NOW IN THEATERS:
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (***) The eighth, and presumably final, entry in the nearly thirty year old franchise is one of the least in the series. Still, it’s miles ahead of what passes for cinematic entertainment these days which should be no surprise. That’s due to star Tom Cruise’s commitment to verisimilitude and insistence on doing his own stunts. The first hour of the film is a bit of a chore to sit through due to tons of expository dialogue that moves in fits and starts. Things pick up when Cruise’s Ethan Hunt character finds himself on a sinking sub in the second hour. The best is saved for the last fifty minutes as Hunt dangles from several planes attempting to retrieve a device that will stop the AI entity that was introduced in the previous film. Marginally recommended but likely one of the best films that will be unleashed in a summer movie going season that appears on the outset to be as lackluster as recent years.
Photo: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, and Hayley Atwell in ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’.
NEW TO DISC:
Disney:
The long-awaited 4K release of Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven: Director’s Cut (2005) is finally seeing the light of day this week with a brand new restoration from the original negative. No new extras but lots of archival ones have been retained.
Kino:
The label is issuing first ever 4K UHD upgrades of the comedies, Bottoms (2023), Kingpin (1996) and Wayne’s World 2 (1993) this week. The separate releases include new and archival bonus material.
Being Maria (2024) is a well reviewed dramatization of the life of actress, Maria Schneider, and focusing quite a bit on the actress’ experience making the controversial film, The Last Tango in Paris. Matt Dillon co-stars. Bonus materials include a Q & A and interview.
Other Blu-Ray releases from the label include the British comedy, The Magnificent Deadly Sins (1971), the psychological drama, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2003), starring Clive Owen, and the adventure yarn set in the 1800s, Nate and Hayes (1983). All contain new audio commentaries.
88 Films:
Gate of Flesh (1988) A group of prostitutes attempt to build a dance hall in this Asian film getting its first ever Blu-Ray release from the label.
Scream/Shout Factory:
New 4K UHD releases from the label include the Oscar winning drama that garnered Al Pacino his first Oscar for Best Actor, Scent of a Woman (1992) and the futuristic sci-fi film, Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow (2004). Both include some new bonus materials.
Warner Archive:
New Blu-Ray releases from the label include the fact based drama starring Morgan Freeman, Lean on Me (1989), regarding the life of school principal, Joe Clark, the thriller, Mystery Street (1950), the Oscar winning biopic of singer Edith Piaf, La Vie en Rose (2007), the actioner, Three Comrades (1938) and the biopic of songwriter George Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue (1945), the latter release which includes previously unseen footage.
Sony:
Starman (1984) The Oscar nominated sci-fi film gets its first ever stand alone 4K UHD release this week from the label.
Arrow:
Steppenwolf (2024) A traumatized young woman is determined to find her son in this controversial drama coming to Blu-Ray from the label this week. The usual copious amount of extras found on the label’s releases are included.
Criterion:
Charles Burnett’s acclaimed portrait of a working class man in Watts and his day to day existence earning a living in a slaughterhouse, Killer of Sheep (1977) and a double feature of the Richard Lester comedies, The Three Musketeers/The Four Musketeers (1973-74) are two of the new 4K UHD releases from the label this week. Both include new bonus materials.
Vinegar Syndrome:
The label is really busy this week with a slew of new 4K UHD upgrades. The titles are Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971), Dirty Work (1998), The Golden Child (1986), The Dark Half (1993), Breathless (1983), Swimming to Cambodia (1987), Charley One Eye (1973) and Jade (1995).
Questions/comments? filmfan1970@hotmail.com
