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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases

Tuesday, August 27 -- Monday, September 2

All DVD Releases

  • The Great Gatsby

    photo for The Great Gatsby The highlight of the week is definitely "The Great Gatsby," Baz Luhrmann's brilliant take on the novel that most everyone (from literary critics to Hollywood scions) said couldn't be made into a film (two abortive attempts preceded this one: 1974's version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, and a 1949 version with Alan Ladd and Betty Field). But Luhrmann pulled it off, nailing the tenor of the novel with his brash scenario and direction; at times it's over-the-top, at times sentimental, at times avant-garde; but always hewing to F. Scott Fitzgerald's work. At it's core, it's the story of Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), a young Midwesterner now living on Long Island, who finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his new neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), who holds a torch for Carraway's beautiful cousin, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan), who lives just across the bay from the two men. Carraway chronicles love, lust, longing, corruption and redemption in 1922 Jazz Age America. The film -- and book -- is about our quest for love and belonging and the American Dream, and the loss of the former and the hollowness of the latter, something that Carraway learns by the end of the story. It's the great American novel and the great American tragedy. photo for The Great Gatsby As I said, Luhrmann "got" "Gatsby" and its themes perfectly -- he researched "Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald and the story's cultural era and, though he alters the context just a little (Carraway relates the story in flashbacks from a sanitarium), he has created a masterpiece. His use of 3D and a modern music score (hip-hop and electronic dance music) is a stroke of genius. The acting is top-notch, the sets and costumes miraculous. And the first shot of DiCaprio as Gatsby as his smiling face fills the screen is pure Hollywood and alone worth the price of admission.Vitals: Director: Baz Luhrmann. Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debicki, Amitabh Bachchan. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 142 min., Drama, Box office gross: $142.376 million, Warner. 5 stars


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  • Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's

    photo Speaking of fashion and high society, take a look at "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's," an intriguing look at one of New York's -- and fashion's -- most beloved institutions, Bergdorf Goodman's department store. It's here that fashion has been transformed into modern art -- with concomitant high price tags -- for more than a century; it's a retail outlet that caters to New York (and the world's) moneyed elite and in which any fashion designer worth his or her salt needs to display their wares -- or forfeit their credentials. It's a "world where the rich and famous wield their power and eccentricity, where young and talented designers have their dreams granted and denied, and where money and ambition co-mingle with radical ideas of beauty and provocative style." The documentary gives us a peek inside this world, exploring the history, inner workings and untold stories behind the store's rise from a modest ladies' tailoring shop to a mirror of contemporary culture. Includes footage of Joan Rivers, Rachel Zoe, Candice Bergen, Susan Lucci, Nicole Richie, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Christian Louboutin, Domenico Dolce, Lauren Bush, Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik, Bobbi Brown, Stefano Gabbana, Iris Apfel, Laudomia Pucci, Mary-Kate Olsen, William Fichtner and Ashley Olsen. Vitals: Director: Matthew Miele. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 93 min., Documentary, Box office gross: $.472 million, Entertainment One. 3 stars

  • Pain & Gain

    photo A trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong. Based on an unbelievable true story. Vitals: Director: Michael Bay. Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson, Ken Jeong, Bar Paly. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: R, 129 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $49.290 million, Paramount. 2 stars

  • At Any Price

    photo Having maintained his father’s lucrative farming empire for years, Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) has an insatiable desire for "more" and plans to bring his son Dean (Zac Efron) into the business. Wanting to break free of his family, Dean rejects a life in the competitive world of modern agriculture for the thrill of car racing. As the family business comes under fire and a high-stakes investigation is launched into their business, father and son are pushed into an unexpected crisis that threatens their entire family's livelihood. Vitals: Director: Ramin Bahrani. Stars: Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron, Kim Dickens, Heather Graham, Clancy Brown, Maika Monroe. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: R, 105 min., Drama, Box office gross: $.372 million, Sony. 2 stars

  • The Reluctant Fundamentalist

    At an outdoor cafe in Lahore in 2011, a Pakistani man named Changez (Riz Ahmed) tells Bobby (Liev Schreiber), an American journalist, about his experiences in the United States. Flashback 10 years, and we find a younger Changez fresh from Princeton, seeking fortune and glory on Wall Street. The American Dream seems well within his grasp, complete with a smart and gorgeous artist girlfriend, Erica (Kate Hudson). But when the Twin Towers are attacked, a cultural divide slowly begins to crack open between Changez and Erica. Changez's dream soon begins to slip into nightmare: profiled, wrongfully arrested, strip-searched and interrogated, he is transformed from a well-educated, upwardly mobile businessman to a scapegoat and perceived enemy. With time, he begins to hear the call of his own homeland. Taking us through the culturally rich and beguiling worlds of New York, Lahore and Istanbul, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is a story about conflicting ideologies where perception and suspicion have the power to determine life or death. Vitals: Director: Mira Nair. Stars: Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Adil Hussain, Nelsan Ellis, Martin Donovan, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Victor Slezak, Om Puriin. 2013, CC, MPAA rating: R, 130 min., Drama, Box office gross: $.519 million, IFC Films. 2 stars


    Blu-ray Debuts

  • Dark Angel (1990)
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
  • Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection
  • Q The Winged Serpent (1982)
  • To Be or Not to Be (1942) (Criterion)
    Read more.



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    All DVD Releases

    Among Friends (2012) Directed by veteran scream queen Danielle Harris (the "Halloween" franchise). Danielle Harris, Christopher Backus, Jennifer Blanc, AJ Bowen. A group of friends get together for an '80s-themed murder mystery party, but things take a dark turn when someone from their past out for blood hijacks the evening. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: commentary with director Danielle Harris and actors Jennifer Blanc and AJ Bowen. (Lionsgate).

    At Any Price (2013) Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron, Kim Dickens, Heather Graham, Clancy Brown, Maika Monroe. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with director Ramin Bahrani and Dennis Quaid, Toronto International Film Festival Q&A, four rehearsal footage scenes. (Sony).

    Barbie Mariposa & the Fairy Princess (2013) Mariposa becomes the royal Ambassador of Flutterfield and is sent to bring peace between her fairy land and their rivals, the Crystal Fairies of Shimmervale. Formats: DVD, $19.98; Blu-ray Disc, $26.98. (Universal).

    Billy the Kid (2013) Cody McCarver, Jerry Chesser, Christopher Bowman, Billy Joe Royal, Jason Harbour. When a bounty hunter kills an outlaw gang member, the gang retaliates, killing the soon-to-be-famous Billy the Kid's mother, and the Kid and the bounty hunter team up to avenge her death. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary, "I Just Might Live Forever" music video by Cody McCarver, outtakes. (Lionsgate).

    Call Me Fitz: The Complete Third Season (2012) Two-disc set with 13 episodes of the DirecTV series, $19.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Inside Call Me Fitz," "Meet Melody Gray," sizzle reel, Season 3 featurette, "The World of Fitz." (Entertainment One).

    Camp (2013) Miles Elliot, Michael Mattera. A deeply troubled boy and an apathetic investment advisor get paired together at a summer camp for foster kids and discover the meaning of unconditional love. Formats: DVD. (Word Films).

    Children Make Terrible Pets ... And More Stories About Family (2013) In the title animated tale based on Peter Brown's children's book, Lucy, a young bear, meets a charming young boy in the forest and brings him home. Her mother, however, has other ideas and cautions her that, "children make terrible pets." Other stories include "All the World" (by Liz Garton Scanlon, narrated by Joanne Woodward), "Crow Call" (by Lois Lowry, narrated by Julia Fein) and "Elizabeti's Doll" (by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, narrated by Lynn Whitfield). Formats: DVD, $14.95. Extras: Read-along function; author interviews with Peter Brown and Lois Lowry and illustrator Marla Frazee. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).

    A Company Man (2012 -- South Korea) So Ji-sub, Lee Mi-yeon, Gwak Do-won, Kim Dong-jun, Lee Gyeong-yeong, Jeon Guk-hw. Hyeong-do wears a suit and tie like any other rank-and-file white collar worker ... except his profession is murder. Seemingly a section chief in the sales division of a metal fabrication company that is actually a front for an organization of hit men, Hyeong-do is regarded as one of the best contract killers in the business ... until he falls in love with a married woman, quits his job, and is targeted and hunted down by his former employers. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: "The Making of A Company Man" featurette, trailer. (Well Go USA).

    Damian Lewis Double Feature (2012) Early feature performances by the star of "Band of Brothers" and "Homeland": "Friends and Crocodiles," about the shifting power balance between a boss and his secretary as their careers rise and fall through the changing corporate landscape of 80s and 90s Britain; and "Much Ado About Nothing," a modern-day take on the Shakespeare classic set in a London television news studio. Formats: DVD. (BBC Worldwide America).

    Dark Angel BLU-RAY DEBUT (1990) Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben, Betsy Brantley. To the Alien that has arrived on earth, humans represent ideal drug factories because of our endorphins. To detective Jack Caine (Lundgren), the Alien represents mankind's worst threat and it's up to him and his straight-arrow FBI partner (Benben) and girlfriend, the city coroner (Brantley), to send the alien home in pieces before the Earth's population is destroyed. Extras: Interviews with director Craig R. Baxley and actors Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben, theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).



    Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late ... And More Stories by Mo Willems (2013) Three animated adaptations of stories by the New York Times best-selling author: "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late," "Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion" and "Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct." Narrators for the stories include Cher Willems, John Scieszka and Mo Willems himself. Formats: DVD, $14.95. Extras: Read-along function, interview with Mo Willems, recipe for Edwina's chocolate chip cookies. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).

    Eclipse Series 39: Early Fassbinder From the very beginning of his incandescent career, the New German Cinema enfant terrible Rainer Werner Fassbinder refused to play by the rules. His politically charged, experimental first films, made at an astonishingly rapid rate between 1969 and 1971, were influenced by the work of the antiteater, an avant-garde stage troupe that he had helped found in Munich. Collected here are five of those fascinating and confrontational works; whether a self-conscious meditation on American crime movies, a scathing indictment of xenophobia in contemporary Germany, or an off-the-wall look at the dysfunctional relationships on film sets, each is a startling glimpse into the mind of a twentysomething man who would become one of cinema's most madly prolific artists. Formats: DVD. (The Criterion Collection):
    Love Is Colder Than Death (1969)
    For his debut, Fassbinder fashioned an acerbic, unorthodox crime drama about a love triangle involving the small-time pimp Franz (Fassbinder), his gangster friend Bruno (Ulli Lommel), and Franz's prostitute girlfriend, Joanna (future Fassbinder mainstay Hanna Schygulla). With its minimalist tableaux and catalog of New Wave and Hollywood references, this is a stylishly nihilistic cinematic statement of intent.
    Katzelmacher (1969)
    Fassbinder's second film dramatizes the intolerance of a circle of financially and sexually frustrated friends when an immigrant laborer (Fassbinder) moves to their Munich neighborhood. This scalpel-sharp, theatrical experiment (based on one of the director's successful early stage plays) is both a personal expression of alienation on the part of the filmmaker and a comment on the persistence of xenophobic scapegoating in German society.
    Gods of the Plague (1969)
    Harry Baer, a Fassbinder discovery, plays a newly released ex-convict who slowly but surely makes his way back into the Munich criminal underworld. Meanwhile, his attentions are torn between two women (Hanna Schygulla and Margarethe von Trotta) and the beloved friend (Gunther Kaufmann) who shot his brother. This is a sensual, artfully composed study of romantic and professional futility.
    The American Soldier (1970)
    The German-born Ricky (Karl Scheydt) returns to Munich from Vietnam and is promptly hired as a contract killer. Fassbinder's experimental noir is a subversive, self-reflexive gangster movie full of unexpected asides and stylistic flourishes, and featuring an audaciously bonkers final shot and memorable turns from many of the director's rotating gallery of players.
    Beware of a Holy Whore (1971)
    In Fassbinder's brazen depiction of the alternating currents of lethargy and mayhem inherent in moviemaking, a film crew -- ­played by, and not so loosely based on, his own frequent collaborators -- ­deals with an aloof star (Eddie Constantine), an abusive director (Lou Castel), and a financially troubled production. Inspired by the hellish process of making the 1971 "Whity," this is a vicious look at behind-the-scenes dysfunction.

    Elementary -- The First Season (2012-13) Six-disc set with 24 episodes of the modern day drama about the iconic crime-solving duo, starring Jonny Lee Miller as detective Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. In this contemporary take, Holmes is joined by Watson, a former surgeon who is hired by Holmes' wealthy father to help keep the eccentric detective sober while he works as a consultant to Captain Thomas Gregson (Aidan Quinn) and Detective Marcus Bell (Jon Michael Hill) to crack the NYPD's most impossible cases. $55.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: "A Holmes of Their own" featurette, "In Liu of Watson" featurette," "Set Tour With Lucy Liu," "Holmes Sweet Holmes" featurette, interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, gag reel. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).

    Fear the Forest (2009) Anna Kendrick, Matthew Bora, Don Evans. A group of friends go deep inside the woods in search of the legendary big foot monster, a "silent killer" eliminating people in the dark. Formats: DVD. (MVD Entertainment).

    Frank Riva: The Complete Series photo for Frank Riva: The Complete Series (2003-04) French mystery series starring the great Alain Delon as Frank Riva, ex-undercover cop called in from retirement after 25 years of exile to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the murder of his brother in a drug sting operation. Riva is forced to pick up the pieces of a life he left behind a quarter of a century ago: his old flame Catherine, Nina Rizzi, the daughter he never knew, and Xavier Unger, his former partner, now chief of the Paris police. He's a cop who follows his instinct and refuses to be deflected from his mission, a man who ignores social convention and flouts rules and regulations, and who lives according to his own deep conviction of right and wrong. In French with English Subtitles. Three-disc set, $39.95. Formats: DVD. ((MHz Networks).

    Ghost Hunters International: The Final Season (2012) The TAPS team travels to new, exotic locales and the most remote places of the world to hunt the paranormal in their third and final season. Supernatural investigations include the ominous Castle Rising castle where Queen Isabella of France (whom was known as the She-Wolf) used to live, eerie Mayan Ruins where ancient rituals included violent bloodletting and human sacrifice, and even the mysterious birthplace of Frankenstein in Italy. Formats: Four-disc DVD, $24.98. Extras: Bonus footage (Image Entertainment).

    The Great Gatsby (2013) Dir.: Baz Luhrmann; Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Elizabeth Debicki, Amitabh Bachchan. Formats: 3D/Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, two-disc DVD special edition, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Greatness of Gatsby," "Within and Without" With Tobey Maguire, "The Swinging Sounds of Gatsby," "The Jazz Age," "Razzle Dazzle: The Fashion of the '20s," "Fitzgerald's Visual Poetry," "Gatsby Revealed," deleted scenes, trailers. (Warner).

    The Inspector Vivaldi Mysteries (2004, 2009) Italian mystery series about Inspector Federico Vivaldi, an old-school cop in a new world -- his son is gay (and also his partner on the force), his wife has left him, and he's got an ambitious colleague nipping at his heels to take over his position -- solving crimes ranging from insurance fraud to murder and human trafficking in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste. In Italian with English subtitles. Four-disc set, $39.95. Formats: DVD. (MHz Networks).

    The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh BLU-RAY DEBUT (1977) Voices of Sebastian Cabot, Sterling Holloway, Paul Winchell, Dori Whitaker, John Fiedler, Ralph Wright. Available in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo, on DVD as well as Digital. DVD Extras: New mini-"Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" short: "Geniuses," vintage "The Winnie the Pooh Theme Song" performed by Carly Simon. New Blu-ray Extras: "Disney Intermission," in which a narrator invites younger viewers to play along with the Hundred Acre Wood friends in a variety of engaging activities when "Pause" is pressed; "Pooh Play-Along"; five mini-"Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" Shorts: "If I Wasn't So Small," "Piglet's Drawings," "The Expedition," "Geniuses" and "The Honey Song." Vintage Blu-ray extras": "A Day for Eeyore" classic animated short, "The Story Behind the Masterpiece" making-of featurette, the "The Winnie the Pooh Theme Song" performed by Simon. (Disney).

    Meddling Mom and the Sweeter Side of Life (2013) Hallmark Movie Channel double feature. In "Meddling Mom," starring Sonia Braga, Tony Plana, Mercedes Renard and Ana Ayora, mom does just that, meddling in her oldest daughter's new affair to make sure her boyfriend is Mr. Right. In "The Sweeter Side of Life," a pampered Manhattan housewife has to return to her roots to help her father in his struggling bakery after she's dumped by her wealthy husband. Stars Kathryn Morris. Formats: DVD, $14.93. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).

    Missions That Changed the War: Germany's Last Ace (2011) Four-part Military Channel documentary tells the story of three fighter pilots who played decisive roles in the aerial battles over Germany: Lt. Col. Hubert Zemke, Lt. Robert Rankin, and Luftwaffe squadron commander Gunther Rall. Through original footage, expert military analyses, and never-before-seen interviews with the participants, the docu revisits the events of May 12, 1944, which Nazi armaments minister Albert Speer considered the day that Germany lost the war. Formats: Two-disc DVD, $49.99. Extras: Interview with historian Dr. Kurt Braatz; 16-page viewer's guide; timeline of the momentous month of May 1944. (Athena).

    NYC Underground (2010) Clayne Crawford, Sean Faris, Arielle Kebbel, Rob Mayes, Dania Ramirez, Evan Ross, Matt Servitto. Four upscale Manhattanites run for their lives in the Brooklyn subway tunnels after a botched drug deal. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary with director Jesse Terrero. (Lionsgate).

    Online (2012) Morgan Ayers, Kelsey Sanders, Esseri Holmes. Romantic drama of faith and forgiveness. A happily married man logs into a social networking site and re-connects with his old high school flame; what begins as a harmless "Hello" rapidly escalates into a rekindling of their past romance, and he must face the consequences of his decisions. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Slingshot Pictures).


    The Painting (2011 -- France) A feast for the eyes as well as the imagination, this wry parable from visionary animator-director Jean-Francois Laguionie centers on a kingdom in a painter's studio that is divided into three castes: The impeccably painted Alldunns, who reside in a majestic palace; the Halfies, who the Painter has left incomplete; and the untouchable Sketchies, simple charcoal outlines who are banished to the cursed forest. The story follows the adventures of Lola, a Halfir, and Ramo, an Alldunn, as they break through the canvas of their painting into the Painter's studio. The abandoned workspace is strewn with paintings, each containing its own animated world, and they explore first one picture and then another, attempting to discover just what the Painter has in mind for all his creations. In French with English subtitles and an optional English audio track. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Making-of featurette, concept art slideshow. (GKIDS/Cinedigm).

    Pain & Gain (2013) Dir.: Michael Bay; Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Rebel Wilson, Ken Jeong, Bar Paly. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. (Paramount).

    photo Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection BLU-RAY DEBUT (1991-2006) Seven-disc set with all nine feature-length mysteries of the iconic, universally acclaimed police drama starring Oscar-winner Helen Mirren in her Emmy-winning role as Detective Jane Tennison, in this revolutionary police drama broadcast on PBS to universal acclaim and more than 20 major international awards, including seven Emmys (three-time winner of "Outstanding Miniseries"), eight BAFTAs, and a Peabody. Guest stars include Ralph Fiennes, Tom Wilkinson and Jonny Lee Miller.Extras: a 50-minute behind-the-scenes special, featurette, and more. (Acorn Media).

    Q The Winged Serpent BLU-RAY DEBUT photo (1982) Michael Moriarty, Richard Roundtree, David Carradine, Candy Clark, James Dixon. Quetzalcoatl, a dragon-like Aztec god that is summoned to modern-day Manhattan by a mysterious cult, roosts at the top of the Chrysler Building and begins feasting on window washers, construction workers and rooftop sunbathers. Moriarty is a small-time thief who finds the nest of the creature, and Roundtree and Carradine are New York's finest, hot on the serpentine tail of the bloodthirsty Q! A bizarre masterpiece by cult director Larry Cohen. Extras: New commentary with writer-producer-director Cohen, theatrical trailer, teaser trailer. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory)).

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013) Dir.: Mira Nair; Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Adil Hussain, Nelsan Ellis, Martin Donovan, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Victor Slezak, Om Puriin. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).

    Savages Crossing (2011 -- Australia) John Jarratt, Craig McLachlan, Chris Haywood. A group of strangers are forced to take shelter in an outback roadhouse while a flood rages around them. But the danger lurking within is far greater than the threat from outside and as the water level rises, so does the tension, and the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur. Formats: DVD. (MVD Entertainment).

    Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's (2013) Documentary on the Bergdorf Goodman's department store with footage of Joan Rivers, Rachel Zoe, Candice Bergen, Susan Lucci, Nicole Richie, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, Diane von Fürstenberg, Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Christian Louboutin, Domenico Dolce, Lauren Bush, Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik, Bobbi Brown, Stefano Gabbana, Iris Apfel, Laudomia Pucci, Mary-Kate Olsen, William Fichtner, Ashley Olsen. Extras: Additional interview clips. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).

    Seattle Superstorm (2012) Esai Morales, Ona Grauer, Jared Abrahamson, MacKenzie Porter. When an unidentified object is shot down by the military and crashes into Seattle's Puget Sound, it sets off a series of strange weather phenomena: earthquakes, tornados and lightning storms that begin to spread, threatening the city and the entire planet. Formats: DVD. (Arc Entertainment).

    2nd Serve (2012) Josh Hopkins, Cameron Monaghan, Kevin Sussman and Guillermo Díaz. A former tennis pro forced to work at a public recreation center must regain his self-respect and lead his team of oddball amateurs to victory in a prestigious, annual tournament showdown. Formats: DVD. (Green Apple Entertainment).

    Sons of Anarchy Season Five (2012) Contains 13 extended episodes. Formats: Four-disc DVD, $59.98; three-disc Blu-ray, $69.99. Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary on "Sovereign," gag reel, "Opie Winston," "Kurt Sutter: Creating Anarchy," fan concert at the club house, commentary on "Darthy." (Fox).

    Stranded (2012) Christian Slater, Brendan Fehr, Amy Matysio, Michael Therriault. An isolated U.S. military moonbase is bombarded by a rogue meteor storm harboring alien spores ... and they're replicating. Now a vicious, shape-shifting predatory life form is loose inside the crippled facility, picking off victims one by one. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Image Entertainment).

    The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011 -- Switzerland-Germany) An informative and entertaining investigation into the history of a drug so potent that mere fractions of a milligram can alter a subject's perception of reality. In 1943, at the Sandoz chemical-pharmaceutical laboratories in Basel, Switzerland, chemist Albert Hofmann, in search of a respiratory and circulatory stimulant, first synthesized LSD. Hofmann's discovery quickly left the lab and moved into military experiments, clinicians' offices, and then into the streets. The notoriety and sense of possibility surrounding LSD persist to this day; decades after it first began to appear on international drug blacklists, doctors and researchers have resumed exploring its potential medical and therapeutic applications. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Interview with director Martin Witz. (Icarus Films Home Video).

    Super Buddies (2013) John Ratzenberger, Michael Teigen, Jason Earles. Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power, and the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. Latest in the popular Buddies franchise. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. (Disney).

    Tales of the City: 20th Anniversary Edition (1993) Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Billy Campbell, Paul Gross, Thomas Gibson, Parker Posey, Marcus D'Amico, Donald Moffat, Chloe Webb, Barbara Garrick. Two-disc set includes all six episodes of the Peabody Award-winning PBS miniseries based on the ground breaking novel by Armistead Maupin that follows a colorful cast of characters living at 28 Barbary Lane in anything-goes 1970s San Francisco, $49.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentaries on episodes 1, 3, and 6 with Armistead Maupin, director Alastair Reid, Olympia Dukakis, Laura Linney, and Barbara Garrick; behind-the-scenes location and rehearsal footage; insert with an introduction by Armistead Maupin, notes by producer Alan Poul, and filming locations and landmarks. (Acorn Media).

    To Be or Not to Be BLU-RAY DEBUT (1942) As nervy as it is hilarious, this screwball masterpiece from Ernst Lubitsch stars Jack Benny and, in her final screen appearance, Carole Lombard, as husband-and-wife thespians in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who become caught up in a dangerous spy plot. "To Be or Not to Be" is a Hollywood film of the boldest black humor, which went into production soon after the U.S. entered World War II. Lubitsch manages to brilliantly balance political satire, romance, slapstick, and urgent wartime suspense in a comic high-wire act that has never been equaled. New, restored 2K digital film transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary featuring film historian David Kalat; "Lubitsch le patron," a 2010 French documentary on director Ernst Lubitsch's career; "Pinkus's Shoe Palace," a 1916 German silent film directed by and starring Lubitsch; two episodes of "The Screen Guild Theater," a radio anthology series: "Variety" (1940), starring Jack Benny, Claudette Colbert, and Lubitsch, and "To Be or Not to Be" (1942), an adaptation of the film, starring William Powell, Diana Lewis, and Sig Ruman; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O'Brien. (The Criterion Collection).

    photo The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season (2012-13) Five-disc set with all 16 episodes. Formats: DVD, $69.98; Blu-ray, $79.99. The Blu-ray set also will be available in a limited edition "zombie head tank" package (water not included!) specially created once again by McFarlane Toys (to complement last year's Season 2 limited edition "zombie head" packaging; $149.99. Extras: Behind-the-scenes footage, featurettes, commentaries from cast and crew, deleted scenes, other surprises. (Anchor Bay).


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