Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

Well, this is it, my Physical Medians (yeah, I like that term. I’m sticking with it), the week we’ve all been waiting for. The reason that it’s good that the last few weeks have been sparse; so we could save up for this week.

And since it looks like we’re going to be in our homes through April, we are gonna need a lot of stuff to watch. Please pick these up responsibly, via your online outlet of choice, if you can.

So, let’s dive right into this pool of riches.

Mr. Robot Season 4.0 / The Complete Series (2015 – 2019) “Follows a young computer programmer who suffers from social anxiety disorder and forms connections through hacking. He’s recruited by a mysterious anarchist, who calls himself Mr. Robot.” Well, that’s kinda selling it short, but that is the show in a nutshell. Excellent cast, tight plotting, and twistier than a thing that twists, this show was remarkable. And it had realistic hacking, which is pretty unusual. Check it out.

VFW (2019) “A typical night for a group of war veterans at the local VFW turns into an all-out battle for survival when a teenage girl runs into the bar with a bag of stolen drugs. Suddenly under attack from a gang of punk mutants looking to get back what’s theirs – at any cost – the vets use every weapon they can put together to protect the girl, and their VFW, in the biggest fight of their lives.” Old guys showing that they used to be bad-asses. That catches my interest. Throw in a cast that includes Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, AND Fred Williamson, this becomes a must-watch for me.

Munster, Go Home! (1966) “The laughs begin when Herman moves the family to an English estate he inherited.” Some people prefer The Addams Family (I love them both), but The Munsters did beat them to the silver screen with this gem. It’s fun, it’s kitch, and if you’re a fan of the show, you need this Blu-Ray, which also includes 1981’s The Munsters’ Revenge!

Bones (2001) “The time is 1979. Jimmy Bones (Snoop Dogg) is respected and loved as the neighborhood protector. When he is betrayed and brutally murdered by corrupt cop Lupovich (Michael T. Weiss), Bones’ elegant brownstone becomes his tomb. Twenty-two years later, the neighborhood has become a ghetto and his home a gothic ruin. Four teens renovate it as an after hours nightclub, unknowingly releasing Jimmy’s tortured spirit. Its thrills and chills as blood spills when Jimmy’s ghost sets about its frightful revenge, his killers unaware of the gruesome fate that awaits them. With each new victim the terror mounts and Bones’ vengeance spins out of control threatening everyone in his path, including his former lover Pearl (Pam Grier).” I will never understand how Blu-Ray chooses between nearly empty gists and “here’s the Wiki entry” sized ones. Anyway, this is a cool little flick that went for the 70s Blaxploitation Horror feel, and did a decent job of it. Well worth a look.

Deadline (1984) “A screenwriter begins to lose the ability to distinguish between his fantasies and reality, with disastrous results. As he thinks about what this could mean, his wife and his children begin to worry if he’s become insane.” So, it’s the story of every writer, everywhere? Interesting idea. Has a nice shine to it.

Ringu Collection (1998 – 2000) “A mysterious video has been linked to a number of deaths, and when an inquisitive journalist finds the tape and views it herself, she sets in motion a chain of events that puts her own life in danger.” A collection of the four Japanese horror films that kicked off a new era of horror there, and in the States: Ringu, Spiral, Ringu 2 & Ring 0. Lovingly put together by the fine folks at Arrow Video, with all new 4K scans and a well-th of special features.

And now, for the main event . . .

Star Wars, Star Wars and more Star Wars (1977 – 2019) “Nineteen years after the formation of the Galactic Empire, young Luke Skywalker is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begins Luke’s Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Galactic Empire.” Every Star Wars movie, from the originals, to the prequels, the new movies and the two “Stories” (with Rogue One finally getting a 4K release), all out in Blu-Ray, 4K, and Best Buy Steelbooks.

If you didn’t already have them (but I’m guessing most of you already do), you can now collect them all in High Def, either individually, or . . .

Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (1977 – 2019) “This collection features the wonder of the entire Star Wars saga, capturing the moments from a young Anakin Skywalker’s descent into the dark side to the rise of the Resistance and their struggle to restore peace in the galaxy. The story that electrified a generation comes to a striking conclusion.” A Best Buy exclusive, this bad boy will set you back $250. However, you get all nine movies of the core Saga on Blu, 4K, & digital; some very fancy packaging with beautiful art & behind the scenes pics; a sail-barge sized collection of special features, including a documentary on the making of The Phantom Menace; and a letter from Mark Freaking Hamill. If you’ve been holding out to get everything at once, or are a nut for special features, these are the discs you’re looking for . . . unless your only hope is the un-special editions. In that case, you’re gonna have to see if some Internet based Bothans can hook you up.

Other titles of note: Hellriders (1984), Hollywood Horror House (1970) Eat, Brains, Love (2019), Malabimba (1979) (Nunsploitation Horror!)

Let me know if I am a Disney Shill for mentioning the Star Wars stuff, which of these are a must-buy for you, which are a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

We’re in thin territory once more this week, my physical medians…I’m not sure that I should keep that nickname for you all…anyway, yeah, there’s not a lot this week. Which is good in that it encourages you to stay home in this time of the plague, but it’s bad as you need more stuff to watch while you responsibly stay home, and get these delivered! So, let’s jump right in.

Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) “A more psychological telling of the Mary Shelley story has a different kind of monster…” Another personal favorite, this was a more “grounded” retelling of the Mary Shelly classic, and truer to the novel than most other previous productions. It was produced for TV as a two-night mini-series (back when that was a thing, and before Netflix seems to have taken over this entertainment job), and it’s solid. The cast includes Leonard Whiting (Victor), Michael Sarrazin (the Creature), Jane Seymour, David McCallum, and James Freaking Mason. Oh, and Tom Baker in a bit part. Yet another great Scream Factory release, with a fantastic painted cover by Rondo Award Winning artist Mark Maddox. This is a must-buy for classic horror fans.

Doctor Who: Sylvester McCoy: Complete Season Three (1989) “In 1963 an old fashioned Police Call Box sat in a junk yard at 76 Totters Lane. An old man out and about exploring. A young girl wise beyond her years attending Coal Hill School. Two teachers become suspicious. Barbara and Ian suspect the girl is in trouble. They follow her home. The girl, Susan Foreman, vanishes into the junkyard. Barbara and Ian investigate. They discovered the Police Box. “It’s alive!” says Ian, he feels a faint vibration coming from within. The girls grandfather returns. He confronts the two teachers who accuse him of holding the girl inside the Police Box. They hear her call out to him from inside. Barbara and Ian push their way in and discover a world they never thought possible.” Ok Blu-Ray.com, I swear, I really am available for writing these gists for you. Don’t let that description, or the title of this set, fool you. This is the 26th (and final) season of the Classic Who era, and it’s a solid set of stories: Battlefield, Ghost Light, The Curse of Fenric & Survival. If you’re an old-school Whovian, you definitely need these Blu-Rays in your collection.

The Grudge (2020) “A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that curses those who enter it with a violent death.” Is this a quick release? It feels like a quick release, it was only out in January. Anyway, I feel like I’m one of the few people that liked this movie (see my review), and that’s sad. Hopefully it will find it’s audience now on Blu, 4K, and a steelbook from some website called Zavvi, but it’s region B, and I don’t have a region-free player, so I’ll probably just get the 4K.

April Fool’s Day (1986) “When Muffy St. John invited her college friends up to her parents’ secluded island home for the time of their lives, she just forgot to tell them it just might be the last time of their lives. As soon as the kids arrive on the island, someone starts trimming the guest list…one murder at a time. And what starts out as a weekend of harmless “April Fool’s Day” pranks turns into a bloody battle for survival.” Think Clue meets Friday the 13th. This is actually a very fun and clever horror-comedy that pokes a little fun at the “holiday themed” slasher flicks, and it’s a favorite of mine. This one is getting the patented Scream Factory Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray treatment, plus, it has Thomas F. Wilson, aka Biff Tannen himself, so you if you enjoy 80s horror, or horror with a sense of humor, you should check it out.

Come to Daddy (2019) “A man in his thirties travels to a remote cabin to reconnect with his estranged father.” I don’t know anything about this, but it looks like a horror/thriller with Elijah Wood sporting a very weird mustache on the cover. Hey, I said pickings were slim this week. I wasn’t kidding.

The Wizard (1989) “A boy and his brother run away from home and hitch cross country with the help of a girl they meet to compete in the ultimate video game championship.” AKA, a 100 minute advertisement for the Nintendo Power Glove. Ok, ok, calm down. Yes, this is a cult movie with a nice following, mostly of NES kids, but I was never a fan. Probably because I never had a NES growing up. Yeah, really. Anyway, this is a new (say it with me now) patented Scream Factory Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray. Which the movie needed, as the previous release looked terrible. This Blu is based on a recent 4K scan of the print, so if you love this movie, you should get this release (insert power up video game joke here).

1917 (2019) “At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield and Blake, are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers, with Blake’s own brother among them.” Ok, yes, this is not a genre movie. But it’s an amazing feat of cinematic technique, has a compelling story, and is about an era that we do not get a lot of movies about, World War One. It’s intense, moving, stuffed to the gills with British genre film actors, an absolute spectacle, and you should absolutely watch it. And, again, not much else is out this week. Available on Blu, 4K, and in a Best Buy exclusive Steelbook.

Other titles of note: um, there’s a movie called Cabal, about an assassin vs a serial killer…and that’s pretty much it. Thin damn week, my medians!

Let me know if I should keep with that nickname for you all, which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

Thankfully, we have a nice selection of new releases, as those who can, should be staying home. Hopefully you’re shopping online instead of vising the stores in person. So let’s see what we can catch up on while waiting for the all-clear.

Superman: Red Son “What if baby Kal-El’s rocket landed, not in Kansas, but in the Soviet Union? That is the premise of this Elseworld’s tale from DC Comics.” That pretty much says it all, really. Based on the comic by Mark Millar, we get interesting Soviet takes on various DC characters, and it’s considered one of the best Elseworld’s stories. I thought it was ok, but I want to know what Superman Expert Michael Bailey thinks of this one. It’s coming out on 4K, Blu-Ray, a Target Exclusive Steelbook, and a Best Buy exclusive with a cool looking action figure.

Cannibal Apocalypse (aka Cannibals in the Streets) (1980) “It starts off in Vietnam where Norman Hopper gets bitten by P.O.W. Charlie Bukowski who has been infected with some sort of cannibal virus. A few decades later in Atlanta, Georgia, Hopper wakes up from a nightmare flashback of what actually happened back in ‘Nam. Hopper then receives a call from Bukowski asking him if he wants to go out for a drink but Hopper refuses remembering the incident in ‘Nam. Bukowski has turned into a cannibal and is soon on the run after biting into a woman’s neck. He barricades himself in a department store and shoots some folks with a shotgun. The cannibal virus spreads and soon Hopper joins veterans Bukowski and Tom Thompson along with some others to wreak some havoc…” It’s an 80s sort-of zombie movie staring the B-Movie icon John ever-lovin’ Saxon. I’m totally here for this.

Jumanji: The Next Level “A team of friends return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own but discover that nothing is as they expect. The players need to brave parts unknown, from arid deserts to snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game.” I still haven’t seen either of these (don’t @ me, I’m busy, and they’re on my list), but I hear that they’re very good. This is getting the 4K, Blu-Ray and Best Buy exclusive Steelbook, including a two-movie combo set.

Tom & Jerry: Golden Collection, Volume One (1940 – 2005) “A series of theatrical animated cartoon films created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, centering on a never-ending rivalry between a cat (Tom) and a mouse (Jerry) whose chases and battles often involved comic violence.” Honestly, some of the best cartoons ever made. Some have bits that, shall we say, have not aged well, but these were a staple of my childhood, and a lot of it still holds up. If you’re any kind of fan of classic animation, you need this Blu-Ray in your collection.

Black Christmas (2019) “A group of students are stalked by a stranger during their Christmas break. A remake of the 1974 horror film ‘Black Christmas’.” This is actually the second remake of the ’74 horror classic, and from what I hear, it’s not great. Go rewatch the original.

Hard Hunted (1992) “An international criminal with plans for world domination will stop at nothing in order to get his hands on a nuclear weapon trigger.” Ryan Cadaver‘s (unknowing) pick of the week! A movie by B-Grade Action Maestro Andy Sidaris, who gave us Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Malibu Express, Picaso Trigger, and a few others. If you love your action movies with tons of 80s cheese, boobs, bullets, blood, and general mayhem, you should definitely check this out. Pick it up with his other release this week, Fit to Kill (1993), and have a blow-out double-feature!

Abigail “A young girl Abigail lives in a city whose borders were closed many years ago because of an epidemic of a mysterious disease. Abby’s father was one of the sick – and he was taken when she was six years old. Going against the authorities to find her father, Abby learns that her city is actually full of magic. And she discovers in herself extraordinary magical abilities.” Magic, steampunk, and an unfortunate case of bad timing (or would it be a case of good timing?) by having a plot-line involving a pandemic. Looks interesting, in a SyFy Original kind of way.

Candy Corn “On Halloween eve, local outcast, Jacob Atkins, is carelessly murdered. A vagabond carnie named Dr. Death, takes matters into his own hands, bringing Jacob back from the dead to creatively seek brutal revenge on his killers.” The cover is nice and spooky looking, and who doesn’t love an evil carnival? Plus, it has Tony Todd, so it should be worth a look.

Other titles of note: Force 10 from Navarone (1978), The Quest (1986), Ultraman Orb: The Movie – Lend Me the Power of Bonds! (2017), Ultraman Geed: The Movie – Connect the Wishes! (2018), The Dustwalkers, Nefarious

Not a bad collection of stuff, and maybe now that I’ll be spending more time at home, I’ll see why people like this video game movie with the Rock so much, when they had no time for his work as Sarge in DOOM!

Let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

March continues to be pretty slim when it comes to the pickings, so let’s get into this.

Beauty and the Beast (Animated & Live Action) The animated gist: “In a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Belle, a bright and beautiful young woman, finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books. Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.” Live action gist: “Disney’s live-action version of their animated classic of the same name.” So Blu-Ray.com seems to have either an over-abundance, or a complete dearth when it comes to the gist department. Wild. Either way, you know these movies, and probably love both, love one and tolerate one, or love one and hate the other, based on what I’ve seen online.

Either way, both are getting released in new 4K editions, the obligatory Best Buy exclusive Steelbook, and a Walmart exclusive with a disk of new extras.

The Ten Commandments (1923 & 1956) Do you really need the gist? Ok: “The life of Moses and his leading of the Israelites to the Promised Land.” I find this release interesting as it contains both the original, and the remake, both by legendary director Cecil B. DeMille. The original is fascinating, though usually only sought out by die hard fans of silent cinema. The remake, however, is a legitimate classic of old Hollywood. It helped define the term “Epic” in regards to movies; it is one of the movies that cemented Chuck Heston as a legend; it gave us Yul Brynner’s dry delivery of the line “Moses, Moses, Moses…” which lives in my head forever; and if you are wondering why I’m including it here, well Edward G. Robinson as an ancient Egyptian is the definition of something being a fantasy. Seriously, though, it’s a really good movie, and if you’ve not seen it, you should check it out. Sadly, this is only a Blu release, and doesn’t seem to be getting the 4K treatment, which it really deserves.

Charlie’s Angels (2019) The gist: “Reboot of the 2000 action comedy based on the 1970’s TV series.” Another movie that I feel was unfairly maligned when it was released. It was fun, light, had cool action sequences, and Patrick Steward obviously having a grand time with the Bosley part. In fact, all of the cast were great, especially Kristen Stewart (yes, you read that right), and I had a good time with it. I remain hopeful that it will find its audience at home, and that we get a sequel. Pick it up on Blu or 4K.

Spies in Disguise The gist: “Lance and Walter. One is a super cool and charming spy, and the other invents the super cool gadgets Lance uses. When an event happens, they must learn to rely on each other like never before in order to save the world.” Yeah, the CGI flick where Will Smith is turned into a pigeon by Tom Holland. I didn’t see it, but I hear that it was ok. It gets the standard Blu, 4K and the Best Buy Steelbook treatment.

Bug (1975) The gist: “Legendary horror writer-producer-director William Castle presents a creeping, crawling film nightmare that will have you screaming and squirming with fright! A massive earth tremor opens a deep crevasse in the California desert, releasing a bizarre, fiery, deadly breed of foot-long cockroaches. With their numbers multiplying and the death toll mounting, obsessive entomologist Bradford Dillman desperately seeks a way to eliminate the seemingly indestructible critters before they spread clear across the country… and beyond!” Another cheesy horror “classic” by B-Movie legend William Castle, brought to us by the fine folks at Scream Factory. I had to share this just for that poster, with the foot long, flaming cockroach! Ewww!!!

Other titles of note: A Quiet Place (Mondo Exclusive Steelbook Blu/4K set), Inseminoid (1981), Luz (2018), The Assent

So, yeah, once more there’s not a lot coming out this week. This means you can save up for next week, or pick up anything you missed that came out earlier. Either way, let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

March is starting off with a pretty thin week, but there are a few things in here that people should enjoy, so let’s get right into it!

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World The gist: “As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.” I have a lot of friends who are big fans of this series. Personally, I’ve never watched them. I’m not opposed to them, they’ve just never hit my “I gotta check this out” threshold. There’s a lot of stuff out there to watch, people.

Impossible Monsters The gist: “An ambitious professor becomes caught up in the murder of a participant in his sleep study, as the lines between dreams and reality blur.” Ever since Dreamscape, and that series with the guy in the Christmas sweater, I’ve been a fan of movies where dreams and reality blur. This has Dennis Boutsikaris, whom I like, so I’ll probably check it out.

Pixar Pile! A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Monsters University, Up, & Wall•E You have to have been living under a rock to need the gist on any of these movies. This is the latest batch of Pixar flicks to get upgraded for the new video standard, and I’m sure they’ll look great. They’re on Blu, 4K and some very cool looking exclusive to Best Buy Steelbooks.

Verotika The gist: “Glenn Danzig’s directorial debut, is a horror anthology that compiles stories from Danzig’s line of comic books of the same name. Stories which focus on horror content that’s often sexual and violent in nature, usually featuring scantily-clad female protagonists.” As a punk/metal fan, I respect the hell out of Glenn Danzig. I’ll pay attention to anything he releases. So I tried his comic series when it came out, and it was . . . ok.

I’ve been interested in this flick since I heard it was being made, and to say that the reviews have not been kind would be putting it mildly. I’m not going to join the pile-on, as I haven’t seen it yet, but the trailer . . . um, it does not make it look like the reviews are being unfair. Still, as I said, I respect Glenn, I like independent horror, and love low-budget cheese horror. So I am going to check this out, but I will be renting before I buy.

The Sonata (2018) The gist: “No synopsis for The Sonata.” I swear, Blu-Ray.com, I’m open for this gist-writing job! Per IMDB (which I may have to swap to for gists) “A gifted musician inherits a mansion after her long lost father dies under mysterious circumstances. She discovers his last musical masterpiece riddled with cryptic symbols that unravels an evil secret.” I get a very strong “The Music of Erich Zann” by HPL off of the cover and description, and I love when people pair music and horror. Plus, it has the late Rutger Hauer, so I will definitely be giving this a listen. Er, look. Um, both.

Other titles of note: Titans: The Complete Second Season, Sergio Leone Westerns (A Fistful of Dollars / For A Few Dollars More / The Good The Bad and the Ugly / Once Upon a Time in the West / A Fistful of Dynamite), Radioflash, Trolls (2016)

So, as I said up front, there’s not a whole lot of new stuff out this week, but there are a few things worth checking out or upgrading in your collection. Let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

And boy, we have a lot this week to make up the lack of cool stuff over the last two weeks! So let’s get right into it!

Knives Out The gist: “A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.” Say what you will about Rain Johnson, (and boy howdy, will the internet not stop saying things about him), the guy knows how to make a mystery. This movie has a rock-star cast, excellent flow, great characters, a tight plot, and was a high point of last year. Well worth buying, it’s out in Blu, 4K, and the usual Best Buy exclusive Steelbook.

Pet Sematary Two (1992) The gist: “The “sematary” is up to its old zombie-raising tricks again. This time, the protagonists are Jeff Matthews, whose mother died in a Hollywood stage accident, and Drew Gilbert, a boy coping with an abusive stepfather.” Poor Edward Furlong just couldn’t catch a break after T2. I mean, the movies he did afterwards weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. He got more heat than he deserved, to be fair, as it wasn’t totally his fault the movies weren’t the greatest. This one is an ok sequel, and also has Clancy Brown chewing on the scenery, so it’s worth a look. Especially as it’s getting the patented Scream Factory Collector’s Edition treatment.

Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre All the Craig Bond movies are getting a nice Blu-Ray and 4K re-release. It’s almost like there’s a new one about to come out. And you don’t need the gist of them from me. Casino is the best, and I can take or leave the others.

Xtro 3: Watch the Skies (1995) The gist “Marines travel to a deserted island to diffuse bombs, only to be terrorized by an alien.” They made three of these crappy flicks? Ah well, this Blu is coming from Vinegar Syndrome in a regular and special edition limited to 2,000 copies. So, get it while it’s hot?

Frozen II The gist “Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf are going far in the forest to know the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom.” Look, I know “Let it Go” is the overplayed hit of 2013, but that’s because it was damn good. And while this movie doesn’t have a breakaway pop hit like that, it’s still a decent movie. There have been a lot of worse Disney sequels. It’s out in Blu, 4K and the obligatory Best Buy Steelbook.

Reigo, the Deep-Sea Monster vs. the Battleship Yamato (2005) The gist “The film, set in World War II, depicts the story of the real-life Japanese battleship, the Yamato, which is confronted in the Pacific Ocean by giant monsters, including the most fearsome of them all, Reigo.” You had me at Kaiju vs Yamato.

Raiga: God of the Monsters (2009) The gist “A giant monster surfaces from the sea among others, and attacks Japan.” Per Wikipedia, this is the sequel to Regio there, and “features a more traditional Godzilla-like kaiju“. So, once more, I’m in.

Better Off Dead (1985) The gist “Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: “Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car.” Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother’s terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life – to get his old girlfriend back!” To me, there are two directors that defined teen comedies in the 80’s. The first is John Huges. The second, (who I actually like a little more, if you make be pick between them), is Savage Steve Holland. His movies are cutting, subversive, hilarious and just bonkers. This is one of his best, and has a powerhouse cast of John Cusack, David Ogden Stiers, Kim Darby, Curtis Armstrong, and Diane Franklin. This edition is a FYE exclusive Steelbook, and I will definitely be picking it up.

One Missed Call Trilogy The gist “No synopsis for One Missed Call Trilogy” Again, Blu-Ray.com, I’m available, if you’re hiring. Anyway, this set is from Arrow Video, and collects the Japanese originals, not the terrible American remake. The first is actually by Takashi Miike, so it’s worth a look.

The Hunt for Red October (1990) The gist “A new, technologically-superior Soviet sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Marko Ramius. The U.S. government thinks Ramius is planning to attack, but C.I.A. analyst Jack Ryan has a different idea. He thinks Ramius is planning to defect, but he has only a few hours to find him and prove it, because the Russian naval and air forces are trying to find him, too.” The last Cold War movie; a fantastic Sean Connery movie, the best Jack Ryan movie (sorry, Harrison), and probably the best adaptation of a Tom Clancy book, this techno-thriller is an absolute classic. Solid cast, still effective FX, and it’s about time it got a nice 4K release, in a cool Steelbook, no less. One ping, and one ping only.

Color Out of Space The gist “After a meteorite lands in the front yard of their farm, Nathan Gardner and his family find themselves battling a mutant extraterrestrial organism that infects their minds and bodies, transforming their quiet rural life into a technicolor nightmare.” Go read my review here!

Stop Making Sense (1984) The gist “The famous concert movie by rock band Talking Heads, filmed over three nights in 1983 at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood.” Ok, yes, this isn’t exactly a genre film, but it put Jonathan Demme on the map as a filmmaker, and through this movie and their videos, Talking Heads defined a large part of the look and sound of the 80’s. David Byrne is having a bit of a renaissance repurposing this music with his American Utoipa project, so you should check out where it all started.

Other titles of note: Return of Ultraman (1971), Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2016), Zombie Island Massacre (1984), Code 8 (This stars the Amell cousins!), Zombeavers (2014), After We Leave, Gappa: The Triphibian Monster (1967), Spookies (1986), Flesh Eating Mothers (1988), Hollywood Horror House (1970), Paris Is Burning (1990)

Whew! As I said, there is a lot out this week! What a way to close out February. Let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

We have another pretty thin week this week, but it is February, so I supposed it’s to be expected. So let’s hop right into it!

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood The gist: “The story of Fred Rogers, the honored host and creator of the popular children’s television program, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” Not so much a bio-pic of Mr. Rogers (That would be “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”), this movie is more about the effect Mr. Rogers had on people, by way of his relationship with a reporter assigned to do a puff piece on the beloved figure. Inspired by a true story (“Can You Say…Hero” By Tom Junod), powered by a spectacular performance by Tom Hanks, this movie warmed even my black, cynical heart. Just as Mr. Rogers would have wanted. Don’t watch without tissues handy.

And if you don’t think this belongs in a list of genre movies, then you’ve obviously never visited the Land of Make-Believe.

Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1 The gist: “There were several masters of animation during Hollywood’s golden era. Of the top two geniuses, one created elaborate fairy tales and ornate feature-length fantasias — the other guy was Tex Avery. He just wanted to make you laugh. After helping develop Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny for Warner Bros., Avery moved to MGM in 1941 to create a set of comedy masterpieces that defined a new slapstick style for animation.” Tex Avery is a legit legend of animation and comedy. Droopy Dog alone would cement his legacy. He had a distinctive style, a sense of the absurd, and was a pioneer of how far you can push a story and the medium in animation. I will absolutely be picking this up, and so should you.

21 Bridges The gist: “A disgraced detective in the NYPD is given a shot at redemption.” Once more, I gotta wonder who’s writing these blurbs for the website, because this is not a correct gist. Chadwick Boseman is a respected cop who’s pulled in to investigate a police shooting where more is going on than it seems. It has quite a few connections to the MCU, in front of and behind the camera, and it’s a good action/thriller.

Star Blazers 2199: Space Battleship Yamato – The Complete Series (2012) The gist: “No synopsis for Star Blazers 2199: Space Battleship Yamato – The Complete Series.” I swear, I should see if they’re hiring for a blurb writer. It’s the remake series of Star Blazers, aka Space Battleship Yamato depending on which side of the Pacific you live on. I haven’t seen this version, but as a kid I lived for the adventures of Wildstar and the crew of the Argo in their quest to defeat Deslok’s plan to destroy the Earth, so I will probably be checking this out.

The Twilight Zone: Season 1 (2019) The gist: “An updated version of the classic TV series featuring various tales of science fiction, horror and mystery.” One of the non-Star Trek reasons to get CBS All Access, this new series was overseen by Jordan Peele and has mixed reviews. I watched the first episode, and thought it was decent, but also that it was a 30 minute story stretched to 60 minutes. I keep meaning to go back and check out the rest of the season, but life keeps throwing other things in my queue. One day…

Jojo Rabbit The gist: “A young boy in Hitler’s army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.” Again, this gist does not capture the spirit of the movie. Jojo Rabbit is funny, smart, touching, heartbreaking, uplifting, and simply one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It covers growing up, family, war, hate, love, hope and so much more. And, again, it’s funny without being silly, serious and poignant when called for, has masterful performances by an amazing cast, got Taika Waititi a well-earned Oscar, and as I said before, it’s my pick for the best movie of 2019. A must-buy. If you haven’t seen it, fix that ASAP.

Other titles of note: Rasputin: The Mad Monk, X The Unknown, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: The Complete Series, Avatar – The Last Airbender: The Complete Series, Mandy (Steelbook release on 2/19)

Again, not a whole lot, but what is there is really damn good! Let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!

Welcome back to the latest episode of Slipped Discs, where I give you a head’s up on what nerdy stuff is available to come home with you, because I still believe in physical media!

Once more, all this information comes from Blu-Ray.com, but they list everything that will be in the stores, whereas I shall provide you with what I feel is the interesting genre fare.

There’s not really a lot of new stuff out this week, except Ford vs. Ferrari, but as that’s not a genre flick, we shall move on to . . .

My Bloody Valentine (1981) The gist: “Twenty years ago in the sleepy mining town of Valentine Bluffs, a fatal mining disaster occurred on Valentine’s Day while key members of the crew were decorating for a party. The sole survivor of the accident killed the absentee crew members and warned the town never to have another Valentine’s Day celebration. When a group of teenagers decides that the the town has gone without a party long enough and begin planning one, a murderous maniac in mining gear begins dispatching townsfolk in bloody and creative ways.” An icon of the 80’s slasher era, this movie has some fun twists, inventive kills and a decent mystery. Old school horror fans should check out this Scream Factory Collector’s Edition Blu.

Swamp Thing: The Complete Series The gist: “Abby Arcane returns home to Marais, Louisiana, to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, where she develops a bond with disgraced scientist Alec Holland. After Holland tragically dies, Abby discovers the mysteries of the swamp and that Holland may not be dead after all.” The DC Universe series comes to Blu-Ray, and will hopefully pick up the following it deserved. I’ve been a fan of Swamp Thing since the Wes Craven movie, then in the legendary comics run by Alan Moore, which heavily influenced this series. It’s a shame we probably won’t get a second season, but at least we have these episodes to enjoy.

Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga (2017) The gist: “A spin-off to the TV series Ultraman Orb, the prequel introduces the characters Gai Kurenai and Jugglus Juggler, who, legend has it, once fought for the same power.” As an 80’s kid, I loved the original ’66 Ultraman series. Watching the Science Patrol fight various giant monsters, until Hayata finally decided it was time for Ultraman to kick butt just hit all my buttons. This set is apparently a prequel series to a follow-up series, but as long as a guy in silver spandex beats up guys in monster suits, I’m in!

Rambo 5-Film Collection (1982 – 2019) Oh, come on, you don’t need me to give you the gist on this one. Five movies, one great, two good, and two less than good, you already know if you need these Blu-Rays or not.

Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) The gist “Two reporters travel to a strange castle in Transylvania to investigate the apparent reappearance of Frankenstein, and encounter such kooky creatures as the sensitive Wolfman, the horny Vampiress Odette, as well as a whole cast of other weirdos.” The first of two vintage era Goldblum movies being released, this one is a horror spoof in the same vein as “Saturday the 14th“. It’s cheesy, it’s a very 80’s spoof comedy, some of it holds up, some of it doesn’t, and now you can have it on Blu-Ray.

Vibes (1988) The gist: “Psychics Sylvia Pickel and Nick Deezy are hired by a mysterious man to find an ancient treasure in South America. As they trek through Ecuador, their supernatural skills lead them straight into danger, disaster and romance. When the ancient ruins unleash an evil paranormal power, Sylvia and Nick must join psychic forces to save the world.” Our second early-installment weirdness Goldblum, this time teamed with the lovely Cyndi Lauper, and Steve Buscemi as a bonus! This is Goldblum at his young and still kinda twitchy best, and he has great chemistry with Cyndi as two very different kinds of psychics. It’s a very fun romp that was sadly not appreciated at the time. Blu-Ray only, sadly, but it is in one of those faux-VHS slipcases, which is fun.

Robocop (1987) Again, do you really need the gist? Ok: “In the not-too-distant future, a newly transfered Detroit police officer is remade into an indestructible cybernetic cop after being dismembered by a gang of thugs in an abandoned warehouse. Reborn as RoboCop he is programmed to serve and protect the citizens of Detroit and eliminate the rampant crime in the city streets so that a massive city-wide reconstruction project can get under way.” You know it, you love it, and you probably already own it. But this is another special edition from the fine folks at Arrow Video. This is the regular release non-Steelbook edition. That release has been tempting me at Best Buy for a few weeks now, as it has three different cuts of the movie, and all kinds of extras. In fact, I’d only get the version coming out on the 11th if you can’t find the other release, or just only want/need the theatrical cut of the film.

Hudson Hawk (1991) The gist: “Eddie “The Hawk” Hawkins, the world’s most famous cat burglar, who, after 10 years in prison, is ready to go straight. But it’s not going to be easy. The mob and the CIA have conspired to blackmail Eddie and his partner into stealing three da Vinci masterpieces from the most heavily-guarded museums in the world.” Or would you rather swing upon a star? Yes, the movie that almost killed Bruce Willis’ career, now on Blu. It’s stock with the public has gone up as the years have passed, but it’s still . . . a movie that I have seen.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable – Chapter 1 (2017) The gist: “A teen gifted with supernatural power discovers the truth behind his cursed and bizarre bloodline, and the evil that lurks within his town.” A live action version of the (I wanna say cult, but is it really cult?) anime, from what I have heard, this movie captures the truly outlandish and, um, bizarre, feel of the original. I haven’t seen it, but I had to include it, just for that title alone.

Heartbeeps (1981) The gist: “Two household robots run away and try to start a family.” Oh, it’s so much weirder than that. One of Andy Kaufman’s few movie roles, he and Bernadette Peters wear innovative makeup (which nearly won Stan Winston the first ever Oscar given out for Best Makeup, but he lost to An American Werewolf in London) that turned them into robots (think the video for Winnona’s Big Brown Beaver by Primus), and I tell you, it’s strange. Even for an 80’s movie, man is it strange. I always expected it to become a cult hit, especially as it’s Kaufman’s final role, but it was too oddball, or maybe not quite oddball enough, for that fate. Anyway, it’s out on Blu, if you’re curious.

Hanukkah (2020) Oh man, strap in for this gist: “Obediah Lazarus is the son of Judah Lazarus, the original Hanukiller. In 1983, Judah terrorized NY for seven nights and was preparing to sacrifice his eight-year-old son, Obediah, on the eighth night. Judah was convinced it was God’s will, like Abraham and Isaac, to sacrifice his only son to God. Luckily for Obediah, police tracked Judah down and stopped the sacrifice, but Judah was gunned down in the process. Warped by hatred with no guidance, Obediah Lazarus becomes a religious extremist, intolerant of non-Jews, “bad Jews”, and those he perceives to be enemies of the Jewish faith. He is about to unleash eight nights of horror. A group of Jewish teens are getting ready to party for the holidays, but are in for a Festival of Frights. With the help of a wise Rabbi, they deduce that the murder victims have violated Judaic law and that their only chance at survival is to embrace their faith.” It’s about time that Hanukkah got the Silent Night, Deadly Night & Black Christmas treatment. From the tagline “From Dreidel to the Grave“, to a cast including Sid Mutha-lovin Haig and Tim Miller, the secondary tag line “Prepare for a Festival of Frights“, and the sheer chutzpah of the film makers for even doing this, I have got to give it props and check it out. It is being released in a regular Blu as well as a special edition (no word on the differences between the two), I think it will sit quite nicely next to my copy of “The Hebrew Hammer.”

Other titles of note: Shutter Island, Terror Firmer, Game of Thrones: The Complete Eighth Season, John Wick Chapters 1 – 3 Combo Pack, When a Stranger Calls, Grave of the Fireflies

That’s a lot of stuff out this week! Let me know which of these are a must-buy for you, a pass, or which ones I missed!