Tag Archives: Director Approved

Michael Mann’s 2006 Miami Vice on 4K in December

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Movie poster for Miami Vice featuring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell, with a black and white design and the text 'Miami Vice: The Director's Final Cut.'

Commissions Earned

The 2006 film adaptation of “Miami Vice“ comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray for the very first time on December 15th via Shout Select (Shout! Studios).

The movie adaptation was directed and co-written by Michael Mann. It starred Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx in the lead roles. The film’s supporting cast included Gong Li, Naomie Harris, Justin Theroux, Barry Shabaka Henley, Luis Tosar, John Ortiz, John Hawkes, and Elizabeth Rodriguez.

Tech specs for this 5-disc “Collector’s Edition” include a full 2160p 4K video presentation in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio for the feature film in both its “Final Director’s Cut” and theatrical cut forms, accompanied by Dolby Vision (HDR10-compatible) high dynamic range as well as lossless sound via DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo mixes. NOTE: This transfer was “supervised and approved by” Michael Mann.

You can now preorder the 4K UHD Blu-ray at Amazon and GRUV. Expect that price to drop more at Amazon soon. The full contents of the 5-disc set are detailed entirely below.

PRESS RELEASE:

Miami Vice: The Director’s Final Cut (Collector’s Edition)

Five-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray Set Arrives December 15, 2026
from Radial Entertainment

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the film, Radial Entertainment is bringing the experience of Miami Vice to you like never before with Miami Vice: The Director’s Final Cut (Collector’s Edition), in a new edit by writer-director Michael Mann. Combining the best of current film technology with the director’s singular vision, the new cut places viewers squarely in the vibrant yet harrowing Miami-set action. Debuting to a sold-out crowd this October at Beyond Fest 2026, fans can bring home the action with this five-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray set, available December 15, 2026 from Radial Entertainment.

This dazzling, definitive edition uses elements from both the original theatrical master and Mann’s first Director’s Cut along with new, previously unused dailies footage, with fine details adjusted scene by scene to help ensure the new cut looks and sounds better than ever. Fans will also notice changes to the story, with select scenes being refined, a re-ordering of certain scenes, and updated with a significantly recut ending incorporating previously unused footage to reflect Mann’s preferred ending. This Collector’s Edition box set is housed in a rigid slipcase and also includes a number of bonus features, including Original Alternate Cut with optional audio commentary with Michael Mann, featurettes including Miami Vice Undercover, Miami & Beyond: Shooting on Location, Visualizing Miami Vice, several behind the scenes featurettes, and more!

A case involving drug lords and murder in South Florida takes a personal turn for undercover detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx). Unorthodox Crockett gets involved romantically with the Chinese-Cuban wife of a trafficker of arms and drugs, while Tubbs deals with an assault on those he loves.

Miami Vice: The Director’s Final Cut (Collector’s Edition) Bonus Features 

DISC ONE (4K – THE DIRECTOR’S FINAL CUT): 

  • NEW The Director’s Final Cut Presented in Dolby Vision, Supervised and Approved by Writer-Director Michael Mann
  • 2160p Ultra High-Definition HDR Widescreen (2.40:1)/English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0

DISC TWO (4K – THEATRICAL CUT): 

  • NEW Theatrical Cut Presented in Dolby Vision, Supervised and Approved by Michael Mann
  • 2160p Ultra High-Definition HDR Widescreen (2.40:1)/English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0

DISC THREE (BLU-RAY – THE DIRECTOR’S FINAL CUT): 

  • 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.40:1)/English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0 

DISC FOUR (BLU-RAY – THEATRICAL CUT): 

  • 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (2.40:1)/English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0 

DISC FIVE (BLU-RAY – BONUS): 

  •  Original Alternate Cut with Optional Audio Commentary with Michael Mann 
  •  Miami Vice Under Cover 
  •  Miami & Beyond: Shooting on Location 
  •  Visualizing Miami Vice 
  •  Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes:
    • * Gun Training
    • * Mojo Race
    • * Haitian Hotel Camera Blocking
  • Theatrical Trailer

Run Time: 133 Minutes (The Director’s Final Cut), 132 Minutes (Theatrical), 139 Minutes (Original Alternate Cut) 

The 2004 film Ray is coming to 4K in February

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Cover art for the film 'Ray' featuring Jamie Foxx's silhouette against a black background.
Commissions Earned

The 2004 film “Ray” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on February 17th via KL Studio Classics [Kino Lorber]. The movie, directed by Taylor Hackford, won two Academy Awards, including “Best Actor in a Leading Role.” It starred Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Clifton Powell. Its supporting cast included Bokeem Woodbine, Harry Lennix, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Schiff, Lorenz Tate, Terrence Howard, David Krumholtz, Wendell Pierce, Sharon Warren, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

The movie has received a new 4K scan from the original 35mm camera negative, approved by Director Taylor Hackford. The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and lossless sound, on a BD-100 disc. The audio format and configuration(s) have yet to be detailed by Kino Lorber, but stay tuned for an update. The 2-disc release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray is not yet available for preorder at Amazon or Walmart, but stay tuned for an update on that very soon. In the meantime, you can preorder directly via the Kino Lorber website. The bonus materials included with this release are listed below, sorted by disc.

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray):

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Author Dwayne Epstein
  • Audio Commentary by Director Taylor Hackford

Disc 2 (Blu-ray):

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Author Dwayne Epstein
  • Audio Commentary by Director Taylor Hackford
  • Director’s Introduction (1:34)
  • Stepping Into the Part: Featurette (10:40)
  • Ray Remembered: Featurette (4:03)
  • The Women of Ray: Featurette (9:55)
  • The Filmmakers’ Journey: Featurette (9:22)
  • Ray: An American Story: Featurette (28:47)
  • A Look Inside Ray: Featurette (3:20)
  • 14 Deleted Scenes (with Optional Director’s Commentary) (27:36)
  • 9 Uncut Music Performances (25:33)
  • Theatrical Trailer (2:48)

The 1997 film Mimic is coming to 4K in January

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Commissions Earned

The 1997 film “Mimic” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on January 13th, 2026, via KL Studio Classics [Kino Lorber]. Guillermo del Toro co-wrote and directed the motion picture. It starred Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Josh Brolin, Giancarlo Giannini, F. Murray Abraham, and Charles S. Dutton.

The release will include both the theatrical and director’s cuts of the movie, each in 4K on its own individual 4K disc. Both have received a 4K restoration, approved by Guillermo del Toro. The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray [Discs] include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), each on a BD-100 disc. The audio configuration(s) include lossless DTS-HD Master Audio in 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo. The 3-disc set will come as a “combo pack” with a Blu-ray Disc counterpart [featuring both cuts] included.

You cannot yet find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon or Walmart, but stay tuned for an update on that. You can preorder directly via Kino Lorber’s website. The bonus materials included with the release are detailed below, sorted by disc.

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) – Director’s Cut:

  • Audio Commentary by Director Guillermo del Toro

Disc 2 (4K UHD Blu-ray) – Theatrical Cut:

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Horror Cinema Expert Arne Venema & Cinema Author Stefan Hammond

Disc 3 (Blu-ray) – Director’s & Theatrical Cut:

  • Audio Commentary by Director Guillermo del Toro (Director’s Cut)
  • NEW Audio Commentary by Horror Cinema Expert Arne Venema & Cinema Author Stefan Hammond (Theatrical Cut)
  • Video Prologue with Director del Toro (1:05)
  • Reclaiming Mimic: Featurette (14:31)
  • A Leap in Evolution: Featurette (9:35)
  • Back Into the Tunnels: Featurette (5:22)
  • 3 Deleted Scenes (5:11)
  • 6 Animated Storyboards (6:04)
  • Gag Reel (2:20)
  • Theatrical Trailer

The 2011 film Paul arrives on 4K in November

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Commissions Earned

The 2011 science fiction/comedy “Paul“ is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on November 18th via KL Studios Classics [Kino Lorber]. Greg Mottola directed the film. It starred Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and featured the voice talent of Seth Rogen. It also co-starred Jason Bateman, Kristin Wiig, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver, Jane Lynch, and Jeffrey Tambor.

The theatrical cut of the movie has received a new 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative (approved by Director Greg Mottola). The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) with lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo sound, on a BD-100 disc.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon and Walmart. It was just added, so it’s at its MSRP, and you can expect that price to drop. Also, you can preorder directly via Kino Lorber’s website.

The bonus materials set to be included on this 3-disc “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Counterparts (of both cuts) included are listed below, sorted by disc.

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray):

  • Theatrical Cut [in 4K]
  • Audio Commentary with Director Greg Mottola, Actors Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Bill Hader and Producer Nira Park

Disc 2 (Blu-ray):

  • Theatrical Cut [in HD]
  • Audio Commentary with Director Greg Mottola, Actors Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Bill Hader and Producer Nira Park
  • Between the Lightning Strikes: The Making of Paul Documentary (40:04)
  • The Evolution of Paul: Featurette (15:05)
  • Simon’s Silly Face: Featurette (1:20)
  • Who the Hell is Adam Shadowchild?: Featurette (2:10)

Disc 3 (Blu-ray:

  • UNRATED Cut [in HD]
  • Behind-the-Scenes: Featurette (62:49)
  • Bloopers (10:51)
  • 3 Theatrical Trailers (7:29)
  • 5 US TV Spots (2:25)
  • 4 UK TV Spots (1:59)

And last, but not least, this part is always so fun to cite my original social media posts. Anyone telling me that I didn’t report it early enough is sure to look like a fool. Here, I decide when I report the news. It gets reported in various forms. This particular title lacked a preorder until just an hour ago.

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The Wes Anderson Archive on 4K in September

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Commissions Earned

“The Wes Anderson Archive“ box set is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on September 30th via The Criterion Collection. This set assembles ten films that span over 25 years of writer/director Wes Anderson’s career. Here’s the full description of the release, via Criterion.

“Wes Anderson’s first ten features represent twenty-five years of irrepressible creativity, an ongoing ode to outsiders and quixotic dreamers, and a world unto themselves, graced with a mischievous wit and a current of existential melancholy that flows through every captivating frame. This momentous twenty-disc collector’s set includes new 4K masters of the films, over twenty-five hours of special features, and ten illustrated books, presented in a deluxe clothbound edition.”

This 20-disc set will be a “combo pack.” It includes 10 discs for the Blu-ray Disc counterparts for each film. There are also extras on those discs. The ten films included in this set are as follows:

  • “Bottle Rocket” (1996)
  • “Rushmore” (1998)
  • “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
  • “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004)
  • “The Darjeeling Limited” (2007)
  • “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009)
  • “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)
  • “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)
  • “Isle of Dogs” (2018)
  • “The French Dispatch of the Liberty Kansas Evening Sun” (2021)

The tech specs list a 4K 2160p video presentation for each film. They include Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range as well as lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound mixes. All of the transfers were supervised and approved by Director Wes Anderson. The bonus materials will span across a total of 10 Blu-ray Discs. They will also be available on the 4K discs for things like audio commentaries.

You can now find The Wes Anderson Archive on 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon. It’s currently unavailable at Walmart, but here is a link, so stay tuned. But, for now, you can preorder directly via the Criterion website. A brief bit about the bonus materials is also included. Here are some specifics about the box set via Criterion’s website description.

“Over twenty-five hours of special features, including audio commentaries, interviews, documentaries, deleted scenes, auditions, short films, home movies, commercials, storyboards, animation tests, archival recordings, still photography, discussions/analyses, and visual essays

PLUS: Essays by Richard Brody, James L. Brooks, Bilge Ebiri, Moeko Fujii, Kent Jones, Dave Kehr, Geoffrey O’Brien, Martin Scorsese, and Erica Wagner

Design by Beth Mathews”

Here is both a photo and a teaser video of the set, giving you a further glimpse at the packaging.

The Wes Anderson Archive box set on 4K UHD Blu-ray/Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection

Last, but not entirely last, nor least. This is most certainly worth noting, especially for those who don’t want to purchase this rather extravagant box set. There will be individual 4K UHD Blu-ray releases of these films. Starting on September 30th with the individual releases of the films “Isle of the Dogs” (2018) and “The French Dispatch…” (2021). You can find their artwork below, along with links to their preorder listings on Criterion’s website. Theoretically, more of the 8 remaining films will get 4K UHD Blu-ray releases in the coming months and/or years.

One other thing. For those of you wondering why “Asteroid City” (2023) is not in the set. It specifically says it is meant to span 25 years, the first bit of his career. The films in the set start in 1996 and stop at 2021, for that very reason. He plans to do another set someday spanning another 25 years.

Finally, the descriptions of the films included are listed further below.

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The 1985 film Brazil on Criterion 4K in June

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Commissions Earned

The 1985 film “Brazil” arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray on June 3rd via The Criterion Collection. Terry Gilliam directed and co-wrote the film. The movie starred Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, and Kim Greist. It’s certainly worth noting that this film has been deemed “Certified Fresh” (based on critics) at Rotten Tomatoes.

This has received a 4K digital restoration of the (143-minute) “director’s cut,” supervised and approved by director Terry Gilliam. Its 4K tech specs include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision (or HDR10) and a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround audio mix. This 3-disc set will come as a “combo pack“. It will come with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart (as well as) another Blu-ray included, with extras.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon. Additionally, there is the choice to preorder directly via Criterion’s website. The bonus materials included are detailed below.

  • Audio commentary by Terry Gilliam
  • What Is “Brazil”?, Rob Hedden’s on-set documentary
  • The Production Notebook, a collection of interviews and video essays, featuring a trove of Brazil-iana from Gilliam’s personal collection
  • The Battle of “Brazil,” a documentary about the film’s contentious release, hosted by Jack Mathews and based on his book of the same name
  • “Love Conquers All” version, the studio’s ninety-four-minute, happy-ending cut of Brazil, with commentary by Brazil expert David Morgan
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic David Sterritt
  • Cover based on a theatrical poster

Pixar film WALL·E gets a Criterion 4K in November

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Amazon Commissions Earned

The 2008 Disney / Pixar film “WALL·E” is officially getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray release on November 22nd via The Criterion Collection.  This is the first collaboration between Disney/Pixar and Criterion and is not to be confused with the previously [Disney] released 2020 4K UHD Blu-ray.  This release features a different and new 4K presentation as well as sound mixes, which were all approved by the film’s director.

The film, directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton, won an Academy Award for “Best Animated Feature Film of the Year” in 2009.  It also featured the visual talent of Fred Ward and the voice talent of Jeff Garlin.

As mentioned, this comes from a new 4K scan of the film which was approved by Andrew Stanton.  Tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ forms of high dynamic range as well as Dolby Atmos and lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 Stereo sound mixes.

The 3-disc set will come in the form of a “combo pack” with the Blu-ray Disc counterpart [featuring the new transfer of the film] as well as a second Blu-ray for extras.  No digital copy of the film will be included, like with the previous Disney release.  You can now find the Criterion 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon and directly via the Criterion website.  The bonus materials in terms of physical and regular extras included with this release are fully detailed below.

    • Two audio commentaries: one featuring Stanton and the other, character supervisor Bill Wise, coproducer Lindsey Collins, story artist Derek Thompson, and lead animator Angus MacLane
    • NEW programs on Stanton’s cinematic influences and production designer Ralph Eggleston’s color scripts
    • Tour of the Pixar Living Archive with Stanton
    • Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, including segments from early animation reels
    • The Pixar Story (2007), a documentary by Leslie Iwerks
    • More than a dozen documentaries exploring the film’s production and robots
    • Anatomy of a Scene: The Plant, a masterclass with Stanton
    • “WALL•E”: A to Z, a new program featuring Stanton and coscreenwriter Jim Reardon
    • Deleted scenes featuring commentary by Stanton
    • A Story (1987), a student film by Stanton
    • BURN•E (2008), a short film by MacLane
    • Trailers
    • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
    • English descriptive audio
    • PLUS: An essay by author Sam Wasson; selections from Stanton’s sketchbooks, script notes, and drawings; and artwork from the WALL•E team
    • New cover by Jason Raish

1995 Terry Gilliam film 12 Monkeys arrives on 4K April

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Amazon Commissions Earned

The 1995 film “12 Monkeys” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray for the very first time on April 26th via Arrow Video here in the United States.  The film, directed by Terry Gilliam, starred Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, David Morse, Christopher Plummer, and Brad Pitt.

The tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 Stereo lossless sound mixes.  This is said to be using a “brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative by Arrow Films, approved by director Terry Gilliam.”  

You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon here in the US.  Also, the United Kingdom will be getting their 4K UHD Blu-ray release a day early, and on that note, here’s the Amazon UK preorder for that version.  The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Audio commentary by Terry Gilliam and producer Charles Roven
  • The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of Twelve Monkeys, feature-length making-of documentary by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (Lost in La Mancha)
  • The Film Exchange with Terry Gilliam, a 1996 interview with Gilliam and critic Jonathan Romney, recorded at the London Film Festival
  • Appreciation by Ian Christie, author of Gilliam on Gilliam
  • The Twelve Monkeys Archives
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Nathan Rabin and Ian Christie
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