Blu-ray Releases
OnVideo's Guide to DVDs
Links to DVD news, information and sales sites.
June 2024
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- June 4
Darkness of Man
(2024) Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristanna Loken, Spencer Breslin, Shannen Doherty, Emerson Min, Peter Jae, Sticky Fingaz. Russell Hatch (Van Damme) is a washed up, former Interpol operative who vowed to protect the son of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep the him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Sony). 
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
(1998) It is 1971, and journalist Raoul Duke barrels toward Las Vegas -- accompanied by a trunkful of contraband and his slightly unhinged Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo -- to cover a motorcycle race. What should be a cut-and-dried journalistic assignment quickly descends into a feverish psychedelic odyssey. Director Terry Gilliam and an all-star cast, headlined by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro, show no mercy in bringing Hunter S. Thompson’s excoriating dissection of the American way of life to the screen, creating a film both hilarious and savage. Formats: 4K UHD/Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director Terry Gilliam, presented in the aspect ratio of 2.39:1, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack. One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection).
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Founders Day
(2024) Devin Druid, Amy Hargreaves, Naomi Grace, Catherine Curtin, Emilia McCarthy, Olivia Nikkanen, William Russ. A small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election. As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town. Formats: Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (MPI Home Video). Read more here Lost Soulz
(2023) Sauve Sidle, Alexander Brackney, Malachi Mabson, Micro TDH, Siyanda Stillwell, Krystall Poppin. A rapper leaves everything behind and embarks on an odyssey of self discovery, music, and friendship in the heart of Texas. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary by director Katherine Propper and star Sauve Sidle; Katherine Propper’s short films: "Street Flame" (2019) and "Birds" (2021); deleted and extended scenes; theatrical trailer. (Kino Lorber). 
Postal
(2007) Director: Uwe Boll; Stars Zack Ward, David Foley, Verne Troyer, Jackie Tohn, Chris Coppola. Dive into the chaotic world of Postal Dude, a man down on his luck, thrust into an outlandish scheme by his cult-leading uncle. Their audacious heist at a local amusement park, targeting a coveted trove of trendy toys, spirals into madness with the sudden intervention of terrorists with a sinister plot. Massacre Video brings Uwe Boll's daring and controversial adaptation of the popular video game to stunning 4K UHD. This darkly comedic masterpiece has been meticulously scanned from the original negatives for a state-of-the-art 4K presentation. Formats: 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo. Extras: Director audio commentary; "Running With Scissors" audio commentary: behind the scenes; deleted scenes; making of features; gag reel. (Massacre Video). Ruby's Choice
(2024) Jane Seymour, Jacqueline McKenzie, Stephen Hunter, Coco Jack Gillies, Nicole Pastor. An aging woman with dementia moves in with her daughter's family when she is unable to continue to live by herself. Her teen granddaughter is forced to share her room and miss school to care for her. Her resentment turns to love as she spends her days and nights with her grandmother and long-hidden family secrets are revealed, giving a new understanding and appreciation of her past.Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Vision). 
Wicked Little Letters
(2024) Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, the film follows two neighbors: deeply-conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents start to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town's women, led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan), begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss and Rose might not be the culprit after all. Vitals: Director: Thea Sharrock. Stars: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Gemma Jones. CC, MPAA rating: R, 100 min., Comedy Mystery, North American box office gross: $4.882 million, worldwide $25.804 million, Sony. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. 
Back to top- June 11
The Animal Kingdom
(2024 -- France) Roman Duris, Paul Kircher, Adèle Exarchopoulos. Thriller that takes place in an extraordinary world where mutations in human genetics cause people to transform into hybrid creatures. François does everything he can to save his wife, who is affected by this mysterious condition. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest, François embarks with Emile, their 16-year-old son, on a quest to find her with help from a local police officer. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/Magnet Label). Read more here Blind War
(2022 -- China) Andy On, Li Zixiong, Yang Xing, Wang Hanyangm. After breaking protocol during a surprise courthouse siege that leaves him permanently blinded, a SWAT captain retires from the force in disgrace. But while he adjusts to his new reality as a civilian, his beloved daughter is kidnapped, forcing him to seek out an unlikely ally to help him pursue justice from the shadows. Formats: Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA). Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning
(2023 -- Japan) It's 2012, and 10 years have passed since the adventure in the Digital World. Daisuke Motomiya is now 20, and he and the rest of the DigiDestined seem to be changing bit by bit in terms of appearance and lifestyle. Then one day, a giant Digitama suddenly appears in the sky over Tokyo Tower. Daisuke and the others encounter a mysterious young man named Lui Ohwada, who informs them that he’s the first ever DigiDestined in the world. Available for the first time in the U.S. and Canada, the collectible Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack includes original Japanese and English dub movie presentations. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: An introduction from director Tomohisa Taguchi. (Shout! Studios). Read more here 
Don't Look At Me That Way
(2015 -- Germany) Catrina Stemmer, Uisenma Borchu, Anne-Marie Weisz, Josef Bierbichler. While struggling to balance her job, university studies and raising her five-year-old daughter, Iva (Stemmer) encounters Hedi (Borchu), a strange and fascinating woman who lives in her building. Friendship quickly turns into passion, and the two begin a torrid affair. But when Hedi inserts herself into Iva's relationship with her father (Bierbichler), boundaries are crossed, leading to a taboo love triangle with destructive consequences. Written, directed and starring Uisenma Borchu in her narrative feature debut, the film is a compelling examination of female roles, the power of sexuality, gender identity and alienation between cultures in this German-Mongolian love drama. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Indiepix Classics). 
Edge of Everything
(2023) Sierra McCormick, Jason Butler Harner, Ryan Simpkins, Emily Robinson, Sabina Friedman-Seitz. Abby, on the cusp of turning 15 and at a delicate moment in life, is forced to move in with her father and his younger girlfriend. Feeling alone in the world, the angry and determined teen strikes up a possibly dangerous friendship with the carefree and rebellious Caroline, while exploring new personas, drugs and sexual experiences on the path to finding her place in life. The film is from writer-director duo Sophia Sabella and Pablo Feldman, who are making their feature-length narrative debut. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Lightyear Entertainment). 
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
(2024) The new installment in the Monsterverse puts the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal deadly threat hidden within our world that threatens the existence of their species and our very own, as well as diving deep into the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond. Delving straight into the origins of Hollow Earth, the film explores the ancient Titan battle that brought man and monster together forever. Vitals: Director: Adam Wingard. Stars: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen. CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 115 min., Action, North American box office gross: $194.3 million, worldwide $563.6 million, Warner. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary by director Adam Wingard; featurettes. Read more here.
Immaculate
(2023) Sydney Sweeney stars as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia's warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors. Vitals: Director: Michael Mohan. Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco. CC, MPAA rating: R, 89 min., Horror Thriller, North American box office gross: $15.671 million, worldwide $25.791 million, Decal Neon. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. 
Mute Witness
(1995) Marina Zudina, Fay Ripley, Oleg Yankovsky, Alec Guinness, Evan Richards, Igor Volkov, Sergei Karlen. Director Anthony Waller’s cult horror classic arrives in both 4K UHD and Blu-ray Limited Edition sets featuring a 4K restoration approved by Waller himself ("An American Werewolf in Paris"). The plot revolves around a mute make-up artist named Billy Hughes, who is in Russia working on a low-budget slasher film. Working late one night in the studio, Billy wanders onto an adult film set and witnesses a murder. She goes on the run but quickly realizes that there is nowhere to turn as friends and family cannot protect her against the Russian mob, corrupt police officers, and the KGB. Waller’s audacious thriller is a stylish ode to the work of Hitchcock featuring Sir Alec Guinness in his final role. Formats: 4K UHD, Blu-ray. Extras: Read more here. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). 
Origin
(2024) Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) seems to have it all, with a loving husband, a supportive family and a new book coming out. When she's asked to write a newspaper article about the tragic events surrounding Trayvon Martin's death, she turns it down, feeling she has enough on her plate. However, the teen's plight is never far from her mind, and as tragedy strikes, she decides to delve into what causes this form of hatred of others, from the Holocaust, to the slaves of America, to the caste system in India. Her research uncovers a startling new take on all of this discrimination. The more she learns, the more content she finds while writing what would become her New York Times best-selling book, "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents." Vitals: Director: Ava DuVernay. Stars: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vera Farmiga, Niecy Nash, Blair Underwood, Finn Wittrock, Nick Offerman, Jon Bernthal. CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 141 min., Drama, North American box office gross: $4.689 million, worldwide $4,812 million, Decal Neon. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Behind the Scenes of Origin" featurette. 
Querelle
(1982 -- Germany, France) Conjured from the unholy meeting of two iconoclastic queer artists, Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s final film audaciously raises Jean Genet’s controversial novel to the level of myth. In an expressionistic soundstage vision of a French seaport town—bathed in fiery reds and complete with phallic spires -- a strapping sailor and unrepentant criminal (Brad Davis) comes ashore to arouse passion, rivalry, and violence among the libidinal denizens drawn into his orbit. Enacted with dreamlike stylization by a cast of international stars, including Jeanne Moreau and Franco Nero, "Querelle" finds Fassbinder pushing his taboo-shattering depiction of gay desire to delirious extremes. Formats: Blu-ray, with restored high-definition digital master, approved by director of photography Xaver Schwarzenberger, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: New interview with critic Michael Koresky on director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's aesthetics and visual storytelling; "Rainer Werner Fassbinder -- Last Works" a 1982 documentary by Wolf Gremm; trailer; an essay by critic Nathan Lee. Read more here. (The Criterion Collection). 
The Sales Girl
(2021 -- Mongolia) Bayarjargal Bayartsetseg, Oidovjamts Enkhtuul. When college coed Saruul takes a temporary job as a clerk in a sex shop, her poker-faced indifference makes her the perfect foil for the shop's clientele, who range from slightly sheepish and cautiously curious to downright perverse. But it's the shop's flamboyant, eccentric female owner who initiates Saruul's journey into adulthood - taking her under her wing, teaching her the art of living, and gently guiding her on the path to self-discovery. This joyfully quirky, "candid big-city coming-of-age story" from Janchivdorj Sengedorj is fueled by a splendidly original script, utterly unique characters and unexpected encounters. In Mongolian and Russian with English subtitles. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Film Movement). Stopmotion
(2024) Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York. Ella Blake is a stop-motion animator who is struggling to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother. Suddenly alone in the world, she embarks upon the creation of a macabre new puppet film, which soon becomes the battleground for her sanity. As Ella’s mind starts to fracture, the characters in her animated film take on a terrifying life of their own, and the unleashed power of her imagination threatens to destroy her. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (IFC Films). Read more here 
Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series
(1975-79) Twelve-disc set with all 95 episodes from all four seasons. Go down memory lane as high school teacher Gabe Kotter returns to his childhood inner-city high school to teach a new generation of trouble making kids. "Welcome Back, Kotter" premiered in 1975 and aired for four seasons. The original cast includes a young John Travolta playing the role of Vinnie Barbarino in his first principal TV role. The series also stars Gabe Kaplan as Gabe Kotter, Marcia Strassman as Julie Kotter, John Sylvester White as Mr. Woodman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Washington, Robert Hegyes as Epstein, and Ron Palillo as Horshack. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Back to top- June 18
American Fiction
(2023) Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut confronts our culture's obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a frustrated novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from "Black" entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish "Black" book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. Vitals: Director: Cord Jefferson. Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Myra Lucretia Taylor. CC, MPAA rating: R, 117 min., Comedy Drama, North American box office gross: $21.098 million, worldwide $22.483 million, MGM. Formats:Blu-ray + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. 
American Gigolo
(1980) Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Bill Duke, Hector Elizondo, Nina van Pallandt, Brian Davies. Paul Schrader’s stylish neo-noir crime drama makes its debut on 4K UHD and Blu-ray in Limited Edition sets featuring a brand new 4K remaster from the original negative. Julian (a mesmerizing Richard Gere, in his breakthrough performance), a high-priced male escort, has the perfect car, the perfect wardrobe, the perfect house, and the perfect life. He desires the same lifestyle that his elite clients enjoy, but that desire turns to jealousy and one of his clients ends up dead. The drama builds as Julian realizes he’s being framed for the murder and races to prove his innocence. The film features music by Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Score Giorgio Moroder, who co-wrote “Call Me,” the film’s signature theme song by Blondie. The costuming by Giorgio Armani defined the era of disco and 80s extravagance and is widely credited for establishing the designer’s brand in North America. Formats: 4K UHD, Blu-ray. Extras: Read more here. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). 
Bound
(1996) Before they blew the world’s mind with "The Matrix", Lana and Lilly Wachowski delivered a jolt of pure pulp pleasure with their hyperstylish debut, which puts a deliciously sapphic spin on a crackerjack caper premise. When butch plumber Corky (Gina Gershon) catches the eye of alluring femme (fatale) Violet (Jennifer Tilly), little does she know she’s about to be drawn into both a torrid affair and a high-stakes heist that will pit the pair against the mob. With crackling dialogue, luscious neonoir cinematography, and live-wire performances by Gershon, Tilly, and Joe Pantoliano, "Bound" is a genre-reimagining joyride that keeps both the tension and the erotic heat rising through each crazily careening twist. Formats: 4K UHD/Blu-ray, with new 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by cinematographer Bill Pope, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features. Extras: Audio commentary featuring directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, actors Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano, and Jennifer Tilly, editor Zach Staenberg and technical consultant Susie Bright; new video essay by film critic Christina Newland; six interview programs featuring Gershon, Pantoliano, Pope, Staenberg, Tilly, actor Christopher Meloni, composer Don Davis, title designer Patti Podesta, and film scholars Jennifer Moorman and B. Ruby Rich; trailers. Read more here. (The Criterion Collection). Mars Express
(2024 -- France) The visually innovative cyberpunk detective story Mars Express first premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and later competed in the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Feature. The neo-noir animation also scored César and Lumière Award nominations for Best Animated Film and received the audience 
award at the 2023 Fantasy Film Fest. Society’s elite abandon Earth in 2200 to make Mars the center of civilization. They are served by obedient robots that are nearly indistinguishable from the humans that they have replaced. Amidst a growing scandal of an underground group hacking androids, a cybernetics student disappears. Capable-but-troubled detective Aline and her android partner, Carlos, take the case to find her. As they descend into the dark underbelly of Mars, they unravel a deeper conspiracy that threatens mankind – and their robot counterparts. Mars Express injects the cyberpunk genre with urgent new themes that make its far-flung world feel strangely like our own in the propulsive feature film debut from director Jérémie Périn.
Formats: Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Let’s Play Classic Games with Director Jérémie Périn"; "Director Scene Breakdown – Opening Scene"; "Director Scene Breakdown – Sequence 87." (GKIDS/Shout! Studios). Read more here
Nowhere Special
(2020 -- UK) Daniel Lamont, James Norton, Eileen O'Higgins. Norton stars as John, a 35-year-old window cleaner, who has dedicated his life to bringing up his 4-year-old son, Michael, after the child’s mother left them soon after giving birth. When John is given only a few months left to live, he attempts to find a new, perfect family for Michael, determined to shield him from the terrible reality of the situation. As John struggles to find the right answer to his impossible task, he comes to accept the help of a young social worker, opening himself to solutions he would never have considered. And he finally comes to accept his anger at the injustice of his destiny, the need to share the truth with his son, and to follow the child’s instincts on the biggest decision of their lives. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Cohen Media Group). 
Victims of Sin
(1951 -- Mexico) A treasure of Mexico’s cinematic golden age, this deliriously plotted blend of gritty crime film, heart-tugging maternal melodrama, and mambo musical is a dazzling showcase for iconic star Ninón Sevilla. She brings fierce charisma and fiery strength to her role as a rumbera -- a female nightclub dancer -- —who gives up everything to raise an abandoned boy, whom she must protect from his ruthless gangster father. Directed at a dizzying pace by filmmaking titan Emilio Fernández, and shot in stylish chiaroscuro by renowned cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa amid smoky dance halls and atmospherically seedy underworld haunts, "Victims of Sin" is a ferociously entertaining female-powered noir pulsing with the intoxicating rhythms of some of Latin America’s most legendary musical stars. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: New interview with filmmaker and archivist Viviana Garcia Besné; new interview with cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto on the work of Gabriel Figueroa; archival documentary on "cine de rumberas," featuring interviews with actor Ninón Sevilla; trailer; an essay by scholar Jacqueline Avila. Read more here. (The Criterion Collection). - June 25
Backwoods Double Feature: Common Law Wife (1963) + Jennie, Wife/Child (1968)
Make a jug of sweet tea, y’all, and enjoy some summer viewing with these “Hicksploitation” films from the ‘60s—over-the-top exploitation films that targeted cultural stereotypes of rural Southern culture. Old men cast their eyes on young women, moonshine brews in the swamps, young farm hands, town floozies. This pair of slice-of-life films transports you to 
the best of the backwoods. Both films are from original 35mm archival elements—with supplemental 1080p footage in "Common Law Wife," on Blu-ray for the first time. In "Common Law Wife," Shugfoot Rainey (George Edgley) trades in his longtime girlfriend (Annabelle Weenick) for a newer model ... who just happens to be his niece, Baby Doll (Lacey Kelly). Unfortunately, his mistress does her research and discovers she is his common law wife ... and he won't be able to get rid of her that easily. Directed by Eric Sayers, the film is actually spliced together with an unfinished film, "Swamp Rose," directed by Larry Buchanan ("Mars Needs Women," 1968; "It’s Alive," 1969; "Naked Witch," 1964). Marketed as an “educational film” in the original trailer, it warned its potential viewers of the lecherous lives its characters led. As parts of the film were shot a few years later, Baby Doll is allegedly played by a couple different actresses, contributing to a frenzied, not completely cohesive, storyline. In "Jennie, Wife/Child," aka Albert Peckingpaw’s Revenge, Albert Peckingpaw (Jack Lester) takes Jennie (Beverly Lundsford) to be his wife ... But Jennie is a whole lot younger and has her eye on the young farm hand, Mario (Jim Reader). Old Man Peckingpaw is bound to find out what's happening on his farm sooner or later and, when he does, watch out. Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond, a later Oscar winner for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), elevates this film above others in the genre. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary, "That’s Hicksploitation: The Origin of Southern Sinema"; archival audio commentary for "Common Law Wife" by director of "Swamp Rose," Larry Buchanan, and film historian/Mondo Digital founder, Nathaniel Thompson; Millie De Chirico, film programmer, writer and host of the podcast I Saw What you Did, and Ben Cheaves, programmer at Turner Classic Movies, provide a new, feature-length commentary for "Common Law Wife"; De Chirico also provides the full-length commentary for "Jennie Wife/Child"; liner notes by Lisa Petrucci; original, restored trailer for "Common Law Wife"; and newly created trailer by Film Masters for "Jennie, Wife/Child." (Film Masters). Read more here
Bandits of Orgosolo
(1961 -- Italy) A Sardinian peasant is suspected of murder following an encounter with bandits. In order to survive, he has no option but to turn to banditry himself. Winning multiple awards at the Venice Film Festival, Vittorio De Seta's "Bandits of Orgosolo" continues the traditions of Visconti and De Sica; yet with his own style and rhythms, he musters just as much power as the earlier masters. Despite awards and plaudits on release this incredible film only now makes its debut on home video. Upon release, "Bandits" moved Martin Scorsese to observe: "It was as if De Seta were an anthropologist who spoke with the voice of a poet." New 4K restoration from the original camera negative by The Film Foundation and Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with Titanus with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: New interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli; new interview with curator and filmmaker Ehsan Khoshbakht; trailer; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista; limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Roberto Curti. (Radiance/MVD Entertainment). 
Blue Velvet
(1986) Home from college, Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) makes an unsettling discovery: a severed human ear, lying in a field. In the mystery that follows, by turns terrifying and darkly funny, writer-director David Lynch burrows deep beneath the picturesque surfaces of small-town life. Driven to investigate, Jeffrey finds himself drawing closer to his fellow amateur sleuth, Sandy Williams (Laura Dern), as well as their person of interest, lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) -- and facing the fury of Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), a psychopath who will stop at nothing to keep Dorothy in his grasp. With intense performances and hauntingly powerful scenes and images, "Blue Velvet" is an unforgettable vision of innocence lost, and one of the most influential American films of the late 20th century. Formats: 4K UHD/Blu-ray, with 4K digital restoration, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, supervised and approved by director David Lynch. Alternate original 2.0 surround soundtrack. One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection). Beast Fighter
(1975 -- Japan) Two thrilling martial arts movies based on the hit manga series "Karate Baka Ichidai" and starring Sonny Chiba. The mighty Sonny Chiba stars in two spectacular martial arts movies based upon the real life of Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama – the fabled bull-slaying karate master who trained none other than Chiba himself. In "Karate Bullfighter" (or "Champion of Death"), a karate tournament is crashed by an enigmatic martial artist calling himself Oyama (Chiba), who arrives in tattered rags and beats all who dare challenge him. But Oyama’s entrance into the world of karate has unforeseen consequences, and soon he is fighting for far more than sporting victory. Then, in "Karate Bearfighter," Oyama is expelled from the karate community for refusing to pull his punches. With nowhere else to turn, he takes a job with the yakuza after running into Kimura (Hideo Murota), who Oyama once knew as a fellow member of the Imperial Japanese Air Service before he turned to a life of crime. Ultimately, though, Oyama has no more respect for his superiors on the streets than he did in the dojo. Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi ("Sister Street Fighter"), both films were adapted from the popular manga series "Karate Baka Ichidai" by Ikki Kajiwara, which ran from 1971 to 1977 and chronicled the life and legend of Mas Oyama. New restorations of the original film elements by Toei. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Brand new feature length audio commentaries on both films by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema; "In Search of the Ultimate Truth" new video essay by Jonathan Clements, author of "A Brief History of the Martial Arts"; original theatrical trailers; limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Eddie Falvey (first print run of 2000 copies. (Eureka Entertainment). Ennio
(2022 -- Italy) Giuseppe Tornatore ("Cinema Paradiso") turns his camera on his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone in a moving and comprehensive portrait of the prolific composer. This thoughtful documentary exploration captures the breadth of the maestro’s career across the hundreds of unforgettable film scores that he wrote, and affords the master one last chance to recount his career and artistic process. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Music Box Films). Read more here 
The Flash: The Original Series BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1990-91) Six-disc set with all 22 episodes. The origins and exploits of the crimefighting DC Comics superhero come your way in this live-action series. John Wesley Shipp portrays Barry Allen, a police crime technologist endowed with sudden talents after a fluke lab accident. He pledges to use his new powers for good, powers that include ultra-speed reflexes and the ability to vibrate his molecules so rapidly he can pass through solid walls. Amanda Pays is medical researcher Tina McGee, who monitors Allen's accelerated metabolism and guards his secret identity. The Tricksters, Captain Cold, the Ghost, mad inventors: Central City is rife with criminals. Now there's a hero to keep pace with them. (Warner Archive). 
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
(2024) The Spengler family returns to where it all started - the iconic New York City firehouse - to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an army of ghosts that casts a death chill upon the city, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age. Vitals: Director: Gil Kenan. Stars: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts. CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 115 min., Action Comedy, North American box office gross: $112.1 million, worldwide $199.0 million, Sony. Formats: DVD + Digital Code, Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted & Extended scenes; Easter Eggs unleashed; "Return to the Firehouse: Making Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire"; "Busted: Capturing the Ghosts of Frozen Empire"; "Manifesting Garraka"; "New York, New Gear"; "Welcome to the Paranormal Discovery Center"; "Knowing the Score"; commentary with director, co-writer Gil Kenan. Read more here.
The Guyver
(1991) When college student Sean Barker (Jack Armstrong) finds the Guyver, an alien device that transforms him into a cyborg fighting machine, he inadvertently makes himself a target of the evil Chronos Corporation, who will stop at nothing to get the Guyver back, including kidnapping Sean’s girlfriend Mizuki (Vivian Wu). Sean’s only hope is a mysterious CIA agent named Max Reed (Mark Hamill). Together they fight to save Mizuki, keep the Guyver out of Chronos’ hands and stop their ultimate goal of world domination. New 4K restoration of the original R-rated 35mm camera negative by Unearthed Films. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD + Blu-ray + CD Soundtrack Extras: Commentaries, interviews, outtakes, gag reel, art galleries, more. (Unearthed Films/MVD Entertainment). Read more here. Homework
(1982) Michael Morgan, Joan Collins, Shell Kepler, Lanny Horn, Erin Donovan, Renee Harris, Mark Brown, Lee Purcell, Carrie Snodgress, Wings Hauser. Follows good-looking high school senior, Tommy (Morgan), a recently impeached class president and rock star hopeful who is also a perpetual virgin. He tries to score with some of the local high school girls but a classmate's mom decides to make a man out of him. Joan Collins, Betty Thomas, Carrie Snodgress, and Lee Purcell had all taken legal action to get their names removed from the credits. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Interview with producer Max Rosenberg; photo gallery; trailers. (Unearthed Films). The Mattachine Family
(2024) Nico Tortorella, Emily Hampshire, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Heather Matarazzo. The film begins at a moment of significant change for Thomas (Tortorella). The child he and his husband, Oscar (Di Pace), fostered has been reunited with his birth mother and now the couple have competing ideas about their future. With Oscar away filming a TV show, Thomas embarks on a personal odyssey that connects him to his friends, family, and the past to explore what it means to make a family. Formats: Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Giant Pictures). Read more here Meeting The Beatles in India
(2020) It's 1968 and with the eyes of the world upon them, The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India, to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Those few short weeks became one of the most prolific and creative periods of their lives, as they wrote 48 songs in approximately 48 days. In this serene documentary, Canadian filmmaker Paul Saltzmanm recounts a spiritual journey for the ages. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Saltzman weaves together archival material. including some stills and film footage never before seen by the public; along with interviews with long-time practitioner of transcendental meditation, film director David Lynch; Pattie Boyd; Jenny Boyd; pre-eminent Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn; Lewis Lapham; film composer Laurence Rosenthal, maestro Hariprasad Chaurasia; and the real "Bungalow Bill." Formats: Blu-ray. (Unobstructed View). Read more here 
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
(2024) Action-comedy tells the incredible true story of the first-ever special forces organization formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of military officials including author Ian Fleming. The top secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks led by Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill), goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly “ungentlemanly” fighting techniques. Ultimately, the task force’s audacious approach changed the course of the war and laid the foundation for the British SAS and modern black ops warfare. Based on the book "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops" by Damien Lewis. Vitals: Director: Guy Ritchie. Stars: Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Til Schweiger, Henry Golding, Cary Elwes. CC, MPAA rating: R, 120 min., Action Comedy Thriller, North American box office gross: $19.779 million, worldwide $21.162 million, Lionsgate. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: "The Ministry of Filmmaking"; theatrical trailer. Read more here.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1941) If you had it to do all over again, would you have married me? Yes, gentlemen, there is a right answer. That's something David Smith learns the hard way when his bubbly and beautiful wife Ann queries him over breakfast. Also right are radiant Carole Lombard and easygoing Robert Montgomery as the stars of this breezy Alfred Hitchcock comedy. For three years, the Smiths have been blissed but battling. When a technicality voids their union, Mr. misses Mrs., orbiting the tale into the delightful confection of the screwball genre. From a script by Academy Award winner Norman Krasna, Hitchcock made his change-of-pace foray into all-out humor memorable. (Warner Archive). The Miracle Fighters
(1982 -- Hong Kong) Kung fu fantasy classic from the legendary choreographer/director Yuen Woo-ping. "The Miracle Fighters" is a comedic tale of taoist magic directed by the martial arts maestro behind "Drunken Master," "The Magnificent Butcher" and "Iron Monkey." During the Quing dynasty, marriage between Manchu and Han people is outlawed. When it is discovered that high-ranking official Kao Hsiung (Eddy Ko) has taken a Han wife, the Emperor informs him that he will be forgiven – but only if he kills his beloved before the court. When he refuses, Kao Hsiung is marked for death by the powerful Sorcerer Bat (Yuen Shun yee) and forced to watch as his wife is slain before his eyes. Kao Hsiung flees, kidnapping the Crown Prince during his escape – but soon the prince is dead, and Kao Hsiung is forced to silently replace him with another young boy. In adulthood, that innocent child – Shu Gut (Yuen Yat-chor) – finds himself relentlessly pursued by Sorcerer Bat, and turns to two quarreling taoist priests in the hope of protecting himself with their magic. New 2K restoration. Original theatrical and export versions. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong theatrical version by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival); brand new audio commentary on the export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema; "Action Master": An Interview with Yuen Woo-ping – archival interview by Frédéric Ambroisine; "John Kreng on Yuen Woo-ping" brand new documentary featurette by Michael Worth; reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork; trailer; limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver (first print run of 2000 copies only). (Eureka Entertainment). 
Monkey Man
(2023) Dev Patel’s directorial debut, inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage. Patel stars as a man with no name, scarred by a brutal childhood, who ekes out a meager living in underground fighting rings. But when he finds a way to rise up and infiltrate his city’s corrupt elite, he kicks off an explosive campaign for retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him as a boy. Channeling the rage of the poor and powerless, an unexpected hero emerges in this fight-filled action epic. Vitals: Director: Dev Patel. Stars: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma. CC, MPAA rating: R, 202 min., Action Thriller, North American box office gross: $25.116 million, worldwide $34.578 million, Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Code, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo + Digital Code, VOD, Digital. Extras: Alternate opening; alternate ending; deleted/extended scenes; feature commentary with director/actor/writer/producer Dev Patel, producers Jomon Thomas and Sam Sahni, and co-producer Raghuvir Joshi; featurettes: "A Labor of Love," "Monkey Man of Action," "Fateful Encounters," "Roots Exposed." Read more here.
Orlando, My Political Biography
(2023 -- France) “Come, come! I’m sick to death of this particular self. I want another.” Taking Virginia Woolf’s novel "Orlando: A Biography" as his starting point, academic virtuoso turned filmmaker Paul B. Preciado fashioned the documentary "Orlando, My Political Biography" -- a personal essay, historical analysis, and social manifesto. By inviting a diverse group of more than 20 trans and nonbinary people to play the role of Orlando, weaving into Woolf’s narrative their own stories of transition and identity formation, Preciado interrogates the relevance of Orlando in the ongoing struggle to secure dignity for trans people worldwide Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Janus Contemporaries/Criterion). Roll With It
(2024) Chonda Pierce, McKaley Miller, Evan Hofer, Carl McDowell, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Judith Hoag. A music-filled and heartfelt comedy built around southern comedy icon Chonda Pierce, who is beloved for her gut-level honesty and pointed humor. If laughter is the best medicine, Chonda’s character Bonnie Taylor could use an extra dose or two. Not only is she dealing with an unexpected demotion at her job at the Biscuit Barrel and a young new boss willing to match her snark-for-snark, she also discovers her house will be on the auction block by month’s end if she can’t come up with $20,000 in back taxes. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Shout! Studio). Read more here 
Sympathy for the Underdog
(1971 -- Japan) Returning from a 10-year prison sentence, former gang leader Gunji (Koji Tsuruta) finds that his turf has been taken over by his former enemy, now a large crime syndicate with a legal corporate front. Looking for new opportunities, he gathers his old crew and heads for the island of Okinawa, a legal grey zone ripe for the taking. Made just before Kinji Fukasaku's 1970s streak of yakuza movie masterpieces, "Sympathy for the Underdog" is a key film in the development of this director's unique style and themes. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary by yakuza film expert Nathan Stuart; interview with Fukasaku biographer Olivier Hadouchi; visual essay on Okinawa on screen by film historian and author Aaron Gerow; trailer; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow; limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Bastian Meiresonne and an archival review of the film. (Radiance/MVD Entertainment). 
The Underground Railroad
(2021) A monumental reimagining of American history, Barry Jenkins’s adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning 2016 novel is a harrowing and rhapsodic journey through a still-echoing past. Weaving together historical fiction with moments of magical realism, "The Underground Railroad" is a full sensory immersion into the world of Cora (Thuso Mbedu), who, -- fleeing slavery, embarks on a treacherous quest for freedom -- and is menaced by violence, supported by a clandestine community fighting for liberation, and haunted by the people she loses along the way. With images of searing power and stirring poetry, Jenkins delivers an epic saga of survival and resilience that pushes the limited-series format to new heights of cinematic transcendence. Four-disc set with all 10 episodes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, with 4K digital master, approved by cowriter-director Barry Jenkins, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Alternate stereo soundtrack. Extras: Read more here. (The Criterion Collection). 
Uproar
(2023 -- New Zealand) Julian Dennison, Minnie Driver, Rhys Darby, Erana James, James Rolleston. In 1981, a 17 year-old student is forced to get off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his whanau (family) and his future in this heartwarming story of identity. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Breaking Glass).
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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June 15, 2024
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