What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – November 5th, 2024

In addition to some major catalog releases this week, we also have a couple of great documentaries, a few new music CDs, and an oddball indie. It’s an eclectic week for pop culture enthusiasts, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Read on for details!

In This Week’s Column:

Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5 (4K Ultra HD)
White Christmas (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever (Blu-ray)
Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger
Frankie Freako (Blu-ray)
Bear McCreary: The Singularity (Audio CD)
He Took Us By Storm: 25 Lost Classics From The Bob Dylan Folk-Rock Revolution Era (Audio CD)

Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5

The Movie: While Columbia has released five previous volumes of their prestigious Columbia Classics box set line, this is the second one released in 2024, which also marks Columbia Pictures’ 100th anniversary, something the studio is celebrating with special releases and promotions. As with the previous box sets, this multi-disc beauty includes new 4K Ultra HD versions of six classic films from the Columbia vaults, all making their 4K debuts. The films included this go around are: All the King’s Men (1949), On the Waterfront (1954), A Man for All Seasons (1966), Tootsie (1982), The Age of Innocence (1993) and Little Women (2019). The set includes a brand new 4K Ultra HD disc for each film, but also includes each film on Blu-ray, ensuring that all of the original extra features are included in the collection.

Now, one of my complaints with these kinds of sets has always been that the random nature of the films sometimes leads to a weird mix that might appeal to different movie fans. And while this one doesn’t vary as wildly in terms of genre (pretty much every movie this go around is a drama or a dramatic comedy), it’s also not the most exciting line-up of movies I’ve ever seen. For me, Tootsie is hands-down the standout of the bunch; Sydney Pollack’s masterful comedy sees an incredible performance by Dustin Hoffman and is just a great movie from start to finish. But A Man For All Seasons, The Age of Innocence, and Little Women are all period dramas, meaning fully half of the films in this set are period dramas. And while all three of them are good films, period dramas aren’t my favorite genre, and I feel like it’s a heavy lean for this set. Not a single science fiction movie, action movie, or genre-friendly offering could be found in Columbia’s archives that was worthy of inclusion. That said, On the Waterfront with Marlon Brando is a stone-cold classic, and All the King’s Men, while not one of the more “marquee” titles in terms of name recognition and star power, is still a terrific cautionary tale. Overall, while I think the mix of films could have been better (and that’s just my personal opinion), there isn’t a bad movie in the bunch, and that’s the most important thing.

The 4K Video/Audio: Each film has been restored and remastered in the 4K Ultra HD format, and despite the age range of the films, by and large each one has been wonderfully revitalized in the new format. On the Waterfront, for example, looks better than I’ve ever seen it, and I’ve seen the film on both DVD and Blu-ray previously. It’s in black and white, but it showcases brilliant contrasts and excellent shadow delineation. Little Women and Tootsie sparkle with bright new colors and improved clarity. The soundtracks vary depending on the age of the film and the technology available for the film’s soundtrack, but between dialogue, music and surround effects (when applicable), I didn’t hear anything that sounded less than terrific. Columbia has actually done full remastering and restoration for all of the films in the Columbia Classics line instead of just slapping movies on a 4K disc, and the results are easy to see and hear. Technically speaking, you can’t beat the job the studio has done with these transfers.

The Bonus Features: Not only do we get archival materials, but there are also some new extras as well. There’s also a Blu-ray bonus disc with four lesser-known Columbia movies from the pre-code era: The Belle Of Broadway (1926), Ladies Of Leisure (1926), The Desert Bride (1928) and The Scarlet Lady. In addition. There’s also a fantastic full-color hardcover book that explores each movie and is filled with phots, facts, and interviews for each film. Here’s the breakdown of bonus features:

• All the King’s Men: A new Audio Commentary featuring film Historians Julie Kirgo and Peter Hankoff, a new featurette called Force of Will: The Making of All The King’s Men, and the Theatrical Trailer.
• On the Waterfront: Two New featurettes, an Audio Commentary featuring Critic Richard Schickel and Film Historian Jeff Young,  Contender: Mastering the Method Featurette,  Interview with Director Elia Kazan,  Martin Scorsese and Kent Jones Featurette,  Eva Marie Saint Interview, Thomas Hanley Interview, On the Aspect Ratio, plus a Stills Gallery and the Theatrical Trailer.
• A Man for All Seasons: Audio Commentary Featuring Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman, Moral Clarity with Bishop Robert Barron Featurette (New), The Life of St. Thomas More Featurette, and Theatrical Trailers.
• Tootsie: A new Audio Commentary with Film Critic Cerise Howard & Filmmaker Rohan Spong, A Better Man: The Making of Tootsie 3-Part Documentary, Dustin Hoffman Interview, Nine Deleted Scenes, Screen Test Footage and the Theatrical Trailer.
• The Age of Innocence: Martin Scorsese Interview, Jay Cocks Interview, Original 1993 Making-Of, Moments from Set: B-Roll, and Theatrical Trailer
• Little Women: New Audio Commentary featuring writer / director Greta Gerwig and actor Saoirse Ronan, Revisiting Little Women: A Conversation with Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan (New), A New Generation of Little Women Featurette, Making a Modern Classic Featurette, Greta Gerwig: Women Making Art Featurette, Hair & Make-Up Test Sequence, Little Women Behind the Scenes, Orchard House, Home of Louisa May Alcott, and Theatrical Trailer

Digital Copy Included: Yes/No

The Wrap-Up: Despite my taking points off for the selection of movies included here, I really do love this series and I love how much effort Columbia puts into making them truly worthy collections for cinephiles. Keep ‘em coming, Columbia!

White Christmas (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

The Movie: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (the song) may have finally overtaken White Christmas (the movie) in terms of popular brand recognition – just because it’s so omnipresent at Christmas time – but the film version of White Christmas is no less a classic than the song. I love Christmas movies, and White Christmas is an absolute masterpiece… but every time I watch it I’m surprised how little of it has to do with Christmas. For a movie with the name Christmas in the title, the actual Christmas part of the film really only happens at the very beginning and the very end.

But that’s just me pointing out a quirk: the movie is a fantastic musical romantic drama (with no small amount of comedy mixed in for good measure) that sees Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Danny Kaye in top form as they work together to try and save a failing inn in Vermont that belongs to their beloved retired commanding officer. The trio (along with Vera-Ellen) have great chemistry, and the music is terrific, all while the sure hand of director Michael Curtiz (the all-time great Casablanca) makes sure you get wrapped up in all the romance, the drama, and the magic of setting. It’s a must-watch at Christmas time… er, even though it barely has any Christmas in it.

The 4K Video/Audio: While White Christmas usually gets a new home video release every couple of years at the holidays, this week’s release marks the first time the film has been available on 4K Ultra HD (it also includes the film on Blu-ray). I’m not sure if Paramount did actual restorative work on the film or not, but either way the picture quality is excellent. Colors are vibrant and bright, image clarity is impeccable, and the print is amazingly free of any damage or dust or debris. The surround soundtrack is not the most nuanced mixed ever, but the music sounds great and dialogue is clean and clear. It’s not a super active surround mix in terms of discrete sound effects, but it’s also not the kind of film that needs that. Overall, its a pretty strong A/V package for a film that’s over 70 years old.

The Bonus Features:

• Commentary by Rosemary Clooney: Clooney’s honest and matter-of-fact recollections of the film
• Backstage stories: A featurette about the casting, the leads, and the impact of George Chakiris
• Featurette: “Rosemary’s Old Kentucky Home”: Clooney’s relatives discuss her connection to her hometown and how it became a museum after her death
• Featurette: “Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner”: Crosby’s family and biographer talk about his musical influence and the importance of “White Christmas” to him
• Sing-along: An optional sing-along subtitle track for the film’s most popular songs
• Photo galleries: New photo galleries
• Theatrical trailers: Theatrical trailers for the film
• Classic holiday moments: Classic holiday moments from the film
• Assignment Children: A documentary about Danny Kaye’s experience as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador

Digital Copy Included: Yes

The Wrap-Up: There are a dozen or so movies, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, and Miracle on 34^th Street that are perennial favorites and many families watch them every year during the holidays. I believe White Christmas has become one of those movies as well, and deservedly so. This new 4K Ultra HD edition is the best version yet of a true classic.

1982: The Greatest Geek Year Ever (Blu-ray)

The Movie: Okay, I realize this movie was made quite literally for me (movie nerd/sci-fi geek of a certain age), but I LOVE IT SO MUCH! 1982: The Greatest Geek Year Ever is a documentary that explores exactly what the title implies: the incredible slate of movies that came out in 1982. With titles like E.T., The Thing, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, First Blood, Poltergeist, The Dark Crystal, Conan the Barbarian, and more, it was a seminal year in filmmaking and it shaped a lot of young people’s lives. This almost-three-hour documentary (which is a co-production of a few different production companies but also the popular movie website Jo Blo), dives into each film and explores it’s historical context, its success (or lack thereof for some of the cult classics), and the impact its had over the years.

There are numerous actors and writers and directors from the movies themselves, as well as well-known and popular movie critics, authors, and cinema historians all chiming in on a wide range of incredible movies. I’ve read all the articles and seen numerous making-of features on pretty much every movie in the film, and I still learned a lot, heard stories I’d never heard before, and had a blast while doing it. It’s a slickly edited and well-constructed movie that gives us an overview of the year and then starts to address each film individually, all in a way that feels natural and organic. Normally I balk at movies that run close to three hours, but in this case, I wanted more! Or at least a couple of sequels about 1984 and 1986.

The Bonus Features:

• Audio commentary with Director/Producer Roger Lay, Jr. and Writer/Producer Mark A. Altman
• Audio commentary with Producers Scott Mantz, Thomas P. Vitale & Writer/Producer Mark A. Altman
• Deleted / Extended Scenes (HD, 40:49)
• The Fans Speak: Fans Favorite Films Featurette (HD, 16:51)
• 2022 San Diego Comic-Con Panel (HD, 28:19)
• Trailer

Digital Copy Included: No

The Wrap-Up: If you lived through the 1980s and you love movies, there’s simply no way you can skip this movie. If you were born after 1982, it doesn’t even matter; if you love great cinema and cult classics and – hell – pop culture in general, you owe it to yourself to track down 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger (Blu-ray)

The Movie: If the names Powell and Pressburger mean nothing to you, then chances are good you’re not the kind of film watcher who studies the writers and directors behind the movies you’re watching. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Movies are meant to entertain first and foremost, and I’m a firm believer that  that’s more important than anything that goes on behind the scenes. But if you recognize the names, then you know that Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were a filmmaking duo in England that churned out hit movies that were critically acclaimed for decades. With Powell behind the camera and Pressburger behind the typewriter, the pair were responsible for movies such as The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, A Matter of Life and Death, A Canterbury Tale, and I Know Where I’m Going, the duo wooed audiences and critics alike, yet somehow, their names never became household names outside of the U.K.

Made in England was made (presumably in England) by the excellent documentarian David Hinton, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a Martin Scorsese film; after all, Scorsese not only appears in multiple interviews, but he also narrates the film. It’s as if Hinton told Scorsese to teach a film class on Powell and Pressburger and then just turned the camera on and let Scorsese run with it. And frankly, with Scorsese’s famed encyclopedic knowledge of cinema, that was a good tactic. Scorsese discusses each film individually but also ties them all together and looks at the pair’s oeuvre as a work in and of itself, and it’s the best discussion of their films I’ve ever come across in any medium. I learned a ton, but I also enjoyed the movie as well; it’s not just a boring history lesson.

The Bonus Features: Sadly, only the film’s trailer is included, but it’s a documentary, so I don’t expect a ton.

Digital Copy Included: No

The Wrap-Up: I’ve seen a few Powell and Pressburger movies in my time, but Made in England made me realize how many of them I still have to see, and this movie made me want to watch them. If you’re a fan of cinema history at all, I definitely recommend checking this movie out.

Frankie Freako (Blu-ray)

The Movie: Steven Kostanski is a B-movie filmmaker whose name you’ll only recognize if you search out movies with titles like Manborg and Psycho Goreman. (He also scored a hit earlier this year with In a Violent Nature, which got some critical acclaim.) His movies aren’t for everyone, but he does have a particular aesthetic that it’s hard to deny the charms of. His latest film is Frankie Freako, a 1980’s-set (and inspired) oddball horror comedy movie.

In the film, we meet bland ‘80s guy Conor, whose wife goes away for the weekend, leading him to call a 1-900 number for a little entertainment. The phone number is run by the goblin-like Frankie Freako, who grabs all his goblin-like friends (turns out they’re aliens, or some sort of inter-dimensional travelers) and starts to wreak havoc on Conor’s life.

The movie wears its influences on its sleeve: movies like Gremlins, Ghoulies, Critters… pretty much any ‘80s creature feature with a one-word title. Yet it also has its own flair and style, likely thanks to Kostanski’s unique vision as a filmmaker. I thought going into it it was going to be over-the-top and crude – and it is, but in a way that’s more PG-13 than R-rated, and actually made it more fun for me. Sometimes filmmakers go too far because they can, not because they should.

The Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Steven Kostanski, Actor Conor Sweeney and Cinematographer Pierce Derks
• “Fasten Your Freakbelts” – Behind The Scenes Of Frankie Freako
• “Conor & Frankie: A Conversation Between Actors”
• Frankie Freako’s Funtime Phone Commercial
• Antique Connoisseurs Segments
• Trailer

Digital Copy Included: No

The Wrap-Up: Frankie Freako is a fun throwback to a time when wandering through video stores in the ‘80s and ‘90s and discovering some B-movie was the norm. When you didn’t know if the movie you rented was going to be a hidden gem or a pile of garbage and then discovering it’s a hidden gem. It’s not a perfect movie and it won’t be for everyone, but for fans of B-movie filmmaking and ‘80s cult classics, it’s worth checking out.

Bear McCreary: The Singularity (Audio CD)

The Description: Mutant and Sparks & Shadows are proud to present Bear McCreary’s latest album The Singularity. The Singularity is an epic rock concept album, graphic novel, and concert experience from the mind of Grammy-nominated, and Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning composer Bear McCreary. The album features an extraordinary lineup of rock talent, including Slash, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Rufus Wainwright, Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Jens Kidman (Meshuggah), Joe Satriani, Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult), Asdru Sierra (Ozomatli), Gaelic rapper and poet Griogair, Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Brendon Small (Metalocalypse), Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Faroese singer Eivør (God of War), Guthrie Govan and Bryan Beller (The Aristocrats), Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa), Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Steve Bartek and John Avila (Oingo Boingo), Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals), Esjay Jones (We Are PIGS), Sigurjón Kjartansson (HAM), Raya Yarbrough (Outlander), rapper Mega Ran, and legendary metal drummer Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad, Dethklok). McCreary’s brother, Brendan McCreary, also co-wrote and co-produced the album, and sings lead vocals on eight songs. Though undeniably hard rock, the music also bursts with cinematic energy from use of live orchestra, choir, and international colors including morin khuur, bagpipes, and nyckelharpa. The album’s accompanying story is first revealed in three spoken-word monologues, lifted directly from the pages of the graphic novel (Image Comics). These scenes are performed on the album by Lee Pace (Foundation, The Hobbit trilogy), Danai Gurira (Black Panther, The Walking Dead), and Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, God of War Ragnarök).

The Album: Bear McCreary is best known as a composer for projects as varied as TV shows The Walking Dead, The Rings of Power, and Outlander; video games such as Halo and God of War, and movies like Godzilla: King of the Monsters. But he’s also a musician who loves heavy metal music and a storyteller, which leads us to The Singularity, his new two-disc album (available on CD and Vinyl) that serves as a concept album alongside a science fiction-themed graphic novel.

The music distinctly leans toward the heavy metal side of the spectrum, although to simply call it a heavy metal album wouldn’t do it justice. There are hard rock vibes, orchestral accompaniment, and even spoken word segments that bring dialogue from the graphic novel to life with actors Lee Pace, Ryan Hurst, and Danai Guirira. Now, I’ll admit that I’m not a giant fan of heavy metal music in general, and not every track landed for me. But the ones that did… wow. The Rufus Wainwright track, Type III, is an absolute masterpiece, and while it has a deep groove, it’s definitely not what I’d call heavy metal. McCreary enlists his brother Brendan to co-write and co-produce the album, while also tackling lead vocals on several songs, while McCreary’s own piano (and other instrument) work is present throughout the album. How much you like some of the songs may depend on how much you like the guest vocalist (I am decidedly NOT a Serj Tankian fan), but there are so many songs over the course of two discs that it’s hard not to find a good handful of songs to latch onto.

The Wrap-Up: While not every song is for me, the overall effect of The Singularity – just as a music project, not even including the graphic novel yet (which will be reviewed next week) – is a powerful one. Even the songs that aren’t my flavor are impeccable produced and memorable. This is a truly impressive piece of work.

He Took Us By Storm: 25 Lost Classics From The Bob Dylan Folk-Rock Revolution Era (Audio CD)

The Description: 1-CD (Digisleeve) with 48-page booklet, 25 tracks. Total playing time approx. 73 min. Never heard before CD compilation, dedicated to the charismatic musician and author who revolutionized folk and rock music like no other in the ’60s and became the worldwide figurehead of a cultural upheaval in youth culture: Bob Dylan. Compiled with expertise and passion by French producer Philippe Le Bras for Bear Family Records®, this anthology features original recordings, mostly from the mid-1960s. Dylan-inspired artists such as Dion, Lou Reed, Bobby Darin, Leon Russell, David Crosby, Boz Scaggs, Bob Seger, Johnny Winter, David Blue and many others try to catch up with their mentor and colleague and produce songs in the idiom he pioneered. Not a single Dylan song on this album, and yet the master can be heard throughout! Foreword by the late John Sinclair, essays by Iggy Pop and Elliott Murphy, extensive liner notes and numerous rare illustrations and memorabilia in the 48-page booklet. Careful re-mastering by Peer Meyer.

The Album: So I’ll say up front that I am really not a Bob Dylan fan. I can respect hm as a hugely influential musician and songwriter, but I am one of those stereotypical people who just can’t get past his singing voice. So I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with He Took Us By Storm: 25 Lost Classics From The Bob Dylan Folk-Rock Revolution Era, but the fact  that Dylan doesn’t appear on it seemed like a good thing for me.

The album is neither Dylan tribute nor covers album; instead, it is simply a compilation of songs that were released by various artists in the wake of Bob Dylans explosion onto the music scene. Mostly released in the 1960s (but with a few exceptions) these are songs by artists big and small, known and unknown, who were inspired by Dylan and incorporated his vibe into their music. While not everyone represented here is a household name, there were way more well-known artists than I expected: acts such as Dion, Bob Seger, David Crosby, Johnny Winter, Lou Reed, Bobby Darin, and many others. And the songs are pretty darn good. Not every one is a winner, but what I liked is that while the Dylan influence is clear, the songs mostly still sound like the artists, even if it’s the artists stretching themselves a bit. What you don’t get is 25 carbon copy Dylan rip-offs, and that’s a good thing.

The Wrap-Up: In addition to the music, I like that He Took Us By Storm includes a whopping 48-page booklet to give some context to these songs and discuss the work and the artists involved. I love a release that gives me more than just a bare bones package. If you’re a Bob Dylan fan — but even if you’re not — you should consider checking out He Took Us By Storm: 25 Lost Classics From The Bob Dylan Folk-Rock Revolution Era.