Now then... we’ve got a pretty significant piece of industry news to share with you today. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has completed an “umbrella” distribution deal with Studio Distribution Services (SDS) that covers not only their own Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD product, but also titles from Lionsgate and Disney (along with 20th Century Studios, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, and the other Disney-owned labels), which Sony produces for those studios. We first broke the news of this for our Patreon subscribers over the weekend.

The reason this deal is important is that it guarantees Sony, Disney, 20th Century Studios, and Lionsgate a direct and stable distribution channel for their physical media product into Walmart stores. And as we’ve reported previously, Walmart is the biggest disc retailer in North America with a whopping 45% share of the disc sales market (as of earlier this year—that number may have grown a bit with the recent exit of Best Buy, which had approximately 4% of the business).

This deal goes a long way in terms of giving studio executives the confidence to dig more deeply into their film vaults for new catalog remastering efforts and ultimately to release new catalog 4K titles on disc. All of this sets the stage for a very exciting slate of catalog 4K UHD titles from these studios and others in the next 12 to 24 months and beyond. In fact, I’m now more confident than ever that 2025 is going to be a big year for 4K disc fans! As always, I’ll share more on all this as it comes in from our sources in the weeks and months ahead... and as I’m able to reveal the details without disrupting any developing plans.

Top 20 Selling Blu-ray Discs

1. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
2. Dune: Part Two
3. Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning
4. The Beekeeper
5. Oppenheimer
6. Immaculate
7. La Femme Nikita
8. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
9. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
10. Star Wars: Andor — The Complete First Season
11. Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
13. Migration
14. Superman and Lois: The Complete Third Season
15. John Wick: Chapter 4
16. House of the Dragon: The Complete First Season
17. Wonka
18. Imaginary
19. The Iron Claw
20. Dune: Part One

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 20 Selling 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs

1. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
2. Dune: Part Two
3. La Femme Nikita
4. Oppenheimer
5. Species II
6. Star Wars: Andor — The Complete First Season
7. Shrek 4-Movie Collection
8. Bad Lieutenant
9. Shrek Forever After
10. Killer Klowns from Outer Space
11. House of the Dragon: The Complete First Season
12. Mute Witness
13. Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
14. True Lies
15. The Crow
16. Lawrence of Arabia
17. Dune 2-Film Collection
18. The Last Kumite
19. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
20. Dune: Part One

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

https://www.mediaplaynews.com/research/top-20-selling-blu-ray-and-4k-discs-for-week-ended-6-15-24/

Director Martin Scorsese’s gripping and fiery masterpiece Bringing Out the Dead celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and Paramount Home Entertainment is marking the occasion by releasing the newly remastered film for the first time ever on both 4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray™ on September 17, 2024.

Bringing Out the Dead debuted on October 22, 1999 and marked the fourth collaboration between Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull). Nicolas Cage gives a riveting performance as a Manhattan paramedic barely clinging to sanity over the course of three chaotic nights. The film also stars Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Ving Rhames, and Tom Sizemore.

Newly remastered from the original camera negative, this exceptional new release was reviewed by Scorsese, cinematographer Robert Richardson, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Arriving as part of the Paramount Presents line, Bringing Out the Dead is presented in a must-own two-disc set that includes the film on 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos® and on Blu-ray, along with a wealth of new bonus content, including new interviews with Scorsese, Cage, Schrader, and Richardson, plus archival on-set interviews with Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Ving Rhames, Tom Sizemore, and Marc Anthony. The release also includes access to a Digital copy of the film. New and legacy bonus content included on the Blu-ray Disc™ is detailed below.

Tech specs at Blu-ray.com

FROM THE CINEMATIC WORLD OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG KNUCKLES ARRIVES SEPTEMBER 10 ON DVD, BLU-RAY™ AND LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY™ STEELBOOK®

Go Behind The Scenes With Special Features, Including An Exclusive Gag Reel and More!

LOS ANGELES – June 24, 2024 – “Ridiculously funny with a ton of heart” (Ryan Leston, IGN), the six-episode live-action event series KNUCKLES arrives on DVD, Blu-ray™ and a Limited Edition Blu-ray™ Steelbook® on September 10, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The KNUCKLES DVD and Blu-ray™ feature a never-before-seen gag reel and four featurettes, including “Meet the Cast,” “Working with Knuckles,” “This or That?” and “Cast Impressions.”

KNUCKLES will also be available on 4K Ultra HD™, manufactured on demand.

SYNOPSIS

KNUCKLES takes place between the films SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 and follows Knuckles (Idris Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protege and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. Featuring appearances by Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails and Tika Sumpter (Maddie), the ensemble cast also includes Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Cary Elwes (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), and Paul Scheer (Black Monday). This collection includes every episode along with an exclusive gag reel, and more!

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Gag Reel
• “Meet the Cast” Featurette
• “Working with Knuckles” Featurette
• “This or That?” Featurette
• “Cast Impressions” Featurette

A Paramount+ Original, from Paramount Pictures and SEGA of America, KNUCKLES is the first TV series in the expanding “Cinematic World of Sonic the Hedgehog,” executive produced by Idris Elba, Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Jeff Fowler, John Whittington, Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi and Toru Nakahara.

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. The PHE division oversees PPC’s home entertainment and transactional digital distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television Studios, Paramount Players, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHE additionally manages global licensing of studio content and transactional distribution across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.

Specifications:

Blu-ray™ Specifications:

• Blu-ray: 1 Disc
• Video: 1080p High Definition
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos; English, French & German 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3
• Subtitles: English SDH, French & German

DVD Specifications:

• DVD: 2 Discs
• Video: Standard Definition
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
• Audio: English 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3
• Subtitles: English SDH

4K UHD Specifications:

• 4K UHD: 1 Disc -Audio: English Dolby Atmos; English 5.1 Surround Dolby Digital AC3 Subtitles: English SDH

U.S. Rating: Not Rated

Canadian Rating: G

Run Time: 3:00:00

Created for Television by JOHN WHITTINGTON and TOBY ASCHER

Written by JOHN WHITTINGTON (episodes 101, 102, 106)

Written by BRIAN SCHACTER (episodes 103, 105)

Written by JAMES MADEJSKI (episode 104)

Directed by JEFF FOWLER (episode 101)

Directed by GED WRIGHT (episode 102)

Directed by BRANDON TROST (episode 103)

Directed by JORMA TACCONE (episode 104)

Directed by CAROL BANKER (episodes 105 & 106)

Pre-order: Amazon

I got an Elgato capture card and a VCR off of EBay and have already digitized three tapes I've found at garage sales.

Any advice for cleaning up the image and audio? I recall there were VCR cleaners but never was confident of their efficacy.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut was animated digitally in a process that’s meant to replicate the look of traditional “done by hand” animation with physical pieces of colored construction paper (which is how the original South Park pilot was created). Upon completion, the film was scanned to 35 mm internegative stock framed at the 1.85:1 aspect ratio for its original theatrical release. For this new Ultra HD, it appears that original negative has itself been scanned in 4K to create a new Digital Intermediate, with new grading for high dynamic range in Dolby Vision. Essentially all of the detail—such as there is—that’s in that original negative is represented here on screen, including all of the line work and faux paper texturing. But there’s also a very light wash of photochemical grain that’s natural and organic looking at all times. Colors are well saturated and all of the subtle variations in hues and shading that were present in the original digital animation are visible. Beyond that, there’s not really much else to say. HDR expands the color and contrast space a little, but given the nature of this animation the improvements are very subtle. The film certainly looks great, and arguably better than it ever has before, but no one is going to mistake this for a reference quality 4K image—it’s just not that kind of film.

Likewise, the film’s English audio, which is included here in the same 5.1 Dolby TrueHD mix found on the original 2009 Blu-ray release (reviewed here at The Bits) sounds very good indeed. The soundstage is pleasingly wide, but largely front focused, with the surround channels engaged lightly for a bit of atmospherics, some occasional directional cues, and musical ambience. Clarity and fidelity are good as well, and the music sounds great from start to finish. Note that the 4K disc includes English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD and French 5.1 Dolby Digital, with optional subtitles in English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and French. The Blu-ray disc in the package also includes the English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD mix but that’s all, with subs available in English (this is Sing-a-Long text) and English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing only.

Paramount’s new Ultra HD package is a 2-disc set that includes the film in 4K as well as 1080p HD on Blu-ray. (Note that this is a newly-authored disc, with new menus and encoding, not the same BD released in 2009.) There are no extras on the 4K disc itself, but the Blu-ray adds the following special features…

• Audio Commentary with Matt Stone and Trey Parker
• What Would Brian Boitano Do? Music Video (SD – 2:44)
• Teaser Trailer (HD – :55)
• Theatrical Trailer #1 (HD – 1:32)
• Theatrical Trailer #2 (SD – 1:51)

These features are identical to those found on the 2009 Blu-ray, including the full-length audio commentary which was recorded specifically for that disc. It’s a very funny track. Trey and Matt joke, laugh, and tell great stories, then start inviting in other staffers and just about anyone who happened to be in the building at the time... whether they worked on the film or not. (“Wow, I can’t believe it’s been ten years since I didn’t work on this film!”) You get the idea. The commentary is a hoot. Also included are a trio of trailers in HD, and the original 1999 DVD’s music video. You also get a Digital Copy code on a paper insert, though it only redeems at Fandango at Home (ex Vudu).

...

To be fair, I’m not sure how much that experience really needed (or benefits from) a 4K Ultra HD upgrade, but what the hell—it’s like $23 on sale. If you really love this film, there are worse ways to spend your cash. And it makes a nice double-feature with Parker and Stone’s Team America: World Police which is also now available in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount (see our review here). Enjoy!

The Stanley Cup Finals might be over tonight, but you can catch some on-ice action this summer when Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Die Hard at a hockey game" action classic Sudden Death checks into 4K Blu-ray. Kino Lorber's two-disc set will be released on August 27.

The set will be centered around a brand-new HDR Dolby Vision master from a 16-bit 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. It will include an all-new audio commentary by action movie historian Mike Leeder and I Am VengeanceRoss Boyask. It will also include a number of archival special features, including contemporary interviews with stars Van Damme, Powers Boothe (Tombstone), and Ross Malinger (Sleepless in Seattle), and director Peter Hyams (Outland); behind-the-scenes footage; and the film's original theatrical trailer and TV spot. The set will retail for $26.57, and can be preordered at KinoLorber.com.

Fans were quick to dub Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers this summer’s undeniable hit, circulating fan edits and memes about (spoiler!) throuples, and writing fan fiction en masse on sites like Archive of Our Own and Wattpad.

The movie’s production team invited the stans behind the scenes with a video diary series on Instagram, as well as with new featurettes about some of the more technical aspects of filming certain tennis scenes popping up on X.

But when the Challengers Blu-ray was announced on May 16, it included no bonus content—it’s not even being released in 4K.

Fans weren’t just upset, they were downright baffled. Cinephiles voiced their deep disappointment in the release—specifically citing the lack of bonus features, cast commentary, interviews, and gag reels.

The outcry makes it clear that fans want these extras to exist as more than just ephemeral fodder on social media. They want ownership over the intimate details of a movie they love. A comment on the Challengers Instagram isn’t enough; fans want the high-res film clips of the three leads being cute together behind the scenes to watch for all eternity. So why won’t these studios give that to them?

...

“It’s no longer simply about men in their basement wanting to see Iron Man,” John Rotella, SVP of sales at Shout! Studios, said. “You have to be really, really careful. You have to really do your due diligence in really capturing everything. So you have to have people on staff that are hyperdetailed and fully aware of the extras that you need.”

More and more of these labels are finding ways to pack value into their offerings, with their own teams sourcing interviews and photos, commissioning new art, and more. Some labels deal exclusively in genre films, some focus on “the classics,” some don’t have a direction at all—but they all provide a high-quality product that doesn’t exist on any of the major streaming platforms, and that is luring in even the casual collector.

Paramount Home Media Distribution will release a standard 4K Blu-ray edition of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, and Sacha Baron Cohen. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on September 3.

Description: Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in the Oscar winning big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's classic musical-thriller. Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. He returns to reopen his barber shop, where he becomes legend as "the demon barber of Fleet Street." The supporting cast includes Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's amorous accomplice, Alan Rickman as the evil Judge Turpin, Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen as the unforgettable Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

I will always remember this film for one specific reason. At no point in any of the marketing did they reveal that this was a musical. I was young and naïve and didn't know it was an adaptation of the broadway show.

Later this year Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black & Chrome Edition will be available, a version of the theatrical film which has the color removed in favor of a black a chrome aesthetic. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Black & Chrome Edition will feature an introduction by director George Miller.

TLDR: June 25th.

As physical media collectors well know, The Criterion Collection can be rather eclectic with their selections. Sometimes you get your true Hollywood classic. Sometimes you get a great piece of French of Japanese cinema. Occasionally you get one hell of an incredible box set. But every once in a while they stack their slate with a smorgasbord of cult classics, fan favorites, and one of the best gangster flicks to come out of England (and there are a lot of those!). So lets get into it -

• Repo Man 4k
• All of Us Strangers 4k
• The Long Good Friday 4k
• Gregg Araki's Teen Apocalypse Trilogy 4K
• Happiness 4k

Tech specs at Blu-ray.com

Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is heading straight to Prime Video in the UK with a July date now confirmed.

And if you can't wait that long, someone uploaded it to YouTube (in 720P) and it's been there for several weeks now!

John Krasinski's 'IF' Materializes on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on August 13

Tom Landy

Writer/director John Krasinski's family comedy IF (Imaginary Friends) will be available digitally on June 18. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases arrive on August 13.

The film (with a CinemaScore and 88% Fresh Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes) stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Krasinski, and Fiona Shaw, plus the voice talents of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Steve Carell, and more. Those who purchase the movie on Digital or 4K UHD and Blu-ray and Blu-ray can expect over 40 minutes of bonus content including how each IF came to life, hear how filmmakers made the imaginary feel real, go on location in New York from Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island, and don't miss the hysterical gag reel!

Starring Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, and John Krasinski, IF is a heartwarming and hilarious tale about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone's imaginary friends, known as IFs. She embarks on a magical journey to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids, before they disappear. An adventure you'll need to believe to see, IF is perfect for the whole family. Written and directed by John Krasinski, the film also features a stellar voice cast including Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Steve Carell.

IF - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

***IF - Blu-ray ***

Specs have yet to be detailed, but the IF (Imaginary Friends) 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and Digital will include the following supplements: 

• **The Imagination Behind IF---**Hear from writer and director John Krasinski plus the cast and crew as they dive deeper into the process of bringing their imagination to life on screen.

• Imagining Imaginary Friends--- Take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of each imaginary friend.

• Giving IFs a Voice--- Meet the all-star cast responsible for voicing each character. Hear from Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and more!

• Blending The Real and the Imaginary**---** Join John Krasinski as he incorporates a practical filmmaking approach to make the imaginary feel real.

• Tina Turner Forever!--- Experience the reimagining of the iconic 80s Tina Turner music video as John Krasinski recreates this legendary sequence with the IFs.

• The Imaginative World of IF--- From Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island, go behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew and experience the magic of New York City like never before.

• Gag Reel--- You won't have to imagine the hilarious antics on set once you check out this gag reel!

• Learn to Draw Blue from IF--- Learn to draw the loveable and cuddly "Blue" in this fun, interactive tutorial.

Pre-orders for IF (Imaginary Friends) are up and here is the full press release:

Experience writer/director John Krasinski's "heartwarming" (Joey Paur, GeekTyrant) and "hilarious" (Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky) original adventure IF when it arrives to buy or rent on Digital June 18, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment.  The film will debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, and DVD on August 13.

The perfect movie to enjoy with the whole family, IF received an A CinemaScore and 88% Fresh Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes®.   The film stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Krasinski, and Fiona Shaw along with a cavalcade of top-tier voice talent, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell, who bring a delightful array of imaginary friends to life.

Fans who purchase the film on Digital^*^, 4K Ultra HD, or Blu-ray will have access to over 40 minutes of behind-the-scenes bonus content to explore the whimsical world of imaginary friends.  See how each IF came to life, hear how filmmakers made the imaginary feel real, go on location in New York from Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island, and don't miss the hysterical gag reel!

Bonus content is detailed below:

• **The Imagination Behind IF---**Hear from writer and director John Krasinski plus the cast and crew as they dive deeper into the process of bringing their imagination to life on screen.

• Imagining Imaginary Friends--- Take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of each imaginary friend.

• Giving IFs a Voice--- Meet the all-star cast responsible for voicing each character. Hear from Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and more!

• Blending The Real and the Imaginary**---** Join John Krasinski as he incorporates a practical filmmaking approach to make the imaginary feel real.

• Tina Turner Forever!--- Experience the reimagining of the iconic 80s Tina Turner music video as John Krasinski recreates this legendary sequence with the IFs.

• The Imaginative World of IF--- From Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island, go behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew and experience the magic of New York City like never before.

• Gag Reel--- You won't have to imagine the hilarious antics on set once you check out this gag reel!

• Learn to Draw Blue from IF--- Learn to draw the loveable and cuddly "Blue" in this fun, interactive tutorial.

Top 20 Selling Blu-ray Discs

1. Dune: Part Two
2. The Beekeeper
3. Rango
4. Doctor Who: Pater Davidson - Complete Second Season
5. Oppenheimer
6. Glory
7. Star Wars: Andor - The Complete First Season
8. Aquaman and the Lost Kindgom
9. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
10. Imaginary
11. Dune: Part One
12. Kung Fu Panda 4
13. Migration
14. Wonka
15. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
16. Lawrence of Arabia
17. The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
18. Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
19. Madame Web
20. The Iron Claw

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

Top 20 Selling 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs

1. Dune: Part Two
2. Rango
3. Glory
4. Star Wars: Andor - The Complete First Season
5. Oppenheimer
6. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
7. Lawrence of Arabia
8. Killer Klowns from Outer Space
9. Crimson Peak
10. Bad Lieutenant
11. Dune: Part One
12. Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
13. Barbie
14. Platoon
15. Blade Runner: The Final Cut
16. The Abyss
17. High Noon
18. The Crow
19. Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy
20. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Source: Circana VideoScan (based on unit sales from reporting retailers)

https://www.mediaplaynews.com/research/top-20-selling-blu-ray-and-4k-discs-for-week-ended-6-8-24/

Classic Movies That Need A 4K Release

Chris Bumbray

So many classic movies are being released in 4K, yet a lot of essential titles are MIA, even if many feel tailor-made for the format.

Here at JoBlo, we love physical media -- ESPECIALLY 4K discs. To a lot of us, the 4K revolution has really given some of our favourite movies new life, with the format allowing us to see pristine versions of classic films that come the closest to presenting them in a way that allows us to experience them the way first run audiences did when they came out. While DVD and Blu-ray were both great for their time, 4K is miraculous, with movies like The Crow looking better in this format than they have since their original theatrical runs. One of the reasons is that the people doing the 4K restorations usually go back to a movie's negative to make it look as good as it can, and the people restoring these films are passionate (even if some efforts have been controversial).

Yet, some of our favorite movies still aren't available in 4K. Granted, some, such as Se7en, are on the way (and sound like they will be worth the wait), but it's been radio silence on some legit classics. Here are five movies we think are begging for a 4K release.

Fight Club (1999):

David Fincher's Fight Club was one of the biggest titles of the DVD era. Its extras-loaded two-disc special edition was a favourite of any serious collector who grew up in that era (it's still a favourite of mine). While it has a fine-looking HD transfer, it's crying out for a 4K restoration, especially with it celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. However, Fincher is known for his exacting standards as far as the presentation of his movies goes on home media, and with him currently busy with the Se7en restoration, we might have to wait a while for this one.

Boogie Nights (1997):

Paul Thomas Anderson is a director whose films are curiously underrepresented in 4K. You'd think his most recent movie, Licorice Pizza, which was shot in 70mm, would have been released in the format, but no dice. The only Anderson movies out in 4K are The Phantom Thread and Punch Drunk Love. One would think There Will Be Blood would have gotten a release in the format, but so far, one hasn't surfaced. For me, the movie of his that's begging for a 4K release is his classic Boogie Nights. Anderson experimented with a lot of different film formats when making it, with the movie shot in 35mm, but the adult film sequences are shot in 16mm and on analog video. I'd also love to see an updated version of the classic group commentary track recorded in 1998 for the laserdisc to be included, with people like Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle and Mark Wahlberg giving their thoughts on the film close to thirty years after the fact. I'd also LOVE to see Magnolia in 4K.

Kill Bill (2003)

Last year, Lionsgate announced that they were prepping 4K editions of volumes 1 and 2 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Quentin Tarantino's epic. So far, neither has a street date, although it's possible that QT, now that he's no longer making The Movie Critic as his 10th (and final film), might be finally taking the opportunity to release The Whole Bloody Affair. One can only hope, but surely, Kill Bill in 4K would be glorious.

Children of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men is one of the most celebrated movies of the 2000s, but like a lot of the director's work, it's yet to get the 4K treatment. Cuaron is a home theatre enthusiast, so it's likely that any release would benefit from both him and DP Emmanuel Lubezki being involved. Gravity is on the way pretty soon, so we may also get a Children of Men redux, which would be great considering what a visually stunning movie it is.

The Terminator (1984)

James Cameron's sci-fi classic is celebrating its 40th anniversary this fall, and the hope is that the film will get a slick UHD release. The buzz is that Cameron is working on it, although to some, that may come with a big asterisk next to it, as his recent AI-assisted restorations of Aliens, The Abyss and True Lies have been among the most controversial 4K upgrades of all time. If The Terminator makes it to 4K this year, will it be overly sweetened? Only time will tell, but I'll still buy it regardless of the tinkering.

Releasing just two years after Jurassic Park, Twister enlisted George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic for its boundary-pushing visual effects, but there was also a heavy – and most welcome – reliance on practical and tangible set pieces. Had it released any earlier, then the visuals may not have convinced to the fullest extent, but had it released much later then use of CGI would have been a great deal more widespread. With that, the movie cemented its position in history by becoming the first-ever DVD release, signifying a change of technological advancements for viewers.

...

Although it wouldn’t launch commercially in the United States until March 1997 with a day-one unveiling of 32 titles including Tim Burton’s Batman, Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, George Miller’s Mad Max sequel The Road Warrior, classic buddy caper Lethal Weapon, and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, DVDs had hit the shelves in Japan in November 1996.

There were only four launch day titles available on the other side of the world, and Twister was one of them. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Eraser, Harrison Ford’s The Fugitive, and John Badham’s Point of No Return – the remake of Luc Besson’s La Femme Nikita – were the other three, giving de Bont’s tornado-tastic spectacular its fascinating place in the history books.

After taking a year off, Arrow Video is back with Shawscope Vol. 3. While the previous two collections focused on the martial arts films from the legendary Shaw Brothers Hong Kong studio, this collection focuses on the Wuxia movies that involve battles with weapons. The big attraction to the set is the three One-Armed Swordsman movies. The first two starred Jimmy Wang Yu (Master of the Flying Guillotine) while the third has David Chiang (Shaolin Mantis) as a different fighter missing an arm. The other 11 titles include Lady Hermit, Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan, The 14 Amazons, The Magic Blade, Clans of Intrigue, Jade Tiger, The Sentimental Swordsman, The Avenging Eagle, Killer Constable, Buddha’s Palm and Bastard Swordsman. There are plenty of extras being lined up including more of Frédéric Ambroisine’s interviews with the Shaw Brothers stars and filmmakers.

Tech specs from Blu-ray.com

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy 20th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray

Paramount Pictures UK has officially announced that it will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) with a "Stay Classy" Collector's Edition 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack, which is scheduled to arrive on the market on August 5th.

Description: It's kind of a big deal.

Released in cinemas on July 9, 2004, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY marked the feature directorial debut of Adam McKay and was written by McKay and Will Ferrell, who stars as the titular, mustachioed hero. The film features a veritable pantheon of comedic talent, including Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, and Fred Willard, along with a cavalcade of cameos.

Set in the 1970s, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY tells the ridiculously funny story of a testosterone-filled newsroom threatened by the arrival of an ambitious female anchor. Endlessly quotable and enduringly hilarious, ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY is widely considered to be one of the greatest comedies of all time.

The 20th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray set includes the remastered theatrical version of the film in sparkling 4K, plus two Blu-ray Discs with more than two hours of legacy bonus content, including cast auditions, deleted scenes, bloopers, an "Afternoon Delight" music video, and much, much more. In addition, fans can enjoy both the theatrical and extended cuts of the film on Blu-ray, as well as WAKE UP, RON BURGUNDY: THE LOST MOVIE, a 92-minute film featuring outtakes and unused storylines from the original movie.

Synopsis: There was a time before cable when the local anchorman reigned supreme.... Enter the hard-hitting world of the 1970s local TV news, where Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and his loyal Channel 3 News Team (Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner) are San Diego's #1 rated news source. All is well in their male-dominated world of news until beautiful, rising-star reporter Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) turns it all upside down. Sparks don't just fly, they ignite an all-out war between the two perfectly coiffed anchorpersons. In a job where it pays to keep a straight face, Anchorman is the comedy that makes it almost impossible to stop laughing.

Special Features and Techncial Specs:

DISC ONE - 4K BLU-RAY

• THEATRICAL VERSION of the film
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION
• Audio: English -- DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, French - Parisian, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish - Castilian Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: English, English SDH, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French -- Parisian, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Spanish -- Castilian, Swedish

DISC TWO - BLU-RAY

• THEATRICAL AND EXTENDED VERSIONS of the film branched
• Commentary by Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Lou Rawls, Andy Richter, Kyle Gass, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Christina Applegate
• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Bloopers
• "Afternoon Delight" Music Video
• ESPN SportsCenter Audition -- Ron Burgundy
• Audio: English -- DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, French - Parisian, Spanish -- Castilian Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish

DISC THREE - BLU-RAY

• WAKE UP RON BURGUNDY: THE LOST MOVIE
• Intro-Commentary with Will Ferrell and Aaron Zimmerman
• PSA
• Award Speech
• Raw Footage "Good Takes"
• "Afternoon Delight" Recording Session
• Interviews
• Specials
• Cast Auditions
• Table Read 6/2/03
• Rehearsals
• Playback Video
• Commercial Break
• Trailers
• Audio: English Stereo
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Latin American

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Rigid board slipcase
• Poster
• 5 x Art Cards
• 5 x Character Cards
• Channel 4 News Sticker
• The Many Months of Burgundy' Booklet
• Capacity Envelope

Who You Gonna Chill? Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Ain't Afraid of No Blu-ray and 4K UHD SteelBooks June 25th

Tom Landy

Posted Sun May 26, 2024 at 07:58 AM PDT by

Never cross the streams! Sony has dated and detailed their upcoming Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire which will be hitting stores on June 26.

The release will also be available in a 4K UHD SteelBook as well as a Walmart exclusive Blu-ray SteelBook.

The science fiction comedy stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani and original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson, and is directed by Gil Kenan.

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started -- the iconic New York City firehouse -- to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who've developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (LE SteelBook)
 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Walmart Exclusive SteelBook
 

The 4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital packages include Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos soundtracks, and the following supplements:

• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
• Audio commentary with director Gil Kenan
• Deleted and extended scenes
• Easter Eggs Unleashed
• Manifesting Garraka
• New York, New Gear
• Welcome to the Paranormal Discovery Center
• Knowing the Score
• Return to the Firehouse: Making Ghostbusters Frozen Empire
• Buster: Capturing the Ghosts of Frozen Empire
• Optional English, English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles for the main feature