{"id":26922,"date":"2023-08-29T00:47:47","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T07:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=26922"},"modified":"2023-08-29T00:47:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T07:47:47","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-august-29th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=26922","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for August 29th, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray\nand DVD. This week sees the release of a pair of major Hollywood features, as\nwell as plenty of interesting independent fare. So, if you can\u2019t make it out to\nthe movies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to give one\nof these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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BRAVE FATHER ONLINE: OUR STORY OF FINAL FANTASY XIV \u2013 A\nyoung man has difficulties building a close bond with his extremely reserved\nfather. After he learns that his dad has quit his job without explanation, the\nlead tries to bridge the gap by introducing him to an online game. Surprisingly\nenough, his pop agrees and starts playing. The protagonist secretly creates an\navatar and the two spend more and more time playing together in the game mode.\nHe is ultimately surprised by the secrets his dad shares with him. There\nhaven\u2019t been many reviews for this Japanese feature in North American\npublications, but the ones that have appeared have been positive. Most state\nthat while the movie isn\u2019t deep and does feel like a commercial for the game,\nit is sweet-natured, the cast are solid and the story is engaging enough to\nentertain. The movie stars Kentaro Sakaguchi and Kotaro Yoshida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DON\u2019T FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF \u2013 Underground musician and\nThree.One.G Records founder Justin Pearson is the subject of this documentary.\nIt covers the independent hardcore punk scene in San Diego, California and\nchronicles his experiences both starting a couple of bands and a record label\nworking outside of major distributors. It features interviews with Peason as\nwell as many artists and individuals involved in the hardcore do-it-yourself\nmusic business. The film has played at a few film festivals to positive\nresponse but hasn\u2019t received any official reviews yet. But if you\u2019re a fan of\nthis genre of music, it\u2019ll probably be right up your alley. Vinegar Syndrome is\nthe official distributor of this picture and the Blu-ray will be available\nexclusively on their website until Sept 26th<\/sup> (when it goes into\nwider release at most retailers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE FLASH \u2013 The latest DC superhero feature involves popular\ncharacter The Flash, who can move at incredible speed to save citizens from\nimminent death. The protagonist races so fast, in fact, he discovers that he\ncan use his powers to travel back in time. He can\u2019t help but try to prevent a\nfamily tragedy, only to realize that he has created an alternate timeline. A\npreviously vanquished supervillain soon returns and threatens the world and the\nlead must attempt to coax a very alternate version of Batman into helping him.\nCritics were more positive than negative about the finished product. Just over\none-third did complain that, after a strong opening, the multiverse storyline\ninvolved too much exposition and that the big finale fell flat. Still, the\nmajority admired the performances, thought the action scenes were impressive\nand wrote that it delivered plenty of thrills and laughs. The movie features\nEzra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Cole, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston,\nMaribel Verdu, Jeremy Irons and Temuera Morrison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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INFINITY POOL \u2013 This chiller was released on Blu-ray back in\nApril, but is appearing again on disc uncut as a 4K Ultra HD only exclusive in\nSteelbook packaging. The latest chiller from Brandon Cronenberg (director of Possessor<\/em>\nand son of filmmaker David Cronenberg) is set at an isolated, all-inclusive\nresort. A wealthy couple are befriended by a woman who convinces them to leave\nthe property and venture off grounds. They discover a site that indulges in\nhedonism, violence and untold horror. After a nasty incident, the couple are\narrested for a crime and given two options \u2013 either face execution or pay to\nexperience something that is even more disturbing. This movie appears to have\npushed buttons and gotten a largely positive response from reviewers. A few did\ncomment that the movie was confusing, ponderous and didn\u2019t appear to resolve\nthe issues it addressed. Still, most wrote that it was gripping and unsettling,\nalso calling the film a sharp and cutting commentary on the influence of the\nrich and their ability to avoid repercussions. It features Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd,\nMia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman and Thomas Kretschmann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MADELEINE COLLINS \u2013 In this psychological thriller\/drama\nfrom France, a woman travels between a pair of locales attempting to keep two\nlives completely separate. In one household in Switzerland, she lives with her\nhusband and a little girl. But just across the border in a small French town,\nshe has a partner and two older boys. A series of complications puts her\nfragile existence in jeopardy and threatens everything. The press was very taken\nwith this feature. A lone voice or two didn\u2019t like the main character and\nreferred to the film as melodramatic. However, everyone else wrote that the\nperformances were exceptional and that the picture delivered a low-key but\nunsettling picture of an average woman doing disturbing things to family\nmembers. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. The cast includes\nVirginie Efira, Bruno Salomone, Quim Gutierrez and Jacqueline Bisset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NO HARD FEELINGS \u2013 This comedy involves a cash-strapped woman finds an unusual job listing. The wealthy parents of an extremely introverted 19-year-old are seeking a lady to date their son before he leaves for college. Thinking that the assignment is easy money, she agrees, but finds turning the youngster into a man far more difficult than anticipated. Overall, reviewers enjoyed this effort. Nearly one-quarter of them did comment that for a supposedly raunchy comedy, it was overly genial and sentimental. In fact, they called the final product bland. Still, the consensus was that the onscreen chemistry between the two central characters was excellent and kept them watching. They noted that it ended up delivering a surprising combination of humor and warmth that they appreciated. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti, Matthew Broderick, Natalie Morales, Kyle Mooney and Hasan Minhaj.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA \u2013 Those who enjoy independent\nfilmmaking may appreciate this documentary. It tells the story of two men from\ndifferent parts of the world who form a lasting friendship through their love\nof 80s action films. A former brick maker in Uganda decides to shoot a movie\ninspired by the films of Chuck Norris. When a New York-based film nerd sees a\ntrailer on the internet for the aspiring filmmaker\u2019s proposed feature, he\ndecides to help the person fulfill his dream. Response was fantastic for this\nnon-fiction movie. One critic thought that it was put together in a manner that\nwas too repetitive. However, everyone else called it a wonderful and\nsurprisingly touching tribute to independent filmmakers. They thought it\nentertainingly displayed the lengths individuals will go to in order to create\nsomething for themselves and others to enjoy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

It\u2019s an incredibly busy edition for those who want to catch up on older features. Arrow Video is releasing a Blu-ray of the period kung-fu film New Fist of Fury<\/em> (1976). This was a sequel to the 1972 Hong Kong hit Fist of Fury<\/em> starring Bruce Lee. Those familiar with the picture will know that Lee\u2019s character died at the end of the story, so this follow-up involves his fianc\u00e9e moving to Japanese-occupied Taiwan to open a martial arts academy. Japanese forces don\u2019t appreciate her efforts and set out to take over the business. A Taiwanese thief ends up getting involved and trying to stop the villains from succeeding. This picture marks Jackie Chan\u2019s first starring role (he plays the thief). Besides a 2K restoration of both the original theatrical cut and truncated 1980 re-release cut, bonus features include film historian commentaries on both versions, a video essay on the picture that compares it to a competing sequel called Fist of Fury Part II<\/em> that was in production at the very same time. There\u2019s also a trailer gallery including these pictures and the various remakes that have been made over the years, publicity materials and a double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork for the movie. Read a review of the disc here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arrow is also putting out The Last House on the Left<\/em>\n(2009), which is a remake of the 1972 Wes Craven horror classic. The story\ninvolves a gang who brutally attack two young women, and then seek refuge at a\nnearby home. They don\u2019t realize that the owners are the parents of one of the\nvictims, who soon plot violent revenge. The release is available in two\neditions. One contains the theatrical cut in 4K Ultra HD alongside a Blu-ray\ncontaining the unrated version. The other contains both the theatrical and\nuncut edition on Blu-ray. Besides the picture upgrades, it comes with a new\nintroduction featuring the director, a movie expert commentary track, lengthy\ninterviews with cast and crew members, an inside-look featurette, deleted\nscenes, a trailer and an image gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for film history, The Complete Story of Film<\/em> (2011 \u2013 2021) is a lengthy documentary in two parts from Music Box Films chronicling the history of cinema from its beginnings to present day. Apparently, it\u2019s quite strong (although some have taken issue with ideas presented in the second chapter featuring modern-day titles) and provides plenty of insight for movie-lovers. A full review of this release is coming soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you enjoy Hong Kong films, Taxi Hunter<\/em> (1993) is\narriving on Blu-ray from 88 Films. This infamous effort follows a man seeking\nviolent retribution on taxi drivers after his pregnant wife is run down by one\nof them. The company notes that the disc will come with plenty of extras, but\nhaven\u2019t listed them yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AGFA is putting out a Blu-ray called Wakaliwood Supa\nAction Volume 1<\/em>, containing the Ugandan action pictures Who Killed\nCaptain Alex<\/em> (2010) and Bad Black<\/em> (2016). As you might have already\nguessed, the man behind the camera on these efforts is the individual featured\nin Once Upon a Time in Uganda<\/em> (from the New Release column). The set\nincludes commentary tracks, behind-the-scenes footage, trailers and\ncommercials, interviews and news clips, music videos, fan videos, and\nadditional material<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City of the Living Dead<\/em> (1980) from Lucio Fulci (Zombie<\/em>)\nis getting the deluxe treatment from Cauldron Films. They\u2019re presenting the\ntitle on 4K Ultra HD along with a Blu-ray of the title and another Blu-ray\ncontaining extras. The story involves a reporter and a psychic who learn that a\ngateway to Hell has been opened in New England. It leads to some stylish,\nnightmarish sequences and some encounters with zombies. A 4K restoration means\nthat the image quality is better than ever before. It also arrives with a new\nfilm historian commentary track, archived cast and critic commentaries and over\nfive hours of new and archival bonuses from previous editions! If you like the\npicture, this appears to be the version to own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributor is also releasing Frankenstein \u201980<\/em>\n(1972) on Blu-ray. This Italian genre picture is about a mad scientist stealing\na new formula to raise the dead. There\u2019s a 2K picture restoration, as well as a\ndiscussion with a cast member, a history of Italian Frankenstein pictures, a\nfilm historian commentary and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drylongso<\/em> (1998) is arriving on Blu-ray from\nCriterion. It\u2019s a well-regarded independent drama about a woman in a\nphotography class who begins taking pictures of black men out of fear they will\nsoon be extinct. It won an Independent Spirit Award during its initial release\nand this disc comes with a 4K picture restoration approved by the\ndirector\/co-writer, a conversation with the filmmaker, several short films by\nthe creator, a trailer and an essay by a movie scholar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can pick up a Blu-ray of The Pied Piper<\/em> (1986), a\nCzechoslovakian animated adaptation of the famous legend, courtesy of Deaf\nCrocodile Films. The movie has been newly restored and arrives with a new\ninterview and rare short from the director, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a\nmovie historian commentary and a booklet essay on the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things<\/em> (2004) is an\ninternational co-production starring and directed by Asia Argento that is\narriving on Blu-ray from Dekanalog. It follows a seven-year-old who is pulled\nfrom his foster home and thrown into a troubled life on the road with his\nteenage mother, Sarah. The cast includes Kip Pardue, Jeremy Renner, Peter\nFonda, Ben Foster and Marilyn Manson. This Blu-ray arrives with an Argento\ncommentary, numerous production featurettes, and a US theatrical trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kino is putting out some interesting titles this week. 3\nDays of the Condor<\/em> (1975) stars Robert Redford as a bookish CIA researcher\nwho goes on the run when his co-workers are murdered. You can pick up a 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray edition or a Blu-ray only release of the film. It includes\na director commentary and a film historian commentary, a 2009 documentary on\ndirector Sydney Pollack, as well as publicity materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Burt Reynolds picture Malone<\/em> (1987) is coming out\nas a Special Edition Blu-ray. The actor plays a hit man who hides out in a\nsmall town until some old enemies appear. It comes with a film historian\ncommentary and a trailer, in addition to a \u201climited edition\u201d slipcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sex, Power, and Money: Films by Beth B<\/em> is a two-disc\nBlu-ray collection of independent shorts made in New York by underground\nfilmmaker Beth B between 1983 and 2017. It also includes an interview with the\nwriter\/director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The distributor is also releasing Staying Alive<\/em>\n(1983) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set (or as a standalone Blu-ray). This is a\nsequel to the 1977 smash hit Saturday Night Fever<\/em> which features the\nlead character (played by John Travolta) now leaving the disco and trying to\nbecome a professional dancer on Broadway. It was directed and co-written by\nSylvester Stallone and was a flop, but is now being given a second life on the\nformat. Besides a 4K restoration from the original camera negative, it comes\nwith a film expert commentary, a new interview with the female lead and\npublicity materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MGM is delivering Blu-rays of several catalog titles. They\ninclude Crime and Punishment<\/em> (2002), Crime and Punishment in Suburbia<\/em>\n(2000), as well as the Ethan Hawke\/Teri Polo teen rom-com Mystery Date<\/em>\n(1991). You can also pick up Play Dirty<\/em> (1969) and The Wild Party<\/em>\n(1975).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The costume drama The Spanish Dancer<\/em> (1923) is\narriving on Blu-ray from Milestone. This silent era feature is said to be\naction-packed, witty, and romantic with huge sets and a cast of thousands. It\ncomes with a new orchestral score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mill Creek Entertainment is putting out the Music &\nRomance: 6-Movie Collection<\/em> on Blu-ray. It contains Captain Corelli\u2019s\nMandolin<\/em> (2001), The Caveman\u2019s Valentine<\/em> (2001), Connie and Carla<\/em>\n(2004), Madame Sousatzka<\/em> (1988), The Man Who Cried<\/em> (2000) and Shout<\/em>\n(1991).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hustle & Flow<\/em> (2005) is getting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment from Paramount Presents. The picture follows a Memphis pimp attempting to become a successful hip-hop emcee. It features Terrence Howard, Ludacris, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson and Isaac Hayes, and the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In addition to the upgraded picture and foldout poster art, it comes with a new filmmaker focus on director Craig Brewer (Black Snake Moan, Dolemite is My Name, Coming 2 America<\/em>) as well as a ton of previously released bonus material from earlier editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerhouse is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition\nof the Italian genre picture Black Magic Rites<\/em> (1973). And you can also\npick up a Blu-ray only version of the title. Both releases come with a\ngargantuan number of extras that are too numerous to list here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you like your entertainment kinky, Severin is presenting The\nInconfessable Orgies of Emmanuelle<\/em> (1982) on Blu-ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that isn\u2019t enough, there is a The Sensual World of\nBlack Emanuelle<\/em> box set that contains a series of erotic pictures featuring\nthe same character produced between 1974 and 2021. As listed, the titles\nfeatured are Black Emanuelle, Black Emanuelle 2, Emanuelle in Bangkok,\nEmanuelle in America, Emanuelle Around the World,  Emanuelle and the Last\nCannibals, Porno Nights of the World, Emanuelle and the Porno Nights of the\nWorld, Sister Emanuelle, Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade, Violence in a\nWomen’s Prison, Emanuelle in Prison, Black Cobra,  Black Velvet, Emanuelle’s\nPerverse Outburst, Porno Esotic Love, Divine Emanuelle, Emanuelle: Queen of the\nDesert, Amore Libero – Free Love, Emanuelle – A Woman from a Hot Country, Black\nDeep Throat, Porno Nights of the World N.2, Inferno Rosso: Joe D’amato on the\nRoad of Excess<\/em> and Scandalous Emanuelle<\/em>. A CD with soundtrack music\nis also included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sexual Story of O<\/em> (1984) is an erotic picture\nfrom Jean Rollin that is also arriving on Blu-ray with some bonus features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a completely different note, you can pick up a Special\nEdition Blu-ray of the adventure flick and Jules Verne adaptation, Journey\nto the Center of the Earth<\/em> (1977). Starring Kenneth Moore, the movie\narrives on Blu-ray with interviews with the daughter of the director, one of\nthe stars of the picture, as well as the co-writer, in addition to a\ntrailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shout! is releasing a Collector\u2019s Edition of Bride of\nChucky<\/em> (1998), which contains the Child\u2019s Play<\/em> horror sequel in 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray. It comes with a previously released director commentary\ntrack, a cast and crew commentary, a making-of, additional scenes from the TV\nversion, an on-location featurette, as well as publicity materials. The follow-ups\nSeed of Chucky<\/em> (2004), Curse of Chucky<\/em> (2013) and Cult of\nChucky <\/em>(2017) are also arriving on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray with all\navailable bonus features. And, if you\u2019d prefer a box set of all of these swanky\ntitles, you can pick up the Chucky 4 \u2013 7 <\/em>Shout! Factory Exclusive box\nset. As you might have already guessed, this special release is only available\nthrough the distributor\u2019s website.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of Shout! Factory exclusives, Equalizer 2000<\/em>\n(1987) is also arriving on Blu-ray only through their website. It\u2019s a\nUS\/Philippines co-production that incorporates elements of Mad Max and Rambo\nand features a muscley hero who takes on a vicious gang with advanced\nmachine-gun technology. Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day<\/em>) has\na supporting role in the movie. The disc contains a 2K scan of the original\nnegative and an interview with the film\u2019s writer (who also acted in the film)\nand a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Universal is giving their science-fiction opus Battlestar\nGalactica<\/em> (1978) a 45th<\/sup> Anniversary Edition with a 4K Ultra HD\ndisc and a Blu-ray. For those unfamiliar, this picture was made on the heels of\nStar Wars<\/em>. It played in movie theaters and also served as a pilot for an\nABC TV-series that followed shortly afterwards. Of course, this show was later\nupdated in 2004 and became a hit once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The period drama Elizabeth<\/em> (1998) with Cate Blanchett\nis also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, as is the recent critical hit, Promising\nYoung Woman<\/em> (2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vinegar Syndrome is an incredible distributor who\nconsistently puts out quality transfers, focusing on genre pictures and\nindependent titles. This week, the company is releasing a number of films that\nwill only be available through their site until September 26th<\/sup> (then\nother retailers will make them available). They include the double feature\nBlu-ray of Amazon Jail<\/em> (1982) and Amazon Jail II<\/em> (1987), Bloodfeast!:\nThe Adventures of Sgt. Lunch<\/em> (1992), Don\u2019t Fall in Love with Yourself<\/em>\n(2022), Dream Life<\/em> (1972), Guest House<\/em> Paradiso <\/em>(1999) and\nHeroic Times<\/em> (1983).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few titles will also be exclusives only through their\nwebsite for the foreseeable future. One is The Cardona Collection Volume 2<\/em>,\nwhich includes Beaks: The Movie<\/em> (1987), Under Siege<\/em> (1980), La\nCasa Que Arde de Noche<\/em> (1985) and S.O.S. Conspiration Bikini<\/em> (1967).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comedic horror picture Killer Condom<\/em> (1996) is\nalso appearing as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray exclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for something of theirs that you can\npurchase through Amazon, Delirium<\/em> (1972) is available, as is Psycho\nGirls<\/em> (1986).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The amusing giant monster movie Gorgo <\/em>(1961) is\ngetting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment, as is Showgirls <\/em>(1995)\nand Terror at Tenkiller<\/em> (1986). All of the titles listed above will\nlikely come with great extras. Check their website to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

El Gangster<\/em> (1965) is a crime-comedy about a gangster\nwho wants to give up his life of crime. He escapes US authorities by returning\nto his home country, only to find himself being hassled by his unreceptive\nnephews. VCI Home Entertainment is releasing this Blu-ray, which features a 4K\nrestoration of the original Spanish version of the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Warner Archive is putting out a number of made-to-order\nBlu-rays of their back catalog titles. This week, you can pick up Father\u2019s\nLittle Dividend<\/em> (1951), Gay Purr-ee<\/em> (1962), The Life of Emile\nZola<\/em> (1937), Little Women<\/em> (1933), the Elvis Presley musical Spinout<\/em>\n(1966) and Wichita<\/em> (1955).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

There\u2019s only one child-friendly release this week, but it\nlooks like a relatively popular one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PAW Patrol: All Paws on Deck<\/em> (Paramount\/Nickelodeon)\nDVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

And below is a listing of the week\u2019s TV-themed releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Bloods<\/em>: Season 13 (Paramount) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Footprint<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monk<\/em>: Season 1 (Kino) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiling Friends<\/em>: Season 1 (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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