New to View: Sept. 27
By Bob Bloom
The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, Sept. 27, unless otherwise noted:
Central Intelligence: Unrated (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2016, Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13, crude and suggestive humor, action violence, nudity, language
The lowdown: Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart star in this action comedy about a geeky high-school student who was bullied and grows up to be a top CIA agent (Johnson) and the former big man on campus (Hart) who had protected him in the day, and now is a reluctant helper to his old friend.
Hart’s Calvin, now an accountant, is dragged through a series of dangerous encounters, shoot-outs and espionage that could get him and his Johnson’s Bob killed.
Hart basically plays straight man to Johnson’s he-man agent.
The Blu-ray features the theatrical and unrated versions of the movie.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and, theatrical version only, English 5.1 Dolby digital audio description track and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus materials include a Mike Sale rated and unrated featurette, rated and unrated alternate scenes, a rated and unrated line-o-rama, a dance off, a couch time lapse and a rated and unrated gag reel.
The Shallows (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2016, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, intense sequences, bloody images, language
The lowdown: Blake Lively stars in this thriller as a surfer at a secluded beach who finds herself on the feeding grounds of a great white shark.
She is stranded on a small piece of land 200 yards offshore and must use her wit and courage to outwit her deadly opponent to make her way to safety.
This is one of those movies that will hold you at the edge of your seat until the finale.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 audio description track and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a featurette on the building the movie’s shark, deleted scenes, a making of featurette, a featurette on finding the perfect location and a “When Sharks Attack” featurette.
Warcraft (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2016, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, intense action and fantasy violence
The lowdown: This feature, based on the popular video game, centers on the kingdom of Azeroth, which stands on the brink of war from an invasion by orc warriors who want to flee their dying home world to colonize Azeroth.
Soon, an unlikely alliance is forged to battle the fearsome invaders and save the world.
The movie has a “Lord of the Rings” vibe, but cannot lift itself out of the shadows of Peter Jackson’s trilogy.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby digital audio descriptive track and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 Dolby digital audio descriptive track; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Supplemental offerings include deleted and extended scenes, an origin story, a gag reel, a look at the “Warcraft” fan base, a behind-the-scenes look at the movie’s magical special effects, a “World of Warcraft” featurette, a motion comic, a Madame Tussands experience and a 2013 “Warcraft” teaser.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Details: 2016, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, violent content, mature themes, language
The lowdown: A comedy with some heart about Ricky, a young city kid who has been shuffled from foster home to foster home, who finally finds a safe haven in the New Zealand countryside with Aunt Bella and Uncle Hec.
When tragedy strikes and his new home is threatened, Ricky and Hec head for the bush, triggering a national manhunt that brands them outlaws and puts their lives in jeopardy.
The movie stars Sam Neill as Hec and Julian Dennsion as Ricky.
This is one of the few movies to receive a 100 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.
Technical aspects: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a blooper reel, behind-the-scenes featurette and a commentary track.
Edge of Winter
Details: 2016, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: R, violence, language
The lowdown: A recently divorced father (“Suicide Squad’s” Joel Kinnaman) who has been recently laid off from his job, wants to spend more time with his sons.
He takes them on what is supposed to be a day trip to teach the boys how to shoot. But the day turns into a nightmare when they become stranded in the woods.
They retreat to an isolated cabin (is there any other kind in these types of films) where dad slowly becomes unhinged as he thinks about losing custody of the boys.
The boys — played by Tom Holland and Percy Hynes White — realize they must now protect themselves from their erstwhile protector.
Technical aspects: 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, Chinese (traditional), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai subtitles.
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls: Special Edition (Blu-ray)
Details: 1970, The Criterion Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Russ Meyer directed this big-budget satire, financed by 20th Century Fox, with a screenplay by film critic Roger Ebert, that follows three aspiring young female rockers going Hollywood.
The trio falls under the spell of a sleazy producer whose decadent lifestyle serves as a showcase for Meyer’s cinematic sexual exuberance.
The film is not to be taken seriously. It is an exploitation romp made on a big studio budget.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include two commentary tracks, including one from 2003 featuring Ebert; an interview with filmmaker John Waters; a 1988 episode of “The Incredibly Strange Film Show” on Meyer; a 1992 question-and-answer session about the movie featuring Meyer, Ebert and several cast members; a 2005 interview with cast members; five documentaries about the making of the movie; screen tests; and a booklet with essays and other articles about the film.
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders: The First Season (DVD + Ultraviolet)
Release date: Sept. 20
Details: 2016, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Gary Sinese heads the cast in this “Criminal Minds” spinoff series about the FBI’s International Response Team who responds to crimes overseas involving American citizens.
The series exotic locations is its main appeal, as Sinese and his team go to Thailand, India, Mexico and Paris to solve cases in which American lives are taken or put at risk.
The four-disc set features all 13 episodes. The series costars Alana De La Garza, Daniel Henney, Tyler James Williams and Annie Funke.
Technical aspects: 16:9 picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital stereo; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a featurette with the show’s producers on how they took it from pilot to series, a look at how the show’s production staff created sets, a behind-the-scenes look at the cast discussing their characters and the IRT, a gag reel and deleted scenes.
City of Gold
Details: 2015, IFC Films
Rated: R, language
The lowdown: A documentary that will whet the appetite of foodies as Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold takes viewers on a tour of the vibrant and diverse world of ethnic cooking throughout Los Angeles.
Gold visits various neighborhoods to showcase some exotic dishes off the beaten path. Want to learn about Oaxacan grasshopper soup or a pad see ew? Gold will introduce these to you.
The movie also serves up the stories of immigrants who use their secret family recipes to better themselves and build their own American dream.
Technical aspects: 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Labyrinth: 30th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Release date: Sept. 20
Details: 1986, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: PG
The lowdown: Jim Henson and Lucasfilm teamed up for this fantasy starring Jennifer Connally and David Bowie about a 16-year-old girl given 13 hours to solve an intricate labyrinth and rescue her baby brother.
She feels guilty because Bowie’s Goblin King granted her wish for her brother to be taken away.
The film will enchant youngsters and adults alike.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English Dolby Atmos, English 7.1 TrueHD and French, German, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Dutch, French, German, Indonesian/Bahasa, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a “The Storytellers: Picture-in-Picture” track; a making of documentary, a commentary track and a featurette on the characters and the quest for the Goblin City.
“Two Films by Douglas Sirk” (Blu-ray)
Details: 1946-47, Cohen Film Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Douglas Sirk was one of the many European filmmakers who fled to the United States in the wake of the Nazi evil that was enveloping Europe.
His Hollywood career was memorable, and includes the movies in this set — “A Scandal in Paris” (1946) and “Lured” (1947).
“A Scandal in Paris” features George Sanders as a thief turned chief of police in early 1800s Paris.
The only obstacle between him and the biggest heist of his career is a charming young woman.
“Lured” (1947) tells the tale of a serial killer loose in London. A young American dance hall girl, played by Lucille Ball, is hired by Scotland Yard as bait in an attempt to capture the killer.
The cast also includes Sanders as a playboy and Boris Karloff as a mad fashion designer.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1:37:1 full-screen picture; English 2.0 Dolby digital LPCM; English closed-captioned subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include commentaries on both movies.
Modern Family: The Complete Seventh Season
Release date: Sept. 20
Details: 2015-16, Fox Home Entertainment
Rated: TV-PG
The lowdown: More fun and family shenanigans reign during the seven season of this Emmy Award-winning ABC series.
The season’s plotlines include Phil adopting a trio of orphan ducklings, the Dunphy kids spreading their wings and causing havoc, Cam and Michael facing financial problems, Jay and Gloria farming out Joe’s preschool education and Manny entering the dating arena.
Also the relationship between Haley and Andy continues to develop.
Fans of the show will enjoy the continued laughs and heartwarming situations of these lovable characters.
Technical aspects: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include featurettes on the making of an episode and growing up on “Modern Family,” deleted and alternate scenes and an expanded version of the “Thunk in the Trunk” episode.
Love Me or Leave Me (Blu-ray)
Release date: Sept. 13
Details: 1955, Warner Archive Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: In the 1950s and early 1960s, Doris Day played the cheerful, optimistic girl next door.
She was adept and comedy and musicals, starring in such features as “Calamity Jane” and “The Pajama Game.”
She expanded her range with her portrayal of 1920s singer Ruth Etting in the dramatic biopic, “Love Mr or Leave Me.”
Day portrayed Etting as a talented and tough performer whose career was propelled by racketeer Martin “The Gimp” Snyder, a scary James Cagney.
The movie centers on Etting’s career and her volatile and dangerous relationship with Snyder.
Both Day and Cagney earned Academy Award nominations. In all, the film received six nods, winning for best original screenplay.
The release is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.wbshop.com or other online retailers.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.55:1 widescreen picture; English 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus features include three vintage shorts, two of which feature Etting.
Patterns (Blu-ray)
Details: 1956, The Film Detective
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This hard look at the cutthroat corporate world was written by Rod Serling and first aired on “Kraft Television Theater.”
The response was so good, that the producers then filmed a big-screen version of their tale of men and women battling to control a billion-dollar empire.
The film, directed by Fielder Cook — who also helmed the TV version — features Van Heflin, Ed Begley, Beatrice Straight and Everett Sloane.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1:66 picture; English Dolby digital.
Lady in White (Blu-ray)
Details: 1988, Scream Factory
Rated: PG-13, Not rated
The lowdown: A young Lukas Haas stars as Frankie in this supernatural thriller set in 1962 in the small town of Willowpoint Falls.
The town holds a secret: For more than a decade a serial child killer has eluded police, and children are continually being murdered.
One night, Frankie gets locked in his school and witnesses the ghost of the killer’s first victim being murdered.
The girl’s spirit helps Frankie bring the killer to justice. The rub is that the killer may be closer than Frankie realizes.
The two-disc Blu-ray set features three versions of the film: the 113-minute theatrical cut, the 118-minute director’s cut and 126-minute extended director’s cut.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: Among the bonus features are an introduction and commentary track by director Frank LaLoggia, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage with an introduction by LaLoggia, a behind-the-scenes photo montage and an extended photo gallery.
“Monogram Cowboy Collection: Volume 9: Johnny Mack Brown” (DVD-R)
Release date: Sept. 13
Details: 1946-48, Warner Archive Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A three-disc set featuring nine more rootin’ tootin’ sagebrush adventures starring popular longtime Western star Johnny Mack Brown.
In all nine movies, veteran character actor Raymond Hatton assists Brown, as they rid the West of bandits, rustlers and land grabbers.
During this period, Brown made the transition from his Nevada Jack persona, playing characters with variations of his own name — Johnny Macklin, Johnny Mack, Johnny Mackey — before settling — like other Westerns heroes — on using his own name.
The titles in this collection are: “The Gentleman From Texas” (1946), “Trailing Danger” (1947), “Land of the Lawless” (1947), “The Law Comes to Gunsight” (1947), “Code of the Saddle” (1947), “Flashing Guns” (1947), “Frontier Agent” (1948), “The Fighting Ranger” (1948) and “The Sheriff of Medicine Bow” (1948).
The set is a made-on-demand DVD-R offering from the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.wbshop.com or other online dealers.
Technical aspects: 1.37:1 (4×3) full-screen picture; English Dolby digital monaural.
Other Blu-rays and DVDs being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
Barbarians Rising (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Confessions of Isabella (Pop Twist Urban-MVD Visual Entertainment Group, Sept. 23)
FOR KIDS
Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) (Shout! Factory)
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS and STREAMING
Complete Unknown (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Ghostbusters: Answer the Call: Extended Edition (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Independence Day: Resurgence (Fox Home Entertainment)
The Innocents (Music Box Films)
The Caretaker (Level 33 Entertainment-Blue Fox Entertainment, Sept. 30)
Ice Age: Collision Course (Fox Home Entertainment, Sept. 30)
Memory Box (Field Pictures, Sept. 30)
Mommy’s Box (Indie Rights-MVD Visual Entertainment Group, Sept. 30)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Acorn TV, Sept. 30)
Coming next week: Complete Unknown
Bob Bloom is a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. He reviews movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. He can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow Bloom on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. Movie reviews by Bloom also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.