Year Five Begins! A little more than four years ago I was asked about putting together a weekly release guide of home video releases for the site. As a hardcore collector, I already have a passion for new releases, so why not share some with our readers as well? Hope you have followed and enjoyed over the years, and of course make a purchase via our links.
Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 1 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what’s coming to disc the week of June 2nd – June 8th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-
As it seems, the past couple of months have started out with a handful of titles and as the month continues, it ramps up. June is no different!
Import Monday begins with a pair of titles, first from Paramount, The Italian Job (1969), available as a handsome looking collector’s edition set. The US release was done by Kino Lorber, minus the swag.
From MediumRare, another recent Universal Pictures blu-ray release gets the 4K treatment, referring to Lisa Frankenstein. It is inevitable, but not guaranteed that the US will get a 4K double-dip at some point. I chose not to wait, I ordered mine already.
Moving to Domestic releases next, they are all catalog titles at that.
Starting off with Paramount, Johnny Depp animated feature Rango gets a 4K debut with a SteelBook release.
From Sony Pictures, Glory (1989) gets one of those Dolby Vision upgrades, in a SteelBook release.
From the Criterion Collection, more Johnny Depp (directed by Terry Gilliam), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This one seemed quite inevitable, afterall, I bought the Arrow UK release a few months back. Am I disappointed? No.
Kino Lorber has just one 4K release this week, the crime/thriller Bad Lieutenant.
Our last new to 4K release this week is Typhoon Club, a Japanese drama/romance from Cinema Guild. Would not be surprised to see it bumped back a few weeks.
Formerly Walmart Exclusive SteelBooks, this week Shout Factory offers them as general SteelBook releases, The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Platoon.
Import Friday (via Amazon US) are a couple of recent UK 4K releases, Fist of Legend from 88 Films, and The Long Good Friday from Arrow Video
Blu-ray releases-
Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases, just Typhoon Club from Cinema Guild.
Sort of a repeat in the blu-ray category as well, start out with a manageable selection and the ramp up and dump a large load at the end of the month.
A couple of anime highlights this week, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill – The Complete Season and Is the Order a Rabbit: Season 1. That’s it!
Doctor Who fan? Doctor Who: Peter Davison – Complete Season Two comes out this week. I want to collect these. The releases are sporadic and they bounce all around, era-wise.
Honorable mention: My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert is probably something that most everyone should recognize. We eagerly await for all their movies to hit 4K. Have a concert in the mean time.
Friday brings us multiple imports from Umbrella Entertainment and Imprint Films. For some reason Amazon missed Queen of Spades, we will update our listings when we get the listing.
Notable announcements from last week:
The smash hit TV series Friends will be coming to 4K disc on September 24th. More TV on disc is a good thing, on 4K whenever possible is even better!
Arrow Video’s August 2024 slate has been revealed. US and UK titles include Desperado 4K, The Mexico Trilogy: El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Desperado is in 4K, the other 2 films on blu-ray), When Titans Ruled The Earth: Clash of the Titans & Wrath of the Titans (4K and blu-ray), The Woman & Offspring (4K Double Feature) and an Arrow Store exclusive blu-ray set of Memento Mori: The Jörg Buttgereit Collection. For the UK only, The Silence of the Lambs (4K, Store Exclusive 4K and blu-ray) and Heathers (4K and a store exclusive 4K).
Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?
