New Release Tuesday
Written
on 20/5/08
Welcome back to another New Release Tuesday! This week, I believe is one of the strongest weeks in May, with plenty of titles, TV, and Blu Ray. Let’s get started!
George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead
I feel this film was mistreated at the theaters, barely crossing 300 screens. Truly a shame because this film was really good, better than most of the horror released in theaters this year, and most certainly an improvement over “Land of the Dead”. While you can read my review shortly, this is a really pleasing effort by Romero. I felt he was reenergized and it shows. Sure, you can say it’s “Blair Witch” with zombies but in George’s hands you have some ideas to digest. The disc is part of Dimension’s Extreme label and has some solid extras. Look for Best Buy’s exclusive which features a book, unrelated to Romero, but seemingly worthwhile enough, called “The Zen of Zombie”.
Extras:
-90 minute making-of
-deleted scenes
-audio commentary
-Myspace zombie short film winners
Night of the Living Dead 40th Anniversary Edition
Sadly this film has been on so many budget releases, all of poor quality that you could fill a landmine up with them. A few years ago, Image Entertainment had a briefly used line called the Millennium Edition series, in which “Night” was included with a few audio commentaries, liner notes by Stephen King and Romero, and more importantly superior picture and audio quality. It’s the definitive edition to have. until now it seems. The big draw to this edition is the newly recorded documentary “One for the Fire”, a 90 minute feature on all things “Night”. They have remastered the picture quality although I haven’t heard if it’s superior to the Image disc or now. This is a tough call to recommend the double-dip because outside of that doc, all the extras from the Image DVD are here. It all comes down to how bad you want to have that documentary.
Extras:
-One for the Fire: 90 minute documentary
-Two audio commentaries
-Final interview with Duane Jones
Delirious Fictions of William Klein-Eclipse Series 9
I’m a huge fan of these titles from Criterion, combing rare areas of unexplored cinema, packaging them together for a decent price. Here is a rare director from the 1960s, who created funky socially-conscience films exploring media and consumerism. These films are as wacky as that title and seem totally interesting.
Hamburger Hill Special Edition
Mostly likely timed for Memorial Day, this special edition is a marginal improvement of the barebones MGM release of many years ago. As long as the picture is remastered…
Extras:
-audio commentary
-War Medics featurette
Hunt for John Wilkes Booth
This is a 2-hour documentary from the History Channel, using photos and reenactments for effect. I just thought this was something different to add and to highlight. For history or Civil War buffs only.
The Killing Hour
More cult goodness from Blue Underground. Directed by Armand Mastroianni of “He Knows You’re Alone” fame, this tale is all about, according to Amzaon.com, “The body of an anonymous woman is discovered floating in the Hudson River, and as the grisly news spreads through New York City, three more macabre murders occur all linked by the use of handcuffs. A beautiful, young art student with a special gift draws the murders before they are committed. Intrigued by her insight, an impetuous TV reporter and a police detective both become obsessed with the woman and her amazing talent. One wants to save her. The other must kill her.” Awesome.
Extras:
-audio commentary
-trailer
Strange Wilderness
Reviewed here a few times, it seems to be aimed for the silly humor crowd. A product from the Happy Madison camp, the trailers seemed funny enough, and although I didn’t see it in theaters, here at Killer Film, the other writers seemed to like it.
Extras:
-additional scenes
-Four featurettes
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (Blu Ray)
I have never seen these films, though they look like a mild time waster worth seeing. I know some people really like this series and Disney offers the best in Blu Ray entertainment.
Extras:
-audio commentary
-deleted scenes
-7 featurettes
Other Blu Ray Titles
National Treasure
First time on Blu and loaded with extras, most from the DVD release.
V for Vendetta
Finally, after being on HD-DVD from the start, it’s here on Blu. Only new thing is the 1.1 Profile feature, all other extras are from the DVD release. It’s a direct port from the HD-DVD print, no new remastering for Blu.
Flags of Our Fathers
First time on Blu and the extras are from the two-disc DVD release. Should look amazing.
Short Circuit
Johnny 5 on Blu!!
TV Releases
-24 Season 1 Special Edition
-Gomer Pyle USMC Season 4
-Jag Season 6
-Muppet Show Season 3
-NYPD Blue Season 1
-Penn and Teller: Bullsh!t Season 5
-The Richie Rich/Scooby Doo Hour Volume 1
That does it for a stacked release day of a variety of stuff to seek out. Next week we’ll look at some reissues of some Dario Argento titles and “Rambo”! See you then!
George A. Romero’s Diary of the Dead
I feel this film was mistreated at the theaters, barely crossing 300 screens. Truly a shame because this film was really good, better than most of the horror released in theaters this year, and most certainly an improvement over “Land of the Dead”. While you can read my review shortly, this is a really pleasing effort by Romero. I felt he was reenergized and it shows. Sure, you can say it’s “Blair Witch” with zombies but in George’s hands you have some ideas to digest. The disc is part of Dimension’s Extreme label and has some solid extras. Look for Best Buy’s exclusive which features a book, unrelated to Romero, but seemingly worthwhile enough, called “The Zen of Zombie”.
Extras:
-90 minute making-of
-deleted scenes
-audio commentary
-Myspace zombie short film winners
Night of the Living Dead 40th Anniversary Edition
Sadly this film has been on so many budget releases, all of poor quality that you could fill a landmine up with them. A few years ago, Image Entertainment had a briefly used line called the Millennium Edition series, in which “Night” was included with a few audio commentaries, liner notes by Stephen King and Romero, and more importantly superior picture and audio quality. It’s the definitive edition to have. until now it seems. The big draw to this edition is the newly recorded documentary “One for the Fire”, a 90 minute feature on all things “Night”. They have remastered the picture quality although I haven’t heard if it’s superior to the Image disc or now. This is a tough call to recommend the double-dip because outside of that doc, all the extras from the Image DVD are here. It all comes down to how bad you want to have that documentary.
Extras:
-One for the Fire: 90 minute documentary
-Two audio commentaries
-Final interview with Duane Jones
Delirious Fictions of William Klein-Eclipse Series 9
I’m a huge fan of these titles from Criterion, combing rare areas of unexplored cinema, packaging them together for a decent price. Here is a rare director from the 1960s, who created funky socially-conscience films exploring media and consumerism. These films are as wacky as that title and seem totally interesting.
Hamburger Hill Special Edition
Mostly likely timed for Memorial Day, this special edition is a marginal improvement of the barebones MGM release of many years ago. As long as the picture is remastered…
Extras:
-audio commentary
-War Medics featurette
Hunt for John Wilkes Booth
This is a 2-hour documentary from the History Channel, using photos and reenactments for effect. I just thought this was something different to add and to highlight. For history or Civil War buffs only.
The Killing Hour
More cult goodness from Blue Underground. Directed by Armand Mastroianni of “He Knows You’re Alone” fame, this tale is all about, according to Amzaon.com, “The body of an anonymous woman is discovered floating in the Hudson River, and as the grisly news spreads through New York City, three more macabre murders occur all linked by the use of handcuffs. A beautiful, young art student with a special gift draws the murders before they are committed. Intrigued by her insight, an impetuous TV reporter and a police detective both become obsessed with the woman and her amazing talent. One wants to save her. The other must kill her.” Awesome.
Extras:
-audio commentary
-trailer
Strange Wilderness
Reviewed here a few times, it seems to be aimed for the silly humor crowd. A product from the Happy Madison camp, the trailers seemed funny enough, and although I didn’t see it in theaters, here at Killer Film, the other writers seemed to like it.
Extras:
-additional scenes
-Four featurettes
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (Blu Ray)
I have never seen these films, though they look like a mild time waster worth seeing. I know some people really like this series and Disney offers the best in Blu Ray entertainment.
Extras:
-audio commentary
-deleted scenes
-7 featurettes
Other Blu Ray Titles
National Treasure
First time on Blu and loaded with extras, most from the DVD release.
V for Vendetta
Finally, after being on HD-DVD from the start, it’s here on Blu. Only new thing is the 1.1 Profile feature, all other extras are from the DVD release. It’s a direct port from the HD-DVD print, no new remastering for Blu.
Flags of Our Fathers
First time on Blu and the extras are from the two-disc DVD release. Should look amazing.
Short Circuit
Johnny 5 on Blu!!
TV Releases
-24 Season 1 Special Edition
-Gomer Pyle USMC Season 4
-Jag Season 6
-Muppet Show Season 3
-NYPD Blue Season 1
-Penn and Teller: Bullsh!t Season 5
-The Richie Rich/Scooby Doo Hour Volume 1
That does it for a stacked release day of a variety of stuff to seek out. Next week we’ll look at some reissues of some Dario Argento titles and “Rambo”! See you then!
