Mike Spring
What’s New in Home Video & Pop Culture – June 24th, 2025
This week is headlined by one of the biggest and greatest movies of all time. Everything else is just the cherry on top! Read on for all the movies and graphic novels we dove into this week!
In This Week’s Column:
- Jaws: 50th Anniversary Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook)
- Snow White (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)
- Hong Kong 1941 (Blu-ray)
- Exact Revenge The Eunuch + The Deadly Knives Double Feature
- Vainilla (DVD)
- Sarah and Darah (Graphic Novel)
- Synap (Graphic Novel)
Jaws: 50th Anniversary Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)
The Movie:
Jaws.
Honestly, I feel like that’s all I really need to say, and that could be my entire review. It’s JAWS.
But, I love this movie so much, why would I waste the chance to write more about it? It’s the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest movies of all time, and to celebrate, Universal has released a new 4K Ultra HD special edition. And even though I probably own this movie at least a half dozen times on every format known to man, I for one still couldn’t be happier. The centerpiece of this new edition (which is also available in a gorgeous Steelbook edition, although I only received the standard edition for review) is a new 90-minute documentary called Jaws @ 50, which looks back at the making of the film and its legacy over the last five decades. It doesn’t really offer up anything that hasn’t been covered in the many previous documentaries and special features, but it is very enjoyable and it’s nice to have the perspective of the movie’s fifty years of existence captured.
As for the movie itself, it really is unbeatable. It’s one of my Top 5 Movies of all time, personally, and of course it launched Steven Spielberg to a career that is almost unmatched in Hollywood. It feels… redundant to try and talk about all of the things that make it so good, but I will say that no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Whenever a new edition drops I dive right in and watch it again and I love it every bit as much every single time. If ever there was a home video release that screamed “repeat viewings!”, it’s Jaws.
The 4K Video/Audio:
Jaws was restored and remastered for the 4K format a few years ago and I believe this is the same transfer. Often, when you get older catalogue titles on 4K they get a slight upgrade from their last Blu-ray transfer. But Jaws has new life breathed into it. Not just in the deeper color saturation, which is vibrant and plucky while still natural, but in the image clarity which gives everything from the sand on the beach to the clothes people were added crispness, texture, and depth. Then add to that a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which offers new nuances in the surround channels. It’s not a perfect mix; there are occasional scenes where the action sounds a little flat, but by and large, it really fills the room nicely, and John Williams’ legendary score has never sounded better. Simply put, for a movie that has no shortage of home video releases, this is hands down the best version of it yet.
The Bonus Features:
- Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
- The Making of Jaws
- Jaws: The Restoration
- Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
- The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of Jaws
- From the Set
- Theatrical Trailer
Digital Copy Included: Yes
The Wrap-Up:
I don’t know what else there is to say about this release other than that it gets my highest possible recommendation. The movie is an absolute masterpiece, the bonus features are amazing, and it’s a top-notch home video effort. If you’re asking yourself if it’s worth purchasing, the answer is a resounding yes!
I Know What You Did Last Summer (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook)
The Movie:
I Know What You Did Last Summer was the first major post-Scream horror movie, and while that might not resonate as much some 25 years later, it was a really big deal at the time. When Scream came out in 1996, the slasher movie was all but dead, and the film completely reinvigorated the genre. 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer was not only the first slasher film released after Scream, it was made in the wake of Scream’s success, so it brought a lot of the same qualities to the screen: a popular and pretty young cast, a dash of humor, and some good kills that weren’t overly gory. With Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr. in the cast, it was a lot of fun, mixing some post-Scream sensibilities with good old-fashioned slasher tropes.
I love this movie; it’s one of those slasher films that you can watch again and again and have a great time with every time. Now, with a new legacy theater in sequels in mere weeks, Sony is re-releasing the movie on 4K Ultra HD, this time in a sweet Steelbook case. There’s nothing particularly new on this release aside from the Steelbook, but the previous 4K release did already include some new extra features, like never-before-seen deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and a digital copy, which are all included here again.
The 4K Video/Audio:
The audiovisual upgrade is definitely noticeable, even if the film does show its age a little bit. Imagery is super clear with excellent shadow delineation (a must-have for a film where large portions of it occur at night), while colors are strong and clarity is terrific. The surround soundtrack won’t win any awards, but it does create a nice, tense atmosphere throughout the film.
The Bonus Features:
- Deleted Scenes
- Alternate Ending
- My Own Summer: An interview with director Jim Gillespie
- He Knows What You Did: An interview with actor Muse Watson
- Audio’ Commentary with director Jim Gillespie and editor Steve Mirkovich
- Director’s Short Film: “Joyride”
- Now I Know What You Did Last Summer Featurette
- Music Video: “Hush” by Kula Shaker
- Theatrical Trailer
Digital Copy Included: Yes
The Wrap-Up:
While I Know What You Did Last Summer didn’t become the franchise juggernaut that Scream did, it did garner a theatrical sequel, two direct-to-video sequels (although the less said about them, the better), and now a new theatrical legacy sequel immenent. It seems like this ‘90s slasher franchise has some life left in it yet, and I’m here for it!
Snow White (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital)
The Movie:
There was a lot of controversy – manufactured or otherwise – when Snow White hit theaters a few months ago. Apparently there were the usual trolls who were complaining that Rachel Zegler isn’t white enough to play the title character. Ugh, whatever. Then there was apparently a lot of flak over Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot voicing different opinions on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Then there was apparently some conflict over the film’s portrayal of the seven dwarves and how it relates to portrayals of little people. It was a lot of noise, and ultimately the movie sank at the box office. And honestly, I don’t REALLY care about any of that. None of those things is the root cause for the movie’s biggest issue: it just isn’t very good.
Now, believe me, I wanted to like it. I wanted to be the one to go against the grain and shout from the rooftops, “This film is a classic! I loved it!” But it just has too many problems. Chief among them is that we’ve just been there so many times before. It’s not even two minutes into the film before Snow White’s entire kingdom bursts into a song that’s designed to act as story exposition, world building, and character development. And I get that it’s a musical, but it just feels so formulaic, and the new-to-this-film songs feel like they are being churned out of a Disney songbook at this point.
The film’s visuals are also troublesome. The entire movie looks like it’s shot on green screen on a made-for-TV budget. It was apparently a very expensive production, but then why does it look like a bunch of actors in a high school play standing in front of backgrounds that aren’t there? By the time the movie started to get a little bit interesting halfway through, I had already found myself long past caring.
The Bonus Features:
- Fearless, Fair, Brave and True: Making Snow White
- Merry Tunes
- Fairy Tale Fashion
- Bloopers
- Deleted Scenes
- Sing Along with the Movie
Digital Copy Included: Yes
The Wrap-Up:
I really didn’t want to be overly harsh to Snow White. I like Rachel Zegler as an actor a lot and I am a lifelong Disney aficionado. But maybe they need to go back to the drawing board a bit and figure out how to make some of these live action remakes a bit more interesting and unique rather than just churning them out of a cookie-cutter factory.
Hong Kong 1941 (Blu-ray)
The Movie:
This 1984 movie is a wartime drama with action undertones that made action stalwart Chow Yun-Fat into a star. Set in – obviously – Hong Kong in 1941, the movie tells the story of three Cantonese friends (of a sort) who set out to leave China before the Japanese can invade, but the Japanese army arrives the morning they plan to leave. From there, we watch and see the effects of the Japanese occupation on our main three characters and the hardships they go through.
Directed by Po-Chih Leong, the film became an awards favorite on the Asian circuit back in 1984 and won Chow Yun-Fat a prestigious Golden Horse award for Best Actor. It wouldn’t be long before he’d be starring in John Woo films and becoming a household name, with his fame even stretching to America and other western countries. While there are some ‘80s trappings to be found and the film isn’t quite a s subtle or nuanced as some later filmmakers’ output, it’s also a pretty artfully made movie that doesn’t descend into silliness or anything that would lessen the impact of the movie.
Now, the film has been released on Blu-ray as an excellent special edition by Eureka Entertainment, and it comes with gorgeous packaging and some great extra features as well.
The Bonus Features:
- New audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- Hong Kong 1984 – new video essay by Tony Rayns on the contemporary impact of Hong Kong 1941
- Archival interview with Chow Yun-fat
- Archival interview with Cecilia Yip
- Original theatrical trailer
- Limited Edition Collector’s Booklet
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
Hong Kong 1941 isn’t a full-on masterpiece, but it is a well-made movie with no shortage of drama, action, and romance. This is a terrific new home video release of an acclaimed film, and I’m glad to see it gain a new audience once again.
Exact Revenge: The Eunuch + The Deadly Knives Double Feature
The Movies:
B-movie cinema fans are probably familiar with the Shaw Brothers, who were effectively the Roger Cormans of the Asian action film scene in the 1970s, churning out low-budget action films one after another for an insatiable audience at the time. This new double feature from Eureka Entertainment collects two of the Shaw Brothers studio’s films: The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives.
The Eunuch was written by the screenwriter of Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury, and it follows the titular eunuch who survives an attempt on his life ordered by the nation’s emperor. He kills the emperor and his family in revenge, but the prince escapes and the eunuch sets out to track him down and kill him as well. Meanwhile, in The Deadly Knives we meet a pair of young lovers whose romance is threatened by gangsters. Both films feature a strong revenge theme, and both would fall into the wuxia category, meaning they are filled with wild action and aren’t afraid to go over the top when needed. It also means they’re a lot of fun to watch, even if they’re not “fun” movies per se.
This new double feature Blu-ray release from Eureka Entertainment is an outstanding limited-edition release (only 2,000 copies produced worldwide) and it includes both movies plus a nice collection of extra features, all packaged under some terrific artwork and a lovely slipcover. Very nice!
The Bonus Features:
- New audio commentary on The Eunuch by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- New audio commentary on The Deadly Knives by Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
I’m always a fan of getting two movies for the price of one, especially when the picture and sound quality doesn’t suffer as a result. This is another terrific Asian action release from Eureka!
Vainilla (DVD)
The Movie:
Alma is a thirtysomething woman who has been going through relationships in her life but has come to a point where she doesn’t believe she’s ever had an orgasm. Deciding to go against her families wishes and societal conventions, she decides to explore her sexuality and desires through experimenting with BDSM and eroticism.
Vainilla, released in 2022, is a Spanish-language film from Argentina, which was written and co-directed by Argentine filmmaker Valeria Rowinski… who also stars in the lead role. Perhaps because she’s so invested in the material, Rowinski is a powerful force in the film. She imbues her character with life and lust and isn’t shy about baring her soul.. and more. While the movie isn’t an adult film in the traditional way, it’s also not a PG-rated drama, as there is a decent amount of sexuality at the heart of the film.
While this is obviously a movie for more mature audiences, it is enjoyable if you’re looking for more dramatic fare. It’s not just a lighthearted romp; it’s an exploration of sexuality from a particular point of view.
The Bonus Features:
There are no bonus features on this release.
Digital Copy Included: No
The Wrap-Up:
Vainilla probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but people who want more thoughtful movies and are afraid of a more mature subject matter might find it up their alley.
Sarah and Darah (Graphic Novel)
The Book:
This new graphic novel from Maverick may be marketed towards teenagers, but I found it to be a huge amount of fun. Honestly, anybody who ever went to high school or has watched Mean Girls should be able to find something to like about it.
Darah has just returned to high school after a five-year exile in Alaska, where she was miserable. Her former best friend Sarah is the reason why Darah was sent to Alaska, so needless to say, Darah is not a huge fan of Sarah. Now that they’re back in the same school, Darah is out to let people know who the real Sarah is, while Sarah is determined not to let Darah get in the way of her social dominance.
Author David Pinckney has taken what could be a cliched and unoriginal story and infused it with life (with an able assist from artist Pia Prado.) His script is biting and witty, and while some of the characters can border on unlikable from time to time, he also understands that these are high school students and, yes, kids can be cruel. In regard to Prado’s artwork, it hits that perfect blend between realistic and cartoony that allows for a wide range of emotions in the characters but still feels simple enough that you never find yourself wondering what’s happening on the page.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Maverick
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 208 pages
- Cover Price: $14.99
The Wrap Up:
Despite a title that feels a little forced, Sarah and Darah is an engaging and enjoyable read that anyone can enjoy, regardless of your demographic. It’s a terrific book that I really enjoyed and I think you will too.
Synap (Graphic Novel)
The Book:
Synap is a new sci-fi graphic novel from Mad Cave Studios that will strongly appeal to anime fans and people who have fond memories of properties like Robotech, Gundam, and Appleseed. In it, a family-run company called Synap is in the defense business, but they have a secret; they’re putting together a giant robot/armor/mech that will be used to help fight off potential alien invaders. The trick is that it’s alien tech that’s been abandoned on earth from thousands of years before. Our main character is 15-year-old Shiloh, who has a synaptic connection to the new mech, but who also keeps seeing visions of Vivian, the tech’s first user.
So, there are things I liked about Synap, and there are things I didn’t. Written by Chris Moses and with art by Andrea Giannini, the book will definitely appeal to sci-fi and big mech fans. Personally, I felt like at the times the storytelling and narrative focus didn’t flow as well as it could, and the flashback sequences were sometimes more confusing than I would have liked. I get that there’s a mystery to be solved here, but I wish it was a little more narratively coherent at times. The artwork by Andrea Giannini is quite good, however, and really fits the book, which is a plus.
The Specs:
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Format: Softcover
- Page Count: 120 pages
- Cover Price: $17.99
The Wrap Up:
Synap wasn’t a home run for me but it’s not a bad book at all, either. I think people who are into the things this book is about will have a really good time with it; I just might not be the right audience for it.
