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Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

My problem is that I’m always comparing books with other books, or just wanting things out of them that they never promised. This is, of course, a Me Problem, and I try to tamp it down when it hits.

I have a major case today, but I’m going to try to be fair to Nayra and the Djinn , a fine new graphic novel by Iasmin Omar Ata with lovely colors, a positive story, and a message that will resonate with a whole lot of readers younger than I am. Nayra is officially published today; you should be able to find it in all the usual ways and places you find books.

You see, I recently read another book about wishes, Djinni-adjacent, connected to Egyptian culture and Islam – Deena Mohamed’s Shubeik Lubeik  – and anything I say about Ata’s YA book could well be me wanting it to be more like Mohamed’s book for adults. That’s a bad impulse! I want to make that clear. Each book, each story should be precise and particular – even things I might think of as flaws [1] can be important and specific to that book.

I’m saying all this to stop myself from doing it. Let’s see if I succeed.

Nayra Mansour is a younger child in a high-pressure Arab-American immigrant family. She also has only one close friend at school, Rami, and is being bullied – in the mostly psychological, nasty-names way that young women are most likely to attack each other. She’s feeling overwhelmed and increasingly unhappy, especially since it’s Ramadan.

She’s fasting all day, since that’s important to her, but that makes her hungry and cranky and tired – and also gives her bullies more things to use to attack her. It’s a vicious circle that only gets tighter, especially when her parents refuse to listen to her complaints – admittedly, she mostly does the nonspecific teenager-y “you don’t understand me!” yell rather than trying to explain in depth, and they are equally loud and stereotypically tigerish immigrant shouty parents – and just point to her high-achieving, seemingly perfect older siblings.

In case I buried the lede above: this is very much a YA book. Nayra continually fumes and runs away and has titanic, massive emotional swings. I don’t know exactly how old she is, but she is about as sixteen as it is possible to be. Readers who are many decades past their own equivalent life-stage may find they have less patience for that kind of drama, and may wish that Nayra was somewhat more constructive in her problem-solving.

But, instead, she meets a djinn, which the cover and title gives away. Marjan has their own issues and has fled the djinn world for reasons that won’t be explained for a while, but that stays secondary to Nayra’s problems. (Again: YA story. Big, overwhelming, all-encompassing drama.)

Nayra’s new friendship with the djinn supplants her previous friendship with Rami – parenthetically, I kept getting the vibe that the relationship was hugely more important to Rami than it was to Nayra, and wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a romantic thing, but the relentless focus on Nayra and her emotions leaves that unclear – but having Marjan in her corner generally does make things better for Nayra, as the month of Ramadan rolls on.

On the other hand, Nayra has also secretly applied to transfer to another school, to get away from the bullying. Her parents don’t know this, and would probably not be in favor: they don’t seem to be in favor of anything other than “shut up and be a perfect student.” And the bullying troubles are getting worse. And her schoolwork is taking a hit – from spending time with Marjan, from the bullying, from stress and anxiousness, from spending too much time reading about Arab folklore online, and from the physical stress of Ramadan.

So everything blows up, as it must in a YA story. It does end mostly happily, though Nayra still doesn’t explain things to other people in the ways I hoped she would. Still, she’s young: she has a long time to learn that skill, which will be hugely valuable. I hope she does.

As I said up top, Ata has a colorful art style that pops particularly well when showing the djinn world. The publisher compares their style to Stephen Universe, which I’ve never seen – it looks like plain ‘ol manga-inspired western comics to me, all big eyes and huge gestures, but I am One of the Olds. Nayra is a positive, energetic, very teen-aimed book where problems are resolved non-violently and people do eventually learn to understand each other’s differences, which are all good things. I found it a little too teenager for my personal taste, but I did stop being a teenager in 1989, so that’s only to be expected.

[1] I’m not the authority on flaws. Other people have different opinions.

Reposted from The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.

Paul T. Goldman Season 1 arrives April 17 on Digital

Paul T. Goldman Season 1 arrives April 17 on Digital

From the director of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and the producers of The Disaster Artist, the undeniably fascinating series Paul T. Goldman Season 1 arrives on Digital April 17 from Lionsgate.

Electronic Sell-Through Street Date: 4/17/23
Electronic Sell-Through SRPs: $14.99

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
From the director of Borat Subsequent Movie film and the producers of The Disaster Artist, the undeniably fascinating series Paul T. Goldman Season 1 arrives on Digital April 17 from Lionsgate. This uniquely told true crime documentary miniseries follows Paul T. Goldman, a wronged man who discovered his grifter wife was living a double life. The groundbreaking series mixes fact with fiction to tell a bizarre yet incredible story. Paul T. Goldman Season 1 will be available on Digital for the suggested retail price of $14.99.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
One man’s world is turned upside-down when he finds out that his wife has been living a secret double life. His efforts to uncover the truth thrust him into a labyrinth of fraud, deception, and criminality that transform him, in his words, “from wimp to warrior”.

CAST
Paul T. Goldman
Melinda McGraw The Dark Knight, Charmed, Mad Men
W. Earl Brown Deadwood, Preacher, The Unforgivable
Christopher Stanley Mad Men, Waco, American Horror Story
Michael Dempsey The Patient, The Connors, Killer Therapy

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 2022
Title Copyright: © MMXXII Lions Gate Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Type: New Release
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Comedy
Closed-Captioned: English
Subtitles: N/A
Episodes: 6
Run Time: 240 minutes approx
Format: 16×9 (1.78:1) Presentation
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Audio

Hickman & Hitch Revive Ultmate Marvel

Hickman & Hitch Revive Ultmate Marvel

Two of the comic book industry’s most innovative and exciting creators are teaming up to reshape the Marvel Universe as you know it! This June, join writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Bryan Hitch in Ultimate Invasion, a revolutionary four-issue saga that presents a surprising new chapter for Ultimate Comics and bold new strides for Marvel’s iconic heroes.

Launched over twenty years ago, the Ultimate Universe provided a contemporary take on classic Marvel characters and storylines. Known for its edginess and explosive action, the Ultimate Universe was home to some of Marvel’s most talked about and thought-provoking series of the 21st century. The Ultimate Universe reached its cataclysmic end in 2015’s Secret Wars, but nothing stays buried in Marvel Comics for long. Is it time for the Ultimate Universe to make its grand return? The Maker seems to think so and the Illuminati must form once again to stop him from his plans to destroy – or perhaps rebuild – the universe, with Miles Morales at the center of it all!

Hitch’s work on The Ultimates helped redefine super hero comics for the 2000s and Jonathan Hickman has successfully invigorated the Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men in the last decade. Wait until you see what these two powerhouse talents have in store next! The debut issue will include new data pages by Jonathan Hickman – plus exclusive behind-the-scenes material on the world-building that has gone into this project!

“[Revisiting the idea of Ultimate Comics] couldn’t be replicating or revisiting what Bryan did in the original Ultimates — creating a streamlined, modernized version that would eventually become the spine of the MCU, and it certainly couldn’t be what I did, which was a final chapter of a pre-existing universe,” Hickman explained to Entertainment Weekly. “We also thought the very idea of Ultimate Comics needed to be inverted from what the original universe was — we wanted this to be something that could really only exist in the comic space: a new way of thinking about, and enjoying, a new version of the Marvel Universe. I’m pretty happy to say that it feels like we’ve accomplished those things and we’re very excited for everyone to get to read it.”

“It’s been more than 20 years since I started work on The Ultimates, a project that would have a big impact on my own career and beyond, so when Marvel came to me with the idea of revisiting the Ultimate Universe with the man who so brilliantly and spectacularly destroyed the last one, I was both feet in!” Hitch said. “Jonathan is a terrific writer of big, sprawling epics, and we’ve talked about working together more than once so for this new Ultimate Universe adventure to unite us is very exciting. I get to bring two decades of new experience as an artist and storyteller to this. It’s new, different and familiar. It’s big budget, high-concept, widescreen storytelling. I feel right at home.”

Eve Ewing to Helm New Black Panther Series

Eve Ewing to Helm New Black Panther Series

Following on the heels of runs by Ta-Nahesi Coates and John Ridley, Eve. Ewing is slated to be the next writer for Marvel’s Black Panther. The announcement was made on yesterday’s Today Show, revealing the cover and design sheet for the latest Black Panther #1. Coming this June, T’Challa returns in the new solo ongoing comic book series by writer Eve L. Ewing (Monica Rambeau: Photon, Ironheart) and Stormbreaker artist Chris Allen.

Banished from the throne and a fugitive in his own homelands, T’Challa still can’t leave Wakanda without its sworn protector. A king without a crown, he finds new purpose lurking the streets and shadows of the Wakandan city that bears his father’s name, BIRNIN T’CHAKA. New direction, new villains, new creative team – get in on the ground floor of Marvel’s next smash hit! Get a first look at the revamped design for T’Challa now.

“I am so excited for people to see this character design! T’Challa is going to be looking really different. It’s much more edgy and kind of homespun. It’s not so sleek and slick. Not giving too much away from the story, he’s trying not to be seen. He’s kind of working incognito,” Ewing told Today. “What I can say, honestly, is that we will be seeing Wakanda in a way that we have not seen it ever before.”

Ewings new ongoing series follows notable flagship Black Panther runs written by legendary authors, and many talented writers who have contributed to other Black Panther and Wakanda series including Nnedi Okorafor, Roxane Gay, Yona Harvey, Evan Narcisse, Bryan Edward Hill, Tochi Onyebuchi, Rembert Browne, and more.

In Shadows, Book One by Mallie and Hubert

In Shadows, Book One by Mallie and Hubert

I may be spoiled. It’s been a while since I hit the end of a graphic novel (or bande dessinee, in this case), realized it was the kind of “Part One” that doesn’t have a real ending, and couldn’t get the next book immediately.

But In Shadows, Book One , by Mallié and Hubert – in best French-comics fashion, each only uses one name – is a 2022 publication – even in its original French, it was a 2021 publication – and the second volume was only published in English nine days ago as I write this. That second volume is not yet available in the app where I read the first book (Hoopla ; ask if your library uses it because it is The Bomb), but I’m hoping it will turn up eventually.

For now, though, what I have is the beginning of a story that is not complete yet. It’s an epic fantasy, so that’s appropriate: no matter what the medium, stories of knights and magic always seem to break into multiple volumes that end on cliffhangers.

This is a generic medieval world: we see one kingdom, which seems small, and a lot of mostly empty countryside. (Tolkien knew that medieval life required a lot of peasants doing agriculture all over the place, but rarely mentioned it; his followers have mostly ignored those peasants for atmosphere.) The disgraced knight Arzhur, now working as a mercenary, is given a chance at redemption by three creepy old women: if he rescues the princess Islen from the monsters holding her captive at the remote Black Castle and returns her to her father, King Goulven, he will be returned to the status of knight and his disgrace wiped out.

Arzhur does not stop to think that “the crones” are unlikely to be able to bind a King, and even less likely to be his official envoys. He accepts a locket with a picture of the princess, and a sword “for slaying monsters,” and does what they ask.

They of course have ulterior motives. The princess is not actually a captive, and the “monsters” may be dark and creepy, but they are friendly to her. The three crones actually want to take Islen to her mother – they declare themselves to be Mae, Nae, and Tae, her “dear old nannies.” Islen seems to be even more opposed to that than she was to the killing of her monstrous companions, so Arzhur drives off the old women. He decides he might as well stick to the original plan and deliver her to her father, since he doesn’t really have any other options.

Arzhur perhaps does not have much experience with magic: it’s unclear how common it is in this world. We learn that Islen’s mother, Meliren, is some sort of magical being (a naga, maybe), that she married King Goulven somehow (I would be very interested in knowing how; it seems unlikely), and that they were deliriously happy up until the point Meliren turned super-evil for no obvious reason.

Islen, also, is expected to turn super-evil at some point, which is why she self-exiled to the Black Castle.

After his first wife turned super-evil and was also banished far away, Goulven remarried – I guess you can remarry without a divorce in this world, if your first wife is a super-evil monster; that’s handy – to a normal woman whose name I can’t find poking through the book. She now has an infant son, and in the ways of all medieval courts is at least mildly intriguing to make sure her son will be the heir, not Islen.

You can imagine things do not go well when Islen returns to her father’s court. Arzhur is not immediately reinstated as a knight, to begin with. The crones are sneaking around the periphery – they’ve already driven off Arzhur’s squire Youenn by this point – whispering to various people to shape events the way they want.

I won’t detail all of the events of the back half of the book, but suffice it to say that things are not going at all in Arzhur’s favor and Islen is not doing much better. And, in the end, there is a big climax and a fight, leading to the (lack of an) ending.

In Shadows is creepy and atmospheric. It moves quickly, and mostly answers its own questions. There is some generic-fantasy stuff cluttering up the background, and I suspect not all of it was entirely thought through, but it’s all things you would expect in any medieval fantasy, in prose or comics. There are secrets still untold, but that’s what a Book Two is for – we can start with what, exactly, caused Arzhur’s disgrace, which is clearly A Story and we have not learned it yet. It also looks great: I believe Mallié is the artist, and Mallié does excellent work here.

For anyone looking for a relatively dark epic fantasy story in comics form, this is a good one: check it out. But know that it is not complete; I’m not sure if Book Two is the end, but I strongly suspect it will be.

Reposted from The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.

First 4 Rocky Films Make 4K Debut Feb. 28

First 4 Rocky Films Make 4K Debut Feb. 28

Just in time for Creed III Warner Home Entertainment brings the first four films that started it all to 4K Ultra HD. Get knocked out by the new 4K contender – the ROCKY I-IV 4K 4-Film Collection newly remastered in stunning 4K Ultra HD. Sylvester Stallone stars in the greatest boxing saga of all time and triumphs as one of the most inspirational characters in cinematic history. Witness every epic, action packed fight and unforgettable moment as Rocky punches his way to the top against impossible odds when the ROCKY I-IV 4K 4-Film Collection is released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack on February 28.
 
The ROCKY I-IV 4K 4-Film Collection includes the MGM feature films ROCKY, ROCKY II, ROCKY III and ROCKY IV, along with the ROCKY IV Ultimate Director’s Cut, ROCKY VS. DRAGO.  This collection contains a Blu-ray disc featuring the hour-long behind the scenes documentary on the making of this extended director’s cut of ROCKY IVROCKY IV: ROCKY VS. DRAGO as well as a selection of previously existing EC.  
 
The Ultra HD Blu-ray disc featuring the films ROCKY, ROCKY II, ROCKY III, ROCKY IV and the ROCKY IV Ultimate Director’s Cut, ROCKY VS. DRAGO will feature Dolby VisionTM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen, frame by frame.
 
The Ultra HD Blu-ray will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with each feature film in 4K with HDR, a bonus Blu-ray disc with the documentary and a selection of pre-existing special features, and a Digital version of the feature films.
 
For the complete 4K Ultra HD experience with HDR, a 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR, an Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a high-speed HDMI (category 2) cable are required.

About the Films:
 
ROCKY (1976)
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards®, this 1976 Best Picture Winner inspired a nation. A struggling Philadelphia club fighter (Sylvester Stallone) gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for love, glory and self-respect. Featuring a legendary musical score and thrilling fight sequences, this rousing crowd-pleaser scores a knockout!
 
The film is directed by John G. Avilsden from a screenplay and story by Sylvester Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, and Burgess Meredith.
 
ROCKY received ten Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Picture. Best Director and Best Film Editing.  In 2006, the Library of Congress selected ROCKY for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
 
ROCKY II (1979)
After club fighter Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) goes the distance with the world heavyweight champion, boxing fans clamor for a rematch. But Rocky, having sustained massive injuries announces his retirement. Though he tries to make a new life for himself, Rocky realizes that he can’t escape his true calling. The ring beckons once more, and the “Italian Stallion” must prepare
for the fight of his life.
 
The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, and Burgess Meredith.
 
ROCKY III (1982)
As Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) fights his way into the hearts of millions, life couldn’t be better. But when Clubber Lang (Mr. T) KOs Rocky in a humiliating defeat, it becomes apparent that the “Italian Stallion” has lost his edge. Considering hanging up his gloves, Rocky receives encouragement from an unlikely ally: his old nemesis, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With Creed’s help, Rocky strives to regain the “eye of the tiger” before confronting Lang in a grueling rematch!
 
The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, Burgess Meredith, and Mr. T.
 
ROCKY IV (1985)
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) holds the world heavyweight boxing championship but faces a new challenger: Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a 6’4″, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union. Rocky prepares for a powerfully charged fight, in which he must defend not only himself but the honor of his country!
 
Also included is Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago. Stallone masterfully reshapes Rocky IV in the ultimate director’s cut!
 
The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, Brigitte Nielsen, and Dolph Lundgren.


BASICS
PRODUCT                                                                                        ERP
ROCKY I-IV 4K Knock Out Collection Ultra HD Blu-ray               $79.99
Includes:     ROCKY I
                   ROCKY II
                   ROCKY III
                   ROCKY IV & ROCKY IV: ROCKY VS DRAGO           

ROCKY
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 119 minutes
Rating: PG
Street Date: 2/28/23

ROCKY II
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 120 minutes
Rating: PG
Street Date: 2/28/23

ROCKY III
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 100 minutes
Rating: PG
Street Date: 2/28/23

ROCKY IV
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 91 minutes (Theatrical Version)
Run Time: 93 minutes (Extended Version)
Rating: PG
Street Date: 2/28/23

Creepy M3gan Comes to your Home March 21

Creepy M3gan Comes to your Home March 21

Universal City, California, February 17, 2023 – She’s more than a toy. She’s family. And now she’s Unrated. Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 95%, the year’s most unnerving film M3GAN arrives in an all-new unrated version with revealing extras when you buy on Digital February 24, 2023 and on Blu-rayTM and DVD March 21, 2023 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.  The “existentially scary” (Collider) film, presented from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse and produced by Atomic Monster in association with Divide/Conquer, has crossed $167 million at the global box office. M3GAN is produced by masters of horror—Atomic Monster’s James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Anabelle) and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum (Halloween franchise, The Invisible Man, The Black Phone) and directed by Gerald Johnstone (Housebound). The M3GAN UNRAT3D VERSION delivers more distressing violence and profanity and features never-before-seen bonus content including a breakdown of the creation of M3GAN and behind-the-scenes featurettes showcasing the film’s complex stunts and gory deaths.
 
M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, Get Out), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. As Gemma faces pressure at work from her boss (Ronny Chieng, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) to deliver a finished version of M3GAN, she suddenly becomes the unprepared caretaker of her newly orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House). Gemma decides to pair the M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.
 
With the purchase of M3GAN on disc or Digital, fans are eligible to earn points towards digital movies via the Universal All-Access Rewards program. Members can redeem their points for digital movies, swag and more!  For registration and details please visit www.MyUniversalRewards.com.
 
EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL: 

  • A New Vision of Horror – Filmmakers and cast break down how the world of M3GAN was created, including the initial idea, through production under the leadership of director Gerard Johnstone
  • Bringing Life to M3GAN – See how animatronics, puppets, and actor Amie Donald helped make M3GAN as real as possible
  • Getting Hacked – A behind-the-scenes look at how cast and crew accomplished some of the film’s complex stunts and gory deaths
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete Second Season Arrives April 25

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete Second Season Arrives April 25

BURBANK, CA (February 16, 2023) – Eat, or be eaten! Kill, or be killed! Get in survival mode as Adult Swim’s #1 prehistoric animated series, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete Second Season, arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on April 25, 2023. The critically acclaimed series from Cartoon Network Studios has won a total of 5 Emmy® Awards including “Outstanding Animated Program.” Binge all 10 episodes from the second season and go behind the scenes with an all-new featurette exclusive to this release.

Named “Best Animated TV Show of 2022” by Vulture, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal follows the tale of a caveman at the dawn of evolution as he forms an unlikely friendship with an almost extinct dinosaur. In Season Two, Spear and Fang journey to a new world to rescue Mira from her captors only to find it is a place filled with savage brutality.

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: The Complete Second Season will be available on April 25, 2023 to purchase on Blu-ray Disc and DVD both online and in-store at major retailers. The series is also now available to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. 

SPECIAL FEATURES

Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal: Inside the Evolution (New Featurette) – Go Inside the Evolution of the Emmy award-winning show, with Genndy Tartakovsky and his team. They share their inspiration behind the second season and how a four-legged friend inspired one of the most beloved characters.

Pricing and series information:

Includes all 10 episodes from the second season:

  1. Sea of Despair
  2. Shadow of Fate
  3. Dawn of Man
  4. The Red Mist
  5. The Primal Theory
  6. Vidarr
  7. The Colossaeus, Part I
  8. The Colossaeus, Part II
  9. The Colossaeus, Part III
  10. Echoes of Eternity

PRODUCT                                         SRP

Blu-ray                                               $29.98 SRP ($39.99 in Canada)

DVD                                                   $24.98 SRP ($29.98 in Canada)

Blu-ray and DVD Audio – English (5.1)

Blu-ray and DVD Subtitles – English SDH

Total Runtime: Approx. 221

Enhanced Content Runtime: Approx. 13 min

Rated: TV-MA

Warner to Release Trio of Classics in 4K April 4

Warner to Release Trio of Classics in 4K April 4

Burbank, Calif., February 15, 2023 – As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, three classic and beloved films from the Warner Bros. library – The Maltese Falcon, Cool Hand Luke, and Rebel Without a Cause – will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD Disc and Digital this April.
 
On April 4, The Maltese Falcon and Cool Hand Luke will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Disc from online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.
 
On April 4, Rebel Without a Cause will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc from online and in-store at major retailers.  On April 18 it will be available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.
 
The Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc will include each feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital version of the feature film.
 
Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.  
 
For the complete 4K Ultra HD experience with HDR, a 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR, an Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a high-speed HDMI (category 2) cable are required.

Ultra HD Blu-ray Elements
The Maltese Falcon Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:

  • Commentary by Eric Lax
  • “Warner Night at the Movies”
    • “Sergeant York” Trailer
    • “New Highlights of the Roosevelt Churchill Parley” (newsreel)
    • “The Gay Parisian” (1941 WB short)
    • “Meet John Doughboy” (1941 WB cartoon)
  • The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Brid
  • Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart
  • Breakdowns of 1941 (WB short)
  • Make-up Tests
  • 2/8/43 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
  • 9/20/43 Screen Guild Theater Broadcast
  • 7/3/46 Academy Award Theater Broadcast
  • Trailers
    • 1936 “Satan Met a Lady”
    • 1941 “The Maltese Falcon”

Cool Hand Luke Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features

  • Commentary by Eric Lax
  • “A Natural-Born World-Shaker: Making Cool Hand Luke” (featurette)
  • Trailer

 Rebel Without a Cause Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:

  • Commentary Douglas L. Rathgeb
  • “James Dean Remembered” (1974 TV special)
  • “Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents” (featurette)
  • “Dennis Hopper: Memories from the Warner Lot” (featurette)
  • Screen Tests
  • Wardrobe Tests
  • Deleted Scenes

 About the Films:
 The Maltese Falcon
Academy Award® winner Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir as tough San Francisco private detective Sam Spade in the classic, convoluted story of Spade’s involvement with a deadly band of international thieves who will lie, double cross and murder to obtain a small, jewel-encrusted statue known as The Maltese Falcon. Sam Spade’s (Bogart) partner, Miles Archer (Jerome Cowan), accepts a job protecting a young woman (Mary Astor). Neither Spade nor Archer believe the woman or the story she tells them, but they do believe her money. Then, when Archer is murdered, Spade’s search for the killer drags him in the web of lies and death spun by the desperate people seeking The Maltese Falcon.
 
The 1941film is directed by John Huston in his directorial debut. The screenplay is by Huston and is based on the 1930 novel by Dashiell Hammett. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre, Barton MacLane, Lee Patrick, and Sydney Greenstreet. 
 
The Maltese Falcon was nominated for three Academy Awards® for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Sydney Greenstreet) and Best Adapted Screenplay (John Huston). Considered one of the greatest films of all time, it was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress to be included in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
 
Cool Hand Luke
Academy Award® winner Paul Newman stars with George Kennedy in this story of a man who will not surrender to authority–even at the cost of his life. When Luke Jackson (Newman) is sentenced to a Southern prison for a minor infraction, his intelligence, calm under pressure and inability to accept defeat soon gain him the respect of his fellow inmates on the chain gang–and the nickname Cool Hand Luke. But they also earn Luke the enmity of the warden, who cannot allow any inmate to challenge his authority. When Luke’s mother dies, he decides to escape … and he will not allow anyone to stop him.
 
The 1967 film is directed by Stuart Rosenberg.  The screenplay is by Donn Pearse and Frank R. Pierson and is based on the Pearce’s 1965 novel of the same name. The film is produced by Gordon Carroll and stars Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Canon, Robert Drivas, Lou Antonio, Strother Martin, and Jo Van Fleet.
 
Cool Hand Luke was nominated for four Academy Awards® for Best Actor (Paul Newman), Best Supporting Actor (George Kennedy) and Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium (Don Pearce and Frank Pierson) and Best Original Music Score (Lalo Schifrin) and won for Best Support Supporting Actor.
 
Rebel Without a Cause
James Dean stars in a movie that shocked the United States with a performance that still electrifies the screen twenty-five years after his untimely death prior to the film’s release. In this archetypal drama of teenage angst and rebellion, three high school students who should lead idyllic lives in their stable, comfortable suburban families explode with a violence and sexuality that their parents cannot understand. This film–which ripped the façade from the post-war American dream to expose the rage of the country’s youth–resonates with an energy that has made it a modern classic and a powerful coming-of-age story.
 
The 1955 film is directed by Nicholas Ray from a story by Ray, a screenplay by Stewart Stern and an adaptation by Irving Shulman. It is produced by David Weisbart and James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen, and William Hopper.
 
In 1990, Rebel Without a Cause was added to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry as being deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.”
BASICS
PRODUCT                                                                                 ERP
The Maltese Falcon Ultra HD                                            $24.99           
Cool Hand Luke Ultra HD                                                  $24.99               
Rebel Without a Cause Ultra HD                                      $24.99                 

The Maltese Falcon
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 101 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Physical Street Date: 4/4
Digital Street Date: 4/4

Cool Hand Luke
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 126 minutes
Rating: PG
Physical Street Date: 4/4
Digital Street Date: 4/4

Rebel Without a Cause
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Dolby Atmos TrueHD
Run Time: 111 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Physical Street Date: 4/4
Digital Street Date: 4/18

All-Star Superman gets 4K Disc in April

All-Star Superman gets 4K Disc in April

BURBANK, CA (February 15, 2023) – One of the Man of Steel’s most personal tales in DC history – from the mind of comics icon Grant Morrison, and produced under the expert oversight of animation legends Bruce Timm and Dwayne McDuffie – All-Star Superman will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD for the very first time on April 18, 2023 from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.

Grant Morrison’s beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Superman’s heroic final days on Earth is brought to exquisite, animated life in All-Star Superman. The film begins as the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) but, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation – which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms – finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor’s perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth’s safety before his own impending end with one final, selfless act.

Twelve years after its initial release, All-Star Superman holds a “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was the 10th in the ongoing series of DC Universe Movies and DC Animated Movies that now number more than 50 films across 17 years.

The star-studded voice cast is headed by James Denton (Good Witch, Desperate Housewives), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Good Girls) and Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace) as Superman, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, respectively. Other noteworthy cast members are seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up, Elf, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Perry White, Golden Globe winner Frances Conroy (American Horror Story, Joker, Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds, Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise) as Jimmy Olsen and Linda Cardellini (Avengers: Endgame, Dead to Me, ER) as Nasty.

Rounding out the impressive cast are Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Steve Blum (Star Wars: Rebels, Cowboy Bebop, Naruto), Catherine Cavadini (Elvis, Soul, The Powerpuff Girls), Finola Hughes (General Hospital, Staying Alive), Alexis Denisof (Guardians of the Galaxy, Angel), Obba Babatunde (S.W.A.T., That Thing You Do!), John DiMaggio (Futurama, Interview with the Vampire), Chris Cox (Family Guy), Robin Atkin Downes (The Strain, Batman: The Long Halloween), Kevin Michael Richardson (Mortal Kombat, The Simpsons), Fred Tatasciore (Star Trek: Lower Decks, American Dad!) and Michael Gough (Overwatch, Batman: Arkham Origins).

All-Star Superman is executive produced by animation guru Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) and directed by Sam Liu (Batman: The Killing Joke, The Death and Return of Superman) from a script by acclaimed animation/comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Static Shock, Justice League/Justice League Unlimited).

McDuffie, an incomparable force in the comics and animation realm, was a co-founder of Milestone Media, the industry’s most successful minority-owned-and-operated comic company. His creations are headlined by Static Shock, for which he won a Humanitas Prize in 2003, and he served as producer in helping guide the beloved Justice League/Justice League Unlimited animated series. McDuffie passed away in 2011 at the age of 49.

All-Star Superman will be available to purchase April 18, 2023 on 4K Ultra HD both online and in-store at major retailers.

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

The Art of the All-star Adaptation (New Featurette) – Go behind the scenes and inside the process of screenwriting, character designing and scoring the animated adaptation of the quintessential Superman comic series, All-Star Superman. This fascinating featurette includes insight from executive producer Bruce Timm, director Sam Liu, character designer Dusty Abell and composer Christopher Drake.

An All-Star Salute to the Silver Age Superman (New Featurette) – Explore DC’s historical inspirations in Grant Morrison’s love letter to the wildly fantastic Silver Age of Superman in comics.

Superman Now (Featurette) – In a moment of inspiration, Grant Morrison was provided an opportunity to revamp the Man of Steel into something modern, something more relevant for today’s audience. This is the story of All-Star Superman – where it all started, and what it came to be.

The Creative Flow: Incubating the Idea with Grant Morrison (Featurette) – A detailed look at Grant Morrison’s original sketches and ideas.

Audio Commentary – Featuring the thoughts of Bruce Timm and Grant Morrison.

Digital Comic Book – All-Star Superman

Pricing and film information:

PRODUCT SRP
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack* $33.99 USA

  • Features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in hi-definition, and a digital version of the movie

Languages: English, French, and Spanish
Running Time: 76 minutes
Rated PG for some violence