The past few weeks have a bunch of pretty amazing releases including a reboot of the Last Son of Krypton, an extended Middle Earth, a complete visit from the Doctor, the fastest snail alive, the greatest anime of all time, and much more.
Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week!
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)
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| Warner Home Video / Released 11/5/13 |
The adventure follows Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim Erebor with the help of Gandalf the Grey and 13 Dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. This extended edition includes 13 minutes of revealing never-before-seen film footage and extras include commentaries and nearly 9 hours of fascinating featurettes that feature in-depth looks at the production.
Last Word: Continuing Peter Jackson’s tradition of extended editions that outshine the theatrical cut comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey which follows the adventure of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome Dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the Wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of 13 Dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild, through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins, Orcs and deadly Wargs, as well as a mysterious and sinister figure known only as the Necromancer.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the Goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities…A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-Earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know. Highly recommended.
Man of Steel
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| Warner Home Video / Released 11/12/13 |
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind. Extras include featurettes and feature to watch the film with director Zack Snyder.
Last Word: Superman doesn’t exactly stand for truth, justice, and the American way in 2013. In Man of Steel, Clark stands for what’s right, his family, and believing in himself to do good. I might be missing something in there but that’s the general idea. He’s only on his first ‘missions’ as a superhero, so he has growing up to do. They tell a different sort of origin story with pacing, flashbacks and nonlinear jumps, allowing for more time spent on the story of Krypton as a planet and it’s fate. Zod and Jor-El open the movie fighting and it is this fight over the fate of Kryptonians and their last son that drives the plot.
This time, Krypton is an organic alien planet filled with strange rounded spaceships, elaborate birdcage steampunk costumes, and Giger-esque settings and ships. The time we spend on Krypton is delightful, and much different from the crystalline palace of Brando’s Jor-El in Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie. They’re doing it right with the Houses of Krypton and the General Zod-ness of Krypton just before the explosion. After Zod and his crew are banished to the Phantom Zone, Clark is sent to Earth and raised by the Kents (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) under the belief that revealing his powers would threaten his family.
Later, Clark encounters Lois for the first time just as he begins his training that leads to wearing his costume and adopting his heroic identity. Zod’s motivation is to take over the Earth and repopulate Krypton with stored DNA from a Krypton artifact. In the process he’d terraform and kill all humans.
I applaud every effort to include major and minor fan service moments, characters, and re-imaginings. Let Donner be Donner. Let Smallville and Geoff Johns comics be those things. This is a new thing. Man of Steel scratches the itch of a sci-fi fan in a modern film context while inserting the aesthetic of a news camera crew or reality show when appropriate. I believe he can fly. (– Clay N Ferno)
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| SPHE / Released 11/5/13 |
Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, during which the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country. Co-starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins and James Woods. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: An extremely entertaining popcorn film, White House Down features many of the same exact plot points of last year’s identically themed Olympus Has Fallen, but does so with a bit more fun. Channing Tatum scores as he plays a very “John McClane-esque” John Cale, a guy who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Director Roland Emmerich blows up the White House for a second time with a bit more panache. It’s silly, it’s stupid, it’s fun. Turn off your brains, spin this disc and prepare for a few hours of pure movie entertainment. Recommended.
The Right Stuff (30th Anniversary Edition)
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| Warner Home Video / Released 11/5/13 |
Based on Tom Wolfe’s book, The Right Stuff tells the heroic tale of America’s early journeys into space. It begins with Chuck Yeager – the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound – and continues with the Flying Fraternity and the Mercury Astronauts, the first Americans in space. The bravery and daring exploits of these men captured the imagination of mid-century Americans. In The Right Stuff, director and screenwriter Philip Kaufman brings these breathtaking events to life in emotionally riveting and suspenseful detail. Winner of 4 Academy Awards, The Right Stuff features a stellar cast including Ed Harris, Barbara Hershey, Sam Shepard, Dennis Quaid and Fred Ward. Prepare to be thrilled and amazed by the 30th Anniversary Blu-ray debut of this epic adventure that remains the stuff on must-see entertainment. Let’s light this candle, flyboys! Extras include additional scenes, featurettes, commentaries and John Glenn biographical profile.
Last Word: A wonderful chronicle that depicts a much missed age of heroism in America, The Right Stuff is inspiring, exhilarating and tremendously entertaining look at the Space Race. One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the subject matter is truly ideal for a documentary, but Kaufman has crafted a film that is not only a cinematic classic, but a wonderful testament to a bygone era. With a wonderful sense of adventure and humor, The Right Stuff is one of the greatest and most inspiring films of all time. And it’s never looked or sounded better. Highest recommendation.
Doctor Who: Series 1-7 Limited Edition Blu-ray Giftset
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| BBC Home Video / Released 11/5/13 |
For the first time ever, the rebooted Doctor Who is all together on Blu-ray plus an amazing assortment of extras including the completely unique Doctor Who Universal Remote Control Sonic Screwdriver, hours and hours of bonus features!
At the heart of the collection are the episodes themselves, newly remastered and looking better than ever. Included are the Complete Series 1-4, featuring Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston and Tenth Doctor David Tennant, all making their Blu-ray debut at full 1080p high definition, plus the David Tennant Complete Specials, the Complete Series 5-7 featuring Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, all the bonus features included in the previous releases and a bonus disc with three new-to-Blu-ray specials: The Brit List’s Ultimate Doctor Who List of Lists, The Best of the Christmas Specials and the full 90-minute Doctor Who at the Proms, newly remastered with 5.1 Surround Sound. This is the definitive Doctor Who collection for the ages!
Extras include The Brit List’s Ultimate Doctor Who List of Lists, The Best Of The Christmas Specials, Doctor Who At The Proms Full 90-Minute Version, Doctor Who Confidential, Commentaries, Deleted Scenes And Outtakes, Prequels, Video Diaries, Feature Length Specials, Featurettes, Three Art Cards, Exclusive Comic Book, Three New To Disc Specials, and Universal Remote Control Sonic Screwdriver.
Three Faces of Eve
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 11/5/13 |
Eve White (Joanne Woodward) is a quiet, mousy, unassuming wife and mother who keeps suffering from headaches and occasional black outs. Eventually she is sent to see psychiatrist Dr. Luther, and, while under hypnosis, a whole new personality emerges: the racy, wild, fun-loving Eve Black. Under continued therapy, yet a third personality appears, the relatively stable Jane. This film, based on the true-life case of a multiple personality, chronicles Dr. Luther’s attempts to reconcile the three faces of Eve. Extras include commentary, Fox Movietone News: Academy Awards and trailer.
Mad Men: Season Six
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| Lionsgate / Released 11/5/13 |
Returning for its sixth season, Mad Men, four-time Primetime Emmy winner for Outstanding Drama Series and winner of three consecutive Golden Globes, explores the glamorous and ego-driven “Golden Age” of advertising in the late 1960’s New York City. Don Draper (Golden Globe – winner Jon Hamm) and the rest of the award-winning cast continue to captivate as they deal with the aftereffects of adultery, divorce, a merger, and an ever changing social climate. Extras include interactive gallery, virtual tour and featurettes.
Last Word: Season six covers an enormous amount of change and ultimately honesty for Don Draper. Relationships among lovers, friends and business set against the backdrop of a period of change was interesting and well executed, but more importantly sets up the next chapter of Draper’s life with some unexpected twists. Recommended.
Lovelace
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| Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 11/5/13 |
The truth goes deeper than you think. In 1972 – before the internet, before the porn explosion – Deep Throat was a phenomenon: the first scripted pornographic theatrical feature film, featuring a story, some jokes, and an unknown and unlikely star, Linda Lovelace. Escaping a strict religious family, Linda discovered freedom and the high-life when she fell for and married charismatic hustler Chuck Traynor. As Linda Lovelace, she became an international sensation – less centerfold fantasy than a charming girl-next-door. After struggling to break free from Traynor whose endless abuse nearly killed her, Linda made it her life’s mission to fight violence against women. Extras include featurette.
Naked City: The Complete Series
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| Image / Released 11/5/13 |
Now available for the first time ever, experience the complete series hailed as “Not just another cop show” by Time Magazine. One of the most innovative police shows in television history, Naked City puts a human face on crime, going beyond a simplistic portrayal of good vs. evil to delve into the complex personal dramas of the people involved. This collection contains all 4 seasons (138 episodes) on 29 DVDs from the acclaimed Emmy Award-winning classic TV series. Extras include original commercials.
Last Word: Television’s first true film noir is finally available in it’s entirety. Notable not only for it’s top notch production values, but like the modern day Law & Order franchise, set it’s stories in real New York locations as well as be the starting point or just regular work for a number of notable actors including Lee J. Cobb, Hume Cronyn, Vincent Gardenia, Kim Hunter, Roddy McDowall, Burgess Meredith, Jean Muir, Claude Rains, Mickey Rooney, George C. Scott, Lawrence Tierney, Eli Wallach, Conrad Bain, Dabney Coleman, Burt Reynolds, Jessica Walter, Alan Alda, Michael Ansara, Ed Asner, Martin Balsam, Barbara Barrie, Orson Bean, Robert Blake, James Caan, Diahann Carroll, James Coburn, William Daniels, Sandy Dennis, Bruce Dern, Keir Dullea, Robert Duvall, Peter Falk, James Farentino, Peter Fonda, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Hopper, Diana Hyland, Richard Jaeckel, David Janssen, Jack Klugman, Piper Laurie, Diane Ladd, Audra Lindley, Jack Lord, Nancy Marchand, Sylvia Miles, Vic Morrow, Leslie Nielsen, Carroll O’Connor, Suzanne Pleshette, Robert Redford, Doris Roberts, Telly Savalas, George Segal, William Shatner, Martin Sheen, Jean Stapleton, Maureen Stapleton, Rod Steiger, Rip Torn, Cicely Tyson, Jon Voight, Christopher Walken, Jack Warden, Tuesday Weld, and Dick York. One of the more startling aspects of the show is that the crimes are fairly heinous and a radical departure from other procedurals on television at that time. These episodes feel fresh and are really a treasure that should be savored by any noir fan. Highly recommended.
Passion
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| Entertainment One / Released 11/5/13 |
No backstabbing. Just business. Brian De Palma returns to the sleek, sly, seductive territory of Dressed To Kill with an erotic corporate thriller fueled by sex, ambition, image, envy and the dark, murderous side of passion. Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace star as two female executives whose fierce competition to rise up the ranks is about to turn literally cut-throat. Extras include interviews.
Last Word: Brian De Palma makes polarizing films that often split audiences and critics down the middle and latest release, Passion, is no exception. It’s a kaleidoscope of the auteur’s prominent themes and performed tricks. It too, is not for everyone. If at all, Passion is only slightly disappointing in that it’s less erotic, violent and gory than what one would expect from the director. At first glance it could have benefited from a more exploitive take on what it teases. Thankfully, there’s enough De Palma in spades to keep the film incredibly outlandish, and as a result, guilty-pleasure entertaining. Some of the vintage DePalma elements in Passion include: Split Screen, Dream Sequences, Strong Female Protagonists, Twins, Classic Noir, music by Pino Donaggio and a nod to Hitchcock. Really, what more could a Brian De Palma fan ask for? ( – Todd Sokolove)
Kenny Rogers: The Gambler
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| Timeless Media Group / Released 11/5/13 |
Singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers stars as a card shark with a heart of gold in The Gambler, an Old West tale inspired by one of the most beloved songs of all time. Brady Hawkes (Kenny Rogers) is a man who has seen it all… except for the son he never knew. When Hawkes receives a surprising letter from his child, he sets off on a journey to finally meet the boy. In the course of his travels, Hawkes crosses paths with the impetuous Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner – Tron), and the two become fast friends. Billy considers himself to be a professional gambler, but he’s got a lot to learn – and Hawkes has got some very familiar advice for him. Featuring Clu Gulager, Christine Belford and Lee Purcell, The Gambler is a charming Western with heart. Take a seat and enjoy yourself – you can always bet on Kenny Rogers to entertain.
Magic City: The Complete Second Season
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| Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 11/5/13 |
Ike Evans (Jeffery Dean Morgan) risks everything in a life and death battle to rid his Miramar Playa Hotel of the mob and Ben “The Butcher” Diamond (Danny Huston). Ike’s dangerous plan to defeat Ben takes Ike from Havana’s glamorous casinos to dealings with a new devil – Ben’s boss in the Chicago Outfit (James Caan). Ike’s wife Vera (Olga Kurylenko) gets a second chance at her former dancing glory, while sons Stevie (Steven Strait) and Danny (Christian Cooke) drift farther from Ike – Stevie toward the power and rewards of Ben’s dark world, Danny into the moral righteousness of State’s Attorney Jack Klein. Changes in Castro’s Cuba ripple to the shores of Miami Beach, and a new world order begins to tear the Evans family apart. Even if Ike’s long-shot gamble to take back his hotel succeeds, will the price of victory be too high?
Girl Most Likely
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| Lionsgate / Released 11/5/13 |
Kristen Wiig stars as Imogene, once a promising young New York playwright whose promise has fizzled, thanks to a crisis of confidence. Heavily in denial about being dumped by her society boyfriend, Imogene uses her skill for drama to stage an elaborate fake suicide as an appeal for his sympathy. But her attempt backfires when she’s put into the custody of Zelda, her estranged gambling addict mother (Annette Bening), and must return home with her to the Jersey shore. Desperate to get back to her Manhattan circle of so- called friends, Imogene must finally deal with her family, including her unique brother (Christopher Fitzgerald), Zelda’s new boyfriend The Bousche (Matt Dillon), plus a cute young lodger (Darren Criss),who together help Imogene sort out her place in the world.
Clear History
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| HBO Home Video / Released 11/5/13 |
A comedic original film starring Larry David, Clear History follows Nathan Flomm (Larry David), a marketing executive at a start-up electric car company, who, after a petty argument with his boss (Jon Hamm), gives up his 10 percent of the shares. The company goes on to make billions of dollars, leaving Nathan publicly humiliated. Ten years later after creating an entire new life on a small island off the Massachusetts coast, all is well – until his past arrives to threaten his new life. The A-list ensemble includes Emmy winner Bill Hader, Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm, Oscar nominee Kate Hudson, Golden Globe nominee Michael Keaton, Danny McBride, Eva Mendes, Oscar nominee Amy Ryan, and J.B. Smoove.
Last Word: Larry David once again plays himself, this time under the name of Nathan Flomm to devastatingly funny effect. Like all of his work, the film centers on the minutia of everyday life and conflict and David’s obsessiveness regarding every aspect of it. Many plot points seem similar to his previous directorial film, Sour Grapes. With a top notch ensemble, David has crafted another tale that’s not too far from who he is. And that’s ok. Extremely amusing and highly recommended.
My Name Is Nobody (40th Anniversary Edition)
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| Image Entertainment / Released 11/5/13 |
From Western legend Sergio Leone (The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly) comes a rollicking shoot-’em-up! Young, ambitious gunman Nobody (They Call Me Trinity‘s Terence Hill) sets his eye on his idol, gunslinger Jack Beauregard (Once Upon A Time in the West’s Henry Fonda), who’s intent on sailing off into retirement. Deciding his hero should go out with guns blazing, Nobody sets him up for a showdown with a pack of the deadliest bad guys in the West, triggering and unforgettable finale that’s become an action comedy legend! Now available in pristine high definition, this is the definitive collector’s edition of this classic western.
Last Word: A love letter to the genre (as it was meeting it’s own fate), My Name is Nobody is a movie that is self aware of Western films and is better for it. With icons Terence Hill and Henry Fonda, director Sergio Leone and composer Enrico Morricone, the film stands as a quintessential Spaghetti Western and the leads have wonderful chemistry. A fun film for people who might not necessarily love Westerns; recommended.
Dexter: The Complete Final Season
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| Showtime Ent. / Released 11/12/13 |
It’s the beginning of the end for charming Miami forensics expert Dexter Morgan (Golden Globe Winner Michael C. Hall) as all 12 season eight episodes bring to rest the critically acclaimed hit series. He’s spent his days solving crimes and his nights committing them, but never before has Dexter had to deal with a more abhorrent and deranged enemy than he does now: himself. Six months after the stunning murder of Lt. LaGuerta, Dexter’s estranged sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) tries to cope with her guilt in her brother’s crimes, while an emotionally vulnerable Dexter comes face to face with a psychopathologist who knows the code that has motivated his ever murder. Filled with the dark twists and revelations that Dexter fans relish, season eight finishes Dexter’s twisted journey with a blood amazing send-off that will haunt fans forever. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: Dexter concludes it’s run with one of the most disappointing seasons in the series’ history. With multiple plot threads running the gamut from the return of Hannah McKay to the fall and redemption of Debra Morgan to the preposterous Masuka‘s discovery of his daughter to the introduction of Dr. Vogel and her secretive background; this season simply feels like a series of failed concepts as the showrunners attempted to craft a satisfying send off for the Bay Harbor Butcher himself. They didn’t. This final season (and series finale in particular) tarnished the series overall and crashed when it could have soared.
The Attack
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| Cohen Media Group / Released 11/12/13 |
Amin Jaafari (Ali Suliman) is an Israeli Palestinian surgeon, fully assimilated into Tel Aviv society. He has a loving wife, an exemplary career, and many Jewish friends. But his picture-perfect life is turned upside down when a suicide bombing in a restaurant leaves nineteen dead, and the Israeli police inform him that his wife Sihem, who also died in the explosion, was responsible. Convinced of her innocence, Amin abandons the relative security of his adopted homeland and searches for the truth about her life and death, uncovering a startling secret. Extras include interview, trailer and photo gallery.
Last Word: A first rate thriller, The Attack does an excellent job reminding the viewer that nothing is at all what it seems. How well do you know someone you love? Can you understand one person’s hate even if you don’t share it? The film tries to make sense of senselessness, but at it’s core presents the complications of love; seeing the qualities in people that you hope are there and ignoring the ones you don’t want to see. Highly recommended, The Attack stays with you long after you finish watching it.
Turbo
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| DreamWorks / Released 11/12/13 |
From the creators of Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda comes the biggest – and funniest – animated adventure of the year! Along with his streetwise snail crew and new human friends, Turbo, an underdog snail, takes on the biggest challenge ever to make their dreams come true. Extras include featurettes, deleted scene, and storyboards.
Last Word: With voice work by Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L Jackson, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Snoop Dogg, Luis Guzman, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph Burn, Ken Jeong and Michelle Rodriguez, Turbo might be Hollywood’s most ethnically diverse film of the year. Turbo isn’t revolutionary, but it is likeable and a solid of coming of age story that’s entertaining enough for family viewing. Recommended.
Blackfish
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| Magnolia / Released 11/12/13 |
Never capture what you can’t control. Killer whales are beloved majestic, friendly giants yet infamous for their capacity to kill viciously. Blackfish unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of the notorious performing whale Tilikum, who – unlike any orca in the wild – has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. Blackfish expands on the discussion of keeping such intelligent creatures in captivity. Extras include interviews, commentary and featurettes.
Last Word: A startling and heartbreaking documentary that will make you forever question operations like SeaWorld (and zoo’s in general). The ramifications of taking an animal from it’s natural environment and placing them in captivity are astronomical and as seen in this film detrimental to both the animals themselves, but to those entrusted in their care and maintenance. And while the film doesn’t have much to say other than “SeaWorld is bad” and why, it’s more than enough to touch a nerve and hopefully, initiate some change. Highly recommended.
Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition
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| Funimation / Released 11/12/13 |
Akira isn’t just a movie – it’s the genesis of a genre. Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated the boundaries of feature-length animation and forced the world to look into the future. Akira‘s arrival shattered traditional thinking, creating space for movies like The Matrix to be dreamed into brutal reality. Without Kaneda and Tetsuo, without espers and psionic assassins, without that iconic motorcycle – our work would be far less exciting place to exist. But the graphic novel became the movie and the movie became a phenomenon and the world took notice. Now, Akira is everywhere. If you can’t see it in the streets – if you can’t feel it crawling around inside your brain – then you have yet to be initiated. What are you waiting for? Extras include interviews, storyboards, trailers, glossary, trailers and featurettes.
Last Word: Not just the most influential anime films ever made, Akira continues to be one of the best. Like how Star Wars represented a revolutionary change in cinema, Akira did the same for animation (and cyber punk); one who’s influence that is still obvious in pop culture today. The Blu-ray looks and sounds great and this edition features two English dub tracks and the original Japanese I saw the film for the first time in 1989 on a bootleg video, long before it was commercially available in the US and was mesmerized. Revisiting it again over twenty years later, the film holds up and continues to inspire. Highly recommended. “Tetsuuuo!”
Farscape: Complete Series
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| Cinedigm / Released 11/5/13 |
John Crichton. Astronaut. Flung through a wormhole and lost in a galaxy far from home. He finds himself in the middle of a prison break, surrounded by hostile aliens, soaring through space inside a glorious living space ship called Moya. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with his unimaginably alien fellow refugees and searches for a way home.
A fusion of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape is a story of good versus evil, obsession, friendship, and even love and features mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters all brought to life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. No wonder it’s been called the most imaginative sci fi series in television history.
Sizzling with brilliant characters, breathtaking effects, high-stakes action, and irreverent humor, this series is like no science fiction before. Extras include commentaries, documentaries, featurettes, video profiles, deleted scenes, slideshows and photo galleries, interviews and original promos and trailers. Highest Recommendation.
Ben 10 Omniverse Volume 3: Aliens at War
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| Turner Home Entertainment / Released 11/5/13 |
Join Ben Tennyson and his new partner Rook for all-new out-of-this-world adventures with the Ben 10 Omniverse – Aliens at War (Vol. 3) DVD. Featuring never-before-seen Omnitrix aliens, this two-disc DVD includes 10 action-packed episodes from the series’ first season plus “Alien Reveal” and “Alien Database” bonus features.
Bonnie & Clyde: Real Story
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| A & E Home Video / Released 11/5/13 |
Bonnie & Clyde: Real Story from the History Channel looks at two of America’s most legendary gangsters: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. A love match made in hell, Bonnie and Clyde met during the Great Depression, when Bonnie was a poor waitress looking for excitement and just before 20-year-old Clyde was locked up for burglary. Bonnie arranges Clyde’s first escape, but he is captured and then sexually abused in prison. He kills the convict who attacked him – his first murder – and his prison experience sets in motion a bloody and vindictive crime spree covering five states. Clyde’s weapon of choice was the lethal Browning Automatic Rifle. He became infamous not only for his uncanny ability to escape but also for his ruthless use of this extreme firepower. After hundreds of law enforcement officers hotly pursue the pair and fail to keep Clyde in jail, a highly publicized jailbreak catches the attention of one of the country’s top man hunters, Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. On a lonely country road one day in 1934, Hamer and his team set a trap for the gangsters, armed – ironically – with Browning Automatic Rifles. And although the public would continue to romanticize them for decades, on that day, Bonnie and Clyde didn’t have a chance.
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
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| Kino Lorber / Released 11/5/13 |
Ricky Jay is a world-renowned magician, author, historian and actor (some of his recent starring roles in movies include The Prestige, Tomorrow Never Dies and Magnolia) — and a performer who regularly provokes astonishment from even the most jaded audiences. Deceptive Practice traces Jay’s achievements and influences, from his apprenticeship at age 4 with his grandfather, to such now-forgotten legends as Al Flosso, Slydini, Cardini and his primary mentors, Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller. Featuring rare footage from his 1970’s TV appearances (doing 3-card Monte with Steve Martin on The Dinah Shore Show) and told in Jay’s inimitable voice, this is a remarkable journey inside the secretive world of magic and the small circle of eccentrics who are its perpetual devotees.
Last Word: If you have anything more than a passing interest in magic and it’s history, you’re likely familiar with Ricky Jay. His expertise of magic, con artists, sleight of hand and misdirection are almost unparalleled which is predominantly on display in Deceptive Practice, a sort of “secret origin” for Jay. I’ve been a fan of his for sometime, having several of his books in my personal collection and found this documentary refreshing; Jay often comes across as cold and exact and this film finds him to be a bit warmer as he talks about his mentors and his passions. The film, like Jay himself, is magical. Highly recommended.
Power Rangers: Seasons Eight – Twelve
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| Shout! Factory / Released 11/12/13 |
The adventures of the Power Rangers continue with five outrageous seasons, each every bit as exciting as the last! Join your favorite Rangers from Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, Power Rangers Time Force, Power Rangers Wild Force, Power Rangers Ninja Storm and Power Rangers Dino Thunder as they take on some of the biggest, baddest villains ever faced! Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Power Rangers franchise with this extraordinary 26-disc set, jam-packed with 196 awesome episodes and tons of archival bonus features, as well as brand-new featurettes including interviews with some of your favorite Rangers! Extras include The Voice Of A Ranger: A Retrospective Glance At The ADR Process With ADR Director Scott Page-Pagter And Members Of The Power Rangers Cast, Mad Props!: A Look At The Unique Props Of Power Rangers With Prop Master Mark Richardson, A Web Of Fans: An In-Depth Look At The Thriving World Of Internet Fandom, Original Return Of The Ranger Featurette and more.
Last Word: Another purchase that will keep you glued to your couch for the entire winter, Power Rangers: Seasons Eight – Twelve, brings the Power Rangers back to Earth after spending the previous two seasons in space. Among the notable changes and additions of this set are introduction of The Titanium Ranger character was created specifically for the American incarnation of the show and did not had a Japanese counterpart. Also, the return of fan favorite Jason David Frank as Tommy, the White/Green Ranger. With this box set, the series had become established enough to be self referential and has a post modern sense of awareness that’s pretty fun. It’s also a tokusatsu style with kaiju and a tremendous amount of entertainment for viewers of all ages. Recommended.
MADtv: Season Four
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| Shout! Factory / Released 11/12/13 |
MADtv returns for its fourth outrageous season. Returning stars Phil LaMarr, Nicole Sullivan, Debra Wilson, Alex Borstein, Will Sasso and Aries Spears along with newcomers Mo Collins, Andrew Bowen and Michael McDonald serve up helping after helping of hilarious, irreverent humor: mocking some of the year’s most popular movies, stars and politicians. Nothing is off-limits for MADtv.
Last Word: Often compared to SNL, this taped sketch comedy serious draws inspiration from the irreverent magazine which it/s named after. Much of the work is based around impersonations, faux commercials and television and film parodies. A true testament to it’s time, the fourth season is a time capsule of 1998 in both the series itself and it’s guest stars which included Usher, Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Sorbo, Gary Coleman, Robert Englund, KISS, Bret Hart, Brian McKnight, Roddy Piper, Keri Russell Donny Osmond and Jerry Springer. Recommended for sketch comedy fans.
Ip Man: The Final Fight
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| Well Go USA / Released 11/12/13 |
In postwar Hong Kong, legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man is reluctantly called into action once more. What began as simple challenges from rival kung fu schools soon finds him drawn into the dark and dangerous underworld of the Triads. Now, to defend life and honor, Ip Man has no choice but to fight – one last time. Extras include making of and interviews.
Grabbers
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| MPI Home Video / Released 11/12/13 |
On Erin Island, an idyllic fishing village off the coast of Ireland, charming inebriate Ciaran O’Shea (Richard Coyle) is tasked with showing straight-laced police officer Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) her new beat. Not that there’s much to police, as most of the community s troubles are caused by O’Shea himself. But strange doings are afoot: the crew of a fishing boat disappears, whales start appearing dead on the shore, and a local lobsterman catches a mysterious tentacled creature in his trap. Soon it becomes clear to O’Shea and Nolan that there s something unnatural out there, and that it s hungry. So it s time to rally the villagers, arm the troops…and head to the pub. Extras include behind the scenes and trailer.
Last Word: Grabbers is one of those films that arrived under the radar here in the States and that’s a shame since it’s once of the more entertaining films in recent memory (trumping in many way the similarly themed The World’s End). Basically, Ireland is plagued by invading extraterrestrials and the only way for our heroes to survive is to drink alcohol. Lots of it. The film is executed with a tongue planted firmly in cheek and like Eight-Legged Freaks, Gremlins, Slither, Tremors and Shaun of The Dead, Grabbers does a good job mixing laughs with scares. A highly recommended old school monster movie that’s more than likely going to make multiple spins in your DVD player.
Stan Lee’s Superhumans Season 2
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| A & E Home Video / Released 11/12/13 |
Throughout history, the forces of evolution and genetic mutation have endowed humans with astonishing new abilities and features. It’s a process that continues to this day, and nowhere is it more evident than in the fascinating world of Stan Lee’s Superhumans. Co-hosted by Stan Lee, the legendary creator of the X-Men, the series scours the globe for the real-life counterparts of Lee’s characters – people with unique genetic traits that translate into remarkable powers. These include a Shaolin monk with an unbreakable body, a man who may be the greatest jumper in the world, and another who can control sharks. In each episode, these “superhumans” undergo tests that may help explain their amazing gifts, while viewers discover the long history of people with extraordinary powers. Daniel Browning Smith, who’s been dubbed the most flexible man in the world, hosts this thrilling journey into the farthest reaches of humankind.
Ambushed
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| Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 11/12/13 |
A tough DEA agent (Dolph Lundgren of The Expendables, The Package) looking to bust open the biggest case of his career. A vicious drug lord (Vinnie Jones of X-Men: The Last Stand) losing his grip on the streets. A dirty cop (UFC Legend Randy Couture of The Expendables) looking to grab his own piece of the action. And in an L.A. underworld where sex and violence are pastimes and every deal could be a double-cross, three very dangerous men are now headed for one bullet-blasting, bone-crunching showdown. Daniel Bonjour (RCVR) and Carly Pope (Popular, 24) co-star in this hard-hitting action thriller produced by Lundgren and Couture. Extras include featurette.
