The Corner Penthouse

Looking for a last minute holiday gift for your video-loving family or friends? Well, let me run down a few items that have come out in the past few months that would be perfect for the person who loves Science Fiction movies. 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.


Dune (1984)
• BUY IT: 4K UHD Steelbook, 4K UHD, Blu-ray
• VIDEOS: Trailer
• SYNOPSIS: The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe and found only on the planet Arrakis. A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice. As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides' son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan) finds himself at the center of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever.
• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary by Paul M. Sammon. Audio Commentary by Mike White. Impressions of Dune (39:39) - A 2003 documentary with a ton of interesting interviews. Designing Dune (8:55) - A 2005 look at production designer Anthony Masters. Dune FX (6:01) - Another 2005 piece that looks at special effects. Dune Models and Miniatures (7:03) - A 2005 look at model effects. Dune Costumes (4:50) - A 2005 look at the costumes. Deleted Scenes (14:21) - with introduction by Raffaella de Laurentiis (2:52). Destination Dune (6:16) - Vintage 1983 featurette directed by Paul M. Sammon. Theatrical Trailer 1 (3:09). Theatrical Trailer 2 (1:31). US TV Spots (1:37). VHS Promo (0:37). Image Galleries: Production Stills (56:03), Behind the Scenes (14:20), Cast Portraits (43:42), Production Design (34:12), Poster & Video Art (8:20). Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune (22:37) - Brian Stillman's fascination with the tie in toys and other items aimed at children. Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune (24:52) - Film music historian Tim Greiving discusses the film's score. Giannetto de Rossi Interview (17:20) - Make-Up artist on the film; in Italian with English subtitles. Golda Offenheim Interview (26:16) - Production Coordinator on the film. Paul Smith Interview (8:50) - The actor, who died in 2012, played Rabban in the film. Christopher Tucker Interview (3:02) - Special make-up effects on the film.
• NOTES: This is the original 1984 film adaptation of the Frank Herbert novels, not the 2021 HBO Max series (on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD). This set comes with a 60-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Nette, Christian McCrea and Charlie Brigden. Large fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Daniel Taylor. Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions. The case has a reversible linere featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Daniel Taylor.
• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Arrow Video for review on this site.


The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
• BUY IT: Blu-ray, DVD
• VIDEOS: Teaser, Trailer
• SYNOPSIS: Six months after being exposed to a mysterious radiation cloud, suburban everyman Scott Carey (Grant Williams) finds himself becoming smaller... and smaller... and smaller - until he's left to fend for himself in a world in which ordinary cats, mousetraps, and spiders pose a mortal threat, all while grappling with a diminishing sense of himself.
• SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary - with genre-film historian Tom Weaver and horror-music expert David Schecter. Auteur on the Campus: Jack Arnold at Universal (Director's Cut) (50:14) - Examines the legacy and career of Jack Arnold as well as the evolution of the Universal's post-war horror films. The Infinitesimal: Remembering "The Shrinking Man" (10:57) - An interview with writer Richard Christian Matheson. Terror at Every Turn! (24:52) - An interview with visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and sound designer Ben Burtt that was produced in 2021. Let's Get Small (23:09) - An interview with filmmaker Joe Dante and comedian and writer Dana Gould that was produced in 2021. Jack Arnold (1983) (26:55) - A collection of excerpts from interviews with Jack Arnold conducted by German journalist Roland Johannes in August 1983 on the Universal Studios lot. 8MM Versions (16:24) - Two home cinema versions of the film. Teaser (0:38) - Vintage teaser trailer narrated by Orson Wells. Trailer (2:04) - Vintage trailer. The Lost Music of The Incredible Shrinking Man (17:13) - Horror film music expert David Schecter presents recordings previously lost and unused from the film's score. Suspense: Return to Dust (18:56) - An archival radio play about a scientist shrinking in his lab and looking for help, which originally aired on the program "Suspense" on February 1, 1959.
• NOTES: Includes a fold-out booklet with Geoffrey O'Brien's essay "Other Dimensions" and technical credits.
• CREDIT: This item has been provided by The Criterion Collection for review on this site.


The Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe's War (1996)
• BUY IT: Blu-ray, DVD
• VIDEOS: Trailer
• SYNOPSIS: After surviving the events of "The Lawnmower Man," Jobe (Matt Frewer, replacing Jeff Fahey) is medically revived and put to work for Walker (Kevin Conway), who's building the Virtual Light Institute, betting on the power of the Chyron Chip to help create a virtual world for the planet.
• SPECIAL FEATURES: Original Theatrical Trailer (1:48)
• NOTES: Be sure to pick up the original The Lawnmower Man on Blu-ray to complete your collection.
• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Ronin Flix for review on this site.


Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
• BUY IT: 4K UHD Steelbook, 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD
• VIDEOS: Teaser, Trailer
• SYNOPSIS: It has been 10 years since the events of The Terminator. Sarah Connor's (Linda Hamilton) ordeal is only just beginning as she struggles to protect her son, John (Edward Furlong) - the future leader of the human resistance against the machines - from a new Terminator (Robert Patrick), sent back in time to eliminate him while he's still a child. Sarah and John don't have to face this terrifying threat alone, however. The human resistance has managed to send them an ally, a warrior from the future (Arnold Schwarzenegger) ordered to protect John Connor at any cost. The battle for tomorrow has begun.
• SPECIAL FEATURES: None on the 4K UHD disc. The 1080 Blu-ray disc includes: Audio Commentary with director James Cameron and co-writer William Wisher. Audio Commentary with 23 Members of Cast and Crew. T2: Reprogramming The Terminator (54:07) - An overview of the film, with some interesting interviews and behind the scenes footage. The Making of T2 (30:54) - An archival piece from 1993. Deleted Scenes (3:18) - Two brief scenes with optional commentaries by either Robert Patrick and James Cameron, or Stan Winston, Linda Hamilton and James Cameron. Trailers (6:33).
• NOTES: Includes three versions of film: Theatrical Version (2:17:07), Special Edition Version (2:33:13), and Extended Special Edition Version (2:35:55). Includes a digital copy code voucher. If you want to complete your collection, be sure to pick up the Terminator 6-Film Blu-ray Bundle or the Terminator Anthology 4-Film Blu-ray set. The latter set, which I have, leaves out Terminator: Genisys and the abysmal woke garbage Terminator: Dark Fate.
• CREDIT: This item has been provided by Lionsgate for review on this site.

If you're looking for more gift ideas, check out all of the other items I've reviewed recently. I review a variety of items, so I'm sure you'll find something quite suitable for your friends and family, or maybe even yourself. Yeah, why not treat yourself this holiday season.