Denis Villeneuve’s Dune arrives in theaters & HBO Max, plus Respect, Pirates, KLSC’s December Blu-ray slate & more

Thursday, 21 October 2021 16:18

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune arrives in theaters & HBO Max, plus Respect, Pirates, KLSC’s December Blu-ray slate & more

by Bill Hunt

Let’s have a quick round-up of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news, and then I must dive back into my own review work over the next several days...

First up, it does indeed appear that Disney is preparing a 4K Ultra HD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. I’ve now got multiple retail and industry sources confirming this. However, don’t expect the sequels to be announced anytime soon. It’s possible that the studio is planning to release more films in the series next year if this first one sells well (and possibly promoted by the success of the films in streaming on Disney+) but for now Curse of the Black Pearl seems to be the only film immediately in the offing.

Also, while we’re on the topic of Disney, it seems that the Heat 4K release continues to be in limbo, but is still expected to arrive on the format sometime next year.

Meanwhile, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is definitely shaping up for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD in early January sometime. Info some retailers suggests that the studio is targeting 1/11/22 as the street date. And for those of you who have been waiting, not only does it finally arrive in theaters tomorrow (with sneak peek preview screenings tonight in many US cities), the film premieres IN JUST TWO HOURS in 4K with HDR and Dolby Atmos on HBO Max. So get ready to enjoy a helluva good cinematic experience. [Read on here...]

In regular Blu-ray news today, Universal is releasing the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/9. The film is now available on Digital. Extras on the Blu-ray will include 5 behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set Nine Days for Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital release on 11/2.

Film Movement has set The Early Films of Lee Isaac Chung for DVD only release on 11/9, including Munyurangabo, Lucky Life, and Abigail Harm.

Lionsgate has set Wonder for Blu-ray release in Steelbook packaging exclusively at Target stores. The film stars Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.

Shout! Factory has added David Steinberg’s Going Berserk (1983) to its December Blu-ray release slate as a Shout Select title. The film stars John Candy, Joe Flaherty, and Eugene Levy. The Blu-ray streets on 12/14.

Arrow Video has set the Anthony Mann western The Far Country (1954) for release on Blu-ray on 11/16. The film stars James Stewart and Ruth Roman.

Kino Lorber Studio Classics has now set much of their early December release slate, which is due to Number Seventeen (1932), Mr. Majestyk (1974), Busting (1974), The Long Goodbye (1973), Hard Target (1993 – BD & 4K), Checkered Flag or Crash (1977), Broken Lullaby (1932), Rich and Strange (1931), Number Seventeen (1932), 21 Hours at Munich (1976), and Get Crazy (1983) on 12/7, and The Four Seasons (1981), The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979), Bedtime Story (1964), Revenge of the Shogun Women (1977 – includes 3-D), The Christmas Tree (1969), The Brass Bottle (1964), and Film Noir: The Dark Side of Hollywood Volume V (includes Because of You – 1952, Outside the Law – 1956, and The Midnight Story – 1957) on 12/14. In addition, Body of My Enemy (1976), Savage Sisters (1974), Where There’s Life (1947), Shakedown (1950), The Horse Soldiers (1959), and Golden Earrings (1947) have all been announced as coming soon.

Meanwhile, Kino Lorber proper has set its December slate as well, which will include Gomorrah: Season 2 on Blu-ray and DVD and Love it Was Not (for Greenwich Entertainment) on DVD only on 12/7, Luzzu and Playdurizm (for Artsploitation Films) on DVD only on 12/14, and NEEDTOBREATHE: Into the Mystery and Try Harder! (both for Greenwich) on DVD only on 12/28.

For music fans, Sony Classics has set The World of Hans Zimmer for Blu-ray release on 12/10.

And here’s an interest deep-cut catalog release from Cult Epics: They’re releasing a 4-film Sylvia Kristel: 1970s Collection Blu-ray set on 12/14, that will include Playing with Fire, Pastorale 1943, Mysteries, and Julia.

We’ll leave you today with a look at the cover artwork for a few upcoming Blu-ray and 4K titles (just click on the artwork for the relevant Amazon pre-order links)...

Back tomorrow with more. Enjoy Dune!

And stay tuned...

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Denis Villeneuve’s Dune arrives in theaters & HBO Max, plus Respect, Pirates, KLSC’s December Blu-ray slate & more

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