real killer. Our\nhero agrees, but is promptly kidnapped by the assassin. The two end up on the\nroad and on the run, where they start to become friends. This picture debuted\non Netflix last year and is finally arriving on Blu-ray. The press largely\npanned it. About one-quarter of them thought that the talented cast saved the movie\nand helped it deliver more than they were expecting. Everyone else complained\nthat much of the humor fell flat. They wrote that the end result was\nscattershot and uninspired. It stars Kevin Hart, Woody Harrelson, Jasmine\nMatthews, Kaley Cuoco, Pierson Fode and Ellen Barkin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ONE RANGER \u2013 This independent action picture involves a\nTexas Ranger tracking a bank robber across the desert. After a violent\nconfrontation, the officer\u2019s partner is killed. More is revealed about the\ncriminal when a British intelligence agent arrives. The spy informs the lead\nthat the murderer is actually an international terrorist who is planning on\ndetonating a bomb in London. The two must team up to hunt down the villain and\nstop him in his tracks. Response towards this effort hasn\u2019t been particularly\nstrong. A handful liked the actors and appreciated the film telling a modern\nstory with plenty of nods to old westerns. However, most found the plot\npreposterous and commented that the characters weren\u2019t well-developed. They\nalso suggested that the movie failed to generate much excitement. Thomas Jane,\nDean Jagger, Dominique Tripper and John Malkovich headline the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE POPE\u2019S EXORCIST \u2013 Apparently, the Vatican has a Chief\nExorcist, and this film claims that its story is based on a real event\ninvolving the figure. The Chief Exorcist is called to attend to a child who has\nbeen possessed by a powerful demon. After meeting with the youngster, the\npriest uncovers a devastating secret within the ranks of the Catholic Church.\nThe exorcist also learns that the creature inside the boy wanted him to come,\nso that the demon can possess him and then move on to the Pope himself. This\nhorror film split reviewers right down the middle. Half were surprised to see\nan Oscar-winner in this genre flick but thought his work elevated the feature\nconsiderably. They called it effective and stated it was better than many\nrecent horror movies. Still, just as many wrote that the movie was a collection\nof cliches that didn\u2019t frighten them for a moment. It features Russell Crowe,\nDaniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe and Franco Nero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SAKRA \u2013 Set in 1100 A.D. in China, this tale involves a\nwell-regarded martial arts expert who is accused of murdering a high-ranking\nofficial. While he didn\u2019t commit the crime, the man is immediately branded as a\ntraitor by everyone around him. He decides to prove his innocence, find out\nwhat really occurred and beat the heck out of anyone who tries to stop him in\nhis quest. The journey soon unearths a major conspiracy. This foreign-language\naction picture earned more positive write-ups than negative ones. Those who\ndisliked it found the story and political intrigue too confusing to follow and\ncouldn\u2019t get involved in the narrative. Yet two-thirds felt that the film was a\nvisual treat and that the martial arts sequences were incredible. It stars (and\nwas co-directed by) Donnie Yen. Yuqi Chen, Yase Liu, Yue Wu, Kara Wai and Eddie\nCheung also appear in the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE \u2013 The famous Nintendo game characters get an updated movie adaptation with this animated fable that became a box office smash. Struggling plumbers Mario and Luigi open a new business and are accidentally transported to an alternate world on their first job. The two get separated and Mario learns from Princess Peach that an evil foe named Bowser is planning on taking control of this strange universe before invading those beyond. Reaction from critics was slightly more positive than negative. A large number felt that the movie was solely interested in making video game in-jokes, leaving viewers with an underdeveloped narrative and a routine final product. Still, slightly more enjoyed the references and thought the film was bright and unexpectedly funny. They believed it would appeal to the entire family. The voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen and Fred Armisen. Read a full review of the film by clicking this link.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SWEETWATER \u2013 This narrative biopic tells the story of Nat\n“Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African American to sign an NBA\ncontract and play basketball in the league. Viewers see his early life and how\nhe rose in the ranks before joining the Harlem Globetrotters. After making an\nimpression on the coach of the New York Knickerbockers, he overcomes adversity\nand ends up being signed and playing through the 1950s. The press didn\u2019t give\nthis feature high marks. Less than one-quarter of reviewers recommended the\nfilm, suggesting it was an interesting and inspiring story that would be of\ninterest to basketball fans. Unfortunately, the majority called the tale bland\nand hackneyed, criticizing it for not providing a deeper understanding of the\nman or some of the behind-the-scenes issues the figure faced. It stars Everett\nOsborne, Carey Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Pollak, Richard Dreyfuss, Jim\nCaviezel, Emmaline and Eric Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TOMMY GUNS \u2013 This co-production is set in Angola in the year\n1974, at the end of the liberation war conflict between the Portuguese and\npro-independence groups. The film has two main plotlines. One involves a tribal\ngirl who falls in love with a Portuguese officer, and the other details a group\nof Portuguese soldiers who find themselves trapped in a barrack and under\nattack from figures from the past. This foreign-language title mixes war, drama\nand horror elements and it ultimately split reviewers. Half thought the movie\nwas overstuffed and that the sudden tonal shifts were bizarre and off-putting.\nThe same number suggested that despite its flaws, this was an intriguing work\nwith a unique sense of style and a memorable finale. It features Jo\u00e3o Arrais,\nAnabela Moreira, Gustavo Sumpta and Leonor Silveira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for something older, there are plenty of\noptions as well. ClassicFlix is delivering Hi Diddle Diddle<\/em> (1943) aka Diamonds\nand Crime<\/em> on Blu-ray. It\u2019s a well-regarded screwball comedy about a sailor\nwho weds a bride while on leave \u2013 everything seems to go wrong for them and\nthey get into a series of misadventures during their honeymoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Criterion is giving the cult classic Time Bandits<\/em>\n(1981) the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment. This fantasy\/dark comedy from\nTerry Gilliam (Brazil, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las\nVegas<\/em>) follows a young boy who meets some time-travelers. He helps them\nsquare off against an evil wizard and ends up meeting unusual and amusing\nversions of figures like Napoleon and Robin Hood. Gilliam supervised the new 4K\ntransfer of the movie, and it comes with a star-studded commentary (featuring\nGilliam, co-write Michael Palin, co-stars David Warner, John Cleese and more),\na program on how all the historical periods were created. You\u2019ll also get a\nconversation with the director from 1998, Shelley Duvall speaking about the\nfilm with Tom Snyder in 1981, rare set photographs and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dutch feature A Question of Silence<\/em> (1982) is\nbeing released on Blu-ray by Cult Epics. The story involves a psychiatrist attempting\nto determine why three women killed a male shopkeeper. The disc presents a 2K\nrestoration of the film, a movie scholar commentary, interviews and publicity\nmaterials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dark Force Entertainment is presenting a double-feature Blu-ray containing the swamp-based monster movie Bog<\/em> (1979) (pictured to the left) and the Jaws<\/em> knock-off Mako: Jaws of Death<\/em> (1976). It also comes with a feature that allows you to view the movies in \u201cdrive-in\u201d mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you can pick up a 4K Ultra HD edition of the\nslasher Scream<\/em> (1981) aka The Outing<\/em>. The plot involves a group\non a rafting excursion being hunted in a ghosttown by a maniac. No Blu-ray is\nincluded in this edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subscribers of the Disney Movie Club can pick up two new\nexclusives. The first is a 70th<\/sup> anniversary edition of the animated\nclassic, Peter Pan<\/em> (1953), which contains both a Blu-ray and a DVD of\nthe film. One assumes it has all of the same features as the out-of-print 65th<\/sup>\nanniversary Blu-ray. You can also pick up The Sword in the Stone<\/em> (1963)\nBlu-ray and DVD as a Movie Club exclusive in celebration of the title\u2019s 60th<\/sup>\nAnniversary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cheap Thrills<\/em> (2013) is being rereleased on Blu-ray\nfrom Drafthouse Films. It involves a family man who is offered financial\nsecurity from a wealthy couple if he partakes in a series of bizarre dares. The\noriginal edition included a director\/star commentary as well as a lengthy\nmaking, so one assumes this edition will have the very same extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kino is also reissuing some Blu-ray titles. They include the William Hurt mystery Gorky Park<\/em> (1983) from director Michael Apted (the long-running Up<\/em> documentary series, Gorillas in the Mist<\/em>, The World is Not Enough<\/em>). The distributor is making the Sean Connery\/Donald Sutherland adventure The Great Train Robbery<\/em> (1978) aka The First Great Train Robbery <\/em>available as well. You can also pick up the entertaining Richard Harris disaster picture, Juggernaut<\/em> (1974), in which the star plays a hero tasked with finding and diffusing a series of bombs hidden on an ocean liner. There’s an image of it on the right. Additionally, The Package<\/em> (1989) is an effective little thriller with Gene Hackman. All of these Blu-ray reissues should carry the same bonuses as the previous versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributor is also presenting a Blu-ray of the silent\nGerman comedy The Oyster Princess<\/em> (1919). The disc includes a film\nexpert commentary track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s a curious one. Liberation Hall is set to put out a\nBlu-ray of Project: ALF<\/em> (1996). The original ALF<\/em> was a comedy\nTV-series about a fast-talking alien living with and frustrating a family with\nhis eccentric behavior. It ran from 1986 to 1990 and ended on a cliffhanger.\nThis TV-movie came six years later and attempted to wrap up all of the loose\nends from the show. The cast includes Miguel Ferrer, Martin Sheen, Charles\nRobinson, Ed Begley Jr. and Ray Walston. There may be special features on the\ndisc, but this has yet to be confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mondo Macabro is putting out a Blu-ray of Dr. Caligari<\/em>\n(1989), a horror\/comedy about the granddaughter of the famous silent horror\nfilm character. It comes with a writer\/director commentary, tons of cast and\ncrew interviews and a trailer. The Witches Mountain<\/em> (1973) is a\nhard-to-find Spanish horror film that was banned in its homeland and follows a\nphotographer who sets out to get a picture of a coven of witches in the\nPyrenees. This Blu-ray arrives with a documentary that explains the movie\u2019s\nproduction and distribution woes, as well as a visual essay on the flick, an\naudio commentary, interviews with a cast member and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MVD Visual is known for releasing cult titles, but this week\nthe distributor is presenting a 4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray set of the famed Tom\nCruise\/Dustin Hoffman drama, Rain Man<\/em> (1988). This Best Picture-winner\nis about a car exporter who attends his estranged father\u2019s funeral and learns\nthat he has an autistic brother who has inherited his dad\u2019s entire estate. The\nlead initially kidnaps his sibling to try and find a way to get some of the\ninheritance, but soon begins to care deeply for his new brother. The movie also\nwon Academy Awards for Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Director (Barry\nLevinson) and Best Original Screenplay. Besides the picture upgrade, extras\ninclude a director commentary, a commentary each from both co-writers,\nfeaturettes, a deleted scene and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry if you\u2019d prefer something from MVD in the horror\nor action genre. You can also pick up Killzone<\/em> (1985) from\nwriter\/director David A. Prior (Deadly Prey<\/em>) on Blu-ray. It involves a\nViet Nam veteran who has a psychological breakdown and goes on a rampage\nthrough his hometown. The disc has a 4K restoration of the film and includes an\ninterview and commentary track with the producer\/co-writer, as well as a VHS\nversion of the movie and publicity materials.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Witchtrap<\/em> (1989) from MVD Visual features a\nparanormal squad called in to deal with a vengeful spirit in a haunted mansion.\nThis Blu-ray comes with a version emulating the 80s VHS release, as well as a\nwriter\/director commentary, interviews with cast members (including the\nfilmmaker himself and scream queen Leanna Quigley), a photo gallery and a\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Powerhouse Films is an international distributor who have\nbegun securing rights to release some of their products on the US market. This\nweek sees the release of the box set, Mexico Macabre: Four Sinister Tales\nfrom the Alameda Films Vault<\/em> on Blu-ray. It includes Black Pit of Dr. M<\/em>\n(1959), The Brainiac<\/em> (1962), The Curse of the Crying Woman<\/em> (1963)\nand The Witch\u2019s Mirror<\/em> (1962), along with loads of extras. This reviewer\nthinks The Brainiac<\/em> is a very entertaining Mexican B-movie with a\nmemorable and somewhat cheesy monster and looks forward to checking out the set\nat some point in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RaroVideo U.S. is presenting the Italian action\/crime\nthriller Caliber 9<\/em> (1972) on Blu-ray. Gastone Moschin plays a man\nreleased from prison who wants to go straight. Unfortunately, everyone from his\npast is convinced he hid money before his arrest and tries to hunt him down.\nThe title received a 4K restoration for this transfer and the disc arrives with\na film critic commentary track, a documentary on the movie, featurettes on\nlow-budget Italian crime pictures and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sandpiper is releasing Blu-rays of the Burt Lancaster\nwestern Lawman<\/em> (1971) and the Tom Berenger period film One Man\u2019s Hero<\/em>\n(1999). Burt Lancaster also appears in the thriller Scorpio<\/em> (1973), in\nwhich the actor plays a CIA agent who wants to retire, only to find himself\nbeing hunted by his employers (and the younger man who he has mentored for\nyears).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout! Factory is delivering the Shaw Brothers Classics:\nVolume<\/em> 1 Blu-ray box set. It contains the Hong Kong productions The\nAssassin<\/em> (1967), The Thundering Sword<\/em> (1967), Golden Swallow<\/em>\n(1968), The Jade Raksha<\/em> (1968), The Bells of Death<\/em> (1968), The\nSword of Swords<\/em> (1968), Killer Darts<\/em> (1968), The Invincible Fist <\/em>(1969),\nDragon Swamp<\/em> (1969), The Flying Dagger<\/em> (1969) and The Golden\nSword<\/em> (1969). Some of those pictures sound worth viewing just on their\ntitles alone… the Shaw Brothers certainly know how to sell their movies to\nthe public. As you might have guessed already, all of these features come with\nfilm expert commentaries, publicity materials and other bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silent film actor and comedian Raymond Griffith had an\nincredible career making hit comedies for Paramount Pictures during the early\ndays of cinema, but few remember him today. Undercrank Productions is trying to\ncorrect that oversight with the Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian<\/em>\nBlu-ray. It includes the well-received movies Paths to Paradise<\/em> (1925)\nand You\u2019d Be Surprised<\/em> (1926) with 2K digital restorations, as well as a\nbonus featurette giving more background information on the performer and his\nlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finally, Zeitgeist Films is delivering a 40th<\/sup>\nanniversary Blu-ray of The Draughtsman\u2019s Contract<\/em> (1982) from\nwriter\/director Peter Greenaway (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her\nLover<\/em>). The story follows a young artist hired to paint an estate by the\nwife of the landowner. He finds the job harder and more complicated than\nanticipated when the deceased body of the man who owns the mansion is\ndiscovered. The Blu-ray presents a 4K restoration of the film, along with a\nGreenaway intro to the film and audio commentary. It also comes with four\ndeleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, an interview with the movie\u2019s score\ncomposer and some Greenaway short films.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These releases may appeal to youngsters looking for some\nentertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barbie: <\/em>8-Movie Music Collection (Universal) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter Pan<\/em> (1953) (Disney Movie Club Exclusive)\nBlu-ray and DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sword in the Stone<\/em> (1963) (Disney Movie Club\nExclusive) Blu-ray and DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turbo<\/em>: The Complete Collection (Movie & 52 TV\nEpisodes) (Dreamworks) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ON THE TUBE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And all the week\u2019s TV-related titles are listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call the Midwife<\/em>: Season 12 (BBC) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa<\/em> (Hallmark)\nDVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallmark 6-Movie Collection: Love at First Dance, The Art\nof Us, Tulips in Spring, Dating the Delaneys, Fly Away with Me & Romance to\nthe Rescue<\/em> (Hallmark) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holdin<\/em>g (Acorn) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayberry R.F.D.<\/em>: The Complete Series (Warner\nBros.\/Studio Distribution Services) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Night Court<\/em>: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.\/Studio\nDistribution Services) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parenthood<\/em>: The Complete Series (Universal) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project: ALF<\/em> (1996) (TV-movie) (Liberation Hall)\nBlu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quantum Leap<\/em>: Season 1 (2022 series) (Universal)\nBlu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turbo<\/em>: The Complete Collection (Movie & 52 TV\nEpisodes) (Dreamworks) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Venture Bros<\/em>: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.\/Studio\nDistribution Services) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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