Samurai Jack: Complete Series Blu-ray, plus Porky Pig 101 on DVD, Vestron’s Slaughter High & Jerry Lewis RIP

Wednesday, 23 August 2017 19:07

Samurai Jack: Complete Series Blu-ray, plus Porky Pig 101 on DVD, Vestron’s Slaughter High & Jerry Lewis RIP

by Bill Hunt

Samurai Jack: The Complete Series (Blu-ray Disc)

All right, I’m going to do a quick rundown for you of the major release news over the past few days. I’ve been traveling – over 1800 miles in the last three days – to see the total solar eclipse, which was the experience of a lifetime. Trust me when I say that the difference between seeing a partial eclipse and a total one is literally night and day. It’s well worth experiencing yourself. There’s another one here in the States in just seven years, and more around the rest of the world – one every 18 months somewhere on Earth. If you get the chance to see it yourself, just go. You won’t regret it.

Here at The Bits in the past few days, we’ve posted a trio of new Blu-ray reviews, including Tim’s thoughts on Multiple Maniacs and One-Eyed Jacks from Criterion and, just today, Starz’s Ash vs Evil Dead: Season Two. Do give them a look. I should also note that Amazon is finally allowing orders on Disney and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, so if you don’t have it yet, now’s the chance. [Read on here…]

Now then... here’s the latest in new announcements...

Warner Home Video and Adult Swim have announced that they’re releasing Samurai Jack: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc on 10/17 (SRP $113), with all 62 episodes – including the recent Season Five – fully-remastered in HD (the first four seasons for the very first time). The set will also include “action-packed bonus content including exclusive featurettes, behind the scenes looks and special commentary” and “a one-of-a-kind metal art print, created especially for the show’s devoted fans.” You can see the cover artwork above left and below.

Warner Home Video has also set Fuller House: The Complete Second Season for release on DVD only on 12/12.

Speaking of Warner, the Warner Archive has just announced a new DVD-only collection, Porky Pig 101, set for release on 9/19 (SRP $47.99). The 5-disc set will include 99 classic B&W Looney Tunes shorts and 2 Technicolor Merrie Melodies shorts starring the studio’s first cartoon star. There will also be extras and the first batch of this set will be standard replicated DVD discs.

Lionsgate has announced that the next title in its Vestron Video Collector’s Series will be Slaughter High (1986), due on Blu-ray on 10/31. Extras will include audio commentary with co-writers/directors George Dugdale and Peter Litten, an audio interview with composer Harry Manfredini featuring isolated music and SFX selections, 2 featurettes (Going to Pieces and My Days at Doddsville), an alternate title sequence, the film’s theatrical trailer, radio spots, and a still gallery. You can see the cover artwork below.

Lionsgate has also announced Shot Caller for Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD release on 10/17, along with Lady Macbeth on DVD and Digital HD that same day.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Rough Night on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/5, with the Digital HD release expected on 8/25.

Scream Factory has officially announced The Devil’s Candy for Blu-ray release on 9/26, with extras set to include audio commentary with director Sean Byrne, a Behind-the-Scenes: Visual Effects featurette, the Advantage Satan short film, a music video, and an art gallery.

Meanwhile, Shout! Factory has set Green Acres: The Complete Series for DVD release on 10/17. Extras will include audio commentary on the pilot episode by pop culture historian Russell Dyball, the Green Acres Is the Place to Be featurette, footage of Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert on The Merv Griffin Show (1966), 6 episodes of Original Granby’s Green Acres Radio Show, a photo gallery, and the Inside the Box: The TV History Podcast – The Rural Purge as an alternate audio track on the last episode of the series.

Paramount is releasing a new Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: 30th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/10, featuring the previous extras as well as a new retrospective featurette.

Paramount is also releasing a new box set, The Godfather Trilogy: Omertà Edition, on Blu-ray on 11/17. It’s essentially a repackaging of the previous remastered Blu-rays, with new swag items.

Film Movement is releasing Takeshi Kitano’s Hana-Bi on Blu-ray for the first time ever on 9/19.

And Umbrella Entertainment and MVD Entertainment Group are releasing an Attack Force Z: 35th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray on 11/17. The film stars Mel Gibson.

Finally today, we need to take a moment to acknowledge the passing, on Sunday morning, of film legend and comedian Jerry Lewis. He was known for a number of film roles, including The Nutty Professor, The Bellboy, At War with the Army, Which Way to the Front?, Cinderfella, and many, many more, both solo and co-starring Dean Martin. Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers will also recall him for having hosted an annual Labor Day telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for some 40 years. He was 91. You can read more here via The New York Times.

Now then, we’ll leave you with a look at cover artwork for a number of new and upcoming titles, with Amazon.com pre-order links if available...

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)

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Samurai Jack: Complete Series Blu-ray, plus Porky Pig 101 on DVD, Vestron’s Slaughter High & Jerry Lewis RIP

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