New streaming, on-demand highlights October 23-29, 2023
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Here's a quick look at this week's releases. It's not exactly a blue ribbon week for the digital side of things but there are some fantastic 4K and Blu-ray releases that will be making repeat apperances in my upcoming gift guides.
Those looking formore horror content should swing by my Halloween Horror Gift Guide where they can find a wide selection of films and collectables related to this creepy crawly season.
The Exorcist: Believer
Studio Synopsis:From Blumhouse and David Gordon Green comes a new chapter to the most terrifying horror film in history, over 50 years in the making. Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding has raised their daughter Angela on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil.
Ride On
Studio Synopsis: After two debt collectors attempt to seize a stunt horse belonging to washed-up stuntman Luo (Jackie Chan), video of the ensuing confrontation—and the dynamic duo’s narrow acrobatic escape—goes viral on social media. Furious at being humiliated online, the debt collectors return to seek revenge, leaving Luo and Red Hare to engage in a series of hilarious, action-packed antics that outdo even the most daring acts from their glory days.
Also Available: Blu-ray, DVD
Spirited Away: Live on Stage
Studio Synopsis:Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning animated feature film comes to life in this first-ever stage adaptation, full of dazzling sets, captivating musical numbers, and wondrous puppets of beloved characters. Adapted and directed by Tony Award-winner John Caird ("Les Misérables"), two unique casts and performances were filmed during the show’s acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre, featuring Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro.
The Royal Hotel
Studio Synopsis:Americans Hanna (Julia Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick) are best friends backpacking in Australia. After they run out of money, Liv, looking for an adventure, convinces Hanna to take a temporary live-in job behind the bar of a pub called 'The Royal Hotel' in a remote Outback mining town. Bar owner Billy and a host of locals give the girls a riotous introduction to Down Under drinking culture but soon Hanna and Liv find themselves trapped in an unnerving situation that grows rapidly out of their control.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Studio Synopsis:Barney Greenwald, a skeptical lawyer, reluctantly defends an officer of the navy who took control of the Caine from its captain, Lt. Philip Francis Queeg (Kiefer Sutherland), while caught in a violent sea storm. As the court-martial proceeds, however, Greenwald increasingly questions if it was truly a mutiny or rather the courageous acts of a group of sailors who could not trust their unstable leader. Written and directed by Academy Award-celebrated filmmaker William Friedkin and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk of the same name.
Blu-ray & DVD Highlights
Paramout Scares: Volume 1 4K UHD
Studio Synopsis:Fans can plumb the depths of the horror genre with this collectible box set featuring five unforgettable movies, all in eye-popping 4K Ultra HD, along with over four hours of legacy special features and exclusive collectible items. Housed in deluxe packaging, each of the following films is presented in a special sleeve with artwork exclusive to the collection. Includes: "Rosemary's Baby," "Pet Sematary" (1989), "Crawl," "Smile," and the 4K UHD of Tim Burton's "Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
The Boys: Season 3
Studio Synopsis:It’s been a year of calm. Homelander’s subdued. Butcher works for the government, supervised by Hughie of all people. But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. So, when The Boys learn of a mysterious anti-Supe weapon, it sends them crashing into The Seven, starting a war, and chasing the legend of the first Superhero: Soldier Boy.
The Meg 2
Studio Synopsis:Jonas Taylor leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators.
Decision to Leave
Studio Synopsis:What happens when an object of suspicion becomes a case of obsession? Winner of Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Park Chan-wook ("Oldboy," "The Handmaiden") returns with a seductive romantic thriller that takes his renowned stylistic flair to dizzying new heights. From a mountain peak in South Korea, a man plummets to his death. Did he jump, or was he pushed? When detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il, "The Host") arrives on the scene, he begins to suspect the dead man’s wife Seo-rae (Tang Wei, "Caution") may know more than she initially lets on. But as he digs deeper into the investigation, Hae-joon finds himself trapped in a web of deception and desire, proving that the darkest mysteries lurk inside the human heart. With nods toward classic Hollywood and Hitchcock’s Vertigo, "Decision to Leave" is an essential masterwork from the legendary Park Chan-wook, infused with elegance, ingenuity and a knife-edge precision that truly cannot be matched.
The Others 4K UHD
Studio Synopsis:A remote manor; hushed, candlelit atmosphere; and shivery, supernatural menace. With his first English-language feature, Chilean Spanish writer-director-composer Alejandro Amenábar resurrected the classic gothic chiller to create a ghost story of uncommon emotional resonance. Nicole Kidman stars as a World War II–era mother whose imperiousness masks a terrifying pain, as she keeps her light-sensitive children enshrouded in darkness on her country estate. The arrival of three new servants punctures her insular world—and seems to disturb the balance between the living and the dead. With each stunning twist and turn, Amenábar immerses us more deeply in a realm haunted not only by spirits but also by guilt, trauma, and repression.
Godzilla (1998) 4K UHD
Studio Synopsis:Following French atomic bomb tests in the South Pacific, an unknown creature is spotted passing through the Panama Canal. Scientist Niko Tatopolous is called in to investigate the matter, and he quickly arrives at the conclusion that a giant, irradiated lizard has been created by the explosions. Godzilla then makes its way north, landing in Manhattan to begin wreaking havoc in the big city.
The Muppets Take Manhattan 4K UHD
Studio Synopsis: Broadway bound, the Muppets take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! Fresh out of college, Kermit, Fozzie and the entire cast of Kermit's musical "Manhattan Melodies" head for the Big Apple with plans to turn their small play into a big hit! All they need now is someone to produce their show! But when no one in town will even meet with them, it's up to Kermit to believe hard enough for all of his friends that the show WILL go on! Family entertainment has never been more fun than this comedy marking Frank Oz's solo directorial debut.
Shaw Brothers Presents: Four Films by Chang Cheh
Studio Synopsis: By the early-1970s, Chang Cheh was already Shaw Brothers' most prolific and well-known director with a plethora of box office hits (including the "One-Armed Swordsman" franchise) to his name and renowned for discovering the hottest young talents to star in his films.
Three of those stars – David Chiang, Ti Lung and Alexander Fu Sheng – all feature in "Five Shaolin Masters" and "Shaolin Temple," two selections from his instant-classic 'Shaolin Temple Cycle', based on the real-life tales of fighters training to face off against the ruthless Qing armies taking over China. A few years later, Chang outdid himself with the formation of the all-powerful posse of kung fu experts known to fans as the Venom Mob, whose talents would be showcased most famously in "The Five Venoms" and "Crippled Avengers."
Blood-soaked, brutal, and a marked influence on the 'heroic bloodshed' films by Chang's sometime assistant director John Woo, these four films show one of Shaw's greatest directors working at the height of his talents.
Shaw Brothers Classics: Volume Three
Studio Synopsis: This spectacular box set comprises 11 classic martial arts films from the famous Shaw Brothers' library, featuring some of their greatest stars – Alexander Fu Sheng ("The Brave Archer"), Lo Lieh ("King Boxer"), Ti Lung ("A Better Tomorrow"), David Chiang ("The Boxer Of Shantung") and the Deadly Venoms! Many of these films are debuting for the first time on Blu-ray. Get ready for some exciting thrills and chills as heroes meet villains in a duel to the death!
KILLER CLANS (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 100 min.) Ask any martial arts movie aficionado for his or her list of all-time action greats, and there's a good chance that "Killer Clans" ranks somewhere near the top. Based on a popular swordplay novel, "Killer Clans" (whose Chinese title literally translates into the poetic "Meteor, Butterfly, Sword") has enough conspiracies, stratagems, and sword fights to make any fan happy. They are masterfully staged by Yuen Cheung-yan, brother of martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping. The cast includes some of Shaw Brothers' leading swordsmen and swordswomen, and they bring to life the novel's epic battles between underground clans, where the line between good and evil is not always so clear-cut or obvious.
THE SHAOLIN AVENGERS (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 99 min.) The famous story of the Shaolin Temple's betrayal by the White-Browed Hermit, and the subsequent revenge by Shaolin firebrand Fang Shih-yu, is the stuff of legend. It has been filmed many times by many directors, but few depictions are as fiery or remembered as fondly as this production. The potent combination of director Chang Cheh and international idol Alexander Fu Sheng caught lightning in a lens (thanks to action instructors Hsieh Hsing and Chen Hsin-yi ... not to mention talented co-director Wu Ma).
THE WEB OF DEATH (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin & English Dub DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 87 min.) The leader of the Snake Sect has an affair with the sexy ringleader of the Scorpion Sect to revive the "Five Poison Web" (which is also this film's Chinese title). But they must also contend with the Centipede Sect. Under the fluid direction of Chu Yuan and action choreographers Tang Chia and Yuen Cheung-yan (member of the martial arts world's esteemed Yuen Family and brother of master Yuen Woo-ping), the result is a first-class action film!
THE VENGEFUL BEAUTY (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 78 min.) Of all the many kinds of films Ho Meng-hua directed for the Shaw Brothers, his most popular worldwide was quite possibly "The Flying Guillotine." While he did not direct its like-titled sequel, he did helm this great spinning beheader follow-up, which critics considered among his very best. It stars the striking Chen Ping ("The Miniskirt Gang," "Lady Exterminator") as the fearless title character who takes on an entire flying guillotine gang.
DEATH DUEL (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 90 min.) This martial arts spectacular showcases 20-year-old Derek Yee. Variety noted, "Yee's charismatic screen presence should take him to superstardom like his older brother, David Chiang." The prediction proved correct, and his performance as ace swordsman Third Master is just what any producer would want. He fights evil, saves damsels in distress (including a kindhearted prostitute portrayed by Yu An-an), and duels rival swordsmen Ling Yun.
LIFE GAMBLE (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 96 min.) Legendary director Chang Cheh teamed his latest big star, Alexander Fu Sheng, with future Venoms Lo Meng and Kuo Chue to create another winner in his vaunted filmography. Joining them were top supporting actors Ku Feng and Wang Lung-wei and actresses Lin Chen-chi, Shirley Yu, and Hui Ying-hung. Together, they weave an entertaining, exciting tale of a kung fu blacksmith taking on four famous robbers while a villainous gambling boss plots to destroy them.
SOUL OF THE SWORD (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 85 min.) "Be careful what you wish for"" sums up "Soul Of The Sword," which stars acclaimed actor Ti Lung as a swordsman whose sole purpose is to defeat the "Number One Swordsman" no matter what. The warrior's code dictates to be number one there must be no other pursuit in life, so he gives up his lover only to learn that wanting is better than having ... and that the terrorism of tradition in the end can bring about your own downfall.
THE DEADLY BREAKING SWORD (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 101 min.) This explosive film elevated director Sun Chung to the highest ranks of martial arts helmsmanship alongside such esteemed company as Chang Cheh. Starring the incomparable Ti Lung and Alexander Fu Sheng, and utilizing the acclaimed fight choreographer Tang Chia, The Deadly Breaking Sword is propelled by the stars' venomous fighting appeal. Armed with the "Deadly Breaking Sword" technique, Tuen Cheng-tsin (Ti Lung) unites with thief Ko Mun (Alexander Fu Sheng) to defeat an assassin who is "acupuncturingly" controlled by the evil Dr. Kuo.
CLAN OF THE WHITE LOTUS (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 95 min.) Lo Lieh was famous as Shaw Studio's first international kung fu film star, but it was rare that he also directed, so this film is one of those special events. Following the huge success of "Executioners From Shaolin," he returned to the villain's role in this combination sequel and remake. The result is a lighter hearted entertainment, as heroic Gordon Liu Chia-hui must learn "Embroidery Fist" and acupuncture to counter the evil White Lotus leader's deadly "Weightless Boxing" and "Nerve Centre Shutdown" techniques.
SHAOLIN ABBOT (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 84 min.) While international favorite David Chiang was best known for his roles as a grinning streetwise fighter in many Chang Cheh-directed classics, he rarely played a noble warrior monk. But here he portrays the great Chih Shim, the monk who saved the Southern Shaolin Temple. Making this production all the more notable is Lo Lieh, the Shaw Brothers' first international star, who returns to a role he also made famous – that of Shaolin renegade Pai Mei. This, and even more, makes for a true martial arts epic of the first order.
SHAOLIN RESCUERS (1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.35:1) / Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 110 min.) It's Shaolin versus corrupt Ching soldiers — with the help of the Lama, Black Tiger, and Mantis clans — headquartered at a pugilism school, a dyeing mill, and a bean curd shop. Often under-used Korean master kicker Sun Chien is specially spotlighted in this production as he and his fellow Venoms — the stars of director Chang Cheh's many other high-flying, blood-splattered adventures (starting with "The Five Venoms") — create another wonderfully fun kung fu showcase, filled with show-stopping sequences of martial arts expertise.