That Time of The Week! DVD & Blu-ray Releases From 9/1/15

What a lovely day!

That’s right, kids!  We’re on schedule!  This week has a whole bunch of good stuff including Fury Road, some TV shows, Robin Williams’ last dramatic role and the first season of Star Wars Rebels, the best Star Wars that’s been produced since the original trilogy.

So, fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart…  

You know what time it is.

That time of the week!

Mad Max: Fury Road

Warner Bros. / Released 9/1/15

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.  Extras include featurettes and deleted scenes.

Last Word:   Somewhere in the world there is a 70 year-old man fulfilling the hopes
and dreams of every 1980’s post-apocalyptic, gear headed, would be
wasteland marauders and it is fitting that it is the man who started it
all, George Miller. Last year when I had first gotten wind that a new Mad Max film
was actually happening and that it would be starring Tom Hardy I was so
very pumped. It had been 30 years since we were taken to the barren
wastelands of the world after it all.

30 long years since Bartertown, Master-Blaster, The Waiting Ones,
Thunderdome. 36 long desolate years since Max Rockatansky first strapped
on the leather and drove his Ford Falcon XB interceptor V8 into
vengeful history.  In that time, Miller has given us not one but TWO talking pig films (Babe and Babe: Pig in The City) and TWO animated socio-conscience animated penguin films (Happy Feet 1 & 2). It is great to know that time and age has not dulled the man and deep down the wastelands kept calling to him. They must have been screaming his name. Like screeching twisted metal, it must have called to him. Mad Max: Fury Road was his answer. A triumphant return for its crazed and tortured main character.

Max is brilliantly portrayed by Tom Hardy. This role, to me at least, IS Mel Gibson. He will always be Max. Hardy,
justifiably stands as a perfect successor, worthy of the dusty leather
boots left behind by the sometimes troubled Gibson. Joining Max and providing his match is Charlize Theron as Imperator
Furiosa. She is Max’s equal all the way and is absolutely kick-ass as
the would be savior and hardened driver of the War Rig. She is as much a
Road Warrior as Max, with her own nightmares and horrors driving her to
take extreme means to find redemption.

I was impressed how Miller is able to balance keeping the film about Max
and yet incorporating and revolving the film around another’s mission
to save the few who have entrusted their lives with her. Miller himself doesn’t disappoint either. He has crafted a near perfect
action film, stripped clean of pretense, free of too much dialogue where
glances, grunts and short answers speak volumes. The characters’ back
stories are all fleshed out and rounded without having to stop the film
to tell us who they are and how they came to be there. On the edge of humanity lies something beautiful and something terrible. This is where Mad Max: Fury Road begins.

With the exception of a quick, exposition scene at the beginning, Miller
doesn’t weigh the film down with self referential, back-patting and
cajoling. He doesn’t have time to stop and say “Check this shit out, did
you see that? I’m still cool, mate.” He just is. He just does. In just
telling a story about people, seamlessly woven through the madness of
what basically is a 110 minute car chase Miller has found the perfect
formula. However, much like all of Miller’s films, nothing is really as it seems.
Under all the explosions and wreckage lies a brilliant film of
redemption. As with all the films in this series, we are past the brink and holding on with our fingernails. However, Fury Road provides us with something that is just out of reach in the previous three films… Hope.

Whether it be the lawless roads of a near apocalyptic future in the
original, the further decimation of humanity and civilization after the
nuclear holocaust of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior or the tenuous
society fated to doom because they still haven’t learned how to NOT
destroy themselves, hope is at the center of the story. Hope is dashed from Max in the first film, hope is dangled like a
withered carrot in the second, and hope is desperately planted by the
end of the third. Here, hope is attainable, maybe not in the way any of
the characters might have wanted or thought it would but there it is.
Hope. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is relentless.

Two minutes into the film the action and the insanity starts and it only
let up long enough to let the audience breathe for a second or two,
move the plot along and then it is off like a gunshot fired from a
speeding train flung off a mountain cliff via a jet propelled missile. Then it really gets moving. The action is non-stop, the explosions are spectacular, the stunts are mind blowing and the cast is brilliant.  Miller pulls out all the stops on this one. Holds nothing back and yet
finds a way to interweave a really poignant story about redemption,
equality and hope. If I was to pick one thing that I was not bowled over with in this film
it would be the color palette Miller and Cinematographer, John Seale,
chose.  So much orange and blue. I suppose that it is a natural (or un-natural, for that matter) choice
due to the setting of the orange and yellow sands of the Namibian
landscape and the blue of the skies but at times it seemed too heavy
handed and i missed the more natural, less saturated color pallet of the
first three films.  Color not withstanding, Mad Max: Fury Road delivers on all cylinders. Miller may have topped himself in the series and created the best so far. (– Benn Robbins)

Texas Rising

Lionsgate / Released 9/1/15

History brings to life the thrilling, gut-wrenching and inspiring true story of how the state of Texas fought for its freedom from the cruel rule of the Mexican General Santa Anna (Olivier Martinez), and the formation of America’s oldest and most legendary law enforcement agency – The Texas Rangers.

The Rangers began as a rag-tag band of outlaws, the “Dirty Dozen” of the old West. Led by Texan General Sam Houston (Bill Paxton) and his “Texian” Army, they fought off Santa Anna’s forces – as well as Comanche, outlaws, and banditos – to plant the flag of the Lone Star State of Texas.

From rough-hewn Rangers with Colt .45s on their hips to the legendary “Yellow Rose of Texas” (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), whose brains were matched only by her beauty, this is a story of the human spirit rising in the face of insurmountable odds and claims a piece of history for themselves.

All-star cast includes Bill Paxton, Brendan Fraser, Ray Liotta, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Thomas Jane, Olivier Martinez, Chad Michael Murray, Max Thieriot, Kris Kristofferson, and Jake Busey, as well as Jeremy Davies, Jeff Fahey, Crispin Glover, and Rob Morrow. Extras include featurettes.

Good Kill

Paramount / Released 9/1/15

From the producers of The Hurt Locker comes a riveting thriller about 21st-century warfare, where combat unfolds like a video game, but with real lives at stake. Veteran Air Force pilot Tom Egan (Ethan Hawke) yearns to get back into the cockpit of a plane, but now he launches drone strikes from an air-conditioned box in the Las Vegas desert. When he starts taking orders directly from the CIA, the stakes are raised and Egan’s nerves-and his relationship with his wife (January Jones) -begin to unravel. Featuring “Ethan Hawke’s best screen role in years”, critics are hailing Good Kill as “fascinating” and “exhilaratingly of the moment.” Extras include featurette.

Last Word: I didn’t think there was such thing as bomb-fatigue. Good Kill is two hours of drone strikes that increasingly make
the CIA look like merciless ass holes as the film progresses. Contrived
and void of depth, I was thoroughly disappointed in this film as it had
such potential to get personal and it never does. Andrew Niccol, writer of The Truman Show and Gattaca brings several of his trademark themes into Good Kill
– the complications of always being monitored and essentially
controlled and issues of being dominated by superior forces with little
regard for ethics.

Now, Gattaca was great – an original futuristic story with stellar performances, intriguing and mysterious. The Truman Show similarly had thought-provoking themes and great performances. Good Kill is repetitive, uninviting, and numbing. Character development is minimal if not absent. And the acting is very underwhelming. Good Kill is a series of monologues about the
tragedy of drone murder delivered repeatedly by Col. Jack Johns (Bruce
Greenwood). While the issues discussed are intense, Niccol really does a
poor job executing the importance of the fragile subject matter with
the repetitive speeches.

The director’s script is simplistic and boring (let’s remember that he also wrote In Time
– the man has serious hits and misses with his productions). It’s so
cliché that it becomes insulting to the genre of war stories, especially
in the wake of American Sniper. In Sniper, Bradley Cooper’s performance is dynamic and poignant. In Good Kill, Ethan Hawke’s is lazy and flat. His character, Thomas Egan, has no back-story – he just wants to fly
again – so it’s difficult to build any sympathy for him. A shame because
I believe Hawke is talented. I just prefer him as the philosophical
rambling charmer in Richard Linklater’s films. In this movie he relies
on his sulky squint, slight quivering chin, and deep raspy voice. The
tone doesn’t add to his character’s emotional instability, it’s a
useless prop that adds nothing.

January Jones, as Thomas’ wife, Molly, is, as ever, beautiful and bland (yes, I feel the same way about her in Mad Men).
Her purpose is to deliver cliché one-liners about her husband being
mentally far away, looking with exaggerated sorrow at her husband’s
vodka bottles, and finally, wearing tiny, tight, bright dresses just to
gain attention from her husband. Always for the husband, always for the husband, always for the – does
the woman have any life or independence? I always wonder why these types
of characters initially marry their military partners. We see it in American Sniper and The Hurt Locker, Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper are gentlemen, charming, intelligent and intense. They have good hearts and complex emotions. Thomas is a silent jerk. We are led to believe that he was once fun
during a single sentence midway through the film, but it’s unconvincing.
He drinks, he grills, he stares into space. I understand the
character’s struggle with his position, but Hawke’s portrayal of that
hurt is just unparallel to the performances of Renner and Cooper.

Zoë Kravitz, as Airman Vera Suaraz, has potential to be a good actress,
but here she is the stereotypical female rookie – talented and sharp at
first, then devolves into a tear-filled character dramatically opposed
to everything she has trained for. Additionally, she exhibits a very
misplaced and sudden display of hyper-sexuality. Definitely didn’t fit
into the film. There isn’t much else to say about Good Kill for which I feel a
little guilty about considering Niccol presents an intriguing topic. I
just don’t think he did an effective job, and as I’ve mentioned, there
have been far better films that deal with the complications of modern
war which are visceral and poignant experiences. (– Caitlyn Thompson)

Lost After Dark 

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 9/1/15

Spring Ball, 1984. Adrienne (Kendra Timmins), a straight-A student, joins her quarterback crush Sean (Justin Kelly) and some friends in sneaking out of their high school dance for some unsupervised mayhem. The teens’ party plans hit a snag when they run out of gas on a deserted road. They head out on foot and discover a rundown farmhouse where they hope to find help, but instead find themselves at the mercy of Junior Joad (Mark Wiebe), a cannibal killer from an urban legend. After the brutal murder of one of their friends, the group’s quest for help becomes one of survival. Will anyone survive the night?

The Harvest

Shout! Factory / Released 9/1/15

In his first film in nearly 15 years, John McNaughton, the director of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer harks back to the depravity that made his 1986 debut a horror milestone. But less based in reality, The Harvest is “a refreshingly old-school nerve-jangler with no need for paranormal monsters or flashy special effects” (The Hollywood Reporter).

Maryann (an impressive Natasha Calis, The Possession) moves in with her grandparents after she’s orphaned. Desperately lonely, the preteen sets out to befriend a neighboring deathly ill, bed-ridden boy (Charlie Tahan, Gotham), despite the outright disapproval of his mother (Samantha Morton, Minority Report, Sweet and Lowdown). Maryann’s persistence pays off, however, and during a series of secret visits she gradually uncovers some seriously sinister goings-on in the house…  Extras include commentary and trailer.

Boulevard 

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 9/1/15

Starring Robin Williams in his remarkable final on-screen performance, Boulevard follows married but closeted 60 year-old bank employee Nolan (Williams) whose spontaneous turn down an unknown street upends his monotonous life and crumbling marriage. After forming an uncommon friendship with a young, charismatic hustler, Nolan finds himself on a journey of self-discovery and must confront the secrets he has kept hidden from his wife (Kathy Baker) and himself. Nolan’s dramatic decision to rethink his own identity holds with it the promise of happiness and salvation for both he and his wife in this touching and inspiring film. From acclaimed director Dito Montiel, and written by Douglas Soesbe, Boulevard shines with an ensemble cast that includes Bob Odenkirk and Roberto Aguire in a breakout performance.

The People Under The Stairs: Collector’s Edition

Shout! Factory / Released 8/11/15

Wes
Craven wrote and directed this surrealistic horror-comedy which was
inspired by a true story of parents keeping their children locked in a
basement for years. Fool (Brandon Adams), an African-American teen,
breaks into the home of the wealthy landlords who evicted his family
from a ghetto tenement. A fortune in gold coins is rumored to exist
inside, but Fool discovers that the mansion is a chamber of horrors
presided over by a pair of incestuous, serial killer siblings (Everett
McGill and Wendy Robie). The
twisted couple has also tried to raise a succession of kidnapped boys.
Each botched effort is handled the same way — the victim’s eyes, ears
and tongues are removed, and he’s sent to live in the sealed-off
basement, where a colony of similarly deformed “brothers” resides. Fool
is able to avoid the evil lovers as he moves through the house’s maze of
hidden passageways. He discovers that the occupants have a daughter,
Alice (A.J. Langer), who has survived their abuse, so he rescues her and
they attempt to free the “people under the stairs.”
 
Also starring
Ving Rhames and Sean Whalen, The People Under The Stairs will grab you when you
least expect it… and never let go. Extras include commentaries,
interviews, behind the scenes, and trailer.

Home

20th Century Fox / Released 7/28/15

When Oh, a loveable misfit from another planet, lands on Earth and finds
himself on the run from his own people, he forms an unlikely friendship
with an adventurous girl named Tip who is on a quest of her own.
Through a series of comic adventures with Tip, Oh comes to understand
that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human. And
while he changes her planet and she changes his world, they discover
the true meaning of the word Home.  From
the creators of How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek comes the hit comedy
of the year featuring the superstar voice talents of Jim Parsons,
Rihanna, Steve Martin and Jennifer Lopez. Extras include music video, featurettes, deleted scenes,
animated shorts, jukebox and gallery.

Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season 1 

Disney/Buena Vista / Released 9/1/15

A spark of rebellion ignites in Stars Wars Rebels: Complete Season One! Star Wars Rebels continues the epic tradition of the legendary Star Wars saga with exciting action-packed episodes. It is a dark time in the galaxy as the evil Galactic Empire rules with an iron fist. Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet, ruining the lives of its people. A ragtag band of rebels — Ezra, Jra, Kanan, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper — have taken a brave stand against the ruthless oppression of the Empire in a fight to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. Extras include featurettes, Season One Recap, Season 2 preview, Star Wars celebration footage, gallery. Contains fifteen episodes and four shorts.

Includes the episodes:

• Spark of Rebellion (Parts 1 & 2): A group of rebels go on a mission to rescue Imperial slaves.

• Droids in Distress: The rebels intercept a shipment of weapons intended for the Empire.

• Fighter Flight: While on a simple errand, Ezra and Zeb steal an Imperial vehicle.

• Rise of the Old Masters: The rebel crew undergoes a rescue mission only to face a powerful foe.

• Breaking Ranks: Ezra goes undercover to retrieve vital information.

• Out of Darkness: Hera and Sabine are stranded but not alone.

• Empire Day: An Imperial deserter seeks the rebels’ help.

• Gathering Forces: Kanan and Ezra confront an Imperial force.

• Path of the Jedi: Ezra faces a challenge that will help him grow.

• Idiot’s Array: The crew is forced to transport some unusual cargo.

• Vision of Hope: The crew meets with others that oppose the Empire.

• Call to Action: The Rebels target an important Imperial network.

• Rebel Resolve: The rebels attack an Imperial courier for information.

• Fire Across the Galaxy: A rescue by the rebels increases Imperial presence.

Shorts:

• The Machine in the Ghost: As the Ghost is pursued and pummeled by TIE Fighters, Hera & Kanan give Chopper contradictory orders, driving the little droid to an unusual extreme. 

• Art Attack: Sabine shows off both her artistic and explosive skills against a squadron of Stormtroopers.

• Entanglement: Zeb is delayed when he gets into a fist fight with some Stormtroopers.

• Property of Ezra Bridger: Our young hero Ezra shows a member of the Imperial Navy just how much he appreciates their presence on Lothal.

7 Minutes 

Starz / Anchor Bay / Released 9/1/15

After becoming indebted to a psychopathic drug lord, three desperate young men are forced to commit a brazen robbery. What begins as a simple plan – ‘in and out in seven minutes’ – quickly escalates into a dangerous game of life-or-death. As each minute of the heist ticks by, true motives are revealed and unexpected twists ratchet up the stakes to a thrilling crescendo. The feature film debut from celebrated music video director Jay Martin, this stylish and fast-paced crime thriller stars Luke Mitchell (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Jason Ritter (Girls), Leven Rambin (True Detective), Kris Kristofferson (Blade Franchise, Watchmen), Zane Holtz (From Dusk Till Dawn), and Joel Murray (Mad Men). Extras include featurette.

Last Word: This first feature from writer/director Jay Martin is a surprisingly
tight, entertaining heist film. Martin stumbles here and there –
particularly towards the end – but he does a mostly commendable job with
a well-worn subgenre.

Three small-town friends from high school, Sam (Luke Mitchell), his
brother Mike (Jason Ritter) and Owen (Zane Holtz) have each fallen on
hard times in their twenties, especially Sam, who’s just been laid off
from his factory job, with only his pregnant wife’s (Leven Rambin) diner
waitress tips getting them by. Sam and Mike start selling pot together,
but when Owen is released from prison, they all decide they should go
for a bigger score.

They approach a dangerous, shifty local drug lord, but when things very
quickly go seriously awry, they are then forced into a desperate plan:
rob the local bank. They reason that since police response to a call takes around 8-10 minutes, they need to be in and out in 7 minutes. As is the case with the vast majority of heist films, things don’t go so smoothly.

The film begins with the friends’ arrival at the
bank, guns drawn. Then Martin freezes the frame, and we flash back to
three years prior. The rest of the film takes this fractured
chronology, and it’s an effective method to keep revealing secrets and
character motivations before the heist is fully carried out. Certainly this sort of structure has been used before – most obviously, and effectively, in Reservoir Dogs – but it stills works well here. It helps that in nearly every other aspect of the film, Martin does NOT ape Reservoir Dogs.
These aren’t hip, seasoned criminals willing to mow down anyone in
their way. They’re desperate, small-town kids not only looking to save
their hides, but also looking for a way out of their dead-end town.

Speaking of which, Martin and his actors and production team do a very
nice job evoking a palpable, American small-town feel. Filmed in
Washington State, 7 Minutes could take place in any of a thousand dying U.S. towns. Adding to that feel are the very believable characters of the lonely
local cop and the sad town “slut”, well-played respectively by Brandon
Hardesty and Mariel Neto. All involved deserve kudos for some rich,
short-hand character development, as well as using these characters
creatively in the narrative.

Mention must be made of the best performance in the film, Kevin Gage as
Tuckey. Despite his character’s seemingly cute name, Gage has never
been more menacing on screen, and that’s saying something. Yet another
terrific turn in an excellent career, one that reveals character with
brevity. Really, not a minute is wasted in this film (and at 78 mins without end
credits, not a minute can afford to be). But that brings up some of the
stumbles. With the short length and a few miscalculations
(subjectively speaking, of course) toward the end, 7 Minutes wound up feeling just a tad unsatisfying to me. It didn’t feel rushed or choppy, just….slight. And because the ending feels like the movie just ends, the movie has no resonance whatsoever. Having said that, 7 Minutes
has a great deal of merit, and while a minor film, it’s still an
involving and suspenseful entry in the crime genre. I’m looking forward
to Martin’s next film. (– Dean Galanis)

Wolf Warrior 

Well Go USA / Released 9/1/15

An elite squad of mercenaries just met their deadliest target. Sergeant Leng Feng (Jacky Wu), top marksman of the Chinese Special Forces, is jailed under court martial for disobeying orders. But he’s just the kind of fighter the Wolf Warriors are looking for.

Silent. Stealthy. Deadly. The Wolves bring Feng into their pack, honing his skills to a knife’s edge. But another team has Feng on their radar: a group of corrupt blades-for-hire, seeking revenge for the drug lord’s murder.  Extras include trailer.

Army Of Frankensteins 

Shout! Factory / Released 9/1/15

An unstoppable terror is set loose upon a nation divided… and history will never be the same! After a failed attempt to propose to his girlfriend, Alan Jones (Jordan Farris) is beaten within an inch of his life by a street gang. Transported to the mysterious lab of Dr. Tanner Finski and his kid genius assistant Igor, Alan becomes the subject in a series of horrible experiments as part of the doctor’s plan to reanimate the legendary Frankenstein monster. But all bets are off when these experiments lead to a hole being ripped in space and time, pulling an army’s worth of the infamous creatures from hundreds of parallel universes and sending them all back to the 19th century – directly into the heart of a bloody battle between the North and South! An over-the-top sci-fi/horror hybrid, Army Of Frankensteins is an outrageous film that dares to examine a history that never happened: The War Between The States… of Life and Death.  Extras include trailer.

The Curse of Downer’s Grove 

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 9/1/15

In suburban Downers Grove, Illinois, people call it “The Curse”: Before the end of every school year, one high school senior will die in a gruesome accident. And with only one week left, Chrissie Swanson can’t shake the fear that she might be next. Can Chrissie survive the curse of Downers Grove or will she, like those seniors before her, fall prey to the town’s deadly secret?

Inspired by true events and based on the novel Downers Grove, The Curse of Downers Grove stars Bella Heathcote, Lucas Till, Penelope Mitchell, with Tom Arnold and Kevin Zegers with a screenplay by author Bret Easton Ellis. Extras include featurette.

Backcountry

Shout! Factory / Released 9/1/15

This tense thriller follows a young couple who go camping in the Canadian wilderness. Alex (Jeff Roop) is a seasoned camper, but Jenn (Missy Peregrym) is not. When they realize that they have entered bear territory, the terror gets turned up to a whole new level.

Also starring Eric Balfour and Nicholas Campbell, and written and directed by Adam MacDonald, Backcountry is a heart-stopping, full-tilt run through deadly territory. Extras include commentary, featurette, trailer and gallery.

The D-Train

Paramount / Released 9/1/15

From the comedic geniuses behind Nacho Libre and Wayne’s World comes the movie critics are calling “outrageous and funny as hell.” All his life, Dan Landsman (Jack Black) has never been the cool guy. He hopes to change everything by befriending former high school hero Oliver lawless (James Marsden) and convincing him to show up at their class reunion. However, Dan’s plan hilariously backfires as the unpredictable Oliver proceeds to take over his home, career, and entire life. Co-starring Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambor.

Last Word: What starts off as a strong goofy comedy, quickly devolves into a
hyperbolic pointless plotline that isn’t entertaining in the least.  The D Train is an exaggerated bromance that claims originality by throwing in a sex scene between the title characters. Initially comedic for the ridiculousness of the scenario and James
Marsden’s delivery, the film ends up centering on the sexual encounter
resulting in a foolish production that is overacted and boring.  It
really seems like it will be funny for a moment, but no, it’s simply
pointless and off-putting.

The D Train is about a lifetime loser, Dan Landsman (Jack Black), desperate to make his high school reunion a grand success. His goal is to be the popular savior of the event by recruiting the
former leader of his class, Oliver Lawless (James Marsden), so as to
entice the rest of his classmates to attend. It seems it will be an
impossible feat given Dan’s complete lack of awareness of appropriate
social cues and off-putting demanding attitude. Dan is selfish, he’s mean, he’s whiny. His pants are high, the short
sleeve button ups are unbecoming, and his short cut, side-parted hair is
literally icing atop his unappealing, unpopular character. Jack Black usually has great timing as an effervescent, grungy dude with
shifty eyes and enjoyable outbursts. As Dan, he is annoying instead of
humorous. Black can do much better than his overdone performance in The D Train. Very disappointing.

It’s a shame no one noticed that James Marsden had
great comedic value ten years ago. He could have had some pretty great
roles instead of always being cast as the
perpetually-second-place-choice-for-the-girl guy (The Notebook, Superman Returns, X-Men), because his character, Oliver, is the only enjoyable part of the film. A washed up, one-hit-wonder actor – the national Banana Boat Sunscreen
spokesman – Oliver is rude, unkempt, and cocky. At one point there’s a
chance he may have some depth or sensitivity, brought on by the pedestal
on which Dan has placed him. But no, the director tempts us with that
potential character development, yet ultimately keeps Oliver a
narcissistic asshole.

A bi-curious, dumb, and manipulative asshole. Lawless ends up agreeing to go to high school reunion after his
seduction of Dan. Upon is arrival however, he overshadows Dan’s entire
life, making his wife laugh, giving sex advice to his kid, and partying
with the peers Dan has so desperately been trying to woo in his favor.
Boo hoo. At this point I was not amused. Just bored. Really bored.

Random plotlines are tossed about that are outlandish and unfunny i.e.
Dan’s fourteen-year-old son being pressured into have a threesome, his
boss’ (Jeffrey Tambor) naiveté about a business deal that will result in
the crumbling of his company. Note: While Tambor’s performance as the
ever-amusing doe-eyed technology-illiterate simpleton is satisfactory,
his character is implausibly idiotic. Other minor characters are flat and forgettable giving me no reason to discuss them. I will say this about The D Train, the soundtrack is awesome, and the montage of LA partying is visceral and fun. The only other compliment can be bestowed upon James Marsden’s spectacular cheekbones. (– Caitlyn Thompson)

Big Game 

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 9/1/15

In the rugged countryside of Finland, a young thirteen-year-old (Onni Tommila) embarks on a traditional quest to prove himself by spending 24 hours alone in the wild, armed with only a bow and arrow. After witnessing a spectacular crash, he discovers the escape pod from Air Force One, containing the President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson). When they realize a group of kidnappers is hot on their trail with the intention of taking the president, this unlikely duo must escape their hunters as they search for the American Special Forces team sent out to find them.  Extras include alternate unrated cut.

Skin Trade

Magnolia/ Released 9/1/15

With nothing but vengeance to live for, detective Nick Cassidy (Dolph Lundgren) ransacks his way through the Bangkok underworld in pursuit of Viktor Dragovic (Ron Perlman), the human trafficker who attempted to kill his family. As the crossfire grows more deadly, FBI Agent Eddie Reed (Michael Jai White) is sent to bring Nick home, while Thai detective Tony Vitayakui (Tony Jaa) questions the motives and methods that have brought Nick across the globe. Through dire circumstances, detectives Cassidy and Vitayakui must come together to destroy Dragovic’s human trafficking network. Extras include featurettes, commentary, interview and deleted scenes.

Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me

Virgil Films/ Released 9/1/15

In 2011, music legend Glen Campbell set out on an unprecedented tour across America. They thought it would last 5 weeks; instead it went for 151 spectacular sold out shows over a triumphant year and a half across America.

What made this tour extraordinary was that Glen had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He was told to hang up his guitar and prepare for the inevitable. Instead, Glen and his wife went public with his diagnosis and announced that he and his family would set out on a “Goodbye Tour.”  Special appearances include Bruce Springsteen, The Edge, Paul McCartney, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Steve Martin and Chad Smith among many others.  The film documents this extraordinary journey as he and his family attempt to navigate the wildly unpredictable nature of Glen’s progressing disease using love, laughter, and music as their medicine of choice. Extras include music video and Alzheimer’s PSAs.

The Surface

Entertainment One/ Released 9/1/15

A chance meeting in the middle of Lake Michigan forces two desperate
strangers, each on the brink of disaster, to confront their worst fears
in The Surface. Mitch (Sean Astin) begins this day with a visit to his
mother, confined to a nursing home with dementia, before motoring out to
sea in his late father’s 70’s era boat for a journey to the center of
Lake Michigan. As he settles in for what he envisions as a solitary
final ride, Mitch’s vessel collides with the wreckage of a small plane,
knocking off his propeller and stranding him in the midst of the vast
body of water. As the tiny boat drifts, Mitch discovers Kelly (Chris
Mulkey), the plane’s pilot, still clinging to the debris, and pulls the
severely injured man out of the water. Instead of being grateful, Kelly
is angry and suspicious, treating his rescuer like an adversary and
aggressively protecting a mysterious backpack. Out of cell phone range
and taking on water, the two men begin to reveal their real reasons for
being on the lake that day. As they confront the secrets and sorrows
that brought them there, they find inspiration in one another’s struggle
to survive. Also stars Mimi Rogers.

Dark Was the Night

Image Entertainment/ Released 9/1/15

Maiden Woods is a remote and quiet town of decent, hard-working people, but a long slumbering evil is awoken in the dark woods surrounding this isolated community. After a logging company decimates an area of the forest, a rash of increasingly violent and unexplainable events transpires. Sheriff Paul Shields (Kevin Durand) and his deputy (Lukas Haas) struggle to confront their own personal demons while facing down a new breed of raw terror that is possibly older than humanity itself… and much, much hungrier. Extras include behind the scenes and cast & crew interviews.

The Runner

Alchemy / Released 9/1/15

In the aftermath of the BP oil spill, an idealistic but imperfect New Orleans politician’s (Nicolas Cage) life and career are derailed by corruption, scandal, and deceit. In this contemporary political thriller, Nicolas Cage delivers a powerful and poignant performance as relevant as the film itself.  Co-starring  Connie Nielsen, Sarah Paulson, Peter Fonda, and Bryan Batt. Extras include trailers.

Harry 

Acorn Media/ Released 9/1/15

Still grieving his wife’s suicide, Detective Harry Anglesea (Oscar Kightley) returns to Auckland’s Major Crime Unit after bereavement leave in his native Samoa. Although he’s eager to jump back into the job, his self-destructive behavior hints that he may not be ready. His 13-year-old daughter, Mele, is even less ready for life as normal and desperately needs her father’s attention. But Harry and his boss, DSS Jim “Stocks” Stockton (Sam Neill), soon become engrossed in a high-profile case.

After a series of violent robberies turns fatal, the city clamors for the police to catch the killer. Harry traces the crime from a drug-crazed gunman to the street gangs that peddle methamphetamine, though there may be larger forces at play. But the investigation leads him on a downward spiral that could destroy his career and what remains of his family. Gritty and suspenseful, this award-winning drama probes the narcotics underworld of New Zealand’s largest city and the toll it takes on those caught in its grip. Extras include photo gallery.

Includes the episodes:

• This is Personal: The premiere sees Harry return to work to investigate a murder case after a ‘P’ user murders two civilians.

• He’s Very Important, This Boy: Harry continues with an arrest of the street dealers who supplied Lua with ‘P’.

• He’s the Weak Link: The investigation at the centre of Harry continues when the ‘P’ cook is caught while preparing for a ‘big bake’.

• Play with Fire: The investigation at the centre of Harry continues with the distributors who supplied the cook the Contact NT leading the police to the importers.

• You Lied To Me: The investigation continues while the importers operation is covertly surveilled in Auckland and Samoa.

• God Bless Brutus: Everything comes together as the new cook processes the drugs and the police close in. Gray continues his pursuit of Harry. Mele skips school and fails to return home. 

Iris

Magnolia / Released 9/1/15

Iris pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter) with Iris
Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven
who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for
decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about
creativity and how, even in Iris’ dotage, a soaring free spirit
continues to inspire. Iris portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm
for fashion, art and people are life’s sustenance and reminds us that
dressing, and indeed life, is
nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her
current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic
established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great
Depression. “I feel lucky to be working. If you’re lucky enough to do
something you love, everything else follows.”  More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity
and how a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. Extras include
interview and deleted scenes.

The Babysitter

Olive Films / Released 9/1/15

Harry and Dolly Tucker (J.T. Walsh and Lee Carlington), out for an evening at a party hosted by Bill and Bernice Holston (George Segal and Lois Chiles), hire high school student Jennifer (Alicia Silverstone) to babysit their two children. Jennifer will find herself the recipient of unwanted advances from her estranged boyfriend Jack (Jeremy London), a manipulative and threatening acquaintance, Mark (Nicky Katt) and – in the case of a very drunken Harry – the object of erotic fantasies.  What begins as a quiet evening of babysitting escalates into a series of emotional confrontations, physical altercations and a life-shattering event in the tension-filled The Babysitter.

Last American Virgin

Olive Films / Released 9/1/15

Written and directed by Boaz
Davidson, The Last American Virgin, is a coming-of-age story set in 80’s Los Angeles.  The film focuses on a close-knit group of high school friends, Gary
(Lawrence Monoson) the loyal friend; Rick (Steve Antin), the ladies man; and David (Joe Rubbo), the comic
foil, and their adventures to get laid even if it
means going toe to toe with a hilarious array of high-strung hookers,
naughty nymphomaniacs and naive high school girls. But when Gary falls
for the girl of his dreams only to learn that she’s about to become
Rick’s latest conquest, he soon discovers that having sex doesn’t just
mean losing his virginity, it may mean losing his innocence forever. Funny, dramatic and nostalgic, The Last American Virgin
chronicles the ups and downs of friendship, romance, and the bittersweet
memories of youth. Co-stars are Diane Franklin, Louisa Moritz, Brian
Peck and Kimmy Robertson and the film features music from such artists as U2, The Cars, and Devo.

Castle: The Complete Seventh Season

Disney/Buena Vista / Released 9/1/15

The wedding bells are ringing, but will Castle and Beckett really tie the knot? An astonishing turn of events tears television’s most lovable couple apart in a captivating new season of ABC’s beloved and inspired series. Experience every unforgettable moment with Castle: The Complete Seventh Season.

On the biggest day of his life, Castle is nowhere to be found…and it’s not because he has cold feet. Now, in a season of brilliant twists and turns, Castle and Beckett take on New York City’s most fascinating cases while they try to solve the mystery of their own relationship. Join them as they hunt for an “Invisible Man,” travel to the Old West and witness the return of their deadly rival, Dr. Kelly Nieman. Guest stars include Don Stark, Keith Szarabajka, Dale Midkiff, Tyler Hilton, Ted McGinley, Krista Allen, Mackenzie Astin, Michael Dorn, Vincent Spano, Arye Gross, Ivan Sergei, Lee Tergesen, Reiko Aylesworth, Gregory Harrison, Wallace Langham, James Eckhouse, Lance Reddick, and Jaleel White.  Extras include featurettes, webmercial, commentaries, bloopers and deleted scenes.

Episodes include:

• Driven: The season 7 premiere picks up right where last season’s finale left off. As Castle was driving to his wedding a black SUV came roaring at him. Beckett is worried when Castle doesn’t show up but soon she is called to an accident scene where Castle’s car is engulfed in flames. Now Beckett must find who or what caused the crash and determine if Castle could have survived.

• Montreal: As the rest of team looks into the death of a toy company’s CEO, Castle starts his own investigation after finding a lead in his mysterious disappearance.

• Clear & Present Danger: Castle and Beckett discover that the killer of a pool shark may have psychic powers as they hunt for the “invisible man”. Castle and Beckett make an effort to get their lives back to normal.

• Child’s Play: Castle goes undercover at an elementary school to find the second-grader who may possess information about the shooting of an ice cream vendor.

• Meme Is Murder: Castle and Beckett investigate an Internet star’s murder and find photos of the crime posted online by the killer, leading them to believe they’re dealing with a social-media sociopath who may be looking for more victims.

• The Time of Our Lives: Castle and Beckett are motivated to be wed after a murder investigation dispatches Castle into an alternate universe where he’s never met Kate, Ryan or Javier.

• Once Upon a Time in the West: Castle and Beckett pose as newlyweds at an Old West-style resort to discover the truth about a murder victim.

• Kill Switch: Castle and Beckett need to uncover a gunman’s agenda after he takes hostages, including Esposito, on the subway.

• Last Action Hero: After the star of Castle’s favorite ‘80s action movie is inexplicably murdered, he and Beckett investigate the victim’s secret past with help from a team of aging action heroes.

• Bad Santa: Castle and Beckett’s investigation into the shooting death of an ER physician leads them to a Mafia family run by an old friend of Castle’s. Esposito and Lanie reach a defining moment in their relationship.

• Castle, P.I.: When Castle is prohibited from working with Beckett or the 12th Precinct he gets his P.I. license and shows up at Beckett’s crime scene as a private investigator, where things don’t go as planned.

• Private Eye Caramba!: While Beckett and her team investigate the murder of a young telenovela actress, Castle is hired by the show’s star to follow the case from a different angle.

• I, Witness: Hired to look into possible infidelity, Castle unexpectedly witnesses the murder of his client by her husband, but there’s no proof the killing took place. Castle and Beckett look for the answers to expose the truth.

• Resurrection: Part 1 of 2: Castle and Beckett encounter an old rival, Dr. Kelly Nieman, while looking at clues in a woman’s mysterious murder, and then further investigation links an infamous serial killer to the crime.

• Reckoning: Part 2 of 2: Stakes rise as the 12th Precinct matches wits with serial killers Jerry Tyson (3XK) and Dr. Kelly Nieman. Castle and the team must crack the case before the killers claim their next victim.

• The Wrong Stuff: When an astronaut in a Mars simulation is killed, Castle and Beckett don spacesuits and enter the simulation to investigate. Much to their surprise, it seems no one inside and no one outside could have committed the murder.

• Hong Kong Hustle: While Castle and Beckett team up with a hot-shot detective from Hong Kong to investigate a man murdered in the park, Beckett realizes that neither her Hong Kong colleague nor the victim may be quite who they seem.

• At Close Range: Ryan’s assignment as part of a congressman’s security detail at a charity event puts him in the middle of an assassination plot. Castle and Beckett help him re-examine the events leading up to the shooting to apprehend the killer.

• Habeas Corpse: Beckett and Castle investigate the murder of personal-injury attorney Richie “The Pitbull” Falco by looking into his clients and competitors, but it’s a shocking secret they uncover that may be the link to his murder.

• Sleeper: A recurring dream helps Castle and Beckett discern clues about his two month disappearance but their search has deadly consequences.

• In Plane Sight: On route to London, Castle and Alexis’ routine flight turns deadly when the plane’s Air Marshal is found murdered. With Beckett’s help on the ground, they race to find the killer before he carries out his deadly plan.

• Dead From New York: Castle and Beckett are called in to investigate the death of Sid Ross, the powerful creator of the long-running sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Tonight”. As they delve into Sid’s life and his show, they discover a shocking secret that may explain his murder.

• Hollander’s Woods: In the seventh-season finale, a death occurs in the woods and Castle becomes obsessed with the case because it reminds him of a pivotal event in his childhood. Meanwhile, Beckett reaches a turning point in her life.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 1

Shout! Factory / Released 9/1/15

It’s Mystery Science Theater 3000, America’s only show that makes fun of really bad B-movies from the comfort of a spaceship floating above Earth.

Yes, this has all happened before, and it will all happen again. If you’re experiencing déjà vu, do not adjust your TV set (or tablets or phones), because it’s true: behold, again, the first collection of episodes of the beloved TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Why?

Easy: It had fallen out of print, and the only available copies cost as much as a used car. The episodes collected herein all spring from the same well of cheesy movies, MST’ie favorite Crown International Pictures. We’ve upgraded the presentation a bit, but most importantly, it’s available again and you won’t need to sell an organ to buy it.

So grab a couch and put on an old favorite. Joel, Mike and their robot sidekicks, Tom Servo and Crow, will riff their way into your hearts again for the very first time. Extras include non-MST3K versions of the films and original trailers.

Titles Include:

Bloodlust: Pirates, cannibals and “Mr. Brady”…. Oh My!
Two couples (Robert Reed, June Kenney, Joan Lora, and Eugene Persson) are on a boating trip when they come across an uncharted island. They soon find the island is inhabited by a wealthy recluse and his staff. While their host is initially hospitable, the four investigate and find themselves in the clutches of Dr. Albert Balleau (Wilton Graff), whose hobby is hunting both animals and humans. He quickly reveals his true purpose: to hunt down and kill each of his visitors, as he has done with everyone unlucky enough to set foot on his island.

Catalina Caper: Bikini clad nymphs swing their hips while Little Richard flaps his lips.
Beach parties abound in this youthful adventure that centers on two surfers-turned-detective as they look into the mysterious theft of a priceless Chinese scroll. Musical highlights include Little Richard singing Scuba Party and the Cascades with There’s a New World Opening for Me.

The Creeping Terror: An alien is eating couples in mid-bliss.
A mute alien creature lands on Earth in a NASA rocket and starts ingesting people. A newly-married deputy sheriff, a handsome scientist and an army “special unit” manage to defeat the creature. It is eventually revealed that the spacecraft containing the creature also contains another, similar creature that gets loose as soon as the first one is stopped. The second creature is eventually defeated as well.

The Skydivers: A skydiving film without the skydivers.
In this grim crime drama, the married owner of a skydiving school spurns the amorous advances of a rich and spoiled girl. Not used to rejection, she endeavors to destroy him.

The League: The Complete Season Six

20th Century Fox / Released 9/1/15

Things kick off on an up note when a league member drops dead, forcing the gang to draft at his funeral. It’s downhill from there, as Ruxin “juices” up his son’s play on the little league field, Taco starts a charity and things get awkward between Kevin and his urologist—all leading to a season-ending finale at a winner-takes-all beach house that sends out the season with a bang. Guest stars include: Jason Mantzoukas, Rob Huebel, J.J. Watt, Rich Eisen, Rob Riggle, Mark Cuban, Seth Rogen, June Diane Raphael, Jorma Taccone, Lizzy Caplan, Neil Casey, David Krumholtz, Nadine Velazquez, Brenda Song, Jerry O’Connell, Corbin Bernsen, John DiMaggio, Dan Castellaneta, Zach Woods, Bobby Lee, Jay Glazer, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Anna Camp and Adam Brody. Extras include Taco Tones, Alt Nation, gag reel and 18 deleted scenes.

Episodes include:

• Sitting Shiva: In the wake of Ted’s untimely death, the league drafts at his funeral. Jenny delights in Kevin’s Sacko punishment. No insult will stick to Andre. Taco takes up golf.

• Tefl-Andre: Russell joins the league. Andre gets help from Jay Glazer. Ruxin gives Geoffrey an unfair advantage in little league.

• The Height Supremacist: Ruxin is banished to South Korea, but remains in touch with the league. Pete enlists Taco Corp in helping get a raise at work. Andre anticipates a punishment that does not exist. Ellie takes Darren Sproles to her Sadie Hawkins dance.

• When Rafi Met Randy: Rafi & Randy’s tragic origins are revealed. Shortly thereafter, they are both committed to a mental hospital where they form a plan to escape together. Back in the present day, Rafi’s post-gunshot fate is revealed.

• The Hot Tub: Kevin and Jenny buy a hot tub. Pete’s new girlfriend (Brenda Song) causes an epidemic of hand-holding. Jenny shows houses to Taco. Andre takes advice from too many people.

• Breast Awareness Month: Kevin learns that his urologist is gay. Jenny uses a bandana to her advantage. Taco starts a charity. Pete tries to avoid people thinking he has “an Asian thing.”

• The Heavenly Fouler: Ellie fears for her parents’ souls. Pete must choose between a legendary prank on Andre and a spectacular girlfriend. Taco’s EBDB is compromised.

• Man Land: The gang spends the night in the forest and Kevin proves to his father in-law, Bruce, that he is, in fact, a man. Andre and Russell decide to open their own wine bar, and not on the greatest of terms.

• Taco Standard Time: The group’s acquaintance, Lane, becomes suicidal. Andre finds himself in an abusive relationship with his cat. Taco proposes an alternative to Daylight Saving Time.

• Epi Sexy: Pete’s girlfriend has epileptic seizures during sex. Andre claims he needs glasses. Jenny has to cook chow mein for Ellie’s class.

• EBDBBnB: Ruxin tries to solve the mystery of a toothbrush in the bathroom. Pete develops a gluten allergy. Andre invites everybody to watch the games at his wine bar, while Taco invites everybody to his new bed and breakfast.

• Menage a Cinq: Andre and Russell (Rob Huebel) open their wine bar. Pete dates one of Andre’s plastic surgery patients. Taco gets addicted to a new kind of herb.

• The Beach House: Everybody travels to Laguna Beach to settle the season and determine the winner of Ted’s beach house. Ruxin befriends NFL superagent Tom Condon. Jenny has trouble letting go of the Shiva.

I Am Dale Earnhardt

Paramount / Released 9/1/15

Following his tragic death on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt was immortalized as the greatest star NASCAR has ever known. I Am Dale Earnhardt digs deep beyond the legend to reveal the complex figure at the core of this icon known as “The Intimidator.” He was a hero to millions, but a villain to others; a working man’s hero, but also a darling of Madison Ave.; a husband, father and friend, but also a solitary man who few really knew. Extras include extended interviews and racing footage.

Vampire Diaries: Season 6 

Warner Bros. / Released 9/1/15

After spending an entire summer heartsick, grieving the loss of both her boyfriend and her best friend to the Other Side, Elena returns to Whitmore College for her sophomore year determined to move on. But Damon refuses to give up and makes his way back to Elena’s side, only to realize he’ll have to make her fall in love with him all over again. With Bonnie trapped in the prison world, Stefan on the outs with Caroline and Mystic Falls under an anti-magic spell, convincing Elena to start over will be no easy feat. Fall under the spell of Season 6 with all 22 seductive, supernatural episodes filled with heartbreaking loss, joyful reunions and powerful magic. Extras include featurettes, commentary, 2014 SDCC Panel, PSA, unaired scenes and gag reel.

Episodes include:

• I’ll Remember: Season 6 begins with Elena returning to Whitmore College for the start of sophomore year. Meanwhile, Caroline becomes desperate to reverse the anti-magic spell the Travelers put over Mystic Falls; Tyler has a run-in at a football tailgate; Matt worries that Jeremy is dealing with the loss of Bonnie in a self-destructive way; Alaric struggles to adjust to his new life as a vampire; and Elena learns the truth about what Stefan has really been up to.

• Yellow Ledbetter: Elena deals with the loss of Damon and turns to Alaric to help her move on with her life. Meanwhile, Enzo gets Caroline to help him find Damon and Bonnie; Jeremy spends time with a mysterious girl who recently arrived in Mystic Falls; and Damon and Bonnie reluctantly band together to uncover the mystery of where they are and how they are going to get back home.

• Welcome to Paradise: Elena and Caroline meet at a swimming hole where Elena plans to introduce her to Liam, but things don’t go quite as planned. Meanwhile, Tyler asks Liv for a favor; Stefan returns to Mystic Falls and notices a strange change in Elena; Jeremy makes a discovery about the anti-magic spell that could put Elena in danger; and Damon and Bonnie stumble upon clues that lead them to believe they are not alone.

• Black Hole Sun: Damon relives a horrible day in order to find his way home. Elsewhere, Alaric tries to help Jeremy cope with loss; Stefan teaches Elena about creating a new identity; and Tripp shares a dark secret with Matt.

• The World Has Turned and Left Me Here: Elena invites Liam to attend a party at the corn maze; Caroline helps Stefan clean up a mess created by Enzo; Alaric and Jo try to save lives after a devastating accident; Tyler is put in a dangerous position when his werewolf curse is put to the test; Damon and Bonnie make an important discovery that affects their quest to get back home.

• The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get: Alaric realizes Jo can’t be compelled, so he asks Elena to dig into her background. Meanwhile, Caroline learns Enzo has been captured by Tripp and tries to rescue him; Jeremy hits rock bottom and lashes out in a destructive way; and Damon takes matters into his own hands when he receives some upsetting news.

• Do You Remember the First Time?: Elena’s past comes back to haunt her; Jo opens up to Alaric about her tragic past; Stefan, Matt and Enzo resort to extreme measures when Tripp withholds information about his vampire-killing operation; Sheriff Forbes gets caught in the middle of a dangerous plan; Tyler and Liv grow closer; and Damon stumbles upon a startling clue that renews his hope.

• Fade Into You: Caroline and Elena host Friendsgiving at the dorm and receive news about the Gemini Coven; Tyler tries to help Liv after she and Luke reveal some disturbing information about their witch lineage and the impending plans their coven has for them; Jo reveals some painful details about her past; and Kai makes a dangerous discovery that brings him one step closer to his release.

• I Alone: Damon gets into trouble when he carries out a plan that requires Alaric’s unwilling participation; Elena is surprised by Jeremy’s reaction when she shares hopeful news about Bonnie; Matt takes matters into his own hands when Enzo’s actions cross the line; Kai continues to be a dangerous threat.

• Christmas Through Your Eyes: Bonnie tries to replicate her favorite traditions, while reminiscing about happier times with her friends; Sheriff Forbes brings holiday cheer to Caroline at Whitmore College; Alaric turns to Damon and Elena for help when Jo goes missing; Tyler approaches Liv and Luke with a risky plan; Jeremy helps Matt carry out a plan to take down Enzo; Stefan is forced to break some devastating news to Caroline.

• Woke Up With a Monster: Kai holds Elena captive while he learns to control his newly acquired magic; Liv and Alaric prepare Jo for the impending merge ceremony with Kai; Caroline travels with Stefan to North Carolina in search of a cure for her mother’s cancer; Enzo demands to know what Stefan is hiding.

• Prayer for the Dying: Liv and Luke try to convince their father to let Jo and Kai take their place in the merge ceremony. Meanwhile, Caroline’s plan to cure her mother takes a devastating turn; and Damon’s risky plan sends things spiraling out of control just before the merge.

• The Day I Tried to Live: Elena becomes determined to celebrate Bonnie’s birthday and tries to send her a message, but the situation turns dire when she makes an unsettling discovery. Meanwhile, Enzo enlists Matt’s help to interfere in the life of Stefan’s great-niece; Stefan keeps a close watch on Caroline when she unconventionally attempts to cope with everything going on around her; and Jeremy contemplates leaving Mystic Falls for good.

• Stay: Jeremy reminisces with Elena on his last day in Mystic Falls; Stefan and Caroline grow closer when they prepare Caroline’s family cabin for her mother to live out her final days; Sheriff Forbes turns to Damon to help solve one of her remaining open cases involving Elena’s parents; Enzo lures Matt and Sarah into a dangerous plan.

• Let Her Go: Elena becomes concerned when she notices a strange change in Caroline’s behavior; Alaric gets wary when Kai turns to Jo for help; Matt and Tyler contemplate a major life change; Damon deals with painful memories involving his mother; Bonnie finds herself in an unfamiliar situation.

• The Downward Spiral: Caroline gives her friends an unexpected ultimatum. Stefan tries to intervene and sets off a dangerous chain of events. Meanwhile, Damon learns some devastating news about his mother; Enzo becomes intrigued by Sarah Salvatore; and Bonnie begins to struggle with the effects of being back in the real world.

• A Bird in a Gilded Cage: Damon and Elena embark on a plan to rescue Damon’s mother who is trapped in a 1903 prison world. Meanwhile, Caroline’s plan for Stefan backfires; Enzo and Alaric’s attempt to reel Caroline back in doesn’t go as planned; and Bonnie’s unexpected gift shakes up Damon.

• I Could Never Love Like That: Stefan and Caroline wreak havoc at Whitmore when their humanity is turned off. Damon comes up with a risky plan to stop them that involves Lily. Meanwhile, Elena reevaluates her life as a vampire when she learns Jo is pregnant; Enzo opens up about his tragic past; and Tyler and Matt land in a dangerous situation due to a twisted round of karaoke.

• Because: Damon struggles with whether to tell Elena about the cure and talks to her about what life would be like if they weren’t vampires. Meanwhile, Bonnie discovers Damon betrayed her trust; and Enzo learns the truth about the day he was turned into a vampire.

• I’d Leave My Happy Home for You: Alaric and Jo reluctantly participate in their bachelor and bachelorette parties. Meanwhile, Elena turns to Bonnie and Jo for advice over Damon’s impulsive offer; Enzo asks Stefan to help Lily who is on a dangerous downward spiral; and Matt gets fed up with the supernatural threats that plague the town and takes his frustration out on Tyler.

• I’ll Wed You in the Golden Summertime: Alaric and Jo’s wedding day arrives with lots of last minute preparations. Meanwhile, Stefan takes Damon on a road trip to give him some perspective on his future with Elena; Caroline starts making amends for her rampage and comes to a realization about her prospects of being with Stefan; and Bonnie believes Lily is coming for her and enlists Matt’s help to take her down.

• I’m Thinking of You All the While: Season 6 ends with Elena in jeopardy when an uninvited guest arrives. Meanwhile, Bonnie takes matters in her own hands when she is put on the receiving end of a twisted plan; Damon is faced with the most difficult decision of his life; and Stefan realizes the lengths to which his mother will go to reunite with her “family.”

The Originals: Season 2 

Warner Bros. / Released 9/1/15

As Season Two opens, werewolves rule New Orleans’ French Quarter for the first time in centuries, leaving the vampire-werewolf hybrid Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan) plotting his revenge and vowing to take down anyone who poses a threat to baby Hope. As long-buried family secrets are revealed and the Mikaelson matriarch returns to make her demands known, it’s clear that a treacherous, bloody battle is in store. Join devious mastermind Klaus, noble-but-tormented Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and fierce mother-wolf Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) – now a hybrid herself — as they seek unusual truces, build vast armies and attempt retribution to reclaim power over the Quarter – and make it safe for a beautiful baby girl. With new alliances and thousand-year-old feuds, you’ll be captivated by all 22 ruthless and spellbinding episodes. Extras include webisodes, featurette, 2014 SDCC Panel, PSA, unaired scenes and gag reel.

Includes the episodes:

• Rebirth: Season 2 begins with Klaus plotting his revenge against the Guerrera werewolves and vowing to take down anyone who poses a threat to baby Hope’s existence. Meanwhile, Hayley mourns the loss of her daughter and struggles to adapt to her new hybrid status; Marcel tries to rebuild his home; Cami seeks comfort in a surprising place; and Davina tries to use Mikael against Klaus, but gets sidetracked when she meets the mysterious, yet charming Kaleb, who holds a few secrets of his own.

• Alive and Kicking: Klaus encourages Hayley to regain her position within her werewolf pack; Mikael tries to uncover a spell that will protect her loved ones; Davina and Kaleb are threatened when unexpected visitors crash their dinner; Klaus grows suspicious when a meeting with Cassie doesn’t go as planned.

• Every Mother’s Son: A dinner invitation from Esther makes Klaus and Elijah suspicious of their mother’s intentions, but they hope a new witch named Lenore can help them outsmart her. Meanwhile, Esther shares a secret about Klaus’ childhood and reveals what she has in store for her children.

• Live and Let Die: Davina takes Mikael to her family cabin in the woods; Hayley learns that Vincent is recruiting unsuspecting teens into a werewolf army; Cami tries to understand Klaus’ deeply rooted hatred for his parents; Kaleb tries to locate the missing white oak stake and has a dangerous encounter at the cabin; Josh opens up to an unexpected ally.

• Red Door: Esther forces Elijah to relive a time long ago when he loved a young woman named Tatia (Nina Dobrev). Meanwhile, Mikael takes Cami hostage in an effort to lure Klaus to himself; and Davina makes a troubling discovery about Kaleb’s true identity.

• Wheel Inside the Wheel: Klaus demands that Esther release Elijah, but she reveals a few dark secrets from Klaus’ past in an effort to make him an offer he can’t refuse. Meanwhile, Hayley reconnects with Jackson; Cami becomes suspicious of her faculty adviser; and a visitor from Klaus’ past arrives.

• Chasing the Devil’s Tail: Klaus searches for an antidote when he discovers Elijah has been afflicted by Esther’s magic; Hayley teams up with Klaus, Marcel, Cami and Josh in an attempt to take down Vincent; Vincent and Kaleb reconsider their strategies; Kaleb lets Davina in on some secrets from his past and brings her to a place he frequented in 1914.

• The Brothers That Care Forgot: Rebekah is pursued by Esther, but Klaus devises a plan to get Vincent and Kaleb to turn against their mother. Meanwhile, Davina turns to dark magic; and Hayley and Jackson stumble upon an ancient ritual that would get their werewolf packs out from under Esther’s control, but would require a tremendous sacrifice.

• The Map of Moments: Rebekah notices an unusual change in Elijah’s behavior, and meets Klaus and Haley at a safe house where they are reunited with baby Hope. Meanwhile, Kaleb sheds light on a spell he created in 1914; Cami learns Esther’s plan will put her life in danger; and Esther makes an unlikely alliance that could prove to be dangerous for Klaus.

• Gonna Set Your Flag on Fire: Hayley and Jackson bring the vampires and werewolves together to consider a truce, but Vincent places a spell on the compound where they are meeting and traps the two warring sides together. Meanwhile, Rebekah becomes trapped in an insane asylum.

• Brotherhood of the Damned:Vincent creates an elaborate spell to trap his brothers Klaus and Elijah. Meanwhile, Davina teams with the Originals to help Kaleb; Marcel tries to calm his volatile pack of suffering vampires and recalls his days as a soldier during WWI; and Hayley and Jackson learn they must participate in some unconventional and dangerous rituals prior to their wedding.

• Sanctuary: Rebekah becomes intrigued by a mysterious girl newly arrived at the insane asylum; Hayley struggles with coming clean to Jackson about the secrets she’s keeping and is surprised when he shares his own secret involving Hayley’s parents; Klaus tries to stop a marriage ritual that Hayley and Jackson must complete; Vincent attempts to uncover Klaus’ secret; Davina discovers that Josh and Marcel are in danger.

• The Devil Is Damned: Vincent joins forces with a powerful figure from his past; Klaus reluctantly places his trust in his siblings to protect Hope; Kaleb is forced to make a difficult life or death decision; Elijah fights for his life when an unexpected visitor arrives at the safe house; Hayley and Jackson prepare for the unification ritual but quickly become pawns in Vincent’s dangerous plan.

• I Love You, Goodbye: Hayley begins to question whether the ritual involved in her union with Jackson will actually work; Elijah has a tense encounter with Klaus and suspects his brother may be up to something; Cami learns a surprising revelation about baby Hope; Kaleb harbors a devastating secret from Davina and seeks help from Rebekah when he realizes time is not on his side.

• They All Asked for You: Rebekah aligns with Marcel when she encounters a coven of vengeful witches and discovers the body she is currently inhabiting has a checkered past. Elijah contacts a respected elder witch to help Rebekah. Meanwhile, Klaus clashes with Hayley and Jackson over how to protect baby Hope from Finn; and Freya convinces Finn to bring her to Mikael, the father she hasn’t seen in over a thousand years.

• Save My Soul: Klaus invites Freya to the compound to gain more insight into her past with Dahlia; Rebekah begins to realize the body she is inhabiting is trying to regain control; Jackson becomes frustrated when Aiden questions his leadership skills; Marcel turns to Vincent for help to save Rebekah.

• Exquisite Corpse: Eva Sinclair’s reemergence leaves Rebekah trapped, so Klaus puts aside his mistrust for Freya to save Rebekah’s life. Meanwhile, Hayley and Elijah learn more about Eva’s violent past; and Marcel turns to Vincent for help to take down Eva, but his plan takes an unexpected turn.

• Night Has a Thousand Eyes: Klaus comes face-to-face with a deadly threat when he tries to vanquish Dahlia. Meanwhile, Elijah and Marcel prepare a safe house in Algiers with help from Josephine; Jackson approaches Hayley with a risky idea; and Aiden becomes torn between his loyalty to Jackson and his secret alliance with Klaus.

• When the Levee Breaks: Dahlia gives Klaus and Hayley a deadline for turning over baby Hope, and they each devise dangerous plans in their fight against her. Meanwhile, Freya gives Rebekah and Elijah an ultimatum; and Marcel considers how to best deal with Klaus’ erratic behavior.

• City Beneath the Sea: Dahlia reveals to Klaus some startling details about baby Hope and makes him an enticing proposition. Meanwhile, Elijah and Freya come up with opposing ideas on how to handle Dahlia’s looming deadline; Vincent approaches Davina with an intriguing offer; and Hayley makes a difficult decision about her and Hope’s future.

• Fire With Fire: Klaus vows revenge when he learns he’s been betrayed by his own siblings; Elijah, Rebekah and Freya try to take down Dahlia; Hayley tries to escape through the flooded bayou; Davina considers an offer that would bring back Kol; Marcel faces a new threat.

• Ashes to Ashes: Season 2 ends with tensions between the Mikaelson siblings coming to a head. Meanwhile, Elijah and Rebekah reconsider their plan of attack against Dahlia; Davina gets a step closer to fulfilling her promise to Kol; and Vincent is torn between prospects of a magic-free life away from New Orleans and a personal obligation to protect Davina.