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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
All Cheerleaders Die
(2013) Caitlin Stasey, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Brooke Butler, Amanda Grace Cooper, Reanin Johannink, Tom Williamson. A rebel girl signs up with a group of cheerleaders and persuades them to help her take down the captain of their high school football team, but after a late-night party goes awry, all of the girls die. A sinister, supernatural power intervenes and the girls mysteriously appear at school the next day with a killer new look ... and some unusual new appetites. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Making the Squad" featurette. (Image Entertainment).
American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight
(2014) Nine-year-old Isabelle, an inspired dancer with a flair for fashion design, is encouraged by her idol, a famous ballerina, to audition for a professional ballet role, but must overcome her fears to step into the spotlight and discover her own way to shine. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Universal).
The Angriest Man In Brooklyn
(2014) Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, Melissa Leo.
A curmudgeonly man is told by his doctor that he has a brain aneurysm and when he angrily asks how much time he has to live, the doctor -- angry herself -- tells him in a lapse of judgment that he has 90 minutes; he promptly sets out to reconcile with his wife, brother and friends in the short time he believes he has left. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn: Behind the Rage" featurette, gag reel. (Lionsgate).
Antboy
(2013 -- Denmark) Oscar Dietz, Nicolas Bro, Samuel Ting Graf, Amalie Kruse Jensen. Live action family film based on the popular Danish comic book series about 12-year-old Pelle, who is bitten by an ant and develops superpowers. Aided by his friend, comic book nerd Wilhelm, Pelle creates a secret identity as superhero Antboy and, when a super villain The Flea enters the scene, Antboy must step up to the challenge. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Cinedigm).
Appleseed Alpha
(2014) New CG-animated sci-fi action adventure based on the popular "Appleseed" franchise by the creator of "Ghost in the Shell" depicts the early days of female soldier Deunan and her cyborg partner, Briareos, as they embark on an action-packed journey in search of the legendary city of Olympus. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Filmmakers' commentary, 11-part making-of documentary. (Sony).
Cesar Chavez
(2014) Michael Pena, John Malkovich, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson, Wes Bentley. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Making of Cesar Chavez"documentary. (Lionsgate).
Cell 213
(2010) Bruce Greenwood, Eric Balfour, Michael Rooker, Deborah Valente. After a gruesome twist of circumstance lands him in the South River State Penitentiary framed for the murder of an incarcerated client, a cocky young attorney falls prey to unnatural forces that are causing prisoners to kill themselves at abnormal rates. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
Dalziel & Pascoe: Season Ten
(2006) Three-disc set with six episodes of the crime-solving team of blunt-talking, politically incorrect Andy Dalziel (Warren Clark) and his younger, fast-tracked side-kick Peter Pascoe (Colin Buchanan). Formats: DVD, $34.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Detour
(1945) Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake. Digitally restored Edgar G. Ulmer directed film-noir classic. Down-on-his-luck nightclub pianist Al Roberts (Tom Neal) leaves New York to join his girlfriend in Hollywood by hitching a ride with a shady bookie. When the driver mysteriously dies, Al -- fearful he will be accused of murder -- takes the man's cash, clothes, car and identification. Continuing on his journey under his new guise, Al picks up the beautiful Vera (Ann Savage) -- who coincidentally had been given a ride by the dead man earlier. When Al identifies himself as the dead man, the femme fatale catches on and immediately turns to blackmail, plunging him deeper into trouble ... and one wrong turn may prove fatal.
Formats: DVD. (Film Chest Media).
Dom Hemingway
(2014) Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir, Emilia Clarke, Luca Franzoni, Richard Graham, Nick Raggett, Simeon Moore. Formats: Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Promotional featurettes, "Ping-Pong Loop," commentary by director Richard Shepard, gallery, theatrical trailer. (Fox).
The Garfield Show: Best Friends Forever
(2014) Six animated adventures featuring Jim Davis' cartoon character: "A Game of Cat and Mouse," "Little Yellow Riding Hood," "Nice to Nermal," "Out on a Limb," "The Last Word" and "T3000." Formats: DVD, $14.93. (Cinedigm).
Ginger Snaps BLU-RAY DEBUT
(2000) Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Mimi Rogers, Kris Lemche, Jesse Moss. Extras: New interviews with director John Fawcett, writer Karen Walton, actors Emily Perkins and Jesse Moss, producer Steve Hoban, make-up effects artist Paul Jones, composer Mike Shields and editor Brett Sullivan; "Women in Horror" panel discussing "Ginger Snaps"; commentary with director John Fawcett; commentary with writer Karen Walton; deleted scenes; "The Making of Ginger Snaps" vintage featurette; "Creation of the Beast"; "Being John Fawcett"; cast auditions and rehearsals; theatrical trailers; TV spots; production design artwork photo gallery. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
GMO OMG
(2014) What's on your plate? That's the simple but all-important question asked by filmmaker Jeremy Seifert in this critically acclaimed cinematic investigation about the ways scientifically altered, corporate-controlled foods are negatively impacting our lives and perhaps those of generations yet to come. Spurred to action by his 6-year-old son's questions about seeds, Seifert begins a one-man investigation into the state of the world's seed supply -- an essential resource in a world of increasing populations and rising food shortages. Seifert's journey takes him to Haiti, Paris, Norway, and even the front door of agri-giant Monsanto, the largest provider of Genetically Modified Organisms in the United States, as he seeks to reveal who controls the future of our food. By following one family's struggle to live and eat without participating in an unhealthy, unjust and destructive food system, GMO OMG becomes a much larger story about dark health and environmental risks, chemical toxins and food monopoly -- it's an urgent plea for a global movement to take back what we have lost. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (MPI Media Group).
Heaven Is for Real
(2014) Greg Kinnear, Thomas Haden Church, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum, Lane Styles. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Colton Goes to Heaven" behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes. Blu-ray adds "The Making of Heaven Is for Real" featurette, "Creating Heaven" featurette. (Sony).
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season Five
(1998-99) Five-disc set with 22 episodes. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
Insomnia
(1997) In this elegantly unsettling murder mystery, Stellan Skarsgard plays an enigmatic Swedish detective with a checkered past who arrives in a small town in northern Norway to investigate the death of a teenage girl. As he digs deeper into the heinous killing, his own demons and the tyrannical midnight sun begin to take a toll. Erik Skjoldbjaerg's chilling procedural anticipated the international hunger for Scandinavian noirs and serial killer fictions, and features one of Skarsgard's greatest performances. New 4K digital restoration approved by the director, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray.
Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Dual Format Edition. Extras: New conversation between Skjoldbjaerg add actor Stellan Skarsgard; trailer and TV spot; booklet featuring an essay by critic Jonathan Roomney. (The Criterion Collection).
Justin and the Knights of Valour
(2013 -- Spain) Voices of Freddie Highmore, Antonio Banderas, James Cosmo, Charles Dance, Tamsin Egerton, Rupert Everett, Barry Humphries, Alfred Molina, Mark Strong, David Williams, Julie Walters, Olivia Williams, Saoirse Ronan. A young man dreams of following in his grandfather Sir Roland's footsteps and becoming one of the legendary Knights of Valor. Along his quest he encounters a slew of quirky characters, including the beautiful Talia and handsome Sir Clorex, who try to teach him the skills he needs to become a mighty knight. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (ARC Entertainment).
Made in America
(2014) A celebration of both the unifying power of music and pursuit of the American dream, this documentary is an all-access backstage pass to the one-of-a-kind festival created by rap superstar Jay Z, and directed by Academy Award-winner Ron Howard. Features performances and interviews by Jay Z, Pearl Jam, Gary Clark Jr., D'Angelo, Dirty Projectors, The Hives, Miike Snow, Janelle Monae, Odd Future, Rita Ora, Passion Pit, Run-D.M.C., Santigold, Jill Scott, Skrillex and Kanye West. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. (Phase 4 Films).
Mumfie's Quest: The Movie
(1994) From Britt Allcroft, the creator of the award winning children's television series "Thomas & Friends" and "Shining Time Station," comes the tale of Mumfie, a little elephant with a big heart, who ventures far from home in search of friendship and adventure. Along the way he meets new friends, Scarecrow and Pinkey. When Pinkey tells Mumfie about her longing to find her mother, they begin a search to find Pinkey's mother on a gloomy, misty island. Soon they find themselves on an even bigger quest to help restore laughter and fun to the islands. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate).
The Perfect House
(2012) Felissa Rose, Jonathan Tiersten, John Philbin. Horror anthology in which each vignette reveals a dark side to suburban anonymity: A young couple's dream home turns into a house of horrors when the disturbing, violent acts of three generations of doomed families is reawakened for them to witness. Formats: DVD. (Wild Eye Releasing).
Propaganda
(2014) Since it mysteriously appeared on You Tube on July 18, 2012, "Propaganda" has been described as "1984 meets The Blair Witch Project," "A mouthful of scary porridge" and "Even better than Triumph of the Will." Controversial to its core, this hard-hitting anti-Western propaganda film, which looks at the influence of American culture on the rest of the world from a North Korean perspective, has been called "Genius!" by Michael Moore, and has been described as "either a damning indictment of 21st Century culture or the best piece of propaganda in a generation." As first reported on mainstream news around the world, "Propaganda" is allegedly a video smuggled out of North Korea. Brilliantly using this "fake North Korean propaganda" found-footage device, director Slavko Martinov first parodies its language and stylings, before targeting the mountain of hypocrisies and contradictions that make up the modern Western world. In doing so, "Propaganda" delivers a devastating blow to those who might be quick to laugh at "backward" ideologies before considering how 21st century political and cultural trends have hurt the moral high ground of the rest of the world. Eugene Chang is the narrator/North Korean professor, Susannah Kenton handles the English voice-over. Formats: DVD. (MVD Visual).
Sabotage
(2014) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Olivia Williams, Terrence Howard, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, Mireille Enos. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Making Sabotage" featurette. Blu-ray adds alternate endings. (Universal).
Sector 4: Extraction
(2014) Steven Dell, Eric Roberts, Olivier Gruner, Jeff Jay. When an elite band of private military mercenaries are caught behind enemy lines in the hellish combat zone Sector 4, their only hope for survival is their team leader, who manages to get away. After escaping the clutches of Al-Qaeda, returning home and finding out that his men are still alive, he pledges to uphold the team's motto: "No One Left Behind." Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Lionsgate).
Shogun BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1980) Three Golden Globe- and three Emmy-award winning (and one of the most watched of all time) three-part miniseries based on the bestselling novel from James Clavell and starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune. Sweeping story of love and war that follows John Blackthorne (Chamberlain), an English navigator shipwrecked off the coast of Japan. Rescued, he becomes an eyewitness to a deadly struggle involving Toranaga (Mifune), a feuding warlord intent on becoming Shogun -- the supreme military dictator. At the same time, Blackthorne is irresistibly drawn into the turmoil and finds himself vying to become the first-ever Gai-Jin (foreigner) to be made a Samurai Warrior. Extras: "The Making of Shogun," three historical perspective featurettes, commentary by director Jerry London on select scenes. Three-disc set, $76.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
The Suspect
(2013 -- South Korea) Gong Yoo, Cho Hee-soon, Jo Seong-ha, Kim Sung-kyun. Dong-chul (Gong Yoo) is the best field agent in North Korea -- until he's abandoned during a mission, his wife and daughter missing. Hunted and on the run, torn between grief and vengeance, he takes a job as a night driver for the CEO of a powerful corporation. The chairman is brutally assassinated -- but gives Dong-chul a pair of glasses before he dies. Now, he's on the run again. Accused of murder, wanted for treason, and desperate to uncover the volatile national secrets hidden inside the glasses, Dong-Chul wants the truth ... and he'll start a war to get it. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).
Transcendence
(2014) Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Cillian Murphy, Clifton Collins Jr., Morgan Freeman. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "What Is Transcendence?" "Wally Pfister: A Singular Vision." Blu-ray adds "Guarding the Threat," "The Promise of A.I.," "It's Me" "Singularity," "R.I.F.T." (Warner).
Tyler Perry's The Single Moms Club
(2014) Director: Tyler Perry. Stars: Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Amy Smart, Zulay Henao, Cocoa Brown, Ryan Eggold, Tyler Perry. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Two behind-the-scenes featurettes. (Lionsgate).
Wahlburgers: The Complete First Season
(2014) Two-disc set with nine episodes, $19.98. A&E Network's newest series gives a behind-the-scenes look into one of Boston's most well-known families, the Wahlbergs. Brothers Mark and Donnie join forces with their sibling, Paul, in their tasty business venture. An homage to their humble beginnings, the hamburger restaurant is home base for the gang from the old neighborhood, including the real Johnny "Drama" and of course their spirited mother my little. Formats: DVD. Extras: Webisodes. (Lionsgate).
Wet Behind the Ears
(2013) Margaret Keane Williams, Jessica Piervicenti, Doug Roland. Independent comedy that shines a light on the plight of the under-prepared, under-qualified millenials hitting the workforce. When Samantha, a bright-eyed graduate who plans to live in the city with her best friend, Victoria, can't find employment due to lack of experience, she is forced to move back home and take a job at an ice cream parlor, where she's further demoralized by old classmates. Meanwhile, feeling abandoned by her friend, Victoria struggles to find a suitable replacement roommate, while enduring corporate life and her boss' egomaniacal demands. But when Samantha convinces Victoria to use her corporate position as part of a shady business deal to solve their problems, the strain on their friendship comes to a head. Samantha must figure out how to get her friend back, while still searching for a way to get her life on track. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Cinema Libre Studio).
The Wind Will Carry Us
(1999) Behzad Dorani, Noghre Asadi, Roushan Karam Elmi. Writer-director Abbas Kiarostami ("Certified Copy") helped put modern Iranian cinema on the map in the 1990s with a string of formally rigorous, widely acclaimed films, including "Close-Up," "Through the Olive Trees" and "Taste of Cherry." He ended the decade with the beautiful and enigmatic "The Wind Will Carry Us." The film follows the changes in the daily routines of the inhabitants of a mountain village after a small group of outsiders arrives, claiming to be "communication engineers." As the deceptive story unfolds, we learn that the mysterious strangers are on a secret mission: They are a television crew sent from Tehran to await the death of an old woman in order to cover the funeral practices of the village. But the village operates on its own schedule, forcing the TV crew to remain much longer than planned. The leader of the crew (Behzad Dorani) winds up spending much of his time adjusting to this strange place, becoming acquainted with its unique residents -- and finding himself torn between wanting the old woman to die so he can finish his project and go home and hoping for her recovery. In Farsi with English subtitles.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Filmed conversation between Kiarostami and New York Film Festival director Richard Pena, commentary by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum and scholar Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa, a new essay by critic Peter Tonguette, 2014 re-release trailer. (Cohen Film Collection).
WWI Centennial Collection
Four-disc set commemorating the 100th anniversary of WWI: "The Big Parade," "Sergeant York," "The Dawn Patrol" and "Wings," $29.93. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Xena: Warrior Princess - Season Five
(1999-2000) Five-disc set with 22 episodes. Formats: DVD. (Universal).
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