On this week’s episode of the Media Play News Podcast, hosts Charles Parkman and Charlie Showley divert from the usual format to dig deep into what they’ve been watching and what’s been going on in the film industry.
First up, the hosts talk about the themes of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and some of the characters’ motivations and portrayals. According to Charles, in the original Marvel comics the anti-hero Namor was half-Atlantean and half-human, but since DC’s recent portrayal of Aquaman featured that exact backstory, the version of Namor in Wakanda Forever was tweaked to be a descendant of the Mayans.
At the box office, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever maintains its top spot and worldwide has grossed over $500 million in its first 10 days of release. It’s projected to make just shy of $900 million.
In the second spot is The Menu, a small-budget movie Charlie has been interested in since it’s been marketed as a horror movie but is written by two comedy writer veterans whose resumés include “The Onion,” “Last Week Tonight” and “Comedy Bang Bang.” Meanwhile, arriving this week on Blu-ray is season one of HBO Max’s “Peacemaker,” which Charles highly recommends. As the direct sequel to James Gunn’s soft reboot/sequel The Suicide Squad, it garnered a strong cult following since its inception and is already greenlighted for a second season.
Lastly, we have some news out of Avatar 2’s production in a GQ interview with director James Cameron. Cameron has been pitching the long-awaited sequel as “the worst business case in movie history” as he alleges it will need to be one of the world’s highest-grossing movies of all time just to break even. In the interview, he recalls speaking to a Fox executive about production of the original Avatar: “I think this movie is going to make all the money … that’s exactly what I said, in caps, ALL THE MONEY, not some of the money, all the money.” Since Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie of all time, having made $2.9 billion to date, it’s fair to say Cameron called his shot and is confident about the performance of Avatar 2.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Nov. 22 releases Peacemaker: The Complete First Season. The HBO Max original series produced by James Gunn is a spinoff of The Suicide Squad and stars John Cena as the title character, a violent enforcer who will do whatever it takes to achieve peace, as he is recruited into a covert team to take on alien parasites that reside within human bodies and take over the identities of those they possess. A second season of “Peacemaker” and additional spinoffs are already in development.
The gay rom-com Bros will be available to own digitally and on Blu-ray and DVD Nov. 22 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Four-time Emmy nominee Billy Eichner (“Billy on the Street”) stars in the feature from filmmakers Nick Stroller (“Neighbors” franchise, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island, Trainwreck). The comedy follows two gay men and explores how hard it is to find another tolerable human being with whom to go through life.
The romantic drama The Good House arrives Blu-ray (plus digital), DVD and digital purchase Nov. 22 from Lionsgate. Based on the novel by Ann Leary, the film stars Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar, Gorillas in the Mist), Kevin Kline (Wild Wild West, Dave, A Fish Called Wanda) and Morena Baccarin (Deadpool, TV’s “Firefly,” “V”). Weaver stars as Hildy Good, a realtor in an idyllic New England town, whose wickedly funny tongue and seeming success mask her life’s one dark truth — that she enjoys her wine a bit too much. But Hildy’s good at keeping it together — until, that is, a rekindled romance with high school flame Frank Getchell (Kline) sets in motion a chain of events that forces a decades-in-the-making confrontation with Hildy’s buried past.
The French woman-in-crisis drama Hold Me Tight, from director Mathieu Amalric, will be released on DVD, Blu-ray Disc and all major digital platforms on Nov. 22 by Kino Lorber. The film is in French and German, with English subtitles. In Hold Me Tight, Vicky Krieps stars as Clarisse, a woman on the run from her family for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. Widely renowned as one of France’s great contemporary actors but less well-known in North America for his equally impressive work behind the camera, Amalric’s sixth feature as director is considered his most ambitious to date. The film alternates between Clarisse’s adventures on the road and scenes of her abandoned husband Marc (Arieh Worthalter) as he struggles to take care of their children at home. 
The comedy 5-25-77 is being released on Blu-ray and DVD from MVD Visual. Set during the spring of 1977, the film follows sci-fi obsessed teenager Pat Johnson (John Francis Daley, Game Night, “Freaks and Geeks”), who finds himself torn between making 8mm sequels to his favorite movies and pursuing the girl of his dreams Linda (Emmi Chen, Normal). Desperate to help her son escape his likely future in Wadsworth, Ill., (population 750), his mother Janet (Colleen Camp, Wayne’s World) cold-calls the editor of American Cinematographer magazine and Pat soon finds himself on “the ultimate trip” to Hollywood, becoming the very first outsider to see the film that would change him (and movies) forever — Star Wars. But when Pat returns to his hometown existence, he struggles to choose between chasing a seemingly impossible dream and accepting the comforting familiarity of home. Produced by Gary Kurtz (Star Wars: A New Hope, American Graffiti), Fred Roos (The Godfather Part II, St. Vincent) and Leigh Jones (Here Alone) and written and directed by Patrick Read Johnson (Dragonheart, Angus), the heartfelt true story-based film features a supporting cast that includes Austin Pendleton (My Cousin Vinny) and Neil Flynn (Mean Girls) along with an original score by David E. Russo (“Gotham”, Sin City) with additional themes and songs by rock musician Alan Parsons (“The Alan Parsons Project”). Special features on Blu-ray include audio commentary with writer/director Patrick Read Johnson, moderated by Seth Gaven, founder of the A.V. Squad and editor of the film Spaced Invaders; a Q&A from the 2013 Fantasia Film Festival with director Patrick Read Johnson; three theatrical trailers; and three photo galleries.
The comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles, written and directed by John Hughes, will land on 4K Ultra HD for the first time Nov. 22 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Originally released on Nov. 25, 1987, Planes, Trains and Automobiles celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Steve Martin and John Candy star in the tale of travel gone awry. In the film, Neal Page (Martin) is an uptight ad exec trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving with his family. When rerouted to Wichita, Neal reluctantly partners with Del Griffith (Candy), an obnoxious yet loveable salesman. Together, they embark on a cross-country adventure filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth. Newly remastered on 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR-10, Planes, Trains and Automobiles includes a bonus “Lost Luggage” Blu-ray Disc containing more than an hour of never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes that were recently discovered in the archives of writer, producer and director Hughes. The newly uncovered footage offers a unique glimpse into the filmmaking and editing process and features funny moments between Martin and Candy. In addition to the newly discovered footage, the bonus Blu-ray Disc also includes Dylan Baker’s original audition for the character of Owen.
The 1995 drama Panther is being released on Blu-ray in the MVD Marquee Collection. Set in Oakland, Calif., in 1968, the film follows the Black Panthers, led by Huey Newton (Marcus Chong, The Matrix) and Bobby Seale (Courtney B. Vance, The Preacher’s Wife), who have armed themselves and are ready to fight for freedom. To the people, they’re heroes, but to the FBI they’re Public Enemy No. 1. The Feds will do everything they can — on the right or wrong side of the law — to bring them down. Written by filmmaker and author Melvin Van Peebles (Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song) based on his own novel and directed by Mario Van Peebles (New Jack City, Posse), Panther stars include Kadeem Hardison (Drive), Bokeem Woodbine (Queen & Slim), Joe Don Baker (GoldenEye), Angela Bassett (Black Panther), Chris Tucker (Rush Hour), Chris Rock (The Longest Yard), James Le Gros (Guncrazy), M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple), Robert Culp (“I Spy”), James Russo (Django Unchained), Bobby Brown (Ghostbusters II) and Tyrin Turner (Menace II Society).
The 1990 comedy Ski Patrol is being released on Blu-ray in the MVD Rewind Collection. In the film, the lease on the Snowy Peaks Lodge, a popular ski resort, is up for renewal and its owner Pops (Ray Walston, Fast Times at Ridgemont High) has no worries about signing a new lease. Despite his Ski Patrol, an out-of-control group of skiers led by Jerry (Roger Rose, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives) and Iceman (T.K. Carter, John Carpenter’s The Thing), the resort has an impeccable safety record. However, a devious land developer (Martin Mull, Clue) has other plans in mind for the resort and hires the talents of a young blonde named Lance (Corby Timbrook, The Glass Shield) to undermine the Ski Patrol’s efforts to keep the slopes safe. Extraordinary aerial stunts, impressive snowboarding, and an incredible downhill showdown all add to the excitement as the Ski Patrol does their best to save Pop’s Mountain. The supporting case includes Leslie Jordan (“Will & Grace”), Paul Feig (Bridesmaids), Stephen Hytner (“Seinfeld”) and comedian George Lopez (“George Lopez”).
The 1980 sci-fi film The Final Countdown will be re-released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray disc Nov. 22 from MVD Entertainment Group and Blue Underground. In the film, a freak electrical storm engulfs the U.S.S. Nimitz, America’s mightiest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier on maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean, hurtling it back in time to Dec. 6, 1941, mere hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. As the enemy fleet speeds towards Hawaii, the warship’s captain (Kirk Douglas), a Defense Department expert (Martin Sheen), a maverick Air Wing Commander (James Farentino) and a desperate senator in the Roosevelt administration (Charles Durning) must choose between the unthinkable. Do they allow the Japanese to complete their murderous invasion, or launch a massive counterstrike that will forever change the course of history? Katharine Ross and Ron O’Neal co-star in the sci-fi actioner filmed on location aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz with the full participation of the U.S. Navy and the ship’s crew. Blue Underground is presenting the film in a new restoration, scanned in 4K 16-bit from the original 35mm camera negative, with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. The 4K disc is compatible with D-Box home theater systems. The film was 
The 1980 Italian crime story Contraband is directed by Lucio Fulci (The Beyond, City of the Living Dead) and set in Naples, Italy. It follows idealistic cigarette smuggler Luca, who runs into problems with a sadistic drug dealing gangster from France and decides to muscle his way into operations. As he tries to wipe out the competition, all hell breaks loose and the bodies start piling up. Luca joins forces with rival smugglers and the local mafia to counteract the power play, which only increases the body count until the explosive gun powder and gut bursting conclusion. The film stars Fabio Testi (The Big Racket), Marcel Bozzuffi (The French Connection), Ivana Monti (Five Days in Milan), and Saverio Marconi (Padre Padrone). Featuring gruesome practical special effects by Germano Natali (Deep Red) and Roberto Pace (Body Count), with music by legendary composer Fabio Frizzi, Contraband is a hard hitting mafia story filmed through the eye of an unrelenting horror master. Making its Blu-ray debut via Cauldron Films, Contraband is restored from a 4K scan of the negative with English language audio, optional English SDH subtitles, and Italian language audio with English subtitles.
The 1973 thriller Murder in a Blue World is a Spanish spin on Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. In the film set in a violent, dystopian consumer-fed future, David (Chris Mitchum, Summertime Killer) blackmails nurse Ana (Sue Lyon, Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita) after witnessing her commit a murder. When Ana and Victor (Jean Sorel, Perversion Story) discover David is a known gang member with an extensive criminal past, they make a plan to turn the tables and use him for their own clandestine purposes. Two years after Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, transgressive Spanish genre director Eloy de la Iglesia unleashed his thought-provoking and beautifully shot future-world film that was also known as A Clockwork Terror. Available for the first time on Blu-ray, Cauldron Films presents the film from a new 2K restoration of the Spanish producer’s cut from the negative, with English audio with optional English SDH subtitles and Spanish audio with optional English subtitles.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will make director James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad available for premium digital ownership starting Sept. 17, followed by a Blu-ray Disc, DVD and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release Oct. 26.
The Suicide Squad earned $54.7 million during a domestic box office run in which it was simultaneously available for streaming on HBO Max for a month.
