By Brett Blake 2023 continued the wonderful streak of excellent physical media releases that collectors and enthusiasts have enjoyed for the last few years, with a host of long-requested titles finally making it to Blu-ray and/or 4K. Major studios and independent boutique labels alike have upped their games, delivering excellent work for fans. What follows is a selection of 10 releases that I think were among the best of the year (informed by my own desires and tastes, obviously -- you may well have 10 entirely different favorites of the year!). But even looking through a more objective lens, all of these releases are terrific, and any fans of these movies should consider adding them to their libraries if you haven’t. Honorable Mentions: - THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 4K (Shout! Factory) - THRILLERS FROM THE VAULT: 8 FILM COLLECTION (Mill Creek) - NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION 4K (Warner Home Video) Top 10: IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE 4K (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) A boutique-quality release from one of the major studios is always something to celebrate. Featuring a new restoration of the science fiction classic (with both 3D and 2D options), a nice selection of bonus features, and premium packaging (with some fun swag, including a film cell and a booklet of vintage promotional material), this is the kind of treatment that should be the standard. YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES (Paramount Home Entertainment) A new-to-Blu debut. The picture quality is only decent, but this makes the list primarily because its absence on Blu-ray had been conspicuous; whatever one may think of the movie (I think it’s pretty fun), it’s an important milestone in the history of visual effects, as it features the first CGI character in a live action film. For that reason, it was essential that it make the leap from the DVD format, and, thankfully, it now has. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) This release features an unusually extensive set of extras for a modern film, but the real reason it makes the list is because the picture quality and sound set a new bar for what modern and effects-heavy films can and should look like at home. The level of clarity achieved and the fidelity to the theatrical presentation are exceptional. MARATHON MAN 4K (Kino Lorber) From the cutting edge of 2020’s special effects, we jump back to the gritty 1970s... when movies looked like movies, with texture and grain in all the right ways. This is a classic thriller that has now been restored with modern techniques to faithfully recapture (perhaps even improve upon) what it was intended to look like. If you love thrillers from that decade, this release is an essential pick-up. SLEEPY HOLLOW 4K (Paramount Home Entertainment) Makes the list because it boasts the coolest packaging of the year! Housed within a glossy Steelbook case are not just the discs for the movie itself... but also a reprint of the original Washington Irving story! THE HAUNTING OF JULIA 4K (Scream Factory) A gem of a ghost story that seemed destined to remain consigned to VHS oblivion, the good folks at Scream Factory (in collaboration with several international boutique labels) lovingly restored this forgotten classic and achieved an exceptional level of quality that will hopefully allow the movie to be discovered by more people. THE BOUNTY (Imprint Films) Imprint, a label from Australia, continues their fine streak of box set releases (their incredible edition of THE WICKER MAN was my release of the year last year) with THE BOUNTY. With multiple feature-length documentaries and other supplements, it’s the kind of epic-sized release befitting the scope of the movie itself. DRAGONSLAYER (Paramount Home Entertainment) Another long-requested title finally arrived on Blu-ray and 4K. With a new, hour-long documentary and terrific picture and sound quality, this is an edition that should absolutely please fans of this underrated ‘80s fantasy adventure (co-produced by Paramount and Disney). THE MONSTER SQUAD (Kino Lorber) This is a movie that has already had an extensive history on home video, including multiple Blu-ray releases prior to this, but for various reasons, all the prior releases have been lacking in some way. Kino rectified that with a fairly definitive version, incorporating existing extras from older releases alongside new extras and a new 4K transfer of the film itself. WITNESS (Arrow Video) One of Harrison Ford’s greatest performances now has the premium release it deserves. Packed with nice supplementary features and other goodies (like a book of essays, lobby cards, and posters), it’s a worthy release of a wonderful film.
Based on what has already been announced and/or rumored, 2024 is shaping up to be a legendary year for physical media, so there should be plenty to discuss at this time next year!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
January 2023
Categories
All
|