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December 2

American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered (2014) Narrated by Stanley Tucci, the film -- which airs day and date on PBS channels -- explores Crosby's life and legend with unprecedented access to his archives, including never-before-seen photo for American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscoveredfootage, and reveals a man far more complex than his public persona. Thirty-seven years after his death, Crosby remains the most recorded performer in history with nearly 400 hit singles, an achievement no one -- not Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley or the Beatles -- has come close to matching. A brilliant entrepreneur, Crosby played an important role in the development of the postwar recording industry. As one of Hollywood's most popular actors, he won the Oscar for 1944's "Going My Way" and starred in the iconic "Road" films with Bob Hope. American Masters received unprecedented access to the entertainer's personal and professional archives, including never-before-seen home movies, Dictabelt recordings, photos and more. The film features new interviews with all surviving members of Crosby's immediate family: wife Kathryn, daughter Mary and sons Harry and Nathaniel. The film reveals Crosby's struggles with his first wife, Dixie Lee, and their sons Gary, Dennis, Phillip and Lindsay. Mary addresses accusations of abuse first published in Gary's 1983 memoir, which tarnished their father's legacy. Gary speaks candidly about both his and his mother's alcoholism as well as his difficulties with his father in a never-before-seen 1987 interview. Other new interviews include singers Tony Bennett and Michael Feinstein, record producer Ken Barnes, biographer Gary Giddins, and writers Buz Kohan and Larry Grossman, who both share the story behind Crosby's Christmas special duet with David Bowie. "American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered -- The Soundtrack" features songs heard in the documentary, including 16 previously unreleased recordings, and is available November 25 via Bing Crosby Archive and Universal Music Enterprises. Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).

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As Above, So Below (2014) Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge. Read more about "As Above, So Below" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Inside As Above/So Below" featurette. (Universal).
Cantinflas (2014 -- Mexico) Oscar Jaenada, Michael Imperioli, Ilse Salas, Barbara Mori, Ana Layevska, Adal Ramones. Read more about "Cantinflas" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Cantinflas: From Mexico to the Big Screen" featurette. (Pantelion/Lionsgate).
photo for The Congress The Congress (2014) Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Paul Giamatti, Danny Huston, Jon Hamm. More than two decades after catapulting to stardom with "The Princess Bride," an aging actress (Robin Wright, playing a version of herself) decides to take her final job: preserving her 3-D digital likeness for a future Hollywood. Through a deal brokered by her loyal, longtime agent (Harvey Keitel) and the head of Miramount Studios (Danny Huston), the character known as "Robin Wright" will be exclusively owned and controlled by the studio, and will star in any film they want with no restrictions. Wright will remain an eternal thirtysomething in all Miramount films, but will also be forbidden from acting on any other stage, anywhere in the world, forever. In return, she'll receive healthy compensation so she can care for her ailing son. Twenty years later, under the creative vision of the studio's head animator (Jon Hamm), Wright's digital double has risen to immortal stardom. With her contract expiring, however, the real Robin is going through another crisis ... but there may yet be hope for her when she is invited to take part in "The Congress" convention as she makes her comeback straight into the world of future fantasy cinema. Inspired by the great novelist Stanislaw Lem's "The Futurological Congress." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Ari Folman, interview with Robin Wright, 12-page booklet, theatrical trailer, promotional spot. (Drafthouse Films/Cinedigm).
The Dark Place (2014) Sean Paul Lockhart, Blaise Embry, Timo Descamps. A young man returns to the heart of California's wine valley to make peace with his long-estranged family. Instead, he finds a harrowing mystery that endangers his life and those he loves in this contemporary gay thriller. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Commentary by director Jody Wheeler and co-star Allison Lane, alternate and extended scenes, promotional videos. (Blue Seraph Productions/Breaking Glass Pictures).
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Judy Greer. Read more about "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray Disc Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Andy Serkis: Rediscovering Caesar," four galleries. Blu-ray adds Deleted scenes, "Journey to Dawn," "Humans and Apes: The Cast of Dawn," "The World of Dawn," "The Ape Community," "Move Like an Ape: An Artists Artist's Medium," "Weta and Dawn," "The Fight for a New Dawn," commentary by director Matt Reeves. (Fox).
Fagbug Nation (2014) Erin Davies' follow up to her acclaimed first film 2009 "Fagbug." After the 11th Annual National Day of Silence in Albany, N.Y., Davies' VW Beetle was vandalized with the words "fag" and "u r gay" placed on the driver's side window and hood. In response, she took her car, now known worldwide as the "fagbug," on a 58-day trip around the United States and Canada. After getting it completely remodeled as the rainbow colored "Fagbug," Davies and her dog hit the road as she attempted to check off the last remaining states on her list: Alaska and Hawaii. Formats: DVD. (Garden Thieves Pictures).
Field of Lost Shoes (2014) David Arquette, Luke Benward, Max Lloyd-Jones, Zach Roerig, Lauren Holly, Mary Mouser, Nolan Gould, Jason Isaacs, Tom Skerritt. Based on a true story of the American Civil War, about a group of teenage cadets who were called upon to defend the Shenandoah Valley against General Grant's (Skerritt) Union forces. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
Gunsmoke: The Eleventh Season, Volume One and Volume Two (1965-66) Four-disc sets with 16 episodes each, $42.99. James Arness returns in his legendary role as Matt Dillon, in charge of a Wild West town full of lawbreakers. From train-robbing outlaws and claim jumpers to cattle rushers and bounty hunters, disorder is everywhere. It’s up to Dillon and company to restore order to a town where anything can happen. Jam-packed with famous guest stars including George Kennedy, Lesley Ann Warren, Leonard Nimoy, Joe Don Baker, Diane Ladd, Slim Pickens, Darren McGavin, Tom Skerritt and Bruce Dern. Formats: DVD. (CBS/Paramount).
Gutshot Straight (2014) AnnaLynne McCord, Steven Seagal, Vinnie Jones, George Eads, Stephen Lang. A down-on-his-luck gambler makes a deal with a slick-talking, wealthy man in Las Vegas to make some quick money in order to repay his debts ... but the deal quickly turns deadly. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Justin Steele and composer Keith Waggoner, behind-the-scenes with interviews, deleted scenes. (Lionsgate).
Happy Days: The Sixth Season (1978-79) Four-disc set with 27 episodes, $42.99. Formats: DVD. (CBS/Paramount).
The Hero of Color City (2014) Voices of Christina Ricci, Owen Wilson, Sean Astin, Jessica Capshaw, Rosie Perez, Elizabeth Daily, Craig Ferguson. Chronicles the adventures of a diverse band of crayons that come alive in a little boy's room when he drifts off to sleep. Each night, when Ben falls asleep, his Crayons' magical Crayon Box transports them to Color City, a world of dazzling hues, soaring fantasy and the whimsy of childhood. When timid Yellow is accidentally left behind in Ben's room, she inadvertently awakens two Unfinished Drawings: King Scrawl, a huge, mute monster, and Gnat, Scrawl's overactive sidekick. They follow Yellow to Color City and claim the enchanted Rainbow Waterfall and all of its color for themselves. It's up to Yellow and her pals, Blue, Green, Red, and the twins, Black and White, to save the day. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) Dir.: Lasse Hallstrom; Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon, Farzana Dua Elahe. Read more about "The Hundred-Foot Journey" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Recipe, The Ingredients, The Journey." Blu-ray adds "The Hundred-Foot Journey With (producers) Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey," "On Set With Oprah Winfrey," "Coconut Chicken" featurette teaches viewers how to make coconut chicken in this demonstration of a beautiful, Indian inspired dish with Chef Anil Sharma. (DreamWorks).
photo for InRealLife InRealLife (2014) A journey from the world of Silicon Valley to the bedrooms of British teenagers asks an important question: What exactly is the Internet doing to our children? This revealing documentary examines how children are adapting to the technological world we live in, and how free and open connectivity can have alienating and addictive side-effects, especially on the youngest minds using it. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Jingle All The Way 2 (2014) Larry the Cable Guy, Santino Marella, Kennedi Clements. Direct-to-video sequel to the 1996 hit about a dad trying to land the season's hottest toy, The Harrison Bear, for his daughter. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, "Christmas Catastrophes," Harrison the Bear TV commercial, "Santa Santino," "Christmas Wishes," "Harrison the Bear: An Exclusive Interview," "Reindeer Riding at Roosters Tavern," Black Friday PSA. (WWE Studios/Fox).
Justified: The Complete Fifth Season (2014) Three-disc set with 13 episodes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Deleted scenes, commentaries on two episodes ("A Murder of Crowes" and "Restitution"), "Season of the Crowe: Making Season Five." Blu-ray adds "The Coolest Guy in the Room" tribute to the late, great Elmore Leonard; "The Onion Eulogizes Elmore Leonard"; "The Big House: Prison Set Tour"; "Writer's Diary: A Week of Starvation" on set with co-executive producer and writer Chris Provenzano as his episode, "Starvation," is filmed; "Getting the Shot" insight into the show's distinct look and style; "Raylan Givens: Two Roads Diverge" discussion about two characters from Season 5 who represent foils for Raylan Givens; "King Lear" discussion about a key scene from "Raw Deal"; "The Wall of Death: Season Five Body Count." (Sony).
Kung Fu Girl/Whiplash (1973/1974) Double feature starring martial arts sensation Pei-Pei Cheng. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
The Legend of Korra – Book Three: Change (2014) Two-disc set with 13 episodes of the Nickelodeon hit animated series. Book Three starts with the world entering a new age as Korra discovers that new Airbenders are popping up all over the Earth Kingdom, and she makes it her mission to find them and rebuild the Air Nation. But when a group of dangerous criminals break out of prison, they have a dangerous mission of their own. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentaries from series creators and crew, behind-the-scenes featurettes including animatics. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
photo for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington BLU-RAY DEBUT
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington BLU-RAY DEBUT (1939) This 4K remastering celebrates the film's 75th anniversary. Jean Arthur, James Stewart and Claude Rains star in Frank Capra's award-winning 1939 classic about an idealistic, small town senator who heads to Washington and suddenly finds himself single-handedly battling ruthless politicians out to destroy him. When Capra decided to film the novel "The Gentleman From Montana", he ran into an obstacle: Director Rouben Mamoulian owned the rights to the story. Unwilling to sell, Mamoulian eventually traded the material to Columbia on the condition that he be allowed to direct "Golden Boy." As Capra began working on the film, it was suggested that Gary Copper, the star of "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," take the lead. Capra selected Jimmy Stewart instead and the film solidified Stewart's movie career, garnering him his first Academy Award nomination. Receiving a total of eleven 1939 Oscar nominations (including Best Picture and Best Director), and winning one (Best Motion Picture Story), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is considered one of Capra's, Stewart's and Columbia's finest films. It also marked the end of an era: It was Capra's final film for the studio. Presented in Digibook packaging with rare photos and a new essay by film historian Jeremy Arnold. Extras: Audio commentary by Frank Capra Jr.; original theatrical trailer; rare international trailer which includes footage deleted from the final film; feature-length documentary: "Frank Capra's American Dream," narrated by Ron Howard and incorporating interviews with the director's friends, colleagues and admirers; "Frank Capra Jr. Remembers ... Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" featurette; four additional featurettes offering a behind-the-scenes look at one of Hollywood's greatest and most influential directors. (Sony).
My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Season Four (2014) Four-disc set with all 26 episodes, $34.99. Available exclusively at Amazon. Formats: DVD. Extras: San Diego Comic-Con 2014 panel, sing-alongs. (Shout! Factory).
The Notebook (Le Grand Cahier) (2013 -- Hungary) Andras Gyemant, Laszlo Gyemant, Piroska Molnar. Directed by Janos Szasz and based on the international best-seller "Le Grand Cahier" by Agota Kristof, the film is set in Hungary during World War II. Real-life brothers Laszlo and Andras Gyemant give powerful debut performances, playing twin boys who are forced by circumstances to leave their comfortable home and take refuge with their heartless grandmother. Previously pampered, the twins must learn how to survive alone in their new, rural surroundings. They realize that the only way to cope with the inhumane world of adults and war is to become completely unfeeling and merciless. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: (Sony).
photo for Pay 2 Play: Democracy's High Stakes Pay 2 Play: Democracy's High Stakes (2014) If our political system is like a game of Monopoly, how can outsiders have a voice when only money speaks? Director John Ennis, driven to make the world better for his newborn daughter, documents comical corruption, follows political newcomers, and uncovers intrigue in this colorful journey that connects the dots of Big Money in our ever-challenging election process. Seeking for ways outsiders can lead when our country is run by insiders and pay-to-play politics, Ennis, who The Washington Post called "an optimist at heart", journeys through high drama on the Ohio campaign trail, uncovers the secret history of America's past time, and explores the underworld of L.A. street art on an odyssey that reveals how much of a difference one person can make. From billionaires meeting in secret to citizens taking to the streets, the documentary follows the money and connects the dots in this portrait of People Power rising. Includes interviews with Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, UC Berkeley professor; Marianne Williamson, NY Times bestselling author, speaker; Noam Chomsky, MIT professor, author, linguist; Jack Abramoff, convicted lobbyist; Lawrence Lessig, Harvard professor, director of Center of Ethics; Jerry Springer, former mayor of Cincinnati; Mary Bottari, Center for Media and Democracy. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Featurettes: "The Chili Hustle," "Who is Alec Monopoly?," "Free Humanity: The Diamond in the Lotus," "Lydia Emily, the Tattooed Artist Lady," "Teacher: Teaching Peace." (TDC Entertainment).
Perry Mason Movie Collection Double Features Ten, Eleven and Twelve Raymond Burr stars as the famed defense attorney, Perry Mason, who fervently fights for justice. These single-disc double feature releases include digitally enhanced versions of Perry Mason made-for-TV movies. Vol. 10: "The Case of the Glass Coffin" and "The Case of the Fatal Fashion." Volume 11: "The Case of the Fatal Framing" and "The Case of the Reckless Romeo." Vol. 12: "The Case of the Heartbroken Bride" and "The Case of the Skin Deep Scandal." Formats: DVD, $16.99 each. (CBS/Paramount).
Planet of the Apes: Caesar's Warrior Collection Blu-ray Includes "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" on Blu-ray and Digital HD. The collection comes in a limited-edition, fiercely lifelike replica bust of Caesar wearing his tribal war paint, designed by WETA, the special effects masters responsible for bringing Caesar to life on film. Also includes an all-new 32-page booklet "Planet of the Apes: Building an Icon" that explores WETA's creation of the Caesar replica, four battle-ready ape collectible character cards and more than five hours of special features. $129.99. (Fox).
Robin Williams Remembered – A Pioneers Of Television Special (2014) One-hour special features Robin Williams' last full-length television interview, including never-before-seen footage of his comments on life and work, tributes by those who knew and worked with him closely in all phases of his career, and clips from iconic moments throughout his career. Williams shares stories about his first stand-up act, his desire to be a serious dramatic actor, and his tireless efforts to entertain U.S. troops overseas. Also includes interviews with "Mork & Mindy" co-star Pam Dawber, Henry Winkler and Yakov Smirnoff, to comedians Louie Anderson, Paul Rodriguez, Rick Overton, Blake Clark and Pauly Shore, and comedy producer George Schlatter. Other interviews about Williams include: Penny Marshall, the late Jonathan Winters, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jimmie Walker. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (PBS Distribution).
The Simpsons Season 17 (2005-06) 22 episodes. Four-disc DVD, three-disc Blu-ray. (Fox).
Sliders: The Complete Series (1995-2000) 22-disc set, $179.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Pilot episode audio commentary with co-creators Tracy Torme and Robert K. Weiss, "The Making of Sliders" documentary, photo gallery, gag reel. (Universal).
Speak No Evil (2013) Greg Bronson, Annalise Cavender, Elisabeth Cavender. A single mother fights to protect her daughter from demonically possessed children and a town gone mad. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (Cloud). (Lionsgate).
photo forStanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection Blu-Ray Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection Blu-Ray Ten-disc Blu-ray set ($199.99 SRP) includes eight Kubrick classics as well as the newly-produced documentary: "Kubrick Remembered," which captures intimate moments in Kubrick's very personal life, two new-to-Blu-ray documentaries: "Stanley Kubrick In Focus" and "Once Upon a Time ... A Clockwork Orange," plus two additional documentaries: "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures," and O' Lucky Malcolm! Also included will be a new 78-page hardcover photo book using film archive photographs. Films in the collection are "Lolita" (1962), "Dr. Strangelove" (1964), "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968), "A Clockwork Orange" (1971), "Barry Lyndon" (1975), "The Shining" (1980), "Full Metal Jacket" (1987) and "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999). "Kubrick Remembered" offers a new look into the Kubrick archives, with special appearances by the director's wife, Christiane Kubrick, as well as never-seen footage of Kubrick's works, his house and his film production facilities. "Stanley Kubrick In Focus" presents such directors as Steven Spielberg, Steven Soderbergh, Oliver Stone, William Friedkin and Martin Scorsese relating how Kubrick's directorial style influenced them. (Warner).
Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Seven BLU-RAY DEBUT (1993-94) Six-disc set with all 25 episodes of the final season with some of the most acclaimed episodes of the series: the two-part episode "Descent"; Worf's (Michael Dorn) conflict with his human foster brother who violates the prime directive to save a doomed primitive race in "Homeward"; the two-part episode "Gambit"; Data meeting a woman who claims to be his mother in "Inheritance"; and the stunning, final confrontation between Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Q (John de Lancie) in the series finale "All Good Things ..." Extras: Never-before-seen interviews with cast and crew, three-part documentary "The Sky's The Limit: The Eclipse of Star Trek: The Next Generation," "In Conversation: Lensing Star Trek: The Next Generation," commentaries, "Archival Mission Logs," gag reel, deleted scenes. (Paramount).
Star Trek: The Next Generation – All Good Things BLU-RAY DEBUT (1994) The epic feature-length series finale remastered into high-definition. The 1995 Hugo Award winner for "Best Dramatic Presentation" is a journey that takes fans to the end of the universe and beyond the boundaries of time itself, and begins when Q tells Captain Picard that he is to be the cause of humanity's ultimate annihilation. Thus begins an incredible adventure through space and time that follows Picard's first voyage on the Enterprise to 25 years into the future. Extras: Commentary, "The Unknown Possibilities of Existence: Making All Good Things ...," deleted scenes. (Paramount).
Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror BLU-RAY DEBUT Features the rare, uncut version of "Vault of Horror," the two disc set includes three different cuts of the cult classic. The first disc includes "Tales from the Crypt" and "Vault of Horror's" photo for Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror BLU-RAY DEBUT uncut widescreen presentation. The second disc includes "Vault of Horror's" theatrical PG cut and a rare open-matte version of the BFI master. The release also includes an original trailer and an alternate opening scene for "Vault of Horror." "Tales From The Crypt" (1972): When five unwary travelers with dark hearts stumble into a series of catacombs, they find themselves in a cavern with no way out. But the horror's only just begun as a mysterious figure appears to reveal to each person the shocking events that will lead to their well-deserved, untimely -- and unavoidable -- demise. Starring Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Patrick Magee, Ralph Richardson. "Vault of Horror" (1973) Five unsuspecting hotel guests step into an elevator, which leads them into an underground vault. Trapped with no way out, each guest shares a gruesome tale of an encounter with death. But as the stories unfold, the men begin to suspect that their presence in the vault is no coincidence, and that the only way out ... is death. Starring Tom Baker, Denholm Elliott, Curt Jurgens, Michael Craig, Daniel Massey, Terry-Thomas, Glynis Johns. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
To Kill a Man (2014 -- Chile) Daniel Candia, Alejandra Yanez, Daniel Antivilo, Ariel Mateluna, Jennifer Salas. A working class man, tired of being tormented by the neighborhood delinquent who received only two years in prison for killing his son, decides to take justice into his own hands. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Film Movement).

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December 9

Calvary (2014) Brendan Gleeson, Chris O'Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Isaach De Bankole, M. Emmet Walsh. Read more about "Calvary" in the December Calendar. Formats: Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, "The Role of a Good Priest," "A Matter of Faith," "A Father & His Daughter." (Fox).
Day of the Mummy (2014) Danny Glover, William McNamara, Andrea Monier, Robin Steffen, Philip Marlatt, Eric Young, Michael Cortez. An adventurer's search in Egypt for the famed diamond known as the Codix Stone unleashes the wrath of a centuries old mummy. Formats: DVD. (Image Entertainment).
photo for Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead (2014 -- Norway) Vegar Hoel, Orjan Gamst, Martin Starr, Jocelyn DeBoer, Ingrid Haas. Sequel to the 2009 cult zombie hit about a ski vacation that turns horrific when Martin and a group of medical students meet up with an army of Nazi Zombies led by Oberst Herzog; he accidentally killed his girlfriend with an axe, cut his own arm off with a chainsaw, and his friends got devoured by a battalion of Nazi Zombies. The following morning he wakes up in a hospital bed with a new arm -- but it's a super-powered Zombie arm that wants to kill him, and anything else it can reach. But with the help of his new Zombie Squad pals, he decides to deliver some payback to Colonel Herzog and his precious Nazi gold -- by raising an undead army of his own. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with the director and writer, a VFX Featurette, "Dead Snow" comic book; Blu-ray Collector's Edition features the international version of the film and the short film "Armen." (Well Go USA).
Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series (2014) The most recent season sees a brand new face at the controls of the TARDIS with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor; 12 episodes. Formats: Five-disc DVD: $79.98, four-disc Blu-ray $89.98. Extras: Footage from London post-premiere Q&A with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat; four Doctor Who episode commentaries; 12 behind-the-scenes featurettes; four "Doctor Who Exclusives"; "Doctor Who: The Ultimate Time Lord" (special with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison); "Doctor Who: The Ultimate Companion (special with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison); "Doctor Who: Earth Conquest" (World Tour Documentary); "Tour of the TARDIS." (BBC Home Entertainment).
Dolphin Tale 2 (2014) Harry Connick Jr., Nathan Gamble, Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Stowell, Austin Highsmith, Morgan Freeman, Bethany Hamilton. Charles Martin Smith, who directed "Dolphin Tale," wrote and directed the sequel that was inspired by another true story about the world’s most extraordinary dolphin Winter. Read more about "Dolphin Tale 2" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Dolphin Tale 2: True Story." Blu-ray adds Dolphin Tale 2: Underwater Magic," "Look Who's Running the Show," "Bethany Hamilton Meets Winter," "Dolphin Tale 2: The Mission," Cozi Zuehlsdorff: "Brave Souls," Gavin DeGraw: "You Got Me," blooper reel. (Warner).
Exodus: The Real Story (2014) Two-disc collection features five HISTORY documentaries that explore the biblical telling of Moses's exodus from Egypt, including "Moses and the Ten Commandments," "Moses: Death Chase", "Joshua: Epic Slaughter," "The Secret Life of King Ramses II" and "The Lost Ark of the Covenant." Formats: DVD, $14.98. (Lionsgate).
Finding Joy (2014) Josh Cooke, Liane Balaban, Barry Bostwick, Lainie Kazan, Tyler Bunch, Kiki Harris. A self-absorbed writer rediscovers himself, his offbeat family and what it means to be happy when he meets a spirited young woman who asks him to write her obituary. Formats: DVD. (Inception Media Group).
Frank (2014) Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal. An offbeat comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Gleeson), who finds himself out of his depth when he joins an avant-garde pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Fassbender), a musical genius who hides himself inside a large fake head, and his terrifying bandmate Clara (Gyllenhaal). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. Extras: AXS TV: A Look at Frank, trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro. Read more about "Guardians of the Galaxy" in the December Calendar. Formats: 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray Combo, Blu-ray, DVD, VOD, Digital, Disney Movies Anywhere (Cloud). Extras: Deleted scene, preview of Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron." Blu-ray adds making-of featurettes, gag reel, commentary. (Disney).
photo for >Hart To Hart: Season Three Hart to Hart: Season Three (1981-82) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.97. Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers star as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, a wealthy and glamorous couple who always manage to find themselves caught up in mystery and adventure. In this detective drama reminiscent of the "Thin Man" movies, Wagner and Powers charmed audiences with their lighthearted chemistry and adventures. Assisting the Harts in their jet-setting life of intrigue, the loyal and gravel-voiced servant Max (Lionel Stander) provided an earthy counterpoint to the elegance of his employers. Created by Sidney Sheldon, the bestselling novelist ("Master of the Game," "Windmills of the Gods," "The Other Side of Midnight") and hit television producer ("I Dream of Jeannie," "The Patty Duke Show"). Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
I Origins (2014) Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Berges-Frisbey. Thought-provoking drama that challenges the line between facts and faith. Dr. Ian Gray (Pitt) is a molecular biologist studying the evolution of the eye, along with his lab partner, Karen (Marling). After a tragic romance with an exotic young woman (Berges-Frisbey), Gray's obsession with her triggers a chain of events that leads to a stunning discovery years later ... one that may unlock the greatest mysteries of life. Formats: Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Fox).
In Search of Aliens: Season One (2014) Three-disc set, $19.98. Series follows ancient astronaut theorist Giorgio A. Tsoukalos as he travels the world exploring the world's most ancient mysteries. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
photo for The Jeffersons: The Complete Series - The Deee-luxe Edition (2013) Thirty-three disc box set with all 253 episodes from the 11 seasons of the classic sitcom developed by Norman Lear ("All in the Family," "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman") together for the first time, $229.99. Originally airing from 1975 to 1985, "The Jeffersons" documented the side-splitting exploits of an upwardly-mobile family: dry cleaning entrepreneur George (Sherman Hemsley), his wife Louise (Emmy winner Isabel Sanford), and their son Lionel, as they move from the working-class section of Queens to a luxury apartment in Manhattan. George's brash, arrogant personality always seems to get him in hot water. Lucky for him, he’s got the level-headed "Weezy" by his side and their wise-cracking maid Florence (Marla Gibbs) to keep him humble. Together, they overcome the comic challenges and culture clashes that their new way of life brings. Featuring a terrific supporting cast (including Paul Benedict, Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover), memorable guest appearances (Sammy Davis Jr., Gladys Knight, Reggie Jackson, Billy Dee Williams and more) and of course, one of the catchiest theme songs in television history. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Movin' On Up – The Jeffersons" featurette, "All In The Family" episode "The Jeffersons Move Up," "E/R" pilot: the 1984 TV series "E/R," starring Elliott Gould and featuring Sherman Hemsley guest-starring as George Jefferson. (Shout! Factory).
Jingle Bell Rocks! (2014) Director Mitchell Kezin delves into the minds of some of the world's most legendary Christmas music fanatics and hits the road to hang with his holiday heroes -- including hip hop legend Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons of RUN-D.M.C., The Flaming Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne, filmmaker John Waters, bebopper Bob Dorough, L.A. DJ and musicologist Dr. Demento, and Calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow. In his search for the 12 best, underappreciated Christmas songs ever recorded, Kezin both asks and answers the question, "Why, when Christmas rolls around, are we still stuck cozying up with Bing Crosby under a blanket of snow?" With rollicking live performances, intimate interviews, and a kaleidoscope of touching and rare archive footage, "Jingle Bell Rocks!" is a cinematic sleigh-ride into the strange and sublime universe of alternative Christmas music. It's also a mix-tape of 12 of the weirdest, wildest, most poignant Christmas songs you've never heard. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Oscilloscope).
The Little Bedroom (2014 -- Switzerland) Michel Bouquet, Florence Loiret Caille. When Edmond (Bouquet), a man quickly facing the loss of his independence, is placed in a care facility after taking a bad fall, he discovers that his son has sold his apartment. Determined to reclaim his autonomy, he leaves the care facility with Rose (Caille), an empathetic nurse still suffering from the loss of her unborn child. She takes him into her home to allow him the measure of freedom he deserves. Through this new living situation they develop a bond, which helps them both move forward with their lives. However, the unlikely friends must face the consequences when Edmond is reported missing. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Cinema Libre Studio).
photo for Mister Ed: The Complete Series Mister Ed: The Complete Series (2014) Twenty-two disc set with all 143 episodes from the show's six seasons, including all Season 1 episodes in their original full-length for the first time and with Season 6 on DVD for the first time. $139.99. The world's most famous talking horse; the Olivier of equine actors; the one and only Mister Ed! Architect Wilbur Post (Alan Young) and his wife Carol (Connie Hines) have settled into a beautiful new home, complete with a barn in the backyard…and a very unique tenant. Wilbur finds that the former owner has left his horse behind. He soon discovers that this is no ordinary horse, as the eloquent Mr. Ed can talk, but only to Wilbur. The anxious architect and the pontificating palomino soon become the best of friends, leading to all sorts of comedic misadventures. Winner of the 1963 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series (Comedy), "Mister Ed" is undoubtedly one of the most memorable sitcoms of its era. From its kooky premise to its devilishly catchy theme song, it has endured as a true television classic. Formats: DVD. Extras: Interviews with stars Alan Young and Connie Hines, commentary on the pilot episode with Alan Young and Connie Hines, Mister Ed U.S. Bonds promo, audio interview with Alan Young from Shokus Internet Radio's Stu's Show, audio interview with Alan Young and Connie Hines from Shokus Internet Radio's Stu's Show, Studebaker car commercials. (Shout! Factory).
Mork & Mindy: The Fourth Season (1981-82) Twenty-two episodes. First time on DVD. Formats: DVD, $39.99. (CBS/Paramount).
Mork & Mindy: The Complete Series (1978-82) Fifteen-disc set with 95 restored episodes from all four seasons, plus the two episodes from the TV series "Happy Days," which “hatched” the Mork character. Formats: DVD, $129.99. (CBS/Paramount).
The Night Porter (1974) In this unsettling drama from Italian filmmaker Liliana Cavani ("Ripley's Game"), a concentration camp survivor (Charlotte Rampling) discovers her former torturer and lover (Dirk Bogarde) working as a porter at a hotel in postwar Vienna. When the couple attempt to re-create their sadomasochistic relationship, his former SS comrades begin to stalk them. Operatic and disturbing, "The Night Porter" deftly examines the lasting social and psychological effects of the Nazi regime. New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: New interviews with director Liliana Cavani and screenwriters Barbara Alberti and Amedeo Pagani; "Women of the Resistance," a 50-minute 1965 documentary by Cavani, composed of interviews with female partisans who survived the German invasion of Italy, with an intro by the filmmaker; an essay by scholar Gaetana Marrone-Puglia, author of "The Gaze and the Labyrinth: The Cinema of Liliana Cavani." (The Criterion Collection).
Power Rangers Super Megaforce Volume 1: Earth Fights Back (2014) With the help of their powerful new legendary morphers and keys, Troy, Noah, Emma, Gia and Jake are able to morph into the Power Rangers Super Megaforce as they must save the city from Cybax's impending missile launch, battle Skatana's Octoblade attack and defeat a massive X-Borg assault. Formats: DVD: $14.98, Digital, UltraViolet (Cloud). Extras: (Lionsgate).
Safe (1995) Julianne Moore gives a breakthrough performance as Carol White, a Los Angeles housewife in the late 1980s who comes down with a debilitating illness. After the doctors she sees can give her no clear diagnosis, she comes to believe that she has frighteningly extreme environmental allergies. A profoundly unsettling work from the great American director Todd Haynes ("Far from Heaven"), "Safe" functions on multiple levels: as a prescient commentary on self-help culture, as a metaphor for the AIDS crisis, as a drama about class and social estrangement, and as a horror film about what you cannot see. This revelatory drama was named the best film of the 1990s in a Village Voice poll of more than 50 critics. New 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Todd Haynes, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentary featuring Haynes, Moore, and producer Christine Vachon; new conversation between Haynes and Moore; "The Suicide," a 1978 short film by Haynes; new interview with Vachon; trailer; an essay by critic Dennis Lim. (The Criterion Collection).
The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears (2013 -- Belgium) Klaus Tange. Following the disappearance of his wife, a man finds himself on a dark and twisted trail of discovery through the labyrinthine halls of his apartment building. Led on a wild goose chase by cryptic messages from his mysterious neighbors, he becomes entangled in a hellish nightmare as he unlocks their strange fantasies of sensuality and bloodshed. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Strand Releasing).
Time Bandits (1981) In this fantastic voyage through time and space from Terry Gilliam, a boy named Kevin (Craig Warnock) escapes his gadget-obsessed parents to join a band of time-traveling dwarves. Armed with a map stolen from the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they plunder treasure from Napoleon (Ian Holm) and Agamemnon (Sean Connery) -- but Evil (David Warner) is watching their every move. Featuring a darkly playful script by Gilliam and Monty Python's Michael Palin (who also appears in the film), "Time Bandits" is at once a giddy fairy tale, a revisionist history lesson, and a satire on technology gone awry. New 2K digital restoration, supervised by director Terry Gilliam, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentary featuring Gilliam, co-writer/actor Michael Palin, and actors John Cleese, David Warner and Craig Warnock; new piece narrated by film writer David Morgan and featuring production designer Milly Burns and costume designer James Acheson on the creation of the film's various historical periods and fantasy worlds; conversation between Gilliam and film scholar Peter von Bagh at Finland's Midnight Sun Film Festival in 1998; excerpt from a 1981 appearance by actor Shelley Duvall on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" show; trailer; an essay by critic David Sterritt. (The Criterion Collection).
photo for Under the Dome: Season 2 Under the Dome: Season 2 (2014) Four-disc set with 13 episodes. From executive producer Steven Spielberg and based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, "Under the Dome" revisits the small New England town that was suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town's inhabitants continue to do their best to survive the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away. Formats: DVD: $65.99, Blu-ray Disc: $76.99. Extras: "Stephen King & Season 2," "Filming The Season Premiere," "A Journey Through Season 2," "The Visual Effects of Season 2." (CBS/Paramount).
When the Game Stands Tall (2014) Jim Caviezel, Michael Chiklis, Alexander Ludwig, Laura Dern. Read more about "When the Game Stands Tall" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with director Thomas Carter, "Undefeated: Making When the Game Stands Tall" behind-the-scenes featurette. Blu-ray adds select scene commentary with director Thomas Carter and coach Bob Ladouceur, deleted & extended scenes, "Gridiron Action" football sequences featurette, "The Heart and Soul of a Program" look at the man behind the De La Salle Football Program. (Sony).

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December 16

At the Devil's Door (2014) Naya Rivera, Ashley Rickards, Catalina Sandino Moreno. When ambitious young real estate agent Leigh is asked to sell a house with a checkered past, she crosses paths with a disturbed girl whom she learns is the runaway daughter of the couple selling the property. When Leigh tries to intervene and help her, she becomes entangled with a supernatural force that soon pulls Leigh's artist sister Vera into its web -- and has sinister plans for both of them. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: (IFC Midnight/MPI Media Group).
Cam2Cam (2014) Tammin Sursok, Ben Wiggins, Sarah Bonrepaux, Jade Tailor. An American tourist in Bangkok encounters a mysterious group of web performers harboring a terrible secret. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
The Device (2014) Angela DiMarco, David S. Hogan, Kate Alden. What if the rumors and urban legends are real ... that aliens walk among us, abducting people for unthinkable experiments? Sisters Abby and Rebecca are about to discover the horrifying truth when they find a harmless looking object in the woods near their family's cabin. The small black sphere is the key to a shocking mystery that will change the course of human destiny. Formats: DVD. (Image Entertainment).
The Devil's Hand (2014) Alycia Debnam, Rufus Sewell, Adelaide Kane, Jennifer Carpenter, Colm Meaney. Six girls born on the sixth day of the sixth month set in motion an ancient prophecy -- on their 18th birthday, one of the girls will become the Devil's Hand. As the day nears, the young women begin to disappear. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Lionsgate).
Don't Look in the Basement (The Forgotten) (1973) Rosie Holotik, Michael Harvey, Annabelle Weenick, Bill McGee. In this '70s, B-movie, cult classic, a young, psychiatric nurse, Charlotte Beale (Holotik, 1972 Playboy covergirl), goes to work at an isolated sanitarium only to learn the proprietor, Dr. Stephens, was murdered by one of the patients. Struggling under the horrendous conditions at the severely under-staffed asylum -- and the torment heaped upon her by the patients -- she's puzzled by the resistance of Stephens' successor, Dr. Geraldine Masters, to hiring new staff and by the woman's efforts to keep outsiders at bay. Soon, the patients may truly be running the asylum. Digitally restored. Formats: DVD. (Film Chest Media).
Eclipse Series 41: Kinoshita and World War II Hugely popular in his home country of Japan, Keisuke Kinoshita worked tirelessly as a director for nearly half a century, making lyrical, sentimental films that often center on the inherent goodness of people, especially in times of distress. He began his directing career during a most challenging time for Japanese cinema: World War II, when the industry's output was closely monitored by the state and often had to be purely propagandistic. This collection of Kinoshita's first films -- four made while the war was going on and one shortly after Japan's surrender -- demonstrates the way the filmmaker's humanity and exquisite cinematic technique shone through, even in the darkest of times. The five-DVD box set includes: "Port of Flowers" 1943): The sweet but naive denizens of a charming port town are hoodwinked by a couple of con men who prey on them at the outset of the war. But the hustlers' plan backfires when they come down with severe cases of conscience. Kinoshita's directorial debut is a breezy, warmhearted, and often very funny crowd-pleaser that's a testament to the filmmaker's faith in people. "The Living Magoroku" (1943): A superstitious farming family is hesitant to use their prized fallow fields to grow crops to help feed the nation's troops. Kinoshita's rural drama was made to promote the war effort, but his story branches off in many directions, including one subplot about the family's heirloom samurai sword and another about a blossoming young romance. "Jubilation Street" (1944): As World War II escalates, the tight-knit habitants of a street in Tokyo must relocate from their homes so that the government can use the space. Kinoshita's sensitive film -- beautifully and resourcefully shot on a single set -- traces the fears and desires of thee evacuees. "Army" (1944): Kinoshita's ambitious and intensely moving film begins as a multigenerational epic about the military legacy of one Japanese family, before settling into an emotionally complex portrayal of parental love during wartime. As the parents of a boy shipped off to battle, Kinuyo Tanaka and Chishu Ryu locate profound depths of feeling that transcend ideology. "Morning for the Osone Family" (1946): Kinoshita's first film after the end of World War II is a wrenching, superbly wrought tale about a liberal-minded Japanese family torn apart by war and imperialist politics. "Morning for the Osone Family" is both palpably bitter about the nation's fresh wartime wounds and inspiringly hopeful about a democratic tomorrow. Formats: DVD, $69.95. (The Criterion Collection).
photo for Extant: Season 1 Extant: Season 1 (2014) Four-disc set with 13 episodes of the serialized mystery thriller about a female astronaut (Halle Berry) trying to reconnect with her family after returning from a year in outer space. Her mystifying experience in space lead to events that will ultimately change the course of human history. Formats: DVD: $59.99, Blu-ray Disc: $69.99. Extras: "The Story Of Extant" featurette with an introduction by producer Steven Spielberg that follows "Extant" writer-creator Mickey Fisher as he works with producers to bring the unique series to the small screen; "The Mythology of Extant" featurette; "Extant: The Cast" featurette; "Filming Season One" behind-the-scenes from the pilot to the last episode; additional features that examine the show's props, costumes and visual effects. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
French Affairs (2013 -- France) Marie Caldera, Celine Rajot, Eric Bonicatto, Yoann Denaive. French dramedy follows Astrid (Caldera), a therapist, and her relationship with a reformed prostitute, Celine (Rajot), who is now a travel agent. When Celine insists that Astrid break protocol and also begin treating her husband, Astrid finds herself caught in a passionate affair with the charming Olivier (Bonicatto). Astrid's teenage son, David (Denaive), catches wind of the affair and ends up on Celine’s doorstep, hoping she will help him run away from his mother, setting up a quartet waltzing on eggshells as they attempt to make sense of their messy lives. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Cinema Libre Studio).
Hi-8: Horror Independent 8 (2014) This eight-part anthology brings together some of the most recognizable names in home video horror of the past 30 years, capturing the creative essence of low budget, shot-on-video filmmaking. Tim Ritter, Brad Sykes, Marcus Koch, Ron Bonk, Donald Farmer, Todd Sheets, Chris Seaver and Tony Masiello have returned to 80s and 90s style, gore-laced storytelling. All eight segments feature only practical effects and all directors were forbidden to use any post-Internet technology, including HD cameras, green screen, CGI or found footage. Like the "V/H/S" series, Hi-8 brings together independent genre filmmakers to spin tales of terror on tape.  Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary, teasers, trailers. (Wild Eye Releasing).
Lord of Illusions (1995) Scott Bakula, Famke Janssen, Daniel von Bargen. In the world where magic is real, death is the ultimate illusion. From best-selling author and director Clive Barker comes a supernatural thriller that rips apart the boundaries between sanity and madness, and between the art of illusion and the terrifying forces of magic. Bakula stars as Harry D'Amour, a private detective visiting Los Angeles on a routine investigation. D'Amour gets more than he bargains for when he encounters Philip Swan, a performer whose amazing illusions captivate the world. But are they really illusions? Harry isn't so sure as he is thrust into a nightmare of murder, deception and terrifying assaults from the dark beyond. Two-disc set contains both the theatrical cut and a new high-definition transfer of Clive Barker's director’s cut. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary by Barker, "A Gathering of Magic" original behind the scenes featurette, "Illusion of Reality" vintage interviews and unseen on-set footage; deleted scenes, new Interview with storyboard artist Martin Mercer, photo gallery. (Shout! Factory).
Magic in the Moonlight (2014) Dir.: Woody Allen; Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Jacki Weaver, Eileen Atkins, Erica Leerhsen, Simon McBurney, Jeremy Shamos, Catherine McCormack. Read more about "Magic in the Moonlight" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Behind the Magic" production featurette, "On the Red Carpet: Los Angeles Film Premiere." (Sony).
The Maze Runner (2014) Dylan O'Brien, Aml Ameen, Ki Hong Lee, Blake Cooper, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario. Read more about "The Maze Runner" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: 24-Page prequel comic book, deleted scenes, "Navigating The Maze: The Making of The Maze Runner" five part documentary, "The Chuck Diaries," gag reel, visual effects reels, Wes Ball short film "Ruin" in 2D and 3D with commentary by Ball, commentary by Ball and screenwriter T.S. Nowlin, galleries. (Fox).
Mentor (2014) Documentary from award-winning director Alix Lambert takes an unflinching look at the problem of teen suicide and bullying in America. In 2010, Mentor, Ohio was voted one of the top 100 cities in the United States. But in the five years leading up to this honor, five students at Mentor High School took their own lives after relentless bullying. The families of two of the victims have filed suit against Mentor High School contending that bullying played a role in all five of those deaths. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Garden Thieves Pictures).
photo for Morris County Morris County (2009) Darcy Miller, Albie Selznick, Pamela Stewart, Erik Fransden, Alice Cannon. A trilogy of thematically connected stories as gruesome as they are tragic and heartfelt. "Ellie" is a damaged teenage girl harboring a terrible secret. In the course of one traumatic day this innocent girl is led down a path of self-destruction from which there is no return. In "The Family Rubin," an upper middle-class Jewish family struggles to keep up appearances as their seemingly perfect life begins to crack at the seams in a shocking and heartbreaking take on the destruction of the modern American family. Elderly Iris is laid off in "Elmer & Iris," forcing her to join her curmudgeonly husband in early retirement. When Elmer suddenly dies, Iris decides to keep his decaying body around out of fear of living - and dying --alone. Formats: DVD. (Unearthed Films/MVD Visual).
Mother's Milk (2012) Casey Chapman, Mackenzie Wigleswoth. A university statistics professor with a dark side kidnaps a young woman to satisfy his dysfunctional needs in a psychological thriller in which tenderness develops between a psychopath and his captive. Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
The Skeleton Twins (2014) Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell. Disappointing comedy-drama about two estranged twins -- Maggie (Wiig) and Milo (Hader) -- who are reunited after 10 years of being apart when Milo attempts to commit suicide. With a mix of humor and heart, the film follows their journey to reconnect as they realize that the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Gag reel; outtakes; deleted scenes; "To Whom It May Concern: Making The Skeleton Twins" featurette; "Sweet Moves" featurette, commentary with director/co-writer Craig Johnson, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader; commentary with director/co-writer Craig Johnson, co-writer Mark Heyman and producer/editor Jennifer Lee. (Lionsgate).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Whoopi Goldberg, Abby Elliott, Johnny Knoxville (voice), Tony Shalhoub (voice), Alan Ritchson. Read more about "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" in the December Calendar. Specially marked Blu-ray Combo Packs include two reversible masks featuring all four signature colors of the beloved crime-fighters; available only while supplies last. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: "Digital Reality" featurette, "In Your Face! The Turtles in 3D," "It Ain't Easy Being Green," "Evolutionary Mash-Up," "Turtle Rock," extended ending, "Shell Shocked" music video, "Making of Shell Shocked." (Paramount).
This Is Where I Leave You (2014) Director: Shawn Levy. Stars: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hahn, Timothy Olyphant. Read more about "This Is Where I Leave You" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Gospel According to Rabbi Boner." Blu-ray adds deleted and extended scenes, "The Narrative Voice: A Discussion With Shawn Levy and screenwriter Jonathan Tropper," "The Narrative Voice: A Commentary With Shawn Levy and Jonathan Tropper," "Points of Departure." (Warner).

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December 23

photo for American Experience: Cold War Roadshow American Experience: Cold War Roadshow (2014) The program tells the story of one of the most bizarre episodes in the annals of modern history -- the unprecedented barnstorming across America in the fall of 1959 by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, the world leader of communism and America's arch nemesis. At the very height of the Cold War, with American schoolchildren practicing duck-and-cover drills, the man who Americans feared could incinerate them in a rain of hydrogen bombs arrived in Washington, D.C. at the invitation of President Eisenhower. For both men, the visit was an opportunity to halt the escalating threats of the Cold War and chart a new course toward peaceful coexistence. For the American press, it was the media blockbuster story of the year. What were Americans to make of this boisterous, rotund and strangely likable Russian dictator and his uncanny ability to upstage even the savviest politician with both charm and charisma? Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).
Frontline: The Rise of ISIS (2014) A year ago, few people had heard of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) -- the brutal jihadist group. How did ISIS become a major force so quickly? And what does it mean for the U.S. to be back in Iraq, fighting a new war on terror, less than three years after American troops pulled out of the country? The documentary traces how ISIS gained strength in Syria (ISIS grew out of the disaffection of Iraqi Sunnis who were sidelined and targeted by Shia Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after the American withdrawal), how they’re funded, how they operate, and how, city by city, from Ramadi to Fallujah to Mosul, they swept across Iraq -- seizing territory, recording and broadcasting mass executions, and drawing recruits from an estimated 80 countries. Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).
The Good Lie (2014) Reese Witherspoon, Corey Stoll, the Lost Boys (a group of real-life Sudanese refugees). Young Sudanese refugees -- orphaned by the brutal civil war in Sudan, which began in 1983 -- given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas, where their encounter with employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Good Lie Journey," deleted scenes. (Warner).
photo for Intruders Intruders (2014) John Simm, Mira Sorvino, Tory Kittles, James Frain, Millie Brown. Two-disc set with the eight-part paranormal thriller series about a secret society devoted to chasing immortality by seeking refuge in the bodies of the living. As strange, apparently unrelated events start happening, multiple story-lines -- a missing wife, an assassin covering his crimes,, a child on the run -- begin to intertwine to reveal a conspiracy that will forever change our understanding of human nature. Jack Whelan (Simm), a former LAPD cop with a troubled and violent history, finds the quiet idyllic life he has created with his wife, Amy (Sorvino), shattered when she vanishes. Jack is drawn deeper into the mystery when his high school friend, Gary Fischer (Tory Kittles), shows u asking for help with a murder case. Initially dismissive of Gary's claims, the more Jack investigates the more complex and surreal his discoveries become. What Jack uncovers leads him down the dark path of his own past and closer to the terrifying revelations about a secret society known as Qui Reverti. Formats: DVD: $29.98, Blu-ray Disc: $34.98. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette featuring interviews with John Simm, Mira Sorvino, Glen Morgan and more. (BBC Home Entertainment).
1,000 Times Good Night (2014 -- Norway) Juliette Binoche, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lauryn Canny. Semi-autobiographical drama by filmmaker Erik Poppe, the film is the poignantly personal and incredibly timely story of Rebecca, one of the world's top war photographers. On assignment while photographing a female suicide bomber in Kabul, she gets badly hurt. Back home, another bomb drops when her husband and young daughters - fearful for her safety -- give her an ultimatum: her work or her family. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes footage on the making of the film, interview with filmmaker Erik Poppe, interviews with stars Juliette Binoche, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Lauryn Canny. (Film Movement).
Pride (2014) Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, George MacKay, Joseph Gilgun, Ben Schnetzer. Read more about "Pride" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, "Pride: The True Story" featurette. (Sony).
Sanatorium (2013) Kate Wood Riley, Ben Rodgers, Don Fanelli, Justin Purnell, Megan Neuringer. Fifty-six years after a patient at the Hillcrest Sanatorium went on a bloody, child-killing rampage before killing himself, a team of ghost hunters - from the popular TV series "Ghost Trackers" - prepares to spend the night at the sanatorium in the hopes of capturing paranormal activity. Instead, they unleash a horrifying force of evil ... hell-bent on their destruction. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (After Dark/Lionsgate).
7 Assassins (2013 -- China) Eric Tsang, Gigi Leung, Felix Wong, Ray Lui, Michael Wong. When a kingdom's gold goes missing in ancient China, a group of elite royal guards are tasked with recovering the riches -- but they quickly realize that the missing gold is part of a larger rebel defiance, made up of a group of assassins who have banded together to rid the government of corruption. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Lionsgate).
photo for Traffickers Traffickers (2012 -- South Korea) Im Chang-jung, Daniel Choi, Oh Dal-soo, Cho Youn-hee, Cho Dal-hwan, Jeong Ji-yoon. Crime thriller takes place over six hours on a passenger boat with an ongoing black-market organ-trafficking operation, and a desperate husband out to find his missing wife. Young-Gyu was the best. He was an organ dealer, smuggling body parts for sale to the highest bidder. His crew was the best ­ an organized team of professionals with top skills and no conscience. But when one of them dies on the job, the crew scatters. Now he fronts stolen goods, and has fallen in love with Yoo-Ri, a ticket agent at the port terminal. Her father is dying, and when she turns to a ruthless loan shark for help, Young-Gyu goes on a search to find his old partners for one last job. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. (Well Go USA).
The Trip to Italy (2014) Director Michael Winterbottom's largely improvised 2010 film "The Trip" took actor-comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon - or semifictionalized versions thereof - on a restaurant tour around northern England. In this witty and incisive followup, Winterbottom reunites the pair for a new culinary road trip, where they retrace the steps of the Romantic poets' grand tour of Italy. Read more about "The Trip to Italy" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc.(IFC Films).
Wings: Sky Force Heroes (2014) Voices of Josh Duhamel, Hilary Duff, Rob Schneider, Jesse McCartney, Tom Skerritt, Dallas Lovato, Russell Peters. Dove Family-Approved adventure follow-up to the animated feature "Wings" has cocky young fire fighter Ace defying his Colonel's orders and recklessly attempting a solo mission that leads to disastrous consequences. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Bringing the Characters to Life: At the Recording Studio" featurette, four award-winning Miniscule shorts. (Lionsgate).

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December 30

photo for Banshee: The Complete Second Season Banshee: The Complete Second Season (2014) Four-disc set with 10 episodes. "Banshee" charts the continuing twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-convict who assumes the identity of sheriff of the rural, Amish-area town of Banshee, where his former lover and partner-in-crime (Ivana Milicevic) lives under the alias Carrie Hopewell. Season 2 takes up immediately after the events of the Season 1 finale, when Carrie's father, gang kingpin Rabbit (Ben Cross) was left for dead after a climactic warehouse shootout. Carrie, now exposed and estranged from her husband and kids, is torn between her devotion to her family and her connection to Lucas, who had given himself up in order to save her years earlier. Formats: DVD: $39.98, Blu-ray Disc: $49.99, Digital. Extras: "Banshee Origins" story before the story with a dozen prequel videos featuring the cast of Banshee; "Conversation Between Olek & the Albino"; "Zoomed In: Episodes 1-4 & 6-8" behind-the-scenes; commentaries with cast & crew; deleted scenes; episode recaps; trailers. Blu-ray adds "Inside the Title Sequence" interactive feature uncovers the clues behind each episode's opening title sequence; Twitter commentary with cast & crew. (HBO).
The Brittany Murphy Story (2014 -- TV) Amanda Fuller, Sherilyn Fenn, Chloe Crampton, Eric Petersen. The story of the talented young actress who became a breakout star in the '80s and '90s. With high-profile roles in "Clueless," "8 Mile" and "Girl, Interrupted," Murphy achieved her Hollywood dream, but her desperation for approval and insecurity about her looks made her personal life a disaster; she died suspiciously of pneumonia and anemia in 2009. Four years later news reports swirled around the mystery of Brittany's untimely death amid her father's claims that she -- as well as her husband, who also died of pneumonia and anemia five months after Murphy -- was poisoned. Formats: DVD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Lionsgate).
I Am Soldier (2014) Tom Hughes, Duncan Casey. A military cook, attempts to join the United Kingdom's renowned special forces regime, the Special Air Service (S.A.S.), an elite group tasked with life-threatening missions in the most dangerous places on Earth. But to get in soldiers must first pass an excruciating selection process, and the cook must overcome torturous physical and mental obstacles, the most evil interrogation possible and a test that pushes his fellow candidates and him to the body-breaking limit. Formats: DVD. (Inception Media Group).
Kelly & Cal (2014) Juliette Lewis, Jonny Weston. Kelly, a punk-rocker turned suburban mom, is nostalgic for a life she can no longer have and uncertain of a future she doesn't yet fit in. Seventeen-year-old Cal is frustrated at his lack of control over the hand he's been dealt. When the two strike up an unlikely friendship, it's the perfect spark needed to thrust them both back to life. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Last Weekend (2014) Patricia Clarkson, Chris Mulkey, Zachary Booth, Joseph Cross. When an affluent matriarch gathers her dysfunctional family for a holiday at their Northern California lake house, her carefully constructed weekend begins to come apart at the seams, leading her to question her own role in the family. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Shameless: The Complete Fourth Season (2014) Twelve episodes of the fiercely engaging and fearlessly twisted dramedy series starring William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum about Frank Gallagher, a genial, alcoholic, working-class father of six independent and resourceful kids scraping by on Chicago’s South Side. Formats: Three-disc DVD: $39.98; five-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $49.99, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Two featurettes: "Being Gallagher" and "Shameless Neighbors," deleted scenes. (Warner).
Tusk (2014) Michael Parks, Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez, Johnny Depp. Read more about "Tusk" in the December Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary with writer-director Kevin Smith, "20 Years to Tusk" featurette, "The Making of Tusk" featurettes, SModcast #259: "The Walrus and the Carpenter" the original podcast that inspired the film). (Lionsgate).

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All listings are based on information from the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally, some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices for some special editions, box sets and collections.



All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.


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December 1, 2014
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