Streaming might be the future, but physical media is still the present. It’s also awesome, depending on the title, the label, and the release, so each week we take a look at the new Blu-rays and DVDs making their way into the world. Welcome to this week in Home Video for July 4th, 2023! This week’s home video selection includes The Truman Show on 4K UHD, a live-action Tintin double feature, and more. Check out our picks below.
Pick of the Week
The Truman Show [4K UHD]
What is it? A young man discovers his life is actually a television show broadcast 24/7 to billions.
Why see it? Peter Weir’s masterpiece, one of several, remains a beautiful mesh of comedy, drama, and social commentary. Truman goes about his life but has a dream for something more, but the people watching and creating the show — a show he has no clue exists — can’t afford to let him leave. One day, though, he’ll not leave it up to them. Jim Carrey is the perfect mix of sincere, silly, and endearing, and the supporting cast including Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, and Natascha McElhone classes things up even more. There are big laughs here alongside suspenseful beats, but it’s ultimately a film filled with heart leading to a cheer-worthy conclusion.
[Extras: Featurettes, deleted scenes]
The Best
Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece / Tintin and the Blue Oranges
What is it? A double feature of live-action Tintin adventures!
Why see it? Steven Spielberg’s animated Tintin film remains an underappreciated gem still deserving of a sequel, but these adventures from the 60s find their own fun with the popular comic character. From deserts to the ocean floor, our globetrotting hero and his dog find plenty of causes worth investigating, bad guys worth eluding, and adventures worth having. It’d be a lie to call these lost masterpieces, but there’s a spirit and a production value here that we rarely see these days making for a pair of good time watches.
[Extras: None]
The Rest
Fighting Back [Arrow Video]
What is it? A man stands up to crime.
Why see it? Vigilante films were all the rage in the late 70s and early 80s, and while it’s thanks in large part to Charles Bronson we still got some good ones with others in the lead. This 1982 effort from genre fave Lewis Teague is a solid entry despite its lack of big set-pieces are truly entertaining beats. The always reliable Tom Skerritt headlines as a respectable blue collar guy from Philadelphia who’s sick and tired of human trash ruining his day. The most interesting aspect here is that Teague sees his character cross a line and land on the cusp of something big only to cut to credits leaving an interesting conversation starter at the end. Arrow’s disc includes a fun interview with Teague looking back over his career.
[Extras: Interviews]
Star Pilot [Raro]
What is it? Aliens land in Italy!
Why see it? This mid 60s slice of Italian sci-fi will draw comparisons to the likes of Mario Bava’s Planet of the Vampires for its visuals and overall aesthetics, and it’s an earned equation. Bava’s film is widely respected, though, while this goofy delight has been relegated to obscurity. Raro’s new Blu highlights its strengths to the point where that might just change as it’s a real treat for the senses despite the clear budgetary restraints. It’s a silly, kitschy romp, but there’s fun to be had in its execution.
[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentary]
Also out this week:
Come Out Fighting, In the Company of Rose, Jaws 2 [4K UHD], Slava Ukraini, Upgrade [4KUHD, Scream Factory]
Related Topics: Home Video
