{"id":28957,"date":"2024-07-09T23:21:38","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T06:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=28957"},"modified":"2024-07-09T23:21:38","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T06:21:38","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-july-9th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=28957","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for July 9th, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra\nHD, Blu-ray and DVD. Last week was a quiet edition, which means that this one\nis very, very busy with some big titles, notable independents and international\ncinema efforts. There\u2019s definitely something for everyone. So, if you can\u2019t\nmake it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be\nsure 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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ABIGAIL \u2013 A band of kidnappers decide to kidnap the\n12-year-old daughter of an underworld figure. They capture the young ballerina,\ntake her to a remote mansion and demand a $50 million dollar ransom for her\nreturn. Unfortunately, the group soon discovers that the kid is far more\ndangerous to themselves than they are to her. In fact, she may be a vampire.\nCritics were generally positive towards this horror\/comedy. About one-fifth of\nthem did complain that the movie\u2019s early twist was made obvious in the advertising\nand that the rest of the story was predictable and lacked scares. Still, the\nmajority thought it was a fun genre picture that delivered gruesome chuckles.\nThey also wrote that it was enjoyable to see the kidnappers panic and turn on\neach other. The movie stars Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton,\nWillaim Catlett, Matthew Goode, Giancarlo Esposito and Alisha\nWeir.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BIGFOOT EXORCIST \u2013 This picture from Wild Eye Releasing was\nset to be released a few weeks back but was delayed. The distributor\u2019s titles\nare typically ultra-low-budget (essentially homemade) independent genre efforts\nthat often cater to audiences wanting over-the-top monster movies with cheesy\nproduction values. This feature is from a filmmaker responsible for the Shark\nExorcist<\/em> series and follows a cult who summon a vicious sasquatch to do\ntheir bidding. When a man survives an attack by the creature, he starts\ntransforming into a bigfoot. The figure asks for help from a nun to release him\nfrom this curse. No one has seen this picture yet and it is arriving as a\nDVD-only release. If you\u2019ve seen the series mentioned above, expect something\nsimilar, only set in the woods. The cast includes Jessa Flux, Crystal Quin and\nFord Windstar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE BOY AND THE HERON \u2013 The latest from legendary Japanese\nanimator Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited\nAway<\/em>) is a period piece set during World War II. It follows a boy grieving\nthe death of his mother and attempting to deal with his father\u2019s remarriage. He\nescapes into a dreamlike space, befriends an unusual gray heron and tries to\nbuild a better world for himself. This picture won the Academy Award for Best\nAnimated Feature and received raves from reviewers. A tiny handful commented\nthat the story was weak and that, while beautiful to look at, the picture\ndidn\u2019t engage them emotionally. Everyone else called it a gorgeously animated\nand fitting close to Miyazaki\u2019s career that examined the theme of loss in a\nmoving and original manner. This picture is available in a 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray combo pack, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook and a standalone\nBlu-ray. It contains both the original Japanese-language version with subtitles\nand an English dub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BOY KILLS WORLD \u2013 In a world where the most popular form of\nentertainment involves citizens battling to the death, a young boy\u2019s family is\nexecuted by a ruthless crime family. The attack leaves the kid deaf, mute and\nwaiting for his chance to get revenge. Adopting an inner-voice based on his\nfavorite video game character, he grows up, trains and joins a resistance group\nin order to fight his enemies. This extreme action\/comedy split the press,\nalthough more did appreciate its eccentric charms than dislike it. Almost half\ncouldn\u2019t get on the movie\u2019s wavelength. They didn\u2019t find it amusing and grew\ntired of the violence. Yet slightly more called the feature odd and hilarious,\nwith creatively staged and exciting action scenes, helped by the charismatic\nperformances. This title can be purchased in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or\non Blu-ray. It features Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett\nGelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Yayan Ruhian, Sharlto Copely and Famke Janssen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CHALLENGERS \u2013 This drama involves a tennis prodigy-turned-coach whose championship-winning husband has hit a rough patch. She enters him in a smaller tournament, thinking it will help him regain his confidence. However, the lead discovers that her ex-boyfriend (and her husband\u2019s ex-best friend) has also entered the competition. Viewers learn about the complicated pasts of all three individuals and see how each reacts to this unexpected reunion. Reaction was very positive towards this feature. A small contingent believed that the drama was too exaggerated and over-the-top, stating that it didn\u2019t deliver on its dramatic potential. Regardless, the consensus was that the cast was very strong and that the movie delivered plenty of heat as it showed the complicated relationships that come out of intense competitive spirit. Zendaya, Josh O\u2019Connor and Mike Faist headline the picture.\u00a0Read a full review of the movie here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CIVIL WAR \u2013 Set in the future during a Civil War in the United States, a group of journalists head out in a vehicle to try and interview the President before he is forcibly removed from office. In order to get there, they must travel backroads filled with military figures from both sides. As they stop and interact with them during various battles, their lives are put into danger. In general, critics spoke highly of this chilling war picture. About one-fifth were upset that the movie refused to take sides and didn\u2019t feel satisfied by the resolution or what the movie was saying. However, others thought it was harrowing to watch, impeccably made and acted, also showing how everyone involved were changed and dehumanized by the horrors of war. The film is available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive and a Blu-ray only release. It stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Nick Offerman. Click this link to read all about the film.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DEER CAMP \u201986 \u2013 Set in 1986, this story involves six friends\nfrom Detroit who decide to take a hunting trip together in the woods. They also\nrecord their adventures while heading out to shoot deer. The group are suddenly\nvisited by police and told that locals are turning up dead. As it turns out, a\nNative American spirit is also on the hunt, murdering those who enter its\nterritory. This horror\/comedy played at various film festivals over the past\ncouple of years and finally received a limited theatrical release a few weeks\nago. Members of the press who have seen the picture gave it a modest\nrecommendation. They suggest that the performances and effects are good for an\nindependent feature, but the characters are difficult to cheer for and leave\none distanced from the proceedings. The cast includes Noah LaLonde, Hay J.\nBidwell and Arthur Cartwright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FAST CHARLIE \u2013 A skilled hitman is asked to assassinate a\nthug. Things go as planned until the lead loses the deceased figure\u2019s severed\nhead. Realizing that he will not be paid unless he delivers the lost skull to\nhis employer, he asks for help in finding the body part from the victim\u2019s\nex-wife. She knows enough to help figure out where the head might be, but can\nthe hired killer trust her? Response towards this independent action\/comedy was\nupbeat. A small number complained that the movie couldn\u2019t settle on a tone\nbetween thrills and laughs and suffered as a result. However, the majority\nwrote that the film was an excellent dark comedy and throwback to crime\npictures of old, benefitting from a great cast and solid direction by veteran\nPhillip Noyce (Dead Calm, Patriot Games, The Quiet American<\/em>). For the\ntime being, this is a DVD-only release. It features Pierce Brosnan, Morena\nBaccarin, James Caan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Toby Huss and Sharon Gless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FOOD, INC. 2 \u2013 This is a sequel to the 2008 Oscar-nominated\ndocumentary that revealed major problems with the corporate food industry in\nAmerica. It details the positive changes that have begun to occur in the last\n15 years and the steps that many are taking to make food healthier for us. The\nmovie also investigates new issues caused by the recent pandemic and features\ninterviews with some of those attempting to improve food quality in the US.\nReaction towards this non-fiction feature was positive overall. A small number\ncalled it a repeat of the first film that bit off more than it could chew and\ndidn\u2019t add much to the conversation of sustainability. Still, most thought the\npicture gave a fascinating update and had even stronger arguments than the\noriginal, still maintaining a positive and uplifting outlook on the future and\nthe work of those helping all living species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SPLICE HERE: A PROJECTED ODYSSEY \u2013 The art and history of\nfilm projection is at the heart of this Australian documentary. The filmmaker\n(who is also a projectionist) details the history of how movies have been\nexhibited since the advent of Cinerama in the 1950s. After the introduction of\ndigital projection and streaming, most believe that seeing film on the big\nscreen in a communal setting will soon be over for good. This doc laments the\nloss of old-fashioned moviegoing, but also shows a recent comeback of filmic\npresentations with titles like The Hateful Eight<\/em>. It features interviews\nwith those who champion projected film like Leonard Maltin, Quentin Tarantino,\nDouglas Trumbull and more. Not many North American critics have seen the\npicture, but this movie did win praise in its homeland and played well at festivals.\nFor now, it is a DVD-only release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STRESS POSITIONS \u2013 Set during the COVID pandemic, this\nindependent comedy follows a stressed-out, gay New Yorker who is keeping his\ndistance from others. His days of living a solitary life come to an end when he\nis asked to look after his 19-year-old nephew, a Moroccan model suffering from\na broken leg. As the days pass, the visitor explains his dissatisfaction with\nbeing a model and the lead is forced to socialize when friends unexpectedly\nshow up, hoping to meet his relation. Response to the film was more positive\nthan negative. Nearly one-third described the tone as overly quirky, ultimately\nfinding the characters grating and suggesting the story had little to say about\nthe pandemic. Still, more wrote that the film was a clever satire examining\nlives on hold with some funny performances. John Early, Qaher Harhash,\nElizabeth Dement and Theda Hammel headline the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TAROT \u2013 A group of college students rent an old mansion and\nthrow a big party. They discover tarot cards and decide to do readings for each\nother, ignoring warnings not to use someone else\u2019s deck. Naturally, their night\nof fun turns to terror when they realize that the cards are cursed and that all\nof their lives are in danger. As they begin suffering horrible deaths, the\nsurvivors try to figure out how to destroy the deck. The press slammed this\nhorror picture. A very small group had a good time with the film, saying that\nthe elaborate death scenes were well-staged. However, everyone else thought\nthat the screenwriters failed to focus on anything but the slayings, stating\nthat the characters were bland and poorly written and that the movie didn\u2019t\ngenerate any suspense. It stars Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Jacob Batalon,\nAvantika and Humberly Gonzalez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TITANIC: THE MUSICAL \u2013 Who knew that the true story of the\nTitanic sinking actually inspired a 1997 Tony-award winning musical? Well, it\nis likely that Broadway fans were aware of the production, but anyone\nunfamiliar with stage shows could be surprised to learn about this musical. It\nindeed follows the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, following its passengers\nand the ship\u2019s tragic end, incorporating song and dance to tell the story. This\nis a recording of a production that was performed in England. There are few\ncritical reviews of the show, but reports suggest it is a faithful adaptation.\nIt seems that those who already enjoy the musical should find this effort to\ntheir liking. Martin Allanson, Valda Aviks, Graham Bickley, Sam Brown and James\nDarch are credited as performers in this version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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UNSUNG HERO \u2013 This faith-based picture is a drama that is\nsaid to be based on a true story of an Australian family who perform music. In\nthe early 1990s, they moved to America in the hopes of rebuilding their lives\nafter suffering from financial setbacks. Realizing that their children are\nparticularly gifted, the parents put their own dreams on hold and use\neverything at their disposal to help their kids succeed. In the process, two of\ntheir kids end up becoming huge stars in the Christian recording industry.\nCritics gave the picture a few more positive write-ups than negative ones.\nNearly half called it sweet but bland and predictable, as well as\nless-than-subtle in its religious message. Still, a few more thought the music\nwas impressive and that the story felt believable and authentic. It features\nDaisy Betts, Joel Smallbone, Kirrilee Berger, Jonathan Jackson, Candace Cameron\nBure and Terry O\u2019Quinn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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If nothing new appeals to you, plenty of older options are\navailable. 88 Films is delivering Blu-rays of a pair of Hong Kong action\nsequels. The Inspector Wears Skirts III \u2013 Raid on Royal Casino Marine<\/em>\n(1990) features a team of female police officers going undercover on a floating\ncasino. The picture has been given a 2K restoration from the original camera\nnegative and the disc includes a film expert commentary, a deleted scene and a\ntrailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Inspector Wears Skirts IV<\/em> (1992) is also arriving\non Blu-ray. It follows a new team of police recruits who ask for help from a\ncouple of ex-members while dealing with a gang of thugs. This one also contains\na 2K picture restoration, as well as a film historian commentary, stills\ngallery and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cauldron Films is giving the Michael York\/Donald Pleasence\nItalian chiller Off Balance<\/em> (1988) aka Phantom of Death<\/em> the\nBlu-ray treatment. It follows a pianist suffering from a genetic disease who\ngoes on a killing spree. The movie was directed by Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal\nHolocaust) and the disc contains a 2K picture restoration from the camera\nnegative, both the Italian and English language versions, an interview with the\ndirector and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Criterion is presenting the French Alain Delon crime picture\nLe Samourai<\/em> (1967) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. The highly-rated\nfeature follows a desperate hitman searching for an alibi after numerous\nwitnesses see him in the act of killing. Extras include two archival film\ncritic interviews, a collection of old cast and crew discussions on the\nproduction, a short documentary on the working relationship between the\nfilmmaker and star, as well as a trailer and a 30-page illustrated booklet with\nwriting on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World of Kanako<\/em> (2014) is a well-regarded\nJapanese thriller about a former detective searching for his long-lost\ndaughter. Drafthouse Films is presenting the title on Blu-ray with a making-of,\nand interviews with the lead actress and the author of the source material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French title Lady Killer<\/em> (1937), about a doomed\nromance between a member of the French Foreign Legion and a seductress, is\narriving on Blu-ray from Grasshopper Film with a 4K picture restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s another busy week for Kino. You can pick up the German\nsilent film Carmen (1918) on Blu-ray restored for this release in 4K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Come Back, Little Sheba<\/em> (1952) is a drama about an\nalcoholic man and his wife taking in a charismatic lodger who causes trouble\nbetween them. It stars Burt Lancaster and Shirley Booth, and the latter won a\nBest Actress Oscar for her work. This \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray is from a 4K\nscan and features a film historian commentary and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured\u00a0to the left, The Country Girl<\/em> (1954) with Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and William Holden is about an alcoholic performer struggling to make his comeback on Broadway. This 70th<\/sup> anniversary Blu-ray contains a 4K scan, a film professor commentary and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restored in 4K from the original camera negative, The\nHairdresser\u2019s Husband<\/em> (1990) is also arriving on Blu-ray. It\u2019s a French\nfilm about a man obsessed with hairdressers. He marries one and ends up\nspending most of his life in her shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up The Rose Tattoo<\/em> (1955) on\nBlu-ray. This drama is about a woman who falls for a man who looks exactly like\nher late husband, right down to having that same tattoo. Burt Lancaster plays\nthe new man in the woman\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Action\/disaster movie fans can pick up the exaggerated Ray\nLiotta\/Lauren Holly picture Turbulence <\/em>(1997) in a \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray combo pack or as a standalone Blu-ray. It\u2019s about a serial\nkiller who terrorizes a stewardess on an almost empty passenger flight. The\nmovie comes with a director commentary, as well as theatrical trailer and TV\nspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sex Apocalypse<\/em> (1982) is a Spanish title being\nreleased on Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro. It\u2019s about a group of perverts who\nkidnap a millionaire\u2019s daughter, only to discover that she\u2019s kinkier than they\nare. The movie is restored in 2K and arrives with a second, more explicit\nversion of the film, a discussion about the Spanish film industry during the\nreign of Francisco Franco, a discussion on the moviemaker and a film historian\ncommentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MVD Rewind Collection is delivering Ghoulies II<\/em>\n(1988) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. This one is set at a carnival,\nwhere the titular creatures go on a rampage. You\u2019ll get both the PG-13\ntheatrical version (in 2K on Blu-ray) and the R-rated cut (in 4K Ultra HD), as\nwell as an introduction by the screenwriter, a trailer, deleted scenes,\npublicity materials, a mini-poster and reversible artwork for the disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dark Angel<\/em> (1990) aka I Come in Peace<\/em> is an\nenjoyably silly science-fiction action film from director Craig R. Baxley (Action\nJackson, Stone Cold<\/em>) that is being released in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray from\nShout! Factory. Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben square off against a\ndrug-dealing alien using humans to manufacture his intergalactic narcotics. The\nnew 4K picture scan comes from the original camera negative and the disc also\ncontains a new retrospective piece with cast and crew interviews, another piece\non the production featuring Baxley, Lundgren and Benben. Publicity materials\nare also included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a completely different note, you can also pick up a\nBlu-ray of Storytelling<\/em> (2001) from Todd Solondz (Welcome to the\nDollhouse, Happiness, Life During Wartime<\/em>). This effort details the often uncomfortable\nto witness life lessons learned by its central characters (played by Selma\nBlair, Paul Giamatti and John Goodman). An inter-positive of the movie was\ngiven a 2K scan for this release, which also features an interview with the\ncinematographer and the score composer.  An alternate, uncensored version\nof a scene from the movie is also listed as a bonus, along with a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Canadian LGBTQ period drama Lilies<\/em> (1996) is also\narriving on Blu-ray from Strand Releasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Horror fans may be excited to learn that Synapse is putting\nout a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray of Crocodile<\/em> (1979), a Thai picture\nabout a pair of men hunting down the giant croc that ate their wives and\nchildren. The picture was given a 2K restoration from the original camera\nnegative and extras include a film historian commentary, an interview with the\ndirector, deleted and alternate scenes, and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Street Scene<\/em> (1935) is a well-regarded effort from the early sound period that is appearing on Blu-ray from VCI. Based on a Broadway play, it follows the hard lives of those living in a Hell\u2019s Kitchen tenement. It includes a 4K picture restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the sequel coming out shortly, Warner Bros. is\npresenting the original Twister <\/em>(1996) in 4K Ultra HD (no Blu-ray is\nincluded). A 4K Ultra HD only Steelbook is also being offered. The film stars\nHelen Hunt and Bill Paxton as storm chasers and exes who are forced to work\ntogether when storms converge over them. The release contains a new interview\nwith director Jan de Bont (Speed<\/em>), an archival commentary with de Bont,\nvarious featurettes on the production and a music video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finally, Whole Grain Pictures is presenting the drama Journey\nfrom the Fall<\/em> (2006) on Blu-ray with a soundtrack CD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Here are a couple of titles that may appeal to youngsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PBS Kids: Get Creative!<\/em> (PBS Kids) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ponysitters Club: The Big Sleepover <\/em>(Dreamscape\nMedia) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

And below is a list of all the week\u2019s TV-related releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctor Who: Tom Baker<\/em> \u2013 Season 4 (1977-1978, so\nactually season 15 of show) (BBC) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: Love & Jane, Paging Mr.\nDarcy<\/em> (Hallmark) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOVA: Great American Eclipse<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PBS Kids: Get Creative!<\/em> (PBS Kids) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ponysitters Club<\/em>: The Big Sleepover (Dreamscape\nMedia) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True Detective: Night Country<\/em> (Season 4) (Warner\nBros.) Blu-ray or DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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