The Harder They Come, the feature headlined by reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, comes out at as a 3-disc Collector’s Edition set via Shout Select on August 20. The restored version, which is a new transfer from the feature’s original 16mm negative, marks the movie’s debut on Blu-ray in the U.S.
The narrative centers on Ivan Martin (Cliff), an aspiring singer who leaves his small village for Kingston in an attempt to follow his dreams. A sad twist of fate ultimately leads him to a life of crime even as he achieves music stardom. Cliff’s soundtrack for the film, thanks to such hits as the title track, “Sitting In Limbo,” and “Many Rivers To Cross,” is considered a classic, so a Blu-ray release of The Harder They Come has been a long time coming!
Special features on the disc include the first ever home entertainment release of No Place Like Home, director Perry Henzell’s follow up to The Harder They Come as well as the documentary Perry Henzell: A Filmmaker’s Odysseywhich takes a look at No Place Like Home’s restoration. Other special features of The Harder They Come will be released at a later date.
Escape Plan: The Extractors, the third installment of the Escape Plan series hits Blu-ray and DVD on July 2 via Lionsgate. This time out Ray (Sylvester Stallone), Trent (Dave Bautista) and Hush (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) team up to free Breslin’s girlfriend (Jaime King) and a tech mogul’s daughter from a Latvian prison.
John Herzfeld, who directed 2 Days in The Valleyand worked with Sylvester Stallone in 2014’s Reach Me, is the flick’s director and co-writer. The feature also stars Devon Sawa (Nikita), Daniel Bernhardt and Harry Shum Jr. (Glee).
Special features include the featurette “The Making of Escape Plan: The Extractors” and commentary with Herzfeld, Stallone, Sawa, and Bernhard. Are you a fan of the Escape Plan series? Feel free to comment below!
Okko’s Inn, directed by Kitaro Kosaka, comes out on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download July 2 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory. The project, which received a nationwide release last month, was nominated for the 2019 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.
The narrative centers on Okko, a youth who lives with her grandmother at an inn after losing her parents in a car accident. The inn is located next to a spring which reportedly has healing waters. Adding to that interesting element, the environment also houses spirits that only Okko can see. Instead of being scared of the ghosts, Okko becomes their friends, keeping them company and playing games as they help her acclimate to her new home. Kosaka’s storytelling and visual style was honed as a key animator on Studio Ghibli, and he worked on such classics as Grave of the Fireflies and Akira.
Special features on Okko’s Inn includes an interview with Kosaka, a discussion with Seiran Kobayashi (voice of Okko), a Q&A with Kosaka and the producers at the Japanese Premiere, and several trailers.
If A Star Is Born left you wanting more, an extended cut of the Bradley Cooper directed smash hits Blu-ray and Digital on June 4. A Star Is Born Encore features nearly 12 minutes of extended performances with Cooper and Lady Gaga as well as all-new scenes.
Songs such as “Black Eyes,” “Alibi,” and an acapella performance of the Oscar winning song “Shallow.” Never before seen footage of “Is That Alright?” (performed in the wedding sequence), “Too Far Gone,” and “Clover” are also featured in the extended edition.
Special features from the previous release will also be included in A Star Is Born Encore.
Are you a fan of A Star Is Bornand its soundtrack? Feel free to comment below!
Klute, a thriller directed by Alan Pakula (All The President’s Men) which featured an Oscar winning performance from Jane Fonda, hits Blu-ray and DVD July 16 via The Criterion Collection.
The narrative centers on John Klute (Donald Sutherland), a detective who is searching for a missing man. Fonda plays Bree Daniels, an escort who becomes a focal point of Klute’s investigation. Revered cinematographer Gordon Willis (The Godfather) lensed the 1971 feature.
Special features include a conversation between Fonda and Illeana Douglas, a documentary about the making of Klute, an interview with writer Amy Fine Collins, archival interviews with Fonda and Pakula, the short documentary “Klute in New York” and an essay by critic Mark Harris.
Are you a fan of Klute and do you think it’s one of Fonda’s finest roles? Feel free to comment below!
Earthquake, the disaster epic headlined by Charlton Heston, will be released on Blu-ray May 21 via Shout! Factory. The theatrical cut and TV version have both undergone a new 2K scan, and the two-disc Collector’s Edition comes with a plethora of new features.
As a catastrophic earthquake hits Southern California, strangers must band together to ensure their safety before the next aftershock wreaks havoc in the area. The all-star cast includes Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Victoria Principal, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold and Richard Roundtree.
New features include three featurettes (“Painting Disaster: The Matte Art of Albert Whitlock,” “Scoring Disaster: The Music of Earthquake,” and “Sounds of Disaster: Ben Burtt talks about Sensurround”). Also included in the release are archival audio interviews with Heston, Greene, and Roundtree, along with still galleries and the theatrical trailer.
