APPLES. (DVD Artwork). ©Cohen Media Group.
Movies
Apples (Comedy, Drama)
The Greek film “Apples” is now available on Blu-ray and DVD from Cohen Media Group.
Amidst a worldwide pandemic that causes sudden amnesia, middle-aged Aris (Aris Servetalis) finds himself enrolled in a recovery program designed to help unclaimed patients build new identities. Prescribed daily tasks on cassette tapes so he can create new memories and document them on camera, Aris slides back into ordinary life, meeting Anna (Sofia Georgovasili), a woman who is also in recovery. Through images deadpan, strange and surreal, Greek writer-director Christos Nikou posits a beguiling reflection on memory, identity and loss, exploring how a society might handle an irreversible epidemic through one man’s story of self-discovery. Are we the sum of the images we compile and display of ourselves, or are we something richer and deeper?
“Apples” is in Greek with English subtitles. Bonus features include a conversation with director Christos Nikou and executive producer Cate Blanchett moderated by journalist Anne Thompson; filmmaker Taika Waititi (“Thor: Love and Thunder”) in conversation with director Christos Nikou; and trailers.
Back To The Beach (Comedy, Musical)
Teen idols Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello returned to the big screen for a new surf-and-sand adventure with the hip, hilarious ’80s update “Back to the Beach,” which was originally released on August 7, 1987. To celebrate the film’s 35th anniversary, the delightful romp will arrive on Blu-ray for the first time as part of the Paramount Presents line on Tuesday, August 9, from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Newly remastered from a new 4K scan of the original film elements, “Back to the Beach” is a fan-favorite cult classic that lovingly parodies the quintessential ’60s “beach party” films. Frankie and Annette, having grown up and put aside their beach-partying lifestyle, visit their daughter in Southern California and discover there’s still some wild times left in them. Along for the fun in the California sun are a host of familiar faces: Connie Stevens, Dick Dale, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Don Adams, Bob Denver, Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley, Edd “Kookie” Byrnes and Pee-Wee Herman.
The Paramount Presents Blu-ray of “Back to the Beach” includes a brand-new Filmmaker Focus with director Lyndall Hobbs featuring never-before-seen home movies from the set, as well as access to a digital copy of the film. The Blu-ray is presented in collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.
Battle Of The Worlds (Horror, Sci-Fi)
The classic film restoration and streaming company The Film Detective will release the 1961 sci-fi classic “Battle of the Worlds” on Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, August 9.
A runaway asteroid dubbed “The Outsider” mysteriously begins orbiting the Earth and threatens it with lethal flying saucers. Filmed in Italy at the height of the country’s sci-fi craze, this independent classic stars Golden Age-star Claude Rains (“Casablanca,” “The Invisible Man,” “Notorious”), Bill Carter, Umberto Orsini, Maya Brent, Jaqueline Derval and Renzo Palmer. Esteemed director Antonio Margheriti blesses viewers with this ‘60s thriller.
“Battle of the Worlds” is presented from a 4K scan of an original 35mm archival print. Bonus features include an original essay by author Don Stradley, Margheriti’s World; a full-length commentary track by film historian Justin Humphreys; an all-new original production, “A Cinematic Outsider: The Fantastical Worlds of Antonio Margheriti,” from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures; and an insert with a special surprise for The Film Detective fans.
“Battle of the Worlds” will be available on Blu-ray for $29.95 and on DVD for $19.95.
Event Horizon (Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller)
Infinite space delivers infinite terror in the horror cult classic “Event Horizon.” The film celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new, limited-edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook releasing on Tuesday, August 9, from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Directed by Paul Anderson (“Resident Evil”), “Event Horizon” originally debuted in theaters on August 15, 1997. Known for its elaborate production design and unsettling visuals, the film features an exceptional ensemble cast, including Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic World: Dominion”), Kathleen Quinlan (“Breakdown”), Joely Richardson (“Nip/Tuck”) and Jason Isaacs (“Star Trek: Discovery”).
Seven years ago, pioneering research spacecraft “Event Horizon” mysteriously vanished without a trace on its maiden voyage. But then, in the darkness of deep space, a persistent signal prompts a crew to make their way through the galaxy on a bold rescue mission. What they uncover is an unimaginable interstellar horror that will test the entire team’s sanity and souls.
The Limited-Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook features exclusive slipcase packaging, the feature film on a 4K Ultra HD disc with Dolby Vision and HDR-10, access to a digital copy of the film, and the following legacy bonus content on a Blu-ray disc: commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt; secrets with selectable director commentary; five documentaries detailing “The Making of ‘Event Horizon;’” “The Point of No Return,” the filming of “Event Horizon” with director commentary; “The Unseen ‘Event Horizon’” conceptual art and unfilmed rescue scene; and trailers.
George Michael Freedom Uncut (Documentary)
For the first time in 4K, “George Michael Freedom Uncut” is now available on Digital from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
During the autobiographical feature documentary narrated by the late Grammy Award winner, Michael reveals openly and honestly the two distinct sides of his life: his very public music career and his private personal life that cameras never truly saw. Michael was heavily involved in and dedicated to the making of this documentary before his tragic passing in 2016, making “George Michael Freedom Uncut” an incredibly special posthumous release and a poignant and moving tribute to his legacy.
The film delves into the turbulent period after Faith leading up to, during and after the making of his Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1 album in 1990. At this pivotal period of his life, Michael is able to fight for his artistic freedom and lead the way for others. He meets his first real love, Anselmo Feleppa, and navigates both the heartbreak of Feleppa’s early tragic passing from an AIDS-related illness and the devastating loss of his mother.
“George Michael Freedom Uncut” is also a brilliant reminder of Michael’s outstanding musical genius during the Wham! years and throughout his solo career. The film features timeless duets with Michael’s favorite artists and explores how he influenced the cultural landscape of his generation as one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.
Interwoven with exclusive, personal archival footage, the release includes never-seen-before footage from one of the most iconic videos in music history, “Freedom! ’90,” directed by Oscar nominee David Fincher.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family)
The global hit movie “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” races onto 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, August 9, from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film is also currently streaming on Paramount+ and available to purchase across digital platforms.
Produced by Paramount Pictures in association with SEGA Sammy Group, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” is an Original Film/Marza Animation Planet/Blur Studio production. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba), in search of an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
Fans purchasing the Digital, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray releases of “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” will find they are packed with nearly an hour of bonus features, headlined by an all-new, exclusive animated short entitled “Sonic Drone Home” featuring Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. Other bonus features include deleted scenes, bloopers, “Robotnik Reimaged with Jim Carrey,” “The Powerful Puncher: Knuckles” and more. Fans of the world’s favorite blue hedgehog can also purchase “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” and the original hit film “Sonic The Hedgehog” in a 2-Movie Collection on Digital or Blu-ray.
