My Two Cents
Monday, 26 July 2021 17:43

Disney sets Marvel’s Black Widow for 4K & Blu-ray on 9/14, plus Warner makes Shawshank 4K official for 9/14 as well

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We’ve got some big release news today, but first we’re starting the week off with a trio of new disc reviews...

I’ve given Akira Kurosawa’s Ran a look in 4K Ultra HD from StudioCanal and found it to be a pretty impressive upgrade, save for a less than stellar English subtitle translation. It’s definitely worth a look for cinephiles.

Also, I’ve just reviewed Mel Stuart’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros, a release that celebrates the film’s 50th anniversary. It’s certainly never looked better (and it’s finally presented in the correct 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio as well).

Finally, I’ve also posted my thoughts on John Krasinski’s long-delayed A Quiet Place: Part II in 4K UHD from Paramount. It’s a more satisfying film than the original and it looks and sounds terrific, though the extras leave much to be desired.

More new Blu-ray and 4K UHD reviews are on the way later this week, so be sure to keep checking back for them. [Read on here...]

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Now then, the big piece of announcement news today is that Disney has just officially set Marvel’s Black Widow for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/14, with the Digital release expected on 8/10. The 4K disc will feature HDR10 high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos audio. The Blu-ray will include DTS-HD Master Audio. Extras will include Bloopers, 9 Deleted Scenes (Grocery Shopping, Bike Chase, Gulag Fight, Smile, Come After Me, Walk and Talk, Widows in Training, Kiss, and Ohio), and 3 featurettes (Filmmaker Introduction, Sisters Gonna Work It Out, and Go Big If You’re Going Home). Final Blu-ray and 4K cover artwork isn’t yet available, but it will likely be based on the temp art the studio provided with the release, which you can see above-left.

Note that there’s some question as to the aspect ratio of this release. The press release indicates 1.85, while the film was widely released in theaters at 2.39:1 (save for a few scenes that were shown at 1.90 in IMAX theaters). Our guess is that 1.85 is just an error (and 2.39 is the actual ratio on the disc), but we’ve got an email in to the studio to confirm and we’ll post an update when we hear back. [UPDATE: Confirmation is back from Disney and the aspect ratio is indeed 2.39:1.]

Also today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has made their 4K Ultra HD release of The Shawshank Redemption official for 9/14, as expected (SRP $24.99). The disc will include HDR10 high dynamic range with the existing DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix and the legacy Blu-ray extras.

Speaking of Warner, the Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray titles for August will include One Crazy Summer on 8/10, Shadow of the Thin Man and In the Good Old Summertime on 8/17, and Prince of the City on 8/24.

That’s all the news for now. Stay tuned...

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