For the week of January 10th, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release Denis Villeneuve's Dune (2021), starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada, Jason Momoa, and Stellan Skarsgård. Previously adapted for the screen in 1984 by David Lynch, Villeneuve's adaptation of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert was made over a three-year period and intended to be a late 2020 release. However, once the coronavirus pandemic struck, the film, which has a $165 million budget, had to be moved. Ultimately, Dune would be released in a staggered international rollout in September and October 2021. When it opened domestically, the film topped the box office for two weeks, pulling in $41 million on its opening weekend and ultimately grossing over $107 million, with a global box office of over $396 million so far. This week, Warner has a bevy of home video formats to choose from, including 4K UHD, Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray editions. There will also be retailer exclusives available, including a Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD SteelBook, a Target Exclusive Blu-ray and a Walmart Exclusive Blu-ray with Pain Box Packaging. All discs have Dolby Atmos audio (except the Blu-ray 3D disc, which has DTS-HD MA 5.1), while the 4K UHD disc has Dolby Vision HDR. Extras include over an hour of featurettes on the Blu-ray.
Reviewer Randy Miller is highly impressed with the 4K UHD picture of Dune (2021), saying in part: "the most immediately striking difference between this disc and its Blu-ray counterpart (aside from the 4K's obviously tighter and trouble-free video compression) is its tasteful use of HDR enhancement that highlights the work of colorist David Cole and his team; from otherworldly lighting schemes to the glowing blue eyes of the Fremen, Dune's stunning use of color contrast gives it a truly unique appearance and the 4K presentation captures it perfectly. Without question, this is a standout release and already on the short list for 2022's best-looking discs". And of the disc's Dolby Atmos audio, Miller says that the film's "massive visuals are paired perfectly with what can only be described as a purely enveloping sound field, one that places viewers squarely in the middle of the action where all of its cavernous echoes, staggering depth, sweeping surround pans, thunderous low frequencies, and well-balanced conversations can be fully appreciated. Overall, it's a powerhouse presentation that...offers a pitch-perfect accompaniment to Dune's stunning visuals". For a full breakdown of the disc, read Randy's 4K UHD review and Blu-ray review.
Also new this week from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is David Gordon Green's Halloween Kills, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, and Thomas Mann. The sequel to Green's Halloween (2018) is a direct continuation of events from that film and was initially intended to be released in October 2020, but was delayed an entire year due to the coronavirus pandemic. On its opening weekend, the film topped the box office with a huge $50.4 million, easily the best opening weekend of the pandemic for an R-rated film. Unfortunately, reviews for the film were mixed to negative, but ultimately, the film grossed over $92 million domestically and over $131 million worldwide on a budget of only $20 million. Universal's disc releases contain an extended cut of the film in addition to the original theatrical version, with Dolby Atmos audio and on the 4K UHD disc, Dolby Vision HDR. A Best Buy Exclusive 4K UHD SteelBook will also be available. Extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel, featurettes and audio commentary by David Gordon Green and stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer.
Then we have a trio of new Blu-ray releases from Decal Releasing:
Maria Schrader's I'm Your Man, starring Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens, and Sandra Hüller.
Official description: Alma (Maren Eggert) is a scientist coerced into participating in an extraordinary study in order to obtain research funds for her work. For three weeks, she must live with a humanoid robot tailored to her character and needs, whose artificial intelligence is designed to be the perfect life partner for her. Enter Tom (Dan Stevens), a machine in human form created solely to make her happy. A playfully romantic tale, I'M YOUR MAN questions what love and longing really mean in the modern age.
Fran Kranz's film Mass, starring Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney, and Ann Dowd.
Label description: Years after an unspeakable tragedy tore their lives apart, two sets of parents (Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton, Reed Birney and Ann Dowd) agree to talk privately in an attempt to move forward. In Fran Kranz's writing and directing debut, he thoughtfully examines their journey of grief, anger and acceptance by coming face-to-face with the ones who have been left behind.
Pablo Larraín's Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, and Timothy Spall.
Synopsis: The marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen's Sandringham Estate. There's eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days.
Decal Releasing's Blu-ray of Spencer contains a short making of featurette and a trailer. For a full breakdown of the disc, including screenshots, read Brian Orndorf's Blu-ray review.
Finally for new releases this week, Music Box Films has a Blu-ray for Pablo Larraín's Ema, starring Mariana Di Girolamo, Gael García Bernal, Santiago Cabrera, Paola Giannini, and Cristián Suárez.
Synopsis: After a shocking incident upends her family life and marriage to a tempestuous choreographer, Ema, a reggaeton dancer, sets out on an odyssey of personal liberation, in this incendiary drama about art, desire, and the modern family from director Pablo Larraín.
Music Box's Blu-ray for Ema includes select scene audio commentary by choreographer José Vida, a music video, photo gallery, trailers and a collector's booklet.
Turning to catalog titles, Kino Lorber has a 4K UHD upgrade for John Sturges' The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, and Charles Bronson. Previously remastered in 4K, Kino's release includes the film in SDR (not HDR) and includes a new audio commentary with filmmaker and historian Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin, author of Combat Films: American Realism, along with an archival audio commentary with cast and crew. A special features Blu-ray contains several previously released extras, including making of documentaries and featurettes. Special packaging includes a slipcover.
Also coming from Kino this week is a Blu-ray for Ronald Neame's Gambit (1966), starring Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine, Herbert Lom, Roger C. Carmel, and Arnold Moss. Taken from a new 4K master created by Universal Pictures, Kino's Blu-ray also contains a new audio commentary by by critics Howard S. Berger, Sergio Mims and Nathaniel Thompson as well as the film's theatrical trailer. Special packaging includes a reversible artwork and a slipcover.
But there are more Blu-ray titles yet from Kino, including:
Lewis Gilbert's The 7th Dawn (1964), starring William Holden, Susannah York, Capucine, Tetsurô Tanba, and Michael Goodliffe. Kino's Blu-ray is sourced from a new 2K master and includes the film's theatrical trailer.
William Hale's Journey to Shiloh (1968), starring James Caan, Michael Sarrazin, Don Stroud, Paul Petersen, and Michael Burns. Kino's Blu-ray is sourced from a new 2K master and includes a new interview with actor Don Stroud and a new audio commentary by by film critic and author Simon Abrams.
Delbert Mann's The Pink Jungle (1968), starring James Garner, Eva Renzi, George Kennedy, Nigel Green, and Michael Ansara. Kino's Blu-ray is sourced from a new 2K master and includes the film's theatrical trailer.
Richard Benedict's Impasse (1969), starring Burt Reynolds, Anne Francis, Lyle Bettger, Rodolfo Acosta, Jeff Corey and Clarke Gordon. Kino's Blu-ray is sourced from a new 2K master and includes the film's theatrical trailer.
Bill Forsyth's Breaking In (1989), starring Burt Reynolds, Casey Siemaszko, Sheila Kelley, Lorraine Toussaint, and Albert Salmi. Kino's Blu-ray is sourced from a new 2K master and includes a new audio commentary by director Bill Forsyth, screenwriter John Sayles and film historian/filmmaker Daniel Kremer, as well as the film's theatrical trailer.
Finally this week, from Paramount Home Media Distribution is a 4K UHD upgrade for Ernest R. Dickerson's Juice, starring Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Jermaine Hopkins, Khalil Kain, and Cindy Herron. Previously released on Blu-ray for its 25th anniversary, Dickerson's film now sports a new Dolby Vision HDR presentation, while extras on the Blu-ray have been ported over to this single-disc 4K UHD edition. Additionally, a Limited Edition 4K UHD SteelBook will also be available. For a full breakdown of the disc, read Martin Liebman's 4K UHD review.