{"id":28569,"date":"2024-05-07T00:57:21","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T07:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=28569"},"modified":"2024-05-07T00:57:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T07:57:21","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-may-7th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=28569","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for May 7th, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello and welcome to another look at highlights arriving on\n4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. After a couple of busy editions, things are\ndefinitely slower this time out. However, there is a big international picture\nand plenty of interesting independent efforts for your consideration. So, if\nyou can\u2019t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few\ndays, be sure to check one of these titles out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

ALTERED PERCEPTIONS \u2013 In a post-apocalyptic world, a\nsignificant portion of the population begins suffering from mental illness.\nSpecifically, they claim to be receiving advice and a warning about the future\nfrom a mysterious figure. Scientists investigate and attempt to determine if\nthey are simply hallucinations or a message from an intergalactic prophet. This\nindependent science-fiction\/thriller garnered a mixed reception from critics\n(although there were slightly more upbeat notices than pans). Those who\ndisliked it suggested that the story was overly complicated to the point that\nit lacked any sort of credibility as a drama. Slightly more admired its\nambition and wrote that it raised some interesting points about the treatment\nof psychological issues in the country. It stars Oran Stainbrook, Sally\nKirkland, Eric Roberts, Matt Fling, Lance Guest and Lynn Lowry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

BAD CGI GATOR \u2013 This offering from low-budget genre film\nproducers Full Moon follows six college students who decide to celebrate spring\nbreak by renting a cabin in the swamplands of Georgia (already a questionable\ndecision). Little do they know that a hungry gator resides in the waters. When\nthe group decide to throw their laptops into the swamp, it somehow changes the\nreptile into a CGI monster that can fly and even change its size. The group do\nwhat they can to survive its attacks. This movie has been around on streaming\nsites for a few months and is now coming out on disc. The only reviews for the\nfilm that have appeared are from bloggers. Reactions have been mixed. They all\nstate that the movie makes good on its title and a few reported that it delivers\nentertainingly campy laughs. But just as many and a few more thought the\nconcept was overly padded out (even at less than one hour in length), the\ncharacters weren\u2019t well written, and that it all became tiring. It features\nMichael Bonini, Maddie Lane and Ben VanderMey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

HEAVY \u2013 A young couple gets involved in the high-end drug\ntrade in this crime picture. After some initial success, the pair begin living\ntheir dreams. However, their wild ways soon catch up with them. And when the\nlead decides to help out an old friend, the two are eventually hunted by the\npolice and threatening figures. This picture was made in 2019 and received a\nlimited theatrical and streaming release in early 2021 during the COVID-19\npandemic. Yet it was only recently announced on disc as a DVD-only title. There\nhaven\u2019t been many notices written on the picture and those that have appeared\naren\u2019t complimentary. The only major review that can be found online suggests\nthat the characters are not relatable and that the entire enterprise feels\nclumsy and ineffective. The cast includes Daniel Zovatto, Sophie Turner,\nDarrell Britt-Gibson and Matias Varela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

KIM\u2019S VIDEO \u2013 A documentary crew decides to chronicle the\nhistory and closure of the title location, a Manhattan video rental outlet.\nThose who frequented the store claim it carried every title under the sun,\nincluding rarities you couldn\u2019t find anywhere else.  When home computers\nwere introduced, the owner announced that he was sending his store\u2019s entire\ncollection to Sicily to be digitized, but the tapes disappeared. The director\nsets out to find the movie collection and return it to the US. The press gave\nthis documentary more positive reviews than negative ones. Nearly one-third\nnoted that while the story was interesting, the film was a mess, going on\ntangents and often focusing on unimportant elements. However, the majority\ncalled the movie sloppy but still entertaining, suggesting the story was\nincredible and that there was enough wild and fascinating material to earn it a\nrecommendation.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A MOST ATROCIOUS THING \u2013 In this independent horror\/comedy,\ntwo pals and their three stoner friends decide to celebrate graduation with a\ntrip to a remote cabin. They plan to hunt, drink and do drugs. But\nunfortunately, they quickly discover something is wrong with the meat. After\nshooting and eating some tainted venison, one of the group turns into a\nflesh-eating zombie. This creates panic as the others try to escape from their\nfriend. This effort was made for next-to-nothing and premiered on streaming sites\na few weeks ago. It has only received a few write-ups from film bloggers who\nspecialize in these types of pictures. Most described the picture as modestly\nsuccessful. While they noted budgetary issues and repetitive jokes, they did\nthink it featured a game cast who interacted well and managed to sell some\namusingly gross gags. Ben Oliphint and Dylan Devol headline the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

SHE IS CONANN \u2013 Unofficially inspired by the popular Robert\nE. Howard character Conan the Barbarian, this fantasy picture from\nBelgium\/France\/Luxembourg recasts the barbarian as a revenge-seeking female\nwarrior who loses her memory. A dark figure appears and presents segments\ndetailing six lives, loves and deaths of the figure across different eras in\ntime. The picture is from Bertrand Mandico, who is known more in his homeland\nof France for experimental features than he is abroad. Reception towards this\ninternational effort from the press was positive overall. A small number\nthought it was all style and no substance, never quite connecting with its\naudience or creating memorable characters. Still, the majority were bowled over\nby the imagery and called it a bizarre but original and compelling effort that\nwould warp minds while giving them plenty to think about. It features Elina\nL\u00f6wensohn and Christa Th\u00e9ret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE TASTE OF THINGS \u2013 The biggest release of the week is\nthis foreign-language title from France that was the country\u2019s official\nselection for Best International Picture (it didn\u2019t end up making the final\nfive) at the Academy Awards. It is a period film about the relationship between\na female cook and a gourmet who have worked together for 20 years. They know\neach other better than anyone else in their lives and he wants to marry her,\nbut isn\u2019t entirely certain of her feelings about him. This film earned accolades\nfrom many film critic groups and landed nominations and awards from them. One\nor two called the picture too ornate and artificial. Everyone else thought it\nwas a beautifully mannered and gorgeously shot period romance that would make\nanyone hungry for more. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release. It\nstars Juliette Binoche, Benoit Magimel and Emmanuel Salinger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Looking for something a little older? Arrow Video is delivering a \u201cLimited Edition\u201d Blu-ray of the crime picture Night Falls on Manhattan<\/em> (1996). Directed by Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network<\/em>), it stars Andy Garcia as a newly elected district attorney trying to stamp out crime and police corruption in New York. The job becomes considerably more complicated when he realizes that family members may be involved in some of this illegal activity. Richard Dreyfuss, Lena Olin, Ian Holm, James Gandolfini, Shiek Mahmud-Bey and Colm Feore also appear in the title. The disc includes an archived commentary track from the director and another with star Garcia, co-star Ron Liebman and the film\u2019s producers, as well as an hour-long documentary from 2002 on Lumet, on-set cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and publicity materials. The packaging features new and original artwork for the title and a booklet with new writing on the movie from a film historian.\u00a0Read a full review of the release by clicking this link.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criterion is putting out the double feature A Story of\nFloating Weeds (1934) \/ Floating Weeds (1959): Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu <\/em>on\nBlu-ray. Japanese filmmaker Ozu created the original silent film and then\nremade it 25 years later. The plot follows an aging actor who returns to his\nsmall-town home and reunites with a former lover and their son. Naturally, this\ncauses conflict between himself and his current partner. The first picture has\nbeen given a high-definition digital master, while the redo is taken from a 4K\ndigital master. Both come with film historian commentary tracks (Roger Ebert\ndelivers the archival commentary on the second picture), as well as a trailer\nand essays on the movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If B-movie horror is more to your liking, you can pick up a\nBlu-ray of the direct-to-video effort Shadowzone<\/em> (1990) from Full Moon\nFeatures. It follows sleep scientists who find a dimensional portal in our\nresting brains that accidentally releases a monstrous being. Louise Fletcher\nand James Hong appear in the movie. Trailers are included in this release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Seeing Red: 3 French Vigilante Thrillers<\/em> from Fun\nCity is a Blu-ray set delivering exactly what it promises. Shot Pattern<\/em>\n(1982), Street of the Damned<\/em> (1984) aka Barbarous Street<\/em> and Black\nList<\/em> (1984) are the titles in this package. There are film historian\ncommentaries on each film, as well as archival interviews with the cast and\ndirectors, promotional materials and a booklet with essays on these\npictures.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you grew up in the 1980s, then the Chevy Chase picture Fletch\n<\/em>(1985) was probably one of your favorite comedies. Kino is now presenting\nthe movie as a \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray. Chase stars as a sharp-witted\ninvestigative reporter doing a story on drug trafficking in Los Angeles. He is\nunexpectedly approached by a wealthy stranger who asks that Fletch murder him\nfor a big payday. Curious, he follows this strange offer that takes him to some\nunusual and humorous places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on one of a series of popular novels by Gregory\nMcdonald, this sharp-witted comedy is among Chase\u2019s best work. Kino is now\npresenting a Blu-ray of the title with a 2K picture restoration from an\ninterpositive. It comes with a new entertainment journalist commentary track, a\n2007 special with cast and crew remembering the film, a 2007 featurette with\nthe make-up team (as well as cast and crew) discussing disguises used in the\npicture. There is also a favorite moments reel, a 1985 interview with star Chase,\n4 TV spots and a newly mastered trailer for the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fletch Lives<\/em> (1989) is also appearing as a \u201cSpecial\nEdition\u201d on Blu-ray. After Fletch inherits a Louisiana plantation from his\naunt, he arrives to survey the property and ends up investigating the murder of\nhis real estate agent. This follow-up isn\u2019t quite as strong, but does deliver a\nfew laughs as well. This disc also presents a new 2K picture restoration from\nan interpositive, an entertainment journalist commentary, several making-of\nfeaturettes and lots of publicity materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the greatest western ever made is also getting an\nupgrade. High Noon<\/em> (1951) is appearing in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\ncombo pack and as a Blu-ray only release. The famous picture stars Gary Cooper\nas a retired marshal who has defended his town from criminals for years. When a\nkiller is released from prison and vows to ride into town and murder the\nlawman, he discovers that none will stand up and help defend him (other than\nhis new wife, played by Grace Kelly). Besides the 4K picture restoration, the\ndisc comes with two film historian commentaries. You\u2019ll also get a special on\nthe use of a ticking clock in the story, a featurette on director Stanley\nKramer, the blacklist history of the picture (due to its leftist streak), a\nproduction history, a making-of, publicity materials and\nmore.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Kino is presenting Secret Beyond the Door<\/em> (1947)\non Blu-ray with a 4K restoration. The story is about a new bride who becomes\nconcerned about her life after marrying a widower. When she arrives at her new\nhusband\u2019s house, she discovers that he collects replicas of famous murder sites\nand has designed rooms inspired by these slayings. Fritz Lang (Metropolis, M<\/em>)\ndirected this picture and the \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d disc contains a 4K picture\nrestoration and a film historian commentary.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Francis Ford Coppola has been getting a lot of press lately\nfor Megalopolis<\/em>, his eagerly awaited, self-financed epic that will\nhopefully be in cinemas by the end of the year. While we wait for its release,\nyou can catch up with the visually spectacular One from the Heart<\/em>\n(1982). Lionsgate is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of the\nromantic musical (with songs by Tom Waits) about a Las Vegas couple who break\nup, find dream mates, and then consider getting back together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 4K disc contains as a \u201cReprise Version\u201d approved by\nCoppola, containing six-minutes of new footage that was thought to be lost\nforever and has now been added to the negative. This release comes with a\nCoppola commentary, new featurettes on the look of the film, the cast, the\nchoreography, a restoration comparison and a discussion with director and fan\nof the movie Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!, Elvis<\/em>). The Blu-ray features\nthe 1982 cut with some previously released extras (from earlier editions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postal<\/em> (2007) is being given a 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray combo pack from Massacre Video. This dark comedy from Uwe Boll (The\nHouse of the Dead, Bloodrayne<\/em>) is based on the video game of the same name.\nThe film has been given a 4K restoration from the original camera negative and\ncomes a director commentary, a fan commentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel,\nbehind-the-scenes footage, making-of features and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing a Director\nSpotlight: Sydney Pollack<\/em> Blu-ray which contains the films Castle<\/em>\n(1969) and Bobby Deerfield<\/em> (1977). The distributor never offers much in\nthe way of extras, but the price point is always very low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mondo Macarbo put out a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of\nthe Paul Naschy flick Doctor Jekyll and the Werewolf <\/em>(1972) a few months\nback. It is now appearing in a Blu-ray only edition containing that disc and\nall of its bonuses.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a busy edition for MVD Visual. The cult Star Wars\nparody short Hardware Wars<\/em> (1978) is arriving on Blu-ray. This effort\nplays like a lengthy trailer for the science-fiction classic, but one featuring\nordinary home tools like vacuums, drills and toasters instead of elaborate\nlightsabers and special effects. The amusing little film effectively pokes fun\nat the science-fiction classic. This disc contains both a new 2K scan of a 16mm\nreversal release print and a 2012 master of the short. It comes with a director\ncommentary (that is apparently played as a joke). There\u2019s also a \u201cdirector\u2019s\ncut\u201d which is made up of outtakes from the production, a 1978 interview with\nthe director, another short featuring the characters in the North Pole, a\nprequel featurette, a parody short from the filmmaker called Porklips Now<\/em>\n(which lampoons Apocalypse Now<\/em>), a reworking of Plan 9 from Outer\nSpace<\/em> with puppets, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joysticks <\/em>(1983) is a teen sex-comedy about the\nowners, employees and patrons of a video game arcade who are fighting to save\nit from being closed down. The movie includes many references to classic games\nof the era and this Blu-ray comes with a director commentary, a fan commentary,\nan interview with the filmmaker, a short that inspired the movie and trailers\nfor this title and other releases from the distributor. And you\u2019ll get a\nreversible sleeve, slipcover and folded mini-poster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MVD is also putting out a Blu-ray of the Canadian\naction\/thriller Sabotage<\/em> (1996) from Tibor Takacs (The Gate <\/em>and\nI, Madman<\/em>). It follows a former special services agent playing a deadly\ngame with several federal agencies. The impressive cast includes Mark Dacascos,\nTony Todd, John Neville, Carrie-Anne Moss and Graham Greene. Extras include new\ninterviews with Dacascos, Todd, as well as a Dacascos trailer reel,\ndouble-sided artwork, a collectible mini-poster, and a limited slipcover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Paramount is presenting multiple versions of the Brandon Lee\nfilm, The Crow<\/em> (1994). There is a 4K Ultra HD or 4K Ultra HD Steelbook\nbeing made available, as well as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook that will\nbe a Walmart exclusive. The movie is an adaptation of a comic book about a man\nwho returns from the grave to seek revenge for his own murder and that of his\nfianc\u00e9e. Besides the tragedy surrounding star Brandon Lee (he was killed in an\non-set accident during production), the movie is famous for its powerful\nvisuals and soundtrack. Early reports suggest the picture upgrade is stunning.\nThe release includes a director commentary track from Alex Proyas (Dark\nCity, Knowing<\/em>) and a producer and screenwriter commentary. You\u2019ll also get\na new three-part feature on the production design, a look at Sideshow\nCollectible figurines inspired by the movie, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a\nprofile on the comic book creator, extended scenes, a deleted footage montage\nand a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Severin is making The Spider Labyrinth<\/em> (1988)\navailable as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a standalone Blu-ray. It\u2019s an\nItalian horror picture about a killer stalking his victims in Budapest,\nHungary. Besides the picture upgrade, it comes with a historian commentary,\ninterviews with the director, screenwriter, cinematographer, effects artist, a\ncast member, a trailer and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Addams Family 1 & 2 Double Feature<\/em>\n\u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo from\nShout! Factory. It contains the animated films about the unique family that\nwere made between 2019 and 2021. Besides the 4K transfers from the original\nmaster for both films, it contains numerous extras like deleted and extended\nscenes, music videos and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Warner Archive is delivering made-to-order Blu-rays\nof several catalog titles. They include the western Devil\u2019s Doorway<\/em>\n(1950), The Mask of Fu Manchu<\/em> (1932) with Christopher Lee, as well as\nthe early Francis Ford Coppola drama The Rain People<\/em> (1969) with James\nCaan and Shirley Knight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the studio is putting out a Blu-ray\ndouble-feature with the animated efforts Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island<\/em>\n(1998) and Scooby-Doo: Return to Zombie Island<\/em> (2019) together in one\npackage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Titles that may appeal to tykes can be found below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Addams Family 1 & 2 Double Feature <\/em>(Shout!\nFactory) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PBS KIDS: 15 Sibling Stories<\/em> (PBS Kids) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubble & Crew: Construction Crew to the Rescue!<\/em>\n(Paramount) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island<\/em> (1998) \/ Return to\nZombie Island<\/em> (2019) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Monk<\/em>: Season 6 (Kino) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOVA: Building the Eiffel Tower<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n