OnVideo October Top Movie Releases


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OnVideo: OCTOBER's Top Movies


CHINESE PUZZLE

photo for Chinese Puzzle Follow-up to "Russian Dolls" and "L'Auberge Espagnol," both centering on the romantic pursuits of Romain Duris' Xavier Rousseau. Life is still very complicated for Rousseau. Now 40-years-old and divorced, he's heartbroken when the mother of his children moves with them from Paris to New York. Since he can't bear them growing up far away from him, he decides to move there as well. He finds a home in Chinatown, where things get even more complicated ... and troublesome -- as is the puzzle of life. The co-stars of the first two movies, Cecile De France, Audrey Tautou and Kelly Reilly, reprise their roles here. A delightful and enchanting romantic comedy. In French, Chinese and English.

Director: Cedric Klapisch. Stars: Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Kelly Reilly, Toshiko Onizawa, Cecile de France. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 117 min., Romantic Comedy, Box office gross: $.335 million, Cohen Media Group. Available: 10/14.

three stars goback



DELIVER US FROM EVIL

photo for Deliver Us From Evil New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana), struggling with his own personal issues, begins investigating a series of disturbing and inexplicable crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest (Edgar Ramirez), schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city. Based upon the book, which details Sarchie's bone-chilling real-life cases. Extras: Commentary by director Scott Derrickson, "Illuminating Evil: Making Deliver Us From Evil" behind-the-scenes featurette. Blu-ray adds "Deliver Us From Demons" all-access look at the production's approach to creating a very frightening demonic presence; "The Two Sergeants" behind-the-scenes exploration of the collaboration and process used by Ralph Sarchie and the actor playing "Ralph Sarchie," Eric Bana; "The Demon Detective" intimate interview with Ralph Sarchie on his experiences.

Director: Scott Derrickson. Stars: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn, Joel McHale. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 118 min., Horror-Thriller, Box office gross: $30.523 million, Sony. Available: 10/28.

two stars goback



EDGE OF TOMORROW

photo for Edge of Tomorrow In the near future, an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop -- ­forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again ... and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy. Extras: "Weapons of the Future" and "Creatures Not of This World" featurettes. Blu-ray adds deleted scenes, "Operation Downfall - Adrenaline Cut," "Storming the Beach," "On the Edge With Doug Liman."

Director: Doug Liman. Stars: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor, Kick Gurry, Dragomir Mrsic, Charlotte Riley, Jonas Armstrong, Franz Drameh, Masayoshi Haneda, Tony Way. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 113 min., Science Fiction, Box office gross: $98.621 million, Warner. Available: 10/7 .

three stars goback



LIFE OF CRIME

photo for Adapted from Elmore Leonard's book "The Switch," about a kidnapped wife whose wealthy husband doesn't want to pay her ransom. Dark comedy falls flat. When a pampered housewife (Jennifer Aniston) is kidnapped by a pair of blundering ex-cons in an effort to extort money from her sleazy real-estate tycoon husband (Tim Robbins), the perfect crime becomes the perfect opportunity for the husband to ride off into the sunset with his sexy young mistress (Isla Fisher) until the housewife decides it's her turn to even the score. Extras: Commentary with screenwriter-director Daniel Schechter and actor Will Forte, "Behind-the-Scenes of Life of Crime" featurette, "Envisioning the Big Picture: Shooting Crime" featurette, "Hit & Run: Choreographing Mayhem" featurette, deleted scenes.

Director: Daniel Schechter. Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, Mark Boone Junior, Yasiin Bey, Isla Fisher, Will Forte, John Hawkes. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 94 min., Crime-Comedy, Box office gross: $.202 million, Lionsgate. Available: 10/28.

two stars goback




MILLION DOLLAR ARM

photo for In a last ditch effort to save his career as a sports agent, JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) concocts a scheme to find baseball's next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called "Million Dollar Arm." With the help of a cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout (Alan Arkin) he discovers Dinesh (Madhur Mittal) and Rinku (Suraj Sharma), two 18-year-old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to the U.S. to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India -- the boys, who have never left their rural villages -- are equally challenged when they come to the states. As the boys learn the finer points of baseball -- JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Lake Bell) -- learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family. Based on a true story. Extras: "Training Camp" making-of-featurette. Blu-ray adds "Their Story" featurette, "Million Dollar Music by A.R. Rahman" featurette, alternate ending, deleted scenes, outtakes.

Director: Craig Gillespie. Stars: Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Lake Bell, Suraj Sharma, Alan Arkin, Aasif Mandvi. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 124 min., Bio-Drama, Box office gross: $35.643 million, Disney. Available: 10/7.

two stars goback



A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST

photo for A Million Ways to Die in the West When farmer Albert Stark (Seth MacFarlane) loses his fickle fiancee (Amanda Seyfried) to a mustachioed dandy (Neil Patrick Harris), he rebounds hard with Anna (Charlize Theron), a gorgeous gunslinger new to his Old West town. What he doesn't know is that Anna's ex, Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson), is the most dangerous desperado on the horizon and he's on his way to reclaim his gal -- whatever it takes. Blu-ray includes an unrated version with 18 additional minutes. Extras: Gag reel, "A Fistful of Dirt ... In Your Mouth" locations featurette, commentary. Blu-ray adds alternate ending; deleted/extended/alternate scenes; "Once Upon a Time in a Different West" behind-the-scenes featurette; "The Good, the Bad and the Increasingly Decreasing Population" featurette about some of the familiar faces that pop into Old Stump, including one of the greatest cameos of them all, a visit from Christopher Lloyd aka Doc Brown; unrated commentary with director/producer/co-writer Seth MacFarlane, co-writers and executive producers Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild and star Chalrlize Theron.

Director: Seth MacFarlane. Stars: Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Neil Patrick Harris, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, Seth MacFarlane. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 116 min., Comedy Western, Box office gross: $42.615 million, Universal. Available: 10/7.

two stars goback



MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN

photo for Animated feature based upon the beloved characters that first appeared in the late 1950s and early 1960s animated television series "Rocky and His Friends" and "The Bullwinkle Show," produced by Jay Ward. Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous adopted son, Sherman, use their time machine -- The WABAC -- to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes The WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidently rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most important events in world history. Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Extras: "Tour of the WABAC Machine," "Time Travel: Mad Science," photo gallery, theatrical trailer. Blu-ray adds "Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends Show" premiere episode of the original 1959 television show, five "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" segments from the original TV show, "History's Greatest Mysteries -- A Dog and His Boy," "Peabody’s Paw Print on History" (Mr. Peabody gets his pawprints in cement at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood), Time Travel Memory Match game, The WABAC Jigsaw Puzzle game. 3D Blu-ray adds a new Rocky & Bullwinkle adventure.

Director: Rob Minkoff. Stars: Voices of Ty Burrell, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Max Charles, Patrick Warburton, Allison Janney. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 92 min., Animated Family, Box office gross: $108.923 million, DreamWorks/Fox. Available: 10/14.

three stars goback



OBVIOUS CHILD

photo for Obvious Child For aspiring comedian Donna Stern, everyday life as a female twenty-something provides ample material for her incredibly relatable brand of humor. On stage, Donna is unapologetically herself, joking about topics as intimate as her sex life and as crude as her day-old underwear. But when Donna gets dumped, loses her job, and finds herself pregnant just in time for Valentine's Day, she has to navigate the murky waters of independent adulthood for the first time. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Gillian Robespierre, producer/co-writer Elisabeth Holm and actress Jenny Slate; "The Making of Obvious Child" featurette; extended scenes; original "Obvious Child" short.

Director: Gillian Robespierre. Stars: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffman, David Cross, Richard Kind, Polly Draper. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 84 min., Comedy-Romance-Drama, Box office gross: $2.895 million, Lionsgate. Available: 10/7.

two stars goback


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THE PURGE: ANARCHY

photo for The Purge: Anarchy The sequel to summer 2013's sleeper hit that opened to No. 1 at the boxoffice, sees the return of writer-director-producer James DeMonaco to craft the next terrifying chapter of dutiful citizens preparing for their country's yearly 12 hours of anarchy. A couple are driving home when their car breaks down just as the Purge commences. Meanwhile, a police sergeant goes out into the streets to get revenge on the man who killed his son, and a mother and daughter run from their home after assailants destroy it. The five people meet up as they attempt to survive the night in Los Angeles. Extras: TBA.

Director: James DeMonaco. Stars: Kiele Sanchez, Frank Grillo, Zach Gilford, Carmen Ejogo, Nicholas Gonzalez, Michael K. Williams, Amy Paffrath, Brandon Keener, Branton Box, Niko Nicotera. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 103 min., Horror-Thriller, Box office gross: $71.125 million, Universal. Available: 10/21.

three stars goback



SEX TAPE

photo for Sex Tape Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) are a married couple still very much in love, but 10 years and two kids have cooled the passion. To get it back, they decide to make a video of themselves trying out every position in "The Joy of Sex" in one three-hour marathon session. It seems like a great idea until they discover that their most private video has gone public. In a panic, they begin a wild night of adventure -- tracking down leads, roping in friends and duping Annie's boss -- all to reclaim their video, their reputation, their sanity and, most importantly, their marriage. Extras: "Capturing the Moment," in which Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel talk about what it was like to film the infamous sex tape created by their characters), "Meet Hank Rosenbaum" (in which Rob Lowe gives an in-depth tour of his character's renowned art collection). Blu-ray adds bloopers, deleted & extended scenes, Line-O-Rama alternate takes on the jokes, "Romance Reboot With Dr. Jenn Berman.

Director: Jake Kasdan. Stars: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper, Rob Lowe. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 94 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $37.765 million, Sony. Available: 10/21.

two stars goback



SNOWPIERCER

photo for Snowpiercer After a failed global-warming experiment, a post-apocalyptic Ice Age has killed off nearly all life on the planet. All that remains of humanity are the lucky few survivors that boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, powered by a "sacred" perpetual-motion engine. A class system has evolved aboard the train, fiercely dividing its population -- but a revolution is brewing. The lower-class passengers in the tail section stage an uprising -- led by one man (Chris Evans), moving car-by-car up toward the front of the train, where the oppressive rich and powerful ride, and where the train's creator and absolute authority (Ed Harris) resides in splendor. But unexpected circumstances lie in wait for humanity's tenacious survivors. An adaptation of the French graphic novel by Bong Joon-Ho ("The Host," "Mother"). Extras: Critics' commentary hosted by Scott Weinberg, "The Birth of Snowpiercer," "The Characters," "Animated Prologue," "Concept Art Galleries," "Chris Evans & Tilda Swinton on Snowpiercer," "The Train Brought to Life: Behind the Scenes of a Special Screening," "TRANSPERCENEIGE: From the Blank Page to the Black Screen."

Director: Bong Joon-Ho. Stars: Chris Evans, Namgoong Minsoo, Alison Pill, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris, Ewen Bremner, Jamie Bell, Steve Park, Ah-sung Ko. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 126 min., Sci Fi Action, Box office gross: $4.403 million, Radius-TWC/Anchor Bay. Available: 10/21.

three stars goback



WISH I WAS HERE

photo for A touching and funny story about being a parent, spouse and child -- all at once. Aidan Bloom (co-writer/director/producer Zach Braff), a struggling actor, father and husband, who at 35 is still trying to find his identity, is set on pursuing his dream. He and his wife are barely getting by financially and Aidan passes his time by fantasizing about being the great futuristic Space-Knight he'd always dreamed he'd be as a little kid. When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids (ages 5 and 12) and the only available public school is on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them. The result is chaos, until Aidan decides to scrap the traditional academic curriculum and come up with his own. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn't find as he embarks on an unexpected journey of discovery about fulfillment and family. Extras: Deleted scenes; "Directing While Acting" featurette; Aston Martin dealership outtakes; commentary with co-writer/director/producer Zach Braff and co-writer/producer Adam Braff; commentary with co-writer/director/producer Zach Braff, director of photography Lawrence Sher and editor Myron Kerstein.

Director: Zach Braff. Stars: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Josh Gad, Donald Faison, Pierce Gagnon, Joey King, Mandy Patinkin. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 106 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $3.954 million, Universal. Available: 10/28.

three stars goback



X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

photo for The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods: The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from "X-Men: First Class" in an epic battle that must change the past -- to save our future. Extras: Deleted Scenes, Gag reel, "Kitchen Sequence,"" Classification: M," "X-Men: Reunited," "Double Take: Xavier & Magneto," "Sentinels: For a Secure Future," "Gallery: Trask Industries," second screen app, theatrical trailers.

Director: Bryan Singer. Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Halle Berry, Omar Sy, Peter Dinklage, Daniel Cudmore, Anna Paquin. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 131 min., Action-Adventure, Box office gross: $230.485 million, Fox. Available: 10/14.

three stars goback




All DVDs and Blu-rays are screened on a reference system consisting of an Oppo BDP-83 Universal Blu-ray Player, 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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October 1, 2014