(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 24th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 27th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:
Fascination
Flash Point
* Godzilla (Criterion Collection)
The Iron Rose
Lips of Blood
The Nude Vampire
Paranormal Activity 3
* Real Steel (2-Disc DVD/Blu-ray combo)
* Real Steel (3-Disc DVD, Blu-ray, Digital Copy)
Shiver of the Vampires
Summer of Massacre
* The Woman
World God Only Knows: Complete Collection

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:
Always From Darkness
Blade of Fury
The Brute Man
Classic Kung Fu 2-pack Vol. 1: True Game of Death & Incredible Kung Fu
Classic Kung Fu 2-pack Vol. 2: Bloody Fight & Story in Red Temple Lily
Cold Creepy Feeling: Paranormal Exorcism
Cold Light of Day
Dark Waters
The Devil’s Men / Terror (Double Feature)
Fascination
Flash Point
The Flying Serpent
* Godzilla (Criterion Collection)
Head Case
House on Sorority Row (Re-Mastered 2-Disc Special Edition)
Ice
The Iron Rose
Lips of Blood
The Naked Nazi
Naruto Shippuden Box Set 9
Night of the Dead
Night Owl Theater: Season 1, Vol. 1
No Blade of Grass
The Nude Vampire
Paranormal Activity 3
The People That Time Forgot
Porn Star Zombies
* Real Steel
Revenge
* Roger Corman’s Cult Classics: Lethal Ladies Vol. 2
Shiver of the Vampires
Summer of Massacre
Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tales of an Ancient Empire
Tenchi Muyo! GXP: Box Set S.A.V.E.
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Time Traveler – Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Trapped (a.k.a. Forever Mine)
* The Woman
The Woman Who Came Back
World God Only Knows: Complete Collection

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

The Grey – Yeah I know, this isn’t exactly a genre release, but it has Liam Neeson duking it out with a pack of ravenous wolves! Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, the film follows an oil drilling team whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. The survivors band together and attempt to return to civilization, but are soon besieged by a pack of territorial/hungry wolves. When things go bad, it’s up to Liam Neeson and his patented “broken bottle gauntlets” to fight off the vicious predators. I am most definitely going to see this movie this weekend!

That’s all I’ve got for you guys and gals; not a bad week for genre releases if I do say so myself. But don’t think about taking a break from cult and b-cinema just yet because next week is going to be another winner.

Theatrically we’ll have three new movies to look forward to, including “The Woman in Black” (from the reanimated Hammer Studios, and featuring Harry Potter!), “The Innkeepers” (a ghost story from Cabin Fever 2 director, Ti West), and “Chronicle” (a “found footage” film about three teens who get amazing special powers… and abuse them). All three of these new theatrical releases look promising; here’s hoping to see all of them.

On digital home video, there’s a real mixed bag of DVDs and Blu-rays. Paramount dumps another “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” release on us, this time featuring tons of extras and a 3D version of the film (for you rich bastards who have 3D TVs). Also coming out next Tuesday is a seven-disc Blu-ray collection of all three “Transformers” adventures, the prequel of “The Thing” (pointless, but enjoyable), “Dead Hooker in a Trunk,” “In Time” (do Justin Timberlake and sci-fi mix?), Arrow Video’s new release of Tobe Hooper’s “The Funhouse,” Uwe Boll’s “Blubberella,” and… what? No way…. not even the Asylum would be that insane…. “2-Headed Shark Attack?” Really?

That’s all for now, so check back next week for another dose of Genre Watch goodness! – The Vault Master

The film will be featured in glorious 16×9 widescreen, fully restored from 35MM negatives, and presented in beautiful HD! Sadly, but not surprisingly, the movie will only have “Standard Dolby Audio,” which I suppose is 2.0? Not quite sure… As for extras, this thing is packed with them, including: Audio commentary with cast and crew, TV spots, original 35MM trailer, outtakes, a radio interview, a before-and-after restoration demo, and an original movie art postcard!

SRP for this two-disc set is $19.99, but it is currently $17.99 on Amazon and well worth it! Not familiar with this movie? Then take a glance at the trailer below.

Still not hooked? Then watch ZAAT with the MST3K treatment:

American Horror Story (DVD & Blu-ray) – $34.99 / $41.99
Battle Royale (Blu-ray) – $19.99
Battle Royale Collection (Blu-ray) – $36.99
BOND 50: Complete 22 Film Collection (Blu-ray) – $199.99
Drive (DVD & Blu-ray) – $14.99 / $19.99
Falling Skies: Complete First Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $27.99 / $34.99
Game of Thrones: Complete First Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $41.99 / $52.99
Immortals (DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray) – $19.99 / $27.99 / $41.99
In Time (DVD & Blu-ray) – $14.99 / $24.99
Justice League: Doom (DVD, 2-Disc DVD, Blu-ray) – $13.99 / $16.99
Logan’s Run: The Complete Series (DVD) – $27.99
The Muppets (DVD & Blu-ray) – $19.99 / $27.99
The Muppets (DVD & Blu-ray w/soundtrack) – $23.99 / $34.99
Night Gallery: Season 3 (DVD) – $19.99
Supernatural: Complete Seventh Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $41.99 / $55.99
The Thing (DVD & Blu-ray) – $17.99 / $23.99
True Blood: Complete Fourth Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $41.99 / $55.99
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (DVD & Blu-ray) – $19.99 / $22.99
Vampire Diaries: Complete Third Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $53.99 / $62.99

CLICK HERE for the full list of DVDs and Blu-ray discs that you can pre-order!

(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 17th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 20th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:
* Dutch
First Squad
* Gantz II: Perfect Answer
* License to Drive
Project X
Redline
Star Driver Part 2

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:
Cold Sweat
Donner Pass
First Squad
Fists of Death
* Ganz II: Perfect Answer
The Girl Who Leapt Through Space: Volume 4
Gutter King
Hetalia: Axis Powers Collection 3
Hetalia: World Series 1, Season 3 (Limited Edition)
Kaze No Stigma: Complete Series S.A.V.E.
The Last of the Hard Men / Sky Riders (Action Double Feature)
Man With Two Lives
Nabari No Ou: Complete Series S.A.V.E.
The Perfect Student
Princess Resurrection: Complete Collection
Redline
Star Driver Part 2
Undocumented
Walking Dead: Vampires and Zombies
Zero Woman R

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

Underworld Awakening – The third (and final?) chapter in the “Underworld” saga features Selene (Kate Beckinsale in leather… :: drool ::) battling for the continued existence of Vampires and Lycans. Humanity has finally discovered that the creatures of the night are very real and declares war on them, so Selene and her fellow heroic monsters band together to face this unexpected(?) threat. I’m going to see this, if only because “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” (the completely unnecessary prequel) left a bad taste in my mouth. And at only 88 minutes, I can’t see myself being too bored by leatherclad babes and dueling monsters.

This week totally sucked, but next week gives us a little more to look forward to. Here’s some highlights: Criterion unleashes their controversial Godzilla Blu-ray and DVD (controversial because the art on the outside and inside of the box depicts an artist’s rendition of the Big-G, which looks nothing like the original 1954 incarnation of the King of the Monsters); “Real Steel” (a.k.a. Rocky III and IV with robots) comes to digital home video; Shout! Factory gives us a new Roger Corman Cult Classics DVD which features a trio of films featuring “Lethal Ladies” (Vol.2!); Liam Neeson battles a pack of wolves on the big screeen, using homemade “glass knuckles” in “The Grey.”

That’s it for now everyone; check back next week for a look at what’s new in theaters and home video! – The Vault Master

(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 10th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 14th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:
Primeval: Volume Three
Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption
* Summer of Massacre
Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of the Wind, The Shore of Maze

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:
American Gothic: The Complete Series
The Cape: The Complete Series
Cleopatra 2525: The Complete Series
A Darker Reality
Death Bell – Bloody Camp
Doctor Who: The Android Invasion (Story 83)
Doctor Who: The Invasion of the Dinosaurs (Story 71)
Fistful of Bullets – Spaghetti Western Collection
Gurozaka
* Jack of All Trades: The Complete Series
Kenneyville
Night Gallery: Season One
Night Gallery: Season Two
Primeval: Volume Three
Psychotica
Red Faction Origins
Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption
She-Wolf of London: The Complete Series
* Shriek of the Sasquatch
* Summer of Massacre

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

The Divide – Michael Biehne stars in this dark post-apocalyptic thriller that focuses on a group of people that are trapped in the basement of their apartment building after a nuclear attack. As supplies and hopes dwindle, insanity and violence begin to prey on the survivors. This movie looks intense; I really want to see it. Sadly it only has a limited theatrical release this weekend so I, along with many of you, will have to patiently wait the DVD/Blu-ray release.

Don’t Go in the Woods – This one has a limited release and was written and directed by … Vincent D’Onofrio? Weird. A band heads out into “the woods” to have alone time and write some music. Naturally some hot young coeds show up to party it up, as does a mysterious killer. Looks like it might be a bit fun but… yeah, this looks like a rental at best.

Also “The Devil Inside” is still out in theaters and boasts one of the most anger-inducing “non-endings” in film history apparently. While most of the stuff I’ve heard about that movie has been bad, a few close friends have praised it. Guess I’ll find out for myself… next year when its in a bargain bin. Ha!

Next week promises a whole lot of nothing: “Underworld: Awakening” hits the big screen (hooray for theatrical gift cards that I got for Christmas; didn’t want to spend money on this one!) and there’s nothing to write home about on digital home video. It’s a really crappy week with the Blu-ray releases of “License to Drive” and “Dutch” ($12.99 each on Amazon) being the only movies that caught my eye.

So check back next week for the full story on the sad release slate. Then breathe a sigh of relief and put your wallets & purses away, and give your bank account some much needed time off. – The Vault Master

NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE! PREPARE FOR MARVEL’S “THE AVENGERS” WITH A DOUBLE DOSE OF SUPERHEROIC MOCKBUSTERS!

THE AMAZING BULK (DVD)
UPC #822928079599 / $19.99 SRP
Street Date: April 17, 2012

Henry “Hank” Howard, an ambitious but frustrated young scientist, struggles to develop a super human serum designed to improve muscle mass and prolong life expectancy. His boss, the grumpy General Darwin, will not allow Hank to marry his daughter, Hannah, until the experiment is a success. Against Darwin’s wishes, Hank attempts to propose to Hannah, but his life is shattered by a mugger who steals his engagement ring. Feeling dejected, Hank injects himself with the experimental serum and is transformed into his alter ego, “The Amazing Bulk.” The Bulk goes on a rampage through the city destroying everything in his path. Hank is caught by a relentless detective, imprisoned by Darwin and forced to battle the sadistic Dr. Kantlove, who threatens to blow up the moon with his arsenal of nuclear weapons.

THUNDERSTORM: RETURN OF THOR (DVD)
UPC #822928079698 / $19.99 SRP
Street Date: May 1, 2012

A group of religious zealots known as The Death Risers have an evil plot to destroy the world by bringing to Earth the Norse God they worship: The Goddess of the Undead, known as Hel! In Asgard, however, Thor the Norse God of Thunder has gotten wind of the evil scheme and forms a plan of his own to stop it. Thor bequeaths a portion of his lightning-wielding powers to his Earthbound descendant, a military scientist named Grant Farrel. Now known as Thunderstorm, Grant puts his powers to use in the name of justice! But is it too late to stop Hel and her acolytes from raising the Midgard Dragon and ruling the Earth…?

Released by DVD DELUXE
Exclusive Retail Distribution by TEMPE VIDEO

*****

Available direct from Tempe or through our distribution partners.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Website: http://www.tempevideo.com

Copyright © 2012 Tempe Entertainment. All rights reserved.

SCARLET COUNTESS
$19.99 SRP
Street Date: January 31, 2012

All Scarlet wanted was to be a rock star. Her dream changed the fateful night she met Count Dracula! Now Scarlet is doomed to darkness, a vampire preying on human blood. Will Scarlet know peace by facing the rising sun – or regain mortality by satisfying in one night her lesbian and vampire lusts with the blood of three sexy virgins? Find out in Frontline Entertainment’s “spec-Dracular” first entry in its “horrotic” COUNTESS DRACULA cult-movie trilogy. Theatrically released, restored & remastered with a crypt-load of new bonus features!

FROM THE INSIDE
$19.99 SRP
Street Date: February 28, 2012

Alone in their isolated home where no cars pass and no one lives nearby, Vincent and Tally suffer together in a loveless marriage. But what they don’t know is that they are not as alone as they think — a criminal and his psychotic brother are watching them through binoculars. They stare lustfully at Tally through the windows and plan something horrible for the unhappy couple when night falls…

IS THIS A JOKE?
$19.99 SRP
Street date: February 28, 2012

A high-energy throwback to the dirty joke movies of the 1970’s, more than 70 classic dirty jokes have been brought to life in IS THIS A JOKE? These dirty jokes we all remember hearing and telling years ago have never been funnier as they come to life with a young and funny cast. There’s priests, rabbis, chickens crossing the road, naked ladies, drunks, rednecks, gorillas, dog bites, vomiting, cucumbers — something for everyone! Sit back, relax and prepare to smile!

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Website:  http://www.tempevideo.com

(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, October 18th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, October 20th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:

Batman: Year One
Cape Fear (1991)
* The Crow
Darkness Falls
Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One
Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid
Hellraiser Revelations
The Howling Reborn
Kuroneko (Criterion Collection)
The Last Circus
* Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo; 5-Disc set)
* Red State
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Complete Season Three
V: The Complete Second Season

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:

Bamboo Blade: The Complete Series S.A.V.E.
Beware
Captain American / Captain America II: Death Too Soon
The Captains – A Film by William Shatner
Death Will Have Your Eyes
Demon City Shinjuku
Dino Wolf
Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One
Dragon Dynasty: Ultimate Kung-Fu Box Set
Gene-X
George: A Zombie Intervention
The Girl Who Leapt Through Space 3
Grave Encounters
Hell Girl: Two Mirrors Complete Collection
Hellraiser Revelations
The Howling Reborn
Jim’s Gift
Killer Eye: Halloween Haunt
Kuroneko (Criterion Collection)
The Last Circus
Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Vampire at Midnight
* More Brains! A Return To the Living Dead
* Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Single and 2-Disc DVD)
Pirates of the Caribbean: 4-Movie Collection
The Pyx
Ray: The Complete Collection
* Red State
Robotech: The Complete Original Series
Robotech: Macross Saga – The First Robotech War
Robotech: Masters Saga – The Second Robotech War
Robotech: New Generation – The Third Robotech War
Satan Hates You
Scarlet Fry’s Junk Food Horrorfest
Sodium Babies
Subspecies: The Complete Chronicles
Trancers: The Ultimate Deth Collection
V: The Complete Second Season
Zombie Apocalypse – Redemption

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

Paranormal Activity 3 – The third (and hopefully final) outing in this surprisingly popular Horror series. This one sets out to explain the backstory of why an evil entity was out to terrify people who videotaped every moment of their lives. The culprit it seems is Bloody Mary, but that would almost make this film interesting. Check out the trailer and get excited! Or yawn at it like I’m doing.

That’s all there is this week b-movie fans. There’s lots of crap (the new “Howling” and “Hellraiser” movies will probably make you weep at their awfulness), but luckily next week brings us a huge Christmas wishlist of movies on DVD & Blu-ray including the likes of “Attack the Block,” “Zombie” (Blue Underground’s new Deluxe Edition!), “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” and several other must haves! Theatrically, there’s really nothing all that great, with “In Time” being the only thing I’d personally be willing to see.

Check back again soon for more DVD and film news plus (hopefully) another full-fledged Genre Watch article! Oh and don’t forget there’s only TWELVE MORE DAYS UNTIL HALLOWEEN! YAY! – The Vault Master

Few movies deserve the distinctive honor of a Criterion release, but even fewer deserve it more than the original GOJIRA. Created as a sci-fi epic/allegory about the horrors of nuclear war, this movie resulted in one of the longest running film franchises of all time, and Godzilla became one of the biggest (literally) pop-culture icons ever!

Though Classic Media did us Godzilla fans a solid with their impressive GODZILLA COLLECTION, the video (and audio) quality of the original Godzilla was lacking (especially on the Blu-ray according to most sources).

Now, we’ll be getting a deluxe release of this classic film, with a NEW high-def restoration for both the original uncut Japanese version, as well as the more widely seen Americanized cut. The disc will be rounded out with the following extras:

• Audio commentary for both versions by David Kalat (A Critical History and Filmography of Toho’s Godzilla Series)
• New interviews with actor Akira Takarada (Hideto Ogata), Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai.
• Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube.
• Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects.
• New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato.
• The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo fukuryu maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla.
• Theatrical trailers.
• New and improved English subtitle translation.
• A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman.

Wow, not too shabby eh?! The DVD & Blu-ray editions of this monumental release hit retailers January 24, 2012. Though I already own three separate DVD releases of this film (the Italian cut from director Luigi Cozzi, the terrible fullscreen Classic Media release, and the much improved two-disc Classic Media release), I’ll be picking up the Blu-ray as soon as its out. Pricing has yet to be announced, but I’m guessing it’ll be in the $25.00 – $35.00 range.

In somewhat related news, Amazon.com is currently having a crazy deal on the Classic Media Godzilla Collection. The packaging is very cool, each disc has a good number of extras, and you get TWO distinct versions of SEVEN classic Godzilla films including: Gojira, Godzilla Raids Again, Ghidrah: The Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. the Astro Monster (a.k.a. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero), Godzilla’s Revenge, and Terror of Mechagodzilla. The set is (as of my writing this post) a mere $19.99, which KILLS me because I spent at least fifty on it when it was first released. Order it now before you miss out on one hell of a deal!

All four films come with audio commentaries, but the first and (thus far) last “Omen” films are loaded with extras including: Deleted & extended scenes, trailers, making of featurettes, and documentaries! This is totally worth picking up (at its current price, this set is roughly five bucks a movie!) and will be a great way to get you in the Halloween spirit!