Catalog Of Blu-ray Releases: January 2012

January 12, 2012     

Welcome to my monthly column that shines the light on older and, in some cases, classic films that are making their way to the high definition video format known as Blu-ray for the first time. Many of these titles don’t receive the same amount of fanfare reserved for the glut of newer films crowding the marketplace and my purpose here is to clue film fans in to the great releases you might miss. Without further introductions here is a look at what you will find coming your way on Blu-ray this month.

The 1971 Academy Award winner for best documentary feature, The Hellstrom Chronicle, will be getting the hi definition treatment, courtesy of Olive Films and I, for one, could not be happier. This fascinating film, which depicts what might happen should insects come to rule the planet someday, has never gotten a proper release on video until now. It was briefly released in the early 80s by Columbia Pictures home video and then quickly withdrawn. The film is filled with incredible micro photography, giving the viewer a glimpse of the insect world in a way that has rarely been surpassed. If you haven’t seen this terrific film, there is no better time than now. It is well worth seeking out.

Warner Brothers will be releasing several triple feature collections on Blu-ray in January. Among them are a collection of Steven Segal films featuring, Above the Law, Under Siege and Under Siege 2, a collection of westerns featuring, The Wild Bunch, How the West Was Won, and The Searchers, and, finally, a collection of disaster films featuring, Poseidon, Twister, and The Perfect Storm. Three films for the price of one Blu-ray is definitely not a bad deal. Speaking of Warners, the company will also be releasing a box set of classic cartoons entitled The Looney Tunes Showcase, for those interested, and the 1992 Spike Lee directed biopic, Malcolm X, which features a fantastic performance by Denzel Washington in the lead.

Starz/Anchor Bay has signed an agreement with 20th Century Fox, allowing the company to release some of the studio’s older product. They released Nine Months (1995) back in December and in January will be releasing the 1986 Matthew Broderick comedy, Project X and the 1991 John Hughes project, Dutch, which stars Ed O’Neil. They will also release the excellent 1991 ensemble drama, Grand Canyon, as well. That one is directed by Empire Strikes Back/Return of the Jedi/Raiders of the Lost Ark screenwriter, Lawrence Kasdan, and is, in my opinion, one of the best dramas of the last twenty years.

Speaking of 20th Century Fox, the studio will be releasing several films on its own label during the month of January. Four of these films, the Woody Allen classics, Annie Hall and Manhattan, along with the Hitchcock classics, Notorious and Rebecca, are from the MGM/UA library, which the company controls the rights to. They will also be issuing the Farrelly Brothers directed comedy, Shallow Hal, as well.

Actor/comic Robin Williams seemingly could do no wrong in the late 80s and two of his most well received films from that period, Dead Poets Society and Good Morning Vietnam, will be issued on Blu-ray by Disney during the month of January. 

Manhattan: Woody Allen & Diane Keaton

Lionsgate entertainment now controls the video rights to the Miramax catalogue and will continue their pattern of releasing the company’s classic titles during the month of January. The month’s releases include two from the late writer/director Anthony Minghella, Cold Mountain and The English Patient. They will also issue the 1998 Oscar winner for best picture, Shakespeare in Love.

The Criterion company will continue its pattern of releasing critically acclaimed films on the Blu-ray format. The month’s releases include the Oscar winner from 2000, Traffic, the original 1954 Japanese language version of Godzilla (Gojira), and Luis Bunuel’s classic tale of a call girl, Belle De Jour, which stars Catherine Deneuve in the title role.

Briefly, Image will be issuing several notable comedies from the Sony pictures catalogue. These include the Jackie Gleason films, The Toy and Nothing in Common, the Richard Pryor-Gene Wilder comedy classic, Stir Crazy, the 2003 Oscar winner, Adaptation, and the 1981 military comedy, Stripes. Finally, Universal will be issuing a fiftieth anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird, while Paramount is  releasing the 1927 Best Picture winner, Wings, complete with a brand new digital transfer and  surround sound soundtrack.

That’s it for this month’s Blu-ray report. I’ll be back next week with a regular column.

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