Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress again for this week’s Blu-ray haul. They include the first film by Barry Jenkins along with titles from Peter Greenaway and Guy Maddin. The list is filled with films that may not be everyone’s cup of tea including some outdated racial casting, a little horror sensation from this year, a Cameron Crowe remake and in our case, Avatar. But that’s why you also get some Rin Tin Tin and two of the best films in the career of John Frankenheimer including a film that went into hiding for 25 years and one of the best action films of the past 25.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy take a light batch of movies into this weekend; a half-dozen titles of both high profile and varying quality. Disney Plus has a new documentary about the co-founder of Marvel (Stan Lee). Jon Hamm tries to solve a Fargo-like murder spree while wooing Tina Fey (Maggie Moore(s)). Chris Hemsworth is back to see if he can top the previous film’s “one-take” action extravaganza (Extraction 2). Tim Story tries to parody horror films (The Blackening) and Pixar gets its first movie into theaters since the pandemic (Elemental). Finally, Steve gets in his thoughts on the latest from DC Comics (The Flash).

On this week’s Blu-ray episode, Peter Sobczynski talks with Erik Childress about some genuine classics, at least one new one, some forgotten relics and a genuine oddity. Criterion does Terry Gilliam right again with one of their childhood favorites in 4K. They revisit an Oscar-winning film from the ‘80s and whether it would be made the same way today. Kino has some really enjoyable stuff from Andrew Davis, Michael Crichton and a film that got buried during the disaster craze of the ’70s. Both Erich von Stroheim and William Hurt go Russian this week, more Shaw Brothers films arrive and Peter recounts the crazy tale of the Ormond family on their filmmaking journey from exploitation to Christian films.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have 11 film reviews for you this week including a whole bunch of documentaries. They include one about a male-order catalog (All Man: The International Male Story), one about album covers (Squaring the Circle) and a trio involving a bodybuilder who became a politician (Arnold), the career beyond Freddie Krueger (Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story) and a director’s obsession with a film from 1939 (Lynch/Oz). There are also films about an artist’s assistant (Daliland) and the creation of a spicy snack (Flamin’ Hot). There’s a new take on the Frankenstein story (The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster), a post-WWII séance (Brooklyn 45) and a whole other kind of horror, one of personal choice in Margaret Thatcher Land. Finally can the Autobots and Decepticons build on the good will of Bumblebee (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts).

As the last remnants of the DC Cinematic Universe (or “Snyderverse”) as people have come to know it wind down, Erik Childress is joined by comic book expert Erik Laws to breakdown their latest standalone, semi-origin kiss-off tale. They address the controversy that arrives with it over the allegations of its star but then dig into the film’s multi-multiverses and where it goes wrong. Is the addition of Michael Keaton as Batman welcome or is it just another part of the nostalgia museum trying to signal your applause rather than earn it? Does the film earn any of its emotional beats or character turns? Are the action scenes memorable or is it all just more of the same? All these questions and more are discussed in the latest downward trend of the superhero genre.

While streaming companies get tax write-offs for dropping content, physical media lives on and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to tell you what you can pick up this week. They include a classic of French cinema from Criterion, another Sammo Hung title, a recent Nicolas Cage film as well as a good Nicolas Cage film. A pair of 60s & 70s era horror films of questionable tastes are here for you. Finally, show your age and your varying love for each chapter of the adventure films starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser.

Steve Prokopy joins Erik Childress to review six new movies; many of which are worth your attention. Steve handles a new teenage friendship from actress-turned-director Charlotte LeBon (Falcon Lake) and the origin story of LeBron James (Shooting Stars). Another true story gets a riveting treatment from director Tina Satter and star Sydney Sweeney (Reality) while Rob Savage uses Stephen King to try and shock scare us again (The Boogeyman). Celine Song delivers one of the more masterful big screen debuts with a “one that got away” tale (Past Lives) that could make a perfect companion piece to one of the most manically-alive animated films you have ever experienced (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse).

Some genuine classics on physical media this week getting the 4K treatment. And others that are not. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to get you caught up on your libraries including Memorial Day releases from 1991 and 1993. One of the great singular directorial efforts of all-time arrives in 4K as does one of the classics from a comic legend. One of the best from Wes Craven gets the polish and there are also plenty of other titles from Alan Rudolph, Sidney Lumet, Peter Greenaway and Looney Tunes to keep you busy while Erik is relishing one of his favorite films from the summer of 1984 and you can listen to his full commentary track right here.

Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy have nine movies to review on the show and the best one may be the one they told you about in January at Sundance from Nicole Holofcener and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (You Hurt My Feelings). A couple of harrowing documentaries come close involving how police turn the tables on survivors of sexual assault (Victim/Suspect) and a tale of domestic assault, opioids and ultimately justice (The Fire That Took Her). A pair of stand-up comedians have made movies about their dads (About My Father, The Machine) and Gerard Butler is on the run again (Kandahar). The pair could not resist a title that was too intriguing to pass up (Exorcism in Utero) and a new genre of horror continues in more ways than one (Influencer). Finally, Disney has another live-action remake of one of their animated classics. Just how far does The Little Mermaid sink on that list?

If ever there was a week to talk about the importance of physical media it is this one. Especially with the number of oddball titles you will probably never see on a streaming service. Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk some of these rare titles including Alan Ladd as Jay Gatsby, a Paris cat man, Michael Parks in love with Ann-Margret, an old Jane Fonda film recently making headlines and a film written by Ruby Dee. There are also your general weird titles like perhaps a couple of the best films made by Roland Emmerich and Jason Statham as well as Peter’s choice for the best film transition in cinema history. Plus, if physical media is not there to preserve this week’s Criterion offering for generations, then what are we even doing?