Out today, in good time for Father’s Day, is Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert in 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. The film made a real splash on its cinema release earlier in the year, and Luhrmann is perfectly placed to shine his directorial spotlight on one of the most cherished entertainers of the last century.
The director’s 2022 biopic of Elvis elevated its charismatic star Austin Butler to new heights of fame, and Luhrmann’s dizzying cinematic style gave new life to the legend.
It was during his work on the 2022 film that Luhrmann discovered a cache of long-lost footage of Elvis performing his 1970s concerts in Las Vegas. This lit the touchpaper that was to explode onto the big screen earlier this year for EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, an immersive cinematic experience of revitalised footage that many fans have never seen.
On the red carpet for the London Premiere of the film, we spoke to Angie Marchese, Vice President of Archives and Exhibits at Graceland, who detailed the discovery and what it meant for Luhrmann and for Elvis fans around the world. She said,
“Elvis kept reinventing himself every decade. He was always a trendsetter — kind of like an influencer before influencers were a thing…That’s why this movie exists…There really is a chance to have Elvis tell his story like it’s never been done before. And that’s what Epic is.”
It’s a fascinating interview (which you can watch above), and Luhrmann himself told us on the same red carpet exactly what it was that inspired him to tell this story. He said that the footage he discovered was a:
“40 minute tape of him speaking so unguarded… The image is one thing and the man is another…And we try to make sure in this you see the man.”
The film does exactly that. It’s rare to have a film shine new light onto a subject that is so well-known. What we see here with EPiC is the man behind the myth, as well as get a front row seat to one of the most culturally important performers there has ever been.
It’s an instant recommendation from us if you’re looking for a Father’s Day that will impress and inspire in equal measure.
We also have a few other recommendations to whet the gifting appetite and go alongside the EPiCness as endorsed above.
The Blues Brothers
A 45th Anniversary 4K UHD & Blu-ray release for one of the seminal films of the ‘80s is just the ticket for Fathers who love their comedy loud and chaotic. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi run riot across the screen as they take their blues band on the road, to raise money and shake tailfeathers – all on a crazy ‘Mission from God’.
The new 45th anniversary disc includes a host of documentary extras focusing on the making of the film, the music that is so crucial, and a remembrance of John Belushi. New to this edition is a bonus disc which contains On a Mission From God: The Story of the Blues Brothers. Included within are a plethora of new interviews and stories from the film’s production. Worth the price of admission alone.
Dracula: Ultimate Legacy Collection
One of cinema’s most enduring figures looms large over this new 4K UHD collection, which features the films Dracula (1931), Dracula’s Daughter (1936), Son of Dracula (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945), Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) on 4K UHD for the first time.
The four disc box set is awash with complementary special creature features including a look back at the formidable Bela Lugosi, as well as the making of the seminal horror film and a look at the recent restoration. If you’re in the mood to immerse yourself in some classic horror – this is the box set for you.
Doctor Who: The Movie
In the thirteen years since Paul McGann returned unexpectedly as the Eight Doctor in The Night of the Doctor mini-sode McGannFans have been craving more time with this incarnation of the errant Time Lord. This brand new 4K restoration will go some way to abating their cries, as the 1996 TV movie gets a fresh slap of pixels.
30 years ago, when The X-Files ruled the airwaves, the BBC’s finest was hoiked out of the doldrums of cancellation and made anew for a US audience. The 90 minute movie was certainly a departure and remains a curio in the ongoing history of the most famous Gallifreyan of them all.
With both the uncensored and the US broadcast versions, as well as a treasure trove of special features, this is the best way to revisit one of the strangest detours on The Doctor’s journey. Perfect for Fathers who grew up dreaming of their own adventures in Time and Space.
Trainspotting 4K
Arriving in the same year as Doctor Who: The Movie but cut from a very different cloth, is one of the most impactful British films of all time. Irvine Welsh’s ragtag collection of high-seeking, drug-fuelled chancers were given the big screen treatment by Danny Boyle, and this country’s film industry was never quite the same.
The film is just as powerful and as funny thirty years on. Looking better than ever, and with more bonus features than you could wish for, this is the complete story of the film, its journey to the big screen and its impact beyond. An intense soundtrack, needle drops that dive under your skin, and a kinetic visual style that serves it perfectly, this is a great film in the best possible format.
The sequel, T2 Trainspotting, is also a must-see for Dads feeling their age.
EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT is available to buy on 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD now FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SPIRIT ENTERTAINMENT. BUY NOW FROM HMV, AMAZON, ZAVVI and RAREWAVES
