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Blu-ray Releases
OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
The Beginner's Bible
(2014) Single disc with three animated Bible stories: "The Story of Easter," "The Story of Moses" and "The Story of the Nativity." Formats: DVD, $9.95. (StarVista Entertainment/Time Life).
Believe Me
(2014) Alex Russell, Zachary Knighton, Johanna Braddy, Miles Fisher, Sinqua Walls, Max Adler, Nick Offerman, Christopher McDonald. Desperate, broke, and out of ideas, four college seniors start a fake charity to embezzle money for tuition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Virgil Films).
Blacula and Scream, Blacula, Scream BLU-RAY DEBUT
Two great Blaxploitation classics. "Blacula" (1972): William Marshall, Denise Nicholas, Vonetta McGee; "Scream, Blacula, Scream" (1973): William Marshall, Don Mitchell, Pam Grier. Extras: New commentary on "Blacula" with author/film historian/filmmaker David F. Walker ("Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak"), new interview with actor Richard Lawson ("Scream, Blacula, Scream"), theatrical trailers. (Scream Factory).
Captive
(2012 -- Philippines) In this relentless thriller, Isabelle Huppert brings passion and courage to her portrayal of a hostage caught in a seemingly hopeless situation. At a beach resort in the Philippines, 20 guests are kidnapped by an Islamic separatist group fighting for their independence. French social worker Therese Bourgoine is among those taken to a jungle island, with the Filipino army in pursuit. As the captors and their hostages journey through dense jungle terrain, trying to avoid the bullets and artillery salvos fired indiscriminately at them, an unexpected bond grows between the kidnappers and hostages. Packaged in certified Green Forestry eco pack. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
The Captive
(2014) Dir.: Atom Egoyan; Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with writer-director Atom Egoyan, "Captive Thoughts" featurette, alternate ending, deleted scenes. (Lionsgate).
CHiPs: The Complete Third Season
(1979-80) Five-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Exterminators of the Year 3000 BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1983) Robert Iannucci, Alicia Moro, Luciano Pigozzi, Eduardo Fajardo. Italian-made exploitation classic set in a post-apocalyptic future where the earth is a desert and water is the most precious substance of all. A band of survivors must turn to a mysterious stranger to battle a ruthless gang of motorcycle psychos for control of the wasteland and the water. Extras: Commentary with actor Robert Iannucci, interview with Iannucci, TV spots. (Shout! Factory).
Foxcatcher
(2014) Dir.: Bennett Miller; Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave, Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, "The Story of Foxcatcher" featurette. (Sony).
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
(2014) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson,
Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson, Evan Ross. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, deleted scenes, sneak peek of "The Divergent Series: Insurgent." Blu-ray adds "The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of Mockingjay – Part 1" eight-part feature-length documentary, "Straight From the Heart: A Tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman" featurette, "Songs of Rebellion: Lorde on Curating the Soundtrack" featurette, "Yellow Flicker Beat” Lorde music video. (Lionsgate).
The Last of Robin Hood
(2014) Kevin Kline, Dakota Fanning, Susan Sarandon, Sean Flynn, Max Casella. Errol Flynn, the swashbuckling Hollywood star and notorious ladies man, flouted convention all his life, but never more brazenly than in his last years when, swimming in vodka and unwilling to face his mortality, he undertook a liaison with an aspiring actress, Beverly Aadland. The two had a high-flying affair that spanned the globe and was enabled by the girl's fame-obsessed mother, Florence. It all came crashing to an end in October 1959, when events forced the relationship into the open, sparking an avalanche of publicity castigating Beverly and her mother-- which only fed Florence's need to
stay in the spotlight. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Samuel Goldwyn Films).
Life Partners
(2014) Leighton Meester, Gillian Jacobs, Adam Brody. Straight Paige (Jacobs) and lesbian Sasha (Meester) are codependent best friends in their late 20s who have spent the last 10 years acting more like wives than friends: they talk to each other on the toilet; they drive each other to the doctor. And as with any good marriage, they're a perfect yin and yang. Until the night Paige meets Tim (Brody). Despite some superficial drawbacks, he's the kind of guy you marry. As Paige and Tim's relationship grows, the bond between Paige and Sasha inevitably shifts. Suddenly without a “partner,” Sasha is left to examine her own shortcomings and panic about her impending 30th birthday. Passive-aggressive conflict brews in their friendship until the girls must finally confront the question they've been avoiding: can their friendship survive growing up? Formats: DVD, Blu-ray. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Longmire: The Complete Third Season
(2014) Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $39.98. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Outlander: Season 1, Volume 1
(2014) Two-disc set with all eight episodes of the STARZ series about a WWII nurse who, while on a second honeymoon with her husband, finds herself inexplicably transported back in time to Scotland, circa 1743. Based on Diana Gabaldon's best-selling book series. A Limited Collector's Edition features a 32-page book with excerpts from the scripts, photographs and an introduction from author Diana Gabaldon. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Two featurettes: "Outlander: An Epic Adaptation" and "Authentic in Design: The Dresses & Kilts of Outlander." Blu-ray adds 21 deleted scenes, four additional featurettes: "Casting Outlander," "On Location: Castle Leoch and the Magic of Scotland," "Emerging a Scot: Cast Goes to Bootcamp" and "Walk Through the Sets and Stages With Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore." (Sony).
To Write Love On Her Arms
(2014) Kat Dennings, Chad Michael Murray, Rupert Friend, Corbin Bleu. Kat Dennings stars as Renee, a Florida girl who struggles with addiction and abuse. In a creative blend of artistic fantasy and music conflicted with hard reality, Renee discovers the value of genuine friendships and embarks on a daunting yet courageous journey towards recovery with a vision of hope, healing and redemption. Based on the true story that started a global movement. A portion of net proceeds will be donated to the To Write Love On Her Arms non-profit organization. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, "Making of the Movie: From Story to Screen," "First Look: Renee Yohe's Story," "Music in the Movie: Amplifying the Story," character profiles, on-set video blogs. (Sony).
Transporter: The Series – The Complete First Season
(2012) Four-disc set with 12 episodes of the series based on the hugely popular films that follows British ex-commando Frank Martin -- a high-stakes courier who delivers dangerous cargo -- to exotic locations, where he deals with clients whose business is top-secret. Although he swears never to learn the truth about his deliveries, he often breaks that code, putting his life at even greater risk. Formats: DVD. Extras: "From Film to TV," "The Women of The Transporter," car stunts, fight choreography, "Who is Frank Martin," the Audi A8, "Frank's Packages," "The Making of Season One." (Fox).
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Based on the best-selling third novel of Suzanne Collins' award-winning trilogy, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1" reveals that the rebellion is growing. Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived and is recovering from the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell deep inside the bunkered catacombs of District 13. Separated from some of her closest allies and fearing for their safety in the Capitol, Katniss finally agrees to be the Mockingjay, the symbolic leader of the rebellion. Still uncertain as to whom she can trust, Katniss must help District 13 rise from the shadows, all the while knowing that President Snow has focused his hatred into a personal vendetta against her—and her loved ones.
Vitals: Director: Francis Lawrence. Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson, Evan Ross.
2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 123 min., Sci-Fi Adventure, Box office gross: $$330.416 million, Lionsgate.
Extras: Commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, deleted scenes, sneak peek of "The Divergent Series: Insurgent." Blu-ray adds "The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of Mockingjay – Part 1" eight-part feature-length documentary, "Straight From the Heart: A Tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman" featurette, "Songs of Rebellion: Lorde on Curating the Soundtrack" featurette,
"Yellow Flicker Beat” Lorde music video. 
Foxcatcher
Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Schultz's bid for Gold and the chance to "coach" a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Flattered by the attention and entranced by du Pont's majestic world, Mark comes to see his
benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, du Pont's mercurial personality turns and he begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Soon du Pont's erratic behavior and cruel psychological game-play begin to erode the athlete's already shaky self-esteem. Meanwhile du Pont becomes fixated on Dave, who exudes the confidence both he and Mark lack, knowing that
these are things even his money cannot buy. Fueled by du Pont's increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen.
Vitals: Director: Bennett Miller. Stars: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Vanessa Redgrave, Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall.
2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 134 min., Suspense Drama, Box office gross: $$10.985 million, Sony. Extras: Deleted scenes, "The Story of Foxcatcher" featurette.
The Captive
Thriller follows a man who must unravel the mystery of his daughter's disappearance before it's too late. Eight years after the disappearance of Cassandra, some disturbing incidents seem to indicate that she is still alive. Her parents and detectives, and Cassandra herself, will try to unravel the mystery of her disappearance.
Vitals: Director: Atom Egoyan. Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman, Rosario Dawson. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: R, 112 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $1.075 million, Lionsgate.
Extras: Commentary with writer-director Atom Egoyan, "Captive Thoughts" featurette, alternate ending, deleted scenes.
Da Vinci's Demons: The Complete Second Season
(2014) Starz Original series follows the "adventures" of scientific and literary genius Leonardo da Vinci as he travels to South America, Naples, and Turkey in his quest to find answers. The second season begins as Florence is thrown into chaos in the wake of the Pazzi conspiracy and da Vinci must push the limits of his mind and body to defend the city against the forces of Rome. When the dust settles, friends are buried and rivalries enflamed. While the Medicis go to unthinkable lengths to deal with new threats, da Vinci continues on his quest to find the fabled Book of Leaves and uncover the secret history of his mother. He'll come to realize that he has lethal competition in his quest -- new enemies who may be even worse than the forces of Pope Sixtus. Formats: Three-disc DVD: $44.98, three-disc Blu-ray: $54.99, VOD, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes: "New Sets," "Creating the World" and "A Closer Look"; "The Journey Begins: Season 1 Recap." (Anchor Bay).
Innocence
(2014) Sophie Curtis, Kelly Reilly, Graham Phillips. Haunted by the death and dreams of her beloved mother in a Montauk surfing accident, 16-year-old Beckett and her novelist father move to Manhattan and attempt to piece together their shattered life. Enrolled at an exclusive preparatory school, Beckett's psychosis and hallucinations intensify with the dubious suicides of current and past students and the subsequent discovery that her new school may be run by a coven of beautiful and seductive women who perpetuate their youth by drinking the blood of virgins. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc VOD, Digital. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Let's Kill Ward's Wife
(2014) Amy Acker, Patrick Wilson, Nicollette Sheridan, Scott Foley, Greg Grunberg, Donald Faison. Everyone hates Ward's wife and wants her dead. Especially Ward (Donald Faison). But when murderous fantasies accidentally get real, Ward and his pals have all new problems: Disposing of the body. Getting away with murder. Making their 3 p.m. tee time. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Outtakes. (Well Go USA).
March 1, 2015
(ISSN 1094-3676).
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