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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases

Tuesday, March 20 -- Monday, March 26

All DVD Releases

  • Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle

    photo for Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle When four high-school kids discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of -- Jumanji -- they're immediately drawn into the game’s jungle setting, literally becoming the avatars they chose: gamer Spencer becomes a brawny adventurer (Dwayne Johnson); football jock Fridge loses (in his words) "the top two feet of his body" and becomes an Einstein (Kevin Hart); popular girl Bethany becomes a middle-aged male professor (Jack Black); and wallflower Martha becomes a badass warrior (Karen Gillan). What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji -- you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves -- or they’ll be stuck in the game forever. Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. Vitals: Director: Jake Kasdan. Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Rhys Darby, Bobby Cannavale. 2017, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 119 min., Action-Adventure, Box office gross: $369.076 million, Sony. Extras: Gag reel, “Jumanji, Jumanji” music video by Jack Black and Nick Jonas, three featurettes: “Journey Through the Jungle: The Making of Jumanji,” “Meet the Players: A Heroic Cast” and “Attack of the Rhinos!” Blu-ray adds Two extra featurettes: “Surviving the Jungle: Spectacular Stunts!” and “Book to Board Game to Big Screen & Beyond! Celebrating The Legacy of Jumanji.” 3 stars


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  • Pitch Perfect 3

    photo for Pitch Perfect 3 Now graduated from college, realizing it takes more than a cappella to get by, all the Bellas return in the final chapter in the franchise. After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there are no job prospects for making music with only your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for a European USO tour, the group of awesome nerds come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time. Vitals: Director: Trish Sie. Stars: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean , Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, John Lithgow, Ruby Rose, DJ Khaled. 2016, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 92 min., Musical Comedy, Box office gross: $101.195 million, Universal. Extras: Deleted scene; gag reel; new musical performances; "A Cappella Action" featurette; "The Women of Pitch Perfect 3" behind-the-scenes featurette; "The Final Performance" wrap of the film and production; "Hollywood of the South" Atlanta featurette; extended musical performances. Blu-ray adds: "Competition Crescendo" featurette breaks down the riff-off scene, starting in pre-production in the recording studio and moving into production; "Don’t Mess With Rebel" Rebel Wilson stunts featurette; "The Headliner: DJ Khaled" featurette; "The Final Note: John and Gail": Everyone’s favorite Talk-a-pella podcasters are back, combining their resources to produce an exclusive d’aca’mentary following the beloved classic Bellas; "Just Because He’s a Bad Guy" John Lithgow featurette; "Freedom! ’90 x Cups" official music video. 3 stars

  • Downsizing

    photo for Downsizing When scientists find a way to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to ditch their stressed out lives in order to get small and live large in a luxurious downsized community. Filled with life-changing adventures and endless possibilities, Leisureland offers more than riches, as Paul discovers a whole new world and realizes that we are meant for something bigger. A social satire from the director of "Election," "Sideways" and "Nebraska." Vitals: Director: Alexander Payne. Stars: Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Jason Sudeikis, Rolf Lassgård. 2017, CC, MPAA rating: R, 135 min., Comedy Drama, Box office gross: $24.442 million, Paramount. Blu-ray extras: Six featurettes: "Working With Alexander," "The Cast," "A Visual Journey," "A Matter of Perspective," "That Smile" and "A Global Concern." 2 stars


    This Week's Digital Releases

    March 19:

    2 Dope Queens: HBO special from comedic Duo Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson. (Digital only)

    March 20:

    Downsizing: When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community — a choice that triggers life-changing adventures. (DVD, Blu-ray release: Day & Date)

    The Greatest Showman: Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, this original musical celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. (DVD, Blu-ray release: April 10)

    Insidious: The Last Key: Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier returns to her family home to face the unrelenting demons that have plagued her since childhood in the franchise's fourth installment. (DVD, Blu-ray release: April 3)

    10 Billion: What’s On Your Plate?: Award-winning documentary follows director and best-selling author Valentin Thurn on his quest around the world in search of ecologically and economically responsible methods of food production and distribution. (VOD only)

    Welcome the Stranger: A young woman arrives unannounced at her estranged brother's house in an attempt to reconcile, but bizarre visions force the siblings to cling onto reality amidst mysterious circumstances. (Digital Only)

    March 23:

    Followers: A social media couple's camping trip is ruined by filmmakers making a documentary on how easy it is to track someone down from social media and kill them. (Digital, VOD only)

    Read more.


    Blu-ray Debuts

  • Baal (1970 -- Germany) (Criterion)
  • The Church (1989 -- Italy)
  • Ichi the Killer (2001 -- Japan)
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928 -- Germany) (Criterion)

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All DVD Releases

Archer: Dreamland - The Complete Season Eight (2017) Two-disc set with all eight episodes. Join Archer, the world's suavest, most irreverent supersleuth, for an outrageous, innuendo-laden eighth season. Set in 1940s Los Angeles, "Dreamland" lands Archer on a quest to find his partner's killer. Contending with mobsters, including notorious crime boss "Mother," he's also challenged by a sultry lounge singer, a deranged heiress, crooked cops, knock-knock jokes, and his own libido. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary on select episodes. (Fox).

photo for Baal Baal (1970 -- Germany) Volker Schlöndorff transported Bertolt Brecht's 1918 debut play to contemporary West Germany for this vicious experiment in adaptation, seldom seen for nearly half a century. Oozing with brutish charisma, Rainer Werner Fassbinder embodies the eponymous anarchist poet, who feels himself cast out from bourgeois society and sets off on a schnapps-soaked rampage. Hewing faithfully to Brecht's text, Schlöndorff juxtaposes the theatricality of the prose with bare-bones, handheld 16mm camera work, which gives immediacy to this savage story of rebellion. Featuring a supporting cast of Fassbinder's troupe of theater actors as well as Margarethe von Trotta, "Baal" demonstrates the uncompromising nature of Schlöndorff's vision and forged a path for New German Cinema. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc with new, restored 2K digital transfer, supervised by director Volker Schlöndorff, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Interviews from 1973 and 2015 with Schlöndorff; new conversation between actor Ethan Hawke and playwright Jonathan Marc Sherman about the play and adaptation; new interview with actor and filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta; new interview with film historian Eric Rentschler; an essay by critic Dennis Lim. (The Criterion Collection).

photo for The Church Blu-ray Debut The Church BLU-RAY DEBUT (1989 -- Italy) Dir.: Michele Soavi; Tomas Arana, Asia Argento. Set in present-day Germany in an elaborate medieval cathedral that was once the site of a massacre of a village of supposed devil-worshippers by a band of crusading knights. When the church's new librarian breaks the seal of the building's crypt, he releases a cabal of evil spirits that are contained beneath it. At the same time, the church's automated mechanisms are triggered, causing its doors to close and trapping everyone inside. The laws of reality soon collapse as a nightmare takes hold and claims the lives of those within, one by one, threatening to unleash a supernatural pestilence upon the world. Remastered with a high definition transfer. Extras: New interview with co-star Asia Argento. (Doppelgänger Releasing/Scorpion Releasing).

Daughter of the Nile (1987 -- Taiwan) A rediscovered gem in the filmography of Taiwanese auteur Hou Hsiao-hsien ("A City of Sadness," "The Assassin," "Three Times," "Flight of the Red Balloon"), "Daughter of the Nile" is a neon-lit, contemporary drama inspired by the heroine of a Japanese manga series. With Hou's gentle but keen observation, the film follows a young woman and her brother as they float along the periphery of the Taipei underworld, intriguingly blending gangster tale with mood-drenched introspective drama. Based on the personal experiences of frequent Hou screenwriter Chu T'ien-wen, the film is a profoundly moving observation of marginalized youth. 4K restoration. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, Digital. Extras: Audio commentary by film scholar Richard Suchenski, new interview with Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns, the 2017 rerelease trailer. (Cohen Film Collection).

Dirt (2018) Kevin Dillon, DeRon Horton, Christina Moore, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Devan Long, Matthew Glave, Dominic Devore. Caught boosting cars for an auto-theft ring, 17-year old Dez Truss is given one last chance to turn his life around. When he's introduced to former Off Road Truck-driver-turned team owner Rick Radden, neither suspects that this is the change both so desperately need. In exchange for a roof over his head, Dez is offered the chance to use the skills he developed in the streets as part of the pit crew for Rick's team. Faced with an underperforming and apathetic driver, Rick finds himself in search of a lifeline for his struggling off road racing team. In an unexpected turn of events, he looks to Dez to take the lead and become the new face of Team Radden. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Warner).



photo for Downsizing Downsizing (2017) Dir: Alexander Payne; Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Jason Sudeikis, Rolf Lassgård. When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community - a choice that triggers life-changing adventures. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo,VOD, Digital. Blu-ray extras: Six featurettes: "Working With Alexander," "The Cast," "A Visual Journey," "A Matter of Perspective," "That Smile" and "A Global Concern." (Paramount).

The Family I Had (2017) Chilling documentary explores familial violence, mental illness and the development of a criminal mind by recounting the tragic and unimaginable story of a 13-year old boy who killed his 3-year old sister in cold blood, and how the family struggled to move forward. Part true-crime, part mystery -- Charity Lee, mother of both the victim and killer, relives her agony and her journey of love 10 years later in this feature documentary that also presents multiple and conflicting accounts leaving the audience questioning where the ultimate truth and accountability lie. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (FilmRise).

photo for Ichi the Killer BLU-RAY DEBUT Ichi the Killer BLU-RAY DEBUT (2001 -- Japan) Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto, Alien Sun, SABU. Takashi Miike's film has endured as one of the most influential pieces of genre filmmaking of the last two decades, and now it returns in a stunning all-new digitally restored special edition debuting on Blu-ray. Based on Hideo Yamamoto's manga series of the same name, the controversial and graphic tale of feuding yakuza gangs is seen primarily through the actions of a scarred and psychologically damaged man, who is manipulated into killing rival faction members. Digitally remastered in 4k and approved by director Miike. This visceral, bloody, and often hilarious film follows Kakihara (Asano), a notoriously sadistic yakuza enforcer whose search for his boss' killer brings him into the orbit of a demented costumed assassin known as Ichi (Ohmori). (Well Go USA ).

Images (1972)The early seventies were a period of remarkable activity for Robert Altman, producing masterpiece after masterpiece. At the time he came to make "Images," "MASH" and "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" were behind him, with "The Long Goodbye," photo for Robert Altman's Images"California Split" and "Nashville" still to come. Originally conceived in the mid-sixties, "Images" concerns a pregnant children's author (Susannah York, who won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival) whose husband (Rene Auberjonois) may or may not be having an affair. While on vacation in Ireland, her mental state becomes increasingly unstable resulting in paranoia, hallucinations and visions of a doppelgänger. Scored by an Oscar-nominated John Williams, with "sounds" by Stomu Yamash'ta ("The Man Who Fell to Earth"), "Images" also boasts the remarkable cinematography of Vilmos Zsigmond. New 4K restoration from the original negative, produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release. Formats: Blu-ray. Extras: Commentary by "Diabolique Magazine's" Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger; scene-select commentary by writer-director Robert Altman; interview with Altman; new interview with actor Cathryn Harrison; an appreciation by musician and author Stephen Thrower; theatrical trailer; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil; "First pressing only:" Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Carmen Gray and an extract from "Altman on Altman." (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

photo for Jumanji: Welcome to The JungleJumanji: Welcome to The Jungle (2017) Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Rhys Darby, Bobby >Cannavale. Four teenagers are sucked into a magical video game, and the only way they can escape is to work together to finish the game. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital, Movies Anywhere. Extras: Gag reel, "Jumanji, Jumanji" music video by Jack Black and Nick Jonas, three featurettes: "Journey Through the Jungle: The Making of Jumanji," "Meet the Players: A Heroic Cast" and "Attack of the Rhinos!" Blu-ray adds Two extra featurettes: "Surviving the Jungle: Spectacular Stunts!" and "Book to Board Game to Big Screen & Beyond! Celebrating The Legacy of Jumanji." (Sony).


The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928 -- Germany) Spiritual rapture and institutional hypocrisy come to stark, vivid life in one of the most transcendent masterpieces of the silent era. Chronicling the trial of Joan of Arc in the days leading up to her execution, Danish master Carl photo for The Passion of Joan of ArcTheodor Dreyer depicts her torment with startling immediacy, employing an array of techniques -- including expressionistic lighting, interconnected sets, and painfully intimate close-ups -- to immerse viewers in her subjective experience. Anchoring Dreyer's audacious formal experimentation is a legendary performance by Renée Falconetti, whose haunted face channels both the agony and the ecstasy of martyrdom. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc with new high-definition digital restoration of the film by Gaumont, presented at 24 frames per second; alternate presentation of the film at 20 frames per second with original Danish intertitles. Extras: Three scores: Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light, a choral and orchestral work performed by vocal group Anonymous 4, soloist Susan Narucki, and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Choir; another by Goldfrapp's Will Gregory and Portishead's Adrian Utley; and the third composed and performed by pianist Mie Yanashita; audio commentary from 1999 by film scholar Casper Tybjerg; new interview with Einhorn; new conversation between Gregory and Utley; new video essay by Tybjerg exploring the debate over the film's frame rate; interview from 1995 with actor Renée Falconetti's daughter and biographer, Hélène Falconetti; version history; production design archive; an essay by critic Mark Le Fanu, a 1929 director's statement by Carl Theodor Dreyer, and the full libretto for Voices of Light (The Criterion Collection).

photo for Pitch Perfect 3 (2017) Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean , Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, John Lithgow, Ruby Rose, DJ Khaled. Following their win at the world championship, the now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo, VOD, Digital, Movies Anywhere. Extras: Deleted scene; gag reel; new musical performances; "A Cappella Action" featurette; "The Women of Pitch Perfect 3" behind-the-scenes featurette; "The Final Performance" wrap of the film and production; "Hollywood of the South" Atlanta featurette; extended musical performances. Blu-ray adds: "Competition Crescendo" featurette breaks down the riff-off scene, starting in pre-production in the recording studio and moving into production; "Don't Mess With Rebel" Rebel Wilson stunts featurette; "The Headliner: DJ Khaled" featurette; "The Final Note: John and Gail": Everyone's favorite Talk-a-pella podcasters are back, combining their resources to produce an exclusive d'aca'mentary following the beloved classic Bellas; "Just Because He's a Bad Guy" John Lithgow featurette; "Freedom! '90 x Cups" official music video. (Universal).

photo for >Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: The Complete Third Season Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: The Complete Third Season Seven-disc set, available for the first time at retail, features 26 complete, remastered episodes from the landmark Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series. On September 15, 1969, the third season of the pop culture touchstone, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," premiered to eager viewers. In two short years, through a rapid-fire assault of one-liners, skits, bits and non sequiturs, a gaggle of goofballs and the biggest stars of the day, the series had become water-cooler fodder for an entire country. But, little did home audiences know that in Episode #15 (airing December 29), they'd be introduced to one of the generation's greatest and most original comic actors: Lily Tomlin. Tomlin, who'd go on to create such unforgettable characters as Ernestine the snooty phone operator and the precocious, philosophizing five-year-old, Edith Ann, would quickly become a fan favorite. Guest stars for that year included Johnny Carson, Debbie Reynolds, Peter Sellers, Flip Wilson, Michael Caine, Bob Hope, Diana Ross, Sonny & Cher, The Monkees, Carol Channing, Buddy Hackett, Sid Caesar, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Debbie Reynolds, Jack Benny, Engelbert Humperdinck, Peter Lawford, Phyllis Diller, Roger Moore, Romy Schneider, Greer Garson, Lorne Greene, Ed McMahon, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Nancy Sinatra, James Garner, Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, Jim Backus, Andy Williams, Andy Griffith, Carl Reiner, Ringo Starr and many more. Formats: DVD. (Time Life).

Small Town Crime (2017) John Hawkes, Anthony Anderson, Clifton Collins Jr., Michael Vartan, Robert Forster, Octavia Spencer. Gritty crime thriller with a dark sense of humor. Mike Kendall (Hawkes), a disgraced ex-cop, is fighting a losing battle with the bottle. When he finds a woman left for dead at the side of a road, Kendall turns private eye to track down her killers, taking one last shot at redemption. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, extended scenes, "Crime and Character" featurette, "Devising A Small-Town Crime" featurette, directors' commentary, actor, producer, and directors' commentary, technical commentary. (Lionsgate).

The Vanishing of Sidney Hall (2017) Logan Lerman, Elle Fanning, Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Lane, Kyle Chandler. After publishing a best-selling novel based on the death of one of his high school classmates, controversial writer Sidney Hall (Logan Lerman) finds himself catapulted to unexpected fame and renown. His relationship with his girlfriend (Elle Fanning) begins to fall apart as the dark consequences of the book intrude on their life together, and he disappears without a trace. Nearly a decade later, an enigmatic detective (Kyle Chandler) searches for the missing author, whose books are connected to a string of mysterious arsons. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate).

photo for When Calls the Heart: The Heart of Homecoming When Calls the Heart: The Heart of Homecoming (2017) The love story blooming in Hope Valley continues with this television special from celebrated author Janette Oke ("The Love Comes Softly" series). The citizens of Hope Valley find the true meaning of the holiday season with a Wishing Tree that helps everyone’s dreams come true. As Abigail, Bill, and the rest of Hope Valley work together to create a special Christmas parade to warm the town’s collective hearts and bring everyone closer together, Elizabeth longs only for the return of her beloved Jack. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).


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