By Brett Blake The last several years have been a sort of new, mini “Golden Age” for physical media collectors, with many long-requested movie titles finally seeing the light of day on Blu-ray and 4K, and with some flawed or incomplete past releases finally getting better treatment. Both major studios and independent “boutique” home video companies continued with excellent work in 2022. What follows is my rundown of the best releases of the year. It’s informed by my own tastes and biases, of course (you will see a fair amount of horror on this list!), but even looking as objectively as possible, these are all excellent editions that any fans of the individual films should look to add to their libraries. Some honorable mentions: - THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS (Imprint Films) - MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN (Arrow Video) - EXTREME PREJUDICE (Vestron Video) - REAL GENIUS 4K (Sony Pictures) - KING KONG 1933 (Warner Archive) - THE COUNT YORGA COLLECTION (Arrow Video) And now, in no particular order, the Top 10: The Vampire 4K Steelbook Double Feature: FRIGHT NIGHT and BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (Sony Pictures) Cheating right at the start! Yes, these are technically two separate releases, but they both came out on the same day from the same studio, both are packaged in deluxe Steelbooks, and both movies are about vampires. FRIGHT NIGHT, in particular, is packed full of hours (literally) of special features, and both films look tremendous with newly-restored picture quality. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (Paramount Home Video) The greatest of all Agatha Christie adaptations finally landed on Blu-ray, looking as good as it ever has since its theatrical release. Murder mystery/“whodunnit?” fans can now enjoy the film in a definitive visual presentation. DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (Warner Archive) It cannot be stressed enough what an incredible job Warner Archive did in restoring this film. It’s 90+ years old, yet it now looks absolutely pristine, with the gorgeous black-and-white cinematography and inventive transformation effects fully holding up to high-definition scrutiny. This is a classic horror gem. TOUCH OF EVIL (Kino Lorber) Orson Welles’ noir/crime masterpiece has been given the lavish treatment it deserves by Kino. Not only has the picture been lovingly restored, but Kino went the extra mile by including three separate cuts of the movie, providing an invaluable showcase for the film’s editorial evolution. ORDINARY PEOPLE (Paramount Presents) Another oft-requested film (and a Best Picture Oscar-winner, no less) made its debut on Blu in ’22, and while this is not the sort of movie to show off dynamic picture quality or an impressive sound mix, it’s an important (and very good, emotionally-affecting) film to finally have on the format. THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS (Scream Factory) “Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas vs. killer lions.” If that pitch gets your attention, then you’ll understand why this made the list! This is a solid 1990s creature feature/adventure-thriller that looks great in its Blu-ray debut. WILD THINGS (Arrow Video) A steamy and completely absurd neo-noir thriller, WILD THINGS has been on Blu-ray before, but this time, Arrow Video supplied a prestige package for what is, essentially, the cinematic equivalent of junk food. But sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with a little junk food, especially if it’s this entertaining. THE NINTH CONFIGURATION (Scream Factory) Another film that has been on Blu before, THE NINTH CONFIGURATION returns with superior picture quality, making it well worth an upgrade. And for first-time viewers, this powerful and complex examination of faith balances humor and pathos expertly, and will leave you with much to think about. STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE - THE DIRECTOR’S EDITION (Paramount Home Video) The definitive presentation of THE MOTION PICTURE. Not only has it never looked better (probably not even when it was theatrically released), but this cut of the film represents the most complete attempt to fulfill the filmmakers’ intentions (which were somewhat compromised upon theatrical release back in 1979). A must-own for TREK fans, especially those willing to rediscover this often-maligned — but, ultimately, compelling and ambitious — science fiction spectacle. THE WICKER MAN (Imprint Films) The physical media release of the year, by far. Multiple cuts, copious documentaries, commentaries, and even the original score… it’s all here, and all contained in beautiful packaging from Imprint. One of the great horror films of the 1970s finally has a physical media edition worthy of its reputation.
Here's to a 2023 that hopefully keeps this streak of great releases alive!
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