While we’re talking import 4K, Turbine Media has just announced that they’re about to release Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes (1977) on 4K Ultra HD. That disc is set to street on 5/14 in Germany (you can see the details here on their website).
The big 4K release news today is that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has officially set Adam Wingard’s Godzilla vs. Kong for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 6/15, with the Digital release expected on 5/21. The 4K disc will include Dolby Vision HDR and both the Blu-ray and 4K UHD will also include an object-based Dolby Atmos sound mix. Extras will include audio commentary by Wingard and 10 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Kong Discovers Hollow Earth, Kong Leaves Home, Behold Kong’s Temple, The Evolution of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World, Godzilla Attacks, The Phenomenon of Gōjira, King of the Monsters, Round One: Battle at Sea, Round Two: One Will Fall, Titan Tag Team: The God and the King, and The Rise of MechaGodzilla). You can see the cover artwork above left and also below.
By the way, we know that a lot of you are wondering, so it’s worth noting here: Now that Warner has officially announced Godzilla vs. Kong, the next big (quasi) new-release 4K title they’re likely to reveal is Zack Snyder’s Justice League. We wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen as soon as next week. Certainly, we expect news to drop in the next couple of weeks. And if I had to guess, I suspect the delay has to do with the question of whether or not the studio can replicate enough copies to meet demand right now. So hopefully, your patience will be rewarded soon.
Also, Lionsgate has set Neil Burger’s science fiction drama Voyagers for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 6/15, with the Digital release expected on 6/8. It looks like the 4K disc will include HDR10 high dynamic range and audio in 5.1 DTS-HD MA format. Extras will include 5 featurettes (Born for This: The Cast of Voyagers, Against Type: Unlearning Human Nature, Survival of the Fittest: The Physicality of Voyagers, On the Surface: The Visual Style of Voyagers, and Hidden Chambers: Tour the Humanitas).
Also, speaking once more of Arrow Video, their forthcoming 4K Ultra HD limited edition release of Dario Argento’s The Cat O’ Nine Tails, which is due to street on 7/27, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com via this link.
Meanwhile, on the standard Blu-ray front, the BBC has set The Watch: Season One for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/29.
Warner and DC will release the DC Universe animated movie Batman: The Long Halloween – Part One on Blu-ray on 6/22.
For fans of the US version of The Office, Universal continues to release individual seasons of the series on Blu-ray with Season Four on 6/15.
Lionsgate has set Flashback for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/8. They’re also releasing the But I’m a Cheerleader: Director’s Cut on Blu-ray on 6/1.
Paramount has set Jaume Balagueró’s The Vault for release on Blu-ray on 6/1.
And Paramount will also release The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/13.
Back to Turbine Media again... we’ve learned that the company has just released new remastered Mediabook Blu-ray editions of Universal’s Daylight and Dragonheart on 4/30 in Germany, and that they’re working on a similar remastered release of Twister from Warner Bros (street date TBA). And here’s the interesting thing: All three of these titles feature new Dolby Atmos sound mixes, which suggest that physical 4K releases might be in the offing here in the States from each studio. We’ll certainly keep you advised.
Also today, Second Sight has just confirmed (see this post on Twitter) that they’re working on a new Blu-ray remaster of Robert Harmon’s excellent psycho-killer thriller The Hitcher (1986), featuring Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. That’s the good news. The bad news is that a remastered 4K version likely won’t be possible, because the original camera negative is missing. Only prints seem to still exist, and those are few and far between. In any case, the company will be doing extensive digital restoration with the goal of offering “the best possible presentation [the film] has ever had.” We’re certainly looking forward to seeing it.
And that’s all for today. We’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for a number of the titles mentioned above, with Amazon.com pre-order links if available...
Have a great weekend and Happy Mother’s Day! Stay tuned...
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