This February, Arrow Video proudly presents the Holy Grail of 4K releases: Excalibur on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited Edition Blu-ray.
From John Boorman, the director of Point Blank, Deliverance and Zardoz comes the definitive cinematic telling of the life and enduring legend of King Arthur, from birth to death and beyond. With an extraordinary cast that includes Helen Mirren (Caligula), Gabriel Byrne (Miller’s Crossing), Nicol Williamson (The Reckoning) and Liam Neeson (Rob Roy), Oscar-nominated cinematography by Alex Thomson (Legend) and a thundering score by Trevor Jones (Mississippi Burning), Excalibur makes its Ultra HD debut in a stunning new 4K restoration.
From the blood and mud of the battlefield, to the glowing green of ancient woods and gleaming gold of Camelot, experience Excalibur as you never have before. For this release Arrow Video have pulled out all the swords, erm, that is stops… the three disc sets include two cuts of the film, brand new audio commentaries as well as Boorman’s archive commentary, Neil Jordan’s never before released documentary on the film, new interviews and featurettes, as well as a perfect bound booklet, poster and postcards.
Next in February, don’t dare play the mysterious cassette tape in the Sana Collection on Limited Edition Blu-ray. Over two decades after terrifying the world with the ghosts of Toshio and Kayako with Ju-On: The Grudge, legendary filmmaker Takashi Shimizu returns to his J-Horror roots with the thrilling diptych Sana, starring J-Pop supergroup ‘Generations from Exile Tribe’ playing fictionalised versions of themselves, and Sana: Let Me Hear. Shimizu delivers a one-two punch of magnificent J-Horror mayhem that combines his affinity for elliptical storytelling with smart metanarrative scriptwriting that updates the genre’s tropes for a whole new generation of horror fans. The Blu-ray includes a brand new retrospective on the J-Horror, making-of featurettes, a reversible sleeve and collectors’ booklet.
February continues with a superb title from Golden Princess Films, Peking Opera Blues on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited Edition Blu-ray. Having already proven himself a master of kinetic action with Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, legendary director Tsui Hark would add lashings of comedy and frenzied expressionism to spectacular effect with 1986’s Peking Opera Blues. Showcasing all of Tsui’s talent for visual spectacle and featuring captivating performances from Brigitte Lin, Sally Yeh and Cherie Chung in the three leading roles, Peking Opera Blues is an explosive thrill ride presented here in a stunning 4K restoration and packed with extras, including brand new audio commentaries and interviews.
Then in February it’s time to Save the Green Planet! on Limited Edition 4K UHD. In 2003, the same year as Oldboy and Memories of Murder, Korean cinema welcomed its most audacious debut: Jang Joon-hwan’s delirious Save the Green Planet! (just remade as Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons). Manic yet focused, outrageous yet grounded, this genre-defying smorgasbord was destined to become South Korea’s ultimate cult classic. Boldly blending sci-fi, horror, comedy, procedural, and social commentary, Save the Green Planet! is the gift that keeps on giving. Returning to the home video market after over two decades with an electrifying new director-approved 4K transfer, this tale of conspiracy wrestling with reality beams down just when we need it the most. The two disc release includes two original short films by Jang Joon-hwan,and comes with a double-sided fold-out poster, collectors’ perfect bound booklet and reversible sleeve.
Also in February, American Yakuza on Limited Edition Blu-ray. When Japanese filmmaking powerhouse Toei Pictures decided to expand their iconic V-Cinema line to North America, the first result was the explosively violent American Yakuza, featuring an early lead performance from Viggo Mortensen (A History of Violence) in the title role. Featuring an outstanding supporting cast including Ryo Ishibashi (Audition), Michael Nouri (The Hidden), Franklyn Ajaye (Deadwood), Nicky Katt (Grindhouse) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown), director Frank Cappello weaves an exhilarating tale of deception and betrayal in this underseen trans-continental gangster thriller. The 2K restoration comes with a superb selection of extras including a new commentary and new interviews.
You may think you’ve seen it all, but nothing can prepare you for The Visitor on Limited Edition 4K UHD – an excursion into the realms of cinematic insanity! Producer extraordinaire Ovidio G. Assonitis, creator of such delicious guilty pleasures as Beyond the Door and Tentacles, brings together an extraordinary ensemble cast in a mind-bending tale of a girl and her pet hawk. A bizarre collision of The Omen with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Exorcist, The Visitor is a veritable cult phenomenon that combines stunning imagery and breathtaking setpieces with a jaw-dropping cast that includes John Huston (Chinatown), Mel Ferrer (War and Peace), Glenn Ford (Superman), Shelley Winters (The Night of the Hunter), Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch)… and Franco Nero (Django himself) as Jesus! With a brand new audio commentary and visual essays, along with a fascinating collector’s booklet, this release is well worth a visit.
Finally in February, have Arrow Video got a vacation for you, with Westworld released on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited Edition Blu-ray. In 1973, novelist-turned-filmmaker Michael Crichton made his directorial debut with this groundbreaking fusion of science fiction and action-thriller, starring Richard Benjamin (Catch-22), James Brolin (The Car) and Yul Brynner (The Magnificent Seven), that would prove decades ahead of its time, laying the groundwork for his later hit Jurassic Park and changing the face of sci-fi. Slick, suspenseful, and eerily prescient, Westworld combines a gripping man-versus-machine chase with thought-provoking questions about technology, control, and the price of playing God. Packed with atmosphere and memorable performances, this cult classic remains a landmark in genre cinema – a high-tech nightmare that never loses its bite. Heaving with new extras you’ll need to take a holiday to have time to watch, this beautiful 4K restoration comes with a booklet, poster and postcards.
For more information on these titles, visit the Arrow website.
Bloody Flicks 