Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. The trend of a big week followed by a slower one continues here, with some unique and oddball features taking center stage (some of which do seem interesting). So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW
RELEASES!
DOUBLE DOWN SOUTH: Keno-Pool is a billiards game that involves gambling and collecting points based on pool balls landing on specific grooves of a board placed on a pool table. This drama follows a new female player who convinces a veteran to train her as she takes part in an illegal competition. The pair take aim at the world champion and find themselves in more and more danger as the games heat up.
The press responded well to this independent effort. A couple of voices described it as slow-moving and overlong. Regardless, most were impressed by the cast and thought that it was an interesting, gritty gambling tale involving a lesser known but intriguing game.
This is currently a DVD-only exclusive and won’t be available immediately on other formats. The cast includes Kim Coates, Lili Simmons, Igby Rigney, Tow Bower and Justin Michael McManus.
HALF-BAKED: TOTALLY HIGH: 26 years after the release of the 1998 cult comedy Half-Baked, it appears as though a sequel is finally arriving (it is also known as Half Baked 2 in some territories). This is a direct-to-disc follow-up featuring a mostly new cast. After their friend dies smoking a strange and powerful mixture of weed, two stoner pals (who may be related to the original film’s leads) set out to raise funds to get the body home for burial. They find a new strain and set out to sell it for cash, drawing the ire of a drug lord.
This title is premiering on disc and absolutely no one has seen this film yet. Viewers might be wise to hold off for now and wait for some reviews to come.
It features Dexter Darden, Joel Courtney, Ramona Young, Frankie Muntz, David Koechner, Harland Williams and Rachel True (who also appeared in the original).
THE LAST KINGDOM: SEVEN KINGS MUST DIE Also known simply as Seven Kings Must Die, this period Viking story is actually a feature-length finale to the Netflix series The Last Kingdom (which ran for five seasons). The show is set in the 800s and follows an invasion of England by Viking forces.
This film begins when Edward, King of the Anglo-Saxons, falls ill. Norse forces begin encroaching and there is tension between the sickly leader’s sons over who will take the throne. The series protagonist comes out of retirement to help fulfill a strange prophecy that will impact the future of the nation.
Reaction was decent overall toward the finale. One-fifth of reviewers thought the story was overstuffed and choppy, leaving them ambivalent about the ending. However, the consensus was that the performances were strong, the level of tension was consistently high, and that fans of the show would be pleased.
It stars Alexander Dreymon, Mark Rowley, Arnas Fedaravicius, Rod Hallett, Harry Gilby and Ross Anderson.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Unfortunately, nothing this week but next week should deliver more titles.
ON THE TUBE!
And below is a list of all the latest TV-related releases.
Devil’s Peak Year 1 (BBC) DVD
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023 finale to The Last Kingdom Netflix series) (Universal) Blu-ray
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan The Complete Series (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray or Blu-ray only
VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM
By Glenn Kay
For the Sun
