Blu-Ray Releases Of The Year 2019

[kaotician]

With the end of the year upon us, I'm interested, (and I hope others are) in what people consider to be the best releases of the year - and the single most disappointing one. Film or tv, new or a rerelease, it doesn't really matter - just what you think was the best this year. A one line summation of each title also welcome. For me, as follows:

In no particular order, best 5 =
Night Of The Demon - super print and great extras
Waterworld - justice is done and a really thoughtful set of extras
Prince Of Darkness - great PQ and well-appointed otherwise
The Changeling - an all time classic gets the release it deserves
Cujo - an unexpectedly great release, with tip top picture and sound

Worst:
Chernobyl - botched mastering and woeful lack of extras for one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tv miniseries ever made.

So what about yours?

[eddyw78]

The Dietrich & Von Sternberg set from Powerhouse has to be my choice for release of the year. Absolutely wonderful all round quality from the packaging through to transfers and extras.
Worst. Well it pains me to say it has to be Severin’s Gwendoline. Nothing at all wrong with the transfer or packaging and even the insert cards are fine but the lack of subtitles for all the parts in Chinese really irks me as you have to keep toggling them on and off for these scenes.

[Rutger Lundgren]

While there have been many great releases this year, I'll limit myself only to those that I've already watched in their entirety (though I'm cheating a bit by not having read all the booklets yet). That means that there will be more to add to this list as I work through my backlog, and if I feel like it, maybe I'll edit this post in the future.

Of Flesh and Blood: The Cinema of Hirokazu Koreeda [BFI]



My most anticipated release of the year, and it didn't disappoint. Four amazing films in a beautiful package with more than enough extras. I want to gift this to all of my friends, and I hope there's more to come.

The African Queen (Limited Edition) [Eureka!]



A wonderful classic lovingly restored, packed with extras, and in a beautiful box that's admittedly been problematic for some people who've had trouble getting the contents out. No such issues with my copy, thankfully.

One Cut Of The Dead (Limited Edition) [Third Window Films]



A very charming film that you can't really say much about without spoiling its main surprise (although the trailer already spoils it to some extent). I've had more than a few laughs, and the LE has plenty of extras, with the second disc featuring one of my favourite menu backgrounds ever.

Burning [Thunderbird Releasing]



Admittedly, not a lot of extras, although the included interview with Lee Chang-dong was a joy to watch. However, it's probably the best film I've seen all year, and I can't stop thinking about it. It also looks great, and the slipcase is pretty nice to boot.

Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s, Volume 2 [Warner Bros.]



I almost forgot! This is a barebones release, no extras or fancy packaging, but restoration work on these still entertaining cartoons is simply superb. Volume 3 also came out this year, but I haven't seen it yet.


No disappointments so far.

[ElGranBluchadore]

An Arrow Video triumvirate for me:

- Robocop
- City of the Living Dead
- Alice Sweet Alice

[Aunt Peg]

UK Releases

Birdy (Indicator)
Moulin Rouge (BFI)
The Koker Trilogy (Criterion)
Coming Home (Eurkea)
Marlene Dietrich & Josef von Sternberg at Paramount (Indicator)
Now, Voyager (Criterion)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan: The Complete Films (New Wave)
Cruising (Arrow)

[Modman]

Originally Posted by kaotician

With the end of the year upon us, I'm interested, (and I hope others are) in what people consider to be the best releases of the year - and the single most disappointing one. Film or tv, new or a rerelease, it doesn't really matter - just what you think was the best this year. A one line summation of each title also welcome. For me, as follows:

In no particular order, best 5 =
Night Of The Demon - super print and great extras
Waterworld - justice is done and a really thoughtful set of extras
Prince Of Darkness - great PQ and well-appointed otherwise
The Changeling - an all time classic gets the release it deserves
Cujo - an unexpectedly great release, with tip top picture and sound

Worst:
Chernobyl - botched mastering and woeful lack of extras for one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tv miniseries ever made.

So what about yours?

Great releases but Night Of The Demon and The Changeling were both released in 2018.

[Ste7en]

My favourite of the year has to be:



I'll ponder my honourable mentions for a while.

[CouncilSpectre]

Can't really look too far beyond this:

[alan1981]

Amazing Mr Blunden, great film long overdue on BD which looks super in lovely packaging too.

[kaotician]

Originally Posted by Modman

Great releases but Night Of The Demon and The Changeling were both released in 2018.

Oops. I can't decide if this means it's been a long or a short year for me.

[Gerby]

My top 10 of the year in no particular order:









Honourable Mention: (just because i can't leave it off my list)

[drush9999]

In no particular order:

Shaft Collection (Warner Archive Collection)


The Street Fighter Collection (Shout)


Sister Street Fighter Collection (Arrow)


An American Werewolf in London Limited Edition (Arrow)
Simply stunning 4K remaster and original audio


Oldboy Limited Edition (Arrow)
Not only Oldboy but the other two Vengeance Trilogy movies


Scum Limited Edition (Indicator)


Monty Python's Flying Circus Norwegian Blu-ray Limited Edition (Network)
Despite the box issues (mine was fine), the remastering and restoration of uncut episodes is superb


Psycho Legacy Collection: Deluxe Edition (Turbine)
Contains the uncut Psycho for the first time on disc, plus all the sequels, and a bunch of tat


The New York Ripper Limited Edition (Blue Underground)
Fantastic 4K remaster of this sleazy slasher classic


Robocop Steelbook (Arrow)
Theatrical cut included with original audio


Rider on the Rain (Kino)
Both French and English language cuts and looks great


10 to Midnight (Shout)
Really nice 4K remaster of Bronson's finest Cannon movie


Bronco Billy (Warner Archive Collection)
Finally on Blu-ray


Wanted: Dead or Alive (Kino)
Rutger Hauer is a cool as **** bad ass in this

[TrentW1982]

I still have quite a few 2019 releases in my shelf that I haven't watched yet so may need to hold off on a best-of list until I get through a few more of them, however I think it will be very difficult for anything to dislodge this incredible release from my #1 spot:



At this stage, these would have to be my top two runners up:

[Vault of Horror]

I was thinking of starting a thread like this myself!

There are some releases that look excellent but are still on the to watch pile so I can't really put therm in my list - Scum, Haxan, Monty Python Series 1 and others. In alphabetical order my favourites of the year (that I've actually seen properly)...

An American Werewolf in London (Arrow) - knocks previous releases firmly on the head with a proper restoration and comprehensive extras package.

Bloody Terror: the Shocking Cinema of Norman J. Warren (Indicator) - fine tribute to a unique horror director. What price a similar set for Pete Walker?

The Body Snatcher (Shout Factory) - my favourite Lewton film gets an excellent transfer from Shout.

Der Golem (Masters of Cinema) - my previous viewings have all been from knackered public domain sources so the restoration here is nothing short of remarkable. Those sets!

Hammer Volume 4: Faces of Fear (Indicator) - arguably the strongest line up of films in Indicators Hammer sets so far handled with care we've come to espect from Indicator.

Horror Express (Arrow) - nice to see this underrated (and quite bonkers) gem getting the definitive treatment after the previous shoddy editions.

The White Reindeer (Masters of Cinema) - my blind buy of the year by some distance. A wonderful restoration of a unique film.

My most disappointing release of the year is Haunted House of Horror (Screenbound). This film is my ultimate "guilty pleasure" horror film so I was really looking forward to this but they completely botched the audio. A great shame as the PQ and extras are good but the audio is distorted and weak. It wasn't cheap to buy either!

[Marcus Aurelius]

War and Peace for me from Criterion but Arrow and Eureka have been tremendous with the releases I have purchased along with Indicator. These niche labels are magnificent.

[Dickieduvet]

A few of my favourites from 2019

An American Werewolf In London
The Amazing Mr Blunden
Don't Look Now UHD
Backdraft UHD
Scum
Cujo
The Candy Snatchers
Blood On Satan's Claw

[latehong]

[Razorhead]

Great idea, hope everyone out in their votes for the DvdBeaver end of year poll too!

You can guess from my DP my release of the year:

The Last Movie


However it was closely followed by:

Khrustalyov my Car!


Other honourable mentions:

World on a Wire


Marlene Dietrich & Josef von Sternberg at Paramount, 1930-1935


The Koker Trilogy


Robocop


Waterworld (forgot this was even released this year)

[moreorless]

Originally Posted by Razorhead

However it was closely followed by:
Khrustalyov my Car!

I think definitely the most significant release of an older film in 2019, Hard To Be A God has been building popularity for a few years but I think with this German's status with wider audiences seems to be hitting an all time high.