DISCussion: New on DVD and Blu-ray (11.4.14)

New on DVD this week we have some fantastic releases that gave our heavy-hitting re-releases of Shaun of the Dead and The Blues Brothers a run for their money. It was a struggle, but we have decided to award A Most Wanted Man our Recommendation of the Week. New Release: A Most Wanted Man – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Maleficent – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The One I Love – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Hercules – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Frontera – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Planes: Fire and Rescue – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Re-Release: Blues Brothers (1980) - Limited Edition Steelbook Shaun of the Dead (2004) - (Limited Edition Steelbook)   A Most Wanted Man – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) *Recommendation of the Week* Directed by Anton Corbijn Written by John le Carré (novel) and Andrew Bovell (screenplay) Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Daniel Brühl Anton Corbijn's adaptation of John le Carré's brilliant spy novel, is a meticulous look into Hamburg, Germany's scramble to prevent terrorism after 9/11. In one of his final performances, Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a powerful and brooding Günther Bachmann as he manipulates various groups to locate a known terrorist suspect (and rebuild his tarnished reputation). Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 90% (Excellent) Metacritic: 73 (Very Good) IMDB: 7.1 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 8.5/10 (Read our Review) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $18.99 (Blu-ray); $14.99 (DVD); $4.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   Maleficent – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Robert Stromberg Written by Linda Woolverton (written by), Charles Perrault (based on “La Belle au bois dormant”), Erdman Penner (based on “Sleeping Beauty” story adaptation), Joe Rinaldi (based on “Sleeping Beauty” screenplay by), Winston Hibler (based on “Sleeping Beauty” screenplay by), Bill Peet (based on “Sleeping Beauty” screenplay by), Ted Sears (based on “Sleeping Beauty” screenplay by), Ralph Wright (based on “Sleeping Beauty” screenplay by), Milt Banta (based on “Sleeping Beauty” screenplay by), and Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (based on “Little Briar Rose”) - Uncredited Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley Disney's exploration into the Maleficent character from the iconic feature Sleeping Beauty. Highlighting Maleficent's tumultuous past, we find that thing are not always what they seem, and even the most evil people may not have started that way. With a mesmerizing performance by Angelina Jolie, Maleficent elevated itself from thoughtless blockbuster money-grab, to a respectable live-action “prequel.” Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 49% (Bad) Metacritic: 56 (Okay) IMDB: 7.1 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 5.5/10 (Read our Review) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.94 (Blu-ray); $14.99 (DVD); $14.99 (Instant Buy)   The One I Love – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Charlie McDowell Written by Justin Lader Starring: Mark Duplass, Elizabeth Moss, Ted Danson The most spoilable movie ever made, The One I Love is a fantastic look into some unconventional couple's counseling. Bolstered by solid performances, and a wholly unique screenplay, The One I Love is one of my favorite films of the year. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 80% (Very Good) Metacritic: 65 (Good) IMDB: 7.1 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 8/10 (Read our Review) DISC DETAILS Special Features: Audio Commentary with Mark Duplass and Charlie McDowell; Visual Effect Reel Amazon: $14.99 (Blu-ray); $19.99 (DVD); $3.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4 stars(out of 5); Video: 4.5 stars; Audio: 4.5 stars; Extras: 2 stars; Replay: 4 stars. Highly Recommended.   Hercules – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Brett Ratner Written by Ryan Condal (screenplay), Evan Spiliotopoulos (screenplay), and Steve Moore (Radical comic “Hercules”) Starring: Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt, Ian McShane The Blu-ray cover for this movie says more than I ever could. Hercules follows the legendary demigod as he is hired by the King of Thrace to help guard against a marauding warlord. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 59% (Rotten) Metacritic: 47 (Bad) IMDB: 6.2 (Good) Entertainment Fuse: 6/10 (Read our Review) DISC DETAILS Special Features: Extended Cut (on the Extended cut version); Commentary with Brett Ratner and producer Beau Flynn; An Introduction from Ratner and Johnson; “Hercules and His Mercenaries” featurette; “Weapons!” featurette; “The Bessi Battle” featurette; “The Effects” featurette; Deleted scenes Amazon: $19.99 (Blu-ray); $15.99 (DVD); $4.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3 stars(out of 5); Video: 4.5 stars; Audio: 4.5 stars; Extras: 3 stars; Replay: 2 stars. Rent It.   Frontera – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Michael Berry Written by Michael Berry and Louis Moulinet Starring: Ed Harris, Eva Longoria, Michael Peña When an illegal immigrant is accused of murdering a former sheriff's wife, lives are changed forever when the current sheriff joins in the search for her killer. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 54% (Rotten) Metacritic: 58 (Okay) IMDB: 6.4 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $17.99 (Blu-ray); $14.99 (DVD); $3.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   Planes: Fire and Rescue – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Roberts Gannaway Written by Roberts Gannaway (story), Klay Hall (characters), Jeffrey M. Howard (story, screenplay and characters), and John Lasseter (characters) Starring: Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie Bowen Disney's follow up to their Pixar knock-off Planes. Dusty Crophopper (Cook) learns that his engine is broken, and that he will never race again. Joining up with a crusty old fire and rescue chopper, Blade Ranger (Harris – which you have guessed by the adjectives “old” and “crusty”), Dusty learns how to be a hero while fighting a massive wildfire. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 59% (Rotten) Metacritic: 47 (Bad) IMDB: 6.2 (Good) Entertainment Fuse: 6/10 DISC DETAILS Special Features: “Vitaminamulch” featurette; “Welcome to Piston Peak” featurette; “CHoPs TV Promo”; “Air Attack”featurette the real plane rescue workers; Deleted Scenes; Animated Shorts Amazon: $19.99 (Blu-ray); $16.95 (DVD); $4.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 2.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 2.5 stars; Extras: 2.5 stars; Replay: 2.5 stars. Rent It.     Blues Brothers (1980) - (Limited Edition Steelbook) Directed by John Landis Written by Dan Aykroyd and John Landis Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway Jake (Belushi) and Elwood (Aykroyd) Blues are two hard-rockin' social undesirables just trying to get by. When they find out that their orphanage is set to get torn down, they promise “The Penguin,” a nun at the orphanage, that they will raise the necessary money. Embarking on a completely insane journey of Blues concerts and run-ins with both police and Nazis, The Blues Brothers shake Chicago to its core. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 87% (Very Good) IMDB: 8.0 (Excellent) Entertainment Fuse: 9/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $9.99 (Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray)   Shaun of the Dead (2004) - (Limited Edition Steelbook) Directed by Edgar Wright Written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright Starring: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg and Kate Ashfield The first in the iconic “Cornetto” trilogy has Simon Pegg and Nick Frost go against a hoard of rampaging zombies. Part genre deconstruction, part action-comedy, Shaun of the Dead is an iconic movie that utilizes Edgar Wright's keen eye for visual comedy and unique visual style to tell one hell of a zombie story. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 92% (Excellent) Metacritic: 76 (Very Good) IMDB: 8.0 (Excellent) Entertainment Fuse: 9.5/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $9.99 (Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray)