Gladiators and Penguins and Bears and Composers, Oh My: Viva Physical Media

A jam-packed crop of recent disc releases, including Sick, My Girl, Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Last Voyage of the Demeter and two different werewolf movies.

I’ve got 11 titles to go over this time out and it’s a pretty fun group of releases that really runs the gamut in terms of types of properties, from a decades-old Academy Award Best Picture-winner, to a sequel to a different decades-old Academy Award Best Picture winner, to recent vampire and werewolf-packed horror films, to discs of TV series about Batman villains and Starfleet shenanigans. Plus there’s a bear who loves marmalade, a kid who gets killed by bees, and more! So let’s jump in, shall we?

Gladiator II 4K UHD + Blu-ray

Now Available

It felt like Gladiator II was a bit of a polarizing film, which I suppose makes sense given the original is so adored and it was a risky venture to come back so long after with a sequel that isn’t even about the same main character. Personally, I quite enjoyed Gladiator II, though that’s with the caveat that I’ve never been as enamored with the original as many. The sequel is undoubtedly more complex in terms of its narrative and while that doesn’t automatically mean it’s superior, I did find myself appreciating the areas of grey the film exists in that aren’t nearly as cut and dry as the original - as the son of Maximus, Hanno (Paul Mescal), seeks revenge for his wife’s death in combat against a general (Pedro Pascal) the audience knows to be an honorable man. And whatever you think of the film, it’s hard to deny the appeal of Denzel Washington, having the time of his life as the calculated Macrinus.

At 87 years old, Ridley Scott is still capable of delivering spectacle and tension in a manner few directors could hope to ever achieve and Gladiator II shows off these skills to great effect. The 4K boasts a gorgeous transfer too, accentuating the colorful cinematography of John Mathieson.

Is There a Commentary?

There is not. A 20-minute overall Making Of featurette is supplemented by 5 other featurettes spotlighting specific aspects or sequences from the film, totaling about 80 minutes of material in total. It’s a strong overview of the film’s production and the crew capturing material on the film’s set did a great job of showing just how much work goes into a film of this scale. There are also about 11 minutes of deleted scenes, many of which are very slight, though a couple offer a nice additional moment for some of the cast - though none of it feels essential.

My Girl 4K UHD

Now Available

This 1991 coming of age drama is perhaps best known in the pop culture lexicon at this point for the infamous fate of Macaulay Culkin’s character, Thomas J. - something that was all the more jarring when My Girl debuted because it was Culkin’s first big role since the blockbuster success of Home Alone. But putting that aside, My Girl remains both a charming and emotional film in its own right, anchored by the incredibly endearing central performance of Anna Chlumsky, who shows a remarkable amount of poise and talent for someone so young when she made the film (I was very happy to see her get a comeback of sorts via her role on the wonderful Veep).

While not a film perhaps screaming for an upgrade from its previous Blu-ray release, My Girl looks quite good on the new 4K disc, highlighting the film’s nostalgic yet melancholy-fueled depiction of 1972, which extends to its visual style.

Is There a Commentary?

There is, ported over from the film’s 2015 Blu-ray. It’s a very good commentary from screenwriter Laurice Elehwany, who discusses both the process of coming up with the film’s story and how things changed and evolved through production. Other extras include the film’s trailer and a couple of vintage featurettes, running around 5 minutes each.

The quality of the commentary we got is commendable, though it is too bad Chlumsky doesn’t participate in any way, given how crucial she is to the film’s success.

Amadeus 4K UHD

Now Available

1984’s Academy Award winner for Best Picture (among seven other Oscars) sure holds up. Rather than a traditional biopic about Mozart, Peter Shaffer’s screenplay (adapting his own book) and director Milos Forman focus the story on the relationship between Mozart (Tom Hulce) and another composer and contemporary, Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham). This very fictionalized account takes what may have been a minor and perhaps even friendly and respectful rivalry between the two in real life and turns it into a riveting onscreen form of true malice on the part of Salieri - depicted as a man fueled with rage and jealously because Mozart is so brilliant and so clearly his musical superior, and yet lives life so recklessly and nonchalantly in a way Salieri cannot abide.

The acting is brilliant down the line, starting with top billed Abraham, who rightfully won an Oscar for his work in what really does feel like the lead role, despite the movie’s title. He’s given a worthy scene partner in Hulce, who plays Mozart like a bit of an unhinged rock star - and gives him one hell of a memorable cackle, all the better to annoy Salieri with.

This release is especially notable because it finally restores the film’s theatrical cut. In 2002, with the idea of longer cuts feeling a bit trendy, a Director’s Cut of Amadeus was released, running a full three hours, compared to the theatrical cut’s 2:40. The trouble wasn’t just that the theatrical cut still felt like the superior version - there was good additional material in the director’s cut, but the pacing felt very off - but that they simply stopped producing the theatrical cut, which never came out again after its 1997 DVD. Now restored by The Saul Zentz Company, who produced the film, the new 4K of the theatrical cut gives Amadeus easily its best home presentation ever, reinforcing what a visually lovely film it is. Shades of Kubrick with Barry Lyndon, director Milos Foreman and cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček sometimes only used candle light to light their sets and it’s rather remarkable what they accomplished.

Is There a Commentary?

No, and it’s too bad, because whatever you think of the director’s cut, it did have a strong commentary from Foreman and Shaffer, who have both passed away since. What’s annoying is that while the director’s cut isn’t on the 4K disc, it is included among the bonus features on the digital version of the film, which comes with the 4K - so why not include that commentary with it as well?

As for what bonus features are on the 4K, the hour-long “The Making of Amadeus” documentary produced in 2002 when the director’s cut was released is joined by a new 27-minute “Amadeus: The Making of a Masterpiece” featurette. Hulce and Abraham participated in both retrospectives, but they’re joined by other cast and crew who weren’t part of that old documentary (many of those earlier participants, Foreman and Shaffer included, are sadly no longer with us). Though, inevitably, some stories are repeated, there’s enough new information and new perspectives to make both worth watching for fans of this terrific film.

Star Trek: Lower Decks The Complete Series Blu-ray

Available March 25, 2025

Though I was certainly aware of the series, my first actual exposure to the characters from Star Trek: Lower Decks came about watching the 2023 episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in which Jack Quaid’s Boimler and Tawny Newsome’s Mariner traveled though both time and artistic mediums (switching from animation to live-action) for an incredibly entertaining crossover. Sufficiently sold on the characters and vibe they brought, I jumped into Lower Decks and was very happy I did.

It could be a bit hit or miss at times, but more often than not, Lower Decks was a very endearing, quite funny take on Star Trek that was clearly made with so much affection for this universe. I’d describe myself as lower level on the Trek knowledge scale, so I’m sure I missed a ton of references throughout, but the many I did understand were great, as the decidedly wacky Lower Decks crew weaved in and out of so much Trek lore, but with their own distinct energy.

The 10-disc set collects the show’s five seasons and 50 episodes in two snazzy Steelbooks - albeit with some less than ideal stacked discs inside.

Is There a Commentary?

Yes, there are a ton! Honestly, in 2025, it’s rather remarkable to get a 50-episode series where 19 of the episodes have audio commentary, all carried over from the previous season sets. Series creator Mike McMahan is a frequent presence, as are much of the main cast (Jack Quaid fans will be happy to know his charming self is all over the commentaries), along with occasional guest stars. As was clear at their San Diego Comic-Con appearances, this cast has great energy and are very funny together, making for fun and engaging listening experiences.

On top of that, there are a bevy of featurettes spread out across the seasons, along with short looks at early animatics for many episodes and Easter egg spotlights. It’s a really nice set for a lighter take on Star Trek that has really carved out its own special place in the franchise.

Paddington 2 4K UHD

Now Available

If you haven’t seen Paddington 2 but wonder if it could be as good as people insist it is… Yes, yes it is! Taking the sweetness and warmth of the first film and deftly and cleverly expanding upon it, this is a truly feel good film, taking the unlikely scenario of Paddington in prison and using it as a vehicle to once more show the kind heart of the marmalade-loving bear. And among a terrific cast, Hugh Grant is an absolute blast as the film’s villain, leading into a run of great movie baddies that keeps escalating through the likes of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Heretic.

All three Paddington movies have been notably lovable but Paddington 2 remains the Empire Strikes Back of the series - in quality, that is. Its ending isn’t nearly as dark. Truthfully, the 4K is not a massive leap from the Blu-ray in image quality, but there are times where the vibrancy and color stand out more, including in the distinct pink of Paddington’s prison garb.

Is There a Commentary?

Yes, the same one from the film’s original Blu-ray, featuring director Paul King, who provides a really engaging overview of the film and his approach, though it perhaps would have benefited from the participation of some of the cast and crew (though King is full of praise of his collaborators). The rest of the ported over extras are a handful of short featurettes, running around 2-5 minutes.

Given Paddington 2’s reputation has only grown since the movie opened several years ago, it does feel like a missed opportunity to not have anything new here, though not surprising for a standard Warner Bros. catalog upgrade.

Werewolves Blu-ray

Now Available

Werewolves overall scenario plays like a monster-fueled take on The Purge, set in a world where an annual supermoon event causes humans exposed to the moon to turn into werewolves for one night, leading most people to barricade themselves inside their homes to protect themselves from their neighbors. And they even got Frank Grillo, star of a couple of Purge movies, to play the hero, a guy who’s both a badass former soldier and a molecular biologist! Sounds like good B-movie fun, right? Unfortunately though, the movie itself is mostly a slog, feeling too serious to be in on the joke but without enough memorable action or monster moments to make an impact.

The Blu-ray is a solid enough transfer of a rather darkly lit film that doesn’t have a lot of visual panache beyond some decent werewolf makeup FX.

Is There a Commentary?

No, there’s nothing but six deleted scenes - none of which answer some questions I had about a couple of characters who felt notably truncated in the film, as through they were once intended to have greater significance.

Wolf Man 4K UHD + Blu-ray

Now Available

It was funny to have two new werewolf movies open in December and January, though ultimately both were box office duds. But in the case of Wolf Man, I felt that was a shame, since there’s a lot to admire about this newest horror story from Leigh Whannell, even while I was surprised the film’s overall reception was so weak. No, it’s not as strong as Whannell’s most recent film before it, The Invisible Man, but it still is quite good in its own right.

This movie very much underlines the man in wolf man, including in their physicality. These are not giant, hairy werewolves in the manner you’ll find in, well, Werewolves, but rather a person who is suffering from an affliction - with Whannell often using the term “infected” for what is happening to Blake (Christopher Abbott). It’s a scary, focused story, as Blake begins to lose control around his wife (Julia Garner) and daughter (Matilda Firth), with this family trio providing a strong emotional core to the story.

Whannell has gotten ever-better as a director, which is clear watching the 4K of the film. A great transfer and audio presentation the film’s strong visual style, including the really cool approach to depicting how Blake sees and hears the people around him changes as he changes.

Is There a Commentary?

Leigh Whannell provides an informative commentary, discussing his approach to the material, what his influences were and the shadow An American Werewolf in London casts on any new werewolf film. And yes, he confirms that moment that felt like an homage to his own script for Saw was just that.

There are also four short featurettes (running around 7-9 minutes each), including some insight into that aforementioned depiction of werewolf senses.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter 4K + Blu-ray

Now Available

Universal released this expansion of one single chapter from Bram Stoker’s original Dracula novel right on the heels of their own release of Renfield, in which Nicolas Cage played a modern day Dracula - an odd and somewhat confusing decision (I recall seeing the trailer for Last Voyage of the Demeter before Renfield, as though they were meant to be companion pieces). Initially, I was disappointed by both films, but revisiting Demeter, I can see its strengths a bit more. After so many films depicting Dracula as alluring or sensual, this one is all about making him a fearsome beast - a monstrous presence being secretly being transported on a ship from Transylvania to London, who soon goes all Alien on the crew.

There are some effective sequences in the film and strong performances from the likes of Corey Hawkins, David Dastmalchian and Liam Cunningham. However, there are times where the energy sags and I wish it had committed to the truly dark and definitive ending it feels would be more appropriate, rather than set up a sequel that will likely never happen (though one ponders if this would have completely diverged from the events of Dracula or try and function as a side story).

The film’s dark and atmospheric cinematography is one of its strengths and I actually think it looks even better on this 4K than it did in theaters.

Is There a Commentary?

There are three which, let’s be real here, feels like overkill for a recent film that has not truly broken out as a cult favorite in any major way, but I love Scream Factory/Shout! for going so big with a random release like this, so keep ‘em coming! I’d be lying to say I listened to all of the commentaries in full, though I sampled each a bit. Still, with one from appreciative film critic Meagan Navarro, another from cast member David Dastmalchian and another from director Andre Ovredal and producer Bradley J. Fischer, all aspects of the film’s production and themes are explored here.

There are also three featurettes, ranging from 7-11 minutes long. Nothing substantial but some extra tidbits on top of all the commentaries cover. 8 deleted scenes and an alternate opening all feature optional director’s commentary. All in all, this is an impressive abundance to offer for a film that initially came and went just a couple of years ago.

Juror #2 Blu-ray

Now Available

Clint Eastwood is one of a kind, and it’s pretty amazing that the director is apparently trying to outdo Ridley Scott by working so consistently at the age of 94. I found Juror #2 to be one of his lesser films, but it still makes for an engaging watch, with its attention-getting premise about a juror (Nicholas Hoult) who begins to realize it was likely he who accidentally hit a woman with his car on a dark and stormy night, killing her, and not the man accused of murdering her in a case of domestic violence.

Eastwood isn’t interested in making this into the full pulp-style thriller it could be (though there are heightened moments to be sure) but rather examining themes of guilt and responsibility, as Hoult’s Justin both attempts to find out if he truly is responsible and, if so, wrestles with whether he should come clean about it. I admired the ideas behind the ending more than the execution, as some elements just didn’t quite ring true (and a couple of moments are just plain cheesy) but Hoult is excellent and, even among some messy story points, there’s still a lot to admire in the film.

The film’s Blu-ray transfer is a strong one, though the lack of 4K is both unfortunate and unsurprising, given Warner Bros. acted burdened by having to release their new Clint Eastwood film, initially only planning to keep it in theaters for a week before letting it stay a bit longer thanks to positive response.

Is There a Commentary?

There is not, nor is there a single bonus feature. Again, not surprising, given WB.’s treatment of the film, but a pretty crappy way to release a film from a filmmaker (and movie icon) with this much significance.

The Penguin 4K UHD

Now Available

As the wait for The Batman Part II grows ever more frustrating (2027!?), we did at least get a notable continuation of the version of Gotham City created by Matt Reeves for his 2022 film, in what turned out to be a best case scenario of this sort of franchise extension via this 8-episode Max series. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc (Reeves also was an EP on the series) did a fantastic job of continuing the story of Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobb, after Farrell stole the handful of scenes he was in in The Batman. Any hesitation that a series centered on Oz might be stretching things was quickly done away with in this incredibly involving, mob-focused tale.

Farrell continued to be fantastic and unrecognizable both in appearance and demeanor as Oz and he was given one hell of a sparring partner in Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone. Milioti’s always been an excellent actress but she was absolutely phenomenal in The Penguin as someone who had been pushed by terrible circumstances towards the dark behavior and lifestyle Oz so eagerly seeks out.

The film’s gritty, grounded visual style was carried over to the series and the 4K transfer is really good - and it is cool to see the show looking more detailed than it did on its streaming service (and letting you be even more impressed by the realism of Farrell’s makeup). The Dolby Atmos sound presentation is also excellent and nuanced.

Is There a Commentary?

No, through there are a group of straightforward bonus features. The eight “Inside Gotham” behind-the-scenes shorts that followed each episode after its debut on Max are included here, along with 9 other featurettes, similarly running a few minutes each, focused on various aspects of the show like Sofia, Oz, and Farrell’s incredible makeup work by Mike Marino. The longest featurette, running 7:23, highlight’s the importance of the sympathetic Victor Aguilar (Rhenzy Feliz) in the series. The Penguin was such a triumph, it’s too bad there’s not more included here, commentaries included — look at the example Star Trek: Lower Decks set, guys! — but it is still great to get a 4K release of this awesome show.

Sick 4K + Blu-ray

Now Available

Released straight to streaming on Peacock at the start of 2023, Sick stands as one of the last of a group of films we got that were quickly inspired by and based within the early days of COVID-19. Along with Host, it’s also one of the better examples of these projects, perhaps because using horror as a prism and outlet for such a horrific event works quite well. Here, that meant centering the story on two college girls (Gideon Adlon and Beth Million) who quarantine together at the ol’ secluded lake house, only for a killer to stalk them. The film was notable behind-the-scenes for its co-writer, Kevin Williamson, as he returned to his Scream-style slasher roots (which will now go further as he directs Scream 7).

Sick is not doing anything groundbreaking, as it is offering up a basic slasher scenario with a COVID-influenced setting and scenario, but it’s still a pretty fun film on those terms. Director John Hyams manages to make things properly creepy and intense, and Williamson, working alongside co-writer Katelyn Crabb, proves he’s still quite adept at coming up with specific and clever slasher scenarios.

The 4K transfer is clearly a big step up from the film’s presentation on Peacock, offering a lot more definition and detail throughout.

Is There a Commentary?

So you know how I mentioned above how Scream Factory/Shout! went all-in on Last Voyage of the Demeter? They did the same for Sick. There are three commentaries on this sucker too, including one from film critic Alan Cerny, another from leads Gideon Adlon and Beth Million, and then one from director John Hyams and cinematographer Yaron Levy. They’re all engaging in their own ways, though it is a shame that the oft-mentioned Williamson and Crabb aren’t included too (…am I asking for a fourth audio commentary for Sick? Ah, sure, why not!)

On top of that, there are four separate and substantial interviews on the Blu-ray with cast member Marc Menchaca, visual FX Artist J.D. McKee, composer Nima Fakhara and sound designer Sam Nacach. In totality, even without Williamson and Crabb, there’s a ton of info here, and all of this feels rather amazing given Sick was a straight-to-streaming movie, which rarely get this kind of release.