That Time of The Week: New DVD & Blu-ray Releases 10/13 and 10/20:Part One

Missed me?  More stuff coming this week, but for now check out some big popcorn movies, a few fantastic tv series, and several of this year’s sleeper films (Dope, Me & Earl & The Dying Girl).  Plus lots more.

Fire up that queue and prep that shopping, it’s that time of the week.

San Andreas

Warner Bros./ Released 10/13/15

After the infamous San Andreas Fault gives, triggering a magnitude 9-plus earthquake in California, a search and rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) make their way together from Los Angeles to San Francisco to save their only daughter (Alexandra Daddario). But their treacherous journey north is only the beginning. And when they think the worst may be over…it’s just getting started. Extras include commentary, deleted scenes, gag reel, stunt reel, and featurettes.

Last Word: San Andreas. Loved it. Full disclosure: I love disaster films. Climate change, volcanoes, tornados, the earth’s core, meteors, all of it. And now we have earthquakes! So suped.

Every trope and predictable sequence that make up natural disaster films is present and executed perfectly: an opening crisis followed by a scientific explanation of the movie’s featured disaster (in this case, earthquakes), a broken family, sad dad, doe eyed mom and daughter, and a doofy love interest with a little brother, all of whom fit cliché after cliché while spewing corny lines from a near non-existent script. And let’s revel in the glory that they are constantly running away from cracks, crevices and falling buildings that lead to everyone else’s demise but them. Message: never follow the hoi polloi.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays Ray, a divorced and melancholy rescue pilot – he was previously a military rescuer, which explains his wild helicopter expertise. Oddly, Mr. Johnson has the smallest role, but of course, the biggest biceps. He’s not the oh-so-intelligent and witty leader that Dennis Quaid or Pierce Brosnan is in Day After Tomorrow and Volcano, but he’s satisfyingly heroic and wears a furrowed brow with utmost dedication.

The mission of San Andreas is for The Rock to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco, his ex-wife in tow, in order to save his daughter from what will be the worst earthquake in history. Ray’s capable and breast-y daughter, Blake (Alexandra Daddario), is accompanied by her just-met-you-love-interest, Ben (Hugo Johnstone-Burt), and his charming younger brother, Ollie (Art Parkinson). They all meet just as California is imploding on itself. Of course the damsel is in distress and I just couldn’t help myself—I not-so-quietly exclaimed, “the British are coming!”

Joy. Pure empty-minded joy. Note, these performances aren’t good at all. There are occasional funny one-liners. But the focus of the film is to show the creativity of CGI creators and their ability to depict city destruction on the big screen. And as San Andreas is the first earthquake movie, I was excited to see what special effects it had to offer. Didn’t disappoint. I was actually quite impressed by the birds-eye shots of waving city grounds and collapsing buildings. Super unsettling.

Kudos to the team who choreographed the spectacular implosion of city after city.  I must mention Paul Giamatti, the distressed and knowledgeable seismologist conveniently discovers he can predict earthquakes just as the worst one in history arises. His performance definitely trumps Dennis Quaid’s (Day After Tomorrow) role as a scientist. And while he doesn’t have Pierce Brosnan’s (Dante’s Peak) charm, Tommy Lee Jones’ (Volcano) wit, or Bruce Willis’ (Armageddon) ferocity, he’s delightfully frantic and disheveled, perhaps as the ignored intellectual of these films probably should be.

Now, don’t be naïve and expect a “good movie”. To my fellow disaster-loving moviegoers, enjoy the silly ride. Remember, these movies are empty-minded funfests. But that’s only if you have a thing for natural disaster epics. So don’t go in expecting stellar performances or a heightened sophistication of the genre. Same rules apply to romantic comedies or horror films. You’ve got to enjoy the formula.

San Andreas is a fun action-adventure movie that’s on par with Day After Tomorrow and Dante’s Peak (with superior special effects) and most definitely above The Core and 2012. Obviously, all are good drinking games when played on repeat on FX. Enjoy the simplicity and ridiculous destruction. I certainly did. ( – Caitlyn Thompson)

Me & Earl & The Dying Girl

20th Century Fox / Released 10/6/15

Proving that the power of true friendship knows no bounds, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a uniquely funny, uplifting tale that will steal your heart and leave you laughing! Meet Greg Gaines, a quirky teenager trying to coast through high school while making hilariously mediocre film parodies with his “coworker” Earl. But when he is forced to spend time with a terminally ill classmate at the request of his meddling mother, Greg embarks on his most ambitious project yet: to let his guard down and connect with those around him in ways he never imagined. Extras include commentary, featurettes, gallery and conversation between director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and Martin Scorsese.

Last Word: A truly touching and emotionally resonant film, Me & Earl & The Dying Girl only stumbles when it dangerously tries to too hard to be quirky and irreverent.  Fortunately, it’s honesty, genuine charm and inspired take on the teen cancer genre make it one of the year’s best.

High school senior Greg Gaines has struggled most of his life to stay under the radar, never committing to any single social group. His only friend (who he calls his co-worker) since childhood is Earl.

Earl has spent much of his life growing up in the Gaines household, where he and Greg are introduced to films, foods and other ephemera via Mr. Gaines.  Together, Greg and Earl make short parody films, often based on art house films which look very similar to the work of Wes Anderson’s Max Fisher character in Rushmore mashed up with the sweded films of Be Kind Rewind.

Greg’s mother asks him to spend some time with classmate, Rachel Kushner, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.  The two become close and Greg for the first time, strives not to be invisible to this one person, having let someone in for the first time in his life. I honestly don’t want to go further into the plot, but director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and screenwriter Jesse Andrews (adapting his own book), do craft a film with some real emotions and fantastic performances.  My own mother battled cancer this past year and seeing Rachel’s struggle with both being sick and the side-effects of the chemo triggered an emotional sense memory for me while watching it. Olivia Cooke delivers a raw, honest and memorable performance. Me & Earl & The Dying Girl is a sweet, funny smart and sad film about friendship, life, death and growing up. Highly recommended.

100: The Complete Second Season 

Warner Bros. / Released 10/13/15

Season Two kicks off with Clarke and her friends trapped inside Mount Weather, a nuclear-hardened underground city where no one is safe, especially The 100. When Clarke escapes alone, it set off a chain of events for our trapped heroes, the adults on the ground and even the Grounders. Alliances will be made, friendships will be broken and justice will be served. With everyone fighting for their right to survive, our heroes will have to ask themselves a very important questions: How far will you go to save the people you love? Many will fight, some will die, all be will changed forever.  Extras include featurettes, SDCC Panel, gag reel and unaired scenes.

Episodes include:

• The 48: In the season premiere, Clarke is still trapped, while the fate of Bellamy, Finn & Raven is still unknown. Meanwhile, the survivors of the Ark face a dangerous new world.

• Inclement Weather: Clarke demands answers from President Wallace. Kane interrogates one of The 100, and Abby performs emergency surgery. Meanwhile, Octavia resorts to violence to find Lincoln.

• Reapercussions: Nothing is what it seems. When Clarke discovers a horrifying project being carried out in Mount Weather’s medical ward, she joins forces with an unlikely ally.

• Many Happy Returns: After being betrayed, Clarke takes matters into her own hands and proves she’s not going down without a flight. Bellamy, Finn and Murphy race against time to save a stranger.

• Human Trials: While Kane leads a mission to make peace with the Grounders, Lincoln enters a world of pain. And Finn’s search for Clarke takes a violent turn.

• Fog of War: Tensions run high between Clarke & Finn, while Octavia faces her worst nightmare. As Jasper & Monty discover the truth about Mt. Weather, Wallace is about to be betrayed.

• Long Into An Abyss: Clarke comes up with a bold new plan to stop the Grounders’ attack, leading Abby to a desperate decision. Meanwhile, Jasper & Monty question the motives of their new friends.

• Spacewalker: Clarke returns to Camp Jaha with devastating news. Finn struggles with the aftermath of his actions. Abby gathers information from an unlikely source and prepares for a fight.

• Remember Me: Clarke strikes a deal with Lexa & Indra, while a seething Raven is unable to control her emotions. A move threatens to destroy the alliance between the Sky People & the Grounders.

• Survival of the Fittest: Clarke and Lexa encounter a new enemy, while Bellamy and Lincoln team up to break into Mt. Weather. Meanwhile, Murphy helps Jaha confront his past, Indra makes Octavia an offer.

• Coup de Grace: Bellamy and Lincoln’s attempt to sneak into Mount Weather has brutal consequences, while Abby fights to stay in control as Clarke steps up in her new leadership role.

• Rubicon: Tensions between Clarke and Abby come to a head after Clarke crosses the line. Raven helps Bellamy navigate Mount Weather, where things reach a breaking point.

• Resurrection: Clarke begins to question Lexa’s leadership decisions and Abby struggles to help an injured Kane. Meanwhile, at Mount Weather, Jasper steps up into the role of leader.

• Bodyguard of Lies: Before battle, Clarke & Lexa have a heated discussion. Desperate for help, Raven summons Wick. Jaha & Murphy encounter a perilous roadblock, while Bellamy’s in a race against time.

• Blood Must Have Blood – Part One: While Clarke and Lexa prepare for battle, Octavia and Lincoln are forced to make a difficult decision in the first part of the epic two-part season finale.

• Blood Must Have Blood Part 2: In the second part of the epic season finale, the journey to the City of Light continues. Clarke receives help from an unexpected source and Lincoln gets his revenge.

Aladdin: Diamond Edition

Disney / Released 10/13/15

Disney’s beloved masterpiece will make your heart race and your spirit soar. Experience the laughter, adventure, and Academy Award-winning music (1992: Best Music, Original Song, “A Whole New World,” Original Score) for the first time on Blu-ray and Digital HD. And now Aladdin shines even brighter with never-before-seen tributes to the enchanting talent of Robin Williams, the “Genius behind the Genie.”  Extras include Genie outtakes, featureless, commentary, deleted songs, deleted and alternate scenes, trailers, music videos and more.

Last Word: No actor might be a better fit for an animated role than Robin Williams’ portrayal of Aladdin‘s Genie.  The first feature length Disney film that captures the spirit of competitor Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes, Aladdin is a fast and clever film that benefits from bold, bright colors and a palpable kinetic energy that is entertaining for the entire family.  It’s far from Disney’s most sophisticated plot, but it’s good nature, adventure, humor and spectacle make it one of the studio’s best releases in the past three decades.  Robin Williams not only steals the show, but he also commands it, setting the pace and tone for much of the movie.  Revisiting this magical film is a wonderful testament to the legacy of the late comedian and with this presentation, it’s never looked or sounded better.  Highest recommendation.

Ascension

Lionsgate/ Released 10/13/15

The sci-fi mystery miniseries Ascension offers a truly refreshing premise as it follows a colony of humans halfway into a ventury-long secret space mission. When a young woman is murdered aboard the U.S. Orion-class spaceship, conflicts arise and the inhabitants question their purpose as the saviors of mankind.  Extras include featurette.

Episodes include:

• Night One: The crew of the starship Ascension have been in space for 50 years, since launching in the 1960s to avoid a nuclear war. However, now the ship’s first murder threatens to turn the crew against each other and disrupt everything that they’ve worked for.

• Night Two: Aaron continues investigating the sabotage, while Viondra tries to learn which of her stewardesses is secretly working for Rose. Meanwhile, Ophelia goes into a coma after receiving an inoculation meant for Christa. In the present day, Samantha meets with a conspiracy theorist investigating the disappearance of seventy scientists in 1963.

• Night Three: The Ascension passengers are in for many surprises when the selection of families eligible for birthing rights is announced; the Denningers work together to secure their power and upset Councilman Rose; and Viondra seizes an opportunity to assert her dominance when a mysterious power surge knocks out systems on the ship.


Call Me Lucky

MPI / Released 10/13/15

An inspiring, triumphant and poignant portrait of one of comedy’s most enigmatic and important figures, Call Me Lucky tells the story of Barry Crimmins, a beer-swilling, politically outspoken and whip-smart comic whose efforts in the 70s and 80s fostered the talents of the next generation of standup comedians. But beneath Crimmins’ gruff, hard-drinking, curmudgeonly persona lay an undercurrent of rage stemming from his long-suppressed and horrific abuse as a child – a rage that eventually found its way out of the comedy clubs and television shows and into the political arena. Featuring intimate interviews with both comedians and activists alike, director Bobcat Goldthwait’s (World’s Greatest Dad, God Bless America) Call Me Lucky bravely tells Crimmins’ incredible story of transformation from a rage-fueled funnyman into an acclaimed proponent of justice who personified the healing power of comedy.

Company Business

Kino Lorber/ Released 10/13/15

It’s not the company you keep… it’s the company that keeps you! The Cold War may be over, but things are about to heat up again! Screen legend Gene Hackman (The Package, Prime Cut) teams up with Mikhail Baryshnikov (White Nights) in this fast paced, thrill a minute ride that hurtles through Europe, culminating in a death defying confrontation a top the Eiffel Tower! When an ex-CIA agent (Hackman) is called out of retirement to escort a Soviet spy (Baryshnikov) to Berlin for a prisoner trade with the Russians, it seems like business as usual. But when the former adversaries realize they’ve been double crossed by their own governments, they must work together to uncover and destroy the double operatives within both the CIA and the KGB to win this intricate and deadly game. Written and directed by Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) and featuring wonderful performances by the two leads, Kurtwood Smith (Robocop) and Terry O’Quinn (The Stepfather). Extras include featurettes, sound bites, selected B-rolls and trailers.

Dope

Universal / Released 10/13/15

Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is a geek into old-school rap who finds himself in the middle of an adventure involving shady drug dealers, offbeat weirdos and a backpack that can make or break his chance of getting into Harvard. Also starring rapper A$AP Rocky, Blake Anderson (TV’s Workaholics) and Zoe Kravitz. Extras include featurettes.

Last Word: Dope stars the engaging Shameik Moore as Malcolm, the ’90s hip-hop-obsessed geek who’s down with computer coding, skateboarding, his punk band, perfect SAT scores and Harvard dreams while trying to survive life in the ’hood known as The Bottoms in Inglewood, Calif. The chemistry between Malcolm and his friends, the polyracial geek Jib (Tony Revolori) and butch lesbian Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), feels honest, natural and provides some good comedy in the way you expect from teen movies. The movie revels in its blerd bona fides: ’90s nostalgia, indie black artists, feeling not black enough for the cool kids in high school. Pharrell Williams throws in original songs, Forest Whitaker provides narration, Sean “Diddy” Combs is an executive producer. So why, did I just not dig this movie?

I’m torn. I really am. I wanted to like Dope a lot. It has so much going for it, and so much I didn’t care for. Most likely I need to see it again, but as of now I don’t know what to make of it. Part of it may be that Dope feels like a few different movies rolled into one, and they don’t all fit. There’s the dope deal gone bad movie. The coming of age in the ’hood movie, which inevitably is a crime drama. The Very Important Race Message movie. The adolescent comedy movie, which often involves some version of a virginity movie featuring a girl as sex object – and that happens in Dope in gratuitous, scolding fashion. And there’s the morality of the afterschool special. However, Dope does a good job of how tenuous life can be in the ’hood, a place where bad things happen indiscriminately at any time, where death can come for you simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. So many of Malcolm’s decisions in the movie come down to “do this or die.”

In these moments, the drama gels better, the movie flies easier as it flips between comedy of errors and tragedy of circumstance. We’ve long had those race movies, with their gritty realism to place the unjust urban jungle as elucidation to white eyes and validation to black eyes. We had a boom of them in the ‘90s, including Boyz N The Hood, Menace II Society, and Fresh – a story about a young black boy caught in the drug trade of the ’hood.

With Dope, in case you couldn’t get the Very Important Race Messages, the movie throws them onto its mouthpiece character, Malcolm, who apparently is standing in for writer-director Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar), right down to a Nigerian surname. Before Malcolm gets to speak about how he’s special in relation to racial expectations, the narrator makes sure to point out how Malcolm is a black nerd and stuff, and then largely disappears until it’s time to introduce the one white character, a slacker-hacker named Will (Workaholics’ Blake Anderson). Sure, Dope could have just played out and you’d pick up how Malcolm is and what his life is like, but instead the movie’s gotta tell you, not show you. “Look! Blacks are geeks too!” “They like indie ‘white people shit’ such as TV on the Radio and Donald Glover!” But Dope won’t stop there. It’s ready to smash all the stereotypes and tell you it’s doing so, repeatedly.

“The geek becomes a gangsta!” “The movie’s gangsta is geeky about his hip-hop and knowledge of the ‘slippery slope’ concept!” “The rich fake-gangsta (aka a wanksta) pronounces soft C’s like B’s, saying ‘bereal’ in his rap!” That boy licking the 2 Live Crew album cover of bethonged women? It’s a girl! Never met a “stud” – a butch, black lesbian – before? Well, now you have! LOOK AT HOW MUCH THIS MOVIE IS UPENDING STEREOTYPES! And furthermore, we’re confronted with someone who proves you can take the boy out of the ’hood, but you can’t take the ‘hood out of the boy. Malcolm outwits this man at his own game by combining his book smarts and street smarts for good instead of evil.

How can Malcolm pull this off? Because, as Malcolm straight-up tells his streetwise crush Nakia (Zoe Kravitz, looking like Poetic Justice-era Janet Jackson, doing a lot with little), he’s “not one of them niggas.” Between the self-consciously downscale use of the N-word by Malcolm’s friends, to a drawn-out bit about Blake from Workaholics not being allowed to say it, Dope works so hard to downplay any affiliation to present-day, mainstream blackness to the point that their blerdery feels like a repudiation of blackness (or whites’ ideas of blackness) rather than celebrating one of many versions of blackness in their panoply. If the movie didn’t spend so much of its time setting up Malcolm as an inward-directed “not one of them niggas,” maybe his spoken-word LOOK I’M DEFYING STEREOTYPES Harvard admissions essay near the end of the film wouldn’t have rung hollow with me.

Yes, you can string Malcolm’s alternative blackness together with the racism and white supremacy that turns black people into a monolith, and forces them into neighborhoods such as The Bottoms. Malcolm’s meetings with check cashing mogul Austin Jacoby (Roger Guenveur Smith, a high priest of black art as uplift) could have depicted those dichotomies of living while black and achieving access to halls of power such as the Ivy League. But we don’t get much of that, as most of the movie lives on without an active white gaze and larger social critique. We get the school guidance counselor, who’s black, telling Malcolm that he’s arrogant for wanting to send an admissions essay that’s a fan theory on what day was depicted in Ice Cube’s song “Today Was A Good Day.” (Which sounds like an awful idea for a college essay, by the way, especially after Cube himself dispelled all theories back in 2012.)

In a fit of pique after the drama that drove the plot is very tidily wrapped up, we get Malcolm literally standing at a microphone telling Harvard’s admissions office that they wouldn’t expect this poor black kid from Inglewood to be a nerd, play punk rock, skateboard, but to be a drug dealer statistic, when – SURPRISE – he’s both! In trying to confront stereotypical views of blackness both inside and outside the race, Malcolm is positioned as a Special Negro. He’s “not one of them niggas”! How this all comes together into one message, I can’t tell you.

Maybe this movie didn’t impress me so much because I’ve lived a good chunk of these dichotomies. I was a teenage black nerd in the ’90s that Malcolm, Diggy and Jib revere. Malcolm might not have liked being called Urkel all the time like I was back then. I spent one half of my childhood in the ’hood during the 1980s crack epidemic from which my parents worked hard to shelter my brother and me. I spent the other half in a mixed neighborhood on the outskirts of Philadelphia and wound up at a predominately white preparatory school in the suburbs. I went to Harvard, too. Those four years were spent navigating new pitfalls of bigotry while trying to finish growing up, and coming home a changed person worried about being seen as a sellout by fellow blacks or the target of a thousand you-think-you’re-better-than-mes from whites.

It also was an awesome time of studying deeply with social analysis, black American literature, liberation philosophy and black feminism with some the nation’s premier academic minds. Thanks to Harvard, I worked with some amazing artists, whether through the Kuumba Singers, the Harvard Black Arts Festival and spoken word performance. And it was a place where I engaged with all kinds of super-intelligent, super-amazing black people, and a place to which I return to cheer on my friends working on the place from the inside. All that happened at Harvard, considered such a hallmark of whiteness that Dope throws up there more as a concept than anything else – consider it The Tops, a polar opposite of Malcolm’s The Bottoms neighborhood.

Dope tells you, and tells you, from its overwrought narration that doesn’t need to be there, to the “them niggas” comments, to Malcolm’s boasty manifesto. When Malcolm says, “Why do I want to go to Harvard? Would you ask me that if I wasn’t black?” a pair of black women sitting next to me in the theater snapped their fingers in preaching-to-the-choir approval against Harvard the straw man-for-The Man. But I rolled my eyes. That’s not an unfair question at a college interview. I’ve interviewed Harvard applicants, and I’ve asked that question. You want to know what someone, with their skills and abilities and smarts, specifically wants out of Harvard. It’s kinda helpful. Is Famuyiwa saying that Harvard doesn’t take ’hood kids? Yes, Harvard and select private colleges definitely underrepresent in a major way recruiting students from poor and working-class backgrounds. Yet even at Harvard, those black ’hood kids were many of my classmates and friends.

We’re already there, folks. And while my experience may not be all that typical, I am no Special Negro. All that said, regardless of how torn I am about Dope, I’m still glad it got made. I want more movies hitting the mainstream like Justin Simien’s Dear White People, or Dee Rees’ Pariah and Bessie: films that depict the diversity of life among people of color while also telling a good, compelling story. And that would include movies starring blerds, about blerds, by blerds. Dope didn’t really hit the mark for me. Ultimately, I didn’t know its message or its target, except to yell, “We’re not all the same.” In these times, conversations about race can be more sophisticated than that; mine are every day, even with folks who aren’t as conscious / knowledgeable on race stuff. It had the feel of 42-year-old Famuyiwa trying to say something profound about blackness in the 21st century, but using 20th-century vocabulary. But, hey, it’s a start. ( – Marvin C. Pittman)

Edward Scissorhands: 25th Anniversary Edition

20th Century Fox/ Released 10/13/15

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this beloved masterpiece starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton. Depp delivers the performance that launched his career, as Edward, an irresistibly charming creation with razor-sharp metal hands and a heart of gold. Edward’s lonely life in a Gothic castle changes forever when he meets a kindhearted Avon Lady (Dianne Wiest), who takes him to a pastel paradise known as Suburbia. Thanks to his fantastic talents, Edward becomes a neighborhood sensation, but when he falls in love with Kim (Winona Ryder), he must go to extraordinary lengths to protect her. Extras include featurettes, commentaries and trailers.

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour: Christmas Specials

Shout! Factory / Released 10/13/15

These specially selected episodes from Glen’s classic variety series deliver a stocking full of laughter, music, and holiday cheer for you and your family. Featuring guest appearances from such favorites as Andy Griffith, Cher, George Gobel, Jerry Reed, Anne Murray and Shecky Greene. Musical performances include “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “Jingle Bells,” “The Christmas Song,” “Deck the Halls,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Joy to the World,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Try a Little Tenderness,” and “Dock of the Bay”.

IndiePix Mix 10

IndiePix/ Released 10/13/15

Since 2004, IndiePix has scoured festivals the world over for the most memorable and compelling films across every genre, as well as the freshest and most original new voices in cinema. The IndiePix Mix 10 is a specially-curated collection of award-winning gems from leading arthouse distributor, IndiePix Films offers an intriguing blend of drama, comedy and documentary.

The 10 DVDs featured in the IndiePix Mix 10 collection includes:

• All My Friends Are Funeral Singers: This unique, atmospheric fable, an official selection of both Sundance and SXSW 2010, was the avant-garde feature-length debut of Califone’s talented front man Tim Rutili, who both wrote and directed. Rather than rattling old chains, the spirits in All My Friends Are Funeral Singers play experimental music in the upstairs bedroom of a psychic adviser’s home. The ghosts came with the building, inherited by Zel (Angela Bettis, Girl, Interrupted, TV’s “Carrie”) from her mystic-minded grandmother, and now they want out in this mind-altering experimental movie which Paste Magazine called, “a little gem of a film…directed with a light, deft touch”.

• Artois The Goat: Foodies everywhere are sure to savor this “nutty, spry, altogether charming picture about love and artisanal cheese-making” with festival favorite Artois The Goat, a comedy invoking the passion of Chocolat, the humor of Amelie and the comedic precision of Wes Anderson. Delectable and perfectly aged, this surreal comedy from brothers Cliff and Kyle Bogart, follows hapless lab technician Virgil Gurdies’ and his epic quest to create nothing less than the greatest goat cheese the world has ever known to reclaim his girlfriend’s heart. Certain to be a feast for nearly all of the senses, the festival favorite captured the Gold Medal Jury Prize Winner at the Park City Film Music Festival for Brian Satterwhite’s original score.

• The Axe in the Attic: Focusing on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, two filmmakers, drawn together by outrage, take a sixty-day roadtrip from New England to New Orleans. Along the way they meet evacuees and witness the loss, dignity, perseverance, and humor of people who have become exiles in their own country. The breakdown of trust between a government and its citizens, the influence of race, class, and gender – as well as the ethics of documentary filmmaking itself – form the backdrop for this universal story of the search for home, which has gone on to garner stellar reviews and impassioned reaction, including 3 stars from Roger Ebert who called it “shattering”.

• Candyman: It’s time to spill the beans in Candyman, a documentary recounting the amazing true story of David Klein, an eccentric candy inventor from LA who came up with the concept of Jelly Belly jellybeans. These colorful beans became a pop culture phenomenon, revolutionized the candy industry and were personally endorsed by Ronald Reagen. However, David’s eccentric personality and peculiar sense of business led him to leave Jelly Belly just as it was about to explode and grow into a billion dollar enterprise. Is there room for eccentric genius in the modern corporate world? The film tells how Klein may have lost his beans, but kept his soul.

• The Devilles: The non-fiction debut of director Danish director Nicole Nielsen Horanyi, The Devilles is a verite glimpse into the lives of burlesque stripper Teri Lee Geary (aka Kitten DeVille) and her punk rock singer husband Shawn Geary who live in a self-imposed time bubble of romance caught somewhere between the 50’s and the 80’s: Teri looks like Marilyn Monroe and Shawn looks like The Clash’s Joe Strummer. The doc catches up with the couple after 25 years of passion, but suddenly at a time of crisis. Will their glamorous, consumed life survive?

• Echotone: Internationally known as ‘The Live Music Capital of the World,’ Austin’s music culture has led it to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. As nearly two dozen high-rises pop up throughout the city amidst economic downfall, how does the working musician get along? This lyrical documentary, called, “an aural symphony of civic dischord with sublime visuals” and “the best (free) soundtrack we’ve ever seen[4]”, provides a telescopic view into the lives of Austin’s vibrant young musicians as they grapple with questions of artistic integrity, commercialism, experimentation, and the future of their beloved city. Directed by Nathan Christ and photographed by Robert Garza, Echotone is a cultural portrait of the modern American city examined through the lyrics and lens of its creative class.

• Evergreen: A teen-aged girl yearns to reinvent herself and find something she can be thankful for in the face of poverty in Evergreen, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, and marking Enid Zentelis’ feature film directorial debut. Set in the picturesque Pacific Northwest and starring Emmy-award winning actress Mary Kay Place (Julie & Julia, “Big Love”), Oscar nominee Bruce Davison (Longtime Companion, X-Men), Cara Seymour (Adaptation, Gangs of New York) and newcomer Abbie Land, the acclaimed festival favorite follows 14 year-old Henrietta, who longs for everything she doesn’t have, in a film The Boston Globe called, ” an.affecting slice of low-watt indie filmmaking that goes where few American movies bother: below the poverty line.”

• Frontruner: The setting: Afghanistan’s first democratic election … ever. In the aftermath of 9/11, America’s military might has set the stage. But who will determine the fate of democracy in Afghanistan? Could it be Dr. Massouda Jalal, an idealistic politician and devoted mother of three who boldly defied the Taliban to offer hope to her war-torn nation? Find out in the poignant and surprising Frontruner from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Virginia Williams.

• Jack Taylor of Beverly Hills: Take a nostalgic and intimate look at an American icon and a dying breed in Jack Taylor of Beverly Hills. A good suit has many lives, and if a suit could talk it would tell the story of Taylor, who, for more than sixty years dressed the stars, including Cary Grant, Dean Martin, Sid Caesar, Frank Sinatra and even Elvis Presley. Through candid interviews and precious hours spent in Jack’s dynamic presence, the film is both the story of a fashion pioneer and a bittersweet portrayal of old Hollywood, detailing the demise of not only custom tailoring, but of an era.

• Shooting Star[s]: In 10 years, Johnny Nunez went from sleeping in his car to being the world’s most famous hip-hop photographer. Now on the verge of becoming a celebrity himself, filmmakers Axel Ebermann and Daniel Frei have documented Nunez’s incredible journey in Shooting Star[s], a real-life urban fairytale following the prominent Hip Hop celebrity photographer, profiled in The New York Times and described as “hip-hop’s Patrick McMullan”. The inspirational documentary portrays both Nunez’s glamorous life as he mingles with prominent figures such as Russell Simmons, Al Sharpton, Kanye West, Swizz Beats, Ne-Yo, Kimora Lee and Fabolous, and the remarkable journey of a man who defied poverty and racism, and used his wit, tenacity and faith to pursue his American Dream.

Danny Kaye – Legends

MVD / Released 10/13/15

During four top-rated television seasons The Danny Kaye Show and its host welcomed some of the great icons of the entertainment industry. Danny Kaye: Legends collects six classic episodes of the show featuring Louis Armstrong, Lucille Ball, Tony Bennett, George Burns, Shirley Jones and Liberace. The collection also features performances by the Righteous Brothers (singing their number one hit You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling) French songstress Mireille Mathieu, Vikki Carr, John Gary and Imogene Coca. Also featured are series regulars Harvey Korman, Joyce Van Patten and orchestra leader Paul Weston. All of Danny Kaye’s considerable talents are on display in Danny Kaye Legends, and with guests like Lucy and Satchmo he’s in wonderful company.

Mad Men: The Final Season, Part 2

Lionsgate/ Released 10/13/15

Man Men: The Final Season, Part 2 is the end of an era for televisions most celebrated show – four time Primetime Emmy winner for Outstanding Drama Series and winner of three consecutive Golden Globes. Created by Matthew Weiner, the highly anticipated conclusion of the series follows, for the last time, the complex lives of Don (Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm), Peggy, Roger, Joan, Betty and Pete as their stories come to an end. Extras include commentary, featurettes, and advertising timeline.

Includes the episodes:

• Severance: Don tries to track down a friend; Joan struggles to solve a problem with an account; Peggy is set up by an unlikely person.

• New Business: Roger gives Don some unwanted advice; Peggy and Stan disagree over an account’s personnel; Harry asks for Don’s blessing.

• The Forecast: Roger pawns off a project onto Don; Joan goes on a business trip; Peggy and Pete clash over how to deal with an account emergency.

• Time & Life: Don comes up with a big idea; Roger asks Joan for help with a clerical error; Peggy has a hard time with casting for a commercial.

• Lost Horizon: Don receives a reward for his work; Joan butts heads with a coworker on an account; Roger dodges a big decision.

• The Milk and Honey Route: Don has trouble sleeping; Pete is blindsided by a friend; Henry arranges a family reunion.

• Person to Person: The stories of Don Draper, his family and his coworkers come to an end in the series finale.

Neon Maniacs

Code Red/ Released 10/13/15

In the heart of San Francisco, the legions of the damned lay waiting beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. As night falls, this battalion of butchery is unleashed upon the city to carve terror into the souls of the innocent. But when one young woman named Natalie (Leilani Sarelle of Basic Instinct) escapes a bloody teen slaughter, she can’t convince anyone that a rampaging army of psychotic ‘monsters’ has mutilated her friends. Now haunted, hunted and having a hard time in high school, Natalie must arm herself and her classmates for one final bizarre battle against the horror of the Neon Maniacs!

The Phantom of the Opera

Kino Lorber/ Released 10/13/15

A forerunner of the American horror film, and one of the most lavish spectacles of the silent era, The Phantom of the Opera has inspired countless remakes and imitations. But none can rival the romance and mystery that haunt every frame of the Lon Chaney original. This definitive edition presents the 1929 theatrical version, restored from archival 35mm elements by Film Preservation Associates, highlighted by the Technicolor Bal Masqué sequence (in which the Phantom interrupts the revelry in the scarlet robes of the Red Death), as well as meticulously hand-colored sequences, replicating the Handschiegl Color Process.

The film is presented at two historically-accurate projection speeds (each with two different soundtrack options). Bonus content includes the 1925 theatrical cut (which contains scenes that were removed from the 1929 release version) and lengthy excerpts of the 1930 sound version (which no longer survives intact).

The Raid

Well Go USA/ Released 10/13/15

From Sui-Tung Ching (The Killer, Hero) and Tsui Hark (A Better Tomorrow, Once Upon a Time in China), Starring Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Jacky Cheung, Corey Yuen and Deak Shek (In his final role) comes the groudbreaking live-action retelling of 1958’s “Uncle Choi”, one of China’s most famous manhua (comic books) of all time.

The time is 1930s. China is in a state of turmoil and flurry. The dethroned Emperor Pu-Yi establishes the Puppet State of Manchukuo in Manchuria and is in cooperation with the Japanese in the test for a poisonous gas. The revolutionary army headed by Lieutenant Mong is designated to crush this vicious plot. During his mission, he comes across witty and valiant veteran Uncle Choy and his friends, who volunteer to help. Mong keeps a view that Uncle Choy is too old to join them. How can Uncle Choy prove himself? Can Mong and Uncle Choy succeed in their mission?

Regular Show: The Movie

Cartoon Network/ Released 10/13/15

Mordecai and Rigby are two slackers who work in a city park. When a spaceship from the future crashes in front of them, an intergalactic warrior warns that a Timenado is on the verge of destroying the universe, and they’re the only ones who can stop it. Mordecai and Rigby decide to take on the most epic job of their lives, even though it will mean going up against an evil volleyball coach, a talking space toilet and their even more slacker, high school selves. Extras include animatics, deleted animatics, original board pitches, trailer, galleries and commentary.

The Return Of Count Yorga

Shout! Factory/ Released 10/13/15

A horrifying love story… with bite!  When the overlord of the damned rises again to prowl the shadows, who will stand against The Return Of Count Yorga? Robert Quarry is back as one of the most dapper vampires to ever set up shop in California in this thrilling sequel that really raises the stakes. Revived by the well-known supernatural properties of the Santa Ana winds, our undead leading man takes to the streets with an unquenchable thirst. In search of new blood, Yorga moves next door to an orphanage. But when he crosses paths with a beautiful young woman, the Count’s thoughts turn to love. Has the ruler of the night finally found the girl with whom he can share eternity? Featuring Mariette Hartley, Roger Perry and Craig T. Nelson in his screen debut. Extras include commentary, trailer, tv spots, radio spots and gallery.

Shakma

Code Red/ Released 10/13/15

A murderous baboon with a red ass escapes from a Florida laboratory and roams the research building, and begins to kill some teenagers who are also in the building playing a live-action Dungeons-and-Dragons-esque game. If the lame game doesn’t kill them, Shakma will!!! Starring cult stars Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon), Ari Meyers (Kate and Allie), Amanda Wyss (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and screen legend Roddy McDowall (Cornelius from Planet of the Apes). Extras include Watch In: Katarina’s Bucket List Mode.

Shattered

Olive Films/ Released 10/13/15

Wolfgang Petersen directed this intricate suspense thriller, based on the novel by Richard Neely and starring Tom Berenger as Tom Merrick, who begins to suspect the auto accident that caused his memory loss may not have been accidental. The film begins with a car crash over a seaside cliff in San Francisco. Judith Merrick (Greta Scacchi) is thrown clear of the crash and escapes without injury. Her husband, Tom, on the other hand, is trapped inside and when he is finally rescued, he is disfigured and in a coma. Judith helps him through his ensuing recovery and plastic surgery and the couple returns to their home in San Francisco. Tom, now suffering from selective amnesia, meets his old friends Jeb (Corbin Bernsen) and Jenny Scott (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer). After meeting them, he gathers hints that before the accident, he wasn’t well liked by many people. The next day, when he returns to work, he begins to pick up more clues on his past life — clues that indicate his marriage wasn’t as idyllic as he presumed. To make matter worse, he keeps having flashbacks of shattered glass, ocean waves, and a gun. To help him solve the mystery of his past, Dan hires retired private eye Gus Klein (Bob Hoskins), who works with Dan to unravel his past.

Skin Traffik

Alchemy / Released 10/13/15

A jaded hit man regains his humanity in this dark tale of redemption and sacrifice set amidst a brutal underworld in which daily survival is not so much a skill but an instinct from director Ara Paiaya and writers by Adam Davidson and Ara Paiaya. Mickey Rourke leads the superb cast featuring Daryl Hannah, Dominque Swain, Michael Madsen, Eric Roberts, and Jeff Fahey.

Tomorrowland

Walt Disney/Buena Vista/ Released 10/13/15

Dreamers Wanted… Disney invites you to an incredible world of epic imagination where anything is possible. Buckle your seats belt, as the director of The Incredibles takes your family on an action-packed thrill ride! Join former boy genius Frank (George Clooney), optimistic, science-minded teen Casey (Britt Robertson), mysterious Athena (Raffey Cassidy) and the brilliant David Nix (Hugh Laurie) in a world of pure Disney imagination. Tomorrowland transports you on an inspiring and magical journey of wonder and adventure to a place where is you can dream it, you can do it. Extras include featurettes, animated short, deleted scenes and more.

Last Word: Tomorrowland is an odd compilation of a weak feel-good action-adventure fairy-tale with a whimsical post-apocalyptic quality told in a visually pleasing way. Odd, yes?  The premise: young brilliant minds are recruited to an amazing world where positivity reigns and fuels innovation. Problem is, we don’t see the utopia for more than five minutes…how are we supposed to be allured? While I enjoyed the high-energy production, once I finished it I couldn’t remember what the film was about.

Did anything really happen? I understand the message loud and clear: humanity is pessimistic and destroying itself from the inside so be positive, be creative, or the world might end. A good message for a film, but poorly executed. But the film only gave a glimpse of the Tomorrowland world where everything is wonderful. Why not show more? The film is a giant chase scene of trying to get back there but that’s it unfortunately.

Folks also mention that Tomorrowland is the future. Is it though? Looks like an alternate universe type of place. Clarification would have been nice. Frank (George Clooney), a former bright-eyed brilliant young boy who never gave up on the possibility of making the world a better place, is introduced as a cantankerous old man who’s been shut out of Tomorrowland long ago. Casey (Brittany Robertson) is an optimistic mischief-maker who wants nothing more than to “fix” the world. Her mission of finding Tomorrowland begins with a trip to Frank’s house where hijinks ensue. There are robots,  there are rocket ships there are flying bathtubs. Shot with an air of urgency and humor, it’s all really fun to watch. But there is no real story. There is an issue – the world is falling apart and humanity is negative and compliant – however, the characters don’t seem to have history or motives.

What did Frank do in Tomorrowland? How was the world established? Why is Casey so happy when she clearly lost her mother and her father (Tim McGraw) works a hapless job? She wears her father’s hat like a badge of honor, but why? She runs amok and lies to him, disregarding his wishes and concerns. So, what is their relationship really like? Casey even seems rather angry, minus her snarky one-liners…

Her brother, however, played briefly by Pierce Gagnon is adorable. If nothing else, save the world for his cute little face. What really makes Tomorrowland disappointing for me is that we have seen writer/director Brad Bird succeed so well with this storyline: jaded old man positively influenced by a naïve youngster who’s over-filled with optimism (think of Up). He really fell short with this movie. A shame, because it was fun. But that’s all. Fluff, nothing beneath the surface. I’m not even quite sure who the target audience is. There’s a bit too much startling violence for young children, and not enough story to satisfy older crowds. Feels like this movie is hanging on, waiting for something, but there isn’t anything to grab. ( – Written by Caitlyn Thompson)

Wayward Pines: Season 1

20th Century Fox / Released 10/13/15

From Academy Award Nominee M. Night Shyamalan, and based on Blake Crouch’s best-selling books, comes the pulse-quickening, supernatural event series of the year! After a car crash he can’t remember, Secret Service agent Ethan Burke (Oscar Nominee Matt Dillon) wakes up in a hospital in a strangely idyllic mountain town in Idaho. But the more Ethan tries to find out what happened to him, and to two missing fellow agents, the more he discovers that nothing is as it seems in Wayward Pines. Desperate to learn the truth and return to his family, Ethan eventually unveils a terrifying secret that affects all of mankind in this thrill-a-minute series also starring Oscar Nominee Terrence Howard and Oscar Winner Melissa Leo. Includes featurettes.

Episodes include:

• Where Paradise is Home: Secret Service agent Ethan Burke wakes up after a car crash and finds himself in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, Idaho. However, he soon discovers uncooperative authorities, mysterious cricket noises, roads that lead nowhere, and mysterious town anomalies.

• Don’t Discuss Your Life Before: Ethan asks Beverly to help him find out how Evans’ body ended up in the abandoned house she sent him to. Meanwhile, Theresa and Ben go to Idaho to investigate Ethan’s mysterious car crash.

• Our Town, Our Law: After Beverly’s “reckoning,” Ethan is reunited with Theresa and Ben, but not the way that he expected. Meanwhile, Jenkins advises Ethan to settle in, and Pope visits the Burkes in their new home.

• One of Our Senior Realtors Has Chosen to Retire: Ethan discovers that he has been appointed the new sheriff now that Pope is dead. His first duty is to call a reckoning on Peter McCall for painting graffiti. Meanwhile, Ben attends his first day at the town’s academy, and Theresa gets a job.

• The Truth: While Ethan escapes Wayward Pines, Megan holds a special orientation class for Ben and two other students, revealing the town’s secret. Meanwhile, Theresa has her first assignment as a realtor.

• Choices: While David shows Ethan more of how Wayward Pines is managed and supplied, Theresa begins an investigation into Plot 33. Meanwhile, Ben contemplates what he’s learned, and Kate and Howard try to recover a package from the realty office.

• Betrayal: Ethan finds a bomb planted in his truck, and he questions Harold and Kate and their involvement with the subversives. Meanwhile, Pam calls the Ballingers in for a fertility consultation, and Amy asks Ben out on a date after curfew.

• The Friendliest Place on Earth: While Ben and Amy are taken to the hospital, Ethan seeks out the terrorists who put them there. Meanwhile, David orders Pam to question the surveillance techs when he believes that the subversives have support from inside the complex.

• A Reckoning: When Ethan takes the subversives into custody rather than Reckon them, members of the First Generation launch an attack on the sheriff’s station. Meanwhile, Theresa receives unexpected assistant breaking into Plot 33, and Megan pays Ben a visit at the hospital.

• Cycle: Ethan and Kate try to get the surviving townspeople to safety after David decides to start over again with Group C. Meanwhile, Pam tries to oppose her brother’s plans, and Theresa and Ben try to get Amy to safety.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 40th Anniversary Edition

20th Century Fox / Released 10/6/15

Fasten your garter belt and come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab! It’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show Special Edition, a screamingly funny, sinfully twisted salute to sci-fi, horror, B-movies and rock music, all rolled into one deliciously decadent morsel. And now there’s even more to make you shiver with antici…pation: two additional musical numbers, “Once In A While” and “Superheroes”, never seen theatrically or available on video! The madcap, musical mayhem begins when rain-soaked Brad and Janet take refuge in the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite mad scientist from outer space who is about to unveil his greatest creation – and have a bit of fun with his reluctant guests! Join Tim Curry, Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon and rock star Meat Loaf in the most popular cult classic of all time. Extras include both the U.S. and U.K. versions of the film, The Midnight Experience viewing option, karaoke feature, commentary, deleted musical scenes and outtakes, alternate opening and endings, double feature video show, music video, gallery, featurettes, pressbook and gallery.

Last Word: Originally designed as a stage show in London by director/writer/actor Richard O’Brien (Riff Raff), The Rocky Horror Picture Show was adapted for film in 1975, and bombed in theaters. It was given new life when moved to midnight showings, prompting it to become the longest running theatrical release of all time. It still runs in midnight showings in theaters across the country, and audiences turn up in full costume, participating along with the film with props like squirt guns, newspapers and non-buttered toast. Shouting and acting out the film are also elements, and strongly encouraged. If you’re not going to view this film in a theater, the experience is drastically different and it does not hold up as well without the atmosphere of a charged live audience. That’s not to say it isn’t without its merits, including catchy songs and some entertaining performances by the talented cast that was mostly transferred over from the stage show, minus Susan Sarandon (Janet Weiss) and Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors).

The film begins with Brad (asshole!) and Janet (slut!) attending a wedding and professing their love for each other and deciding to get married. They then find themselves lost on a rainy night and having car trouble, and decide to stop somewhere to use a telephone. Somewhere being a huge castle looming in front of them, which turns out to be the home of Dr. Frank N. Furter, (played by Tim Curry) a “sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania.” Curry, clad in a corset, fishnets, and a pair of daunting heeled platforms, insists that Brad and Janet stay for the party he’s hosting for Transylvanians, and the unveiling of his secret creation.

Curry is definitely one of the standouts, performing sensationally as the enigmatic mad scientist. He enters the room on an elevator to the beginning of “Sweet Transvestite,” and sashays around the room in those heels while some look on irreverently (Columbia, played by Little Nell) and some with subtle disdain (Magenta, played by Patricia Quinn, and Riff Raff). Frank then invites those in the room to “come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab,” in a voice as equally velvety and alluring as his singing voice. His creation turns out to be a muscle-y, male-model-man-candy type clad in teeny tiny gold shorts named Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood). Frank unveils his creation to his servants and friends, while Brad and Janet stand there in nothing but their underwear, looking confused and frightened. Rocky celebrates his birth by diving into a musical number.

More chaos ensues as Meatloaf breaks through an ice chamber wall on a motorcycle, to squeals of “Eddie!” by Columbia. This doesn’t end so hot for Eddie, as he is disposed of by Frank, who comically remarks, “Don’t be upset! It was a mercy killing! He had a certain naive charm, but no…muscle.”

After Meatloaf’s musical number, the second half of the film begins to bore and fade into forgetfulness. While Curry certainly plays his role admirably, slyly sneaking into both Brad and Janet’s rooms for playful nighttime romps, even he cannot lift the fog that rests on the remaining songs and ridiculous plot. To keep things moving, the film is narrated by a man known only as the criminologist (Charles Gray), who, at times, makes grand statements (and crawling on the planet’s face, some insects called the human race, lost in time and lost in space…and meaning) as he sits in a nicely furnished study and is shown in cutaways. He also assists the audience in doing the film’s most popular dance number, “Time Warp.” However, his narration only serves to drag the film along with the rest of the story. More inane hijinks ensue, including a dinner featuring mystery meat, monitors catching Janet’s indiscretion with Rocky, and a red lever in the laboratory with the ability to turn people into statues.

Worth mentioning also are the performances by the two leads. Janet, played by a very young Sarandon, is charming, wide-eyed and breathy, while Bostwick’s Brad is frightened and trying to hide it with bravado and simultaneously trying to be confident and protective for his lady. Brad and Janet go through a sort of transformation throughout the course of the film, each giving into to carnal pleasures.

Notably, the most prominent theme of the film is that of sexual liberation. If Brad and Janet looked uncomfortable standing in their underwear in the beginning of the film, by the end it doesn’t seem to faze either of them, and during the last musical number they both end up in Frank’s signature corset, makeup and heels, Brad exclaiming, “Help me Mommy, I feel sexy!” Curry’s display of sexual fluidity is, of course, very evident, and even though the film is now 40 years old, audiences can certainly still connect with these ideas. Curry himself has been cemented as an LBGTQ icon for his performance in this role.

The end of the film culminates in Frank making the other castle inhabitants participate in a floor show, and he is confronted by Magenta and Riff Raff, who think he has failed his mission on earth. They brandish silver weapons that make cliché laser beam noises. It ends as ridiculously as it begins, but the key is not taking it seriously, as it was meant to be preposterous, satirizing B sci-fi movies of the 1950s. If you’re going to watch it, try to catch a viewing in the theater, do the Time Warp, spray your water gun, throw rice and toast, and dress up as your favorite character. If you’re going to watch it at home, still do all of the above mentioned things. Also, order pizza. ( – Amanda Hogan)

Navy Seals Vs Zombies

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 10/13/15

When the U.S. Government loses all contact with the Vice President during a campaign stop in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a battle-hardened SEAL team just back from Afghanistan is sent in. But they’ll soon discover that this is no ordinary tactical rescue: The city is under siege by hordes of fast moving, flesh eating undead. The infection is spreading. Urban warfare has been unleashed. With no cure in sight and time running out, can an elite unit of badass warriors now survive their most horrific mission of all?

Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, pro wrestling champion Chad ‘Gunner’ Lail, Molly Hagan, Olympian Lolo Jones and NBA legend Rick Fox star in this explosive military shocker filmed with the participation of former U.S. Navy SEALS.

La Ciudad

Oscilloscope / Released 10/13/15

David Riker’s critically acclaimed feature film debut is a moving tribute to the struggles and hopes of Latin American immigrants in New York City. Filmed in the nineties over the course of six years, La Ciudad creates an unforgettable portrait of immigrant life in a collection of four stories about love, hope, and loss: a day laborer paid to gather bricks from an abandoned lot meets a tragic end; a young man newly arrived from Mexico falls in love with a girl from his home village; a homeless puppeter dreams of a better life for his daughter; and a seamstress is in desperate need of money to send home for her daughter’s medical treatment.

Riker spent five years developing the film within the Latin American community, and chose to cast non-actors in almost every role. Because most of the performers are themselves struggling immigrants, they bring a resonant understanding and a powerful realism to the film. Extras include making of documentary, reunion conversation and trailer.

Tokyo Ghoul: Complete Season

Funimation / Released 9/22/15

From Oscar-nominated director Shuhei Morita (Best Animated Short Film, Possessions) and the studio that brought you Bleach and Yu Yu Hakusho, comes a twisted new series that blurs the line between man and monster.

Ken Kaneki is a loner. In a world where ghouls-human-like creatures who survive on human flesh-and people are at war, his biggest concern is which novel to pick up next. But when a date with the beautiful and mysterious Rize turns deadly, a life-saving operation horrifyingly transforms him into a human-ghoul hybrid. Now, Kaneki lives on the edge of two worlds: afraid to interact with humans out of fear of his thirst for blood, and being hunted by ghouls who want to feast on his uniquely bred flesh. Can he find his place in a society where it’s hunt or be hunted? Extras include commentary, featuretes, commercials, promos, textless credit sequences, and trailers.

Includes the episodes:

• Tragedy: Ken Kaneki is a young man who befriends the beautiful and enigmatic Rize Kamishiro, unaware that she is a ghoul. Rize reveals her intentions to eat Kaneki but by a stroke of luck Kaneki survives her attack but is mortally wounded. He is saved by an emergency operation, transferring Rize’s organs into himself. This subsequently turns him into a half-ghoul half-human hybrid and Kaneki struggles to survive and cope by himself. 

• Incubation: Kaneki struggles to adapt to his new nature with no success, until another ghoul, Nishiki Nishio attempts to prey on his friend Hideyoshi Nagachika and he must fight to protect him. 

• Dove: After saving his friend, Kaneki is taken in by Yoshimura and Touka Kirishima, ghouls who run the Cafe “Anteiku”, who teach him to blend in human society while hiding his true nature. However, another ghoul, Shū Tsukiyama approaches him with unknown intentions. 

• Supper: Kaneki befriends Tsukiyama the two start hanging out. However, little does Kaneki know that Tsukiyama is preparing a mortal trap for him. 

• Scar: Intending to consume Kaneki himself, Tsukiyama prepares another trap for him, using Nishio’s human girlfriend as a hostage. 

• Cloudburst: Tsukiyama is defeated by Touka with Kaneki and Nishio’s help, but the recent developments in the 20th ward draw the attention of the police, who sends two of their investigators, Kureo Mado and Kōtarō Amon to hunt down all ghouls in the area. 

• Captivity: Hinami’s mother is killed by Mado. Touka attacks members of the ghoul investigation and kills Kusaba, but is wounded by Mado. Kaneki tells Touka that he wants to fight the ghoul investigators and is given his mask. 

• Circular: Touka and Hinami confront Mado after being lured into a trap. During the commotion, Kaneki confronts Amon while Touka is focused on getting revenge for Hinami. 

• Birdcage: After the battle with Mado, Hinami starts living with Touka and Kaneki. Still mourning the loss of his partner, Amon is relocated to the 11th ward, where the police is having trouble facing some dangerous ghouls who do not fear them. 

• Aogiri: Kaneki is kidnapped by members of Aogiri Tree, an underground ghoul faction who is interested in his connection with Rize. Meanwhile, Amon is introduced to his new partner, the eccentric and dangerous Juuzou Suzuya. 

• High Spirits: As his friends from Anteiku make preparatons to rescue him, Kaneki is tortured by Jason, one of the members of the Aogiri Tree, whose hideout is stormed by the CCG. 

• Ghoul: During the physical and mental tortures he suffers at the hands of Jason, Kaneki comes to accept his ghoul-half and fights back.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Season 1

Warner Bros. / Released 9/22/15

Based on Japan’s best-selling comic-book series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an epic quest packed with action, mystery and magic! The story begins with Phantom Blood, in which wealthy aristocrat Jonathan Joestar lives a charmed life in Victorian England until his father takes in an orphaned boy, Dio Brando. With twisted motives to steal the Joestar fortune, Dio transforms into a ruthless vampire. Now, Jonathan is all that stands in the way of Dio’s terrifying assault. Will he find the valor and will to protect his family name? The story then continues with Battle Tendency, set in the 1930s. Joseph Joestar, the grandson of Jonathan, now carries on the legacy of adventure and wages a never-ending battle against ancient evil. It’s a supernatural collection of characters, dramatic story lines and thunderous showdowns like you’ve never seen before!

Includes the episodes:

Phantom Blood

• Dio the Invader: In 1868 England, thief Dario Brando raids an overturned carriage, thinking that its occupants are dead.

• A Letter From the Past: Seven years later, in 1888, JoJo and Dio seem to be getting along better, but JoJo still fears Dio, who’s plotting to take over the Joestar family as George suffers from an ailment.

• Youth with Dio: Having found an antidote and saved George, JoJo prepares to have Dio arrested.

• Overdrive: Three days after Dio’s attack on him and his father, JoJo awakens to find Erina nursing him back to health in a hospital.

• The Dark Knights: Upon arriving in Windknights Lot, JoJo, Zeppeli and Speedwagon are lured by Poco, a talented pickpocket, to a graveyard at sunset.

• Tomorrow’s Courage: JoJo’s battle with Bruford continues, with JoJo channeling an Overdrive attack through Bruford’s sword.

• Sorrowful Successor: As JoJo continues fighting Tarkus, Zeppeli recalls that Tonpetty, who taught him how to use the Ripple, foretold Zeppeli’s death in the very place he is right now.

• Bloody Battle! JoJo & Dio: After Dio sends a zombie named Doobie to attack Poco’s sister, JoJo saves her, despite the fact that Doobie’s head is filled with poisonous snakes.

• The Final Ripple!: JoJo thinks he has killed Dio, but Dio decapitated himself before the Ripple reached him. Dio’s zombie servant Wang Chung recovers Dio’s head.

Battle Tendency

• New York’s JoJo: In 1938, 49 years after JoJo’s death, his compatriots Speedwagon and Straizo travel to Mexico…

• The Game Master: JoJo’s compatriot Straizo, now a vampire, uses a laser eye attack to pierce JoJo’s head and neck.

• The Pillar Man: After finding out that Speedwagon is alive, JoJo defends himself from one of Stroheim’s men.
  

• JoJo vs. The Ultimate Lifeform: Although his Ripple protects him somewhat, JoJo is not strong enough to withstand Santana’s attacks.

• Ultimate Warriors from Ancient Times: Speedwagon brings Santana’s remains to his foundation in Washington, DC, and discovers that Santana is merely dormant.

• A Hero’s Proof: Caesar battles Wamuu, using his Bubble Launcher technique to surround the Pillar Man in Ripple-infused bubbles.

• Lisa Lisa, Hamon Coach: To help JoJo control his Ripple powers, Caesar takes him to his trainer, Lisa Lisa, in Venice. Lisa Lisa makes JoJo wear a mask to limit his breathing and help him focus.

• The Deeper Plan: Lisa Lisa explains to JoJo and Caesar how Kars is seeking a perfectly cut Red Stone of Aja known as the Super Aja to power the stone mask and become the ultimate life-form.

• Von Stroheim’s Revenge: Before JoJo can warn Lisa Lisa about the Pillar Men, Esidisi’s brain takes over Suzi Q’s body and sends the Super Aja off on a boat.

• A Race Toward the Brink: Stroheim uses his new mechanical body, which was designed to surpass even Santana’s, to fight Kars for the Super Aja.

• Young Caesar: Lisa Lisa tells JoJo about Caesar’s childhood and how he took to crime at a young age after being abandoned by his debt-ridden father, Mario.

• A Hundred Against Two: JoJo and Lisa track down Wamuu, who waits for them with Kars and 100 vampire minions.

• A True Warrior: JoJo and Wamuu take part in a chariot race in which various weapons can be grabbed from pillars.

• The Warrior of Wind: Launching a final attack that peels away his own body, Wamuu fires a cutting stream of wind at JoJo, who retaliates with a firebomb and Caesar’s flaming bandana.

• The Ties that Bind: JoJo Clinging onto a rope to stop Lisa Lisa from falling to her death, JoJo manages to get Kars to fall onto the sharp crystals instead.

• The Birth of a Superbeing: Immune to the rising sun due to the power of the Red Stone, Kars injures Stroheim by turning his own hand into a flesh-eating squirrel.

• The Ascendant One: Kars and Pillar Men are the remnants of a fourth race of humanity that lived underground. In his desire for power, Kars exterminated the others, leading to the creation of the stone mask.

Scorpion: Season One

Paramount Pictures / Released 9/1/15

When Scorpion is on the case, saving the world is a no-brainer! Elyes Gabel (Game of Thrones) stars as Walter, the eccentric leader of a team of brilliant misfits – a psychiatrist with a gambling addition, a mechanical prodigy with anger issues, and a “human calculator” with social anxiety – who save the world from problems only a genius could solve. Also in the cast are Robert Patrick as tough-as-nails Security agent Cabo Gallo and Katherine McPhee as Paige, a former waitress who translates the “normal” world for the geniuses. Extras include commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, gag reel, and cast “thank you”.

Episodes include:

• Pilot: When a crisis at LAX leaves dozens of airplanes unable to land, the government enlists a team of misfit geniuses to save the day.

• Single Point Of Failure: The Governor calls on Team Scorpion when his daughter is mysteriously “bio-hacked” with a deadly virus and has only 24 hours to live.

• A Cyclone After: Team Scorpion fails a military training mission, they are determined to prove their worth to Cabe and Homeland Security when a bomber threatens to take out the internet infrastructure of the entire Southwest.

• Shorthanded: Against Cabe’s advice, Team Scorpion heads to Las Vegas for a simple casino job, but a robbery leads to Walter’s arrest and the rest of the team is left to clear his name.

• Plutonium Is Forever: To fix a Los Angeles nuclear reactor that’s on the verge of a cataclysmic meltdown, Walter and the team must reluctantly enlist the help of a troubled former member.

• True Colors: Team Scorpion must pass a mandated psych evaluation or face being disbanded after they’re accused of destroying a priceless work of art in an attempt to protect an art exhibit. NCIS: Los Angeles star Linda Hunt guest stars.

• Father’s Day: A case gets personal for Team Scorpion when three convicts break out of prison and one of them is a brilliant hacker who was forced to help the others steal billions online.

• Risky Business: Team Scorpion enlists the help of a musician who created a controversial algorithm that generates hit songs to help find the murderer of a music blogger. Scott Mescudi, a.k.a. Kid Cudi and Cliff “Method Man” Smith guest star.

• Rogue Element: Team Scorpion must help protect Cabe’s ex-wife after she uncovers evidence that suggests foul play in the death of a prominent congressman. Jessica Tuck guest stars.

• Talismans: When a military plane is shot down in Bosnia, Team Scorpion must help recover its stealth technology before it falls into enemy hands.

• Revenge: When Sylvester accidentally triggers an explosive device during an investigation, Team Scorpion must focus on finding who’s responsible even while their friend’s life hangs in the balance.

• Dominoes: As Christmas approaches, Team Scorpion races to find a way to save a young boy’s life after he gets trapped in a beachside cave and drowning is imminent.

• Kill Screen: Team Scorpion must help Ralph when the FBI questions him after his dark web game play inadvertently reveals the location of a CIA safe house and results in the murder of CIA operatives.

• Charades: Team Scorpion is tasked with uncovering a mole inside the CIA whose judgment is clouded by matters of the heart and is being coerced into stealing deadly chemicals.

• Forget Me Nots: Team Scorpion must jog the memory of an injured former Secret Service agent who is their only hope of preventing weapons of mass destruction being launched from a secret U.S. nuclear silo.

• Love Boat: Team Scorpion goes undercover on a cruise ship to locate and disable deadly stolen rockets.

• Going South: Team Scorpion heads to Mexico when a tech billionaire hires them to rescue his kidnapped daughter.

• Once Bitten, Twice Die: When a conflict in Eastern Europe threatens to escalate, Team Scorpion is called on to help facilitate secret peace talks to prevent World War III.

• Young Hearts Spark Fire: While on a mission to save lost hikers, Team Scorpion’s helicopter crashes, igniting a massive wildfire that quickly closes in on them.

• Crossroads: To protect a key witness who is en route to testifying against a deadly drug cartel, Team Scorpion takes her on the run, with the cartel hot on their heels.

• Cliffhanger: Walter finally learns Cabe’s long-kept secret regarding the Baghdad mission, and it threatens to tear Team Scorpion apart forever.

• Postcards From The Edge: Scorpion, torn apart and uncertain about their future as a team, must come together for their most important mission yet to save Walter’s life as his car teeters on the side of a cliff.

Matador: The Complete Series

Entertainment One / Released 10/13/15

This irreverent, adrenaline-filled series chronicles the unlikely rise of Tony “Matador” Bravo (Gabriel Luna), a professional soccer player for the LA Riot who comes to be known as much for his antics off the field as his moves on it. But what his fans and family don’t realize is that it’s all a cover – in truth, he is a skilled covert operative executing missions for the CIA.

Agent Bravo, nicknamed “Matador” after he takes out a top player known as “The Bull” during tryouts for the team, finds himself suddenly thrust into a clandestine world. But, in balancing his dueling roles, he will be forced to confront the question of his true identity… and it is this mission that may prove to be his most dangerous. Extras include commentaries and featurettes.

Includes episodes:

• Quid Go Pro: Tony Bravo, a DEA agent from Boyle Heights, is recruited by a little-known branch of the CIA for a top-secret mission: investigate the LA Riot–one of the greatest soccer teams in the world–by going undercover as one of their players. Tony will need the espionage skills to impress his handlers and some fast footwork to make the team, or The Beautiful Game could end in sudden death. Is Tony in for the win?

• The Naked and the Dead: The codes stolen from Gideon Khan’s tablet allows the team to track a hired assassin known as “The Apothecary” via Galan’s satellite network. Tony must get closer to the target– Smithsonian employee Margot Atkins–while also juggling his new teammates, his amily, and most of all: the truth.

• Idol Worship: After gaining new intel regarding Margot, Tony accompanies her to an auction where she’s set to go head-to-head with Galan in a bidding war, allowing him and Galan to reach a new level of understanding. Meanwhile, persistent reporter Reyna Flores is one step loser to unraveling the mystery that is Tony Bravo.

• Code Red Card: A recurring dream from Tony’s past coincides with his debut on the LA Riot, which is quickly compromised when he needs to rescue Galan’s troublemaking daughter, Senna, from harm. As Tony races against time, both on the field and off, Annie and Noah realize that Galan may just be a piece in a much larger puzzle.

• Enter the Worm: Whisked away on Galan’s private jet, Tony, Holester, and Caesar touchdown in Nicaragua, a world run by a drug cartel leader known as “The Worm,” where the stakes are high and the death rate is higher. Aided by an old DEA friend, Tony finds himself in a brutal futbal game where the prize is more than just walking away with your life. Directed by Dwight Little.

• Misanthropology: Tony’s focus is shifted from soccer back to the mission when Galan entrusts him to deliver a package. But where Tony goes, Reyna follows. Elsewhere, the link between the auction and Nicaragua becomes clear when the CIA rescues an anthropology professor with insight into pre-Olmec civilizations. Directed by Larry Teng.

• Mano A Mano: Guess who’s coming to Cristina’s quinceañera? Andrés Galan, meet the Sandovals. The same can’t be said for Tony, who is forced to bail and put the mission over his family when a member of the team gets taken by Samuel. Not even a Riot tie can soften the fallout from this joyous occasion. 

• Everything Old Is New Again: The data seized from the mysterious medi-spa sends Tony and Annie on a manhunt to find the parties responsible for a devastating turn of events. Galan becomes privy to the larger plan. While Reyna finds herself on the outs with prospective publishers, Samuel dives deeper into Tony’s backstory, which leads him to the “wurst” kind of informant. 

• The Anguish of Rosarito: Is there anything worse than horrible in-flight service? Just ask the passengers who landed in San Francisco. Samuel’s uncovering of Tony’s past leaves Matador and Galan at odds. Meanwhile, the CIA learns of Dr. Lucien Sayer’s secret to extending life.

• Night of the Whale: The elephant in the room between Tony and Galan is a body in the trunk. Luckily for our Matador, the common ground reached is accompanied by answers. With no other options, the CIA finds a way to reach out to Sayer in hopes of pre-empting the next phase of his deadly plan. 

• Riot ‘Til I Die: Galan is tasked with escorting a personal package to Sayer during a friendly between the LA Riot and A.S. Roma. The plan may have fatal consequences for one when Reyna Flores enters the mix, forcing Tony to make a call that will send him down a dangerous path. 

• Dead Dreaming in Bagan: When Tony wakes up behind enemy lines, it’ll take a little help from the locals to uncover the truth behind Sayer’s past and future. While Annie’s attempt to find Tony comes to an explosive conclusion, Galan deals with the media circus surrounding his confrontation with Reyna Flores. 

• Mala Sangre: As Sayer’s endgame is finally revealed, Tony’s relationships with the CIA and his family will change forever.