John Frankenheimer’s Ronin is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK for the first time, and a regular priced version has been added
Ah-ha! Now here’s just the kind of film that gives a modern home cinema setup a hell of a workout. The 1998 movie Ronin, starring Robert De Niro at the head of a terrific ensemble, is a really good film in its own right. What elevates it though is the work the late director John Frankenheimer did in shooting car chases around the streets of Paris.
The plot, for what it’s worth, involves a suitcase that lots of people are looking for. Frankenheimer – as we discussed in a podcast episode here – shot the film by putting cameras right down and dirty on the streets of the city. I remember watching the film in a cinema and nearly ripping the armrests off I was having so much fun.
The film has been available on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format in the US for a little while, but there’d been no sign of a UK release. Well – as you probably guessed – until now!
Altitude and Capelight Pictures are releasing Ronin on 4K disc in the UK from 1st April, and you can find the list for the film – and order yourself a copy – right here.
There are two versions to pick from. A Mediabook is the most expensive, currently retailing for £34.99. It’s a limited edition, as you’d expect. No idea why. Then there’s a Steelbook, which is usually the most expensive iteration of a film, but in this case, that costs £27.99.
No idea if a regular-priced release will follow some way down the – are you ready for this? – road.
UPDATE: There is a regular-priced version! It’s arriving on 3rd June and you can find it here.
But it’s a nice surprise in the first place to see a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray physical release confirmed in the UK for a title that we thought had passed these shores by. More please.
