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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
Adventure Time: Jake the Dad
(2013) All-new compilation DVD release features 16 popular episodes from seasons 4 and 5 of the series, plus a must-have Jake hat included as an on-pack bundle, $24.98. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
And Now a Word From Our Sponsor
(2012) Bruce Greenwood, Parker Posey, Allie MacDonald, Callum Blue. An advertising CEO wakes up in the hospital speaking only in ad slogans and is taken home by the hospital's Head of Charity Foundation, who has a past history with him. There he begins to have a positive affect on the dysfunctional relationship she has with her daughter. Formats: DVD. (Virgil Films).
Arrow: The Complete First Season
Augustine
(2013 -- France) Vincent Lindon, Soko, Chiara Mastroianni, Olivier Rabourdin, Roxane Duran. The true story of the unusual relationship that developed between a pioneering 19th century French neurologist and his star patient, a teenaged maid, is brought to life in this darkly sensual period drama, a complex and startling portrait of power, desire and madness, written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Alice Winocour. In Belle Epoque Paris, 19-year-old kitchen maid Augustine (Soko) suffers an inexplicable seizure that leaves her partially paralyzed, and she is shipped off to an all-female psychiatric hospital specializing in the then-fashionable ailment of "hysteria." Augustine captures the attention of renowned neurologist Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot (Lindon), mentor of Sigmund Freud, after she has another attack that appears to give her intense physical pleasure. Intrigued, Charcot begins using her as his principal subject, hypnotizing her in front of his fellow doctors. As Augustine displays her spectacular fits in lecture halls, the lines between doctor and patient become blurred, radically impacting the course of both of their lives.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Hysteria Gallery: Photography from the Salpetriere," Q&A with Soko, interview with director Alice Winocour, theatrical trailer, "Kitchen" and "Magic Parisa," two films by Alice Winocour, two music videos by Soko. (Music Box Films).
Autumn Sonata BLU-RAY DEBUT and DVD
(1978) "Autumn Sonata" was the only collaboration between cinema's two great Bergmans -- Ingmar, the iconic director of "The Seventh Seal," and Ingrid, the monumental star of "Casablanca." The grand dame, playing an icy concert pianist, is matched beat for beat in ferocity by the filmmaker's recurring lead Liv Ullmann as her eldest daughter. Over the course of a long, painful night that the two spend together after an extended separation, they finally confront the bitter discord of their relationship. This cathartic pas de deux, evocatively shot in burnished harvest colors by the great Sven Nykvist, ranks among Ingmar Bergman's major dramatic works. New 2K digital film restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Introduction by Ingmar Bergman from 2003; audio commentary featuring Bergman expert Peter Cowie; "The Making of Autumn Sonata," a three-and-a-half-hour program examining every aspect of the production; new interview with Liv Ullmann; a 1981 conversation between Ingrid Bergman and critic John Russell Taylor at the National Film Theatre in London; trailer; a booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme. (The Criterion Collection).
Barney: Most Huggable Moments
(2013) This two-disc set celebrates more than 25 years of sharing, caring and imagination with Barney and his friends; includes episodes never-before seen on DVD and the delightful "Barney: Dino-mite Birthday." Barney brings preschoolers on journeys big and small and reminds everyone that they're special just the way they are. $14.98. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Five karaoke music videos. (Lionsgate).
Behind the Candelabra
(2013) Dir.: Steven Soderbergh; Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Rob Lowe, Debbie Reynolds, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Reiser. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Blu-ray Extras: "The Making of Behind the Candelabra" featurette that explores the legacy of Liberace through costumes, sets, locations, and prosthetics with several cast and the crew members including Douglas and Damon. (HBO).
A Big Love Story
(2012) Robbie Kaller, Jillian Leigh, Tommy Snider, Constance Reese. A former college football star whose chance to play in the NFL abruptly ended with a blown out knee finds himself alone, working a minimum wage job and weighing a deadly 413 pounds -- until he meets up with a personal trainer who not only helps him lose weight -- but find love. Director Ryan Sage found the script for the award-winning feature in a rather unusual place: Craigslist, where he purchased it from Chicago comedian Dale Zawada for $500. Formats: DVD. (Osiris Entertainment).
The Bling Ring
(2013) Dir.: Sofia Coppola; Israel Broussard, Taissa Farmiga, Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Katie Chang, Claire Julien, Georgia Rock, Gavin Rossdale, Paris Hilton. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Behind the Bling" making-of featurette, "Scene of the Crime with Paris Hilton" featurette, "Tabloid Culture: A Master Class Featuring Nancy Jo Sales" (who wrote the Vanity Fair article "The Suspects Wore Louboutins") featurette, theatrical trailer. (Lionsgate).
Brainwave
(2012) Three-disc set with 10 programs of the series of conversations called Brainwave that take place in New York City each year in which the best and brightest artists and scientists participate in provocative, far-reaching, unscripted conversations to explore memory and perception, creativity and consciousness, happiness, fear, illusions, and dreams. Launched by the Rubin Museum of Art in 2008 and now in its sixth edition, Brainwave pairs celebrities from many walks of life -- actors, musicians, comedians, composers, filmmakers, choreographers, artists, and authors -- with leading neuroscientists and other experts to explore how the human mind works. The series has not aired on television, and this collection features some of the most interesting participants, including superstar chef Mario Batali, author R.L. Stine (Goosebumps series), Debra Winger, comedian Lewis Black and musician Henry Rollins. Formats: DVD, $59.99. Extras: Sixteen-page booklet with an article on different cultures' views on dreams, milestones in neuroscience, information about the Rubin Museum of Art, and profiles of the participants. (Athena).
Breakout (aka Split Decision)
(2013) Brendan Fraser, Dominic Purcell, Ethan Suplee, Daniel Kash, Holly Deveaux, Amy Price-Francis. An innocent camping trip takes a dark turn for a young brother and sister when they witness a murder and become the killers' next target. Serving time over a protest gone terribly wrong, their father, Jack Damson (Fraser), devises a plan to break out of prison and rescue his kids. Formats: DVD. (Sony).
The Bride of Frankenstein BLU-RAY SINGLE DEBUT
(1935) Dir.: James Whale; Boris Karloff, Ernest Thesiger, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester. Also available as a single-disc DVD. Extras: "She's Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein," "The Bride of Frankenstein Archive," commentary with Scott MacQueen, trailer gallery, "100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics." (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection).
The Bruce Lee Legacy Collection
Eleven-disc Blu-ray/DVD box set in book-style packaging with first-ever Blu-ray presentations of "The Big Boss," "Fist Of Fury," "Way of the Dragon" and "Game of Death"; three documentaries on two discs, "Bruce Lee: The Legend" (and the original version "Bruce Lee: The Man, The Legend"), the
Dalziel & Pascoe: Season 8
(2004) Superintendant Andy Dalziel, a blowhard old-school detective and his cultured by-the-book partner, Peter Pascoe, return for another season of puzzling cases and surprising twists.
Formats: Two-disc DVD, $34.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Disconnect
(2013) Jason Bateman, Hope Davis,, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgard. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Making the Connections: Behind the Scenes of Disconnect" featurette, commentary with director Henry-Alex Rubin. (Lionsgate).
Doctor Who: The Ice Warriors
(1967) In the distant future, Earth faces a new Ice Age. While a dedicated team of scientists battle to hold the approaching glaciers at bay, a startling discovery is made deep within the ice -- an alien warrior, frozen for millennia. When the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), Jamie and Victoria arrive they soon discover Earth is under threat from the Ice Warriors, fearsome Martians intent on conquering our planet for themselves. This digitally re-mastered edition of the Doctor Who classic contains the original episodes plus brand new animated versions of Episodes Two and Three, currently missing from the BBC Archives. Formats: Two-disc DVD, $34.98. Extras: Commentary, "Cold Fusion" making-of featurette, (BBC Home Entertainment).
Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka
(2003) The first official, fully-animated Doctor Who story comes to DVD with digitally remastered picture and sound quality. Voice talents include Richard E. Grant as the Doctor and Derek Jacobi as the Master. Formats: DVD, $24.98. Extras: Commentary, interviews, "Carry on Screaming" making-of featurette. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Dracula BLU-RAY SINGLE DEBUT
(1931) Dir.: Tod Browning; Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan, Helen Chandler. Also available as a single-disc DVD. Extras: "Dracula" (1931) Spanish version, with introduction by Lupita Tovar Kohner; "The Road to Dracula"; "Lugosi: The Dark Prince"; "Dracula: The Restoration"; "Monster Tracks"; "Dracula Archives"; alternate score by Philip Glass, performed by the Kronos Quartet; commentary with Film historian David J. Skal; commentary with Steve Haberman, screenwriter of "Dracula: Dead and Loving It"; trailer gallery. (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection).
The East
(2013) Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, Julia Ormond, Patricia Clarkson, Shiloh Fernandez. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Behind the Scenes: "Two Brothers: Collaboration," "Cause and Effect: The Movement of The East," "Examining the Moral Gray." Blu-ray adds: Behind the Scenes: "The East Exposed: The Story," "Off the Grid: Creating the Story," "Casting The East"; deleted scenes. (Fox).
Frankenstein BLU-RAY SINGLE DEBUT
(1931) Dir.: James Whale; Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke. Also available as a two-disc DVD set. Extras: "The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster," "Karloff: The Gentle Monster," "Monster Tracks," "Universal Horror," "Frankenstein Archives," "Boo! A Short Film," commentary with film historian Rudy Behlmer, commentary with historian Christopher Frayling, trailer gallery, "100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics." (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection).
Gimme the Loot
(2012) Ty Hickson, Tashiana Washington. When their latest work is buffed by a rival crew, two determined graffitti writers embark on an elaborate plan to "bomb" the ultimate location: the New York Mets' Home Run Apple. But first they need to raise money to meet their goal. Over the course of two whirlwind summer days, the pair travel on a epic urban adventure involving black-market spray cans, illicit bodegas, stolen sneakers, a high-stakes heist, and a beautiful girl whose necklace is literally their key to fame. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Greetings From Tim Buckley
(2013) Penn Badgley, Imogen Poots, Ben Rosenfield. In 1991, a young musician named Jeff Buckley rehearses for his public singing debut at a Brooklyn tribute concert for his father, the late folk singer Tim Buckley. Struggling with the legacy of a man he barely knew, Jeff finds solace in a relationship with an enigmatic young woman working at the show. As they explore New York City, their adventures recall glimpses of Tim's own 60s heyday, and Jeff finds himself on the verge of stardom. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes with Penn Badgley, director Daniel Algrant and Imogen Poots. (Tribeca Film).
Haunted History
(2013) Takes viewers deep into frightening ghostly events that linger within historic locations across the United States. Driven by terrifying eyewitness accounts, each episode examines a site's spooky events in relation to its gruesome past. Hear the ghosts of soldiers at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, meet the restless souls plaguing Salem, Massachusetts, visit Chicago's infamous "Murder Castle" and many more. Formats: DVD, $19.98. (Lionsgate).
The Haunting of Helena
(2012 -- Italy) Harriet MacMasters-Green, Jarreth J. Merz, Matt Patresi, Giuliano Montaldo, Sabrina Jolie Perez. After a young girl has her first baby tooth fall out, she becomes haunted by a hideous "tooth Fairy." Formats: DVD, Digital. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Hidden in the Woods
(2012 -- Chile) Siboney Lo, Carolina Escobar. Based on a bizarre true story and not for the faint of heart -- and also being remade in the U.S. by actor Michael Biehn with the original's director, Patricio Valladares -- the film features extreme violence, prostitution, sexual assault, buckets of blood and even cannibalism. Deep in the Chilean countryside, Ana and Anny live with their deformed brother and are subject to their father's perverse and sadistic whims. After a dispute with the police leaves a wake of death and mutilation, they flee and find refuge in a remote cabin hidden from society. Meanwhile, a crime lord, convinced they have stolen the massive stash of drugs their father was hiding, sends a violent pack of thugs to find them. Spanish with English subtitles. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Director Patricio Valladares at Fantasia 2012, eight-page collector's booklet, behind-the-scenes featurette. (Artsploitation Films).
In the Fog
(2012 -- Russia) Vladimir Svirskiy, Vladislav Abashin, Sergei Kolesov. It's 1942 and the western edge of the USSR is under German occupation. In the region, local partisans are waging a brutal battle against their foreign enemies. Sushenya, an innocent rail worker, is arrested with a band of saboteurs when a train is derailed not far from his village. The German officer decides to set him free rather than hang him with the others, but rumors of Sushenya's "treason" spread quickly and partisans Burov and Voitik seek revenge. Captured by the partisans, Sushenya is led through the forest where they are ambushed. Soon he finds himself one-on-one with his wounded enemy, forced to make a moral choice under immoral circumstances. Formats: DVD. (Strand Releasing).
Java Heat
(2013) Mickey Rourke, Kellan Lutz, Ario Bayu. A Muslim detective teams with an American FBI agent/Marine posing as a graduate student to find the man behind a series of deadly terrorist
The Last Tycoon
(2012 -- Hong Kong) Chow Yun-Fat, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Francis Ng. Spanning 30 tumultuous years in Shanghai beginning at the turn of the 20th century, the film tells the story of the rise and fall of real-life gangster Cheng Daqi (Yun-Fat) and his violent swath through the criminal underworld.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Extras: "The Making of The Last Tycoon" featurette, trailer. (Well Go USA).
A Letter to Three Wives BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1949) Dir.: Joseph L. Mankiewicz; Ann Sothern, Linda Darnell, Jeanne Crain, Kirk Douglas, Paul Douglas. In this award-winning melodrama, a letter is addressed to three wives from their "best
Lionhead
(2013) Trevor Lissauer, Jill Crenshaw, Michael Madsen, Brien Perry, Daniel Roebuck, Deirdre Lovejoy. An angst-ridden young man, who desperately wants to marry his girlfriend against the wishes of her imposing father, inherits $10,000 but spends it all on a worthless fake diamond. To save the relationship, he sets out to get back his money and prove his love, but his lawyer, criminal investigators, the mob and even the pizza boy all get involved in the action. Formats: DVD. (Green Apple Entertainment).
Nashville: The Complete First Season
(2012-13) Five-disc set with 21 episodes, $45.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Nashville Comes to Nashville" cast tour through the soul of "Music City"; "On the Record -- The 'B' Side" expansion of the popular On the Record series, "The Stellas Go On Tour" featurette; deleted scenes; bloopers. (Disney).
Shanghai Calling
(2012 -- USA/China) Daniel Henney, Eliza Coupe, Bill Paxton, Alan Ruck, Geng Le, Zhu Zhu. A New York attorney is sent to Shanghai on business, where he finds himself in a legal mess that threatens his career. With the help of a relocation specialist and her contacts, he soon learns to appreciate the wonders of Shanghai. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Anchor Bay).
Showgirls 2: Penny's From Heaven
(2011) Rena Riffel, Glenn Plummer, Dewey Weber,Greg Travis. Unofficial follow-up to Paul Verhoeven's 1995 cult sensation. With fame and fortune in her eyes, Vegas stripper Penny Slot sets out on an adventure to become the star dancer on a TV series but instead finds danger in a town more wicked than Sin City. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary with writer-director-star Rena Riffel, lost footage reel, behind-the-scenes featurette, hot dog scene remix. (Wild Eye Releasing).
Simon Killer
(2012) Brady Corbet, Mati Diop. A recent college graduate flees to Paris after a break-up, where his involvement with a prostitute begins to reveal a potentially dark past. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Slacker BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1991) "Slacker," directed by Richard Linklater, presents a day in the life of a loose-knit Austin, Texas, subculture populated by eccentric and overeducated young people. Shooting on 16mm for a mere $3,000, writer-producer-director Linklater and his crew of friends threw out any idea of a traditional plot, choosing instead to create a tapestry of over 100 characters, each as compelling as the last. Slacker is a prescient look at an emerging generation of aggressive nonparticipants, and one of the key films of the American independent film movement of the 1990s. High-definition restored digital film transfer, supervised by director Richard Linklater and director of photography Lee Daniel, featuring 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Extras: Three audio commentaries, featuring Linklater and members of the cast and crew; "It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books" (1988), Linklater's first full-length feature, with commentary by the director; "Woodshock," a 1985 16mm short by Linklater and Daniel; casting tapes featuring select "auditions" from the more-than-100-member cast; footage from the Slacker 10th-anniversary reunion; early film treatment; home movies; 10-minute trailer for a 2005 documentary about the landmark Austin cafe Les Amis; deleted scenes and alternate takes; original theatrical trailer; a booklet featuring essays by author and filmmaker John Pierson and Michael Barker, as well as reviews, production notes, and an introduction to "It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books" by director Monte Hellman. (The Criterion Collection).
Space Junk 3D
(2013) Originally created for exhibition in IMAX theatres, and narrated by Tom Wilkinson, "Space Junk 3D" is the first movie to explore the exponentially expanding ring of debris that's orbiting -- and threatening -- out planet's space lanes. Formats: 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray. (Image Entertainment).
Suddenly
(2013) Dir.: Uwe Boll; Ray Liotta, Dominic Purcell, Michael Pare. Remake of the 1954 Frank Sinatra classic that follows the journey of a washed-up war veteran, now a local cop and town drunk, as he must come to grips with his demons in order to stop three assassins before they kill the U.S. president as his travelcade passes through the small town of Suddenly. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Top Gear: The Worst Car in the History of the World
(2013) Hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May travel to the very distant North of England to name and shame the most rubbish car from a manufacturer which, frankly, should have known better, and argue over the great and the awful from Peugeot, Ford, Mahindra, FSO, Alfa Romeo, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Citroen, Saab, and many more. Formats: DVD, $9.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Tremors Attack Pack BLU-RAY DEBUT
"Tremors" (1990), "Tremors II: Aftershocks" (1996), "Tremors 3: Back to Perfection" (2001) and "Tremors 4: The Legend Begins" (2004). (Universal).
Unsolved
(2009) Jerome Braggs, Amy Briede, Lezette Boutin. Fifteen years after an on-campus murder, students re-open the case for a class and uncover a truth more horrifying and closer to home than they ever imagined. Formats: DVD. Extras: (MVD Entertainment).
Waking The Dead: Season Eight
(2012) The Award-winning crime drama returns with a dark and frightening new season. The Cold Case Squad has new offices in an eerie basement and a new team member who is keeping secrets. Three months have passed since the death of his son, and Boyd is determined to get back to work with his team he seems more reckless than ever. And could Eve be in a relationship with a man who was involved in a murder thirteen years ago? Two-disc set with eight episodes. Formats: DVD, $34.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
War of the Buttons
(2012 -- France) Jean Texier, Ilona Bachelier, Guillaume Canet, Laetitia Casta, Kad Merad. Set in France during WWII, "War of the Buttons" tells the tale of two rival groups of kids from neighboring villages. Pre-teen rebel Lebrac leads a spirited group of kids in a pint-sized "war" where the victory comes from capturing the enemies' buttons, belts, and laces -- forcing them to return home ragged to face their mothers' reprimand. When Violette, a young Jewish girl, comes to town to hide from the Nazis, Lebrac befriends her and the children put their own conflicts aside to protect their new friend from the very real war happening around them. Formats: DVD. Extras: "The Making of War of the Buttons" featurette, bloopers, deleted scenes. (The Weinstein Co./Anchor Bay).
The We and the I
(2012) Michel Gondry's cinema verite-style drama that gives an inside look into the dynamics, drama and hilarity that emerge on a real-time bus ride with a group of remarkable nonprofessional high-school actors. It's the last day of the school year, and a group of high-schoolers board a city bus to make their way home. With the summer break ahead, and feeling more liberated than usual, this colorful crowd of kids - the cool ones, the outsiders, and everyone in between -- act out as only teens can when they are among their peers and away from authority figures. Formats: DVD. (Virgil Films).
Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan: Creepy Crawlers and Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan: Deadliest Critters
(2012) Actor and wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan travels across the globe, from the rainforests of Ecuador to an underground river in Laos, to uncover the scariest and most exotic creatures on the planet. InCreepy Crawlers," Monaghan meets the giant white goliath beetle of Cameroon, the Giant Huntsman Spider of Laos, the worlds largest centipede -- scolopendra gigantica -- of Venezuela, an aggressive, venomous carnivore that is rumored to snatch bats right out of the air. In "Deadliest Critters" he travels to Guatemala to seek out an endangered and venomous reptile, the Guatemalan beaded lizard, then he meets one of the most dangerous scorpions in the world, the black hairy thick-tailed scorpion in Namibia, then goes to the Ecuadorian rainforest to face off with a 4 million-strong colony of flesh-eating, venom injecting army ants, and finally travels from the snake-infested rice paddies of Vietnam' Mekong Delta to a crocodile filled lake in search of one of the world's most dangerous aquatic insects -- the giant water bug.
Formats: DVD, $14.98 each. (BBC Home Entertainment).
The Wolf Man BLU-RAY SINGLE DEBUT
(1941) Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy, Warren William, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, Maria Ouspenskaya. Also available as a single-disc DVD. Extras: "Monster by Moonlight," "The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth," "Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney Jr.," "He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce," "The Wolf Man Archives," trailer gallery, "100 Years of Universal: The Lot," commentary with film historian Tom Weaver. (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection).
World War Z
(2013) Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Elyes Gabel, Fana Mokoena, Matthew Fox, Ludi Boeken, David Morse. Formats: DVD, 3D Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray Extras: Unrated cut -- packed with thrills and action too intense for theaters -- as well as the theatrical cut; "Origins" behind-the-scenes featurette; "Looking to Science" featurette explores the scientific realities of Zombie behavior in nature and Zombies in literature and film; four-part "WWZ: Production" featurette: "Outbreak" behind-the-scenes look at the film's breathtaking first attack in Philadelphia, "The Journey Begins" behind-the-scenes of the dramatic escape in South Korea, "Behind the Wall" explores the epic scene in Jerusalem, and "Camouflage" behind-the-scenes of the final confrontation with the Zombies. (Paramount).
Behind the Candelabra
"Behind the Candelabra" has to be one of the best films of the year -- and it wasn't even released by any of the Hollywood studios. The film -- about the life and love of Liberace, a whacked-out entertainer who appealed to a whole generation of middle-class Americans and their grandparents, little knowing that he was gay -- was conceived by Steven Soderbergh but rejected by the Hollywood studios; Soderbergh went to HBO (a division of Time Warner, which owns Warner to raise the $5 million (really, really low by today's standards) to make the film, which premiered at this year's Cannes International Film Festival to rave reviews. From the blurb: "Before Elvis, before Elton John, Madonna and Lady Gaga, there was Liberace: virtuoso pianist, outrageous entertainer and flamboyant star of stage and television. A name synonymous with showmanship, extravagance and candelabras, he was a world-renowned performer with a flair that endeared him to his audiences and created a loyal fan base spanning his 40-year career. Liberace lived lavishly and embraced a lifestyle of excess both on and off stage. In summer 1977, handsome young stranger Scott Thorson walked into his dressing room and, despite their age difference and seemingly different worlds, the two embarked on a secretive five-year love affair." Based on Thorson's tell-all memoir "Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace," Soderbergh's film features electrifying performances by Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Thorson in what has to be two of the most difficult roles of their careers. During its premiere, the film became one of HBO's most watched original films in nearly 10 years ... and has come in for deservedly high praise from critics everywhere. Blu-ray Extras: "The Making of Behind the Candelabra" featurette that explores the legacy of Liberace through costumes, sets, locations, and prosthetics with several cast and the crew members including Douglas and Damon.
Vitals: Director: Steven Soderbergh. Stars: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Rob Lowe, Debbie Reynolds, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Reiser.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: TV-MA, 118 min., Bio-Drama, HBO.
World War Z
"World War Z" is a breathtaking, edge-of-your-seats horror-thriller based on the best-selling book by Max Brooks. Brad Pitt plays Gerry Lane, an ex-United Nations researcher who's called back to work by the organization to track down the cause of the Zombie pandemic that plagues the world and threatens to bring down civilization. He must travel the globe -- from Philadelphia to South Korea to Jerusalem to Cardiff, Wales -- to uncover the cause of the fast-moving disease. And we mean fast-moving. Forget the image of lumbering zombies of the past -- these flesheaters move faster than cheetahs and destroy their victims in the wink of an eye. It's non-stop action from beginning to end with splendid special effects. Blu-ray Extras: Unrated cut as well as the theatrical cut; "Origins" behind-the-scenes featurette; "Looking to Science" featurette explores the scientific realities of Zombie behavior in nature and Zombies in literature and film; four-part "WWZ: Production" featurette: "Outbreak" behind-the-scenes look at the film's breathtaking first attack in Philadelphia, "The Journey Begins" behind-the-scenes of the dramatic escape in South Korea, "Behind the Wall" explores the epic scene in Jerusalem, and "Camouflage" behind-the-scenes of the final confrontation with the Zombies.
Vitals: Director: Marc Forster. Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Elyes Gabel, Fana Mokoena, Matthew Fox, Ludi Boeken, David Morse.
2013, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min., Horror-Thriller, Box office gross: $192.660 million, Paramount.
The Bling Ring
In the fame-obsessed world of Los Angeles, a group of teenagers embark on a disturbing crime-spree in the Hollywood hills. Based on true events, the group, who were fixated on the glamorous life, tracked their celebrity targets online, and stole more than $3 million in luxury goods from their homes. Their victims included Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, and Rachel Bilson, and the gang became known in the media as "The Bling Ring." Director Sofia Coppola takes us inside the world of these teens, where their youthful naivete and excitement is amplified by today's culture of celebrity and luxury brand obsession. Based on Nancy Jo Sales' Vanity Fair article "The Suspects Wore Louboutins." Extras: "Behind the Bling" making-of featurette, "Scene of the Crime with Paris Hilton" featurette, "Tabloid Culture: A Master Class Featuring Nancy Jo Sales" (who wrote the Vanity Fair article "The Suspects Wore Louboutins") featurette, theatrical trailer.
Vitals: Director: Sofia Coppola. Stars: Israel Broussard, Taissa Farmiga, Emma Watson, Leslie Mann, Katie Chang, Claire Julien, Georgia Rock, Gavin Rossdale, Paris Hilton.
2012, CC, MPAA rating: R, 90 min., Drama, Box office gross: $5.458 million, Lionsgate.
The East
Sarah Moss (Brit Marling) is a brilliant operative for an elite private intelligence firm whose top objective is to ruthlessly protect the interests of their A-list corporate clientele. She is assigned to go undercover to infiltrate an anarchist collective known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations. Living amongst them in an effort to get closer to their members, Sarah finds herself unexpectedly torn between two worlds as she starts to fall in love with the group's charismatic leader (Alexander Skarsgard), finding her life and her priorities irrevocably changed.
Vitals: Director: Zal Batmanglij. Stars: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, Julia Ormond, Patricia Clarkson, Shiloh Fernandez.
2013, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 117 min.,Thriller, Box office gross: $1.640 million, Fox.
Disconnect
A drama centered on a group of people searching for human connections in today's wired world, exploring the consequences of modern technology and how it affects and defines our daily relationships. The film follows a collection of characters: a hard-working lawyer attached to his cell phone who can't find the time to communicate with his family; a couple drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online; a widowed ex-cop struggling to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate; and an ambitious journalist seeing a career-making story in a teen who performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues, and their stories collide.
Vitals: Director: Henry Alex Rubin. Stars: Jason Bateman, Hope Davis,, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgard. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: R, 115 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.435 million, Lionsgate.
(2012-13) Twenty-three episodes of CW's modern-day re-imagining of the iconic DC Comics superhero. After being marooned for five years on a remote island, billionaire Oliver Queen returns home with a mysterious agenda and a lethal set of new skills that he uses in a war on crime in this hard-hitting action series. After suffering unimaginable ordeals on the island, Oliver returns to Starling City a new man -- determined to right the wrongs of his father and sworn to bring justice to those who've corrupted his city. But Oliver finds his crusade complicated by his friends and family who are all affected by his return. Formats: Five-disc DVD, $59.98; Blu-ray/DVD Combo (four Blu-ray discs, five DVD discs), $69.97; Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Arrow Comes Alive!" documentary, " Arrow: Fight School/Stunt School" featurette, Arrow at Paley Fest 2013, deleted scenes, gag reel. (Warner).
Bates Motel: Season One
(2013) A modern day re-imagining of the classic film "Psycho" looks at Norman Bates' teenage years and his intricate relationship with his mother. This re-imagining weaves a web of deception, murder and unexpected twists in a small town where nothing is what it seems. Stars Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga. Three-disc set with 10 episodes, $44.98. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, Paley Center discussion with the cast and creative team. (Universal).
Bless Me, Ultima
(2013) Miriam Colon, Benito Martinez, Dolores Heredia. Written for the screen and directed by Carl Franklin. A drama set in New Mexico during WWII, centered on the relationship between a young man and an elderly medicine woman who helps him contend with the battle between good and evil that rages in his village. Formats: DVD. (Sony).
critically acclaimed "I Am Bruce Lee" and "The Grandmaster and the Dragon: William Cheung and Bruce Lee"; four DVD versions of "The Big Boss," "Fist Of Fury," "Way of the Dragon" and "Game of Death"; and a bonus disc with hours of extra content. The deluxe book-style packaging includes 68 pages of archival materials, rare and never-before-released photos, a new essay on Lee's amazing career, and much more. $119.99. Extras: Commentaries on all four films by Hong Kong film expert Mike Leeder; "Return to Pak Chong: The Big Boss Revisited"; "Bruce Lee: The Early Years" featurette; new interviews with Robert Chua, Gene LeBell, Jon Benn, Bob Wall and many more; interviews with Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, Yuen Wah and Wong Jing; "Remembering Fist of Fury" featurette; "Bruce Lee Martial Arts Master" featurette; "Game of Death: Then & Now"; "Game of Death Memories" featurette;
extensive still galleries on all four films including rare stills, movie posters; theatrical trailers and TV spots; alternate title sequences; "Game of Death" outtake montage; "Game of Death" revisited; more. Order now. (Shout! Factory).
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation -- The Thirteenth Season
(2012-13) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $69.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary on select episodes; music videos: "End of the Beginning"; festurettes:
"CSI NY crossover episode "Seth and Apep"; "Tennis, Anyone?" with tennis pros Chris Evert, Lindsay Davenport and Justin Gimelstob for the episode "Double Fault"; "A Tale of Two CSI's" discussion with Danson and Sinise about the crossover episode; "Chapter Thirteen" Season 13 recap discussion with cast and crew; "The Extended Family" look at the supporting cast; "Drawing Blood" examination of the series' use of blood; "Providing Food & Shelter" for the sets of two episodes; "Observing the Sabbath" with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath for the season finale "Skin in the Game"; "Anatomy of a TV Hit." (CBS/Paramount).
Drift
(2012) Myles Pollard, Xavier Samuel, Sam Worthington. Two brothers in Australia in the 1970s battle killer waves, uptight society, corruption and ruthless bikers to create a surf business -- rethinking board design, crafting homemade wetsuits and selling merchandise out of their van -- and kick-start the modern surf industry. Inspired by a real story. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Behind-the-scenes cast and crew interviews. (Lionsgate).
Fear Files
(2005) Three-disc set explores the legends of ghosts, vampires and the history of the haunting holiday of Halloween. This creepy compilation features over three hours of frightening programming with three History specials: "The Hauntings," "Vampire Secrets" and "The Haunted History of Halloween." $19.98. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
A Girl and a Gun
(2012) Bringing a female perspective to the debate that's raging across the nation, this documentary explores the intersection of "girl power" and firepower. Filmed throughout the U.S., the film delves deep into the American gun world to show the relationship between women and their guns. The classic Hollywood portrayals of pistol packin' mamas, tomboy sharp shooters, sexually twisted femme fatales, and high-heeled, cold-blooded assassins are caricatures. In truth, the typical woman who hangs out at rifle ranges and keeps ammo in her purse is the girl-next-door, the single mom, a hard working sister or aunt. Breaking through the stereotypes, the film reveals how some women have embraced this object whose history is deeply bound to men and masculinity. Formats: DVD. Extras: Julia Haltigan's "A Girl and a Gun" theme song music video, bonus scenes and interviews. (First Run Features).
Grimm: Season Two
(2012-13) Five-disc set with 22 episodes. Now fully embracing his identity as a Grimm (a line of guardians who mediate between the human world and the world of the monsters of mythology), Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt tackles even more gruesome and bizarre crimes linked to creatures of lore. With the help of his partner Hank and Wesen confidants Monroe and Rosalee, Nick must face an ancient royal bloodline linked to the mysterious Captain Renard, all while fighting to keep from losing the love of his life forever. Formats: DVD, $59.98; Blu-ray Disc, $69.98; Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes; gag reel; "Grimm: Myths, Monsters & Legends" featurette with producers and cast about the ever-expanding mythology of the show, including the season's terrifying Wesen, the Seven Royal Families, and the mysteries of Aunt Marie's trailer; "Grimm: Creatures and Chaos" featurette on the creatures of "Grimm"; "Bad Hair Day Webisodes"; "Monroe's Best Moments," the quips and quibbles of Wesen Monroe. (Universal).
The Hollow Crown: The Complete Series
(2012) Miniseries adaptation of four of Shakespeare's most celebrated historical plays: "Richard II," "Henry IV (Part 1 and Part 2)," and "Henry V." Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston and Ben Whishaw in his award-winning role as Richard II star in this epic tale of three Kings and their battle for survival, and the rise and fall of a dynasty. Formats: DVD. Extras: Making-of featurette with cast and crew interviews, "The Making of a King" featurette that looks at this landmark Shakespearean series. (Universal).
bombings in Indonesia. The unlikely duo embark on a treacherous manhunt for the attacks' real perpetrator, a new breed of klepto-terrorist who is even more twisted and terrifying than the Jihadist terrorists he hides behind. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).
friend," Addie Ross, announcing that she is running away with one of their husbands -- but she doesn't say which one, forcing the women to reminisce about the ups and downs of their marriages -- giving the viewer a glimpse into their lives and loves. A fabulous peek at mid-century culture and mores -- with great acting and directing. Extras: Commentary with Kenneth Geist, Cheryl Lower and Christopher Mankiewicz; "Biography: Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel," Fox Movietone News: Oscars Presented for Achievements in Motion Pictures, theatrical trailer. (Fox).
The Mentalist: The Complete Fifth Season
(2012-13) Five-disc set with 22 episodes of the show about Patrick Jane, the California Bureau of Investigation consultant and former faux-psychic obsessed with finding Red John, the serial killer who murdered his family. The Sunday night hit procedural combines crime-solving twists with wry humor that celebrate mind over matter. Though Red John may still be at large, the CBI has captured Lorelei, one of his accomplices. With Lorelei firmly in the grasps of the CBI, will Jane be able to get information about Red John out of her? Formats: DVD, $59.98. Extras: "The Artistry of Action: From Script to Screen" featurette about the choreography of the show's stunts, "Arresting Excitement: Keeping it Real with the CBI" behind-the-scenes action featurette. (Warner).
Somebody Up There Likes Me
(2013) Nick Offerman, Keith Poulson, Jess Weixler, Megan Mullally. Comedic fable about a man watching his life fly by. Max (Poulson), along with his best friend Sal (Offerman) and the woman they both adore, Lyla (Weixler), stumble through 35 years of seemingly mandatory but unfulfilling entanglements. With music by Vampire Weekend's Chris Baio and animation sequences by Bob Sabiston ("A Scanner Darkly," "Waking Life"). Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, cast and crew interviews. (Tribeca Film).
Two Men in Manhattan BLU-RAY AND DVD DEBUT
(1959) Rediscovered classic from master filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville. Melville's moody dramas, including "Bob le Flambeur," "Le Doulos," "Le Samourai" and "Army of Shadows," were deeply influenced by classic Hollywood crime pictures, making iconic use of cigarette-smoking, world-weary gangsters and detectives in trenchcoats and fedora hats. His minimalist style, including shooting on real locations rather than in studios, was a major influence on the next generation of filmmakers that would create the New Wave. The dark shadows of New York come to life here in Melville's rarely seen, jazz-soaked noir masterpiece. A French UN delegate has disappeared into thin air, sending reporter Moreau (Melville himself) and hard-drinking photographer Delmas (Pierre Grasse) on an ethically fraught mission to find him. Their only lead is a picture of three women. Set against a smoky jazz score and featuring stunning black-and-white cinematography by Nicolas Hayer that beautifully captures the gritty streets at night, this is director Melville's love letter to New York City and homage to American film noir. Extras: A conversation between critics Jonathan Rosenbaum and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky; a new essay by Melville scholar Ginette Vincendeau; trailers. (Cohen Film Collection).
Vegas -- The DVD Edition
(2012-13) Five-disc set with 21 episodes, $64.99. Inspired by the true story of former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, a former military police officer, who now patrols the once-desolate desert city. As corruption builds within Las Vegas during the 1960s, Lamb is called upon to bring order to the new entertainment mecca, putting him face-to-face with the ruthless Chicago gangster who intends to claim Vegas as his own. Formats: DVD. Extras: Cast and crew commentary, "He Ain't Like the Real Law," which profiles the real life of Sheriff Ralph Lamb; set tour with actor Michael Chiklis. (CBS/Paramount).
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