Shout! Factory is dropping a trio of new 4K Ultra HD Steelbook exclusives with Walmart on 2/27/24, including Dragonheart (1996), The Magnificent Seven (1960), and Platoon (1986).
Meanwhile, Lionsgate is releasing John Woo’s Silent Night (2023) on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 1/30, and Walmart will also have an exclusive 4K Steelbook edition.
Speaking of Walmart, some of our industry sources have informed us that starting in February, Walmart will only be “resetting” (aka stocking) new titles on its store shelves every other week. Apparently, Target already does this. So if you visit their store locations on street date, there are going to be times when you won’t find new titles on the shelves and you’ll have to ask store clerks to retrieve one from the stockroom for you (if they’re wiling). We’re hearing this is down to labor costs. In any case, we thought it was worth sharing for those of you who go hunting for new titles at Walmart and Target stores.
Also, Toei Video is releasing Takehiko Inoue’s animated sports film The First Slam Dunk (2022) on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on 2/28. It will not, however, have English subtitles.
And here’s one I know some of you are excited about... Celluloid Dream’s The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972) is tentatively due on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray in April 2024 (a couple of distributors are showing a date of 4/9, but I’m told this is subject to change). Extras will include a new audio commentary track featuring our old friend Guido Henkel, a new outtake real, an image gallery, both the English and Italian trailers, and 3 interview featurettes (Flowers of Blood with actor George Hilton, Marylin with actress Paola Quattrini, and the all-new Drops of Giallo with writer Ernesto Gastaldo and director Giuliano Carnimeo). The Italian audio will have newly-translated subtitles (the default mix), and the English dubbed audio will also be available. There will be three covers—two of which are available as reversible inlay cover art (featuring the film’s English and Italian titles). There will also be an exclusive slip sleeve for the direct orders from Celluloid Dream’s website (non-retail) that will feature a brand new custom artwork. Here’s what the reversible art looks like...
Finally today, our friend Adam J. Yeend has reshared a good feature interview he did last year with producer David C Fein on the recent 4K remaster of Robert Wise’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition. The film celebrated its 44th anniversary on Wednesday. You’ll find that here at A.frame on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences website.
That’s all for today. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here on Monday.
Stay tuned!
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