‘Touch of Evil’ on 4K UHD Blu-ray September 25!
Charlton Heston portrays Mike Vargas, the Mexican chief of narcotics who sets out to uncover the facts surrounding a car bomb that has killed a wealthy American businessman on the US side of the border. As Vargas investigates, his newly-wed wife Susie (Janet Leigh, two years before Hitchcock’s Psycho) is kidnapped by a gang out to exact vengeance for the prosecution of the brother of their leader (Akim Tamiroff). Meanwhile, Vargas’ inquiries become progressively more obfuscated by the American cop Hank Quinlan (played by Welles himself, in one of the most imposing and unforgettable screen performances of his career), a besotted incarnation of corruption who alternately conspires with Susie’s captors and seeks solace in the brothel of the Gypsy madame (Marlene Dietrich) who comforted him in bygone times. Welles’ final studio-system picture has at last become secure in its status as one of the greatest films ever made. It remains a testament to the genius of Welles –– a film of Shakespearean richness, inexhaustible. The Masters of Cinema Series is extremely proud to present Touch of Evil in its UK debut on 4K UHD Blu-ray.
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2023 is the year we are supposed to see majority of the remainder for James Cameron’s catalog to be out on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray. Thanks to the help of his latest megabuster sequel, the original Avatar has made its way to the format. Sporting a new Dolby Atmos track and updated restoration, transfer, the disc hit the stores on June 20th. Its a 3-Disc set with 1 4K UHD disc and 2 accompanying Blu-rays. The second disc of said standard Blu-rays contains the extras. You’ll also get a digital code for redemption as well as a load of the original extras (and a couple new). This is an event film certainly worthy of most film collections, and you can make it yours with the ease of clicking the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
One thing the studio folks seem to be learning here is…when you have a lower budgeted project…try popping it in the theaters to make some cash instead of being a streaming exclusive. Its two-fold. You make money in the theaters and then it becomes a more attracting thing to stream because of that. Warner learned that the right way with Evil Dead Rise, the fifth film in the Sam Raimi created series. Intended for Max, it wound up with quite a successful theatrical run. Now, its come to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray…without bonus features. Bummer, but hey, owning it on disc should be good enough for us collectors these days. It arrived on June 27th. You can order yourself a copy by clicking the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Warner is continuing to keep its promise on bringing a swath of classic catalog titles to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray for the first time for its 100th anniversary. Continuing on in June is the release of National Lampoon’s Vacation starring Chevy Chase in time for its 40th anniversary. No new features are here, but you do get a brand new transfer and lossless audio. The disc was released to the wild on June 27th. You can order yourself a copy by clicking on the paid Amazon Associates link at the end of the review.
One of the most gigantic movies of the year, and our only billion dollar earner in 2023, is The Super Mario Bros. Movie. A film that was predestined for success, it reached out to many generations in terms of interest. It still is making money, but Universal was like…lets do home video already. And so, on June 13th, they popped it out with no real notice. I personally didn’t get the 4K press release until it was already on shelves. But, anywho, there are a couple featurettes here and an Atmos track to bring it to live. Order yourself a copy, if you please, by using the paid Amazon Associates link at the end of the review.
John Wick: Chapter 4 proved one of the biggest blasts of “I friggin’ love movies” you could get in the first quarter of 2023. This latest installment on the hitman underground franchise with Keanu Reeves in the lead opened to rave reviews and big box office. Its now come home to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray for you to take in. Released on June 9th, it came with a Dolby Atmos track and a smattering of featurettes. You can order the film by on 4K by using the paid Amazon Associate link at the bottom of this review.
POKER FACE: SEASON ONE arrives on DVD & Blu-ray September 12 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The star-studded mystery, directed by Rian Johnson (Knives Out), follows four-time Emmy® Nominee Natasha Lyonne’s “Charlie,” who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.
Oscar® winners Diane Keaton (Father of the Bride, Something’s Gotta Give), Jane Fonda (80 for Brady, “Grace and Frankie”) and Mary Steenburgen (The Proposal, Parenthood), and Oscar®nominee Candice Bergen (Miss Congeniality, Bride Wars) star in Focus Features’ laugh-out-loud comedy, BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER, available to own as a Collector’s Edition with brand-new exclusive bonus content on Digital June 30, 2023 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD July 11, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE).
Last year, Sony gifted us the release of I Know What You Did Last Summer for its 25th anniversary with a new scan and some new bonus materials. This year, they’ll be doing the same with its sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Yes, its getting a new scan, a commentary and interview with fisherman killer himself, Muse Watson. Unfortunately Jack Black isn’t back here for any interview. This 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray will debut on September 26th. Pre-order links aren’t live yet, but I’m sure that is not far down the road, here. “How do I deal” with that? Well, I’ll just take in the cover art and details for now!
The galaxy’s favorite band of misfits are back for one final adventure, and it may be their most dangerous yet. James Gunn’s epic conclusion to the Guardians trilogy is “full of heart, humor, and action” (Ross Bonaime, Collider) and “an absolute must-see” (Molly Freeman, Screen Rant). Raising the stakes to new levels, the team must protect one of their own from a mysterious new villain in a thrilling adventure full of the spectacle, humor and heart that fans have come to expect. And of course, an awesome soundtrack! Marvel Studios’
As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, the iconic martial arts film Enter the Dragon will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital this August. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 1973 release, on August 8 Enter the Dragon will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. Enter the Dragon is considered one of the most influential action films of all time and is credited with bringing interest in the Asian martial arts genre to mainstream Western cinema. The Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc includes both the theatrical version of the film and the Special Edition of the film which features three additional minutes of footage. 
Experience Clive Barker’s classic masterpiece in terror as you’ve never seen it before! On August 1, 2023, SCREAM FACTORY™ will release NIGHTBREED Collector’s Edition in a 4K UHD™+ Blu-ray™ combo pack. Available for the first time being released in 4K UHD format, this highly anticipated release features a new 4K scan of the best-surviving film elements from the “Theatrical cut” and comes loaded with “Director’s Cut” on Blu-ray and special bonus content. The collector’s edition includes collectible slipcover packaging with original theatrical poster art and a reversible art wrap featuring alternative art. 
Movies that feature exorcism can either be the stuff of cinema legend (The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) or pure trash (Prey for the Devil). When this Russell Crowe shocker was released earlier in the spring, it did some decent business overseas and divided critics. Bringing The Pope’s Exorcist home on 6/13, you can now see for yourself where this newest entry in the exorcism subgenre fits. You’ll find a paid link at the end for you to snag yourself a copy!
When Doomsday killed Superman back in 1992, the earth-shattering storyline concurrently introduced new characters that instantly struck a chord with readers. One of those was none other than John Henry Irons, an engineer by trade who created his own enhanced suit of armor to fend off the villains of Metropolis. Irons donned the moniker Steel and took to the skies and the streets of Superman’s city. The man with the hammer is back, well, this other man with a hammer, not the Asgardian one, and he’s looking to do big things for the citizens of Metropolis.
Worlds collide as IDW brings together the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a roster of classic Street Fighter characters in the new mini-series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter! Gang Green is all here, including the fifth turtle, Jennika. With writing by Paul Allor (Godzilla Rivals) and art by Ariel Medel (Evil Ernie), TMNT vs. SF opens with a calcium-shattering punch by Raphael, connecting with the face of everyone’s favorite sonic-booming flat top, Guile.
About two months ago, give or take, some comic book stores were lucky enough to get debut issues of Dylan Burnett’s Arcade Kings. Though those were very limited, the series has now had its official widespread release with issue #1. Burnett, who’s done covers for another Image title, Radiant Black, has also spent plenty of time with Marvel working on series such as Ant Man and Cosmic Ghost Rider. With Arcade Kings, however, this is Burnett’s baby as he created, wrote, and did the artwork. So what’s this new, colorful series about anyway?
A lone miner turns into a one-man army when Sisu arrives on Digital June 27 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD, and Video on Demand July 11 from Lionsgate. Writer and director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports, Big Game) shares the tale of a solitary prospector defending all he has at the end of WWII. Sisu will be available on Digital, 4K + Blu-ray + Digital (both National 4K and Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook), Blu-ray + DVD + Digital, DVD, and Video on Demand.
