Also today, Tim has posted his thoughts on a pair of new and exclusive Scream Factory Blu-rays, which are only available through the Scream website: Charles Griffith’s Up from the Depths (1979) and the Deathstalker / Deathstalker II Double Feature. Do give them a look.
If that’s not enough for you, our own Jim Hemphill has turned in his thoughts on Arnold Lavin’s The Glory Guys (1965), now available on Blu-ray Disc from our friends at Twilight Time.
Tim also posted a review late yesterday of Shout! Factory’s new re-issue of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume III on DVD. So don’t miss that.
Elsewhere here at The Bits today, our own Russell Hammond has updated the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, anytime you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through to them from any of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it.
In announcement news today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially set DC’s Suicide Squad for release on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format on 12/13 (SRP $44.99, but Amazon has it discounted right now for just $29.99), along with the Suicide Squad: Extended Cut that same day on Blu-ray Combo, Blu-ray 3D Combo, and DVD (selling for $24.99, $29.99, and $17.95 on Amazon at the moment, respectively). Note that the 4K UHD package will include the theatrical cut on 4K but the Extended Cut on Blu-ray. Amazon also has a retailer exclusive version of the regular Blu-ray packaged with a Harley Quinn figurine and another with a Deadshot figure (SRP $116.99 for each of those). The Digital HD release is due on 11/15. Warner hasn’t yet announced what the special features might be on this release, and frankly it’s a puzzle what will be in the Extended Edition. Word is there were two versions of the film produced originally: Director David Ayer’s darker version and a more poppy and colorful version cut together by Trailer Park (which produced the film’s trailer campaign and probably the special features too). The final theatrical version – which was a hot mess – was apparently a strange hybrid of the two. So now we get a new Extended Cut. Not sure what to make of it. But I guess we’ll see. You can see the cover artwork for the Blu-ray versions here (click on each to pre-order)...
Warner has also made Constantine: The Complete Series available for release on Blu-ray Disc via the Warner Archive – it’s available now.
Also today, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially set Jason Bourne for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release on 12/6, with the Digital HD due on 11/15. Extras on all versions will include 2 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Bringing Back Bourne and The Athens Escape), 3 Bourne to Fight stunt featurettes (Bare-Knuckle Boxing, Close Quarters, and Underground Rumble), and 2 Las Vegas Showdown featurettes (Convention Chaos and Shutting Down the Strip). Here’s the cover artwork for that…
As you can see, Universal has also set Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on 1/17/17. The film stars Manu Bennett and Malcolm McDowell. Extras on the Blu-ray will include 3 featurettes (The Making of 2050, Cars! Cars! Cars!, and The Look of 2050).
Meanwhile, Olive Films has set Brazil (1944) and Cheers for Miss Bishop (1940) for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/6, along with Borderless (2014) on DVD only.
PBS Distribution will release the Smithsonian Channel’s Building Star Trek documentary on DVD only on 11/1.
And Lionsgate has set Southside with You for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/13, with the Digital HD version due on 11/19.
Around the net this afternoon, there’s an interesting Kickstarter worth mentioning that’s trying to raise funds for a documentary called Send Chocolate & Marlboros about actress Pamela Hayden, who provides the voices for a number of characters on Fox’s The Simpsons. You can read more about it here.
And finally today, Turner Classic Movies and The Criterion Collection have officially announced that their new FilmStruck subscription streaming movie service will launch 10/19. The basic tier subscription will cost $6.99 a month. The service will also have an exclusive Criterion Channel starting on 11/11 – access to that (both the basic tier and The Criterion Channel together) will cost you an extra $4 (or $10.99 a month). You can also pay for a yearly subscription to both for $99, which is a $30 savings off the monthly fee. You can find the official website here.
That’s all for now. Enjoy the reviews, have a pleasant Friday, and a great weekend. And for those of you in the Southeast who might be in the path of Hurricane Matthew over the next few days, stay safe!
- Bill Hunt (@BillHuntBits)