My Two Cents
Friday, 12 July 2024 17:23

Second Sight bows The Hitcher in 4K Ultra HD at last, plus Watchmen: Chapter I, Caligula: Ultimate Cut, Stardust, Downfall, Bewitched: The Complete Series on Blu-ray & more

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We’ve got more interesting release news here today to close out the week, and a few more new disc reviews as well. First the reviews...

Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Abel Ferrara’s Dangerous Game (1993) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome via their fine new Cinématographe line.

And Dennis has reviewed Bryce McGuire’s Night Swim (2024) on Blu-ray from Blumhouse via Universal, as well as Raoul Walsh’s The Man I Love (1947) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

More reviews are on the way for next week, including my take on Hayao Miyazaki’s animated The Boy and the Huron (2023) in 4K Ultra HD from GKids. So be sure to stay tuned for them.

Also, my apologies for the lack of news updates this week, but I was struck a bout of vertigo last Saturday, and I’ve been having to take it a bit easy to reset everything back to normal. It’s nothing serious—mine is caused by tension in my shoulders aggravating the nerves in my neck, in this case triggered by sleeping with my neck in an awkward position. So the key is to fix my pillow situation and try to relax a little bit more. I’m sure some of you out there can relate!

Anyway, the big news lately is that Second Sight in the UK has finally set their long-awaited 4K remaster of Robert Harmon’s The Hitcher (1986) for release on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on 9/30. It’s currently exclusive to their website in a 4K + Blu-ray Limited Edition, as well as separate (and standard) 4K UHD and Blu-ray editions. [Read on here...]

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The 4K will include Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, tons of newly-created and legacy extras, a 200-page hardback book, a second screenplay book, and a collection of art cards, all packaged in a hard slipcase. You can see the Limited Edition above left and also here below. And you can pre-order all of these editions here. It’s also available on Amazon UK here.

The Hitcher (4K Ultra HD)

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and DC Studios have set the animated Watchmen: Chapter I feature film for release on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on 8/27. The Digital release is expected on 8/13. This is the first of two parts, so expect Chapter II to follow later this year. Extras will include a pair of featurettes (The Art of Adaptation: Introducing the Story and Dave Gibbons and Watchmen: Chapters I-VI).

Also today, Unobstructed View has announced that Caligula: The Ultimate Cut will arrive on Blu-ray, DVD, and Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD on 9/17. Extras on the 4K will include both the new Ultimate Cut and the 1980 Theatrical Version of the film in 4K UHD, with some extras, plus a Blu-ray of bonus materials and the soundtrack on CD. The Blu-ray package will include the two different cuts of the film on Blu-ray, with some extras, but not the additional bonus disc nor the CD.

Lionsgate is releasing a new John Wick 1-3: Stash Book Collection 4K Steelbook set for release on 8/6. The studio has also bringing Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s Kill (2023) to 4K Steelbook and Blu-ray later this year, though the street date is still TBA.

Synpase Films has set Lamberto Bava’s Demons (1985) and Demons 2 (1986) for release on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on 8/13. Synapse has also set Mike Mendez’s The Convent (2000) for 4K release on 10/8.

Well Go USA will release Jang Jae-hyun’s Exhuma (2024) on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on 10/8 as well.

Paramount has revealed new 4K Ultra HD Steelbook editions of Matthew Vaughn’s Stardust (2007) for release on 9/24, one of them a wide release and the other a Walmart exclusive.

Constantin Film in Germany has set Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Downfall (2004) for 4K Ultra HD release on 9/26.

And here’s a nice surprise for vintage TV fans: Mill Creek Entertainment has set a 22-disc Bewitched: The Complete Series – 60th Anniversary Special Edition for release on Blu-ray on 9/17.

In other news today, have the first teaser trailer for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, which is due in theaters from Paramount on 11/22...

Finally this afternoon, we have two pieces of less than happy news...

First, Redbox is officially shutting down after its parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, declared bankruptcy and is now being liquidated. So all of its DVD rental kiosks are going away for good. You can read more here at Variety.

And we need to take a moment today to acknowledge the passing of actor Shelley Duvall, who died yesterday in her native Texas at the age of 75. She is of course best known for her roles in Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Popeye, as well as Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. You can read more about her life and work here at The Hollywood Reporter, here at NPR, and here at The New York Times.

We’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for some of the titles mentioned above and more, with Amazon.com pre-order links if available...

The Hitcher (4K Ultra HD) Watchmen: Chapter I (4K Ultra HD) Caligula: The Ultimate Cut (4K Ultra HD)

Stardust (4K Ultra HD Steelbook) The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live – Season 1 (Blu-ray Disc) Bewitched: The Complete Series (Blu-ray Disc)

Downfall (German 4K Ultra HD) Reacher: Season Two (Blu-ray Disc) Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense (Blu-ray Audio)

Stay tuned...

(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)

 

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