Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution
expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, will be releasing its first two
4K Ultra HD titles on Aug. 18. So let’s
see what’s in the works …
First up is a 4K restoration (supervised by the
director himself) from the original camera negative of director Mike Hodges’
1980 film release of Flash Gordon, which will be available as both a
newly-minted 4K Ultra HD edition as well as a Blu-ray product offering on Aug.
18.
What a hoot.
This salute to the serial adventures of Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, Dr.
Alexis Zarkov and Ming the Merciless (Flash
Gordon, Flash
Gordon's Trip to Mars and Flash
Gordon Conquers the Universe) was an absolute train
wreck from inception, but nothing like time to make it an absolute cult
favorite.
First, you get a Flash Gordon (played by Sam J.
Jones — 10, My Chauffeur, Maximum Force,
etc.) who, according to legend, was spotted on “The Dating Game” and had been a
Playgirl “centerfold.” He was teamed
with Dayle Haddon as Dale Arden, fresh from North
Dallas Forty, but when she showed up on the
set she appeared to be in the middle of an anorexic episode and was fired,
replaced by Melody Anderson (her theatrical debut).
Haddon would later file a lawsuit against the film’s
producer, Dino De Laurentiis … and that wasn’t the end of the legal problems
with the production. Sam J. Jones got
into a tiff with De Laurentiis over his contract and before you could say
“Flash” there was a breach of contract law suit and Jones’ post-work on the film
had to end up being dubbed.
$40 million production budget, filmed on the same Shepperton
Studios stages as Star Wars (and
then some), but it ultimately failed to live up to its Christmas season release
hype. Ah, but time heals all wounds!!
When you have the music of Queen, visuals off the
charts, and Ming the Merciless played none other than Max von Sydow, you just
had to know that time would make Flash Gordon a keeper.
This new 4K Ultra HD presentation comes loaded with
extras. There are two archival
commentary options, one featuring director Mike Hodges (The
Terminal Man, A Prayer for the Dying, Get Carter) and
the second with actor Brian Blessed (as Prince Vultan), plus there are video
sessions with the likes of Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, and Brian May from
Queen.
Other bonus delights include deleted scenes, a
vintage documentary titled Behind the Scenes of Flash Gordon, a
newly-prepared documentary titled Lost in Space: Nic Roeg’s Flash
Gordon and more … much, much more.
Also getting a new 4K film restoration and making
its way to market on Aug. 18 from Arrow Video as a 4K Ultra HD release is director
David Twohy’s 2000 sci-fi release of Pitch
Black, starring that guy from Saving
Private Ryan and the little-seen Strays, Vin
Diesel as the ever-resourceful convict, Riddick. Pitch Black made
him a star, The Fast and the Furious the
follow year would confirm it.
Bonus nuggets for this chill-a-minute creature
feature begin with two viewing options — a director’s cut and the original
theatrical version — plus two vintage commentary tracks — one featuring Twohy
and Diesel, who are joined by actor Cole Hauser, and the second also has
director David Twohy (The Arrival, A Perfect Getaway, The
Chronicles of Riddick), who is with producer Tom
Engelman (The Last Samurai, Terminal Velocity) and
visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang (The
Bourne Ultimatum, John Carter, Godzilla).
There are also six newly-prepared featurettes — “Nightfall:
The Making of Pitch Black,” “Black Box: Jackie's Journey,” “Black Box: Shazza's
Last Stand,” “Black Box: Bleach Bypassed,” “Black Box: Cryo-Locked” and “Black
Box: Primal Sounds” — plus vintage material, including the short animated film
titled, The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury.
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