{"id":28129,"date":"2024-03-04T22:57:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T06:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=28129"},"modified":"2024-03-04T22:57:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T06:57:11","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-march-5th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=28129","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for March 5th, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving\non 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. Next week is incredibly busy with several big\ntiles, while this edition features some curious independent efforts that may be\nof interest. So, if you can\u2019t make it out to the movies this week or need to\nstay indoors for a while, 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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BOBCAT MORETTI \u2013 This independent feature involves an obese\nman who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He decides to get healthy to try\nand combat the condition, taking up boxing, a sport his late father\nparticipated in. A trainer at his local gym decides to help and get him on the\nright path, helping the lead lose over 150 pounds and start to regain\nconfidence in himself. This independent drama was seen by a handful of critics\nwho were generally positive about the results. One or two thought that while well-intentioned,\nthe movie was awkwardly put together and didn’t make a lasting impression.\nHowever, everyone also called it sweet and inspiring, stating that there were\nplenty of fun surprises in the storytelling. For the time being this is a\nDVD-only release. It stars Tim Realbuto, Vivica A. Fox, Taryn Manning, Coolio\nand Sally Kirkland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CHASING WONDERS \u2013 A young boy of Spanish descent helps his\nfamily run a vineyard in Australia. He\u2019s curious about why they live in such a\nremote area, but his father refuses to give an answer. After talking with a\ngrandparent, the youngster becomes determined to visit Spain and see where he\ncame from. He runs away, causing rifts in the family. Five years later, the\nstory reconnects with the youngster and shows what has transpired. This picture\nwas made back in 2020 and was released in several territories, but is only now\narriving on Blu-ray in North America. Overall, the response was positive. A\nnumber of reviewers did complain that the characters needed more development\nand described the film as melodramatic. However, consensus on the movie was\nthat it was a low-key but heartwarming coming-of-age drama with gorgeous\ncinematography and solid performances. They were also impressed by the\nfive-year break in production that allowed the young star to grow up. The cast\nincludes Michael Crisafulli, Antonio de la Torre, Paz Vega and Edward James\nOlmos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FROM THE SHADOWS \u2013 This independent found footage horror\nfilm details a paranormal authority investigating a brutal incident involving\nthe leader of a cult and his followers. As she visits the location where the\nincident occurred with survivors from the tragedy, the lead discovers that this\nsect may have actually raised a group of demons. The protagonist and others\nattempt to survive these supernatural forces. As of right now, very few have\nseen this picture. There are a handful of online notices stating that the movie\nhas a good cast and is better than many extremely low-budget efforts, but that\nit does suffer from budgetary issues. Several wrote that it doesn\u2019t raise\nenough chills to recommend. This is a DVD-only release. It features Keith\nDavid, Bruce Davison, Selena Anduze, Max MacKenzie and Ed Lover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LORD OF MISRULE \u2013 Set in the UK, this story follows a female\npriest who arrives in a new village, only to have her child disappear during a\nharvest festival. The lead and her husband allow the police to try and find\ntheir daughter, but when the youngster doesn\u2019t turn up, they begin campaigning\nat church. The parishioners warn them that an evil spirit living in the nearby\nwoods is responsible and so the parents head out to confront whatever this\nmight be. More members of the press liked the picture than disliked it. About\none-third of them complained that the movie just wasn\u2019t very suspenseful and\nfell flat. While the rest admitted it wasn\u2019t quite as strong as\nsimilarly-themed films like The Wicker Man<\/em>, they did find the story\ntense and were surprised by many elements. Tuppence Middleton, Ralph Innes, Mat\nStokoe, Rosalind March and Anton Saunders headline the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MOON GARDEN \u2013 A five-year-old girl is involved in a horrible\naccident and falls into a coma. She awakens in a strange dream world filled\nwith nightmarish creatures. Some are friendly, while others want to devour her.\nWhen the youngster begins hearing the voice of her mother, she attempts to\nfollow it and find her way back to the real world. This independent fantasy was\nmade in 2022 but took a little while to find distribution in North America.\nReaction towards the film was generally positive. A small number suggested that\nwhile it looked good, there wasn\u2019t much of a story to truly involve them in\nthis child\u2019s disturbing visions. The rest called it incredible to behold,\ndelving deeply into the psyche of a youngster going through a terrifying ordeal\nand delivering stunning imagery in the process. It stars Angie Duke, Brionne\nDavis and Haven Lee Harris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: THE MUSICAL \u2013 In recent years there\nhave been a great many Broadway and musical productions that have been recorded\non stage and released to the public on disc. This title captures a performance\nof a musical based on the 1998 animated feature The Prince of Egypt<\/em>. It\ntells the Bible story of Moses as he attempts to lead the children of Israel\nsafely out of Egypt. Not many saw the picture during its brief theatrical\nshowings, but those who did were upbeat about it. They all stated that the sets\nwere very impressive and that the staging was filled with excellent songs and\nperformances from a very accomplished cast. Apparently, if you\u2019ve seen this\nmusical on stage and enjoyed it, then you\u2019ll likely appreciate this disc. It\nfeatures Luke Brady, Liam Tamne, Christine Allado, Alexia Khadime, Joe Dixon\nand Gary Wilmot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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REVOLUTION X \u2013 Described as a science-fiction noir, this\nlow-budget indie feature from the UK tells the story of a struggling artist\nwhose work will ultimately have a huge Impact on the world. So much so that a\nsinister group who possess his work in the future decide to send agents back in\ntime to manipulate and end his life, all so they can possess all his art and\nuse it as they see fit. But it seems their plan doesn\u2019t go smoothly, causing\nmore ripples in time. There aren\u2019t many notices for this feature outside of its\nhomeland. Reviews that have popped up comment that the movie manages to look\nimpressive and benefits from decent performances. But they also note that there\nis a ton of exposition, and with the various timelines the story is confusing.\nTee Morris, Imogen Archer, Pippa Winslow, Carlotta Ryan and Ruggero Barlaba\nheadline the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE SWEARING JAR \u2013 This independent romantic-comedy involves\na high school music teacher plotting a big surprise for her husband\u2019s birthday.\nShe wants to perform an ode to their life together and ends up teaming with a\nyoung guitarist to help her create the songs. Over the course of their sessions\ntogether, they become close and she reveals a major issue within the marriage\nthat is causing strife. As his birthday approaches, she must decide what she\nreally wants for herself. Reaction towards this little feature was quite\nstrong. A very tiny contingent thought that the script and editing were\nproblematic and nullified the movie\u2019s impact. All others felt that the movie\nwas earnest, emotional and involving, drawing them in and keeping them involved\nwith laughs and tears. It features Adelaide Clemens, Douglas Smith, Partick J.\nAdams, David Hewlett and Kathleen Turner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHAT REMAINS – Here is another title from a couple of years\nago that took a while to get noticed. It was given an internet release, but\nonly now is it appearing on disc. A smalltown priest decides to forgive the\ncriminal who murdered his wife. But when the killer returns to town following\nparole and a similar slaying occurs, the protagonist is forced to reevaluate\nhis feelings. The press was split over this independent drama. Some called it\noverly somber and even sanctimonious in its moralizing, making it a difficult\nslog. Just as many admired the film\u2019s attempts to deal with a very serious\ntheme. They were also impressed by the performances and thought the resulting\neffort was an effective tale about tolerance. The cast includes Anne Heche (in\nher final film role), Cress Williams, Kellan Lutz and Juliana Destefano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE – A troubled 16-year-old from a good home\nbegins to act out in class. Things get worse after she finds a letter written\nby her mother to an ex-con whom she believes to be her biological father. When\nthe teen makes a pass at a teacher, her mortified parents send her off to a\nboarding school. The lead ultimately runs away and tracks down the man from the\nletter, slowly building a relationship with him before the truth is eventually\nrevealed. This indie drama played at film festivals and was well-received. One\nor two voices stated that the tone shifts from dark family drama to lighter\nlaughs and the shifts were distracting. However, more complimented the movie\nfor adding wrinkles to its coming-of-age story and appreciated the work of the\nperformers. It stars Ema Horvath, Devon Sawa, Alyssa Milano, John Ales,\nYeardley Smith and Peter Parros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

There is plenty to choose from this week if you\u2019d prefer to\nwatch something a little older. The documentary Unbranded<\/em> (2015) is\nbeing released on Blu-ray from Gravitas Ventures after going out-of-print for a\nfew years. It follows a group of four men who decide to ride sixteen wild mustangs\nfrom Mexico all the way up to Canada. The disc comes with a director\ncommentary, a scenic reel and a music video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kino is putting out a pair of spaghetti westerns as \u201cSpecial\nEditions\u201d on Blu-ray. Death Rides a Horse<\/em> (1967) with Lee Van Cleef is\none of the features getting the treatment. The star plays one of a pair looking\nfor revenge on the bandits who killed their families. Bonuses include an audio\ncommentary from director and western authority Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid and\nNancy, Walker<\/em>) and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Fistful of Dynamite<\/em> (1971) aka Duck, You Sucker!<\/em>\nis an effort from legendary filmmaker Sergio Leone (A Fist Full of Dollars,\nThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West<\/em>) about a\nmember of the IRA who joins Mexican revolutionaries to rebel against the\ngovernment. The disc arrives with two film historian commentaries (one\nfeaturing Alex Cox), six featurettes detailing the production, a trailer\ncommentary with Leone enthusiast and Australian moviemaker Brian\nTrenchard-Smith (The Man from Hong Kong, BMX Bandits, Dead End Drive-In<\/em>)\nand a ton of publicity materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The period drama The Lion in Winter<\/em> (1968) is also\nreceiving a \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray. Peter O\u2019Toole and Katharine Hepburn star\nin this tale of political intrigue around King Henry II and Queen Eleanor. The\nfilm has been given a 4K restoration and arrives with a director commentary, an\ninterview with the sound recordist and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And the excellent all-star western The Long Riders<\/em> (1980) from Walter Hill (The Warriors, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs., Streets of Fire<\/em>) is receiving a 4K restoration for a new Special Edition Blu-ray. The Jesse James gang biopic feature comes with a 2017 4K restoration of the movie, a film historian commentary, interviews with cast members Keith and Robert Carradine, Stacy and James Keach, Nicholas Guest, composer Ry Cooder, producer Tim Zinnemann and director Hill. It also comes with a 1-hour making-of, an analysis of an action scene, a discussion with Hill about director Sam Peckinpah and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lionsgate is presenting The Expendables: 4-Film\nCollection<\/em> box set containing Blu-rays and DVDs of the 2010 original and\nthe sequels from 2012, 2014 and 2023. The discs should all be the same as in\nprevious versions, they have just all been collected here in one package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same goes for the distributor\u2019s Saw 10-Film\nCollection<\/em> set which has Blu-rays of all the movies (thus far) in the\nnearly 20-year long horror series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you happen to be collecting Walmart exclusive Blu-ray\nSteelbooks, you have a few options, including the Jean-Claude Van Damme martial\narts picture Kickboxer <\/em>(1989), the Howie Mandel comedy Little\nMonsters<\/em> (1989) and the early David Cronenberg horror film, Shivers<\/em>\n(1975).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paramount Pictures is lining up a classic western for a 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance<\/em> (1962)\nfrom famed director John Ford (Stagecoach, The Searchers<\/em>) features Jimmy\nStewart and John Wayne. Stewart plays a senator who tells a story about himself\nand a heroic figure who was the real hero during a conflict with an outlaw.\nBesides the picture upgrade, the set features critic Leonard Maltin talking\nabout the movie, a commentary from fan and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (along\nwith his own archival recordings of John Wanye and John Ford), selected scene\ncommentary with archival recordings of Ford, Stewart and Lee Marvin, seven\nfeaturettes on the production and a trailer. The case also contains a fold-out\npanel containing the movie\u2019s theatrical poster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RLJ Entertainment is delivering a trio of Walmart Steelbook\nexclusives. The first is the remake of Children of the Corn<\/em> (2020) that\ncontains the movie on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. You can also pick up a Blu-ray\nSteelbook of the Stephen Yeun virus-thriller Mayhem <\/em>(2017), as well as a\n4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the eccentric Nicolas Cage action picture, Prisoners\nof the Ghostland<\/em> (2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blueberry<\/em> (2004) is a French western based on a comic\nbook that features and incredible cast that includes Vincent Cassel, Juliette\nLewis, Michael Madsen, Temuera Morrison, Ernest Borgnine, Djimon Hounsou,\nGeoffrey Lewis, Techeky Karyo, Eddie Izzard and Colm Meaney. If you want to\ngive it a shot, Samuel Goldwyn Films is releasing the Blu-ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shout! Factory is delivering a Blu-ray of the well-regarded\ndrama, Over the Edge<\/em> (1979). It features a young Matt Dillon and Vincent\nSpano as teens acting out in a planned community and eventually starting a\nriot. The movie was directed by Jonathan Kaplan (Heart Like a Wheel, The\nAccused, Unlawful Entry<\/em>). Extras include a 2K picture restoration from a\nfilm interpositive, interviews with Kaplan, co-writer Charlie Haas, and a\ndiscussion with the director about his father Sol, who served as composer on\nthe picture. There is also a 7-part retrospective documentary, a commentary\nwith Kaplan, producer Geroge Litto, writers Haas and Tim Hunter, a second\ncommentary featuring a cast member, the full educational video excerpted within\nthe film, and a ton of promotional materials. Sounds like an interesting release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universal is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of\nthe action picture The 355<\/em> (2022). Walmart exclusive Steelbook\ncollectors can also purchase a 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray\nversion of the monster movie classic, Creature from the Black Lagoon<\/em>\n(1954). They should be identical to previous editions just with the different\npackaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, Zeitgeist Films is putting out a Blu-ray of Archangel\n<\/em>(1990) from director Guy Madden. It\u2019s an unusual parody of silent films set\nin 1919 and is a love-story set featuring a Canadian soldier who falls in love\nwith a married woman while in Russia during the first World War. The feature\nhas been restored in 4K and comes with a director commentary and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Alas, this is a slow edition for kids, but things will pick\nup again shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

All of the week\u2019s TV-themed releases are listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Aliens<\/em>: Seasons 11-18 (Lionsgate\/History\nNetwork) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Man from U.N.C.L.E<\/em>.: The Complete Series\n(repackage) (Warner Bros.) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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