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OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
The Amazing Catfish
(2013 -- Mexico/France) Lisa Owen, Ximena Ayala, Sonia Franco, Wendy Guillen. A heartwarming tale of two unique women who bond while recuperating in a hospital. Martha, a mother of four rambunctious and imaginative children, finds solace when she meets the younger woman, Claudia, and quickly the two build a strong relationship. When Martha invites Claudia to live with her family, Claudia unwittingly takes on the responsibility of becoming a surrogate mother to Martha's children. Formats: DVD. (Strand Releasing).
At War With the Army
(1950) Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mike Kellin, Polly Bergen, Jimmie Dundee, Dick Stabile. In typical Martin and Lewis style, Martin plays the ladies' man with a crooner’s voice while Lewis brings on the laughter in the duo's first starring roles on the silver screen in the classic, song-and gag-filled comedy that has them enlisting in the army. Formats: DVD. (Film Chest Media).
Babar and the Adventures of Badou: Gone Wild
(2014) After 80 celebrated years, Jean de Brunhoff's iconic tales of Babar gets a CGI update with these eight episodes featuring Babar's 8-year-old grandson, Badou, as he grows up, makes new friends and immerses himself in exciting adventures. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
The Big Chill
(1983) After the shocking suicide of their friend, a group of thirtysomethings reunite for his funeral and end up spending a weekend together, reminiscing about their shared pasts as children of the sixties and confronting the uncertainty of their lives as adults of the eighties. Poignant and warmly humorous in equal measure, this 1983 babyboomer milestone made a star of writer-director Lawrence Kasdan and is perhaps the decade's defining ensemble film, featuring memorable performances by Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly and JoBeth Williams. And with its playlist of hit songs from the sixties, "The Big Chill" all but invented the consummately curated soundtrack. New, restored 4K digital film transfer, supervised by cinematographer John Bailey and approved by Kasdan, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Alternate remastered 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Dual Format Edition. Extras: Reunion with cast and crew, including Kasdan, Berenger, Close, Kline, Place, Tilly and Williams, from the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival; documentary from 1998 on the making of the film; deleted scenes; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by writer, director, and actor Lena Dunham. (The Criterion Collection).
Bubble Guppies: Get Ready For School!
(2014) TShe Bubble Guppies discover that school is a great place to learn, play and meet new friends in these six new episodes; $16.99. Formats: DVD. Extras: Bubble Guppies music video "Pencil Case!" a spoof of Lady Gaga's hit song "Poker Face"; free Bubble Guppies pencil case while supplies last. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
Curtains
(1983) John Vernon, Samantha Eggar, Lesleh Donaldson, Lynne Griffin. Horror classic from the golden age of the slasher genre in which six young actresses auditioning for a movie role at a remote mansion are targeted by a mysterious masked murderer. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Ultimate Nightmare: The Making of Curtains Retrospective," audio commentary with stars Lesleh Donaldson and Lynne Griffin, interviews with producer Peter R. Simpson and Samantha Eggar, theatrical trailer. (Synapse Films/CAV Distributing).
The Den
(2013) Melanie Papalia, David Schlachtenhaufen. A young woman studying the habits of webcam chat users from the apparent safety of her apartment witnesses a brutal murder online and is quickly immersed in a nightmare in which she and her loved ones are targeted for the same grisly fate as the first victim. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
The Eagle: Season 1
(2004) Nicknamed "The Eagle" for his unerring intuition, detective Hallgrim Hallgrimsson exudes competence and self-assurance but beneath the façade is a tormented personality. Pulled off a plane as he’s going to visit his dying mother in Iceland, Hallgrimsson learns that he's been selected to lead a team of Danish investigators gathered to stem the explosion of European cross-border organized crime. The group takes on the infiltration of organized crime into the state institutions, banks and social strata of Europe and Scandinavia. In Danish with English subtitles. Two-disc set with eight episodes. Formats: DVD. (MHz Home Entertainment).
Finding Vivian Maier
(2013) A documentary on the late Vivian Maier, a nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs earned her a posthumous reputation as one the most accomplished street photographers of the 20th century. Since buying her work by chance at auction, amateur historian John Maloof has crusaded to put this prolific photographer in the history books. Maier's strange and riveting life and art are revealed through never-before-seen photographs, films, and interviews with dozens who thought they knew her. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
The French Minister
(2013 -- France) Dir.: Bertrand Tavernier; Thierry Lhermitte, Raphael Personnaz. A hilarious send-up of diplomacy and international politics with rapid-fire dialogue and a brilliant ensemble cast. A human whirlwind and a man confident in France's importance on the world stage, Foreign Affairs Minster Alexandre Taillard de Vorms takes on American neo-cons, corrupt Russians and the opportunistic Chinese while his hapless speech writer endures the eccentricities of his megalomaniacal boss and his sycophantic entourage. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Frontline: United States of Secrets
(2014) When NSA contractor Edward Snowden downloaded tens of thousands of top-secret documents from a highly secure government network, it led to the largest leak of classified information in history -- and sparked a fierce debate over privacy, technology and democracy in the post-9/11 world. This documentary goes behind the headlines to reveal the dramatic inside story of how the U.S. government came to monitor and collect the communications of millions of people around the world -- including ordinary Americans -- and the lengths they went to trying to hide the massive surveillance program from the public. Formats: DVD, $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Grace Kelly Collection
Six-disc set with "Mogambo" (1953), "Dial M for Murder" (1954), "The Country Girl" (1954), "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" (1954), "High Society" (1956) and "To Catch a Thief" (1955).
Formats: DVD, $34.96. Extras: Rarely seen TV interview "Princess Grace
Legendary
(2013) Scott Adkins, Dolph Lundgren, Huang Yi, Nathan Lee, James Lance. Action-adventure about the battle between two rivals to capture a mythical creature that shouldn't exist in China's hinterland -- a wild animal that the locals believe to be a primeval monster they call the "Shocate." Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Making of Legendary" featurette. (Lionsgate).
Lullaby
(2014) Garrett Hedlund, Richard Jenkins, Amy Adams, Jessica Brown Findlay, Anne Archer, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Barden. A man who's estranged from his family receives word that his father has chosen to take himself off life support within 48 hours; he returns home to reconcile with his family and his life. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
Midsomer Murders, Set 24
(2012-13) Three mysteries that take place in the cozy villages of Midsomer County make their North American DVD and Blu-ray debuts: "Written in the Stars" (The death of an amateur astronomer during a total eclipse of the sun shines light into some dark corners of the star-gazing community in Midsomer Stanton), "The Sicilian Defence" (In which star-crossed lovers and championship chess intersect as the detectives search for a killer who leaves a chess notation at the scene of the crime) and "Schooled in Murder" (In which a series of gruesome murders appears to be related to secret plans to modernize the dairy that produces the famous Midsomer Blue). Three-disc DVD: $39.99, two-disc Blu-ray: $49.99. (Acorn Media).
Nicolas Le Floch
(2008) Four-disc set with five episodes of the detective series set in 1761 Paris. Brilliant young Parisian police commissioner Nicolas Le Floch works under Monsieur de Sartine, the Royal Lieutenant General of Police. Louis XV's kingdom is plagued by conspiracies and murders. With the help of his faithful subordinate Bourdeau, Nicolas solves mysterious disappearances and sorts out awkward scandals. From seedy taverns to the muffled hallways of Versailles, from brothels to the Chatelet prisons, he tracks and stakes out suspects, questions witnesses, gathers evidence, foils traps, and unveils plotters. In French with English subtitles.
Formats: DVD. (MHz Home Entertainment).
Noah
(2014) Dir.: Darren Aronofsky; Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman, Nick Nolte. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray extras: Three behind-the-scenes featurettes: "Iceland: Extreme Beauty," "The Ark Exterior: A Battle for 300 Cubits" and "The Ark Interior: Animals Two By Two." (Paramount).
On My Way
(2013 -- France) Catherine Deneuve, Nemo Schiffman, Gerard Garouste, Camille, Claude Gensac. Now in her early sixties, former beauty queen Bettie (Catherine Deneuve) finds herself jilted by her lover and left alone to deal with the financial problems facing her family's restaurant. What begins as a quick drive to clear her head turns into a full-fledged road trip. Along the way there are chance meetings, an ex-Miss France gala, renewed ties with her estranged daughter and grandson, and possibly, at the end of the road, love. In French with English subtitles. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Cohen Media Group).
The Ong Bak Trilogy
(2003-2008-2010) Tony Jaa stars in this three-part epic tale of revenge.
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: ((Magnet Label/Magnolia Home Entertainment).
The Other Woman
(2014) Director: Nick Cassavetes. Stars: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kate Upton, Nicki Minaj, Don Johnson. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Gag reel, "Giggle Fit," gallery. Blu-ray adds deleted scenes. (Fox).
Secret State
(2013) Gabriel Byrne delivers a spellbinding performance as British deputy prime minister Tom Dawkins, who is thrust into a world of political machinations and conspiracy he never knew existed in this terrific British political thriller. The four-part series follows Dawkins along a quest for the truth that is tainted by financial, diplomatic, and personal issues that include a banking scandal, impending war, and his most personal secrets being exploited by a journalist. Co-stars Charles Dance, Gina McKee, Rupert Graves, Stephen Dillane. Formats: Two-disc DVD, $39.99. (Acorn Media).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Cowabunga Classics
(2014) Collection of the "Top 10" rated episodes by fans as found on TV.com. Timed to the new theatrical release of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and the 30th anniversary of the entire TMNT franchise, $14.98.Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "The Turtles: A Ninjatastic Look Back," exclusive artist interviews, "A Shellabration of Fan-Nomenon Sensation: Devoted and Die-Hard TMNT Fans Speak!" (Lionsgate).
Twin Peaks - The Entire Mystery
This comprehensive 10-disc box set contains every episode from the complete television series (1990-91); both the U.S. and international versions of the series' pilot; the North American Blu-ray debut of David Lynch's follow-up feature "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me"; and nearly 90 minutes of
Without Warning
(1980) Jack Palance, Martin Landau, Tarah Nutter, Christopher S. Nelson, Cameron Mitchell,
Neville Brand, Sue Ane Langdon, Ralph Meeker, Larry Storch. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. A group of teenagers head out to a lake for a relaxing camping trip in the mountains but things go terribly wrong when they run into an extraterrestrial who throws deadly discs that suck the blood of their victims. The group heads back to the local truck stop for help from the eclectic group of residents -- a crazy war veteran (Martin Landau) and a determined hunter (Jack Palance). Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Audio commentary with producer/director Greydon Clark; new interviews with cinematographer Dean Cundey, co-writer/co-producer Daniel Grodnik, special make-up effects creator Greg Cannom and actors Christopher S. Nelson and Tarah Nutter; theatrical trailer; still gallery. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Revisited BLU-RAY DEBUT
(1970) The four-hour Director's Cut of the Oscar-winning documentary about the landmark music event that featured some of the greatest rock 'n' roll performers in history. This latest release will contain the complete "40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition" plus brand new concert footage from Jefferson Airplane, Joan Baez, Santana, The Who and more. There are new premiums -- a reproduction of Woodstock Festival tickets and articles from Life Magazine and The New York Times -- in addition to a re-issue of the Woodstock logo iron-on patch. Extras: "Woodstock: Untold Stories" 18 performances; "Woodstock: From Festival to Feature" interviews about the sights and sounds of the three-day event, from concertgoers, promoters, crew and musicians. The bonus material from the original UCE contained two hours of performance footage as well as a featurette gallery showcasing interviews with Martin Scorsese, Michael Lang, director Michael Wadleigh, Hugh Hefner, Eddie Kramer (the concert's original chief on-site engineer and producer-engineer for Jimi Hendrix) and others who chronicle the making of the festival and the film. Included are such segments as "3 Days in a Truck," "No Rain! No Rain!" and "Living Up to Idealism." (Warner).
Noah
Director Darren Aronofsky kicked up quite a storm with his semi-revisionist take on the biblical tale of Noah and the Ark. Much to the chagrin of bible-thumpers, Aronofsky humanized Noah and his struggle to understand why he was chosen by his creator to undertake the great task of saving animal species before an apocalyptic flood destroyed the world (he also altered the biblical tale by introducing The Watchers, fallen angels turned to stone golems for helping humans expelled from the Garden of Eden and who now help Noah build his ark). At the other end of the creationism divide, it's easy to acknowledge "Noah" as a literary work of art, but it's harder to accept the weak acting (especially by Jennifer Connelly as Noah's wife, Naameh, and Emma Watson as Ila, Shem's wife) and at-times sluggish pace. Russell Crowe as Noah is just perfect as the stubborn and tenacious keeper of the world's animals; his anger at his creator for not giving him guidance is palpable. Also along for the ride is Anthony Hopkins (in a by-now-typical role as a wise old man -- here as Methuselah) and Ray Winstone as an evil descendent of Cain who wants to makeover the world in his own profane image. Metaphors abound in this watchable -- if not totally enthralling -- CGI spectacle.
Blu-ray extras: Three behind-the-scenes featurettes: "Iceland: Extreme Beauty," "The Ark Exterior: A Battle for 300 Cubits" and "The Ark Interior: Animals Two By Two."
Vitals: Director: Darren Aronofsky. Stars: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman, Nick Nolte.
2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 137 min., Drama, Box office gross: $99.877 million, Paramount.
The Other Woman
New York attorney Carly Whitten (Cameron Diaz) is nobody’s fool. So when she accidentally discovers that her too-good-to-be-true boyfriend Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is married, she's less than thrilled. Not only that, she and Mark's wife Kate (Leslie Mann) learn about yet another mistress (Kate Upton). Before long, however, the betrayed women have become unlikely pals who've decided to teach their three-timing man a lesson. The more the trio learns about Mark, the worse he seems, and the more fun they have without him as they plot mutual revenge.
Extras: Gag reel, "Giggle Fit," gallery. Blu-ray adds deleted scenes.
Vitals: Director: Nick Cassavetes. Stars: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kate Upton, Nicki Minaj, Don Johnson.
2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 109 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $81.112 million, Fox.
Adventure Time: Princess Day
(2014) What time is it? It’s princess time featuring Cartoon Network's all-new on-air special and DVD release. This eponymous, never-before-seen episode will be released two days before it debuts on Cartoon Network on Thursday, July 31 at 7:00 p.m. In the royalty-filled episode, it's Princess Day in Ooo! You know what that means? Yep, Lumpy Space Princess and Marceline team up to prank Breakfast Princess. In addition to the title episode, the single-disc volume includes a collection of 15 additional episodes that prominently feature fan-favorite Adventure Time princesses like Lumpy Space Princess, Princess Bubblegum, Hot Dog Princess, Flame Princess and many more. Formats: DVD, $19.82 (Cartoon Network).
Cuban Fury
(2014) Nick Frost, Rashida Jones, Chris O'Dowd, Olivia Colman, Ian McShane, Kayvan Novak. It's 1987 and poised to sweep the floor at the U.K. Junior Salsa Championships, 13-year-old Bruce Garrett has fire in his heels and the world at his feet ... until one fateful night, a freakish bullying incident robs him of his confidence and diverts his life down a very different path. 25 years later, having locked away his boyhood dreams, shabby, overweight Bruce (Nick Frost) finds himself unloved and emotionally inert, with the passionate beating heart of a salsa king laying dormant. It takes the arrival of Julia (Rashida Jones), his smart, funny, gorgeous new American boss, that forces him to re-examine his dull existence. She's way out of his league, but with his loyal sister, childhood dance mentor, and crazy new amateur salsa pal, Bruce tries to unshackle his dancing beast, regain his long lost fury and claim the love of his life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Four behind-the-scenes featurettes, "How to Dance Salsa With Nick Frost," more. (Entertainment One).
Dragonwolf
(2013 -- Thailand) Kazu Patrick Tang, Johan Kirsten, Macha Polivka. In the Devil's Cauldron -- a city of depravity and violence, where only the lethal survive -- two hit men rule the streets, feared by all but loyal to one another. When a beautiful woman seduces them both, they turn on each other, igniting an epic battle that may bring the city to the brink of destruction. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. (Well Go USA).
Five Dances
(2013) Ryan Steele, Reed Luplau, Catherine Miller. Staged by acclaimed choreographer Jonah Bokaer, the film focuses on a newly arrived to new York City 18-year-old Kansas innocent who discovers love, friendship and an awareness of his physical gifts during strenuous modern dance rehearsals. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (Wolfe Video).
de Monaco: A Moment in Time" conducted by Pierre Salinger less than 10 days before her death; collectible series of art cards, photos and memorabilia. (Warner).
My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: The Keys of Friendship
(2014) Five episodes from the HUB TV Network kids series about Twilight Sparkle and her friends in Ponyville and the true meaning and value of friendship, $14.97. Formats: DVD. Extras: Sing-along. (Shout! Factory Kids).
1 Chance 2 Dance
(2014) Lexi Giovagnoli, Justin Ray, Ray Latt. When a 17-year old aspiring dancer is uprooted mid-semester of her senior year, she finds herself whisked away from Los Angeles to a small East Coast high school where her heart is divided between two boys, and she has one last shot at making her big dream of becoming a dancer a reality. Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
The Protector 2
(2013 -- Thailand) Tony Jaa, RZA, Petchtai Wongkamlao, JeeJa Yanin. When Boss Suchart is murdered, all evidence points to Kham (Tony Jaa). Forced to run as he fights to clear his name, he's hunted not only by the police, but also Boss Suchart's revengeful twin nieces and crime lord LC (RZA). Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Magnet Label/Magnolia Home Entertainment).
deleted and alternate scenes from the film. The set also features newly transferred Log Lady introductions for each episode; picture upgrades to many shots in the TV series; a new featurette with Lynch and the actors who portrayed the Palmer family that includes a mesmerizing return to the lives of their characters today; and hours of never-before-released material that dives into the fascinating story behind the celebrated pop culture classic. Along with the newly transferred version of "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me," created from a 4K scan of the original negative, the box set boasts the long-awaited missing pieces from the original version of the film -- nearly an hour-and-a-half of deleted/alternate scenes from -– often referred to as the "holy grail" of Twin Peaks fandom. This feature-length experience has been directed and edited by Lynch exclusively for this release. Capping off more than 30 deleted/alternate scenes is an epilogue providing a fascinating glimpse beyond the cliffhanger finale of the TV series. All with upgraded picture and 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio under the personal supervision of Lynch. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Two-part feature "Between Two Worlds" in which Lynch interviews the Palmer family (Leland, Sarah and daughter Laura) about their current existence in this life and the next, and follows up with a 
discussion with the actors who portray them; "Moving Through Time: Fire Walk With Me Memories," a retrospective documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew who recount the making of the Twin Peaks movie and working with Lynch; Log Lady episode introductions; newly discovered deleted scenes and outtakes from the television series; three Twin Peaks photo galleries with more than 130 behind-the-scenes images from Lynch's personal collection; 10 vignettes of iconic Twin Peaks themes called "Atmospherics," each featuring a unique montage of music, dialogue and video (including some rare outtakes) that appear as both menu backgrounds and as their own textless experience to further immerse fans in the mysterious world of Twin Peaks; a massive collection of pre-existing special features. $109.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Read the entire press release here.
Lynch made a very special "Save the Date" card exclusively for this release.
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July 27, 2014
(ISSN 1094-3676).
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