Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Targets Nov. 10 For The 4K Ultra HD SteelBook Debut Of Director Simon West's Con Air

The chatter in the consumer press during the summer of 1996 was all about who producer Jerry Bruckheimer was recruiting for his forthcoming action film about hardened convicts taking over a prisoner transport plane.   The director, Simon West, was an unknown.  He had done some music videos and a Budweiser commercial, but never a feature film.

While the director was making his debut with Con Air, the screenwriter, Scott Rosenberg, had cut his scripting teeth with Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead and the cast — from top to bottom — was shaping up to be a dream team.   

Nicholas Cage had just won the Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas and was on fire with The Rock and co-star John Cusack was already a name, but it was the casting of the convicts that pointed to something special was on its way to the silver screen for action fans to enjoy.   John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi and Danny Trejo for starters (WOW!), plus the likes of Ving Rhames, Dave Chappelle and veteran character actor M.C. Gainey as “Swamp Thing” meant that this prisoner transport plane was certain to be one wild ride.

While Simon West was a newbie, Bruckheimer was backing him with no less than an eleven-strong second unit team, plus a crew of eight established production technicians to handle the aircraft live shots and all of the miniature work required to bring the final film production together.   Call that an insurance policy!

Con Air opened in June of 1997 (three months after the launch of the DVD format) and pulled in $101 million in domestic ticket sales — a smash hit!

The first physical media arrival for Con Air, the DVD, was 291 days after the film opened (March of 1998) … the first Blu-ray surfaced ten years later (January of 2008) and now word has arrived from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment that a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray SteelBook Combo Pack edition will be available on Nov. 10.

Bonus features are a pair of vintage featurettes — “A View from Above” and “The Destruction of Las Vegas.”

Alliance Entertainment Will Be Guiding The Amazon MGM Studios' Production Of Masters Of The Universe To The Physical Media Marketplace On Oct. 20

Alliance Entertainment will be guiding the Amazon MGM Studios' production of director Travis Knight's Masters of the Universe to the land of physical media product offerings on Oct. 20.

This will be a full-spread launch with all three formats — DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD — being single disc releases.   There is, however, a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack Steelbook purchasing option available to avid collectors.  

The ARR works out to 137 and the domestic box office take was $64.8 million.   Amazon opened up a digital window on July 22, which has given the "Helper" community (pirates, bootleggers, etc.) a 90-day window to push their illicit copies to unsuspecting consumers.

As a bonus, there is a featurette titled " Masters of Light: Skies of Eternia Drone Spectacle."

MVD Entertainment Group Celebrates The Legacy Of Filmmaker And F/X Wiz John Carl Buechler On Dec. 15 With A Collector's Edition Of His 1986 Creature-Feature Troll

John Carl Buechler started making creatures and doing f/x work for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures in 1980 and within three years both the trade and consumer press began to take notice … for genre fans it was an impressive list of feature films that marked his early career.   

Director Jack Hill’s Sorceress, filmmaker Aaron Lipstadt’s Android and director Allan Holzman’s Forbidden World kept Buechler busy throughout 1982.

His work on Michael Dugan’s Mausoleum in 1983 got him noticed for some nifty work involving the film’s star, Bobbie Bresee, and her demonic possession mischief-making (actually slaughtering anyone getting in her way would be a better description).   All of this got him his first directing assignment, a segment titled “Demons of the Dead” in the 1984 horror anthology, The Dungeonmaster.

Buechler had actually been making films since he was a kid.   First borrowing equipment and then getting a gift of his own movie camera when he was 15 … such gems as “A Fistful of Gerbils” followed.   Now he was a professional … with a directing credit.

1984 was even a bigger year for him back on the creature side of the filmmaking ledger.  He designed the creatures starring in writer/director Luca Bercovici’s Ghoulies.   Ghoulies!   That’s right, as Michael Wilmington for the Los Angeles Times wrote, “foul, reptilian little beings coated with some obscene glittering, mucous-like moisture.”   In his review of the film, he continued by saying that they “have a certain nauseating charm.”

He worked on Re-Animator, Zone Troppers and Dolls in 1985 … all genre gems!   And then came his first full-film (no segment this time) directing assignment, Troll.   He had come up with the idea while working on Android, but it took a while to gain the street-creds to make the move.   

In an interview with Roger Schlueter for his hometown newspaper, Buechler said, “You have to realize that special effects were an in for me in Hollywood.  It got me in the door.”  The “door” was kicked open when none other than Charles Band in 1986 greenlighted his creature-feature, Troll!

Sadly, John Carl Buechler lost his battle with cancer in 2019, but right up until his passing he was directing movies, creating creatures and doing the f/x work he loved.

From the source who gave us beautiful 4K Ultra HD editions of both Ghoulies and Ghoulies II — MVD Entertainment Group — comes a special “Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray tribute to Buechler with the “Rewind Collection” release of Troll on Dec. 15.   Yes, Torok the Troll, Buechler’s creature creation will be available in all his gory glory just in time for Christmas!!

Up until Troll, producer Charles Band released his productions market by market (limited prints, limited exposure), but with Buechler’s film, he went national for the first time with 959 screens on Jan. 17, 1986.   It was a hit ... the move to go national paid off.  The big time had arrived for Buechler and now genre fans can celebrate once again his legacy on Dec. 15 with this Blu-ray addition to MVD’s popular “Rewind” library of films.

Included with this Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” of Troll from MVD Entertainment Group on Dec. 15 is Aine and Ken Leich’s 2015 feature-length documentary titled Troll Empire: The Making of Troll.   

Arrow Video's 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Director Peter Yates' Bullitt Starring Steve McQueen Rockets Home On Dec. 8

You can’t really talk about director Peter Yates’ Bullitt without first taking a look at filmmaker Norman Jewison’s The Thomas Crown Affair.   They are connected at the hip.

In 1966, first time screenwriter Alan Trustman had come up with a gem which he titled “The Crown Caper.”   At about the same time, Jewison was teaming up with Harold Mirisch for a three-picture production deal and it was announced (summer of 1966) that Jewison had cut a deal with a “Boston attorney” (that would be Trustman) for a story that was described as a “love story set against a suspenseful crime back-ground.”   This would become part of the Mirisch deal.

Trustman had envision Sean Connery as Thomas Crown, but in February of 1967 it was announced that Steve McQueen would be starring and production would begin in May.  It was something of a family reunion as Jewison had worked with McQueen on The Cincinnati Kid and Mirisch had produced both The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape.   The May start date was pushed back until June when Faye Dunaway joined the cast for filming in Boston.   

The Thomas Crown Affair didn’t open theatrically until June of the following year.   During that time, Trustman had written Bullitt (an adaptation of Robert L. Pike’s novel titled “Mute Witness”), which was acquired by Steve McQueen’s “Solar Productions” — McQueen liked the way Trustman had reworked “The Crown Caper” for him and was ready for more. 

Production began in San Francisco in February of 1968 and “The Adventures of Thomas Crown and Company” still hadn’t opened yet (in April of 1968 it was finally titled The Thomas Crown Affair) … in the interim, Faye Dunaway had become an overnight sensation in Bonnie and Clyde.

It was the perfect storm!  Everything was coming together for Steve McQueen to become a superstar in 1968 … The Thomas Crown Affair in June, followed by Bullitt in October!

And speaking of “coming together,” the round-about introduction to Arrow Video’s 4K restoration of Bullitt (from the original 35mm camera negative) will do just that, come together, on Dec. 8 with its 4K Ultra HD debut.   Domestic sales and distribution expertise will be provided by MVD Entertainment Group.

Bonus goodies kick off with two separate commentary options.   The first is an archival commentary by director Peter Yates and the second is a newly minted one featuring film critics Jason Bailey (crookedmarquee.com) and Matt Zoller Seitz (editor at large for RogerEbert.com).

Also included is documentary filmmaker Wendy Apple’s 2004 feature-length film festival documentary titled The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (perfect … Frank P. Keller won the Oscar for his editing work on Bullitt).

Arrow is also providing a newly-produced featurette titled “The Sound of Cool,” the vintage featurette, “Bullitt: Steve McQueen’s Commitment to Reality” and an archival video session (circa 1996) with Yates.

Director Joseph Zito's Mission In Action Gets The 4K Ultra HD Treatment On Nov. 24 Courtesy Of MVD Entertainment Group

Los Angeles Times film critic Kevin Thomas after viewing director Joseph Zito’s November of 1984 debut of Missing in Action said, “If ever there was a contemporary screen hero to send into Vietnam and rescue American soldiers still there, it’s martial arts star Chuck Norris.”  He continued in his praise for the film, “It’s an action-adventure, with an economical, well-structured script by James Bruner and dynamic direction by Joseph Zito.”

It took awhile to get the film going, Hollywood wanted to forget Vietnam, so it fell to indie Cannon Films to get Missing in Action into production.   It was a huge hit for them and audiences loved it!   Hollywood had guessed wrong.

Word arrived this past week that MVD Entertainment Group has a newly restored 4K Ultra HD edition (from the original camera negative) of Missing in Action on the way this November.   The street date will be Nov. 24 … and, as a bonus, this will be a new addition to the company’s popular “Rewind Collection” library.

Bonus features include a vintage commentary by director Joseph Zito (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Invasion U.S.A., Red Scorpion), who is joined by Red Shirt Pictures producer Michael Felsher.   There is also an extended archived video session with screenwriter James Bruner. 

 

MVD Entertainment Group Tags Nov. 3 For The Physical Media Launch Of Director Jonas Akerlund's Billy Idol Should Be Dead

MVD Entertainment Group has tabbed Nov. 3 as the physical media release date — both DVD and Blu-ray selections — for documentary filmmaker and music video directing icon Jonas Akerlund’s Billy Idol Should be Dead.

Akerlund is no stranger to the rock scene, having directed countless music videos over the years for the likes of Madonna, Roxette, Metallica, Paul McCartney, U2 and many, many more.   Starting in 2005 he had enough material and street-creds to start telling rock-scene stories, beginning with I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (a look at Madonna’s 2004 “Re-Invention” world tour) … Paul McCartney's Live Kisses, Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live and Metallica Saved My Life all followed. 

He’s even ventured into feature-length films, including the rock-horror tale, Lords of Chaos. 

In short, Akerlund knows music and the artists.   In April of last year, when the Tribeca Film Festival announced its preview line-up for the June gathering, the music-scene took notice at the news that rock legend Billy Idol would be doing a live music intro to the festival screening of Akerlund’s playfully-titled film, Billy Idol Should be Dead.

On the eve of the screening, USA Today’s Melissa Ruggieri had a sit-down with Idol to discuss the movie.   He revealed, “I’m lucky to be here” … “If I was doing today what I was doing in the ‘80s I’d be dead.” 

If you are a Billy Idol fan (or just curious) Akerlund’s documentary (entertaining as hell) lays it all out there.   The good and the really ugly.   He blends in animation to make points about the rise and near-destruction of this pretty-boy rock legend who really lived the live of sex, drugs (did we says DRUGS) and rock’n’roll!!

The post-festival reviews were solid and the savvy Laemmle Theatre circuit followed by opening up its doors for a limited theatrical showcase of Akerlund’s documentary in October of 2025.   Just for record, that yields an ARR of 375 days for the Nov. 3 DVD and Blu-ray releases.

Also of note, MVD Entertainment Group’s physical media support for the film is not the first time that the company has embraced Billy Idol’s physical media ventures.  In December of 2023 they released both DVD and Blu-ray editions of Idol’s spectacular live concert (also a theatrical release) titled Billy Idol: State Line - Live at Hoover Dam.   Be sure to check that out if you are a Billy Idol fan (included were “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding,” “Dancing with Myself” and more.

Radiance Films Readies A 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Director Mario Bava's Planet Of The Vampires For Release On Oct. 20

Genre fans in particular and movie-goes in general in Boston, San Francisco and at various theatres throughout Ohio were drawn to the double feature launch of director Daniel Haller’s Die, Monster, Die! (starring Boris Karloff no less) and Italian filmmaker Mario Bava’s Planet of the Vampires beginning on Oct. 27, 1965.   A horror-themed double-feature presented by American International during the Halloween promotional season, how could anyone pass that up!

What genre fans got as a bonus were leather-clad deep space hotties, ‘er “explorers,” in the form of Norma Bengell and Evi Marandi.   Indeed, hearts were pounding, not from the terror generated by what was lurking in the mist of that strange planet called Aura, but from those soft curves highlighted by Gabriele Mayer’s costume creations … those leather space outfits!! 

News has arrived that Radiance Films, with sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has a new 4K film restoration of Planet of the Vampires ready for genre fans to enjoy once again … only this time as a glorious 4K Ultra HD product offering on Oct. 20.   The terror face by Santa (Bengell) and Tiona (Marandi) on Aura can now be savored in 4K … or will it be leering and lusting-after how those “very practical” black leather space outfits were filled out by these brave space explorers (in 4K, or course)? 

Bonus goodies include both the original Italian-language version (an extra two minutes of footage) and the 1965 English-dubbed domestic theatrical presentation.   Plus, Radiance has included with this 4K Ultra HD release an archival commentary from author and film critic Tim Lucas (Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark) and Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger’s new documentary (2024) titled Transmissions from a Haunted World: Mario Bava and the Space Gothic. 

Additional bonus delights are a vintage interview with Lamberto Bava, the Super 8 version of the film and “trailer commentaries” from Joe Dante and Josh Olsen.