{"id":28780,"date":"2024-06-03T23:05:54","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T06:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=28780"},"modified":"2024-06-03T23:05:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T06:05:54","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-june-4th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=28780","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for June 4th, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving\non 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition isn\u2019t as busy as the previous\none, but there are a couple of notable titles appearing on disc. So, if you\ncan\u2019t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few\ndays, be sure to give one of these movies a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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LA CHIMERA \u2013 This European co-production is a period piece\nthat follows an English archeologist who has just been released from prison for\nrobbing tombs. He travels to Italy to visit his ex-girlfriend\u2019s mother and try\nto dig up some hidden items in the process. When the lead discovers they are\ngone, he seeks them out, meeting other thieves and working on new plots in the\nprocess. Things get complicated after he falls for a local woman. The picture\nwas very well liked by reviewers. A few couldn\u2019t figure out what the movie was\ntrying to say and thought it wandered rather aimlessly. Everyone else thought\nthat the performances were excellent and wrote that the picture asked a lot of\ninteresting questions and playfully dealt with history and folklore in an engaging\nmanner. It features Josh O\u2019Connor, Carol Duarte, Vincenzo Nemoato, Isabella\nRossellini and Alba Rohrwacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DARKNESS OF MAN \u2013 An ex-Interpol operative fails to protect\nhis informant. Guilt-ridden, he vows to watch over the son of the individual\nwho died on his watch. Many years later, the protagonist learns that the\nyoungster is caught in the middle of a brutal gang war. He sees it as an\nopportunity to help the boy out and redeem himself. Response to this\nindependent action picture was slightly more positive than negative. A large\nnumber did complain that the dialogue was weak and that the production didn\u2019t have\nthe necessary funds to rise above the glut of direct-to-disc action pics. Yet\nslightly more were complementary toward the lead performance and thought this\nwas a reasonably effective neo-noir that kept them engaged. For the time being,\nthis is a DVD only release. It stars Jean-Claude Van Damme. Kristanna Loken,\nEmerson Min, Spencer Breslin, Kirk \u201cSticky Fingaz\u201d Jones and Shannen Doherty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FOUNDERS DAY \u2013 A small town mayoral race coincides with a\ntricentennial celebration in this horror film. Things get very tense when a\ncostumed figure with a gavel appears and begins killing locals. Opinions are\nvoiced by government figures as well as the public about whether it\u2019s a good\nidea to observe the holiday as the bodies pile up and police try to identify\nthe killer. The press was generally split on this effort, with one or two more\nwrite-ups panning the movie instead of recommending it. Almost half thought it\nwas an ambitious, entertaining and ultimately effective homage to slasher films\nof the 1980s. But a few more commented that the tone of the film was unbalanced\nand that the satire didn\u2019t have enough bite to make the end result memorable.\nThe cast includes Naomi Grace, Devin Druid, Willaim Russ, Amy Hargreaves,\nCatherine Curtin and Emilia McCarthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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IN THE COMPANY OF KINGS \u2013 If you enjoy boxing, this\ndocumentary may be for you. The director, a huge fan of Muhannad Ali, talks to\nthe figure\u2019s manager Gene Kilroy, as well as promoters like Don King. But his\njourney ultimately leads to discussions with eight other World Champs about\ntheir experiences in the ring. They describe the racism they experienced, their\nstruggles in the business, victories, defeats and ultimately picking themselves\nup off the canvas. There aren\u2019t a great many notices for this picture yet, but\nthose that have appeared online are upbeat. This film has been described as\npresenting an interesting and illuminating picture of famous boxers and others\naround the ring. The eight interviewees include Larry Holmes, Bernard Hopkins,\nTim Witherspoon, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks and Bob Arum. This\ntitle is being released exclusively on DVD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LOST SOULZ \u2013 A young man dreams of becoming a famous rapper,\nbut struggles to get noticed. One night, he meets a group of hip-hop musicians\nreadying themselves for a big tour. They invite the protagonist to join them as\nthey travel through Texas. After agreeing, he makes new friendships, learns\nfrom those around him, and attempts to discover his own voice as an artist.\nThis independent drama includes a lot of music and many members of the press\nenjoyed the combination. A small number stated that the editing was choppy and\nthat the finale didn\u2019t make a big impression on them emotionally. Still, the\nvast majority described the leads as charming and enjoyed being taken on the\ntrip. They called the movie relatable, authentic and inspirational. It stars\nSauve Sidle, Alexander Brackney, Malachi Mabson, Micro TDH, Siyanda Stillwell\nand Krystal Poppin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE OLD OAK \u2013 The latest from well-regarded British director\nKen Loach (Kes<\/em>, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, I, Daniel Blake,\nSorry We Missed You<\/em>) is being promoted as his final feature. It\u2019s about a\npub owner in a depressed village in northeast England. Local mines have closed\ndown and many struggling citizens become angry when Syrian war refugees arrive.\nThe barkeeper steps in to try to help and befriend the new residents,\neventually making friends with a mother. The pair work together to develop a\nstronger community spirit. This film was nominated for Best Picture at the\nBAFTAs (the British Oscar equivalent) and won awards at various festivals worldwide.\nA small number thought it oversimplified the problems being depicted and was\nheavy-handed. But the consensus was that the picture was a sweet, humanistic\nand hopeful film about different people ultimately finding the best in one\nanother during difficult circumstances. The cast includes Dave Turner, Ebla\nMari and Claire Rodgerson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RUBY\u2019S CHOICE \u2013 An independent, creative senior begins to\nhave health issues and visits a doctor. After being diagnosed with dementia,\nshe is forced to stay with her daughter\u2019s family. There is difficulty in\nadapting to the problem, as the woman is situated with her granddaughter (who\nmust attend to the relative). However, everyone begins to see that the\nmatriarch may still be able to live a happy and fulfilling life together. This\nAustralian drama hasn\u2019t been seen by many in this part of the world, but reaction\nto it has generally been positive. One or two found the story a bit contrived\nand believed that it lacked authenticity. Yet most complimented the movie for\npresenting a fuller picture of the difficulties a family goes through under\ntrying circumstances. They wrote that it was low-key but well-acted and\nwarmhearted.  For now, this is a DVD-only release. It features Jane\nSeymour, Jacqueline McKenzie and Coco Jack Gillies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE THREE MUSKETEERS PART II: MILADY \u2013 The French period\nfeature The Three Musketeers: D\u2019Artagnan<\/em> was recently released on disc\nin North America. It served as the first half of a new adaptation of The\nThree Musketeers. <\/em>the classic Alexandre Dumas novel. This is the second\nhalf, following D\u2019Artagnan and the Musketeers as they learn the details behind\na plot to assassinate Louis XIII and try to stop villainous forces from\ncontrolling the country. Notices were strong for this foreign-language feature.\nA small number suggested that you needed to be very familiar with the first\npicture to keep up and critiqued the movie for lacking the excitement that the\nprevious chapter generated. Regardless, the consensus was that the picture\ncompleted a lavish and thrilling adaptation, thanks to a great cast and few\nbonus twists and turns. Fran\u00e7ois Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio\nMarma\u00ef, Eva Green, Louis Garrel and Vicky Krieps headline the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WICKED LITTLE LETTERS \u2013This period crime\/comedy from the UK\nis based on a true story. It begins when various upstanding citizens of a small\nvillage (including a very conservative and prominent member of the upper class)\nbegin receiving strange letters in the mail. The notes are filled with\nprofanities and insults, enraging them. A rowdy Irish migrant is accused and\ntaken by authorities. However, a group of women who wonder if the wrong person\nhas been incarcerated decide to investigate. A minor contingent didn\u2019t care for\nthe tone or find the material funny, believing it should have been more serious\nin its presentation. All others stated that the film was a hoot, with\nwell-drawn and hilarious characters delivering creatively vulgar insults that\nwould be sure to bring a smile to any viewer\u2019s face. For now, this is a\nDVD-only release. It stars Olivia Colman, Jesse Buckley, Timothy Spall, Anjana\nVasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones and Malachi Kirby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you\u2019re looking for something older on disc, several new\noptions are available. Cinema Guild is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\ncombo (a standard Blu-ray is also available) of Typhoon Club<\/em> (1985).\nIt\u2019s a Japanese drama about unsupervised students trapped in a school gymnasium\nand trying to get along while a storm rages outside. Besides the improved\npicture quality, the disc comes with interviews with the director and lead\nactress, trailers and a booklet with a new essay on the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Criterion is giving Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas<\/em>\n(1998) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray upgrade package. This visually stunning\npicture from Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys, The Fisher King<\/em>) is\nbased on the 1971 novel by Hunter S. Thompson. The picture details a\njournalist\u2019s psychedelic adventure while covering a motorcycle race. As\nmentioned, the picture should be better than ever and extras (including three\naudio commentaries: one with Gilliam, one with actors Johnny Depp and Benicio\nDel Toro and producer Laila Nabulsi, and one with author Hunter S. Thompson and\nmany, many more) from the previous Criterion release are all here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Argentinian noir thriller Never Open That Door<\/em>\n(1952) aka No Abras Nunca Esa Puerta<\/em> is arriving on Blu-ray from Flicker\nAlley. The movie tells two separate stories with one common element. A door\nthat separates good from evil. Two sets of characters must contend with\npersonal issues and encounter this passageway in the process. It is said to be\nincredibly suspenseful and effective. The disc includes a film expert\nintroduction, a movie historian commentary, a rare archival scan of a third\nsegment that was cut out of the picture, a documentary on the author whose\nshort stories were adapted into this film, a discussion about the title with an\nArgentinian film authority and a souvenir booklet with photographs, posters and\nmore,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kino is delivering a number of titles this week. Bad\nLieutenant<\/em> (1992) is being given a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo upgrade.\nHarvey Keitel plays a self-destructive cop who succumbs to vices while\ninvestigating a big case. Extras include an audio commentary by director Abel\nFerrera and the cinematographer, a new interview with the director of\nphotography, a retrospective documentary and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also a Blu-ray \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d of the film noir, The\nChase<\/em> (1946) featuring a chauffeur falsely accused on murder. The picture\nhas been mastered in HD from 35mm elements and it arrives with a commentary\nfrom fan and filmmaker Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World<\/em>).\nYou\u2019ll also get two radio adaptations of the source novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Death Machine<\/em> (1994) is a futuristic horror movie about an inventor (played by Brad Dourif) who creates a killer robot to execute his employers after they fire him. It is the first movie of director Stephen Norrington (Blade, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen<\/em>). For its 30th<\/sup> anniversary, this 2-disc set contains three cuts of the movie (a US version, a director\u2019s cut and a foreign edition), a critic commentary, a director commentary, a new interview with Norrington, and the make-up artist, tons of featurettes, publicity materials and reversible art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hour Before Dawn<\/em> (1944) is a UK war\/drama about a\nNazi agent who marries an unsuspecting English pacifist. This title has been\ngiven a 2K scan from the original 35mm original fine grain source, a film\nhistorian commentary and trailer.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The debut feature of martial artist Jeff Speakman is getting\na \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray. The Perfect Weapon<\/em> (1991) stars the\nperformer as a man of action who decides to take revenge on the drug kingpin\nwho murdered his mentor. Out-of-print for some time, this release contains a 4K\npicture restoration from the original camera negative, a commentary from director\nMark DiSalle (Kickboxer<\/em>), a new interview with Speakman, deleted and\nextended scenes and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Robert Mitchum western Pursued<\/em> (1947) is also\nreceiving the \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray treatment. Kino picked up a 2022 4K\nscan of the original camera negative and dupe negative from Paramount Pictures\nfor this release. The disc contains a film historian commentary and an\nintroduction by Martin Scorsese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saigon<\/em> (1947) is a film noir set in Southeast Asia\nstarring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. This Blu-ray contains a 2K scan of the\n35mm original fine grain print, a film historian commentary and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paramount Pictures is giving the Oscar-winning animated\nfeature Rango<\/em> (2011) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook. Apparently,\nthe set contains the theatrical and extended versions of this highly\nentertaining feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of upgrades, Shout! Factory is putting out \u201cLimited\nEdition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbooks of the classic western The\nMagnificent Seven<\/em> (1960) and the Oscar-winning war picture, Platoon<\/em>\n(1986). In addition to the image improvement, both sets include most previously\nreleased bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for something for tykes, Shiloh: The\nComplete 3-Film Collection<\/em> is arriving on DVD from the distributor. It\ncontains the original Shiloh <\/em>(1996), Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season<\/em>\n(1999) and Saving Shiloh<\/em> (2006). The films follow a young boy who tries\nto save an abused beagle from his cruel owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Civil War-set feature Glory<\/em> (1989) is celebrating\nits 35th<\/sup> Anniversary with a new 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook\ncourtesy of Sony Pictures. Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher,\nMatthew Broderick and Cary Elwes star in this picture about the first all-black\nvolunteer company to fight in the war. Besides the picture upgrade, it arrives\nwith previously released extras including a director commentary and deleted\nscenes, as well as multiple featurettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the bonus-packed Back to the Future: The\nUltimate Trilogy<\/em> 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set from Universal Studios is\ngetting rereleased. Apparently, it\u2019s a well-regarded release with excellent\nimage quality on the 1985 original, 1989 and 1990 sequels, in addition to hours\nupon hours of extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The exclusive release for kids this week is the Shiloh<\/em>\n3-movie collection on DVD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiloh: The Complete 3-Film Collection<\/em> (family movies\nmade in 1996, 1999 and 2006) (Shout! Factory) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Below is a list of all the TV-themed releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armenia, My Home<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brief History of the Future<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctor Who: Peter Davison: <\/em>Complete Season Two<\/em>\n(BBC) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manifest<\/em>: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manifest<\/em>: Season 4 (Warner Bros.) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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