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‘Comin’ At Ya!’ is Coming At You on 3D Blu-ray for Its 35th Anniversary
I love, love, love spaghetti westerns! I’ve reviewed a handful here at BD (and will be reviewing more in the future), even though so people think a horror website isn’t the right place for them. I heavily disagree. Spaghetti westerns aren’t horror films, but they are genre films and are more often than not enjoyed by the same audience. That’s why I’m very happy to share the following news with BD readers!
MVD has picked up the rights to Comin’ At Ya! and is set to provide the film with it’s first ever Blu-ray release, in 3D nonetheless, in honor of the film’s 35th anniversary. Now I’ve never seen Comin’ At Ya! but I’m excited to do so. As you can tell from the trailer (down below) this is a film that was definitely made for the gimmicky use of 3D. I’m not a big fan of 3D, but I think it actually works as a gimmick for B-movies, so it should be pretty great here.
More details in the full press release:
MVD Entertainment Group has obtained the North American distribution rights to the cult classic film Comin At Ya!, the fan-favorite spaghetti western. The studio plans a 35th Anniversary re-release on home video that includes its debut on Blu-ray 3D. Directed by Ferdinando Baldi (Get Mean, Django, Prepare a Coffin) and written, produced and starring spaghetti western legend Tony Anthony (Blindman, Get Mean, Treasure of the Four Crowns), Comin’ at Ya! is largely credited with the 3-D revival in the early 1980’s (that spawned Friday the 13th Part III in 3-D, Jaws 3-D, Parasite, Amityville 3-D and many more).
The deal was negotiated by Eric Wilkinson for MVD and Robbie Little of The Little Film Company on behalf of the filmmakers.
Independently produced, Comin’ at Ya! was originally released theatrically in 1981 by Filmways Pictures and went on to gross over $12,000,000 domestically in only 200 theaters in North America (over $30,000,000 in 2016 dollars when adjusted for inflation), long before independent films were a regular staple in multiplexes. Comin’ at Ya! happily embraced the 3-D technology of its time, not only taking advantage of the depth that the technology provided, but also taking every opportunity possible to throw, shoot and point things at the viewer at every possible turn and created a cult classic movie as a result.
Writer, producer, and star of Comin’ At Ya! Tony Anthony said about the movie’s 35th anniversary…
“In the 80’s Comin’ At Ya! was the first 3D film distributed by a major company since the 50s and it went on to set box-office records and turned Hollywood and the world onto 3D once again”, explained Tony. “Films are strange, live-for-ever works of art and as a producer and writer, this is a labor of love. To be able to restore this film with the new technology that’s now available, I’m thrilled to finally be able the present this film the way is was meant to be seen.”
The new home video version of Comin’ At Ya! was supervised and produced by Tony Anthony himself and Tom Stern (In God’s Hands), through his company Sternco 3D. Sourced from a new 4K master, Comin’ At Ya! boasts a frame by frame digital conversion of the polarized over-and-under format of the original print, sourced from a brand new internegative into the MVC 3D format and new 5.1 surround sound.
Eric Wilkinson, MVD Entertainment’s Director of Acquisitions and Sales shares Tony Anthony’s excitement about the re-release of Comin’ At Ya!…
“I remember this film from when I was a kid. I also remember my parents telling me I wasn’t allowed to go see it due to the film’s R rating. I finally did get to see this on home video in a less-than-desirable full frame transfer on VHS. I loved it, but always wanted to see this the way it was meant to be seen… in 3D. As a both an acquisitions executive and a fan, I chased this film for years. I’m thrilled to be working with Tony and Tom and bring this back to home video the way that it was meant to be seen. The 3D looks amazing! At one point during the film, I actually ducked!”
Comin’ at Ya! makes is home video debut on January 26, 2016 on Blu-ray 3D/2D and 2D DVD and Digital/VOD from MVD Entertainment Group.
Editorials
Arrow Video’s ‘Stranger Things: The Complete Series’ is the Ultimate Collector’s Box Set for Fans
Available as of today from Arrow Video is a new box set that might arguably be the definitive way to watch Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things.
At the very least, Stranger Things: The Complete Series puts emphasis on “complete.” That’s evident in its special features alone.
Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series are available for purchase now, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, interviews with the cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, designed for the ultimate Stranger Things experience.
The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly-commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material: a 148-page booklet, exclusive art cards, a Hellfire Club patch, double-sided posters for each season, and much more.
This limited-edition release features all 42 episodes of the show’s five season run on more than 25 discs, all housed in a set featuring gorgeous artwork by Juan Ramos. “We always dreamed that Stranger Things could be owned in its entirety,” said Matt and Ross Duffer, “not just as a collector’s set, but as a way to preserve the show for decades to come.”
Their imprint looms large over the release, including writing in the 148-page book that also includes original design sketches, concept art, and storyboards. All of which would warrant the steep price tag alone for the diehard Stranger Things fan, but Arrow Video upped the ante with collectible surprises as well. Arcade patches, stickers, Hellfire Club dice, and an extremely detailed map of Hawkins, Indiana- double-sided to account for the Upside Down, of course – are among the highlights for this all-ages set.
Adorn your walls with posters representative of your favorite season! That’s also an option with this set’s offerings.
All of which to say that it’s rare for Netflix to make the jump into physical media, and they’ve enlisted Arrow Video to give it the best possible treatment. They certainly brought utmost care and attention to this release. As such, both the standard and deluxe sets come with steep price tags that start at $160 depending on format. While that’s likely a deterrent to the casual viewer, it’s more than worth it for fans.
It may be less convenient than hitting play on Netflix, sure, but there’s a lot to be said about the potential for quality upgrades to your viewing. No spotty internet or compression issues to be found here when it comes to the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray discs.
That’s really the biggest takeaway from this release: the untapped potential still of Netflix’s streaming library of originals that are ripe for similar treatment. Series and films that could receive Arrow Video levels of treatment on physical media.
Fans of Stranger Things can venture into the Upside Down one last time this spooky season at Halloween Horror Nights, but there may be no better way to ring in the series’ tenth anniversary than a rewatch with this expansive, well-curated box set.
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