Despite all of the decrees that physical media is dying, 2023 proved to be one of the strongest years for collectors in recent memory. If we have noticed one thing about the current landscape, it is that studios and boutique labels are realizing that the remaining collectors demand products of the highest quality, leading to an avalanche of 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases and stunning box sets.
With a mixture of exciting new favorites and beloved classics on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD, it has never been a better time to be a fan of physical media. We know it can be overwhelming trying to find that perfect gift for a loved one, so this year we decided to take the stress out of shopping by providing a helpful list of some of our favorite movies and television shows that dropped in 2023.
We approached this list assuming that everyone has some of the bigger new releases, so no Barbie or Oppenheimer here, but instead we focused on highlighting the hidden gems of the year that might have slipped by your radar. Without further ado, we present the 2023 GVN Holiday Gift Guide…
Out Of This World
Everything Star Trek!
For every era of Star Trek fan…
It is one heck of a special time to be a Star Trek fan. Many modern fans first fell in love with the series thanks to Jean-Luc Picard and his crew on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Fans of the iconic captain can now own every single adventure on Blu-Ray in the Picard Legacy Collection including all seven seasons of The Next Generation, the four Next Generation feature films, and all three seasons of the sequel series Picard. To top all of this off, everything is included in a gorgeous limited edition box set which you can find an unboxing for here. This collection is not to be missed!
If you are a Next Generation fan who is 4K UHD capable, you can also now own the four films with that crew in sparkling 4K UHD with Dolby Vision and hours upon hours of special features in the Star Trek: The Next Generation 4K UHD Motion Picture Collection.
Those who have a fondness for more recent iterations of the franchise are not being left out in the cold. The most recent live-action addition to the franchise is the critically-acclaimed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds which harkens back to the vibes from The Original Series. This particular series holds the distinct honor of being the first Trek series available on 4K UHD Blu-Ray. The first season was released earlier this summer, and the second season was just released in time for the holiday season. Both seasons are packed with special features and are even available in an optional Limited Edition SteelBook.
Star Trek: Lower Decks may take a slightly less serious approach to the lore, but this animated series shows the utmost respect for everything that has become before in its third season on Blu-Ray. No matter what you go with, any of these releases will make the Star Trek fan in your life shed a happy tear on Christmas morning.
A review of Star Trek: The Picard Legacy Blu-Ray Collection can be found here.
A review of Star Trek: The Next Generation 4-Movie 4K UHD Collection can be found here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Star Trek: Picard – Season 3 can be found here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Star Trek: Lower Decks – Season 3 can be found here.
A review of the DVD release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 1 can be found here.
Babylon 5: The Complete Series
For those who liked sci-fi before it was considered cool…
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the groundbreaking original sci-fi TV series Babylon 5 is finally coming to Blu-ray for the first time ever! The series was the definition of appointment television as it was the first series to introduce viewers to the concept of a five-year arc, with a defined beginning, middle, and end, paving the way for a number of such later series. The future-history story covered the years 2257–2262, with each year corresponding to one season. The critically acclaimed franchise debuted in 1993 with the pilot film The Gathering. The series then launched a year later and ran for five seasons and 110 additional episodes. With this new box set, all 110 original episodes are fully remastered in HD. Anyone who shelled out big bucks for the huge DVD sets back in the day will understand what a bargain this set is for hours and hours of entertainment in unparalleled quality. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also pick up the brand-new animated film Babylon 5: The Road Home on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray.
Get more information about the complete series Blu-Ray release here.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of Babylon 5: The Road Home can be found here.
The Expanse: The Complete Series
For those who have the same viewing habits as a billionaire…
After six seasons and 62 episodes, including one cancellation and subsequent resurrection, the critically beloved sci-fi series said goodbye last year. 200 years in the future, Earth, Mars, and the Asteroid Belt are on the edge of war. Welcome to The Expanse, the thrilling sci-fi series that begins with an investigation into one woman’s disappearance, but becomes a star-spanning saga where an alien bioweapon could alter the evolution of humanity. Experience all six seasons of incredible action and interplanetary suspense in the acclaimed, Hugo Award-winning show as the Rocinante and its crew race across a colonized Solar System to combat the greatest conspiracy in human history. While a lot of good sci-fi has been produced in the last decade, this series is one of the few that has been able to crossover to greatness. If you have not embarked upon this journey yet, you are in for a treat.
Get more information about the complete series Blu-Ray release here.
ALF: The Complete Series [Deluxe Edition]
For those who salivate when they see a kitty…
Everyone’s favorite wise-cracking alien, Gordon Shumway — better known to Earthlings as ALF — has finally crash-landed onto DVD in this definitive 24-disc collection including: every episode of his interstellar hit series as it was originally broadcast, the 1996 film Project: ALF starring Martin Sheen, and all 47 episodes of Saturday morning’s ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales! Never has a collection been so out of this world. The original series was previously released on DVD back in the day with some truly horrendous syndicated versions that chopped several minutes out of every episode. Not only have the episodes been presented in their intended glory, but you also get some new special features from the creative team. If you have a soft spot for the character, this set is a no-brainer.
An unboxing and overview of the DVD release can be found here.
Farscape: The Complete Series [25th Anniversary Edition]
For the practical sci-fi fan…
John Crichton. Astronaut. Flung through a wormhole and lost in a galaxy far from home. He finds himself in the middle of a prison break, surrounded by hostile aliens, soaring through space inside a glorious living spaceship called Moya. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with his unimaginably alien fellow refugees and searches for a way home. So begins the epic sci-fi classic Farscape. A fusion of live-action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape features mind-boggling alien lifeforms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters — all brought to life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. No wonder it’s been called the most imaginative sci-fi series in television history. This new Blu-Ray release includes all 88 episodes + The Peacekeeper Wars and hours of special features on 22 discs.
Get more information about the complete series Blu-Ray release here.
Life, Animated
Wallace & Gromit and Shaun The Sheep on Blu-Ray
For those who want their animation to feel like a cozy cup of tea…
Aardman Animation is one of the most creative studios working in animation today, and every release is like a little gift to the world. This may seem hyperbolic, but there are too few creative forces that shape practical animation in the magnificent way this company does. One of their big breakouts was the introduction of Wallace & Gromit. The series centers on Wallace, a good-natured, eccentric, cheese-loving inventor, and Gromit, his loyal and intelligent anthropomorphic beagle. Fans can now own the complete Blu-Ray collection of four cracking half-hour specials and ten short films featuring the charming duo in Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection.
From one of those hilarious shorts came another iconic character in the Aardman family: Shaun the Sheep. The silent character received his own spinoff series which focuses on his adventures on a northern English farm as the leader of his flock. Shaun The Sheep: The Complete Series, includes all 170 episodes on 7 discs, marking the first time seasons 5 and 6 of the show are available to own. It also includes The Flight Before Christmas, a half-hour Christmas special, and over an hour of bonus material. This is a magical release for any fan of the character.
An unboxing and overview of Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection can be found here.
Get more information about the Shaun The Sheep: The Complete Series Blu-Ray release here.
Groundbreaking Anime From GKIDS
For those who feel that American animation is too vanilla…
If the only thing to come out of 2023 was a new Hayao Miyazaki film, anime fans would call it one of the best years of the current decade. Beyond that, though, we have been really thriving this year due to a good mixture of brilliant new works coming to our screen and old gems getting the respect they finally deserve. The crown jewel of the year just might be the brilliant box set Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films on Blu-Ray. Best known for his trademark blends of inventive visual artistry and emotion-packed, sharp narrative, the visionary animator and director Masaaki Yuasa boasts a captivating library of films that is beloved and acclaimed all over the world. This set includes five celebrated feature films – Mind Game (2004), The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017), Lu Over The Wall (2017), Ride Your Wave (2019), and INU-OH (2021) – along with a host of never-before-seen bonus features and an original book celebrating the work of this one-of-a-kind storyteller. The set also features an exclusive bonus disc with special features.
The company also released the critically acclaimed Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon A Time in a new 4K UHD Collector’s Edition set. Not only do you get the concluding chapter of one of the most beloved anime franchises, but the collection is gorgeous and stacked with special features.
An unexpected title for the Studio Ghibli fan who has everything is Spirited Away: Live On Stage. While it may not be animated, it brings a classic to life in a new and exciting way. The sensation of watching a Hayao Miyazaki feature is unparalleled, and the feature film Spirited Away is one of his greatest achievements. To have that translated outside of the realm of animation feels like folly, yet the realm of theater is just removed from reality enough to conjure its own distinct world. The care put into translating this world into something tangible is breathtaking, and the performers bring so much personality to the characters. This set even gives you the option to see two different interpretations of the lead role, which seems like a unique treat most audiences cannot experience.
Get more information about the Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films Blu-Ray release here.
A review of the 4K UHD Collector’s Edition of Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon A Time can be found here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Spirited Away: Live On Stage can be found here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Lonely Castle In The Mirror can be found here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Unicorn Wars can be found here.
Classic Disney Princesses Head To 4K UHD
For your sibling who is always wearing Mickey ears…
Disney has been celebrating their 100th anniversary by revisiting some of their most beloved titles and presenting them with unbelievable 4K restorations. The first out of the gate this year was the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of Cinderella. The film is an absolute classic for a reason, even if it is one that you almost take for granted due to it being so ubiquitous. The story has good moral values, the characters are endearing and fun, the animation is stunning and the music creates so many earworms it’s a bit overwhelming. Even all of these years later, it conjures the Disney magic that helped cement the studio as a powerhouse. Disney Home Entertainment has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that is dynamite in the A/V department along with a deep well of supplemental features.
It wouldn’t be a true Disney celebration without the recognition of the title that saved the studio from complete collapse. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one of the gems in the Disney crown – a story that has been adapted numerous times but rarely as effectively as this timeless original. The storytelling of this one is very economical with great attention paid to quickly developing a group of characters that enchant and delight. The story is brought to life with stunning animation that still impresses after all of these years. Disney has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that is tremendous in the A/V department along with a substantial array of supplemental features. This is a release worth owning in any collection.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of Cinderella can be found here.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs can be found here.
Cat City
For those who delight in the occasional fever dream…
Unflappable and unstoppable mouse secret agent Nick Grabovsky with his deadpan voice, baggy pants and a big “G” on his shirt, goes up against the criminal cat gang run by the sinister, metal-pawed Mr. Teufel in Hungarian director Béla Ternovszky’s surreal, animated sci-fi treasure Cat City. The film is a terrific discovery for animation fans who long to find the perfect intersection of artistic boundary-pushing and strong storytelling. The “cats vs. mice” setup is an easy way to frame the story, but the narrative goes so much deeper than you would imagine at first glance. There are so many fun references and allusions to Western content that make this one especially approachable to an American audience looking to expand their horizons. The movie is hilarious and the animation will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Deaf Crocodile has released a fetching Blu-Ray which sports a top-tier A/V presentation and an invaluable assortment of special features. If you appreciate your animation with a bit of grit to it, this is an easy recommendation.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice
For your cousins who cannot agree if it’s wabbit season or duck season…
There is no dispute. The Warner Bros. Cartoons are the funniest animated shorts in all of film history, and its classic cartoon stars – Bugs Bunny, Tweety and Sylvester, Porky Pig, The Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, to name but a few – are the most popular of all time. There has been some inconsistency when it comes to their home video release, but this year Warner Archive has stepped in to establish a line intended to signify the utmost care is being put towards preserving these cinematic gems. The Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice series is here to make sure audiences are getting uncut cartoons in the best possible A/V quality, many of which have never been released on home video before. There are two volumes to date, and both are filled with titles that have been most requested by collectors and connoisseurs. This is a set destined to please audiences of all ages.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice: Volume 1 can be found here.
Get more information about Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice: Volume 2 on Blu-Ray here.
The Golden Age of Television
Cheers: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
For those who feel like they blend into the background…
Wander in pull up a stool and make yourself at home “where everybody knows your name” with Cheers: The Complete Series, featuring all 270 episodes from 11 seasons plus entertaining featurettes on 33 discs with vivid picture and sound quality. Ted Danson stars as Sam Malone, former relief-pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. From snooty, erudite Diane (Shelley Long) to ruthless corporate careerist Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) Sam remains a (somewhat) calming presence in his beloved establishment. The series is one of the greatest to ever hit the airwaves, and after the release of Frasier: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray last year, we are happy to have its predecessor sitting beside it on our shelf in the best possible quality.
Get more information about Cheers: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray here.
The Odd Couple: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
For those who need to exorcise their roommate frustrations…
It is truly a magical time to be a fan of classic sitcoms. The comfort of the familiarity is enhanced by modern remasters to make our favorite shows look and sound better than ever. Now is the perfect time to revisit all 5 hilarious seasons and 114 episodes that make up The Odd Couple: The Complete Series! Based on the play by Neil Simon, this Emmy-nominated series features the antics of two divorced men living together in New York City. Felix Unger (Tony Randall) is an uptight photographer, continually at odds with his unkempt sportswriter roommate, Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman). This classic comedy series has plenty of laughs and plenty of trouble when two unlikely friends share one small space! Bring home the side-splitting 15-disc set today!
Get more information about The Odd Couple: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray here.
Gaslit: The Complete Limited Series (Blu-Ray)
For those who KNOW they are not crazy…
Based on Slate’s “Slow Burn” podcast, Gaslit is a modern take on the Watergate scandal through the long-neglected lens of the lesser-known but no-less-key players involved in the downfall of America’s 37th president — from Nixon’s bumbling, opportunistic subordinates, to the deranged zealots aiding and abetting their crimes, to the tragic whistleblowers who would eventually bring the whole rotten enterprise crashing to the ground. Sean Penn (Colors) is former Attorney General John Mitchell and Julia Roberts (Ticket to Paradise, Pretty Woman), with a Golden Globe nominated performance, is celebrity socialite Martha Mitchell in this riveting story of secret break-ins, smear campaigns, and one woman’s risk of everything for the truth. Even if you think you know everything about Watergate, this limited series is riveting and well worth your time.
Get more information about Gaslit: The Complete Limited Series on Blu-Ray here.
Monk On Blu-Ray
For those who feel another pump of hand sanitizer might not hurt…
If you were a cable television viewer in the 2000s, you may have been exposed to the “Characters Welcome” campaign by USA Network. Chief among these characters was a beloved “Obsessive Compulsive Detective” named Adrian Monk. Played masterfully by Tony Shalhoub, the San Francisco police consultant helps out on their most baffling cases with the help of some lovable sidekicks and a bevy of guest stars not to be missed. This year, Kino Lorber Studio Classics announced that they were going to release all eight seasons of the series on Blu-Ray newly remastered in 4K. For this holiday season, you can add the first two seasons of the series to the collection of your favorite television lover as the remaining seasons drop throughout 2024. If you appreciate the Sherlock Holmes archetype with a unique twist, you are not going to want to pass this one up.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Monk: The Complete First Season can be found here.
Columbo: The 1970s (Seasons 1-7)
For those who live for a dramatic reveal…
Columbo is the landmark series that set the standard for the murder mystery genre. Starring Peter Falk in his four-time Emmy-winning role as the cigar-chomping, trenchcoat-wearing police lieutenant, fans can now own an unforgettable 5-disc Blu-ray collection filled with classic cases. Remastered in 4K by Universal, Columbo: The 1970s includes the first seven seasons of this enduring classic on Blu-ray. This box set comes packed with bonus features including the 1968 Movie of the Week “Prescription Murder” and the 1971 pilot, “Ransom for a Dead Man”. The set also includes the shorter 71-minute cut of “Etude in Black”, optional music and effects tracks for all episodes, an episode guide booklet, and newly commissioned slipcase cover illustrated by Tony Stella.
Get more information about Columbo: The 1970s (Seasons 1-7) on Blu-Ray here.
Leave It To Beaver: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
For those who long for “the good ole days” (in a non-toxic way)…
Inspired by real-life experiences, Leave It to Beaver built the blueprint for quintessential sitcom families with the relatable comic adventures of Ward, June, Wally, and young Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. It stars Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, and Jerry Mathers (“as The Beaver”, as the opening credits put it). From neighborhood mischief to misunderstandings at school and at home, Beaver and his family bring hilarious laughs, wholesome life lessons, and endless entertainment across 234 beloved episodes spanning six memorable seasons that have become as much a part of Americana as baseball and apple pie.
Get more information about Leave It To Beaver: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray here.
This Is A Time For Action
The Jackie Chan Collection: Volumes 1 & 2
For those who know that Jackie Chan’s career did not start with Rush Hour…
Unbeatable. Unstoppable. Undeniable. Jackie Chan stands alone among action heroes thanks to his death-defying stunts, unparalleled fight scenes, and his signature sense of humor. An international superstar, Chan has thrilled fans around the globe for decades. As the standard bearer for martial arts action, Chan has forged a legacy that never has nor will be matched. This year Shout! Studios released two box sets that showcase the unique mixture of martial arts, action, and comedy that has made Jackie Chan a cultural icon. The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 1 covered seven films from 1976-1982, followed by The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 2 covering eight films from 1983-1993. With these two volumes at your disposal, you get an essential exploration of one of the greatest martial arts action stars of all time.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 1 can be found here.
Get more information about The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 2 on Blu-Ray here.
The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2
For Tarantino fans who want to see what shaped his obsession with film…
You followed our advice from last year and picked up The Sonny Chiba Collection, didn’t you? Well, brace yourself for seven more high-octane films from the legendary career of Sonny Chiba! The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2 offers thrilling highlights from Chiba’s highly influential legacy, and some of these films are making their North America Blu-ray debut. Greatly missed by his legion of fans, Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba – The “Street Fighter” – remains an icon for all time! These seven films offer a good cross-section of his varied career from period epics to grimy modern gangster pictures. Every film is worth exploring and will prove to be a favorite of different segments of the audience.
Get more information about The Sonny Chiba Collection: Volume 2 on Blu-Ray here.
Point Break (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For those who never hesitate…
Hang ten and hang tough, Johnny. Rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah is learning to ride the waves. His mission: infiltrate a group of extreme surfers who may be the bank robbers known as the Ex-Presidents, and whose MO includes wearing masks of former White House denizens. Keanu Reeves portrays Johnny, Patrick Swayze plays charismatic thrill seeker Bodhi, and Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow delivers an adrenaline rush of gnarly rides, skydivers, and danger in Point Break! The cult favorite is getting the upgrade it deserves as we have a 4K UHD Blu-Ray derived from a 4K restoration of the Interpositive with Dolby Vision and a few interesting featurettes that fans will not want to miss.
Get more information about Point Break on 4K UHD Blu-Ray here.
Action-Packed Kino Studio Classics Favorites
For your dad who says “They don’t make them like they used to”…
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has had a banner year when it comes to both their incredible 4K UHD and Blu-Ray output. Things have been especially fruitful on the action and crime-film front with an avalanche of releases from the Cannon Films catalog and beyond. It almost feels like they are making a statement by closing out the year with the fan-favorite John Woo action classic Face/Off on 4K UHD Blu-Ray. The Nicolas Cage and John Travolta film where the stars literally switch faces has been restored from a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision and a host of new and archival special features.
Also out this month is the Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal comic thriller Running Scared on Blu-Ray with a newly authored disc and a slipcover. Similarly on the lighthearted side of the spectrum is Steve Guttenberg’s adventure comedy The Man Who Wasn’t There newly restored in 3-D by 3-D Film Archive from 4K Scans of the 35mm Original Camera Negative by Paramount Pictures. The new Blu-Ray offers both 2-D and 3-D viewing options for the film plus a new commentary track. The Quatermass Xperiment leans more towards the science fiction side of the spectrum, but a thrilling crash in the beginning and a climactic confrontation delivers plenty of pulse-pounding moments in this tale of experimentation gone awry. The new Blu-Ray release arrives newly authored complete with a new audio commentary track and plenty or archival features.
Throughout the year, the label has offered 4K UHD releases of the Billy Wilder wartime classic Stalag 17, the Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges action-thriller Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, a pair of John Frankenheimer favorites with The Train and Ronin, the Michael Caine classic The Italian Job, and more. Elsewhere on Blu-Ray, we had the WWII action-drama The Bridges at Toko-Ri, cheesy ’90s action flick Stone Cold, spy adventure That Man Bolt, and tons more that we don’t have the space to fit in here.
Check out a review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases for Stalag 17, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Train, Ronin, and The Italian Job.
Check out a review of the Blu-Ray releases for The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Stone Cold, and That Man Bolt.
Shaw Brothers Classics
For those who get nostalgic for bad cable television lip-syncing…
The amount of Shaw Brothers entertainment that has popped up over the last few on Blu-Ray is frankly staggering after the company was so inconsistent when it came to American physical media back in the day. Shout! Studios has especially jumped in with both feet when it comes to the Hong Kong production company by releasing FOUR installments of their Shaw Brothers Classics series. Over these four volumes, audiences have been treated to 46 films filled with hard-hitting action and thrilling stunts. These sets contain martial arts films featuring some of their greatest stars – Alexander Fu Sheng, Lo Lieh, Ti Lung, David Chiang, the Deadly Venoms, and more! Many of these films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray, and these sets are loaded with special features that will make any fan of the genre swoon with joy. Want more could you want to find under the Christmas tree?
Get more information about Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume 1 on Blu-Ray here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume 2 can be found here.
A review of the Blu-Ray release of Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume 3 can be found here.
Get more information about Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume 4 on Blu-Ray here.
Violent Night (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For your friend who is on the naughty list…
Every year there is that classic debate over whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Well, some enterprising filmmakers came along to solidify this concept by metaphorically turning John McClane into Santa Claus. David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) stars as St. Nick in the holiday romp Violent Night, delivering some serious season’s beatings to a team of mercenaries who break into a wealthy family compound taking everyone inside hostage. The film does not redefine the genre of atypical holiday films, but it sure does offer a really fun time. David Harbour seems like he is having a blast here, and he balances the action-packed side of the equation with the dark humor impeccably well. Universal has newly released this one on 4K UHD Blu-Ray to provide the absolute best A/V quality and some entertaining special features for a new holiday classic.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
Psych: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
For your co-worker who drops the most obscure movie references…
We talked about USA Network’s “Characters Welcome” campaign with Monk earlier, and in our opinion, Monk walked so Psych could run. Psych is a quick-witted dramedy about a young police consultant, Shawn Spencer (James Roday), who solves crimes with powers of observation so acute that he’s convinced Santa Barbara PD detectives into thinking he’s psychic. With the reluctant assistance of his best friend Gus (Dule Hill), Shawn uses his skills of observation and charismatic personality to become the detective he was trained to be, opening his own PI agency – Psych – and solving cases for an ever-suspicious, but grudgingly impressed, police force. With Shawn’s fake psychic sleuthing and sidekick Gus’ nose for clues, the unlikely duo tackles countless murders and mysteries. With Psych: The Complete Series you can laugh and re-live all the mind-boggling mysteries uninterrupted with all 8 seasons and three movies! “You know that’s right!”
Get more information about Psych: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray here.
Love Actually (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For your sibling who swears the best holiday movie debuted 20 years ago…
Funny, irresistible, and heartwarming, Love Actually is the ultimate romantic comedy that follows eight couples whose lives intersect shortly before Christmas. From the makers of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill, this beloved film is headlined by an incredible roster of stars including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and more. Take a breathtaking tour of love’s delightful twists and turns as you fall under the spell of the film and share the laughs and charm again and again. This 20th anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray release gives the beloved film a 4K UHD upgrade along with Dolby Atmos audio and even some new special features. We all have someone in our lives who counts this as their favorite holiday film, and this is the perfect release for them.
Get more information about Love Actually on 4K UHD Blu-Ray here.
What’s Love Got To Do With It?
For the hopeless romantic who has seen all the major studio offerings…
As our own Cody Allen noted in his review, “Every now and then, a film comes along that has the power to uplift your soul merely by existing. What’s Love Got to Do with It? is that kind of delight.” How do you find lasting love in today’s world? For documentary-maker and dating-app addict Zoe Stevenson (Lily James, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again), swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr. Wrongs, much to the dismay of her eccentric mother, Cath (Emma Thompson, Love Actually). For Zoe’s childhood friend and neighbor, Kaz (Shazad Latif, Star Trek: Discovery), the answer is to follow his parents’ example and opt for an arranged (or “assisted”) marriage to a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan. As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.
A review of the theatrical releases of What’s Love Got To Do With It? can be found here.
Northern Exposure: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
For those who like their small-town charm with frostbite…
The Northern Lights shine brighter than ever in Northern Exposure: The Complete Series! This Emmy Award-winning series is a remarkable blend of quirky humor and heartwarming storytelling. Join Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), Maggie (Janine Turner), Chris (John Corbett), and the rest of the beloved residents of Cicely, Alaska, as they show how life in a small, arctic town can bring big laughs and heartwarming adventures. The series received 57 award nominations during its five-year run and won 27, including the 1992 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, two additional Primetime Emmy Awards, four Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globes. This brand-new box set includes HD upgrades for all 110 episodes from all six seasons and hours of bonus features!
Get more information about Northern Exposure: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray here.
Guarding Tess (Blu-Ray)
For those who feel Driving Miss Daisy gets too much hate…
What do you do with a former First Lady who’s unpredictable, ornery and impossible to please? Anything she wants! Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage star in this comic, compassionate look at life after the White House for two former Washington insiders: First Lady Tess Carlisle and Secret Service agent Doug Chesnic. As uproarious as it is uplifting, the film is one that is built to please the entire family. MacLaine was nominated for a Golden Globe award in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical category. The film has finally made its Blu-Ray debut after many years of fans patiently waiting.
Get more information about Guarding Tess on Blu-Ray here.
The Police Academy Collection
For classic dads who just want a lazy weekend to laugh…
The call went out. The recruits came in. No longer would police cadets have to meet standards of height, weight and other pesky requirements. Brains were optional, too. Can’t spell IQ? Don’t know the number for 911? No matter. Police Academy grads are ready to uphold law and disorder! Among the funniest and most memorable comedy series to ever spill wildly across the screen, the Police Academy films are an absolutely mandatory part of any film collection! And hey … be careful out there. Shout! Studios has bundled these seven films together into a Blu-Ray collection featuring a nice A/V presentation and some excellent new and archival special features. If you are a fan of the series, this is an essential addition to your collection.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
So Dramatic
Warner Bros. 100th Anniversary 4K UHD Favorites
For those who soak up the history of cinema…
There is a world of great buzz for the upcoming musical film adaptation of The Color Purple, but before you embark on a new interpretation of the material, you might want to take some time to revisit the original Steven Spielberg classic that was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. The film is based on Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, and it stars Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong, Whoopi Goldberg in her breakthrough role, and Oprah Winfrey in her film debut. In the movie, Celie, a Southern Black woman, gradually gains self-respect as she strives to educate herself and to find love–despite an abusive spouse and a society biased against her race and her sex. The film has been restored in 4K for this 4K UHD Blu-Ray that delivers top-tier audio/visual quality and an array of great supplemental features.
Also available as part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, the acclaimed action thriller film The Fugitive from director Andrew Davis (A Perfect Murder, Holes) starring Harrison Ford is newly available on 4K UHD Blu-Ray from a 4K restoration sourced from the Original Camera Negative.
These two year-end releases join such beloved titles on 4K UHD Blu-Ray as Training Day, Rocky: The Knockout Collection, Rebel Without A Cause, Cool Hand Luke, The Maltese Falcon, The Superman 5-Film Collection, National Lampoon’s Vacation, East Of Eden, Rio Bravo, Enter The Dragon, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and The Exorcist. Be sure to click on each title for a full review.
Get more information about The Color Purple on 4K UHD Blu-Ray here.
Get more information about The Fugitive on 4K UHD Blu-Ray here.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
For the lit fan in your life who needs convincing that the movie is not always worse…
Every year there is at least one exceptional film that goes somewhat under the radar that you just NEED to praise to anyone and everyone who will listen. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is top tier cinema. While other films need unbelievable special effects and globe-trotting adventures to feel even somewhat vital, they come nowhere close to making you feel something as deeply as this film does. The story is brilliant in its enduring relatability, and director Kelly Fremon Craig finesses things even further to make the experience feel even more timeless for a wider audience. The performers bring so much empathy to these characters, and every exchange and narrative development makes you fall a little more in love with this world. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a stellar A/V presentation and some nice special features. This is a treat for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
The Good Fight: The Complete Series (DVD)
For the real ones who remember when it was called CBS All Access…
Casual television viewers might be surprised to learn that one of the most compelling shows of the 2010s was a legal drama on CBS. For seven seasons, The Good Wife rose above its polarizing title and procedural trappings to provide some of the most nuanced drama television had to offer. When it ended its run in 2016, it felt like one of the important voices in television had been sidelined. Fortunately for fans, CBS recognized the high-quality property they had at their disposal and gave the show a follow-up series as one of the flagship shows on their streaming service – The Good Fight. That series itself recently wrapped after six glorious seasons, and you can now own every delicious minute in one collection. The Good Fight: The Complete Series is an 18-disc collection that includes all 6 seasons, 60 episodes, and over 2 hours of special features, including exclusive deleted and extended scenes, gag reels, and more!
A review of the DVD release of The Good Fight: The Complete Fourth Season can be found here.
T.R. Baskin
For anyone who wants to be excited about the possibilities of physical media again…
One of the joys of physical media is finding the long-lost gems that would have been otherwise lost to time if not for the efforts of some enterprising label willing to put the work in to give it the platform it deserves. T.R. Baskin is one of our favorite discoveries in recent memory. We have always really enjoyed and respected Candice Bergen, but this title may have pushed us squarely into the “love” category after this totally singular performance. Bergen is T.R. Baskin, a naïve young woman with a droll sense of humor, who ventures from small town Ohio to the bright lights of Chicago in search of an interesting career, intellectual stimulation, true love, and happiness… and instead discovers that the urban existence is as unfulfilling and lonely as the one she fled. The mixture of heartbreaking pathos and wry comedy works really well as our titular character meets obstacle after obstacle with a unique mixture of confidence and despondency. The world has a somewhat heightened sense of reality, yet the film always delivers something emotionally truthful. It has been overlooked for years, but this is one of the best movies you haven’t seen.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Stand By Me (4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook)
For the friend who always leads you on an unexpected adventure…
When you think of Stephen King, your mind typically goes to some of the most horrific tales imaginable. While we have one of those a bit further down the list, this Rob Reiner adaptation of his 1982 novella The Body is something a bit different – but no less impactful. Stand by Me is a coming-of-age drama film set in the town of Castle Rock, Oregon in 1959 starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell (in his film debut) as four boys who go on a hike to find the dead body of a missing boy. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and is considered by many to be one of the most influential films of the 1980s, as well as one of the greatest films of all time.
The film was previously released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, but the new SteelBook release adds a brand-new Dolby Vision presentation to bring out the greatest nuance possible on the format in addition to the snazzy packaging that will look great on your shelf. The release also includes an expansive Dolby Atmos presentation along with the original theatrical mono track for purists. Top this off with some exciting special features such as a commentary and deleted scenes, and you have an essential release for an undisputed classic.
Get more information about Stand By Me on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook here.
Marcel Pagnol 2-Film Collection
For your parent always speaking nostalgically about their youth…
Based on the bestselling memoirs of French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol (the acclaimed author of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring), My Father’s Glory and its sequel My Mother’s Castle recount the nostalgic memories of Marcel Pagnol’s youth growing up in Provence at the turn of the twentieth century. During one idyllic summer, 11-year-old Marcel (Julien Ciamaca) discovers friendship and wonder amid the rocky peaks surrounding his family’s countryside home while learning new respect for his gentle and caring schoolmaster father Joseph (Philippe Caubère). Upon his return to Marseilles, Marcel longs to escape back to his beloved hills and is granted his wish when his adoring mother Augustine (Nathalie Roussel) devises a plan that allows them to visit the cottage more frequently.
My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle provide a very heartwarming and emotional one-two punch of this young boy’s life. These stories are pretty simple and gentle as they border on a vignette style of moments that stand out in the memory of its subject. The atmosphere is unbeatable and the ensemble assembled to bring these two parts to life never hit a false note. This nostalgic look back has all of the ingredients of an amazing comfort watch.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Sleep With A Light On
Resident Evil 6-Movie 4K UHD SteelBook Collection
For your horror friend equally obsessed with video games…
Based on the popular video game series by Capcom, the Resident Evil franchise stars Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element) as Alice, a superhuman security expert pitted against the sinister Umbrella Corporation as the world’s population is transformed into flesh-eating creatures by one of its most dangerous biological weapons. The Resident Evil 6-Movie 4K UHD SteelBook Collection features all-new Dolby Vision transfers for each film along with some newly added special features. The set includes Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse (both the original theatrical version and an extended cut), Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Retribution and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter as well as hours of bonus content across all six films, including rare archival featurettes.
Get more information about the Resident Evil 6-Movie 4K UHD SteelBook Collection on our site here.
Creepy Kino Studio Classics On 4K UHD
For anyone who thinks “spooky season” is 12 months out of the year…
As previously mentioned, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has consistently delivered titles month after month that made our jaws drop and our hearts flutter. Especially in the realm of 4K UHD Blu-Ray titles, the selection of titles has been impressive. Horror and thriller fans have especially had a lot to celebrate all year. This month they are closing out the year with the underrated psychological suspense-thriller Suspect Zero hitting the format with a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision with a nice array of special features. The film features an impressive ensemble including Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Also on deck is Clive Barker’s neo-noir horror film Underworld – a realm of hidden dimensions, dark, dangerous waters and a labyrinth of tunnels, inhabited by the ghoulish victims of a cruel chemical experiment. The film will be hitting 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision with a brand-new audio commentary track and an alternate cut of the film.
Throughout the year, the label has offered 4K UHD releases of the creature feature Rawhead Rex, the paranoid thriller Marathon Man, the Stephen King adaptation of Needful Things, another King adaptation with the killer dog nightmare Cujo, the Hannibal Lecter tale Red Dragon, and the ’80s cult horror-comedy favorite The Monster Squad complete with two feature-length documentaries. Pick your poison – there’s a little something for all of the horror fiends in your life.
Check out our reviews of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases for Rawhead Rex, Marathon Man, Needful Things, Cujo, Red Dragon, and The Monster Squad.
Swamp Thing (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For the atypical DC fan in your life…
This year our friends at MVD Entertainment entered the 4K UHD Blu-ray realm with their new “Laservision Collection”, and the first title was a doozy: Wes Craven’s Swamp Thing! Deep in Florida’s darkest everglades, a brilliant scientist, Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise, Robocop), and a sexy government agent, Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau, John Carpenter’s The Fog) have developed a secret formula that could end world hunger and change civilization forever. Little do they know, however, that their arch nemesis, Arcane (Louis Jourdan, Octopussy) is plotting to steal the serum for his own selfish schemes. Looting the lab and kidnapping Cable, Arcane douses Holland with the chemicals and leaves him for dead in the swamp. Mutated by his own formula, Holland becomes “Swamp Thing” – a half human/half plant superhero who will stop at nothing to rescue the beautiful Cable and defeat the evil Arcane… even if it costs him his life.
MVD Entertainment has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that delivers a 5-star A/V presentation and an enviable array of special features. The label has set the bar high moving forward. For bonus points, you can also pick up the sequel The Return of Swamp Thing on 4K UHD Blu-Ray from Lightyear Entertainment.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of Swamp Thing can be found here.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of The Return Of Swamp Thing can be found here.
The Mist (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For your sibling who is a bit too quick to make a decision…
From legendary frightmaster Stephen King and Academy Award-nominated writer-producer-director Frank Darabont comes one of the most tense and terrifying films since The Shining. In The Mist, a mysterious mist envelops a small New England town, and a group of locals trapped in a supermarket must battle a siege of otherworldly creatures . . . and the fears that threaten to tear them apart. The film features an ensemble cast, including Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Sam Witwer, and Toby Jones, alongside future The Walking Dead stars Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden, and Melissa McBride.
The Mist is one of the best horror films to emerge from the 2000s. The ending is extremely divisive, but it represents a bold choice that few filmmakers are allowed to make in mainstream Hollywood. This film is more than an ending, though, as you get to see what happens when humanity is pushed to the brink. This film is an audacious gem. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation, both in color and black-and-white, and a great array of supplemental features. If you love the film as much as we do, treat yourself to this wonderful upgrade.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release can be found here.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For those who think taking the road less traveled is for the birds…
When it comes to iconic horror films, it is difficult to top The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The plot follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals while on their way to visit an old homestead. The film was marketed as being based on true events to attract a wider audience and act as a subtle commentary on the era’s political climate. Although the character of Leatherface and minor story details were inspired by the crimes of murderer Ed Gein, its plot is largely fictional. The film is rightfully considered a masterpiece within the genre. Tobe Hooper took a simple, low-budget production and elevated it to neverending nightmare fuel for film fans for generations to come. The performances are decent for the genre, and Leatherface is an iconic killer, but it is really the atmosphere built through the art of cinematography, editing, sound design, and all of the other crafts that make this one so effective. Dark Sky Films has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray package featuring a stellar A/V presentation with the film presented with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and more special features than you know what to do with. This is the type of release every fan dreams of their favorite movie getting.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Play It Loud
American Graffiti (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For the person in your life who likes to rock around the clock…
While George Lucas was working on his first film, THX 1138, Francis Ford Coppola asked him to write a coming-of-age film. The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas’s teenage years. The film is a study of the cruising and early rock ‘n’ roll cultures popular among Lucas’s age group at that time. Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures over the course of a night. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, and Wolfman Jack.
Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, American Graffiti features an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comet. The new 4K UHD Blu-Ray release celebrates the 50th anniversary of the film with a new 4K restoration and a robust making-of documentary.
Get more information about American Graffiti on 4K UHD Blu-Ray here.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
For those who think of “Eat It” before the original song…
Biopics are somewhat tiring these days, but when you have something as unique as Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, you should be willing to give it a chance. As our own Larry Fried says in our TIFF review, “Musical biopics have always felt comfortable stretching the truth, but Weird doesn’t just stretch it––it explodes it to the point of…well, parody. It’s only fitting that music’s most beloved farce artist would take the same approach to a story about his own life and, in the same way Yankovic reimagined Top 40 hits as absurdist goofery, director Eric Appel (who co-wrote the script with Yankovic) skewers genre tropes in a radical reinterpretation that puts dumb fun at the forefront.”
Daniel Radcliffe is “Weird” Al Yankovic in the unexaggerated true story about the greatest musician of our time. From a conventional upbringing where playing the accordion was a sin, Al rebelled and made his dream of changing the words to world-renowned songs come true. Fans now have a chance to own the film courtesy of Shout! Studios in a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with Dolby Vision and exclusive special features such as an audio commentary with Al Yankovic and Director Eric Appel, plus so much more.
Get more information about Weird: The Al Yankovic Story on 4K UHD Blu-Ray here.
Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies
For your friend who sings “Hopelessly Devoted To You” to their cat…
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies tells the origin story of the infamous 50’s girl gang. It’s 1954, four years before the original Grease, and the moral panic over juvenile delinquency, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll in Rydell is reaching a fever pitch and the adults are desperate to get control. Enter four outcast teenage girls who band together to become rebels with a cause. Together they’ll shake Rydell out of the silent 50’s and into the new rock n’ roll era. Starring Emmy Nominee Jackie Hoffman as Vice Principal McGee, Marisa Davila as Jane, Cheyenne Isabel Wells as Olivia, Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy, Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia, Shanel Bailey as Hazel, Johnathan Nieves as Richie, Jason Schmidt as Buddy, Madison Thompson as Susan, and Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally. Fans can now own all 10 episodes of the series on DVD along with over 30 minutes of special features.
Get more information about Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies on DVD here.
The Muppets Take Manhattan (4K UHD Blu-Ray)
For those who argue the best adaptation of A Christmas Carol has Michael Caine in it…
Broadway-bound, the Muppets take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! Fresh out of college, Kermit, Fozzie, and the entire cast of Kermit’s musical “Manhattan Melodies” head for the Big Apple with plans to turn their small play into a big hit! All they need now is someone to produce their show! But when no one in town will even meet with them, it’s up to Kermit to believe hard enough for all of his friends that the show WILL go on! Family entertainment has never been more fun than this comedy marking Frank Oz’s solo directorial debut. The new 4K disc has been remastered in 4K resolution from the original camera negative. The disc is presented with Dolby Vision and includes all-new Dolby Atmos audio as well as the 5.1 and original mono audio. The release also features an all-new audio commentary from director Frank Oz.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release can be found here.
An American Music Trio From Sony
For your parent who proudly proclaims that they were never square…
Sony is consistently earning our praise for their 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases, such as the preceding entry, but we noticed they also like to have fun when exploring their catalog on Blu-ray. This year the studio quietly released a trio of titles on Blu-Ray that may not have the highest name recognition, but they are an absolute treat for any fan of old-school rock music. Each of these titles explores a key transition in the music scene and how the public adapts to it. Rock Around The Clock is considered to be one of the first major rock-and-roll musical films that tells a highly fictionalized rendition of how rock and roll was discovered. The film features Bill Haley and His Comets along with Alan Freed, the Platters, Tony Martinez and His Band, and Freddie Bell and His Bellboys.
Next up we have Ring-a-Ding Rhythm – Dick Lester (Help!, A Hard Day’s Night) directs this singular British musical extravaganza. The pop culture explosion reveals a generation gap in a small English town when the mayor forces a teenage hangout to stop using its TV set and jukebox. A pair of crafty local teens, Helen and Craig, counterattack by trying to put together a festival that will demonstrate the merits of traditional jazz and rock ‘n’ roll. While trying to enlist disc jockeys for the jazz show, they hear such talents as Del Shannon, The Dukes of Dixieland, Gary (U.S.) Bonds, the inimitable Chubby Checker, Gene Vincent and many others.
Finally, we have something a little different but equally as groovy in American Pop. Journey into an explosion of sight, sound, song, and superb storytelling as brilliantly conceived by animation innovator Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat, The Lord of the Rings, Wizards). From a turn-of-the-century immigrant vaudevillian to a rock superstar, American Pop is the story of four generations whose lives revolve around the beat of American popular music. Featuring a mind-blowing soundtrack bursting with the hit music of The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Mamas & The Papas, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pat Benatar, Lou Reed, Bob Seger and more. Packed with energy, excitement, electricity, and enthusiasm, Bashki’s work is a ground-breaking, kaleidoscopic animated trip.
Get more information about Rock Around The Clock, Ring-a-Ding Rhythm, and American Pop on Blu-Ray by clicking on the individual titles.
Squaring The Circle (The Story Of Hipgnosis)
For those who think digital music has no soul…
Celebrated photographer, creative director and filmmaker Anton Corbijn’s first feature documentary Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) tells the story of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey “Po” Powell, the creative geniuses behind the iconic album art design studio, Hipgnosis, responsible for some of the most recognizable album covers of all time, including “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “Band on the Run.” This is a terrific documentary that explores an element of music that is often taken for granted these days: album artwork. When you have a truly great piece of art representing your musical creation, it can become an indelible image. This documentary gathers so many talented artists to discuss the unbelievable journey of this studio complete with unique footage that has rarely been seen elsewhere. Utopia has released a Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and some rock-solid special features. If you are a music documentary fan, this is well worth a watch.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
The Bigger The Better
In The Line Of Duty I-IV Collection
For those tired of the men kicking all the butt…
The four classic police stories in the In The Line Of Duty I-IV Collection from the Golden Age of Hong Kong action broke new ground showing women kicking butt as hard as any man! Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, and Cynthia Kahn star as the toughest cops on the streets, using fists, feet, and guns to take down triads, thieves, and international criminals. Easily the equal of any American action movie from the same era, the In the Line of Duty series is enduring proof of the genius (and recklessness) of Hong Kong filmmakers. The new box set is a wonderfully entertaining assemblage of films that offer a little something different for each entry. The series can be incredibly bleak in one film and somewhat slapstick-y in the next, and somehow the tonal journey works. The leading ladies of these films are terrific; while Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh may be the draw for many Western audiences, there is no discounting the incredible work from Cynthia Kahn, who delivers some of the best entries of the set. 88 Films has bundled these four films together into a Blu-Ray collection featuring a top-notch A/V presentation and a terrific array of special features. If you appreciate Hong Kong crime cinema, get this into your collection as soon as possible.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Ranown Westerns: Five Films By Budd Boetticher 4K UHD Collection
For your uncle who is old-school in spirit with cutting-edge technology…
The five briskly entertaining, vividly performed westerns made by director Budd Boetticher and strapping star Randolph Scott in the second half of the 1950s transcend their B-movie origins to become rich, unexpectedly profound explorations of loyalty, greed, honor, and revenge. Often grouped under the name Ranown (after producer Harry Joe Brown and Scott’s production company) and colorfully scripted by Burt Kennedy and Charles Lang, these films seem to unfold in a world unto themselves, staking a claim between traditional Westerns and the subversive genre revisionism of the 1960s—and representing the crowning achievement of the underappreciated auteur Boetticher.
Ranown Westerns: Five Films by Budd Boetticher is one of the finest collections of Westerns we have had the pleasure of viewing. There is some kind of amazing alchemy that happens when Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott join forces to deliver their brand on Western drama. It is not so much that the narratives are blazing new trails, but more so the fact that they are telling these straightforward stories with a greater emphasis on the characters. Of course, this is complemented by a strong eye for storytelling through visual means, which reminds you why Boetticher was so highly regarded within the genre. Every element is simply firing on all levels, and it is a true joy to experience every entry. The Criterion Collection delivers a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray set that offers a practically flawless A/V presentation and a top-notch array of new and archival special features. If you are a Western fan or are looking for a great entry point into the genre, this should be a priority purchase.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Film Noir: The Dark Side Of Cinema
For that person in your life who is dark and brooding…
One of the most exciting ongoing series for classic film fans is Film Noir: The Dark Side Of Cinema from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, which first started in 2016 but really ramped up its output over the last couple of years. The line went from slowly getting maybe two volumes a year out to putting out four fresh volumes this year. Kino has hit on a formula of offering three dark, compelling gems per set which usually find some unique thematic connection. These sets have kept things fresh while showcasing undeniable talent such as James Mason, Dan Duryea, Rod Taylor, and more. Every set has been preserved well and features some new special features. We have yet to experience a set that was a complete bust, so dive confidently into these well-curated collections of the darkness of yesteryear.
A review of the Blu-Ray releases can be found for Volume XII, Volume XIII, Volume XIV, and Volume XV.
Transformers 6-Movie 4K UHD SteelBook Collection
For those whose favorite movie genre is “Bayhem”…
The Transformers franchise is a bit inconsistent when it comes to quality, but all of the films provide some level of enjoyment to different degrees on the “guilty pleasure” scale. Having Michael Bay as your leader for the first five entries is a mixed bag, as you can count on truly wondrous action set pieces, but having any sense of grounded emotional moments is a downright foreign concept to the filmmaker. This quality is improved with Bumblebee, which is probably why it ranks near the top of the series. These movies are mind-numbing, and worse yet they often fail to give these classic characters their proper respect. Yet, you cannot deny that they deliver ample spectacle when you are in the mood for such an experience. Paramount has released the Transformers: 6-Movie SteelBook Collection on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, and the A/V presentation could not be more impressive. Not only this but there are a host of special features that will keep you very busy. If you have yet to pick these films up and you are a fan, this is a great package.
A review of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Cosa Nostra: Franco Nero In Three Mafia Tales By Damiano Damiani
For those who feel The Godfather is too Hollywood…
Cosa Nostra: Franco Nero In Three Mafia Tales By Damiano Damiani is a really entertaining and diverse collection of films that show how a single topic can be explored in a multitude of equally compelling ways. There is no loss in quality between the three tales, and Franco Nero reminds you why he became such a prolific player in international cinema. The supporting ensemble also proves to be a standout with figures such as Claudia Cardinale and Lee J. Cobb never failing to impress. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray set featuring a terrific A/V presentation derived from restorations of the Original Camera Negatives and some wonderful special features. If you are a fan of crime films, you will not want to pass this up.
A review of the Blu-Ray release can be found here.
Disclaimer: Some studios have supplied copies of these releases free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this post are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.