Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. This is one of the busiest editions in recent memory. It contains big Hollywood productions, small B-movies and just about everything in between. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
AIMEE: THE VISITOR: This low-budget science-fiction thriller from writer/producer/director Charles Band (Puppet Master, the Gingerdead Man series, the Evil Bong series) follows an introverted computer hacker who doesn’t like being around people. After code breaking and entering a secret server, he discovers and communicates with an Artificial Intelligence Program taking the form of a beautiful woman. The lead finds himself being manipulated into committing horrible acts by the charismatic and charming software. Few have seen this picture so far, but a few notices from online reviewers are available. They suggest the movie was definitely made on-the-cheap and doesn’t provide as much B-movie fun as hoped for, but that the performances are competent and that it should entertain those who enjoy the filmmaker’s other work. It features Dallas Schaefer, Felix Merback and Faith West. ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED: Artist and activist Nan Goldin is the subject of this documentary. Her work as a photographer and activist exploring issues related to the LGBT community and the opioid epidemic is considered groundbreaking. Using interviews, photography, rare footage and more, it tells her life story and details her work exposing how a pharmaceutical company run by the Sackler family helped legalized oxycontin, resulting in more than 13 million cases of addiction in the United States (Goldin herself suffered from addiction for a period in her life). The film drew mostly raves from the press. A select few thought it attempted to chronicle too much and needed to focus in on one specific element to tell a clearer story. Everyone else called the movie powerful and compelling, showing the work of an incredible and empathetic figure who helped expose a major issue in the U.S..
ANYONE BUT YOU: After one great date and a brief fling, a relationship between a man and woman completely implodes. When the lady’s sister decides to get married in Australia, the lead is thrilled, but then realizes her fling has also been invited. They bicker intensely after arriving, but realize that faking being a couple may land them the partners they desire. Of course, the more time they spend together on this ruse, the closer they become. This rom-com was a box office hit but split critics. Almost half complained that the plot was predictable, there was little onscreen chemistry between the leads and the jokes fell flat. Yet just as many and a couple more gave the movie a pass. They liked the two stars and thought that there were enough sparks present to keep them watching. It stars Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, GaTa, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths and Bryan Brown.
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM: The latest superhero movie in the DC comics universe has been reported to be the last before a new producer takes hold of the line and reboots everything. This tale features the title character spending time with a new arrival in the family. When enemy Black Manta (from the previous adventure) returns to take revenge with a powerful new weapon called the Black Trident, the hero teams up with his parents to save the kingdom and his little baby.
This effort was not particularly well-received. About one-third of reviews called it visually striking and thought the action and comedy beats were effective. Unfortunately, the majority stated that the story felt too similar to the previous entry and didn’t generate much excitement or interest. There will be multiple editions of the film, including a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo as well as a regular Blu-ray. Jason Mamoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen III, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, Temuera Morrison, Dolph Lungren and Martin Short headline the film. BAD HOMBRES: An undocumented immigrant in the U.S. struggles to keep his family afloat. To make ends meet, he and a day-laborer accept a job watching over a nasty criminal taking part in a drug deal. When things go wrong, the two find themselves being targeted by numerous crooks and band together to survive the ordeal. Not a lot of reviewers have seen this independent action film yet, but among those who have, reaction towards it was split. Half of write-ups noted that the movie relied on overly familiar tropes, featured underdeveloped characters and ultimately lacked thrills. The same number said that this was an entertaining B-movie with a good cast that delivered some twists and a few darkly amusing moments.
THE COLOR PURPLE: Many are familiar with the Oscar-nominated 1985 Steven Spielberg adaptation of the Alice Walker novel. This picture is based on the 2005 Broadway musical based on the same story. It follows an African-American girl living on a Georgia farm in the early 1900s. She is abused and raped by her father, then treated horribly again when the parent arranges her marriage to another cruel farmer. As years pass, she finds her self-esteem and builds a better life for herself.
The press generally liked this adaptation. About one in five write-ups were negative, suggesting that the brutal events being depicted felt out of place with the glossy production and up-tempo musical numbers. However, the majority thought it was a beautiful looking and sounding musical with a great cast. They liked that it emphasized the leads rejuvenating themselves in the face of tragedy.
It stars Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., David Alan Grier, Deon Cole, Jon Batiste and Louis Gossett Jr..
DON’T SAY ITS NAME: A trucker driving through an Indigenous reservation runs over and kills an anti-mining activist. Tribal police get involved and investigate the death and mining business, but end up probing a new series of brutal slayings. They learn that the deceased person’s spirit has returned as a supernatural entity called a Wheetago and is seeking revenge. This independent chiller from Canada was shot during the pandemic and made available on streaming platforms a couple of years ago. It has recently been picked up for a Blu-ray release. A limited number of reviewers have seen it, but they were all positive about the final product. The critics all asserted that this was not only an effective monster movie, but one that had well-written characters and much deeper meaning than a typical genre effort. The cast includes Sera-Lys McArthur, Madison Walsh, Julian Black Antelope and Samuel Marty. DOUBLE BLIND: This chiller from Ireland deals with a young woman who decides to take part in a drug trial. She and the six other test subjects arrive at a facility and are given mysterious pills. It ultimately becomes clear that there is a terrifying side-effect to the medication … it kills the user when they fall asleep. As panic sets in, the protagonist and other group members do all they can to stay awake and escape their holding area. Reaction toward the movie was extremely upbeat among the limited number who have seen it. They all said that the film showed a great deal of promise on the part of the production team. Notices also stated it was claustrophobic and tense throughout, leaving them on the edges of their seats. Millie Brady, Akshay Kumar, Diarmuid Noyes and Pollyanna McIntosh headline the picture.
Overall, the press liked this movie, but didn’t exactly rave about it. Slightly more than one-quarter of them found the film aloof and uninvolving. A few of them even described it as melodramatic and silly. Still, most called the movie unusual but intriguing, presenting a fascinating story in an appropriately dramatic manner that was bolstered by some excellent performances.
It features Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Sarah Gadon, Gabriel Leone, Jack O’Connell and Patrick Dempsey.
FREELANCE: A retired Special Forces operative finds himself bored with his office job and decides to add some adventure to his life by taking on freelance work. He agrees to act as a bodyguard for a journalist hoping to revitalize her career by interviewing a dictator. A military coup occurs after they all get together, leaving the three people lost together in the jungle and needing each other to survive.
This action/comedy was panned by reviewers. Only two critics in North America liked the movie, stating that the cast were talented enough to keep them watching and chuckling. Every other voice called the movie a complete misfire. They commented that there was no onscreen spark between the leads. They also wrote that the jokes landed with a thud and the action scenes weren’t exciting. A few even noted that it felt like an action film parody, when clearly this was not its intention.
It stars John Cena, Alison Brie, Jaun Pablo Raba and Christian Slater.
I.S.S.: Set aboard the International Space Station, this science-fiction thriller follows a team of astronauts and scientists from the U.S. and Russia stationed on the satellite. When a devastating war breaks out between the two countries below on Earth, each group receives instructions from their governments that they are to take over the orbiting spacecraft using any means necessary.
The movie earned slightly more recommendations than pans from the press. A large number did note that after a promising set-up, the movie fell into a predictable genre routine and failed to deliver shocks in an effective manner. Yet a few more were taken by the cinematography, thought it was anxiety-inducing and liked the work of the cast.
Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Masikova, Costa Ronin and Pilou Asbaek appear in the picture.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY: This documentary is from the filmmaker behind the award-winning effort The Wrecking Crew (2008), which chronicled the work of a group of session musicians in the 1960s (for those curious, the movie was made in 2008 but it took until 2015 to clear the music licenses and get it released). This follow-up to the previous picture details four individuals who acted as session musicians on many of the greatest albums of the 1970s. The musicians converse about their work and how some of these amazing tunes came together.
Artists like Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Carole King, Lyle Lovett, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young share their memories and appreciation for the artists too. Every critic who saw the picture enjoyed it. They called it a nice history lesson and sweet tribute to the great, unrecognized figures who helped make some of the best music of the era.
JONAH: A journalist still suffering from repressed childhood trauma begins taking on assignments involving paranormal phenomena. One day, he and his writing partner head out to investigate a claim made by a young mother that her son was abducted by aliens who have changed his persona. Their work on the case ultimately brings back memories from the reporter’s past that suggest something similar may have happened to him.
This independent science-fiction/thriller was picked up by a distributor at a film festival last year and appears to be debuting on disc. As a result, no one has seen it yet or knows anything more about it (or maybe they just have repressed memories of viewing the film). Whatever the case, interested individuals will have to watch it cold.
It features Osric Chau, Alaina Huffman and Ken Kirby.
MALUM: A rookie police officer believes that there is a connection between her father’s death and a cult. She learns that a station nearby with vital information is closing down. In order to learn more about the case, the lead decides to take a late-night shift there. After going through the files, the cop begins experiencing paranormal events and discovers the truth about her family, as well as the cult leader and his crazed devotees.
This independent horror picture is a remake of Last Shift, a 2014 effort from the same director. Despite its familiarity, it earned reasonably high marks from the press. A small number described it as an overly familiar low-budget chiller that offered little in the way of surprises. However, the vast majority called the movie well-acted and visually impressive, delivering plenty of squirm-inducing moments.
Jessica Sula, Candice Coke, Chaney Morrow and Clarke Wolfe headline the feature.
ONE-PERCENT WARRIOR: Also known as One Percenter, this foreign-language feature from Japan involves an aging martial arts movie star. While on set of his latest production, he’s interrupted by the arrival of two Yakuza gangs. When violence erupts and over one hundred enemies decide to target him, the actor has to become a real-life action hero and use his own skills and lessons from the movies to emerge victorious.
Not a lot of critics have seen this picture yet, but those who have were delighted by what they saw. They noted that the action doesn’t really heat up until the second half, but that the first sections are very funny. Apparently, when things eventually go crazy, the movie is an absolute blast to behold. A few even suggested it was the finest action film of the year.
The cast includes Tak Sakaguchi, Sho Aoyagi, Itsuji Itao and Keisuke Horibe.
POOR THINGS: An eccentric surgeon discovers a pregnant woman who has killed herself and decides to replace her brain with that from the unborn fetus. He and his medical student attempt to raise the adult woman with a baby’s brain. Yet they, and those who come into contact with their creation, are overcome by desire. In the meantime, the reanimated figure yearns to learn about the world and ultimately decides to find her own way, ignoring social cues and living freely.
This drama/comedy earned plenty of raves from reviewers and garnered a Best Actress prize for its star. A small number thought the characters were unrelatable, plot points were repetitive, and that the filmmaker was being provocative without really dealing with the issues raised. Still, the vast majority called it gorgeously shot and very funny, making important points about misogyny. They also praised the lead performance.
It features Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael and Ramy Youssef.
WISH: The latest from Disney Animation Studios is a fairy tale about a village protected by a King who possesses magical powers and can make any wish come true. A 17-year-old girl applies to be his apprentice, hoping that she can convince him to fulfill her grandfather’s deepest desire. He sees the youngster as a threat and decides to imprison her. In the meantime, she encounters a magical star that helps her develop her skills and tries to fight back.
The press was split on the final results, with the picture earning slightly more negative write-ups than positive ones. Those who liked it thought the animation was impressive, the villain memorable and appreciated that the story was fresh and new. Slightly more stated that the tale didn’t pull on the heartstrings, featured weak songs, a predictable story and ultimately delivered too many references to finer Disney pictures.
This film will be available in a couple of editions, including a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook (which is a Walmart exclusive) and a regular Blu-ray. The voice cast includes Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral and Victor Garber.
THE WOODS ARE REAL: A Brooklyn couple pride themselves on making the right choices in life, buying the proper products and supporting various causes. However, they are challenged by a friend who has attended a pilgrimage in the country and suggests they do the same. The pair agree and find themselves in a remote cabin with nothing but analog devices. When their rotary phone rings and tells them that their personal records and bank accounts have been drained, the two try to escape and reclaim their lives.
This independent fantasy/horror effort appears to be debuting on disc and streaming platforms. So far, only one review is available, so you might want to hold off until more people have seen it. The notice suggests that the picture is an interesting attempt to emulate folk horror pictures out of the UK and suggested that there are some sharp satirical elements.
This picture features Matt Dellapina, Chinasa Ogbuagu and Campbell Scott.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s also a busy week for older features receiving upgrades.
Arrow Video is releasing a “Special Edition” Blu-ray of The Shootist (1976). This is the last film starring John Wayne. The actor plays a gunman dying of terminal cancer. He wants to quietly pass on, but many townspeople either want to finish him off or profit off of his name. It earned plenty of praise during its initial release and was directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, The Beguiled, Escape from Alcatraz). The film co-stars Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, Richard Boone, Hugh O’Brian, Harry Morgan, John Carradine and Scatman Crothers. This disc comes with a 2K restoration from the original camera negative, a movie expert commentary, a visual essay on the film and an interview with a screenwriter/author who was close to this picture’s screenwriter. There is also a featurette on the Elmer Bernstein score for the movie, a visual essay on John Wayne, an archival featurette on the film, tons of publicity materials, a reversible sleeve with new and original artwork for the picture, a fold-out poster and six postcard-sized lobby card stills. Trench (2018) is a dark comedy/thriller about a stand-up comic who poses as a private investigator to a woman who believes her home is haunted. He doesn’t take the claim seriously until he begins experiencing similar paranormal events. Allied V is delivering this indie effort on Blu-ray.
Criterion is presenting All That Money Can Buy (1941) aka The Devil and Daniel Webster on Blu-ray. The plot involves a farmer who makes a deal with Satan in order for his business to flourish. When the Devil arrives for the lead’s soul, the protagonist hires a famous lawyer to defend him. The disc boasts a picture upgrade from a 4K restoration, a demonstration of the restoration, a film historian commentary, a reading by Alec Baldwin of the short story upon which the movie is based, a piece on the editing, a comparison of the 1941 preview version and the film’s 1943 rerelease, a Columbia Workshop radio adaptation of the short story and its follow-up, Daniel Webster and the Sea Serpent, as well as a trailer. Do you enjoy the films of James Cameron? Well, you’re in luck this week as Disney (who owns the 20th Century Fox catalog) are releasing three of his titles as “Ultimate Collector’s Editions” with 4K Ultra HD and Blu-rays of each film.
The first is the undersea adventure The Abyss (1989) about an oil rig crew and a team of Navy SEALs sent on a search and rescue mission at the bottom of the ocean. Both the theatrical version and significantly longer Special Edition are included along with numerous extras from previous releases of the picture. Also featured is a new sit-down with Cameron explaining the origin of the project and addressing some of the myths behind the productions, and a featurette with stories from Cameron and the cast and crew about the films and its lasting impact.
The excellent Sigourney Weaver sci-fi/horror sequel Aliens (1986) is getting the same 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment in an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” that contains the theatrical edition and the impressive extended version (that runs an extra 17 minutes). The longer cut contains an introduction from Cameron, a filmmaker, cast and crew commentary and many bonuses contained in previous releases. And Cameron’s Arnold Schwarzenegger/Jamie Lee Curtis action picture True Lies (1994) is receiving the very same treatment. The action hero plays a spy who is forced to reveal his true identity to his wife after terrorists threaten the world. Besides the image quality improvements, this edition included numerous extras from earlier editions as well as a couple of new looks back at the picture, which reveals behind-the-scenes secrets from the production detailing the stunt work, script, artwork, marketing and new technology used in the movie. If you prefer B-movie fare, DownTown Heat (1994) is arriving on Blu-ray for the first time in North America thanks to Full Moon Features. It’s a Spanish effort from director Jess Franco about a jazz-composer who becomes a commando and fights the drug cartel who murdered his wife. The disc contains a new HD transfer from the original negative and trailers. Here’s an interesting one for genre enthusiasts. Grindhouse Releasing and MVD are teaming up to put out the William Shatner chiller Impulse (1974) on Blu-ray. The actor plays a larger-than-life homicidal maniac targeting rich widows. Apparently, it must be seen to be believed. The release contains a 4K restoration from 35mm archival elements and more than 15 hours of bonus material. Some of the extras include a 2022 live festival appearance by William Shatner in which he discusses his work from the 1970s, as well as cast and crew interviews, a commentary with the director, bonus movies The Devil’s Sisters (1966) and The Godmothers (1973) as well as booklet and more!
We all have our favorite little movies that flopped during their original release at the box office and/or with critics, but somehow made a connection with us (at least, in this case, as a youngster). Kino is presenting a Blu-ray of one of these titles. The film is Brain Donors (1992), a zany comedy produced by the Zucker Brothers (Airplane!, Top Secret!) and made in the vein of a Marx Brothers picture. It stars John Turturro as an ambulance-chasing lawyer who teams up with a cab driver and handyman (Mel Smith and Bob Nelson) to run a ballet company for one of his recently deceased clients. The film features exaggerated, over-the-tip slapstick humor that spoke to me as a kid, with a memorably motor-mouthed Turturro going full tilt for the entirety of the running time. For its Blu-ray debut, it is given a new HD master from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. There is a director commentary track and a film journalist track as well as a trailer.
The Lincoln Conspiracy (1977) is a historical drama presenting a speculative reimagining of the Lincoln assassination in which the gunman escapes instead of being tracked down. Bradford Dillman plays John Wilkes Booth. The Blu-ray contains a remastered picture and director commentary. Additionally, the distributor is presenting a Blu-ray of the James Coburn thriller, The President’s Analyst (1967). The actor plays the title character, a man who learns sensitive government secrets and must flee for his life. The film is presented with a 4K restoration from Paramount Pictures’ camera negative. Extras include two movie historian commentaries and a trailer. MVD Visual is making a Blu-ray available for the Argentinian feature Punto Rojo (2021). It follows the exploits of a criminal/soccer hooligan who encounters some unexpected visitors and gets into deep trouble while competing in a radio trivia contest about his favorite team. It arrives with a director commentary, a short from the filmmaker and a trailer. Paramount Pictures previously released an elaborate Special Edition of the fantasy film Dragonslayer (1981). Well, it sold out quickly and now the studio is making a “Limited Edition Reprint” available containing the film on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray in Steelbook packaging, with all of the numerous extras included. The same is true for their release of science-fiction/horror picture, Event Horizon (1997). It’s also getting a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook “Limited Edition Reprint” for those who missed it the first time around.
The studio is also putting out a standard edition reissue of The Running Man (1987) in a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook (no Blu-ray is included). For those who haven’t seen it, the futuristic movie is based on a Stephen King story and features Arnold Schwarzenegger as a man forced to be a contestant on a live T.V. game show. He and others must fight for their lives gladiator-style against some outrageous, well-armed characters. Shout! Factory is pleased to present a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of the Tom Selleck western, Quigley Down Under (1990). As you can imagine, it follows an American sharpshooter who arrives in Australia thinking he has been hired by a wealthy cattle rancher to shoot wild dogs. When he discovers that his employer wants him to eradicate Aborigines, he fights back against the villain. The set arrives with a new 4K scan of the original camera negative as well as an interview with co-star Laura San Giacomo, the master armorer and publicity materials.
And just in time for the release of the fourth movie in the series, Universal Pictures is delivering a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set for the animated hit film, Kung Fu Panda (2008).
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here is a list of kid-friendly titles arriving at stores.
Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volume 3 (Warner Archive) Blu-ray PBS KIDS: 17 Fun Food Stories (PBS Kids) DVD
Sonic Prime Season 1 (NCircle Entertainment) Blu-ray
Wish (Disney) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook (Walmart exclusive) or regular Blu-ray ON THE TUBE!
All of the week’s TV-related releases can be found below.
All Creatures Great and Small Season 4 (PBS) Blu-ray
Curious Carter 3-Movie Collection: Dying for Chocolate, Grilling Season, Fatal Vows (Hallmark) DVD
Ghosts The Complete Series (BBC) DVD
Icons Unearthed: Star Wars (6-episode series on the making of the franchise) (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volume 3 (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
Rick and Morty Season 7 (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray or Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray
Stephen King’s The Shining (1997 TV Miniseries) (Shout! Factory) Blu-ray
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