Criterion’s March 2022 slate, plus The Punisher, new Titans of Cult 4K Steelbook, and Kino Lorber Studio Classic’s January slate

Wednesday, 15 December 2021 16:29

Criterion’s March 2022 slate, plus The Punisher, new Titans of Cult 4K Steelbook, and Kino Lorber Studio Classic’s January slate

by Bill Hunt

Stephen has just turned in a review of Warren Beatty and Buck Henry’s Heaven Can Wait (1978), Beatty’s first film as a director and an interesting romantic comedy, which is newly available on Blu-ray from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.

In terms of announcement news today, Criterion has just revealed its March 2022 release slate, which is set to include Márta Mészáros’s Adoption (1975) (Spine #1115 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 3/8, a new 4K upgrade of Jean-Pierre Melville’s legendary crime drama Le cercle rouge (1970) (Spine #218 – 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo) on 3/15, Robert Aldrich’s The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) (Spine #1116 – Blu-ray) on 3/22, and Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz (Spine #1118 – 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo and Blu-ray) and Theodore Witcher’s Love Jones (1997) (Spine #1117 – Blu-ray) on 3/29. Both of the 4K titles will include Dolby Vision HDR.

Note that we’ve updated the relevant Criterion Spines Project page here at The Bits accordingly. [Read on here...]

We mentioned this the other day, but Lionsgate has now officially announced the 4K Steelbook release of The Punisher (2004) on 1/25 as a Best Buy exclusive. It appears that the 4K disc will include HDR10 high dynamic range and a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Extras in the package will include audio commentary with director Jonathan Hensleigh, deleted scenes with optional commentary, 4 featurettes (Keepin’ It Real: The Punisher Stunts, Army of One: The Punisher Origins, War Journal: On the Set of The Punisher, and Drawing Blood: Bradstreet Style), and Drowning Pool’s Step Up music video. Here’s what it looks like...

The Punisher (4K Steelbook Best Buy exclusive)

Lionsgate will also release Robin Roberts Presents: Mahailia on DVD only on 1/25.

Titans of Cult is releasing a new Steelbook 4K UHD release of The Matrix on 1/31/22. You can see that here on Amazon.co.uk (note that the release itself is region free). They have a Casino Royale 4K Steelbook coming as well on 1/10/22.

Retail sources are suggesting that Sony’s planned Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife is tentatively due on 2/1/22. We expect an official announcement some time in the next week or two.

And finally today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has just finalized and announced their complete January release slate, which is set to include Rich and Strange (1931 – BD), The Crime of the Century (1933 – BD), Double Door (1934 – BD), China (1943 – BD), Golden Earrings (1947 – BD), All My Sons (1948 – BD), Shake Hands with the Devil (1959 – BD), and The Naked Ape (1973 – BD – for Code Red) on 1/4, The 7th Dawn (1964 – BD), Gambit (1966 – BD), Journey to Shiloh (1968 – BD), The Pink Jungle (1968 – BD), Impasse (1969 – BD), Breaking In (1989 – BD), The Card Player (2004 – BD – for Scorpion), The Mafu Cage (1978 – BD – for Scorpion), Maria’s Lovers (1984 – BD for Code Red), and The Great Escape (1963 – 4K) on 1/11, and Inherit the Wind (1989 – BD) and Some Like It Hot (1959 – 4K) on 1/18.

We’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for the new Criterion titles as well as Looper 4K from Sony (and we’ll add the Amazon.com pre-order links for each as soon as they go live)...

Stay tuned...!

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Criterion’s March 2022 slate, plus The Punisher, new Titans of Cult 4K Steelbook, and Kino Lorber Studio Classic’s January slate

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