Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2022 i Home Cinema Choice

For the new LS60 Wireless, KEF has adapted the overlapping voice coil tech (UniCore) of its KC62 subwoofer (HCC #320) to side-mount four 5.25in bass drivers in a floorstanding cabinet measuring just 15cm wide (excluding plinth). These are positioned in push-pull pairs above and below the front-facing Uni-Q mid/tweeter array to create a ‘single point source’ speaker, with all drivers fed by a mix of Class D and Class AB amps rated at 1,400W. Playback through this premium £6,000 system is via Wi-Fi/Ethernet, Bluetooth, or analogue/digital ins. Control is via remote handset or app, the latter allowing ‘expert’ sound tuning.…

The days of having to put up with ropey overseas Blu-rays of Neil Marshall’s rip-roaring action-horror debut Dog Soldiers will come to an end on July 26. Label Second Sight has assembled an army of fresh and legacy extras – including a new interview with Marshall – for a UK BD and 4K BD release of the 2002 cult fave, as well as tracking down previously missing camera negatives (earlier releases were sourced from prints instead) to complete the 4K restoration.…

If there’s one thing Tinseltown is good at – other than making films – it’s transforming accounting into a labyrinthine art that can prove anything it wants it to. While this is often done to take advantage of tax breaks, it can also be used to deny filmmakers and other creatives a share of any profits. This is how New Line Cinema could state its Lord of the Rings trilogy made ‘horrendous losses’ while scooping over $3bn at the global box office, and why the makers of legendary mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap sued Studiocanal in 2016 claiming they’d just $81 in merch income and $98 in music sales to show for their work on the film. It’s also why Joe Public is never totally sure how costly a flop…

The stated philosophy of Triangle is to add a dash of romanticism to the world of hi-fi by emphasising emotion and sensitivity rather than reason and rationalism… so no prizes for guessing this manufacturer hails from France. The question is: do its loudspeakers have that certain je ne sais quoi? The Borea range aims to bring the brand’s passion for musicality to the home cinema market, and do so at an affordable price. The speakers benefit from some trickledown tech from Triangle's higher-end Esprit Ez range, while also embracing modern immersive audio systems by including a new surround speaker that doubles as an upward-firing effects module. The lineup is topped by the BR09, a five-driver, three-way floorstander. This is followed by the BR08, a three-way tower with four drivers; and…

CineAsia → Region B BD £20 Chinese cinema’s answer to 2001's Pearl Harbor, this Michael Bay-like mix of patriotism and cracking action retells the story of a victory for the Chinese army over US forces during the Korean War. It hit a chord with local audiences, becoming China's highest-grossing movie ever, but for the rest of us the three-hour running time and thin characters can be a drag. Cine Asia's Blu-ray looks and sounds suitably spectacular, although a $200m dollar war movie surely warrants an Atmos track.…

Paramount → All-region BD £25 Well-told stories, strong performances and visual panache are all well and good, but sometimes you just need to watch grown men doing painful, juvenile stunts. Over and over again. Jackass Forever isn't big or clever (it’s actually the opposite of those things), but it definitely scratches a particular itch, and is often very, very funny. Bar a Godzilla parody opening sequence, this 1.78:1 Full HD presentation isn’t particularly cinematic, but the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio perfectly captures the wide range of pained screams.…

BFI → Region B BD & R2 DVD £20 Marlon Brando made his film debut in this 1950 feature from future High Noon director Fred Zimmerman, playing a paraplegic former soldier struggling to accept the love of a good woman (Teresa Wight). An intense and affecting drama – albeit one not without some sardonic humour – The Men comes to Blu-ray with an appealing 1.37:1 black-and-white encode and cleaned-up LPCM dual-mono audio. Welcome extras include a commentary and two vintage shorts (1947’s Return to Action and 1950’s The Undefeated).…

Studiocanal → Region B BD £23 Walter Hill’s 1987 neo-Western follows Nick Nolte’s border town cop dealing with an old friend turned drug dealer, while a military black-ops team is running a top-secret mission of its own. Extreme Prejudice’s prolonged production may result in a few narrative hiccups, but if you want to watch tough guys doing tough guy stuff, it’s a blast. This BD's 1.85:1 Full HD encode looks terrific, and is supported by a choice of stereo or 5.1 DTS-HD. Extras include a chat track, interviews, vintage EPK, trailers and a stills gallery.…

Signal One → Region B BD £15 Adapting five tales by noted short story author O. Henry (aka William Sydney Porter), this 1952 anthology is mainly notable for the array of talent both in front and behind the camera, including Henry Hathaway, Farley Granger, Howard Hawks, Charles Laughton, Anne Baxter, Richard Widmark and Marilyn Monroe. Signal One’s BD houses a clean and sharp 1.37:1 black-and-white encode of this 70-year-old film. Extras include a slightly dry commentary from an O. Henry expert and 19-minute featurette about the author.…

101 Films → Region B BD £15 The debut of future The Silence of the Lambs helmer Jonathan Demme, this 1974 cult hit rises above the bawdy aspects of the 'women-in-prison' genre for something altogether weirder and more inventive. The film’s 1.85:1 image has been nicely spruced, but the LPCM soundmix is hampered by the source material, veering from harsh and tinny to muffled at the drop of a hat. Vintage extras include a chat-track featuring Demme, cinematographer Tak Fujimoto and actress Erica Gavin, plus an interview with producer Roger Corman.…

Marvel's Hawkeye [Disney+] This first solo outing for the Avengers' resident archer hits the bullseye, delivering some sensational action scenes amongst the quip-filled dialogue. Fantastic fun. HCC #327 Freaky [Sky Cinema] Dumped onto DVD in the UK last year, this slick and inventive body-swap horror-comedy from the brains behind Happy Death Day can now be enjoyed in all its gory 4K HDR/Atmos glory on Sky Cinema. HCC #329 The Adam Project The Free Guy team of director Shawn Levy and leading man Ryan Reynolds hit the sci-fiadventure sweet spot again with this good-hearted, good-looking – and great sounding – time travel flick. HCC #330 Red Notice [Netflix] An A-list cast (topped by Gal Gadot, The Rock and Ryan Reynolds) and monster budget can't quite make up for this action-comedy caper's…

Denon AVR-X4700H → £1,400 Denon's first AV amplifier to support 8K and 4K/120fps isn’t just playing games. This nine-channel model sounds powerful and entertaining, and drips with feature tricks (including IMAX Enhanced, HEOS and Bluetooth headphone support). HCC #314 Anthem MRX 740 → £2,800 Premium price for a seven-channel AVR, but the MRX 740 adds 11-channel processing, ARC Genesis room EQ and HDMI 2.1 upgrade path to a sound performance that mixes power and delicacy. HCC #321 Denon AVR-X1700H → £600 Entry-level X Series AVR goes one up on its costlier stablemates by packing a trio of 8K/4K HFR-capable HDMI inputs. Rated at 7 x 80W, this is well suited to small/mid-size rooms and sub/sat speaker sets. HCC #328 Emotiva XPA-11 → £2,400 11-channel amplifier that offers supreme bang-forbuck, delivering…

Halo Infinite This new adventure for Master Chief takes the flagship Xbox first-person-shooter series into open-world gameplay territory, but loses none of the Halo charm. Play on Series X in both 4K/60fps and 120fps at 1440p. HCC #327 LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Overhauled graphics and gameplay make this a welcome LEGO revisit to the Star Wars universe, as does the chance to play your way through the nine main movies. HCC #331 Life is Strange: True Colors Definitely not one for adrenaline junkies, this narrative-driven, third-person adventure story instead appeals thanks to its beautiful visuals, evocative soundtrack and sweet, measured writing. HCC #325 Gran Turismo 7 The latest incarnation of the 25-year-old PlayStation mainstay drives circles around the competition with its accessible gameplay and slick 4K HDR visuals.…

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar → £2,200 The audio specialist's debut soundbar makes a dramatic entrance. 13 drivers, including 4in woofers, create a cinematic soundstage, with impressive immersion via Atmos, DTS:X and Sennheiser's Ambeo processing. Big and bold. HCC #302 Samsung HW-Q950A → £1,250 A premium sound system that loves a Hollywood blockbuster, Samsung's 11.1.4-channel flagship marries convenience with superb power, detail and immersion. A pity that auto calibration is only an option for Samsung TV owners, though. HCC #324 JBL Bar 2.0 All-In-One → £150 Affordable and stereo-only, this compact HDMI ARCequipped 'bar earns its keep by sounding powerful and purposeful, and being blissfully simple to set up and use. HCC #306 Sony HT-A7000 → £1,200 This soundbar's 7.1.2 speaker array sounds sublime with movies and music thanks to its sense…

John Archer: The experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC staffer Jon Thompson: Film producer and post-production expert delves into Hollywood and AV Steve May: HCC’s former Ed. is one of the UK’s most respected AV journos Anton van Beek: Our avid movie watcher and disc collector cut his teeth on Total DVD Richard Stevenson: Former Editor of the UK CE trade journal ERT Ed Selley: Audiophile Ed mixes his home cinema passion with a love of vinyl Steve Withers: Movie fan, display calibrator and object-based audio obsessive…

Chinese projector corp XGIMI has secured distribution of its diminutive Elfin model through Argos. Priced £599 and designed for plug-n-play entertainment, the Full HD beamer features an in-built Harman Kardon speaker array, Android 10 smart system and slim, 20cm wide chassis. Imaging is courtesy of DLP technology, an 800 Lumens-rated LED light source, and 1.2:1 throw lens. HDR10 playback is offered, with 4K sources downscaled. Inputs include Bluetooth, HDMI, USB and Wi-Fi.uk.xgimi.com…

Shaft (BD) Criterion brings the original Shaft back to Blu-ray with a new 4K restoration and oodles of extras. Can you dig it? The Boy Behind the Door (BD) Cat-and-mouse thriller about two kidnapped kids thrives on the superb performances of its juvenile leads. Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers (Disney+) Goofy enough for kids and packed with adult-pleasing meta gags, this reboot of the 1980s ’toon is an absolute hoot. The Green Mile (4K BD) Frank Darabont’s other Stephen King prison drama get a gorgeous 4K/Atmos upgrade. Moonfall (4K BD) Sci-fidisaster flick delivers all the popcorn thrills you could ask for on this US import UHD platter.…

BY THE TIME that loudspeaker manufacturers reach that money-no-object, reference level, many of them focus solely on their hi-fi customers. This is because such models are complex and expensive to produce, and unless you see yourself selling a reasonable quantity of numerous different speakers in a range, the impetus isn’t there to make them. Bowers & Wilkins is therefore a little unusual. Its 800 Series is (by a fairly comfortable margin) the best-selling range of ‘high-end’ loudspeakers on the planet, meaning it has long had the scope to make offering home cinema options worthwhile. And this is why, earlier this year, I found myself down at B&W’s HQ, in Worthing, Sussex, to grab a multichannel listen. The ‘D4’ series (so called because it’s the fourth generation of 800 models to…

Universal Pictures → All-region BD £25 Writer-director Garth Jennings’ gang of singing cartoon critters returns for another toe-tapping jukebox musical in this animated sequel. Bigger, bolder and crazier than its unexpectedly enjoyable 2016 predecessor, not even a supporting turn from Bono can spoil things. While it’s annoying that Sing 2 didn’t get a UK 4K BD release, this Blu-ray’s colourful 1.85:1-framed 1080p encode is exceptional, and the Full HD platter does at least feature the same roof-raising Dolby Atmos soundmix.…

→ TURNING RED Adolescence can be a difficult time for any kid. For 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian Mei Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) it’s made even worse when she wakes up one morning and discovers that, thanks to a hereditary curse, she now transforms into a giant red panda whenever she feels strong emotions. And being a teenager, that’s a lot. Thankfully, there’s a ritual that can cure her – but it can only be performed on the same night that Mei’s favourite boy band is playing. What’s a girl to do? Subject of a ridiculous – and mercifully short-lived – controversy (a cartoon dares to show boxes of sanitary products… Won’t somebody think of the children?), Turning Red doesn't join the likes of Wall-E, Ratatouille or Toy Story 2 as one…

Arrow Video → Ultra HD Blu-ray £30 Bernard Rose’s 1992 adaptation of Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden is the best screen version of the author’s writings, also standing as one of the very best Hollywood horrors of the 1990s – a dark and beautiful plunge into the depths of urban folklore. While this 4K upgrade isn’t a major leap forward over Arrow’s 2019 Blu-ray when it comes to pixel finery, the Dolby Vision grade makes it all look that much richer. The Atmos remix, meanwhile, does wonders for Tony Todd’s booming voice and Philip Glass’s celebrated score.…

Universal → All-region BD £25 Paul Thomas Anderson takes us on a trip back to 1973 Hollywood with this meandering but enjoyable tale of a 15-year-old actor who already has one foot in adulthood, and the directionless 25-year-old girl he meets. This Blu-ray release also proves to be quite the charmer, thanks to an authentically cinematic 2.40:1 transfer and high-fi delity DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. The only real letdown is the accompanying extras, which boil down to camera tests, deleted footage and a compilation of behind-the-scenes imagery.…

Anti-Worlds → Region B BD £20 The film directing debut of Simon Bird, the touching and funny Days of the Bagnold Summer marks the former Inbetweeners star as a talent in the making behind the camera. Adapted from a graphic novel by Joff Winterhart, the story doesn't do much you haven’t seen before, but succeeds through Bird’s assured direction and the performances from co-leads Earl Cave and Monica Dolan. As well as a crisp 2.40:1 Full HD encode, the Blu-ray features some fun and informative bonuses.…

Pathé → Region B BD £25 Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s heartfelt melodrama focuses on two unmarried pregnant women, one a middle-aged photographer (Penélope Cruz) the other a frightened teenager (Milena Smit). The two share a room in hospital while waiting to give birth and become friends, only for fate to intervene in a way neither could have predicted. Shot and finished at 4K, Parallel Mothers comes to Blu-ray with a stunning 1.85:1 Full HD encode that highlights the director's typically dense and colourful staging.…

→ Prime Video This eight-episode science fiction drama, available to gorge in one sitting via Prime Video, is a curious beast. On the one hand, it blends an intriguing story with first-rate performances from its two principal stars. On the other hand, it ambles along at times with a pedestrian pace, and never quite seems to tie up some of its narrative elements into a satisfying whole. Night Sky opens in flashback, showing the pool bar meeting of youngsters Irene and Franklin. We skip forward, and they're a late middle-aged married couple played with Tinseltown levels of aplomb by Sissy Spacek and J. K. Simmons. The duo live a quiet, semi-rural life, albeit one overshadowed by the death of their son. They also happen to have a shed on their…

Spider-Man: No Way Home [UHD Blu-ray] Spidey meets some familiar faces in this enjoyable, affecting celebration of the webslinger’s cinematic history. Strong 4K AV credentials and a fun suite of spoiler-ific extras. HCC #330 Moonfall [UHD Blu-ray, US import] Roland Emmerich delivers another hysterically entertaining slice of popcorn cinema with this disaster epic. Give the UK Blu-ray a pass and snaffle this awesome US 4K platter instead. HCC #331 West Side Story [2021] [UHD Blu-ray] With its ‘oh so pretty’ 4K HDR visuals and lush Dolby Atmos soundtrack, Steven Spielberg’s musical remake is definitely worth making a song and dance about on 4K disc. HCC #330 Dune [UHD Blu-ray] The first part of Denis Villenueve’s new adaptation of the classic sci-finovel dazzles on 4K BD with demo-worthy visuals and a…

Sony VPL-VW290ES → £5,500 Not as bright (1,500 Lumens vs 1,800 Lumens) as Sony's VW590ES, but arguably more appetising considering the lower price tag. Those looking to step up to a native 4K HDR beamer should look here first. HCC #325 JVC DLA-NZ8 → £15,800 The price tag might make your wallet quiver, but unparalleled performance, long-life laser lighting, cutting-edge tech and future-proofed features make JVC’s HDMI 2.1-equipped 4K HDR projector the best in its class. HCC #329 Sony VPL-W590ES → £7,000 A conventional lamp PJ that's less inherently punchy than Sony's 790ES laser flagship (HCC #316), but half the price. It also ekes out better blacks and still looks lush (and sharp) with 4K HDR. HCC #318 JVC DLA-N5 → 6,500 The entry-level native 4K beamer in JVC's range…

West Side Stories The one real extra accompanying Spielberg’s West Side Story, but it’s a belter. This 97-minute documentary explores the making of the movie, particularly its musical set-pieces, in terrific detail. HCC #330 Being James Bond A 45-minute retrospective that focuses on Daniel Craig's 15-year stint as everyone's favourite spy. Craig and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli chat while the on-set/finished film footage rolls. HCC #328 The Making of The Last Duel There's a long tradition of Ridley Scott movies being joined on BD by must-watch Making of… docs. This one's only a half-hour long, but is nevertheless revealing and crammed with detail. HCC #328 Aquarius Releasing: An Appreciation An extra on 88 Films' release of The Tough Ones, this is a fascinating look at American distributor…

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K → £50 This streaming dongle brings 4K HDR (HDR10+; Dolby Vision) and Dolby Atmos to your movie den. Voice control aids search, while a quad-core processor yields quick load times and stream optimisation. A little stunner. HCC #295/#326 Bluesound Node → £550 Preamp/DAC now includes HDMI eARC, a smarter control system and upgraded processing. As with earlier generations, it's a winning mix of comprehensive features and beguiling sonics. Perfect for adding music to your system. HCC #324 Audio Technica AT-LP5x → £350 Our favourite affordable turntable. Easy to set up with in-built phono stage and USB for PC hookup, plus 33/45/78rpm speed control, the LP5x has good pitch stability and a rhythmic, energetic sound. HCC #318 Lumagen Radiance Pro 5348 → £8,700 Premium, do-it-all video…

RoboCop: Limited Edition [UHD Blu-ray] This fantastic upgrade of Arrow’s 2019 Blu-ray ports across extensive extras, while adding 4K HDR10/DV presentations of both cuts accompanied by new Dolby Atmos remixes. HCC #330 The Proposition [UHD Blu-ray] From a new 4K scan with director-approved HDR grade to a vast array of extras, the BFI has put together the ultimate edition of John Hillcoat’s 2005 Aussie Western. HCC #331 Alligator: Collector’s Edition [UHD Blu-ray, US import] Shout! Factory’s release of the 1980s creature-feature has plenty of bite thanks to a gorgeous restoration and generous set of bonus goodies. Fans will definitely want to snap it up… HCC #331 Vampyr: Limited Edition This Blu-ray restoration deftly negotiates potential sourcerelated pitfalls and captures the surreal, dreamlike beauty of Carl Theodore Dreyer’s 1932 horror classic.…

Manhattan T3 Freeview Play 4K, £80 Do you need an HDD PVR in the streaming era? This Freeview Play box loads up catchup via a responsive UI, offers welcome Watchlist functionality, and is ready for 4K HLG HDR Sky Q, £subscription Sky's new top-tier product offering dazzles with its image-rich user interface, wireless multiroom skills and recording flexibility delivered by the PVR's 12 tuners. Now supports 4K content Humax Aura, £varies The PVR honcho teams up with Google for this Android-powered triple-tuner Freeview Play machine in 1TB (£250) and 2TB (£280) flavours. 4K HDR capable, it uses voice search and slick UI to make operation a joy. Humax DTR-T4000, £subscription This YouView-based PVR is required to get BT Sport's new Ultra HD channel – available to those with BT fast…

KEF LS50 Wireless II, £2,250 At the top of KEF's LS50 collection, you'll find this revamped active stereo system that blends lush looks and great connectivity (including HDMI eARC) with sparkling sonics JBL Charge 5, £160 JBL's battery-powered, portable Bluetooth speaker stalwart continues to impress in its fifthgen iteration. IP67 waterproof rated and built to last, it packs a surprisingly potent performance from a small chassis DALI Katch G2, £330 Second-generation Katch wireless speaker looks every bit as slick as its predecessor, but now boasts aptX HD and AAC Bluetooth functionality and a bolstered 30-hour battery life. A superb performer Klipsch The Fives, £830 Active stereo pair with horn-loaded tweeters, 4.5in midbass drivers and a claimed 160W power plant. Dynamic performance is backed up by extensive connectivity including HDMI ARC…

Audio-Technica’s ATHM20xBT is a new addition to its M Series ‘monitor’ headphone range, adding a wireless (Bluetooth) connection to the wired input of the earlier M20x design. Available now priced £79, these 40mm driver cans claim 60 hours playtime from their rechargeable battery, and support ‘multipoint pairing’ of two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. There’s no active noise cancelling, but Audio-Technica says the over-ear design is effective at blocking out external hubbub. www.audio-technica.com…

Lightyear June 17: Ever wondered what inspired the Buzz Lightyear action figure? Well, the Toy Story fave gets his very own origin movie this summer, with Chris Evans providing the voice of the Space Ranger, marooned on a hostile planet light years from Earth. Elvis June 24: Musical biopic starring Austin Butler as King of rock ‘n’ roll Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. ‘This ain’t no nostalgia show. We’re gonna do something different,‘ says director Baz Luhrmann. Thor: Love and Thunder July 8: Another solo outing, directed by Taika Waititi, for Marvel’s Asgardian God. Well, we say ‘solo’, but this new caper finds Chris Hemsworth’s Thor joined by Natalie Portman as… The Mighty Thor! Say what?…

June 20 X [2022] The Card Counter Columbia Noir #5: …Bogart Dirty Dancing 4K Steelbook The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie: 50th Anniversary 4K Dr. Who and the Daleks 4K Elizabeth Taylor in London/Sophia Loren in Rome Giant 4K Jailhouse Rock The Mechanic [1972] The Shaolin Plot Singin’ in the Rain 4K Viva Las Vegas Wellington Paranormal: S4 The Witch: Limited Edition 4K June 27 Ambulance 4K Amityville: Blu-ray Collection The Appointment [1981] Belle 4K [2021] Blue Bayou Morbius 4K The Seventh Curse: Deluxe Col. Ed. Spanish Fly The Umbrella Academy: S2 Whoops Apocalypse July 4 Alice in Borderland Drive My Car Summer Time Machine Blues July 11 The Beatles: Get Back Col.’s Ed. Future Boy Conan: Part 2 4K Hitcher in the Dark: Deluxe Col. Ed. Knife of Ice:…

The ‘devil rides again Marvel Studios has confirmed that work has begun on a new Daredevil series for Disney+. Charlie Cox, star of the Netflix incarnation of the character, is expected to reprise the title role, following his cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home. ‘Cadillacs zoom in America…’ Transporter 2’s Louis Leterrier has replaced Justin Lin in the director’s chair for the next instalment in the Fast & Furious franchise. The cast for Fast X continues to grow, too, with West Side Story legend Rita Moreno joining as Dominic Toretto’s grandmother. Robbie the robber Margot Robbie has landed the lead role in a 1960s-set prequel to Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 heist hit Ocean’s 11. Soderbergh won’t be directing this one, with the helmer of Robbie’s 2019 film Bombshell taking the reins…

Great as the excitement is this year surrounding Samsung’s debut QD OLED TVs – the first 'self-emissive' displays from the Korean company in close to a decade – it still determinedly sees Mini LED as its top-flight TV technology. And on the evidence of the flagship 75in QE75QN900B, it has a point. This TV is good enough to have you wondering if your budget will stretch to its premium price tag. How premium? Well, the 75QN900B has launched at £7,799. Samsung’s 65in QD OLED 65S95B, by comparison, only costs £3,400 despite its new screen technology. So how does this model, apart from those extra ten inches, justify costing more than twice as much? For starters, it looks incredible. Samsung's king-sized screen sits in an astonishingly slim frame, and at the…

It’s interesting to see more Dolby Atmos Blu-rays and streaming options for those like me who are hybrid enthusiasts for both films and music. I have long thought the AV hardware manufacturers were missing a trick to capture more hi-fi enthusiasts, and the development of Dolby Atmos recordings now available on Blu-ray and Tidal streaming is great news for those who like both films and music. I recently bought the Eric Clapton lockdown sessions on Blu-ray Dolby Atmos [Eric Clapton – The Lady in the Balcony, from Universal Music Group, pictured below] and was completely mesmerised by the experience of seeing and hearing a live performance in a beautiful setting. It really conveyed the emotion of music at its best. The HCC article on the Tears for Fears Blu-ray release…

Universal Pictures → All-region BD £30 The killer doll from the Child’s Play movies now has his own TV series. Going back to basics to begin with, this smartly written eight-episode debut season introduces a new cast of characters for Chucky to torment, before adding links (and characters from) the seven films that preceded it – it pays to revisit those before diving in. Short on extras (four deleted scenes and an 11-minute featurette), this double-disc BD release impresses in AV terms. Full HD images are clean and rich, and the DTS-HD MA 5.1 packs a wallop.…

→ THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK CLASSICS COLLECTION VOL. 2 It’s been the best part of two years since Universal released its first Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection boxset, featuring 4K upgrades of Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). Now we have a second volume to go with it, although having collected four of the legendary filmmaker’s best movies in the first volume, what does this second 4K set hold? It kicks off with Hitchcock’s first film for Universal, the spy thriller Saboteur (1942). Feeling both like a do-over of some of the director’s earlier British films and a precursor to the better known North by Northwest (1958), this artful melodrama casts Robert Cummings as a man on the run after being wrongly accused of starting a fire…

Studiocanal → Ultra HD Blu-ray & Region B BD £30 Cujo director Lewis Teague made a second trip into the world of Stephen King with this 1985 anthology featuring adaptations of two of the writer's short stories (Quitters, Inc and The Ledge) and a new tale penned specifically for the film (General), all linked by a cat, which becomes the hero of the latter. A middling entry in King’s cinematic pantheon, Cat’s Eye arrives on UHD BD with an authentically film-like 4K image, helped in part by a subtle approach to HDR and what we're told was extensive restoration work. A director's commentary, interviews and trailer make up the extras.…

→ EASTERN PROMISES Eastern Promises exposes a dark underbelly in London of Russian mobsters and human trafficking. Released in 2007, it's one of director David Cronenberg’s more accessible films, although the Canadian auteur doesn’t shy away from the violence and inhumanity at the heart of this sub-culture where a man’s life-story is etched onto his skin in ink. A tight script from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight gives Cronenberg plenty to work with, and he’s aided by an uncompromising performance from regular collaborator Viggo Mortensen. There’s also solid support from Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl, resulting in a film that’s hard to watch but ultimately rewarding. Picture: This UHD disc from US label Kino Lorber uses a new master approved and colour-graded by Cronenberg’s regular cameraman Peter Suschitzky,…

Indicator → All-region BD £30 British film outfit The Pemini Organisation made one short (1972's tense two-hander Hunted) and two features (1973 spy thriller Assassin and 1974 romantic mystery Moments) before disbanding. Little seen since then, the films have been rescued from the archives for this extras-packed set. Restored 4K scans of the trio are housed across two discs, and while still exhibiting some issues (including using VHS sources to replace missing frames), look quite impressive.…

Acorn Media → All-region BD £30 The second season of this anthology show pitches up during WW2 for a mix of real and supernatural horrors, with a tale of Japanese Americans imprisoned in internment camps haunted by a vengeful spectre. The historical side of this chiller is well handled, yet the supernatural elements aren’t quite as effective, and are stretched a little too thin across the 10 episodes. While the 1.78:1 1080p encode is up to spec, Acorn once again limits a native 5.1 soundmix to a ‘lossy’ DTS presentation.…

Panasonic DP-UB9000 → £850 Supporting both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and incorporating useful image adjustments, this premium deck is at the leading edge of UHD BD playback. The build quality and provision of VOD apps heightens its appeal. HCC #292 Pioneer UDP-LX800 → £2,200 A phenomenal universal disc spinner, which adds audiophilegrade music playback to 4K BD talents including Dolby Vision support and metadata information display. Build quality is staggering. HCC #293 Panasonic DP-UB450 → £200 Panasonic lowers the price for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ playback with this featurelite 4K deck – there's no Wi-Fi or VOD apps, or the brand's HCX processor to fine-tune imagery. HCC #303 Pioneer UDP-LX500 → £1,000 Lacks the audiophile features (including the XLR output) of the UDP-LX800, but this universal deck still sounds sublime…

SVS SB-1000 Pro → £550 The budget sub to beat. SVS adds its EQ app to its entry-level range, and squirrels a new 12in driver into a cabinet that's barely any bigger. There's bass extension and power to spare – factor in the price, and the SB-1000 Pro becomes irresistible. HCC #322 REL S/812 → £2,300 A fine update of REL's upper-tier Serie S, with a new driver design, punchier amp and revised signal filtering delivering a powerful, poised performance from a glamourous cabinet with stacking potential. HCC #305 SVS SB16-Ultra → £2,500 A 16in driver and 1,500W amp combine to give SVS's flagship sealed sub real appeal. Goes big and low but remains tight and fast. HCC #270 M&K Sound X15+ → £5,995 THX Dominus-certified sub earns flagship status…

Mae West in Hollywood, 1932-1943 Deluxe packaging, a cornucopia of bonuses and excellent transfers for ten of the 12 movies that 'blonde bombshell' Mae West made during her censor-baiting Hollywood career. HCC #327 Shawscope: Volume One A kick-ass Blu-ray boxset featuring some of the finest examples of 1970s Hong Kong action cinema. Eleven movies in total, all accompanied by various goodies, plus two soundtrack CDs and a 60-page book. HCC #327 Mad Max Anthology [UHD Blu-ray] With impressive 4K remasters of the three classic Mad Max titles alongside the barnstorming 2015 follow-up, this UHD boxset is a must-own for fans of George Miller’s franchise. HCC #330 Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore Trilogy Three excellent feature films from the Irish animation studio (including Wolfwalkers, making its disc debut) housed in a gorgeous,…

6 issue for £20 LIMITED TIME ONLY DON’T MISS OUT! SUBSCRIBE TODAY! SUBSCRIBE SECURELY ONLINE www.mytimemedia.com/6for20 OR CALL 0344 243 9023** & QUOTE 6FOR20 LINES OPEN MON - FRI - 9.00AM - 5.00PM GMT Calls are charged at the same rate as standard UK landlines and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances. There are no additional charges with this number. Overseas calls will cost more. TERMS & CONDITIONS: Offer ends 31st December 2022. *UK print subscriptions offer only. Subscriptions will begin with the first available issue in 2022. MyTime Media collects your data so that we can fulfil your subscription. We may also, from time to time, send you details of MyTime Media offers, events and competitions but you always have a choice and can…

Mark Levinson No. 5909, £999 An astonishing demonstration of just how good active noise cancelling wireless Bluetooth headphones can sound. Performance is flawless, so it's really only the price that niggles Meze Audio 99 Classics, £270 These wired cans look lovely and offer a level of audiophile fidelity you might reasonably expect from models costing twice as much. Not a bass beast, but that's kinda the point Audio Technica ATH-Mx50BT, £180 Cable-free Bluetooth update of a wired design, with 45mm drivers and lengthy battery life (claimed to hit 40 hours). Sturdy and comfortable, and a great sound for the money Sennheiser HD 450SE, £170 This canny Special Edition update to Sennheiser’s mid-range noise-cancelling ‘450BT Bluetooth headphones delivers well-balanced sound and improved voice assistant support. Sony WH-1000XM4, £330 The latest generation…