For those who may be wondering, the Flash Gordon: Limited Edition in 4K will include:
- A brand new 4K restoration by Studio Canal from the original camera negative approved by director Mike Hodges
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Optional 5.1 and 2.0 stereo DTS-HD Master audio
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film by critics and film historians including Neil Snowdon, Dennis Cozzalio, John-Paul Checkett, A.K. Benedict, and Kat Ellinger illustrated with original stills
- Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork
- Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions, alternative posters and promotional images
- Limited Edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais
Extras on Disc One (Flash Gordon in 4K Ultra HD) will include:
- Archival audio commentary with Mike Hodges
- Archival audio commentary with Brian Blessed
- Interviews with actors Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Brian Blessed, Queen icon Brian May, composer Howard Blake, and poster designer Renato Casaro
- Behind the Scenes of Flash Gordon – an archival documentary on the making of the film
- Archival interviews with Mike Hodges, screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr., comic book artist Alex Ross
- Lost in Space: Nic Roeg’s Flash Gordon – a new documentary program exploring the version Roeg (The Man Who Fell to Earth) had originally planned to make with producer Dino De Laurentiis
- Gremlin’s Finest Hour – an episode from the animated Flash Gordon TV show written by J. Michael Reaves from November 1982
- Deleted scenes and original endings – prop collector Bob Lindenmayer discusses dropped sequences and sequel ideas
- 35th Anniversary Greenroom featurette – Mike Hodges meets the cast for the first time since filming at the 35th anniversary reunion
- 35th Anniversary Reunion featurette – the cast and crew discuss Flash Gordon
- Entertainment Earth on Flash Gordon merchandise
- Storyboards gallery
- Stills gallery
- Original Trailer
- Easter Eggs
Extras on Disc Two (Life After Flash: Special Edition Blu-ray – Region A) will include:
- 2017 feature length documentary by filmmaker Lisa Downs on the rollercoaster life of Sam J. Jones since his role in Flash Gordon, featuring the main cast and crew as well as a host of fans including Stan Lee, Robert Rodriguez, Mark Millar and more!
- Sam J. Jones – a variety of interviews and featurettes including coverage of a script read from the Chattanooga Film Festival, Sam discussing his career in Mexico, his “prayer walk”, and more
- Melody Paintings Extended – actress Melody Anderson talks about her love of painting and talks about various pieces displayed in her home
- Topol – a variety of interviews with the actor on his collections, awards and charity work
- Brian Blessed – the actor recounts amusing stories about Flash Gordon
- Late, Great Wyngarde – actor Peter Wyngarde discusses his experiences filming Flash Gordon and his relationship with Mike Hodges
- Deep Roy – the actor raps about ambition and recounts an amusing story about Eastbound & Down
- Alex Ross Talks Early Art – the artist talks about Flash Gordon and the many pieces of art he created for it from childhood to modern day
- Tell Me More About the This Man Houdini – actor Rich Fuller and Jason Lenzi, founder of toy brand Bif Bang Pow, discuss a scene from Flash Gordon
- Comic Con Early Draft – A featurette looking at the phenomenon that is Comic Con, featuring interviews with attendees and a host of regular talent including Sam J. Jones, Rich Fulton, Jason Mewes, Michael Rooker, Claudia Wells, and more
- Interview with Lisa Downs – the director of Life After Flash explores her motivation to make the film and experiences during the production
- Life After Flash on the Road – a variety of featurettes on the film travelling to various festivals and production including Q&A excerpts with the Flash Gordon cast, behind-the-scenes footage, Kickstarter funding video
- Trailer
So, for those who may be wondering what Arrow’s version of Flash Gordon in 4K includes that the Studio Canal deluxe edition doesn’t, it looks like the extras on the 4K disc itself and the Blu-ray Bonus disc will be the same. BUT... you don’t get the film in Blu-ray, you don’t get the soundtrack CD, and the copy of Life After Flash is basically the documentary only (without the special edition content). The swag is also very different (you don’t get the Titan mini book, the original comic page, the booklet may be different, etc).
But what does the Arrow version have that the Studio Canal version doesn’t? All of the special edition content dedicated to the Life After Flash documentary—that’s a special edition in the Arrow set, and basically just movie-only in the Studio Canal set.
It’s also worth noting that the Arrow Limited Edition is around $40 while the Studio Canal version is about $60 (in USD imported from Amazon.co.uk). Though in both versions, the Blu-rays are Region A compatible. So there you go. Now the big decision: Which is the right one for you, if you’re a fan? Here’s a link to the packaging. Arrow is on top (the Amazon US link is now live), Studio Canal is on the bottom (the Amazon UK links is now live)...
All right, so what about Pitch Black in 4K? Here’s what that includes:
- Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films of the Theatrical and Director’s Cuts of the film, approved by director David Twohy
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround on both cuts
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both cuts
- Archive commentary with director David Twohy and stars Vin Diesel and Cole Hauser
- Archive commentary with director David Twohy, producer Tom Engelman and visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang
- Nightfall: The Making of Pitch Black, a newly filmed interview with director/co-writer David Twohy
- Black Box: Jackie’s Journey, a newly filmed interview with actor Rhiana Griffith
- Black Box: Shazza’s Last Stand, a newly filmed interview with actor Claudia Black
- Black Box: Bleach Bypassed, a newly filmed interview with cinematographer David Eggby
- Black Box: Cryo-Locked, a newly filmed interview with visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang
- Black Box: Primal Sounds, a newly filmed interview with composer Graeme Revell
- The Making of Pitch Black, a short behind-the-scenes featurette
- Pitch Black Raw, a comparison between early CG tests and the final footage
- Additional behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film
- 2004 archive bonus features, including an introduction by Twohy, A View Into The Dark, and Chronicles of Riddick Visual Encyclopedia
- Johns’ Chase Log, a short prequel narrated by Cole Hauser detailing the character’s hunt for Riddick
- The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (in 16:9 widescreen with DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio), an animated short film directed by Peter Chung that acts as a bridgepoint between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, featuring vocal performances by Vin Diesel, Keith David and Rhiana Griffith reprising their roles
- Dark Fury bonus features including Bridging The Gap, Peter Chung: The Mind of an Animator, A View Into The Light, and a “pre-animation” version of the film
- Slam City, a motion comic from the film’s official website
- Into Pitch Black, a TV special offering an alternative non-canon glimpse into what happened before and after the events of the film
- Raveworld: Pitch Black Event, footage of a dance music event held to promote the film
- Theatrical trailers, plus trailers for the two sequels and video game
- Image galleries
- Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned “night” and “day” artwork by Luke Preece
You can see the cover artwork for that here and also above (click here or on the artwork for the Amazon US pre-order link)...
We’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits with these titles accordingly.
Not done yet! Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced its July 2020 slate of Blu-ray and DVD titles, which is set to include The Flesh and the Fiends: Special Edition (1960 – Blu-ray and DVD), The Day the Earth Caught Fire: Special Edition (1961 – Blu-ray and DVD), Spaced Invaders: Special Edition (1990 – Blu-ray and DVD), Go Go Mania (1965 – aka Pop Gear – Blu-ray and DVD), and That’ll Be the Day (1973 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 7/7, the Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema IV box set (includes Calcutta (1946), An Act of Murder (1948), and Six Bridges to Cross (1955) – Blu-ray), Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941 – Blu-ray), The Paleface (1948 – Blu-ray), Calcutta (1946 – DVD), and Straight Shooting (1917 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 7/14, Arabian Nights (1942 – Blu-ray), Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1944 – Blu-ray), Son of Ali Baba (1952 – Blu-ray), Buccaneer’s Girl (1950 – Blu-ray), Against All Flags (1952 – Blu-ray), and The World in His Arms (1952 – Blu-ray) on 7/21, and Raggedy Man (1981 – Blu-ray), The River (1984 – Blu-ray), Lorenzo’s Oil (1992 – Blu-ray), The Public Eye (1992 – Blu-ray), Hannibal Brooks (1969 – Blu-ray and DVD), and The System (1964 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 7/28.
Finally today, Paramount has officially announced that they’re releasing Pretty in Pink as a new Paramount Presents Blu-ray title on 6/16. This marks the film’s first appearance on Blu-ray and the title is reportedly remastered. Extras will include 2 featurettes (Filmmaker Focus and The Lost Dance: The Original Ending) along with the film’s isolated score by composer Michael Gore.
Then following on 7/21 from Paramount is an Airplane: Paramount Presents Blu-ray (as well as a Blu-ray Steelbook) mastered from a new 4K transfer supervised by the directors, a new Filmmaker Focus piece, a new 2020 Egyptian Theater Q&A with the filmmakers, the previously released audio commentary, and a new isolated audio track with Elmer Bernstein’s score. Here’s what those look like (click to pre-order them on Amazon.com)...
And that’s more than enough new for a Friday! Hope you all have a great weekend.
Stay tuned...
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