One of my favorite sci-fi thrillers from the ‘70s, Robert Wise’s adaptation of Michael Crichton’s THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (131 mins., 1971, G; Arrow) is a cool and effective – and now on 4K UHD – tale of a virus that wipes out nearly the entire population of a small New Mexico town…threatening the entire world unless a group of scientists can stop the contagion before it’s too late.
With its offbeat Gil Melle score and low-wattage cast, “The Andromeda Strain” may have flown under the radar for some buffs over the years – even with Wise and Crichton’s involvement. However, its realistic depiction of how a team of experts rushes in to save the day and the overall “clinical” feel of the movie have held up remarkably well, making for a tasty treat for genre fans. Best of all is Richard Kline’s elegant widescreen lensing, often taking great advantage of the Panavision frame in a visual presentation similar to his later collaboration with the director on “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”
Arrow released a Blu-Ray of its 4K scan of “The Andromeda Strain” as one of its first U.S. releases back in 2019: a huge upgrade on the older Universal HD master, which was doused with far too much noise reduction. This Dolby Vision HDR (2.35, mono) upgrade offers a refinement of that Blu-Ray with a slightly darker hue, more detail and grain, and the occasional use of HDR that heightens the color spectrum for viewers. As with before, while most of the extras are carried over from the older Universal release (archival Laurent Bouzereau segments on the film and Crichton himself), the disc also includes Arrow’s exclusive commentary from critic Bryan Reesman and an appreciation of the film by Kim Newman. There’s also a Cinescript gallery of Nelson Gidding’s screenplay plus trailers, TV spots and PCM mono audio.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS/THE FOUR MUSKETEERS 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (107/106 mins., 1973-74, PG; Criterion): Making its U.S. Blu-Ray and 4K UHD debut simultaneously from Criterion is producer Alexander Salkind’s ‘70s cinematic double-bill of Dumas’ swashbuckling novels, brought to the screen with a lot of comic invention by director Richard Lester, writer George MacDonald Fraser and a sensational cast.
It goes without saying, for movie buffs, this release has been long overdue. Studio Canal restored both movies (the same restoration being used here) years back but Lionsgate apparently had scant interest in releasing them in the U.S. market. That left an Anchor Bay DVD from some 15 years ago as the last release of these pictures here, one that followed a particularly bad Fox Lorber (pre-Kino Lorber) package from years prior. In that DVD release, in addition to a poorly cropped aspect ratio, the only “Four Musketeers” print Fox Lorber apparently had access to was a French one, resulting in all the credits being — you guessed it — in French!
There are no such issues to be found here, as Criterion’s double-disc UHD/BD combo set offers Studio Canal’s superb, Dolby Vision-enhanced HDR (1.85) remasters that breathe new life into the 17th century French world Lester and his crew evoke here. The mono sound is clear as well across both pictures, enabling the audience to truly gain a fresh appreciation of the top artistic and technical attributes on-hand throughout both movies.
Lester’s films represent a wonderfully balanced mix of swashbuckling action and slapstick comedy. The cast is outstanding and remains one of the chief assets of both pictures: Richard Chamberlain, Michael York, Oliver Reed, and Frank Finlay are superb as the Musketeers, while appropriate menace is served up memorably by Charlton Heston and Faye Dunaway. We also get Raquel Welch as York’s love interest, Christopher Lee as the villainous Count de Rochefort, and comedic antics from Spike Milligan among others.
Much has been discussed about how Alexander Salkind “divided” what was originally conceived as one long script by George MacDonald Fraser into two separate films during post-production. The end result was an adaptation that provides rollicking entertainment during its first half, and a notably more somber and less energetic concluding portion. Either way, the movies are still best viewed in close proximity to one another, with everything behind-the-scenes being similar outside of the film scores: Michel Legrand provided one of his better scores for the first film, while Lalo Schifrin filled in with a serviceable, if somewhat less memorable, work for the sequel. (One note about the latter: the “Frozen Pond Fight” cue in “The Four Musketeers” sounds suspiciously like the work of frequent Lester collaborator Ken Thorne. Adding more curiosity is that the cue Schifrin included for this sequence on his soundtrack album is an entirely different piece altogether!)
Criterion’s supplements include David Cairns’ new doc “Two For One,” a sprawling, four-part look at the production which draws upon archival interviews, plus a 1973 archival featurette, trailers, and the 2002-shot “Saga of the Musketeers” documentary. Then-recent interviews in the latter run the gamut from Michael York and Raquel Welch to Christopher Lee and Charlton Heston, along with producer Pierre Spengler and executive producer Ilya Salkind. An overview of the production covers the sweltering location shooting in Spain, the deaths of Oliver Reed and Roy Kinnear, and even the controversy — and lawsuits — that ensued once Salkind opted to cut the film into two halves (no mention is made of the belated, ill-fated, and yet still mildly enjoyable, “Return of the Musketeers”). It’s a superb package for one of the year’s must-have releases to date.
Also debuting on 4K UHD from Criterion is THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (92 mins., 1964), the “French New Wave” musical from writer-director Jacques Demy which became an international sensation in the mid to late ‘60s.
This brightly colored musical, entirely sung without spoken dialogue, is actually a sequel of sorts to Demy’s “Lola,” as it brings back Marc Michel’s character – older and perhaps a bit wiser – in a secondary role to the starstruck, yet ill-fated, lovers played by Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo. Despite their best efforts, the young couple fail to keep their love for one another burning against the wages of time apart from one another, leading to a devastatingly beautiful ending that’s aptly described in Criterion’s booklet notes as “the happiest sad ending” in cinema history.
Legrand’s music is grandly dramatic in places, jazzy and wistful in others; it’s also repetitious at times, though yielded a pair of commercial hits in melodies that became the standards “Watch What Happens” and “I Will Wait For You.”
Criterion’s 4K UHD/Blu-Ray combo (1.66) hails from a 2013 restoration approved by Demy’s son Mathieu, with a 5.0 stereo soundtrack mostly derived from an early three-channel mix featuring pleasing channel separation (the familiar original mono sound is also included). The image is superb, warm yet not overpowering in SDR, while supplements include a 2008 documentary; interview with scholar Rodney Hill; a 1964 TV interview featuring Demy and Legrand; archival audio interviews with Legrand and Deneuve from London’s National Fim Theatre; and a look at the restoration.
Also New From Arrow
After the surprisingly serviceable (but financially disappointing) 1988 series entry “Jason Takes Manhattan,” Paramount opted to cast off the “Friday the 13th” franchise” and its masked villain who had served them so well during the ’80s.
Fortunately for fans, New Line was interested in picking up the Jason franchise, and JASON GOES TO HELL (88/91 mins., 1993, R/Unrated; Arrow) was billed as the final “Friday” upon its release in late summer ‘93.
Writers Dean Lorey and John Hughley concocted a “Body Snatchers”-like send-off for Jason, having his spirit possess various victims and cause them to commit a rash of murders. In the process, the two — along with director Adam Marcus — throw in references to other genre flicks and have a bloody good time playing around with some of the conventions of the series. At least you have to give points to the filmmakers for trying to inject a little life into the series, though the picture’s paltry box-office returns put the kibosh on any future installments for nearly a decade.
When “Jason” resurfaced, it wasn’t initially with the teased ending that promised a battle between Jason and Freddy Kruger – but rather a silly, ultra low-budget outing from series producer Sean S. Cunningham named JASON X (91 mins., R, 2002; Arrow).
It must have sounded like a good idea at the time: Jason Voorhees running around on a 25th century spaceship, hacking away at teenagers every bit as idiotic as the ones in the 1980s, but this cheapjack and often tedious 2002 outing is one of those instances where all the best lines were present in the trailer. Moreover, if you’re going to incorporate camp, at least go all the way with it (like Don Mancini did in his outrageous “Bride of Chucky”) and don’t do what director Jim Isaac did here: basically put Jason in a pedestrian “Alien” rip-off with a halfhearted attempt at self-parody. Sure, there are a couple of funny lines, but suspense-wise, the movie falls completely flat, with most of the movie shot in what seems to be one or two rooms. Even Harry Manfredini’s score is a dud, performed entirely on synthesizers. “Jason X” may be worth a look for die-hard fans after downing a few brews, but stay far away from it in any other circumstance.
Arrow has brought both New Line “Jason” entries to remastered 4K UHD form this month and fans should correspondingly have a field day with them.
“Jason Goes to Hell” offers both Dolby Vision HDR (1.85, 2.0/5.1 DTS MA) presentations of its theatrical and unrated versions, plus extras including Marcus’ brief intro to the film; new interviews with make-up great Robert Kurtzman, actress Julie Michaels, and Harry Manfredini, along with archival conversations with Adam Marcus and Kane Hodder. There’s also a look at the discarded footage seen in the TV version with Marcus’ optional commentary, the usual run of trailers and TV spots, and a brand-new commentary on the Unrated version with Michael Felsher and Steve Barton to compliment a pair of archival commentary chats sporting Marcus, screenwriter Dean Lorey and writer/”Friday” enthusiast Peter Bracke.
“Jason X,” meanwhile, also sports a good-looking new Dolby Vision HDR transfer on UHD (1.85, 2.0/5.1 DTS MA), supported by a new Felsher/Barton commentary plus archival commentaries sporting the likes of writer Todd Farmer, Peter Bracke again, and director Jim Isaac. There are also new interviews featuring Manfredini; an archival documentary on the production; archival interviews with Todd Farmer, actress Kristi Angus, and producer Sean S. Cunningham; EPK materials, trailers, still galleries and extensive booklet notes on both movies by JA Kerswell and Matt Donato. All of it makes for deluxe deliciousness for the ‘80s slasher fan in your life (for me personally, though, I’m eagerly awaiting the inevitable 4K UHD of “Freddy Vs. Jason” instead).
4K UHD New Releases
The box-office failure of Paramount’s BETTER MAN (135 mins., 2024, R; Paramount) could be seen coming from the day its premise was divulged.
For starters, the tumultuous life and times of British singer Robbie Williams, who started off in the boy group Take That before embarking on a solo career, didn’t seem entirely well-suited to American audiences or others around the world not necessarily familiar with Williams and his music. To address that, director Michael Gracey and Williams opted to have its title subject portrayed as an ape…yes, a CGI, motion-capture simian…in the hopes that somehow this oddball SFX tactic would net some commercial interest.
The result is “Planet of the Singing Ape,” wherein Williams charts his battles with mental health and a fluctuating career, set to his music – not all of which is that great to be honest – and all of it in the form of an animated monkey as its protagonist.
Sadly – but quite unsurprisingly – “Better Man” found few takers in most corners of the globe, with Gracey’s film coming off as one of the bona-fide flops of last year. You’d have to be both a Williams fan and someone who could accept the movie’s oddball premise to get much mileage out of this project, which Paramount has leveraged on 4K UHD by releasing it as part of their “Paramount Presents” limited-edition line with collectible fold-out packaging. The two-disc set, which also includes a Blu-Ray, sports well mixed Dolby Atmos sound along with a Dolby Vision HDR transfer (2.39) and two featurettes.
RE-ANIMATOR 4K UHD (86/105 mins., 1985, Unrated; Ignite Films/Eagle Rock): 1985 Empire Pictures release, inspired by H.P.Lovecraft’s story “Herbert West, Re-Animator,” was and still is a certified B-movie favorite about a mad scientist (Jeffrey Combs) driven to bring the dead back to life. Filled with black humor and gory effects, “Re-Animator” – directed by Stuart Gordon from a script by Dennis Paoli, William J. Norris and the director – was one of those rare horror movies that was embraced by both genre fans and critics, making the movie into a bona-fide cult classic over the years since its initial theatrical and video premieres.
Still as much fun today as it was back then, “Re-Animator” has been treated to the kind of expert restoration its label, Ignite Films, brought to their dazzling presentation of ‘50s cult movie fave “Invaders From Mars.” This new presentation on 4K UHD offers both its 86-minute theatrical cut in Dolby Vision HDR (1.85) plus a slew of audio options, from PCM mono to 2.0/5.1 stereo mixes and a music only 2.0 track as well for Richard Band enthusiasts. The even longer, 105-minute “Integral” version, meanwhile, is included in a well-encoded 1080p Blu-Ray.
The movie looks great and includes brand-new bonus features, including “Re-Animator at 40” with fresh interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Brian Yuza; a talk with editor Lee Percy; an interview with Carolyn Purdy-Gordon; a 4K restoration segment; a look at the “Legacy and Impact” of the film; a 1977 documentary on the Organic Theater Company of Chicago, which Stuart Gordon was a member of; and a 40th Anniversary trailer.
Carried over from previous releases are a trio of commentary tracks to a retrospective documentary, interviews with Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna, conversations with Dennis Paoli and composer Richard Band, an additional segment with Band, interview with Frangoria editor Tony Timpone, Alan Jones’ career-spanning chat with Barbara Crampton, deleted/extended scenes, the trailer and TV spots; and more. Highly recommended!
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MICKEY 17 4K UHD (137 mins., 2025, R; Warner): “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho wrote and directed this adaptation of Edward Ashton’s novel – a wacko futuristic black comedy wherein Pattinson’s “disposable” human is printed, and reprinted, while serving out assorted government tasks for a corrupt conservative (of course) politician played by Mark Ruffalo. The political commentary skews (predictably) far left in this heavy-handed effort, staking out obvious targets while failing to provide the kind of entertainment something like “Edge of Tomorrow” offered a while back along somewhat similar thematic terrain. A box-office bust due to its big budget, “Mickey 17” is technically well-crafted and looks nifty in Warner’s Dolby Vision HDR (2.39) presentation on UHD, with extras including three featurettes, trailers, and a Digital HD code.
DUNE: PROPHECY – The Complete First Season 4K UHD (392 mins., 2024; HBO/Warner): Fans who can’t get enough of the Frank Herbert universe, and don’t want to wait for Denis Villeneuve’s third “Dune” movie, will be the most receptive to “Dune: Prophecy.” This HBO series follows a pair of Harkonnen sisters (Emily Watson and Olivia Williams) who will one day establish the “Bene Gesserit” sect in an adaptation of the book “Sisterhood of Dune” from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Throughout its six episodes, “Dune: Prophecy” does an excellent technical job fitting into the world of Villeneuve’s features, but its languid pacing renders it mostly for the devoted “Dune” buff. There’s no questioning HBO’s superb 4K UHD with its HDR10 transfers, at least, throbbing Dolby Atmos sound, and over 90 minutes of extras (five extended featurettes, the exclusive featurette “Building Worlds”).
Warner Archive New Releases
Warner Archive’s latest releases include a high-def remastering of one of Hanna-Barbera’s more memorable series, WACKY RACES (408 mins., 1968). Even though the show produced some 17 episodes, they aired – and re-aired – in different configurations for years after their initial broadcasts, as Dick Dastardly and Muttley take on Peter Perfect, Blubber Bear, the Ant Hill Mob, and lovely Penelope Pitstop in fast-paced automotive hyjinks that riff on some of the big-screen period epics (“Those Magnificent Men…,” “The Great Race,” etc.) that preceded it earlier in the ‘60s. Fondly recalled by Hanna-Barbera buffs of all ages, Warner Archive brings the complete, original 1968 series to Blu-Ray with solidly remastered 1080p (1.33) transfers and mono sound. Extras here include the featurettes “Rearview Mirror: A Look Back at Wacky Races” as well as “Spin Out Spin-Offs,” commentaries on four key segments from Hanna-Barbera vets, and “Wacky Facts Trivia Track.”
Right before heading out almost exclusively to the Old West, director Anthony Mann completed his run of film noirs with the superb MGM outing SIDE STREET (83 mins., 1949). This B&W shot thriller offers Farley Granger as a postal worker whose impulsive theft of $30,000 from a corrupt lawyer gets him embroiled in a full-on mob war. The movie is a bit slow-going until its memorable car chase finale, shot in and around New York City locations which provide an enormous amount of period atmosphere to Sydney Boehm’s original script. Warner Archive’s crisply detailed 1080p (1.37) transfer is aces with supplements including a commentary by Richard Schickel, two classic MGM cartoons, the “Crime Does Not Pay” MGM short “The Luckiest Guy in The World,” the trailer, and featurette “Where Temptation Lurks.”
Gary Cooper followed his triumph on “High Noon” with the full-color Warner western SPRINGFIELD RIFLE (93 mins., 1952), starring as a U.S. army major looking for Union rustlers while going undercover as a Confederate spy. Veteran studio hand Andre De Toth helmed this satisfying if formulaic piece co-written by Charles Marquis Warren, the creator of “Gunsmoke,” with Phyliss Thaxter co-starring and Max Steiner providing a solid score. Two cartoons, a Joe McDoakes comedy short and the trailer are included in Warner Archive’s attractive new Blu-Ray (1.37, mono).
MGM’s romantic fable LILI (81 mins., 1953) offers Leslie Caron as an orphaned teen who joins a carnival where she’s torn between magician Jean Pierre Aumont and the more withdrawn puppeteer (Mel Ferrer) with the heart of gold who comes to love her. Paul Gallico’s story was reworked by Helen Deutsch for this unusually atmospheric MGM musical with the hit “Hi Lili, Hi Lo” a standout in Bronislau Kaper’s Oscar-winning score. A trio of cartoons is included with the trailer in another great-looking Warner Archive (1.37, mono) Blu-Ray remaster.
One of the most entertaining of the Blaxploitation films of the ‘70s, THREE THE HARD WAY (97 mins., 1974, R) teams up genre faves Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly as a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude that tries to stop white supremacists (led by Jay “The Robe” Robinson!) from poisoning the water supply of three major cities with a contaminant that only targets blacks. Gordon Parks, Jr. helmed this superior action outing with some entertaining one-liners and the stars injecting the picture with their own respective forms of charisma. Even better, Warner Archive’s no-frills Blu-Ray (1.85, mono) sports the first presentation of the movie’s original 97-minute theatrical cut for the first time in years, as previous releases of the Allied Artists release were derived from a cut-down 89-minute version (to be fair, the movie is a little pokey in terms of pacing, which is its weakest component).
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A mostly standard-issue romantic comedy spiced up by the comic energy of Ryan Reynolds (though Anna Faris is pretty funny here also), JUST FRIENDS (94 mins., 2005, PG-13) makes its overdue U.S. Blu-Ray debut from Warner Archive this month. Adam “Tex” Davis’ script offers Reynolds as a formerly overweight high schooler who returns home as a music executive – with diva client Faris in tow – to show off and, possibly, win back the crush (Amy Smart) he harbored years before. Chris Klein and Christopher Marquette also appear in Roger Kumble’s film, which performed adequately at the box-office back in 2005 before taking off for a larger audience on home video. Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA) includes a commentary and archival features (deleted scenes, music videos, etc.) from New Line’s old DVD release.
Finally, Michael Keaton’s dramatic chops were shown off in CLEAN AND SOBER (124 mins., 1988, R), a look at a real estate broker trying to kick his cocaine habit. Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment produced Tod Carroll’s original script, which under the direction of “Moonlighting” creator Glenn Gordon Caron, became a showcase for Keaton as a man struggling to get it together. To that end, this late ‘80s film was one of several (including “The Boost”) Hollywood studio releases that addressed addiction, and it comes off today as somewhat predictable in its structure, with a not always convincing “gritty” tone that’s played with an occasional heavy hand. Keaton is still superb here, as is Kathy Baker as a fellow addict; Morgan Freeman, fresh off a career turn in “Street Smart,” co-stars and Gabriel Yared provides one of his first U.S. scores. Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray (1.85, mono) includes just the trailer.
Eureka New Releases
THE MAGNIFICENT CHANG CHEH Bu-Ray (108/98 mins., 1966-77; Eureka): Double-feature Blu-Ray houses a pair of vintage efforts from the great Hong Kong martial arts director Chang Cheh. Included here is THE MAGNIFICENT TRIO (108 mins., 1966), a beautiful widescreen affair from the height of the wuxia genre’s popularity, starring Jimmy Wang Yu in an early role, along with MAGNIFICENT WANDERERS (98 mins., 1977), a lighter, more comedic affair from the apex of the kung fu craze a decade later. Fans should take to both movies, paired here on a single Blu-Ray platter.
Eureka’s deluxe package here includes an O-card slipcase and Celestial Pictures-provided 1080p (2.35) transfers with mono audio and an English dub also included on “Wanderers”. There’s also a new commentary on “Trio” by Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, plus “Wanderers” by Mike Leeder and Arne Venema. A video essay from Gary Bettinson is on tap plus a collector’s booklet with writing by critic James Oliver and new English subtitles for both pictures.
Coming May 27th from Eureka is another outstanding Limited Edition entry in their staple “Masters of Cinema” series.
TERROR IN THE FOG: THE WALLACE KRIMI AT CCC houses five German-produced adaptations of mystery novels from British writer Edgar Wallace (along with his son Bryan Edgar Wallace). Produced in West Germany in the ‘60s, these pictures became hugely popular at the box-office, kicking off a run of efforts in the genre from producer Artur Brauner. If you enjoyed Eureka’s recent release of the “Dr. Mabuse” films produced at CCC during this time, you’ll likely get a kick out of these pictures drawn from Brauner’s studio as well.
Included here are THE CURSE OF THE YELLOW SNAKE, THE STRANGLER OF BLACKMOOR CASTLE, THE MAD EXECUTIONERS, THE MONSTER OF LONDON CITY and THE RACETRACK MURDERS. All of these were shot in B&W (in varying 1.33/1.66/2.35 aspect ratios) and are heavy on atmosphere: thick fog, stark shadows, and moody contrasts are omnipresent throughout the productions, with murder and mayhem pointing to the more explicit thrills that gaillo pictures would generate a short time later.
The movies are presented on four discs with a welcome array of insightful, engaging supplements. In addition to 2K restorations derived from “original film element” scans by CCC, the set includes a bonus film, THE PHANTOM OF SOHO, in standard definition; German audio and English dubs; new introductions from Tim Lucas; commentaries on “Yellow Snake” and “Soho” from Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw; a commentary by Newman and Stephen Jones on “London City” with Kevin Lyons/Jonathan Rigby commentaries on the other three pictures; a new interview with producer Alice Brauner (Artur’s daughter); a video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas tracing these films to the gaillo and American slasher genres; a limited-edition 60-page book sporting writing by Howard Hughes, Barry Forshaw and Holger Haase; and deluxe, hardbound packaging sporting appropriate new artwork by Poochamin.
New & Upcoming
88 Films New Releases: Hideo Gosha’s GATE OF FLESH (119 mins., 1988) explores a post-WWII Tokyo and a group of prostitutes who form analliance with the hopes of starting a dance hall. Writer Kazuo Kasahara looks at a rebuilding Japan from the point of view of these fractured women, hoping to build a better existence while being threatened by gangsters, occupying U.S. forces, and circumstances – like an unexploded bomb – that are out of their control. 88’s Blu-Ray includes a 1080p (1.85) transfer, 2.0 stereo audio with English subtitles, a commentary from Amber T. and Jasper Sharp, an interview with tattoo artist Seiji Mouri, still gallery, booklet notes by Robin Gatto and Irene Gonzalez-Lopez, and an introduction by Earl Jackson.
Available this month from 88, LADY OF THE LAW (90 mins., 1975) serves up some classic ‘70s kung fu with Shih Szu starring as a most resourceful swordswoman taking on a dangerous criminal who may not be guilty of the crimes he’s been targeted for. Lo Lieh co-stars in this robust widescreen affair from director Shen Chiang debuting on Blu-Ray May 20th from 88. The disc features a transfer from the OCN (2.35) with Mandarin mono audio and English subtitles. There’s also a commentary from David West, a reversible sleeve and a double-sided foldout poster.
Radiance New Releases: Coming May 20th from Radiance are two new worldwide Blu-Ray premieres.
Sadao Nakajima’s THE RAPACIOUS JAILBREAKER (97 mins., 1974) stars Hiroki Matsukata as a black marketeer who’s sentenced to prison, gets out, goes back and yet somehow manages to escape again in a mid ‘70s Japanese crime drama based on an actual seven time prion escapee! Violent and sharply shot in widescreen, “Rapacious Jailbreaker” should be a must-view for Japanese genre fans, with Radiance’s limited edition offering a commentary by Nathan Stuart; visual essay from Tom Mes; new English subs and booklet notes sporting Earl Jackson liner notes and an archival review of the movie. Visually, the 1080p (2.39) transfer superbly captures the anamorphic frame and the mono Japanese audio is crisply delivered.
Michel Piccoli stars as THEMROC (109 mins., 1973), an offbeat story of a house painter who lives with his mother before, one day, deciding to turn his existence upside down. Some French social commentary is clearly on-hand in Claude Faraldo’s picture, restored in 4K by Radiance (1.66, French mono) in a new limited-edition Blu-Ray also out May 20th. New extras include an interview with critic David Thompson; archival conversation between Piccoli and Faraldo; a talk with critic Manuela Lazic on Piccoli; the trailer, still gallery, and booklet notes by Alison Smith.
MVD Rewind New Releases: Growing up, “Kentucky Fried Movie” and “The Groove Tube” were two of my favorite comedy video rentals – occasionally uproarious, if uneven, sketch comedy films that satirized a whole slew of movies, TV shows, and the ‘70s pop culture of their time.
A movie that was much harder to find – and, as it turns out, not nearly as funny – was Neal Israel and Brad Swirnoff’s TUNNELVISION (70 mins., 1976, Not Rated), another fragmented comic anthology that may be “in their tradition” but feels out of their league. This despite a cast that recruited Chevy Chase, John Candy, Al Franken, Joe Flaherty, Laraine Newman, Howard Hesseman, Ron Silver and Betty Thomas amongst many others – alas, the big stars fleetingly appear with Michael Mislove and Israel’s script often straining to be funny, even as expected satirical riffs appear throughout.
MVD Rewind has unearthed “Tunnelvision” in a new 4K transfer (presented in both 1.33 and 1.66, 2.0 mono) with extras including an interview with Israel conducted by producer Stuart Shapiro; a commentary by historian Marc Edward Heuck; a continuity script and photo gallery; and MVD’s appealing nostalgia-laced home video artwork, fold-out poster and slipcover.
Joining “Tunnelvision” in the Rewind Collection this month is THE BIKINI CARWASH COMPANY I & II, a pair of low-budget, shot-on-video efforts which became “Cinemax After Dark” type staples. Beautiful girls, low-brow comedy and guilty pleasure amusement abound with MVD Rewind’s Blu-Ray offering AI-enhanced, 1080p upconverted (1.33) transfers along with (for purists) the original standard-def video tape masters for good measure. Extras include commentary from Jim Wynorski on the first movie and a collectible mini-poster.
Quick Takes
BLACK BAG Blu-Ray (94 mins., 2025, R; Universal): David Koepp-written spy thriller pits Michael Fassbender’s intelligence agent against his wife and fellow spook Cate Blanchett after she’s accused of treason; alas, all is not what it seems in director Steven Soderbergh’s movie, one which was aimed at the flailing theatrical marketplace for “adult movies” but came up snake eyes in terms of finding an audience. Perhaps it’s no surprise since this talky, plodding affair manages to be slow-going – even with an abbreviated 94-minute run time! Universal’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD) includes two featurettes, deleted scenes and a Digital HD code.
BEN 10: The Complete Collection DVD (2006-14; Warner): Long-running Cartoon Network series follows the life of a 10-year-old, regular human boy who uncovers a wristband dubbed the “Omnitrix” in the rubble of a crashed meteorite. The device enables mild-mannered Ben Tennyson to change into a variety of extraterrestrial super-heroes, which he uses to fight evil and, occasionally, just get into trouble. This free-wheeling, kid-centric series offers colorful action for youngsters, lasting over several different incarnations with a couple of feature-length movies thrown in for good measure.
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Warner’s definitive new DVD box set of “Ben 10” includes all four series: the original “Ben 10” (2006-08), “Ben 10 Alien Force” (2008-10), “Ben 10 Ultimate Alien” (2010-12), and “Ben 10 Omniverse” (2012-14) in 16:9 transfers and 2.0 Dolby Digital sound. Also included, along with a smattering of supplements carried over from the previous DVD releases, are the two movies “Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix” and “Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens.” A must for buffs!
RICK AND MORTY – THE ANIME Blu-Ray (207 mins., 2024; Warner): Director Takashi Sano takes the omnipresent Cartoon Network heroes on his own stylized anime adventure in “Rick and Morty – The Anime.” This 10-episode series followed Sano’s previous shorts which presented the title duo in anime form, building upon their digital success and fan approval. Warner’s Blu-Ray of the series is now included with 5.1 DTS MA sound and 1080p transfers (1.85) on-hand.
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MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE REVELATION/REVOLUTION Steelbook Blu-Ray (2021-24; Mill Creek): The resurrection of the beloved ‘80s toy line is about to get a big push with a new movie coming in 2026; in the meantime, Mattel fans can get their fix with this welcome physical release of Netflix’s two animated revivals of He-Man and friends, which met with mixed results under the guidance of producer Kevin Smith.
“Revelation” (2021) sends He-Man off to the sidelines following a fight with Skeletor, bringing Teela and Andra to absorb most of the screen time while they try and restore magic to an ailing Eternia. Fans were divided with the series, but generally liked its 2024 follow-up, “Revolution,” better, with He-Man resurrected, just in time to take on Skeletor and equally vile villain Hordak.
Both shows are presented here in 1080p (1.78) transfers with 5.1 DTS MA sound and paired in Mill Creek’s attractive Steelbook housing.
Also new from Mill Creek is their latest Ultraman Blu-Ray release, ULTRAMAN TRIGGER (12 hours, Mill Creek), which includes all 25 episodes from the series along with “Ultraman Trigger Episode Z.” Good-looking 1080p (1.78) transfers, original Japanese audio tracks, a collectible slipcover, and a free playable card from the Ultraman card game are included in Mill Creek’s newest, now-available Blu-Ray.
ROCK BOTTOM DVD (90 mins., 2025; Cleopatra): Rotoscoped animated movie from director Maria Trenor uses Robert Wyatt’s music to tell the ‘70s set-story of a pair of hippies involved in what becomes a problematic relationship overflowing with art – and drugs. An interesting visual design permeates this offbeat feature, on DVD from Cleopatra with Dolby Digital sound and a 16:9 transfer in mid-May.
NEXT TIME: Severin dials in with vintage DR.WHO on 4K UHD and more! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!