My Two Cents
Thursday, 08 September 2022 16:54

Criterion announces Pixar’s WALL•E for surprise release on Blu-ray & 4K, plus more new Blu-ray and DVD announcements

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We’ve got a big title announcement to report on today, but first another new disc review...

Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Mamoru Hosoda’s Belle: Collector’s Edition in 4K Ultra HD from GKids via Shout! Factory. It sounds like a pretty incredible collection of content, both disc and swag-based, so it’s well worth a look for fans of anime and this particular film.

Speaking of animation, Criterion has just dropped something of a surprise: They’ve licensed Pixar’s WALL•E from Disney and will be releasing it as a 4K UHD + Blu-ray combo title on 11/22, with both Dolby Vision HDR (which was not available on the previous Disney 4K release) and HDR10, as well as Dolby Atmos audio.

The package will include both existing and new special features. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]

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I’d actually heard that this might be happening, but I’ve been reluctant to discuss it until it become official, because it’s obviously going to lead to a TON of speculation of other Disney-controlled catalog titles coming to 4K from Criterion. This MIGHT be possible, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. I would love to think it might make possible... say... a Tombstone 4K release. Maybe The Rock and Armageddon could finally rejoin the collection too, having been released on Criterion DVD many years ago. But again, physical media just doesn’t seem to be a priority for Disney as a studio, so I think it’s probably best that people don’t get their hopes up for now. Still, this is a welcome surprise and—fingers crossed—maybe a sign of more such titles to come.

In the meantime, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is expected to release David Leitch’s Bullet Train (2022) on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 10/18. Look for both Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10, along with Dolby Atmos audio on the 4K SKU. You can see the cover artwork below.

Kino Lorber has announced their full October Blu-ray and DVD release slate, which is set to include ‘Til Kingdom Come (DVD), My Donkey, My Lover & I (DVD, for Greenwich), and Return to Auschwitz: The Survival of Vladimir Munk (DVD, for Virgil Films) on 10/4, Going Places (BD, for the Cohen Film Collection), Squeal (BD, for Cranked Up), and An Impossible Love (DVD, Menemsha Films) on 10/11, OKA! (BD), The AIDS Show (DVD, for Milestone Cinematheque), Hockeyland (BD, for Greenwich), and Carmen (BD & DVD, for Good Deed Entertainment) on 10/18, and finally Private Desert (BD), Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman Collection: Common Threads, Where Are We?, Paragraph 175 (BD & DVD, Milestone Cinematheque), Monsieur Hire (BD, for the Cohen Film Collection), Darryl Jones: In the Blood (DVD, for Greenwich), and Nick the Sting and Le Soldatesse (both BD, for Raro Video) on 10/25.

Kino Lorber Studio Classics has also teased some of its November Blu-ray slate, which should include Fancy Pants (1950) on 11/8, The Valachi Papers (1972) on 11/15, The Blood Beast Terror (1968) on 11/22, and the French Noir Collection (Speaking of Murder – 1957, Back to the Wall – 1958, Witness in the City – 1959), Inspector Maigret Double Feature (PicPus – 1942, Cecile is Dead! – 1943), and Peking Express (1951) on 11/29. Detective Story (1951) is also TBA for November, and Hustle (1975), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), and Hell is for Heroes (1962) are all listed as coming soon.

Well Go USA has set single film 4K editions of Ip Man, and Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grand Master for release on 11/22.

RLJ Entertainment has set The Other One: Series 2 (DVD) for release on 10/4, along This is Gwar (BD & DVD) and Watcher (BD & DVD). Following on 10/11 are Barbarians and The Twin (each BD & DVD). On 10/18, look for The Sommerdahl Murders: Series 3 (DVD), This Is Going to Hurt (DVD), Flux Gormet (BD & DVD), The Innocents (BD & DVD), and Moloch (DVD). And finally, on 10/25, look for Murdoch Mysteries: Season 15 (BD & DVD) and Official Competition (BD & DVD).

Also today, Mill Creek Entertainment has set Bitcoin for DVD and Digital release on 10/18.

And finally this afternoon, Time Life has just announced the 10-disc Ed Sullivan’s Rock & Roll Classics Collector’s Set for DVD only release on 10/11 (SRP $119.96). The set includes “128 live, uncut performances from legendary artists, including The Band, The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Marvin Gaye, Herman’s Hermits, Buddy Holly, The Jackson 5, Janis Joplin, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and more.” The set also includes unseen interviews from The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll documentary series, a 36-page book, and The All-Star Comedy Special bonus DVD.

Here’s a look at the cover artwork for WALL•E, Bullet Train, and more, with Amazon pre-order links if available...

Wall-E (Criterion 4K Ultra HD) Bullet Train (4K Ultra HD) Better Call Saul: Season Six (Blu-ray Disc)

Stay tuned...

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