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November 4

photo for A Belle for Christmas A Belle for Christmas (2013) Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Haylie Duff, Meyrick Murphy. A recent widower doing his best to raise his young kids adopts an adorable puppy named Belle during the holiday season, but his dog-hating, gold-digging new girlfriend throws a milkbone in the way of their happiness. A heartwarming holiday film. Formats: DVD, $19.98. (Anchor Bay).
Birds of Paradise (2014) Voices of Drake Bell, Ashley Tisdale, Ken Jeong, Jane Lynch, Jon Lovitz, Keith David, Dallas Lovato. When Jack, an ordinary sparrow with dreams of becoming an extraordinary bird, is accidently covered in colorful paint, he is thrilled about his new exotic appearance and believes that he'll now be able to impress Aurora, a beautiful canary who has recently escaped from her indoor cage. But when Aurora's mean owner, Mr. Potter, finds her, Jack must enlist the help of his best friends - Vinnie, the loyal pigeon and Skeeter, the hyper hummingbird as well as Rosie, the caring bat and the wise Old Buzzard in order to free her. Formats: DVD: $19.98, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Bringing the Characters to Life" featurette at the recording studio with Bell, Tisdale, Jeong, Lynch, Lovitz and David; sneak peek at award-winning Miniscule shorts. (Lionsgate).

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The Christmas Gift (1986 -- TV) John Denver stars in this Dove Family-approved holiday classic, now on DVD for the first time. "The Christmas Gift" follows a recently widowed architect, George (Denver), and his young daughter. While traveling in Colorado, they find a mystical small town where everyone still believes in Santa Claus. Formats: DVD, $14.99. (Paramount).
photo for The Doctor and the Devils The Doctor and the Devils (1985) Timothy Dalton, Jonathan Pryce , Stephen Rea, Julian Sands, Patrick Stewart, Twiggy. Based on Dylan Thomas' original screenplay, this shocking horror-thriller stars Timothy Dalton as Thomas Rock, a brilliant young anatomy professor in 1820s Edinburgh. At first accepting only the cadavers provided him for study -- those of a few hanged criminals per year -- Rock eventually recruits two grave robbers (Jonathan Pryce and Stephen Rea) to secure a better supply of corpses. Coming to the gory conclusion that they will earn more the "fresher" the corpses, the two begin committing murder and delivering warm bodies to the doctor's lecture chambers. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with author and film historian Steve Haberman; new interview with executive producer Mel Brooks, producer Jonathan Sanger and former Brooksfilms development executive Randy Auerbach; theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
Doctor Who: The Complete Matt Smith Years Limited Edition Blu-Ray Gift Set (2013) The 16-disc set features the complete adventures of the Eleventh Doctor -- every season, every special, every episode. It also includes, for the very first time on a special bonus disc, "Doctor Who Proms 2013," "The Day of the Doctor: From Script to Screen,"" The Five Doctors Reboot" and "Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide." And it wouldn't be a complete set of Matt Smith's appearances without also including the two part special "Sarah Janes Adventures: The Death of the Doctor." Formats: Blu-ray Disc,: $148.95. (BBC Home Entertainment).
photo for The Dog The Dog (2014) An intimate portrayal of the spirited John Wojtowicz, the man behind the infamous Brooklyn bank robbery that inspired the acclaimed film "Dog Day Afternoon." In 1972, John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank to pay for his lover's sex change operation. The act resulted in a 14-hour hostage situation that was broadcast across the nation. Three years later, Al Pacino portrayed his crime in "Dog Day Afternoon." Drawing upon extraordinary archival footage, the film shuffles between the 1970s and the 2000s to offer a historic perspective on New York's gay liberation movement, in which Wojtowicz played an active role. In later footage, he remains a subversive force, backed by the unconditional love of his mother Terry, whose wit and charm infuse the film. How and why the bank robbery took place is recounted in gripping detail by Wojtowicz and various eyewitnesses. Wojtowicz died in 2006. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Commentary with directors Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren, deleted scenes, 14-page booklet, theatrical trailer. (Cinedigm).
An Evergreen Christmas (2014) Robert Loggia, Charleene Closshey, Booboo Stewart, Naomi Judd. Leaving her seemingly glamorous Hollywood life on hold, musician Evie Lee is forced to return to her small hometown of Balsam Falls, Tennessee and her family's once-thriving Christmas tree farm to attend her father’s unexpected funeral, where she finds herself torn between pursuing her music career and saving her family's legacy. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
The Exes: Seasons 1 & 2, (2011-12) Three-disc set with 22 episodes of the TV Land comedy series, $29.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Interviews with Kristen Johnston, Donald Faison, David Alan Basche, Kelly Stables, Wayne Knight and director Andy Cadiff; behind-the-scenes antics. (Paramount).
Film Noir 10-Movie Spotlight Collection Six-disc set with "Double Indemnity," "Touch of Evil," "This Gun for Hire," "Criss Cross," "The Killers," "Phantom Lady," "Black Angel," "The Big Clock," "The Glass Key" and "The Blue Dahlia." Formats: DVD: $79.98. (Universal).
A Five Star Life (2014 -- Italy) Margherita Buy, Fabrizia Sacchi, Stefano Accorsi. The sophisticated story of one woman's quest for personal and professional fulfillment set against some of the most stunning cities and opulent hotels of the world. Stylish and independent, Irene (Margherita Buy) is a single career woman in her forties with a job to die for. As a luxury hotel critic, she checks into the world's finest establishments incognito to assess their standards, meticulously judging every detail from the concierge's manners to the temperature of the food to the quality of the bedsheets. Her elegant, unattached lifestyle affords her the freedom to jet around the globe at a moment's notice to experience a world of luxury, but doesn't leave her with much of a personal life. On the rare occasions she's not working, Irene's world revolves around her absent-minded sister Silvia (Fabrizia Sacchi), two lively young nieces, and best friend -- and former lover -- Andrea (Stefano Accorsi). But when Silvia begins to deal with marital problems and Andrea faces an unexpected life change, Irene's small support network is fractured and she struggles to balance a glamorous career with the growing desire for something more. After a chance meeting shakes up her worldview even more, she's compelled to reexamine her choices and charts her own path to happiness despite the expectations of others. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Making-of featurette, deleted scenes. (Music Box Films).
Frontera (2014) Ed Harris, Michael Pena, Eva Longoria, Amy Madigan. Set along the tumultuous Arizona-Mexico border, the film follows Miguel (Pena), a hardworking father and devoted husband, who crosses the border illegally and is wrongfully accused of murdering the wife of a former sheriff (Harris). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "A Look at Frontera" featurette, trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Garfield Holiday Collection Five holiday-themed Garfield TV specials: "Garfield Halloween Adventure," ”"Garfield on the Town," "A Garfield Christmas," "A Garfield Thanksgiving" and "Garfield in Paradise." Formats: DVD, $14.99. (Anderson Digital).
photo for The Garfield Show: Techno Cat The Garfield Show: Techno Cat (2014) Volume 13 of "The Garfield Show" has the lovable cat and his friends getting in trouble with the latest gadgets technology has to offer. Formats: DVD, $14.93. (Cinedigm).
Hercules (2014) Dwayne Johnson, Tobias Santelmann, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson, Ingrid Bolso Berdal. Blu-ray versions contain both the theatrical and an extended cut. Read more about "Hercules" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Commentary by director Brett Ratner and producer Beau Flynn, "Brett Ratner and Dwayne Johnson: An Introduction," "Hercules and his Mercenaries" featurette, "Weapons!" featurette, "The Bessi Battle" behind-the-scenes featurette, "The Effects of Hercules," 15 deleted/extended scenes. (Paramount).
photo for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition (2013) Features a 25-minute longer cut and more than nine hours of new special features ... just in time for the December 17 theatrical release of the third and final film, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies." Formats: Five-disc Blu-ray 3D set ($54.98) that features the Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray versions of the Extended Edition; three-disc Blu-ray ($35.99), Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). New special features on Blu-Ray 3d and Blu-Ray: Commentary with Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens, co-producer/screenwriter; "The Appendices: Parts IX and X," which showcase an immersive multi-part history of the filming of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," covering pre-production in the various departments of the film in the months leading up to the start of principal photography, training, the work done on set and in the world of its digital effects; "New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth – Part 2." (Warner).
photo for Holiday Family Classics: The Thanksgiving Treasure/The House Without a Christmas Tree Holiday Family Classics: The Thanksgiving Treasure/The House Without a Christmas Tree Two Dove-approved family holiday telefilms that follow the everyday adventures and small miracles of the Mills family, based on the novels by Gail Rock. The stories -- "The Thanksgiving Treasure" (1973) and "The House Without a Christmas Tree" (1972) -- revolve around Addie Mills, a smart and strong-willed young girl living in Nebraska in the 1940s. Stars Lisa Lucas, Jason Robards and Mildred Natwick. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (CBS/Paramount).
Hot in Cleveland Season 5 (2014) Three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.99. Formats: DVD. (Paramount).
King Family - King Family Christmas: Classic Television Specials Volume 2 Two-disc set with four full-length holiday TV specials that entertained millions of TV viewers throughout the 1960's & 70's (and one from the 21st century) starring multi-generational entertainers the singing King Family: "Thanksgiving With the King Family" (1967), "Christmas With the King Family" (1967), "Home for Christmas With the King Family" (1974) and "Christmas With the King Family Reunion" (2009). Stars the Grammy-nominated vocal group The King Sisters along with their entire family including guitar virtuoso and big band great Alvino Rey, The Four King Cousins featuring Tina Cole ("My Three Sons"), actor Robert Clarke, trombonist and vocalist Kent Larsen, the King Kids, and all the other cousins, aunts and uncles that made up America's 39-member first family of song. Formats: DVD, $19.95. (Polly O. Entertainment/MVD Visual).
Land Ho! (2014 -- Iceland) Paul Eenhoorn, Earl Lynn Nelson. Two retired ex-brothers-in-law hoping to reclaim their youth go on a road trip through Iceland that takes them through trendy Reykjavik to the rugged outback; Mitch and Colin's picaresque adventures evolve into a candid exploration of aging, loneliness and friendship. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary, LA Film Festival Q&A, deleted scenes. (Sony).
Law & Order: The Fifteenth Year (2004-05) Five-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.98. In the fifteenth year of Dick Wolf’s iconic series, the Manhattan criminal justice team tries not to let departmental shake-ups impact their abilities to pursue the riveting cases that have shocked the city. Detective Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina) and ADA Alexandra Borgia (Annie Parisse) bring their expertise to grim crimes regarding fake flu vaccines and con men, while ADA Serena Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) exits after her strong opinions put her at odds with her colleagues in the death of a controversial rap producer. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
Law & Order: The Sixteenth Year (2005-06) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98. Annie Parisse and Dennis Farina return for their final season as ADA Alexandra Borgia and Detective Joe Fontana, who take on cases involving a grim sterilization campaign, post-partum psychosis and a death so disturbing to Lieutenant Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) that she flirts with perjury in the name of justice. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
Law & Order: The Seventeenth Year (2006-07) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98. Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) earns his promotion to Senior Detective, Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) joins the Department for her short tenure as a detective, DA Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson) finishes his time as the District Attorney and Jack McCoy (Sam Waterson) serves his final days in the courtroom before taking on his boss's position. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
Lifetime Holiday Triple Feature (2013) Three never-before-released TV holiday favorites: "Country Christmas Story" featuring Dolly Parton, Brian McKnight and Desiree Ross; "Twelve Trees of Christmas" starring Lindy Booth and Melanie Brown; and "Kristin's Christmas Past" featuring Shiri Appleby, Will Kemp, Elizabeth Mitchell, Judd Nelson and A. J. Langer. Formats: DVD $9.98. (Lionsgate).
photo for Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas Two classic "Little House" specials: "Christmas at Plum Creek" and "A Christmas They Never Forgot." In "Christmas at Plum Creek," the members of the Ingalls family share a heartwarming first Christmas in their new home, and Laura makes a personal sacrifice that captures the meaning of the holidays. In "A Christmas They Never Forgot," the family waits out a snowstorm by remembering favorite Christmases from the past. Restored to original broadcast length and remastered picture and sound; $9.98. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Lionsgate).
Maleficent (2014) Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Juno Temple, Sharlto Copley, Peter Capaldi, Brenton Thwaites, Ella Purnell, Imelda Staunton, Sam Riley. Read more about "Maleficent" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, Disney Movies Anywhere (cloud). Extras: "Aurora: Becoming a Beauty" in which Elle Fanning reveals her lifelong love of Disney's original animated classic. Blu-ray adds "From Fairy Tale to Feature Film": Reimagining Maleficent for a new generation, "Building an Epic Battle": Creating the clash between Maleficent and King Henry's forces, "Classic Couture" examines Maleficent's head wraps and jewelry, "Maleficent Revealed" explore the layers of extraordinary special effects, deleted scenes. (Disney).
Merlin: The Complete Series (2008-13) The BAFTA-winning retelling of the fabled Arthurian legend that amassed a cult following over the course of five action-packed seasons of swordplay and sorcery. Formats: 24-disc DVD: $129.98, 16-disc Blu-ray: $197.50. Extras: A disc of all-new bonus footage and a set of exclusive collectible magnets. (BBC Home Entertainment).
The Merv Griffin Show 1962-1986 New collection of the greatest episodes from one of the premier talk shows in television history, hosted by the charming and intelligent Merv Griffin, who became one of the most beloved TV personalities of his time (winning 10 Emmy Awards). An unprecedented retrospective covering 24 years of star-studded photo for The Merv Griffin Show 1962-1986 entertainment and provocative in-depth interviews, in a 12-disc collection containing 44 classic episodes and more than seven hours of bonus material, newly transferred from recently discovered master tapes. Features more than 200 guests from the worlds of entertainment, politics, music, sports, literature and art, most of which have not been seen for decades. Viewers will be entertained by the likes of Mel Brooks, Lucille Ball, the Everly Brothers, Willie Mays and Aretha Franklin; enlightened by Salvador Dali, Dr. Timothy Leary and Maya Angelou; and inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, President Ronald Reagan, and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Among the film and TV legends interviewed by Griffin in this collection are John Wayne, Bette Davis, Gene Wilder, Laurence Olivier, Ingrid Bergman, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Warren Beatty, the cast of The Golden Girls, Dennis Hopper, Jayne Mansfield, George Clooney, Jane Fonda and the final interview with Orson Welles, who died just a few hours after the show. The array of comedy greats includes a young Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Bill Maher and Jay Leno, as well as Richard Pryor and Jerry Lewis together, Joan Rivers, Steve Martin, Moms Mabley, Bill Cosby, Henny Youngman, Jack Benny, Redd Foxx, Carol Burnett, Andy Kaufman and Woody Allen. Formats: DVD, $129.98. Extras: Seven hours of interviews with such wide-ranging figures as Norman Rockwell, Barbara Walters, Adam West and Burt Ward, James Michener, Alec Baldwin, Muhammad Ali and many more; new interview with Jay Leno; vintage promo trailers; a 52-page booklet with exhaustive notes, rare photos, memorabilia and a foreword by Dick Cavett. (MPI Media Group).
A Most Wanted Man (2014) Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Willem Dafoe, Robin Wright, Daniel Bruhl, Martin Wuttke, Nina Hoss, Rainer Bock, Kostja Ullmann. Read more about "A Most Wanted Man" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Making of A Most Wanted Man" featurette, "Spymaster: John le Carre in Hamburg" featurette. (Lionsgate).
photo for The Newsroom: The Complete Second Season The Newsroom: The Complete Second Season (2013) Three-disc set with nine episodes. Smart, topical, thought-provoking and highly entertaining, "The Newsroom," created by Aaron Sorkin, takes a behind-the-scenes look at a high-rated cable-news program at the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN) Network, focusing on the on- and off-camera lives of its acerbic anchor (Jeff Daniels), executive producer (Emily Mortimer), their newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and others), news-division boss (Sam Waterston) and parent-company CEO (Jane Fonda). Season 2 takes place during a five-day period leading up to Election Day 2012, and encompasses numerous flashbacks to earlier events from 2011 and 2012. One of the season's major story arcs involves a wrongful-termination lawsuit made by a staff member alleged to have doctored a report about a suspicious U.S. drone strike. As details about the suit's origin and aftermath emerge, the newsroom team continues its quixotic mission to "do the news well" in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles, and their personal entanglements. Formats: DVD: $59.98, Blu-ray: $79.98, Digital. (HBO).
photo for Perry Mason - Double Features 7-9 Perry Mason - Double Features 7-9 The fan-favorite courtroom drama returns with a new collection of thrilling television movies starring Raymond Burr as the famous lawyer. From Las Vegas to Paris, Mason and his team travel to the scene of the crime, crossing paths with mobsters, war criminals, and demanding divas at almost every turn. "Double Feature Seven": "The Case of the Poisoned Pen" and "The Case of the Desperate Deception"; "Double Feature Eight": "The Case of the Silenced Singer" and "The Case of the Defiant Daughter"; "Double Feature Nine": "The Case of the Ruthless Reporter" and "The Case of the Maligned Mobster"; $16.99 each. Formats: DVD. (CBS/Paramount).
Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014) Voices of Dane Cook, Julie Bowen, Ed Harris, Captain Dale Dye, Cedric the Entertainer, Erik Estrada, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, John Michael Higgins, Hal Holbrook, Stacy Keach, Regina King, Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller, Wes Studi. Read more about "Planes: Fire & Rescue" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blue-ray/DVD combo, VOD, Digital, Disney Movies Anywhere (Cloud). Extras: Exclusive Animated Short "Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular"; "Welcome to Piston Peak!" mock-umentary promotional piece taht shows off all the highlights of the Piston Peak National Park and its aerial firefighting team; "CHoPs" TV Promo; "Air Attack: Firefighters From The Sky" behind-the-scenes piece that takes an inside look at the real smoke jumpers and firefighters; Spencer Lee Music Video "Still I Fly"; two deleted scenes; animated shorts: "Dipper," "Smokejumpers." (Disney).
Premature (2014) John Karna, Alan Tudyk, Katie Findlay, Craig Roberts, Carlson Young. High school student Rob has the most important day of his life in front of him: a college interview, an opportunity to lose his virginity to the hottest girl in school, and plans with his friends to celebrate. Unfortunately everything goes terribly wrong, and to add to his troubles, he finds himself waking up in the morning to repeat the same stressful day over and over and over again. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Quantum Leap: The Complete Series (1989-93) Twenty-seven disc set with 77 episodes, $179.98. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
RENO 911: The Complete Series (2003-09) Fourteen-disc set with 88 uncensored episodes from the series' six seasons, $45.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary, outtakes, deleted, alternate and extended scenes, featurettes. (Paramount).
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Collector's Edition (1964) 50th anniversary of the TV Christmas animated classic. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Bonus features teach fans how to draw Rudolph, Hermey and Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster; present video sing-alongs of the musical holiday favorites "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Holly Jolly Christmas"; offer a video version of a "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" pop-up book; "Rudolph Unwrapped," a fascinating interactive section that highlights 50 little-known facts about the creation of the holiday special. (Anderson Merchandisers/Classic Media).
photo for Sherlock: The Complete Seasons 1-3 Limited Edition Gift Set (2013) This set includes every episode from all three seasons on both Blu-ray and DVD formats, along with the original bonus features released with each season. Includes a fourth bonus disc of extras. The set features all new commentaries; never-before-seen outtakes; a deleted scene; BBC Archive Interviews with Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue from the time of the initial Season One premiere; "Unlocking Sherlock," a 60-minute behind-the-scenes program for Season Three; and exclusive collectibles including limited edition art cards and busts of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Formats: Blu-ray + DVD combo gift set $197.50. (BBC Home Entertainment).
photo for The Sopranos: The Complete Series The Sopranos: The Complete Series BLU-RAY DEBUT (1999-2007) Twenty-eight discs packaged in an elegant box set featuring iconic artwork from the series, 279.98. Includes Digital HD copy of all 86 episodes. For six seasons, millions of viewers loyally tuned in to HBO to watch the drama unfold as modern-day mob boss Tony Soprano juggled responsibilities between his family and his other "family." David Chase's drama series stars three-time Emmy winners James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano and Edie Falco as Tony's wife Carmela, plus Lorraine Bracco as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Emmy-winner Michael Imperioli as Tony's nephew Christopher Moltisanti and Dominic Chianese as Uncle Junior. Other series regulars include Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr., Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano, Tony Sirico as Paulie Walnuts, Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante, Aida Turturro as Tony's sister Janice, Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri, John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco, Vincent Curatola as Johnny Sack, Frank Vincent as Phil Leotardo and Ray Abruzzo as Little Carmine. Extras: New and exclusive feature exploring how "The Sopranos" came to be and how it transformed the television landscape. "Defining a Television Landmark" features all-new interviews with cast, crew, celebrities, filmmakers and academics -- including series creator David Chase, star James Gandolfini, director Steven Soderbergh, Jeff Daniels and Steve Buscemi -- discussing the impact and influence of the groundbreaking series, with brand new archival footage. Additional bonus material includes lost scenes, two round table dinners with cast and crew, 25 audio commentaries and much more. (HBO).
photo for Step Up All In Step Up All In (2014) Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan, Misha Gabrie, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Izabella Miko, Alyson Stoner, Adam Sevani. In this latest edition of the popular series, Step Up all-stars from previous installments come together in glittering Las Vegas to battle for a victory that could define their dreams and their careers. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (Cloud). Extras: Commentary with director Trish Sie and actress Briana Evigan, "Ryan's Favorite Dance Scenes," deleted scenes. Blu-ray adds "All in with the Crew" featurette; "Dance Breakdown: Final Stage" featurette; "Clap, Stomp, Slide: The Sounds of Battle"; "The Vortex Dance Index." (Lionsgate).
Style Wars BLU-RAY DEBUT (1983) This legendary hip-hop documentary and timeless film classic is the indispensable record of a golden age of youthful creativity and exploding hip hop subculture. When director Tony Silver and co-producer Henry Chalfant delivered the broadcast version of their prize-winning film to PBS in 1983, the world received its first full immersion in the phenomenon that had taken over New York City. The urban landscape was physically transformed by graffitti artists who invented a new visual language to express both their individuality, and the voice of their community. As New York's ramshackle subway system became a public playground, battleground, and spectacular artistic canvas, MC's, DJ's and B-boys rocked the city with new sounds and new moves, we see street corner breakdance battles turn into performance art. The soundtrack features classics performed by The Sugar Hill Gang, The Treacherous Three, The Fearless Four, Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five, Trouble Funk, Rammellzee/K-Rob and Dion. Extras: "The Outtakes," a new 40 min film culled from 30 hours of left over materials; "B-Boy Showcase" montage of the fast paced phenomenally acrobatic Rocksteady Crew at their tour launch party, in the studio, on the streets, and battling it out against Dynamic Rockers at the United Skates of America in Queens; "Style Wars in the Cutting Room." (Public Art/MVD Entertainment).
The Thanksgiving Treasure/The House Without a Christmas Tree Two-Film Collection Dove Family-approved double feature based on the novels by Gail Rock. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (Paramount).
photo for Tru Love Tru Love (2013) Shauna MacDonald, Kate Trotter, Christine Horne. Acclaimed lesbian romance follows Tru (MacDonald), a 37-year-old bed-hopping lesbian who becomes unexpectedly smitten with Alice (Trotter), an elegant 60-year-old who has come to town to visit her daughter. Sparks fly as Alice and Tru develop an unlikely friendship. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes and the 15-minute short film "Stormcloud," a dramatic comedy written and directed by Kate Johnston that explores the nature of "sin" and love with passion, pathos and very subversive humor. (Wolfe Video).
The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story (2014 -- TV) Dylan Everett, Sam Kindseth, Julian Works, Alyssa Lynch, Tiera Skovbye, Taylor Russell McKenzie. Timed for the 25th anniversary of the premiere of the iconic series. Follows six young, unknown actors thrust into the Hollywood spotlight and exposed to the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny. The movie goes behind-the-scenes of the hit '90s television sitcom to portray their struggle to maintain the squeaky-clean image of their popular characters both on and off-screen. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
White Collar Season Five (2013-14) Four-disc set 13 episodes, $39.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary on "Diamond Exchange" episodes, "Willie Garson: Director Extraordinaire" featurette, gag reel, 13 deleted scenes. (Fox).
Worst Friends (2014) Richard Tanne, Noah Barrow, Kristen Connolly, Cody Horn, Geoffrey Arend, Larry Fessenden. The story of two childhood friends who are forced to re-think their friendship as adults. When Jake is injured in a car accident, the only person willing to take care of him is his childhood friend Sam. With the aid of a tough-as-nails physical therapist, Sam helps Jake recuperate, but when Sam's high school crush enters the picture, old habits and bitter rivalries resurface, threatening to tear their friendship apart. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Level 33 Entertainment).



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November 11

Abuse of Weakness (2013 -- France) Isabelle Huppert, Kool Shen. Inspired by director Catherine Breillat's ("Fat Girl," "Romance") true life experiences, her latest film is an exploration of power and sex. Isabelle Huppert stars as Maud, a strong willed filmmaker who suffers a stroke. Bedridden, but determined to pursue her latest film project, she sees Vilko (Kool Shen), a con man who swindles celebrities, on a TV talk show. Interested in him for her new film, the two meet and Maud soon finds herself falling for Vilko's manipulative charm as their parasitic relationship hurdles out of control. Formats: DVD. Extras: Interview with Catherine Breillat, Breillat short film. (Strand Releasing).
photo for Ancient Aliens: The Complete Seasons 1-6 Ancient Aliens: The Complete Seasons 1-6 (2009-14) Twenty-three disc gift set takes you on a mind-bending journey into our deep past with all six seasons of the series including 12 episodes from Season 6 that have never been released on DVD. From over 10,000 years of the most credible evidence unearthed, "Ancient Aliens" explores the ancient and mysterious, from sacred relics, artifacts and wall carvings to technologies, places and lore, all in a search for the humankind's origins and even the secrets of the universe. New interpretations of ancient texts reveal new historical possibilities: Were ancient gods really aliens? Was Satan really humanity's ally in the Bible? This groundbreaking series also uncovers the alien dimension within secret codes, deadly cults, mega-disasters and plagues; alien connections to dinosaurs, NASA and even the Third Reich; and considers time travel, underwater UFO activity, ancient martian civilizations, the possibility that some children have alien DNA — and if you can believe it, much more. Formats: DVD, $99.98. (Lionsgate).
photo for The Avengers: Season 5 BLU-RAY DEBUT The Avengers: Season 5 BLU-RAY DEBUT (1967) Three-disc set with 25 episodes, $29.99. This classic series follows the escapades of the eccentrically suave John Steed and the strong and sexy Emma Peel, two secret agents whose mission is to face the most mysterious and dangerous -- although slightly peculiar -- situations. Steed (Patrick MacNee) works for British Intelligence, and the cases he finds are always a bit odd, just on the edge of science fiction. Steed is the ultimate in culture and grace as he saves the world each week, along with his female partner Emma Peel (Diana Rigg). Faced with solving problems such as cyborg killers, a city built under a disused coal mine, a gang put together for adrenalin junkies and a killer who uses a concentrated cold virus to kill his victims by having them sneeze to death, there is never a dull moment at work for this delightful duo. First season in color, and considered the best amongst "Avengers" fans. (Lionsgate).
Barney: This Is How I Feel (2014) Everybody has feelings - happy, sad, and even mad. Barney and his friends have a tee-rific time exploring different types of emotions. Four episodes, $14.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: "If You're Happy and You Know It" sing-along, "Barney's Book of Hugs" read-along. (Universal).
Batman 25th Anniversary Two-Disc Edition (1989) Dir.: Tim Burton; Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Batman: The Birth of the Modern Blockbuster" featurette discusses how the film's phenomenal marketing, extensive merchandising and franchise foresight set the template for the next 25 years of tentpole pictures. (Warner).
photo for Batman The Complete TV Series Batman: The Complete TV Series (1966-68) Eighteen-disc set with all 120 original broadcast episodes, remastered, $199.70. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Hanging with Batman": A true slice of life in the words of Adam West; "Holy Memorabilia Batman!": A journey into the most sought after collectibles through the eyes of three extraordinary collectors; " Batmania Born! - Building the World of Batman": Explore the art and design behind the fiction; "Bats of the Round Table": A candid conversation with Adam West and his celebrity friends, chatting all things Bat (1966); "Inventing Batman in the words of Adam West (episode 1 & 2): A rare treat for the fans as Adam discusses his script notes on bringing Batman to life in the first and second episodes ; "Na Na Na Batman!: Hollywood favorites stars and producers recount their favorite Batman memories; 32-page complete episode guide. (Warner).
Batman The Complete TV Series Limited Edition Blu-ray Thirteen-disc set with all 120 original broadcast episodes, remastered, $269.97. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Hanging with Batman": A true slice of life in the words of Adam West; "Holy Memorabilia Batman!": A journey into the most sought after collectibles through the eyes of three extraordinary collectors; " Batmania Born! - Building the World of Batman": Explore the art and design behind the fiction; "Bats of the Round Table": A candid conversation with Adam West and his celebrity friends, chatting all things Bat (1966); "Inventing Batman in the words of Adam West (episode 1 & 2): A rare treat for the fans as Adam discusses his script notes on bringing Batman to life in the first and second episodes ; "Na Na Na Batman!: Hollywood favorites stars and producers recount their favorite Batman memories; 32-page complete episode guide. Plus these highly collectible premiums: Hot Wheels replica Batmobile, "The Adam West Scrapbook," 44 vintage trading cards. Includes UltraViolet digital copy. (Warner).
Betrayal (2013) Eric Roberts, Oleg Taktarov, Jack Topalian. A former Armenian mob boss turned businessman in Los Angeles is pulled back into his violent past when his eldest son is accused of killing a powerful Russian gangster. With his family's safety at risk, he's is forced to use his power and influence to save his son from inevitable revenge. Formats: DVD. (Inception Media Group).
Bing Crosby: The Silver Screen Collection Thirteen-disc set with 24 of the movie, music, radio and television superstar's iconic films: "College Humor," We're Not Dressing," "Here is My Heart," "Mississippi," "Rhythm on the Range," "Waikiki Wedding," "Double or Nothing," "Sing You Sinners," "East Side of Heaven," "If I Had My Way," "Rhythm on the River," "Birth of the Blues," "Holiday Inn," "Going My Way," "Here Come the Waves," "Blue Skies," "Welcome Stranger," "Variety Girl," "The Emperor Waltz," "A Connecticut photo for Covert Operation Yankee in King Arthur's Court," "Road to Singapore," "Road to Zanzibar," "Road to Morocco," "Road to Utopia." Also includes "American Masters: Bing Crosby Rediscovered." Formats: DVD: $199.98. (Universal).
Covert Operation (2013) Seydina Balde, Kirt Kishita, Muriel Hofmann, Jason Tobin. Five-time World Karate Champion Seydina Balde stars as a bounty hunter who must fight his way out of imprisonment and torture in North Korea when a recue mission goes awry. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Lionsgate).
The Damned (2013) Peter Facinelli, Sophia Myles, Nathalia Ramos, Carolina Guerra. A family involved in a car crash on a rainy night take refuge in a secluded inn, where they free a girl locked in a basement -- not knowing that she's an ancient evil. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Midnight/MPI Media Group).
photo for Dear Secret Santa Dear Secret Santa (2013 -- TV) Tatyana Ali, Jordin Sparks, Lamorne Morris, Ernie Hudson, Della Reese, Bill Cobbs. Holiday romance about a hard-working and ambitious woman who returns to her hometown for the holidays and begins exchanging letters with a secret admirer. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, stills gallery. (Lionsgate).
Dolls Collector's Edition (1987) Dir.: Stuart Gordon; Stephen Lee, Guy Rolfe, Hilary Mason, Ian Patrick Williams, Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Cassie Stuart, Bunty Bailey, Carrie Lorraine. A precocious girl, her nasty parents, two punk-rock losers and a weak-kneed salesman inadvertently become the guests of two ghoulish senior citizens in their dark, haunted mansion. The old couple makes and collects dolls that, when not sitting still like good little mannequins, creep around in the night, offing the guests one by one. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Toys of Terror: The Making of Dolls" new retrospective featuring interviews with director Stuart Gordon, producer Brian Yuzna, stars Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Ian Patrick Williams, executive producer Charles Band, and special make-Up effects artists Gabe Bartalos, and John Vulich and more; commentary with Gordon and writer Ed Naha; commentary with cast members Stephen Lee, Ian Patrick Williams, Carolyn Purdy Gordon and Carrie Lorraine; storyboard-to-film comparison; theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
Drive Hard (2014) John Cusack, Thomas Jane. Former hotshot race car driver Peter Roberts (Thomas Jane) traded the winner's circle for safety, stability, a pile of debts and a 9 to 5 job as a beginners’ driving instructor. But his life shifts into overdrive when mysterious out-of-towner Simon Keller (John Cusack) shows up for a driving lesson and hijacks Peter to be his getaway driver in a $9 million heist. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (RLJ/Image Entertainment).
Duck Dynasty: Duck The Halls (2014) Two-holiday themed episodes: "O Little Town of West Monroe" and "Duck Roasting on an Open Fire." Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
Frozen in Time (2014) Ed Asner, Mira Sorvino, Drake Bell. Animated adventure about a pair of siblings who damage their grandfather's most treasured possession, a strange clock, and throw the whole world into a crazy time continuum, where Christmas day is repeated over and over. The only way they can restore order is to travel to the North Pole and repair the clock in Santa's workshop. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution: Season Three (2014) Two-disc set includes all new material with animated segments of Gabriel's most popular jokes, extended episodes, and an outstanding selection of bonus features. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (Paramount).
photo for Gingerclown Gingerclown (2012 -- Hungary) Erin Hayes, Ashley Lloyd, Michael Winslow, Tim Curry, Lance Henriksen, Brad Dourif, Sean Young. When a group of high school kids breaks into an abandoned amusement park, they come to find it's overrun by monsters. Filmed in Budapest and Los Angeles. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: "The Making of Gingerclown" featurette. (Lionsgate).
Happy Christmas (2014) Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham, Joe Swanberg (who also directs). Anna Kendrick stars as Jenny, an irresponsible twentysomething who comes to Chicago to live with her older brother Jeff (Swanberg), a young filmmaker living a happy existence with his novelist wife Kelly (Lynskey) and their two-year-old son. Jenny's arrival shakes up their quiet domesticity as she and her friend Carson (Dunham) instigate an evolution in Kelly's life and career while Jenny strikes up a rocky relationship with the family's baby sitter-cum-pot dealer (Webber). Formats: DVD. (Paramount).
photo for The House at the End of Time The House at the End of Time (2013 -- Venezuela) Ruddy Rodriguez. Thirty years ago, young mother Dulce was accused of murdering her husband and two children in their home. Despite her pleas that a malevolent force in the house was responsible for the killings, Dulce was sentenced to the maximum penalty of imprisonment. Now, Dulce is sent back to her old home and the scene of the crime under house arrest, where she's forced to confront the horrifying memory of what happened there. Formats: DVD. (Dark Sky Films).
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) Voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, T.J. Miller, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, onah Hill, Craig Fergusion, Kristen Wiig. Read more about "How to Train Your Dragon 2" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: TBA. (DreamWorks/Fox).
I Am Ali (2014) An intimate look at the legendary athlete, father, humanitarian and activist as he has never been seen before. With exclusive access to Ali's personal archive of audio journals, the docu features touching interviews and testimonials from his inner circle of family and friends and legends of the boxing community -- including former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and George Foreman -- and Ali's longtime friend and business manager, Gene Kilroy. The film shares the champion's extraordinary history as a fighter, lover, brother, father and friend as told by insiders and by the man himself for the very first time. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Universal).
I Am Santa Claus (2014) Few parents give much thought to the jovial man in the Santa suit who promises their kids they'll get everything they want for Christmas. If they did, they might be surprised. This documentary -- part of the "Morgan Spurlock Presents" film label -- looks at the men who put on the red suit every December and selflessly commit themselves to making anonymous children happy. Everyone thinks of Santa Claus as a magical figure without flaws, but the men who keep his legend alive, real-bearded professional Santas, are rarely anything like the jolly old Saint Nick we've all grown up knowing. In reality, the mall Santa in your cherished children's photo has problems just like the rest of us. Even the most jovial of men fall victim to divorce, job loss, insecurity and even the occasional hangover. The film follows the lives of five professional Santas for an entire year, as they anticipate and prepare for Christmas season and then return to their "real" lives during the off-season. We see who they actually are: flawed, flesh-and-blood men who nevertheless feel a great responsibility to protect the spotless reputation of the "Red Suit." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. Extras: Commentary, "Santa vs. Santa: The Santa Wars" featurette. (Virgil Films).
photo for Iceman Iceman (2013 -- Hong Kong) Donnie Yen, Eva Huang, Wang Baoqiang, Simon Yam, Mark Wu, Gregory Wong, Yu Kang. Donnie Yen stars as Ming Dynasty palace guard Ying, one of a quartet of orphans raised together in a small village. While transporting the Golden Wheel of Time -- which is said to have the power of time travel -- he is wrongly accused of murder and hunted by his three vengeful "brothers." During a heated confrontation, an avalanche buries all four, freezing them at the height of their battle. 400 years later, they are defrosted and resume their mortal struggle -- while also adjusting to modern-day life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: Seven-part "The Making of Iceman" featurette. (Well Go USA).
Jersey Boys (2014) John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, Vincent Piazza, Christopher Walken, Mike Doyle, Steve Monroe, Steve Schirripa, James Madio, Kathrine Narducci, Jeremy Luke, Freya Tingley. Read more about "Jersey Boys" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras:photo for The Killer Shrews "Oh, What A Night to Remember" featurette. Blu-ray adds "From Broadway to the Big Screen" featurette, "Too Good to Be True" featurette. (Warner).
The Killer Shrews (1959) James Best, Baruch Lumet, Ingrid Goude, Ken Curtis. So bad it's good cult fav. On an isolated island in the midst of a hurricane, a small group of people are terrorized by voracious, mutant creatures. It seems that research in an effort to reduce world hunger has gone terribly wrong, resulting in the creation of giant, voracious, poisonous shrews that are now loose on the island, where they're reproducing and growing larger by the day. Barricaded in the research compound, they become surrounded by the mutant beasts, which are hungry and quickly running out of food. In predictable, B-movie fashion, the shrews attack the ship's crew, then turn their sights on the rest of the group, resulting in mayhem, death and destruction. Reportedly one of Stephen King's favorite horror flicks. Digitally restored. Formats: DVD. (Film Chest).
photo for Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story (2014) Former U.S. Navy SEAL Christopher Beck embarks on a new mission as a transgender woman, Kristin Beck. Kristin served for more than 20 years on SEAL Teams 1, 5 and 6. She retired in 2011, but continued high-level clearance work for the U.S. government and the Pentagon. Kristin hid her true identity throughout and after her years of service, but in 2013 came out publicly on LinkedIn and CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." Formats: DVD. Extras: Kristin's original interview on "Anderson Cooper 360," featurette updating her life of activism. (Wolfe Video/CNN Films).
Let's Be Cops (2014) Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr., Nina Dobrev, James D'Arcy, Andy Garcia, Rob Riggle Read more about "Let's Be Cops" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Brothers in Blue" featurette, commentary by director Luke Greenfield, commentary by co-writer Nicholas Thomas, theatrical trailer, image gallery. Blu-ray adds deleted and alternate scenes, "Let's Be Cops" camera test, "Real Funny" featurette. (Fox).
Liberty: Heroes of the American Revolution (2013) Two-disc set anthology of documentaries about the Founding Fathers: "Founding Fathers Miniseries," "10 Things You Don't Know About: The Founding Fathers," "10 Things You Don't Know About Benjamin Franklin," "Paul Revere: The Midnight Rider," $14.98. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
Lost Christmas (2014) Larry Mills, Eddie Izzard. A mysterious stranger reverses a series of tragic events that orphaned and blighted a young boy's life -- the once bright, cheery boy has become a streetwise kid supporting his ill grandmother through petty crime. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Inception Media Group).
Mood Indigo (2013) Dir.: Michel Gondry; Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Omar Sy, Gad Elmaleh, Charlotte Le Bon. Duris plays wealthy bachelor Colin, whose hobbies include developing his "pianocktail" (a cocktail-making piano) and devouring otherworldly dishes prepared by his trusty chef Nicolas. When he learns that his best friend Chick a fellow acolyte of the philosopher JeanSol Partre, has a new American girlfriend, the lonely Colin attends a friend's party in hopes of falling in love himself. He soon meets Chloe (Tautou) and before they know it, they're dancing to Duke Ellington and plunging headfirst into a romance that director Gondry rapturously depicts as only he can. Their whirlwind courtship is tested when an unusual illness plagues Chloe: a flower begins to grow in her lungs. To save her, Colin discovers the only cure is to surround Chloe with a never-ending supply of fresh flowers. Two-disc set with both the Director's Cut and the Extended Cut of the film. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette: "Inside the Mind of Michel Gondry"; featurettes on set creation, costumes, book to film; deleted scenes, 36-page booklet, theatrical trailer. (Drafthouse Films/Cinedigm).
Once Upon a Time in Queens (2013) Paul Sorvino, Michael Rapaport, Renee Props, Andrea Nittoli, Lev Gorn, Paul Ben-Victor, Steven Bauer, Chazz Palminteri. After spending 20 years in federal prison for a myriad of crimes, ailing Mafia boss Joseph "Mr. Joe" Scoleri is released with a strict requirement not to interact with his old contacts in the Mafia. He quickly realizes that while the world around him may have changed, the habits of a Mafia boss die hard. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Behind-the-scenes of Once Upon A Time in Queens" featurette. (Lionsgate).
photo for Ornette: Made in America Ornette: Made in America! (1986) Magnificent restoration created by Milestone, the Academy Film Archive and the UCLA Film & Television Archive of an important American film by dancer, bride, runaway wife, radical filmmaker and documentary pioneer Shirley Clarke. This is Volume 3 of "Project Shirley," Milestone's five-year mission to restore and release the works of the brilliant indie film pioneer. "Ornette: Made In America" captures jazz master Ornette Coleman's evolution over three decades, chronicling his boyhood in segregated Texas and his subsequent emergence as an American cultural pioneer and world-class icon. The film explores the rhythms, images and myths of America seen through the eyes of an artist's ever-expanding imagination and experience. Clarke followed Ornette and his young son Denardo starting in the late 1960s and ending with a homecoming tribute in his hometown of Fort Worth in 1983 that featured a gala concert of his seminal jazz symphony "Skies of America" alongside performances with his Prime Time band. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Milestone Film & Video).
photo for Portrait of Jason Portrait of Jason (1967) Magnificent restoration created by Milestone, the Academy Film Archive and the UCLA Film & Television Archive of an important American film by dancer, bride, runaway wife, radical filmmaker and documentary pioneer Shirley Clarke. This is Volume 2 of "Project Shirley," Milestone's five-year mission to restore and release the works of the brilliant indie film pioneer. The "star" of "Portrait of Jason" is black, gay, hilarious, heartbreaking and on screen for every one of the film's 107 minutes. On the evening of December 3, 1966, director Shirley Clarke and crew filmed Jason for 12 straight hours as he told stories about his life, loves and work. At a time when it was illegal to be gay in the U.S., Jason spun extraordinary tales about his career as a nightclub entertainer; his confrontations with his father; growing up in Trenton; and the many forms of hustling that comprised the basis of his existence. Jason may be the most self-revealing Scheherazade in the history of documentary films. Or is he? How much of what Jason says is true and how much is a fabulous performance? Even Clarke's filmmaking prevaricates -- "Portrait of Jason" was designed and painstakingly put together to look rough and entirely unedited. While all her films explored that porous border between cinema verite and fiction -- "Portrait of Jason," with its many ambiguities and contradictions, may well be Clarke's masterpiece. Milestone searched for three years to find the original elements for this definitive restoration of a landmark film. Provocative, groundbreaking and truly gripping, it was one of the first LGBT films to be taken seriously by the general audiences. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Milestone Film & Video).
Queens of the Ring (2013 -- France) Marilou Berry, Nathalie Baye, Andre Dussollier, Audrey Fleurot. In a desperate attempt to reconnect with her estranged son who -- a passionate WWE fan -- Rose (Berry) grabs his attention by joining a rigorous training program to learn to wrestle like a legitimate WWE Diva. She convinces her bored fellow cashiers at the local supermarket to join her challenging new adventure and together they become the "Queens of the Ring." Formats: DVD, Digital. (Image Entertainment).
The Shooting/Ride in the Whirlwind In the mid-sixties, the maverick American director Monte Hellman ("Two-Lane Blacktop") conceived of two Westerns at the same time. Dreamlike and gritty by turns, the two films would prove their maker's adeptness at brilliantly deconstructing genre. As shot back-to-back for famed producer Roger Corman, they feature overlapping casts and crews, including Jack Nicholson in two of his meatiest early roles. The films -— "The Shooting" (1966) about a motley assortment of loners following a mysterious wanted man through a desolate frontier, and "Ride in the Whirlwind" (1966), about a group of cowhands pursued by vigilantes for crimes they did not commit -- are rigorous, artful, and wholly unconventional journeys into the American West. New 4K digital restorations of both films, supervised by director Monte Hellman, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentaries on both films, featuring Hellman and film historians Bill Krohn and Blake Lucas; new interviews with actors John Hackett, B. J. Merholz, Millie Perkins, and Harry Dean Stanton, assistant director Gary Kurtz, and chief wrangler Calvin Johnson, all in conversation with Hellman; new conversation between actor Will Hutchins and film programmer Jake Perlin; new video essay on actor Warren Oates by critics Kim Morgan; an essay by critic Michael Atkinson. (The Criterion Collection).
Sons of Anarchy: The Collector's Set (2014) Includes Seasons 1-6 with a slot for the Final Season. The special edition box set comes in an exquisite recreation of the iconic SAMCRO Reaper clubhouse table. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions (2014) Last 13 episodes of the TV series. Against a backdrop of ever-shifting loyalties, uneasy alliances and ancient hostilities, the conflict between the Republic and the Separatists ramps up, setting the stage for Darth Sidious' ultimate act of treachery against the Jedi. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Never before seen 16-Minute documentary covering all six seasons, four additional story reels from "The Lost Missions" season (Blu-ray only).(Warner).
Summer of Blood (2014) Onur Tukel, Anna Margaret Hollyman. An overweight, socially offensive and not all that bright Brooklyn guy turns into a sex machine thanks to a vampire's bite in this horror comedy. When monumentally lazy, socially oblivious and commitment-shy Erik Sparrow is dumped by his career-woman girlfriend when he rejects her rather charitable marriage proposal, he turns to a disastrous string of online dates that successively eat away at his already-deteriorating confidence. But then a lanky vampire turns him into an undead ladykiller, with a maniacal sex drive matched only by his frenzied need to feed on blood. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Dark Sky Films).
Tammy (2014) Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates, Sandra Oh, Toni Collette, Nat Faxon. Read more about "Tammy" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Gag reel. Blu-ray adds extended cut, "Tammy's Road Trip Checklist," deleted scenes, fun extras. (Warner).
photo for True Blood: The Complete Seventh Season True Blood: The Complete Seventh Season (2014) Ten episodes. "True Blood" is the sexy, scary, wildly entertaining series based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. In this final season, an initial battle between raging Hep-Vamps and their Bon Temps prey sets the stage for a season-long series of hair-raising denouements for Sookie, Bill, Eric, Jason, Sam, Alcide, Tara and their human/vampire allies and adversaries. In the end, some of "True Blood's" most beloved figures will meet cruel fates, while others will cheat death (true and otherwise) to forge happily-ever-after relationships that will leave fans surprised and, ultimately, satisfied. Formats: Five-disc DVD: $59.99, four-disc Blu-ray: $79.98. "True Blood: The Complete Series" is also available in 33-disc Blu-ray ($299.99) and DVD ($$249.99) sets. (HBO).
The Twilight Zone: The 5th Dimension Limited Edition Box Set For the first time ever, Rod Serling's groundbreaking Original Series (1959-1964) and the classic 1980s Series (1985-1989) are together in one limited edition box set. With only 7,500 sets created, this limited edition 41-DVD box set is available for $349.98. In addition to the two series (225 episodes combined), and more than 20 hours of bonus features, the set contains one of four possible collectible 1960s "Twilight Zone" comic books. Limited Edition packaging features 3D black and white lenticulars and a serialized number on each of the box sets. Formats: DVD. (Image Entertainment).



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November 18

Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory (2014) Sundance award-winning documentary is a joyous cinematic exploration of music's capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Director Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. The film follows social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit organization Music and Memory, as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music's ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it. Rossato-Bennett visits family members who have witnessed the miraculous effects of personalized music on their loved ones, and offers illuminating interviews with experts including renowned neurologist and best-selling author Oliver Sacks ("Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain"; "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat") and musician Bobby McFerrin ("Don't Worry, Be Happy"), among others. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary, interviews with Rossato-Bennett, deleted scenes, footage from the Sundance Film Festival, a trailer, and the film's soundtrack. (City Drive Films).
And So It Goes (2014) Dir.: Rob Reiner; Diane Keaton, Michael Douglas, Yaya Alafia, Sterling Jerins, Frances Sternhagen, Paloma Guzman. Read more about "And So It Goes" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Trailer. (Fox).
photo for As the Light Goes Out As the Light Goes Out (2014 -- Hong Kong) Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Simon Yam, Andy On. To save Hong Kong from an fiery disaster, a team of dedicated firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze that threatens to plunge the city into catastrophic darkness. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).
Astral City (2010 -- Brazil) Based on the best-selling book by medium Chico Xavier, the film tells the story of Andre Luiz, a successful doctor who experiences an enlightening spiritual awakening after his death. When he wakes up in the spiritual world, he embarks on a new journey of self-discovery and transformation, from his first days in a dimension of pain and suffering, until when he is rescued and taken to the spiritual Astral City. Features an amazing score by composer Philip Glass. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Making-of featurette, theatrical trailer. (Strand Releasing).
photo for Breaking Amish: Season 2 (2014) Two-disc set with 10 episodes of TLC's series about a group of young Amish and Mennonites who risk it all to experience life outside of their simple farm community. Season 2 follows the group to Florida as they reunite in hopes of making a fresh start after discovering a world more shocking and difficult than they had ever expected. After wave after wave of culture shock, unforeseen challenges, and unexpected discoveries make their new life anything but easy -- and with their old life haunting them wherever they go -- they wonder if they'll ever be able to create the lives they've always dreamed of. Formats: DVD, $29.93. (Cinedigm).
Christmas Evil (1980) Brandon Maggart, Dianne Hull, Jeffrey DeMunne. A psycho in a Santa suit gets to decide who's been naughty and who's been nice. New 4K restoration from 35mm elements. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Three commentaries, archival video interviews with director Lewis Jackson and star Maggart, original theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, actor screen tests, storyboards gallery, vintage test screening comment cards. (Vinegar Syndrome).
The Dark Half BLU-RAY DEBUT (1993) Timothy Hutton, Amy Madigan, Michael Rooker, Julie Harris. A writer's fictional alter-ego wants to take over his life ... at any price. From the Stephen King novel. Extras: New audio commentary with writer-director George A. Romero, new retrospective featurette "The Sparrows Are Flying Again!: The Making of The Dark Half," deleted scenes, animated storyboards for the original ending, special effects and on-the-set behind-the-scenes footage, vintage "Making of The Dark Half" plus additional interview clips, theatrical trailer, TV spot, still gallery. (Scream Factory.Shout! Factory).
photo for Freeload Freeload (2014) Director Daniel Skaggs spent a year and a half documenting young people riding America's freight trains in the 21st century. Just as the original hobos of the early 20th century were scorned by mainstream society, so too are today's train riders -- the young who seek adventure and answers on America's freight trains. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted scenes, interview with author Ted Conover ("Rolling Nowhere: Riding the Rails with America's Hoboes"), trailer, "Making of Freeload Soundtrack." (MVD Visual).
Frozen (2013) Full-length Sing-Along edition taht allows viewers to follow the lyrics with a bouncing Frozen snowflake. Also includes the theatrical version of the film as well as the "Get a Horse!" Mickey Mouse short. Formats: DVD, Digital. Extras: "Breaking the Ice – The Real Making of Frozen" featurette. (Disney).
Housebound (2014) Morgana O’Reilly, Rima Te Wiata, Glen-Paul Waru. Kylie Bucknell is forced to return to the house she grew up in when the court places her on home detention, and her punishment is made all the more unbearable by the fact she has to live there with her mother Miriam ­ a well-intentioned blabbermouth who's convinced that the house is haunted. But when she too becomes privy to unsettling whispers and strange bumps in the night, she begins to wonder if she's inherited her mother's overactive imagination, or if the house is in fact possessed by a hostile spirit. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (XLrator Media).
If I Stay (2014) Chloe Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, Joshua Leonard, Liana Liberato, Stacy Keach, Gabrielle Rose, Jakob Davies. Read more about "If I Stay" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Never Coming Down" music video, free download of the song "Mind" from the "If I Stay" soundtrack, deleted scenes, commentary by R.J. Cutler and Alison Greenspan, music commentary, image gallery, theatrical trailer. Blu-ray adds "I Never Wanted to Go" music montage, three-part "Beyond the Page" featurette with interviews with the cast, crew and author Gayle Forman ("The Love of Music," "Adapting If I Stay," "An Out of Body Experience"). (Fox).
Into the Storm (2014) Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Arlen Escarpeta, Max Deacon, Nathan Kress, Jeremy Sumpter, Kyle Davis, Jon Reep. Read more about "Into the Storm" in the November Calendar. Storm trackers, thrill-seekers, and everyday townspeople document an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes touching down in the town of Silverton. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Fake Storms: Real Conditions" featurette. Blu-ray adds "Into the Storm: Tornado Files," "Titus: The Ultimate Chasing Vehicle." (Warner).
photo for Isis Rising: Curse of the Lady Mummy Isis Rising: Curse of the Lady Mummy (2013) Priya Rai, James Bartholet, Seth Gandrud, Randy Oppenheimer. Six college students take their last course in archeology in anticipation of graduation. Their last assignment is to uncover and document the museum's new acquisitions, but during the night they unwittingly awaken the ancient spirit of the mummy Isis, and her wrath is unleashed. As students start to disappear one by one, they must band together to stop Isis from raising her dead lover Osiris and his evil army of the dead to exact their revenge upon the world. Formats: DVD. (Tomcat Releasing/MVD Entertainment).
It Happened One Night (1934) Opposites attract with magnetic force in this romantic road-trip delight from Frank Capra, about a spoiled runaway socialite (Claudette Colbert) and a roguish man-of-the-people reporter (Clark Gable) who is determined to get the scoop on her scandalous disappearance. The first film to accomplish the very rare feat of sweeping all five major Oscar categories (best picture, best actor, best actress, best director, and best screenplay), "It Happened One Night" is among the most gracefully constructed and edited films of the early sound era, packed with clever situations and gags that have entered the Hollywood comedy pantheon. Featuring two actors at the top of their game, sparking with a chemistry that has never been bettered, this is the birth of the American screwball comedy. New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: New conversation between critics Molly Haskell and Phillip Lopate; "Frank Capra's American Dream," a 1997 feature-length documentary; new 2K digital transfer of Capra's first film, the 1922 silent short "The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House"; American Film Institute tribute to Capra from 19882; trailer; essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme. (The Criterion Collection).
JFK: The Private President (2013) In January 1961, a new generation in the guise of John F. Kennedy moved into the White House. All of a sudden politics were youthful, dynamic and sexy. During the brief period in which he was in office, the first pop star of politics accompanied America through the darkest days of the Cold War. At the same time, his signal to embark in new directions was eagerly welcomed by younger generations all around the world. Later on, Jackie Kennedy was to compare his presidency with Camelot – the legendary court of King Arthur. Yet, there were also dark sides to this popular president’s life. Kennedy had countless affairs. And behind the brilliant politician was a very sick man who needed to take up to 12 medicines a day. This documentary features reminiscences by Robert Kennedy Jr. and Matthew Maxwell Kennedy, the sons of Robert Kennedy as well as JFK's friend Harry Belafonte, his closest adviser Ted Sorensen, and Sergei Nikitich Khrushchev, the son of the former Russian leader. Rare footage from the private archives of the Kennedys in HD provide an intimate view of the life of the legendary First Family. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Kiki's Delivery Service BLU-RAY DEBUT (1989) Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's classic animated fantasy adventure. The film is presented in Japanese and English, with an English dub voice cast that includes Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Janeane Garofalo, Matthew Lawrence, Debbie Reynolds. Available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo. (Disney/Studio Ghibli).
photo for The Killer Four Pack The Killer Four Pack Four blood-soaked horror films: "The Day of the Dead," "Jezebeth," "Carnage: The Legend of Quiltface" and "Hellweek Grindhouse Edition." Formats: DVD, $11.95. (SGL Entertainment/MVD Entertainment).
Legends of the Knight (2013) Batman may be a fictional character, but he has proven to be a genuine inspiration to millions of people facing disease, disability or hardship, as revealed in this documentary that weaves together the uplifting true stories of individuals who have embraced their inner superhero, overcome devastating obstacles, and unselfishly given to their communities because of their love for the Caped Crusader. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Virgil Films).
Monkey Shines BLU-RAY DEBUT (1988) Jason Beghe, Janine Turner, John Pankow, Stanley Tucci, Kate McNeil, Joyce Van Patten. A quadriplegic man has a trained monkey help him with his paralysis, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master. Extras: New audio commentary with writer-director George A. Romero, new retrospective featurette "An Experiment In Fear -- The Making of Monkey Shines," alternate ending, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, vintage "Making of Monkey Shines" plus additional interview clips, theatrical trailers, TV spot, still gallery. (Scream Factory.Shout! Factory).
Northpole (2014 -- TV) Tiffani Theissen, Josh Hopkins, Bailee Madison, Max Charles. Northpole, the magical home to Santa & Mrs. Claus, has grown into a huge city powered by the magic of holiday happiness around the world. Yet as people everywhere get too busy to enjoy festive time together, the city is in trouble and can only be saved by a young boy, his charming teacher, a mysterious elf-like girl and a gospel singer. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
photo for Not Another Celebrity Movie Not Another Celebrity Movie (2013) In a parody on "Oceans 11" with a celebrity look-alike cast, bad boy Charlie Sheen hires Brad Pitt, George Clooney and eight other celebrities to lead a heist to kidnap Justin Bieber during a concert in Las Vegas. Sheen is down on his luck, living with pornstars ever since his relationship fell apart with Paris Hilton and he was replaced on his network series, losing the role to Ashton Kutcher. When Johnny Depp brings him a new drug to try out, Charlie gives it a whirl. Instead of finding stoner happiness, Sheen is suddenly obsessed with Bieber, who he has just seen on TV, thinking Bieber is his illegitimate son. Sheen tries to reach out to the Beebs, but Bieber's manager Usher gets a restraining order. Sheen then finds out about Bieber's upcoming concert at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and things get complicated when he realize Hilton is dating Usher and the Beiber is not actually performing on stage but inside the casino vault with an hologram displaying his every move on stage. Sheen turns to "Oceans 11" heroes Brad Pitt and George Clooney and along with their help, hires a team including Lady Gaga, Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Mark Zuckerberg, Angelina Jolie, Kanye West and finally Donald Trump, to pull off an elaborate heist to kidnap Bieber. Formats: DVD. (First Napoleon Productions/A Plus Entertainment).
Oh Christmas Tree (2013 -- TV) Sarah Lancaster, Eric Johnson. After losing her job, a driven career woman who has no time for Christmas is forced to work in Manhattan in her family's business selling Christmas Trees. With her world turned upside down, she's forced back into the Spirit of Christmas and soon starts to find the true meaning of the holidays. Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
photo for Penance Penance (2012 -- Japan) Five-part miniseries based on the best-selling novel "Shokuzai" by Kanae Minato. "Penance" begins with a tragic crime from 15 years in the past: In a small town, a young elementary school girl named Emili has been abducted and killed by a stranger. Four girls who had been playing with Emili at the time are the first to discover her body -- with the abductor never being found and the crime going unsolved. Emili's distressed mother Asako condemns the four girls, all of whom claim not to remember anything about the stranger. Crazed with grief, the mother demands each school girl to find the killer, or pay the penance. Deeply affected by Asako's condemnation, the four girls become adults burdened with the curse of "penance," which eventually triggers a chain of tragic events. The latest work by Japanese cult and horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa ("Tokyo Sonata," "Doppelganger," "Pulse," "The Cure"). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. Extras: Interview with the cast and director, interview with actress Kyoko Koizumi, collector's booklet featuring essays from David Bordwell and Tom Mes. Read more about "Penance." (Doppelganger Releasing).
Power Rangers Megaforce: Robo Knight Before Christmas (2014) Robo Knight learns the true meaning of the holiday season from a group of children when he is mistaken for a donated Christmas toy and is later shipped off in a charity crate to a far-away foreign land. Formats: DVD: $14.98, Digital. Extras: Two bonus episodes. (Lionsgate).
Princess Mononoke BLU-RAY DEBUT (1997) Director: Hayao Miyazaki. Available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo. (Disney/Studio Ghibli).
Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1993) Amy Dolenz, Andrew Robinson, Soleil Moon Frye, Hill Harper, J. Trevor Edmond, Linnea Quigley, Kane Hodder. When five teenagers unwittingly resurrect a demon, nobody is safe from the creature's bloody rampage. But this monster is different -- inside its demonic frame dwells the soul of a boy murdered years ago. Can the evil creature be killed without destroying the innocent boy trapped within? Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with director Jeff Burr; "Re-Creating the Beast" featurette with new interviews with special effects artists Greg Nicotero, Gino Crognale and actor Mark McCraken; "Making Movies" interview with director Jeff Burr, behind-the-scenes footage. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
photo for Ragnarock (2013 -- Norway) Pal Sverre Hagen, Nicolai Cleve Broch, Bjorn Sundquist. An archaeologist fascinated by a Viking ship found at the Oseberg burial mound believes that a runic inscription on the ship, which translates to "man knows little," holds the key to understanding the Norse myth of Ragnarok: the day when heaven and earth are destroyed. After finding similar inscriptions on a stone in Northern Norway, the archaeologist, along with his kids and a colleague, begin an expedition to uncover the secret of the day of doom. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Ragnarok: The Visual Effects," theatrical trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/Magnet Label).
Reclaim (2014) John Cusack, Ryan Phillippe, Rachelle Lefevre, Veronica Faye Foo, Luis Guzman, Jacki Weaver. When the newly adopted daughter of American couple Steven (Phillippe) and Shannon (Lefevre) goes missing while the family is abroad, they quickly discover that all is not what it photo for Reclaim seems with the adoption agency -- and find themselves in a fight for their lives when they encounter Benjamin (Cusack) and Reigert (Weaver), the culprits behind a high-stakes human-trafficking ring. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (Cloud). Extras: Commentary with director Christian Sesma, behind-the-scenes featurette, cast and crew interviews, deleted and extended scenes, music video. (Lionsgate).
Rise of the Black Bat (2012) Jody Haucke, Dixie Collins, Leo Frost, Richard Groen. In a city where crime rules supreme, District Attorney Tony Quinn has the scales of justice stacked against him. When a crime boss has Tony blinded by acid, he's given the ability to see in the dark like a bat and, under the guise of the Black Bat, he attempts to make sure that the scales of justice are once again balanced. Formats: DVD. (Tomcat Releasing/MVD Entertainment).
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) Dir.: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller. Stars: Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mickey Rourke, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson, Eva Green, Jeremy Piven, Jaime King, Bruce Willis, Dennis Haysbert, Powers Boothe, Ray Liotta, Stacy Keach, Lady Gaga, Jamie Chung, Juno Temple, Alexa Pena, Christopher Meloni, Marton Csokas. Read more about "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: TBA. (Anchor Bay).
Skinless (2013) Brandon Salkil, Allison Fitzgerald, Erin R. Ryan, Dave Parker. When a brilliant medical researcher in his prime is stricken with cancer, he develops a potential yet unconventional cure for his illness that he uses on himself as a human guinea pig, yielding unspeakable results whose terrifying transformation drives him to madness and wreaks bloody havoc on those closest to him.Formats: DVD. (Whacked Movies/MVD Entertainment).
The Thing on the Doorstep (2014) David Bunce, Susan Cicarelli-Caputo, Mary Jane Hansen. Daniel Upton's relationship with his friend Edward Derby is abruptly changed after Edward becomes romantically involved with an enigmatic hypnotist. Based on the story by H.P. Lovecraft. Formats: DVD. (Leomark Studios/MVD Entertainment).
The Third One (2014 -- Argentina) Emiliano Dionisi, Carlos Echevarria, Nicolas Armengol. After meeting in a chat room, 22-year-old Fede arrives at a downtown building to have an intimate encounter with a sexy gay couple almost twice his age. Formats: DVD. (TLA Releasing).
22 Jump Street (2014) Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Nick Offerman, Dave Franco, Peter Stormare, Sal Longobardo, Wyatt Russell, Richard Grieco, Amber Stevens. Read more about "22 Jump Street" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum; five deleted & extended scenes; "The Perfect Couple of Directors" featurette; "Line-O-Rama: Schmidt and Tattoo Art." Blu-ray adds 17 additional deleted & extended scenes; six additional featurettes: "Everything is Better in College" look at Jenko and Schmidt’s undercover transformation into college students, "Janning and Chonah" dives into the relationship of the film's two stars, "New Recruits: Casting 22 Jump Street," "The Perfect Line: Ad-libbing on Set," "Don’t Cry Yet: The Mr. Walters Prison Scene" with unfiltered improvisation that occurred while filming the Mr. Walters prison scene, and "The Dramatic Interpretation of 22 Jump Street" version of the film (with all jokes removed); "Joke-a-Palooza" montage of jokes cut from the film; four more "Line-O-Ramas"; two videos: "Zook & McQuaid's Football Tape" and "Jenko Split." (Sony).
Twink (2014) Wade Radford. A former Twink Star of the gay porn circuit was once top of his game, but a bad drug addiction and sex attack caused him to descend into his own nightmare of addiction, suicidal ideation and mental health issues. Formats: DVD. (Live Wire/MVD Entertainment).
When Comedy Went to School (2013) Why are there so many Jewish comedians? This documentary answers this question with an entertaining portrait of this country's greatest generation of comics -- the generation that includes the likes of Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, Jackie Mason, Mort Sahl and Jerry Stiller, all of whom make appearances in the film, sharing hilarious and personal experiences. The answer is also found in upstate New York's Catskill Mountains, aka the Borscht Belt, where Jewish immigrants transformed lush farmland into the 20th century's largest resort complex. Those Catskill hotels and bungalow colonies provided the setting for a remarkable group of young Jewish-American comedians to hone their craft and become worldwide legends. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
The Wind Rises (2014) Dir.: Hayao Miyazaki. Voices of: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, Mandy Patinkin, Elijah Wood, Jennifer Grey, Mae Whitman, Werner Herzog, William H. Macy. Read more about "The Wind Rises" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. Extras: "The Wind Rises: Behind the Microphone." Blu-ray adds storyboards; original japanese trailers and TV spots; announcement of the completion of the film. (Disney and Studio Ghibli).
Wolfblood Season 2 (2013) Two-disc set with 13 episodes of the British teen series about a family of werewolves. Formats: DVD, $14.93. (Cinedigm).
photo for Women of the Bible Women of the Bible (2014) Seven complete History documentaries chronicling the lives of the most iconic female biblical figures. Includes Mary of Nazareth, Queen Esther, Sheba, Delilah, more .Formats: Two-disc DVD, $14.98. (Lionsgate).

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November 25

Beyond the Edge (2013) Chad Moffitt, Sonam Sherpa. A dramatization of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's monumental and historical ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953 -- an event that stunned the world and defined an era. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
The Definitive WWI & WWII Collection (2001-2014) Featuring more than 44 hours of History Channel war programs on 20 discs including "The World Wars," "100 Years of WWI," "75 Years of WWII," "WWII in HD,"" History of WWI: The First Modern War," "Dogfights," "D-Day in HD," "The Color of War," "Ultimate WWII Weapons," and more. Formats: DVD: $99.98. (Lionsgate).
The Expendables 3 (2014) Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas, Kelsey Grammer, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Kellan Lutz , Ronda Rousey, Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Robert Davi, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Read more about "The Expendables 3" in the November Calendar. Blu-ray version includes Unrated Extended Edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Unrated Extended Edition, "The Expendables 3" documentary, "New Blood: Stacked and Jacked" featurette, "The Total Action Package" featurette, "Christmas Runs the Gauntlet" extended scene, gag reel. (Lionsgate).
photo for Extreme Maneater Collection Extreme Maneater Collection (2014) Almost three hours of frightening footage captures the most extreme cases of Animal Planet's "Maneaters." Beginning in South Florida, authorities attempt to control a new invasive species, the African Rock Python, known to attack and kill humans both as pets and in the wild. The search then widens for the Burmese python, another pet whose population is increasing throughout America. As the population spreads, the snake grows larger as does its prey. Then investigators venture to the deep dark of the sea where a kraken-like monster attacks boats, invades beaches, and rips apart victims with bone-chilling efficiency. Formats: DVD, $29.93. (Cinedigm).
Jeeves & Wooster Complete Collection Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry star in P.G. Wodehouse's timeless tales about a boneheaded aristocrat and his brilliant valet. The ITV series earned four BAFTA awards throughout its four series run (1990-1993). In the U.S., it aired on A&E. Eight-disc set with 23 episodes, $59.99. Formats: DVD. (Acorn Media).
L'Avventura (1960) Michelangelo Antonioni invented a new film grammar with this masterwork. An iconic piece of challenging 1960s cinema and a gripping narrative in its own right, "L'Avventura" concerns the enigmatic disappearance of a young woman during a yachting trip off the coast of Sicily, and the search taken up by her disaffected lover (Gabriele Ferzetti) and best friend (Monica Vitti). Antonioni's controversial international sensation is a gorgeously shot tale of modern ennui and spiritual isolation. New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentary featuring film historian Gene Youngblood; selected-scene commentary by filmmaker Olivier Assayas; "Antonioni: Documents and Testimonials," a 58-minute 1966 documentary by Gianfranco Mingozzi; writings by Antonioni, read by Jack Nicholson, plus Nicholson's personal recollections of the director; trailer; an essay by critic Geoffrey Nowell-Smith, along with the statement Antonioni made about the film and the letter that circulated in support of it after its 1960 Cannes premiere. (The Criterion Collection).
Les Blank: Always for Pleasure (1968-1995) An uncompromisingly independent filmmaker, Les Blank ("Burden of Dreams") made documentaries for nearly 50 years, elegantly disappearing with his camera into cultural spots rarely seen on-screen -- mostly on the peripheries of the United States, but also occasionally abroad. Seemingly off-the-cuff yet poetically constructed, these films are humane, sometimes wry, always engaging tributes to musicians, food, and all sorts of regionally specific delights. This collector's set provides a diverse survey of Blank's vast output, including the warmly funny "The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins," about the legendary Texas musician; "Always for Pleasure," which captures the vivacious spirit of New Orleans; "Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers," a hilarious celebration of the pungent, flavorful "stinking rose" of the title; and 11 other unexpected features, plus eight of Blank's short films. Films Include: "The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins" (1968); "God Respects Us When We Work, but Loves Us When We Dance" (1968); "Spend It All" (1971); "A Well Spent Life" (1971); "Dry Wood" (1973); "Hot Pepper" (1973); "Always for Pleasure" (1978); "Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers" (1980); "Sprout Wings and Fly" (1983); "In Heaven There Is No Beer?" (1984); "Gap-Toothed Women" (1987); "Yum, Yum, Yum" (1990); "The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists" (1994); "Sworn to the Drum" (1995). New 2K digital restorations of all 14 films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-rays. Formats: Five DVDs, three Blu-ray Discs. Extras: Excerpt from "Les Blank: A Quiet Revelation," an upcoming documentary by Gina Leibrecht; new interviews with Blank's sons, Harrod and Beau, Blank documentary subject Gerald Gaxiola (a.k.a. the Maestro), filmmakers Skip Gerson, Maureen Gosling, Taylor Hackford, Tom Luddy, and Chris Simon, and chef and author Alice Waters; Blank's short films "Lightnin' Les" (1968), "Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin' Mill Is Burnin' Down" (1968), "The Sun's Gonna Shine (1968)," "More Fess" (1978), "Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge" (1991), "My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge" (1995) and "The Maestro Rides Again" (2005); an essay by film scholar Andrew Horton. (The Criterion Collection).
Lines of Wellington (2012 -- France/Portugal) Famed director Raul Ruiz's last film, incomplete at his death, but completed by his widow Valeria Sarmiento. Starring John Malkovich, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Mathieu Amalric, and Jemima West, this lavish epic set during the Napoleonic Wars of 1810 chronicles a multitude of characters -- soldiers and civilians, men, women and children, young and old -- as their everyday lives are torn apart by war. Dragged through hills and valleys, between ruined villages, and across charred forests and devastated crops, none can escape the chaos of the times, no matter their station. The idealistic young lieutenant Pedro de Alencar; Clarissa Warren, the malicious little English girl; the shady dealer Penabranca; the vindictive Sergeant Francisco Xavier; and the lusty prostitute Martirio will all follow different paths to the lines of Torres, where the final battle will decide each of their fates. Formats: Two-disc DVD, Digital. Extras: Making-of featurette, bonus short film "Two Laps." (Film Movement).
A Life in Dirty Movies (2013) A love story about legendary sexploitation director Joe Sarno, "The Ingmar Bergman of 42nd Street," and his loyal wife and collaborator Peggy, this documentary follows the Sarnos for a year as 88-year-old Joe struggles to get a new film project off the ground -- a female-centric softcore film that harkens back to the style of his heyday as a filmmaker in the 1960s. As audiences tag along for the eventful and often hilarious journey between wintery Manhattan and the couple's summer retreat in Sweden, the film's intimate perspective reveals a filmmaker on the verge of being rediscovered in his golden years. Formats: DVD. (Film Movement).
Masterpiece Mystery!: Inspector Lewis 7 (2014) Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox return for a seventh season of the beloved "Inspector Lewis" series. Hathaway has been promoted to Inspector after an extended break from the force, and Lewis is adjusting to retired life until he's asked to team up with his old colleague. With their partnership renewed under altered circumstances, the duo continues to solve crimes in the seemingly perfect academic haven of Oxford, England. Two-disc set with three episodes. Formats: DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray Disc: $34.99, Digital. (PBS Distribution).
Mercy (2014) Chandler Riggs, Dylan McDermott, Frances O'Connor, Mark Duplass. A single mom and her two boys help take care of their grandmother with mystical powers in her remote and lonely house. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
Mockingbird (2014) Spencer List, Audrey Marie Anderson, Alyvia Alyn Lind. Three individuals each receive an anonymous, unmarked video camera and a horrific ultimatum to continue filming ... or die. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
The November Man (2014) Pierce Brosnan, Luke Bracey, Olga Kurylenko, Bill Smitrovich, Amila Terzimehic. Read more about "The November Man" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Fox).
Nymphomaniac: Extended Director's Cut Vol. 1 & 2 photo for Nymphomaniac: Extended Director's Cut Vol. 1 & 2 (2014) Director: Lars von Trier; Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Shia LaBeouf, Stacy Martin, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Christian Slater, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Michael Pas, Connie Nielsen, Ananya Berg. Director von Trier's wild and poetic story -- of a woman's journey from birth to the age of 50 as told by the main character, the self-diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) -- offers almost and hour and a half of extra footage, making for a five and one-half hour odyssey that leads from innocence to dark complications. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Featurettes: "The Characters," "The Director," "The Sex," AXS TV: "A Look at Nymphomaniac"; trailers. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Phobia (2013) Michael Jefferson, Emma Dubery, Sarah Schoofs, Peter Gregus. An agoraphobic man trapped in his own home is plagued by a violent home-invader as well as visions of his dead wife and a shadowy female figure. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (RLJ/Image Entertainment).
A Royal Christmas (2014 -- TV) Stephen Hagan, Jane Seymour, Katherine Flynn, Lacy Chabert. When Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Cordinia, decides to marry his young love, Emily Taylor, a humble seamstress from Philadelphia, Leopold's mother, Queen Isadora, tries to sabotage his plans. A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. Formats: DVD. (Cinedigm).
Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas (2014) Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson, Rob Estes, Marion Ross. The Postables -- a quartet of post office detectives charged with redirecting Santa's mail -- work overtime to help a struggling family find hope on Christmas eve. A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. Formats: DVD. (Cinedigm).
Stretch (2014) Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, James Badge Dale, Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Alba, Ray Liotta, David Hasselhoff. A hard-luck limo driver struggling to go straight and pay off a debt to his bookie takes on a job with a crazed passenger whose sought-after ledger implicates some seriously dangerous criminals. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
Tootsie (1982) In "Tootsie," the character Michael Dorsey lands the role of a lifetime -- as does the actor playing him, Dustin Hoffman. This multilayered comedy from director Sydney Pollack follows the increasingly elaborate deception of a down-on-his-luck New York actor who disguises himself as a woman to get a coveted soap opera gig; while his female persona skyrockets to fame, he finds himself learning to be a better man. Hoffman's ball-busting yet disarmingly sweet Dorothy Michaels is a sensational comic creation, given support by a stellar cast including Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Teri Garr, George Gaynes, Bill Murray, and, in her first Oscar-winning role, Jessica Lange. Imbued with poignant drama, "Tootsie" is a funny and cutting film from an American moment defined by shifting social and sexual identities. New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentary featuring director Sydney Pollack, taken from Criterion's 1991 laserdisc edition of the film; new interview with comedy writer Phill Rosenthal; interview with Dorothy Michaels by film critic Gene Shalit, from the film's production; "Making of Tootsie," a 1982 documentary directed by Rocky Lang; "A Better Man: The Making of Tootsie," a 2007 documentary directed by Charles Kiselyak and featuring interviews with Pollack, actors Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Hoffman, and Jessica Lange, and writers Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal; screen and wardrobe test footage of Hoffman; deleted scenes; trailers; an essay by critic Michael Sragow. (The Criterion Collection).
photo for Touch of the Light Touch of the Light (2012 -- Taiwan) Huang Yu-siang, Sandrine Pinna. A blind pianist leaves his rural home to attend college in Taipei where he befriends a young dancer and encourages her to follow her dream in the award-winning musical drama that fictionalizes the life of Huang Yu-siang (playing himself). Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).
Tyler Perry's Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned - The Play (2014) Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley, Muhammad Ayers, Monica Blaire, Zebulon Ellis, Ray Lavender. A successful, single woman has it all -- a great job, a loving family, and the ability to pay for her baby sister's wedding. According to her best friend, however, there's only one thing missing ... the love of a good man. At her friend's insistence, she meets the seemingly perfect man online and all seems well, until he convinces her to get married in Las Vegas and her life quickly spirals out of control. Taped in front of a live audience. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes interviews. (Lionsgate).
Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas (2013) Tyler Perry, Chad Michael Murray, Alicia Witt, Eric Lively, Kathy Najimy, Tika Sumpter, Larry the Cable Guy. Read more about "Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas" in the November Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: First look at "Tyler Perry's Madea's Tough Love," Tyler Perry's first animated feature; "Jolly Follies" behind-the-scenes featurette. (Lionsgate).
Upstairs, Downstairs: The Ultimate Collection Collectible set includes all five series, more than 25 hours of extras, plus the spinoff series, "Thomas and Sarah." 26-disc set, $199.99. Formats: DVD. (Acorn Media).
War Story (2014) Catherine Keener, Ben Kingsley, Hafsia Herzi. A war photographer (Keener) who recently endured a brutal detainment in Libya holes up in Sicily to come to terms with her ordeal, not far from the home of her former lover and mentor (Kingsley). Soon she crosses paths with a Tunisian migrant in need of an abortion and safe passage to France, who bears a striking resemblance to a Libyan girl she photographed just before her capture. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
What If (2013) Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Mackenzie Davis, Rafe Spall. A medical school drop-out, burned out from a string of failed relationships, forms an instant bond with Chantry, who lives with her longtime boyfriend. Together, they puzzle out what it means if your best friend is also the love of your life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Two vignettes: "Blurred Lines," in which the actors and filmmakers explore the movie's themes and talk about their experience shooting a modern love story; "Opposites Attract" cast and crew interviews. Blu-ray adds three deleted scenes and two additional vignettes: "Behind the Scenes of What If" and "A Modern Love Story." (Sony).


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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.


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October 25, 2014
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