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Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

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January 3

photo for THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

(1988) The boundless imagination of Terry Gilliam yields a dazzling fantasy of epic proportions. Inspired by the extravagant exploits of the fabled Baron Munchausen, this spectacle — born of a famously turbulent production — follows the whimsical 18th-century nobleman (John Neville) as he embarks on an outlandish quest that takes him from faraway lands to the moon to the belly of a sea monster and beyond, meanwhile waging battle against a vengeful sultan and the tyranny of logic. Packed frame to frame with special effects, mischievous wit, and colorful performances—including a young Sarah Polley as the Baron’s no-nonsense sidekick—the Oscar-nominated "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" is a lavish celebration of the triumph of make-believe over reality. New 4K digital restoration, approved by writer-director Terry Gilliam, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. For the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features. Formats: Blu-ray, 4K UHD. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection).


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Armageddon Time

photo for Armageddon Time (2022) Set in 1980s Queens, New York, it is a deeply personal story about the strength of family, the complexity of friendship and the generational pursuit of the American Dream. Inspired by Gray's childhood experiences, the story follows a young Jewish-American boy who befriends an African-American classmate and begins to struggle with expectations from his family and growing up in a world of privilege, inequality and prejudice. Vitals: Director: James Gray. Stars: Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Sell, Andrew Polk, Tovah Feldshuh, Jessica Chastain. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: R, 115 min., Drama, North American box office gross: $1.860 million, worldwide $5.659 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, "Building a Family Cast" featurette, "Growing Up Gray" featurette, "A Grandfather's Legacy" featurette. Read more here 3 stars

Big Time Gambling Boss

(1968 -- Japan) Tokyo, 1934. Gang boss Arakawa is too ill and a successor must be named. The choice falls on Nakai, but being an outsider he refuses and suggests senior clansman Matsuda instead. But Matsuda is in jail and the elders won't wait for his release, so they appoint the younger and more malleable Ishido to take the reins. Clan honor and loyalties are severely tested when Matsuda is released, resulting in an increasingly violent internal strife. An atmospheric tale of gangland intrigue written by Kazuo Kasahara ("Battles Without Honour and Humanity") and starring Tomisaburo Wakayama, ("Lone Wolf and Cub," "The Bounty Hunter Trilogy") and genre legend Koji Tsuruta, "Big Time Gambling Boss" is one of the all-time classics of the yakuza genre. Paul Schrader called it the richest and most complex film of its type, while novelist Yukio Mishima hailed it as a masterpiece. High Definition digital transfer on Blu-ray for the first time. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Visual essay by genre expert Chris D on the film and its place within the period and genre; "Ninkyo 101: A masterclass" with Mark Schilling, author of "The Yakuza Movie Book"; gallery of promotional imagery; trailer; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by maarko phntm; limited edition booklet featuring new writing by author Stuart Galbraith IV, and critic Hayley Scanlon; limited edition of 2000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip. (Radiance Films/MVD Entertainment).

Black Adam

photo for Black Adam (2022) In ancient Kahndaq, Teth Adam was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance, he was imprisoned, becoming Black Adam. Nearly 5,000 years have passed and Black Adam has gone from man, to myth, to legend. Now released, his unique form of justice, born out of rage, is challenged by modern day heroes who form the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher and Cyclone. Vitals: Director: Jaume Collet-Serra. Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Viola Davis, Sarah Shahi, Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge, Odelya Halevi. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 125 min., Action Adventure, North American box office gross: $167.667 million, worldwide $391.067 million, Warner. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Blu-ray extras: "The History of Black Adam," "Who is The Justice Society?", "From Soul to Screen," "Black Adam: A Flawed Hero," "Black Adam: New Tech in an Old World," "Black Adam: Taking Flight," "Kahndaq: Designing a Nation," "The Rock of Eternity," "Costumes Make the Hero," "Black Adam: A New Type of Action." 2 stars
photo for Memories of My Father

Memories of My Father

(2020 -- Columbia) Directed by Academy Award-winner Fernando Trueba ("Belle Epoque"), the film dramatizes the true life story of Héctor Abad Gómez (Javier Cámara), a renowned Colombian doctor and human rights activist in corrupt and chaotic 1970s Medellín, Colombia. A devoted father, Abad Gómez adored his children and fought against oppression and social inequality at great sacrifice to himself and his family. Colombia’s official submission for the 93rd Academy Awards, the film is a stylish and beautifully shot portrait of a man who dedicated his life to helping others. "Memories of My Father" is based on the international best-seller, "Oblivion: A Memoir", written by Héctor Abad Faciolince, the son of Héctor Abad Gómez and one of Colombia’s most acclaimed contemporary authors. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Cohen Media Group).

Pray for the Devil

(2022) Sister Ann (Jacqueline Byers) believes she is answering a calling to be the first female exorcist ... but who, or what, called her? In response to a global rise in demonic possessions, Ann seeks out a place at an exorcism school reopened by the Catholic Church. Until now these schools have only trained priests in the Rite of Exorcism ... but a professor (Colin Salmon) photo for Pray for the Devilrecognizes Sister Ann’s gifts and agrees to train her. Thrust onto the spiritual frontline with fellow student Father Dante (Christian Navarro), Sister Ann finds herself in a battle for the soul of a young girl, who Sister Ann believes is possessed by the same demon that tormented her own mother years ago. Determined to root out the evil, Ann soon realizes that evil has been expecting her. Vitals: Director: Daniel Stamm. Stars: Jacqueline Byers, Colin Salmon, Christian Navarro, Lisa Palfrey, Nicholas Ralph, Ben Cross, Virginia Madsen. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 93 min., Horror, North American box office gross: $17.029 million, worldwide $26.901 million, Lionsgate. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital, VOD, Digital. Extras: Audio commentary with director Daniel Stamm and Actress Jacqueline Byers; "Possessed: Creating Prey for the Devil": "A Lullaby of Terror"; "The Devil’s Tricks: Visual Effects." Blu-ray adds "Prey for the Devil Cast-Read: The Original First-Draft Screenplay"; "Speak No Evil: A Real Exorcist and Church Psychologist Discuss Possession." Read more here 2 stars

Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1 Volume 1

(2022) Two-disc set with all 10 episodes. Animated series follows a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search of a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered a first in the history of the Star Trek franchise but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: (Nickelodeon/Paramount).



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January 10

Alex’s War

(2022) Who is Alex Jones? Looking past caricature and propaganda, this documentary is a searching and human character study of one of America’s most infamous, charismatic, and divisive public figures. Director Alex Lee Moyer draws from Jones’s first ever independent long-form biographical interviews, behind-the-scenes footage from his studio and rallies, and full access to the Infowars archives to trace his 25 year rollercoaster of a career. Formats: DVD. (Play Nice/CAV Distributing).
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Being Thunder

(2021) Documentary. Sherenté, a Two Spirit Genderqueer teenager from Rhode Island's Narragansett tribe performs in dance competitions at annual regional powwows of New England tribes. There is no formal rule which prohibits Two Spirit Genderqueer people from competing in a category different from their birth gender. Wearing female fancy shawl regalia, Sherenté dances with joy and beauty. Behind the scenes, tribal leaders manipulate Sherenté's scores or disqualify them outright because of their belief in traditional binary gender roles. Blindsided by ongoing dishonesty and deception, Sherenté continues to perform in spite of insensitive behavior by tribal leaders and others in their community. Sherenté's enduring courage and self-respect are met with an outpouring of support from family, powwow attendees, and fellow competitors. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Film Movement).

Dragons Forever

(1988 -- Hong Kong) Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Pauline Yeung. Hotshot lawyer Jackie Lung (Jackie Chan) is hired to defend the owner of a factory which, unbeknownst to him, is the center of a clandestine narcotics syndicate. He enlists resourceful acquaintances Wong Fei-Hung photo for Dragons Forever(Sammo Hung) and Dung Dak-Biu (Yuen Biao) to assist in the case, but loyalties begin to falter when romance blossoms between both sides. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Hong Kong Version - 4K restoration of the original Hong Kong version; audio commentary; English Version - 4K restoration of the English versionr, which was commissioned by Golden Harvest for international audiences outside Asia with the classic English dub; Japanese Version - 4K restoration of the Japanese version, which features two extra scenes and an ending with outtakes, with English subtitles; original Hong Kong trailer; original English trailer; outtakes and behind the scenes; deleted scenes; "The Legacy of Dragons Forever"; "The Breaker" featurette on the acting and fighting careers of Billy Chow, who has a memorable role in the film; "Kick Fighter" featurette; more. (88 Films/MVD Entertainment).

The Dunwich Horror

(1970) Riding high on their successful adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe, Roger Corman and American International Pictures took on that other titan of literary terror, H.P Lovecraft. Dean Stockwell stars as Wilbur Whateley, a mysterious young man who travels from the small town of photo for The Dunwich HorrorDunwich to the library of the Miskatonic University that holds one of the only copies of the Necronomicon, a legendary book of occult lore that Wilbur hopes to borrow. Graduate student Nancy Wagner (Sandra Dee) falls under his malign influence and travels with him back to his home where Wilbur has plans to use her in a ritual to raise "The Old Ones," cosmic beings from another dimension. But who, or what, is in the locked room at the top of the stairs? And what will happen if they get out? Directed by Daniel Haller, genius art director of numerous Corman classics, this was also the first screenwriting credit for Curtis Hanson, who would later direct the multi award-winning "L.A. Confidential." Newly restored by Arrow Films from the original 35mm camera negative. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New audio commentary by Guy Adams and Alexandra Benedict, creators of the audio drama "Arkham County"; "The Door into Dunwich," a new conversation between film historian Stephen R. Bissette and horror author Stephen Laws; "After Summer After Winter," a new interview with science fiction and fantasy writer Ruthanna Emrys; "The Sound of Cosmic Terror," new interview with music historian David Huckvale in which he takes a closer look at Les Baxter’s score for The Dunwich Horror; theatrical trailer; image gallery; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Luke Preece; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by film critics Johnny Mains and Jack Sargeant. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). Read more here.
photo for The Executioner Collection

The Executioner Collection

Fists flurry and blood flows as legendary cult director Teruo Ishii joins forces with martial arts legend Shin'ichi "Sonny" Chiba in this bone-crunching double whammy of classic karate exploitation from Toei. In "The Executioner" (1974) Ryuichi Koga (Chiba) is a descendent of the Koga Ninja school, now earning his living through more nefarious means as a gun for hire. When he is enlisted to take down a drug cartel alongside Hayabusa (Makoto Sato), a disgraced former narcotics detective now operating within the criminal underworld, and renegade Aikido master Sakura (Eiji Go), tensions grow among this three-man team of ne'er-do-wells as each come to question each other's motives. Koga returns in the even more gung-ho follow up, "Karate Inferno" (1974), as the ringmaster of a gang of thieves plotting to steal a priceless jewel from a master criminal. Making its High Definition home-video debut, The Executioner is presented in both its original Japanese-language version and with the English dub track from the 1970s North American release. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Brand new audio commentary by Chris Poggiali and Marc Walkow; "Sonny Chiba, Karate King," a 30-minute featurette on the legendary Sonny Chiba, featuring Grady Hendrix, Tom Mes, Chris Poggiali, Marco Joachim and Seiji Anno, from the band Guitar Wolf; original trailers; image galleries; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Lucas Peverill; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films by by Mark Schilling. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). Read more here.

Fear the Walking Dead Season 7

(2021-22) Four-disc set with 16 episodes of "The Walking Dead" spinoff, set in Los Angeles, California. Follows two families who must band together to survive the undead apocalypse. In Season Seven, Teddy (John Glover) brought about his vision of “The End” when he detonated nuclear warheads across the Texas landscape, but it will be up to the survivors to decide what “The Beginning” will look like. In this world devoid of light and hope, where the outside air is just as deadly as the walkers they face, the ones who lived will find out who they really are and what they’re really made of. Some will rise to the occasion. Others will find new purpose. Still others will redefine themselves – even if it comes at a terrible cost to those they once considered family. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Commentary on select episodes. (Lionsgate).
photo for The Gang of Four

The Gang of Four

(1988 -- France) Intimations of conspiracy hover over a group of actors in this underrated but decidedly major work from New Wave master and former Cahiers du Cinema editor-in-chief Jacques Rivette. Four young women share a house on the outskirts of Paris and study acting under a demanding teacher (Bulle Ogier). Outside class, each is questioned by a mysterious investigator on the trail of a former roommate who may be involved in a criminal enterprise. Rivette’s characteristic preoccupation with the intersections between daily life and performativity creep into every corner of this wholly engrossing mystery, which eventually expands beyond the confines of the film itself. Shot by DP Caroline Champetier ("Holy Motors") in a glorious late-‘80s palette of deep reds, golden yellows, and dark teals, this playful revisiting of his debut "Paris Belongs to Us" launched the second phase of Rivette’s career. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Cohen Film Collection).
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A Haunted Turkish Bath House

(1975 -- Japan) Naomi Tani, Misa Ohara, Taiji Tonoyama,Tomoko Mayama, Terumi Azuma, Kôji Fujiyama, Kôji Fujiyama, Sami Suzuki. Features Nikkatsu star Naomi Tani as an abused wife sold to a brothel to cover her husband’s debts. The deceitful husband is actually behind it all, in cahoots with the brothel madame, who is his lover. Tani discovers the truth and gets tortured to death. However, the dead woman’s soul seeks vengeance from a most unusual quarter. The film is a bizarre mixture of Japanese erotica, gangster film and “ghost cat” horror movie, all popular genres in the 1960s and 70s. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Interview with Patrick Macias, author of "TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion"; introduction to Toei horror films by Patrick Macias; audio commentary from Samm Deighan; trailers. (Mondo Macabro).
photo for House of Terrors

House of Terrors

(1965 -- Japan) Kô Nishimura, Yûko Kusunoki, Harold Conway, Shinjirô Ebara, Masumi Harukawa, Yoko Hayama, Kazuo Katô, Takeshi Katô. A rare Jaoanese gothic horror film making its Blu-ray debut. A recently widowed woman discovers that her former husband, who died in an insane asylum, owned a remote country mansion. She and a group of friends go to the villa and find a weird demonic statue in the hallway. They are joined by a hunchback caretaker who tells them of the numerous murders that have occurred there. Soon the guests begin to hear strange noises including disembodied laughter, and feel that they are being stalked by a disturbing presence that haunts the mansion. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Introduction to the film by Patrick Macias, author of "TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion"; audio commentary from Tom Mes; Patrick Macias on Toei horror films; trailer. (Mondo Macabro).
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Imitation of Life

(1934) Melodrama master John M. Stahl brings his exquisite restraint and almost spiritually pure visual style to this devastating, enduringly relevant story of mothers and daughters. "Imitation of Life" explores the friendship between two struggling single mothers: one (Claudette Colbert) a working-class white woman who ascends to the top of the business world, the other (Louise Beavers) her Black housekeeper, whose life is shattered by the rejection of her rebellious, white-passing daughter (Fredi Washington). It is this latter relationship — attuned to America’s bitter racial realities and heartbreakingly enacted by trailblazing Black performers Beavers and Washington — that lends the film its transcendent emotional power. This first adaptation of Fannie Hurst’s best-selling novel boldly confronts the complexities and contradictions of racial identity, economic exploitation, and the limits of the American dream. 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection).
photo for In the Folds of the Flesh

In the Folds of the Flesh

(1971 -- Italy/Spain) Eleonora Rossi Drago, Pier Angeli, Fernando Sancho, Alfredo Mayo, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba, Maria Rosa Sclauzero. Night-time, a peal of thunder, a castle by the sea, a severed head rolls across a carpeted floor, a blood-stained sword lies next to it. Meanwhile police are in hot pursuit of a criminal who is evading capture on a speeding motorbike. He takes refuge in the overgrown castle grounds, and he sees a dark-haired woman burying a corpse in a shallow grave. 13 years later, after being recaptured and serving his sentence, the man returns to the castle, intent on blackmail, and maybe a few other things. This only covers the first few minutes of this wild psychedelic nightmare. Frequently described as one of the craziest of all Italian “giallo” thrillers, "In the Folds of the Flesh" is all that and more. Several dismembered heads are featured. Visitors arrive at the castle, only to be murdered in a variety of gruesome ways. Characters turn out not to be who they said they were. Incest, madness, flashbacks, Etruscan skeletons and even a Nazi death camp are all woven into the fabric of the film. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Documentary featurette on director Sergio Bergonzelli; audio commentary from Samm Deighan; trailers. (Mondo Macabro).

Piggy

(2022 -- Spain) With the summer sun beating down on her rural Spanish town, Sara hides away in her parent’s butcher shop. A teenager whose excess weight makes her the target of incessant bullying, she flees a clique of capricious girls who torment her at the town pool, only to stumble upon them being brutally kidnapped by a stranger, who drives off with them in his van. When the police begin asking questions, Sara keeps quiet. Intrigued by the stranger — an interest that’s mutual — she’s torn between revealing the truth and protecting the man who saved her. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Magnolia Home Entertainment Magnet Label). Read more here

She Said

photo for She Said (2022) Based on the bombshell New York Times investigation, the film follows the remarkable true story of how reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor went from underdogs to inspirations by shattering the silence surrounding sexual assault in Hollywood. Determined to expose the truth many fear to tell, Megan and Jodi’s partnership shakes up the system, empowering courageous women to retake their strength through stories of survival. Vitals: Director: Maria Schrader. Stars: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: R, 129 min., Drama, North American box office gross: $5.285 million, worldwide $11.450 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Breaking the Story" behind-the-scenes featurette with journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor; theatrical trailer. Read more here 3 stars

The 3rd Guest

(2022) Nikki Kris, Matthew Clark, Clint Carmichael, Joseph Lopez, Logan Laurel, Andrea M. Anderson. Evie Kenneth (Kris) is talented, driven, and consumed with work until the unthinkable happens – her daughter dies suddenly. After burying her daughter, Evie turns to a former lover, Hart (Clark) for comfort. He decides to take Evie with him on a ghost-hunting assignment that turns into a nightmare, when real paranormal events occur and the two must fight for their lives to survive from these unseen force. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Indican Pictures). Read more here
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200 Meters

(2020 -- Palestine) Mustafa, a Palestinian construction worker, lives in a West Bank home a mere 200 meters away from his wife and children, on the other side of the Israeli border wall. Though eligible for an Israeli ID, Mustafa sacrifices living with his family in resistance to what he believes are unjust laws enforced by the occupying Israeli government, so he instead uses his work permit to visit daily. The arrangement is functional, until one day Mustafa gets a call every parent dreads: his son has been seriously injured and brought to an Israeli hospital. Rushing to cross the border checkpoint, Mustafa is denied on a technicality. Stopping at nothing to reach his child, a 200 meter distance becomes a 200 kilometer odyssey, as the increasingly desperate Mustafa attempts to smuggle himself to the other side of the wall. An impressive feature debut by writer-director Ameen Neyfeh that expertly balances tender family drama and frenetic political thriller. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Ameen Neyfeh. (Film Movement).



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January 17

photo for Death Knot

Death Knot

(2021 -- Indonesia) Morgan Oey, Widika Sidmore, Cornelio Sunny. After the sudden suicide of their estranged mother, two siblings return to their hometown and are immediately confronted by angry villagers. Convinced that the woman was a devotee of a dangerous brand of black magic deemed responsible for a string of mysterious deaths over many years, the locals demand that the siblings leave and allow for the burning of their childhood home in order to rid the town of the curse. While initially skeptical, a string of strange occurrences leads the siblings to believe there may be more truth to the rumors than they ever dreamed possible. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).

Detective Knight: Redemption

(2022) Bruce Willis, Lochlyn Munro, Corey Large. Willis stars as Detective James Knight in this second film of the action-packed trilogy. In custody in New York, Knight finds himself in the middle of a jailbreak led by The Christmas Bomber, a brutal fanatic whose Santa Claus disciples are terrorizing the city. With the promised return of his badge in exchange for taking out the terrorists, the steely-eyed Knight doles out mercy for the just ... and merciless justice for all the rest. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate).

Gunfight At Rio Bravo

(2023) Alexander Nevsky, Joe Cornet, Matthias Hues, Olivier Gruner, Natalie Denise Sperl, Kerry Goodman, Anna Ornis. When mysterious Russian gunslinger Ivan Turchin (Nevsky) rides into a small Texas town, he runs afoul of a bloodthirsty outlaw gang known as The Hellhounds. Outmanned and outgunned, the town must put their trust in Turchin to protect them from annihilation at the hands of the bandits. The gunslinger finds allies in the form of Marshal Austin Carter (Gruner) and Sheriff Vernon Kelly (Cornet), and together the three must make a desperate stand against impossible and violent odds. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Shout! Studios).
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Lady Whirlwind & Hapkido

(1972 -- Hong Kong) When director Huang Feng jumped ship from Shaw Brothers to their upstart rivals Golden Harvest, he swiftly launched the career of a Taiwanese ingenue barely out of Beijing opera school named Angela Mao, who despite her fresh-faced femininity became one of Hong Kong's toughest action icons of the 1970s. "Lady Whirlwind," directed by Huang in 1972, sees Mao dead set on avenging the death of her sister, only to find herself fighting a common enemy alongside the man she wants revenge on. "Hapkido," made the same year, sees her once more pitted against a gang of Japanese thugs, alongside fellow soon-to-be kung fu legends Sammo Hung and Carter Wong as disciples of the titular Korean fighting style, studying under real-life hapkido grandmasters Ji Han-jae ("Game of Death") and Hwang In-shik ("The Way of the Dragon"). Originally released in the US as "Deep Thrust" and "Lady Kung Fu" respectively, these two restored martial arts classics show Mao at her mightiest - every bit as formidable as the great Bruce Lee, whose sister she played in "Enter the Dragon" the following year. Brand new 2K restorations by Fortune Star. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Commentaries, interviews, Hong Kong theatrical trailers, image galleries, vintage featurette; FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing on the films by critic James Oliver. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). Read more here.
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Lars Von Trier’s Europe Trilogy

With his dazzling first three features, Lars von Trier sought nothing less than to map the soul of Europe — its troubled past, anxious present, and uncertain future. Linked by a fascination with hypnotic states and the mesmeric possibilities of cinema, the films that make up the "Europe Trilogy" — "The Element of Crime" (1984), "Epidemic" (1987), and "Europa" (1991) — filter the continent’s turbulent history, guilt, and traumas through the Danish provocateur’s audacious deconstructions of genres including film noir, melodrama, horror, and science fiction. Above all, they are bravura showcases for von Trier’s hallucinatory visuals, with each shot a tour de force of technical invention and dark imagination. Three-Blu-ray special edition features 4K digital restoration of "Europa," with uncompressed stereo soundtrack, and 3K digital restorations of "The Element of Crime" and "Epidemic," with uncompressed monaural soundtracks. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection).

The Menu

photo for The Menu (2022) A young couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.Vitals: Director: Mark Mylod. Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, John Leguizamo. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: R, 107 min., Comedy Thriller, North American box office gross: $30.422 million, worldwide $59.596 million, Fox. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Open Kitchen: A Look Inside The Menu" featurette; deleted scenes. Read more here 3 stars

Till

(2022) A profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice for her 14 year old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. In Mamie's poignant journey of grief turned to action, we see the universal power of a mother's ability to change the world. Vitals: Director: Chinonye Chukwu. Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Jamie Renell, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thompson. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 130 min., Drama, North American box office gross: $9.000 million, worldwide $9.422 million, MGM. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. 3 stars



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T-Shirts for Adults and Kids (Totes, Cups Too)


January 24

Colosseum

(2022) Two-disc set. This fascinating, eight-part series uses the Colosseum as the dramatic setting to tell the thrilling story of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire — through the lens of the men and women who fought and died there. Unfolding chronologically — from the arena’s astonishing design to its eventual decay — each episode pinpoints a key historical figure, combining dramatic live-action sequences and special effects with interviews from leading historians and scholars for a vivid and revealing look at a pivotal period in world history. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

The Dentist Collection

"The Dentist" (1996) and "The Dentist 2" (1998). Where there’s a drill, there’s a way. Corbin Bernsen stars as homicidal dentist Dr. Alan Feinstone in these two horror favorites, available for the first time on Blu-ray. In "The Dentist," Beverly Hills dentist Dr. Feinstone seems to have the perfect, ordered life — until the discovery of his wife’s affair with the pool boy photo for The Ghosts of Mondaysends him off the deep end, unlocking the killer inside. "The Dentist 2" finds the evil doctor in a maximum-security mental hospital ... but not for long, as he escapes to a small town and turns his attentions to a new love interest and new victims. Formats: Blu-ray, Digital. Extras: Commentaries, interviews, trailers, still galleries. (Lionsgate).

The Ghosts of Monday

(2022) Mark Huberman, Julian Sands, Marianna Rosset, Elva Trill, Anthony Skordi. The chilling story of a group of US film-makers who travel to Cyprus to film a documentary in the tragically famous Hotel Gula - a once popular resort where more than 100 people died in mysterious circumstances. What begins as just another day at the office will eventually turn into a terrifying journey into the unknown. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Cleopatra Entertainment). Read more here
photo for Inu-oh

Inu-oh

(2021 -- Japan) A soaring glam-rock opera set in 14th-century Japan from visionary director Masaaki Yuasa that is an ode to the power of music and a forceful statement on artistic freedom. Features original rock songs by the lead voice actors Avu-chan and Mirai Moriyama. Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts. In Japanese and with an English-dubbed track. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: Q&A at US premiere, interview with Masaaki Yuasa, Yuasa draws Inu-oh, scene breakdown, trailers and teasers. (GKIDS/Shout! Factory).
photo for Nightmare Man

Nightmare Man

(2006) After receiving a demonic African mask in the mail, Ellen Morris (Blythe Metz) is attacked in her dreams by an evil being she calls "Nightmare Man" and is labeled a paranoid schizophrenic by both her doctor and her husband. Unsure if the demon is real or not, Ellen flees for her life and next she is brutally attacked and is taken in by a group of friends staying at a remote cabin in the woods. A throwback to the terrifying slasher films of the 1980's. Starring writer-director Rolfe Kanefsky regular and one of Playboy's 50 sexiest scream queens of all time, Tiffany Shepis ("The Hazing," "Sharknado 2"), Blythe Metz ("The Craving Heart"), and Richard Moll (TV'S "Nightcourt," "Scary Movie 2"). Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New "There’s Something Out There: The Making of Nightmare Man," "Creating a Nightmare: The Making of Nightmare Man" with interviews from writer-director Rolfe Kanefsky, actors Tiffany Shepis and Blythe Metz, makeup effects artist Jeff Farley, and producer E; film score audio-only track; extended scenes; Tiffany's behind-the-scenes; "Flubbing a Nightmare" gag reel; still gallery; promo reel; audio commentary with director Rolfe Kanefsky, producer Esther Goodstein, and cast member Tiffany Shepis. (Ronin Flix/MVD Entertainment).
photo for Poppy

Poppy

(2021 -- New Zealand) Libby Hunsdale, Ari Boyland, Seb Hunter, Kali Kopae. Nineteen-year-old Poppy Simpson is an irrepressible young woman with Down syndrome - and the idea that she should get to do what everyone else does: have a job, drive a car, get married, have sex, be in charge of her own destiny. Holding her back is Dave, her older brother and only family since the death of their parents. They work together in their inherited auto shop business, but super-protective Dave doesn't think she's up to getting her driver's license, becoming an auto mechanic, or having an adult relationship. Quietly rebellious, Poppy secretly begins to teach herself to drive, finds a friend at the Automobile Association where she's get her provisional license, and reconnects with a school friend, Luke, who needs his car repaired in time for the local burnout competition - Poppy offers to fix his car on the quiet in exchange for driving lessons. All the while, the family repair business is failing badly, Dave's overwhelmed and drowning his worries in alcohol, and on burnout day, Poppy secretly decides to enter the competition herself. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indiepix).

Rock Dog 3: Battle the Bear

(2022) Voices of Eddie Izzard, Andrew Francis, Ashleigh Ball, Bethany Brown. Bodi rocks back into the spotlight with this animated sequel. After touring the world, Bodi takes some time off and returns to his village. When he learns that the girl group, K-9, doesn't know who rock legend Angus Scattergood is, he is compelled to join the musical competition show, “Battle the Beat,” to inspire a new generation of rock stars. But after joining the show, Bodi quickly realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew when he becomes an overnight TV personality sensation. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. (Lionsgate).
photo for THIS IS NOT A BURIAL, IT’S A RESURRECTION

This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection

(2019 -- Lesotho) With a poet’s eye for place, light, and the spiritual dimensions of everyday existence, Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese crafts a meditation on the concept of homeland and a transcendent elegy for what is lost in the name of progress. Grieving and alone following the deaths of her husband and children, elderly Mantoa (Mary Twala Mhlongo), in a soul-shaking end-of-life performance) prepares for her own death and to be buried alongside her ancestors. When plans for a new dam near her village in the landlocked kingdom of Lesotho threaten to literally wash away all she holds dear, Mantoa takes a last stand, mobilizing her neighbors to fight for their land and their way of life. The experience of watching Mosese’s visionary, much-lauded film is as timeless and elemental as the land itself. 2K digital master, approved by director Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection).

Violent Night

photo for Violent Night (2022) When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint. Vitals: Director: Tommy Wirkola. Stars: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder and Beverly D’Angelo. 2022, CC, MPAA rating: R, 111 min., Horror Thriller, North American box office gross: $49.999 million, worldwide $75.546 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted and extended scenes; "Quarrelin' Kringle" on why David Harbour is the perfect brawler for this combative rendition of Santa; "Santa's Helpers: The Making of VIOLENT NIGHT"; "Deck the Halls with Brawls" behind-the-action; feature commentary with director Tommy Wirkola, producer Guy Danella, writer Pat Casey and writer Josh Miller. Read more here 3 stars




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January 31

photo for Bergman Island

Bergman Island

(2021 -- France) Writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve embarks on a luminous summertime odyssey to the home of Ingmar Bergman for her seventh feature, a graceful, shape-shifting tale about the interplay of life and art and the ways in which stories are born. In search of inspiration for their current filmmaking projects, Chris (Vicky Krieps) and her partner (Tim Roth) travel to the remote island of Fårö, Sweden, where Bergman lived and worked for decades. There, the spirit of the cinema master looms as Chris confronts her complicated relationships to work, men, motherhood, and her artistic influences. Also featuring radiant performances from Mia Wasikowska and Anders Danielsen Lie, "Bergman Island" is a rich deconstruction of the mysteries of the creative process and the journey that every film takes from thought to page to screen. 2K digital master, approved by director Mia Hansen-Løve, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection).
photo for The Grandmaster of Kung Fu

The Grandmaster of Kung Fu

(2019 -- China) Du Yu Hang (aka Dennis To), Gao Xue-mei, Yang Yong-feng, Li Ruo Xi, Zhuang Han. Near the end of the Qing Dynasty, a renowned Chinese martial artist engages in a life-or-death battle with a feared Japanese military commander in order to prevent Japan's ultimate goal of seizing martial arts stronghold Tianjin. In an attempt to invade China, the Japanese try to destroy the Tianjin Martial Arts Association and open their own military academy. Grandmaster Huo Yuan Jia, a martial arts expert, must stop them from taking over the city. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).

Heretic

(2021) Marlene McCohen, Ginny You, Brenton Jones, Harmony Smith. Hannah Blair tells people stories, predicts their future and even dabbles in communicating with the dead. One stormy night that all changes when she meets Rachel, who is actually a dead, lost spirit. Emboldened by this event, she is determined to find out the truth about what happened to her parents’ years before. Hannah embarks on a journey into the netherworld where she comes face to face with the Entity. An evil who has haunted mankind since the dawn of time and, who now, wants Hannah. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indican Pictures). Read more here
photo for The Lukas Moodysson Collection [Limited Edition]

The Lukas Moodysson Collection [Limited Edition]

Ever since his debut was heralded as "a young master's first masterpiece" by none other than Ingmar Bergman, director Lukas Moodysson has been hailed internationally as one of Sweden's greatest filmmaking talents, delighting and confounding audiences in equal measure. Available together for the first time, Moodysson's eclectic filmography can now be appreciated as the work of a singular filmmaking voice, as avowedly uncompromising and unabashedly political as it is keenly observed, deeply felt and frequently hilarious. Moodysson's first film, "Fucking Åmål" (1997) (released overseas as "Show Me Love"), was quickly heralded as a new queer cinema touchstone and one of the most authentic portrayals of youthful relationships on film. He swiftly followed this with the bittersweet, satirical 1970s-set "Together" (2000), in which the inhabitants of a commune try to reconcile their ideals with their hearts' desires. Having made a name for himself as the new master of tragicomic, feelgood humanism, Moodysson suddenly frustrated expectations with a trio of startlingly confrontational works: the hauntingly bleak "Lilya 4-ever" (2002), the abrasive and semi-improvised "A Hole in My Heart" (2004) and the avant-garde "Container" (2006), narrated in its English version by Jena Malone ("Donnie Darko"). After making his mainstream English-language debut with the expansive "Mammoth" (2009), starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Williams, Moodysson returned to his roots with "We Are The Best!" (2012) (based on a graphic novel by his wife and "consigliere" Coco), the charming and funny tale of three schoolgirls starting a punk band in early-1980s Stockholm. Media Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: 200-page hardback book featuring new writing by Peter Walsh, excerpts from the original press kits for each film and essays on his films from a 2014 special issue of the Nordic culture journal Scandinavica; new interviews with Lukas Moodysson and with actor Alexandra Dahlström, producer Lars Jönsson, editor Michal Leszczylowski, costume designer Denise Östholm, line producer Malte Forssell, script supervisor Malin Fornander and cinematographer Ulf Brantås; appreciation of "Fucking Åmål" by Dr. Clara Bradbury-Rance, author of "Lesbian Cinema After Queer Theory"; "Talk," a 1997 short film directed by Moodysson; deleted scenes from "Together"; London Film Festival Q&As for "Lilya 4-ever" and "We Are The Best!"; 2004 NFTS Masterclass with Moodysson; archive featurettes for "A Hole in My Heart" and "Container"; short archive interviews on "Mammoth" with Moodysson and Gael Garcia Bernal; appreciation of "We Are The Best!" by Swedish punk historian David Andersson; trailer and image galleries for all films. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). Read more here.

Next Exit

(2022) When a research scientist (Karen Gillan) makes national news proving she can track people into the afterlife – Rose (Katie Parker) sees a way out and Teddy (Rahul Kohli) sees his chance to finally make it. These two strangers, both harboring dark secrets, race to join the doctor's contentious study and leave this life behind. While Rose is haunted by a ghostly presence that she can't outrun, Teddy is forced to confront his past. As these two misfits humorously quarrel their way across the country, they meet people along the way who force them to reckon with what is really driving them. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Magnolia Pictures /Magnet Label).

Sesame Street – Elmo & Tango: Furry Friends Forever

(2022) Everyone’s favorite furry red monster gets more lovable as Elmo and his newly adopted pet, Tango embark on hours of furry fun. Gives children a look at meeting a new animal, taking care of a pet and having fun with your new best friend through music, laughter and fun. The adorable friends are joined by special celebrity guests Keke Palmer, Kacey Musgraves and John Batiste. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Bonus features "Elmo Gets a Puppy" and "Elmo’s World: Pets." (Sesame Workshop/Shout! Kids).

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All listings are based on information from the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally, some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices for some special editions, box sets and collections.



All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.


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January 10, 2023
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