My Two Cents
Monday, 16 May 2016 17:04

Criterion’s August slate includes Altman & Welles, plus new Warner 4K Ultra HD titles, a look back at Top Gun & much more

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We’ve got some good stuff for you today here at The Bits, including a new column and fine release news too...

First up, our own Michael Coate has just posted a brand new History, Legacy & Showmanship column here at the site, entitled Mighty Wings: Remembering “Top Gun” on its 30th Anniversary. Michael details the film’s original 70mm North American theatrical release and discusses its lasting impact and Tony Scott’s legacy with documentarian Charles de Lauzirika, producer of the excellent Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun documentary from the 2004 Special Edition DVD (it’s also on the recent Blu-ray edition). Don’t miss it.  [Read on here…]

In announcement news today, Warner Bros Home Entertainment has just officially set a second wave of 4K Ultra HD titles for release on 6/7 in the States (they’re already set for 6/13 in the UK), including Creed, In the Heart of the Sea, and the recent remake of Point Break (SRP $44.95 each). Each will feature HDR and will include bonus Blu-ray versions of the film (with all the Blu-ray extras) and Digital HD copy codes too. Of the three titles, In the Heart of the Sea will include Dolby Atmos audio. There’s still no word on the studio’s anticipated 4K Ultra HD releases of Man of Steel and Pacific Rim, but we would expect at least the former to street with the BD, DVD and 4K release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (also still TBA) in the months ahead.

The big Blu-ray news this afternoon is that Criterion has just revealed its August Blu-ray and DVD release slate, which is set to include Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller (Cat #827 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 8/9, Stig Björkman’s Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words (Cat #828 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 8/16, Tony Richardson’s A Taste of Honey (Cat #829 – Blu-ray and DVD) and Hiroshi Teshigahara’s Woman in the Dunes (Cat# 394 – Blu-ray, DVD, iTunes, and Hulu Plus) on 8/23, and finally Orson Welles’ Chimes at Midnight (Cat #830 – Blu-ray and DVD) and The Immortal Story (Cat #831 – Blu-ray, DVD, and Hulu Plus) on 8/30. We’ve updated our Criterion Spines Project listings accordingly.

In other news today, Paramount has officially set Whisky Tango Foxtrot for Blu-ray Combo release on 6/28, with the Digital HD release due 6/14. Extras on the Blu-ray will include 5 featurettes (All In: The Making of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, War Reporter: The Real Kim, Embedded in Reality, Wedding Party, and Laughing Matters), plus deleted scenes, and an extended scene.

On the TV front, Disney has set Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fifth Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/16, followed by Castle: The Complete Eighth Season and Scandal: The Complete Fifth Season on DVD only on 8/23, Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Twelfth Season on DVD only on 8/30, Quantico: The Complete First Season on DVD only on 9/13, and The Catch: The Complete First Season on DVD only on 9/27.

Meanwhile, BrinkVision has set a Blu-ray double feature of Jeff Wedding’s A Measure of the Sin (2006) and Blind (2004) for release on 5/24 (SRP $24.95). However, only 200 copies will be available, exclusively through the BrinkVision website (click here), all of which will be signed by the director.

In other TV DVD news, Anchor Bay Entertainment and AMC have set Halt and Catch Fire: The Complete Second Season for DVD release on 8/9.

Universal will release Colony: Season One and Emergency! The Complete Series on DVD on 7/12.

And speaking of Universal, the studio has just announced that its new 4K restoration of Marlon Brando’s One-Eyed Jacks (which was scanned in 6K from the original 35mm VistaVision negative) will debut at the Cannes Film Festival. The project was done in conjunction with Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet of a home video release. We’ve asked Universal about this and have learned that the studio is “currently evaluating home entertainment opportunities for this film.” We’ll update you all here as soon as we learn anything more.

Back with more tomorrow morning. Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt (@BillHuntBits)

 

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