The Corner Penthouse

Looking for a holiday gift for your book-reading or video-loving family or friends? Well, let me run down a few items that have been recently released that would be perfect for members of the whole family. This is in addition to all of the items I've reviewed recently that would also make for great gifts. Let's take a quick look at these recently-released titles...

All of the items below have already been released and are available for purchase from Amazon at the links provided. The Corner Penthouse will earn a very tiny commission from your purchase using these links.



• BUY IT: Hardcover Book (2023 Edition), Hardcover Book (2018 Edition).

• SYNOPSIS: Climb on board pop culture's most magical vessel with John, Paul, George, and Ringo as the Fab Four battle to free Pepperland from the evil rule of the music-hating Chief Blue Meanie and his army of snapping turtle-Turks, Apple-Bonkers, and the dreaded Flying Glove. Drawn by celebrated artist Bill Morrison, and filled with luscious artwork that faithfully adapts the much-loved Yellow Submarine by the Beatles, this graphic novel commemorates more than 50 years of the classic animated masterpiece. Now travel to a land with diamonds in the sky and rediscover that all you really need is love!


• NOTES: In this 7"x11" hardcover book, Bill Morrison re-tells the story of the 1968 animated film (available on Region-Free Blu-ray) across 112 pages in brilliant, original illustrations. Each page is a burst of color as The Beatles are recruited by the Captain of the Yellow Submarine to help him free Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the world of Pepperland, from the music-hating Blue Meanies. A must have for any Beatles fan.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Insight Editions for review on this site.



• BUY IT: Hardcover Book.

• SYNOPSIS: Celebrate your love of classic Disney animated films and bring magic into your kitchen with this comprehensive cookbook, inspired by beloved Disney films from 1923 to now, including Fantasia, Mulan, Wish, and more! Including more than 75 different recipes, this cookbook allows fans to relive iconic Disney mealtime moments and delight in preparing the enchanting, easy-to-prepare food and drinks in this cookbook, from appetizers, soups, salads, and main courses to delectable desserts. With beautiful full-color photography, helpful cooking tips, and recipes ranging from simple to advanced, this cookbook is perfect for home cooks of all skill levels and for bringing friends and family together with a little Disney magic.


• NOTES: Across 216 pages in this 8"x10" hardcover book, authors Brooke Vitale, Lisa Kingsley, Jennifer Peterson present 77 recipes inspired by decades of Disney's animated films from Steamboat Willie (1928) to Wish (2023). Each recipe is accompanied by either a photograph of the final food product, artwork from the animated film it was inspired by, or both. You can see which recipes are included by viewing the table of contents image above. After the book's Introduction, there is a beautiful four-page Timeline of Films, which lists all of the films that are represented in the book, with character imagery for most of the films. While I don't think that every Disney film is represented, all of the biggies are here. Even a very of the smaller ones. I was surprised to see Oliver & Company. A beautiful book for any Disney fan, but those who are into cooking will get the most out of it.


• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Insight Editions for review on this site.



• BUY IT: DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: This heartwarming and humor-filled next chapter in Ralphie Parker's (Peter Billingsley) tale finds him grown, with a family of his own, and determined to create an unforgettable Christmas for his kids. Of course, as is tradition in the Parker household, dad's best efforts to make those spirits bright go comically awry in this endearing, relatable slice of family life.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: None.

• RATING: PG for language and some rude material/behavior.

• NOTES: A beautiful love letter to the original film, set thirty years later in December 1973, with nearly all of the original cast members, and completely ignoring the Wrestlecrap-inducted A Christmas Story 2 (2012) and the absolutely abysmal A Christmas Story Live! (2017). Sadly, this proper sequel to the original is only available on the outdated inferior DVD format. Yes, you can own the original on 4K UHD and Blu-ray (both in the same package), and both of the two crappy films are on Blu-ray, but the good sequel gets the shaft. What a shame, but I have a feeling I know why this is the case.

The film premiered on HBO Max in 2022, and I suspect that Warner Brothers wants the HD copy of the movie to remain as a streaming exclusive, which is why it's only getting a DVD disc release. Warner did the same thing with 8-Bit Christmas and Father of the Bride (2022). This makes no sense as the only people who are still buying physical media are the videophiles like me who aren't interested in an outdated inferior format like DVD. People like us who buy discs aren't the ones who, usually, care much for streaming. So, selling us Blu-rays of streaming-exclusive movies isn't going to diminish streaming sales at all. This is why people are forced to pirate movies.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD + Blu-ray Steelbook, 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission - not even the lives of those he cares about most.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: This three-disc set includes one 4K disc and two Blu-ray discs, with the first two discs containing the movie with the commentary and isolated score. The rest of the content listed below can be found on the third disc.

• Audio Commentary - by director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton.
• Isolated Score Track - Watch the film with just the film's score, presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.
• Abu Dhabi (3:55) - Explore the exotic filming locations in the desert and at the international airport and discover how each thrilling sequence was shot.
• Rome (4:12) - Take a behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling car chase through Italy's historic capital, as Tom Cruise's driving skills are pushed to the limit while handcuffed to Hayley Atwell!
• Venice (4:12) - See the breathtaking city of Venice as it's never been shown on film. Plus, witness the cast's dedication and commitment to their training as they prepare to get "Mission Ready".
• Freefall (9:05) - An extended behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest stunts in cinema history. Watch never-before-seen footage of the rigorous training as Tom launches a motorcycle off a cliff.
• Speed Flying (4:17) - Join Tom and the crew as they explain the various training techniques involved in pulling off the dangerous speed flying stunts in the film.
• Train (5:32) - See how the climactic train sequence was captured on film. From building an actual train from scratch to crashing it using practical effects, you don't want to miss this!

• RATING: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some language and suggestive material.

• NOTES: Even after six previous films, the Mission: Impossible franchise is still going strong. There are no signs of fatigue here. Lots of spectacular action, but it all is at service of the story. It's style and substance. I can't wait for part two.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Paramount for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD, 2013 20th Anniversary White Cover Blu-ray (with 2000 pilot), DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: For Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), a wrongfully convicted fugitive, the trail leads toward the one-armed man he believes murdered his wife. For U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), the hunt will end with the capture of escaped prisoner Kimble. Filled with tension, twists and an unforgettable train wreck, this critically acclaimed thriller remains one of the greatest cat-and-mouse pursuits of all time.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: All of the content below can be found on the 4K UHD disc.

• Audio Commentary - by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones.
• Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford (and Tommy Lee Jones) (1:52) - On March 9, 2001 the three men sat down to share their memories about the film. Presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, upscaled to 1920x1080.
• The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase (28:21) - A retrospective 2013 documentary features many of the cast and crew, all of whom share their perspectives on the legacy of the film.
• On the Run with The Fugitive (23:06) - In this 2001 featurette, the cast and crew discuss shooting the film on-location in Chicago and more.
• Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck (8:55) - This 2001 featurette takes an in-depth look at the creation of the famous scene.
• Theatrical Trailer (2:02)

• RATING: PG-13 for a murder and other action sequences in an adventure setting.

• NOTES: An excellent film, one of the few television show to motion picture adaptations that gets everything right, and in many ways, improves upon the original. This new 4K UHD remastering is the best the film has every looked. As has been the case with Warner 4K releases this year, no Blu-ray disc is included. However, unlike the previous 2023 4K releases, Warner ported over nearly everything from the previous 2013 "20th Anniversary Edition" Blu-ray (the one with the white cover). The only thing missing is the 2000 TV pilot starring Tim Daly and Mykelti Williamson. The 2000-2001 Tim Daly series is actually one of three The Fugitive television series. It was preceded by the original starring David Janssen, which ran for four seasons from 1963 to 1967. It was followed by the short-lived 2020 series starring Kiefer Sutherland and Boyd Holbrook.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: In 1956 France, a priest is murdered and an evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: All of the content below can be found on the 4K UHD disc.

• Demon in Paradise (5:04) - This promotional featurette offers a quick look behind the scenes, with bits and pieces of concept/storyboard artwork, on-set footage, and brief interview snippets.
• Handcrafted Nightmares (7:02) - Producer James Wan and director Michael Chaves speak about the central villain's look, the decision to use mostly practical effects, and more.

• RATING: R violent content and some terror.

• NOTES: If you don't own the other films in the Conjuring universe, you can buy most of them in the The Conjuring 7-Film Collection Blu-ray set. To have a complete Conjuring Universe Blu-ray collection, add in The Curse of La Lorona (reviewed here), Shazam (reviewed here), Shazam:Fury of the Gods (reviewed here), and Aquaman (reviewed here); those last three become part of the universe due to the appearance of the demon doll.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.



• BUY IT: 4K UHD + Blu-ray, 2007 Blu-ray, Special Edition DVD.

• SYNOPSIS: The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), a British ranch owner, hires six rebellious boys as "regulators" to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators, led by the wild-tempered Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez), declare war on the Ring. As their vendetta turns into a bloody rampage, they are branded outlaws, becoming the objects of the largest manhunt in Western history.

• SPECIAL FEATURES: All of the content below can be found on both of the discs.

• Audio Commentary - with Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko. Recorded in 2003.
• How the West Was Wild: Making Young Guns (35:53) - Produced in 2023, this documentary features new cast and crew interviews, and is presented in 3840x2160 on the 4K disc.
• Billy the Kid: The True Story (32:17) - This 2003 DVD-era documentary about the real Billy the Kid, with interviews from various historians, has been upscaled to 1920x1080.
• Teaser Trailer (1:16) - Presented in 3840x2160 on the 4K disc.
• Theatrical Trailer (1:28) - Presented in 1920x1080.

• RATING: R.

• NOTES: The film that made Westerns cool again, and it's still a fun shoot-'em-up 35 years later. Lionsgate did a great job with the transfer, and I highly applaud the studio for producing a new documentary on the film featuring many of the cast and crew. The previous DVD and Blu-ray releases didn't contain many extras, but most of them have been ported over. From what I can see, only two things are missing. The original 4:3 letterbox DVD from Artisan supposedly contained a "Making Of Featurette" that was likely taken from the film's original Electronic Press Kit, which has not been resurrected here. The Special Edition DVD and the 2007 Blu-ray both contain a Trivia Track; labeled "Gunning For The Facts" on DVD and "Out of the Blue" on Blu-ray. I don't know if both tracks are exactly the same, but neither of them is found on this new release. That said, the new and improved film transfer, and the new documentary, more than make up for the lack of those two things. To complete the set... The sequel, Young Guns II (1990), is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Lionsgate for review on this site.

If you're looking for more cool stuff to buy, check out all of the other items I've reviewed over the years. I'm sure you'll find something you'll love.