Why So Blu?

Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist for 2020!

Welcome back to another edition of Brandon’s Blu-ray Wishlist. The second one this year as 2019’s had to be pushed to January last time. But alas, I’m back and on time here with another set of 10 films or TV programs that have yet to be blessed/restored/made-over with the Blu-ray format (Or 4K Ultra-HD now for that matter). The usual rules apply as always. To appear on the wishlist, a title cannot have been released anywhere on the globe (If its only in another region, its STILL on the format). Also, if it has been announced in some sort of professional or reliable manner (IE: Peter Jackson has discussed that Meet the Feebles and Bad Taste ARE getting released). After the list, in the comments, list of some of theme you’re hoping finally see the light of day or you are STILL waiting to see the light of day in the comments (We are already WELL aware of The Abyss and True Lies, so lets get a bit more creative, shall we?).

Another year, another Thanksgiving, another list of gifts you’d like for your respective holiday season if you celebrate any of those respective holiday seasons…and ANOTHER Blu-ray wishlist. Wishlist is celebrating its sixth year of publication here at Why So Blu. You’ll remember in 2014 it ran as a weekly, then monthly, then sorta fell off to being a better idea as an annual piece. These are always a joy and fun for me to put together. However, I feel this is winding down as I may be getting into the far reaching (Am I even REALLY wanting this) territory after this year. There are many films/TV shows already on the format that I’d like better editions of or a US release, but that would be going against the mission statement of how the Wishlist works. Also, 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray is far too new (And pretty limited in back catalog options) and there is SO MUCH not on the format that it would just be easy and boring to compile a list. The Wishlist was originally designed to point out and bring to light the films that had fallen through the cracks, never released on Blu-ray before, still waiting to jump from the depths of DVD or VHS. You don’t need me to point out that DUH – Lawrence of Arabia NEEDS to be on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray or that yeah, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray makes a ton of sense.

Now, as always, let us start with former Wishlist entrants fortunate to finally receive their release day in 2019.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS WISHLIST ENTRIES

Wishes since 2013: 135*

Wishes granted: 83

Success Rate: 61.4% (Up from 59.2% last year!!)

*Titles on list or mentioned under a general entry like “Hitchcock” or “Marx Bros Collection”

April Fool’s Day – Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, early 2020) – No full details yet, but Scream Factory further digs into the Paramount catalog with this highly demanded title next year! I’m guessing this arrives in mid-late March as this company knows what its doing.

After Hours (Criterion, unspecified) – They’ve announced they are putting it out, but when? Hopefully 2020 see it FINALLY arrive. Until then, I sit unfairly every month they announce titles, disappointed one of them wasn’t After Hours.

Cleopatra Jones (Warner Archive Collection, March 19, 2019) – A nice surprise kinda out of nowhere, no just deliver us the Casino of Gold and we’re all set!

Conquest (Code Red via Ronin Flix, October 24, 2019) – As always, FULCI LIVES! While many of his works are being restored with new 4K transfers, Conquest saw its debut and finally you could see what was happening in this movie! One of the finest 1980s trashy sword and sorcery flicks around, this one will likely be a rarity one day so pick it up while you can!

Monty Python’s Flying Circus: The Complete Series Norwegian Blu-ray Edition (Network, November 12, 2019) – Ahhhh, what a glorious set! I’ll gloat about this beauty a lot more come my Top Blu-rays of the year posting next month.

Hitchcock: British International Pictures Collection (Kino Lorber, December 10, 2019) – Kino has trickled out a few silents and early talkies but this set is a real gem of British work from Hitchock before he crossed seas. Anyone like me, who feasted on those bargain bin Hitch collections to have a copy of everything are likely going to relish in seeing some of these nicely restored for the first time in maybe ever!

Shaft’s Big Score! and Shaft In Africa (Warner Archive Collection, May 21, 2019) – Likely thanks to the new movie we got Shaft’s original sequels FINALLY on the Blu-ray format. Hopefully people will return to or check these out for the first time and see how surprisingly good they both are. I’m especially taken with Shaft’s Big Score! as I’ll argue its the best Shaft film of them all. And the final (45ish minute) action sequence is one of the best of the entire 1970s decade.

The Stand (Paramount Pictures, September 24, 2019) – A surprise when this was announced, but a welcome one. Considered one of the peaks of Stephen King television mini-series (Certainly the most ambitious), it found its way to Blu-ray. Admittedly, I’ve still not grabbed myself a copy, but until doing this I’d forgotten about it, so maybe I’ll fix that here after writing the article.

A QUICK REMINDER; To qualify for the wishlist, a title must not be available on Blu-ray in ANY Region. For example – If the movie/tv show is available or has been available on Blu-ray, but only in United Arab Emirates, its not making the list.

And now…onto the Blu-ray Wishlist For 2020!

The Avengers: Series 2  & 3 (1962-1964)

I should note first, there is a trio of episodes being released for The Cybernauts Trilogy this month from Network. Studio Canal had put out Series 4-6 of the classic 1960s British spy program back in 2015 and then pretty much stopped. I get it, those all were sourced from film and the early series had been shot on video.  However, as Doctor Who and Monty Python are proving with these thought to “lost cause” popular classic British shows because of how they were produced, there IS a market for them and you CAN improve them. I’d love to have the 2 Honor Blackman series to go with 4-6 on my shelf. We have the all important Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) years, now lets take a look back at Cathy Gale. A nice set from Studio Canal, maybe in a more limited pressing this time, would be awesome. If you’re wondering why not the first series, well, all but 3 of those episodes are most likely lost forever thanks to the ITV’s wiping policy back in the old days. Those 3 episodes would make for great bonus material on the Series 2 set (And were included as such on the UK DVD release of that series).

The Beach (2000)

Danny Boyle is one of the most interesting voices in film and one of the more publicly known by the general moviegoer. His 2000 effort, The Beach, seems to be like David Fincher’s Panic Room when it comes to high definition. A big, why not? Or how has this not been released  already? There have been some false starts or listings, but we are still here with nothing. And its EASY to exploit, it has Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead. Maybe this goes under a more collector, niche label eventually, but its weird that this hasn’t even been produced as a simple $5 bin cheapy by now.

Captain Blood (1935)

It feels like this one is any day now, right? Like Warner Archive Collection is just sitting on it. Last year they released an Errol Flynn movie and it wasn’t this. Captain Blood is his breakout movie. The one that launched the swashbuckler, swinging from ropes and clanging swords subgenre. And he was the king of that and this is the ultimate picture and blueprint for it. Sure, this is an easy pick, but its 2019 and we still don’t have this landmark film. Criterion would be ideal to put it out, but I’m guessing Warner Bros holds onto this one for themselves. Hopefully they carry over a nice documentary or two to feature on it. Maybe its in rough shape and the restoration is just taking a while. Who knows?

Get Smart: The Complete Series (1965-1970)

HBO put out an outstanding DVD set for one of the funniest series of all time back in 2006. It was a special order thing from Time/Life magazine and then they slowly rolled it out to the general retailers season by season afterward. All you have to do is repurpose this set. Its all there. Nothing new needs to be done. It was pretty much perfect. Just some new authoring, menus and put it in at least a solid package design. It doesn’t have to have a great phone booth case like the DVD’s did (Seriously, its awesome). PLEASE don’t let next month’s release of the god-awful The Nude Bomb be the classic Get Smart’s representation on Blu-ray. I BEG YOU!

Girls Nite Out (1982)

Where do the rights to this belong? I dunno. The last DVD was put out by some company called Shriek Show. Doesn’t matter, someone in the Shout! Factory, Arrow, Severin or Vinegar Syndrome realm should be able to track it down and acquire it. This one is a really fun time as its a slasher where the killer is wearing a ridiculous bear outfit. Both funny and a bit nasty, this one really is a lost gem and I’d love to see some interviews and a nice presentation for it. I must mention it stars the woman who played Vickie in Friday the 13th Part 2, my Crystal Lake crush for that film!

GLOW: The Complete Series (2017-2020)

Yes, I want to OWN GLOW even though its housed on Netflix. Its my absolute favorite Netflix show and I’d LOVE to won the whole thing on Blu-ray once it finishes its run next year (Sob sob, WHYYY). I enjoy the subscription services as much as anybody else, but the stuff I REALLY like, I want to ensure I have access to whenever I’d like. Strange to you, maybe, but I prefer to collect over subscribing ultimately. Speaking of Netflix –

The Irishman (2019)

Martin Scorsese is one of the finest talents to ever helm a film. He’s one of my favorite directors ever. Hence, I collect all of his films. Like The Ballad of Buster Skruggs last year, and before The Irishman is even out on the service, I’m asking Netflix to PLEASE let someone like Criterion put this out on Blu-ray. If you’re doing us fans a favor and allowing him to make this film, then do us the next thing and allow us to actually own it. You can keep Bright forever as a part of this deal and I won’t bat an eye. Scorsese is one to be studied and every (Good) release of his feels an insight into history and gives us a further film education on the medium.

Private Benjamin (1980)

Goldie Hawn’s seminal film might be the biggest stunner of the Wishlist for 2020. It was actually supposed to be on the list for 2019 and 2018, but I had forgotten it until after I posted. So I made sure to keep a note to not forget this time. How is this still waiting in the wings? It feels you’d just expect it to be available. Taking a further step back, the only release for this movie is a DVD that is pan and scan (As is the digital presentation)! When is the last time this movie was actually viewed properly? Holy Moly! All I have to say is that it is a perfect time to fix that, Warner Bros/Warner Archive Collection. I know I give you a lot of grief and a lot of demands over the years, but you sure have been coming through in the last few years.

Silent Night Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out (1989), Silent Night Deadly Night 4: Initiation (1990), Silent Night Deadly Night 5: The Toymaker (1991)

“Three movies in one entry? You’re cheating, Brandon!” Sure. But, I’m looking at these as a collection, as their release on DVD had been in a single Anchor Bay release collection all three. Do that again. These odd, straight to video sequels definitely are candidates for restoration of “Making movies that don’t deserve to look this good”. I’m not sure if the rights held with Anchor Bay and are now stuck with the Lionsgate “We don’t like catalog horror!” vault. If not, Vinegar Syndrome is the PERFECT home for them as they just put out a boffo Amityville set featuring all of those wacky straight to video sequels. It could be a fun set if put together right, and it’d be nice to see this silly, very odd series all available in prestigious high definition.

Titan A.E. (2000)

As Aaron Neuwirth would say, “This certainly is an animated film I saw back in 2000”, he’s not wrong. However, its one that maybe could have another look. While its not a complete standout, it still was pretty fun and something different in a time where animation was turning a corner into a less hand drawn medium and more into the computer era. It would be kind of neat to see some interviews about this forgotten film and be nice to return and see how it has held up over the past 20 years. I dunno, it certainly is a curiosity.

Speaking of underseen, forgotten animated films, I’d like to tell Disney+ that I see you have a 4K presentation of The Black Cauldron…how about a disc, please! 🙂 Anyway, that’s my list for the year. How about you? What are ones you are wanting on the format? Have any you have been waiting for come out this year? Let me know in the comments and CLICK HERE to see my previous entries in this series. As always, thank you for taking the time to check out the Blu-ray Wishlist!