{"id":30938,"date":"2025-03-31T00:42:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T07:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=30938"},"modified":"2025-03-31T00:42:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T07:42:38","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-april-1st-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=30938","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for April 1st, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra\nHD, Blu-ray and DVD. This edition includes a number of notable theatrical\nreleases, as well as some interesting independents and older features arriving\nwith new upgrades. So, if you can\u2019t make it out to the movies this week, 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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COMPANION \u2013 A couple decides to join a group of friends at a\nremote cabin for some fun\u2026 always a bad idea in a horror movie. When a\nrevelation is made about one of the guests, chaos ensues and a nasty\naltercation occurs. More secrets are revealed as the cooped-up guests try to\nprocess what they have learned and how they should move forward. It\u2019s tough to\ndescribe the plot of this horror picture without giving away spoilers, so\nthat\u2019s about all that can be said. Critics enjoyed the movie and rated it highly.\nA few commented that the script wasn\u2019t as clever as hoped for, nor was it\ntense, noting that the climax reverted to genre film tropes. Still, almost\neveryone else thought the picture was a great deal of fun, twisting\nexpectations and delivering an original, well-acted, sharp and darkly humorous\nfilm. The movie is available either as a 4K Ultra HD only release or a\nstandalone Blu-ray. It stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan\nSuri, Harvey Guill\u00e9n and Rupert Friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A COMPLETE UNKNOWN – Bob Dylan is the subject of this biopic, which was nominated for several Oscars. The narrative focuses on the beginning of the musician\u2019s career. He makes his way to New York City, where he visits a personal hero in the hospital, in the process making friends with another famous singer-songwriter. After landing a record deal and finding success as a folk artist, his music begins to change, causing friction between himself, artists and audiences. The press reacted favorably to this drama. About one-fifth said that while they liked aspects of the film, the storytelling was generic and it failed to illuminate its subject in great detail. Still, most were very impressed by the work of the cast and stated that it featured great tunes that would impress the artist\u2019s fans and win over several new devotees. This title will be available in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack, or as a Blu-ray only release. The cast includes Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Folger and Scoot NcNairy. Here is a review link to the film that appeared on the Gallup Sun newspaper website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DOG MAN \u2013 The hugely popular children\u2019s book series (a spin-off of the Captain Underpants<\/em> line of stories) gets its own animated feature. After a police dog and its cop owner are terribly injured, doctors sew the pooch\u2019s head onto the man\u2019s body. The combined figure tries to adapt to his new condition while continuing his work as an officer. He squares off against sinister supervillain Petey the Cat, who attempts several schemes to try and take control of the city. Reaction towards this feature was generally upbeat. About one-fifth of reviewers believed the story was too stretched-out to fill a 90-minute animated feature, also calling the plot elements creepy and the humor ineffective. Regardless, the majority believed that the film would work for its young target audience and delivered a large helping of silliness that the whole family would enjoy. The voice-cast includes Peter Hastings, Pete Davidson. Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Billy Boyd, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Root. A detailed review of the movie can be found by clicking this link.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FLIGHT RISK \u2013 A charter airplane pilot finds himself being\nhired to transport a federal agent and accountant\/fugitive from a remote area.\nThe man is being flown to Anchorage, Alaska, where he will get on another\nflight to appear as a major trial witness involving a crime family. As the\nflight nears its first destination, strange details are revealed that leave\nquestions about the true identities of those onboard. This action\/thriller was\nlargely panned by reviewers. About one-third of those who saw the film called\nit a punchy and entertaining effort that delivered several tense moments. All\nothers stated that the story was predictable, and that the small, enclosed\nsetting didn\u2019t allow for much in the way of thrills or excitement. The movie is\navailable in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo, or as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\nAmazon exclusive Steelbook, as well as a standalone Blu-ray. Mark Wahlberg,\nMichelle Dockery, Topher Grace and Leah Remini headline the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HARBIN \u2013 This historical biopic from South Korea tells the\nstory of Ahn Jung-geun, a Korean independence activist known for his\nassassination of the first Prime Minister of Japan. As the story begins in\n1909, Japanese forces have invaded Korea and turned it into a colony. The lead\ncharacter faces criticism from his followers after refusing to commit\nretaliatory war crimes in battle. He then attempts to inspire a group of\nfreedom fighters to track down the Prime Minister and finish him off directly.\nThis effort garnered solid write-ups from critics. A small number didn\u2019t think\nthat the main characters were well-developed and commented that the final\nproduct lacked emotional depth. Yet the consensus was that the film worked\nwell, boasting impressive visuals, striking action, as well as plenty of heart.\nIt will be available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set or in a Blu-ray only\npackage. It features Hyun Bin, Park Jeong-min and Jo Woo-jin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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INTO THE DEEP \u2013 A marine biologist grieves over the death of\nher father, who was killed by a shark. In order to get over her trauma, she\ndecides to go on a group diving expedition with her new husband off of the\ncoast of Madagascar. Unfortunately, pirates raid the boat. The villains force\ntheir hostages to swim and retrieve a lost shipment of drugs from the bottom of\nthe sea. The protagonist must face her ultimate fear in order to survive the\nordeal. Write-ups were terrible for this independent horror picture. A few\nsuggested that the feature had a handful of tense moments and was buoyed by\nsome good performances. However, the vast majority commented that it was a\nterrible B-movie further hampered by its low-budget, and failing to generate\nany drama above or below the water. The film stars Scout Taylor-Compton, Callum\nMcGowan, Jon Seda, Stuart Townsend and Richard Dreyfuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LIZA: A TRULY TERRIFIC ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY \u2013 This documentary tells the story of famous entertainer Liza Minelli. The film uses interviews with the subject as well as colleagues to paint a more detailed portrait of the famous figure. We learn about her life growing up as the daughter of actress Judy Garland and the challenges she faced not only in making a name for herself in Hollywood during the 1970s, but also several personal tragedies that caused despair. Reaction to the feature was very good. One or two reviewers didn\u2019t think that the doc offered up much new material or insight about the performer and wrote that it felt like a promotional piece. Regardless, all other notices called it a warm and winning tribute to a legend that would inform and present a few previously unknown tidbits about its subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LOVE HURTS \u2013 Wow, that was fast! About 7 weeks ago, this action\/comedy hit theaters and is now appearing on disc in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray pack, as well as a Blu-ray only release. The tale follows a sweet real estate agent hiding a deadly past as an assassin. When menacing figures appear at the lead\u2019s workplace, it is revealed that he vanished after failing to kill a target whom he had a crush on. Now, everyone wants both of these incognito individuals dead. Notices were disappointing for this feature. Roughly one-fifth of write-ups liked the lead actor and described the action scenes as being well-choreographed. Everyone else thought that the script was underwritten, with thinly-drawn characters, clunky jokes, and a central romance that wasn\u2019t convincing. A few even said that the repetitive action failed to ignite any sparks. Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, Marshawn Lynch, Musafa Shakir, Lio Tipton, Rhys Darby and Sean Astin. Read a full review of the flick by clicking this link. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LOVE ME \u2013 This story is set centuries after the extinction\nof humanity. A buoy and a satellite passing by in the sky above make contact.\nThe buoy announces itself as a lifeform and together the two sentient machines\ntry to piece together what happened on Earth. In the process, they discover\nthemselves as entities and try to understand love, life as well as their own\nmeaning and purpose. This arthouse science-fiction feature didn\u2019t overwhelm\ncritics. Less than half appreciated what they saw. Those who liked it said the\nmovie was creative and charming as it examined existential questions about our\nworth in an overwhelming, massive universe. Unfortunately, the majority thought\nit was nicely shot, but clumsy in execution. They called the film slow-moving,\ncontradictory in its messaging, and ultimately didn\u2019t think it really had\nanything noteworthy to say about life. Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun provide\nthe voices of the machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MUFASA: THE LION KING \u2013 Fans of Disney\u2019s The Lion King <\/em>will\nno doubt be curious about this effort. It serves as both a prequel and a sequel\nto the 2019 live-action adaptation of the classic animated feature. After the\nevents of the original film, Simba and Nala prepare for the arrival of a new\ncub. They ask their animal friends to watch over their other young offspring\nwhile Nala gives birth. To pass the time, the sitters tell the story of Simba\u2019s\nfather. The movie was a box-office hit, but the press was lukewarm about it.\nNearly half called it an unnecessary and blatant cash-in, with a bland and\nultimately forgettable story. Slightly more found the visuals to be remarkable\nand claimed that the film offered an interesting backstory to a notable\ncharacter. The movie will be available as a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook,\nas well as a Blu-ray and DVD combo. The voice cast features Aaron Pierre,\nKelvin Harrison Jr., John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone,\nDonald Glover, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Blue Ivy Carter\nand Beyonc\u00e9 Knowles-Carter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ONE OF THEM DAYS \u2013 Two roommates find themselves in a bind after one lends their rent money to her boyfriend, only for the cash to vanish. The pair discover that their landlord will throw them out unless they can come up with the full amount by the end of the day. They try to find the individual who took their funds, and also attempt other unusual tactics to come up with their rent. Reaction to this comedy was very positive. A small number thought that the episodic nature of the story resulted in a hit-and-miss approach, and that there wasn\u2019t enough here to leave a lasting impression. But the vast majority stated that the two leads were charming and hilarious together and that the fast-paced screenplay meant that the end product was enjoyably breezy and fun. Keke Palmer, SZA, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lil Rel Howery, Katt Williams and Maude Apatow headline the feature. Read a detailed write-up of this picture right here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PLEASE DON\u2019T DESTROY: THE TREASURE OF FOGGY MOUNTAIN \u2013 This\ncomedy debuted on the Peacock streaming service late last year and is now\nappearing on disc. Starring the titular comedy group, it follows three young\npals who are, well, a bit dim-witted. They find they can\u2019t hold a job and have\nno future prospects. When one of them suggests hunting for a legendary treasure\nbelieved to be hidden in a nearby mountain range, they decide this is how they\nwill make their fortune. Along the way, they get into altercations with all\nsorts of unusual people and animals. This effort received slightly more\nnegative notices than positive ones. Those who enjoyed the title commented that\nthe events depicted were entertainingly over-the-top, yet still heartfelt, with\nseveral big laughs spread over its running time. Slightly more complained that\nthe jokes were hit-and-miss, and were irritated by the main characters and\ntheir buffoonish behavior, claiming the film wore out its welcome by the close.\nIt stars Ben Marshall, John Higgins, Martin Herlihy, Conan O\u2019Brien, Bowen Yang,\nMegan Slater, X Mayo and John Goodman (as the narrator).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SHIVER ME TIMBERS \u2013 In the last few years, several\nlow-budget horror films have been adapted from famous properties that have\nfallen into the public domain. The latest chiller to use this device focuses\nits inspiration on the famous spinach-eating sailor Popeye. Set in the late\n1980s, the story follows Olive Oyl and other characters from the famous comic\ngoing on a camping trip to see Halley\u2019s Comet. When a meteor turns Popeye into\na killing machine, the group must fight for their lives. This title is a DVD-only\nrelease. It recently played at a genre film festival, but otherwise no one has\nseen it yet. There are no reviews currently available for the picture, but one\nimagines the end product is likely similar in quality to the likes of the\nrecent Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse efforts. Beware! The cast includes Amy\nMackie, Tony Greer, Murdo Adams and Stephen Corrall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Looking for something a little older? Well, there are some\noptions arriving this week. Arbelos Films is releasing a Blu-ray of The\nBloody Lady <\/em>(1980) an animated feature from the Czech Republic about a\nHungarian folktale. It focuses on Lady Bathory, who legend suggests used to\nbathe in the blood of young girls to keep herself beautiful. In addition to the\nfeature, the disc is believed to contain a bonus feature Junko the\nHighwayman <\/em>(1976) and over 20 animated shorts from the director, a trailer,\nand a 12-page booklet with writing on the feature and the filmmaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks back, Arrow Video put out an elaborate \u201cLimited\nEdition\u201d 4K Ultra HD (and bonus Blu-ray with extras) of Quentin Tarantino\u2019s\nall-star World War II picture, Inglourious Basterds<\/em> (2009). This week a\n\u201cStandard Edition\u201d 4K Ultra HD is being made available. You\u2019ll receive the 4K\ndisc and Blu-ray with the same extras (including film critic commentary, new\ncast and crew interviews and old EPK materials.). The only thing this version doesn\u2019t\nhave from the previous one is the 60-page book, cards and elaborate packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Japanese classic Ugetsu<\/em> (1953) is receiving a 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray combo pack from Criterion. This film tells the story of\ntwo villagers who want fame and fortune so badly that it ends up ruining their\nown lives to get it. You\u2019ll get the full 4K Ultra HD image (from a 2017 transfer\nfor an earlier Blu-ray), as well as a film critic commentary, a documentary on\nthe director, in addition to crew interviews, trailers for the feature and a\nbooklet with an essay on the movie and its inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Mabuse is a famous fictional literary character created\nin the 1920\u2019s by a Luxembourg author. These novels have been adapted to film\nseveral times, and now Eureka Entertainment is putting out a Blu-ray set that\ncontains a series of German films from the 1960s that are based on the\ncharacter. Mabuse Lives!<\/em>contains The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse<\/em>\n(1960), The Return of Dr. Mabuse<\/em> (1961), The Invisible Dr. Mabuse<\/em>\n(1962), The Testament of Dr. Mabuse<\/em> (1962), Scotland Yard Hunts Dr.\nMabuse<\/em> (1963) and The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse<\/em>(1964). This\n\u201cLimited Edition\u201d contains 2K restorations of all the titles, archival and new\naudio commentary tracks, new introductions to each film with a cinema expert, a\nvideo essay on the series, and a 60-page book with notes on each film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The melodrama Lighthouse<\/em> (1947) is arriving on\nBlu-ray from Film Masters. It details a love triangle between a woman, a\nlighthouse keeper and his assistant that leads to plenty of tension when the\nthree become trapped together on a stormy outpost. The disc promises a new HD\npicture scan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merry-Go-Round <\/em>(1923) is a silent drama about a\nstruggling circus performer. She meets and falls for a married necktie salesman\n(who might actually be royalty talking to her under a false identity). Flicker\nAlley is putting out a Blu-ray of this title, which delivers a new restoration\nof the film from surviving original and abridged elements scattered around the\nworld, presenting the closest look possible at the original version of the\nfilm. The disc contains a film historian commentary, a look at Vienna (where\nthe story is set) prior to World War I, a restoration featurette, and a booklet\nwith a new essay on the production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here is a really big release that is arriving exclusively\nfrom Ignite Films and is presently only available through their website. It\u2019s\nan incredible new 40th<\/sup> anniversary 4K Ultra HD upgrade of the zombie\nclassic Re-Animator<\/em> (1985). If you haven\u2019t seen this film, this\nadaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft tale stars Jeffrey Combs as a mad scientist\nwho creates a serum that can resurrect the dead. Unfortunately, his mixture\nhasn\u2019t quite been perfected and works almost like an amphetamine, turning the\ndead into crazed maniacs. It\u2019s an extremely graphic but wild and incredibly\nfunny picture from writer\/director Stuart Gordon (From Beyond, Dolls,\nFortress, Dagon, Stuck<\/em>) that is rightly considered a genre classic and one\nof the more unique zombie pictures out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer Brian Yuzna supervised the 4K image restoration and\nfour versions are available from Ignite. There is an \u201cUltimate Limited Edition\nBox Set\u201d that comes with a 4K Ultra HD disc and Blu-ray, with nearly 3-hours of\nnewly produced bonus features, legacy extras from earlier releases, a 150-page\nhardcover book with recently conducted cast and crew interviews, a Dr. Hill\nBobblehead, art cards, and a J card. The \u201cDeluxe Edition Box Set\u201d doesn\u2019t\ncontain the Bobblehead, but does have most of the other bonuses. The \u201c4K Ultra\nHD Standard Edition\u201d contains the film on 4K Ultra HD, with newly produced and\nlegacy bonus features, while the \u201cBlu-ray Standard Edition\u201d contains the same\ncontents as the previous version but only on Blu-ray. It looks pretty fantastic\nand seems like a must-own for zombie enthusiasts or horror fans in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kino is delivering a Blu-ray of Burke & Hare<\/em>\n(1972). Derren Nesbitt and Glynn Edwards play the title characters, two grave\nrobbers and (eventually) murderers who make their living by providing the\nEdinburgh Medical College with fresh human specimens for study. This disc\ncontains a film historian commentary, an interview on the subject with a\ndoctor, a discussion with a cast member and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Japanese feature Shoplifter<\/em>s\n(2018) is receiving a Blu-ray release from Magnolia Pictures. It follows a\nfamily who survive by petty theft. When they take in a neglected child, their\npriorities begin to shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Shout Factory is presenting a pair of titles. The\nfirst is a \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo of the recent\nand amusing, vampire\/comedy Renfield<\/em> (2023). Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas\nCage star in this tale about a vampire\u2019s assistant who wants to break free from\nhis master. Besides the picture upgrade, you\u2019ll get a previously released cast\nand crew commentary track, a new in-depth documentary on the production\nfeaturing recent talks with the actors and crew and never-before-seen\nbehind-the-scenes footage. Deleted and extended scenes are also included, along\nwith alternate takes, featurettes on the production, the making of one of the\ndeleted scenes and a trailer. And for collectors, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\nWalmart exclusive Steelbook is also available for purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the Japanese animated feature Summer Wars<\/em> (2009)\nis receiving a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Amazon exclusive Steelbook, as well as a\nstandalone Blu-ray release. It arrives with voice cast interviews, a discussion\nwith the director, and teasers and trailers for the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Below is a list of some titles that might appeal to\nyoungsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog Man<\/em> (Universal) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mufasa: The Lion King<\/em> (Disney) 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray Steelbook or Blu-ray and DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

And you\u2019ll find all of this edition\u2019s TV-themed releases\nlisted below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbott Elementary<\/em>: Season 3 (Warner Bros.) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icons Unearthed: James Bond <\/em>(TV miniseries) (Mill\nCreek Entertainment) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Superman & Lois<\/em>: The Complete Series (Warner\nBros.) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Superman & Lois<\/em>: Season 4 (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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