OnVideo.org - Home Video Releases - DVDs, Blu-ray - July


OnVideo Logo blu-ray
Blu-ray Releases
home page
calendar
reviews
features
video resources
video sales
links
information


Join the
Sixties generation

Amazon Video
ales




dujour
iway 500
winner


Good & Associates logo

Masthead created by Good & Associates

OnVideo's Guide to DVDs

DVD Resources
Links to DVD news, information and sales sites.

Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

DVD Releases
July 2013
July 2
July 9
July 16
July 23
July 30
May 2013
June 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
July 2

photo An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky (2013) Jane Seymour, Sidney Fullmer, Alex Peters, Alana Gordillo. Nine-year-old Saige, a talented artist with a passion for horses, struggles to find her voice when her favorite class in school -- art -- gets cut and her best friend begins spending more and more time with another girl. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).
The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collections: Comedy A 20-film collection commemorating the studio's 90th anniversary. Check out the complete list of films here. Formats: DVD, $98.92. (Warner).

Advertisement


Blood Runs Cold (2011) Hanna Oldenburg, Patrick Saxe, Andreas Rylander, Elin Hugoson. A successful musician returns to her small home town for some R&R at the family cabin, only to become the target of a frostbitten killer who first slaughters all her friends. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: "The Making of Blood Runs Cold" featurette. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Death By China (2013) Documentary directed by Harvard-trained economist Peter Navarro explores the history and implications of the imbalanced U.S.-China trade relationship, China's unfair trade practices and the economic impact of multinational companies like Apple, Boeing and Caterpillar that export millions of American jobs to improve their bottom line. Narrated by Martin Sheen. Formats: DVD, $13.99; VOD. Extras: Director's commentary, original songs from the film, the award-winning documentary short "Death By Chinese Junk." Find out more here. (Area23a).
The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Fourth Season BLU-RAY DEBUT (1964-1965) Three-disc set with 32 episodes, $59.98. Extras: TV Academy tribute to Carl Reiner featuring Dick Van Dyke, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Rose Marie, Larry Mathews and more; Mary Tyler Moore's appearance on “The Danny Kaye Show"; commentaries with Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and Garry Marshall; Emmy Award telecast clip featuring the cast; original network promo spots; more. (Image Entertainment).
Falcón photo (2012) The critically acclaimed new crime series stars Marton Csokas and Hayley Atwell and is based on the bestselling novels by Robert Wilson. Set in the magnificent Spanish city of Seville, Falcón follows a smart, intuitive detective bent on exposing hard truths and corruption. The British production features a seductive beauty and sinister undercurrent all to its own, along with stunning cinematography and stylish direction. Inspector Jefe Javier Falcón (Csokas) prowls Seville's serpentine alleys to uncover the malice lurking in the magnificent city. In these two feature-length thrillers -- "The Blind Man of Seville" and "The Silent and the Damned"-- Falcón investigates a murder connected to his father's murky past and the apparent suicide of a businessman whose former misdeeds impact the present. Falcón also contends with his attraction to a glamorous widow (Hayley Atwell) and simmering tensions with his ex-wife, Ines (Emilia Fox), and her handsome, high-flying lover, Judge Esteban Calderón. U.S. debut. Formats: Two-disc DVD, $39.99. Extras: "The Blind Man of Seville: Behind the Scenes," "Javier Falcón: Behind the Man," "Falcón's Seville with Robert Wilson," photo galleries. (Acorn Media).
56 UP (2012) Director Michael Apted's eighth film in the UP series of documentaries that tracks the lives of a dozen people in Britain from age seven on up. Read more about "56 UP" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD. Extras: Interview: Roger Ebert talks with Michael Apted, photo gallery, filmmaker biography and statement. (First Run Features).


The Girl (2012) Abbie Cornish, Will Patton, Giovanna Zacarias, Luci Christian, Raul Castillo, Lauren Galley. Ashley Colton (Cornish), a rough, ragged beauty in her mid-twenties, is trying to prove to Social Services that she's fit to be a mother and regain custody of her son, but her work at a dead-end job in south Texas and a lack of money prevents her from reaching that goal. A surprise visit from her father (Patton), a hard-drinking trucker living in Mexico, gives her a new opportunity: she discovers that he's smuggling Mexican immigrants across the border in his 18-wheeler, and she sees the chance to make some life-changing money doing the same thing. But her improvised plan goes awry, and Ashley finds herself stranded with a young girl whose mother disappeared in the late night river crossing. Though anxious to flee the tragedy and head home, Ashley can't bring herself to abandon little Rosa, so she embarks on a trip to bring the girl home to her grandmother -- a journey that may in the end save Ashley as surely as it does the girl. Formats: DVD. Extras: "A Filmmaker's Journey: The Making of The Girl." (Virgil Films).
The House I Live In (2013) Award-winning documentarian Eugene Jarecki takes a look at our losing war on drugs, revealing its causes, its implementation and its tragic consequences. This informative, passionate and eye-opening documentary lays out the government crackdown on drug use and distribution dating back to the Nixon administration. Interviewing judges, jailers, law enforcement officials, convicts and more, Jarecki shows how, for more than 40 years, the war on drugs has accounted for more than 45 million arrests, made America the world's largest jailer, and damaged poor communities at home and abroad. Yet for all that, drugs are cheaper, purer, and more available today than ever before. Executive produced by Danny Glover, John Legend, Brad Pitt and Russell Simmons. Formats: DVD, $14.99. (Virgil Films).
Inescapable (2012) Alexander Siddig, Joshua Jackson, Marisa Tomei, Oded Fehr. A now-successful and respected Canadian businessman who, as an officer in the Syrian military police, left Damascus 25 years earlier under mysterious circumstances, must return home to rescue his journalist daughter. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).
The Kentucky Fried Movie BLU-RAY DEBUT (1977) The original "take-off" cult classic from the highly successful team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker. Directed by John Landis, the spoof features a lewd, loosely connected collection of skits that spoof blaxploitation films, news shows, porno movies, TV commercials, kung fu flicks and more. Includes well-known stars such as Bill Bixby, Donald Sutherland, Tony Dow, George Lazenby and Henry Gibson in 22 segments including "Cleopatra Schwartz," "The Wonderful World of Sex," "Catholic High School Girls in Trouble," "A Fistful of Yen" and more. Extras: Commentary by director Landis, writers Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and producer Robert K. Weiss; a conversation with David and Jerry Zucker: a feature-length interview with the co-creators; original mono audio. (Shout! Factory).
Last Resort: The Complete Series (2012-2013) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $38.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Featurettes on each episode. (Sony).
Least Among Saints (2012) Martin Papazian, Tristan Lake Leabu, Laura San Giacomo, A.J. Cook, Charles S. Dutton. Coming home to a broken marriage and uncertain future, combat veteran Anthony Hayward thinks he's at the end of his rope until his troubled 10-year-old neighbor, Wade, calls out for help. To the dismay of the boy's embattled social worker, Anthony sets out on a fool's quest to help this heartbroken and hard-to-reach child find his long-lost father, who might not even exist. In the midst of this new mission, Anthony begins to come to grips with both the costs of war and the universal power of human connection. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Commentary by director-writer-star Martin Papazian, deleted scenes, "From Script to Screen" featurette, "The Cast of Least Among Saints on Veterans" featurette, "Working with Writer/Director/Actor Marty Papazian" featurette, "Veterans on Least Among Saints" featurette. (Vision Films).
Legends of the Old West (1994 -- TV) Three-disc collection of History documentaries: "Buffalo Bill and His Wild West," "Wild Bill Hickok," ""The Legendary Cowboys,"" "The Law From Behind the Tin Star," "Meet The James Gang," "The Texas Rangers." Formats: DVD, $19.98. (Lionsgate).
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: The Complete Series (1959-1963) "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" ignited one of the many loves of American television: stories about teenagers. Dobie Gillis was a typically indecisive young man who continually set out on hopeless quests for popularity, money and the attention of beautiful girls, all the while trying to photo make his parents happy. Created and written by humorist Max Shulman and adapted from Shulman's celebrated collection of short stories,"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" premiered on CBS in 1959 and was a counter-culture hit throughout all four years of its network run. Starring Dwayne Hickman, Bob Denver, Frank Faylen, Florida Friebus, Tuesday Weld, Warren Beatty and Sheila James, this timeless show triggered a sea change in sitcoms and dramas, which would focus on the hopes, dreams and angst of teenagers for decades to come. Guest stars included Rose Marie, Bill Bixby, Yvonne Craig, Richard Deacon, Norman Fell, Ronny Howard, Sherry Jackson, Sally Kellerman, Michael J. Pollard, Michele Lee, Steve Franken, Jo Anne Worley, among others. The long-awaited box set includes all 147 episodes on 20 DVDs in a collectible box set. Extras: Original rare pilot footage, bonus episodes from "Love That Bob!" and "The Stu Erwin Show." $139.99. (Shout! Factory). Pre-order a copy now at Amazon.
North & South (1975) BBC period drama, starring Patrick Stewart, is a classic British romance in the vein of "Pride and Prejudice" and "Middlemarch," based on the celebrated novel by Elizabeth Gaskell that depicts the tensions of the Victorian era as traditional society clashed with the coming of the modern world. U.S. debut. Two-disc set with four episodes, $39.99. (Acorn Media).
The Producers: Collector's Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1968) Dir.: Mel Brooks; Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars, Lee Meredith, Christopher Hewett, Renee Taylor. New HD transfer. Extras: "Mel and His Movies: The Producers," theatrical trailer, photo gallery. (Shout! Factory).
6 Souls (2012) Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Frances Conroy. A female forensic psychiatrist takes on a new patient whose multiple personalities are murder victims, and the more she finds out about him and his past, the closer she and her loved ones are to becoming murder victims themselves. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
Tai Chi Hero (2012 -- China) Jayden Yuan, Angelababy, Eddie Peng, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Daniel Wu, Peter Stormare. Second installment in the steampunk-infused, video game-influenced, kung fu throwdown "Tai Chi Trilogy" that mixes elements from disparate eras in China's past and brings together different film genres in a completely unique way. Lu Chan (Yuan) is adapting to life in the Chen Village when the Grandmaster's eldest son returns and reminds the town of a legendary prophecy that may spell doom for the civilians and -- once again -- it is up to Lu Chan to save the day. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: "From Zero to Hero: The Making of Tai Chi Hero" making-of featurette. (Well Go USA).
The Tower (2012 -- South Korea) Sul Kyung-gu, Ye-jin Son, Sang-kyung Kim. A Christmas Eve party at a 108-story luxury residential building takes a horrific turn when a fire breaks out. Formats: DVD. (CJ Entertainment America).
Tower Block (2012) Sheridan Smith, Russell Tovey, Jack O'Connel, Ralph Brown, Kane Robinson. A year after witnessing the murder of a young man, the residents of Tower Block 31 -- who stood by during the killing -- find themselves being picked off by a sniper, pitting those lucky enough to be left alive into a battle for survival. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: TBA. (Shout! Factory).
The UP Series (2013) Seven disc special edition including all eight films: "Seven UP," "7 Plus Seven," "21 UP," "28 UP," "35 UP," "42 UP," "49 UP" and "56 UP." Formats: DVD, $79.95. Extras: Interview: Roger Ebert talks with Michael Apted, commentary by Michael Apted (on "42 UP"), photo gallery for each film, Michael Apted biography. (First Run Features).
Venus and Serena (2012) Documentary takes an unfiltered look into the remarkable lives of the greatest sister-act professional tennis has ever seen. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Deleted scenes, interview with director Maiken Baird, interview with director Michelle Major, AXS TV: "A Look at Venus and Serena," trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Why We Laugh: Funny Women (2012) Documentary explores the journey and evolution of the female stand-up comedian; includes personal and in-depth interviews and live performance footage with some of the most prominent female voices in comedy and entertainment: Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Kim Wayans, Janeane Garofalo, Rita Rudner, Kathy Najimy, Sandra Bernhard, Natasha Leggero, Aisha Tyler and many more. Formats: DVD, $19.98. Digital. (Lionsgate).

Back to top



July 9

Admission (2013) Dir.: Paul Weitz; Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Michael Sheen, Lily Tomlin, Gloria Reuben, Wallace Shawn. Read more about "Admission" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Early Admission With Tina Fey & Paul Rudd." (Universal).
After Newtown: Guns In America (2013) Explores the evolution of guns in America, their frequent links to violence and the clash of cultures that reflect competing visions of our national identity. There are more than 300 million personal firearms in America -- representing nearly one third of all personal firearms on the planet. But how did the U.S.s become awash in guns? With every new mass shooting, the battle lines seem to be drawn sharper between those who argue for little or no regulation of firearms and those who advocate for strict gun control. Formats: DVD, $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Arthur C. Clarke: The Complete Collection (2012) Eight-disc special collector's set with 52 episodes of the series that explored the universe's most bizarre and seemingly inexplicable mysteries, hosted by Arthur C. Clarke. Includes episodes from "Mysterious World" (1980), narrated by author, actor and newscaster Gordon Honeycomb, "World of Strange Powers" (1985), narrated by English journalist Anna Ford, and "Mysterious Universe" (1995), narrated by British TV personality Carol Vorderman. Formats: DVD, $59.99. Extras: (Visual Entertainment).
Ben 10 Omniverse: Heroes Rise (2012) Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $19.97. Formats: DVD. (Cartoon Network/Warner).
Best of Daizy (2013) Fourth and final title in the "Best of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" DVD collection is a compilation of seven entertaining and charming episodes starring Wubbzy's independent next door neighbor and gal pal. Formats: DVD, $14.98. (Anchor Bay).
Blood and Sand BLU-RAY DEBUT (1941) Dir.: Rouben Mamoulian; Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, Anthony Quinn, J. Carrol Naish, John Carradine. In this Academy Award-winning classic, Juan Gallardo (Power) returns home to claim the hand of his childhood love and continue his rise toward becoming Spain's greatest matador. But when he catches the eye of a beautiful seductress (Hayworth), Juan will learn that the battles that matter most are fought outside the ring. Extras: Commentary by Richard Crudo, director of photography. (Fox).
photo Bonanza: The Official Sixth Season, Volume One (1964-65) Five-disc set with 19 episodes, $46.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Special cast promos with restored visual elements accompanied by original narrations from the cast on several fan-favorite episodes, including "Old Sheba," "Invention of a Gunfighter" and "The Wild One"; commentaries on select episodes; "Excerpts": Michael Landon sings Nathaniel Shilkret and Gene Austin’s 1920s standard "Lonesome Road," Lorne Greene performs his hit melody "Ringo" and satirist Allan Sherman performs on "Allan Sherman’s Funnyland"; photo galleries. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Bonanza: The Official Sixth Season, Volume Two (1964-65) Four-disc set with 15 episodes, $46.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Photo galleries. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Cohen & Tate BLU-RAY DEBUT (1988) Roy Scheider, Adam Baldwin, Harley Cross. Two mismatched hitmen kidnap a 9-year-old boy -- an eyewitness to a recent mob rub-out -- and endeavor to deliver him to Houston where he'll be eliminated. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Eric Red, more. (Shout! Factory).
Combat Girls (2011 -- Germany) Alina Levshin, Jella Haase. Searing coming-of-age drama follows two suburban girls from vastly different backgrounds who become ensnared in the Neo-Nazi youth movement. Twenty-year-old Melissa is a hard-core believer, a semi-skinhead who is adorned with Nazi tattoos. Fourteen-year-old Svenja is a sheltered, spoiled, straight A student who becomes fascinated with the group because of her Neo-Nazi boyfriend. They began as adversaries but soon become best friends though their loyalty to each other is shaken when Marisa decides she wants to leave the group. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Interview with Alina Levshin, eight-page booklet. (Artsploitation Films).
Dark Power (2013) Sean Patrick Flanery, Kristanna Loken. When the mayor of a crime-ridden city and his opponent are both assassinated while seeking election, two FBI agents reluctantly join forces to investigate the murder ... only to discover that City Hall holds more secrets than the identity of the killer. Formats: DVD. (Green Apple Entertainment).
Dead Man Down (2013) Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, Terrence Howard, Armand Assante, Isabelle Huppert. Read more about "Dead Man Down" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Featurettes: "Firefight Choreography: Staging the Gunfights of Dead Man Down," "Revenge Technique: The Cinematography of Dead Man Down," "Revenge, Redemption, and The Art of Filming Dead Man Down." (Sony).
Drive-in Collection: Vixens of Kung Fu and Oriental Blue (1975) Double bill with" Vixens of Kung Fu," about a young prostitute who, after being brutally assaulted by a group of men, is in taken in by a secret sect of beautiful female kung-fu masters who teach her about the erotic side of martial arts; and "Oriental Blue," about an underground white slave trade operation in a hidden apartment beneath a Chinese restaurant. Formats: DVD. (Vinegar Syndrome).
photo Dynasty: The Seventh Season, Volume One (1986-87) Four-disc set with the first 17 episodes of the seventh season of the primetime soap opera that follows the exploits of the Carringtons and Colbys, both "oil-rich" family dynasties in Denver, as they accrue and manipulate power and wealth. Formats: DVD, $39.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Dynasty: The Seventh Season, Volume Two (1986-87) Three-disc set with the last 12 episodes of the seventh season of the primetime soap opera that follows the exploits of the Carringtons and Colbys, both "oilrich" family dynasties in Denver, as they accrue and manipulate power and wealth. Formats: DVD, $39.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
For Richer or Poorer (2012) Rockmond Dunbar, LeToya Luckett, Angell Conwell, Jackee Harry. A spoiled prima donna with a taste for the finer things in life has to kiss her expensive fashions goodbye when her handsome, doting husband -- who indulges her every whim -- loses his well-paying job and has to flip burgers to pay the bills. Formats: DVD, Digital. Originally aired on the Gospel Music Channel. (Image Entertainment).
Frontline: Never Forget to Lie (2013) Over the course of his 50-year career, filmmaker Marian Marzynski has occasionally turned his cameras on himself and his story of surviving the Holocaust, which claimed the life of his father and millions of other European Jews. In his latest film, Marzynski returns to Poland and the Jewish ghettos of his childhood. But this time, he is not alone. The film chronicles the poignant, painful recollections of other child survivors and rescues haunting pieces of the past while exploring the conflicting feelings about national, cultural, and religious identity that mark many survivors. Formats: DVD, $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
The Gatekeepers (2012) Charged with overseeing Israel's war on terror -- both Palestinian and Jewish -- the head of the Shin Bet, Israel's secret service is present at the crossroad of every decision made. For the first time ever, six former heads of the agency agreed to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. The documentary offers an account of the sum of their success and failures, and validates the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their hard-line positions and advocate a conciliatory approach toward their enemies based on a two-state solution. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary and Q&A with Director Dror Moreh. (Sony).
Hands of the Ripper (1971) Eric Porter, Angharad Rees, Jane Merrow, Keith Bell. The daughter of Jack the Ripper -- who watched in horror as an infant when he brutally murdered her mother -- channels her dead father's spirit and continues his murderous spree. Completely restored in high-definition and released uncut for the first time on Blu-ray in the U.S.; considered one of the most gruesome Hammer horror films ever made. Formats: DVD/Blue-ray Combo. Extras: "The Devil's Bloody Plaything: Possessed By Hands of the Ripper" featurette, "Slaughter of Innocence: The Evolution of Hammer Gore" motion still gallery, U.S. television introduction, original theatrical trailer and TV spots, still gallery, isolated music and effects audio track. (Synapse Films).
The Host (2013) Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Frances Fisher, Jake Abel, Max Irons, William Hurt. Read more about "The Host" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: deleted scenes, "Bringing The Host to Life" behind-the-scenes featurette, "Seeker PSA" commentary with author-producer Stephenie Meyer, screenwriter-director Andrew Niccol, and producer Nick Wechsler. (Universal).
How the States Got Their Shapes: Season 2 (2012) Three-disc set with 19 episodes, $19.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Bonus footage. (Lionsgate).
photo How the West Was Won: The Complete First Season (1977) Based on the 1962 film of the same name, the first season of this series features an all-star cast including James Arness, Eva Marie Saint and Bruce Boxleitner. The two-disc set contains the entire first season, told in three 90-minute segments. As an added bonus, the release includes the "The Macahans," the 1976 TV movie about the Macahan family's initial journey out West to escape the Civil War. Formats: Two-disc DVD, $19.98. (Warner).
Killing Twice (2007) Julian Lara, Jose Manuel Gomen, Jesus Gallardo. The monster possessed by the spirit of a biblical demon goes on a killing spree in a high school and it's up to two buddies to hunt and kill the creature -- at night, alone in the school building. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Making-of featurette, trailer. (Troma).
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1999 (1999) The world's longest-running sitcom returns with more antics from everyone's favorite elder delinquents. Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $34.98. Formats: DVD. (BBC Home Entertainment).
The Legend of Korra: Book One: Air (2012) Nickelodeon CGI series follows a 17-year-old headstrong and rebellious girl who continually challenges tradition on her quest to become a fully realized Avatar in a world where benders are under attack. From the creators of the "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Legend of Puppetbender Presents 'The Making of a Legend: The Untold Story' Part One" (original short), commentaries from series creators, cast and crew on select episodes. Blu-ray adds commentaries from series creators, cast and crew for all 12 episodes; series creators' favorite scenes: eight animatics. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
The Life of Oharu (1952 -- Japan) A peerless chronicler of the soul who specialized in supremely emotional, visually exquisite films about the circumstances of women in Japanese society throughout its history, Kenji Mizoguchi had already been directing movies for decades when he made "The Life of Oharu" in 1952. But this epic portrait of an inexorable fall from grace, starring the incredibly talented Kinuyo Tanaka as an imperial lady-in-waiting who gradually descends to street prostitution, was the movie that gained its director international attention, ushering in a new golden period for him. In Japanese with English subtitles. New high-definition digital film restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Introductory commentary by scholar Dudley Andrew; "Mizoguchi's Art and the Demimonde," an illustrated audio essay featuring Andrew; "Kinuyo Tanaka's New Departure," a 2009 film by Koko Kajiyama documenting the actor's 1949 goodwill tour of the United States; booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Gilberto Perez. (The Criterion Collection).
My Best Enemy (2011 -- Austria) Moritz Bleibtreu, Georg Friedrich, Ursula Strauss, Uwe Bohm, Marthe Keller. Comedy-drama full of twists and turns about two friends in pre-war Vienna -- Victor, the son of wealthy Jewish art gallery owners, and Rudi, the son of their servants, whose lives are changed when the Nazis take over: Rudi becomes a Nazi and Victor is sent to a concentration camp. When the Nazi want a priceless Michelangelo sketch, Victor is taken out of the concentration camp to produce the genuine article, but a dramatic plane crash, switched identities and an elaborate scheme engender a complicated game of cat and mouse. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Open 24/7 (2010) Philippe Beun-Garbe, Emilie Brunner, Veronique Caldarola. The menu at a late-night backwood's restaurant includes horror, cannibalism, sex and violence. Formats: DVD. Extras: Making-of featurette, deleted scenes, SFX behind the scenes. (Troma).
Our Wild Hearts (2013 -- TV) Cambrie Schroder, Ricky Schroder. A wealthy teenage girl from Malibu falls in love with a beautiful wild mustang, adventure, and the father she has never known in the wild Sierra Nevada Mountains. Formats: DVD, VOD. (ARC Entertainment).
Portlandia Season Three (2013) Two-disc set with 10 episodes. Formats: DVD, $19.95; Blu-ray Disc, $24.95. Extras: "Winter in Portlandia" special episode, Portland tours led by Kumail Nanjiani featuring locations like the Feminist Book store and a vegan strip club, deleted scenes. (VSC).
The Power of Few (2012) Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, Anthony Anderson, Jesse Bradford, Moon Bloodgood, Nicky Whelan, Q'orianka Kilcher, Juvenile. Set in New Orleans, a smuggling ring's efforts to steal a priceless artifact unfold through the perspective of five sets of characters, each with overlapping story lines. What begins as the tale of a store heist becomes a much bigger exploration of urban existence, religious conspiracy and the interconnectedness of life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Making of The Power of Few"; deleted scenes; interviews with Christopher Walken, Christian Slater, Anthony Anderson and Juvenile; community outreach featurette; QR Code for exclusive online bonus footage. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Punk Vacation (1987) Stephen Fiachi, Sandra Bogan, Roxanne Rogers, Rob Garrison. A peaceful California town is shaken after the brutal murder of diner owner by a gang of vicious punks. When the daughter of the slain man attempts to avenge her father's death, she's held hostage by the gang, resulting in an epic battle between punks and rednecks. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Interviews with producer Stephen Fusci and production coordinator Steve Rowland, still gallery, bonus feature film: "Nomad Riders" (DVD only). (Vinegar Syndrome).
Spring Breakers (2013) Dir.: Harmony Korine; Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, James Franco, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine. Read more about "Spring Breakers" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Breaking It Down: Behind Spring Breakers" three-part behind-the-scenes documentary; deleted scene/outtakes; "Harmony's Ear Candy" music featurette; commentary with writer-director Korine; "VICE" featurettes: an inside look at the ATL Twins and real life partying in Panama City Beach; theatrical trailer/TV spots. (Lionsgate).
Street Trash -- Special Meltdown Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1987) Mike Lackey, Bill Chepil, Vic Noto. Subversive cult classic/horror comedy about homeless men living in a junkyard, a stash of 40-year-old wine (Tenafly Viper) that's gone so bad it melts anyone who drinks it, and an insane Vietnam War veteran who goes after a young runaway who falls for his secretary. A classic of the genre, with self-referential humor that makes it a fun gore outing. High-definition transfer from the original camera negative with 5.1 Surround remix created specifically for home theatre environments. Extras:Two audio commentaries featuring producer Roy Frumkes and director James Muro; "The Meltdown Memoirs" feature-length documentary on the history and making of "Street Trash"; the original "Street Trash" 16mm short film that inspired the movie; the original promotional teaser; original theatrical trailer. (Synapse Films/CAV Distributing).


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enter Shredder (2012) Seven episodes of the Nick CGI-animated series, $14.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Animated comic books, "Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part One," "Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Two," "The Mutation of a Scene: New Girl in Town." (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
The Twilight Zone: The Complete Third Season (1961-62) Five-disc set with 37 episodes, $29.98. Formats: DVD. (Image Entertainment).
Tyler Perry's Temptation (2013) Dir.: Tyler Perry; Jurnee Smollett, Lance Gross, Robbie Jones, Vanessa Williams, Kim Kardashian, Eric West, Brandy Norwood. Read more about "Tyler Perry's Temptation" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: TBA. (Lionsgate).
photo for Unforgettable: The First Season Unforgettable: The First Season (2011-12) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $61.99. Poppy Montgomery stars as NYC Queen's homicide Det. Carrie Wells, a cop with hyperthymesia, which means she visually remembers everything; in her case, however, that means everything except remembering what happened on the day her sister was murdered. CBS had cancelled the series last summer but reconsidered and will bring it back for 13 episodes beginning Sunday, July 28. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted scenes; commentary; "The Rememberers," a featurtte that explores the fascinating world of those with a Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) with real-life HSAMer Marilu Henner and neurobiologist Dr. James McGaugh; "Keeping It Memorable: Cast & Crew of Unforgettable" behind-the-scenes featurette; and a tour of the Queens PD set with production designer Vincent Peranio. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Warehouse 13: Season Four photo for Warehouse 13: Season Four (2012-13) Five-disc set with 20 episodes of the SyFy series about secret service agents assigned to a warehouse in South Dakota that houses supernatural artifacts. Prepare for more paranormal thrills, chills, excitement and steampunk action. After the destruction of the Warehouse, the agents risk the use of a mythical artifact in an attempt to restore all they've lost. But the use of this dangerous artifact could change the Warehouse team and the world forever. eaturing guest appearances by Brent Spiner, Sam Huntington and other sci-fi favorites. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, gag reel, episode podcasts with cast and crew, 10-part animated web series "Grand Design." (Universal).
Women Who Kill (2012) Top comediennes and close friends Amy Schumer, Rachel Feinstein, Nikki Glaser and Marina Franklin come together in New York City for a special evening of killer comedy that aired March, 2013, on Showtime. Formats: DVD. Extras: "The Slumber Party," "Photo Shoot," "Gossip in the Make-Up Room" and "The Jist of Rachel." (Entertainment One).
Wolverine: Origin (2012) Animated, motion comic reveals the secret history of Wolverine that changed the Marvel Universe forever. Written by Eisner Award winner Paul Jenkins from a story by Joe Quesada, Paul Jenkins and Bill Jemas, with artwork by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove. The adventures of Wolverine's early days and the startling revelation of his true origins are brought to life by Marvel Knights Animation. Formats: DVD. Extras: Interviews with the creators and illustrators. (Shout! Factory).
Would You Rather (2012) Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, Sasha Grey, John Heard, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Eddie Steeples, Charlie Hofheimer. A seemingly philanthropic aristocrat offers a group of desperate individuals all looking to make some easy money a chance at untold riches. But the guests soon find themselves trapped in the man's mansion and forced to play a sadistic parlor game of Would You Rather, where one is faced with two grim, violent choices and where only the winner will get out alive. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Midnight/MPI Media Group).

Back to top



July 16

photo from Rick Springfield and An Affair of the Heart An Affair of the Heart (2013) The first-ever feature documentary about Grammy-winning musician, songwriter, actor, and New York Times best-selling author Rick Springfield and his ardently loyal fan base. Featuring live concert footage, celebrity and fan interviews, and revealing conversations with Springfield himself, the documentary focuses on the singer's decades-long career and the unique connection he shares with his fans; the film is almost more about the fans than Springfield. This irresistible, entertaining and funny documentary proves there's far more to the pop superstar than just "Jessie's Girl." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Extended scenes, bonus interviews, premiere footage. (Breaking Glass Pictures).
Alphas: Season Two (2012) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $44.98. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
America's Test Kitchen: Season 13 (2012) Four-disc set with more episodes of foolproof recipes, tips and techniques, equipment recommendations, and more, $39.95. Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).
American Courtesans (2013) A documentary on modern day female escorts in America. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Gravitas Ventures/Centex Enterprises).
Arthur Stands Up to Bullying (2013) In four entertaining episodes, the world's most famous aardvark, Arthur Read, and his family and friends, stand up to bullying, learn about teasing, and think about friendship. Formats: DVD, $9.99. Extras: Printable coloring pages and activities. (PBS Distribution).
Bert Stern: Original Mad Man (2011) The definitive voyage into the life and work of one of the greatest American photographers of all time. An original Madison Avenue "mad man," Bert Stern's images helped create modern advertising; his ground-breaking campaign for Smirnoff forever changed the industry. The iconic photos he took of celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren, Twiggy, and the infamous Lolita image from Kubrick's film, minted Stern -- along with Irving Penn and Richard Avedon -- as a celebrity in his own right. Indeed, his photos from Monroe's "Last Sitting" are considered to be the ultimate images of the 20th century icon. After marrying legendary ballet dancer and Balanchine muse Allegra Kent, the kid from Brooklyn was sitting on top of the world ... until a dramatic fall from grace. Stern died June 26 of this year. Formats: DVD, $27.95. Extras: "Bert Stern Photo Gallery: The Iconic Images." (First Run Features).
Bidder 70 (2012) In 2008, as George W. Bush tried to gift the energy and mining industries thousands of acres of pristine Utah wilderness via a widely disputed federal auction, college student Tim DeChristopher decided to monkey-wrench the process. Bidding $1.7 million, he won 22,000 acres with no intention to drill. For this astonishing (and successful) act of civil disobedience he was sent to federal prison. "Bidder 70" tells the story of this peaceful warrior whose patriotism and willingness to sacrifice have ignited the climate justice movement. Formats: DVD, $24.95. (First Run Features).
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (Director's Cut) BLU-RAY DEBUT photo (2009) Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Clifton Collins Jr., Julie Benz, Peter Fonda, Judd Nelson. The 2000 crime picture renowned for the unique story of the fast rise and fall of its egomaniacal filmmaker, Troy Duffy (who was a bartender in Los Angeles when his script was produced), as well as the cult following that appeared later on home release, gets the sequel treatment with this follow-up. The MacManus brothers are living a quiet life in Ireland with their father, but when they learn that their beloved priest has been killed by mob forces, they go back to Boston to bring justice to those responsible and avenge the priest. The Director's Cut features 27 minutes of never-before-seen footage, including a longer opening sequence, a lengthened fantasy sequence and an extended elevator sequence leading up to the Prudential shoot-out. Two-disc set with theatrical and director's cut versions, UltraViolet. Extras: Filmmaker and cast commentaries, deleted scenes, seven behind-the-scenes featurettes: "Unprecedented Access: Behind the Scenes" making-of documentary; "Billy Connolly and Troy Duffy: Unedited" multi-camera, off-the-cuff conversation between filmmakers on the success of the first movie, their evolutions as filmmaker and actor, and what they hope to capture on their second go-round; "Inside the Vault: The Weapons"; "The Cast Confesses: Secrets from the Set"; "The Boondock Saints Hit Comic-Con"; "Saints Off Script" look at the "Saints" having fun on set while the cameras aren't rolling; "Back to Boondock" tour of pre-production with the cast and filmmakers. (Sony).
Bullet to the Head (2013) Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jon Seda. Read more about "Bullet to the Head" in the July Calendar. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Bullet to the Head: Mayhem Inc." featurette. (Warner).
Caillou: Big Kid Caillou (2013) Six episodes feature Caillou as he learns that every race is not about winning, remembers what it's like to be the "new kid" at school, and discovers the importance of good vision. Formats: DVD, $9.99. Extras: Printable coloring pages and activities. (PBS Distribution).
Cannibal Possession: Heart of Ice (2012) An historian specializing in the cannibal legend of Wendigo (a native Canadian belief about a monster that can possess people and turn them into murderous cannibals) is horrified when details of the infamous "Greyhound Bus" killing of 2008 in Manitoba resembles details of an interview he did. Is it coincidence or proof of the legend? Forensic psychologists, historians and medical engineers weigh in on possible explanations behind such "cannibal possessions in this documentary. Formats: DVD, $19.95. (MVD Entertainment).
Combat!: The Complete Fourth Season (1965-66) One of the television's most popular series, the groundbreaking "Combat!" offered a gritty, unflinching look at American soldiers battling in Europe during World War II, confronting imposing odds and demonstrating remarkable levels of ingenuity and courage. Vic Morrow and Rick Jason head a stellar cast, featuring an incomparable list of guest stars from Hollywood's Golden Age as well as top directorial talent such as Richard Donner and Robert Altman. Eight-disc set with 31 episodes, $39.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentaries, photo gallery, oddities and bloopers, more. (Image Entertainment).
Damages: The Final Season (2012) Three-disc set with 10 episodes, $45.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes. (Sony).
The Definitive Guide to the Mob (2012) Colombo crime family captain Michael Franzese helps examine the American Mafia in this History Channel special. Michael followed in the footsteps of his father, Colombo family underboss Sonny Franzese, and earned more money for the organization than anyone since Al Capone. He also did what no "Made" man has ever done before or since: he publicly quit La Cosa Nostra -- without going into witness protection -- and lived to tell the tale. It's a one-of-a-kind view into the world of the country's most dangerous men and provides a realistic look at American mob life, stripped of the glitz and glamour of how Hollywood portrays the Mafia. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
Dinosaur Train: Nature Trackers (2012) Eight episodes chock-full of adventure and fun, teaching young explorers about stargazing, snakes, wildlife diversity and nature's life cycle. Formats: DVD, $9.99. Extras: Printed Nature Trackers Club coloring and guide book, interactive “How Big?" game, PDF coloring pages and activities. (PBS Distribution).
Doctor Who -- The Doctors Revisited: One-Four 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of "Doctor Who," the longest running science fiction show in television history. To celebrate, BBC Home Entertainment is releasing a curated selection of the best of each of this storied program's 11 Doctors. The first release showcases "Doctor Who's" first four doctors, including William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, spanning the years 1963-1981. Includes a profile of each Doctor and one classic program for each: "The Aztecs," "Tomb of the Cyberman," "Spearhead from Space" and "Pyramid of Mars." Formats: Four-disc DVD, $39.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Endeavour Series 1 (2012) Before Inspector Morse, there was rookie Constable Morse, fed up with police work and ready to nip his career in the bud by handing in his resignation. That is, until a murder turned up that only he could solve. Endeavour Morse -- before his signature red Jaguar, but with his deductive powers already running in high gear -- solves mysteries in 1960s Oxford. Three-disc set with four whodunits. Formats: DVD $39.99, Blu-ray $44.99, Digital. Extras: Original pilot episode. (PBS Distribution).
Erased (2012) Aaron Eckhart, Liana Liberato, Olga Kurylenko. An ex-CIA operative (Eckhart) and his teenage daughter (Liberato) are caught up in a chase for their lives when both are targeted for termination -- by the very organization that originally employed him. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Erased: Behind the Scenes." (Anchor Bay Entertainment/RADiUS-TWC).
Eve of Destruction (2013) Steven Weber, Treat Williams, Christina Cox, Aleks Paunovic. The fight for survival continues in the second disaster film in the five-part doomsday series, which originally aired on ReelzChannel in April. Scientists drill a hole in the universe to harvest a limitless pool of "dark energy," but the experiment goes horribly wrong and wipes an entire city off the map. Now, the effort to save the world becomes the ultimate threat that could destroy it. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Sonar Entertainment/Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Evil Dead (2013) Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore. Read more about "Evil Dead" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Making Life Difficult" behind-the-scenes featurette; "Being Mia" (the physical and psychological transformation into "Evil Mia"); "Directing the Dead." Blu-ray adds commentary featuring Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, director Fede Alvarez and writer Rodo Sayagues; "Unleashing The Evil Force" featurette; "Evil Dead the Reboot": with cast rehearsals, Bruce Campbell, Deadites and more. (Sony).
Femme Fatales: The Complete Second Season (2012) Three-disc set with 12 episodes, $29.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary for every episode with the stars and creators; "Libra" episode international version with commentary; "It's Not Personal, It's Just Business: The Making of Family Business"; "Libra Rising: The Making of Libra"; defining "Femme Fatales"; "Lilith: Daughter of Darkness" featurette; "The Femmes of Femme Fatales" featurette; Second Season Red Carpet premiere; San Diego Comic-Con Panel 2012; deleted scenes; more. (Entertainment One).
42 (2013) Dir.: Brian Helgeland; Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Andre Holland, Lucas Black, Hamish Linklater. Read more about "42" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Stepping into History" featurette. Blu-ray adds "Full-Contact Baseball" and "The Legacy of the Number 42." (Warner).
The Fruit Hunters (2012) Adventurers, exotic fruits fanatics and even movie star Bill Pullman, are the subjects of this new film from director Yung Chang. It's a thrilling journey through nature, commerce and adventure that follows fruit hunters dedicated to and saving rare and exotic fruit and to creating a Garden of Eden in a world increasingly dominated by industrialized monoculture. Formats: DVD. (Docurama).
George Lopez: The Complete Third Season (2003-04) Three-disc set with 28 episodes, $29.98. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
God Don't Make the Laws (2011) Ella Rae Peck, Lucas Salvagno, Robert Prescott, Peter Vack. When a tragic accident claims the lives of Rockwell's beloved high school basketball team, time in the picturesque town stands still -- literally -- when a deal is made with the devil and sickness, aging and death cease for those left behind ... until decades later when a mysterious drifter with a sordid past blows into town, stirring up the long-buried past, causing the hands of time begin to move forward once again. Formats: DVD. (Green Apple Entertainment).
The Good Life (2012) Tangi Miller, Jacques Vandelay, Christian Keyes, Maya Gilbert. Urban romantic thriller about a seemingly happily married couple who are keeping dark secrets from each other. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Entertainment One).
Heavy Traffic BLU-RAY DEBUT (1973) Ralph Bakshi's animated masterpiece about an underground cartoonist who contends with life in the inner city, where various unsavory characters serve as inspiration for his artwork. (Shout! Factory).
Hell on Wheels: The Complete Second Season photo for Hell on Wheels: The Complete Second Season (2012) Three-disc set with 10 episodes of the AMC Western series set in the post-Civil War frontier, about a Confederate soldier, out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who murdered his wife, who follows their trail to Hell on Wheels, the raucous, traveling melting pot of a town that travels alongside the construction of the transcontinental railroad. This season he faces a new onslaught of turmoil, danger and corruption in a treacherous town where life is cheap and greed is the only law. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Making of Hell on Wheels," 1o episode featurettes, "On Set With Anson Mount," "Where Season One Left Off," "The Cast on Season Two." (Entertainment One).
Letters From Jackie: The Private Thoughts of Jackie Robinson (2013) Original documentary from Major League Baseball Productions chronicles Jackie Robinson's thoughts and ambitions as he became one of America's greatest athletes, as well as a towering symbol of the civil rights movement. Formats: DVD, $9.98. (Lionsgate).
The Life After Death Project 1 and 2 (2013) Renowned filmmaker Paul Davids unleashes an astonishing breakthrough film about life after death, originally broadcast on the Syfy Channel May 15. Interviews with New York Times best-selling authors (Richard Matheson, Whitley Strieber, Dannion Brinkley, Michael Shermer), top science professors (Dr. Gary E. Schwartz and others) and selected world-famous mediums provide scientific evidence and testimony on how deceased people can and do communicate with us. Davids takes us on a goose-bump inducing investigation of the extraordinary case of after death communication (ADC) with Sci-Fi luminary Forrest J Ackerman. "Uncle Forry" was a skeptic about life after death, but he promised close friends that if it turned out he was wrong, he would try to "drop them a line" from the "Other Side." The documentary evidence of what happened has to be seen to be believed. The sequel film "The Life After Death Project 2 -- Personal Encounters" features spellbinding accounts of personal encounters with life after death from archaeologists, physicists, a retired colonel, a librarian, clinical psychologist, sales executive, publisher and doctors and nurses who have worked with hundreds of dying patients. They have seen souls leaving the body at death, angelic beings, spirit entities, golden orbs, physical manifestations and more. It includes updates on the continuing saga of the Forrest J Ackerman case. Formats: Two-disc DVD, $24.95. (MVD Entertainment Group).
London: The Modern Babylon (2012) Director Julien Temple's time-traveling voyage to the heart of his beloved London. From musicians, writers and artists to dangerous thinkers, political radicals and ordinary people, this is the story of London's immigrants and bohemians and how they changed the city forever. It starts out with the dawn of film at the start of the 20th century and progresses -- powered by the flow of popular music -- to the present day. Formats: DVD. (Docurama).
Lord of the Flies (1963) In the hands of the renowned experimental theater director Peter Brook, William Golding's legendary novel on the primitivism lurking beneath civilization becomes a film as raw and ragged as the lost boys at its center. Taking an innovative documentary-like approach, Brook shot "Lord of the Flies" with an off-the-cuff naturalism, seeming to record a spontaneous eruption of its characters' ids. The result is a rattling masterpiece, as provocative as its source material. New, restored 4K digital film transfer, supervised by cameraman and editor Gerald Feil, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: Two-disc DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary featuring director Peter Brook, producer Lewis Allen, director of photography Tom Hollyman, and editor Gerald Feil; audio recordings of William Golding reading from his novel, accompanied by the corresponding scenes from the film; deleted scene, with optional commentary and reading by Golding; interview with Brook from 2008; collection of behind-the-scenes material, featuring home movies, screen tests, outtakes, and stills; new interview with Feil; excerpt from Feil's 1972 documentary "The Empty Space," showcasing Brook's theater methods; "Something Queer in the Warehouse," a piece composed of never-before-seen footage shot by the boy actors during production, with new voice-over by Tom Gaman, who played Simon; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Geoffrey Macnab and an excerpt from Brook's book "The Shifting Point." (The Criterion Collection).
Matlock: The Ninth & Final Season (1994-95) Five-disc set with 15 episodes, $54.99. Formats: DVD. (Paramount).
Misfits: Season Three (2011) Two-disc set with nine episodes of the series about five young outsiders on community service who get caught in a strange storm and soon realize they have developed superpowers. Formats: DVD, $24.98. Extras: Eight behind-thescenes featurettes, Erazer & Vegas webisodes, visual effects featurette, stunts featurette, "On Set With the Misfits." (BBC Home Entertainment).
Orphan Black: Season One (2012) Ten episodes of the BBC Americas series about a young woman, an outsider and an orphan, who witnesses the suicide of a woman who looks like her and decides to take on the woman's identity, boyfriend and money -- only to get involved in a deadly conspiracy involving clones. Formats: Three-disc DVD, $29.98; two-disc Blu-ray, $34.98. Extras: Character profiles, set tour, "Send in the Clones Now" behind the scenes featurette. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Power Rangers Samurai: The Ultimate Duel -- Volume 5 (2011) In these final four episodes of the season, Master Xandred's powers are surging out of control, the Sanzu River is seeping into our world, and giant Moogers are running on a rampage, so the Power Rangers Samurai must enter the Tengen Gate to retrieve the most powerful samurai weapon yet -- The Black Box. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Three videos, character gallery. (Lionsgate).
The Smurfs: Smurfs to the Rescue! (2012) Six adventures from the Saturday morning cartoon series, $14.97. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Super Why!: Hansel & Gretel: A Healthy Adventure (2013) Two adventures for pre-schoolers teaches the benefits of healthy food choices, different types of foods, and unhealthy snacks. Formats: DVD, $9.99. Extras: Music videos, interactive games, color pages, resources for parents. (PBS Distribution).
Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! Two-disc set with 30 cartoons, a mix of classic theatricals and contemporary TV shorts, including "Smitten Kitten," "Timid Tabby" and "24 Karat Kat." Formats: DVD, $19.97. (Warner).
White Frog (2012) Booboo Stewart, Harry Shum Jr., Tyler Posey, BD Wong, Joan Chens, Kelly Hu. Nick (Stewart), a neglected high school student who is struggling with Asperger's Syndrome, finds his life in disarray when tragedy strikes and his idolized older brother dies in a car accident. The family spirals into disarray and, in an effort to keep his brother's memory alive, Nick tentatively reaches out to Chaz's school friends to try making sense of his untimely death but in doing so, he quickly realizes that his brother had a secret life ... and the truth will change his own life forever. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Wolfe Video).
Wild Bill (2011 -- UK) Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter, Sammy Williams. Out on parole after eight years in prison, Bill Hayward returns home to find his now 11- and 15-year-old sons abandoned by their mother and fending for themselves. He reluctantly agrees to hang around and act like a father for social services, and after awhile he grows into his parental role. But when one of his sons gets into trouble with his old drug-dealing mates, he must decide what kind of dad he wants to be -- a good one or a free one. Formats: DVD. (Flatiron Film Co.).

Back to top


July 23

Babette's Feast (1987 -- France) At once a rousing paean to artistic creation, a delicate evocation of divine grace, and the ultimate film about food, the Oscar-winning "Babette's Feast" is a deeply beloved cinematic treasure. Directed by Gabriel Axel and adapted from a story by Isak Dinesen, this is the layered tale of a French housekeeper with a mysterious past who brings quiet revolution in the form of one exquisite meal to a circle of starkly pious villagers in late 19-century Denmark. "Babette's Feast" combines earthiness and reverence in an indescribably moving depiction of pleasure that goes to your head like fine champagne. In Danish, French, and Swedish with English subtitles. New 2K digital film restoration, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: New interview with actor Stephane Audran; "Karen Blixen: Storyteller," a 1995 documentary about the author of the film's source story, who wrote under the pen name Isak Dinesen; new visual essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda; new interview with sociologist Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson about the significance of cuisine in French culture; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Mark Le Fanu and Dinesen's 1950 story. (The Criterion Collection).
Detention of the Dead (2013) Jacob Zacher, Alexa Nikolas, Christa B. Allen, Jayson Blair, Justin Cho, Max Adler. "The Breakfast Club" meets "Zombieland" when a group of teenagers trapped in detention fight for survival after their classmates turn into a ravenous zombie horde. Can a cheerleader, a stoner, a jock, a bully, a goth, and a nerd put aside their differences for one night to take on the undead? Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Commentary by writer-dIrector Alex Craig Mann, "Detention of the Dead: Behind the Scenes" featurette. (Anchor Bay).
Dora & Blue's Clues Double Feature: Dora's Musical School Days & Blue's Big Musical Movie (2013) Double the fun and learning with Dora (kids help Boots' teacher get to school on time to greet her students with a song, learn new Spanish words, cheer up the Grumpy Old Troll and help Dora and Boots deliver mail) and Blue and friends (kids help to get a backyard music show underway by keeping a checklist, assembling the stage and costumes, writing a song with G-Clef -- voiced by Ray Charles -- and of course, playing Blue's Clues to find Blue a singing partner). Formats: DVD, $16.99. Extras: "Dora's Musical School Days": "The Wonder Pets! sneak peek. "Blue's Big Musical Movie": Music videos: "I Can Be Anything I Want to Be" and "There It Is"; "Who Am I" interactive guessing game; "Backstage at Blue's Clues" featurette; two "Blue's Clues" DVD-ROM Games: Instrument Sound Matching and Water Xylophone. (Nickelodeon).
Dragons: Riders of Berk (2013) Two-disc set with 20 episodes of the TV series based on the DreamWorks franchise. Formats: DVD. (Fox).
The Gangster (2012 -- Thailand) Based on the notorious Bangkokian gangs of the 1950s-60s, this story follows a newly released prisoner who wants to go straight but, because he knows nothing else but the life of a gangster, he returns to his old gang. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Making of The Gangster," behind the scenes, international trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Ginger & Rosa (2013) Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Alessandro Nivola, Christina Hendricks, Timothy Spall, Oliver Platt, Annette Bening. Read more about "Ginger & Rosa" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted scenes, cast interviews, an audio commentary with writer-director Sally Potter and two featurettes going behind-the-scenes on the making of the film. (Lionsgate).
Graceland (2012 -- Philippines) Arnold Reyes, Menggie Cobarrubias, Ella Guevara. Family man Marlon Villar, the longtime chauffeur of Manuel Chango, a corrupt Filipino politician, finds himself in an impossible situation when, while driving his daughter and the politician's daughter home, their car is ambushed in a kidnapping attempt and, during the confusion of the ambush, the wrong girl is taken and held for ransom. Marlon is determined to save his daughter, but between the conflicting motives of the kidnappers, the politician and the police, Marlon is forced into a terrible downward spiral of deceit and betrayal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Ron Morales, producers and more; "A Life for Every Lie: The Making of Graceland"; deleted scenes, alternate ending, 16-page booklet. (Drafthouse Films).
Home Run (2013) Scott Elrod, Dorian Brown. A pro ball player with a substance abuse problem is forced into rehab in his hometown, finding new hope when he gets honest about his checkered past, and takes on coaching duties for a misfit Little League team. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: (Millennium Entertainment).
House Party: Tonight's the Night (2013) Tequan Richmond, Zac Goodspeed, Rolonda Watts, Christopher "Kid" Reed, Christopher "Play" Martin, Gary Anthony Williams, Tristin Mays. Fourth sequel in the "House Party" franchise has a college-bound high schooler throwing one last party that turns into an epic disaster where anything can happen and anyone might turn up ... including the original house partyers, Kid 'n Play. Formats: DVD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "House Party 5: Keepin' It Old School" featurette, deleted scenes. (Warner).
The Ice Storm BLU-RAY DEBUT (1997) Suburban Connecticut, 1973. While Richard Nixon's "I am not a crook" speech drones from the TV, the Hood and Carver families try to navigate a Thanksgiving break simmering with unspoken resentment, sexual tension, and cultural confusion. With clarity, subtlety, and a dose of wicked humor, Academy Award–winning director Ang Lee renders Rick Moody's acclaimed novel of upper-middle-class American malaise as a trenchant, tragic cinematic portrait of lost souls. Featuring a tremendous cast of established actors (Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver) and rising stars (Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, Katie Holmes) "The Ice Storm" is among the finest films of the 1990s. Restored high-definition digital film transfer, supervised and approved by director Ang Lee and director of photography Frederick Elmes, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Extras: Commentary featuring Lee and producer-screenwriter James Schamus; documentary featuring interviews with actors Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Sigourney Weaver, and Elijah Wood; interview with novelist Rick Moody; deleted scenes; footage from a 2007 event honoring Lee and Schamus at New York's Museum of the Moving Image; visual essays featuring interviews with the film's cinematographer and production and costume designers; theatrical trailer; essay by critic Bill Krohn. (The Criterion Collection).
The Jeffrey Dahmer Files (2012) Documentary on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to 957 years in prison for killing 17 people and dismembering their bodies over a 13-year period. Stories of necrophilia and cannibalism added to the horror of Dahmer's crimes. This film explores Dahmer by talking to those who knew him during and after his hidden killing spree. Formats: DVD. (IFC Entertainment).
The King of the Streets (2012 -- China) Yuen Song, Becki Li, Yang Junping, Hou Xu. An angry ex-con returns to the streets in search of a new life but also seeks to avenge the death of his parents some eight years earlier by local gangsters. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Well Go USA).
Kiss of the Damned (2012) Josephine de La Baume, Milo Ventimiglia, Roxane Mesquida, Riley Keough. A Beautiful vampire's passionate affair with a human screenwriter -- and the safety of the whole vampire community -- gets endangered when her troublemaker sister unexpectedly comes to visit. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Xan Cassavetes, interview with Josephine de la Baume, interview with Roxane Mesquida, AXS TV interview with Milo Ventimiglia, AXS TV Interview with Roxane Mesquida, theatrical trailers. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Love and Honor (2013) Liam Hemsworth, Aimee Teegarden, Teresa Palmer, Austin Stowell. When a young soldier in Vietnam in 1969 gets dumped by his hometown girl, he and his best friend decide to go AWOL and return to the States to win her back. In just seven days they must get to the U.S., change her mind and make it back to their posts without getting caught. But when they arrive in Michigan they find the girl and her beautiful, committed activist friend at the heart of the anti-war movement. Now the young soldiers must make some life-changing decisions. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).
New World (2013 -- South Korea) Lee Jeong-jae, Choi Min-sik, Hwang Jun-min. Korea's biggest crime organization, "Goldmoon," has been infiltrated by a cop and when the head of the syndicate dies, the police chief orders the undercover cop to participate in project "New World," designed to bring down the notorious crime organization by damaging the relationship between the two feuding contenders. The undercover cop faces a difficult decision: follow the chief's orders or maintain his loyalty to "Goldmoon." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: "The Making of New World," photo gallery. (Well Go USA).
Pieta (2013 -- South Korea) Lee Jung-jin, Cho Min-soo. Read more about "Pieta" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with director Kim Ki-duk, Cho Min-soo and Lee Jung-jin; "God, Have Mercy On Us" featurette with interviews with Kim Ki-duk, Cho Min-soo and Lee Jung-jin; "Winning the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice Film Festival"; behind the scenes featurettes; filmography of Kim Ki-duk; 16-page booklet. (Drafthouse Films).
Robotech: 2-Movie Collection (1985/2013) The Robotech chronicle continues with the unveiling of the all-new anime adventure "Love Live Alive," coupled with "Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles." Formats: DVD. Extras: "Love Live Alive": Pre-production gallery. "The Shadow Chronicles": "Birth of a Sequel" featurette; score music video; "Anime Selects" podcast coverage; "!Pon Anime" podcast interview; "Robotech 3000" demo reel; "Robotech 3000" motion capture sequences; deleted scenes; outtakes; animatics; trailers; image galleries: personnel dossier, ship registry, mecha database, prelude to "The Shadow Chronicles," secret files. (Lionsgate).
The Silence (2010 -- Germany) Ulrich Thomsen, Sebastian Blomberg, Katrin Sass, Jule Boewe, Burghart Klaussner, Wotan Wilke Mohring. A decades-old unsolved murder of a young girl bears an eerie resemblance to the recent disappearance of a 13-year-old, sparking a harrowing investigation into the mystery of the seemingly parallel crimes. Unhealed wounds are opened and fresh dangers arise as detectives, parents and the retired investigator of the first case set out to uncover the truth. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: Two films by director Baran bo Odar: "Quietsch" (7 min.) and "Under the Sun" (60 min.), interviews with cast and crew, TV spots, trailer. (Music Box Films).
Starbuck (2013 -- French Canadian) Patrick Huard, Julie LeBreton, Antoine Bertrand, Dominic Philie. At 42, David lives the life of an irresponsible adolescent. He coasts through life with minimal effort and maintains a complicated relationship with Valerie, a young policewoman. Just as she tells him she's pregnant, David's past resurfaces. Twenty years earlier, he began providing sperm to a fertility clinic in exchange for money. He discovers he's the father of 533 children, 142 of whom have filed a class action lawsuit to determine the identity of their biological father, known only by the pseudonym Starbuck. Formats: DVD. Extras: Interview with Patrick Huard and director Ken Scott; deleted scenes, bloopers; music videos. (Entertainment One).
Superjail! Season 3 photo for Superjail! Season 3 (2013) Ten episodes from the Adult Swim animated comedy about Superjail, the largest and most brutal prison in the world. Built in an active volcano, this complex routinely has riots and murders, though nobody is ever able to escape. The Warden, who is in charge of the prison, has gone insane over the years and has decided to make his prison unlike any other in the world. Each near 11-minute "Superjail!" episode features a sequence of escalating and unprintable carnage; this season includes more fist fights, baffling love triangles and psychedelic animation that will melt your face off. $19.97. Formats: DVD. Extras: Animatics, rough cuts, Introstring featurette. (Warner).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 3 (1989-90) Four-disc set with all 47 episodes of the entire third season of the classic 80s TV series, $19.98. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
The 300 Spartans BLU-RAY DEBUT (1962) Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, Diane Baker. Extras: original theatrical trailer, TV spots. (Fox).
Trance (2013) Director: Danny Boyle. Stars: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel, Tuppence Middleton, Sam Creed. Read more about "Trance" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Hypnotherapy," "The Look," "The Power of Suggestion-Making Trance," "The Final Rewrite," theatrical trailer. Blu-ray adds deleted scenes, "Trance Unraveled" (Easter Egg), "Kick Off," "Danny's Film Noir," Danny Boyle retrospective, short film: "Eugene" by Spencer Susser. (Fox).
Twixt (2011) Dir.: Francis Ford Coppola; Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin, Joanne Whalley, David Paymer. Read more about "Twixt" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: "Twixt -- A Documentary by Gia Coppola." (Fox).
Vanishing Waves (2012 -- Lithuania-France-Belgium) Award-winning film by Lithuanian director Kristina Buozyte is a science fiction romance that is equally occupied by the erotic as well as the fantastic. Lukas (Marius Jampolskis) is assisting a scientific research team by functioning as a patient in a series of heavily monitored (and medicated) sensory deprivation experiments wherein he is attempting to make some form of contact with the subject, Aurora (Jurga Jutaite), a young woman who has been locked in a comatose state for some time. Doctors initially hope for just a vague reaffirmation of consciousness, but the experiment takes an unexpected twist when Lukas and Aurora actually develop a strong psychic link in their mutually altered forms of consciousness…and their link quickly evolves into a romantic, sexually charged relationship. As Lukas hides this data from his researchers, he and Aurora meet secretly and passionately in a series of surreal dreamscapes created by their collective minds, but their union is tragically doomed to collapse around them. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Original trailer and soundtrack, a Cineuropa interview with director Kristina Bouzyte, a 12-page fully illustrated booklet on the genesis of the film, a making-of featurette, Bouzyte's first feature film, "The Collectress." (Artsploitation Films).
A Viking Saga: The Darkest Day (2012) Marc Pickering, Mark Lewis Jones, Elen Rhys, Joshua Richards, Michael Jibson. Follows the true story of a young monk who faces a horde of deadly Vikings during his daring journey to deliver a sacred book to a holy monastery. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew. (Lionsgate).
The Wedding Chapel (2013) Mark Deklin, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Shelley Long. A single painter, down on her luck, takes a break from her mundane life and visits her mom, in hopes of finding some inspiration. During her visit she becomes involved in a mission to conserve the local church, which is in danger of being shut down; her efforts not only give her a new outlook on life, but also enables her mother to rekindle a long lost love from her past. Formats: DVD. (Nasser Entertainment/Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
Welcome to the Punch (2013) Mark Strong, James McAvoy, Andrea Riseborough, David Morrissey, Peter Mullan. Three years earlier, master criminal Jacob Sternwood (Strong) escaped London during a daring robbery that left detective Max Lewinsky (McAvoy) physically and emotionally scarred. When a failed heist puts Sternwood's son in a hospital, the fugitive is forced to come out of hiding in Iceland-- giving Max his second chance to get the one criminal who got away. But as Max returns to the pursuit of his arch-nemesis, he begins to uncover evidence of a vast conspiracy that may put him in even greater danger than his personal vendetta. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films/MPI Media Group).

Back to top


July 30

Annika Bengtzon, Crime Reporter: Episodes 1-3 and Episodes 4-6 (2012) Based on author Liza Marklund's best-selling Swedish crime novels. Annika Bengtzon is a journalist and working mother of two struggling to keep her marriage alive. Fearless in her search for the truth, she won't take no for an answer from anyone: not from prestigious academicians, or drug dealers or from colleagues inside her own profession. Her passion for getting the story may bring her into dangerous situations, but it ultimately allows her to peer into the heart of every crime. Annika's not afraid to square off with hardened criminals, but her toughest challenge seems to be trying to balance the job with her sometimes tumultuous private life. Each three-disc set consists of three complete feature-length episodes, $39.95 each. In Swedish with English subtitles. Formats: DVD. (MHz Networks).
photo for Banshee: The Complete First Season Banshee: The Complete First Season (2013) Four-disc set with 10 episodes of the Cinemax series that follows an ex-con who assumes the identity of the sheriff of a small town where he continues his criminal activities, even as he's hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier. Formats: DVD, $39.98; Blu-ray Disc, $49.99; Digital. Extras: "NYC Bus Crash" special effects; "Town of Secrets" featurette; "Banshee Origins" prequel videos; "Zooming In: Episodes 7 & 8"; commentaries; deleted scenes; episode recaps. Blu-ray adds "Inside the Title Sequence"; "Reveal the Code": "Banshee: Origins" comic book. (HBO).
Black Rock (2012) Katie Aselton, Lake Bell, Kate Bosworth. Three childhood friends get together for a private camp out at an iconic setting from their childhood, an empty island off the coast of Maine, to renew their bond of sisterhood. The trio, however, quickly finds themselves in a fight for their lives when they meet three men who have come to the island for a hunting trip and a night of drinking spirals into a tragic accident. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director-actress Katie Aselton and actress Lake Bell, "Behind the Scenes of Black Rock" featurette, "A Thrilling Score: The Music of Black Rock" featurette. (Lionsgate).
Blaze You Out (2013) Veronica Diaz Carranza, Melissa Cordero, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Mark Adair-Rios. A strong-willed young woman -- an aspiring DJ -- ventures into the ruthless underworld of the town's heroin trade in order to save her younger sister's life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Lionsgate).
The Bronte Sisters (1979) Dir.: Andre Techine; Isabelle Adjani, Isabelle Huppert, Marie-France Pisier, Patrick Magee, Pascal Greggory. A rediscovered and remastered classic. Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1979 Cannes International Film Festival, "The Bronte Sisters" has been only rarely seen in the decades since, but its reputation as an atmospheric and passionate masterpiece has grown. An early success for the revered director Andre Techine ("Rendez-vous," "Scene of the Crime," "Wild Reeds"), the film photo for Andre Techine's The Bronte Sistersstars three of France's most enduring actresses: Isabelle Adjani, Marie-France Pisier and Isabelle Huppert. Director Techine, who co-wrote the film with Pascal Donitzer (writer of Jacques Rivette's film of "Wuthering Heights"), achieves an authentic depiction of the bleak, lonely existence of the Victorian-era Bronte sisters Emily (Adjani), Charlotte (Pisier) and Anne (Huppert). The young women live in a Yorkshire village under the stern eye of their minister father (Patrick Magee) and a rigid aunt -- and also have to deal with their troubled, opium-addicted brother Branwell (Pascal Greggory). While all four siblings have artistic ambitions, their dreams are thwarted by romantic disappointments and tragic illness. But remarkably, against all odds (and using male pseudonyms), the sisters publish their first poetry and novels, including Emily's "Wuthering Heights," Charlotte's "Jane Eyre" and Anne's "Agnes Grey." Techine's sensitive biographical film poignantly contrasts the sisters' humdrum lives with the wildly romantic fantasies that they conjured in their extraordinary novels. With stunning cinematography by Bruno Nuytten and powerful music by Philippe Sarde, "The Bronte Sisters" is a richly rewarding film; it's both a step back into history and a startling look at the immediacy of artistic creation. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary; making-of feature with director Andre Techine, screenwriter Pascal Bonitzer and others; more. (Cohen Film Collection).
Bus Stop BLU-RAY DEBUT (1956) Dir.: Joshua Logan; Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Arthur O'Connell, Betty Field, Eileen Heckart. Extras: Theatrical trailer, other Monroe movie trailers. (Fox).
Cloudburst (2011) Olympia Dukakis, Brenda Fricker, Ryan Doucette, Kristin Booth, Jeremy Akerman, John Dunsworth. Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker star as an aging lesbian couple who escape from their nursing home in Maine and head up to Canada to get married; while on the road, they pick up a young hitchhiker (Ryan Doucette) with his own issues: He's returning to Nova Scotia to visit his dying mother. With equal parts humor and grace, the film explores the themes of life, death and love through the eyes of this oddball trio. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews with the cast. (Wolfe Video).
The Demented (2013) Sarah Butler, Brittney Alger, Kayla Ewell, Richard Kohnke, Michael Welch. Six college friends on a weekend getaway find themselves fighting for their lives after a terrorist attack turns the local residents into rage infused zombies. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. (Anchor Bay).
The Devil's Backbone (2001 -- Spain) The most personal film by Guillermo del Toro is also among his most frightening and emotionally layered. Set during the final week of the Spanish Civil War, "The Devil's Backbone" tells the tale of a 10-year-old boy who, after his freedom-fighting father is killed, is sent to a haunted rural orphanage full of terrible secrets. Del Toro effectively combines gothic ghost story, murder mystery, and historical melodrama in a stylish concoction that reminds us -- ­as would his later "Pan's Labyrinth" -- ­that the scariest monsters are often the human ones. In Spanish with English subtitles. New 2K digital film restoration, approved by director Guillermo del Toro and cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary featuring Del Toro; video introduction by Del Toro from 2010; new interviews with Del Toro about the process of creating the ghost Santi and the drawings and designs made in preparation for the film; "¿Que es un fantasma?," a 2004 making-of documentary; "Spanish Gothic," a 2010 interview with Del Toro about the genre and its influence on his work; interactive director's notebook, with Del Toro's drawings and handwritten notes, along with interviews with the filmmaker; four deleted scenes, with optional commentary; new featurette about the Spanish Civil War as evoked in the film; program comparing Del Toro's thumbnail sketches and Carlos Gimenez's storyboards with the final film; selected on-screen presentation of Del Toro's thumbnail sketches alongside the sections of the final film they represent (Blu-ray edition only); trailer; booklet featuring an essay by critic Mark Kermode (The Criterion Collection).
Don Matteo Episode 33-44 and Episodes 45-56 (2000) Actor Terence Hill stars as Don Matteo, a thoroughly ordinary Catholic priest with an extraordinary ability to read people and solve crimes. He's a parish priest who never met an unjustly accused person he didn't want to help. His friend and chess partner is policeman Marshal Cecchini, who slips him information about new cases much to the chagrin of the police chief who isn't at all thrilled about the collaboration. But he's in agreement with Don Matteo about one thing: the importance of justice being served. Don Matteo has one more concern besides justice: to bring a word of hope to the culprit no matter what the crime. Each four-disc set contains 12 episodes, $39.95 each. In Italian with English subtitles. Formats: DVD. (MHz Networks).
photo for Fernando Di Leo: The Italian Crime Collection: Vol. 2 Fernando Di Leo: The Italian Crime Collection: Vol. 2 Three more films from the influential Italian director -- considered by some, like Quentin Tarantino, who was immensely influenced by the director, to be "without a doubt, the master of (the gangster movie) genre" -- come to home video in the U.S., headed up by his lost masterpiece, "Shoot First, Die Later," which makes it to DVD and Blu-ray for the first time, digitally remastered and restored from 35mm negatives. Di Leo was a master of Mafia mayhem with ultraviolence (for its time), wild car chases and lurid tales of pimps and petty gangsters, made cheap and quick. Di Leo began as a screenwriter on Spaghetti Westerns, then soft-core exploitation films, then -- supposedly inspired by the new realism of such American fare as "The French Connection" -- went on to make a series of Italian crime genre films that were marked by social criticism of Italy's economic and political landscape of corrupt cops, politicians and church officials. The three films here: "Shoot First Die Later" (1974), "Kidnap Syndicate" (1975) and "Naked Violence" (1969). In a classy three-disc boxed set with an illustrated booklet and documentaries on each disc. Read more about the films here. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Raro Video USA).
Filly Brown photo for Filly Brown (2012) Gina Rodriguez, Jenni Rivera, Lou Diamond Phillips, Edward James Olmos, Emilio Rivera. The inspiring portrait of a young woman striving to find her voice -- without compromising herself or the fate of her family. Filly Brown is a young aspiring hip-hop artist from Los Angeles. With her mother in prison and her father struggling to provide for his daughters, Filly knows that a record contract just might be the answer to her family's financial problems. So when a record producer offers her a shot at stardom, she has to choose between selling out her dreams -- or saving her family. Latin Grammy nominee Jenni Rivera' final on-screen appearance before her untimely death. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).
The Fog Collector's Edition (1980) Dir.: John Carpenter; Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Tom Atkins, John Houseman, Hal Holbrook. Features a new transfer of the film supervised by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dean Cundey. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Exclusive interview with Jamie Lee Curtis discussing "The Fog" and covering her legendary early 80s "Scream Queen" career; commentary featuring Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins and production designer Tommy Lee Wallace; retrospective interview with director of photography Dean Cundey about his many legendary collaborations with John Carpenter; "Horror's Hallowed Grounds" locations featurette. Extras from the MGM prior release include "Tales From The Mist: Inside The Fog" featurette; "Fear on Film: Inside The Fog" featurette; "The Fog: Storyboard to Film" featurette; outtakes; theatrical trailers and TV spots; photo gallery and storyboards; commentary with writer-director John Carpenter and writer-producer Debra Hill. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory.)
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki, D.J. Cotrona, Jonathan Pryce, Arnold Vosloo. Read more about "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray Extras: Commentary by director Jon M. Chu and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura; "Mission Briefing" look at pre-production, previsualization, storyboards and more; "Deployment" look at the stunts, costumes and more; "Two Ninjas" focuses on two G.I. Joe favorites, Snake Eyes and Jinx, and the filming of the Dojo sequence; "The Desert Attack" in-depth look at the filming of the pivotal action sequence; "COBRA Strikes" villain highlights; "The Lone Soldiers" behind-the-scenes as Roadblock, Flint and Lady Jaye go on the run; "The Monastery" examination of the Himalayan escape sequence; "Fort Sumter" all-access view of the climax; deleted scenes. Both combos include a limited time offer to receive a free set of personalized dog tags. (Paramount).
The Incredible Melting Man BLU-RAY DEBUT (1977) Alex Rebar, Burr DeBenning, Myron Healey, Michael Alldredge, Ann Sweeny. Extras: Commentary by writer-director William Sachs, interviews with special makeup effects wizards Rick Baker and Greg Cannom and Sachs, theatrical trailers. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory.)
Irene Huss Episodes 7-9 and Episodes 10-13 (2007) Based on the best-selling Swedish crime fiction of Helene Tursten, "Irene Huss" is about a former European ju-jitsu champion, a mother of two teenage daughters, and a Detective Inspector with the Violent Crimes Unit. Her husband, Krister, is a successful chef, and luckily for Irene, he gladly shoulders a fair share of the household tasks. At the Violent Crimes Unit in Gothenburg, Irene encounters a wide range of criminal minds from international serial killers to psychotic young girls. Each new case brings its share of quirks and quandaries to the table, sometimes forcing the entire team to put their lives on the line. Each three-disc set consists of three complete feature-length episodes, $39.95 each. In Swedish with English subtitles. Formats: DVD. (MHz Networks).
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013) The next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies. When time travel allows a past wrong to be righted for Flash and his family, the event's temporal ripples prove disastrous, creating a fractured, alternate reality where the Justice League never formed, and even Superman is nowhere to be found. Amidst a new world being ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman's Amazons and Aquaman's Atlanteans, Flash must team with a grittier, more violent Batman and government agent Cyborg to restore the continuity of Flash's original timeline. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "A Flash in Time" featurette on other dimensions, "My Favorite Villains! The Flash Bad Guys" featurette, "From the DC Comics Vault": Bonus cartoon episodes, "The Flashpoint Paradox" audio commentary. (Warner).
Kendra on Top: The Complete First Season (2012) Two-disc set with 14 uncensored episodes, $24.98. Formats: DVD. (MPI Media Group).
The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh (2012) Vanessa Redgrave, Aaron Pool. After the mysterious death of the reclusive Rosalind Leigh (Redgrave), her estranged son, antiques collector Leon (Poole), arrives at her house to take stock of his inheritance. Once there, he discover that she had been living in a shrine devoted to a mysterious cult. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Rodrigo Gudino, a making-of featurette, "Mercan Dede" featurette, poster, photo gallery, "The Facts in the Case of Mister Hollow" short film. (Image Entertainment).
Love Me Tender BLU-RAY DEBUT (1956) Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Elvis Presley. Extras: Commentary Elvis Historian Jerry Schilling; featurettes: "Elvis Hits Hollywood," "The Colonel & The King," "Love Me Tender: The Birth & Boom of the Elvis Hit"; "Love Me Tender: The Soundtrack." (Fox).
The Magic School Bus: Revving Up (2013) Three-disc set -- "Under Construction," "Getting Energized" and "Cracks a Yolk" -- each containing three new episodes running the gamut from computers and electricity to city critters and desert adaptation. Each DVD also contains a special bonus episode fort more than four-and-a-half hours of Frizz-tastic fun. Formats: DVD, $24.95. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
The Magic School Bus: In a Pickle (2013) Four never-before-released episodes including the title episode about microbes, along with "Meets Molly Cule," "Makes a Stink" about smell and "Meets the Rot Squad" which covers decomposition. Formats: DVD, $12.95. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
Meet the Small Potatoes (2013) Family fun-filled adventure follows Ruby, Nate, Chip and Olaf from the humble dirt of an Idaho farm to become a global singing sensation; an inspirational tale of friendship and creativity that proves even the smallest potato can make big dreams come true. Voiced by Malcolm McDowell and featuring songs by Tony-winning composer Jerry Bock ("Fiddler on the Roof"). First introduced in the Disney Junior series "Small Potatoes." Formats: DVD. (Universal).
photo Midsomer Murders, Series 1,2,3,4 and 5 Repackaged, individual series sets (in the original U.K. broadcast order) of the modern classic British village mysteries. The bucolic surroundings harbor macabre crimes and eccentric characters that are no match for nice-guy detective Tom Barnaby and his eager assistant Sergeant Troy. Series 1 is a three-disc set with five mysteries; Series Two and Three are two-disc sets with four mysteries each; Series Four and Five are three-disc sets with five mysteries each. $59.99 each set. (Acorn Media).
Niagara 60th Anniversary BLU-RAY DEBUT (1953) Dir.: Henry Hathaway; Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Max Showalter. Extras: theatrical trailer, more Monroe movie trailers. (Fox).
A Night for Dying Tigers (2010) Gil Bellows, Jennifer Beals, Kathleen Robertson, John Pyper-Ferguson. A young man's extended family gathers for his farewell dinner before he goes to prison for five years. As the reunion devolves, the truths behind the family's long history of conflict and tragedy are surprisingly revealed. Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
Old Dog (Lao Gou/Khyi Rgan) (2011 -- Tibet) Directed by Pema Tseden, the leading artist of the burgeoning Tibetan cinema, and the first director to produce a Tibetan-language feature in mainland China. The film tells the story of a family on the Himalayan plains who discover that their dog is worth a fortune, but that selling it comes at a terrible price. First release by Icarus Film's dGenerate Films Home Video Collection. Formats: DVD. (Icarus Films).
Peggy Sue Got Married BLU-RAY DEBUT (1986) Dir.: Francis Ford Coppola; Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Barry Miller, Catherine Hicks, Joan Allen, Kevin J. O'Connor, Jim Carrey, Maureen O'Sullivan, Leon Ames. Also available on DVD. (Image Entertainment).
Power Rangers Seasons 4-7 (1996) Deluxe 21-DVD box set with all 183 episodes, including a disc jam-packed with bonus features including rarely seen archival material, brand-new retrospective featurettes including interviews with members of the cast, creative team, and fans, and more. Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa have been defeated once again, but the Command Center is in ruins, and King Mondo is on his way to conquer Earth. Picking up right where "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and "Mighty Morphin Alien Ranger"s left off, "Power Rangers: Seasons 4–7" continues the saga of the heroic "teenagers with attitude" through four more seasons: "Power Rangers ZEO," "Power Rangers Turbo," "Power Rangers in Space" and "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy." Formats: DVD, $129.99. (Shout! Factory).
Rushlights (2013) Josh Henderson, Haley Webb, Beau Bridges, Aidan Quinn. Two delinquent teenage lovers from the suburbs of Los Angeles travel to a small southern town to falsely claim a dead friend's inheritance. The pair wind up in a nightmare of greed and betrayal when confronted with the twisted and bizarre underworld of Tremo, Texas. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Vertical Entertainment).
photo for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4 BLU-RAY DEBUT Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4 BLU-RAY DEBUT (1990-91) From the season premiere -- the epic conclusion of the two-part cliffhanger "The Best Of Both Worlds" -- to its thrilling finale "Redemption Part 1," "Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4" is distinguished as one of the most favored among fans. Six-disc set with 26 episodes. Extras: Episode commentaries with writers Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, director Rob Bowman,scenic artists/Star Trek consultants Mike & Denise Okuda; "Relativity: The Family Saga of The Next Generation," a multi-part documentary that examines both the show's explosion into a pop culture phenomenon after its third season and the Enterprise crew's interpersonal bonds and family relationships, as depicted in "Brothers" and "Reunion"; "In Conversation: The Art Department," a look at some of TNG's most-iconic designs, complemented by fresh interviews with production team members Herman Zimmerman, Doug Drexler, Rick Sternbach, the Okudas, Dan Curry and more; Departmental Briefing Year Four: Production; Mission Overview Year Four; Selected Crew Analysis Year Four; New Life and New Civilizations; Chronicles from the Final Frontier; Season 4 Gag Reel; episodic promos. $129.99. (Paramount).
Star Trek: The Next Generation -- Redemption BLU-RAY DEBUT photo for Star Trek: The Next Generation -- Redemption BLU-RAY DEBUT (1991) A two-part "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode re-edited as a feature-length presentation. Captain Picard and Lieutenant Worf fight to end a Klingon Civil War. Extras: Commentary with writer-producer Ronald D. Moore and scenic artists/Star Trek consultants Mike & Denise Okuda; "Survive and Succeed: An Empire at War" special featurette explores the Klingon mythology of Star Trek: The Next Generation and features all-new interviews with writer/producer Moore, who, in addition to "Redemption," wrote some of the franchise's most memorable Klingon story lines, and some of the actors who played the most renowned Klingon characters including Dorn (Worf), Robert O'Reilly (Gowron) and Gwynyth Walsh (B'Etor); two episodic promos. $24.99. (Paramount).
3 Businessmen (1998) Dir.: Alex Cox; Miguel Sandoval, Robert Wisdom, Alex Cox. A surrealistic fable from the director of "Repo Man." Two businessmen, Benny and Frank, venture out into the streets of Liverpool, a city neither of them knows, in search of dinner. They wander for miles, unable to find a meal, unaware that the town they began their journey in has morphed: first into Rotterdam, then into Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Abandoned by a taxi in the desert, they encounter a third businessman -- Leroy -- are fed, and briefly discover the metaphysical explanation for their trek. Formats: DVD. Extras: "How to Watch This Film: A User's Guide." (Microcinema International).
Touched By an Angel Season Eight photo for Touched By an Angel Season Eight (2001-02) Six-disc set with 22 episodes of the popular series that follows the adventures of Monica (Roma Downey), a young earthbound angel, and her down-to-earth supervisor, Tess (Della Reese), as they inspire others to change their lives for the better. Working alongside Monica is caseworker and angel of death Andrew (John Dye) and new trainee angel Gloria (Valerie Bertinelli). Formats: DVD,$59.99. (CBS/Paramount).
Under the Bed (2012) Jonny Weston, Gattlin Griffith, Peter Holden, Musetta Vander, Kelcie Stranahan. Two brothers team up to battle a creature under the bed. Every child knows about the monster under the bed -- Neal Hausman's mistake was trying to fight it. Neal returns from a two-year exile following his tragic attempt to defeat the monster only to find his father ticking ever closer to a breakdown, a new stepmother who fears him, and his little brother being terrorized by the same monster. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (XLrator Media).
War Flowers (2012) Christina Ricci, Gabrielle Popa, Bren Foster, Jason Gedrick, Tom Berenger. Civil War drama about a Southern woman -- whose youngest child was lost to scarlet fever and whose husband is in the Confederate army -- who takes care of a badly wounded Yankee soldier left behind after a nearby battle. Formats: DVD. (Green Apple Entertainment).
War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State (2013) True stories of four American whistleblowers who exposed fraud in government, including the Stellar Wind program, a super secret warrantless surveillance program that violated American's privacy rights and the warrantless wiretapping by the National Security Agency (NSA) under the Bush administration. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary by director Robert Greenwald, extended interviews, trailers. (Disinformation Company).
The Wheels on the Bus: All Around Town (2013) Dove Foundation-approved series recommended for children ages 1-5 features all the classic "Wheels on the Bus" verses, plus some bouncy new ones, as well as Roger Daltry as the voice of Argon the Dragon. Three episodes have Papaya and Mango learn about all different type of jobs, visit a jungle bird show and a mechanics garage, and learn the ultimate Fairie's Golden Rule: be nice to others and they will be nice to you. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
The Wheels on the Bus: Animal Adventure (2013) Dove Foundation-approved series recommended for children ages 1-5 features all the classic "Wheels on the Bus" verses, plus some bouncy new ones, as well as Roger Daltry as the voice of Argon the Dragon. Papaya, Mango and Argon introduce young viewers to reptiles, bugs, sharks, turtles, dolphins, elephants, zebras and more in four episodes. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).

Back to top

All listings are based on information from the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally, some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices for some special editions, box sets and collections.



All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.


E-mail OnVideo


| Home | Resources | DVD Releases | Calendar |
| Reviews | Links |


E-mail: mail@onvideo.org
© 1996 -- 2013 OnVideo. All rights reserved
June 25, 2013
(ISSN 1094-3676).
Custom Search