Michael Caine’s sleek, edgy performance as Jack Carter was the defining element of Mike Hodges’s highly-regarded – if not altogether classic – 1971 British gangster thriller GET CARTER (112 mins., R; Warner Archive). The movie, after receiving a stellar UHD from the BFI a year ago, now comes to the 4K format in the U.S. thanks to Warner Archive, reprising that disc’s highly detailed Dolby Vision HDR master.

Caine’s Carter is a tough, mean dude, a professional thug who returns home after his brother’s suspicious death. Inquisitive yet unrelenting in his pursuit of vengeance, Carter uncovers a tangled web of corruption and cover-up, with local gangs and his own pursuers trailing after him at every turn.

If there’s a definition for the word “cool” in terms of gangster pictures, “Get Carter” is pretty much it. Caine’s performance is justifiably considered one of his best, while Hodges’s script (adapted from Ted Lewis’s novel “Jack’s Return Home”) and direction slowly lure you into its lurid world of crime, one with as much internal violence as there is on-screen in the brutal, R-rated picture (which originally received an X at the time). Roy Budd’s music is only present in the film for a handful of minutes, but his motif and opening theme are supremely memorable — a perfect example of economic underscoring in early ’70s cinema.

Capturing a mood and tone that few films of its kind have been able to live up to, the original “Get Carter” is a supremely memorable and haunting work offering solid performances, tough action, and vivid settings.

Warner’s 4K UHD (1.85) of “Get Carter” works off the same BFI restoration that was released in the UK in 2024 by the BFI. It’s a Dolby Vision HDR transfer that’s natural looking and quite excellent, marked by crisp detail and a natural film-like appearance. The archival audio commentary by director Hodges (who struggled since the film’s release to produce consistently good films), Caine, and the cinematographer will be of much interest for fans of the film, diving into the picture’s enduring significance in the genre and accentuating the characteristics of Caine’s anti-hero. A lengthy international trailer has been included, along with a “music trailer” — a four-minute sequence that intercuts the film’s opening credits with Budd himself at the electronic keyboards, playing his theme while the movie is projected in the background.

Other extras have been carried over from the BFI release including a Kim Newman/Barry Forshaw commentary; a 2022 hour-long interview with Hodges; a segment on Roy Budd with “film music expert” Jonny Trunk; actress Petra Markham recalling her work on the film; and Tony Klinger remembering the work of this father, producer Michael Klinger.

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Also New on 4K UHD

JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (133 mins., PG-13; Universal): Mercenary Scarlet Johansson leads a team including doctor Jonathan Bailey into the only place where dinosaurs still flourish — down near the equator, and in particular, an abandoned InGen island where dino hybrids and mutants still live…and offer a potential cure for heart disease, provided the group can nab a trio of specimens predictably from the most dangerous beasties on the isle.

“Godzilla” (2014) director Gareth Edwards succeeds where too many of his predecessors failed with this apparent “standalone” entry in the long-running “Jurassic” series — bringing the series back to its “mysterious jungle island” roots and a straight-ahead survival story absent the eco-pretensions of the “Jurassic World” trilogy. Writer David Koepp’s script is far more mature and uncluttered than the last few installments, cross-cutting the group’s mission with a family just trying to stay alive after being shipwrecked in the same area, while Alexandre Desplat’s score is classy enough, with a flew John Williams shoutouts for good measure.

There’s no attempt to reinvent the cinematic wheel here, so “Rebirth”‘s focus is on action and set-pieces, and Edwards delivers in that regard with aplomb. In fact, this is the best-looking series entry since Spielberg’s 1993 original (kudos to cinematographer John Mathieson as well for his impressive widescreen lensing), with Edwards employing a sense of scale missing from previous “Park” sequels and delivering big-time action at a consistent rate. A raft sequence intended for the ’93 film is at last staged and delivers the goods, while the creatures are brilliantly detailed and there’s just enough story and human interest (plus a cute little triceratops dubbed “Dolores”) to go around.

“Rebirth” may not convince weary audiences that there was a creative need for this picture, but this is the kind of straight-ahead survival thriller that some fans were hoping for. After several bloated — albeit financially successful — outings, there’s life in this “World” yet.

Universal’s 4K UHD (2.39) includes gorgeous use of Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound in a reference quality presentation. Extras include deleted scenes, an alternate opening, Making Of documentary, Blu-Ray and Digital HD code.

It may not have been well liked at the time of its release, but director Stephen Hopkins and writer Akiva Goldsman’s 1998 remake of LOST IN SPACE (130 mins., PG-13; Arrow) hits 4K UHD this month in an Arrow Limited Edition, inviting viewers to reassess this expensive remake of the classic Irwin Allen ‘60s sci-fi TV series which failed to launch a new cinematic franchise in the late ‘90s.

Fresh off the disaster of “Batman & Robin,” Goldsman’s script manages to flush everything that made the original series so successful down the toilet, from its humor to human relationships, in one has to be one of the most insipid screenplays of its era. Characters speak to each other in the most unbelievable, unfunny, ridiculous gibberish (“I love you wife”), and often preach to one another in ’90s “sensitive” psychobabble – particularly when it comes to Goldsman and director Hopkins’s oh-so-dysfunctional portrait of the Robinson family. Naturally, this being the late ‘90s, dad (William Hurt) doesn’t have time for his kids. Daughter Judy (Heather Graham) is a nerdy scientist like her father, younger Penny (Lacey Chabert) is an angst-ridden teen obsessed with her hair, and little Will (Jack Johnson) is a misunderstood genius who’s having trouble at school. That leaves Mom (Mimi Rogers) to pick up the pieces of her unhappy domestic life and pack to the planets above to accompany her family on a mission that will save planet Earth, since our fossil feuls have been exhausted.

Anyhow, if that wasn’t bad enough, this “Lost in Space” truly gets even more lost when the Robinsons end up in an alternate galaxy – or something – after mad scientist Dr. Zachary Smith (Gary Oldman) sabotages the mission. One completely unexciting episodic adventure after another follows, not the least of which involves “Aliens”-styled, and poorly rendered, CGI spiders (except they’re not scary) and a time portal…or something…where the Robinsons meet a gloomy possible future. Oh, and there’s also a cute chameleon-like critter with no significance to the story at all. Worst of all is that Oldman’s “evil future self” mutates into a spider-creature before excreting a sac of eggs with baby arachnids that end up eating him!

Yes, it’s no surprise why “Lost in Space” failed to relaunch as a cinematic IP as we say nowadays – even now in Arrow’s great looking UHD (2.39) with its Dolby Vision HDR and fresh 4K remaster, which for a few minutes at least, might lead you into thinking “maybe this isn’t as bad as I remember.” Well, it is, pretty much, absent some elements like Bruce Broughton’s overworked score that, despite being plastered into nearly every scene, is still better than most anything being cranked out today.

Its biggest waste is the talented cast who try valiantly to lift the material: Hurt had once famously turned down “Jurassic Park” but found himself wishing he never had, as evidenced by taking the lead in this picture. He tries hard to emote when the material calls for it, as do Rogers and Graham, while the usually sunny Chabert – a few years prior to her becoming the defacto queen of the Hallmark Channel – pushes (too) hard against type as a whiny, quasi-goth teen. The biggest wash, though, is Oldman, who was turning out some oddball performances around this time and never seems properly connected to the material, while “Friends”’ Matt LeBlanc is stiff as Don West, though that’s somewhat understandable since it’s a role Sean Patrick Flanery inhabited before he was replaced during rehearsals.

While a financial disappointment, “Lost in Space” has managed to generate some fans and Arrow’s 4K restoration does feature both a strong remaster with its original 5.1 DTS MA sound and a number of new extras. These include interviews with Akiva Goldsman, Stephen Hopkins and Peter Levy, which are all fairly interesting.

Hopkins notes John Williams was the original composer of choice – with intentions to reprise his original theme(s) – before Jerry Goldsmith took over, only to have him depart also due to the movie’s release being delayed (Hopkins also notes that the finished film has too much music). Goldsman states he and Hopkins may not have always been on the same page about the movie’s tone, and also that he was initially in over his head producing the expensive picture by himself (New Line eventually sent over their own producer to get the film on track). There are also new chats with art director Keith Pain, Henson creature shop supervisor Kenny Wilson, sound mixer Simon Kaye and re-recording mixer Robin O’Donohue, plus a video essay by Matt Donato. Ample archival extras from the previous New Line releases (deleted scenes, two commentaries, featurettes, the trailer, music video and interviews) are also on-hand with new notes by Neil Sinyard and reprints of American Cinematographer articles.

New World Pictures’ cheapjack 1986 sequel to George Romero and Stephen King’s “Creepshow,” the unimaginatively titled CREEPSHOW 2 (90 mins., 1986, R; Arrow) is a badly-made follow-up featuring hideous animated sequences, tired stories and a general lack of enthusiasm. Romero collaborator Michael Gornick helmed this sequel, which Romero this time scripted himself, trying to recapture the old EC Comics flavor but mostly fizzling out with a trio of supposedly terrifying tales that are mostly old hat. Even the most effective of the batch, “The Raft,” which finds a group of standard ‘80s teens stalked by a killer oil slick on a lake, is distressingly predictable.

All that being said, fans should be excited by Arrow’s 4K restoration, newly produced, with Dolby Vision HDR (1.85) and a slew of audio options (PCM mono, stereo and 5.1 DTS MA remix). Comprehensive extras include commentary with Gornick; interviews with actors Daniel Beer and Tom Wright; conversations with Romero, make-up great Tom Savini (who plays “The Creep”), make-up artists Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero, who also discusses his work with Rick Baker; behind the scenes footage; an image gallery; trailers, and TV spots. The limited edition hardback packaging also includes a comic adaptation of the unfilmed segment “Pinfall” and writing by Michael Blyth.

THE ALTO KNIGHTS 4K UHD (123 mins., 2024, R; Warner): Raise your hand if you knew “Goodfellas” writer Nicholas Pileggi reunited with star Robert DeNiro last year. Turns out few people were aware of the very existence of “The Alto Knights,” a not inexpensive Warner production that finds DeNiro playing both crime boss Frank Costello and associate Vito Genovese, the latter failing to believe Costello’s overtures that he wants to leave the family business so to speak. A gang war ensues, but the good intentions are undone by pedestrian direction from Barry Levinson, who hasn’t turned out a decent movie in forever, and a tired DeNiro performance. Maybe with an infusion of energy in its star and director this might’ve worked 20-30 years ago, but “The Alto Knights” looks and plays like a museum exhibit instead of a movie. Warner’s 4K UHD (2.39) offers a superior Dolby Vision HDR grade of the picture and Dante Spinotti’s widescreen lensing over its previously issued Blu-Ray, while including the same Dolby Atmos soundtrack and Digital HD code.

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD 4K UHD/Blu-Ray Steelbook (96 mins., 2025, R; RLJ Entertainment): Horror shenanigans in time for Halloween from director Eli Craig, who, alongside Carter Blanchard, scripted this adaptation of Adam Cesare’s book about a young woman (Katie Douglas) who moves with her doctor dad to a quiet town named Kettle Springs. There, times are hard after the local syrup factory burned down – and, even worse, everyone’s being haunted by a killer clown named Frendo. Quite obviously inspired by the likes of “It” and the “Terrifier” series, this Shudder presentation is new on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray. RLJE’s Steelbook offers attractive hardbound packaging with collectible magnets and both the UHD and BD bundled together. The package also offers both 1080p and 4K (2.39) transfers with 5.1 DTS MA sound and a commentary track featuring Craig, Cesare, Douglas and her co-star Carson MacCormac.

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Warner Archive New Releases

Two new, value-packed Warner Archive “Collection” releases house previously-issued Blu-Ray titles in convenient multi-disc sets.

4-FILM COLLECTION: GRETA GARBO is highlighted by the 2023 Archive release of QUEEN CHRISTINA (99 mins., 1933), which is looked upon as one of the star’s greatest performances with Garbo essaying a 17th century Swedish queen ultimately torn between marriage to the King of Spain and his ambassador (John Gilbert). Rouben Mamoulian helmed this romantic and well-written picture packed with superb performances, an early MGM hit presented in a Blu-Ray (1.37 B&W, mono) transfer rich with detail for a film of its time. The disc also offers the trailer and a 1956 “MGM Parade” TV episode focused on Garbo’s legacy at the studio.

The set also includes the previously-issued Warner releases of ANNA CHRISTIE (89 mins., 1930), CAMILLE (109 mins., 1936) and the Ernest Lubisch classic NINOTCHKA (110 mins., 1939), each with its corresponding Blu-Ray extras (“Anna Christie,” for instance, includes both its respective English and German language versions).

The 6-FILM COLLECTION: ERROL FLYNN provides an even more expansive survey of matinee idol Flynn’s swashbuckling days in the Warner Bros. system.

While in need of a remaster, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (102 mins., 1938) still provides great fun for all ages (as I found out last year when I watched the film with my 11-year-old). The Flynn Technicolor classic is on-hand here along with the older restoration of Michael Curtiz’s THE SEA HAWK (128 mins., 1940); Flynn reteaming with Olivia de Havilland in SANTA FE TRAIL (109 mins., 1940); Lewis Milestone’s EDGE OF DARKNESS (119 mins., 1943); the war-time classic OBJECTIVE BURMA! (142 mins., 1945); and later escapist adventure ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN (110 mins., 1948).

Also New From Warner Archive: Ida Lupino stars as an overbearing sister who motivates sibling Joan Leslie to get out of their town and become a big star in the Warner Bros. drama THE HARD WAY (109 mins., 1943), a Jerry Wald production co-starring Jack Carson as a sympathetic performer also bulldozed by Lupino’s “Sister Dearest.” Vincent Sherman directed with a score by Heinz Roemheld, and Warner Archive’s superb new Blu-Ray (1.37 B&W) includes a Lux Radio Theater broadcast, two WB classic shorts and cartoons, and the trailer.

The great John Ford concluded his career with a curious MGM production, SEVEN WOMEN (87 mins., 1965), a set-bound affair about a group of disparate American women living in a Chinese mission circa the mid ‘30s. Anne Bancroft plays the doctor who spars with the mission’s pious head (Margaret Leighton) while a terrific supporting cast counts the likes of Sue Lyon, Flora Robinson, Woody Strode and Eddie Albert. Joseph LaShelle shot the film in Panavision fairly effectively which is vital as this is an otherwise claustrophobic picture that was mostly viewed as out of step with the times in the mid ‘60s. Ford devotees, of course, will want to give the picture another look thanks to Warner Archive’s gorgeous remaster (2.35, mono) with the movie benefiting from a supportive Elmer Bernstein score. Supplemental features include an animated short, the trailer, and production featurette “John Ford’s Magic Stage.”

THE HUCKLEBERRY HOUND SHOW The Complete Series Blu-Ray (2175 mins., 1958-61; Warner Archive): One of Hanna-Barbera’s enduring characters receives his due with a fully restored high-definition package of Huckleberry Hound’s original 68 half-hour episodes. Initially broadcast as “The Huckleberry Hound Show,” this Warner Archive Blu-Ray preserves the original formatting of this early Hanna-Barbera small-screen creation, with Huckleberry’s deliberate southern drawl on-hand alongside pals Pixie, Dixie and arch rival Mr. Jinks; there are also appearances from future superstars Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo for good measure.

A good deal of the charm associated with this release is that Warner Archive went back to the original 35mm negatives to produce 4K scans that preserve the series’ original breaks and bumpers, plus its vintage, original commercials, many of which are being shown here for the first time since the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. These unedited segments add immeasurable value to animated vignettes that the studio would recycle in different forms over the years following their initial broadcast.

Warner’s Blu-Ray offers 1.33 1080p transfers, 2.0 DTS MA mono soundtracks, a music video, a linguistics professor performing “Houndspeak,” and a tribute to voice artist extraordinaire Daws Butler.

Finally, DETROIT ROCK CITY (94 mins., 1999, R) sends Edward Furlong, Guiseppe Andrews, James DeBello and Sam Huntington off on a pilgrimage to a KISS concert in a routine coming-of-age comedy from director Adam Rifkin that managed to net a small cult following. Over 15 minutes of deleted scenes, three commentaries, two music videos, trailers, and other extras from New Line’s old “Platinum Series” DVD are on-hand in Warner’s Blu-Ray plus a detailed 1080p (2.40) transfer and 5.1 DTS MA sound.

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Also New From Arrow

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD 4K UHD (130/135 mins., 2008; Arrow): Famed Korean director Jim Jee-woon’s 2008 western is a wild and woolly affair set in the 1930s where a trio of disparate characters end up on a Manchurian express, all attempting to hunt down a treasure map. Joo Wong-soo is “The Good,” Lee Byung-hun is the “Bad,” and the “Weird” is a thief played by Song Kang-ho, each of whom is willing to do pretty much anything to find the actual whereabouts of the fortune they’re seeking.

This is an entertaining big-screen affair with humor, action and drama all offered in equal measure. Arrow’s Limited Edition 4K UHD box-set includes both the original Korean version and slightly shorter international edit (with a different ending) in Dolby Vision HDR (2.35) presentations and 7.1 Korean audio with English subs. Special features include commentaries by James Marsh and Pierce Conran plus a pair of archival commentaries (one on the international cut, another on the Korean version) by cast/crew including Jee-woon. A bonus Blu-Ray includes interviews with Jee-woon and Doo-hong, archival Making Of featurettes, trailers, and a collector’s book featuring essays by Darcy Paquet, Kyu Hun Kim, Cho Jae-whee and Ariel Schudson, three artcards and a double-sided fold-out poster.

Director Junya Sato and writer Zenzo Matsuyama adapted Seiichi Morimura’s book PROOF OF THE MAN (132 mins., 1977) for what became a major Kadokawa production offering a number of big stars: Toshiro Mifune, Yusaku Matsuda, Marika Okada, Joe Yamanaka, and even George Kennedy, playing a detective who helps his Japanese counterpart (Matusada) investigate the death of a mixed-race Harlem man killed in a Tokyo hotel elevator during a fashion designer’s (Okada) show. Not released outside Japan, this first-ever U.S. home video edition features a 4K restoration (1.85, mono) on Blu-Ray with extras including a commentary by Rob Buscher and DJ Skeme Richards; a video intro by Earl Jackson; a featurette with critics/Sato devotees Tatsuya Masuto and Masaaki Nomura; trailers; and booklet notes from Michelle Kisner and Alexander Zahlten.

HELLBENDER Blu-Ray (83 mins., 2021; Arrow): Interesting low-budget affair from Toby Poser and John Adams stars their daughter Zelda Adams as a home-schooled teen with an “immune disorder” who soon begins to find out what’s truly ailing her and her “Mother” (also Poser) as well. Shot during COVID with a heavily improvised script, this short but not unengaging film offers some surprises with the Adams’ other daughter, Lulu, likewise co-starring. Arrow’s Blu-Ray includes a 1080p (1.85, 2.0) transfer with a commentary from “The Adams Family,” a video essay from Jen Handorf, featurette on Trey Lindsay’s visual effects, four music videos and a short by Zelda Adams, all dressed up with Arrow’s customary booklet notes and slipcover.

Radiance New Releases: Carlos Saura’s LOS GOLFOS (84 mins., 1959) was one of the freshest entries into the international “New Wave” of ‘50s/’60s movie cinema, with the director and producer Pere Portabella uniquely (for its time) staging its tale of petty young criminals planning a robbery in order to subsidize one of their member’s entries into a bullfighting competition. The stark B&W cinematography adds to the gritty realism of Saura’s pseudo-documentary approach, restored in a 4K restoration (1.33, mono, Spanish with English subtitles) by the Filmoteca Espanola. Supplements in Radiance’s limited edition include an introduction by Esteve Riambau; an interview with Ehsan Khoshbakht; a featurette on censored scenes; two other shorts by Saura; and a limited-edition booklet featuring reprinted letters that detail the director’s battle with Spanish censors over edits…in THE BETRAYAL (87 mins., 1966), director Rokuzo Tanaka stages a delectable widescreen samurai conflict between Raizo Ichikawa’s “honorable” warrior and the clansmen who banish him after he takes the rap for another member’s murder. The tension mounts in Tanaka’s genre favorite, preserved here in another Radiance limited edition (2.39, B&W, Japanese with English subs) Blu-Ray. The disc sports a selected scene commentary by critic Tom Mes; a visual essay by Philip Kemp; another visual essay by Mes looking at Tanaka’s work; and writing from author Alain Silver.

FLAMING BROTHERS Blu-Ray (102 mins., 2010; Eureka): Chow Yun-Fat and Alan Tang play orphans who grow up on the mean streets of Hong Kong and eventually are brought into the triad. Hoping to at last legitimize themselves with the opening of their nightclub, the duo are forced to deal with a thug (Patrick Tse) and his henchman who want a piece of their action, and will stop at nothing to get it. Wong kar-wai, who later directed the celebrated “Chungking Express,” wrote this well-regarded character piece spiced up with action set-pieces and restored in a 2K transfer (1.85) by Eureka. The disc sports Cantonese audio, English subs, a new commentary by Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, a video locations featurette by CFK, archival interview with director Joe Cheung, and a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring notes by Camille Zaurin.

THE CAT Blu-Ray (89 mins., 1992; 88 Films): Utterly bonkers, and quite entertaining, early ‘90s Hong Kong import finds two humanoids from outer space and their third team member – a cat! – here on Earth attempting to stop a gooey alien from taking over the galaxy. Lam Nai-Choi’s picture is fast-moving to the degree there’s never a sufficient amount of character development on-hand for the viewer to become emotionally engaged – that said, the movie is still fun and crazy with adept action set-pieces and practical special effects work making for a heady brew for genre buffs.

Eureka’s Blu-Ray box-set includes a fresh 2K restoration (1.85, Cantonese mono with English subtitles) with commentary by Frank Djeng, an interview with writer Gordon Chan, the Japanese cut in standard-def, and Eureka’s attractive hardbound, limited-edition packaging which includes a 40-page book with essays by Paul Bramhall and Matthew Edwards.

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TV on Disc

Co-produced by Jack Webb, EMERGENCY! (aprx. 111 mins., 1972-77) ran for six years on NBC, far outliving its premiere status as a mid-season replacement. Mixing up action with medical drama, the L.A. set series followed paramedics Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe while working alongside them at “Rampart Hospital” were doctors Robert Fuller and Bobby Troup, along with nurse Julie London, who took over care from the first responders.

This episodic and entertaining series was broadcast for the bulk of the decade before ending in 1977; it carried over into some six TV movies that aired through 1979, all of which have been collected in a good-looking, no-frills Blu-Ray anthology from Universal. The 1080p (1.33) AVC encoded transfers and mono soundtracks are all superb with fine detail and solid compression in Universal’s box-set, which offers a handful of individual cases, each housing multiple seasons.

For fans of ‘70s TV this comes highly recommended and a nice companion piece with Universal’s previous TV-on-Blu-Ray boxes for the “Incredible Hulk,” the “Six Million Dollar Man” and the “Bionic Woman.”

NCIS: SYDNEY Season Two DVD (7 hours, 2025; CBS/Paramount): Season 2 of the latest NCIS spin-off finds a mix of American and Australian agents working together to keep the peace in the planet’s most contested ocean. With Michelle Mackey and Jim “JD” Dempsey leading the way, both Yanks and Aussies team up to solve a raft of cases in this sophomore edition of “NCIS: Sydney.” CBS’ DVD includes 16:9 transfers and 5.1 audio across its three disc set…In Season 4 of YOU (481 mins., 2025; Warner), Penn Badgley is back as psycho Joe, who hits Europe hoping for a clean slate but soon finds out another killer may be in his midst. A good array of twists and tuns are served up in this suspenseful fourth season of “You,” on DVD from Warner sporting 16:9 transfers and 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtracks.

Not to be outdone by its many spin-offs, Season 22 of the “mothership” itself, NCIS (14 hours, 2024-25; CBS/Paramount) is also newly released on DVD. This time around, Parker uncovers more information regarding his mother’s death while Torres engages with Robin, Knight’s sister, and McGee is taken to task regarding his latest book. A fake wedding and agent Sawyer’s return all figure in this most recently completed season of the smash hit show, with CBS’ five-disc set including behind-the-scenes featurettes, 16:9 transfers and 5.1 sound.

Coming September 23^rd from CBS and Paramount, WATSON Season One (aprx. 10 hours, 2025) is yet another CBS mystery procedural, this one recasting the Conan Doyle supporting star as the hero – a modern-day geneticist (and freelance detective) who finds himself working in Pittsburgh after Holmes’ death at the hands of Moriarty…who may still be alive. CBS’ four-disc set features 16:9 transfers, 5.1 sound, two featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel.

PAW PATROL: FIRE RESCUE DVD (aprx. 132 mins., 2024-25; Paramount): The long-running kids franchise is back with a DVD anthology collecting recently produced episodes from the “Paw Patrol Fire Rescue” series. This edition finds the pups running their own, all-new firehouse when Marshal and friends are called upon to extinguish small blazes at lemonade stands and even a marshmallow roast gone wrong. Kids should enjoy the five episodes with over two hours of content in Paramount’s DVD (16:9, 5.1).

SPENSER FOR HIRE – The Complete Series DVD (1985-88; Warner): Fan-favorite ABC detective drama served as an ideal vehicle for star Robert Urich, playing the title role from Robert Parker’s bestselling books: a veteran Boston private-eye who utilizes his previous police experience to take on assorted cases alongside pal Hawk (the suave Avery Brooks) and girlfriend (Barbara Stock) who refuses to marry him.

“Spenser” was mostly filmed on location and benefited from the series’ use of Boston locations through its three seasons, which aired on ABC to decent ratings. After the show’s conclusion, Urich returned for a number of TV movies before handing the torch over to Joe Mantegna and, more recently, Mark Wahlberg for his Netflix adaptation of the series (which, to date, has been one-and-done).

Warner Archive’s Complete Series DVD houses all three seasons of the show in 4:3 transfers with mono sound for the first two seasons and stereo for its third and final year.

THE WHITE LOTUS – The Complete Third Season DVD (514 mins., 2025; HBO/Warner): Third season of the high-rated HBO series received mostly positive reviews despite its finale leaving some fans feeling as if this edition of “The White Lotus” hadn’t quite measured up to its predecessors. That said, there’s no question the cast is great, with Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs and Leslie Bibb leading the way in its examination of disparate characters at a Thailand spa trying to overcome and deal with their respective issues. Warner’s DVD includes featurettes and behind-the-scenes segments, 16:9 transfers and 5.1 soundtracks.

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Quick Takes

BRIDE HARD Blu-Ray (104 mins., 2025, R; Magenta Light): Rebel Wilson has not only lost a lot of weight but also whatever comedic prowess she once had also, here playing a secret agent pressed into duty after terrorists decide to take over her friends’ wedding. With Bruckheimer acolyte Simon West behind the scenes “Bride Hard” attempts to put a predictable comic spin on the old Bruce Willis classic but it’s strained and seldom funny, with the cast trying too hard (including Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who especially deserves better than this coming off her performance in “The Holdovers”). Magenta Light’s Blu-Ray is now available (1.78, 5.1/2.0).

GHOST IN THE SHELL – SAC_2045 Season 2 Blu-Ray (300 mins., 2025; Shout! Factory): After being reactivated by the Prime Minister, “Section 9” is back to take on AI threats after the “Simultaneous Global Default” sends all countries into a neverending battle with artificial intelligence. On the docket this time is the hunt for “post-human” Takashi Shimamura, leading to a greater threat involving refugees, American intervention forces, and a hijacked nuclear submarine. This second season of “SAC_2045” leaps from Netflix to Blu-Ray featuring all 12 episodes in 1080p transfers and Japanese DTS MA audio with English subtitles. Shout’s hardbound limited edition includes a 100 page artbook, a pair of art cards, an A3 folded poster, behind-the-scenes segments, textless opening and closing vignettes, and trailers.

JUST THE TWO OF US DVD (105 mins., 2023; Music Box): Compelling French drama stars Virginie Efira as a woman bewitched by the sauve Melvil Poupauid; after marrying and moving out to the country, Efira’s heroine begins to suspect there’s something off with her new husband, who begins to torment her mentally and otherwise. Eric Reinhardt’s novel of the same name was adapted by director Vaalerie Donzelli for this well-reviewed picture scored by Gabriel Yared; Music Box’s DVD (1.66, 5.1 French, English subtitles) is now available featuring a Donzelli interview, image gallery, and commentary from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

NEXT TIME: Kino Lorber Flies with AIRPORT on 4K UHD! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!