What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – December 3rd, 2024 – Galaxy Quest, Alien: Romulus, Watchmen, Hitchcock and more

Galaxy Quest

Okay, it’s a big one this week! As we close in on the holidays, the studios are not resting, with a ton of releases out this week. We’ve got theatrical hits, catalog titles, box sets, and so much more! This week truly has something for every kind of movie fan!

In This Week’s Column:

– Alien: Romulus (Blu-ray + Digital)

– Watchmen: Chapter 2 (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

– Alfred Hitchcock: The Iconic Film Collection – Limited Edition (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

– The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season (4K Ultra HD)

– Ahsoka: The Complete First Season (4K Ultra HD) 

– Loki: The Complete Second Season (4K Ultra HD)

– Hawkeye: The Complete First Season (4K Ultra HD)

– Galaxy Quest: 25th Anniversary Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

– The Swan Princess: The Royal Collection (DVD Box Set)

– The Forge (Blu-ray + Digital)

– Dario Argento’s Deep Cuts (Blu-ray)

– The Whitest Kids U Know: The Complete Series (DVD)

– 1992 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)

– Suitor Armor: Volume 1 (Graphic Novel)
– 21 Bluff (Game)

– Zumbies (Collectible/Novelty)

– Hard Wood: The Adult Features of Ed Wood (Blu-ray)

– Scala!!! Or, The Incredibly Strange Rise And Fall Of The World’s Wildest Cinema And How It Influenced A Mixed-up Generation Of Weirdos And Misfits Collector’s Set (Blu-ray)

Alien: Romulus (Blu-ray + Digital)

The Movie: The Alien franchise has been around for 40 years, and I can’t deny that I’m a huge fan of it. Aliens has long been in my Top 5 movies of all time, and I think in recent years it’s actually climbing towards becoming my #1 movie of all time. No joke. So every time a new Alien movie comes out, I am hopeful that we will see a return to the greatness of the first two films that started it all.

Alien: Romulus doesn’t quite achieve that lofty goal, sadly, BUT it’s certainly a step in the right direction. It’s miles ahead of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, and it does away will all the unwanted origin nonsense of those two films. This movie takes place after the events of Alien but before Aliens, and there are some tie-ins to the first movie that fans should enjoy. What we see this time around is a group of teenagers exploring the abandoned Romulus space station, which, unfortunately for them, has been infected by xenomorph eggs. Which become facehuggers, which become… well, you know. It then becomes a race for survival against a xenomorph and… other dangers.

Now, I liked Alien: Romulus quite a bit, especially the first two-thirds of it. And frankly, it’s kind of hard to talk about the issues that I have with the film without getting into spoiler territory. What I will say is that the climax of the film feels too similar to something we’ve seen before in the franchise, and I didn’t love it the first time around. So it’s disappointing to me that the movie is actually pretty exciting and feels like an Alien movie… but then drops the ball at the climax. That said, it’s still the best Alien franchise film in 20 years, so I can’t complain too much.

The Bonus Features: 

• Return to Horror: Crafting Alien: Romulus
• Inside the Xenomorph Showdown .
• Alien: A Conversation – An interesting conversation between Ridley Scott and Fede Alvarez for the Alien 45th Anniversary theatrical re-release
• Alternate/Extended Scenes

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: Alien: Romulus isn’t exactly the film I wanted, but it’s a step in the right direction. I’m glad it made enough money to warrant another film, and hopefully the franchise will continue to improve from here on out.

Watchmen: Chapter 2 (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

The Movie: In my review of Watchmen: Chapter I, I said, “Everyone’s got an opinion on Zach Snyder, and while I have some definite issues with him as a filmmaker, I do like some of his films. I say this because I don’t always care for his vision on a movie; his take on Superman, for example, always felt to me like he didn’t understand the character. But, I never felt that way about Watchmen; I always felt like Snyder was actually the perfect choice to make a live-action Watchmen movie. Which made it all the more surprising that I didn’t like 2006’s Watchmen movie; on paper, it should have been great. I actually think Snyder’s adaptation is — for the most part — incredibly faithful to the original graphic novel, and I’ve never been able to quite put my finger on what I didn’t like about it, but there’s something. Then DC did a motion comic for Watchmen, which also never quite landed for me. Maybe Watchmen just wasn’t meant for any medium other than comic books? Well, the new DC Animated Universe feature film Watchmen: Chapter I sets out to prove that theory wrong.”

I then went on to rave about how much I enjoyed Watchmen: Chapter I. And guess what? I’m not going to change my tune on Chapter II. I enjoyed this second half of the story every bit as much as I enjoyed the first chapter. What’s so great about it is how much it looks and feels like Watchmen; even the animation was created in the style of Dave Gibbons’ artwork in the series, which is no small feat considering how distinct his art looks. This second film picks up about halfway through the graphic novel and continues through to the end (hence the Chapter II designation), but it still manages to feel like a complete movie. While I’m glad there are no plans to continue the series (because the story is finished), I’m a little sad we won’t get more of these great films. Maybe DC will one day adapt the Before Watchmen limited series.

The 4K Video/Audio: Watchmen: Chapter II features CGI animation that blends the look of traditional hand-drawn animation with 3-D modeling and imaging, giving it a unique feel, especially since it mimics Dave Gibbons’ artwork, as mentioned above. It looks and sounds great, as an animated movie should on 4K. Blacks are deep and solid and image clarity is sharp, while colors are vibrant (although occasionally overpowered by the highly stylized color palette.) The surround soundtrack also bolsters the presentation, with a generous spreading out of surround effects through each satellite speaker. Dialogue is the focus here, and all of the voices sound crystal clear but also natural and lifelike. Music is full and powerful, and the low end bass channel gives a nice underlying oomph. It’s a terrific A/V presentation overall.

The Bonus Features: 

• Dave Gibbons and Watchmen: Endgame (7 minutes)
• The Art of Adaptation: Building to the Final Act (10 minutes)
• Designing Watchmen (20 minutes)

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: I wouldn’t recommend watching Watchmen: Chapter II without having first watched Chapter I, but as a two-part movie event, this is without a doubt the definitive version of Watchmen that’s not in the pages of a graphic novel. 

Alfred Hitchcock: The Iconic Film Collection – Limited Edition (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

The Movie: So, at this point, getting a new Alfred Hitchcock home video collection on home video has become sort of an annual event. In the last decade, we’ve had multiple collections on DVD, multiple collections on Blu-ray, various single-disc releases on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4 Ultra HD, as well as a 4K Ultra HD box set. Alfred Hitchcock: The Iconic Film Collection – Limited Edition is the latest offering in Universal’s repackaging of his most popular films, this time released as a gorgeous limited edition coffee table book edition. First off, the set features six of Hitchcock’s most well-loved films: Psycho, Rear Window, The Birds, and Vertigo, as well as North By Northwest and To Catch a Thief. Now, what sets this collection apart is that it’s housed within an (approximately) 11×14 full-color hardcover book, which offers up photos and trivia for as well as some interviews and creator profiles. It’s a gorgeous book with stunning cover art (and a soft-touch feel to the hard covers), and it’s a limited edition, so this is a real collector’s item for the fans of Hitchcock.

Now, I don’t need to expound on how great these movies are. The previous 4K Ultra HD box set released by Universal included Psycho, Rear Window, The Birds, and Vertigo, but the inclusion of North By Northwest and To Catch a Thief (which are both owned by other studios) makes this a unique collection in terms of what movies are included. What’s also neat is that there’s a theatrical cut of Psycho included as well as what has apparently become the “standard” cut used on home video releases for the past 50 years. It’s not a terribly different film, but it’s still cool to see the movie with a few changes here and there. Each film boasts an improved audiovisual experience in 4K, although due to the age of the films, it’s not a complete revolution. Still, each film looks a little sharper, a little brighter, and a little more colorful (except Psycho, which is obviously in black & white). Each disc is also packed with extra features, and the set as a whole is gorgeous. This is a must-have for Hitchcock fans.

The 4K Video/Audio: The 4K Upgrade definitely makes a difference in the visual presentation of each movie. Colors pop in a way that give them new life, with the exception of Psycho, which is, of course, in black and white so you don’t get the extra pop of colors. However, the grey tones are more subtle, the blacks are deeper, the shadow delineation is much stronger, and the overall image clarity is sharper than previous home video editions. The soundtracks are working with limited fidelity due to the age of the films, but I certainly don’t hear anything to complain about. Technically speaking, you can’t beat the job Universal has done with these transfers.

The Bonus Features: 

While all these extras have been released before, this collection is still loaded with them!

Rear Window:

• Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary
• A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes
• Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master
• Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock
• Hitchcock/Truffaut
• Masters of Cinema
• Production Photographs, Theatrical Trailer & Re-release Trailer Feature Commentary with John Fawell, Author

To Catch a Thief:

• Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on To Catch a Thief
• Behind the Gates: Cary Grant and Grace Kelly (2009)
• Commentary by Dr. Drew Casper, Hitchcock Film Historian

Vertigo:

• Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life of Hitchcock’s Masterpiece
• Partners in Crime: Hitchcock’s Collaborators
• Foreign Censorship Ending
• Hitchcock/Truffaut
• Feature Commentary with Film Director William Friedkin
• 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era

North By Northwest:

• North by Northwest: Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit
• Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest
• The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style
• North by Northwest: One for the Ages
• A Guided Tour with Alfred Hitchcock
• Commentary by Screenwriter Ernest Lehman

Psycho:

• Psycho Uncut: The extended version of the movie as seen in theaters
• The Making of Psycho& Psycho Sound featurettes
• In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy
• Hitchcock/Truffaut
• Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho
• The Shower Scene: With and Without Music and Storyboards by Saul Bass
• The Psycho Archives: Posters and Psycho Ads, Lobby Cards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Production Photographs, Psycho Theatrical Trailers, and Psycho Re-release Trailers
• Feature Commentary with Stephen Rebello, author of “Alfred Hitchcock and The Making of Psycho”

The Birds:

• The Birds: Hitchcock’s Monster Movie
• All About The Birds
• Tippi Hedren’s Screen Test
• Deleted Scenes & The Original Ending
• Hitchcock/Truffaut
• Universal International Newsreels
• 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics & The Lot

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: What more do I need to say? It’s Hitchcock, it’s six amazing films, it’s hours and hours of bonus features, and it’s a gorgeous limited edition package. Outstanding!

The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season (4K Ultra HD)

The Show: I don’t know if anything has had as large a cultural impact on the Star Wars landscape as The Mandalorian. Not only did it become the show everyone was talking about, but it also introduced the words “Baby Yoda” into the pop culture lexicon. (Sure, we all now know that he’s Grogu, but Baby Yoda as a term probably isn’t going away any time soon.) Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s excellent show follows Din Djarin, a Mandalorian mercenary who is just sort of going through life until he gets saddled with a bounty; the aforementioned Baby Yoda. Their relationship grows and Din finds himself going against his code and the rules of bounty hunting, leading to all kinds of adventures and some pretty neat Star Wars-y moments.

The third season, however, is not quite as good as the first two seasons were. It’s not bad by any stretch, and there are some great episodes, but the introduction of an entire clan of Mandalorians – to me, at least – feels like it’s watered down the concept of how cool they are. At times it feels like a sitcom called Too Many Mandalorians! I exaggerate, but I wish the season focused more on Din Djarin and Grogu and less on the culture and history of The Mandalorians as a group.

The show has been exclusive to the Disney+ streaming service, but the studio released the first two seasons on home video earlier this year, and not only that, but they came out in gorgeous Steelbook cases. This week sees the release of The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season on 4K Ultra HD (as well as Blu-ray) and it returns in the same amazing Steelbook packaging. If you’ve been wondering what all the hype was about, now is your chance to find out.

The 4K Video/Audio: The Mandalorian: The Complete Third Season  looks and sounds terrific in 4K, featuring vivid colors, terrifically sharp imagery, and deep, and rich black levels. The show sometimes leans towards the darker side of things, but the picture never feels too muddy or lacking contrasts. The surround soundtrack has a lot to work with and it doesn’t waste any opportunities to fill your living room with activity, but it also makes sure the quieter moments and the dialogue ring true and clear. There’s also a nice low end bass channel that gives some of the climactic scenes an effective rumble that you’ll feel in your chest. Very cool.

The Bonus Features: 

• Honoring the Magistrate: A Tribute to Carl Weathers
• Galactic Legacy: The Creatures and Droids of The Mandalorian
  Forging the Covert: Part Three
• Collectible Concept Cards

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: Whether you’re watching The Mandalorian for the first time or re-watching it for the seventh, it’s a great show. Even though I have my complaints about Season 3, I still enjoyed it overall on the whole. The Steelbook cases are a sight to behold, and I’m always a proponent of having a physical media copy of a program you love in your collection. This is the way!

Ahsoka: The Complete First Season (4K Ultra HD) 

The Show: While the casual Star Wars fan might not know the name Ahsoka Tano, the die-hard fans will recognize her from her major role in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi padawan. She was one of the most popular characters to come out of the greater Star Wars (read: non-movie) universe, so it was no surprise to me that she got her own show, especially after she returned as a character in the excellent Star Wars: Rebels animated series.

This nine-episode series follows Ahsoka Tano as she reunites with some of the main characters of Rebels (all of whom are appearing in live-action form for the first time) as they investigate a New Threat To The Galaxy. Honestly, it’s not the plot that drives the show, but the characters. And that’s where both the strength and the weakness of the series comes in. If you are – like me – a fan of Rebels, you will be very excited by all the great characters returning here. Even beyond Rebels, the inclusion of Grand Admiral Thrawn (who originated in the Star Wars novels in the ‘90s) is hugely exciting for fans. That said, if you’re not familiar with these animated series and books, there’s a good chance you’ll have no idea who most of these characters are, and that will probably leave you a bit cold to the show as a whole.

The 4K Video/Audio: Ahsoka is a great-looking show from a visual standpoint, and the 4K Ultra HD transfer reflects that nicely. The imagery is extremely sharp, clean and clear, and the visual and practical effects really shine in Ultra HD. Colors are at a premium and contrasts are strong, with deep, rich black levels. Obviously, the print is clean and devoid of any debris or blemishes. The surround soundtrack immerses your living room in the action, of which there is plenty, as the active surround channels and booming low end bass ensure your ears are constantly picking up something new. The soundtrack music is also balanced well, while the dialogue never gets lost in the mix, resulting in a terrific sound presentation overall.

The Bonus Features: 

• Ahsoka: Legacy
• Path of the Apprentice
• Ghosts of the Past
• Darkness Rising

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: Ahsoka is a cool show with a lot of deep Star Wars lore for the die-hard fans, but I do worry that casual fans will find it confusing or unexciting. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but your mileage may vary.

Loki: The Complete Second Season (4K Ultra HD)

The Show: I think it’s safe to say that Marvel’s television output up to now has been… pretty good. Most of their shows haven’t totally blown me away, but none of them have been complete train wrecks, either. I’ve liked most of them, even if I haven’t loved all of them. Loki was one of the standouts of the first wave of Marvel/Disney+ shows, however.

The second season of the show got way less attention than the first, but it’s still a pretty good ride. This time around, Loki is lost in time and searching for Sylvie (who’s the female Loki variant from Season 1) with the help of the Time Variance Authority. Once again, the show gives us a great mix of action, spectacle, superheroes, comedy, and drama, and it’s all anchored by Tom Hiddleston’s fantastic performance. Aside from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, I can’t think of any other single character in the MCU that’s cast as perfectly as Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Now the second season has been collected in a terrific new Steelbook collection that gives you all six episodes and bonus features in a stylish Steelbook case, just as Season 1 was.

The 4K Video/Audio: The 4K Ultra HD presentation helps out here because this is another show with a lot of darker or nighttime scenes, and the improved shadow delineation allows us to see all of the onscreen action with no pixelation or blocking. Blacks are deep and color saturation is solid, although it’s a more tempered color palette to begin with. The surround soundtrack offers up some nice activity, allowing the action scenes to work their magic throughout the various speakers. All in all, it’s a well-done effort.

The Bonus Features: 

• Loki Through Time
• Gag Reel
• Deleted/Extended Scenes
• Assembled: The Making of Loki Season 2

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: I’m not sure if a Season 3 of Loki is in the works, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is. I will be right there to sign up for watching it. Sure, you can stream these episodes, but for those collectors among us, this new Steelbook set is a great piece to have on your shelf.

Hawkeye: The Complete First Season (4K Ultra HD)

The Show: Hawkeye is one of my favorite characters in the Marvel comic books, and even though he’s appeared in the Avengers films, it’s not hard to see that he’s gotten swallowed up a little when they’re fighting off aliens or killer robots or, well, Thanos. In the comic book world, I’ve also become a big fan of Kate Bishop, the newer, younger Hawkeye. So I was excited to watch the Disney+ series that would see the two of them team up and also give them the spotlight.

The show starts with a simple premise: Clint Barton (Hawkeye) is just trying to get back to his family for Christmas. However, when a threat from his past pops up (and presents a threat that could spell doom for a major US city), Clint has to go on the offensive. And this time, he teams up with Kate Bishop, a younger, female version of Hawkeye, played by the one and only Hailee Steinfeld.

The pair’s dynamic works well, and the show is wise to keep it to only six episodes, because the story really doesn’t need more than that. It’s tight, it’s fun, and it’s well paced. This week, the entire six-episode series is collected into a Steelbook 4K Ultra HD release, and it’s a welcome addition to a growing Marvel TV series library on home video.

The 4K Video/Audio: Hawkeye looks and sounds very good in the premium format. The color saturation is quite vibrant, image clarity is sharp, and shadow delineation is very strong. The surround soundtrack is quite immersive overall, doing a great job of maximizing what it has to work with and extending the sounds of mayhem into your living room.

The Bonus Features: 

• A Tale of Two Hawkeyes
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes
• Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: Hawkeye isn’t the biggest or boldest of the Marvel series, but it’s a lot of fun and it gives the spotlight to two great characters played by two likable actors. Give it a whirl!

Galaxy Quest: 25th Anniversary Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Digital)

The Movie: I feel like there are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Galaxy Quest, and those who have never seen it. This movie has such a devoted fan base, largely because of how much fun it is. On the surface, Galaxy Quest is a Star Trek parody, but it’s more than that. It’s also a somewhat-meta deconstruction of both the science fiction genre and the worlds of fandom that worship it.

If you don’t already own Galaxy Quest on home video, this new 25^th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Steelbook is a must have. First off, as I just mentioned, the film is an absolute blast. It’s a terrific, smart parody of Star Trek with an amazing cast that includes Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Justin Long, and more. And even though most of the extra features aren’t new (there is one new one, though!) there are a good amount of them, ensuring plenty of Galaxy Quest material to watch beyond the movie. I love this film, and this is a terrific version in a nice Steelbook case for those of you who don’t already have it on video.

The 4K Video/Audio: Galaxy Quest is 25 years old at this point, but it does look and sound quite nice in 4K. Image clarity is razor sharp and contrasts are strong. The movie is a comedy and the deep color saturation reflects that, and everything looks vibrant and alive. The surround soundtrack is a little front-channel heavy, but since the driving force of the film is the dialogue, that makes sense. That said, both the dialogue and soundtrack music sound terrific, and there are some ambient and directional surround sounds when called for.

The Bonus Features: 

• NEW! Filmmaker Focus with Director Dean Parisot (10 minutes)
• Historical Documents: The Story of Galaxy Quest (18 minutes)
• Never Give Up, Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew of the NSEA Protector (23 minutes)
• By Grabthar’s Hammer, What Amazing Effects (7 minutes)
• Alien School: Creating the Thermian Race (5 minutes)
• Actors in Space (6 minutes)
• Sigourney Weaver Raps (2 minutes)
• Deleted Scenes (12 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer
• Thermian Audio Track

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: Galaxy Quest is quickly becoming one of Paramount’s go-to catalog titles, and that says something about what a great film it is that people keep discovering it and/or coming back to it over and over. I love it, and unless you’ve never seen it before, I assume you do too.

The Swan Princess: The Royal Collection (DVD Box Set)

The Movie: While it was never a blockbuster smash it, The Swan Princess is nonetheless an animated film that has a pretty decent fan base. An updated retelling of Swan Lake for family audiences, the movie features a terrific voice cast including Jack Palance, John Cleese, Steven Wright and Sandy Duncan. I didn’t grow up with this film, so I don’t have the same nostalgia for it that some people do, but people who were kids 25 years ago might have their own kids now to introduce the film to, and if they do, this new box set should be pretty exciting for them.

For the first time ever, not only is the original film being re-released, but the eleven – ELEVEN! – direct-to-video spin-off sequels that have been released since then are collected in this new box set as well. There’s also a music box that’s included in the package, so this is obviously a gift set in the best sense of the word. The films included are:

• The Swan Princess
• The Swan Princess and the Secret of the Castle
• The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure
• The Swan Princess Christmas
• The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale
• The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today!
• The Swan Princess: Royall Undercover
• The Swan Princess: A Royal MyZtery
• The Swan Princess: Kingdom of Music
• The Swan Princess: A Royal Wedding
• The Swan Princess: A Fairy Tale Is Born
• The Swan Princess: Far Longer Than Forever

I know I had reviewed a few of these movies in the past, but honestly I had no idea there were so many animated sequels and spin-offs. Obviously, the quality varies a bit from film to film, but for younger audiences who are predisposed to liking these movies, I don’t think they’ll get too critical.

The Bonus Features: 

• Sing-along features for most of the films
• A Collectible Jewelry Box included in the collection’s outer box

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: My only complaint about this set is the fact that the movies aren’t also included as digital copies. This is the kind of series I’m sure parents would love to have on both DVD (for the car and individual players) and on digital (for those “keep-the-kids-busy-with-some-binge-watching” days), but still, it’s a great set for fans of the franchise.

The Forge (Blu-ray + Digital)

The Movie: I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not the target audience for movies like The Forge. The film was made by The Kendrick Brothers, who also gave us the faith-based hits The War Room, Fireproof, and Courageous. Now, I’m not a religious person by nature, and as such, faith-based films hold little interest for me. But I have enjoyed the odd one here and there over the years, when they’re well-made movies that don’t wield their message like a hammer.

The Forge is technically a spin-off of The War Room, as a few ancillary characters recur here, but the story is pretty independent of that previous film. In it, young high school graduate Isaiah is aimless until he meets the owner of a manufacturing company who takes Isaiah under his wing both in business and in faith. Of course, Isaiah’s life begins to change once he finds god and spirituality.

The film is well-acted, to be fair, but the preachiness of it is grating to someone like me. That said, if you’re already in the market for a faith-based movie, that will hardly be a problem for you, and then I’m sure you’ll enjoy it more than me, even if I still think it’s a bit on the dull side.

The Bonus Features: 

• The Making of The Forge
• Commentary by The Kendrick Brothers
• Discipleship in The Forge
• The Heart of The Forge
• Bloopers
• Deleted Scenes
• Follow-Up Resource Guide

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: Another solid drama for faith-based film fans, The Kendrick Brothers’ latest entry should satisfy their core audience. 

Dario Argento’s Deep Cuts (Blu-ray)

The Movie: Dario Argento is THE name when it comes to Italian horror movies, known as the Giallo genre. His films such as Suspiria, Tenebrae, Phenomena, and The Bird With the Crystal Plumage have garnered him a legion of fans and appreciation from cinema enthusiasts and critics alike.

In the 1970s, perhaps inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and his forays into television, Argento also ventured into TV with a number of specials, all of which are collected in this new 4-disc set called Dario Argento’s Deep Cuts from Severin Films, who continue to prove they are one of the premiere forces in collectible home video releases.

Over the four discs, you get a collection of TV specials, rather than a full on TV series like Alfred Hitchcock Presents. First up, you get the all four episodes of Door Into Darkness, an anthology series with episodes by a number of notable Italian filmmakers. There’s also a full-length documentary called Dario Argento’s World of Horror. There’s another disc with the Night Shift segments of a show called Giallo included, with which Argento was involved and even appears on camera interacting with the audience. Finally, there are a number of short segments that Argento created for the show called Nightmares, which are pretty gruesome at times. On top of all that, the set is loaded with extra features, so this set is jam-packed with material!

The Bonus Features: 

There are over 10 hours of bonus features spread out across all four discs:

• Door Into Darkness, Part 1 (Il Vicino Di Casa & Il Tram)
• Audio Commentary For Il Tram With Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson And Troy Howarth, Author Of Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema Of Dario Argento
• Dario Argento: My Cinema, Part 1
• Dario Argento: My Cinema, Part 2
• Door Into Darkness, Part 2 (La Bambola & Testimone Oculare)
• Audio Commentary For Testimone Oculare With Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson And Troy Howarth, Author Of Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema Of Dario Argento
• Dario Argento: Master of Horror (87 mins)
• A Streetcar Named Fear – Interview With Writer/Director/Producer Dario Argento
• On The Other Side Of The Door – Interview With Writer/Director Luigi Cozzi
• TV Nightmares – Interview With Producer Dario Argento
• Giallo On The TV – Interview With Director Luigi Cozzi
• Taxi Drivers – Interview With Director Lamberto Bava
• Big Giallo Taxi – Interview With Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti
• Calypso 9 – Interview With Actress Antonella Vitale
• Giallo Argento (100 mins)

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: Dario Argento’s Deep Cuts set is kind of like a music artist’s B-sides box set; while all of Argento’s films are available on home video by now, now you can also get all the deep cuts and demos and rarities in one place for the first time. It’s a real treat for die-hard Argento fans.

The Whitest Kids U Know: The Complete Series (DVD)

The Show: There’s no shortage of sketch shows out there, and between Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, The Kids in the Hall, The State, and In Living Color, it’s easy for a show like The Whitest Kids U Know to get overlooked. That said, the series has its fans, and those fans probably love the fact that TWKUK goes places a lot of those other shows won’t: the gutter.

Over the course of 50 episodes, TWKUK would often rely on skits filled with sex, violence, bodily fluids, and profanity as a source of humor in a way that all of the other broadcast based shows wouldn’t or couldn’t do. As a result the show is much more boundary-pushing than those others… to mixed results. Honestly, there are some sketches that are downright hilarious and so over-the-top you can’t help but laugh. But there are an equal amount that go so far that you question the taste and good sense of the people behind them. It’s a mixed bag that I really loved half the time and kind of hated the other half.

The Bonus Features: 

• Multiple Audio Commentary Tracks
• NEW! Post-Sketch Discussions
• NEW! Personal Photo Galleries
• Bonus Sketches
• NEW! Banned Sketches
• NEW! Rare Early Live Shows

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: The Whitest Kids U Know: The Complete Series is not for everyone, but I think that’s exactly how the cast and creators wanted it. They cultivated their show for a particular audience and I think those fans are probably completely enamored with the show as is. For those fans, this set is everything you could ask for and more!

1992 (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)

The Movie: Set right after the events of the Rodney King trial, 1992 is a crime drama/action film starring Tyrese Gibson, Scott Eastwood, and Ray Lotta. If you’re wondering how many movies Ray Lotta could be in given that he passed away a couple of years ago, you should know that 1992 was made in 2022 and is only now being released on home video.

Usually, when a movie sits on the shelf for over two years, that’s not a good sign. And while 1992 certainly isn’t a classic, it’s not terrible, either. The film sees Tyrese Gibson trying to save his son from an angry mob, while at the same time Eastwood and Lotta play a father and son who are trying to capitalize on the chaos to acquire some ill-gotten goods. It’s not the most cohesive movie I’ve ever seen, but you can see the direction things are going in early on and it gets where it needs to by the end.

The Bonus Features: 

• A South Central Story (12 minutes)
• Two Families, Two Worlds: Making 1992 (25 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer

Digital Copy Included: Yes 

The Wrap-Up: 1992 is a solid film that won’t blow anyone away but won’t feel like a complete waste of time, either. The performances are decent and the drama engaging enough to keep your interest in it, even if you’ll likely forget about it the minute its over.

Suitor Armor: Volume 1 (Graphic Novel)

The Book: If you had told me that I was going to fall in love with a graphic novel about a young lady falling in love with a magical suit of armor, I probably would have laughed at you. But here we are, with Suitor Armor: Volume 1, a collection of a popular WebToons property by the singularly-named Purpah.

In the book, young lady-in-waiting Lucia is hiding a secret; she’s actually a fairy living among humans, in a time when humans and fairies are at war. She’s content to be a lady-in-waiting to Lady Kirsi, who’s set to marry the prince, when the castle’s magician creates a magically powered suit of armor that challenges the court’s champion, Sir Baynard. When Lucia meets the suit of armor (who’s somewhat akin to a golem, perhaps) she senses something deeper within him and the two start to form a bond of outsiders.

I get it, it sounds like a weird premise for a book, but it works really well. Purpah creates endearing characters and her art is both simplistic and captivating, creating a world that you get more and more wrapped up in as it goes. I really, really enjoyed this book and I can’t for the second half of the story when Volume 2 comes out.

The Specs: 

• Volume 1 (of 2)
• 224 Pages
• Available in Hardcover ($24.99) or Paperback ($17.99)

The Wrap Up: Suitor Armor: Volume 1 is an endearing and delightful romance story with lots of action, magic, fantasy, humor, and intrigue. It’s definitely worth a read if you want to try something a little different than the usual graphic novel fare.

21 Bluff (Game)

The Game: It’s always a little hard to explain a game in review format, but then again, sometimes it’s not. 21 Bluff is a fun two to four person games that is kind of like Blackjack crossed with Uno. I mean, that’s pretty simple, right?

Each player gets a deck of cards that has standard Ace through King hands, but then also has about a dozen specialty cards. These cards do things like split the hand (so you can play two hands), give you an automatic 21 points (yay!), or cause you to instantly bust (boo!) The players all try to get to 21 points without going over, and the player who comes closest wins that rounds. Then you keep playing until you get 21 total points (and the points can be altered based on which special cards are played.)

I was able to run through a few rounds with my friends and I really enjoyed the game. It’s fast paced and fun, and the game mechanics are familiar enough that it doesn’t take long to pick it up. Remembering what the special cards do and understanding those rules is the hardest part, but once you get the hang of that, it’s pretty instinctual.

The Specs: 

• 2-4 Players
• 15-20 Minutes Play Time
• $24.99 MSRP

The Wrap Up: 21 Bluff is a good party game or for your next game night, an it’s the kind of tabletop effort that won’t require you to spend hours setting up or learning the mechanics of. And with a low price of under $25, it’s an easy pick up. Check it out!

Zumbies: The Walking Thread (Collectible/Novelty)

The Toys: First let me start with the official description of Zumbies: “A collection of adorably undead miniature yarn dolls, each uniquely made with string and button eyes. They bring positivity and good juju: every Zumbies doll comes with a tale of transformation and positivity. With their irresistible karmic twist, these six endearing characters offer collectors a fresh start and a touch of ‘Good JuJu!’”

These Zumbies are cute little keychains/string dolls that have sort of a horror vibe, but in a way that is uglycute and not scary at all. As you can see from their description — and the name “The Walking Thread” — these little dolls are meant to be unique and have a horror vibe yet spread positivity and joy, and I kind of dig that aesthetic.

I received all six to play with and inspect, and I really like how unique each one looks, even as they all fit together as part of a line. They’re high quality but inexpensive, and they’ll make great treats for slightly older kids or even good stocking stuffers for the holiday season. They also each come with a trading card with a little bit of a bio and their positive message, which is a neat bonus.

The Specs: 

• Each Zumbie measures 2.25 (W) X 0.75 (D) X 3.0 (H) inches.
• Zumbies are available starting this September at specialty retailers including Spirit Halloween, Spencer’s, and Wegman’s.

The Wrap Up: Zumbies are a cute little pick-me-up novelty/toy, and they’ll go nicely on your keychain or lanyard. Keep an eye out for them!

Hard Wood: The Adult Features of Ed Wood (Blu-ray)

The Movie: Ed Wood is probably most famous for two things: directing Plan 9 From Outer Space, largely considered the worst movie ever made, and for having a biopic made about him starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton.

But late in his career, Wood needed work, and so he also spent a few years directing adult movies. The new Blu-ray set Hard Wood: The Adult Features of Ed Wood collects three such films: Necromania, The Only House in Town, and The Young Marrieds. There’s also a bonus fourth film called Shotgun Wedding that was written by Wood but not directed by him that’s also included.

Now, look, even Tim Burton would agree that Wood was a spirited filmmaker but not necessarily a talented one. These movies aren’t meant to be anything other than what they are, and in that sense they succeed well enough, I guess, even if they feel particularly low-budget. They’re also suitably weird; Necromania literally features a couple doing it in The Amazing Criswell’s real coffin. I mean, that’s odd. But so was Ed Wood.

The Bonus Features: 

There are over 7 hours of bonus features spread out among the three discs in this set:

• Hardcore and Softcore versions of two of the films
• Audio Commentaries With Ed Wood Summit Host Greg Javer And Author Paul Apel
• Sex Loops With Subtitles By Ed Wood
• The Incredibly Strange Film Show Season 2, Episode 4: Ed Wood Jr.
• Dana Gould And Bobcat Goldthwait Talk Ed Wood’s Twilight Era
• The Mad Genius Of Ed Wood – Interview With Carl Abrahamsson, Author Of In-between The Lines – Essays On Occulture, Magic, And Seductive Zombie Strippers
• A Brief Encounter With Ed – Interview With Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray On His Ill-Fated Wood Collaboration, Beach Blanket Bloodbath

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: For Ed Wood fans and completists, this is probably a dream come true, as these movies are not readily available on home video. I don’t know that there’s a ton of cinematic value here, but the extra features plus the amount of films included give you a lot of bang for your buck.

Scala!!! Or, The Incredibly Strange Rise And Fall Of The World’s Wildest Cinema And How It Influenced A Mixed-up Generation Of Weirdos And Misfits Collector’s Set (Blu-ray)

The Movie: I’ll admit, I had never heard of The Scala before this documentary, but it sounds like the kind of place I would have loved. A movie theater in England, it started out as a traditional cinema, closed and reopened, and then became a haven for experimental film, alternative films, short films, animation, and so much more.

This new documentary explores the theater’s history, its stye, and its impact; a lot of people who used to frequent it went on to become artists and filmmakers in their own right. Over the course of 90 minutes, even if you’ve never been to the Scala, you start to feel like you visited there in a past life. But more than just a documentary, this three-disc Blu-ray release serves as a time capsule of sort, with a literally hours’ worth of extra features including over a dozen short films that actually played at Scala.

The Bonus Features: 

• Commentary With Co-Directors Jane Giles and Ali Catterall
• Introduction to the UK Premiere
• Scala Programs 1978-1993
• Inside the Scala Archive
• Extended Interviews and Outtakes
• Cartoons by Davey Jones
• Osbert Parker’s Animation Experiments and Outtakes
• Trailer
• Scala-Screened Shorts Divide and Rule – Never!, Dead Cat, The Mark Of Lilith, Relax, Boobs a Lot, Kama Sutra Rides Again, Coping With Cupid, and On Guard
• The Art of the Calendar (48 mins)
• Splatterfest Exhumed (81 mins)
• Scala-Screened Shorts Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie, Horrorshow, Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter (Original & Producer’s Cuts) And Mongolitos, all with Filmmaker Audio Commentaries
• The Legendary H.G. Lewis Speaks

Digital Copy Included: No 

The Wrap-Up: Scala!!! is both a movie and an art installation of its own. It’s a great way to learn about the kind of movie theater that just doesn’t exist any more, but it also gives you a great way to come close to experience what it must have been like to go the Scala in the comfort of your living room, and that’s pretty cool.