Posted September 17, 2023 08:49 PM by Sean Greenwood
For the week of September 18th, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973), starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran and Jason Miller. Sourced from a 4K master, Warner presents The Exorcist in both its theatrical version and director's cut, with HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix for both cuts, as well as an original DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono audio track on the theatrical version. Continuing a recent trend at Warner, The Exorcist comes to 4K UHD as a two-disc set without Blu-ray discs, so extras on the release are limited to three previously released audio commentaries and a short introduction from William Friedkin. In addition to standard packaging, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook will also be available. Reviewer Randy Miller has reservations about the 4K UHD picture quality, particularly around a much-discussed color-timing issue during a key sequence, but he has high praise for the audio, awarding it a perfect 5 stars and calling the new Dolby Atmos remix "a startlingly effective presentation...discrete surround effects are used wisely, and of course the Atmos-exclusive height channels are put to good use too". Of the film's DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono track, he continues: "This is quite the rarity on home video -- perhaps even its domestic debut -- and sounds clean and polished with excellent fidelity and an overall front-forward dynamic that should delight purists". For a full disc breakdown, read Randy's 4K UHD review.
Note: The original trailer for The Exorcist posted below contains flashing-lights sequences that may affect photosensitive viewers.
New this week on Blu-ray and 4K UHD from Walt Disney Home Entertainment is Rob Marshall's The Little Mermaid (2023), starring Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Noma Dumezweni and Art Malik.
Description: The Little Mermaid is visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall's live-action reimagining of Disney's beloved animated musical classic, the story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton's daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father's crown – in jeopardy. "The Little Mermaid" is directed by Rob Marshall with a screenplay by David Magee, and is produced by Marc Platt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John DeLuca and Rob Marshall.
New on Blu-ray from Lionsgate Home Entertainment is Celine Song's Past Lives (2023), starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Jack Alberts and Jane Kim.
Description: Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.
Lionsgate's Blu-ray of Past Lives contains filmmaker audio commentary, the featurette Bound by Fate: Exploring Past Lives and deleted scenes.
Also coming from Lionsgate is a 4K UHD upgrade for Scott Mann's Fall (2022), starring Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mason Gooding, Julia Pace Mitchell and Jasper Cole. Lionsgate presents Fall in its unrated version, with HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. New extras include Creating the Impact of Fall, and additional extras include filmmaker commentary, a making of, a music video and a theatrical trailer. Note that this release will be a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook
New on Blu-ray from Vertical Entertainment is Catherine Hardwicke's Prisoner's Daughter, starring Kate Beckinsale, Brian Cox, Christopher Convery, Jon Huertas, Ernie Hudson and Tyson Ritter.
Description: Released from prison with terminal cancer, Max tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter and the grandson he's never known. When his daughter's abusive, drug-addicted ex-husband reappears, Max's violent past comes back to haunt them all.
New on Blu-ray from Shout Factory is Shekhar Kapur's What's Love Got to Do with It? (2022), starring Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Sajal Al and Emma Thompson.
Description: How do you find lasting love in today's world? For documentary-maker and dating-app addict Zoe Stevenson (Lily James, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again), swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr. Wrongs, much to the dismay of her eccentric mother, Cath (Emma Thompson, Love Actually). For Zoe's childhood friend and neighbor, Kaz (Shazad Latif, Star Trek: Discovery), the answer is to follow his parents' example and opt for an arranged (or "assisted") marriage to a bright and beautiful bride from Pakistan. As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn from a profoundly different approach to finding love.
Shout's Blu-ray of What's Love Got to Do with It? contains a making of featurette and a trailer.
Also coming from Shout is a Blu-ray for Janusz Kaminski's Lost Souls (2000), starring Winona Ryder, Ben Chaplin, Sarah Wynter, Philip Baker Hall, John Hurt and Elias Koteas. Sourced from a 2K scan of an interpositive, Shout presents Lost Souls with DTS-HD MA 5.1 or 2.0 audio. Extras include filmmaker audio commentary, deleted scenes with optional commentary and a theatrical trailer.
Also coming from Shout is a 4K UHD upgrade for James Gray's The Lost City of Z (2016), starring Charlie Hunnam, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Angus Macfadyen and Daniel Huttlestone. Newly remastered from a 2K digital intermediate, Shout presents The Lost City of Z with DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio and Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K UHD disc. Extras include filmmaker audio commentary, a featurette and photo galleries.
New from Grasshopper Film is a Blu-ray for Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós' Dry Ground Burning (Mato seco em chamas), starring Joana Darc Furtado, Léa Alves Da Silva, Andreia Vieira, Débora Alencar, Gleide Firmino and Mara Alves.
Descriptioon: Just released from prison, Léa (Léa Alves Silva) returns home to the Brasilia favela of Sol Nascente and joins up with her half-sister Chitara (Joana Darc Furtado), the fearless leader of an all-female gang that steals and refines oil from underground pipes and sells gasoline to a clandestine network of motorcyclists. Living in constant opposition to Jair Bolsonaro's fiercely authoritarian and militarized government, Chitara's women claim the streets for themselves as a declaration of radical political resistance on behalf of ex-cons and the oppressed.
A provocative portrait of Brazil's dystopian contemporary moment that blends documentary with narrative fiction and genre elements, Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós (Once There Was Brasilia) to offer a unique vision of the country's possible future.
Grasshopper Film's Blu-ray of Dry Ground Burning contains Joana Pimenta's short films The Figures Carved into the Knife by the Sap of the Banana Trees (As figuras gravadas na faca com a seiva das bananeiras) (2014) and An Aviation Field (Um campo de aviação) (2016), Adirley Queirós' short film MST (2017) and a theatrical trailer.
Descrption: In the mid-1950s, a radically new vision of French cinema emerged. The short films in this special edition box set represent the dawn of this New Wave ― the earliest works of its most emblematic auteurs, which would include Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, & more. Visionary producer Pierre Braunberger guided their work and financed their early efforts. These are the first forays of a movement that would revolutionize French film and influence cinema around the world for decades to come.
For the full list of short films included, please see here. All shorts are newly remastered in 2K and the set comes with a 12-page booklet.
Coming to Blu-ray and 4K UHD from the Criterion Collection is Orson Welles' The Trial (1962), starring Anthony Perkins, Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Akim Tamiroff and Elsa Martinelli. Sourced from a new 4K master, Criterion presents The Trial with LPCM Mono audio and in SDR on the 4K UHD disc. Extras on the Blu-ray include a new audio commentary by film historian Joseph McBride, the documentary Filming "The Trial" (1981), archival interviews with Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, and director of photography Edmond Richard and a trailer for the remastered film. Also included is a leaflet with an essay by author Jonathan Lethem. For full disc breakdowns, read Svet Atanasov's 4K UHD review and Blu-ray review.
Coming to 4K UHD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is Michael Schultz's The Last Dragon (1985), starring Taimak, Vanity, Christopher Murney, Julius Carry, Faith Prince and Leo O'Brien. Newly remastered from a 4K scan of the original camera negative (approved by director Michael Schultz), Sony presents The Last Dragon with Dolby Vision HDR and a choice of a new Dolby Atmos remix or 5.1 and 2-channel surround audio options. New extras on the 4K UHD disc include fan commentary with comedian Amber Ruffin and author Lacey Lamar, while an included Blu-ray features commentary with Michael Schultz, a featurette and a theatrical trailer.
Coming to 4K UHD from Arrow Video is Hideo Nakata's Ringu (リング) (1998), starring Hitomi Satô, Yûko Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Sanada, Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani and Yôichi Numata. Sourced from a 4K remaster, Arrow presents Ringu with Dolby Vision HDR and DTS-HD MA 5.1 or LPCM 2.0 audio options. Extras replicate Arrow's 2019 Blu-ray, including audio commentary by film historian David Kalat, over an hour of interviews and video essays, Sadako's video, theatrical trailers and an image gallery. Also included is a double-sided fold-out poster, reversible artwork and an illustrated collector's booklet.
Finally this week, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has a 4K UHD upgrade for Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear, starring Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Brooklynn Prince. Universal's 4K UHD disc presents the film with HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, while an included Blu-ray copy features audio commentary by Elizabeth Banks and producer Max Handelman, deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel, an alternate ending and three featurettes.