{"id":30227,"date":"2024-12-03T00:35:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T08:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=30227"},"modified":"2024-12-03T00:35:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T08:35:36","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-december-3rd-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=30227","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for December 3rd, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at some of the latest highlights\narriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. There are a couple of big hits in\nthis edition, as well as some interesting independents. So, if you can\u2019t make\nit out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure\nto 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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ALIEN: ROMULUS \u2013 The latest feature in the long-running Alien<\/em> franchise takes place between the 1979 original and its 1986 sequel. It’s set on a poor colony planet that a group of young people are hoping to leave. When they learn that an abandoned spacecraft is passing by the planetary rings above, they decide to raid it for parts that will help them travel to another world. But after arriving, they discover a deadly menace. This feature was a box office hit and fared well with critics. About one-fifth of them did complain that the series no longer offered any surprises or scares. However, the vast majority thought this effort was atmospheric, featured several strong performances and offered new and horrifying twists and wrinkles to the formula. The movie will be available as a 4k Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, and a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. To read a full review of the movie, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BLACK EYED SUSAN \u2013 A man struggling to find a job agrees to\nfill in for his best friend at a tech firm after a tragedy occurs. He learns\nthat the company\u2019s latest product is Susan, a BDSM sex-doll with AI technology.\nThe lead begins interacting with it and finds himself being pushed into unusual\nacts. He soon begins to wonder if the doll might have been what caused his\nfriend\u2019s accident and if he might be another victim. This independent\nscience-fiction thriller was generally liked by the press. In fact, as of right\nnow, all who have seen the picture have given it a thumbs up. They called it a\nfascinatingly grim, boundary-pushing and disturbing effort. Several noted that,\nin some respects, it reminded them of the recent film Ex-Machina<\/em>,\nprovoking a lot of questions that stayed with them after the film ended. The\ncast includes Damian Maffei, Kate Kiddo and Scott Fowler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE DEAD DON\u2019T HURT \u2013 Set in the 1860s on the Western\nfrontier, this tale involves a woman who meets a Danish immigrant in\nCalifornia. She agrees to start a new life with him in Nevada. The Civil War\nbreaks out and the man is forced to leave and fight. His partner struggles to\nkeep their farm and must deal with a corrupt lawyer, the man\u2019s business partner\nand his violent, amorous son. When the immigrant finally returns home, the\ncouple must deal with these troubles and changes in their relationship. This picture\nwas also well-liked by reviewers. A handful did complain about the time jumps\nand thought the drama may have worked better with a linear narrative. But\neveryone else was impressed by the performances and stated that this effort was\na striking character piece with a few unexpectedly modern touches that\nimpressed them. Vicky Krieps, Viggo Mortensen (who also wrote and directed),\nSolly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, Colin Morgan and Danny Huston headline the\nfilm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE FORGE \u2013 A teen just out of high school spends his days\nplaying video games, much to the chagrin of his mother. Frustrated by his lack\nof ambition, the parent threatens to kick him out of the house unless he begins\napplying for jobs. He fills out an application at a fitness club and is\napproached by a man who turns out to be the company president. The kid doesn\u2019t\nwant to talk, but the figure hands him a card and asks him questions to provoke\nand inspire the youngster. This is a faith-based drama, so you probably already\nguessed what many of the questions will be about. The movie received more\npositive write-ups than negative ones. About one-third commented that the film\ndidn\u2019t feature much conflict (besides berating video games) and came across as\npreachy and tiring. Yet slightly more suggested that the characters were\nwell-written and the movie would appeal to its target demographic. It features\nCameron Arnett, Priscilla Shirer, Aspen Kennedy and Karen Abercrombie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NEVER LET GO \u2013 In this chiller, a woman lives with her two\nsons in a remote house in the woods. She tells them that the world has\nessentially ended and that the youngsters need to stay together and attach\nthemselves together with a rope whenever they leave their home. After years of\nliving on the fringes, one of the boys asks if the parent is crazy. They decide\nto break the rules and potentially put the family in danger. Reaction towards\nthis film was slightly more positive than negative. Close to half wrote that\nafter an engrossing set-up, the movie fell prey to genre tropes and didn\u2019t\noffer enough chills or surprises. Slightly more thought that the lead\nperformance and atmospheric visuals helped the movie keep viewers guessing and\ndeliver a number of jots along the way. It stars Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV,\nAnthony B. Jenkins and William Catlett.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RIPPY \u2013 Here\u2019s a new take on the zombie picture. This\nAustralian effort involves a new sheriff trying to prove herself on the job.\nShe must deal with an eccentric uncle and suddenly investigates a series of\nbrutal slayings in her remote community. Victims are torn apart and no one can\nfigure out what\u2019s responsible, until she discovers that… the culprit is a\nhungry, zombified kangaroo. The protagonist must find a way to stop the beast\nbefore it kills everyone. Only a few North American critics have seen it, and\nthey were split about the movie. One did call the film entertaining and\ncomplemented some of the performances, saying they provided plenty of laughs\nand gore. But slightly more didn\u2019t think the humor was biting and called the\nfinal effort sadly lacking. If you decide to give it a shot, it can be\npurchased in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook or as a standalone Blu-ray.\nThe film features Michael Biehn, Tess Haubrich, Angie Milliken and Aaron\nPedersen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SCALA!!! OR, THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE RISE AND FALL OF THE WORLD\u2019S WILDEST CINEMA AND HOW IT INFLUENCED A MIXED-UP GENERATION OF WEIRDOS AND MISFITS \u2013 Whew, that was a long one! While Severin Films is known for releasing restorations of cult movies, this documentary is a new effort that chronicles the history of the legendary Scala Theater in London, England. It served largely as a repertory house playing the craziest movies from around the globe to its, well, often wild patrons. The makers talk with directors like John Waters who visited the establishment, and go through the history of the building and how it inspired a generation of artists and cinema-goers. Every critic who saw the picture enjoyed it, describing the movie as a treat to watch. They appreciated the fun stories about the craziness going on within the walls, also calling it a beautiful argument for seeing films in theaters with friends (and strangers). If you want to know more, here’s a link to a disc review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WATCHMEN: CHAPTER II \u2013 The first part of this R-rated\nanimated adaptation of the famous Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons limited series\narrived on disc in August. This tale is set in a nasty, violence-ridden world\nwhere superheroes have been banned from fighting crime. When a famous hero is\nmurdered and his compatriots find themselves being targeted, the group must\ncome out of hiding and find the responsible party. The previous entry was\nwell-received, with many calling it a largely faithful and effective retelling.\nLike that edition, this title is arriving direct-to-disc and on streaming\nplatforms without early reviews. So, interested parties can either dive right\nin, or wait for notices to begin appearing. The title will be available either\non 4K Ultra HD or on Blu-ray. The voice cast includes Matthew Rhys, Katee\nSackhoff, Titus Welliver, Michael Cerveris, Phil LaMarr, Troy Baker and\nAdrienne Barbeau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WHITE BIRD \u2013 This prequel to the popular 2017 drama Wonder<\/em>\nfollows the bully character from the previous movie. After being kicked out of\nthe prep school for tormenting the last movie\u2019s protagonist (who has\nFranceschetti\u2013Klein syndrome), his Parisian grandmother arrives. She tells him\na story about her past in order to change his beliefs. The lady explains that\nshe was a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France and goes into the horrors she\nexperienced as well as being saved by a classmate with polio. The press was\ngenerally upbeat about the feature. About one-quarter of them commented that\nthe film was overly sentimental, blunt, and offered no surprises. Still, the\nmajority called the visuals gorgeous, thought the filmmaker\u2019s heart was in the\nright place, and stated that the cast were so good that they made up for the\nmovie\u2019s weaknesses. Bryce Gheissar, Gillian Anderson, Helen Mirren, Ariella\nGlaser and Orlando Schwerdt headline the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE WILD ROBOT – As this animated adventure begins, a robot\nboots up to find itself stranded on a strange, unpopulated planet. The\nwilderness surroundings are harsh, but the character eventually finds a task\nfor itself when it comes upon an orphaned goose. The animal is shunned by other\ncreatures around it, so the robotic being tries to teach the baby how to thrive\nin this world. This animated picture was very well received by critics. A very\nsmall number didn\u2019t think that the movie offered particularly engaging\ncharacters and were left cold by the drama on display. However, everyone else\nstated that this was a dazzling effort that tugged at the heartstrings and\nshowed managed to use its robot and animal lead to detail the pains of both\nparenthood and growing up. This title will be available as a 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray combo, as well as a standalone Blu-ray. The voice cast includes Lupita\nNyong\u2019o, Pedro Pascal, Stephanie Hsu, Kit Carter, Mark Hamill, Catherine\nO\u2019Hara, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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It\u2019s a busy week for older titles too. Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray box set Shawscope Volume Three<\/em> which contains 14 movies. You\u2019ll get The One-Armed Swordsman<\/em> (1967), Return of the One-Armed Swordsman<\/em> (1969), The New One-Armed Swordsman <\/em>(1971), The Lady Hermit<\/em> (1971), Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan<\/em> (1972), The 14 Amazons<\/em> (1972), The Magic Blade<\/em> (1976), Clans of Intrigue <\/em>(1977), Jade Tiger<\/em> (1977),\u00a0 The Sentimental Swordsman<\/em> (1977), The Avenging Eagle<\/em> (1978), Killer Constable<\/em> (1980), Buddha’s Palm<\/em> (1982) and Bastard Swordsman<\/em> (1983). A CD with soundtrack music is also included. There are some big movies in this set and the site will keep you informed on extras, but you will get multiple versions of some of the titles, cast and crew interviews and other bonuses. Click this link for a complete and very lengthy review of the entire box set! <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arrow Video is also putting out \u201cStandard Edition\u201d 4K Ultra\nHD discs of the gothic melodrama\/chiller Crimson Peak<\/em> (2015) as well as\nthe greatly entertaining Star Wars<\/em> knock-off The Last Starfighter<\/em>\n(1984). This movie features some of the earliest computer-generated effects and\nis a fun story about an arcade game playing teenager who is recruited to save\nthe universe in a space war. You\u2019ll get all the same features included on the\nprevious 4K disc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Severing is delivering a Blu-ray set called Hard Wood: The Adult Features of Ed Wood<\/em>. It\u2019s pretty much exactly as it sounds. After Plan 9 from Outer Space<\/em>, filmmaker Ed Wood was forced to make adult pictures in order to pay the rent. This set contains three movies and a bonus feature that he was involved with. You\u2019ll also get over seven hours of bonus features including film historian commentaries, a great episode of the Incredibly Strange Film Show from the UK that details Wood\u2019s life and career. There is also a featurette containing a discussion with Dana Gould and Bobcat Goldthwait about Ed Wood’s \u201ctwilight era\u201d trailers, a talk with filmmaker Fred Olen Ray and more. Read a full review of the set by clicking this link.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also from Severin is the recent documentary Scala!! Or, The Incredibly Strange Rise and Fall of the Mixed-Up Generation of Weirdos and Misfits<\/em> (2023). It tells the story of the most important repertory cinema in London and the influence it had playing cult movies to a wide variety of patrons. The Blu-ray includes a director commentary and intro to the feature, extended interviews with participants, other documentaries about the Scala, outtakes, animations, a ton of shorts that played at the theater (some with commentary tracks), a video of an appearance at the cinema by Herschell Gordon Lewis (Blood Feast<\/em>) and much more. Here’s that link again to a full disc review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you admire the work of Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire,\nPerfect Days<\/em>), Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack\nof Paris, Texas<\/em> (1984). It features a mute drifter trying to find and\nreconnect with his son after disappearing for four years. An archival Wenders\ncommentary track is included, along with a 30-minute discussion with the\ndirector, cast and crew interviews, a talk with Claire Denis and Allison Anders\n(who were crew members on the picture and are now noted directors), a French\nfeaturette on the recording of the score, deleted scenes, promo material and a\nbooklet with essays on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eureka is making the Hong Kong feature The Sword<\/em>\n(1980) available on Blu-ray. It follows a swordsman with a cursed blade. This\none was due to be released a couple of weeks ago but was briefly delayed. The\ndisc contains a 2K picture restoration, two film historian commentaries, a film\ncritic interview, another discussion about the movie and the wuxia genre, a\ntrailer, a booklet with an essay and a slip-card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Visit<\/em> (2015) from M. Night Shyamalan (The\nSixth Sense, Unbreakable, Split, The Cabin in the Woods, Trap<\/em>) is an\nunderrated little thriller about a pair of kids who go to visit their estranged\ngrandparents. The movie offers a found-footage approach that works quite well.\nKino is now delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the movie. You\u2019ll get\na new master of the movie, a film historian commentary, a making-of, cast and\ncrew interviews, 10 deleted scenes and an alternate ending, behind-the-scenes\nfootage, and a ton of promotional materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paramount Pictures is having a notable week. In celebration\nof its 25th<\/sup> anniversary, Galaxy Quest<\/em> (1999) is arriving in\n4K Ultra HD and as a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook. It\u2019s a hilarious comedy with Tim\nAllen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub and Sam Rockwell playing\nactors from a Star Trek-like show who end up traveling to another world. Besides\nthe picture upgrade, this release contains a new \u201cFilmmaker Focus\u201d with\ndirector Dean Parisot, and hours of legacy special features<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also purchase a 30th<\/sup> anniversary \u201cLimited\nEdition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of Quentin Tarantino\u2019s Oscar-winning\n(for Best Original Screenplay) Pulp Fiction<\/em> (1994). This one is an\nAmazon exclusive that presents a sharper picture, seemingly all legacy bonus\ncontent and a new slipcover with pop-up artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Severin Films specialized in eccentric cult films, and in\naddition to the ones mentioned above, you can also pick up The Incredibly\nStrange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies<\/em> (1964) on\nBlu-ray. This eccentric effort is, in the eyes of some, one of those\n\u201cso-bad-it\u2019s-good\u201d films. For this \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d the movie has been scanned\nin 2K from the original 16mm AB rolls. It also comes with three hours of bonus\nmaterials including an introduction from Joe Bob Briggs, multiple commentaries\nand archival interviews, along with deleted scenes, trailers and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the drive-in picture Satan\u2019s\nSadists<\/em> (1969). It follows a group of patrons at a diner who are attacked\nby a violent biker gang and try to escape with their lives.  The disc\ncomes with an archival producer commentary, outtakes, trailers, TV and radio\nspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shout! Factory is presenting a few 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\npacks. The first is a \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d of the cult period epic Aguirre,\nthe Wrath of God<\/em> (1972) from Werner Herzog. It stars Klaus Kinski as the\nleader of a Spanish expedition to El Dorado. For those who haven\u2019t seen the\nfilm, the journey goes horribly wrong. Besides a new 4K transfer of the film,\nthe set includes two Herzog commentary tracks, a trailer and a still gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gift<\/em> (2000) is an effective thriller from Sam\nRaimi that is also receiving the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d\ntreatment.  It stars Cate Blanchett as a fortune teller who is pulled into\na devious plot. Besides a new 4K picture restoration, you\u2019ll get two film\ncritic commentaries, an isolated music and effects track, new cast and crew\ninterviews, original promotional materials including more talks with those\ninvolved in the production, not to mention a ton of promotional ads and other\nmaterials for the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the monster movie Pumpkinhead<\/em> (1988) is being\nreleased as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray \u201cLimited Edition\u201d Steelbook. The contents\nare essentially the same as last year\u2019s 4K release of the movie, only in new\npackaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sony Pictures is making The Blood Ship<\/em> (1927)\navailable on Blu-ray, along with the British comedy\/drama Crush<\/em> (2001)\nstarring Andie MacDowell and Imelda Staunton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Brad Pitt\/Anthony Hopkins period drama Legends of the\nFall<\/em> (1994) is getting a 4K Ultra HD only release to celebrate its 30th<\/sup>\nanniversary. This release contains a 4K picture restoration from the original\ncamera negative and comes with archival bonuses like a director commentary,\ncinematographer and production designer commentary, making-of featurette,\nproduction design featurette and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the Cary Grant comedy The Talk of the Town<\/em> (1942)\nis also receiving a 4K Ultra HD-only release from the studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universal Pictures is presenting a Shaun of the Dead<\/em>\n(2004) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray 20th<\/sup> anniversary Steelbook for\npurchase, as well as a regular 4K and Blu-ray combo pack. This is one of the\nbest zombie comedies ever made and this edition includes all archival\ncommentaries, bonuses as well as one new extra\u2026 a 20-year retrospective on the\nmovie with director Edgar Wright and stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Sounds\nlike fun.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vinegar Syndrome made a few big release announcements over\nthe Thanksgiving holiday and made a few new titles available for purchase (you\ncan find them on their website if they are still available). The highlights\ninclude a two-disc Blu-ray set of the musical\/comedy Cannibal! The Musical<\/em>\n(1993). This was the first indie project made by South Park <\/em>creators\nTrey Parker and Matt Stone. It\u2019s a surprisingly funny and effective little\nhomemade effort with a few hilarious tunes. It includes a video restoration\nfrom the best surviving Betamax elements and a 4K restoration of the only\nsurviving 35mm film print. The set comes with a commentary with Parker, Stone\nand some of the cast, a crew commentary, a new cast and crew commentary, a\n67-minute making-of documentary, new interviews with cast members, a featurette\non the adapting the story to stage and so much more that there isn\u2019t enough\nspace to go into it all here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Congo<\/em> (1995) was an all-star intended summer blockbuster about scientists (along with the gorilla of a group member, who can communicate using signals attached to a voice box) on an expedition in Africa for rare blue diamonds. The movie was ridiculous and flopped at the box office, but despite its initial failure has developed a cult following. The film can now be picked up in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. It comes with a 4K picture restoration from the original camera negative, a film historian commentary, a new 50-minute making-of documentary, a conversation with the FX team, an archival making-of, behind the scenes photo gallery, trailers and a 40-page book with essays on the movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of the Diane\nKeaton drama, Looking for Mr. Goodbar<\/em> (1977). This 4K restoration also\ncomes from the original camera negative and the release includes a scholar\ncommentary, a making-of special, a visual essay on the movie and promo\nmaterials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Warner Bros. is delivering two 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray combos that are Walmart exclusives. The first is the Gerard Butler\nperiod action picture 300 <\/em>(2006) and the second is the recent sequel Godzilla\nx Kong: The New Empire<\/em> (2024). Expect all the features to be the same, just\nin different packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

If you\u2019re a kid, then your best bet this week is likely the\ntitle listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wild Robot<\/em> (Universal Studios) 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray or Blu-ray only<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Ahsoka<\/em>: Season 1 (Disney\/Buena Vista) 4K Ultra HD\nCollector\u2019s Edition Steelbook<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Biltmore Christmas<\/em> (2023 TV-Movie) (Hallmark)\nBlu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawkeye<\/em>: Season 1 (2021 series) (Disney\/Buena Vista)\n4K Ultra HD Collector\u2019s Edition Steelbook<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loki<\/em>: Season 2 (Disney\/Buena Vista) 4K Ultra HD\nCollector\u2019s Edition Steelbook<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mandalorian<\/em>: Season 3 (Disney\/Buena Vista) 4K\nCollector\u2019s Edition Steelbook<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Merry Scottish Christmas<\/em> (2023 TV-movie) (Hallmark)\nBlu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Park: The End of Obesity Special Event<\/em>\n(Paramount Pictures) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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