{"id":30282,"date":"2024-12-10T15:23:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T23:23:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=30282"},"modified":"2024-12-10T15:23:57","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T23:23:57","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-december-10th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=30282","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for December 10th"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving\non 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This week is notable for a number of\ninteresting independent and international titles, as well as some big older\nfilms receiving impressive upgrades. So, if you can\u2019t make it to the movies\nthis week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure to give one of these\ntitles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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BANGKOK DOG \u2013 This action film from Thailand follows an\nAmerican agent who is sent out to infiltrate a sinister Bangkok crime\norganization and shut it down. He is recruited into their fold, only to make\nfriends with a few individuals within the group. The line between good and evil\nbecomes complicated as the protagonist gets closer and closer to the leader. So\nfar, the movie has only been seen by a handful of online reviewers. They mostly\nhave had kind words for the film. Noting that the director of Ong-Bak: The\nThai Warrior <\/em>and Chocolate<\/em> is executive producer of this effort,\nthey state that the film delivers action in spades. Most note that the movie\nisn\u2019t perfect, but should please genre enthusiasts and present new performers\nfrom the country. It stars D.Y. Sao and Brian Le. Sao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE BEAST \u2013 Set in a world where artificial intelligence has taken control of humanity and dangerous feelings are being eliminated, a woman decides to willingly go through with the procedure to end emotions. The procedure takes people on a journey visiting past lives and ultimately removing upsetting elements of their personality. But just before she is about to begin, she feels an incredible connection to a new man. Could he be a figure from her past? Critics were very impressed with this dual French\/English-language feature. A small number complained that the movie didn\u2019t grab them emotionally and came across as pretentious in dealing with its themes. But the vast majority found the movie mysterious and compelling, praising the performances and calling the themes deep and haunting. The cast includes Lea Seydoux, George MacKay and Guslagie Malanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CURSED IN BAJA \u2013 This independent crime picture is set in\nMexico and follows an American private detective. He enters the country to\nsearch for the missing heir of a wealthy Los Angeles-based family. The lead\nlearns that he has forgotten his anxiety medication as the trail leads to drug\ncartels and, eventually, a chupacabra. Can he keep it together long enough to\nsurvive and complete his assignment? This indie feature has played at a few\nfestivals and has been available to stream for a month, but hasn\u2019t been seen by\nmany mainstream critics. Still, genre critics who have watched it had good\nthings to say. While they admitted the title would have benefited from a larger\nbudget, they called it remarkably creative and unpredictable, with a wild\nand crazy finale that would impress B-movie enthusiasts. It features Jeff\nDaniel Philips (who also directed), Barbara Crampton, Finnegan Seeker Bell,\nRobbyn Leigh, Mark Fite, Kent Isaacs and Jose Conejo Martin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DAYTIME REVOLUTION \u2013 Many remember the 1969 John Lennon\/Yoko\nOno \u201cbed-in\u201d protest against war. But in early 1972, they also took their\nmessage to television airwaves. The pair were asked to co-host the Mike Douglas\nShow for a week in Philadelphia. For five days, they brought in controversial\nguests like Black Panther Chairman Bobby Seale and political activist Ralph\nNader for a series of conversations on what was, at the time, the most popular\nTV show in America. This documentary shows what was going on in front of and\nbehind the camera during this period. The press greatly enjoyed the feature.\nOne or two thought the film could have gone further to detail the historical\nsignificance of these shows. Everyone else stated that it showed the\nbehind-the-scenes dynamics behind one of the most significant television events\nof the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DUCHESS \u2013 A woman falls for a diamond smuggler in this\naction picture. He introduces her to his friends and business, but the pair\nsoon find themselves set-up. He is killed and she is left for dead. After\nescaping and recovering, she decides to train and set out on a violent revenge\nmission against the underworld figures responsible for slaughtering her beau.\nWrite-ups were poor for this independent production. A few did think the\npicture was well-paced and delivered plenty of exciting confrontations, as well\nas some good quips from the star. All others thought that the screenplay was\npredictable and lifeless, and suggested that even the fight scenes came off as\ndull instead of thrilling. Charlotte Kirk, Philip Winchester, Colm Meaney,\nStephanie Beacham, Sean Pertwee, Colin Egglesfield and Hoji Fortuna headline\nthe picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES \u2013 After learning\nthat his grandmother has a terminal illness, a young man quits his job and\ndecides to look after her.  They butt heads and it isn\u2019t long before the\nelderly woman asks if the lead is attending to her in the hopes of a big\ninheritance. He admits to some degree that this is the reason, but she\nultimately allows him to stay. As the weeks pass and they get to know each\nother, a real bond and connection begins to form. Every reviewer who saw this foreign-language\ntitle from Thailand liked it. They all commented that while they realized the\nfilm was pulling at the heartstrings, the cast was so charming and charismatic,\nand the script so honest and sweet, that they couldn\u2019t help but be drawn into\nthe story. The title stars Putthipong Assaratanakul, Usha Seamkhum and Sanya\nKunakorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE LAST VIDEO STORE \u2013 Anyone out there remember old VHS and DVD rental stores? This independent horror\/comedy from Canada involves a woman trying to return some rentals for her recently deceased father. The clerk decides to give her a crash course on his business and the old movies he rents. When the pair discover that one of the tapes being returned has the power to pull characters from monster movies right into the store, they are forced to fight for their lives. This picture has only been seen by a handful of genre critics, but most were upbeat. One thought the movie veered a little too far into the tropes being poked fun at and didn\u2019t connect with the characters. Still, everyone else thought it was a really fun little B-movie that not only delivered some entertaining gross-out moments, but also effectively warned about being too obsessed with genre pictures. The cast includes Kevin Martin, Yaayaa Adams, Matthew Kennedy and Josh Lenner. Read a full review of the Blu-ray release by clicking this link.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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QUADRANT \u2013 The latest title from indie producer Charles Band\nand his Full Moon Entertainment line (the Puppet Master<\/em> series) is this\ntale about a pair of scientists working with AI technology to treat phobias.\nSpecifically, they create a helmet that takes patients into a world where they\ncan literally face their fears. Strange things begin occurring when one of\ntheir subjects actually enjoys the artificial world and starts adopting\ncharacteristics of Jack the Ripper. It seems as though she may start killing in\nreal life and the experts, along with another patient, must try to stop her.\nApparently, this concept has been in development at the production house for\ndecades, but was finally completed this year. It\u2019s being released on all\nformats on the same day, so no reviewers have seen it yet. Interested parties\nwill either have to go in blind or wait for notices to start appearing. Shannon\nBarnes, Christian Carrigan, Rickard Cleason and Emma Reinagel headline the\nmovie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE ROUNDUP: PUNISHMENT \u2013 The fourth chapter of this South\nKorean action\/crime series picks up with its heroic protagonist-detective\njoining a team of experts investigating cyber-crimes. He and the squad set out\nto catch a former mercenary who is now heading the world\u2019s biggest and most\ndangerous online gambling organization. To do so, they must beat down an army\nof bad guys. Critics responded well to the latest foreign-language franchise\nentry. A few felt that this sequel was too repetitive and offered nothing new,\nresulting in a less-exciting feature than hoped for. But the majority noted\nthat, while the plot did feel familiar, the fast-paced film still provided\nincredible and painful-looking action sequences that would impress anyone. This\ntitle is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack and as a standalone\nBlu-ray. It features Ma Dong Seok, Kim Mu-Yeol and Park Ji-Hwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE SOUL EATER \u2013 This French chiller is set in a small\nmountain village awash in all kinds of strange myths and legends. It begins\nwith a police officer tasked with investigating a double-murder meeting a man\nsearching for several missing children. He shares his findings with her and she\nbegins to suspect that both inquiries may actually be connected. Superstitious\nlocals claim it to be the work of a monster as the pair try to identify a human\nkiller. This picture, from the directors behind the 2007 cult film Inside<\/em>,\nearned more positive write-ups than negative ones. About one-quarter thought\nthat while stylish, this effort was slow-moving and lacked tension. However,\nmost described the feature as an interesting mix of police procedural and\nsupernatural picture with some striking visuals and a memorable finale. The\npicture can either be picked up in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, or as a\nBlu-ray only release. Virginie Ledoyen, Paul Hamy, Sandrine Bonnaire and\nFrancis Renaud headline the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WINNE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY 2 \u2013 This picture was announced for a release in October, but some sources state it was pushed back and I currently can’t find a previous Blu-ray release date. The movie is appearing on disc this week. Last year\u2019s Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey<\/em> offered a grisly take on the famous children\u2019s character (which is now in the public domain). It was universally panned by reviewers and won the Golden Razzie for Worst Picture. This sequel finds the menacing Pooh, Piglet, Owl and Tigger on the run. They decide to find and slaughter Christopher Robin (the boy who ultimately left them after growing up). The trail takes them to his hometown, where they encounter their target and new victims. Notices were slightly better for this follow-up, although still generally negative. Those who liked the film called it a noticeable improvement on its predecessor, with a decent story, sense of humor, and a few impressive murder set-pieces. Still, more felt that while this picture wasn\u2019t as bad as the first, it was still an uneven, lazily put together and sloppy cash-grab on the property. It features Scott Chambers, Tallulah Evans and Ryan Oliva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Looking for something a bit older? You have numerous choices. Arrow Video is releasing a 4K Ultra HD only edition of the Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant, King of New York, Tommaso<\/em>) effort The Addiction<\/em> (1995). It follows a grad student in New York who is bitten by a strange woman and starts to believe she may be a vampire. This one delivers a 4K scan of the 35mm black and white camera negative. It also comes with a Ferrara commentary track, a new documentary made by Ferrara featuring interviews with star Lily Taylor, co-star Christopher Walken, as well as the composer and the cinematographer. There is also an interview with the director about the project, an appreciation of the film, and footage of Ferrara editing the picture. Publicity materials are also included. Read a full review of this release right here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criterion is presenting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of\nthe Italian classic, 8\u00bd<\/em> (1963). It\u2019s about a film director looking for\nnew ideas for his next project. He ends up thinking about his past and\nimagining the various women in his life. Besides a new picture restoration,\nbonuses include an introduction by filmmaker Terry Gilliam, a movie critic\ncommentary track, a short film by director Federico Fellini, a documentary\nabout the picture\u2019s alternative, and lost, ending, a documentary about the\nfilm\u2019s composer, cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes, production and\nother rare photos from the shoot, and a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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No Country for Old Men<\/em> (2007) is also receiving a 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray combo pack from the distributor. This dark crime film from\nthe Coen Brothers (Blood Simple, Barton Fink, Fargo<\/em>, and so many more)\ninvolves a cowboy who discovers and takes $2 million dollars in cash from a\nnasty drug deal gone wrong. It isn\u2019t long before a sheriff and assassin come to\nfind the money. This film won four Oscars including Best Picture. The set contains\na 4K image restoration supervised by cinematographer Roger Deakins, new\nconversations with the Coen brothers and Deakins, archival cast and crew\ninterviews, a behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as three other docs on the\nproduction. A Blu-ray only version is also available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you really like B-movies, The Giant Spider Invasion<\/em>\n(1975) from Dark Force Entertainment may please you. This is a 4K Ultra HD only\nedition of the ultra-low-budget effort about big arachnids from another\ndimension appearing and attacking the citizens of Wisconsin. The disc contains\nan added film fan commentary track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Those of you who grew up in the 80s may be happy to know\nthat Disney\/Beuna Vista is presenting the enjoyable Geroge Lucas-produced\nfantasy Willow<\/em> (1988) in a special 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook.\nThe story involves the title character discovering an infant and trying to\nprotect from an evil queen and return her to safety. The 4K disc offers no\nextras, but the added Blu-ray has a commentary track with star Warwick Davis,\ndeleted scenes with director Ron Howard, a lengthy interview with the\nfilmmaker, a personal video diary made by Davis, promo materials and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cat and the Canary<\/em> (1927) is receiving a\n\u201cStandard Edition\u201d Blu-ray release from Eureka Entertainment. It contains a\nhigh-def presentation of the film from a 4K digital restoration of the original\nnegatives, multiple film historian commentaries and interviews, a video essay\non the movie, extracts from the original play the feature is based on, and a\ntie-in commercial for Lucky Strike cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up the Blu-ray set Horrible History:\nFour Historical Epics by Chang Cheh<\/em>, which contains Four Riders <\/em>(1972),\nThe Pirate<\/em> (1973), Marco Polo<\/em> (1975) and Boxer Rebellion<\/em>\n(1976). These are all Shaw Brothers action sagas from Hong Kong. Besides\nhigh-definition presentations, there are multiple movie expert commentary\ntracks, an interview with a cinema scholar, a video essay on the director, and\na booklet with writing on all the titles. This set is limited to 2000 copies\nand comes in a slipcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ignite Films is presenting the Burgess Meredith\/Robert\nMitchum WWII tale The Story of G.I. Joe<\/em> (1945) on Blu-ray. The disc\ncontains a movie expert commentary, a visual essay, an interview with co-star\nBill Wellman Jr., a trailer, a restoration of the original 1945 trailer, and a\nphoto gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Laura Dern period drama Rambling Rose<\/em> (1991) is\narriving on Blu-ray from Kino. This disc features a director commentary, a film\nhistorian commentary, a director introduction, outtakes and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhythm Thief<\/em> (1994) is an indie drama about a\nManhattan bootlegger who rips off an all-girl punk band and is pursued by them\naround the city. The Blu-ray presents a 4K restoration of the 16mm black and\nwhite camera negatives. It comes with a director commentary, deleted scenes, a\nmaking-of, outtakes, pre-production footage and a trailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fantastic thriller The Taking of Pelham One Two Three<\/em>\n(1974) is celebrating its 50th<\/sup> anniversary this year with a new\n\u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray release. Walter Matthau plays a transit chief forced\nto deal with armed hijackers who have taken control of a New York subway car.\nThe film has been released on 4K Ultra HD in 2022, but this Blu-ray only\nedition contains the same 4K scan, along with two film expert commentaries, a\nmaking-of featurette, cast and crew interviews and a ton of publicity\nmaterials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MVD Visual is presenting a \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d Blu-ray of\nthe Dolph Lundgren action picture, Men of War<\/em> (1994). He plays a special\nforces agent hired to take over an island, only to defend the locals against\nhis employers. It comes with a slipcover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s already readily available, but Paramount is releasing\n4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Walmart exclusive Steelbook of Interstellar<\/em>\n(2014). All content should be the same, only in new packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerhouse Film is presenting the French Jean Rollin effort The\nEscapees<\/em> (1981) in either 4K Ultra HD or on Blu-ray. The image is derived\nfrom a 4K restoration of the original camera negative and it comes with tons of\nextras like a film expert commentary, interviews with Rollin and collaborators,\na critical appreciation, publicity materials and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rollin picture Requiem for a Vampire<\/em> (1972) is\nalso available as either a 4K Ultra HD disc or on Blu-ray. You\u2019ll get two\nversions of the movie, a film historian commentary, an introduction to the\nmovie, tons of interviews, a critic analysis, promotional material and even\nmore bonuses than the previous title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shout! Factory is having a very busy week. The entertaining\nVin Diesel sci-fi\/action picture Riddick<\/em> (2013) is receiving a 4K Ultra\nHD and Blu-ray \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d set. This sequel to Pitch Black<\/em> and\nThe Chronicles of Riddick<\/em> finds the character stranded and facing off\nagainst new foes. You\u2019ll get 4K writer\/director approved restorations of the\ntheatrical and unrated cuts, an interview with director David Twohy, as well as\ncast members Jordi Molla and Katee Sackhoff. The Blu-ray also contains\nfeaturettes on the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll High School<\/em> (1979) is getting a 45th<\/sup>\nAnniversary 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. This amusing Roger Corman\ncomedy is notable for featuring the iconic punk band The Ramones as supporting\nplayers (who also play a few tunes). The original camera negative has been\ngiven a 4K scan for this release, which comes with five audio commentaries that\ninclude cast, crew, and film historians. There is also a new interview with\nMarky Ramone in the set, along with a retrospective, interviews, an archival\n40-year retrospective, audio outtakes and publicity materials. Apparently, if\nyou order from Shout! Factory before they\u2019re all gone, you\u2019ll also get a 18×24\nposter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Santa Claus slasher Silent Night, Deadly Night<\/em>\n(1984) is arriving as a 4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray release for the holiday season.\nThis one includes a 4K transfer of the movie from the original camera negative,\na new movie expert commentary, new producer and editor interviews, archived\ncast and crew audio commentaries, a making-of documentary, more interviews and\nfeaturettes, a poster and still gallery, as well as trailers, TV and radio\nspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Mark Wahlberg comedy Ted<\/em> (2012) is appearing in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d set. If you haven\u2019t seen it, the story follows a grown but lonely man who must choose a life with either his girlfriend or his foul-mouthed teddy bear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This set contains a 4K transfer from the digital intermediate with Dolby Vision, a commentary with Wahlberg and director\/co-writer Seth MacFarlane and the other co-writer, cast and crew interviews, a making-of, deleted scenes, alternate takes, a gag reel and much, much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If my pockets were deep enough, I would be purchasing the Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection<\/em> 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray box set. This incredible release includes upgraded editions of all the Wallace & Gromit<\/em> shorts A Grand Day Out<\/em> (1989), The Wrong Trousers<\/em> (1993), A Close Shave<\/em> (1995), A Matter of Loaf and Death<\/em> (2008)) as well as their first feature The Curse of the Were-Rabbit<\/em> (2005). You\u2019ll also get the Cracking Contraptions<\/em> shorts collection, all restored in 4K and with audio commentaries, as well as various bonuses on the film, a picture gallery, invention blueprints, a 28-page booklet and stickers, all packed in a lovely case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Synapse Films is presenting the indie horror picture The\nBlock Island Sound<\/em> (2020) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack and as a\nBlu-ray only release. This is said to be an HDR10 presentation of the feature,\nwith a commentary from the directors, featurettes, home movies, and a limited\nslipcover with new art for the picture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evilenko<\/em> (2003) is a well-regarded chiller starring\nMalcolm McDowell about notorious Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo that is\nnow arriving as either a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo or a Blu-ray only\nrelease. This \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d delivers a 4K restoration from the original\ncamera negative, along with an 81-minute documentary on the production, a\nfeaturette on the real-life history of Chikatilo, and publicity materials. The\nmovie was well-received, but if you\u2019re curious about the story, you should also\nsee the exceptional HBO true crime feature Citizen X<\/em> (1995), with\nStephen Rea and Donald Sutherland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Las Vegas Hillbillies<\/em> (1966) is also arriving on\nBlu-ray from VCI. It\u2019s a comedy\/musical featuring Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van\nDonen and country folk who make it big in Vegas. The distributor is also\npresenting the WWII Mary Pickford drama The Love Light<\/em> (1921) on\nBlu-ray. The silent feature was reconstructed from several sources by the UCLA\nFilm and Television Archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Below is a selection of best bets for young tykes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fairly OddParents!:<\/em> The Complete Series\n(Nickelodeon\/Paramount) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection<\/em>\n(Shout! Factory) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Blake\u2019s 7: The Collection<\/em>: Season 1 (BBC) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctor Who<\/em>: 60th<\/sup> Anniversary Specials\n(BBC) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallmark 2-Movie Collection: A Very Vermont Christmas,\nFalling Like Snowflakes<\/em> (Hallmark) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toxic Crusaders: The Series<\/em>: Season 1 (Troma) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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