Arrow Video's New 4K Restoration Of The Andromeda Strain Arrives On Blu-ray On June 4

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, will have a new 4K restoration (from the original camera negative) of director Robert Wise’s 1971 film adaptation of Michael Crichton’s 1969 novel (the first to be published novel under his own name), The Andromeda Strain, on June 4 (prior to its publication he used the nom de plume of John Lange).

 

This is welcome news indeed.   Douglas Trumbull had delivered the graphics and visuals for 2001: A Space Odyssey and was recruited specifically for this production … an upgrade in the visual presentation (even if it seems a little dated by today’s standards) should make this a winner.

The story itself still works extremely well, especially so for a film that is coming up on 50 years.   Of the five principle actors in the film — Arthur Hill, James Olson, Kate Reid, David Wayne and Paula Kelly, only Olson and Kelly are still with us (neither has been active for quite some time).

As to bonus materials, there is commentary by author and critic Bryan Reesman, the newly-prepared video session with author and critic Kim Newman titled “A New Strain of Science Fiction” and new vintage featurettes — “The Andromeda Strain: Making the Film” and “A Portrait of Michael Crichton.”

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Tabs May 14 For The Release Of DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Director Todd Douglas Miller's Apollo 11

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will be bringing both DVD and Blu-ray editions of documentary filmmaker Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11 to the home entertainment arena on May 14.

The ARR works out to 74 days and theatrical box office receipts currently stand at $8.1 million … a very impressive number when you take into account that film was exhibited on less than 600 screens and continues to generate revenues based almost solely on word of mouth.

There have been plenty of documentaries — and movies — on the subject of the Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins’ voyage to the moon aboard Apollo 11 and the subsequent lunar landing on July 21, 1969.   Miller takes a different approach here, he presents the “moon trip” in real time, synching up 11,000 hours worth of audio recorded at the time with never-before-seen 65mm footage that is being seen for the first time in his film.   It is, in every sense of the word, a trip; a voyage … a ride to the moon and back.

Included with Apollo 11 is the featurette titled “Apollo 11: Discovering the 65MM.”

Lionsgate Home Entertainment Fumbles Filmmaker Tyler Perry's A Madea Family Funeral Home Entertainment Rollout (June 4)

Lionsgate Home Entertainment is a hot mess.   They have a new website, which is pretty much worthless.   They have (had, it is unclear of the current status) an outside PR firm that is both arrogant and incompetent … and their representative at that firm suddenly no longer works there.   

These all seem like improvements, but they are really nothing more than cosmetic … like shuffling the deckchairs on The Titanic.   

For example, Ingram’s videoeta.com website on Wednesday (Apr. 10) of this past week began posting that writer/director Tyler Perry’s latest entry in the Medea film franchise series, A Madea Family Funeral, would be heading home on June 4 as both DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack editions.

The “new and improved” Lionsgate website confirms exactly that, but offers no details.   Some things just never change.  

If you are Tyler Perry, a filmmaker who has delivered hit and after hit for the studio, you’d expect at least some effort put forth in promoting your films in the home entertainment marketplace.   But maybe he too realizes that expecting such respect is just exercise.

As to A Madea Family Funeral, ticket sales to date are a solid $72.1 million and the home entertainment ARR comes in at a current industry average of 95 days.

Bonus features?   We refer you to Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s fancy new website for those details (good luck).

For the period ending April 05, 2019 ... New DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD selections added to the DVD & Blu-ray Release Report's database

 

DVD New Additions

4 Digital Media

04/02/19 — Released Banished

Acorn Media

04/02/19 — Released Heart Guy: Series 3 (3 disc set) and Rake: Series 5 (3 disc set)

05/07/19 — Sets Agatha Raisin: Series Two (3 disc set)

Adult Source Media

04/02/19 — Released Filthy Hentai Coeds

Aflick TV (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Beautiful Monster 1, Beautiful Monster 2, Benefit 2, Crisis in the Church 1, Made in New York 1, Made in New York 2 and Morning After

Alive Mind

04/02/19 — Released Mantra: Sounds Into Silence

Ammo Content, LLC

04/02/19 — Released Happiness is a Four Letter Word and SideChic Gang

Artsploitation Films

04/02/19 — Released Man with the Magic Box (Polish) and Terror 5 (Spanish)

BBC Home Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Bletchley Circle: San Francisco (2 disc set), Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 2009 (2 disc set) and Rise of the Clans: Season 1

BJJ Fanatics (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Anti Jiu Jitsu by Kazushi Sakuraba (4 disc set), BJJ Accelerator Blueprint by Stephen Whittier (4 disc set) and No Gi Judo For Grapplers by Satoshi Ishii (2 disc set)

Bayview Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Aikido from A to Z: Basic Techniques, Volume 1

Bayview Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Shotokan & Shito-Ryu Karate Katas from White Belt to Black Belt

Breaking Glass Pictures

04/02/19 — Released Big Like Me: Director's Cut

CMI Education/PESI Publishing

04/02/19 — Released Improve Executive Functions: Evidence-Based Strategies to Change Behavior and Treat Anxiety, Trauma, Addiction and Depression Through the Wisdom & Creativity of Story and Symbol

Championship Productions

03/26/19 — Released Foundations for Winning Softball: Building & Organizing Your Program, Foundations for Winning Softball: Defense, Foundations for Winning Softball: Designing Up-Tempo Practices, Foundations for Winning Softball: Developing a Championship Culture, Foundations for Winning Softball: Offense and Foundations for Winning Softball: Pitching & Catching

04/02/19 — Released Blocker-Mover Offense: Core Drills and Shooting Drills, Designing and Executing a Winning Offensive Strategy, Drill Sets to Build an Efficient Team Defense, Dan Hughes: Characteristics of a Championship Culture, Post Play to Dominate the Paint and Speeding Up Your Offensive Transition

Cleopatra Entertainment

05/24/19 — Released Room 37: The Mysterious Death of Johnny Thunders

DreamScape Media

04/02/19 — Released Her Right Foot and Unexpected Hero: A Bible Story About Rahab

Echo Bridge Home Ent.

04/02/19 — Released Burning Kiss and Scare BNB (with Digital Copy)

Films Around the World (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Forgotten Melody for a Flute (Russian) and Magdalena Possessed by the Devil

GVN Releasing

04/02/19 — Released Violent Man

Gaines Entertainment (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released World of Worlds

Giant Interactive (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released 350 Days, American Relapse, Breath Away (French), Egg and No Alternative

HBO Home Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released My Brilliant Friend: The Complete First Season (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

Hallmark Channel

04/02/19 — Released Love in Design

High Octane Studios, LLC (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Mummy Reborn

Hudson Music

04/02/19 — Released All Access to Aquiles Priester's Drumming

I-Cine

04/02/19 — Released Kim Ngoc Luong Duyen (15 disc set) and Van Tich Truyen Ky (17 disc set)

ITN Distribution

04/02/19 — Released Greyhound Attack, Hellgirl, No Surrender and Tooth Fairy

Icarus Films

06/04/19 — Released Guy (French) (ARR of 172 days; box office: $1,319)

Image Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Jacqueline and Jilly: Season One (2 disc set) and Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot

Kino Lorber

04/02/19 — Released Green Card, Innocent Man, Las Sandinistas (Spanish) and Unstrung Heroes

Leomark Studios, LLC (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Gender Card Flip

Manny Velazquez Films (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Cult

Mill Creek Entertainment

06/04/19 — Adds Life with Dog (with Digital Copy)

National Geographic

04/02/19 — Released National Geographic: Africa's Wildside

Naxos

04/02/19 — Released Mozart: Symphony No. 40; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 06

PBS Direct

04/02/19 — Released Dictator's Playbook (2 disc set), Nature: Attenborough and the Sea Dragon and NOVA: Einstein's Quantum Riddle

PCN Productinos (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released 2019 Pennsylvania Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition

Paramount Home Media

06/04/19 — Sets PAW Patrol: Jungle Rescues and Rusty Rivets: Botasaur and the Bits

Passion River

04/02/19 — Released The Isle

Reliance

04/02/19 — Released Cycle (Marathi) and DHH (Gujrati)

Rogue Video (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released House That Screamed

Screen Media

04/02/19 — Released Patrick (ARR of 46 days; box office: $6,290)

Serpent Films (MOD)

03/26/19 — Released 2 Classic Sci-Fi Movies (2 film set: Crash of the Moon, The Day the Sky Exploded), 2 Classic Westerns (2 film set: The Man from Utah, Utah) and 2 Classic Westerns (2 film set: Water Rustlers, The Pecos Kid)

04/02/19 — Released 2 Classic Movies (2 film set: Aces and Eights, American Empire), 2 Classic Westerns (2 film set: Roamin' Wild, Six Gun Trail), 2 Classic Westerns (2 film set: Six-Gun Rhythm, Son of the Renegade) and 2 Classic Westerns (2 film set: South of Santa Fe, Texas to Bataan)

Seventh Art Productions

04/02/19 — Released Exhibition on Screen: Degas - Passion for Perfection

Shout! Factory

04/02/19 — Released Pledge and Rust Creek

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Combat Zone Wrestling: Trifecta Elimination - Voorhees, NJ, Fight or Die: Shipping Out to Naptown - Indianapolis, IN, ICW: Hardcore Death Match Challenge - Milwaukee, WI, IWA Mid-South: 899 and Counting - Jeffersonville, IN and IWA Mid-South: The 900th Show - Jeffersonville, IN

T-Series

04/02/19 — Released Batti Gul Meter Chalu (Hindi)

The Clubhouse Press (MOD)

03/26/19 — Released Introduction to Electric Power Generators, Introduction to Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Rectifiers, Introduction to Laboratory Testing of Soils and Introduction to Rigid Concrete Pavement Design

04/02/19 — Released Introduction to Primary Wastewater Treatment, Introduction to Secondary Wastewater Treatment, Introduction to Special Concretes, Part 1 and Introduction to Special Concretes, Part 2

The Orchard (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Soul to Keep

20^th Century-Fox Home Ent.

04/02/19 — Released Archer: The Complete Ninth Season

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

04/02/19 — Released Seven in Heaven

04/09/19 — Adds Dirty John (2 disc set)

04/30/19 — Sets Arctic (ARR of 88 days; box office: $2,311,462) and Serenity (ARR of 95 days; box office: $8,540,680)

05/14/19 — Sets Backdraft 2, Fighting With My Family (ARR of 88 days; box office $22,519,562) and Happy Death Day 2U (ARR of 88 days; box office: $28,021,220)

05/28/19 — Sets Greta (ARR of 88 days; box office: $10,508,895)

Virgil Films & Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Uncondemned

WWE

04/02/19 — Released WWE: Elimination Chamber 2019 (2 disc set)

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

04/09/16 — Sets Cowboy Quarterback, Heart of New York, Over the Goal, Paw-Paws: The Complete Series (2 disc set) and Sweepstakes Winner

04/16/19 — Sets Harold Teen and Three Men on a Horse

04/23/19 — Sets Jail-Break and Man of Iron

04/30/19 — Sets Cockeyed Miracle, New Moon, Melody Cruise and Strangers All

Blu-ray New Additions

Bayview Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Anything You Can Do … I Can Do Better

Cleopatra Entertainment

05/24/19 — Released Room 37: The Mysterious Death of Johnny Thunders (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with bonus CD)

Criterion Collection

04/02/19 — Released Fantastic Mr. Fox

Echo Bridge Home Ent.

04/02/19 — Released Adventures at the Chocolate Factory (aka: Mr. Moll and the Chocolate Factory) (English dubbed) (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Help, I Shrunk My Teacher (English dubbed) (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

FUNimation

04/02/19 — Released Basilisk the Ouka Ninja Scrolls, Part 1 (2 Blu-ray/2 DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy), Castle Town Dandelion (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy), Chaos Dragon (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy), Dances with Dragons: The Complete Series (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy), Dragon Ball Super: Part Seven (2 disc set) and Space Battleship Tiramisu, Season 1 (with Digital Copy)

Gaines Entertainment (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released World of Worlds

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released 350 Days, American Relapse, Breath Away (French), Egg and No Alternative

Hudson Music

04/02/19 — Released All Access to Aquiles Priester's Drumming

Image Entertainment

04/02/19 — Released Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot

Kino Lorber

04/02/19 — Released Green Card, Innocent Man and Unstrung Heroes

Kit Parker Films

07/16/19 — Sets Noir Archive Volume 2: 1954-1956 (9 film set: Bait, The Crooked Web, The Night Holds Terror, Footsteps in the Fog, Cell 2455 Death Row, 5 Against the House, New Orleans Uncensored, Spin a Dark Web, Rumble on the Docks) (3 disc set)

MVD Entertainment Group

06/25/19 — Sets 24 Hour Party People

Mill Creek Entertainment

06/04/19 — Adds Double Feature: Stepmom, The Deep End of the Ocean, Double Feature: The Trigger Effect, Body Count, Nineties Comedy Double Feature: Mo' Money, High School High and Sci-Fi Double Feature: Mindwarp, Brainscan

Motion Picture Video, LLC (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Executive Empress and Real Haunts

PCN Productinos (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released 2019 Pennsylvania Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition

Pickupdance.com (MOD)

04/02/19 — Released Club Dance for Women, Level 1 (4 disc set) and Club Dance Partnering, Level 1 (4 disc set)

Screen Media

04/02/19 — Released Patrick

Shout! Factory

04/02/19 — Released Pledge, Rust Creek and Silent Voice (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (Japanese)

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

03/26/19 — Released CCW: Bleeding Hearts - South Gate, CA

04/02/19 — Released Fight or Die: Shipping Out to Naptown - Indianapolis, IN

Twilight Time

04/16/19 — Sets Melvin and Howard, Snake Pit, Stagecoach and Three Coins in the Fountain

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

04/30/19 — Sets Arctic (with Digital Copy) and Serenity (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

05/14/19 — Sets Backdraft 2 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy), Fighting With My Family (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Happy Death Day 2U (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

05/28/19 — Sets Greta (with Digital Copy)

 

4K Ultra HD New Additions

Flicker Alley

04/02/19 — Released Flying Clipper (German) (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

05/07/19 — Sets Backdraft (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

04/23/19 — Sets Captain America: Civil War (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

06/04/19 — Sets Batman (4K Ultra HD/Bly-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy), Batman & Robin (4K Ultra HD/Bly-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy), Batman Forever (4K Ultra HD/Bly-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and Batman Returns (4K Ultra HD/Bly-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

 

Mill Creek Entertainment Readies Blu-ray Double-Feature Promotion For Delivery On June 4

First it was the announcement last week from Mill Creek Entertainment that a 12-disc DVD collection of Drop Dead Diva: The Complete Series would be available on June 4 for fans of the series and its star, Brooke Elliott, to enjoy.

But then Mill Creek continued with the news that there would be four new additions to its popular priced-to-own VHS Retro line of products on Blu-ray. These would also be available on June 4.   Double Team, Excess Baggage, Jury Duty and Opportunity Knocks … they could stop right there and the month of June would be golden!

But when you are on a roll … you roll; you double-down, literally!

Mill Creek Entertainment added to the June merriment with not one, but four double-features on Blu-ray … all will be ready for collector’s to own on June 4.

There is one genre-themed double-feature presentation on Blu-ray from the drama, sci-fi, action and comedy categories … something for everyone.

On the comedy front, look for the arrival of the Nineties Comedy Double Feature, which teams director Peter MacDonald’s 1992 comedy release of Mo' Money, starring Damon Wayans and Stacey Dash, with director Hart Bochner’s 1996 film release of High School High, featuring Jon Lovitz, Tia Carrere, Louise Fletcher and Mekhi Phifer.

If you are a sci-fi fan, then look no further than the June 4 Blu-ray release of the Sci-Fi Double Feature, which includes director Steve Barnett’s Mindwarp, teaming cult-favorite Bruce Campbell with Phantasm’s “Tall Man” Angus Scrimm … this is paired with filmmaker John Flynn’s 1994 theatrical release of Brainscan, with Edward Furlong and Frank Langella.

OK, what’s next?   Drama?  Action?  Tough choice, but let’s go with the double feature presentation of director Chris Columbus’ 1998 blockbuster hit, Stepmom, teaming four-time Oscar nominee Julia Roberts (with a win for Erin Brockovich) with five-time Oscar nominee Susan Sarandon (with a win for Dead Man Walking), which is double-billed with filmmaker Ulu Grosbard’s 1999 film adaptation of the Jacquelyn Mitchard novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams and Whoopi Goldberg.   Two for the price of one … that’s a sweet deal!

Rounding out this terrific June 4 double-feature Blu-ray promotion from Mill Creek Entertainment is the twin bill teaming of Kyle MacLachlan and Elisabeth Shue in the 1996 theatrical lights-out chiller, The Trigger Effect, which is paired-up with director Robert Patton-Sprull’s 1998 crime thriller, Body Count, featuring an all-star cast that includes David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Forest Whitaker, Ving Rhames, John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg.

June 4, Blu-ray priced to collect double-features … mark it on your calendar.

MVD Entertainment Group Selects Director Michael Winterbottom’s 24 Hour Party People For Blu-ray Marquee Collection Status On June 25

First time on Blu-ray … that would be reason enough to check out director Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 biopic, 24 Hour Party People, starring Steve Coogan (Oscar-nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Philomena) as Factory Records founder Tony Wilson.

But when it was revealed that MVD Entertainment Group had bestowed the coveted crown of Marquee Collection on the June 25 Blu-ray release, it suddenly became an imperative to check out 24 Hour Party People as a Blu-ray product offering.

The mercurial Tony Wilson taps into the punk rock scene, develops the recording group, Joy Division and launches Factory Records all in the space of four years … and just when it looks like success will come his way, Joy Division’s lead singer, Ian Curtis (played by Sean Harris) kills himself.   A minor set-back, new name — New Order — and the hit single “Blue Monday” (which went down in history as featuring the most expensive packaging in the music business … Wilson’s Factory Records actually lost money on every unit sold (hell of a way to run a business).

But Wilson is just hitting his stride.   He opens The Haçienda in Manchester and it soon becomes the focal point for the “Manchester Sound,” another new group — Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays — and sex, and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.   

It was the place to be; it was a musical Camelot fueled by drugs.   Tony Wilson, Factory Records and The Haçienda … and by the end of the 1990s it was gone; he lost it all.

Bonus features include commentary by Steve Coogan, who is joined by Andrew Eaton (Emmy-nominated for The Crown) and a second commentary option featuring the late Tony Wilson.   There are also 11 deleted scenes and a pair of featurettes — “Manchester: The Movie” and “About Tony Wilson.”