Welcome to Home Again, where each and every Tuesday I’ll be running down some of the best genre releases coming to home media.
All info is from the excellent Blu-ray.com. This isn’t every genre release, just the ones I find interesting. For the full list, follow that link.
12/10
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) – Sony Pictures – Out of all of the movies I missed seeing in theaters this year, this is the one that bothers me the most. It’s the first Tarantino film that I haven’t seen in a theatrical setting. Obviously I’ll have more opportunities in the future like I did with Reservoir Dogs, but since Pulp Fiction I’ve seen everything during its initial theatrical run.
Word of mouth is overwhelmingly positive, which is no surprise.
There are 4K/Blu-ray and Blu-ray/DVD versions available, as well as an impressive collector’s edition that comes in a fancy, yet slim box:
That contains a MAD magazine parody of Rick Dalton’s TV series, a vinyl 45 with two songs from the soundtrack and a turntable adapter, and an Operazione Dyn-O-Mite mini poster.
You can probably guess which version I ordered.
Oh, and Best Buy has one of their fancy Steelbooks, as well.
IT: Chapter Two (2019) – Warner Bros. – Seeing this movie was one of the most disappointing theatrical experiences I have ever had. I think the last time I felt so dejected walking out of a movie theater was when I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was so bad it inspired me to start writing online.
I absolutely adored the first movie. It wasn’t perfect, but I found it to be an adaptation that captured the spirit of the novel and the characters in a successful way. I went in not believing that this Andy Muschietti person could possibly please me with his movie version of my favorite Stephen King book. And he did.
The second movie felt to me like it was made by a completely different person who maybe hadn’t even read the book. I was crushed with disappointment. The characters were flat, some of the casting was bad, and the themes of the book that had been captured so well in IT: Chapter One seemed to have been forgotten.
Supposedly Muschietti is putting together a sort of ultimate cut that jumps back and forth between eras like the book did. I think it’s possible that I might find that more satisfying. I’m willing to give it a chance. But until then this is a solid pass for me.
If you, however, enjoyed this second part – and good for you if you did – you can buy it in 4K/Blu-ray, Blu-ray/DVD, or a Best Buy 4K Steelbook.
Twin Peaks: From A to Z (1990-2017) – Paramount Pictures – I feel like I already wrote about this, but maybe not.
This set includes the entire series, Fire Walk With Me, both versions of the pilot, and episode 8 of the Limited Event series. I think it’s all of the Twin Peaks.
The David Lynch TV show, not the kind of gross restaurant.
The Abominable Snowman of the Himalyayas (1957) – Shout Factory – Val Guest directed Peter Cushing and Forrest Tucker in this Hammer classic film about… well, you know.
I watched this when I was much younger and deep into my cryptozoology obsession – probably the late 80s. While I grew up on Hammer Horror, it wasn’t A THING to me yet at that point and I probably wasn’t even aware that it was a thing at all. Heck, I probably didn’t even recognize Grand Moff Tarkin.
Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) – Shout Factory – This reminds me of the first time I ever visited Jekyll Island in Georgia.
I was young enough to be pretty familiar with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as a work of horror, but not old enough to have any sort of grasp on reality. By which I mean I fully expected Jekyll Island to be some sort of Scooby-Doo-esque island of gothic horror with castles, overcast skies, and weirdos running around in top hats.
My disappointment in the reality of just some yuppie beach resort place was far, far greater than your disappointment in me for not having anything to say about this movie because I haven’t seen it.
Stick (1985) – Kino Lorber – While Burt Reynolds and Candice Bergen are the ostensible selling points of this movie you also get George Segal, Charles Durning, and Richard Lawson rounding out one heck of a cast.
Unfortunately, though, Stick is a screenplay by Elmore Leonard based on a novel by Elmore Leonard and if you don’t get Elmore Leonard right, it’s bad. Really bad. And Stick is not good.
It’s not offensively bad and if you catch it on TV at 2 AM I’d say watch it, but if you’ve liked other stuff based on Leonard’s work in the past – Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Be Cool, Justified – and are looking for more, this will not scratch that itch.
The Fly Collection (1958-1989) – Shout Factory – I feel like these films sit in a weird place in horror movie history. All five movies range from good to great and it’s one of the best and most disturbing body horror concepts ever filmed. But they don’t come up in conversation nearly as often as many other franchises.
Could the subject matter be so disturbing and off-putting that, even though we appreciate these films, we are loathe to even think about them?
Whatever the case, Shout Factory is giving their deluxe treatment to the entire franchise in a single box set so that you can enjoy the gruesome discomfort of humans turning into hideous fly creatures any time you want!
Each film includes all-new commentaries and interviews, as well as existing bonus features. Of particular interest to me is a new interview with Mel Brooks, who was an executive producer on Cronenberg’s 1986 version. Brooks is a huge horror fan and has produced many features on the down low. I haven’t seen too many interviews with him on the subject, so that’s a big selling point.
The Nude Bomb (1980) – Kino Lorber – Maxwell Smart returns in this movie that, to be honest, I’ve never seen.
I never got into Get Smart and I think it’s too late now. But I know there are legions of rabid fans out there, so I’m sure this Kino Lorber release will make them happy.
Freaks (2018) – Well Go USA – Emile Hirsch stars in this psychological thriller/possible horror flick about a young girl whose father won’t let her out of the house or even look out the windows. Is he crazy or is there bad, bad shit outside?
My reaction to this information alone would probably have been, “Huh. That sounds intriguing. I might watch it,” but that’s not all – Bruce Dern plays an ice cream man named Mr. Snowcone. Now I have to see this.
IceMan (1984) – Kino Lorber – This sounds like Encino Man, but not funny. Timothy Hutton as Pauly Shore and John Lone as Brendan Fraser with Danny Glover as a guy who might not yet be too old for this shit. I’d watch it for free. But I’d rather watch Encino Man. Where’s Shout Factory with a Pauly Shore collection?
The Peanut Butter Solution (1985) – Severin Films – Check out our pal Devlin’s review of this weird family film here!
The Limits of Control (2009) – Arrow – Sometimes his movies are a bit challenging, but I think Jim Jarmusch is one of the greatest filmmakers of this era. I don’t love everything he does, but I’ve found every single one of his films compelling. The Limits of Control isn’t a favorite, but it’s fascinating in that Jarmusch way. The narrative is about as opaque as his films get, but it has his usual look and dry style. If you’re a fan, you have to check it out.
Terminal Velocity (1994) – Kino Lorber – Charlie Sheen isn’t looked upon in the fondest light these days, but back in the 80s and early 90s he was really, really cool. This movie came at the tail end of his coolness, but with a David Twohy script and co-stars Nastassja Kinski, James Gondolfini, and Mario Van Peebles this movie is very watchable. Or at least, I thought it was twenty-five years ago. I bet it’s still a hum-dinger. How can you go wrong with a movie about a “maverick skydiver” teaming up with a former KGB agent?
Badland (2019) – Cinedigm – Information about this western is scarce, but it stars Trace Adkins, Mira Sorvino, Bruce Dern (it’s Bruce Dern day!), Wes Studi, and Jeff Fahey; which is a pretty interesting cast.
The last time I took a chance on an unknown western it was Bone Tomahawk, so the bar is pretty high.
Other Titles Worth Noting
Along Came the Devil II, The Tombs, A Stranger Among Us, The Wraith (2018), Aces: Iron Eagle III, The Fanatic (2019), Inside Moves, Monos, Fritz Lang’s Indian Epic, The Cotton Club Encore, Until the End of the World
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