Jackie Chan, Jim Jarmusch & More Coming to The Criterion Collection in April 2019
This April, Jackie Chan smashes into the Criterion Collection through a plate-glass window with a double-bill edition of his action-comedy classics Police Story and Police Story 2, newly restored in 4K. Andy Griffith plays a boisterous folk hero turned TV demagogue in Elia Kazan’s eerily prescient satire A Face in the Crowd, appearing on Blu-ray for the first time. Jan Němec’s haunting and hallucinatory feature debut Diamonds of the Night, one of the most visionary films of the Czechoslovak New Wave, will make its first appearance on home video in a new 4K restoration. Australian auteur Gillian Armstrong will join the Collection with her coming-of-age classic My Brilliant Career, a breakthrough film for the director and for its magnetic star, Judy Davis. And there’s more: two beloved Jim Jarmusch films-the minimalist masterpiece Stranger Than Paradise and the taxicab odyssey Night on Earth will make their Blu-ray debuts.
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Welcome back to Hogwarts when “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” the second of five all new adventures from the Wizarding WorldTM created by J.K. Rowling, arrives on 4K UHD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD Special Edition and Digital. The 4K UHD Combo Pack and the Blu-ray Combo pack include an extended cut of the film with more than seven minutes of deleted scenes added, available as a digital download. Also featured is an audio introduction by director David Yates and over an hour of fantastic special features.
In 1918, Armand Tesla (Bela Lugosi), a 200-year-old Hungarian Vampire, prowls the English countryside, feeding from the jugulars of the villagers. But Tesla’s reign of terror is interrupted when a pair of scientists, Lady Jane and Sir John Ainsley, drive a railroad spike through his heart. The “un-dead” Tesla remains safely entombed for two decades until the impact from a stray Nazi bomb accidentally releases him. Along with his werewolf servant Andreas Obry, the resurrected vampire now plots vengeance on the family that put a halt to his nocturnal feasting. On February 19, 2019, SCREAM FACTORY™ is proud to present Bela Lugosi’s cult classic THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE on Blu-ray. Directed by Lew Landers (The Raven), this blood-curdling horror classic stars Bela Lugosi (Dracula), Frieda Inescort (A Place in the Sun), Nina Foch (Spartacus), and Miles Manders (The Man in the Iron Mask). A must-have for movie collectors and loyal fans of Bela Lugosi, this definitive Blu-ray release contains new audio commentaries by film historians, special features and more! Pre-order is available now at ShoutFactory.com. 
Can’t wait for this one! Produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by Julius Avery (Son of a Gun), the “wild and fantastically fun thrill fest” (Molly Freeman, Screenrant) OVERLORD lands on Digital February 5, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD February 19 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Embraced by critics, OVERLORD is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and was hailed as “wonderfully tense and truly exhilarating” (Jonathan Barkan, Dread Central). The wildly entertaining genre mash-up boasts a stellar ensemble cast, non-stop action and plenty of wild twists you have to see to believe. 
The Halloween franchise saw one of their most popular and prosperous entries ever when Blumhouse brought back Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter to team up with Blumhouse, David Gordon Green and Danny McBride to make a fresh sequel to the original film. Now, Michael Myers is coming to your home when it comes to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray on Januaray 15th. We at Why So Blu want to give you to take a stab at landing a copy for free with our giveaway! Keep on reading to find out how YOU can win our Halloween (2008) on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray contest and watch Michael Myers with be finest of sound and picture quality!
Inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale and the beloved ballet, Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms arrives on Digital, Movies Anywhere, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD Jan. 29, 2019. Relieve the magic of this classic tale instantly through bonus features and never-before-seen extras such as a behind-the-scenes look at how the four realms were created to such dazzling effect. Experience the Disney magic and adventure in what is destined to become an annual viewing tradition for adventurers of all ages. 
This is it folks – all good things must eventually come to an end. As such it’s with this final column that I Jason Coleman bid a fond farewell to both 
An all-star cast explodes onto the screen when Lord of War arrives on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray™ and Digital) March 19 from Lionsgate. Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Andrew Niccol (1998, Best Screenplay, The Truman Show), the action-packed crime thriller, based on a true story, stars Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage (1995, Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas), Academy Award® winner Jared Leto (2013, Best Supporting Actor, Dallas Buyers Club), and four-time Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke (2014/2001, Best Supporting Actor, Boyhood/Training Day; 2004/2013, Best Adapted Screenplay, Before Midnight/Before Sunset). Experience four times the resolution of full HD with the 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, which includes Dolby Vision®, bringing entertainment to life through ultra-vivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on-screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker. The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack also features Dolby Atmos® audio mixed specifically for the home, to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. Available for the very first time in this absolutely stunning format, the Lord of War 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack is loaded with special features and will be available March 19th. 
Revenge is sweet, just like Valentine’s Day chocolates. At least, that is what a vengeful, Cupid-masked killer thinks in the teen slasher Valentine. Making its Blu-ray debut February 12th, 2019 from Scream Factory, this Collector’s Edition of Valentine also includes a plethora of new bonus features, including an audio commentary with director Jamie Blanks and filmmaker Don Coscarelli moderated by author Peter Bracke, new interviews with actresses Denise Richards, Marley Shelton, Jessica Cauffiel, an interview with co-writers Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts, over two hours of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage from director Jamie Blanks’ personal archive, additional cast and crew interviews, and much more! Fans can order their copies now on ShoutFactory.com 
Families everywhere can ring in
From the studio that brought you Anastasia and Ever After comes a fairy tale that doesn’t go by the book. Everyone’s favorite disreputable Super Hero returns with a twist on Deadpool 2 that the whole gang can enjoy. Watch Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) as he teams up with Domino (Zazie Beet), Cable (Josh Brolin) and the rest of the X-Force to prove that family is not an F-word. With over 20 minutes of new footage and jam-packed with surprises, you’ll wonder why the fudge they even bothered with the original version.
Celebrate the iconic and heart pounding music of Queen and Freddie Mercury with the highest-grossing biopic of all-time when Bohemian Rhapsody comes to Digital and Movies Anywhere January 22 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD February 12th. Fans can experience the story behind the band and the making of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the #1 streamed song of the 20th century and other favorites like “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody to Love,” “We are the Champions” and more, for a music adventure that will make you laugh, sing, dance and cry. 
For some reason I thought I would be last out of the Why So Blu? crew in terms of listing our Top-10 films of 2018. Nope! Looks like I’m first, so my selections are on deck. As is customary with my Top-10 list of films – I was not able to watch everything I wanted to before my cut-off date. I’m going to list my Top-10 selections in a streamlined fashion and I will omit any honorable mentions due to time and scheduling. You want a Top-10 list, well, that’s what you’re gonna get! Without further ado, let’s get busy! 
Golden Globe® and Emmy ® winner Claire Foy (Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, “The Crown,” 2017; Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, “The Crown,” 2018) brings to life the iconic role of Lisbeth Salander in the next exciting chapter of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo franchise, THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB, debuting on digital and Movies Anywhere January 22, 2019 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD February 5, 2019 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Director Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead; Don’t Breathe) brings insurmountable suspense and tension to the film adaptation of the fourth book of the acclaimed Millennium series to create a thrilling cinematic experience. THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB also stars Sverrir Gudnason (Borg vs. McEnroe), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out; Sorry to Bother You, TV’s “Atlanta”), Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049) and Stephen Merchant (Logan; Hot Fuzz). 
Next year will mark the 40th Anniversary of the Steve Martin/Carl Reiner comedy, The Jerk. 1979 was a launchpad year for Martin as a leading man in this film, but he also partook in The Muppet Movie and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as well. Not only has The Jerk been Martin’s cinematic starting point, but its also come to be one of his most beloved works. A sort of cult-like item now with the passage of time, it was a massive hit back upon release featuring great reviews and making close to 3/4 of a $100 million dollars. For a comedy in 1979, that’s pretty huge. Shout! Factory seems the perfect company to celebrate the film with a new Blu-ray, having previously released all of his television specials, with this brand new edition coming December 18th. Pre-order yourself a copy of this classic using the Amazon link below. 
If there is one director that has been tied to brand, in terms of Blu-ray labels, its John Carpenter and Scream Factory. One of his most acclaimed and biggest box office hits, Starman, is now receiving the Collector’s Edition treatment (Which kicked off the label back in 2012 with two Carpenter produced Halloween sequels, mind you). Starman also lead actor Jeff Bridges to his first Academy Award nomination. Its a big film that’s notoriety just kind of went away over time. Back in the day, this title would be used to sell other Carpenter films whereas they never would have sold him on ones that would instantly get attention today like The Thing or They Live. Starman will have a new transfer and documentary and be available for purchase on December 18th, giving you plenty of time to stuff the John Carpenter obsessed loved one’s stocking in time for the Christmas holiday if you use the Amazon link below. 
