My Two Cents
Friday, 13 May 2016 14:08

Midnight Special, Belladonna of Sadness, Blindspot: S1, Star Trek Steelbooks & more new catalog BDs

by
  • Print
  • Email

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow us on Twitter @thedigitalbits @BillHuntBits and on Facebook here and here. And you can help support The Bits by pre-ordering Blu-rays and other items from Amazon through this link.]

All right, it’s a bit of a slow day news-wise, but we do have a little bit of announcement news for you...

First up, Cinelicious Pics has announced that they’re releasing Eiichi Yamamoto’s Japanese animated classic Belladonna of Sadness (1973) on Blu-ray on 7/12 (SRP $39.99). It features a new 4K restoration of the film, a new video interview with the director, vintage interviews with the art director and composer, several trailers, and a 16-page booklet. The film has never been released in the States before – think of it in the vein of Fantastic Planet, Heavy Metal, or Wizards. Note that this is an underground film, however, and is definitely not for children. There’s explicit sexuality and brutal violence, but also extraordinary animation for its time. You can read Glenn Kenny’s review of the current revival screening here at The New York Times (it opens today in L.A. through Cinefamily).  [Read on here…]

In more mainstream news, Warner Bros Home Entertainment has set Midnight Special for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/21, with the Digital HD release expected on 6/7. Extras will include 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes (including Origins: Roy, Origins: Sarah, Origins: Lucas, Origins: Sevier, Origins: Alton, and The Unseen World). You can see the cover artwork to the left and below.

FYI, Warner is also releasing a new The Dark Knight Trilogy: Special Edition Blu-ray collection on 7/19 for just $29.98. We have no additional details at this time, so assume it’s just a repackaging of existing discs for now.

Warner has also announced the Blu-ray and DVD release of Blindspot: Season One on 8/2, featuring all 23 episodes, 19 deleted scenes, a gag reel, audio commentary on the pilot, video of the 2015 Comic-Con panel, and 7 featurettes (Casting the Team, Oscar: The Handler, Weller Takes Action, Double Vision, Rich Dotcom, Make It GO Boom!, and Tattooed Clues).

Meanwhile today, Paramount has revealed that it plans to re-issue all of the classic Star Trek films on Blu-ray in new 50th anniversary-themed Steelbook packaging on 7/18 (at least internationally – see this listing on Zavvi – and probably here in the States too). Do note, however, that these are the same discs you probably already own. There’s no new content – just new packaging. Thanks to all the Bits readers who e-mailed with this news today for the heads-up. Here’s a look…

Star Trek feature film 50th Anniversary Steelbooks

[Editor’s Note: After this column went live, a number of readers e-mailed to point out something I’d missed in posting this photo: The Star Trek: The Motion Picture BD image seems to show the Director’s Cut artwork. Unfortunately, this was just an error on the part of the studio marketing artist who created this product shot – if you look here (at the individual title listing on Zavvi) you’ll see that the actual disc is the same theatrical cut Blu-ray that’s already available. The Director’s Cut is definitely not coming this year. Sorry. We certainly tried to make it otherwise!]

In other release news, MPI Home Video has set A Perfect Day for Blu-ray and DVD release on 7/19.

VCI Entertainment has set The Night Visitor (1971) for BD release on 8/2.

Cinedigm will release Traded (2016) on Blu-ray that same day.

And Olive Films has set Hoodlum (1997) for Blu-ray release on 7/19, along with Gang Related (1997), The Ratings Game (1985), and The Outsider (1979). Also coming to BD that day from Olive are the classic westerns Gun the Man Down (1956, with James Arnes) and ’Neath the Arizona Skies (1934, with John Wayne).

Here’s a look at some new Blu-ray Disc cover artwork for a number of the titles listed above (click on the covers to pre-order them on Amazon, if available, and remember that doing so helps to support our work here at The Bits which we appreciate)...

Midnight Special (Blu-ray Disc)    Belladonna of Sadness (Blu-ray Disc)    Canadian Pacific (Blu-ray Disc)

'Neath Arizona Skies (Blu-ray Disc)    Rawhide (Blu-ray Disc)    Gun the Man Down (Blu-ray Disc)

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here on Monday. Peace out...

- Bill Hunt (@BillHuntBits)

 

Contact Bill Hunt

Please type your full name.
Invalid email address.
Please send us a message.
Invalid Input