NEW TO VIEW: Reeves lights up the bad guys in ‘John Wick’
By Bob Bloom
The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, Feb. 3:
John Wick (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2014, Lionsgate
Rated: R, graphic and bloody violence, language, drug use
The lowdown: A random act of violence sets off a campaign of retribution and revenge in this action thriller.
Keanu Reeves stars as John Wick, a former assassin who, after he is attacked, prowls the mean streets of New York looking to get even.
This is one of Reeves’ best outings since the original “Matrix,” and will not disappoint his fans.
Available at Redbox.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English Dolby Digital TrueHD Atmos Mix; Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital optimized for late-night listening and English descriptive audio track; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.40:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: A series of behind-the-scenes featurettes on the various aspects of the production of the film and a commentary track comprise the bonus offerings.
Dracula Untold (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2014, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, intense action violence, disturbing images, sexual situations
The lowdown: The origin story of Prince Vlad became the symbol of evil incarnate, Count Dracula.
The film, which Universal hopes to turn into a franchise, is a lifeless and shoddy feature that adds nothing to the vampire lore.
And Luke Evans makes a rather uninspiring Dracula, as he wastes much time bemoaning his fate.
Available at Redbox.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 descriptive audio track and Spanish and French 5.1 DTS Digital surround; 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 descriptive audio track; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus materials include an alternate opening with commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, a profile of Evans, an interactive map of Dracula’s lands, a behind-the-scenes day with Evans, a look at the massive battle sequence and a commentary track.
The Best of Me (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2014, Fox Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, sexual situations, language
The lowdown: Another Nicholas Sparks’ novel is adapted for movies, featuring star-crossed lovers who reconnect after a long separation.
Fans of romantic drama will probably enjoy the film, which offers no surprises.
Available at Redbox.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: An alternate ending, deleted scenes, interviews by Sparks with stars
James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato, a music video and commentary track comprise the major bonus materials.
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (Blu-ray)
Details: 2014, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Rated: R, language
The lowdown: Jessica Chastain received many accolades for her performance in this drama that looks at the disintegration of a marriage.
Writer-director Ned Benson original concept of releasing two movies — “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him” and “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her” was an experiment that did not catch on, so the two films were edited into one two-hour-plus feature.
This Blu-ray, though, contains all three versions.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Beside the “Him” and “Her” versions of the film, the major extra is a question-and-answer session with Chastain and co-star James McAvoy.
My Old Lady (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Release date: Jan. 27
Details: 2014, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, adult themes, sexual references
The lowdown: Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith star in this drama about an inheritance that leads to new and fulfilling connections.
Kline’s Mathias Gold inherits a Parisian apartment from his father, only to find that it comes with two live-in tenants who can stay because of an ancient French real estate law.
Unable to sell the place, Mathias moves in with the women, Mathilde (Smith) and her daughter, Chloe (Kristin Scott Thomas).
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.
Don’t miss: The major bonus feature is an interview with Kline and writer-director Israel Horovitz.
Dear White People (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2014, Lionsgate
Rated: R, language, sexual content, drug use
The lowdown: This feature is a satire about race relations that follows a group of black students as the navigate the traditions and cliques of attending a predominately white Ivy League school.
The arrival of a reality TV producer and a controversial student election are among the items that make their road more challenging.
Available at Redbox.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus features include deleted scenes and outtakes, a making of featurette, a “Racism Insurance” parody; a series of public service announcements on “The More You Know About Black People,” a music video, a “banned” Winchester University diversity video and two commentary tracks.
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (Blu-ray)
Details: 2015, Magnolia Home Entertainment
Rated: R, sexual references, language, disturbing images, drug content, nudity
The lowdown: A documentary that looks at the life and impact on comedy and society of Richard Pryor, as told by friends, family members and fellow comedians.
Among those discussing Pryor are Mel Brooks, George Lopez, Damon Wayans, Robin Williams, Dave Chappelle, Whoopi Goldberg, Jesse Jackson and Lily Tomlin.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Additional interviews comprise the bonus offerings.
Sinners’ Holiday
Release date: Jan. 13
Details: 1930, Warner Home Video
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This film, an adaptation of the Broadway play “Penny Arcade,” owns a place in film history as it marked the film debuts of James Cagney and Joan Blondell, both reprising their roles from the play.
The story centers on a beachside carnival and the penny arcade run by the Delano family. It also features bootleggers, double crosses and romance.
The release is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.warnerarchive.com, www.wbshop.com or other online retailers.
Technical aspects: 1.37:1 (4×3) full-screen picture; Dolby Digital monaural.
Don’t miss: No extras.
ABCs of Death 2 (Blu-ray)
Details: 2014, Magnolia Home Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: More than two dozen directors took part in this follow-up horror anthology in which each was assigned a letter of the alphabet to fill in his chapter of the story.
The film moves around the globe, from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, as it tells its provocative, sometimes funny and shocking stories.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: The supplemental materials include behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the various chapters, a commentary track with the filmmakers and an AXS TV episode that looks at the film.
Starred Up
Details: 2013, Cinedigm-Tribeca Film
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: An arrogant and violent young man, played by “Unbroken’s” Jack O’Connell, is transferred to the same prison that houses his father, where his temper gets him in trouble with other inmates and authorities.
He is approached by a psychotherapist who runs an anger management group for inmates, where he finally finds some hope for himself and his future.
Technical aspects: 16:9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital surround; English closed-captioned.
Don’t miss: A behind-the-scenes featurette is the major extra.
The Green Prince
Release date: Jan. 20
Details: 2014, Music Box Films
Rated: PG-13, adult themes, disturbing images
The lowdown: A Middle East drama that looks at a strange alliance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The story centers on Mosab Hassan Yousef, whose code name is “The Green Prince.” He is the son of a top Hamas leader as well as one of Israel’s top informants, and the Israeli agent who recruited him and risked his life to save him.
Technical aspects: 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital; English and Hebrew subtitles.
Don’t miss: A TV documentary about the film, an interview with Yousef, archive and interview extracts and storyboard comprise the bonus offerings.
Exists (DVD + Ultraviolet)
Details: 2014, Lionsgate
Rated: R, violence, language, sexual content, drug use
The lowdown: A group of friends on a camping trip are terrorized by a mysterious creature seeking revenge in this horror outing.
The film is another in the lost-video horror genre, which is quickly becoming a cliché upon itself.
Technical aspects: 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: A behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the film, a commentary track, deleted scenes and a featurette on bringing Bigfoot to life comprise the major bonus offerings.
Dumb and Dumber: The Animated Series
Release date: Jan. 13
Details: 1955-96, Warner Home Video
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This animated spinoff from the popular movie follows two very dumb friends who hit the road and find misadventures and insanity no matter where they go.
The two-disc set features all 13 episodes of the series.
The release is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.warnerarchive.com, wbshop.com or other online dealers.
Technical aspects: 4×3 full-screen picture; English Dolby Digital monaural.
Don’t miss: No extras.
Other Blu-rays and DVDs being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
The Demon’s Rook (Cinedigm-Tribeca Film)
Starry Eyes (Blu-ray) (Dark Sky Films)
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Tough Love (DVD + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate, Jan. 20)
FOR KIDS
Care Bears: Share Your Care (DVD + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate)
Bob Bloom is a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. He reviews movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for 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.