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July 7

Absolution (2015) Steven Seagal, Byron Mann, Josh Barnett, Vinnie Jones. When a contract killer (Seagal) encounters a girl on the run from a mob boss (Jones) with powerful political ties, he is torn between protecting the girl, and remaining loyal to the government agency that hired him for the mission. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Behind the scenes of Absolution" featurette, cast interviews, audio commentary with co-writer/director Keoni Waxman, actor Josh Barnett and producer Binh Dang. (Lionsgate).

Alien Outpost (2014) Rick Ravanello. Set in 2021 in the aftermath of the First Earth War in which an invading race of aliens known as the Heavies are narrowly defeated. But thousands of the aliens were left behind, and a new war on terror now rages. In the wake of the war, a series of remote operating bases are created to defend the planet, with the deadliest being base Three Seven, positioned in the most hostile place on Earth. A documentary film crew is sent to record daily life in Outpost Three Seven, where the men, led by hardened commander Captain Spears, are under constant enemy fire. When a member of the crew disappears during a Heavy ambush, the unit launches a raid deep into enemy territory to rescue him ... only to make a terrifying discovery. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Audio commentary by director/co-writer Jabbar Raisani and director of photography/co-writer Blake Clifton, interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, theatrical trailer. (IFC Midnight/Scream Factory).

Archie Bunker's Place: Season 1 (1979-80) Two-disc set with 24 episodes, $9.98. Formats: DVD. (Mill Creek Entertainment).

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Awaken (2015) Jason Landon, Daryl Hannah, Vinnie Jones, Edward Furlong, Natalie Burn, Robert Davi, Michael Pare. A random group of people wake up on an Island where they are being hunted down in a sinister plot to harvest their organs. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).

Barney Miller: The Final Season (1981-82) Three-disc set with 22 episodes. Acclaimed throughout its eight season run, Barney Miller remains a beloved sitcom for its quirky yet humanistic exploration of the lives and exploits of a police squad in New York's Greenwich Village. A comedic peek into the world of the American Everyman starred Hal Linden, Ron Glass, Max Gail, James Gregory, Ron Carey and Steve Landesberg. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).

Beyond Zero: 1914-1918 (2015) Continuing his collaborations with leading contemporary composers and musicians, "Beyond Zero: 1914-1918" is a collaboration between filmmaker Bill Morrison, the celebrated Kronos Quartet and Serbian composer Aleksandra Vrebalov. Sourcing original 35mm nitrate footage shot during the first World War, Morrison -- called "one of the most adventurous American filmmakers" by Variety, preceding a recent mid-career retrospective at MoMA -- has crafted a unique contemplation, piecing together a visual exploration from footage that has never been viewed by modern audiences, and will never be seen again outside of this film. Morrison's work is characterized by his sensitive approach to found, often decaying, film footage, and his close collaboration with contemporary composers. Included on the DVD is an exclusive video of the Kronos Quartet performing the piece at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival. Formats: DVD. (Icarus Films). DVD release follows the film's premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival and screenings at festivals in Seattle, San Francisco and Sheffield (UK), "BEYOND ZERO: 1914-1918 on home video on July 7, 2015. Watch the trailer:

Bitten: The Complete Second Season (2014) Three-disc set with all 10 unedited episodes, $39.98. Formats: DVD. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted and extended scenes, stunt choreography, gag reel, "Gentling" video, New York Comic Con panel, "Innerspace: After Bite." (Entertainment One).

The Cell BLU-RAY DEBUT (2000) Jennifer Lopez, Dylan Baker, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn. (Warner).

Dark Summer (2015) Peter Stormare, Maestro Harrell, Keir Gilchrist, Stella Maeve, Grace Phipps. A claustrophobic modern ghost story that follows Daniel Williamson, a 17 year old under house arrest for the summer after cyberstalking a classmate. With his mother away on business, a horrifying incident occurs and Williamson soon experiences strange supernatural occurrences --which become increasingly more sinister and terrifying. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with director Paul Solet, "Atmosphere and Style" featurette, director Paul Solet featurette, "The Art of Dark Summer" featurette, "The Music of Dark Summer" featurette, "A Conversation With Peter Stormare," "The Kids - Cast interviews," theatrical trailer. (IFC Midnight/Scream Factory).

Deli Man (2015) A lively look at the Jewish delicatessen in America. Jewish culture reflects the heart of a vital ethnic history. As that culture continues to shift and adapt alongside mainstream America, delicatessen food -- as its name suggests -- remains a beloved communal delicacy. In Houston, Texas, third-generation deli man Ziggy Gruber has built arguably the finest delicatessen restaurant in the U.S. His story -- augmented by the stories of iconic delis such as Katz’s, 2nd Avenue Deli, Nate 'n Al, Carnegie, and the Stage -- embodies a tradition indelibly linked to its savory, nostalgic foods. Includes interviews with Larry King, Jerry Stiller and Fyvush Finkel. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Cohen Media Group).

The Encore of Tony Duran (2011) Elliot Gould, William Katt, Gene Pietragallo, Nikki Ziering, Cody Kasch. A down and out performer finally hits rock-bottom but is able to make an inspiring rebound from the brink under the guidance of a friend (Gould). Formats: DVD. (Cinedigm).

Echoes of War (2015) James Badge Dale, Ethan Embry, William Forsythe, Maika Monroe. A Civil War veteran returns home to the quiet countryside, only to find himself embroiled in a conflict between his family and the brutish cattle rancher harassing them. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).

For the Emperor (2014 -- South Korea) Min-ki Lee. A disgraced pro baseball player goes to work for a mob-connected loan shark, rising through the ranks of money and power. But when his love interest disappears, he finds himself in a deadly battle of wits against his bloodthirsty mentor. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Well Go USA).

House of Cards: The Complete Third Season (2015) Four-disc set with all 13 episodes. Formats: DVD: $55.99; Blu-ray: $65.99. Extras: "Backstage Politics: On the Set of House of Cards" extensive behind-the-scenes look into the creation of "House of Cards, Season 3." Blu-ray adds "A Death in New Mexico" featurette that chronicles the surprising Chapter 39. (Sony).

Joe Dirt BLU-RAY DEBUT (2001) David Spade, Brittany Daniel, Dennis Miller, Adam Beach, Christopher Walken, Jaime Pressly, Kid Rock. Just in time for the direct-to-video sequel "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser." After being abandoned by his parents at the Grand Canyon, Joe Dirt tells the story of his journey to find them. Extras: "Joe Dirt – The Return" featuring all-new interviews with David Spade and more, first look at "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser," commentaries, outtakes and bloopers, deleted and alternate scenes, theatrical trailers. (Sony).

Kill Me Three Times (2015) Simon Pegg, Teresa Palmer, Sullivan Stapleton, Alice Braga, Callan Mulvey, Luke Helmsworth, Bryan Brown. When eccentric assassin Charlie Wolfe (Pegg) is hired by a wealthy man (Mulvey) to kill his beautiful wife (Braga), he discovers he's not the only one aiming for her murder. Soon, he inadvertently finds himself at the center of three tales of murder, mayhem, blackmail and revenge, all incited from the wife's illicit affair with a local surfer (Helmsworth). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD. Extras: Behind the scenes, AXS TV: "A Look at Kill Me Three Times, theatrical trailer. (Magnolia Entertainment Magnet Label).

The Killers (1946, 1964) Ernest Hemingway's simple but gripping short tale "The Killers" is a model of economical storytelling. Two directors adapted it into unforgettably virile features: Robert Siodmak ("Criss Cross"), in a 1946 film that helped define the noir style and launch the acting careers of Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner; and Don Siegel ("Dirty Harry"), in a brutal 1964 version, starring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson and John Cassavetes, that was intended for television but deemed too violent for home audiences and released theatrically instead. The first is poetic and shadowy, the second direct and harsh as daylight, but both get at the heart of Hemingway's existential classic. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. New high-definition digital restorations of both films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-rays. Extras: Andrei Tarkovsky's short film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "The Killers," made when he was a student in 1956; interview from 2002 with writer Stuart M. Kaminsky about both films; piece from 2002 in which actor Stacy Keach reads Hemingway's short story; Screen Director's Playhouse radio adaptation from 1949 of the 1946 film, starring Burt Lancaster and Shelley Winters; interview from 2002 with actor Clu Gulager; audio excerpt from director Siegel's autobiography, "A Siegel Film," read by actor and director Hampton Fancher; trailers; essays by novelist Jonathan Lethem and critic Geoffrey O'Brien. (The Criterion Collection).

The Longest Ride (2015) Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Alan Alda, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, Lolita Davidovich. Based on the bestselling novel by master storyteller Nicholas Sparks, the melodrama centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City's art world. As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected connection with Ira, whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife deeply inspire the young couple. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Deleted and Extended Scenes, "A Writer’s Journey: A Day in the Life of Nicholas Sparks," "Beyond the Ride" featurette, "Bringing it to Life" featurette, "Meet the Real Bull Riders," "Luke's Bull Riding School," audio commentary, gallery. (Fox).

The Lovers (2015) Dir.: Roland Joffe; Josh Hartnett, Bipasha Bas, Alice Englert, Tamsin Egerton. Hartnett stars as present-day marine archaeologist Jay Fennel, who, following a diving accident while rescuing his wife, is left brain-dead. In his comatose dream state, Fennel is transported to India circa 1778, where young British captain James Stewart (also played by Hartnett) embarks on a life-threatening mission and a steamy romance with a female warrior (Bollywood superstar Bipasha Basu). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).

Maggie (2015) Abigail Breslin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joely Richardson. As the nation reels from a lethal virus that turns its victims into zombies, Wade's (Schwarzenegger) daughter Maggie (Breslin) has been infected. Now, as Maggie's condition worsens, Wade will stop at nothing to protect her from the authorities seeking to kill her to eradicate the virus. Read more about "Maggie" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Making Maggie" featurette, deleted scene, cast and crew interviews, commentary with director Henry Hobson. (Lionsgate).

Merchants of Doubt (2014) Documentary inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway, and directed by Academy Award nominee Robert Kenner (Best Documentary, "Food, Inc.," 2010) explores how the media can twist and spin stories, confuse the public, and delay public action on some of the most pressing issues of modern times -- from tobacco to climate change. Kenner lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, silver tongued pundits-for-hire who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities -- yet contrarily are aiming to spread maximum confusion about well-studied public threats ranging from toxic chemicals to pharmaceuticals to climate change. Kenner interviews individuals on both sides of the argument including scientists, whistle blowers and activists to get a full perspective on the issues at hand. Some of the most insightful moments include interviews with former Republican Congressman Bob Inglis; Marc Morano, executive director of ClimateDepot.com; and Stanton Glantz, an American Legacy Foundation Distinguished Professor of Tobacco Control. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital,. Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary with director Kenner, TIFF Q&A with Kenner. (Sony).

No Way Jose (2014) Adam Goldberg, Ahna O'Reilly, Emily Osment, Gillian Jacobs. In this "coming of middle age" story, Goldberg stars as "Jose" Stern, an indie-rocker relegated to playing children's birthday parties and at a crossroads in his relationship. When his fiance discovers a dark secret, she kicks him out and his world collapses. With no other options, Jose is forced to stay at the chaotic home of a friend who's married with children and also falling apart at the seams. As Jose becomes more desperate with nowhere to turn, he seeks advice from his burnt-out friends, his dysfunctional family and an alcoholic ex-girlfriend, all in an effort to find himself, his music and perhaps the love of his life. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes, filmmaker commentary. (Sony).

The Pact 2 (2014) (2015) Camilla Luddington, Caity Lotz, Patrick Fischler. Only a few weeks after Annie Barlow exterminated the plague that was the Judas Killer in "The Pact," we meet June Abbott (Camilla Luddington), a woman whose carefully constructed life in Los Angeles is beginning to unravel due to lucid nightmares so awful they disturb her waking life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).

The Road Within (2014) Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel, Zoe Kravitz, Robert Patrick, Kyra Sedgwick. Vincent (Sheehan), a young man with Tourette's syndrome, just has lost his mom. As his symptoms get worse, his dad (Patrick), a frustrated politician, sends him to a behavioral clinic run by an unconventional doctor (Sedgwick). But Vincent made his mom a promise, and with the help of a rebellious anorexic (Kravitz) and his withdrawn OCD roommate (Patel), the three embark on a life-changing race to the sea that includes car theft, shoplifting, fights, self-discovery, and maybe finding a new way to live. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Interviews with director and cast, deleted scenes, music video: "Get It Right" by Oh Honey. (Well Go USA).

'71 (2014) Jack O'Connell, Paul Anderson, Richard Dormer, Sean Harris. Takes place over a single night in the life of a young British soldier (O'Connell) accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971. Unable to tell friend from foe, and increasingly wary of his own comrades, he must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorienting, alien and deadly landscape. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with director Yann Demange, producer Angus Lamont and writer Gregory Burke. (Lionsgate).

Slow West (2015) Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ben Mendelsohn, Caren Pistorius, Rory McCann. In search of his fugitive girlfriend and her father, 16-year-old Jay (Smit-McPhee) heads west across the 19th-century American wilderness. Along the way, Jay meets Silas (Fassbender), a mysterious traveler who protects him from the savage and lawless elements. But is Silas really watching out for Jay ... or is he tied to the band of desperadoes tracking them? Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "On Strange Land: Making Slow West" featurette, deleted scenes. (Lionsgate).

Tooken (2015) Lee Tergesen, Reno Wilson, Laura-Leigh, Margaret Cho, Michael Blackson. In this spoof film on the "Taken" action-film franchise, Bryan Mills (Lee Tergesen) is an ex-CIA agent now working as a mall security guard. He keeps finding his things are being taken from him -- his wife, his dog ... his daughter's virginity. With the help of his ex-CIA elderly mother, Bryan battles his nemesis BrownFinger (Margaret Cho) to free his family and a pound of dogs in danger of exploding. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Behind the scenes featurette, "Cribs spoof with Reno Wilson, deleted scenes, trailer. (Cinedigm).

The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) Addison Timlin, Travis Tope, Gary Cole,, Joshua Leonard,, Anthony Anderson, Denis O'Hare, Edward Herrmann, Veronica Cartwright. Picks up 65 years after a masked serial killer terrorized the small town of Texarkana, when the brutal "Moonlight Murders" suddenly begin again. While on a trip to Lovers' Lane, 17-year-old Jami (Addison Timlin) watches as her date is brutally slain by a masked serial killer. Barely escaping with her life, Jami becomes obsessed with finding the killer referred to as "The Phantom." As the body count mounts and the carnage comes closer, Jami delves deeper into the mystery with the help of the town archivist Nick (Travis Tope), following clues that point her toward the killer’s true identity. Formats: DVD. (RLJ Entertainment).

Underdog Kids (2015) Phillip Rhee, Adam Irigoyen, Ryan Potter, Cade Sutton, Mirelly Taylor, Patrick Fabian, Tom Arnold, Beau Bridges. When the struggling Mid-City Community Center's karate team loses their instructor a week before the big tournament, former MMA champ Jimmy "The Lightning Bolt" (Rhee) returns to his old neighborhood and reluctantly agrees to train the misfit bunch. Despite the struggles they face, the washed-up fighter and group of urban underdogs bravely take on the undefeated Beverly Hills Junior National Karate Team in the ultimate karate showdown. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Anchor Bay).

Virtuosity BLU-RAY DEBUT (1995) Denzel Washington, Kelly Lynch, Russell Crowe, Stephen Spinella, William Forsythe, Louise Fletcher, William Fichtner, Costas Mandylor. (Warner).

Woman in Gold (2015) Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Bruhl, Katie Holmes, Max Irons, Tatiana Maslany, Charles Dance, Frances Fisher, Antje Traue. Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee from the Nazi, takes on the Austrian government 60 years later to recover artwork -- including Gustav Klimt's famous painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I -- she believes rightfully belongs to her family. Read more about "Woman in Gold" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (The Weinstein Co.).

Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 2 (2005-06) Known in Japan as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX, this set includes all 52 30-minute episodes of the second season and is the second spin-off series of the fan-favorite global franchise based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, which has grossed more than $20 billion. It's year two at Duel Academy, and this semester is more intense than ever. Jaden somehow passed his finals, so he s now back with his friends to continue his training at the world's most prestigious dueling school. But it's not all about classes and textbooks. This year is filled with one high-stakes battle after another as Jaden faces all new rivals like Pro League All-Star Aster Phoenix, dino duelist Tyranno Hassleberry and the sinister Sartorius. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Cinedigm).

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July 14

All Quiet on the Western Front (1979 -- TV) Richard Thomas, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Ian Holm, Patricia Neal. Richard Thomas stars in a powerful and dramatic adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's acclaimed novel. At the rise of World War I, German patriot Paul Baumer (Thomas) and his friends enlist in the Imperial German Army. In search of adventure and eager to assert the superiority of their nation, the young men endure a brutal training camp and soon find themselves face to face with the full horrors of war when they are sent to the front lines to fight ... and likely die. As the conflict rages, Paul grows from an eager boy to a disillusioned man who bears the scars of war on both his body and his soul. Uncut. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Timeless Media).

Batman: The Second Season, Part 2 (1966-67) Four-disc set with the final 30 episodes from the second season of the 1966 original Batman series starring Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Cesar Romero and more; $39.98. Formats: DVD. (Warner).

Black Beauty (2015) Luke Perry, Bruce Davison, Jennifer McKenzie. Based on the classic international best-selling novel. An overprotective father (Perry) agrees to let his teenage daughter (McKenzie) spend the summer in the country with her grandfather (Davison) rehabilitating an injured horse. Soon, they'll realize that Black Beauty has brought them closer, and taught them each enduring lessons in love and trust. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Behind-the-Scenes With Cast and Crew Interviews on the Making of Black Beauty" featurette. (Lionsgate).

The Black Stallion (1979) This remarkable adaptation of Walter Farley's classic children's novel by Carroll Ballard -- in which an American boy is rescued after a shipwreck off the coast of North Africa by a seemingly untamable wild horse -- is a cinematic tour de force. From the crystalline shores of a deserted island in the Arabian Sea to the green grass and dusty roads of 1930s suburban New York, Ballard and director of photography Caleb Deschanel ("The Right Stuff") create a film of consistent visual invention and purity, also featuring a winning supporting performance by Mickey Rooney as a retired jockey and a gorgeous score by Carmine Coppola. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. New 4K digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Caleb Deschanel, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Five short films by Carroll Ballard, with introductions by the director: "Pigs!" (1965), "The Perils of Priscilla"(1969), "Rodeo" (1969), "Seems Like Only Yesterday" (1971) and "Crystallization" (1974); new conversation between Ballard and film critic Scott Foundas; new interview with Deschanel; new piece featuring photographer Mary Ellen Mark discussing her images from the film's set; trailer; essay by film critic Michael Sragow. (The Criterion Collection).

Borderline (1980) Charles Bronson, Wilford Brimley, Ed Harris, Bruno Kirby. Charles Bronson stars as Jeb Maynard, a tough-as-nails U.S. Border Patrol officer stationed between San Diego and Tijuana. When his best friend and partner (Brimley) is murdered by a notorious smuggler of illegal immigrants known as "The Marine," Maynard begins a relentless manhunt to bring stability to the border and justice for his fallen comrade. Formats: DVD. (Timeless Media Group).

Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police (2012) Based on the acclaimed memoir "One Train Later" by rock guitarist Andy Summers, "Can’t Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police" follows Summers' journey from his early days in the psychedelic '60s music scene, when he played with The Animals, to chance encounters with drummer Stewart Copeland and bassist Sting, which led to the formation of a new wave trio, The Police. During the band’s phenomenal rise and its dissolution at the height of their popularity in the mid-80s, Summers captured history with his candid photographs. Using rare archival footage and insights from the guitarist’s side of the stage, "Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police" brings together past and present as the band members reunite, more than two decades later, for a global reunion tour in 2007. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Andy Summers on Egos & Brotherhood," "Andy Summers on Reuniting with The Police," audio commentary with Andy Summers and producer Norman Golightly, photo galleries. (Cinema Libre Studio).

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014) Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloe Grace Moretz. When renowned actress Maria Enders (Binoche) is cast opposite a young Hollywood starlet with a penchant for scandal (Moretz), tensions rise as she must come to terms with what it means to be an actress in a youth-obsessed industry. As she prepares with her assistant (Stewart) for the most challenging role of her life, Maria must confront her own personal demons. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Paramount).

Committed (1984) Sheila McLaughlin, Victoria Boothby, Lee Breuer. Now digitally restored, "Committed" is the story of movie star and leftist iconoclast Frances Farmer. In 1935, Farmer was an overnight Hollywood sensation; within 10 years she was in a state mental hospital. This highly stylized film offers a multi-layered look at the life of this culturally defiant woman, going beyond the personal story to explore the political and social attitudes of the time. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).

Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Season Two (2014) Three-disc set with all 12 episodes of the Hallmark Channel's first original scripted series. Andie MacDowell is back as Judge Olivia Lockhart, who finds herself in the middle of her small seaside town's drama, relationships and excitement. Now happily back together with Jack, Olivia becomes the stable force who holds him together when his troubled son Eric returns. As Olivia reaches new milestones in her relationship with Jack, she remains a reliable best friend to Grace and a supportive mom to Justine, proving this judge continues to capture the spirit of the small town in her big heart. Formats: DVD. (Cinedigm).

Ex Machina (2015) Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac, Corey Johnson, Deborah Rosan. Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company's brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), where he will be the human component in a Turing Test -- charged with evaluating the capabilities of Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated -- and more deceptive -- than the two men could have imagined. Read more about "Ex Machina" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Through the Looking Glass: Creating Ex Machina" five-part featurette, SXSW Q&A with cast and crew, eight behind-the-scenes vignettes. The Blu-ray features DTS:X immersive audio technology, which replicates and conveys the fluid movement of sound to create a richer soundscape than previously possible by moving sound to precisely where the mixer placed it. (Lionsgate).

Gangs of Wasseypur Blu-ray (2012 -- India) Jaideep Ahlawat, Nawazuddin Siddiqu, Manoj Bajpayee, Piyush Mishra, Jameel Khan, Richa Chadda, Reemma Sen, Tigmanshu Dhulia. "Gangs of Wasseypur" is director-writer-producer Anurag Kashyap's ambitious and extraordinary blood-and-bullets fueled crime saga that charts 70 years in the lives -- and spectacular deaths -- of two mafia-like families fighting for control of the coal-mining town of Wasseypur, India. Inspired by the real-life exploits of local gangs and beginning with the bandit-like career of Shahid Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat) in the 1940s, the film follows the ruthless rise of his son Sardar (a brilliant Manoj Bajpayee) and his offspring, the surreally-named Danish, Perpendicular and Definitive Khans and their numerous wives and girlfriends. "Gangs of Wasseypur" mirrors the tumultuous and explosive growth of modern India with ferocious cinematic intensity. Don't expect Bollywood-style dance numbers: this is a movie that up-ends every expectation of what great Indian cinema should look (and sound) like. In Hindi with English Subtitles. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with director Anurag Kashyap, actors Huma Qureshi and Richa Chaddha, composer Sneha Khanwalkar, lyricist Varun Grover, associate director Anubhuti Kashyap, and assistant director Neeraj Ghaywan; trailer. (Cinelicious Pics).

Goodbye to All That (2014) Paul Schneider, Anna Camp, Heather Graham, Amy Sedaris, Melanie Lynskey, Ashley Hinshaw. When his wife unexpectedly informs him that she wants a divorce, well-meaning but oblivious husband Otto Wall finds himself thrust back into bachelorhood. Cue a sequence of romantic encounters -- from reconnecting with a former crush to online dating -- where he searches for the real thing amidst a string of one night stands. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).

Here Is Your Life (1966) This mesmerizing debut by the great Swedish director Jan Troell ("The Emigrants," "The New Land") is an epic bildungsroman and a multilayered representation of early 20th century Sweden. Based on a series of semi-autobiographical novels by Nobel Prize winner Eyvind Johnson, "Here Is Your Life" follows a working-class boy's development, from naive teenager to intellectually curious young adult, from logger to movie projectionist to politically engaged man of the people -- all set against the backdrop of a slowly industrializing rural landscape. With its mix of modernist visual ingenuity and elegantly structured storytelling, this enchanting film -- presented here in its original nearly three-hour cut -- is a reminder that Troell is one of European cinema's greatest and most sensitive illuminators of the human condition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. New 2K digital restoration approved by the director, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New introduction by filmmaker Mike Leigh; new conversation between director Jan Troell and film historian Peter Cowie; new interviews with actor Eddie Axberg and producer and screenwriter Bengt Forslund; "Interlude in Marshland," a 1965 short film by Troell, starring Max von Sydow; essay by film scholar Mark Le Fanu. (The Criterion Collection).

Hiroshima mon amour (1959) A cornerstone of the French New Wave, the first feature from Alain Resnais is one of the most influential films of all time. A French actress ("Amour's" Emmanuelle Riva) and a Japanese architect ("Woman in the Dunes'" Eiji Okada) engage in a brief, intense affair in postwar Hiroshima, their consuming mutual fascination impelling them to exorcise their own scarred memories of love and suffering. With an innovative flashback structure and an Academy Award–nominated screenplay by novelist Marguerite Duras ("India Song"), "Hiroshima mon amour" is a moody masterwork that delicately weaves past and present, personal pain and public anguish. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Audio commentary by film historian Peter Cowie; interviews with Resnais from 1961 and 1980; interviews with actor Emmanuelle Riva from 1959 and 2003; new interview with film scholar Francois Thomas, author of "L'atelier d'Alain Resnais"; new interview with music scholar Tim Page about the film's score; "Revoir Hiroshima ...," a 2013 program about the film’s restoration; essay by critic Kent Jones and excerpts from a 1959 "Cahiers du cinema" roundtable discussion about the film. (The Criterion Collection).

Howling II BLU-RAY DEBUT (1985) Christopher Lee, Sybil Danning, Reb Brown. After newscaster Karen White's shocking on-screen transformation and violent death (in the original "Howling"), her brother Ben (Brown) is approached by Stefan Crosscoe (Lee), a mysterious man who claims that Karen has, in fact, become a werewolf. But this is the least of their worries: To save humankind, Stefan and Ben must travel to Transylvania to battle and destroy Stirba (Danning), the immortal queen of all werewolves, before she is restored to her full powers. Extras: Audio commentary with director Philippe Mora, audio commentary with composer Steve Parsons and editor Charles Bornstein, "Leading Man" interview with Reb Brown, "Queen of the Werewolves" interview with Danning, "A Monkey Phase interviews with special make-up effects artists Steve Johnson and Scott Wheeler, behind-the-scenes footage (from Philippe Mora’s archive), alternate opening and alternate ending (from Philippe Mora’s archive), theatrical trailer, still gallery. (Scream Factory).

It Follows (2015) Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Lili Sepe, Olivia Luccardi, Loren Bass, Bailey Spry, Daniel Zovatto. A young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after getting involved in a sexual encounter. Read more about "It Follows" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Critics' commentary hosted by Nerdist's Scott Weinberg and featuring Eric D. Snider (MovieBS), Britt Hayes (Screencrush), Samuel D. Zimmerman (Shock Till You Drop), Alison Nastasi (Flavorwire) and Eric Vespe (Ain't It Cool News); "A Conversation With Film Composer Disasterpeace" featurette, poster art gallery. (Radius-TWC/Anchor Bay).

The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) Klinton Spilsbury, Christopher Lloyd, Michael Horse. The untold story of the man behind the mask comes to life. When the ruthless bandit Butch Cavendish (Lloyd) ambushes a team of Texas Rangers, only John Reid (Spilsbury) survives. Enlisting the help of his childhood friend Tonto (Horse) and donning a mask, Reid saddles up a fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty "Hi-yo, Silver" -- and one of America's most beloved and enduring symbols of justice is born. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. (Timeless Media Group).

Little House on the Prairie: Season Six Deluxe Remastered Edition (1979-80) Five-disc set with all 24 newly restored, remastered and uncut broadcast length episodes. When Almanzo Wilder and his sister Eliza Jane move to Walnut Grove in the sixth season of this series, life will never be the same for Laura Ingalls. Highlights include Mary's stagecoach accident, Albert's challenging adoption, Nels' reunion with his circus sideshow sister, Laura and Mary's captivity by escaped convicts, the fatal fire at the school for the blind, Almanzo's unrequited marriage proposal to Laura and countless more must-see moments. Formats: DVD: $21.98, Blu-ray: $24.99. Extras: "The Little House Phenomenon - Part Six: "A Lasting Legacy." (Lionsgate).

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verastegui, Daniella Alonso, Neal McDonough, David Henrie, Shirley Knight. Paul Blart heads off to Las Vegas to attend a Security Guard Expo with his teenage daughter before she departs for college but he inadvertently discovers a heist and it's up to him to apprehend the criminals. Read more about "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Security Force: The Cast of Paul Blart 2" featurette, "How to Make a Movie" featurette. Blu-ray adds photo gallery, six deleted scenes, gag reel, six additional featurettes: "Action Adventure," "Back in the Saddle," "Le Reve" behind the scenes, "No Animals Were Harmed," "Sales Tactics," "Real Cops." (Sony).

Poltergeists: Real-Life Hauntings (1996-2008) Step into the paranormal world with this set of six HISTORY specials that explore the history of poltergeists, hauntings, exorcisms and other supernatural phenomena: "Poltergeist," "Hauntings," "Exorcism: Driving out the Devil," "Voodoo Secrets," "Ghosts" and "Salem Witch Trials." Two-disc set, $14.98. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

Red Knot (2014) Vincent Kartheiser, Olivia Thirlby, Billy Campbell. A modern exploration of love, isolation and the inescapable vastness of the natural world. A stunningly shot meditation on love and loss, New York newlyweds Peter (Kartheiser) and Chloe (Thirlby) fall into marital crisis while on a research vessel en route to Antarctica. As romantic bliss sours, Chloe takes comfort in the company of the ship's captain (Campbell), a man who has good reason for setting himself adrift. As they sail towards the end of the Earth, filmmaker Scott Cohen's astonishingly assured, elegantly shot debut passes into troubled, Polanski-indebted waters. Formats: DVD. Extras: Extra scenes. (Icarus Films).

The Salt of the Earth (2014) A captivating exploration of the life and work of world-renowned photographer Sebastiao Salgado, directed by Academy Award-nominee Wim Wenders and Salgado's son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. For the last 40 years, Salgado has been travelling through the continents in the footsteps of an ever-changing humanity. He has witnessed some of the major events of our recent history: international conflicts, starvation and exodus. He is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of wild fauna and flora, and of grandiose landscapes as part of a huge photographic project, which is a tribute to the planet's beauty. Salgado's life and work are revealed to us by his son, Juliano, who went with him during his last travels, and by Wenders, himself a photographer. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary with Wenders and Salgado, "Looking Back" featurette on the making of the film. (Sony).

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) Dir.: John Madden; Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel, Bill Nighy, Richard Gere, David Strathairn, Tina Desai, Ronald Pickup, Diana Hardcastle, Tamsin Greig, Celia Imrie. Now that his first venture has proven successful, ever-confident Sonny (Dev Patel) is busy juggling plans for a second resort, but it's making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai). Read more about "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Story," "Cast," "Returning to the Marigold Hotel," "Blossoming Relationships," "The Marigold Wedding," "Filming in India" featurettes; gallery. (Fox).

Stray Cat Rock Limited Edition (1970-71 -- Japan) The "Stray Cat Rock" series stars Meiko Kaji who, with these five films, began her reign as the bad-ass action queen of the era. In these five tales of rebellious youth she stars alongside the gorgeous Bunjaku Han and Tatsuya Fuji. In "Delinquent Girl Boss," a girl gang goes up against the Seiyu Group criminal organization. In "Wild Jumbo," Kaji and the gang get involved in a kidnapping and the robbery of a religious organization. In "Sex Hunter," Kaji's girl gang goes up against The Eagles, a group led by Fuji where sex and violence erupt over the treatment of "half-breeds." In "Machine Animal," gang rivalry is once again the focus with two gangs pursuing some LSD pushers looking to move a big score. The series swansong, "Beat '71," sees Kaji framed and sent to prison by her boyfriend's father. Directed by genre veterans Yasuharu Hasebe ("Massacre Gun," "Retaliation") and Toshiya Fujita ("Lady Snowblood"), the films feature a psychedelic mix of girl gangs, bikers, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll with plenty of ass-kicking to boot, all captured in a delirious mash-up of pop aesthetics including split screens, freeze frames, injections of color, frenetic editing and dizzying angles, making these films a riotous joy from beginning to end. Five-disc set, $69.95. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Interview with Yasuharu Hasebe (director of "Delinquent Girl Boss," "Sex Hunter" and "Machine Animal"), interview with actor Tatsuya Fuji, star of all five films, interview with actor Yoshio Harada, star of "Beat '71," original trailers, collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

WKRP In Cincinnati: Season Three (1980-81) Three-disc set with 21 episodes. The crew of Cincinnati's iconic radio station WKRP is back to bring you the hits you love, from rock 'n' roll to soul with Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) and Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid). Throw in quirky newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders), his ingenue Bailey (Jan Smithers), incompetent station manager Carlson (Gordon Jump), long-suffering program director Andy (Gary Sandy), slimeball ad man Herb (Frank Bonner) and bombshell receptionist Jennifer (Loni Anderson) and you have yourself a winning combination of classic tunes and laughter. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).

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July 21

Ancient Aliens: Season 7 (2014) Continues the exploration of unexplained events and phenomena as more and more information comes to light from the Earth's darkest recesses, evoking just as many questions. What supernatural lives will be revealed when "Underground Portals" explores the 10,000-year-old prehistoric artwork discovered in a cave in India? Despite extensive research, could the face of Giza's Great Sphinx prove to be older than once thought, and what otherworldly being might it actually represent in "Mysteries of the Sphinx." Moving through the Egyptian pyramids, Central American temples and Earth's enigmatic caves, this collection offers a detailed account of the mysteries of life that continue to elude us, while traveling across 75 million years of the most credible alien evidence right here on earth. Formats: Three-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-ray. (Lionsgate).

Cemetery Without Crosses (1969 -- Italy) Robert Hossein, Michele Mercier, Serge Marquand. Dedicated to director Sergio Leone. A Gallic spin on the Spaghetti Western formula thanks to its star and creator, Robert Hossein (best-known to English-speaking audiences for his role in Jules Dassin's "Rififi"). After her husband is lynched by bandits, Michele Mercier (Mario Bava's "Black Sabbath") seeks revenge and turns to an old friend, played by Hossein, for help. A solitary figure who lives in a ghost town and dons a single black glove before each gunfight, Hossein is initially reluctant but soon infiltrates the widow's enemies to force a showdown. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: "Remembering Sergio," a new interview with star and director Robert Hossein, filmed exclusively for this release; French television news report on the film's making, containing interviews with Hossein, and actors Michele Mercier and Serge Marquand; archive interview with Hossein; trailers; reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by James Flames; illustrated collector's booklet containing new writing by Ginette Vincendeau and Rob Young. (Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment).

I Am FEMEN (2014) They are known around the world as the topless female activists who fight corrupt and patriarchal political systems. Their weapon of choice is their bodies -- which they place front and center in protests around the streets of Kiev, where the group began, and all across Europe. Oksana Shachko is FEMEN's creative backbone. As a teenager, her fascination with religious painting led her to consider entering a convent, but in the end she used her many talents to create FEMEN and devoted herself to a life of activism. With "I am FEMEN," director Alain Margot paints a portrait of the bewitching and many-faceted Oksana, while also revealing the stories of the brave young women around her who put their bodies on the front line in the fight for justice and equality. In English & Russian w/ English subtitles. Packaged in certified Green Forestry eco pack. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).

The Jokesters (2015) Nathan Reid, Gabriel Tigerman, Luis Jose Lopez, Dante Spencer, Jen Yeager. "Found footage" horror film. The "Prankmasters" are an internet sensation a la Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew, who decide to take it to the extreme for their series finale. When the leader of the group announces that he's getting married and leaving the group and the pranks behind, the rest of the members decide to pull off one final stunt that turns into a "Cabin in the Woods" nightmare on their friend's honeymoon. What happens next is a descent into terror. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Unedited trailer, on-set pranks and hijinks, behind the scenes and making of featurettes. (Random Media).

Kung Fu Killer (2014 -- Hong Kong) Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang, Louis Fan, Charlie Yeung. A vicious killer stalks the streets of Hong Kong, methodically executing top martial arts competitors. Xia (Yen), a convicted killer and kung fu expert, offers to help police find the killer and put him behind bars -- in return for his own freedom. The killer eludes them again and again, taunting the cops -- and Xia, his new target -- to discover his next moves. Xia refuses to play his lethal game…until the killer threatens the woman he loves most. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Four behind-the-scenes featurettes, trailer. (Well Go USA).

Love Unto Death and Life Is a Bed of Roses Two 1980s masterworks by visionary French auteur Alain Resnais starring Cesar Award Winner Fanny Ardant, paired on double-disc Blu-ray and DVD Sets. As a leading member of the French New Wave, Resnais transformed cinema with such landmarks as "Hiroshima Mon Amour," "Last Year at Marienbad" and "Muriel." Continuing through the decades to expand the vocabulary of cinema, Resnais followed his acclaimed drama/documentary hybrid "Mon Oncle d'Amerique" with these thematically linked but tonally divergent films. In "Life Is a Bed of Roses" (1983), Resnais pays tribute to three influential French filmmakers: Georges Melies, Marcel L'Herbier and Eric Rohmer. The film interweaves three stories from different eras but all sharing the same location, the Ardennes Forest. In legendary times, the infant son of a murdered king grows up to slay a dragon, rescue a maiden and reclaim his kingdom. In 1914, a wealthy count announces his plan to build a magnificent castle for himself and the family he intends to have with the woman he loves, but the onset of World War I changes everything. In the 1980s, the count's dream castle has been turned into an institute dedicated to advancing educational techniques, where an array of delegates convene only to break off into ideological disputes. These stories, punctuated by episodes of song, come together in what Sight & Sound called "a delicious celebration of imaginative possibility and narrative cunning." In "Love Unto Death" (1984), Resnais again employs music (by Hans Werner Henze) in a unique way -- as a fifth character in an intense chamber piece centering on two couples. Simon, an archaeologist, and Elisabeth are deeply in love, but the sudden death and miraculous revival of Simon throws their life into turmoil. Eventually, Elisabeth turns to another couple, both ministers, to find meaning in her own deeply altered life. The films' stars include Ardant, Andre Dussollier, Sabine Azema, Pierre Arditi, Vittorio Gassman, Geraldine Chaplin, Ruggero Raimondi, Jean Daste. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary for both films by critics Wade Major and Andy Klein as well as 2014 theatrical rerelease trailers. (Cohen Media Group).

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) Stephen Frears was at the forefront of the British cinematic revival of the mid-1980s, and the delightfully transgressive "My Beautiful Laundrette" is his greatest triumph of the period. Working from a richly layered script by writer Hanif Kureishi, soon to be internationally renowned, Frears tells an uncommon love story that takes place between a young South London Pakistani man (Gordon Warnecke), who decides to open an upscale laundromat to make his family proud, and his childhood friend, a skinhead (Daniel Day-Lewis, in a breakthrough role), who volunteers to help make his dream a reality. This culture-clash comedy is also a subversive work of social realism, which dares to address racism, homophobia, and sociopolitical marginalization in Margaret Thatcher's England. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. New, restored 2K digital transfer, supervised by director of photography Oliver Stapleton, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: New conversation between director Stephen Frears and producer Colin MacCabe; new interviews with writer Hanif Kureishi, producers Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe, and Stapleton; trailer; an essay by journalist Sarfraz Manzoor. (The Criterion Collection).

Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery (2015) Starchild, Demon, Catman and Spaceman join everyone's favorite teen sleuths in a new, musical adventure in which the Mystery Inc. gang travels to KISS World, an amusement park dedicated to the band, for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group -- where they discover that the Crimson Witch has come to KISS World to summon The Destroyer, an evil being from the alternate dimension of Kissteria, to destroy the earth. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Warner).

Seeds of Yesterday (2015) The fourth and final installment of Lifetime's "Flowers in the Attic" film series. The four-part Dollanganger tale -- starring Heather Graham and Jason Lewis -- comes to a dramatic conclusion as the sins of the past rise to the surface: The Dollangangers continue to coexist miserably, as their deeply troubled relationships, dark secrets and tragedies come to a head in a way that will haunt the family and its progeny forever. Based on the best-selling V.C. Andrews book series. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).

Tangerines (2014 -- Estonia, Georgia) A story of awakening humanity in the midst of violence, told with intimacy and elegance by writer-director Zaza Urushadze. "Tangerines" is the spare, yet haunting tale of an older Estonian man who cares for two wounded soldiers from opposite sides of the 1990s-era war in Georgia. The film reveals compassion to be the ultimate response to centuries of political, cultural and ethnic conflict. Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. In Estonian, Russian & Georgian with English subtitles. Formats: DVD. (First Run Features).

What We Do in the Shadows (2015 -- New Zealand) Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford, Ben Fransham. Smart and witty send-up that follows an endearingly unhip quartet of vampires: Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav, who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane—like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming roommate conflicts. Read more about "What We Do in the Shadows" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Commentary by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, "Behind the Shadows," deleted scenes, video extras, interviews, promo videos, poster gallery. (The Orchard/Paramount).

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July 28

Comet (2014) Justin Long, Emmy Rossum. Set in a parallel universe, "Comet" bounces back and forth over the course of an unlikely but perfectly paired couple's six-year relationship. When a chance encounter brings together the cynical Dell (Long) and the quick-witted Kimberly (Rossum), the stage is set for a tempestuous love affair that unfolds like a puzzle. As the film zigzags back and forth in time from a meteor shower in L.A., to an encounter in a Paris hotel room, to a fateful phone call, an unforgettable portrait of a relationship emerges. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).

Four Blood Moons (2015) Screen Adaptation of John Hagee's investigative best seller exploring the biblical connection to a modern-day series of lunar eclipses. Docudrama combines scripture, science, history and big-screen live action spanning centuries to examine our current blood moon cycle -- and its possible meaning for Israel, the Middle East and the world. An array of historians, religious scholars and commentators appear in the film and offer their insights. It is rare that science, history and scripture align with each other, yet the last three series of Four Blood Moons have done exactly that. The so-called Blood Moon Prophecy states that an ongoing tetrad (a series of four consecutive lunar eclipses -- coinciding on Jewish holidays -- with six full moons in between, and no intervening partial lunar eclipses) that began with the April 2014 lunar eclipse is a sign of the end times as described in the Bible in Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12. Are these the "signs" that God refers to in the Bible? If they are, what do they mean? What is their significance for us today? Formats: DVD, Digital. (Virgil Films).

Ghost Town (1988) Franc Luz, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Catherine Hickland, Bruce Glover. When a modern-day sheriff's deputy is lured to a desolate, spooky ghost town in search of a missing woman, he comes face-to-face with a malevolent spirit from the town's past. The spell of death and suffering over the undead townspeople must end to set them free from eternal pain. The horrors of a possessed outlaw, in a time-suspended dimension, are only the setting for a frightening battle for the mind, nerves and flesh. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. (Scream Factory).

Helix: The Complete Second Season (2015) Three-disc set with 13 episodes. Season Two of the sci-fi thriller returns with the team leaving behind the Arctic Biosystems base and investigating a deadly outbreak of a new disease on a Windjammer cruise ship. The CDC’s investigation leads them to an island inhabited by a cult with the hope of creating a Utopian society. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes. (Sony).

Home (2015) Voices of Rihanna, Jim Parsons, Steve Martin, Jennifer Lopez. When Earth is taken over by the overly-confident Boov, an alien race in search of a new place to call home, all humans are promptly relocated, while all Boov get busy reorganizing the planet. But when one resourceful girl, Tip (Rihanna), manages to avoid capture, she finds herself the accidental accomplice of a banished Boov named Oh (Jim Parsons). The two fugitives realize there's a lot more at stake than intergalactic relations as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 3D Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). (Fox/DreamWorks).

Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites - Season 6 (1989-90) It's the end of the proverbial DVD line for Mama, as "Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites, Season Six" marks the final release in the fan-favorite sitcom franchise starring Vicki Lawrence as the irascible Thelma "Mama" Harper. But Mama will not go silently into the good night, as this installment features the six greatest episodes from the final season of the series as hand-selected by Lawrence herself, including: "Mama Fights Back," "Bubba's House Band," "The Big Nap," "Pinup Mama," "Look Who's Breathing" and "Bye-Bye - Baby!" Formats: DVD, $12.98. (Time Life).

Our Daily Poison (2011) According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of cancer has doubled over the last 30 years. Over this period, the increase in leukemia and brain tumors in children has been around 2 percent per year. The WHO has observed a similar trend for neurological diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's) and autoimmune disorders, and for reproduction dysfunctions. What explanations can be found for this worrying epidemic? Haunted by that question, investigative reporter Marie-Monique Robin (winner of the Albert-Londres Prize and author of the acclaimed book "Our Daily Poison") launches an in-depth investigation into everyday products and the system charged with regulating them. Robin digs through the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) archives, manages to talk her way into secret meetings, and interview regulators and respected researchers throughout Europe and North America. The result is this shocking documentary film that reveals a broken safety system concerned more with protecting trade secrets than human health. The film shows that the main cause of the epidemic is environmental: It is the result of the 100,000 chemicals that have invaded our environment, and primarily our food, since the end of the Second World War. Formats: DVD. (Icarus Films).

3 Hearts (2014 -- France) Benoit Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve. A tax inspector, his new bride and her sister become entwined in a love triangle. One night in provincial France, Marc meets Sylvie after missing his train back to Paris. Instantly and intensely drawn to one another, they wander through the streets until morning in rare, almost choreographed, harmony. A thwarted plan for a second meeting sends each in a separate direction -- Sylvie reunites with her ex and leaves France; Marc falls in love and marries. What neither knows is that Marc's new bride is Sylvie's sister, Sophie. Upon Sylvie's return to France, the spark between her and Marc is reignited in ways that will forever alter the relationships between sister to sister and husband to wife. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Cohen Media Group).

Water Diviner (2015) Dir.: Russell Crowe; Russell Crowe Olga Kurylenko, Yilmaz Erdogan, Cem Yilmaz, Jai Courtney, Ryan Corr, James Fraser, Ben O’Toole, Jacqueline McKenzie, Isabel Lucas. An Australian man travels to Turkey in 1919 after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons. Read more about "Water Diviner" in the July Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: "The Making of The Water Diviner," "The Battle of Gallipoli" featurette. (Warner).

White God (2014) A cautionary tale about our supposed "superiority" over the "lesser beasts." A new set of Hungarian laws favor pedigree and purebred dogs, placing a severe tax on those who own mixed breeds. These laws have real consequences, especially for 13-year-old Lili (Zsofia Psotta). Already a pawn from her parent's bitter divorce, she can't understand why her dog, Hagen, is less important than other dogs. When her enraged father leaves Hagen in the streets, heartbroken Lili sets out to find him. Meanwhile, Hagen is captured and sent to the pound where he seizes an opportunity to escape and rebel against the human race. Meanwhile, all the unwanted, unloved and so-called "unfit" dogs rise up under a new leader, Hagen, the one-time house pet who has learned all too well from his "Masters" in his journey through the streets and animal control centers how to bite the hands that beat him. Winner of the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: "Behind the Scenes of White God," interview with writer-director Kornel Mundruczo, interview with animal coordinator/technical advisor Teresa Ann Miller. (Magnolia Home 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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July 12, 2015
(ISSN 1094-3676).