In Michael Mann’s dazzling THIEF (124 mins., 1981, R; Criterion), jewel thief Frank (James Caan) moonlights as a Chicago car dealer by day and cool, by-the-book safecracker at night. Having served time, Frank is weary of the criminal world he engages in, keeping his dealings on a simple, plain level that changes when he meets crime boss Leo (Robert Prosky), who subsequently provides Frank with assorted jobs, enables him to buy a new home and even helps him and girlfriend Jessie (Tuesday Weld) adopt a child. With their new dealings, though, comes a price that Frank is ultimately unwilling to pay…

If “Thief”’s plot summary sounds mundane, the film itself is anything but, thanks to director Mann’s stylish lighting and direction. These days, “Thief” may not have the freshness it once did upon its original release, but it’s a groundbreaking film in terms of its sleek visuals, editing and Tangerine Dream’s pulsating score – a picture that laid the groundwork not only for Mann’s career but the entire cinematic language of the modern crime drama post-1980. Caan’s performance is superb, as are all the actors, in a movie that is moody, tense and enthralling, a precursor to “Miami Vice” and Mann’s subsequent cinematic endeavors (“Heat” in particular).

Criterion’s new 4K UHD offers a new and seemingly freshly graded presentation of the movie with Dolby Vision HDR (1.85, 5.0 DTS MA) that’s much more textured and vivid than the previous Blu-Ray of the Director’s Cut. Pinpoint detail and even better balanced colors adorn the image while the 5.0 sound is enveloping, with the Dream’s scoring functioning as the soul of Mann’s story, and carrying numerous sequences without dialogue. Extra features include a commentary with Mann and Caan (recorded for a laserdisc release back in the mid ‘90s) plus previously-released interviews with Mann, Caan, and Tangerine Dream member Johannes Schmoelling.

Criterion’s big new 4K releases don’t end there, either, with Godzilla fans the big beneficiary of a spectacularly remastered 4K UHD of GODZILLA VS. BIOILLANTE (104 mins., 1989, PG; Criterion).

This 1989 Toho production was the first (of many) sequels in the studio’s ‘80s/’90s “Heisei” era of Godzilla epics, and the only one that had been domestically controlled by Miramax. In an amazing occurrence that’s nearly inconceivable given Miramax’s penchant for hacking up overseas imports, Harvey & Bob’s editors didn’t take the shears out to “Biollante” and basically left it intact from its original Japanese version – dubbing excepted, of course – enabling it to be one of the few Godzilla imports that faithfully rendered the release version of its native country.

“Biollante” – which sports Godzilla taking on a giant, Audrey II-like plant – was previously released way back in an Echo Bridge Blu-Ray that contained Japanese stereo sound and an English dub. As has been the case with some of the Criterion Godzilla-licensed releases of recent years, that dub isn’t included here, meaning the sole option is to watch the Japanese subtitled, original cut of the film with 5.0 DTS MA sound. In every way, though, the gorgeous 4K remaster (SDR) is splendidly delivered here, adding detail to one of the more memorably designed films of the entire series.

Extra features include a new commentary by Samm Deighan; a 1993 program on the movie’s production; a shorter 1993 doc about the Biollante and Super X2 vehicle concepts; deleted special effects; and TV spots and trailers.

New From Severin

The eclectic cinematic stylings of French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet were first recognized with the release of DELICATESSEN (100 mins., 1991, R), his memorable (if nothing else) look at a cannibal butcher shop in a dystopian future. The plot, though, is secondary to Jeunet’s visceral portrait of this oddball universe, performed by actors like Dominique Pinon who would become frequent participants in Jeunet’s subsequent films, from the delightful, off-kilter “Amelie” to his misfired sojourn into the Hollywood studio system, “Alien Resurrection.”

“Delicatessen” won’t be for every taste but it was acclaimed by many critics its initial release, and Studio Canal’s 4K UHD restoration of the film (1.85) has now been brought to the U.S. by Severin. This double-disc set includes a Dolby Vision HDR graded 4K presentation of the movie while the same transfer, struck from the OCN, is available on an accompanying Blu-Ray. Extras total over three hours of supplements, from a proper Making Of and interview with Jeunet and co-director Marc Caro to a talk with Terry Gilliam, who “presented” Miramax’s original U.S. release of the picture.

A 2012 thriller from director Brandon Cronenberg, ANTIVIRAL (108 mins.), debuts on 4K UHD this month from Severin as well. Clabe Landry Jones plays a sales rep for The Lucas Clinic, which specializes in providing special experiences for celebrity-obsessed fans – very special, it turns out, as this clinic injects its participants with the assorted infections of their famous biological brethren (of sorts). Commentary with the young Cronenberg and DP Karim Hussain is included along with a featurette, deleted scenes, interviews, Cronenberg’s short “Broken Tulips” and more with Severin’s 4K UHD (178) sporting Dolby Vision HDR and 5.1 audio.

Recently released from Severin on Blu-Ray, THE MASK OF SATAN (98 mins., 1989) is director Lamberto Bava’s remake of his father Mario’s ‘60s genre classic, about a group of skiers who unleash a frozen corpse that serves as a pathway to hell itself. Mary Sellers, Debora Caprioglio, Michele Soavi and Debora Kinski star in this appropriately gory thriller from the creator of the original “Demons,” newly restored in 2K from the original camera negative (1.66) for the first time. Italian mono sound and English subtitles are included in Severin’s disc along with an interview with Bava, a conversation with Sellers, and a chat with Debora Caprioglio.

Finally, nostalgic horror fans may be most excited by the release of FEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES: THE COMPLETE BLOOD ISLAND FILMS. This double-disc Blu-Ray anthology takes viewers back to the 1960s, where independent Filipino directors Eddie Romero and Gerry de Leon brought fans a quartet of undeniable schlock favorites: TERROR IS A MAN, BRIDES OF BLOOD, the especially memorable MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND, and BEAST OF BLOOD, which has been newly remastered from a Library of Congress 35mm print.

In fact, all four movies have been scanned in 4K with much more robust color and detail than likely any version you’ve seen before – and Severin has sweetened the pot with a massive array of extras in their Blu-Ray package. These include three commentary tracks, interviews with marketing consultant Samuel M. Sherman, Eddie Romero, actresses Beverly Powell and Celeste Yarnall, poster and still galleries, and a collectible slipcover as well.

NEXT TIME: OCN Wrap! 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!