New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending October 27, 2023

New DVD Additions

AMC Networks
10/24/23 — Released Dark Winds: Season 2 (2 disc set)

Acorn Media
10/24/23 — Released Murdoch Mysteries: Season 16 (5 disc set)

All Time Movie Classics (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Bells of Rosarita,Born to Battle, Brothers of the West, Colorado, Cowboy and the Indians, Cowboy and the Seniorita, Coyote Trails, Lost Ranch, Mystery Ranch, Song of Nevada and Sunset Serenade

BBC Home Entertainment (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Happy Valley Year 3 (2 disc set)

BCSN (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Football: Division II Regional Playoffs - Cleveland Rhodes vs. Southview, 2023 - Girls Soccer: Division II Semi-Final - Wauseon vs Maumee, 2023 - Girls Volleyball: Division II District Final -Lexington vs. Norwalk and 2023 - NAIA Men's Soccer: Lourdes vs. Siena Heights

Capital Community Media (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Cherriots Board of Directors Meeting, 2023 - City of Salem Council Meeting, 2023 - City of Salem Council Meeting - Work Session and 2023 - Marion County Commissioners Meeting

Championship Productions
10/24/23 — Released 1-3-1 Gap Defense: Complete Installation Plan, Strategies & Drills, 5-on-5 & 5-on-4 Game-Like Situations, Top of the Key Ball Screens in the Dribble Drive, Shooting Reps & More!, 6 Seconds to Glory! - Successful Scoring Strategies for Transition & Early-Offence, High-Scoring Strategies for an Explosive Transition Offense Attack, Rediscovering the Lost Art of Footwork: Techniques, Decision-Making with the Ball & Game-Like Drills, Secrets of Successful Shooting: Proper Shot Mechanics, Competitive Shooting Drills & More Reps!, Shade Left Defensive System: Making Opponents Uncomfortable, Install Techniques, Drills, Rules, Tactics & More! and Zone Offense Continuties & Crunch-Time Quick Hitters

Changing Your World (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Sunday Service, Wednesday Morning Service and Wednesday Night Service

Cheezy Flicks
10/24/23 — Released Boot Hill and Country Blue

Cinephobia Releasing
10/24/23 — Released Emanuelle's Revenge (aka Emanuelle and Franoise) (Italian)

City of Tacoma (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Tacoma City Council Meeting, 2023 - Tacoma City Council Study Session and 2023 - Tacoma Public Utility Board Meeting

Dark Star Pictures
10/24/23 — Released Saturn Bowling (French)

Dartmouth Community Media (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Boys' Soccer: GNB Voc-Tech vs Dartmouth, 2023 - Girls' Field Hockey: Dartmouth vs. Apponequet and 2023 - Girls' Volleyball: Dartmouth vs. GNB Voc-Tech

Decal Releasing, LLC
11/07/23 — Sets It Lives Inside (ARR of 46 days; box office: $4,662,146)

DreamScape Media, LLC
10/24/23 — Released Big House And Little House, Bitcoin: The End Of Money As We Know It, Code Breaker Spy Hunter, Desperate Road, Earth Mother, French For Kids By Whistlefritz, Girl Behind Door, I, Matter, In A Jar, Love Destination Courses: Body Scan Meditation, Love Destination Courses: Meditations for Dealing with Big Emotins, Love Destination Courses: Meditations for Axiety, Love Destination Courses: Mindfulness Meditations, Matter Of Life, Shy Willow, Spanish For Kids By Whistlefritz, Time Sleeper, Unseen Realm, Viva Elvis and Zelensky

EBTV (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - East Brunswick Township Council Meeting

ETV (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Advisory Planning Commission, 2023 - Football: Eagan vs. White Bear Lake and 2023 - Girls' Swimming: Wildcat Invite - Eagan vs. Lakeville South

First Run Features
10/24/23 — Released Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg

Freestyle Digital Media MOD)
10/24/23 — Released My Friend Tommy

Gravitas Ventures MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Downwind, Fuzzy Head, Pig Lady and Quicksand

Greenwich Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Robert Irwin: A Desert of Pure Feeling

Hallmark Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Magical Christmas Village

Hope of the World MOD)
10/10/23 — Released Hamas/Israel End-Time Revelation II
10/24/23 — Released Devil's Kiss

I-Cine
10/10/23 — Released Co Hen Voi Yeu Thuong (17 disc set), Duoi Bong Cay Hanh Phuc (10 disc set), Giay Do (32 disc set), Mat Trai Cua Su That (10 disc set), Ngu Giao Ky (14 disc set) and Pha Doc Cuong Nhan (12 disc set)

Indican Pictures MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Beyond Existence

KimStim
10/24/23 — Released Stonewalling (Mandarin)

Liberation Hall
10/24/23 — Released Heaven Can Wait

MPI Home Video
10/24/23 — Released 8 Found Dead (ARR of 46 days; box office estimate: $20,000)

MVD Entertainment Group
12/08/23 — Sets Billy Idol: State Line – Live at the Hoover Dam

Magnolia Home Entertainment
10/31/23 — Sets A Compassionate Spy (ARR of 88 days; box office: $34,502)
11/07/23 — Sets Operation Napoleon (ARR of 88 days; box office: $909)
12/19/23 — Sets Deliver Us (ARR of 81 days; box office: $3,255)

Marshall Publishing & Promotions MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Michael Knost's Return of the Mothman

Media Outlet MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Hell on Earth: The Kuwaiti Oil Files, Man Who Made the Supergun and Waffen-SS: Hitler's Elite Fighting Force

Mill Creek Entertainment
12/05/23 — Released Stand-Up Spotlight: Alonzo Bodden

Music Box Films
11/14/23 — Sets Fremont (ARR of 81 days; box office: $260,905)
12/12/23 — Sets The Road Dance (ARR of 60 days; box office: $5,653)

NCircle Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Superhero Kindergarten: Weirdo World

Oscilloscope Laboratories
10/24/23 — Released Anonymous Club (ARR of 466 days; box office estimate: $14,563)

PCSD (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Parma City School District Board of Education Meeting

Paramount Home Entertainment
12/12/23 — Sets PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (ARR of 74 days; box office: $56,036,877)

Paramount Home Entertainment (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Children of a Lesser God, Great: Final Season (4 disc set), Ring 2, Save the Last Dance and Wolf Pack: Season One (3 disc set)
11/07/23 — Sets Joe Picket: Season 2 (3 disc set)

RCN Telecom Services, LLC - ATVN (MOD)
10/17/23 — Released 2023 - Bath Halloween Parade, 2023 - Catasauqua - North Catasauqua Halloween Parade and 2023 - Northampton Jack Frost Parade
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Bethlehem Halloween Parade, 2023 - Football: Emmaus vs. Parkland, 2023 - Football: Whitehall vs. Northampton and 2023 - Whitehall Halloween Parade

Rising Sun Media (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Hero of the Underworld, In the Country of Last Things (Spanish), Love and Love Not, No Tomorrow, One More Time Before I Die, Punished and Reveries of a Solitary Stroller

Screen Media
10/24/23 — Released Til Death Do Us Part

Shout! Studios
12/05/23 — Sets Kill Room (ARR of 67 days; box office: $82,891)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Boys: Season 3 (3 disc set)
11/14/23 — Sets Equalizer 3 (with Digital Copy) (ARR of 74 days; box office: $90,557,759)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (MOD)
11/07/23 — Sets Miracle Club (ARR of 116 days; box office: $2,391,633)

Syndicado MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Boy Makes Girl

Synapse - Impulse Pictures
10/24/23 — Released Liz: Momma's Little Girl

Synergetic Distribution
10/24/23 — Released Devil Down South

Thuy NGA
10/24/23 — Released Paris by Night 135: Tren Ngon Tinh Sao (2 disc set)

Via Vision Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Charlie's Angels: The Complete Series (31 disc set), Fantasy Island: Season Two (4 disc set), Hallmark Christmas Collection 32 (3 film set: Holiday Date, The Christmas Bow, A Cozy Christmas Inn) (3 disc set), Hallmark Christmas Collection 33 (3 film set: The Angel Tree, Christmas at the Golden Dragon, A Fabled Holiday) (3 disc set), Hallmark Christmas Collection 34 (3 film set: A Holiday Spectacular, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Magical Christmas Village) (3 disc set), Hallmark Christmas Collection 35 (3 film set: Santa Switch, The Thanksgiving House, Catch a Christmas Star) (3 disc set), Jesus Christ Superstar: 50th Anniversary Edition, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Stephen King Collection (5 film set: Needful Things, Secret Window, Riding the Bullet, 1408, The Mist; plus Bag of Bones) (6 disc set)

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Ent.
10/24/23 — Released Blue Collar TV: The Complete Series (7 disc set) and Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!
10/31/23 — Sets Christmas Story Christmas and Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas

Well Go USA
10/24/23 — Released Ride On (Cantonese)

Zeus Video (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Bang! Bang! You're Dead! (aka: Our Man In Marrakesh), Naked Spur, Nancy Wake, Neither Heaven Nor Earth (French), Neon Demon, Nevada Smith, New Year's Evil, Night Train To Terror, Nightmare Alley, No Data Plan, No Place To Go, Noise, None But the Lonely Heart, North Dallas Forty, o Re (Italian), Ocean Waif (silent short film-1916), Ocean Wonderland, Odds Against Tomorrow, Of Human Hearts, Off Beat, Office Christmas Party, Oh! What a Lovely War, Oklahoma Cyclone, Old Acquaintance, Old English, Old Maid, On a Volé la Joconde (French), On Her Majesty's Secret Service, On the Double, On the Riviera, On War (French), Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Turkish), One Frightened Night, One Little Indian, Onionhead, Opposing Force, Orca the Killer Whale, Orgy of the Dead, Origins of the Mafia, Orlando, Os Verdes Anos (Portuguese), Other Boleyn Girl, Other Side of the Door, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Our House, Our Man Flint, Our Sons, Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, Out of the Dark, Outlaws of the Desert, Outrageous Fortune, Outside of Paradise, Outsiders, Over the Hedge, Overdrive, Overlord, Ox-Bow Incident and Silo Killer

 

New Blu-ray Additions

2121 Productions, LLC
10/24/23 — Released Husband

A24 Films
03/21/23 — Released Lighthouse: Collector's Edition
07/18/23 — Released Everything Everywhere All at Once: Collector's Edition
10/17/23 — Released Show Up

AMC Networks
10/24/23 — Released Dark Winds: Season 2 (2 disc set)

Acorn Media
10/24/23 — Released Murdoch Mysteries: Season 16 (5 disc set)

Arrow Video
01/16/24 — Sets Conan the Barbarian: Limited Edition (2 disc set) and Conan the Destroyer Limited Edition

Asuka the Disc Dog (Fred the Blu-ray Dog) (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Alaska Daily: Season 1, American Horror Stories, Season 3, Changling: Season 1, Invasion: Season 2, Pain Hustlers and Sister Death (Spanish)

Bayview Entertainment
11/13/23 — Sets The Gangster’s Daughter (Mandarin)

Capital Community Media (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Cherriots Board of Directors Meeting, 2023 - City of Salem Council Meeting, 2023 - City of Salem Council Meeting - Work Session and 2023 - Marion County Commissioners Meeting

City of Tacoma (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Tacoma City Council Meeting, 2023 - Tacoma City Council Study Session and 2023 - Tacoma Public Utility Board Meeting

Claugir-16/Grimpe-94/Dili6963/debor1245/danaswe_0/icolewa15/mouni_3162 (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Amelie (French), Beautiful Life (Mandarin), Dear David, Do the Right Thing (2 disc set), Gran TurismoHotel Portofino: Season 1 (2 disc set), Hunter Hunter, Identification of a Woman (Italian), In the Fire, Infinite Storm, Into the White, Jane, Killerman, Leaves of Grass, Over the Rainbow (Korean), Pain Hustlers, Sayen (Spanish), Sayen: La Ruta Seca (Spanish), Spread, Star (Russian), Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (Korean) and Two and a Half Men: The Complete Series (12 disc set)

Dartmouth Community Media (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Boys' Soccer: GNB Voc-Tech vs Dartmouth, 2023 - Girls' Field Hockey: Dartmouth vs. Apponequet and 2023 - Girls' Volleyball: Dartmouth vs. GNB Voc-Tech

EBTV (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - East Brunswick Township Council Meeting

ETV (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Advisory Planning Commission, 2023 - Football: Eagan vs. White Bear Lake and 2023 - Girls' Swimming: Wildcat Invite - Eagan vs. Lakeville South

FUNimation
10/24/23 — Released Overlord IV: Season 4 (2 disc set)

Gemini Entertainment (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Air Maine/ High on Maine

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Downwind and Fuzzy Head

Hallmark Entertainment (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Five More Minutes: Moments Like These, Gift of Peace, Haul Out The Holly, Magical Christmas Village and Maple Valley Christmas

Kino Lorber
10/24/23 — Released Alien Outlaw, Black Sabbath: AIP Cut - 60th Anniversary, Cujo: 40th Anniversary Edition, Dark Power, It! The Terror From Beyond Space: 2K Restoration, Lorna the Exorcist (French), Salvation!: Have You Said Your Prayers Today? and Two Small Bodies

MVD Entertainment Group
12/08/23 — Sets Billy Idol: State Line – Live at the Hoover Dam

Marshall Publishing & Promotions MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Michael Knost's Return of the Mothman

Movies R USA (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Amen: The Complete Series (3 disc set), Evil Dead Crew Short Films, Exorcist: Believer, Fall of the House of Usher: The Complete First Season, Friday the 13th  - Fan Film Edition (2 disc set), German Chainsaw Massacre (German), Haddonfield Nightmare - Fan Film Edition, Heart of Stone, Here Comes the Night - Fan Film Edition, Lone Wolf, Lupin: The Complete Part 3, Once Upon a Crime, Shinzo: The Compete Series, Spy Kids: Armageddon and Tokyo Vampire Hotel

New Hampshire Multimedia (MOD)
10/17/23 — Released Nowhere (Spanish)
10/24/23 — Released Pain Hustlers

North Metro TV (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Centerville City Council Meeting, 2023 - Circle Pines City Council Meeting and 2023 - Lino Lakes City Council Meeting

Oscilloscope Laboratories
10/24/23 — Released Anonymous Club

PCSD (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Parma City School District Board of Education Meeting

Paramount Home Entertainment
12/12/23 — Sets PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (with Digital Copy)

RCN Telecom Services, LLC - ATVN (MOD)
10/17/23 — Released 2023 - Bath Halloween Parade, 2023 - Catasauqua - North Catasauqua Halloween Parade and 2023 - Northampton Jack Frost Parade
10/24/23 — Released 2023 - Bethlehem Halloween Parade, 2023 - Football: Emmaus vs. Parkland, 2023 - Football: Whitehall vs. Northampton and 2023 - Whitehall Halloween Parade

Radiance Films
10/24/23 — Released Visible Secret (Cantonese)

Rising Sun Media (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Hero of the Underworld, In the Country of Last Things (Spanish), Love and Love Not, No Tomorrow, One More Time Before I Die, Punished and Reveries of a Solitary Stroller

Sentai Filmworks
10/24/23 — Released Blade and Soul: The Complete Collection (2 disc set)

Severin Films
10/24/23 — Released Clearcut

Shout! Studios
10/24/23 — Released Shaw Brothers Classics, Volume 3 (11 film set: Killer Clans, The Shaolin Avengers, The Web of Death, The Vengeful Beauty, Death Duel, Life Gamble, Soul of the Sword, The Deadly Breaking Sword, Clan of the White Lotus, Shaolin Abbot, Shaolin Rescuers) (11 disc set) (Mandarin)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Boys: Season 3 (3 disc set)
11/14/23 — Sets Equalizer 3 (with Digital Copy)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Rock Around the Clock

Synapse Films
10/24/23 — Released Tombs of the Blind Dead (2 disc set)

Syndicado (MOD)
10/24/23 — Released Boy Makes Girl

Thuy NGA
10/24/23 — Released Paris by Night 135: Tren Ngon Tinh Sao (2 disc set)

Unearthed Films
10/24/23 — Released Deadgirl

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Psych: The Complete Collection (31 disc set)

Via Vision Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Army Of Darkness: Special Edition (3 disc set), Ash vs Evil Dead: The Complete Series (6 disc set), Collaborations: The Cinema of Zhang Yimou & Gong Li (8 film set: Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, The Story of Qiu Ju, To Live, Shanghaid Triad, Curse of the Golden Flower, Coming Home) (8 disc set) (Mandarin), Drag Me to Hell: Limited Edition (2 disc set), Grindhouse: Planet Terror / Death Proof: Limited Edition (4 disc set), Jesus Christ Superstar: 50th Anniversary, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Lolita, Parallax View and Stephen King Collection (5 film set: Needful Things, Secret Window, Riding the Bullet, 1408, The Mist; plus Bag of Bones) (6 disc set)

New 4K Ultra HD Additions

Arrow Video
01/16/24 — Sets Conan the Barbarian: Limited Edition (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) and Conan the Destroyer Limited Edition (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

Kino Lorber
10/24/23 — Released Cujo: 40th Anniversary Edition (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) and Red Dragon (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

Lionsgate Home Entertainment
10/24/23 — Released Le Mepris: 60th Anniversary Edition (with Digital Copy) (French)

Powerhouse Films
10/24/23 — Released Fascination: Limited Edition (French) and Lips of Blood: Limited Edition (French)

Sony Pictures Home Ent.
11/14/23 — Sets Equalizer 3 (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Mill Creek Entertaiment's Next Stand-Up Comedy DVD • Alonzo Bodden: Stand-Up Spotlight • Available On Dec. 5

Mill Creek Entertainment has discovered DVD disc gold in the form of stand-up comedy.

Back in March of this year Mill Creek launched its Stand-Up Spotlight DVD line with the release of Jim Gaffigan: Stand-Up Spotlight and Mike Birbiglia: Stand-Up Spotlight, each featuring two comedy specials.   

In May comedy fans got Maria Bamford: Stand-Up Spotlight and in August two more double-special editions arrived, Gary Owen: Stand-Up Spotlight and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes: Stand-Up Spotlight.   

Do you see a trend?   Absolutely … laughs galore in the form of a priced-to-collect line of DVD products.

The wait is over for the next addition to the series!   Circle Dec. 5 on your calendar as that is the street for the DVD debut of Alonzo Bodden: Stand-Up Spotlight, which also showcases two of his hit comedy specials.

Fans of Bodden can enjoy his 2009 comedy special, Alonzo Bodden: Historically Incorrect, a laugh-filled hour of his insights on stupid human decisions spanning centuries.

Teamed with Alonzo Bodden: Historically Incorrect, and also from 2009, is his Alonzo Bodden: Heavy Lightweight comedy special where he takes on such topics as cell phones, the #MeTooMovement, slavery, Millennials and even Taco Bell.  

Dec. 5 from Mill Creek Entertainment on DVD … Alonzo Bodden: Stand-Up Spotlight!!

 

 

 

Bayview Entertainment Readies The Blu-ray Debut Of Director Chen Mei-Juin’s The Gangster’s Daughter For Delivery On Nov. 14

Bayview Entertainment has tabbed Nov. 14 as the street date for the Blu-ray debut of director Chen Mei-Juin’s The Gangster’s Daughter.

For years this Taiwanese filmmaker was known for her insightful documentaries — Hollywood Hotel, Woman of the Southern Wind, Shaolin Ulysses: Kung Fu Monks in America, etc. — however, she took a step outside of her comfort zone in 2017 with the dramatic film release of The Gangster’s Daughter.

Using her cinema verite and critical eye filmmaking sensibilities, plus some neo-noir elements, Mei-Juin fashioned a taut arthouse “gangster” thriller, whose central focus is Shaowu (Ally Chiu — The Losers, Qin Ai De Sha Shou), a lonely, isolated teenager who lives with her grandmother, having recently lost her mother.   Shaowu spends her time watching crime movies, gangster tales and the like, which is odd at best, and perhaps a little dark and disturbing.

At her mother’s funeral, she briefly interacts with her father, Keiko (Jack Kao — Cities of Last Things, Liu Lang Shen Gou Ren, etc.), and it seems as just a passing thing.  However, once back at school, Shaowu snaps when her friend is bullied and the result is that she is expelled from school … her grandmother is overwhelmed and is forced to turn to the man she absolutely despises to take over the raising of this “disturbed” teenager.

Off to the big city of Taipei, where her father — a low-level “gangster” — runs a “karaoke club.”   Trying to adjust to her new surrounding, Shaowu soon finds herself right in the middle of the “events” that come crashing in on her father … can she survive the storm that has finally arrived!!

Nov. 14 for the answers with the Blu-ray debut of director Chen Mei-Juin’s The Gangster’s Daughter.   Presented in Mandarin with English subtitles.

 

 

Arrow Video Doubles Down On Conan On Jan. 16 With Newly-Minted 4K Ultra HD Editions Of Conan The Barbarian And Conan The Destroyer

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, doubles-down on Conan in January.   Not just any Conan, but Conan THE Barbarian with two new film restorations of his epic adventures.

Arriving on Jan. 16 — restored in 4K from the original camera negatives — are both writer/director John Milius’ (with none other than Oliver Stone as the co-writer) 1982 release of Conan the Barbarian and director Richard Fleischer’s 1984 follow-up, Conan the Destroyer.

You can’t have one without the other.   And you can’t have the first one, Conan the Barbarian, without Arnold Schwarzenegger, but that almost didn’t happen.

Five years before the film was released, the late Edward Pressman (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Crow, Judge Dredd, Street Fighter, etc.) had acquired the rights to pulp fiction writer Robert Ervin Howard’s 1930s collection of “Conan” stories, which found a home at Universal with Pumping Iron’s star, Arnold Schwarzenegger attached.   Things fell apart when director John Milius bailed on the production.

Quick on his feet, Pressman took the turn-around production over to Paramount, where Oliver Stone was added as the screenwriter.  He had won the Oscar for his Midnight Express script in 1979, so he was “hot” at the time.  That didn’t work out.

Now a “troubled” production, legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis stepped in and got it back over to Universal, with Milius back on board.   Filming was set to begin in the summer of 1980, but that blew up.  

Finally in January of 1981 the cameras were rolling and everything was on track for a Christmas-season release.

Here’s where it gets tricky.   The film was pulled when Universal finally saw the finished production and was shocked at what Milius and Stone had come up with … this is NOT a Christmas-season picture!!

The studio “tested” it in Europe in the spring of 1982 and finally put Conan the Barbarian on the release calendar in a pre-Memorial Day slot in mid-May (in other words, they were not going to “waste” valuable summer real estate on it).

Some of the major critics at the time savaged it, but audiences loved Conan the Barbarian and Schwarzenegger was catapulted from “muscleman” to “superstar” literally overnight.

The film was such a hit that a sequel was put in the works.  Conan the Destroyer arrived in 1984, which was a very good year for Schwarzenegger as The Terminator would open theatrically in October of that year!!

Arrow Video has both films lined up for the 4K Ultra HD marketplace on Jan. 16.  Conan the Barbarian will be a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack product offering, with the companion Blu-ray disc packed with the bonus features (and we mean PACKED), while Conan the Destroyer will be a stand-alone 4K Ultra HD release.   

Both Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer will also be available as Blu-ray product offerings.   And, Arrow Video is combining the two films into a Mega-Set, which works out to a $30 savings on the 4K Ultra HD editions for consumers who opt for the “Limited Edition” Mega-Set.

As to bonus goodies, Conan the Barbarian will have three separate viewing options.  There is the original theatrical cut of the film, which clocks in at 127 minutes.   There are also the “International Cut” (129 minutes) and an “Extended Cut (130 minutes) as alternative viewing selections.

There are two commentary options.   The first (on the “Extended Cut”) features an archival commentary, teaming director John Milius (as director: The Wind and the Lion, Red Dawn, Flight of the Intruder … as writer: Apocalypse Now, Clear and Present Danger, etc.) with Conan himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.   The second commentary — newly-minted and on the “Extended Cut” as well — features author Paul M. Sammon (“Conan: The Phenomenon”).   

The companion Blu-ray disc comes crammed with extras.  Kicking off the parade of bonus delights is documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau’s 2000 feature-length documentary titled Conan Unchained: The Making of Conan, outtakes, ten newly-prepared featurettes — “Designing Conan,” “Costuming Conan,” “Barbaric Effects,” “Young Conan,” “Conan and the Priest,” “Cutting the Barbarian,” “Crafting Conan’s Magic,” “Barbarians and Northmen,” “Behind the Barbarian” and “A Line in the Sand” — and a ton of archival material.   

Conan the Destroyer also comes packed with bonus treasures as well!

We start off with four separate commentaries.  Three are archival — the first with director Richard Fleischer, the second with actors Olivia d’Abo (as Princess Jehnna) and Tracey Walter (as Malak) and the third commentary with film historians Kim Newmand and Stephen Jones who are joined by actor Sarah Douglas (Queen Taramis) — a newly-prepared fourth commentary with author Paul M. Sammon (“Conan: The Phenomenon”) rounds out the commentary options.

In addition, there are five newly-prepared featurettes — “Casting the Destroyer,” “Cut from a Different Cloth,” “Dune and the Destroyer,” “Swords, Sorcery and Stunts” and “Behind the Destroyer” — and two archival featurettes — “Conan: The Making of a Comic Book Legend” and “Basil Poledouris: Composing the Conan Saga.”

Mark it down, Arrow Video, Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer as 4K Ultra HD releases on Jan. 16!  

 

 

 

Paramount Home Entertainment Ready With PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Dec. 12) And Joe Pickett: Season 2 (Nov. 7)

Paramount Home Entertainment has selected Dec. 12 as the street date for writer/director Cal Brunker’s animated treat, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.

Planned for distribution are stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions.   

To go along with the physical media distribution, Paramount has inserted a VOD purchasing window that begins on Oct. 31.  This will give the very sophisticated “helper” community a six-week window to snag illicit sales from unsuspecting consumers who want to catch up on the latest adventures of Ryder, Skye, Chase and rest of the gang.

For the record, the ARR works out to 74 days and the domestic box office haul was right at $56 million.  And yes, another feature film is already in the works!!

As to bonus goodies, there are a pair of featurettes — “PAW-Somely Mighty Pups” and “A Totally PAW-Some Cast.”

In other release news from Paramount, writer C.J. Box’s Wyoming game warden, Joe Picket (played by Michael Dorman — The Invisible Man, Daybreakers), returns to the physical media marketplace on Nov. 7 with the three-disc, ten-episode collection of Joe Pickett: Season Two.   

If you are a fan of C.J. Box’s wildly popular series of books, or if you are drawn to Sheridan’s well-produced Yellowstone series, than these outdoor adventures with Dorman and Julianna Guill (Christmas on the Vine, Ground for Christmas) as Pickett’s wife, Marybeth, will be right in your wheelhouse.

 

 

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Sets Nov. 14 As The Street Date For A Full Spread Of Physical Media Buying Options For Director Antoine Fuqua's The Equalizer 3

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is moving director Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer 3, starring Denzel Washington as “retired” Marine and former DIA agent, Robert McCall, to the home entertainment arena on Nov. 14 as a full-spread physical media rollout.

The ARR is 74 days and domestic box office receipts were solid at $91.5 million (a near-equal number was recorded internationally).   Although Fuqua has indicated that this is the end of the series — a hit trilogy — with these numbers it would not come as a surprise if yet another installment in the continuing adventures of Robert McCall might arrive theatrically sometime in the future.

Planned for release are a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack, plus stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray purchasing options.

An Oct. 3 digital window (rental and/or purchase) was inserted by Sony, which the “helper” community (just domestic, if you throw in China, Sri Lanka and other foreign ports of call, it’s a flood) was quick to act upon with Blu-ray product offerings in slick packaging for unsuspecting consumers to add to their libraries at bargain pricing.

As to bonus features, there are 15 minutes worth of deleted scenes, the Jacob Banks’ music video titled, “Monster” and five production featurettes — “Blood Brothers,” “Call to Action,” “Denzel and Dakota: A Reunion,” “Postcards from the Amalfi” and “Robert McCall: A Man of the People.”

MVD Entertainment Group Steps Into The National Spotlight With The Theatrical Launch Of Billy Idol: State Line (Nov. 15) Followed By DVD And Blu-ray Editions On Dec. 08

Things are evolving very quickly in the theatrical exhibition marketplace and MVD Entertainment Group is joining the movement on Dec. 8 with the release of both DVD and Blu-ray editions of the directing team of Vincent Adam Paul and George Scott’s Billy Idol: State Line – Live at the Hoover Dam.

After being screwed by a studio system that decided to throw away 100 years of theatrical distribution dominance to lose billions on streaming, theatre chains are teaming up with independent filmmakers to replace “Hollywood” as the go-to source for new theatrical releases.

MVD, with the release of Billy Idol: State Line – Live at the Hoover Dam, is the latest to join the revolution.   On Nov. 15, the film will be exhibited nationwide as an AMC Theatres event presentation.   Sound familiar?   Ring any bells?

Scott Swift, who would be Taylor Swift’s father, manager and mentor, approached the “Hollywood” studios about doing a theatrical launch of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and was given the round-around.   Not interested … too busy losing money on streaming to be bothered.

So, he picked up the phone and called Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC, and proposed what Newsweek (Shannon Power, September 1 article) calls a “crazy idea.”   Release a theatrical version of the mega-hit concert, much like a Fathom Event, in theatres nationwide on Oct. 13.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour has grossed $149 million in theatres domestically, so the idea wasn’t so “crazy” after all.   

It isn’t the only blockbuster to bypass “Hollywood” this year.   Bob Iger and Disney — in a well-documented bit of history — tried to bury director Alejandro Monteverde, producer Eduardo Verastegui and actor Jim Caviezel’s Sound of Freedom, which was completed and ready to go when Disney bought 20th Century-Fox.   

It took the trio a year to get it back from Disney, and they too went the “Hollywood” studio route to no avail.  So they did exactly what Scott Swift did, they found an indie (Angel Studios) to come up with a theatrical event … $184.1 million in domestic box office receipts was the result.

In the history of theatrical exhibition, there have never been two theatrical releases — from independent sources — with these type of box office numbers in the same year.   For that matter, ever!!   Films grossing over $100 are always “Hollywood” studio releases (the only exception was My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which was released by HBO … which, in a broader sense could be considered part of the “system”).

These two — Sound of Freedom and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour — are just the “big” examples of how stupid “Hollywood” executives have become.     

Another film, writer/director Andrew Hyatt’s The Blind, had no “Hollywood” takers, so Mill Creek Entertainment and Fathom Events have thrown their own one-two punch with a record-shattering Fathom Event run (33 days and counting … not just one night) that has seen The Blind pull in an astonishing $16.5 million in ticket sales.   That’s punch number one … a record-breaking Fathom Event box office haul.

Punch two arrives on Nov. 14 when Mill Creek Entertainment releases both DVD and Blu-ray editions of The Blind.

So what does MVD have lined up for music fans to enjoy — either theatrically or as physical media (DVD and Blu-ray) releases (or both) — on Nov. 15 (punch one) and Dec. 8 (punch two)?

Back in April of this year, filmmakers Vincent Adam Paul and George Scott filmed two sets (acoustic and electric) of Billy Idol (and friends) in concert at the base of Hoover Dam — what a landmark for a concert!   The finished version (edited, mixed, etc.) will be a theatrical event on Nov. 15 … how long the film runs and how much it grosses theatrically is anybody’s guess.   No one excepted The Blind to run for 33 days and pull in $16.5 million, so all bets are off the table in this new world of indie theatrical exhibition.

On Dec. 8, MVD Entertainment Group will follow-up with the release of DVD and Blu-ray editions of Billy Idol: State Line – Live at the Hoover Dam.  Included in the set mix are “Dancing with Myself,” “Cradle of Love,” “Flesh for Fantasy,” “Cage,” “Bitter Taste,” “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding” and more.  In a word, WOW!

Yes, things are changing very rapidly.   Be like the “Swifties” … be an “Idol” and take in both events — theatrical on Nov. 15 and get your Blu-ray (or DVD) from MVD on Dec. 8!!