THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963) starring Jerry Lewis has been upgraded to Dolby Vision video.

FRIDAY 26th MAY

UNCHARTED (2022, Action & Adventure, 116 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $9.99: Rent - $0.99]

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD - A young street-smart, Nathan Drake and his wisecracking partner Victor “Sully” Sullivan embark on a dangerous pursuit of “the greatest treasure never found” while also tracking clues that may lead to Nathan’s long-lost brother.

ESSENTIALS: WARM BODIES (2013, Comedy, 97 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $2.99] 🍿IMDb 6.8/10

COLD BODY, WARM HEART - After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. 

CLASSIC OF THE WEEK: THE SHINING (1980, Horror, 143 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $0.99] 🍿IMDb 8.4/10

HE CAME AS THE CARETAKER, BUT THIS HOTEL HAD ITS OWN GUARDIANS - Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren’t prepared for the madness that lurks within. 

LIMITED TIME: LAMBORGHINI: The Man Behind the Legend (2022, Drama, 96 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $12.99] 🍿IMDb 5.4/10

Follow the launch of Lamborghini’s career as a manufacturer of tractors, a creator of military vehicles during World War II, and the designer of Lamborghini cars, which he launched in 1963 as the high-end sports car company Automobili Lamborghini. 

UNDER $5: UNIVERSAL ARCHIVE

A selection of 39 classic catalogue titles including:- American Graffiti (1973), Cape Fear (1962) and Rear Window (1954).

As mentioned in the previous post; AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973) is available in the Under $5 Universal Archive sale. One of my favourite coming of age movies, the film epitomizes the rock 'n roll laden early sixties, and the soundtrack is littered with songs from that era. 

I am bringing this to your attention because I recently read that Universal are working on a 4K UHD 50th Anniversary Edition. Release date is expected to be at the end of August 2023. I'm hoping that people who already own this title will get a free upgrade.

I don't think the upgrade (if we get one) will differ a lot in price, but you can lock it in for $4.99 now (and hope for an upgrade), or wait and see.

So, Where Were You In '62?

I meant to post this yesterday in this thread, but somehow posted in the "What movie did you just watch" thread. I'm getting too old for this sh*t 😁

The official announcement has not yet been made, but the online Blu-ray disc news service; The Digital Bits, are reporting that James Cameron's THE ABYSS (1989), TRUE LIES (1994), TITANIC (1997) and AVATAR (2009), are all getting 4K UHD disc releases later this year. THE ABYSS and TRUE LIES haven't previously been released on Blu-ray, and fans have been waiting a long time for this welcome news (I know I have).

Hopefully this means that we will be getting these releases in the iTunes store as well, with possible free upgrades for people who already own AVATAR and TITANIC in 1080p.

These releases are expected to accompany or follow the 4K UHD, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray disc and DVD releases of AVATAR: The Way of Water (2022)

The Digital Bits

MAFIA MAMMA (2023, Comedy, 101 mins) 4K HDR/Dolby Digital 5.1 == Universal Pictures

TILL (2022, Drama 130 mins) 4K SDR/Dolby Digital 5.1 == MGM

THE MUNSTERS (2022, Comedy, 110 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 == Universal Pictures

COME OUT FIGHTING (2023, Action & Adventure, 85 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 == Lionsgate

EIGHT FOR SILVER (aka The Cursed, 2021, Horror, 112 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 == Universal Pictures

BRING IT ON: Cheer or Die (2022, Thriller, 91 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 == Universal Pictures

FRIDAY 2nd JUNE

CONFESS, FLETCH (2022, Comedy, 99 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $0.99]

A DEAD BODY, A STOLEN PICASSO. AND THIS GUY - The roguishly charming and endlessly troublesome Fletch becomes the prime suspect in a murder case while searching for a stolen art collection. The only way to prove his innocence? Find out which of the long list of suspects is the culprit - from the eccentric art dealer and a missing playboy to a crazy neighbor and Fletch’s Italian girlfriend. Crime, in fact, has never been this disorganized.

ESSENTIALS: MARY AND MAX (2009, Animated Comedy, 88 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $2.99] 🍿IMDb 8.1/10

SOMETIMES PERFECT STRANGERS MAKE THE BEST FRIENDS - A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York. In the mid-1970’s, a homely, friendless Australian girl of 8 picks a name out of a Manhattan phone book and writes to him; she includes a chocolate bar. He writes back, with chocolate. Thus begins a 20-year correspondence. Will the two ever meet face to face?

CLASSIC OF THE WEEK: MARRIED TO THE MOB (1988, Comedy, 104 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital Stereo [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $0.99] 🍿IMDb 6.2/10

THEY'RE HER FAMILY... WHETHER SHE LIKES IT OR NOT - Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband’s line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony “The Tiger” Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a fresh start. Unfortunately, Tony has set his sights upon Angela – and so has an undercover FBI agent looking to use her to bust Tony.

LIMITED TIME: LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE (2022, Kids & Family, 106 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $14.99] 🍿IMDb 6.1/10

HE KNOWS EVERY SCALE - When the Primm family moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle — a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and great music — living in the attic of his new home. But when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps, the Primms must band together to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 7th

PEARL (2022, Horror, 102 Mins) 4K HDR/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $17.99: Rent - $7.99] Universal Pictures IMDb 🍿7.0/10 

THE X-TRAORDINARY ORIGIN STORY - Trapped on her family’s isolated farm, Pearl must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she’s seen in the movies, Pearl’s ambitions, temptations, and repressions all collide, in the stunning, technicolor-inspired origin story of X’s iconic villain.

Anyone waiting for a price drop on the 2022 ELVIS movie starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks? Then you are in luck. It has dropped to $7.99 for a limited time

ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968, Horror, 137 mins) has been upgraded to Dolby Vision video.

HYPNOTIC (2023, Action & Adventure, 93 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 (Buy $29.99: Rent - $24.99) Starring; Ben Affleck and Alice Braga.

LOVE AGAIN (2023, Romantic Comedy, 104 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital 5.1 (Buy $24.99: Rent - $19.99) Starring; Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan and Celine Dion.

FRIDAY 9th JUNE

BULLET TRAIN (2022, Action & Adventure, 126 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $9.99: Rent - $0.99]

THE END OF THE LINE IS JUST THE BEGINNING - Unlucky assassin Ladybug is determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe—all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives—on the world’s fastest train.

ESSENTIALS: LITTLE WOMEN (2019, Drama, 135 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $0.99] 🍿IMDb 7.8/10

OWN YOUR STORY - Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.

CLASSIC OF THE WEEK: AWAKENINGS (1990, Drama, 120 mins) 1080p/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $4.99: Rent - $0.99] 🍿IMDb 7.8/10

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SIMPLE MIRACLE - Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to “awaken” the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life’s simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.

LIMITED TIME: WHITNEY HOUSTON: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022, Drama, 144 mins) Dolby Vision/Dolby Digital 5.1 [Buy - $14.99] 🍿IMDb 6.6/10

CELEBRATE THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN ICON - The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.

$2.99 RENTALS: Recent Drama

UNDER $8: Movie Anniversaries: A selection of 518 movies

3-Movie Collection [$24.99] All Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos

I missed this one on Friday. 

TRANSFORMERS 5-MOVIE COLLECTION $24.99

All five movies have Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos on board, and also include iTunes extras for each film. Great Home Cinema films for your 4K TV and surround sound system.

ROAD TRIP (2000, Comedy, 93 mins) has been upgraded to Dolby Vision video [Buy - $12.99: Rent $5.99]

GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL (1957, Western, 122 mins) has been upgraded to Dolby Vision video [Buy - $12.99: Rent $5.99]

The fact that several more titles have been upgraded in the US and/or the UK over the last few months, continues to irk me. I know that some films have different distributors in NZ, but many are distributed by Universal or Paramount etc. worldwide, so why don't we get these like other countries? The following titles have been upgraded recently in The US and/or The UK.

DEATH WISH (1974) Only upgraded overseas yesterday, and is not available in the NZ iTunes store, so fingers crossed that it is in the process of an upgrade.

THE EQUALIZER (2014)

NATIONAL LAMPOONS VACATION (1983)

THE WAY WE WERE (1973)

THE DEER HUNTER (1978)

AVATAR (2009) is releasing on 4K UHD Blu-ray on June 20th. I see that Lightstorm Entertainment are the distributors for NZ, so it will be interesting to see how we go with that one.

There are many more that have been upgraded overseas months ago, e.g. John Wick 1, 2, and 3 all having Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos in The US.

This is the only let-down for me as a NZ iTunes movie collector, and it seems like something that isn't going to change in the near future. Rant Over 😁 

THURSDAY JUNE 15th

JACK REACHER: 2-MOVIE COLLECTION - $9.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME. Dolby Vision/Dolby Digital 5.1 on the first movie. Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos on the sequel.

THE MATRIX TRILOGY - $17.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME. All three films have Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos on board.