The latest news is that Walt Disney is partnering with Sony Pictures in their release of films on physical media. The debate is whether this will increase, decrease, or keep the same amount of films hitting home video. Sony doesn’t do much physical media for their movies, so it will likely remain the same. The most significant change is the shuttering of the Disney Movie Club, which I was a part of. Although they rarely had much that I went out of my way to get, they did have great deals if you were purchasing more than one item. With Best Buy leaving the movie game and Disney Movie Club soon-to-be a relic of the past, the physical media landscape will look very different this year.
March was highlighted by a ton of 2023 releases, with several titles getting exclusives. “The Marvels” and “Wonka” were two that got Walmart Exclusive 4K Steelbooks, while “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” not only got a Steelbook but an entire Box Set that came with a poster. Speaking of Steelbooks, Walmart started rolling out their new line in a big way, putting out a bunch of Mill Creek and Shout Factory titles in the format, including Blu-Ray and 4K releases. Although many of these Steelbooks are plain, I am delighted they’ve kept the packaging alive. Universal released “Migration” on a 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition, and A24 teamed with Lionsgate to put out both “Priscilla” and “Dream Scenario,” which came with Slipcovers.
I also dove hard into the new releases from Kino Lorber, grabbing four of their 4K releases, including “The Last Castle,” “Leviathan,” “Fear and Desire,” and “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.” Of those four releases, I liked the cover of “Fear and Desire” the most. My favorite overall release for the month has to be the Walmart Exclusive 4K Steelbook of “Wonka,” which features debossed candies on the front and back of the case. “The Marvels” also contains great artwork that made the packaging pop. None of the Shout Factory Steelbooks stand out, but my least favorite is “Dragonheart.”
Next month brings many more Walmart Steelbooks, including “Children of the Corn” and “V/H/S/Triple Feature.” Shout Factory will have several 4K releases, including the 2013 “Carrie” and the 2019 “Child’s Play.” The long-delayed “Ring Collection” will also finally be released. Kino Lorber will have multiple 4Ks of their own, with “Changing Lanes” and “The Manchurian Candidate” slated to release. Some newer titles that I’m looking forward to owning include “Poor Things,” “The Iron Claw,” “When Evil Lurks,” and all the James Cameron films that are getting 4K releases (“True Lies,” “Aliens,” and “The Abyss).
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Candy Land (2023)
Blu-Ray