Blu-ray box set - The Checkout presented by Ben's Bargains tagline Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:01:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 2020 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2020-gift-guide-top-30-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/ https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2020-gift-guide-top-30-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/#respond Mon, 16 Nov 2020 09:30:00 +0000 2020-11-16 01:30:00 https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020BlurayGiftSets-120x134.jpg 0 Joe Warner https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/?p=40192 Joe Warner

While moviegoing has fallen on hard times during the pandemic, home video viewing has soared. These days, most viewers like to stream their entertainment, but in a dystopian future where the internet is banned, you’ll be happy to have your favorite movies on physical media. All kidding aside, with studios moving away from physical discs […]

2020 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> Joe Warner

2020 Gift Guide

While moviegoing has fallen on hard times during the pandemic, home video viewing has soared. These days, most viewers like to stream their entertainment, but in a dystopian future where the internet is banned, you’ll be happy to have your favorite movies on physical media.

All kidding aside, with studios moving away from physical discs in favor of streaming, now is the best time to grab some of the wonderful 4K and Blu-ray editions that are circulating out there—featuring the kind of nifty packaging, special features/commentary and collectible pack-ins you won’t get from a digital download.

Below are our top thirty 4K and Blu-ray gift ideas that were released in 2020. Check out last year’s list, too, for many more good ones. Watch for price drops and deals on Ben’s in the coming weeks (set deal alerts here)!

Note: Links below are to Amazon (or Best Buy in some cases due to availability). Street prices are listed in parentheses.

Modern Classics on 4K

2020 continued to see restorations and reissues of modern classics from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and ’00s released on 4K.

  1. The Mask of Zorro (1998): This fun romp starring Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones gets the 4K (HDR10) treatment with dazzling results. ($23)
  2. Total Recall: 30th Anniversary (1990): Ahnuld and Sharon Stone go to Mars in this violent Paul Verhoeven sci-fi action thriller. ($18)
  3. Jaws: 45th Anniversary Limited Edition (1975): Steven’s Spielberg’s opus to monster movies receives an impressive 4K facelift from the original camera negative. ($20)
  4. 300 (2007): Meme-worthy and innovative, Zack Snyder’s Battle of Thermopylae gets thoroughly amped up on 4K (HDR10) and Dolby Atmos. ($25)
  5. Beverly Hills Cop (1984): Eddie Murphy solidified his place in the Hollywood firmament with this genre-busting comedy that shattered box office records. ($20)
  6. Gladiator / Braveheart 2-Movie Collection (2000/1995): These two epics were separately released on 4K in 2018, but get the value combo treatment in 2020. ($28)
  7. Mad Max (1979): The original post-apocalyptic action thriller established Mel Gibson as a worldwide star and over 40 years later gets a 4K Dolby Vision HDR upgrade. ($40)
  8. The Hunt for Red October (1990): The late, great Sean Connery stars as a Russian sub commander in the best Tom Clancy adaptation yet made and never loses his Scottish burr. Deal with it. ($28)
  9. Top Gun (1986): This 1980s time machine stars Tom Cruise in his superstar-making vehicle, while director Tony Scott’s inimitable style has never looked better in 4K. ($15)

Gift Sets

Gift sets are for the super fan who wants everything, but they will definitely leave a dent in the wallet.

  1. The Office: The Complete Series (34-Disc Blu-ray): You can follow The Office from Netflix to Peacock in January 2021, or you can just own the whole series outright on Blu-ray. What say you?! ($112)
  2. Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection (33-Disc 4K+Digital): Fans will be blown away by how good the series looks on a physical format (vs. streaming), whether or not they liked the final season. ($195)
  3. Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy (7-Disc 4K+Blu-ray+Digital): Go back in time with Marty and Doc in a souped-up 4K restoration (HDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+) with some new bonus features like the “Lost Audition Tapes.” ($40)
  4. Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection (3-Disc Blu-ray+Digital): 60 Bugs Bunny animated theatrical shorts are included (30 of which have never been released on Blu-ray or DVD), plus a new “doc” (digital only) and a Bugs Bunny Funko figure. ($73)
  5. The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended & Theatrical, 9-Disc 4K+Digital): LOTR on 4K, it doesn’t get much better than this. Well, until summer 2021 when the Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes out. Hey, at least it’s not Star Wars on home video… ($90) Also available with a replica of The One Ring in a fancy book-style Collector’s Gift Set. ($150)
  6. Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (27-Disc 4K+Blu-ray+Digital): Star Wars on 4K, it doesn’t get much better than this. Wait, the original theatrical cuts of the OT are not included? Sigh… here we go again. ($200)
  7. The Flintstones: The Complete Series (10-Disc Blu-ray): All 166 episodes of prime time’s first animated series are included in vibrant full 1080p HD. ($61)

Cult Classics & Genre Gems

Thanks to passionate fans, these special home video releases saw the light of day.

  1. The Last Starfighter: Special Edition (Blu-ray): Arrow Video restored this beloved 1984 sci-fi movie from a 4K scan, and threw in a bunch of new extras, including commentary with Lance Guest.
  2. The Goonies (4K+Blu-ray+Digital): Spielberg produced this Gen-X childhood favorite about treasure hunting kids in Oregon. ($25) Also available with collectibles in a Special Edition Gift Box. ($50)
  3. Popeye (Blu-ray+Digital): This very underrated 1980 musical, starring Robin Williams as the titular comic character and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl, is finally being released on Blu-ray. ($10)
  4. The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (Blu-ray+Digital): Director Francis Ford Coppola got the go-ahead to recut 1990’s much-maligned Godfather Part III to closer approximate author Mario Puzo’s original vision. ($17)
  5. Flash Gordon: Limited Edition (4K+Blu-ray): Flash, ah-ahhh! You remember the Queen song, and the rest is… well, interesting. Nonetheless, it underwent an extensive restoration under supervision of director Mike Hodges. ($20) Also available with collectibles in a Limited Edition Box Set. ($40)

Golden Age Movies in 4K

These classical Hollywood pictures got brand-new life in beautiful 4K restorations.

  1. Spartacus (2-Disc 4K+Blu-ray+Digital): After a long wait, the spectacular 4K restoration of Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 epic is finally seen on 4K disc (HDR10, Dolby Vision) in the film’s original 3+ hour running time. ($18)
  2. Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 1 (17-Disc 4K+Blu-ray+Digital): Includes Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Dr. Strangelove, Gandhi, A League of Their Own, Jerry Maguire and most notably, for the first time on 4K disc, David Lean’s masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia. ($165)
  3. The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection (8-Disc 4K+Blu-ray+Digital): Includes 4 of Hitch’s most well-known Hollywood pictures for the first time on 4K—Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho (2 versions) and The Birds—all in a collectible digibook.

New Releases in 4K

Tenet is the one “new release” on this list that actually debuted in theaters in 2020. The rest are from 2019, but the home video versions were released this year.

  1. 1917: Winner of the 2020 Golden Globes for best motion picture (drama), this showy “single take” WWI epic can also stand in as your 4K reference disc. ($18)
  2. Tenet: Acclaimed director Christopher Nolan’s cerebral sci-fi thriller hit theaters during a pandemic but will undoubtedly find new life on home video. ($30)
  3. John Wick: Chapters 1-3: The individual movies have been previously released on 4K, but now all you John(ny)-Come-Latelys can get the value combo pack. ($28)
  4. Jumanji: The Next Level: The totally unnecessary sequel to 2017’s surprise hit Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is still a mostly fun movie when it focuses on the four main leads. ($20)
  5. Ford v. Ferrari: Director James Mangold captures the visceral excitement of race car driving in the 1960s, and the fantastic Dolby Atmos soundtrack is a treat. ($15)
  6. Frozen II: Regardless of whether it lived up to its high expectations, this sequel is still a hit with kids and the 4K transfer is beautiful to behold. ($20)

Check Ben’s for the latest 4K & Blu-ray deals

2020 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2020-gift-guide-top-30-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/feed/ 0 2019 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2019-gift-guide-top-30-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/ https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2019-gift-guide-top-30-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/#respond Wed, 06 Nov 2019 23:01:07 +0000 2019-11-06 15:01:07 https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Toy-Story-4-120x134.jpg 0 Joe Warner https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/?p=36341 Joe Warner

Are we in the twilight of physical media? It seems so: the MPAA reported earlier this year that sales of discs have dropped 50% over the past 5 years, while DVD (gasp) still accounts for nearly 60% of all disc sales worldwide… with 4K Blu-ray at a piddling 5.3%. Yikes! Plus, Samsung dropped out of […]

2019 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> Joe Warner

Are we in the twilight of physical media? It seems so: the MPAA reported earlier this year that sales of discs have dropped 50% over the past 5 years, while DVD (gasp) still accounts for nearly 60% of all disc sales worldwide… with 4K Blu-ray at a piddling 5.3%. Yikes! Plus, Samsung dropped out of producing new 4K Blu-ray players… and we’re starting to see digital-only 4K releases for catalog titles like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Lawrence of Arabia.

Meanwhile, this year saw the introduction of streaming services from big hitters like Disney and Apple, joining an already crowded field filled with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, CBS, Paramount and more. Even boutique label Criterion now has a streaming service. HBO is coming out with a beefed-up new service called HBO Max that will be WarnerMedia’s spearhead into the streaming wars. The studios are betting big on digital media, the new cash cow.

If you’re a home theater enthusiast, you know physical media still offers the very best in picture and sound. We probably won’t ever see 8K on disc, but studios will continue to make these discs if fans like you keep buying them. Criterion and Scream Factory are still producing titles loaded with bonus features, and retailers like Best Buy and Target are selling “exclusives” like SteelBook editions and special gift sets like the epic MCU Infinity Saga set (see below).

And now, without further ado, here are our top thirty 4K and Blu-ray gift ideas this year. Watch for price drops and deals on Ben’s in the coming weeks (set deal alerts here)!

Lavish Box Sets

Game of Thrones: The Complete Series (Collector’s Edition)

All eight seasons and 73 episodes in a wooden shadow box case, plus 15 hours of bonus content. Season 8? Oops. [Blu-ray + Digital] 12/3

($330) $250 | Buy on Amazon


Batman Beyond: The Complete Series Deluxe Limited Edition

In addition to 52 episodes, you get the movie Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, tons of bonus features and a Funko Pop! figure. [Blu-ray + Digital]

($100) $80 | Buy on Amazon

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series Limited Edition

All 279 episodes of Sheldon, Leonard and friends plus 12 hours of bonus footage, collector’s pop-up book and episode guide. [Blu-ray + Digital] 11/12

($200) $180 | Buy on Amazon

The Infinity Saga Collector’s Edition

All 23 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Iron Man (2008) to Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) are collected here in this individually numbered mega box set, exclusive to Best Buy. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] 11/15

$550 | Buy at Best Buy

Scooby-Doo Where Are You! The Complete Series 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

Includes all 41 episodes of the original cartoon show that premiered back in 1969, plus a 32-page encyclopedia and Pocket Pop! vinyl figure keychain. [Blu-ray + Digital]

($90) $70 | Buy on Amazon

Godzilla: The Showa Era Films (1954-1975)

Criterion has collected all 15 original Godzilla films from the Showa era in this 8-disc set, stuffed with the usual bevy of new interviews and special features, plus a hardcover book.[Blu-ray]

($165) $112 | Buy on Amazon

 

Twin Peaks: From Z to A

The entire Twin Peaks universe is here on 21 discs: the original 1990s series, the 2017 Limited Event series, the movie Fire Walk with Me plus its deleted scenes The Missing Pieces. Other goodies include bonus features, 5 x 5 printed cards and die-cut acrylic figure. [Blu-ray + Digital] 12/10

($156) $133 | Buy on Amazon

  

Monty Python’s Flying Circus: The Complete Series: Norwegian Limited Edition

Years in the making, this 7-disc set is a meticulous, uncut HD restoration of the entire original Monty Python’s Flying Circus sketch comedy show that first aired on BBC in 1969.[Region-free Blu-ray]

($140) $115 | Buy on Amazon

New Release Hits

 

Alita: Battle Angel

This imaginative and innovative “cyberpunk” adventure from Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron is based on the 1990s Japanese manga series of the same name. [4K + Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + Digital]

$27 | 4K on Amazon$20 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Avengers: Endgame

Marvel wraps up the saga with a 3-hour panoply of every single character in the MCU, tear-jerking moments, goofy humor and big budget CGI. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + Digital]

$29 | 4K on Amazon$24 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum

Keanu Reeves embellishes his Charles Bronson / Liam Neeson vengeance phase in this violent saga that’s captured audiences worldwide. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$24 | 4K on Amazon$18 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Joker

Joaquin Phoenix’s original performance as the titular Batman villain has already generated Oscar buzz in this semi-homage to gritty 1970s movies like Taxi Driver. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + Digital] 12/17

$30 | 4K on Amazon$25 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Feeling a bit like a fun diversion after the doom and gloom of Endgame, this second MCU Spidey outing has a clever villain and inventive set pieces. Also, audiences were introduced to Night Monkey (aka Spidey’s stealth suit)! [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$20 | 4K on Amazon$19 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s “love letter” to Hollywood has major Oscar buzz and gets an extra 20 minutes of additional scenes as bonus. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital] 12/10

$28 | 4K on Amazon$25 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Late last year, Sony Pictures released an “alternate” non-MCU animated take on Spider-Man that quickly shot onto the short lists of people’s favorite superhero movie of all time. It also revived the long-lost Spider-Ham who originally appeared in the 1980s. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$19 | 4K on Amazon$13 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Chernobyl

HBO released this 5-episode miniseries depicting the events surrounding the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster to near universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. [Blu-ray + Digital]

$35 | Buy on Amazon

 

Anniversaries & Restorations

 

It’s a Wonderful Life (4K Restoration)

The original 35mm camera negative of Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmastime classic was scanned in 4K for this meticulous restoration, which also has a featurette about Paramount’s restoration work. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$20 | 4K on Amazon

 

The Wizard of Oz: 80th Anniversary Edition (8K Restoration)

Warner newly scanned the original Technicolor camera negative in 8K resolution for the 80th anniversary with additional digital restoration. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$23 | 4K on Amazon

 

Moon: 10th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

Moon is one of the best sci-fi movies of the 21st century, and for its 10th anniversary, the original camera negative was scanned in 4K with visual effects upsampled from the original 2K. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital]

$18 | 4K on Amazon

 

The Karate Kid: 35th Anniversary (4K Restoration)

Sony spruced up this ’80s classic and pop culture phenomenon, scanning the original camera negative in 4K and adding some new interviews with surviving cast members. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital]

$19 | 4K on Amazon

 

Gremlins: 35th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

Another ’80s pop culture phenomenon gets the 4K treatment, with Warner scanning the original camera negative in 4K. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$22 | 4K on Amazon

 

Alien: 40th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

For its 40th anniversary, the original theatrical version of this terrifying sci-fi classic was scanned in 4K, plus the 2003 Director’s Cut (in non-native 4K) is available via seamless branching. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$15 | 4K on Amazon

Apocalypse Now Final Cut: 40th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam fever dream was treated to a year-long restoration, with the camera negative scanned in 4K plus a new Dolby Atmos sound mix. Coppola oversaw this “Final Cut,” removing 20 minutes from 2001’s “Redux,” which is included here along with the original theatrical cut. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$23 | 4K on Amazon

 

Glory: 30th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

One of the finest war movies ever made, this 1989 civil war story was remastered in 4K from the original camera negative. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$21 | 4K on Amazon

 

War and Peace (2K Restoration)

Boasting a cast of literally thousands, this Soviet-era equivalent of Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia rolled into one required over 10 years of painstaking restoration, assembling multiple partial negatives into the final 2K form. [Blu-ray]

$28 | Blu-ray on Amazon

Family Time

 

The Lion King (2019)

It’s been 25 years since Disney’s original Lion King ruled the box office to the tune of $1 billion, and this CGI remake surpassed the original’s box office take in less than 3 weeks. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$26 | 4K on Amazon$25 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World

The story of young Hiccup the Viking and his pet dragon Toothless reaches its satisfying conclusion in this popular and well-made series from DreamWorks Animation. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$13 | 4K on Amazon$15 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

The Secret Life of Pets 2

In unlikely casting, Harrison Ford plays his first-ever animated voice role in this sequel from Illumination, the same animation company that did the Despicable Me movies. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$28 | 4K on Amazon$21 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Shazam!

DC Films finally took a lighthearted approach to one of its comic book characters and it paid off, with Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) playfully chewing the scenery (and gum) in the title role. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$22 | 4K on Amazon$15 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Toy Story 4

9 years after Toy Story 3 (and 24 years after the original), Pixar once again brought its Midas touch to the franchise, but not without upsetting some viewers with its story choices. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$29 | 4K on Amazon$24 | Blu-ray on Amazon

Check the latest Ultra HD / Blu-ray deals on Ben’s

2019 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2019-gift-guide-top-30-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/feed/ 0 2018 Gift Guide: 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2018-gift-guide-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/ https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2018-gift-guide-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/#respond Fri, 02 Nov 2018 21:14:37 +0000 2018-11-02 14:14:37 https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20184kBlurayGiftGuide-120x134.jpg 0 Joe Warner https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/?p=33349 Joe Warner

t’s true 4K disc players have been left behind in the wake of widely proliferating 4K TVs and 4K streaming devices, and mainstream consumers may never totally warm up to them. However, the prices on 4K Blu-ray players have dipped below $100, and they can also be found in the newer Xbox Ones (“S” and […]

2018 Gift Guide: 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> Joe Warner

It’s true 4K disc players have been left behind in the wake of widely proliferating 4K TVs and 4K streaming devices, and mainstream consumers may never totally warm up to them. However, the prices on 4K Blu-ray players have dipped below $100, and they can also be found in the newer Xbox Ones (“S” and “X”).

Plus, as more and more 4K titles sink below the $20 mark, buyers will be more inclined to spring for 4K even if they don’t own a 4K player, as most releases now also include a standard Blu-ray and digital code.

We’ve taken a lay of the land and assembled a collection of the best 2018 4K and Blu-ray gifts that should appeal to movie and TV fans of one kind or another.

Ultimate Fan Service (Box Sets)

Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Collection

Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital (8 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $80 | Street: $50)

Click to Buy on Amazon

The centerpiece of this set is the new 4K HDR transfer of the 1993 original directed by Steven Spielberg. Too bad there’s nothing new in the way of extras like a fresh interview with the legendary director, but that seems to be the way these studio releases are going these days.

Oh, you also get The Lost World, Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World. YMMV with the sequels. And you’ll have to buy this year’s Fallen Kingdom separately, of course. 

Disney Classics Complete Movie Collection (1937-2018)

55-Disc Blu-ray (Region-Free) / DVD + 80-page Book

(2018 release | MSRP: £250 or $325 USD)

Click to Pre-order on Amazon.co.uk

Available in early December only in the UK, this massive set collects 55 Disney animated features from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs up through 2016’s Moana, with an open space for this fall’s upcoming Ralph Breaks the Internet. 

Note: 50 movies are region-free Blu-ray with 5 movies (including The Black Cauldron) on Region B/2 DVD. 

Community: The Complete Series

Blu-ray (12 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $58 | Street: $50)

Click to Buy on Amazon

The cult-classic comedy created by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty) is on Blu-ray for the first time and includes all 110 episodes from its six hilarious seasons. There’s already controversy that the packaging is super cheap and a few special features from the previous DVDs are missing.

However, Harmon’s season 6 commentaries from the Yahoo! run are now available, as they were not included in the previous DVD set.

Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series

35th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Blu-ray (12 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $43 | Street: $43)

Click to Buy on Amazon

While the entire 5-season run from the ’80s definitely looks its age, especially upscaled to 1080p, the breadth of extras included in the set make it a valuable collection.

In addition to the 96 live-action episodes created by Jim Henson for HBO, you get the 13-episode animated series (minus the live action segments), plus a bevy of documentaries, featurettes and singalongs. (How can you forget the iconic theme song?)

Batman: The Complete Animated Series

Deluxe Limited Edition Blu-ray + Digital (12 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $113 | Street: $90)

Click to Buy on Amazon

Includes all 85 remastered episodes from the original 1990s show, plus 24 episodes from The New Batman Adventures and two movies: Mask of the Phantasm and Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero. Other collectibles include 3 Funko Pops (Batman, Harley Quinn and Joker) and an art book.

Smash Hits (aka Black Friday Loss Leaders)

Avengers: Infinity War

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code Cinematic Universe Edition (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $40 | Street: $25)

4K on AmazonBlu-ray on Amazon

With upwards of $700 million in domestic box office grosses and nearly that many Marvel characters featured in the 2-1/2 hour running time, the Avengers show little signs of faltering…except that Black Panther has taken its crown as box office champ.

Debate continues to rage whether Thanos looks great or terrible as an all-CGI creation.

Black Panther

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code Cinematic Universe Edition (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $40 | Street: $25)

4K on AmazonBlu-ray on Amazon

Early in the year, Black Panther blew up on the pop culture scene and went on to gross more than $700 million at the US box office.

Highlights of this home video release are the sparkling HDR10 transfer—the movie was shot in ARRIRAW 3.4K—and the audio commentary by talented director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station).  

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $40 | Street: $20)

4K on AmazonBlu-ray on Amazon

This reboot of a ’90s board game movie was a surprise hit last winter ($400+ million domestic) because the filmmakers actually cared to develop the characters amidst the wackiness. They’re almost forgiven the inevitable (mediocre) sequel. Plus, the highly detailed 4K picture looks fantastic.

Note: the Blu-ray release also includes a Blu-ray 3D disc, something you don’t see often these days.

Incredibles 2

Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $40 | Street: $30)

4K at TargetBlu-ray at Target

Arriving 14 years after the original movie—one of the crown jewels of the Pixar cinematic universe—Incredibles 2 (and returning director Brad Bird) had a lot to live up to. So far, it’s grossed over $600 million in the US alone, so while it’s unlikely to catch the Avengers/Black Panther stratosphere, it’s by far the highest grossing Pixar movie to date, and that’s saying a lot.

Big box store Target will also be releasing an exclusive edition 4K steelbook ($33) that includes a filmmaker gallery and storybook.

Dazzle Your Friends!

2001: A Space Odyssey

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital (3 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $42 | Street: $23)

Click to Buy on Amazon

With the contributions of former Stanley Kubrick associate Leon Vitali as well as acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, this new 4K transfer (HDR10 and Dolby Vision) was lifted from a new 8K scan of the original 65mm camera negative (holy grail for transfers). This will be your new reference disc for classic movies. (The standard Blu-ray is newly remastered, as well.)

As seems like a troubling trend with many new studio re-releases on 4K, the extras are all ported from the previous Blu-ray release, so don’t expect anything new there.

Blade Runner 2049

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $30 | Street: $15)

4K on AmazonBlu-ray on Amazon

35 years is an outrageously long time to wait between sequels, but Blade Runner 2049 arguably outdoes the original. While the visual palette matches Ridley Scott’s stunning and oft-copied production design, director Denis Villeneuve (The Arrival) expands the world and improves the storyline.

Aside from the inclusion of the YouTube “Prologues” that appeared before the film’s release, the extras are not particularly special and are all found on the Blu-ray disc, which is standard these days.

 

Isle of Dogs

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $20 | Street: $14)

Click to Buy on Amazon

Surprisingly, Fox opted to not release Wes Anderson’s latest stop-motion extravaganza on 4K, although maybe that’s in keeping with the quirky filmmaker’s retro reputation. Nonetheless, the effort here (captured from 2K digital intermediate) is fantastic for Blu-ray and does justice to Anderson’s various and sundry artistic flourishes.

The extras here are scant, but expect Criterion Collection, which does special editions of every Anderson film, to serve up a ton of them when that eventually is released.

Oldies but Goodies

Saving Private Ryan

Commemorative 20th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $25 | Street: $20)

Click to Buy on Amazon

Has it really been 20 years? Steven Spielberg’s graphic foray to the front lines of World War II has been given a reference quality 4K HDR transfer from the original 35mm. It also gets a new Dolby Atmos mix that punches up the battle sequences’ immersive sound. With Saving Private Ryan, Paramount has produced one of the best back catalog 4K discs yet.

It also looks like the studio’s whole home video budget went into the picture restoration because the extras are just ported from older Blu-ray editions.

Grease

40th Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $23 | Street: $17)

Click to Buy on Amazon

Paramount also does a bang-up job with the 4K transfer of an even older catalog title, Grease (1978). Director Randal Kleiser spent about four months supervising the restoration from the original negative and 70mm sound mix to a new 4K HDR scan and 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio. Now this box office hit looks and sounds the best it will probably ever look and sound on home video.

There are a handful of new extras for the 40th anniversary (about a half hour’s worth), but mostly stuff from the previous Blu-ray version.

The Princess Bride

The Criterion Collection Blu-ray + Clothbound Book (1 Disc)

(2018 release | MSRP: $40 | Street: $23)

Click to Buy on Amazon

Although it wasn’t a big hit at the time of its release, The Princess Bride (1987) has aged very well and attracted new fans from subsequent generations. And although it is not a 4K release, this latest home video edition is a fantastic Blu-ray transfer from a 4K scan, in keeping with Criterion’s reputation for meticulousness.

Criterion assembled just about every extra feature and commentary out there for this movie, even the ones from the ’90s Laserdisc (gasp), but there’s not much new for this edition. They did, however, throw in a 36-page commemorative hardcover book to sweeten the deal.

Family Time

Blue Planet II

4K Ultra HD (4 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $60 | Street: $35)

4K on AmazonBlu-ray on Amazon

Buy it for the pretty 4K nature photography; stay for the inimitable David Attenborough’s narration and storytelling. The series’ 7 episodes are contained on the first 3 discs with a 50-minute “Making Of” documentary on the 4th (standard Blu-ray) disc.

Like last year’s Planet Earth II release, there’s no Blu-ray or digital copy included with the 4K release. You have to buy all 3 formats separately. I say again, Boo, BBC, booooo!

Peter Pan

65th Anniversary Edition (Signature Collection) Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $23 | Street: $23)

Click to Buy on Amazon

Disney’s Signature Collection re-releases are notable only for the inclusion of the now-ubiquitous digital copy (Movies Anywhere compatible). Otherwise the 1080p transfer is the same as the 5-year-old Diamond Edition, now out of print.

Disney did add a couple short 2018 bonus features for this 6th (!) home video release of the beloved animated film: one about Walt Disney’s interest in flight and the other a conversation with the actors who played the voices of Wendy and John.  

The Lion King

Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Signature Collection) 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code (2 Discs)

(2018 release | MSRP: $30 | Street: $30)

Click to Pre-Order at Target

Debuting in 1994, Disney’s The Lion King essentially became the Star Wars of the Millennial generation, although let’s face it, Simba’s Pride is no Empire Strikes Back. Also like Star Wars, it’s been released in countless home video editions… so the new 4K Signature Collection Edition, which is not set to hit stores till December 4th, certainly won’t be the last!

There are not a lot of details currently available about the 4K transfer or any new extra features, but expect Disney to give one of its crown jewels a superlative polish.

Check the latest Ultra HD / Blu-ray deals on Ben’s

2018 Gift Guide: 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2018-gift-guide-4k-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/feed/ 0 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2017-holiday-gift-guide-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/ https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2017-holiday-gift-guide-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2017 13:30:54 +0000 2017-11-10 05:30:54 https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Wonder-Woman-feature-120x134.jpg 3 Joe Warner http://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/?p=26135 Joe Warner

With physical disc sales dwindling and studios spending less and less on them, it might be easy for a movie collector to feel a little glum. And cash grabs like The Godfather Blu-ray Collection: Omerta Edition and Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Edition—which add nothing at all from previous releases—might be making that same […]

2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> Joe Warner

With physical disc sales dwindling and studios spending less and less on them, it might be easy for a movie collector to feel a little glum. And cash grabs like The Godfather Blu-ray Collection: Omerta Edition and Buffy the Vampire Slayer 25th Anniversary Edition—which add nothing at all from previous releases—might be making that same movie collector a little angry.

Well, cheer up, because we’ve cooked up a list of noteworthy 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray releases for 2017 that’ll have you making unboxing videos like it’s 2007 all over again. (Please don’t.)

And remember, you’re not alone: your movie friend Christopher Nolan still prefers Blu-ray over Netflix.

Coffee Table Box Sets

Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick

(2017 release | MSRP: $130 | Street: $70)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • This 10-part, 18-hour documentary premiered on PBS in September and is spread out over 10 discs in 1.78:1 broadcast aspect ratio.
  • Written by Geoffrey Ward, who also collaborated with Burns on his classic series The Civil War from 1990.
  • Ken Burns, the premier documentarian of the past 30 years, is so ingrained in pop culture he has a zoom effect named after him. (You know what it is.) Plus, he’s been on The Simpsons three (!) times.
  • Includes over 100 minutes of featurettes and deleted sequences.

Planet Earth II 4K Ultra HD

(2017 release | MSRP: $50 | Street: $35)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • Shot with 4K, 5K and even 6K cameras. Yes, this will be one of those reference discs that you use to show off your home theater system to friends.
  • Contains all 6 episodes on 3 discs, plus one bonus behind-the-scenes feature. Each episode is just under an hour.
  • Narrated, of course, by the inimitable David Attenborough. (Seriously, who else?)
  • Boo-hiss, BBC: The 4K set does not include the standard Blu-ray and/or digital copy. They are separate purchases (Blu-ray / Digital HD).

100 Years of Olympic Films: 1912-2012 (The Criterion Collection)

(2017 release | MSRP: $400 | Street: $260)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • December release contains 53 movies from 41 editions of the Olympic Games, including a 4K restoration of the notorious Leni Riefenstahl’s Olympia, among others.
  • In addition to the 32 Blu-ray discs, there’s a fancy 216-page hardcover book (yes, a coffee table book).
  • The silent films have new scores composed by Maud Nelissen, Donald Sosin, and Frido ter Beek.
  • Director/producer Bud Greenspan made ten (!) Olympic features from the 1984 L.A. Summer Olympics to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

4K Box Sets for Geeks

Planet of the Apes Trilogy 4K Ultra HD

(2017 release | MSRP: $60 | Street: $50)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • This reboot of the campy 1960s and ’70s sci-fi series has some of the best motion-capture CGI we’ve seen on the big screen. ‘Cause they stuck with chimps instead of train conductors. (Remember The Polar Express? Shudder.)
  • Andy Serkis outdoes his mo-cap Gollum with an Oscar-worthy turn as Caesar, the super-smart, genetically modified chimp.
  • War for the Planet of the Apes, shot on the large-format 6K resolution ARRI Alexa 65, gets a brilliant showcase on 4K Blu-ray, although all 3 4K discs are sourced from 2K digital intermediates (DI’s).
  • This 6-disc collection has all 3 movies (“Rise,” “Dawn” and “War”) and includes the standard 1080p Blu-rays and Digital HD copies. Does not include DVD.

Harry Potter 8-Film Collection 4K Ultra HD

(2017 release | MSRP: $180 | Street: $150-$180)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • In 2017, the Harry Potter series received the 4K treatment with HDR enhancements, and the results are fantastic, considering Warner Bros. sourced 2K digital intermediates.
  • This set collects the 8 individual 4K releases that initially rolled out in the spring and finished in the fall, but doesn’t add anything extra or “collectible.”
  • Still, you’re saving a good chunk of money buying the whole set together, since each movie is around $25 to $30 separately.
  • A pity: If the Potter fan in your life already has one of the Blu-ray box sets, this isn’t a must-have.

Superhero Movies Old & New

Wonder Woman 4K Ultra HD Edition | Blu-ray 3D Edition

(2017 releases | MSRP: $30 / $35 | Street: $25 / $30)

4K Edition on Amazon

Blu-ray 3D Edition on Amazon

  • The 4K disc is gorgeous despite being sourced from a 2K digital intermediate. It includes a 1080p Blu-ray with some modest bonus features and deleted scenes and Digital HD copy.
  • Boo-hiss, Warner Bros.: If you want the stunning Blu-ray 3D version, you have to buy a separate release, which is also bundled with that same 1080p Blu-ray with bonus features and Digital HD copy.
  • The immersive, reference-quality Dolby Atmos mix takes advantage of all the modern audio gimmicks to make your home theater rumble.
  • Ironically, the well-received Wonder Woman has grossed over $800 million worldwide, but still less than the more-hated Batman v. Superman.

Superman The Movie: Extended Cut

(2017 release | MSRP: $22 | Street: $18)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • Old-school Christopher Reeve Superman is still the best Superman, and the beefed-up version of his 1978 debut gets a long-awaited Blu-ray release.
  • This is the 188-minute extended cut that first aired on TV as a two-parter over two nights in 1982.
  • Includes the 151-minute Special Edition that first appeared in 2005.
  • Also worth picking up the Superman II: Richard Donner Cut Blu-ray (2006) which restored director Richard Donner’s lost footage from the production. (The first two movies were filmed simultaneously.)

Spielberg vs. Nolan in 4K: Fight!

The Dark Knight Trilogy 4K | Interstellar 4K | Dunkirk 4K

(2017 releases | MSRP: $84 / $32 / $45 | Street: $71 / $26 / $30)

Dark Knight Trilogy 4K on Amazon

Interstellar 4K on Amazon

Dunkirk 4K on Amazon

  • Christopher Nolan, often considered the greatest director of his generation (Gen X), has a handful of his best works getting the 4K treatment in December.
  • Noted film enthusiast Nolan is personally involved with the 4K restorations, so they’re sure to be top-notch—and everything is being sourced from 4K digital intermediates.
  • The Batman movies will also be available as individual 4K releases.
  • 70% of Dunkirk was shot on IMAX film, and Nolan is particularly excited about 4K HDR doing it justice.
  • Update: The 21-disc Christopher Nolan Collection in 4K will also be available in December for a cool $150. It will have The Dark Knight Trilogy, Dunkirk and Interstellar plus Inception and The Prestige.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind 4K | E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K

(2017 releases | MSRP: $25 / $28 | Street: $20 / $25)

Close Encounters 4K on Amazon

E.T. 4K on Amazon

  • Steven Spielberg, often considered the greatest director of his generation (Baby Boomers), personally reviewed the 4K restorations of Close Encounters and E.T.
  • The new 4K Close Encounters is available in a standard 3-disc set and a limited edition gift set. Each set contains restored versions of the 1977 original theatrical release, 1980 special edition and 1997 director’s cut.
  • 4K E.T. is available in a 2-disc combo pack with 1080p Blu-ray and Digital HD copy and over 3 hours of bonus features and a 2-disc limited edition set that also includes the soundtrack and a behind-the-scenes book. Bonus: E.T. gets a DTS:X immersive audio mix.
  • These two remasters are “real 4K” because the original 35mm/70mm film negatives were scanned in 4K.

For the Old Timers

The Bridge on the River Kwai: 60th Anniversary 4K UHD

(2017 release | MSRP: $30 | Street: $25)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • The 60th Anniversary edition of David Lean’s Academy Award-winning masterpiece gets a full-on HDR-enhanced 4K restoration.
  • Includes a modern Dolby Atmos mix. Same bonus features as the 2011 Blu-ray edition.
  • Winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Kwai stands the test of time, looking the best it’s ever looked on home video.
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi’s masterful performance won him the Best Actor Oscar.

Rebecca (The Criterion Collection)

(2017 release | MSRP: $26 | Street: $23)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • This 1080p Blu-ray comes from a new 4K digital restoration overseen by Walt Disney Studios and sourced from the original 35mm camera negatives.
  • Alfred Hitchcock’s first Hollywood picture was produced by David O. Selznick (Gone with the Wind) and netted a Best Picture Oscar.
  • Two-disc set includes 2007 making-of doc, plus film historian commentaries and cast and crew interviews, including Hitchcock.
  • Criterion doing what it does best: Rebecca has never looked better on home video.

For the Kiddos

Peanuts Holiday Collection Deluxe Edition 4K UHD

(2017 release | MSRP: $35 | Street: $28)

Click to Buy on Amazon

  • You’ll be surprised how good these old ’60s and ’70s cartoons look, taken from Technicolor’s 4K scans of the original 35mm archives.
  • Watch it in the original 4:3 broadcast aspect ratio to get the full resolution.
  • Contains 9 holiday episodes in 4K HDR, including the classics—Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) and Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)—as well as lesser known oddities like It’s a Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984).
  • The 6-disc set also includes standard 1080p Blu-rays with Digital HD copies.

Walt Disney Signature Collection: Pinocchio | Bambi | The Lion King

(2017 re-releases | MSRP: $40 each | Street: $20-25 each)

Pinocchio (Signature) on Amazon

Bambi (Signature) on Amazon

Lion King (Signature) on Amazon

  • In 2017, Disney’s Signature Collection released 3 more beloved Disney movies that have been on Blu-ray before but now include digital HD copies for the first time. (These two-disc combo packs also include DVD.) Snow White and Beauty and the Beast were released last year.
  • The Pinocchio Blu-ray transfer is the same as the 2009 Platinum Edition but includes about 20 minutes of new bonus features as well as a Sing Along Edition.
  • The 75th Anniversary edition of Bambi has a Blu-ray transfer that’s nearly the same as the 2011 edition except with the original RKO title card restored. You also get about 30 minutes of new bonus features.
  • The Lion King Blu-ray transfer is mostly identical to its 2011 Diamond Edition release but with a couple restored effects and about 40 minutes of additional new bonus features.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide: Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans

]]> https://bensbargains.com/thecheckout/guides/2017-holiday-gift-guide-blu-ray-gifts-for-movie-and-tv-fans/feed/ 3