DISCussion: New on DVD and Blu-ray (12.02.14)

This is a much bigger week for theaters, rather than on DVD, but still some solid choices. Frank Capra's classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington provided some stiff competition, but in the end, the new on DVD Dawn of the Planet of the Apes won out as our Recommendation of the Week. New Release: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The Hundred-Foot Journey – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) As Above/So Below – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The Congress – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Re-release: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – (Blu-ray)   Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) *Recommendation of the Week* Directed by Matt Reeves Written by Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa (written by and characters), Amanda Silver (written by and characters), and Pierre Boulle (novel “La Planète des Singes”) Starring: Gary Oldman, Andy Serkis, Keri Russell The follow-up to the well received, box office hit, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn garnered nearly as much acclaim as its predecessor. Featuring some spectacular visual effects, and a fabulous performance by Andy Serkis, a sometimes-clunky blockbuster is lifted into the pantheon of action-based smash hits. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (Excellent) Metacritic: 79 (Very Good) IMDB: 7.9 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 9.2/10 (Read our review) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (2-Disc Blu-ray); $14.99 (DVD); $4.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   The Hundred-Foot Journey – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Lasse Hallström Written by Steven Knight (screenplay), Richard C. Morais (book) Starring: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal The feel-good movie of the year puts an Indian immigrant family across the street from renowned chef Madame Mallory (Mirren). When the patriarch of the family opens an Indian restaurant, it puts the family in direct competition with Mme. Mallory's Michelin-starred establishment, and begins a series of escalating competitive personal “attacks.” Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 67% (Fresh) Metacritic: 55 (Okay) IMDB: 7.4 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 7/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.86 (Blu-ray); $17.86 (DVD); $14.99 (Instant Buy)   As Above/So Below – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by John Erick Dowdle Written by Drew Dowdle (screenplay) and John Erick Dowdle (screenplay) Starring: Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge A group of explorers unite to venture into the cavernous depths of the Paris underground. As they explore the maze-like catacombs, they encounter the very heart of madness and terror that lies below. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 27% (Terrible) Metacritic: 38 (Very Bad) IMDB: 6.1 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.99 (Blu-ray); $16.99 (DVD); $4.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   The Congress – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Ari Folman Written by Stanislaw Lem (novel), and Ari Folman (adaptation) Starring: Robin Wright, Hervey Keitel, John Hamm Robin Wright plays a version of herself wherein after rising to fame in The Princess Bride, the aging star preserves her digital likeness for the benefit of future Hollywood. In return for hefty compensation, her likeness will be used in perpetuity in any way studios see fit. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 76% (Fresh) Metacritic: 63 (Okay) IMDB: 6.6 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $14.99 (Blu-ray); $13.44 (DVD); $3.99/$9.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Re-release: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – (4K Remastered Blu-ray) Directed by Frank Capra Written by Sidney Buchman (screen play), Lewis R. Foster (story), and Myles Connolly (contributor to screenplay construction and dialogue, uncredited) Starring: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains When the moralistic Jefferson Smith (Stewart) is sent to fill a vacancy in the senate, he is disheartened by the decay of Washington. Butting heads with the corruption of the men in power, Mr. Smith refuses to back down. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (Excellent) IMDB: 8.3 (Excellent) Entertainment Fuse: 9/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $12.99 (4K Remastered Blu-ray)