{"id":26602,"date":"2023-06-28T00:29:26","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T07:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=26602"},"modified":"2023-06-28T00:29:26","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T07:29:26","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-june-27th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=26602","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for June 27th, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights coming your way on\nBlu-ray and DVD. There are plenty of interesting features arriving this week,\nincluding a sequel for a major horror franchise. So, if you can\u2019t make it out\nto the movies this week or need to stay indoors, 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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BIG GEORGE FOREMAN \u2013 Also known as Big George Foreman:\nThe Miraculous Story of the Once and<\/em> Future Heavyweight Champion of the\nWorld<\/em>, this biopic tells the story of, well, exactly what is detailed in\nthe extended title. It tells viewers about his impoverished childhood, rise to\nthe top of the boxing world not once but twice, as well as a near-death\nexperience that resulted in a move to serving the church. Critics were mixed\nabout the final product and it earned a few more negative reviews than positive\nones. Those who enjoyed the movie liked the cast and stated that the story\nbeing relayed was incredible and that they wouldn\u2019t have believed it all if it\nwasn\u2019t actually true. Unfortunately, more felt that it was overly sentimental,\ntried to cover too much material, and ultimately didn\u2019t delve deeply into all\nof the unusual twists and turns the figure\u2019s life has taken. It stars Khris\nDavis, Forest Whitaker, Jasmine Matthews, Sullivan Jones and Lawrence Gillard\nJr..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CLAYDREAM \u2013 This documentary focuses on innovator Will\nVinton, who developed and pioneered a technique of claymation animation while\nattending college at Berkeley. After winning an Academy Award for his work and\nforming his own company, competitors in his field began appearing and a feeling\nof disenchantment began arising at his production house. Using interviews with\nmany of those involved as well as animators whose work he inspired, the film\nshows this figure\u2019s rise and fall. The press was taken by the feature. One or\ntwo complained that the movie lacked focus and didn\u2019t manage to make a specific\nargument about its subject. The rest appreciated the approach, saying it was an\nhonest portrait of a figure, detailing the highs and lows of his career without\nsuccumbing to hero worship. Other animators like Nick Park, Bill Plympton and\nCraig Bartlett are interviewed in the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EVIL DEAD RISE \u2013 The latest chapter in the Evil Dead<\/em>\nseries isn\u2019t a sequel to the 2013 reboot of the original. Instead, it tells a\nstory about a woman visiting her estranged sister and her family in their\napartment in order to repair their relationship. When someone in the household\nfinds a recording of the Necronomicon and plays it aloud, they are attacked by\ndemons and some of them succumb to possession. Notices were extremely good for\nthis horror film. A small contingent suggested that while individual sequences\nwere excellent, the movie didn\u2019t come together or make a big imprint on them.\nAll others called it stylish and terrifyingly grotesque, noting that the energy\nlevel was off-the-charts and that there were several disturbing moments that\nthey wouldn\u2019t soon forget. It features Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan\nDavies, Gabrielle Echols and Nell Fisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A NEW OLD PLAY \u2013 This foreign-language feature from China\nwas scheduled for release at the end of May, but hit a delay and is only now\narriving on disc. It tells the story of a clown in a theater troupe who suddenly\ndies. His spirit arrives in the underworld, where he relives some of the most\nimportant moments of his life. These memories are tied into some important\nevents in the country\u2019s history and he attempts to process and make sense of\nwhat he has experienced and the lives he has touched. This picture earned\nplenty of awards in its homeland and at various international film festivals.\nAll notices were positive, calling the 3-hour epic surprisingly fast-paced,\nwell-acted and moving. They complimented some of the satirical elements and how\nit examined the history of China in a unique manner. Tao Gu, Nan Guan and Chen\nJianing headline the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PLEASE BABY PLEASE \u2013 A pair of newlyweds go through a\ntumultuous change after going on a honeymoon. They become the obsession of a\nbiker gang, who begin pursuing them. The chase apparently awakens questions in\nthe couple\u2019s marriage and puts their sexual and gender identities into\nquestion. This independent musical\/drama received more positive write-ups than\nnegative ones. Those who panned the picture described the screenplay as being\nso blunt and self-satisfied that the movie had an obnoxious tone. However, the\nmajority thought that the film was wild and completely off-the-wall, saying\nthat it was intriguing and did a good job of promoting its cause. It also was\ndelayed from the end of May, but should be arriving this week. The cast\nincludes Andrea Riseborough, Harry Melling, Demi Moore and Karl Glusman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE TANK \u2013 This independent horror film from New Zealand\ninvolves a man and his wife who inherit an abandoned coastal property that his\nmom never told him about. They arrive and find an eerie, untouched estate on\nthe beach. Baffled, the lead tries to do repairs and search the house for the\nanswer why no one ever talked about it. He learns the answer after releasing a\nmonster while trying to fix the water tank beneath the property. This effort\ndidn\u2019t fare particularly well with critics. About one-third of them thought\nthat the movie was well-produced, featured nifty-looking monsters and delivered\nthe required chills. But sadly, the consensus was that it was a pastiche of\nolder, better creature features that felt unoriginal and left the protagonists\nundeveloped. It stars Luciane Buchanan, Matt Whelan, Zara Nausbaum and Regina Hegemann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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If you\u2019re wondering what older features will be appearing in high definition, there is a huge number arriving. So many, in fact, that we’re going to have to rush through a few. It\u2019s important to first note that Arrow Video is releasing Enter the Video Store: Empire of Screams Collector\u2019s Set<\/em> Blu-ray. It contains some titles from the prime days of Empire Pictures, a production company founded by Albert Band (who would later form Full Moon Pictures). This box contains The Dungeonmaster<\/em> (1984), Dolls<\/em> (1987), Cellar Dweller<\/em> (1987), Arena<\/em> (1989) and Robot Jox<\/em> (1989). Two of the films were directed by genre fave Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond<\/em>), while make-ups effects titan John Carl Buechler (Friday the 13th<\/sup> Part VII: The New Blood<\/em>) either directed or co-directed a pair of titles. You\u2019ll get sharper picture quality on all the titles, as well as a ton of extras that include archived and new commentary tracks featuring film historians and\/or those behind the lens. It also comes with interviews with various cast and crew members, publicity materials and more, housed in a fantastic-looking box. The set is pretty amazing and is already selling out on various sites, so act quickly if you\u2019re interested. A full review of the release will be appearing shortly. Read a full review of the set here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arrow Video enthusiasts can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray edition of the amusing comedy Mallrats<\/em> (1995), which was the\nfirst studio picture from writer\/director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy,\nDogma<\/em>) and featured a group of characters hanging out at a local shopping\nmall. Besides the picture upgrade, it includes most if not all of the extras\nfrom previous editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same is true for Waterworld<\/em> (1995), the expensive\nKevin Costner action picture. It was a critical and box office bomb back in the\nday, but has found a following after the release of an extended TV version.\nThis set contains 4K Ultra HD and Blu-rays of the theatrical version, as well\nas 2K editions of TV cut and the preferred Ulysses Cut (which combines all the\nfootage together into the most coherent edition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irreversible<\/em> (2002) from Altered Innocence is a title\nthat was first released as an exclusive on the Vinegar Syndrome website. This\nunsettling French shocker is now available everywhere. The movie begins with a\nhorrendous murder and then plays in reverse to reveal the initial act that\ninspired it.  It comes with a lengthy making-of, a video essay on the\nmovie, an effects featurette, music videos and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Underground is giving some of their older catalog\ntitles 4K Ultra HD upgrades. You can now pick up new editions of Daughters\nof Darkness<\/em> (1971) and the excellent chiller Dead & Buried<\/em>\n(1981). Please note that Blu-rays are not included in this edition, so it is\nonly for those who want to own 4K versions of each film without all the bonuses\nfrom earlier releases.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blu-ray box set Pasolini 101<\/em> is arriving from the\nCriterion Collection. It contains nine titles from the filmmaker, including Accattone<\/em>\n(1961), Mamma Roma<\/em> (1962), Love Meetings<\/em> (1964), The Gospel\nAccording to Matthew<\/em> (1964), The Hawks and the Sparrows<\/em> (1966), Oedipus\nRex<\/em> (1967), Teorema<\/em> (1968), Porcile<\/em> (1969) and Medea<\/em> (1969).\nSeven films appear with 4K restorations while two are given 2K restorations. It\nincludes two short films from Pasolini, a program on the artist\u2019s visual style,\nfilm historian audio commentaries on a pair of titles featured, documentaries\non Pasolini\u2019s life and pictures, interviews with filmmakers and scholars.\nTrailers, a French program from 1966 about the director and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Russian filmmakers made some\nwild, brightly colored and over-the-top family movie adaptations of their\nfamous poems and fairy tales. The Tale of Tsar Saltan<\/em> (1967) is one of\nthese efforts and it\u2019s arriving on Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile Films. The movie\nis based on a classic poem by Alexander Pushkin and features a heroic tsar\ndoing battle with an evil sorcerer. It comes with a film historian commentary,\na lengthy discussion about the director with his visual effects artist and a\nlengthy booklet with an essay on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bohachi Bushido: The Villain<\/em> (1974) is arriving on\nBlu-ray from Discotek Media. It follows a ronin who is condemned to death, only\nto be saved by a criminal organization who demand that he help them defeat\ntheir enemies. It doesn\u2019t come with any supplemental material, but at least\ninterested parties can finally purchase the movie on disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disney is delivering another Wal-Mart exclusive Blu-ray that\ncomes with a collectible pin. The title is Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic\nShorts \u2013 Volume 2 <\/em>and it contains more animated short films with familiar\nDisney characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trouble Every Day<\/em> (2001) is an effort from French\ndirector Claire Denis (High Life, Stars at Noon<\/em>) that stars Vincent\nGallo. The Film Desk is putting out a Blu-ray of the film that contains a video\nessay on the movie, a film expert commentary and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you enjoy silent movies, you can pick up a Blu-ray of\nErich von Stroheim\u2019s Foolish Wives<\/em> (1922) from Flicker Alley. It follows\na con artist pretending to be a Russian count in order to swindle women, only\nto discover that several previous victims are now plotting revenge. In addition\nto a 4K picture restoration, it comes with short documentaries on the movie and\ndirector, as well as a look at how the image was restored for this\nrelease.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun City Editions is delivering the Scottish drama Morvern Callar<\/em> (2002) on Blu-ray. Pictured above and to the right, it stars Samantha Morton as a young woman using some fraudulent methods to try and change her life after discovering that her boyfriend has committed suicide. It was written and directed by Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here<\/em>) and the disc includes a film historian commentary, a video essay on the movie, as well as a ton of publicity material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kino is putting out several discs as well. You can pick up\nthe Julie Andrews drama Duet for One<\/em> (1986) on Blu-ray. It contains a 2K\nrestoration of the film. If you like Gerard Depardieu, the French comedies La\nChevre<\/em> (1981) aka The Goat<\/em> and Les Comperes<\/em> (1983) aka The\nComDads<\/em> are receiving Blu-ray releases as well. Both pictures have been\ngiven 2K upgrades from French studio Gaumont with film historian commentaries\nand trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up the well-regarded Taiwan production Millenium\nMambo<\/em> (2001) on Blu-ray as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans of exploitation pictures may appreciate Prison Girls<\/em>\n(1972), which contains both 3D and 2D versions of the film on Blu-ray,\nalongside a film expert commentary track, deleted scene and trailer. The\nWhite Buffalo<\/em> (1977) is a crazy Charles Bronson period flick in which the\nstar plays a man hunting a gigantic and monstrous buffalo in the wilderness. It\nborrows liberally from the classic Jaws and isn\u2019t as effective, but may provide\na few laughs. The movie has been restored in 2K and arrives with a movie\nauthority commentary, TV spots and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the distributor is giving the Charlton Heston\nwestern\/romance flick Will Penny<\/em> (1968) a Blu-ray release. The disc includes\na 4K restoration of the film, a commentary with crew members and a film\nhistorian, featurettes on Heston and the movie\u2019s director, as well as a\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With the latest Mission: Impossible<\/em> film about to hit\ntheaters, Paramount is giving the first Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible<\/em>\n(1996) and its follow-up, Mission: Impossible II<\/em> (2000), a 4K Ultra HD\nand Blu-ray Steelbook upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, if you decided to hold off on the studio\u2019s Steelbook\nBlu-ray debut of Young Sherlock Holmes<\/em> (1985) a few months back, you can\nnow pick it up in regular packaging. It\u2019s a really underrated title from Barry\nLevinson (The Natural, Rain Man, Bugsy<\/em>) that tonally feels like an\nancestor of the Harry Potter<\/em> series. There are plenty of creepy moments\nas young versions of the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle characters try to solve\na mystery at their boarding school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerhouse Films is delivering the Italian\/Spanish Giallo Cold\nEyes of Fear<\/em> (1971) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package. It features a man\ninvolved in a tryst at his uncle\u2019s home trying to talk his way out of a hostage\nsituation.  The image upgrade is a result of a 4K transfer of the negative\nand extras include a movie critic commentary and interviews with the director,\nassistant editor, and a cast member. There is also a featurette on the music\nand tons of publicity materials.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hung Jury<\/em> (1994) is arriving on Blu-ray from Saturn\u2019s\nCore Audio & Video that was previously only available through Vinegar\nSyndrome. It\u2019s a shot-on-video independent film from New Jersey about two\nactresses working on a horror movie set who soon learn that the on-camera\ndeaths are real. The transfer comes from the original SVHS master tapes and it\ncomes with a director commentary, an extended cut, a movie expert commentary, a\nbonus title from the director called The Perils of Penelope and a sequel short\nfilm, as well as a big booklet with articles and photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alien from the Abyss<\/em> (1989) is an Italian genre flick\nthat Severin is releasing on Blu-ray. A monster made from dumping toxic sludge\ninto an active volcano goes on the rampage. The movie has been restored in 4K\nfor this disc and comes with original English and Italian audio, two interviews\nwith the son of the director, an hour-long special on the filmmaker and a\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re a fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000<\/em>, then you\u2019ll be familiar with The Pod People<\/em> episode, which was a sort of Spanish E.T.<\/em> knock-off perhaps most notable for the line of dialogue, \u201cIt stinks!\u201d The flick was one of the most bizarre titles ever featured on the show. For those who just want to see the uncut movie, Severin is presenting Extra Terrestrial Visitors<\/em> (1983) aka The Pod People<\/em> on Blu-ray. It includes a 4K restoration of the original title, a feature-length documentary on the director, interviews with the soundtrack composer (along with a private concert), a cast member, alternate opening credits and a CD of the soundtrack, so that fans of the film can really \u201cHear the engines roll now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout! is upgrading a modern genre classic with a 4K Ultra\nHD and Blu-ray Collector\u2019s Edition of Creepshow<\/em> (1982). This fantastic\nanthology from director George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of\nthe Dead, Day of the Dead<\/em>) with an original screenplay by Stephen King is a\nwonderfully stylish and effective homage to old horror comics. The picture will\nlook even more impressive with the new transfer and all bonus material from\nShout!\u2019s previous edition will be included here, from multiple audio\ncommentaries, cast and crew interviews to deleted scenes and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The same is being done to the horror\/comedy Motel Hell<\/em>\n(1980). This title involves a psychotic pair of motel owners who kidnap\ncustomers (and strangely enough, selling smoked meat to passersby). This 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray set includes a director commentary, interviews with the\ncast and crew, a look back at the female protagonist and a trailer. This\ncreeper movie is fun (it features a great chainsaw duel at the close) and it\u2019s\nnice to see it getting a picture upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout! is also releasing some Blu-ray exclusives that will be produced in limited quantities and will only be available to order on their website. The first title is Abraxas: Guardian of the Universe<\/em> (1990) starring Jesse Ventura as an intergalactic cop. It has a 2K master of the feature from the best surviving elements and a trailer. Creepshow III<\/em> (2006) is an absolute abomination of a sequel that has no connection to the previous two chapters. Still, if you want to own it, the disc includes a behind-the-scenes look with cast and crew interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And Revenge of the Cheerleaders<\/em> (1976) is a teen-sex comedy about students trying to stop a greedy developer from tearing down their school. It features an early appearance from David Hasselhoff (playing a character named Boner). The disc comes with a commentary track featuring the director\/co-producer and the co-writer\/co-producer\/director of photography, along with publicity materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spirits of the Air: Gremlins of the Clouds<\/em> (1987) is\narriving on Blu-ray through Umbrella US. This independent Australian title was\nanother Vinegar Syndrome exclusive that is now available everywhere. It\u2019s the\nvisually striking debut film from Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City<\/em>) set\nin a post-apocalyptic world. The disc features a director commentary, a\ncommentary track with the editor and the film\u2019s composer, interviews with cast\nmembers, a music video, a featurette on the production and an image gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of Vinegar Syndrome exclusives, the distributor is\nputting out a few more this week. You can pick up The Adam Rifkin Film\nFestival<\/em> (1975 \u2013 1987) which contains a ton of shorts made by the filmmaker\nbest known for directing Detroit Rock City<\/em>, writing and directing The\nDark Backward<\/em>, The Chase <\/em>and The Last Movie Star, <\/em>not to\nmention co-writing Mousehunt<\/em> and Small Soldiers <\/em>for the major\nstudios. The Blu-ray comes with loads of extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have Altered Innocence Volume 2<\/em> and The\nQueen of Hollywood<\/em> (2017) on Blu-ray. Go to their website to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warner Bros. is celebrating National Lampoon\u2019s Vacation<\/em>\n(1983) this week with a 40th<\/sup> Anniversary 4K – Ultra HD edition\n(alas, no Blu-ray is included). This hit Chevy Chase comedy from director\nHarold Ramis (Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Analyze This<\/em>) and writer John\nHughes (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Planes, Trains &\nAutomobiles<\/em>) follows a family driving across the US to visit the Wally\nWorld theme park. Along the way, they get into every kind of trouble\nimaginable. The movie made a huge impression on anyone who grew up in the\n1980s. Besides the picture upgrade, it comes with an archived commentary track\nfeaturing cast and crew members. There will also be a Best Buy Exclusive\nSteelbook edition available only at this retailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for those wondering about new made-to-order Blu-rays\nfrom Warner Archive, you can now purchase Angel Face<\/em> (1953), Caged!<\/em>\n(1950), The Damned Don\u2019t Cry<\/em> (1950), Dangerous When Wet<\/em> (1953)\nand The Old Man and the Sea<\/em> (1958) in high definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Here are a couple of titles that may interest small\nchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts \u2013 Volume 2<\/em>\n(Wal-Mart Exclusive with Collectible Pin) (Disney) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PBS Kids – We Love Camping!<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

And you\u2019ll find a list of the week\u2019s TV-related releases\nbelow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21 Beacon Street<\/em>: The Complete Series (ClassicFlix)\nDVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Complete Comic Strip Presents\u2026 Channel 4 Films<\/em>:\nSeasons 1 \u2013 3 (Severin Films) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marriage<\/em> (mini-series) (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATURE: Niagara Falls<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our House<\/em> (mini-series) (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tales of the Walking Dead<\/em>: Season 1 (RLJ\nEntertainment) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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