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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
Easy Rider (1969) (Criterion)
Against the Sun
(2014) Tom Felton, Garret Dillahunt, Jake Abel. A true story out of World War II of three U.S. Navy airmen who have crash landed in the South Pacific and must find a way to survive the most impossible of odds. A WWII pilot, bombardier, and radioman find themselves adrift on a lifeboat without food or water after being forced to ditch their plane during a scouting mission. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind the scenes look, "A Plane Takes Flight," "Starving at Sea," "Working on Water," "F/X: On Set and Off." "Blisters, Burns and Bites" "Dressing the Part." (Anchor Bay).
Blood Lust
(2016) Matt Silver, C. Thomas Howell. A depressed food critic struggling to move on after the murder of his wife is lured to an isolated island by his new online girlfriend, but as the other guests of the estate begin to disappear, he suspects that he or her monstrous sisters may have a gruesome menu planned for dinner. Formats: DVD. (Inception Media).
The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 2
(2015) In a seemingly quiet country town in New Zealand, Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) finds that murder can happen anywhere. After transferring from a big city to the small town of Brokenwood, Shepherd has settled into the relaxed rhythms of country life. His methodical young assistant, Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), has adapted to
The Choice
(2016) Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace Alexandra Daddario, Tom Welling, Tom Wilkinson. Travis and Gabby first meet as neighbors in a small coastal town and wind up in a relationship that is tested by life's most defining events. From novelist Nicholas Sparks, the author of "The Notebook" and "Dear John." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, "Cinematic Choices: Making The Choice" featurette, "Choosing Home: Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina" featurette, "Nicholas Sparks with ..." featurette, "Molly & Moby: Choice Dogs," audio commentary with director Ross Katz and actor Benjamin Walker. (Lionsgate).
Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors
(2015 -- TV) Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, Gerald McRaney, Alyvia Alyn Lind. Based on the inspiring true story of Dolly Parton's remarkable upbringing in rural Tennessee. TV drama takes place inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome a devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith and a raggedy patchwork coat -- vividly described in the well-known song of the film's title -- that helped make Parton who she is today. Set in the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains in 1955; Parton introduces the film and serves as narrator. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Coat of Many Colors: Bringing the Song to the Screen" featurette, deleted scenes. (Warner).
Easy Rider
(1969) This is the definitive counterculture blockbuster. The down-and-dirty directorial debut of former clean-cut teen star Dennis Hopper, "Easy Rider" heralded the arrival of a new voice in film, one pitched angrily against the mainstream. After the film’s cross-country journey -- with its radical, New Wave–style editing, outsider-rock soundtrack, revelatory performance by a young Jack Nicholson and explosive ending -- the American road trip would never be the same. Restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Laszlo Kovacs, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray.
Alternate 2.0 and 5.1 surround soundtracks, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Two audio commentaries, one from 2009 featuring actor-director-writer Dennis Hopper, and the other from 1995, featuring Hopper, actor-writer Peter Fonda, and production manager Paul Lewis; "Born to Be Wild" (1995) and “Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage" (1999), documentaries about the making and history of the film; television excerpts showing Hopper and Fonda at the Cannes Film Festival in 1969; interview from 2010 with BBS Productions co-founder Steve Blauner; theatrical trailers; an essay by film critic Matt Zoller Seitz. (The Criterion Collection).
Emelie
(2015) Sarah Bolger. A couple's replacement babysitter turns out to be more than they bargained for when she subjects their kids to a series of twisted activities after the kids realize that their caretaker may not be who she claims to be. Soon it's up to big brother Jacob to protect his siblings from the increasingly nefarious intentions of a very disturbed woman whose weapon is trust, and whose target is innocence. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Dark Sky Films).
400 Days
(2016) Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Dane Cook, Ben Feldman, Tom Cavanagh, Grant Bowler. Sci-fi thriller centering on four astronauts who are sent on a simulated mission to a distant planet to test the psychological effects of deep space travel. Locked away for 400 days, the crew's mental state begins to deteriorate when they lose all communication with the outside world. Forced to exit the ship, they discover that this mission may not have been a simulation after all. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
The Haunting of Alice D
(2014) Juan Riedinger, Aaron Massey, Megan Hensley, Al Snow, Kane Hodder. In the late 1890s, Davenport House was a famously successful brothel, until a young prostitute, Alice, virtually imprisoned inside the walls, took murderous revenge on her captors and tragically ended her own life. More than a century later, the latest Davenport heir is hosting a decadent bash in the newly renovated mansion -- complete with drugs, prostitutes and just one rule: anything goes. But the legend of Alice's tormented ghost proves to be very real as the guests discover firsthand that vengeance never rests in peace.Formats: DVD, Digital. (RLJ Entertainment).
Hyena Road
(2015) Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross, Christine Horne. Inspired by true events, the war thriller follows troops stationed in Afghanistan who must protect the construction of a road through the heart of the Taliban. Formats: DVD. Extras: Four featurettes: "Going Down Hyena Road: Inspired by 1,000 Stories," "The Realism of Hyena Road: Military Advisors," "Special Effects," "Constructing the Sets." (Samuel Goldwyn Films/Sony).
Janis: Little Girl Blue
(2015) Musician Cat Power narrates this documentary on Janis Joplin's evolution into a star from letters that Joplin wrote over the years to her friends, family, and collaborators. Directed and written by Academy Award-nominated documentarian Amy Berg ("Deliver Us From Evil," "West of Memphis"). The film features musicians Pink, Kris Kristofferson, Melissa Etheridge, Juliette Lewis, and Bob Weir, TV presenter Dick Cavett, producer Clive Davis, counterculture filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker, and more. Joplin is one of the most revered singers of all time, a tragic and misunderstood figure who thrilled millions of listeners and blazed new creative trails before her untimely death in 1970 at age 27. "Janis: Little Girl Blue" examines her story in-depth for the first time on film, presenting an insightful look at this complicated, driven, often beleaguered artist with rare personal and performance footage and interviews with friends and family. The Joplin family provided unfettered access to their vaults for the first time, through which Berg unearthed previously unreleased letters, photos, audio and footage of Joplin. The singer's own words tell much of her story through a series of letters she wrote to her parents over the years, never before seen by the public (read by Cat Power). Joplin was a powerhouse when she sang, and her surprising rise and sudden demise changed music forever. Formats: DVD. Extras: An a capella performance from Janis's first band, Big Brother and the Holding Company; footage from Janis's posthumous Walk of Fame ceremony; a fascinating look at Janis's early venues, The Avalon and the Fillmore; a rare interview with Chan Marshall aka Cat Power. (FilmRise/MVD Entertainment Group). Due: May 6.
The Last Ship
(2015) Three-disc set with all 13 episodes of the TNT cable TV series based on William Brinkley's popular novel that chronicles a global catastrophe that nearly decimates the world's population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James avoided falling victim to the devastating tragedy. But now, Captain Tom Chandler (series star Eric Dane) and his crew must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Making of Season Two," "Inside the Episodes," "The Navy" featurette, "Season 1 Recap," "Vulture Team" exclusive look at the making of Season 2, character pieces on Eric Dane, Adam Baldwin, Rhona Mitra, John Pyper Ferguson, Bren Foster. (TNT/Turner Home Entertainment).
Mojin: The Lost Legend
(2015 -- China) Shu Qi Chen Kun, Angelababy, Huang Bo. Action/adventure fantasy thriller follows three retired tomb raiders lured back to their original vocation by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian
Remember
(2015) Director: Atom Egoyan. Stars: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Bruno Ganz, Jurgen Prochnow, Heinz Lieven, Henry Czerny. Suspense-filled story of Zev (Plummer), an Auschwitz survivor who discovers that the Nazi guard who murdered his family some 70 years ago is living in America under an assumed identity. With the aid of a friend (Landau), Zev sets out on a gripping cross-country journey that tests both his will and his fading memory as it brings him closer to the retribution he seeks. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Audio commentary with director Atom Egoyan, producer Robert Lantos and writer Benjamin August; "Performances to Remember" featurette, "A Tapestry of Evil: Remembering the Past" featurette. (Lionsgate).
A Royal Night Out
(2015) Saerah Gadon, Bel Powley, Rupert Everett, Emily Watson, Jack Reynor. Inspired by true events. Romantic comedy recounts the glorious celebration of the end of World War II in Europe -- and the singular evening when Princess Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) and Princess Margaret (Bel Powley) leave the confines of Buckingham Palace to join the festivities; the young royals venture out into London for a whirlwind adventure filled with excitement, danger and the flutters of first love. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: "The Making of A Royal Night Out." (Fox).
Scherzo Diabolico
(2015) Francisco Barreiro, Daniela Solo Vell. Tired of his nagging wife and his dull existence as an underappreciated employee, seemingly mild-mannered Aram snaps after he is passed over for a well-deserved promotion. Suddenly and menacingly asserting his long-reserved power, he devises a plan to kidnap a schoolgirl and keep her tied up in an abandoned warehouse in order to finally get what he feels he is owed. But what seems like the perfect plan soon unravels into his worst nightmare in this twisted thriller. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Dark Sky Films).
Sesame Street: Sing It, Elmo!
(2016) Two hours of music with the red furry friend. Elmo and Rosita have planned a play date, but they keep missing each other, so they search the neighborhood for each other, singing along the way. Through songs, kids can appreciate music, learn about friendship, and even practice math skills such as number recognition and counting. Preschoolers will love singing and dancing along with Elmo, Zoe, Grover and Rosita and their new band, "The Cute and Furry Four." Formats: DVD: $14.98. Extras: "Elmo's Got the Moves!" music video. (Warner).
Sniper: Special Ops
(2015) Steven Seagal, Rob Van Dam, Tim Abell, Dale Dye. When the mission to rescue a U.S. Congressman who has been kidnapped by the Taliban goes sideways, Army Sniper Jake Chandler (Seagal) and his partner are left behind. Now on their own, they must survive in enemy territory and wait for their unit to come back for them. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Lionsgate).
Director David O. Russell taps his company of regulars -- Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper -- to tell the real-life uplifting story of Joy Mangano, a divorced mother with three children in the early 1990s who decided to strike out on her own and invented the Miracle Mop, becoming a millionaire in the process. But first she had to overcome doubting and deceitful friends and family members -- and persuade the fledgling Home Shopping Network to give her a spot. As with most such bio-dramas, the drama is enhanced and semi-fictional, but here -- with Jennifer Lawrence as Mangano -- it doesn't matter if the filmmakers play a little loose with the facts; Lawrence is a joy to behold as she takes center stage and struggles to overcome her obstacles. De Niro -- as Mangano's treacherous father -- and Isabella Rossellini -- as De Niro's conniving girlfriend -- almost steal the show with their nastiness as they try their best to sabotage Mangano. A delightful outing. Vitals: Director: David O. Russell. Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Elisabeth Röhm, Dascha Polanco.
2015, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 124 min., Drama, Box office gross: $56.430 million, Fox. Blu-ray extras: "Joy, Strength and Perseverance" featurette, Jennifer Lawrence and David O. Russell "Times Talk" with Maureen Dowd, photo gallery. 
Order "Joy" here.
This science fiction actioner starts out with a bang and then peters out just past the half-way mark. In this Young Adult science fiction actioner, aliens attack the Earth in an effort to kill humankind - but salvage the planet; so rather than blast away with super weapons, they resort to other forms of destruction: magnetic pulses that cripple all electronic devices, earthquakes that cause worldwide tsunami, a bio-engineered plague, and then a ground invasion. Through it all a young Ohio girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) struggles to survive, and against a backdrop of fear and distrust, she sets out to save her younger brother as the aliens prepare the fifth and final wave. By this time, however, the storyline bogs down with unbelievable scenarios and plot miscues, wasting the talents of Moretz and co-stars Liev Schreiber
Vitals: Director: J Blakeson. Stars: Chloe Grace Moretz, Liev Schreiber, Nick Robinson, Alex Roe, Maika Monroe, Maggie Siff, Maria Bello, Ron Livingston..
2016, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 112 min., Science Fiction, Box office gross: $34.725 million, Sony.
Extras: Commentary with director J Blakeson and Chloe Grace Moretz, two featurettes: "Inside The 5th Wave" and "Sammy on the Set." Blu-ray adds gag reel, deleted scenes, three additional featurettes: "The 5th Wave Survival Guide," "Training Squad 53" and "Creating a New World."
Travis is a fun-loving, smooth-talking bachelor living in a small coastal town who's never considered a serious relationship -- until he falls hard for his beautiful new neighbor, Gabby. But when fate threatens Travis and Gabby's love, Travis must make a choice that will alter their lives forever in this syrupy romance. From novelist Nicholas Sparks, the author of "The Notebook" and "Dear John."
Vitals: Director: Ross Katz. Stars: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace Alexandra Daddario, Tom Welling, Tom Wilkinson.
2015, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 111 min., Romance, Box office gross: $18.666 million, Lionsgate.
Extras: Deleted scenes, "Cinematic Choices: Making The Choice" featurette, "Choosing Home: Nicholas Sparks and North Carolina" featurette, "Nicholas Sparks with ..." featurette, "Molly & Moby: Choice Dogs," audio commentary with director Ross Katz and actor Benjamin Walker.
Bob the Builder: Construction Heroes
(2016) Six new-to-DVD episodes. Kids can grab their tools and get ready for teamwork time with Bob the Builder and his trusty crew. Spring City is abuzz with new construction and Bob the Builder and his team are there for all the action -- from constructing the amazing new "Spring City Splash" water park to developing an exciting motocross course, Bob and his team prove that with a positive attitude and whole lot of laughter, there's nothing this talented builder and his team can't fix. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: "Welcome to Bob's World" sing-along music video, "Things Go Wrong" sing-along music video, "Site Works With Bob." (Universal).
Shepherd's unconventional ways -- and even tolerates listening to country music in his 1971 "classic" car. Despite the growing accord between the mismatched pair, all is not well in Brokenwood, where passions simmering beneath the sleepy surface regularly erupt into gruesome crimes. In these four feature-length mysteries, Shepherd and Sims contend with a potential serial killer, a group of egocentric thespians, a family of territorial fishermen, and the mysterious death of Shepherd's favorite singer. Formats: Four-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-ray. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Acorn Media).
The Club
(2015 -- Chile) Alfredo Castro, Alejandro Sieveking, Jamie Vadell, Alejandro Goic, Marcelo Alonso. A taut, blackly comic drama that revolves around a group of priests that are exiled to a small village to atone for the sins of their pasts. Their fragile stability is disrupted by the arrival of an emissary from the Vatican, who seeks to understand the effects of their isolation, along with a former victim of the priests' abuse. Both bring with them the outside world from which the men have long been removed, and the secrets they had thought were deeply buried. An insightful commentary on individual responsibility and organized religion, as well as an artfully relevant examination of what happens when those two combustible elements are combined. A Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film and Chile's official selection for the 2016 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: An interview with director Pablo Larraín and a booklet of artwork and essays. (Music Box Films).
The 5th Wave
(2016) Chloe Grace Moretz, Liev Schreiber, Nick Robinson, Alex Roe, Maika Monroe, Maggie Siff, Maria Bello, Ron Livingston. Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. A young woman is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother before the 5th wave of attacks. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, 4K Ultra HD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with director J Blakeson and Chloe Grace Moretz, two featurettes: "Inside The 5th Wave" and "Sammy on the Set." Blu-ray adds gag reel, deleted scenes, three additional featurettes: "The 5th Wave Survival Guide," "Training Squad 53" and "Creating a New World." (Sony).
Hostile Border
(2015) Veronica Sixtos, Julio Cedillo, Roberto Urbina, Jorge A. Jimenez, Jesse Garcia. Raised in the U.S., Claudia is an undocumented immigrant living beyond her means in a twisted version of the American dream. When she's arrested by the FBI for credit card fraud, she's quickly deported to Mexico. Speaking no Spanish and lost in her foreign "homeland," she reluctantly takes refuge at her estranged father's cattle ranch. As she clashes with her unyielding father, her attempts to return home to the U.S. thrust her into a dangerous bond with a foreign smuggler, Ricky. Caught between her father's sermons, Ricky's promises, and the encroaching military, Claudia must navigate a tightrope of impossible choices. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Samuel Goldwyn/Sony).
Independence Day -- 20th Anniversary Edition
(1976) The sci-fi epic that launched a new era in blockbuster filmmaking. Director Roland Emmerich, producer Dean Devlin and an all-star cast including Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman join forces to deliver the ultimate encounter between powerful aliens and the human race. When massive spaceships appear in Earth's skies and blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet, a determined band of survivors must unite for one last strike against the invaders before it's the end of mankind. The DVD features a newly restored theatrical cut while the two-disc Blu-ray set includes restored extended and original theatrical cuts. There's also an Attacker Edition with the Blu-ray discs packed inside a limited edition 3D Alien Ship with a collectible booklet. Released just in time for the June 24 theatrical debut of "Independence Day: Resurgence." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Blu-ray extras: New 30-minute documentary "Independence Day: A Legacy Surging Forward." (Fox).Order here.
Kingdom of Blood
(2015 -- Hong Kong) Anthony Chau-Sang Wong, Chao Deng, Collin Cho. When an Emperor vanishes after an attempt on his life, the only warriors that can rescue him are the now-disbanded Divine Constabulary. Little do they realize that one of their own is holding the ruler hostage. Can they convince her to free the Emperor, rejoin the team, and battle a deadly conspiracy lurking within the palace walls? Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Three featurettes: "Bye-Bye the Four," "Coldblooded &
Emotionless" and "Confession of Love." (Lionsgate).
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
(2015-16) Seven episodes from the Nickelodeon TV series. Marinette and Adrien live what appears to be a normal life: going to school and dealing with friends, family and growing up. But when the evil Hawk Moth threatens their beloved city of Paris, they transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir, using super powers gained with the help of their magical pets. Hawk Moth is using his evil energy to transform normal people into super villains, so Ladybug & Cat Noir need to use all their skills to defeat him. And if that wasn't enough for this super-powered pair to deal with, each of them also has a secret crush on the other ... though neither knows the other’s secret identity. Formats: DVD. Extras: Episode animatics, sing-alongs, cast and crew interviews. (Shout! Kids).
princess. They eventually learn that what she really wants is to possess a famed artifact known as the Equinox Flower that allegedly has the power to raise the dead. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes interviews. (Well Go USA).
Sharkansas Women's Prison Massacre
(2015) Dominique Swain, Traci Lords, Cindy Lucas, Christine Nguyen, Amy Holt. High-camp, creature-feature from exploitation master Jim Wynorski. When a fracking mishap accidentally rips apart the earth's crust, the resulting hole opens up a gaping underground waterway leading to a vast and mysterious subterranean ocean somewhere deep below. Instantly, giant prehistoric sharks begin wending their way upward toward a murky bog in the heart of the Arkansas bayou. Unfortunately for a group of female prisoners on a work detail in the swamp, the deadly sharks attack without warning – pinning a hapless group of potential victims in a small deserted cabin in the heart of the wetlands. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Jim Wynorski and actresses Cindy Lucas and Amy Holt. (Scream Factory).
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May 2, 2016
(ISSN 1094-3676).
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