New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending August 11, 2023

 

New DVD Additions

ABMI TV (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released 2023 - Bellingham Policy Subcommittee and 2023 - Concerts on the Grass: Brass Connections

 

AMC Networks, Inc. - Shudder

08/08/23 — Released Leave (Norwegian)

 

ACTV (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Hydrogen Study Committee, 2023 - Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Air Quality and Energy and 2023 - Joint Natural Resources, Energy & Water and House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee

 

Acid Bath Productions (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Mark and Clark World Adventurers, Mind Melters 14 and Sexy Time 6

 

Acorn Media

08/08/23 — Released Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 9 (3 disc set)

 

All Time Movie Classics (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Aerial Gunner, Assignment Outer Space, Bad Man of Deadwood, Beachcomber Behave Yourself, Blue Steel, Cavalcade and Corregidor

 

Another World Media (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Yellow Tomahawk

08/08/23 — Released Wrong Box and Young in Heart

 

BBC Home Entertainment

08/08/23 — Released Father Brown: Season Ten (2 disc set)

 

BCAM TV (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released 2023 - Cranberry League Baseball: Canton A's vs. White Sox and 2023 - Nelson Chin Summer Concert Series: Ginamark

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Braintree Planning Board Meeting, 2023 - Cranberry League Baseball: SouthCoast Mariners vs. White Sox and 2023 - Nelson Chin Summer Concert Series: Feat Magic Moments

 

BCSN (MOD)

08/08/23 — Sets 2023 - Boys' Soccer: Perrysburg vs St. Francis, 2023 - Boys' Soccer: Whitmer vs Southview and 2023 - Girls Tennis: Anthony Wayne vs. Central Catholic

 

BCTV (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Berks County Board of Commissioners Meeting, 2023 - Berks County Board of Commissioners Meeting, 2023 - City of Reading Strategic Planning Meeting, 2023 - City of Reading Zoning Hearing Board Meeting, 2023 - City of Reading: City Council Strategic Planning Meeting, 2023 - City of Reading: Nominations & Appointments Committee Meeting, 2023 - County Connection: Daniel Boone Homestead and 2023 - Music from Trinity: Reading Musical Foundation Scholarship Recital

 

BEK-TV (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - American Association Baseball: Sioux City Explorers vs Fargo-Moorhead, RedHawks - 8/10/2023, 2023 - American Association Baseball: Sioux City Explorers vs Fargo-Moorhead, RedHawks - 8/11/2023, 2023 - American Association Baseball: Sioux City Explorers vs Fargo-Moorhead, RedHawks - 8/9/2023, 2023 - American Association Baseball: Sioux Falls Canaries vs Fargo-Moorhead, RedHawks - 8/5/2023, 2023 - American Association Baseball: Sioux Falls Canaries vs Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks - 8/6/2023 and 2023 - NDRA Rodeo Medora: NDRA Rodeo from Medora, ND

 

Belle & Blade War Video (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Swamp Fox: The Complete Series (4 disc set)

 

Bounty Films (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Mad House

 

By From E58 MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Aquaman: The Animated Series (2 disc set), Batman Beyond: The Complete Series (5 disc set), Incredible Hulk Returns and Silver Surfer: The Complete Series (2 disc set)

 

CCX Media (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Brooklyn Center: Planning Commission Meeting, 2023 - City of Maple Grove: City Council Meeting, 2023 - City of Plymouth: City Council Meeting, 2023 - Retro Football: Lakeville South vs. Maple Grove High School Football State Semifinal, 11/17/2022 and 2023 - Robbinsdale Economic Development Authority Meeting

 

CFV, LLC (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Amazons (aka: War Goddess) and Diary of a High School Bride

 

CMI Education/PESI Publishing

08/08/23 — Released Body Image, Disordered Eating and Gender Identity: Integrative Strategies to Help Clients Navigate Life in Their Bodies (2 disc set)

 

Capital Community Media (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Marion County Commissioners Meeting and 2023 - Salem-Keizer School Board Meeting - Work Session

 

Championship Productions

08/08/23 — Released Teaching Ball Screen Reads, Changing Speeds, Finishing Off of Two Feet, Shooting Drills & More!

 

Changing Your World (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Discipline of Grace (2 disc set), Overcoming Approval Addiction (2 disc set) and Truth About God's Ways (4 disc set)

08/08/23 — Released Sunday Service, Wednesday Morning Service and Wednesday Night Service

 

Cheol9260696 (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Mata Hari

 

Christian Worship Hour (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Christian Worship Hour: The Hidden Treasure - Matthew 13:44

 

City of Escondido (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released City Council Meeting

 

City of Fargo (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Airport Authority, 2023 - Board of Health, 2023 - Fargo City Commission, 2023 - Police Advisory and Oversight Board and 2023 - Sustainability and Resiliency Committee

 

City of Lawrence (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Lawrence City Council Meeting

 

City of Leawood (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - City of Leawood Governing Body

 

City of Tacoma (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Tacoma City Council Meeting and 2023 - Tacoma City Council Study Session

 

City of Warren (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - City Council Special Meeting

 

DCAT (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Danvers Conservation Commission Meeting

 

Dark Star Pictures

08/08/23 — Released Summoning the Spirit

 

Dartmouth Community Media (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released 2023 - Summer Concert Series: Route 18

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Dartmouth Conservation Commission Meeting, 2023 - Dartmouth Historical Commission Meeting, 2023 - Dartmouth Planning Board Meeting, 2023 - Summer Concert Series: Dartmouth Community Band and 2023 - Summer Concert Series: Living on a Bad Name

 

Dennis Massachusetts (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Board of Health, 2023 - Old Kings Highway, 2023 - Planning Board and 2023 - Select Board

 

DVDRParty (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Carnaval of Souls, Evil Eye and Hansel & Gretel

 

EWTN

08/08/23 — Released EWTN Live: John Henry Crosby / reflections on truth by Alice Von Hildebrand, Journey Home: Jon Sorenson - Former Atheist, Women of Grace: Amy Smith - What is God's Plan for Me? and World Over with Raymond Navarro: Father Gerald Murray

 

Elvis DVD Collector & Movie Store (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Crack in the World, Fear No Evil, Gallant Hours, Last of Mrs. Cheyney, Little Giant, McKenzie Break, Murder My Sweet, Raw Meat (aka: Death Line), Spy Hunt, Sun Shines Bright, Twilight Zone, Season 2, Part 2 (6 episodes), Voodoo Man, Who Done It?, Women and You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

 

Glenn’s Video (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 77 Sunset Strip: The Complete Series (20 disc set), Lawman: The Complete Series (20 disc set), Mike Hammer: The Complete Series (20 disc set) and Zorro: The Complete Series (10 disc set)

 

Green Planet Films (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Atomic Hope: Inside the Pro-Nuclear Movement - Educational Version

 

Hallmark Entertainment (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Christmas in Evergreen - Bells are Ringing

 

Hard to Find Stuff by Don (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Aftersun, Alice, All These Small Moments, Apostle, Banana Split, Bruised, Chevalier, Eurovision Song Contest: Story of the Fire Saga, Finch, Hell House, LLC II: The Abandon Hotel, Highwaymen, How it Ends, Hubie Halloween, Imperial Dreams, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Lily C.A.T., Night Comes for Us, Pee-Wee's Big Holiday, Ritual, Run This Town, Siege of Jadotville, Terror Train, To Leslie, Togo and Triple Frontier

 

Hope of the World (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Winds of Hinnom

08/08/23 — Released Pillar and the Cloud

 

Image Entertainment

08/08/23 — Released Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (ARR of 60 days; box office: $118,706)

 

Indican Pictures (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Galatea and Kings of L.A. (ARR of 49 days; box office: $5,880)

 

KBS America

08/08/23 — Released Gold Mask (12 disc set)

 

Kino Lorber

08/08/23 — Released Outrage and Scarlet (French)

 

Kitty Media

08/08/23 — Released Viper GTS: Voluptuous Edition

 

Las Vegas Video (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Blending Christmas, Christmas as the Drive-In and My Southern Family Christmas

 

Lost Movie Finder (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Big Sky, Bilitis, Caligula's Hot Nights (Italian), Caligula's Slaves (English-dubbed), Deep Down, Diary, Elusive Pimpernel, Emanuelle Around the World (Italian), Faustine and the Beautiful Summer (French), Il Vizio de Famiglia (Italian), Indian Tomb (German), La Risaia (Italian), Lacci (Italian), Murmur of the Heart (French), Night Eyes 2, Sister of Ursula (Italian) and Volaverunt (Spanish)

 

MGM Home Entertainment (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Big Knife, Crooked Hearts and Go Tell the Spartans

 

Mr. Video Productions (MOD)

08/15/23 — Sets Badgerette Midwest Grand Championships (4 disc set)

 

Media Outlet (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Conspiracies Special Narrated by Joe Frank,  Crime Vs. Uncle Sam and Surviving Waco: The Survivors of the Waco Siege

08/08/23 — Released Columbus and the Age of Discovery (4 disc set) and Johnny in the Clouds (aka: Way to the Stars)

 

Messixpulga (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released About My Father

 

Movie Time Video

08/08/23 — Released Drishyam 2 (Hindi), Shabaash Mithu (Hindi) and Tashkent Files (Hindi)

 

Music Box Films

08/08/23 — Released Other People’s Children (French)

 

Olive Tree Ministries (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released God’s Grand Finale: How Soon?

 

Orion Neighborhood Television (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Lake Orion Live: The Pairs 7-26-2023, 2023 - Orion Township Board of Trustees Meeting and 2023 - Wildwood Concert: Itchycoo Park - 7/25/2023

 

PBS Direct

08/08/23 — Released NOVA: Your Brain and PBS KIDS: Grandparents are Great

 

PCSD (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Parma City School District Board of Education Meeting

 

PEG TV (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Danby Select Board, 2023 - Fairhaven Select Board, 2023 - Mill River Unified School Board, 2023 - Pawlet Select Board, 2023 - PEGTV Sports Rewind: High School Football:  Rutland High School vs. Middlebury - Oct. 15, 1993, 2023 - Quarry Valley Unified School Board Meeting, 2023 - Rutland Board of Aldermen, 2023 - Rutland Town Planning Commission and 2023 - Wells Carnival Parade

 

Quiver Distribution

08/08/23 — Released Wrath of Becky (ARR of 74 days; box office: $168,109)

 

RCN Telecom Services, LLC - ATVN (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Grandview Speedway: Grandview #5 Features and 2023 - Grandview Speedway: Grandview #5 Heats

 

Retro Moving Images (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Rosie the Riveter

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

08/08/23 — Released Sun Moon

 

Vermont Movie Store (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Casablanca, Christmas in Connecticut and There's Only One Jimmy Grimble

 

Vertical Entertainment

08/08/23 — Released 97 Minutes (ARR of 60 days; box office estimate: $20,000)

 

Zeus Video (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Case of the Howling Dog, Ghostbusters, Glen or Glenda, Gloria, Good Luck Chuck, Gravity, Halloween, Hangover Square, Happy Ending, Harmony Lane, Harold Arlen: An All-Star Tribute, Heart's Desire, Heidi's Song, Hello, Dolly!, Hello, My Name Is Doris, Help, High Barbaree, His Double Life, His Kind of Woman, Hitman, Hocus Pocus, Hollow Man, Hook, House of the Damned, How Sweet It Is!, How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life, Humor Me, Humoresque (silent-1920), Hunger Games, Philco Television Playhouse: Marty, Playhouse 90: Days of Wine and Roses, Playhouse 90: Requiem for a Heavyweight, Playhouse 90: The Comedian, Pop Always Pays, Rose-Marie, Send Me No Flowers, Ship Ahoy, United States Steel Hour: A Wind from the South, United States Steel Hour: Bang the Drum Slowly and United States Steel Hour: No Time for Sergeants

 

 

New Blu-ray Additions

 

Acid Bath Productions (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Mark and Clark World Adventurers, Mind Melters 14 and Sexy Time 6

 

Acorn Media

08/08/23 — Released Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 9 (3 disc set)

 

Arbelos Films

08/08/23 — Released Chameleon Street

 

Asuka the Disc Dog (Fred the Blu-ray Dog) (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released HouseBroken: Season 2

 

Basement Video (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Fresh, Secret Invasion and Twisted Metal (2 disc set)

 

Bounty Films (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released Mad House

 

Capital Community Media (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Marion County Commissioners Meeting and 2023 - Salem-Keizer School Board Meeting - Work Session

 

CinemaGik (MOD)

07/25/23 — Released Greyhound and Star Wars: Andor - Season 1 (2 disc set)

08/01/23 — Released American Horror Story: Season 11 (2 disc set), Lord of the Rings-The Rings of Power: Season One (2 disc set) and Ted Lasso: The Complete Season 3 (2 disc set)

08/08/23 — Released Army of the Dead, Extraction, Extraction 2, Goosebumps: The Complete Series (2 disc set), Midnight Mass (2 disc set), Orville: Season 3 (2 disc set) and Witcher: Season 3 (2 disc set)

08/15/23 — Sets Babysitter Double Feature (2 film set: The Babysitter, The Babysitter: Killer Queen) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre

 

City of Tacoma (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Tacoma City Council Meeting and 2023 - Tacoma City Council Study Session

 

Claugir-16/Grimpe-94/Dili6963 (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released God is a Bullet, Hondros, Jaws: The Complete Movie Series (Jaws, Jaws II, Jaws 3D, Jaws: The Revenge) (4 disc set), Justice Society: World War II and Re-Animator: The Complete Movie Series (3 film set: Re-Animator, Bride of the Re-Animator, Beyond Re-Animator) (4 disc set)

 

Dartmouth Community Media (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released 2023 - Summer Concert Series: Route 18

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Dartmouth Conservation Commission Meeting, 2023 - Dartmouth Historical Commission Meeting, 2023 - Dartmouth Planning Board Meeting, 2023 - Summer Concert Series: Dartmouth Community Band and 2023 - Summer Concert Series: Living on a Bad Name

 

Grey Matter Movies (MOD)

08/01/23 — Released Air, Hypnotic, Little Mermaid and Sympathy for the Devil

08/08/23 — Released Bird Box: Barcelona, Flash, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Insidious: The Red Door, Joy Ride, No Hard Feelings, Passenger, Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse, They Cloned Tyrone and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

 

Image Entertainment

08/08/23 — Released Angry Black Girl and Her Monster, Fresh, Secret Invasion and Twisted Metal (2 disc set)

 

Kino Lorber

08/08/23 — Released Monk: Season One (3 disc set), Outrage, Scarlet (French) and Strangers in the House (French)

 

Kitty Media

08/08/23 — Released Viper GTS: Voluptuous Edition

 

Massacre Video

08/08/23 — Released Plan Sexenal (Spanish)

 

Mondo Macabro

08/08/23 — Released Double Feature (2 film set: Broken Mirror, Unquiet Death) (French)

Fear (Greek), Night of the Executioner (Spanish) and Ravishing Dany (French)

 

Movies R USA (MOD

08/08/23 — Released Asteroid City, Cat Chasers, Drifting Home (Japanese), Finders Keepers, Ghoul A Go Go: The Complete Series, Good Omens: Season 2, Haunt, Hidden in Silence, Homewrecker, Hunt Club, Invisible Thread (Italian), James Bond: The Complete Animated Series (2 disc set). Marianne: The Complete Series, Monuments, Normal, Psych: The Complete Series (5 disc set), Road to Galena, Spider Man: Across the Spider Verse, Superkid (Korean), Tarzan and the Jungle Boy, Terror Trips, Transformers: Prime Wars - The Complete Series and Vietnam

 

Music Box Films

08/08/23 — Released Other People’s Children (French)

 

North Metro TV (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Anoka County Board Meeting, 2023 - Blaine City Council Meeting, 2023 - Blaine City Planning Commission Meeting, 2023 - Centerville City Council Meeting, 2023 - Centerville Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, 2023 - Circle Pines City Council Meeting, 2023 - Ham Lake City Council Meeting, 2023 - Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning Board Meeting and 2023 - Spring Lake Park City Council Meeting

 

RCN Telecom Services, LLC - ATVN (MOD)

08/08/23 — Released 2023 - Grandview Speedway: Grandview #5 Features and 2023 - Grandview Speedway: Grandview #5 Heats

 

Ravens Banner Releasing

08/08/23 — Released Mad Heidi and Mad Heidi: Extra Cheesy Edition - Limited (with bonus CD)

 

Sentai Filmworks

08/08/23 — Released Shine Post: The Complete Collection (2 disc set)

 

Shout! Studios

08/08/23 — Released Little Nicky

 

Sloppy Second Sales (MOD

08/08/23 — Released Dancer in the Dark, Encino Man, Esprit D’amour (Cantonese), Jerky Boys, Minnie and Moskowitz, Over the Wall (2 disc set), River of Fundament, Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (Japanese), Son in Law, Star Wars: Obi Wan Kenobi Patterson Cut, Super Mario Bros. (2 disc set) and Treasure Hunt (Cantonese)

 

Vertical Entertainment

08/08/23 — Released 97 Minutes

 

WMG - Parlophone

08/08/23 — Released Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, 3rd July, 1973 (Blu-ray/2 CD Combo Pack)

 

Well Go U.S.A.

08/08/23 — Released Night of the Assassin (Korean)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New 4K Ultra HD Additions

 

Criterion Collection

11/14/23 — Sets Days of Heaven (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) and Last Picture Show (4K Ultra HD/2 Blu-ray Combo Pack)

11/21/23 — Sets Mean Streets (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

 

 

 

 

Director Herbert Ross' T. R. Baskin Arrives On Blu-ray From Fun City Editions On Nov. 07

Gold.   Cinematic gold — mined by Fun City Editions, with sales and distribution expertise by MVD Entertainment Group — is exactly what is on the menu for film buffs and cinephiles on Nov. 7 with the Blu-ray debut of Herbert Ross’ 1971 film release of T. R. Baskin, starring Candice Bergen, James Caan and Peter Boyle.

Peter Boyle in a motel room with Candice Bergen — not the couple that you would expect, but that’s how producer/writer Peter Hyams introduces us to T. R. Baskin, a smalltown girl who has gone to Chicago to seek her fame and fortune (she even tells us that).

 

During their evening together, T.R. tells Jack (Boyle) about her experiences trying to make it on her own in Chicago.   The people she meets, the job she finds and her encounter with Larry (played by a young James Caan, who would hit the big time the following year as Sonny in The Godfather), who turns out to be so much less than she had hoped for.

 

The evening passes and in the morning T.R Baskin, who we’ve come to know, parts company with her bed-mate and newfound friend, Jack.

 

T. R. Baskin — the movie — is a character study of a young woman on her own in the big city … timeless.   A cinematic gem!

 

Bonus features include commentary from Ben Reiser and Scott Lucas and the featurette titled “Get in the Tent.”

 

 

 

Writer/Director Rob Roy's Lycan Colony Gets Newly-Minted Blu-ray Release From Visual Vengeance On Oct. 24

The Halloween promotional season is just over the horizon and Visual Vengeance, with sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group, will taking full advantage this with a cinematic horror trick or treat of their own. 

This takes the “shape-shifting” form of a newly-minted Blu-ray edition of writer/director Rob Roy’s 2006 release of Lycan Colony.

 

The small New Hampshire hamlet of Canisborough — with a population of around 3,700 souls — has a little secret that newcomers, Dr. Daniel Solomon (Bill Sykes), and his family are about to discover.  It seems that they’ve moved into a town populated by entirely by werewolves.  They lead ordinary lives just like the citizens of any other small town, but they have a bite.

 

WHOA!   A whole town of werewolves!!   That’s right, and within any community there are bound to be a few bad apples.   You know, a criminal element, those from the wrong side of the tracks, but most are just go-along, get-alone ordinary folk … who just happen to be werewolves. 

 

So, “Doctor Dan,” who should be serving time for manslaughter for killing one of his patients while drunk, has decided to slow things down just a tad with this retreat to a small town where no one knows anything about his past.   Good choice?   Bad choice?   You decide.

 

Let’s be honest, filmmaker Rob Roy made Lycan Colony on a shoestring, which means indie filmmaker for better or for worse.  For arthouse purists this is schlock … for genre fans this gold.  

 

Rifftrax even did an episode of Lycan Colony, so that pretty much tells you where you are at with this.   Cult-status and interesting … we even learn that our werewolf friends have little fetishes … which makes Lycan Colony ever-loving licking-good!!

 

Bonus goodies include two commentary options.   The first with filmmaker Rob Roy and the second is a tag-team affair with Sam Panico of “B&S About Movies” and “Drive-In Asylum’s” Bill Van Ryn, plus there is a blooper reel, a music video and the aforementioned Rifftrak version of Lycan Colony!!

 

 

 

Mill Creek Entertainment Will Be Releasing The Animated He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Complete Series On DVD On Oct. 17

Mill Creek Entertainment has carved-out Oct. 17 as the release date for the three-disc DVD collection of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Complete Series.

Stop the presses!   This is major news on the physical media front.  Mill Creek Entertainment has somehow worked their magic and freed up Rob David’s 2021 animated series from Netflix.   In short, WOW!!

 

It is rare that anything streamed on Netflix finds its way to DVD, Blu-ray or even 4K Ultra HD.  So, it was sit-up and take notice when this materialized on the release calendar … this could be the start of something wonderful. 

  

All 26 animated episodes are being released as a three-disc set.

 

Veteran voice-actor Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Legion of Super-Heroes) leads the way as the voice of Prince Adam/He-Man, who is pitted against Skeletor (voiced by Ben Diskin) in the titanic battle for Castle Grayskull … peace in the universe or chaos for eternity is at stake.

 

Again, mark it down, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Complete Series on DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment on October 17!

 

 

 

Netflix Burns $70 Million In Potential Profits On The Handling Of Director Tom Harper's Heart Of Stone, Starring Gal Gadot • Disney Sacrifices Indiana Jones On The Temple Of Streaming

Another week, another round of quick-to-market “helper” DVD and Blu-ray selections and another week of the new theatrical release arena showing continued improvement.

 

 

On the new theatrical front there were two new entries reaching the $25 million mark — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and The Haunted Mansion — giving us 18 “hit” films currently in the pipeline.  That is the highest number since the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

 

Have we fully recovered?  No. 

But, a year-end projection of 564 new theatrical releases for 2023 is the best we’ve seen in over three-years … the top two boxes ($25 million plus; $100 million plus) now show a potential of 70 hit films having shown at your local multiplex by the end of the year (again, a new recovery high).

 

It doesn’t help things — the state of both theatrical and physical media — that Netflix continues to squander theatrical release opportunities in favor of its direct-to-streaming obsession (hint: you can walk, rub your belly and scratch your head all at the same time).

 

Netflix left $72.5 million in stockholder profits on the table when they elected to bypass both theatrical and home entertainment packaged media release opportunities for director Sam Hargrave’s Extraction 2, starring Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani and Adam Bessa, by going direct to the streaming dance.

 

Our analysis can be found here: https://dvdandblu-rayreleasereport.blogspot.com/2023/06/did-netflix-burn-over-70-million-in.html   No one has yet disputed our findings.

 

It stands to reason that they’ve done the exact same thing with director Tom Harper’s mega-budget direct-to-streaming release of Heart of Stone, starring Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot.  

 

Another $70 million in stockholder’s profits down the drain, another missing “hit film” in the hard-pressed theatrical marketplace and the only ones left to fill the physical media void are the “helpers” with at least one day/date (Aug. 11 debut on Netflix) Blu-ray release.   

 

Netflix has a hard-won tradition of not supplying 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray or DVD editions of their hit films (that is left to others).

 

As for Heart of Stone, the packaging is slick and professional.  It looks legit and consumers might suspect that it is pirated, but they’ve bought at this site before and what they got met their demand.  Yes sir, may I have another!

 

Not to pick on Netflix exclusively, Disney presented a golden opportunity to helpers with the Aug. 29 multi-platform VOD release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny before physical media — is the studio actually inviting “helpers” to pirate their big summer action flick?

Ditto for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s future packaged media release of director Patrick Wilson’s Insidious: The Red Door.   By slotting in a VOD window 27 days after the successful theatrical launch ($80.6 million in domestic box office receipts) they presented “helpers” with a pristine master … and sure enough, a Blu-ray edition is now available for consumers to purchase.

Also pirated this past week — and this is just the tip of the iceberg — were DVD editions of Keke Palmer’s Alice, writer/director Scott Z. Burns’ The Report, starring Adam Driver, director Simon Stone’s The Dig, teaming Lily Jameson with Ralph Finnes, and director Stephen Williams’ Chevalier, starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. found a home on DVD (Disney wouldn’t do it, so someone else did).

 

We could go on, but you get the “picture” … studio asset management is a bit on the sloppy side these days since they all seem to be acolytes of the new religion known as streaming.  

 

 

The Criterion Collection Announces November Release Slate Highlighted By 4K Ultra HD Editions Of The Last Picture Show And Days Of Heaven

The Criterion Collection announced its November slate of new film restorations and bubbling right to the top of the list is none other than auteur filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 film adaptation of Larry McMurtry’s 1966 novel, The Last Picture Show.

Best Picture and seven additional Oscar nominations were the result of Bognanovich’s film craftmanship … he was nominated for Best Director and both Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman took home the gold for their respective supporting roles.

 

This is a new 4K digital restoration of the director’s cut and it arrives on Nov. 14 as a two-SKU selection — 4K Ultra HD/2 Blu-ray Combo Pack or a double-disc Blu-ray edition.

 

The “big” bonus goodie here is McMurtry’s Texasville, also directed by Bogdanovich in 1990, which has two viewing options — the original theatrical version and a black-and-white version of Peter Bogdanovich’s director’s cut.

 

Other bonus features include two separate commentary options featuring Bogdanovich and actors Cybill Shepherd, Randy Quaid, Cloris Leachman and Frank Marshall, screen tests, location footage, three unspecified making-of documentaries and more!

Also getting the 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack treatment from Criterion in November is writer/director Terrence Malick’s 1978 film release of Days of Heaven, starring Richard Gere, Sam Shepard and Brooke Adams.

This is a new 4K digital restoration supervised by Malick … it will be available on Nov. 14 as well.   A Blu-ray purchasing option is also available on that date.

 

Bonus features include commentary by the film’s technical crew — editor Billy Weber, art director Jack Fisk, costume designer Patricia Norris and casting director Dianne Crittenden, video sessions with camera operator John Bailey, cinematographer Haskell Wexler and actor Sam Shepard and an audio-only interview with Gere.

Rounding out the November selections are a new 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack presentation of director Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets (Nov. 21 … stand-alone Blu-ray also available); DVD and Blu-ray editions of French filmmaker Claude Chabrol’s La Cérémonie (Nov. 21) and the six film collection (four Blu-ray discs on Nov. 7) titled Jackie Chan: Emergence of a Superstar (included in the mix are: Half a Loaf of Kung Fu, Spiritual Kung Fu, The Fearless Hyena, Fearless Hyena II, The Young Master and My Lucky Stars).