{"id":27790,"date":"2024-01-16T00:42:10","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T08:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=27790"},"modified":"2024-01-16T00:42:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T08:42:10","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-january-16th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=27790","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for January 16th, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on\nBlu-ray and DVD. This week, there aren\u2019t any big Hollywood releases, but there\nis plenty of interesting international and independent fare arriving on disc.\nSo, if you can\u2019t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors\nfor a few days, be sure to give one of these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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THE CHILDE \u2013 After discovering that his mother needs an\nextremely expensive life-saving operation, an amateur boxer from the\nPhilippines decides to track down his father. The trail leads him to South\nKorea, but things get dangerous for the protagonist when he finds himself being\nfollowed by an eccentric and threatening figure. Soon, the lead uncovers family\nsecrets as more violent parties start to appear out of the blue. This\nforeign-language action film from South Korea earned plenty of positive responses\nfrom critics. A few complained that the predictability of the story was too big\na flaw to ignore. However, the majority were impressed by the cast,\nparticularly the quirky but cool figure hunting down the lead. They were also\nthrilled by the elaborate action set-pieces. It stars Kim Seon-ho, Kang Tae-Ju,\nKim Kang-woo and Go Ara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DEMONIC TOYS: JACK-ATTACK \u2013 The original Demonic Toys<\/em>\nwas released on video way back in 1992, and the latest direct-to-disc sequel is\na spin-off featuring one of the title creations. A young woman goes through a\nmajor trauma that leaves her orphaned and a mute. She is taken in by a new\nfamily at a remote farmhouse. Unfortunately, a violent, oversized\njack-in-the-box arrives at the home and starts picking off the characters. So\nfar, reaction from online genre reviewers has been more positive than negative.\nOne did state that the series was well past its prime and that this entry\ndidn\u2019t offer much that was fresh or interesting. Still, the majority called the\nflick an entertainingly campy effort that moved at a rapid pace and would\nplease fans of the series. It features Taylor Abigail Rice, Sean Ramey, Carson\nPolish, Christine Brunner, Maddie Small and Donna Steele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ERNEST & CELESTINE: A TRIP TO GIBBERITIA \u2013 This sequel\nto the critically lauded and Academy Award-nominated 2012 French animated\nfeature Ernest & Celestine<\/em> reintroduces viewers to a pair of best\nfriends who happen to be a mouse and a bear. After accidentally breaking his\nviolin, the friendly bear returns to his home country to get the instrument\nrepaired, with his small female pal joining him. They learn that music has been\nbanned in the country and then set out to correct this injustice. This\nFrench-language film was universally praised and has yet to receive a single\nnegative notice. It has been described as a sweetly moving and beautiful\nhand-drawn film that is just as strong as the original. Reviewers stated that\nit features a dynamic plot structure without a wasted moment that gently\nstresses the great importance of creative outlets and personal expression. The\nvoice cast includes Andrew Kishino and Ashley Boettcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FIREWORKS \u2013 Also known as Stranizza d\u2019Amuri<\/em>, this\nItalian-language effortis inspired by a true story. The tale is set in\n1982 in a small village in Sicily. Two teenage boys become friends and begin to\nfall in love with one another. When relatives notice the kids becoming too\nfriendly, they strive to keep them apart. The two have to deal with not only\nnarrow-minded parents, but nasty comments and potential violence from\ntownspeople. The picture hasn\u2019t been seen by many members of the press in North\nAmerica, but it did win awards in its homeland (as well as in Spain). Write-ups\nfrom Europe have called the film beautifully shot, noting that the movie\neffectively builds tension as threats arise, leading to a powerful and\nheartbreaking finale. The cast includes Samuele Segreto, Gabriele Pizzurro,\nSimone Raffaele Cordiano and Antonio De Matteo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM \u2013 If you\u2019re looking for a faith-based\nmusical feature, this family title may be of interest. It tells the story of\nMary and Joseph, their trip to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus, all using song\nand dance. Described in the press synopsis as an \u201cepic holiday musical,\u201d the\nfinal product received decent reviews from critics. About one-quarter wrote\nthat this version of the story came across as gaudy and overblown, failing to\nmove them. Still, the majority suggested that while elements were ridiculous,\nthe music was catchy and that this modernized version of the famous story did\nmanage to entertain them. They also commented that among recent religious\nfilms, this one was one of the stronger efforts. Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim,\nLecrae, Moriah, Omid Djalili, Stephanie Gil, Rizwan Manji and Antonio Banderas\nheadline the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SPRING LAKES \u2013 The title location is described as a \u201cbad\nplace\u201d in the trailer for this film and that seems like something of a massive\nunderstatement. The story involves a struggling filmmaker who is searching for\nhis sister after she vanishes at the lake. He encounters a Satanic cult and\nsoon begins to experience strange phenomena. As it turns out, the forest\nsurrounding the water may be alive and the lead must locate his sister and\nescape before meeting a terrible fate. This independent chiller from the UK\nappears to have been a part of the London-area Lift-Off Global Network, a\nprogram which strives to help young filmmakers get their start in the industry.\nAs of this writing, no one in this part of the world has seen it. The move\nfeatures Carl Wharton, James Jaysen Bryham, Djonny Chen and Oris Erhuero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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

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There are plenty of unique older arrivals appearing as well.\nArrow Video is delivering the Blu-ray box set, Inside the Mind of Coffin Joe<\/em>\nin a \u201cLimited Edition\u201d run. It contains 10 films by Brazilian Jose Mojica\nMarins, an independent filmmaker who created some unusual and daring pictures\nover the course of his career (often featuring the legendary boogeyman, Coffin\nJoe). This package contains a selection of horror and genre films that include AtMidnight I\u2019ll Take Your Soul<\/em> (1964), This Night I\u2019ll Possess Your\nCorpse<\/em> (1967), The Strange World of Coffin Joe<\/em> (1968), Awakening\nof the Beast<\/em> (1970), The End of Man<\/em> (1971), When the Gods Fall\nAsleep<\/em> (1972), The Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures<\/em> (1976), Hellish\nFlesh<\/em> (1977), Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind <\/em>(1978) and Embodiment\nof Evil<\/em> (2008).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who purchase this box will get 4K restorations of the titles from the original 35mm camera negatives or the best available elements. Naturally, it is also jam-packed with extras that include numerous video essays on Marins and his career. There are several discussions with genre critics analyzing his works, including the subversive elements and common themes featured in many of his titles. The authoritative documentary The Strange World of Jose Mojica Marins<\/em> (2001) is also included. You\u2019ll also get an early shot and excerpts from other works by Marins, alternate endings and credits for some features, footage of the director attending the Sundance Film Festival in the early 2000s, tons of publicity materials and more. Read a detailed review of the Blu-ray set right here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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88 Films is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of Police\nStory III: Supercop<\/em> (1992) starring Jackie Chan. This is one of the\nperformer’s best titles. It is filled with outrageous stunts and some very\nfunny moments. Chan plays a policeman who is paired with an undercover agent\n(played by Michelle Yeoh) to take down a drug cartel. The set comes with both\nthe Hong Kong cut and US version, both with vastly improved picture quality.\nAdditionally, there is an audio commentary by a Hong Kong cinema expert, as\nwell as outtakes, a director and Michelle Yeoh interview, not to mention numerous\npromotional materials like a 1984 commercial featuring the two stars. Sounds\nlike a lot of fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cause for Alarm!<\/em> (1951) is arriving on Blu-ray from\nClassicFlix. Loretta Young stars as a troubled housewife dealing with an\ninvalid war veteran husband who mistakenly believes that she is cheating on him\nwith his best friend. The disc contains a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Criterion is giving the very well-regarded John Sayles murder\/mystery Lone Star<\/em> (1996) the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment (you can also pick it up as a Blu-ray without the 4K version). Chris Cooper plays a Texas sheriff investigating an unsolved murder that occurred during his father\u2019s time as law enforcer. The picture earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and features Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Joe Morton and Elizabeth Pe\u00f1a. Besides the sharper picture, the set comes with a new conversation with writer\/director Sayles, a trailer and plenty more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White Rush<\/em> (2003) is an action\/thriller with Judd\nNelson, Taylor Sheridan and Costas Mandylor about campers who walk into the\nmiddle of a drug deal and are forced to try and escape with their lives. Dark\nForce Entertainment is putting out a Blu-ray of the movie that contains a new\n2K picture master from the camera negative, new interviews with director Mark\nL. Lester (Class of 1984, Firestarter, Commando, Class of 1999<\/em>) and the\nscreenwriter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Devil\u2019s Partner <\/em>(1960) is a B-movie arriving on Blu-ray from Film Masters. The Roger Corman production follows a man who arrives to collect his uncle\u2019s estate, but instead finds himself having to deal with the Devil. The disc also comes with the entertainingly cheesy monster movie Creature from the Haunted Sea<\/em> (1961), which it was typically paired with at the drive-in. The disc comes with featurettes on Corman\u2019s productions during this era, a film enthusiast commentary, an interview with Corman himself and a re-cut trailer for the title film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun City Editions is presenting a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray\nof the English drama Radio On<\/em> (1979), which features Sting in a\nsupporting role. It\u2019s a cult classic about a young man driving from London to\nBristol to investigate the death of his brother. The disc features an interview\nwith the director, a film historian commentary, an archival interview with the\nfilmmaker, a 1998 digital video essay on the movie and promotional materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The distributor is also putting out a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d\nBlu-ray of the Candace Bergen\/James Caan drama T.R. Baskin <\/em>(1971),\ncontaining a new interview with the producer\/writer and a film expert\ncommentary track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kino is delivering a trio of \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-rays. The\nfirst is for the Hal Ashby drama, Coming Home<\/em> (1978). This Oscar-winning\nfeature (for Best Actor, Actress and Original Screenplay) stars Jane Fonda and\nJon Voight is about a wife who falls in love with a paralyzed Vietnam vet while\nher husband serves in the Marines. The disc arrives with a commentary track, as\nwell as an archived commentary with Voight, co-star Bruce Dern and the\ncinematographer. There are also archival featurettes on the production and a\ncollector\u2019s booklet with an essay on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Devil\u2019s Brigade<\/em> (1968) is a WWII movie with\nWilliam Holden about a special group trained to attack a hidden Nazi base in\nthe mountains. The \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d includes a movie historian commentary and\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Run Silent, Run Deep<\/em> (1958) is a Robert Wise (The\nDay the Earth Stood Still, West Side Story<\/em>) movie about a mutiny on a US\nsubmarine. Starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster, this \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d\nBlu-ray arrives with a film historian commentary and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also pick up a \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray of the\ncomedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming<\/em> (1966) from\nNorman Jewison (In the Heat of the Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, Fiddler\non the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rollerball, Moonstruck<\/em>). Alan Arkin\nplays the lead and the title is about a Soviet sub that gets lost and\naccidentally runs aground off the New England coast. Disc extras include a\nmovie expert commentary, a making-of hosted by Jewison and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lionsgate is rereleasing several recent catalog titles in\nBlu-ray and DVD combo packages. You can now pick up the comedies Bad Moms<\/em>\n(2016) and A Bad Moms Christmas<\/em> (2017), as well as the action picture Den\nof Thieves<\/em> (2018) and the coming-of-age comedy, The Edge of Seventeen<\/em>\n(2016). Additionally, the Jackie Chan film The Foreigner<\/em> (2017) is\ngetting the same combo treatment, alongside the period film Free State of\nJones<\/em> (2016) and the effectively creepy thriller, The Gift<\/em> (2015).\nThere is also The Happytime Murders<\/em> (2018) and I Feel Pretty<\/em>\n(2018), as well as Molly\u2019s Game<\/em> (2017), Secret in Their Eyes<\/em>\n(2015) and The Space Between Us<\/em> (2017).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mademoiselle<\/em> (1966) is a BAFTA-winning UK\/France\nco-production that MGM is now releasing on Blu-ray. It involves a group of\nFrench townspeople who accuse a man of arson because he has seduced many of the\ntown\u2019s women. In the process, they completely miss the real culprit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For comedy fans, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story<\/em>\n(2007) is being re-released on Blu-ray yet again in a Wal-Mart Exclusive\nSteelbook package called the Hard as Steel Ultimate Edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MVD Visual is distributing a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the\ncult horror movie Cutting Class<\/em> (1989). It\u2019s a slasher set in a high\nschool that is best known for featuring Brad Pitt in an early role as one of\nthe students\/suspects. Besides a significant image upgrade of the uncut version\nof the title, bonuses include interviews with cast members Jill Schoelen,\nDonovan Leitch, an R-rated version of the movie, a \u201ckill comparisons\u201d\nfeaturette, a VHS video store promo, promo materials, a mini-poster, reversible\nartwork, a special slipcover and more. A Blu-ray only edition is also available\nfrom the distributor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Australian horror film Boar<\/em> (2017) is arriving in\na Blu-ray Steelbook from RLJ Entertainment. It follows a group of teenage\nhikers who are terrorized by the enormous razorback. Extras have not been made\navailable at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout! Factory is delivering a Blu-ray of the Aussie movie Chopper\n<\/em>(2000), a biopic of real-life criminal Mark \u201cChopper\u201d Read. It stars Eric\nBana in his first movie leading role. Bonuses include an audio commentary with\nthe director, another with the actual \u201cChopper\u201d Read, deleted scenes with\noptional filmmaker commentary, a recorded meeting between Bana and Read and a\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Raid: Redemption<\/em> (2011) is a multinational\nproduction set in Indonesia about a S.W.A.T. team who are trapped in a tenement\nrun by a mobster that is filled with killers. It is one of the best action\npictures of recent memory and now Sony is putting out the film in a 4K Ultra HD\nand Blu-ray Steelbook package. The movie is presented uncut with image quality\nthat will be even sharper than before. It also appears as though all previously\nreleased special features will be included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The horror remake Blood Feast<\/em> (2016) is arriving from\nSynapse Films in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack, or as a standalone\nBlu-ray. This version (based loosely on the 1964 original) follows the lead\ncharacter moving to France, getting a job at an Egyptian museum and seeking sacrificial\nvictims to bring an ancient goddess back to life. This extremely gory effort is\npresented uncut for the first time in North America and includes trailers, a\nmaking-of featurette, a music video and footage from its premiere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Unfortunately, there is the only child-friendly option\narriving this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pins and Nettie<\/em>: Volume 2 (Dreamscape Media) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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

And all TV-related releases are listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Billions<\/em>: The Final Season (Paramount) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harry Wild<\/em>: Series 2 (Acorn) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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