Now then… the big news today is that Warner Bros. has finally officially announced the 007: Sean Connery 6-Film Collection in 4K Ultra HD, which as we know streets on 6/10. It will be available in both standard Elite packaging and Limited Edition Steelbook. Each includes Terence Young’s Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), and Thunderball (1965), Guy Hamilton’s Goldfinger (1964) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Lewis Gilbert’s You Only Live Twice (1967) in 4K UHD.
We’re awaiting additional mastering details, but our information so far indicates that these are all mastered from new 4K scans of the original camera negatives—they aren’t simply recycled Lowry Digital Scans from 10+ years ago. So that’s good news indeed. Each will also include both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. Blu-ray versions are not included here—just the 4K discs and Digital Copy codes. So we don’t know what special features—if any—will be included. In any case, here’s the cover artwork once again with Amazon links…
Also today, A24 Shop has begun taking pre-orders on special Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions of Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland’s Warfare (2025), which are expected to street “this summer” (exact date TBA). The disc will feature the film in the 2:1 theatrical aspect ratio with both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. Extras will include audio commentary by the directors and military consultant Brian Philpot, the Courage Under Fire: The Making of Warfare featurette, and 6 collectible postcards with photographs by Alex Brockdorff. Here’s what the 4K packaging looks like (click on the image to visit the A24 pre-order page)…
Universal has announced a new Jaws: 50th Anniversary Edition for release on 4K Ultra HD, 4K Steelbook, Blu-ray Disc, and Digital on 6/17. The 4K disc will include Dolby Vision HDR (along with HDR10 and 10+) as well as a new Dolby Atmos sound mix. The package will also include a new documentary from Laurent Bouzereau and National Geographic, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. You’ll also get over five hours of legacy special features. Here’s a look at the two 4K SKUs…
GKids and Studio Ghibli (via Shout! Factory) are going to be releasing Isao Takahata’s animated Grave of the Fireflies (1988) on Blu-ray + DVD and Blu-ray + DVD Steelbook on 7/8. The package will include feature-length storyboards, deleted scenes storyboards, interviews with Takahata and Roger Ebert, a promotional video, image galleries, and teasers and trailers.
While we’re talking Shout! Factory, the label has just announced their July slate of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD titles, which is set to include Mike Nichols’ Primary Colors (1998) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) and Oliver Stone’s Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut (2004/2007) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) on 7/1, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin’s Abigail (2024) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) on 7/8, a wide-release version of the Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Cracking Collection (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) and Jimmy T. Murakami’s Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) on 7/15, Paul Dinello’s Strangers with Candy: Shout Select (2005) (Blu-ray) on 7/22, and Vernon Zimmermann’s Fade to Black (1980) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) and Tom Shadyac’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray and 4K Steelbook) on 7/29. All of the 4K titles will include Dolby Vision HDR, while Alexander will also include Dolby Atmos audio.
And Eureka has revealed that they’re releasing James Whale’s The Old Dark House (1932) as a limited edition 4K Ultra HD on July 28 in the UK. The release will include Dolby Vision HDR and uncompressed LPCM audio, audio commentary by critic and author Kim Newman and Stephen Jones, audio commentary by Gloria Stuart, audio commentary by James Whale biographer James Curtis, 3 featurettes (including Meet the Femms with David Cairns, Daughter of Frankenstein with Sara Karloff, and Rescuing a Classic with director Curtis Harrington), the 2018 re-release trailer, and a stills gallery.
Also, three more episodes of Andor drop today on Disney+, which brings me to this: For those of you who missed it the first time, Andor: Season One is back in stock in Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on Amazon. And Warner’s new Looney Tunes: Collector’s Vault – Volume 1 Blu-ray is also now available for pre-order. Here’s the cover art (with links) for all three…
That’s all for today. Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)