David Cronenberg's films aren't always accessible, the body horror is often too much to handle for some or the themes are so esoteric they're unreachable to the average filmgoer. Then along comes his son Brandon making his mark within the science fiction-enfused realm of body horror. Not content with gore and viscera, Brandon Cronenberg's films leave you feeling like someone gut-punched your soul. That was true for Possession, and it's especially true of Infinity Pool. Now Turbine is giving the world what looks to be the best 4K release to date complete with director and director of photography approved Dolby Vision transfer, new Atmos audio mix, and about an hour of extra features with audio commentary. Now all you have to do is decide which Mediabook you want to score - each is limited to 666 units! 

Infinity Pool - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover A 

Infinity Pool - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover B

Infinity Pool - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover C

Infinity Pool - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover D 

Infinity Pool - 4K UHD Mediabook - Order All 4 Covers

On top of the new Dolby Vision transfer and Atmos audio (which both look and sound fantastic, review coming soon) fans will be able to enjoy the following extras:

• Audio Commentary by Director Brandon Cronenberg, Cameraman Karim Hussain and Producer Rob Cotterill
• Making of (approx. 10 min.)
• Making of makeup effects - with commentary by makeup artist Dan Martin (approx. 23 min.)
• Making of lighting effects (approx. 6 min.)
• Interview with Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth (approx. 10 min.)
• Design Gallery (approx. 5 min.)
• Short Film by Brandon Cronenberg "Please Speak Continuously and Describe Your Experiences as They Come to You" (approx. 10 min.)
• Cinema Trailer (US / D / Textless)
• TV Spots

Technical specifications:

• Language / sound: German Dolby Atmos, English Dolby Atmos, German DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Image format: 1.78:1 (2160p24 Ultra HD) with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, 1.78:1 (1080p24 Full HD)
• Subtitles: German, German for the hearing impaired, English, English SDH
• Running time: 117 minutes

Alrighty now go get those pre-orders in before these sell out!

 Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 30 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of December 29th - January 4th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 No UK imports and no New Releases. Actually, if Kino Lorber had not delayed these three titles, there would be nothing to report this week...

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include all three, Hatari!, Internal Affairs and Snake Eyes.

 Anime highlights include Dr. STONE - Season 3 Part 2 and Tokyo Ghoul - Complete Series - 10th Anniversary Box Set. Note: Tokyo Ghoul was showing delayed to 12/31 as of 12/17, now it is showing released 12/17.

 Everything else to consider this week...

Notable announcements from last week (and Closing Out):

 Vinegar Syndrome reminds us that their annual subscriber week is this week. Check out their site and strongly consider re-upping. I have enjoyed their releases every month over the past several years that I have been a subscriber.

 Sony will be releasing My Girl on February 25th.

 Gladiator II has an official release date of March 4th

 Check out Arrow Video's March slate of titles.

  We are pressing the pause button on our weekly guides as of this week. Our weekly release calendar will still be your source for release information, and we greatly appreciate it that you continue to use our links when building up your collections. These purchases will continue to keep this little operation running.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

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?

Digital arrives New Year's Eve December 31st!

WICKED, one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, arrives on your screen as a generation-defining cinematic sensation. The untold story of the witches of Oz, WICKED stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman who has yet to discover her true power, and Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet at Shiz University and forge an unlikely friendship – before their lives take different paths following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Their extraordinary adventures will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Wicked is an immersive, cultural celebration you’ll want to experience over and over again!

Wicked - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Wicked

Wicked - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive SteelBook

Wicked - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Giftset

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES WHEN YOU PURCHASE AT PARTICIPATING RETAILERS:

• SING ALONG - ALTERNATE FEATURE-LENGTH VERSION – Rejoicify, it’s your turn to sing your way through Oz! Sing-along to all of your favorite Wicked songs as you join Elphaba and Glinda on their magical journey.

• DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES
  • Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda
    • Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.
  • Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero
    • Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
  • Toss Toss
    • Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.
  • Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest
    • The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.
  • Elphaba’s Promise
    • Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
  • Train Platform Farewell
    • Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald City.
  • Boq & Elphaba Talk
    • Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has difficulty doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
  • Train Ride to Emerald City
    • Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.
  • In the Emerald City
    • The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the Wizard.
  • Palace Monkeys Chase
    • Elphaba and Glinda race through a maddening maze of winged monkeys determined to take them down.
• MAKING WICKED – Return to Oz for a fantastic behind-the-scenes journey with this expansive look inside the characters, choreography, and creativity that make up the movie's unforgettable world.
• WELCOME TO SHIZ – Unlimited imagination, couture fashion, and spectacular production design come together at Shiz University, providing a place for performers and viewers to be fully immersed in the fantasy. Designed from details in L. Frank Baum’s books, the uniforms, clever contraptions, and circular sets create a sprawling campus where magic feels like an everyday occurrence.
• A WICKED LEGACY –Take delight in the cast and filmmakers sharing personal memories of their first encounters with the original Broadway production, and how those lasting connections created emotional experiences while making the movie. Also highlighted are the iconic cameos that pay tribute to the cultural phenomenon that became one of the most popular musicals of all time.
• THE WONDERFUL WIZARD – Follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City for an in-depth look at the infamous Wizard of Oz. Inside the palace’s throne room, the Wizard himself, Jeff Goldblum, pulls back the curtain to peer at his character’s magic and mechanics with senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke, who details how the Wizard’s massive robotic head comes to life.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JON M. CHU
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH STARS CYNTHIA ERIVO AND ARIANA GRANDE

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
Executive Producers: Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
Produced By: Marc Platt _P.G.A., David Stone
Based on the Stage Play with Music and Lyrics By: Stephen Schwartz
And Book By: Winnie Holzman
From the Novel By: Gregory Maguire
Screenplay By: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox
Directed By: Jon M. Chu
 
TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD:
Street Date: February 4, 2025
UPC Number: 191329269275 (US) / 191329273371 (CDN)
Layers: BD 100
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG Some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.                                                  
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1)
Run Time: 02:39:59
 
TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY^™:
Street Date: February 4, 2025
UPC Number: 191329252659 (US) / 191329273180 (CDN)
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG Some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1)
Run Time: 02:39:59

You can pre-order Wicked now!

Digital arrives on December 24th.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Gladiator II - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Gladiator II - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Bonus content is detailed below:

• A Dream That Was Rome: Origins—Director Ridley Scott and producers delve into the history behind Gladiator II and how the story developed over many years before coming to the screen.

• What We Do In Life Echoes In Eternity: The Cast—Take an inside look into Ridley Scott's casting process.

• In The Arena: Filmmakers—Go behind the scenes as the cast and crew journey to Malta, Morocco, and the UK for the epic production.

• To Those About To Die, We Salute You: Combat—Discover how Ridley Scott and his team combined choreographed combat with cutting-edge visual effects to take the action to a whole new level.

• Building An Empire: Post-Production—Join the filmmakers for insights into the fascinating process of crafting the finished movie, which includes a scoring session led by composer Harry Gregson-Williams.

• The Making Of Gladiator II—Explore how Ridley Scott, the cast, and crew worked to bring Gladiator II to life.

• Deleted Scenes

You can pre-order Gladiator II - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray now! 

Deep Blue Sea - Arrow Video 4K UHD Limited Edition

also coming to Blu-ray. 

4K UHD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negatives by Arrow Films approved by director Renny Harlin
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation
• Original DTS HD-MA 5.1 and Dolby Atmos audio options
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by screenwriter Duncan Kennedy
• Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker and critic Rebekah McKendry
• Archive audio commentary by director Renny Harlin and star Samuel L. Jackson
• From the Frying Pan... into the Studio Tank, a new interview with production designer William Sandell
• Beneath the Surface, a new visual essay by film critic Trace Thurman
• When Sharks Attack: The Making of Deep Blue Sea, an archive featurette
• The Sharks of the Deep Blue Sea, an archive featurette
• Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary by director Renny Harlin
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Luke Preece
• 60-page perfect bound collector's book containing new writing by film critics Josh Hurtado, Jennie Kermode, and Murray Leeder, plus previously unseen production art and designs
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Luke Preece
• Postcards from Aquatica

Play It Cool - Arrow Video Blu-ray Limited Edition

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original uncompressed mono audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Brand new audio commentary with critic and Japanese cinema specialist Jasper Sharp and professor and Japanese literature specialist Anne McKnight
• Too Cool for School, brand new video essay on Play it Cool and the career of writer-director Yasuzō Masumura by Japanese film scholar Mark Roberts
• Original theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Earl Jackson

Don't Torture a Duckling - Arrow Video 4K UHD Limited Edition

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 2-perf Techniscope camera negative by Arrow Films
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly restored original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
• Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
• Giallo a la Campagna, a video discussion with Mikel J. Koven, author of La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film
• Hell is Already in Us, a video essay by critic Kat Ellinger
• Lucio Fulci Remembers, a rare 1988 audio interview with the filmmaker
• Who Killed Donald Duck, an interview with actress Barbara Bouchet
• Those Days with Lucio, an interview with actress Florinda Bolkan
• The DP's Eye, an interview with cinematographer Sergio D'Offizi
• From the Cutting Table, an interview with editor Bruno Micheli
• Endless Torture, an interview with makeup artist Maurizio Trani
• Theatrical trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
• Illustrated collector's booklet featuring writing on the film by Barry Forshaw and Howard Hughes

The Terminal Man - Arrow Video Blu-ray Limited Edition (UK)

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of both the theatrical and director's cuts of the film
• Original lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by film historians Howard S. Berger and Steven Mitchell
• A (Misunderstood) Modernist Masterpiece, a new visual essay by film scholar Josh Nelson
• Who Am I If Not Myself, a new visual essay by Howard S. Berger
• The Skin We Live In, a visual essay by film critic and historian Howard S. Berger on the conjunction of author Michael Crichton, Mike Hodges and cinematographer Richard H. Kline
• Mike Hodges on The Terminal Man, an archive interview
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
• Illustrated collector's booklet containing new writing by author and critic Guy Adams, plus select archival material 

Dressed to Kill - Arrow Video 4K UHD Limited Edition (UK) 

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless 1.0 mono soundtrack
• Optional lossless 5.1 soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by critics Drusilla Adeline and Joshua Conkel
• Audio commentary by critic Maitland McDonagh
• Beyond Good and Evil, a brand new visual essay by critics BJ and Harmony Colangelo
• The Empathy of Dressed to Kill, a brand new visual essay by critic Jessica Crets
• Strictly Business, a 2022 interview with actress Nancy Allen
• Killer Frames, a 2022 interview with associate producer/production manager Fred C. Caruso
• An Imitation of Life, a 2022 interview with actor Keith Gordon
• Archival interviews with actors Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen and Keith Gordon, and producer George Litto
• The Making of a Thriller, an archival documentary on the making of the film
• Unrated, R-rated and TV-rated comparison featurette
• Slashing Dressed to Kill, an archival featurette examining the changes made to avoid an X rating
• Photo gallery
• Theatrical trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
• Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Sara Michelle Fetters, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Matthew Sorrento and Heather Wixson

Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo “Hellblazer” graphic novels and written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello, Constantine tells the story of John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), a man who has literally been to hell and back. When he teams up with skeptical policewoman Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of otherworldly events, the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost.

Constantine - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

We still don't have full HDR or audio specs as of yet, but Constantine Digital release and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contains a new special feature along with previously released special features:

• New Feature - Two Decades of Damnation
• Commentaries
• Channeling Constantine
• Conjuring Constantine
• Holy Relics
• Shotgun Shootout
• Hellscape
• Warrior Wings
• Unholy Abduction
• Demon Face
• Foresight” The Power of Pre-Visualization
• A Writer’s Vision

Constantine Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contains the additional previously released special features:

• Director’s Confessional
• Demon Face

 You can pre-order Constantine - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray now!

HERBERT WEST HAS A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS... AND ANOTHER ONE ON HIS DESK.

One of the most wildly popular horror movies of all-time, Stuart Gordon's enduring splatter-comedy classic Re-Animator returns to Blu-ray in a stunning restoration packed with special features!

When medical student Dean Cain advertises for a roommate, he soon finds one in the form of Dr. Herbert West. Initially a little eccentric, it some becomes clear that West entertains some seriously outlandish theories specifically, the possibility of re-animating the dead. It s not long before Dean finds himself under West s influence, and embroiled in a serious of ghoulish experiments which threaten to go wildly out of control...

Based on H.P. Lovecraft's classic terror tale 'Herbert West Reanimator' and featuring a standout performance from Jeffrey Combs as the deliciously deranged West, Re-Animator remains the ground-zero of '80s splatter mayhem and one of the genre's finest hours.

Re-Animator: 40th Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Re-Animator: 40th Anniversary Edition

Re-Animator: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Re-Animator: 40th Anniversary Ultimate Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

DETAILS

1985-2025 40TH ANNIVERSARY

FROM IGNITE FILMS AND EAGLE ROCK PICTURES

RESTORED IN GORY 4K – APPROVED BY BRIAN YUZNA

Street Date: 4/3/25

Ultimate Limited Edition Box Set

* 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

* 150-page hardcover book featuring interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band, with essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, and preface by Brian Yuzna 

* A LIMITED-EDITION Dr. Hill Collector's Bobblehead - A must have for fans! With limited quantities available, this exclusive hand-painted collectible will not be restocked once it is gone

* Collector's art cards

ULTIMATE LIMITED EDITION BOX SET PRIZE BONUS 

Some lucky fans will discover green "re-agent" in their order! If you are one of them, you will receive an exclusive signed poster by Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna, plus a special Re-Animator gift pack from our friends at Middle of Beyond.

Deluxe Edition Box Set

* 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

* 150-page hardcover book featuring interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band, with essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, and preface by Brian Yuzna

* Collector's art cards

4K Standard Edition

* 4K UHD

* Slipcover

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

Blu-ray Standard Edition

* Blu-ray

* Slipcover

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

New Bonus Features

• Re-Animator at 40: A Conversation with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna 

• Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator – A New Interview with Editor Lee Percy

• The Horror of It All: The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator

• I Give Her Life: A Look Back at Re-Animator: The Musical

• Re-Animating a Horror Classic: The 4K Restoration of Re-Animator

• The Organic Theater Company of Chicago: A 1977 documentary featuring Stuart Gordon

• New 40th anniversary 4K UHD trailer

Legacy Bonus Features

• Integral Version (105 mins)

• Isolated Score

• Audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and actors Graham Skipper and Jesse Merlin of Re-Animator: The Musical 

• Audio commentary with Stuart Gordon

• Audio commentary with producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott, and Robert Sampson 

• Re-Animator: Resurrectus - Feature-length documentary on the making of the film featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew.

• Interviews with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna, writer Dennis Paoli, composer Richard Band and former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone

• Music discussion with composer Richard Band

• The Catastrophe of Success: Stuart Gordon and The Organic Theater - Director Stuart Gordon discusses his early theater roots and his continued commitment to the stage. 

• Theater of Blood - Re-Animator: The Musical lyricist Mark Nutter on adapting the cult classic for musical theater 

• Extended scenes 

• Deleted scene 

• Trailer & TV spots

• Stills gallery

• Barbara Crampton In Conversation: The Re-Animator star sits down with journalist Alan Jones for this career-spanning 2015 interview. 

• A Guide to Lovecraft Cinema: Chris Lackey, host of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, provides a comprehensive look at the many cinematic incarnations of Lovecraft's work. 

• Doug Bradley's Spinechillers: Herbert West, Re-Animator actor Jeffrey Combs reads H.P. Lovecraft’s original classic story. 

 You can pre-order these Re-Animator: 40th Anniversary Editions now directly from Ignite Films' website.

.

A coming-of-age comedy starring Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky, MY GIRL is an irresistible story of first love and loss. Chlumsky makes an extraordinary acting debut as Vada Sultenfuss, a precocious 11-year-old tomboy obsessed with death. Dan Aykroyd is her widowed father, the town mortician, and Jamie Lee Curtis is the cosmetician he employs. Macaulay Culkin, in an endearing performance, is Thomas J., the boy next door who idolizes Vada. Their summer adventures — from first kiss to last farewell — introduce Vada to the world of adolescence. The perfect film for parents to share with their children, MY GIRL is a motion picture to cherish.

My Girl - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

With a screenplay by James Goldman from his own hit Broadway play, the critically-acclaimed The Lion In Winter won Academy Awards for Katharine Hepburn (Best Actress in a Leading Role), James Goldman (Best Adapted Screenplay), John Barry (for the film’s score) and received a nomination for Anthony Harvey for his Direction. The new 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases will also feature new bonus material including an interview with Anthony Hopkins.

England, the 12th Century, after the death of his son and heir, King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) is obsessed with finding a new successor, so summons his three remaining sons. Also summoned is his wife, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), who he has kept imprisoned for the last ten years. As the Royal couple scheme and cajole with their sons, their passions turn from tenderness to fury as they try to determine who should be the future King of England.

The Lion in Winter - StudioCanal Vintage Classics 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

ABOUT THE RESTORATION:

THE LION IN WINTER was scanned at 4K resolution on an Arriscan Classic Film Scanner. The restoration and colour grading were carried out at Filmfinity Productions, London. Two copies of film reels formed the sources for the restoration. The original 35mm camera negative was not in good condition; fluid marks e damaged most of the footage. The other source was the Inter Positive, which is in good condition. Comparing the two copies, the best source for each shot was determined. Digital restoration specialists used image processing tools to remove many thousands of instances of dirt, eliminate scratches, mould, film joins, flicker, and other imperfections. This restoration was particularly challenging because of a high number of tramline scratches that need to be repaired. The 2024 restoration of The Lion in Winter was carried out in 4K HDR (Dolby Vision) and managed by Mariana Ledesma and Jahanzeb Hayat for Studiocanal

The Lion in Winter - StudioCanal Vintage Classics 

UHD, DVD & BLU-RAY EXTRAS:

New The Heart of a Lion: An Interview with Sir Anthony Hopkins

New Shooting Stars: An Interview with Camera Assistant Robin Vidgeon

Interview with John Castle

Interview with John Bloom

Anthony Harvey Audio Commentary

New Behind the Scenes stills gallery

New 2024 Trailer

Pre-orders for The Lion in Winter - StudioCanal Vintage Classics should be available soon.

 Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 29 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the weeks of December 15th - December 28th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 The delay bug was alive and well last week, pushing most Kino Lorber titles to the end of the month, while moving LionsGate's two SteelBooks to this week.

 Before we get to Domestic Releases, UK import Monday has a cheaper option for last week's big(ish) release.

 Domestic Release Tuesday has several New Releases...

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Transformers One (IMPORT), Joker: Folie à Deux, Terrifier 3, Demolition Man, The Searchers, Below and Seinfeld: The Complete Series.

 Anime highlights include Amagi Brilliant Park Complete Collection, Attack on Titan SteelBooks, Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Digimon: Digital Monsters - The Movies, DARLING in the FRANXX, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End - Part 1, The Kingdoms of Ruin: The Complete Season, Sound! Euphonium: Season 1 and Vermeil in Gold - Limited Edition SteelBook.

 Warner Archive has several other releases slated for this week (maybe-most are not orderable at press time). Presently listed for this week are Black Eye (1974), Mr. Lucky (1943), A Night Full of Rain (1978), Nora Prentiss (1947), The Spanish Main (1945) and The Tall Target (1951). If these dates change we will update our listings but not post them again in another guide.

Notable announcements from last week:

 A ton of onesie twosie 4K announcements this past week. Ones I am excited for are my stand-by action films Con Air and Armageddon. Even though they're likely 2K DI upscales, they have certainly got to be improvements.

 Other titles of interest getting 4K releases in the coming months, Panic Room, The Social Network, Godzilla vs. Biollante, Thief, Night Moves, Choose Me, The Wages of Fear, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimm, Kraven The Hunter, Graveyard Shift, Dante's Peak, and Uncle Buck.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

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?

The 4K/Blu-ray/Digital SteelBook will include a Dolby Vision HDR presentation supervised by David Fincher and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK, directed by David Fincher, is the stunning tale of a new breed of cultural insurgent: a punk genius who sparked a revolution and changed the face of human interaction for a generation, and perhaps forever. Shot through with emotional brutality and unexpected humor, this superbly crafted film chronicles the formation of Facebook and the battles over ownership that followed upon the website’s unfathomable success. With a complex, incisive screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and a brilliant cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, THE SOCIAL NETWORK bears witness to the birth of an idea that rewove the fabric of society even as it unraveled the friendship of its creators. Nominated for 8 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture (2010).

The Social Network - 4K UHD Limited Edition SteelBook 

The release will include a Dolby Vision HDR presentation supervised by David Fincher and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

Trapped in their New York brownstone's panic room, a hidden chamber built as a sanctuary in the event of break-ins, newly divorced Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter, Sarah (Kristen Stewart), play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with three intruders—Burnham (Forest Whitaker), Raoul (Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (Jared Leto)—during a brutal home invasion. But the room itself is the focal point because what the intruders really want is inside it.

Panic Room - 4K UHD Limited Edition SteelBook 

"But wait, I thought 3D Blu-ray was dead?" - Not so fast! While discs on the format are relatively few and somewhat far between, the legion of dedicated fans snag the discs when and where they can. Thanks to Turbine, we've already been able to add six excellent discs to our collections, and now we've got three more due to ship before Christmas! With the new licensing deal with Paramount, Turbine will deliver worldwide first releases of Bumblebee, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts as well as Universal's Sing 2. All discs are Region Free. All with Dolby Atmos audio! 

Bumblebee - Turbine Collector Series 3D Blu-ray 

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts -
Turbine Collector Series 3D Blu-ray 

Sing 2 - Turbine Collector Series 3D Blu-ray 

Want to grab all three in one shot and save some money? You can do that too:

Turbine Collector Series 3D Blu-ray Bundle 

All are up for pre-order right now - again due to start shipping next Friday, December 20th! 

"...at last restores the original glorious blue sky”

The painstaking process of restoring The Searchers, which began in October of 2023, included what’s called a “blue channel replacement” of the original VistaVision camera negative. Because the blue layer in the original negative was “lacking,” DelHoyo and his team went to the film’s separation master, but soon discovered that source had issues as well. Holes in the separation master forced DelHoyo to merge its blue record with the red and green records from the original camera negative. The resulting hybrid brings The Searchers back to its original splendor and will surely thrill classics aficionados and videophiles when the disc releases on December 17.

Working on a VistaVision negative also presented new challenges for the restoration team. The VistaVision negative is twice the size of the negatives the team was accustomed to working with, DelHoyo said, and required restorers to split the negative in order for it to fit into the necessary machinery. It then had to be stitched back together, an extra step in an already complex and labor-intensive process.

The Searchers was originally shot by cinematographer Winton C. Hoch in Eastman 5248, and typical of that film stock, the yellow layer deteriorated over time. Consequently, previous home video editions of The Searchers exuded a yellowish tinge that was especially evident in scenes featuring large expanses of sky. This 4K UHD edition, according to the restoration team, at last restores the original “glorious blue sky” that’s such a vital part of the film’s aesthetic.

"...another 4K title is in the pipeline..."

This edition, which will also include a stand-alone 1080p Blu-ray release, includes the same two hours of special features that graced previous releases, but Feltenstein was proud to announce that much of the standard definition material has been upgraded to HD, an extra bonus for the film's fans.

Feltenstein, who has spearheaded and overseen the restoration and release of hundreds of classic movies, cartoons, and TV shows that span decades of entertainment history, recognized that classic movie fans hungry for 4K content might expect The Searchers to be the first of many Warner Archive 4K UHD releases, but he was quick to corral those hopes. “4K from Warner Archive will be a rarity, not the norm,” he said. Feltenstein did say another 4K title is in the pipeline and should be coming out in a couple of months (he did not reveal the title), but noted massive expense of 4K will limit the number of future releases. And besides, he said, most older films just don’t have enough information on the negative to merit the 4K upgrade. The bottom line is that Warner Archive will remain “true to Blu,” Feltenstein said.

The Searchers marks another step forward for the Warner Archive Collection, which continues to honor and preserve film classics with its meticulous, often dazzling restorations. New 4K releases may be few, but they will be eagerly anticipated and greatly appreciated by those who treasure both Hollywood classics and physical media.

Pre-order The Searchers now: 

The Searchers - Warner Archive Collection 4K UHD  

Besides the SteelBook, Sony is also offering a collectible 4K 3-Film Set with a Venom action figure, as well as an action figure with a Digital film download.

In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie's last dance.

Venom: The Last Dance - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Venom: The Last Dance

Venom: The Last Dance - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Venom 3-Movie Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ & DIGITAL EXTRAS

• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Venomous Laughs: Outtakes & Bloopers
• Bonded in Chaos: Tom Hardy
• Author of Mayhem: From Writer to Director
• Venom’s Inner Circle
• Venom Unleashed: The Action & Stunts
• Select Scene PreVis
• One Last Dance – Tom Morello x Grandson Music Video
• Savor the Last Bite: The Venom Legacy
• Brock Bottom: Mrs. Chen Interview

You can pre-order Venom: The Last Dance (2024) now and included below is the press announcement:

THE 4K UHD / BLU-RAY™ 3-MOVIE COLLECTION This exclusive edition includes all three Venom films on 4K UHD/Blu-ray and digital, hours of special features, and limited edition, collectible action figure. AND THE VENOM: THE LAST DANCE DIGITAL MOVIE + COLLECTIBLE ACTION FIGURE This exciting edition includes a code to redeem Venom: The Last Dance movie on digital – to enjoy the movie over and over again at home – and limited edition, collectible action figure.

 Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 28 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of December 8th - December 14th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 As far as UK Import Monday, the first 5 of the 6 titles are available in the US from several different labels.

• Demolition Man - Arrow UK Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
• The Addiction - Arrow UK Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
• The Escapees - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Indicator Series (UK Import)
• Requiem for a Vampire - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Indicator Series (UK Import)
• From Beyond - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (UK Deluxe Limited Edition)

 Domestic release Tuesday has got a little of everything.

 The New Release category has one title.

The rest of the 4K category consists of catalog titles, some are pretty recent titles.

Those fantastic swag-filled sets from Umbrella Entertainment Australia become available Friday. You know which ones I am talking about.

• Pulse (2001) 4K UHD + Blu-ray (Australian Import)
• The NeverEnding Story (1984): 40th Anniversary Imprint Films Limited Edition 4K UHD (Australian Import)
• The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) - Imprint Films Limited Edition 4K UHD (Australian Import)
• A Bridge Too Far (1977) - Imprint Films Limited Edition 4K UHD (Australian Import)
• Convoy (1978) - Imprint Films Limited Edition 4K UHD (Australian Import)

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include The Good, the Bad, the Weird UK Import (likely Region-B Locked),  The Roundup: Punishment, No Country for Old Men, The Block Island Sound, The Escapees, Requiem for a Vampire and The Soul Eater.

 Notable Region B import...

Domestic Releases...

 Anime highlights include Food Wars! (Season 5) The Fifth Plate Premium Box Set, Kaiji: The Ultimate Survivor Complete Collection, One Piece: Season Fourteen - Voyage One and Ya Boy Kongming! The Road to Summer Sonia.

Australian Imports (via Amazon US) this Friday include:

• The Speedway Murders - Australian Import
• Birdeater - Australian Import
• Blue Thunder - Australian Import
• The Deep (1977) – Imprint Films Standard Edition (Australian Import)
• Double Jeopardy - Imprint Films Standard Edition (Australian Import)
• Carry On: Film Collection 4 (Australian Import)
• Agatha Christie's Marple: Series One - Three (Australian Limited Edition)
• Boiling Point (1993) (Australian Import)
• Open Your Eyes (Australian Import)

Notable announcements from last week:

 Shout! Factory's February releases have been announced. Titles include A Chinese Odyssey: Parts 1 & 2, Galaxy of Terror 4K, Ghosts of Mars 4K, Humanoids from the Deep 4K, Sick 4K and The First Slam Dunk 4K.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

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?

December is a fine month. We get into the festive holiday season. Decorate. Eat too many big meals and hang out with family. In between shopping trips and mauling down giant meals and gallons of eggnog, we also have to keep an eye on some of the big heavy hitter titles coming to 2160p this month. As the studios and boutique labels have their sights firmly set on holiday gift-giving, they flood us with a parade of great new first-time-on-4k releases with a slew of special gift set editions. 2024 was a busy year for the format and it's closing out on a banger of a month... albeit an expensive one at that!

HDD's December 2024 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Shopping Guide 

December 3rd 4K UHD Releases

Just when you thought you've reviewed a film and had something of a definitive edition, twice even, along comes another release. It's a truism for the physical media landscape these days. After Australia's Viavision dropped their excellent lenticular cover limited edition and Bloody Disgusting and Walmart dropped their Blu-ray SteelBook from Lionsgate, Turbine is getting in on the action with their new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of Greg McLean's brutal Ozploitation Terror Film Wolf Creek. Since the film was shot on a mix of early 1080p digital, 16mm, and some 35mm footage, it'll be interesting to see how this turns out. But, we'll get to enjoy this director-approved 4K master with Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos audio! 

Wolf Creek - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover A

Wolf Creek - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover B

Wolf Creek - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover C 

Wolf Creek - 4K UHD Mediabook Cover D

Or, if you're a dedicated collector, you can order all four covers!

Here's the full specs:

Technical Specifications:

• Language: German Dolby Atmos, German DTS 5.1, German DTS 2.0, English Dolby Atmos, English DTS 5.1, English DTS 2.0
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 (2160p24)
• Subtitles: German, German for the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (SDH), English, English for the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (SDH)
• Running time: 104 Minuten

Extras:

• Unrated/uncut film version
• New 4K master approved by writer/director Greg McLean
• For the first time on Ultra HD Blu-ray + remastered Blu-ray Disc
• Making of (approx. 50 min.)
• Interview with actor John Jarratt* (approx. 8 min.)
• Deleted scene Gday, Trailer (USA/GER), TV spots
• Audio commentary with director Greg McLean, co-producer Matt Hearn and actors Cassandra Magrath and Kestie Morassi
• Booklet (28 pages, German language only)

Discs are due to start shipping late next week, so get those preorders in now! Happy Holidays!

For the first time in stunning 4K ultra-high resolution, this 4-disc 4K UHD and Blu-ray Collector’s Edition features a brand new, fully restored 4K transfer of the movie from the original camera negatives, as well as a 35mm Grindhouse version of the movie. It comes in a high-quality, side-loaded slipcase that contains a disc case with reversible cover sleeve featuring the English and the original Italian title of the movie, as well as a 64-page booklet.

Short Night of Glass Dolls - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

From the fringes of the giallo genre, writer and director Aldo Lado (WHO SAW HER DIE?, NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS) delivers a debut movie that pushes the boundaries of convention with “an ending that is one of the best, truly shocking giallo finales ever put on film.” (Collider)

American foreign correspondent Gregory Moore is on his final assignment in Prague before transitioning to London. He plans to bring his beautiful Czech girlfriend Myra with him, freeing her from the shackles of oppressive Iron Curtain politics. But their plans are suddenly derailed when Myra vanishes without a trace.

His investigation into her disappearance makes him realize that decadence, superstition, and hunger for power run deep in the City of a Hundred Spires.

And then his own body turns up in a park…

With no sign of life or rigor mortis, doctors prepare to perform an autopsy to discover the cause of his mysterious and symptomless death. What they don’t know is that in his mind, Greg is frantic. Silently screaming. “I am alive!”

Newly restored and presented in 4K ultra-high resolution for the first time, “Short Night of Glass Dolls” is “easily one of the most intelligent and stylish gialli” (The Celluloid Highway). The film will surprise you with its remarkable narrative, distinctive photography, and stellar cast that includes Jean Sorel (A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN, THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH), Barbara Bach (THE BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), Ingrid Thulin (THE SILENCE, WILD STRAWBERRIES) and Mario Adorf (THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?).

Celluloid Dreams is proud to present this newly scanned version, restored in 4K from the original camera negative, along with countless extras, in a high-quality, side-loaded slipcase that also contains a 64-page booklet. Note that this release does

Disc 1 (4K UHD)Brand new 4K transfer and full restorationHDR-10Isolated ScoreCommentary Track by writer/director Aldo Lado and Federico Caddeo(NEW) Commentary Track by film critic Guido Henkel(NEW) English Trailer in 4K resolution(NEW) Italian Trailer in 4K resolution(NEW) Grindhouse Trailer in 4K resolution(NEW) Unreleased English Trailer (as "Catalepsis") in 4K resolutionDisc 2 (Blu-ray)Brand new transfer from 4K master and full restorationIsolated ScoreCommentary Track by writer/director Aldo Lado and Federico Caddeo(NEW) Commentary Track by film critic Guido Henkel(NEW) English Trailer(NEW) Italian Trailer(NEW) Grindhouse Trailer

(NEW) Unreleased English Trailer (as "Catalepsis")

Disc 3 (Blu-ray)"The Nights of Malastrana" 2015 Interview with writer/director Aldo Lado (97 mins)(NEW) "All About Lado" 2018 Interview with writer/director Aldo Lado (32 mins)"The Most Beautiful Voice in the World" Interview with soprano Edda Dell'Orso (21 mins)"The Quest for Money" Interview with producer Enzo Doria (20 mins)"Cuts Like a Knife" Interview with film editor Mario Morra (23 mins)"To Italy and Back" Interview with co-producer Dieter Geissler (29 mins)(NEW) "The Man on the Bridge" Featurette by Howard Berger (23 mins)(NEW) Image Gallery(NEW) Long-lost, export "Malastrana" creditsDisc 4 (Blu-ray)(NEW) Grindhouse Version from 35mm archival lab print(NEW) US VHS Pan&Scan Version (as "Paralyzed")Booklet

(NEW) A 64-page booklet with a commemorative essay on Aldo Lado by Andy Marshall-Roberts, additional information and many photographs.

You can pre-order Short Night of Glass Dolls - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Now!

 Welcome to Volume 5 Episode 27 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc the week of December 1st - December 7th, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

 UK Import Monday has two releases:

New Release Tuesday is dominated by Disney and its various subsidiaries, with a dash of Universal Pictures.

 Moving on to catalog titles, sorted somewhat by studio.

 Wednesday this week means a pair of imports from Turbine Medien out of Germany.

• Twister (1996) - Turbine 4K UHD Mediabook
• Twister (1996) - Turbine 4K UHD SteelBook

Blu-ray releases-

 Blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases include Alien: Romulus, Watchmen Chapter II, Rippy and The Wild Robot.

 One single Anime highlight this week, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Swordsmith Village Arc.

 Blu-ray disc highlights this week.....

Notable announcements from last week:

 During the holiday week there was the usual trickle of single title announcements popping up here and there, but overall, slow as expected.

 One title that stands out is possibly Clint Eastwood's (final?) film Juror #2, coming to Blu-ray February 4th.

 Arrow Video has revealed their February slate of titles. For U.S. buyers it's a slow month as we already got a few of these titles from other labels.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

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?