Latest news with #WarnerArchive
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A New Blu-ray Collection Opens the Warner Bros. Animation Vault — and Finds 50 Treasures Inside
In May of 2023, Warner Bros. released a collection of classic cartoons on Blu-ray through their boutique Warner Archive label that was directly aimed at serious enthusiasts. That set, 'Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1,' was pure gold for animation fans, featuring 25 cartoons that had never been released on DVD or Blu-ray in remastered form. The positive response from lovers of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig led to three more volumes, each collecting 25 new shorts that were meticulously restored and presented in exquisite transfers. More from IndieWire '28 Years Later' Review: A Tender, Thoughtful, and Strangely Moving Sequel to One of the Scariest Zombie Movies Ever How 'Materialists' Finds True Love in New York City Now, Warner Archive is continuing their mission with 'Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 1,' a set that continues the label's previous work and expands on it. 'I decided that instead of releasing a Volume 5 with the same curation criteria we would expand to 2-disc collections,' film historian George Feltenstein, who oversees the Warner Archive label, told IndieWire. 'The idea was to expand the variety of classic cartoons offered by letting the first disc continue the mission of what we had established with the Collector's Choice releases — 25 cartoons not previously available on DVD or Blu-ray in remastered form as part of a WB classic collection,' he said. 'However, the addition of the second disc would contain 25 cartoons that have been available in standard definition on DVD, but had yet to be included remastered in High Definition on a Blu-ray disc.' Among the newly included cartoons are several fan favorites and rarities, including choice selections by legendary director Chuck Jones. Feltenstein said that choosing favorites is difficult since he, in collaboration with animation historian Jerry Beck, selected all the cartoons, but he has particular fondness for the 1945 Jones short 'Hare Conditioned.' In this hilarious cartoon, Bugs Bunny faces a threat from a department store manager who wants to get Bugs stuffed in the taxidermy department. 'Most of the Warner Bros. animation directors had their take on Bugs, but Jones' work with the character just seemed to get better and better over the years,' Feltenstein said. 'This is a relatively early Jones/Bugs cartoon, but it has been a favorite since childhood.' Feltenstein also points to Jones' 1948 Daffy Duck short 'Daffy Dilly' as a treasure that exhibits Daffy's evolution under Jones' direction. 'I had the pleasure of meeting Chuck Jones late in his life, and we spoke at length about his work at Warner Bros.,' Feltenstein said. 'He once told me — and I assume he told this to many — that Bugs Bunny, for him, represented the kind of individual we aspire to be, and that Daffy Duck was the individual we are afraid we're really more like. I thought his statement was quite brilliant.' In choosing the cartoons for the Warner Archive collections, Feltenstein and Beck — who have been collaborating on the programming of classic animation releases going back to the laserdisc era — asked themselves what the fans would want, which isn't difficult since they're fans themselves. In addition to the Jones shorts, other highlights in the vault collection include Friz Freleng's 'Each Dawn I Crow' (1949) with Elmer Fudd from 1949, and 'The Goofy Gophers,' which was released in 1947. ''The Goofy Gophers' features the screen debut of the characters 'Mac and Tosh,' who appeared in several successive cartoons, but this was their introduction to the big screen,' Feltenstein said. 'It was allegedly started by legendary animator Bob Clampett, but the balance of the work was taken over by Arthur Davis after Clampett's sudden departure from the studio.' In addition to his work on the Warner animation collections, Feltenstein oversees a wide array of releases from the studio's live-action catalogue, often putting out pristine releases of classics as well as cult favorites and idiosyncratic oddities. Recent months have seen new Blu-rays of titles as varied as the criminally underrated Ryan Reynolds/Amy Smart comedy 'Just Friends,' Vincente Minnelli's visually stunning melodrama 'The Cobweb,' and the blaxploitation gem 'Melinda,' just to name a few. 'We are usually working on several dozen releases at any given time, in various stages of production,' Feltenstein. 'This requires very close coordination with other departments, so we can make sure that our efforts are synchronized with the company's dedication to preservation efforts.' Right now, the Warner Archive Collection is the only studio-based 'boutique' label, dedicated to what physical media collectors want most, and Feltenstein takes his role as curator seriously. 'There are many factors that go into what can get released, and what is still waiting,' Feltenstein said. 'We also have various groups of die-hard enthusiast consumers who each want to make their voices heard loudly about what they want to see released. We're listening, and our goal is to try and please all the different fan factions.' Ultimately, Feltenstein's work is complicated but his mission is simple: to get as much of the Warners library released from the vaults and onto the shelves of home viewers. It's a mission he's been on for over 16 years that has now yielded several thousand releases; given how strong the company's recent releases have been, here's hoping there are thousands more to come. Best of IndieWire The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in June, from 'Vertigo' and 'Rear Window' to 'Emily the Criminal' All 12 Wes Anderson Movies, Ranked, from 'Bottle Rocket' to 'The Phoenician Scheme' Nightmare Film Shoots: The 38 Most Grueling Films Ever Made, from 'Deliverance' to 'The Wages of Fear'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Best New Blu-ray and 4K Releases in June 2025
Physical media culture is alive and thriving thanks to the home video tastemakers hailing everywhere from The Criterion Collection to Kino Lorber and the Warner Archive Collection. Each month, IndieWire highlights the best recent and upcoming Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K releases for cinephiles to own now — and to bring ballast and permanence to your moviegoing at a time when streaming windows on classic movies close just as soon as they open. The summer movie season is upon us, with 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' smashing records and luring audiences back to theaters for blockbuster spectacle and family-friendly fare. As the weather improves, you may not feel like going out to a movie or staying at home to watch one, and after a dreary East Coast winter and spring, you wouldn't be faulted for preferring to get out and smell the roses rather than stare at a screen. But with this June's top new Blu-ray and 4K releases, hopefully, you're doing more than staring at a screen: You're hopefully being absorbed into a cinematic world that asks more of you than passive viewing. More from IndieWire Best Buy Is Out of the DVD and Blu-ray Business, and Now So Is Disney The Best DVD Commentaries on Filmmaking Best TV & Movie Box Sets: Criterion Collection, TV Classics, and More As we do every month, IndieWire here highlights our eight best recommended physical media releases to add to your collection, and there's something here to appeal to all quadrants of the audience. Sidney Lumet's Black-centered musical 'Wizard of Oz' reimagining 'The Wiz,' Paul Schrader's kaleidoscopic literary biopic 'Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters' (IndieWire's #2 best film of the 1980s), and William Friedkin's epic 'The Wages of Fear' remake 'Sorcerer' are among the new Criterion Collection titles hitting shelves this month. But we also round up classic releases from Kino Lorber, Warner Archive, and more, as well as a long-awaited (OK, long awaited by this writer anyway) Blu-ray release of Julia Leigh's fairytale-turned-sex-work-nightmare 'Sleeping Beauty' from IFC Films. These and more in IndieWire's lineup of the best eight new 4Ks and Blu-rays coming to retailers this month. Best of IndieWire The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in June, from 'Vertigo' and 'Rear Window' to 'Emily the Criminal' All 12 Wes Anderson Movies, Ranked, from 'Bottle Rocket' to 'The Phoenician Scheme' Nightmare Film Shoots: The 38 Most Grueling Films Ever Made, from 'Deliverance' to 'The Wages of Fear'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A New Blu-ray Collection Opens the Warner Bros. Animation Vault — and Finds 50 Treasures Inside
In May of 2023, Warner Bros. released a collection of classic cartoons on Blu-ray through their boutique Warner Archive label that was directly aimed at serious enthusiasts. That set, 'Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1,' was pure gold for animation fans, featuring 25 cartoons that had never been released on DVD or Blu-ray in remastered form. The positive response from lovers of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig led to three more volumes, each collecting 25 new shorts that were meticulously restored and presented in exquisite transfers. More from IndieWire '28 Years Later' Review: A Tender, Thoughtful, and Strangely Moving Sequel to One of the Scariest Zombie Movies Ever How 'Materialists' Finds True Love in New York City Now, Warner Archive is continuing their mission with 'Looney Tunes Collector's Vault: Volume 1,' a set that continues the label's previous work and expands on it. 'I decided that instead of releasing a Volume 5 with the same curation criteria we would expand to 2-disc collections,' film historian George Feltenstein, who oversees the Warner Archive label, told IndieWire. 'The idea was to expand the variety of classic cartoons offered by letting the first disc continue the mission of what we had established with the Collector's Choice releases — 25 cartoons not previously available on DVD or Blu-ray in remastered form as part of a WB classic collection,' he said. 'However, the addition of the second disc would contain 25 cartoons that have been available in standard definition on DVD, but had yet to be included remastered in High Definition on a Blu-ray disc.' Among the newly included cartoons are several fan favorites and rarities, including choice selections by legendary director Chuck Jones. Feltenstein said that choosing favorites is difficult since he, in collaboration with animation historian Jerry Beck, selected all the cartoons, but he has particular fondness for the 1945 Jones short 'Hare Conditioned.' In this hilarious cartoon, Bugs Bunny faces a threat from a department store manager who wants to get Bugs stuffed in the taxidermy department. 'Most of the Warner Bros. animation directors had their take on Bugs, but Jones' work with the character just seemed to get better and better over the years,' Feltenstein said. 'This is a relatively early Jones/Bugs cartoon, but it has been a favorite since childhood.' Feltenstein also points to Jones' 1948 Daffy Duck short 'Daffy Dilly' as a treasure that exhibits Daffy's evolution under Jones' direction. 'I had the pleasure of meeting Chuck Jones late in his life, and we spoke at length about his work at Warner Bros.,' Feltenstein said. 'He once told me — and I assume he told this to many — that Bugs Bunny, for him, represented the kind of individual we aspire to be, and that Daffy Duck was the individual we are afraid we're really more like. I thought his statement was quite brilliant.' In choosing the cartoons for the Warner Archive collections, Feltenstein and Beck — who have been collaborating on the programming of classic animation releases going back to the laserdisc era — asked themselves what the fans would want, which isn't difficult since they're fans themselves. In addition to the Jones shorts, other highlights in the vault collection include Friz Freleng's 'Each Dawn I Crow' (1949) with Elmer Fudd from 1949, and 'The Goofy Gophers,' which was released in 1947. ''The Goofy Gophers' features the screen debut of the characters 'Mac and Tosh,' who appeared in several successive cartoons, but this was their introduction to the big screen,' Feltenstein said. 'It was allegedly started by legendary animator Bob Clampett, but the balance of the work was taken over by Arthur Davis after Clampett's sudden departure from the studio.' In addition to his work on the Warner animation collections, Feltenstein oversees a wide array of releases from the studio's live-action catalogue, often putting out pristine releases of classics as well as cult favorites and idiosyncratic oddities. Recent months have seen new Blu-rays of titles as varied as the criminally underrated Ryan Reynolds/Amy Smart comedy 'Just Friends,' Vincente Minnelli's visually stunning melodrama 'The Cobweb,' and the blaxploitation gem 'Melinda,' just to name a few. 'We are usually working on several dozen releases at any given time, in various stages of production,' Feltenstein. 'This requires very close coordination with other departments, so we can make sure that our efforts are synchronized with the company's dedication to preservation efforts.' Right now, the Warner Archive Collection is the only studio-based 'boutique' label, dedicated to what physical media collectors want most, and Feltenstein takes his role as curator seriously. 'There are many factors that go into what can get released, and what is still waiting,' Feltenstein said. 'We also have various groups of die-hard enthusiast consumers who each want to make their voices heard loudly about what they want to see released. We're listening, and our goal is to try and please all the different fan factions.' Ultimately, Feltenstein's work is complicated but his mission is simple: to get as much of the Warners library released from the vaults and onto the shelves of home viewers. It's a mission he's been on for over 16 years that has now yielded several thousand releases; given how strong the company's recent releases have been, here's hoping there are thousands more to come. Best of IndieWire The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in June, from 'Vertigo' and 'Rear Window' to 'Emily the Criminal' All 12 Wes Anderson Movies, Ranked, from 'Bottle Rocket' to 'The Phoenician Scheme' Nightmare Film Shoots: The 38 Most Grueling Films Ever Made, from 'Deliverance' to 'The Wages of Fear'
Geek Vibes Nation
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Operation Crossbow' Blu-Ray Review - A Thrilling Wartime Espionage Tale
A fearsome rumor reaches Britain's World War II command. The Nazis are developing rocket technology that could rain death on London and then New York. Quickly, England develops a plan to send saboteurs into the sites manufacturing the rockets. Just moments after the carefully chosen commandos parachute into the drop zone, their pilot receives an urgent message: The mission may be compromised. Abort. Operation Crossbow is the partly fact-based tale of how that team succeeded against daunting odds. Michael Anderson (The Dam Busters, Logan's Run) directs, guiding a huge cast in a film that builds to a spectacular finale, yet never neglects war's unsparing personal costs. As a record of a wartime espionage incursion and as an intrigue-filled thriller, Operation Crossbow is on both counts Operation Accomplished. For thoughts on Operation Crossbow, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality Warner Archive presents Operation Crossbow with a sterling 1080p master transfer released in 2019 in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 2K scan of the Interpositive that looks like a dream. Viewers are unlikely to spot the difference between this and a scan from the Original Camera Negative, given the amazing effort from the label. The film exhibits no serious signs of wear and tear or debris. Even momentary softness during optical transitions that cannot be avoided is handled with care. The colors of the environments are striking with memorable touches in the clothing and production design. Each hue is ideally saturated for first-rate accuracy. Black levels are deep with impeccable stability throughout, and highlights similarly hold firm. Detail and clarity are of the highest order with the sumptuous natural film grain intact and resolved consistently. There are no unwanted digital fumbles such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such issues. Warner Archive showed off with this one. Audio Quality The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that comes to life quite memorably. There is quite a bit of chatter at the base in German with English subtitles, and the overwhelmingly English dialogue sounds great, as well. Things kick into gear in your speakers as you fully engage with the thrilling finale. The score from Ron Goodwin is used perfectly to transport you into this spy thriller filled with simmering emotions. Even when it is particularly active, it does not step on any important exchanges or background noises. There is no obvious age-related wear and tear to the track such as drop-outs, hissing, or popping. Warner Archive has put forth good work with this audio presentation. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included for the feature film. Special Features A Look Back At Crossbow: A ten-minute archival featurette that takes a look at the real-life rocket program fictionalized in the feature film. Theatrical Trailer (2:36) Final Thoughts Operation Crossbow is a thrilling espionage movie that brings a personal touch to a very important wartime story. The movie takes some measures to feel authentic with Germans actually speaking in German with subtitles, and the movie establishes some heavy consequences to these heroic efforts. The performances are quite good all around, even if some of the tertiary characters could have been a bit more fully developed. This is definitely worth a watch for fans of wartime dramas. Warner Archive has released Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a couple of special features. Recommended Operation Crossbow can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Geek Vibes Nation
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Hans Christian Andersen' Blu-Ray Review - Danny Kaye Brings An Iconic Storyteller To Life
Once upon a time, there lived in Denmark a young shoemaker named Hans Christian Andersen whose magical tales delighted boys and girls throughout the land. Danny Kaye 'is a delight' (Cue) as Hans, who one day journeys beyond the borders of his small village, across the sea and into the dazzling city of Copenhagen. There he encounters marvels and wonders beyond his wildest dreams…and finds the inspiration for some of his most unforgettable characters, such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina and many more! Nominated for six Oscars, Hans Christian Andersen is pure enchantment! For thoughts on Hans Christian Andersen, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality Warner Archive brought Hans Christian Andersen back in print to Blu-Ray in 2020 after first being released on Blu-Ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in 2012. This disc is the exact one used in the original run, only brought back so you do not have to pay inflated prices on the second-hand market. The Samuel Goldwyn estate restored the film for this original release from a 2K scan on the Interpositive in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio that looks good but could likely look even better with modern restoration tools. One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the vibrant array of colors within the costumes and settings that radiate off the screen with a lovely vibrancy. Every hue appears to be fairly accurate to its intended shade. Black levels showcase nice depth with respectable stability throughout, and highlights are bright without succumbing to any blooming. The restoration appears to have eliminated most dirt and damage for a clear picture. There do not appear to be any dastardly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. The level of detail and clarity is in fine shape with a faithful amount of natural film grain intact, yet there is a bit of softness at points due to coming from an Interpositive. We would love to see a 4K restoration in the future, but this disc holds up well enough. Audio Quality The Blu-Ray comes with a pleasant DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track that captures the material without issue. The star of the show is the music, and this track executes these elements with care. It balances the soft vocals with the accompanying dance numbers and music with great clarity. Dialogue comes through clearly with nothing overshadowed by competing elements. There are spectacular moments when the track is bustling with all of the competing elements, but the fidelity never comes up short. Warner Bros. has provided a strong presentation that avoids signs of age-related wear and tear. Optional English (SDH), French, and Spanish subtitles are provided. Special Features Theatrical Trailer (2:43) Final Thoughts Hans Christian Andersen is an amiable movie musical that takes a fictionalized look at the life of an iconic storyteller as brought to buoyant life by Danny Kaye. The narrative is understandably kid-friendly given the tales that he wrote, but there is a lack of complexity given to his struggles that falls in line with so-called biopics of the time. That being said, the glossy approach to the narrative does yield some entertaining numbers and some fine performances. Warner Archive has re-released a Blu-Ray featuring a pleasant A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. Recommended Hans Christian Andersen can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
