Hello, it’s time for another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There is a big studio effort in this edition, as well as plenty of smaller, interesting independent features. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a while, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE ADMIRER: A woman contends with a nasty stalker in this thriller. The lead is tormented by a mysterious figure who claims that she ghosted him at some point in the past. Thankfully, she eventually gets engaged to another man and the threats stop. But when her fiancé passes away unexpectedly, the creep returns. Fearful that her life is at stake, she attempts to identify the horrible stalker before he gets too close.
There haven’t been many reviews for this independent feature. A couple of online notices have appeared, but they haven’t been upbeat. One stated that the movie was a routine and dull effort that borrowed from other, stronger titles and failed to make an impression. Another called out the film as melodramatic and the finale preposterous. It stars Roxanne McKee, Richard Fleeshman and Tina Casciani.
Reviews for this feature are middling. Most state that the story is by-the-numbers and that the killer fish are really only a subplot to the hostage situation. They do note, however, that if you appreciate B-movies, it’s reasonably well put together and the digital shark effects are good.
The cast includes Mãdãlina Ghenea, Ed Westwick and Macarena Gómez.
GRAN TURISMO: The popular Playstation video game gets a film adaptation in this tale, which is actually based upon a true story. After the initial success of a racing simulator, the programmers made a deal with the Nissan racing team to recruit a driver among their gamers. The protagonist, young Jann Mardenborough, goes through an intensive program as he strives to become a professional driver.
The press was more positive than negative about the final product. About one-third thought that there were too many elements and that the fairly conventional story should have focused more on the lead character and his personal journey. Still, the majority called the movie a well-paced and fun underdog story with excellent racing scenes that would please fans of the game.
Archie Madekwe, David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell and Djimon Hounsou headline the film.
IT LIVES INSIDE: This tale involves two Indian-American teenagers who have been friends since childhood. When one of the ladies begins behaving strangely and starts carrying around a mason jar, the protagonist asks what is happening. She is told that a demonic force resides inside the container. The lead has a hard time buying into the idea, but after the jar breaks and she becomes tormented by an evil presence, the claims feel authentic.
This chiller was well-received at horror film festivals and earned slightly more upbeat notices than pans. A fair number did complain that it started well but lost focus and tension, and once the monster was revealed it all fell apart. Regardless, the majority thought that it was unique and tension-filled. They also wrote that it did a solid job of dealing with themes of being an immigrant and outsider.
It features Megan Suri, Neenu Bajwa, Mohana Krishman and Betty Gabriel.
THE JESTER: Two estranged sisters find themselves being pursued by the title killer in this independent horror film. On Halloween, the pair and, well, an entire town are targeted and slowly eliminated. In order to survive the ordeal, they must look into the history of this figure and right the wrongs originally committed against the maniac.
The picture hasn’t been seen by many yet and notices from genre critics that have appeared aren’t exceptionally upbeat. A lone voice suggested that the narrative was choppy but that it contained some impressive photography. All others commented that the story wasn’t fully developed and didn’t provide enough material for a feature narrative or a compelling message.
The cast includes Michael Sheffield, Lelia Symington, Delaney White and Ken Arnold.
LION-GIRL: This English-language, independent science-fiction feature from Japan is based on a Japanese manga. After a meteorite falls to the Earth, much of humanity is wiped out by massive flooding. The survivors head to the only city left, Tokyo, where they must contend with a new problem. Apparently, the space rock contains a chemical that infects and transforms some people into horned beasts who kill humans for their life-force energy. A lone warrior stands against the threat and battles evil forces.
Very few critics have seen this picture. One who did was positive. The individual stated that it was wild, silly and entertainingly over-the-top, adding it would appeal to those who appreciate oddball efforts from abroad.
It stars Tori Griffith, Derek Mears, Julie Burrise, Stefanie Estes, Shelby Lee Parks, and David Sakurai.
LOCK AND LOAD: An undercover operative goes missing after infiltrating an arms dealer who is making a shady deal with a terrorist group. The best pals of the agent, who work as private security personnel, decide to find out what occurred. They use their fighting skills to take down all enemies and beat their way to the main villain.
Based on the accents in the trailer, this independent action flick is set in and was made in Scotland. Apparently, this is a sequel to a 2021 film called Holiday Monday (reviewers say it doesn’t matter if you haven’t seen it). So far, online reviews have all been upbeat. They note that while the budget is small, the leads possess a lot of onscreen charm. Also, they called the action zippier than most Hollywood efforts and thought it was incredibly fun to watch.
Nathan Shepka, Colin MacDougall, Graeme MacPherson, Tony Macdonald and Stephen Kerr headline the title. For the time being, this is a DVD-only release.
THE MIRACLE CLUB: Set in 1967, this comedy/drama is set in Dublin, Ireland and follows three close friends from different generations who all share the same dream… to visit the French town of Lourdes. They note that the town is famous for being named by the Catholic Church as a holy city and a place of miracles. The ladies win the opportunity to visit, but their plans run into trouble after the arrival of an old friend and skeptic, who has just returned from the U.S. for her mother’s funeral.
Response to the UK effort was generally positive. About one-third of reviewers suggested that the screenplay was overly sentimental and inauthentic, with most of the attempts at humor falling flat. Still, most thought that the cast was charming and that the conversations between characters and their attempts to reconcile issues were effectively rendered.
It stars Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Agnes O’Casey and Mark O’Halloran.
SCRAPPER: If you’re looking for more entertainment from across the Atlantic, this comedy/drama is about a 12-year-old orphan who uses her wits to convince social workers that she is living with her uncle. In reality, the youngster is living alone in a London flat and stealing bikes with her best friend in order to make ends meet. Her estranged father suddenly appears to take custody and the two butt heads as they try to live together and find common ground.
This picture won a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and was praised by the press. A tiny number couldn’t relate to the characters and commented that the quirky sense of humor didn’t work for them. Everyone else adored the cast, saying the two leads were wonderful together onscreen and praised the movie as unusual, eccentric and loveable.
Lola Campbell, Harris Dickinson, Alin Uzum and Ambreen Razia headline the picture.
WARHORSE ONE: This action picture is set in 2021 during the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. A chopper carrying a group of Americans (including one child) is shot down behind Taliban lines. The Navy SEAL Master Chief onboard attempts to guide the surviving kid through the wilderness and past hostile forces to safety.
There aren’t many notices for this picture thus far and all of the reviews that have appeared so far are negative. They all stated that the film seemed unbelievable, delivering a series of stereotypes and glorifying the battle scenes in a manner that was ill-advised. They also wrote that the backdrops were unconvincing and looked like Southern California instead of Afghanistan.
Johnny Strong, Athena Durner, Raj Kala, James Sherrill, Siya and Todd Jenkins headline the film.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There are plenty of older films receiving high definition upgrades this week.
The last edition made a note of Arrow Video’s release of the Harrison Ford thriller Witness (1985) on Blu-ray. This week, the 4K Ultra HD edition is available for purchase. Extras are the same for both editions and you can read all about the discs here.
Cohen Media Group is presenting The Buster Keaton Collection: Volume 5 on Blu-ray. It features newly restored versions of Three Ages (1923) and Our Hospitality (1923).
Jackie Chan: Emergence of a Superstar is arriving on Blu-ray from Criterion. This set includes the six movies Half a Loaf of Kung Fu (1978), Spiritual Kung Fu (1978), The Fearless Hyena (1979), The Young Master (1980), Fearless Hyena II (1983) and My Lucky Stars (1985). These are the titles that mixed comedy and martial arts, making Chan the biggest box office draw in his homeland.
Most of the titles have been given 2K restorations. There are film historian commentaries for the first and fourth movies, an interview with a movie expert about actor/director Chan, archival interviews with the lead as well as co-stars like Sammo Hung, a promo reel of The Young Master from the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, a 2005 interview with producer/director Lo Wei, outtakes from a couple of titles and trailers.
T.R. Baskin (1971) is a comedy with Candice Bergen about a young woman who heads to Chicago to start a new life and finds big-city living cold and challenging. Fun City Editions is presenting the title. The disc contains an interview with producer/writer Peter Hyams, a film historian commentary, a booklet with an essay on the film and a “limited edition” slipcover.
Lionsgate is presenting the Clerks I – III Premium Box Set, which contains Blu-rays of all three titles in the Clerks series (made in 1994, 2006 and 2022) housed in a 3D miniature of the Quick Stop corner store. The back features a working VHS return slot with a set of stickers. It seems like the packaging is the unique element here, so one can assume the bonus features will be the same as in previous editions.
The out-of-print teen sex-comedy Joysticks (1983) is being rereleased on DVD from the MVD Rewind Collection. It’s about a group of arcade patrons who try to save their favorite hangout spot from being closed. The cast includes Joe Don Baker, Leif Green and Jon Gries. The disc comes with a trailer. Or if you can wait, MVD will also be releasing a Blu-ray of the title sometime next year.
Paramount is delivering several anniversary editions of their catalog titles. Scrooged (1988) with Bill Murray is receiving a 4K Ultra HD edition (no Blu-ray is included). Besides the new restoration, this disc contains over 50 minutes of never-before-seen special features, along with a commentary track with director Richard Donner (The Omen, Superman, The Goonies, Lethal Weapon).
The classic Eddie Murphy/Dan Aykroyd comedy Trading Places (1983) is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition. The 4K transfer was supervised by director John Landis (Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London, Into the Night, Coming to America). One assumes previously released extras will be included.
And, if you’re a really, really big fan, Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection is an elaborate box set that includes a complete collection of all the T.V. shows (The Next Generation and the recent Picard series) as well as the four movies featuring the famous character. Naturally, the set will also come with premium packaging and 35 hours(!) of extra features.
Shout! Factory is pleased to present the Academy Award winning dark comedy Fargo (1996) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition.” This effort from the Coen Brothers (Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs). It contains a new 4K restoration of the title alongside a commentary track with director of photography Roger Deakins, archived interviews with the Coen Brothers and star Frances McDormand, a featurette on the film’s setting, an American Cinematography article on the photography and publicity materials.
Surviving the Game (1994) is also slated to be released on Blu-ray by the distributor. This tale follows a homeless man who is hunted like an animal by wealthy killers. Naturally, he manages to turn the tables on them as events progress. The amazing cast includes Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Charles S. Dutton, John C. McGinley, William McNamara, Gary Busey and F. Murray Abraham. Strangely enough, no bonuses have been listed yet.
Sony Pictures is delivering the excellent historical war picture Black Hawk Down (2001) in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook set. Besides the picture upgrade, it includes all previously released extras. The same goes for the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook of The Guns of Navarone (1961). Both of these pictures were nominated for several Academy Awards (the first film won for Film Editing and Sound, the second for Special Effects).
Universal Studios is celebrating the 50th anniversary of American Graffiti (1973) by giving the amazing George Lucas film a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release. It follows a group of teens cruising around their hometown on their last night before college. In addition to a cleaned-up image, the discs come with a Lucas commentary track, a lengthy making-of, screen tests and a trailer.
The studio is also presenting a bunch of Marx Brothers titles on Blu-ray. You can now pick up The Cocoanuts (1929), Animal Crackers (1930), Monkey Business (1931), Horse Feathers(1932) and Duck Soup (1933). All of the titles have been recently restored and include film historian commentary tracks.
Additionally, Universal is releasing a remastered Blu-ray of the Martin Scorsese effort Casino (1995).
The studio is also putting out a pair of 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbooks that will only be available through retailer Best Buy. These exclusives will be for the films Scarface (1983) and the recent holiday-themed Violent Night (2022) with David Harbour.
Finally, VCI is making A Bullet for Sandoval (1969) available on Blu-ray. It’s a western with Ernest Borgnine about a rebel soldier and outlaw seeking revenge on everyone whom he feels wronged him. This disc contains a 4K restoration of the shorter U.S. cut and the full-length Spanish version. It also includes a film expert commentary with Alex Cox (Repo Man) and a U.S. trailer.
The Gamblers (1970) is a comedy/drama about card sharks trying to fleece an aristocrat in Yugoslavia. This Blu-ray includes a writer/podcaster commentary and trailers.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
It’s a quiet week for kid-friendly entertainment. But older children may appreciate the double feature listed below.
2-Movie Collection – Explorers (1985), Small Soldiers (1998) (Paramount) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And all of the week’s TV-themed releases can be found here.
The American Buffalo (Documentary Mini-series) (PBS) Blu-ray
Annika Season 2 (PBS) DVD
The Good Fight The Complete Series (Paramount) DVD
Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 6-Movie Collection: A Royal Corgi Christmas, A Fabled Holiday, The Royal Nanny, A Tale of Two Christmases, A Big Fat Family Christmas, A Kismet Christmas (Hallmark) DVD
Holiday 3-Film Collection: Christmas in Maple Hills, Christmas in Big Sky Country, Christmas with the Knightlys (Hallmark) DVD
Hotel Portofino Season 2 (PBS) DVD
Joe Pickett Season 2 (Paramount/Allied) DVD
Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas (PBS) DVD
The Office The Complete Christmas Collection (Universal) Blu-ray
South Park: The Streaming Wars (Paramount) Blu-ray
South Park Season 26 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Collection (all T.V. shows and movies featuring the character) (Paramount) Blu-ray
Three Wise Men and a Baby (Hallmark) DVD
Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas (Hallmark) DVD
World of Giants (1951 T.V.-series) (ClassicFlix) Blu-ray
VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM
