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OnVideo's Guide to DVDs

August 2012
August 7
August 14
August 18
August 21
August 28
July 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
August 7

Adventures in Babysitting 25th Anniversary Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1987) Dir.: Chris Columbus; Elisabeth Shue, Penelope Ann Miller, Vincent D'Onofrio, John Chandler, Keith Coogan, Maia Brewton. (Disney).
Bel Ami (2012) Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci. A chronicle of a young man's rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city's most influential and wealthy women. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Sony).
Blue Like Jazz (2012) Claire Holt, Jason Marsden, Tania Raymonde, Marshall Allman. A pious nineteen-year-old uproots himself from his Southern Baptist upbringing and ventures to Portland, where he enrolls in progressive Reed College to test his faith, and where one new experience after another teaches him the true meaning of life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary by author/co-writer Donald Miller, cinematographer Ben Pearson and co-writer/director Steve Taylor; "Making Blue Like Jazz"; "Master Class: Directing Actors on Set"; deleted scenes; photo gallery; "Save Blue Like Jazz" featurette; "The Cast" featurette; "The Animator" featurette; "This Is My Story" featurette; "The Music" featurette. (Lionsgate).
Blues Brothers 2000 BLU-RAY DEBUT (1998) Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman Erykah Badu. Extras: "The Making of Blues Brothers 2000." (Universal).
Born 2 Race (2012) Joseph Cross, John Pyper-Ferguson, Brando Eaton, Nicole Badaan, Sherry Stringfield. A rebellious young street racer on a collision course with trouble is sent to a small town to live with his estranged father, a washed up NASCAR racer, and enters the NHRA High School Drags, where he needs to take down the local hot shot. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Arc Entertainment).

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The Cat in the Hat Deluxe edition of the Dr. Seuss classic, remastered, with "Cat in the Hat Sing-Along" and two other Seuss tales: "Daisy-Head Mayzie" and "The Hoober-Bloob Highway." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
Clue BLU-RAY DEBUT (1985) Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, Lesley Ann Warren. Extras: Three endings. (Paramount).
Devil Seed (2012) Michelle Argyris, Shantelle Canzanese, Vanessa Broze. Supernatural thriller has a college co-ed's body invaded by the devil. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (2012) Voices of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate, Betty White. Read more about "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 3D Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: The new Mini Movies: "Serenade": Two Bar-ba-loots -- one love shy and the other suave and confident -- battle for the heart of their would-be sweetheart with the help of a colorful cast of characters, including the Humming-Fish and Swomme-Swans; "Wagon-Ho": ­Two Bar-ba-loots take The Once-ler's wagon on a ride they won't soon forget; "Forces of Nature": ­Determined to scare The Once-ler out of Truffula Valley, The Lorax decides to create the illusion of ominous forces of nature; "Making of the Mini Movies"; deleted scene; "Seuss to Screen" featurette; "Seuss It Up!" drawing tutorial; "Truffula Run" game; "Let It Grow" sing along; commentary with co-directors Chris Renaud & Kyle Balda; "Once-Ler's Wagon"." Exclusive Blu-ray features: "Get Out of Town" game, O'Hare TV­ commercial interruptions, "Expedition to Truffula Valley" interactive feature. (Universal).
Full Metal Jacket 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Book (1987) Dir.: Stanley Kubrick; Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Kevyn Major Howard, Arliss Howard. With a 44-page book that includes a personal letter and intimate reflections from star Matthew Modine, as well as behind-the-scenes photos specifically selected for this release. Extras: Commentary by Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey and critic/screenwriter Jay Cocks; "Full Metal Jacket: Between Good and Evil" featurette; bonus disc with the 60-minute documentary "Stanley Kubrick's Boxes." (Warner).
Ghost Hunters: Season 7: Part 1 (2011) Twelve investigations, $24.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Bonus footage. (Image Entertainment).
Girlfriend (2010) Shannon Woodward, Jackson Rathbone, Amanda Plummer, Evan Sneider. A moving, coming-of-age drama that explores the nature of love and human compassion. Evan, a young adult with Down Syndrome, lives with his mother in a poor, working-class town. When he unexpectedly inherits a large sum of money, he decides to use it to help out his friend and high school crush, Candy, a single mother deeply in-debt and facing eviction. The two form an unlikely relationship, and everything seems to be falling into place, until Candy's volatile ex-boyfriend, Russ, interferes, resulting in an eruption of secrets and emotions. Formats: DVD. (Strand Releasing).
Grimm Season One (2011-12) Five-disc set with 22 episodes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download, UltraViolet. Extras: Deleted scenes, gag reel, "The World of Grimm" featurette, "Making Monsters" featurette. Blu-ray adds "Grimm Guide" interactive book that provides insight into the various creatures featured in the show. (Universal).
Grosse Pointe Blank 15th Anniversary Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1997) John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack, Hank Azaria. (Disney).
High Fidelity BLU-RAY DEBUT (2000) Dir.: Stephen Frears; John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joan Cusack, Tim Robbins, Chris Rehmann, Ben Carr, Lili Taylor, Joelle Carter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Sara Gilbert, Bruce Springsteen. Extras: Conversations with writer/co-producer John Cusack and director Stephen Frears, deleted scenes. (Disney).
The Incredible Mr. Limpet BLU-RAY DEBUT (1964) Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston. (Warner).
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012) Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Gloria Reuben, Stephen McHattie, Robert Carradine, Saul Rubinek, William Devane. Latest chapter of the popular TV franchise. Formats: DVD. (Sony).
Killing Bono (2011) Ben Barnes, Robert Sheehan, Krysten Ritter, Peter Serafinowicz, Stanley Townsend, Martin McCann, Pete Postlethwaite. Rock 'n' roll comedy about two Irish brothers struggling to forge their path through the 1980s music scene ... while the meteoric rise to fame of their old school pals U2 only serves to cast them deeper into the shadows. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Arc Entertainment).
Knock Knock 2 (2011) Aiden Cardei, Jordan Elizabeth, Beckett West. Found-footage film about four friends who decide to go on a self-made tour of haunted Hollywood houses and famous celebrity murders, hoping to capture these famous ghosts on camera, only to disappear forever. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: Interviews. (Lionsgate).
Laddaland (2011 -- Thailand) Saharat Sangkapreecha, Piyathida Woramusik. Thailand's highest grossing domestic film of 2011; garnered Best Picture, Best Actress, Supporting Actress, Screenplay, Editing and Make-up nods at the 21st Annual Thailand National Film Awards, Thailand's version of the Academy Awards. Based on the true story of a gated community that was shuttered after a series of mysterious deaths and paranormal occurrences. When a family moves to Laddaland, an upscale housing development with lavish homes, they discover life in their neighborhood isn't so perfect. A series of terrifying, paranormal events drives the family to the brink of insanity. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital Download. (Millennium Entertainment/Action Slate Releasing).
Let It Shine (2012) Tyler James Williams, Coco Jones, Trevor Jackson, Brandon Mychal Smith, Nicole Sullivan, Dawnn Lewis, Alex Desert, Courtney B. Vance. Disney Channel Original Movie. Set in the world of hip-hop, rap and gospel music, this modern-day story -- inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac -- has a young songwriter's tune expropriated by another to woo the girl the songwriter secretly loves. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Download. Extras: Extended battle of the rhymes scenes. (Disney).
The Liquidator (2011 -- Russia) Vinnie Jones, Berik Aitzhanov, Aziz Beishenaliyev. A highly skilled bodyguard avenging his brother's untimely death uncovers a ring of corruption extending to the highest levels of society and government. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: "Making of The Liquidator." (Millennium Entertainment/Action Slate Releasing).
Lisztomania (1975) Dir.: Ken Russell; Roger Daltrey, Sara Kestelman, Paul Nicholas, Ringo Starr, Rick Wakeman. Formats: DVD. (Warner Archive).
Marley (2012) Definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, legend, and the man, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances, never before seen performances and music, and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Extended interviews, commentary by director Kevin Macdonald and David "Ziggy" Marley, photo gallery, more. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Mary Marie (2010) Alana Kearns-Green, Alexandra Roxo. After the death of their mother, two sisters are forced to question and redefine their love for each other. Formats: DVD. (TLA Releasing).
My Little Pony -- Friendship Is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding (2011) Two-part special from the popular kids TV series. When it's announced that Twilight Sparkle's older brother, Shining Armor, is set to marry Princess Celestia's niece, Cadance, all the ponies in Equestria should be celebrating. But there's one pony in Ponyville who's not so thrilled with the news: Twilight Sparkle! Why is the young unicorn so concerned? And will the royal wedding go off without a hitch? Formats: DVD, $14.97. (Shout! Factory).
The Preacher's Wife BLU-RAY DEBUT (1996) Dir.: Penny Marshall; Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines, Jenifer Lewis, Loretta Devine. Extras: Production featurette. (Disney).
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion 15th Anniversary Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1997) Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming. Extras: Production featurette. (Disney).
Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray (1987) Dir.: Mel Brooks; Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten. Extras: New "Farce Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi" featurette , commentary by Mel Brooks; additional commentary tracks: Mawgese, Dinkese; "Spaceballs: The Documentary" featurette; "In Conversation: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan" featurette; "John Candy: Comic Spirit" featurette; "Watch the Movie in Ludicrous Speed" featurette; Still Galleries; Trailers; Exhibitor trailer with Mel Brooks introduction; theatrical trailer; film flubs; storyboards-to-film comparison. (MGM/Fox).
Strike Back: Cinemax Season 1 (2011) Four-disc set with 10 episodes, $49.98. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, dIGITAL dOWNLOAD. (HBO).
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011 -- Taiwan) Masanobu Ando, Jun'ichi Haruta, Sabu Kawahara, Lin Ching-Tai. An indigenous clan-based people living in harmony with nature find their way of life threatened when violent interlopers from another culture arrive, intent on seizing their natural resources and enslaving them. Most expensive Taiwanese production to date, available here in both the 140-minute U.S. theatrical version and the 270-minute international release. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download. Extras: Behind-the-scene featurettes, interviews with director Wei Te-Sheng and producer John Woo. (Well Go USA).
William & Catherine: A Royal Romance (2012) Jane Alexander, Victor Garber, Jean Smart, Dan Amboyer, Alice St. Clair. Hallmark Channel Original Movie follows the love story of Prince William (Amboyer) and Kate Middleton (St. Clair). Formats: DVD, $14.98. (Lionsgate).

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August 14

Art Is ... The Permanent Revolution (2012) The anger and outrage captured by graphic artists and printmakers have defined revolutions through the centuries, depicting the human condition in all its glories and struggles so powerfully that perceptions, attitudes and politics have been dramatically influenced. In this documentary, three contemporary artists and a master printer explore how social reality and protest are conveyed in art. While the stirring works of the masters sweep by -- among them graphics by Rembrandt, Goya, Daumier, Kollwitz, Dix, Grosz and Picasso -- the making of an etching, a woodcut and a lithograph unfolds before our eyes as the contemporary artists join their illustrious predecessors in creating art of social engagement. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Assassin's Bullet (2012) Christian Slater, Donald Sutherland, Elika Portnoy, Timothy Spall. When an unknown vigilante begins killing high-priority terrorists from America’s Most Wanted list in Europe, a former FBI field agent (Slater) is brought in by the US Ambassador (Sutherland) to discover the identity of the assassin. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Arc Entertainment).
Astonishing X-Men: Torn (2012) Third installment in the Marvel Knights animation series with panel-by-panel graphics, written by Joss Whedon with art by John Cassaday. Formats: DVD. $14.97. (Shout! Factory).
August (2012) Murray Bartlet, Daniel Dugan,Adrian Gonzalez. Over one smoldering Los Angeles summer, emotions run high when the relationship between two men is tested when a former partner returns after years in Barcelona, turning the duo into a tangled love triangle. Formats: DVD. (Wolfe Video).
Barack Obama: From His Childhood to the Presidency (2012) Chronicles Obama's early years in Honolulu to his history-making presidential win. Features insightful interviews with friends and family members, as well as previously unreleased footage of Obama's campaign and victory. $19.95. Formats: DVD. (A&E).
Breathless (2012) Val Kilmer, Ray Liotta, Gina Gershon, Kelli Giddish, Wayne Duvall. A strong-willed Texas woman who's had enough of her untrustworthy husband's criminal acts and lack of husbandry enlists the help of her old friend to help her figure out what to do; the situation quickly escalates into a tale of revenge and survival that resolves in true Texas fashion: bold and ruthless. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Jesse Baget and producer Christine Holder. (Anchor Bay).
The Callers (2011) Documentary explores the world of auctions with a group of Pennsylvania auctioneers who move mounds of merchandise to eager buyers, year-round. Formats: DVD. (First Run features).
Chuggington: Traintastic Adventures (2012) Six episodes of the CGI-animated TV series that features the humorous adventures of Koko, Wilson and Brewster, three trainee engines each with their own unique personality. The series offer adventures and life lessons for preschoolers. Formats: DVD, $14.98. Extras: Four trading cards. (Anchor Bay).
Coffin (2011) Kevin Sorbo, Bruce Davison, Johnny Alonso, Sunny Doench, Patrick Barnitt. When a masked stranger reveals to a man that his estranged wife and her lover are buried underground in a wooden box and their oxygen will run out in 75 minutes, he must engage in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with the stranger in order to save his wife ... himself. Formats: DVD. Extras: Director's commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette, video diary, cast bios. (MTI Home Video).
Community: The Complete Third Season (2011-12) Three-disc set with 22 episodes. Formats: DVD. Extras: Cast and crew commentary on every episode, "This Is War: Pillows vs. Blankets" mockumentary featurette, "A Glee-ful Community Christmas" featurette, deleted scenes, gag reel. (Sony).
Cradle 2 the Grave BLU-RAY DEBUT (2003) Jet Li, DMX, Anthony Anderson, Kelly Hu, Tom Arnold. (Warner).
Dalziel & Pascoe: Season 6 (2001) Two-disc set of four mysteries featuring the mismatched pair of detectives -- grumpy old-school copper Andy Dalziel and his well-mannered university-educated partner Peter Pascoe -- as they face more perplexing cases. Formats: DVD, $29.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Dance Moms: Season One (2011) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.95. Formats: DVD. (A&E).
Dexter The Complete Sixth Season (2011) Four-disc set with 12 episodes. Formats: DVD ($54.99), Blu-ray Disc ($67.99). Extras: Cast interviews. (Showtime/CBS/Paramount).
Doctor Who: Spearhead From Space Special Edition The Time Lords have banished the newly regenerated Doctor (Third Doctor - Jon Pertwee) to Earth. But he isn't the only alien to have arrived, as a swarm of meteorites have crashed into the sleepy English countryside, bringing with them a terrible new threat to mankind: the Nestene consciousness, a disembodied alien intelligence with an affinity for plastic. Formats: DVD, $24.98. Extras: Commentary, making-of featurette. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Doctor Who: The Greatest Show In The Galaxy Although Ace (Sophie Aldred) hates clowns, the Doctor (Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy) decides to take his companion to the Psychic Circus on the planet Segonax. There they find a group of scared performers who live in fear of the sinister and creepy Chief Clown, who organizes a talent contest in which all visitors take part.Formats: DVD, $24.98. Extras: Commentary, making of featurette, deleted scenes. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Fallen BLU-RAY DEBUT (1998) Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas. (Warner).
Fidel (1971) Saul Landau's landmark documentary -- preserved by the National Film Preservation Foundation -- provides a unique view of Cuba's controversial and most polarizing leader. In 1968, Castro took filmmaker and activist Saul Landau on a week-long jeep ride through the eastern mountains. There, he plays baseball with a group of peasants, visits his pre-school and trades jokes with a 98-year old man. Fidel also listens to the people's concerns about food distribution, bad roads and transportation. The film contains rare and fascinating archive footage of the Bay of Pigs invasion and scenes of Che Guevara alongside interviews with political prisoners. In Spanish with English subtitles. $19.95. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Director's Commentary; "Cuba and Fidel," 1974 short with unique footage of Castro and the beauty of rural and urban Cuba, shot by Richard Pearce and directed by Saul Landau from material filmed from a CBS production. (Cinema Libre Studio).
The Forsyte Saga Collection Damian Lewis, Gina McKee, Rupert Graves, Ioan Gruffudd. The complete unedited U.K. broadcast edition, including the two complete miniseries that tell the story of a family bitterly divided by ambition, adultery, and revenge. Based on John Galsworthy's epic Forsyte novels. Formats: DVD; five-disc boxed set with two complete miniseries (Series 1 – 6 episodes; Series 2 – 4 episodes); $59.99. Extras: Making-of featurette, photo galleries, John Galsworthy biography and booklist,cast biographies and filmographies. (Acorn Media).
A Girl Walks Into a Bar (2011) Alexis Bledel, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, Robert Forster, Carla Gugino, Josh Hartnett, Zachary Quinto. Ensemble drama weaves together a group of strangers through interlocking stories that unfold across ten different bars in L.A. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
Glee: The Complete Third Season (2011-12) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Inventing Our Life: The Kibbutz Experiment (2011) Set against the backdrop of the kibbutz movement's 100-year history, this documentary reveals the heartbreak and hope of Israel's communal living experiment as a new generation of women and men confront an essential question: can a radically socialist institution survive a new capitalist reality? Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
Jaws BLU-RAY DEBUT (1975) Dir.: Steven Spielberg; Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton. New, digitally remastered and fully restored picture with 7.1 surround sound. Extras: New feature-length documentary "The Shark is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws," "Jaws: The Restoration," "The Making of Jaws," "From the Set," deleted scenes and outtakes, "Jaws" Archives. (Universal).
Juan of the Dead (2011) Alexis Dias de Villegas, Jorge Molina. When Havana begins to fill up with zombies, two friends hatch a plan to launch a zombie extermination service in this satire. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, interviews. (Entertainment One).
Judge John Deed: Season Six (2007) Two-disc set with four episodes (two mysteries) featuring Martin Shaw as unrelenting idealistic and rebellious Judge John Deed. Formats: DVD, $29.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Kill List (2011) Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring. Nearly a year after a botched job left him physically and mentally scarred, a hitman takes a new assignment with the promise of a big payoff for three killings: kill a priest, then a dealer in torture porn, and finally a member of Parliament. The task soon unravels, sending the killer into the heart of darkness. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Entertainment).
La promesse (1996) This is the breakthrough feature from Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne ("The Kid With a Bike"), who would go on to become a force in world filmmaking. The brothers brought the unerring eye for detail and the compassion for those on society's lowest rungs developed in their earlier documentary work to this absorbing drama about a teenager (Jeremie Renier) gradually coming to understand the implications of his father's making a living off of illegal alien workers. Filmed in the Dardennes' industrial hometown of Seraing, Belgium, "La promesse" is a brilliantly economical and observant tale of a boy's troubled moral awakening. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Director-approved special edition features new, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Alain Marcoen, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Conversation between film critic Scott Foundas and filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne; new interviews with actors Jeremie Renier and Olivier Gourmet; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Kent Jones. (The Criterion Collection).
Lake Effects (2012) Scottie Thomson, Madeline Zima, Jane Seymour. Extended version of the Hallmark Movie Channel Original. A Los Angeles attorney returns to her small lakeside town to reunite with her completely different art teacher sister and their mother to settle their deceased father/husband's estate -- with the aid of his wily spirit. Formats: DVD. (Anchor Bay).
Leave It on the Floor (2011) Set in the ballroom world originally memorialized by the documentary "Paris Is Burning," "Leave It on the Floor" is an original musical that takes place in Los Angeles 2011: Thrown out of his home by his dysfunctional mother, Brad (Ephraim Sykes) steals her car and travels into LA where, through a chance encounter, he stumbles into a noisy raucous, chaotic event and meets and joins up with the ragtag members of the struggling House of Eminence. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: Music video, cast and crew interviews. (Wolfe Video).
The Lieutenant (1963-64) The long-awaited classic TV series from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry makes its DVD debut exclusively on WarnerArchive.com. This was Roddenberry's first TV series (as both creator and producer). What has become a huge fan base clamoring to get the 29 episodes filmed in 1963-64 will now get its wish. The new DVD has been restored and includes an unseen theatrical iteration. Gary Lockwood stars as an easy-going Marine Corps lieutenant who commands a colorful crew of raw recruits. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
A Man Apart BLU-RAY DEBUT (2003) Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant. (Warner).
Master Qi and the Monkey King (2012) This beautifully realized documentary chronicles the life and work of Qi Shu Fang, one of the preeminent masters of Chinese Opera living in the United States. It is a story of ambition, love, the creative impulse and the struggle to survive against all odds. The film highlights the intricacies of Peking Opera, an art form that is hardly known in the West and is declining in popularity in China. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).
New Jack City BLU-RAY DEBUT (1991) Dir.: Mario Van Peebles; Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Allen Payne, Chris Rock, Mario Van Peebles. (Warner).
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011) The new installment of Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's HBO documentary film series about the notorious 1993 "West Memphis Three" child murders, chronicles the 18-year fight to prove the innocence of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, incarcerated for an alleged Satanic ritual killing the convicted men -- and their supporters worldwide -- maintain they did not commit. With Echols on death row and Baldwin and Misskelley serving life sentences, "Paradise Lost 3" examines a horrifying crime with fresh insights that only the passage of time can provide. Facts are reexamined, new evidence is revealed, and new suspects this documentary is a provocative examination of American justice and a celebration of the power of cinema to effect social change: All three were released from prison in August 2011. Formats: DVD. (New Video).
Pawn Stars: Volume 5 (2011-12) Two-disc set with 16 episodes, $19.95. Formats: DVD. (A&E).
Qi Gong -- Discover the Ancient Art (2012) Internationally renowned Tai Chi Master Jian Liu Jun shares his deep understanding of the principles of Qi Gong ("energy work") with North American audiences in this two-DVD set that's a comprehensive guide to understanding and learning the 4,000-year-old techniques of Qi Gong, the Chinese practice of aligning breath, movement and awareness for exercise, healing and meditation. Formats: DVD, $14.98. (True Mind).
The Raid: Redemption (2012 -- Indonesia) Iko Uwais, Doni Alamsyah, Ananda George, Pierre Gruno, Yayan Ruhian, Ray Sahetapy, Tegar Satrya, Verdi Solaiman, Joe Taslim. Read more about "The Raid: Redemption" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with writer-director Gareth Evans, six Gareth Evans behind-the-scenes video blogs, "Behind The Music with Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanese" featurette, "Inside the Score" trailer teaser for Mike Shinoda's first feature score, "An Evening with Gareth Evans, Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanese" featurette, "An Anatomy of a Scene" featurette, "In Conversation with Gareth Evans and Mike Shinoda" featurettes, "THE RAID TV Show Ad (circa 1994)", "Claycat's The Raid" featurette. (Sony).
Romeo Must Die BLU-RAY DEBUT (2000) Jet Li, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington, Russell Wong, Delroy Lindo. (Warner).
Rosetta (1999) The Belgian filmmaking team of brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne ("The Kid With a Bike") turned heads with "Rosetta," an intense verite drama that closely follows a poor young woman struggling to hold on to a job to support herself and her alcoholic mother. It's a swift and simple tale made revelatory by the raw, empathetic way in which the directors render Rosetta's desperation, keeping the camera nearly perched on her shoulder throughout. Many have copied the Dardennes' style; few have equaled it. This ferocious film won big at Cannes, earning the Palme d'Or for the filmmakers and the best actress prize for the indomitable Emilie Dequenne ("The Girl on the Train"). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Director-approved special edition features new, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Alain Marcoen, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Conversation between film critic Scott Foundas and filmmakers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, new interview with actors Emilie Dequenne and Olivier Gourmet, trailer, booklet featuring an essay by film critic Kent Jones. (The Criterion Collection).
Shaft BLU-RAY DEBUT (1971) Dir.: Gordon Parks; Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn. (Warner).
The Royal Tenenbaums BLU-RAY DEBUT (2001) Royal Tenenbaum( Gene Hackman) and his wife, Etheline (Anjelica Huston) had three children: ­Chas, Margot, and Richie -- ­and then they separated. Chas (Ben Stiller) started buying real estate in his early teens and seemed to have an almost preternatural understanding of international finance. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a playwright and received a Braverman Grant of $50,000 in the ninth grade. Richie (Luke Wilson) was a junior champion tennis player and won the U.S. Nationals three years in a row. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is a hilarious, touching, and brilliantly stylized study of melancholy and redemption from director Wes Anderson. Director-approved Blu-ray special edition features restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by director Wes Anderson, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Extras: Commentary by Anderson; "With the Filmmaker: Portraits by Albert Maysles," featuring Anderson, interviews with and behind-the-scenes footage of actors Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, and Danny Glover; outtakes; "The Peter Bradley Show," featuring interviews with additional cast members; scrapbook featuring young Richie's murals and paintings, still photographs by set photographer James Hamilton, book and magazine covers, and storyboards; "Studio 360" radio segment on painter Miguel Calderon, along with examples of his work; trailers; insert with Eric Anderson's drawings of the Tenenbaum house; essay by film critic Kent Jones. (The Criterion Collection).
The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (1983) U.S. DVD debut of the animated feature in which the Smurfs must recover a stolen magical flute to save the kingdom. Formats: DVD. Extras: Image gallery, glossary of Smurf terms, "The Smurf Story," character guide, "About The Smurfs and the Magic Flute." (Fabulous Films/The Shout! Factory).
The Snowtown Murders (2011) Louise Harris, Daniel Henshall, Lucas Pittaway. Based on true events in Snowtown, Australis, in 1999. Sixteen-year-old Jamie falls in with his mother's new boyfriend and his crowd of self-appointed neighborhood watchmen, a relationship that leads to a spree of torture and murder. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films/MPI Media Group).
Stallone 3-Film Collector's Set "Cop Land," "Rambo: First Blood" and "Lock Up." Formats: DVD, $19.98; Blu-ray Disc, $24.98. A unique and very limited edition zombie head case created and designed by McFarlane Toys will also be available as Blu-ray only for $99.99. Extras: Commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, more. (Lionsgate).
Tai Chi -- Discover the Ancient Art (2012) Tai Chi Master Jian Liu Jun shares his deep understanding of the principles of Tai Chi Chuan (literally "supreme ultimate fist") in this DVD in which he teaches the Yi Ying, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, Spiral Movements and the Figure 8. The Figure 8 is a short form, which is ideal for learning the essential Tai Chi techniques. Formats: DVD, $14.98. (True Mind).
Titanic: 100 Years in 3D (2012) In 2010, an unprecedented expedition by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and RMS Titanic, Inc. went on location to document the entire wreck site of Titanic, using high-resolution optical video, sonar, acoustic imaging, and 3D HD video and acoustic modeling. These incredible visuals are accompanied by the untold stories of people who were on the ship, narrated in voice-over. $29.95. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. (A&E).
Tonight You're Mine (2012) Luke Treadaway, Natalia Tena, Mathew Baynton, Alastair Mackenzie. Indie-rock, romantic comedy follows two feuding rock stars who end up handcuffed together for 24 hours at a music festival. Formats: DVD, Digital Download. Extras: "The Making of Tonight You're Mine" featurette, Natalia Tena & Luke Treadaway featurette, "The Make -- Behind the Music" featurette, "The Costume Designs of Tonight You're Mine" featurette. (Sony).

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August 18

The Hunger Games (2012) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Willow Shields, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Toby Jones, Donald Sutherland. Read more about "The Hunger Games" in the August Calendar. Formats: Two-disc DVD (plus digital copy), two-disc Blu-Ray (plus digital copy), VOD and digital download. Extras: "The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games" eight-part documentary covering the "making of" the film all the way through the theatrical release and fan reactions; "Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon" featurette; "Letters From the Rose Garden" featurette: Insights from Donald Sutherland on the development of his role as President Snow; "Controlling the Games" featurette: Stories and concepts behind creating the control center; "A Conversation With (director) Gary Ross and (film writer) Elvis Mitchell"; "Propaganda Film" (in its entirety); marketing archive; "Preparing for The Games: A Director's Process" (Blu-ray Exclusive). (Lionsgate).

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August 21

The Adventures of Tintin Season Three (1993) Two-disc set with 13 episodes, $19.93. Tintin and company investigate arms smugglers, 1930s gangsters, the kidnapping of Professor Calculus, lost jewels and much more. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
The AristoCats: Special Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1970) Two-disc Blu-ray Combo. (Disney).
Bernie (2012) Dir.: Richard Linklater; Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Rick Dial, Grant James. Read more about "Bernie" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download. Extras: "True Story to Film" featurette, special performance of "Amazing Grace" by Jack Black, "The Gossips" featurette on the real-life townspeople of Carthage, including interviews and their auditions for the film. (Millennium Entertainment).
Bonsai (2011 -- Chile) Diego Noguera, Natalia Galgani, Gabriela Arancibia, Trinidad Gonzalez, Hugo Medina. Julio is a struggling young writer who has hit a wall. Unemployed and involved in a half-hearted relationship with his neighbor, things are finally starting to look up when he gets an interview with a renowned author to transcribe his latest work. Things don't go as planned, however, and Julio doesn't get the job. Instead of admitting the truth to his girlfriend, he pretends to be transcribing the novel while actually writing his own story. Searching for inspiration and a plot, Julio revisits a romance he had eight years ago when studying literature in Valdivia. As Julio's novel progresses, so does his fondness for the past and of the love he let slip away. Formats: DVD. (Strand Releasing).
Chimpanzee (2012) A 3-year-old chimpanzee is separated from his troop and is then adopted by a fully-grown male. Narrated by Tim Allen. Read more about "Chimpanzee" in the August Calendar. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: Featurette about the "See 'Chimpanzee,' Save Chimpanzees" program; "Disney's Friends for Change" and "Disney's Conservation Legacy" featurettes. Blu-ray adds "On Location: The Making of Chimpanzee," Rise music video ­(Disney).
The Closer: The Complete Seventh and Final Season (2011-12) Five-disc set with 21 episodes. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Confessions of The Closer" roundtable wrap up with the creators and cast, "Police Files: Unaired Scenes," gag reel. (Warner).
The Dictator Banned and Unrated (2012) Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, John C. Reilly, Megan Fox, Kevin Corrigan, B.J. Novak, Aasif Mandvi, Jim Piddock, Jason Mantzoukas, J.B. Smoove, Danielle Burgio. Includes the theatrical and unrated versions. Read more about "The Dictator" in the August Calendar. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, DVD, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, Larry King interview, Music Video: Best Love Song "Your Money's On The Dresser." (Paramount).
Elevator (2011) John Getz, Joey Slotnick, Anita Briem, Shirley Knight, Waleed Zuaiter, Devin Ratray, Tehmina Sunny, Amanda and Rachel Pace. Racism collides with corporate greed when nine strangers are trapped in a Wall Street elevator, and one of them has a bomb. Formats: DVD. (Inception Media Group).
Freelancers (2012) Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Robert De Niro, Forest Whitaker, Dana Delaney, Beau Garrett, Malcolm Goodwin, Ryan O'Nan, Anabelle Acosta. The son of a slain NYPD officer joins the force only to discover the villainous story behind his father's death. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: Commentary with director Jessy Terrero and actor Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson; behind-the-scenes interviews. (Lionsgate).
Halloween 4 BLU-RAY DEBUT (1988) Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, Danielle Harris, George P. Wilbur, George P. Wilbur. Extras: Deleted and alternate Scenes (30 minutes of new scenes); commentary with director Dwight H. Little and author Justin Beahm (new); commentary with actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harri; commentary with writer Alan B. McElroy, "Halloween 4/5" discussion panel, theatrical trailer. (Anchor Bay).
Halloween 5 BLU-RAY DEBUT (1989) Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, Danielle Harris, George P. Wilbur. Extras: Commentary with director Dominique Othenin-Girard and actors Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Landman; commentary with actor Don Shanks and author Justin Beahm (new); "Halloween 5: Orginal Promo" (new) and "Halloween 5: On Set Footage" (new - 17 mins. of raw footage.) (Anchor Bay).
Hell (2011 -- Germany) Hannah Herzsprung, Lars Eidinger, Stipe Erceg, Lisa Vicari, Angela Winkler. In a bleak future, the sun has turned the entire world into a baked and barren wasteland; forests are scorched, animal carcasses line the roads. Even the nights are dazzling bright. A small band of survivors head for the mountains against all odds in an effort to find water -- and safety. Formats: DVD, VOD. (ARC Entertainment).
Hide Away (2011) Josh Lucas, Ayelet Zurer, James Cromwell, Jon Tenney. A successful businessman attempting to resurrect his life buys a dilapidated sailboat and sets out to restore it. Watching him from the harbor cafe are three mysterious residents: a waitress, always one puff away from her last cigarette; the veteran mariner, a salty, soulful man unable to reconcile his own past and traverses; and a newly single father relishing his freedom. Formats: DVD. (Flatiron Film Co./New Video).
Home Run Showdown (2011) Kyle Kirk, Matthew Lillard, Dean Cain, Annabeth Gish, Barry Bostwick. Two little league teams take on their coaches' sibling rivalry: When the new kid in town starts his own team to challenge the resident team, he persuades a washed-up minor leaguer to be coach and go head to head with his arrogant ex-major league brother. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
House: Season Eight: The Final Season (2011-12) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "House, M.D. Swan Song" retrospective with the cast and crew, "The Doctor Directs: Behind the Scenes With Hugh Laurie," "Everybody Dies: A Postmortem," in which the cast and crew discuss the significance of the finale and reflect upon the end of the series. (Universal).
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure BLU-RAY DEBUT (2001) Two-disc Blu-ray Combo. (Disney).
Let Go (2011) Kevin Hart, Gillian Jacobs, Ed Asner,David Denman. Ensemble comedy that follows the intertwining stories of a melancholy parole officer struggling with the doldrums of married life, and three eccentric ex-convicts that were recently placed under his supervision. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital Download. (Entertainment One).
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Season One, Volume One (2012) Three-disc set with the first 30 original episodes from the first season, $19.93. Formats: DVD, Digital Download. (Saban Brands/Shout! Factory).
Mike & Molly: The Complete Second Season (2011-12) Three-disc set with 23 episodes, $44.98. Extras: "Mike & Molly's Wedding" behind-the-scenes featurette, gag reel. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Naked Angels (1969) Get an inside look at the bizarre lifestyles of the outlaw bikers in this Roger Corman Cult Classic. Many of the roles are played by actual members of the notorious Hells Angels in this story that revolves around a death feud between two rival biker gangs. The Angels are out to avenge themselves on the Las Vegas Hotdoggers, who severely beat their leader, Mother (Michael Greene). After being released from the hospital, Mother sets out to get revenge on the thugs who put him there in the first place. Formats: DVD. (Available exclusively from ShoutFactory.com).
One in the Chamber (2011) Cuba Gooding Jr., Dolph Lundgren, Claudia Bassols. In Prague, two skilled assassins make themselves available for hire to the Mafia: One assassin (Gooding) takes a job with a gang he was once hired to eliminate, launching an all-out mob war; another assassin (Lundgren), is hired to take out the first one. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. (Anchor Bay).
Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World BLU-RAY DEBUT (1995, 1998 Three-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo. (Disney).
The Rescuers: 35th Anniversary & The Rescuers Down Under BLU-RAY DEBUT (1977, 1990) Three-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo. (Disney).
A Separation (2011 -- Iran.) Peyman Moadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini, Sarina Farhadi. Read more about "A Separation" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with director Asghar Farhadi, "An Evening With Asghar Farhadi," "Birth of a Director." (Sony).
Sunny (2011 -- South Korea) Ho-jeong Yu, Eun-kyeong Sim, Hee-kyung Jin, Min-yeong Kim. Seven, long-lost childhood girlfriends from the 1980s come together once again in middle age, discovering that just maybe you can come home again in this critically acclaimed heartwarming film. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Production Design: Remaking the '80s," "making of" featurette, '80s hit pop soundtrack, poster photo shoot, soap opera special, music video. (CJ Entertainment America).
Sweet Kill (1973) A Roger Corman Cult Classic. Tab Hunter gives a chilling performance as Eddie Collins, a lonely and frustrated high school gym teacher who finds that he is unable to perform sexually with women because of repressed memories of his mother. After accidentally killing a woman while trying to sleep with her, he finds that he is able to get aroused by the dead body. This leads to a series of murders to fuel Collins' sexual gratification. Written and directed by Curtis Hanson. Formats: DVD. (Available exclusively from ShoutFactory.com).
The Tigger Movie Special Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (2000) Two-disc Blu-ray Combo. (Disney).
Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (2012) Full-length animated feature follows Babs and Buster Bunny and all their pals from Acme Looniversity as they ditch the classroom for zany escapades and summer fun. Formats: DVD, $19.97. (Warner).
Virginia (2010) Emma Roberts, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Jones, Ed Harris, Harrison Gilbertson, Carrie Preston, Yeardley Smith, Amy Madigan. A sheriff sees his state senate bid slide out onto the ice when his daughter begins to date the son of a charming but psychologically disturbed woman with whom the sheriff has engaged in a two-decade-long affair. Formats: DVD.(Entertainment One).
Weekend (2011) This sensual, remarkably observed, beautifully acted wonder is the breakout feature from British writer-director-editor Andrew Haigh. Rarely has a film been as honest about sexuality -- ­in both depiction and discussion -- ­as this tale of a one-night-stand that develops into a weekend-long idyll for two very different young men (exciting Tom Cullen and Chris New) in Midlands England. It's an emotionally naked film that's both an invaluable snapshot of the complexities of contemporary gay living and a universally identifiable portrait of a love affair. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Director-approved special edition features new high-definition digital restoration, approved by director Andrew Haigh and director of photography Ula Pontikos, featuring 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: New program featuring interviews with Haigh, Pontikos, producer Tristan Goligher, and actors Tom Cullen and Chris New; new interview with Haigh on the film's sex scenes; on-set video footage shot by New and others, and two scenes from Cullen's and New's auditions; video essay on the film' set photographers, Oisin Share and Colin Quinn; "Cahuenga Blvd." (2005) and "Five Miles Out" (2009), two short films by Haigh; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim. (The Criterion Collection).
Zombie A-Hole (2012) Brandon Salkil, Jessica Daniels, Josh Eal. An action packed zombie slasher flick with grindhouse attitude filled with blood, boobs, special FX, and southern rock: The story of a religious cowboy, a lost soul, and a beautiful one-eyed grease monkey fixing to exact bloody vengeance on the same undead S.O.B. Formats: DVD. (MVD Entertainment Group).

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August 28

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein BLU-RAY DEBUT (1948) Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert. Also available on DVD. (Universal).
Agatha Christie's Poirot, Series 6 (1995) Four-disc set with four PBS Masterpiece Mystery features: "Hercule Poirot's Christmas," "Hickory Dickory Dock," "Murder on the Links," "Dumb Witness." Remastered and in original U.K. broadcast order. Formats: DVD, $39.99. (Acorn Media).
Airport BLU-RAY DEBUT (1970) Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Dana Wynter, Lloyd Nolan, Barbara Hale, Gary Collins. Also available on DVD. (Universal).
The Amazing World of Gumball The DVD (2012) Single-disc with 12 episodes from the first season of the Cartoon Network's animated series about a blue cat with a giant head (Gumball) who's chased around school by a T-Rex, befriends a piece of toast, and has a crush on a peanut with antlers. Formats: DVD, $14.97. (Cartoon Network/Warner).
Apartment 143 (2011 -- Spain) Francesc Garrido, Fiona Glascott, Rick Gonzalez, Kai Lennox. A team of parapsychologists try to figure out a strange phenomenon occurring in an apartment building. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Area 407 (2012) Abigail Schrader, Samantha Lester, James Lyons, Melanie Lyons. Found footage horror film about the survivors of an airplane crash who find themselves within the borders of a government testing area ... pursued by predators that are part of a top-secret government experiment. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Battleground (aka Skeleton Lake) (2012) Bryan Larkin, Hugh Lambe, Bob Cymbalski, Robert Nolan. When a bank heist goes wrong, six ruthless bank robbers become stranded in an off-the-grid forest when their vehicle goes missing during the planning of their escape. With more than $3 million dollars and a flight out of the country at stake, the men attempt to navigate out of the woods only to encounter a highly-skilled Vietnam War veteran who uses his military training and tactics to track and kill all who enter the forest. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download. Extras: (Well Go USA).
Battleship (2012) Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgard, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Pence, Rihanna, Peter MacNicol, Hamish Linklater, Stephen Bishop, David Jensen Read more about "Battleship" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Three featurettes: "Preparing for Battle," "All Hands on Deck: The Cast," "Engage in Battle." Blu-ray adds alternate ending pre-visualization, "The Visual Effects of Battleship," "All Access with Director Peter Berg," "USS Missouri VIP Tour," "Commander Pete," "Alien Tech 3D Model Turntable Explosions." (Universal).
A Beginner's Guide to Endings (2010) Scott Caan, Paulo Costanzo, Jason Jones, Tricia Helfer, Harvey Keitel, J.K. Simmons. Three brothers -- who underwent unsafe drug tests when young -- discover that they have only a short time to live and decide to chase after their dreams. One decides to hook up with the girl who got away, the second decides to take every risk in life he didn't take earlier, and the eldest, a boxer turned promoter, goes for the long shot. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
Blood Money (2012) Zheng Liu, Pitbull, Gordon Liu. A Colombian drug cartel joins forces with a group of Hong Kong Triads and the hottest hitman on the planet to ship two tons of cocaine into Australia and China. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (XLrator Media).
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Second Season (2011) Twelve episodes. Five-disc DVD set and seven-disc Blu-ray set (five Blu-rays and two DVDs of extras), $59.99 and $79.98 respectively. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: DVD: "Back to Boardwalk": Revisit Season One with creator-executive producer Terence Winter in a 15-minute recap; "The Money Decade": Explore the legacy of the 1920s and get an inside look at the styles and trends that made the decade "roar"; "Updates to the Boardwalk"; "Character Dossier"; Season Two Promo Spot; six audio commentaries with cast and crew. Blu-ray adds "Living in 1921" featurette about the styles, sounds and events that defined 1921 in an interactive guide; "Secrets of the Past: Storytelling in Episode 11"; "Interactive Character Dossier." (HBO Home Entertainment).
Changing the Game (2011) Tony Todd, Irma P. Hall, Sticky Fingaz, Suzzanne Douglas, Charli Baltimore, Dennis L.A. White. A supremely intelligent young African-American male rises from the ferocious and oppressive streets of North Philadelphia to become a shining star in the lucrative world of high finance at Wall Street's most prestigious firm to soon discover that the white-collar world is filled with crime and death just like the drug-filled hood he left behind. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
Citizen Gangster (2011) Scott Speedman, Kelly Reilly, Brian Cox, Kevin Durand, Joseph Cross. Based on the true story of Edwin Boyd, postwar Toronto's most famous criminal. Returning from World War II with few prospects and unable to provide for his wife and children, Eddie Boyd becomes desperate and starts to rob banks ... his robberies evolve into a folk hero career in which crime and love mix with explosive results. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Darling Companion (2012) Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass. Read more about "Darling Companion" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Three behind-the-scenes featurettes, "On the Red Carpet: New York Premiere," commentary with director Lawrence Kasdan, co-writer Meg Kasdan and Kevin Kline. (Sony).
Eclipse Series 35: Maidstone and Other Films by Norman Mailer (2011) Norman Mailer is remembered for many things -- ­his novels, his essays, his articles, his activism, his ego. One largely forgotten chapter of his life, however, is his late-60s, headlong, kamikaze-style plunge into making experimental films. These rough-hewn, self-financed, largely improvised metafictions are works of madness and bravado, all starring Mailer himself and with technical assistance from cinema verite trailblazers D. A. Pennebaker and Richard Leacock. The fullest realization of his directorial efforts is the blustering, brawling "Maidstone" (1970), a shocking sign of the political times in which Mailer plays a filmmaker and presidential candidate who may be the target of an assassination attempt. Along with Mailer’s other films of the period -- "­Wild 90" (1967) and "Beyond the Law" (1968) -- ­it shows an uncompromising artist in thrall to both himself and a new medium. Formats: DVD. Two-disc set, $39.95. (The Criterion Collection).
'50s TV Classics (2011) Three-disc set with eight hours of TV comedy from Bob Hope, Ed Sullivan, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Dinah Shore, Lawrence Welk, Art Carney, Paul Winchell, Jerry Mahoney, Ed Wynn and more. Formats: DVD, $24.98. (Film Crest).
Green Lantern The Animated Series: Rise of the Red Lanterns (2012) Two-disc set with 13 episodes and a digital comic book, $19.97. (Warner).
Harvey BLU-RAY DEBUT (1950) Dir.: Henry Koster; James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow, Charles Drake, Cecil Kellaway, Victoria Horne, Jesse White. Also available on DVD. (Universal).
Headhunters (2012 -- Norway) Aksel Hennie, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Synnove Macody Lund, Eivind Sander, Julie R. Olgaard. Read more about "Headhunters" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
The Heineken Kidnapping (2011 -- Netherlands) Rutger Hauer, Reinout Scholten van Aschat, Gijs Naber, Teun Kuilboer, Korneel Evers. Fact-based thriller about the 1983 kidnapping of Alfred Heineken, the man behind the Dutch brewing giant. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (MPI Home Video).
Homeland: The Complete First Season (2011) Four-disc set with 12 episodes, $59.98. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Under Surveillance -- Making Homeland" featurette, deleted scenes. (Showtime/Paramount).
Injustice (2012) James Purefoy, Dervla Kirwan, Charlie Creed-Miles, Nathaniel Parker. Purefoy leads a distinguished cast in a five-part thriller of murder, conspiracy, secrets, and guilt. He plays defense barrister William Travers, who has fled from London murder trials to the peace of the Suffolk countryside with his family. He is called upon to defend an old friend in a homicide that may be much more than it seems, even as death strikes close to home and he becomes a target of investigation himself. Formats: DVD, $39.99. (Acorn Media).
Jersey Shore: Season 5 (uncensored) (2012) Three-disc set with 11 episodes, $26.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Reunion special, cast interviews, deleted scenes, confessionals, after hours specials. (MTV/Paramount).
Jersey Shore Shark Attack (2012) Jeremy Luke, Melissa Molinaro, Paul Sorvino, Jack Scalia, Joey Fatone, Vinny Guadagnino, William Atherton, Tony Sirico. A crew of Jerseyites who band together against killer sharks that threaten to spoil their summer fun by eating them alive. Syfy Saturday Original Movie. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
The Jungle Bunch: The Movie (2012) John Lithgow. The tale of Maurice, a penguin who was raised in the jungle and who thinks he's a tiger -- and who assembles a misfit team of jungle friends to return to the Antarctic to defend his colony from an invading herd of walruses. Formats: DVD. Universal).
Jurassic Park (1993) Dir.: Steven Spielberg; Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck. Wayne Knight. Part of Universal's 100th Anniversary. Formats: DVD with Digital copy. Extras: Documentary, pre-production meetings, storyboards, foley artists, Phil Tippett animatics, production photo's and notes, Dinosaur Encyclopedia, Theatrical Trailers for "Jurassic Park," "Lost World" and "Jurassic Park III." (Universal).
Life Happens (2011) Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Rachel Bilson. A comedy centered on three best friends who live under the same roof in Los Angeles and the complications that arise when one of them gets pregnant and has a baby. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. Extras: (Universal).
Lonesome (1928) The early Hollywood gem "Lonesome" is the creation of a little-known but audacious and one-of-a-kind auteur, Paul Fejos (a filmmaker/explorer/anthropologist/doctor!), who bridged the gap between the silent and sound eras. Fejos pulled out all the stops for this lovely New York City symphony set in antic Coney Island during the Fourth of July weekend -- employing color tinting, superimposition effects, experimental editing, and a roving camera (plus three dialogue scenes, added because of the craze for talkies). For years, "Lonesome" has been a rare treat for festival and cinematheque audiences; it's only now coming to home video. Rarer still are the two other Fejos films included in this release: "The Last Performance" (featuring a new score by Donald Sosin) and a reconstruction of the previously incomplete sound version of "Broadway," in its time the most expensive film ever produced at Universal. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. New digital restoration, featuring uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Commentary featuring film historian Richard Koszarski; "The Last Performance," director Paul Fejos's 1929 silent starring Conrad Veidt, with a new score by Donald Sosin; reconstructed sound version of "Broadway," Fejos's 1929 musical; "Fejos Memorial," a 1963 visual essay produced by Paul Falkenberg in collaboration with Fejos's wife, Lita Binns Fejos, featuring Paul Fejos narrating the story of his life and career; audio excerpts about "Broadway" from an interview with cinematographer Hal Mohr; booklet featuring essays by critic Phillip Lopate and film historian Graham Petrie and an excerpt about "Lonesome" from Fejos's autobiography. (The Criterion Collection).
Looney Tunes The Chuck Jones Collection Mouse Chronicles (2011) Two-disc set features 19 remastered, theatrical shorts that showcase some of animation's most delightfully mischievous mice and their daring adventures, featuring the remarkable work of animation legend Chuck Jones. Included here: "Naughty but Mice," "Little Brother Rat," "Sniffles and the Bookworm," "Sniffles Takes a Trip," "The Egg Collector," "Bedtime for Sniffles," "Sniffles Bells the Cat," "Toy Trouble," "The Brave Little Bat," "The Unbearable Bear," "Lost and Foundling," "Hush my Mouse," "The Aristo Cat," "Trap Happy Porky," "Roughly Squeaking," "House Hunting Mice," "Mouse Wreckers," "The Hypo-chondri-cat," "Cheese Chasers." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
photo The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition Blu-ray Five-disc set of the Extended Edition: Two discs of the feature and three discs of bonus material. $34.99. Read the complete press release with list of bonus features (Warner).
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition Blu-ray Five-disc set of the Extended Edition: Two discs of the feature and three discs of bonus material. $34.99. Read the complete press release with list of bonus features (Warner).
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Extended Edition Blu-ray Five-disc set of the Extended Edition: Two discs of the feature and three discs of bonus material. $34.99. Read the complete press release with list of bonus features (Warner).
The Lucky One (2012) Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart Read more about "The Lucky One" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Zac Efron Becomes a Marine" featurette, "Watch the Sparks Fly: The Romantic World of The Lucky One," "Zac and Taylor's Amazing Chemistry" featurette. (Warner).
Monsieur Lazhar (2011) Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Emilien Neron, Marie-Eve Beauregard, Vincent Millard. At a Montreal public grade school, an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom. While helping his students deal with their grief, his own recent loss is revealed, and he brings humanity, transcendence and grace to the students. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "From Stage to Screen" featurette, interviews, audition tapes. (Music Box Films).
The Moth Diaries (2011) Sarah Bolger, Sarah Gadon, Lily Cole. Chilling story of 16-year-old girl, haunted by her poet father's recent suicide, who becomes suspicious of a mysterious, ethereal and captivating new girl who arrives at her private school, turning everyone's world upside down. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).
The Newest Pledge (2012) Rob Steinhauser, Joseph Booton, Jason Mewes, Mindy Sterling. A hard partying fraternity decides to pledge a baby that they find on their doorstep the morning after their most decadent party of the semester. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes. (Lionsgate).
Penumbra (2011 -- Argentina) Cristina Brondo, Camila Bordonaba, Berta Muniz. An arrogant businesswoman from Spain travels to Buenos Aires to find a renter for her family's apartment, only to meet an eerie man who she soon realizes has a part in a rare solar eclipse taking place over South America. Formats: DVD. (IFC Midnight/MPI Media Group).
The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012) Swashbuckling stop-motion animation with the voices of Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, Anton Yelchin, Brendan Gleeson, Al Roker. Read more about "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, 3D Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Filmmakers' commentary, "So You Want to Be A Pirate!" mini-movie, "Mr. Bobo's Flash Card Challenge," DVD-ROM link to online fun. Blu-ray adds "Pirate Disguise Dress-Up" game, "From Stop to Motion" featurette, "Creating the Bath Chase Sequence" featurette, two Peter Lord short films. (Sony).
Quadrophenia (1979) The Who's classic rock opera "Quadrophenia" was the basis for this invigorating coming-of-age movie and depiction of the defiant, drug-fueled London of the early 1960s. Our antihero, Jimmy (Phil Daniels), is a teenager dissatisfied with family, work, and love, who identifies with the fashionable, pill-popping, scooter-driving mods, a group whose opposition to the motorcycle-riding rockers leads to a climactic riot in Brighton. Director Franc Roddam's rough-edged film is a quintessential chronicle of youthful rebellion and turmoil, with Pete Townshend's brilliant songs (including "I've Had Enough," "5:15" and "Love, Reign O'er Me") providing emotional support, and featuring Sting and Ray Winstone in early roles. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Director-approved special edition features new high-definition digital restoration of the uncut version, with the original 2.0 stereo soundtrack as well as an all-new 5.1 surround mix, supervised by the Who and presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: New audio commentary featuring director Franc Roddam and director of photography Brian Tufano; new interview with Bill Curbishley, the film's co-producer and the Who's co-manager; new interview with the Who's sound engineer, Bob Pridden, discussing the new mix, featuring a restoration demonstration; on-set and archival footage; behind-the-scenes photographs; booklet featuring an essay by critic Nick James, a reprinted personal history by original mod Irish Jack, and Pete Townshend's liner notes from the album. (The Criterion Collection).
Searching for Sonny (2011) Jason Dohring, Minka Kelly, Michael Hogan, Masi Oka. Comedy about a 10-year-high school reunion in which three friends find themselves the chief suspects in a murder that seems eerily similar to a play they performed in high school. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. (Red Productions).
Shark Week (2012) Josh Allen, Bart Baggett, Patrick Bergin, Paul Borst, Yancy Butler. A group of complete strangers find themselves isolated by a wealthy madman on his island compound, where they're forced into a horrifying gauntlet where they must survive a barrage of ever deadlier species of shark. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (The Asylum).
SpongeBob SquarePants: Ghoul Fools (2011) Seven ghoulishy fun episodes: "Ghoul Fools," "The Curse of Bikini Bottom," "Ghost Host," "Born Again Krabs," "Arrgh!," "Your Shoe's Untied," "Money Talks." Formats: DVD, $15.99. (Nick/Paramount).
Starship Troopers: Invasion (2012) New CGI-animated adventure has the Troopers on a perilous mission to rescue survivors of a Federation outpost under attack by the bugs. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, 11-part making-f featurette. Blu-ray adds conceptual art gallery. (Sony).
The Streets of San Francisco Season Four (1975-76) Volume 1 and Volume 2, $42.99 each. (CBS/Paramount).
The Terminator Anthology Blu-ray Five-disc set with all four "Terminator" films, $49.99 from Best Buy. Extras: The Terminator: A Retrospective, deleted scenes, three versions of "T2": theatrical, extended and special editions; "T2" commentary with James Cameron and writer William Wisher, "T2" cast and crew commentary, deleted scenes/outtakes, eight hours of interactive special features: behind-the-scenes video and multimedia galleries, storyboard-script mode, quizzes and games, "Terminator: Rise of the Machines": three Audio Commentaries, "Terminator Salvation" mythology timelines, "Terminator Salvation" "Re-Forging the Future" documentary. (Warner).
Think Like a Man (2012) Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union, Wendy Williams, Chris Brown. Read more about "Think Like a Man" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, blooper reel. Blu-ray adds four behind-the-scenes featurettes. (Sony).
Two And A Half Men: The Complete Ninth Season (2011-12) Three-disc set with 24 episodes, $44.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: The "Billionaire Upgrade: Walden Schmidt's Malibu House Redesign" featurette, gag reel. (Warner).
The Viral Factor (2012 -- Hong Kong) Jay Chou, Lin Peng, Nicholas Tse, Andy On, Bing Bai. Read more about "The Viral Factor" in the August Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download. Extras: "The Making of The Viral Factor" featurette, cast and crew interviews. (Well Go USA).
The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season (2011) Four-disc set with 13 episodes. Formats: DVD, $59.98; Blu-ray Disc, $69.99. Extras: Behind-the-scenes footage, 10 featurettes, commentaries. (Anchor Bay).
photo The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season Limited EditionBlu-ray (2011) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, housed in a zombie statue created by McFarlane Toys and designed by Greg Nicotero; $99.99. Extras: Behind-the-scenes footage, 10 featurettes, commentaries. (Anchor Bay).
You've Got a Friend (2007 -- TV) John Schneider, Dylan McLaughlin, Chase Ellison, Bitty Schram. Set in 1976, San Diego native Bobby Graham loses his parents to a car accident and is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Eagle Rock. Determined to follow in his late father's footsteps, he sets out to accomplish his dream of winning the American Soapbox Derby with the help of an unlikely friend, war veteran and town recluse, Jim Klecan. Bobby may think that Jim is helping him to win the race, but it is really Jim who needed the help from a friend to bring him back to life. A DOVE Foundation approved film. Formats: DVD. (Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment/Sonar Entertainment).

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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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August 6, 2012
(ISSN 1094-3676).