DISCussion: New to DVD and Blu-ray (7.29.2014)

Although there are a lot of highly-rated movies coming out this Tuesday, we have chosen Darren Aronofsky's Noah as our Recommendation of the Week.  New Release: Noah (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The Other Woman (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) The Amazing Catfish (DVD and Instant) Finding Vivian Maier (DVD and Instant) It Felt Like Love (DVD and Instant) The Den (DVD and Instant) Ping Pong Summer (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Cuban Fury (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Half of a Yellow Sun (DVD) Anna (DVD and Instant) Re-release: The Big Chill (1983) (Criterion Blu-ray)   Noah – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) *Recommendation of the Week* Directed by Darren Aronofsky Written by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Emma Watson, Anthony Hopkins Noah is director, Darren Aronofsky's imaginative re-telling of the old-testament classic. Packed with incredibly vivid imagery, and larger than life CGI, Noah packs a cinematic punch. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 77% (Good) Metacritic: 68 (Good) IMDB: 6.2 (Okay) Entertainment Fuse: 8.5/10 (Read Our Review) DISC DETAILS Special Features: “Iceland: Extreme Beauty” explores the barren and remote filming location; “The Arc Exterior: A Battle for 300 Cubits” detailing the massive set erected for the film; “The Arc Interior: Animals Two By Two” offers a glimpse inside the set of the arc's interior Amazon: $17.99 (Blu-ray); $16.99 (DVD); $3.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4 stars(out of 5); Video: 5 stars; Audio: 5 stars; Extras: 3 stars; Replay: 3.5 stars. Recommended.   The Other Woman – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Nick Cassavetes Written by Melissa Stack Starring: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton When Carly (Diaz) finds out that the man she's dating is married to another woman (Mann), she is forced to re-evaluate her life. The two scorned women end up meeting each other, and become quick friends. When the two discover yet another mistress (Upton), the three team-up to take down the man who did them wrong. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 23% (Very Rotten) Metacritic: 39 (Very Bad) IMDB: 6.2 (Okay) Entertainment Fuse: 2/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (Blu-ray); $14.99 (DVD); $4.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   The Amazing Catfish – (DVD and Instant) Directed and written by Claudia Sainte-Luce Starring: Lisa Owen, Ximena Ayala, Sonia Franco Claudia (Ayala) is a lonely young woman. After being admitted to the hospital for an acute appendicitis, she gets to know her roommate, Martha (Owen). Sensing her loneliness, Martha makes Claudia an offer to come live with her and her four children. Claudia accepts, and is welcomed into the family with open arms. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% [6 reviews] (Excellent) Metacritic: 69 ( Very Good) IMDB: 7.4 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.49 (DVD); $3.99/ $14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   Finding Vivian Maier (DVD and Instant) Directed and Written by John Maloof (story), Charlie Siskel (story) Starring: John Maloof, Mary Ellen Mark, Phil Donahue Finding Vivian Maier is the true story of real estate agent, John Maloof who wins a box of old negatives at an auction. Captivated by the content of the images, he seeks out expert advice, and uncovers the incredible story of nanny, Vivian Maier turned street photographer. The quiet woman whose incredible work inspired posthumous acclaim, never had any formal training, nor sought recognition of her talent. Now recognized as one of the world's most accomplished street photographers, Vivian Maier's story is certainly one worth sharing. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 95% (Excellent) Metacritic: 75 (Excellent) IMDB: 7.7 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (DVD); $14.99 (Instant Buy)   It Felt Like Love (DVD and Instant) Directed and Written by Eliza Hittman Starring: Gina Piersanti, Giovanna Salimani, Ronan Rubinstein It Felt Like Love is Eliza Hittman's emotionally powerful directorial debut about a 14-year-old girl growing up in Brooklyn. Lila (Piersanti) is a lonely teenager, whose strong desire to emulate her best friends sexuality leads her into the arms of an older man. Drawn into his gritty and dangerous world, Lila finds herself in a vulnerable and perilous situation. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (Very Good) Metacritic: 76 (Very Good) IMDB: 5.8 (Okay) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $27.98 (DVD); $3.99/ $9.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   The Den (DVD and Instant) Directed by Zachary Donohue Written by Zachary Donohue, Lauren Thompson Starring: Melanie Papalia, David Schlachtenhaufen, Matt Reidy Elizabeth Benton (Melanie Papalia) is studying the darknet as part of her graduate thesis. When she stumbles into a website called “The Den” and witnesses the brutal murder of a teenage girl, she moves from research to action. Told by authorities that it was an elaborate prank, she must delve deeper into the seedy underbelly of the internet to discover the truth. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 77% (Very Good) Metacritic: 48 (Okay) IMDB: 6.0 (Okay) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.98 (DVD); $3.99/ $14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   Ping Pong Summer (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed and Written by Michael Tully Starring: Susan Sarandon, Marcello Conte, Amy Sedaris, Judah Friedlander Ping Pong Summer is the story of teenage ping pong enthusiast, Rad Miracle (Conte) on vacation during his formative years. Experiencing his first crush, finding a best friend and jamming out to some fresh hip-hop, Miracle's life is about to change for the better. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 54% (Okay) Metacritic: 52 (Okay) IMDB: 5.5 (Okay) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $25.49 (Blu-ray); $15.78 (DVD); $3.99/ $9.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4 stars; Extras: 3 stars; Replay: 3.5 stars. Recommended.   Cuban Fury (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by James Griffiths Written by John Brown (screenplay), Nick Frost (original idea) Starring: Nick Frost, Rashida Jones, Chris O'Dowd Young Bruce (Frost) is a natural born dancer. Working his way up the UK's Junior Salsa Championships, he is about to leave his mark on the dancing world; until a terrible bullying incident leaves him with no confidence and scared. Nearly thirty years later, Bruce finds himself out of shape and alone, with his boss, Julia (Jones), as his only reason to carry on. Desperate to impress her, after learning of her secret salsa obsession, Bruce once again reignites his passion for dance. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 52% (Okay) Metacritic: 52 (Okay) IMDB: 6.2 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.78 (Blu-ray); $17.78 (DVD); $3.99/ $12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   Half of a Yellow Sun (DVD) Directed by Biyi Bandele Written by Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie (novel), Biyi Bandele Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose Nigerian sisters Olanna and Kainene return home to a politically-distraught Nigeria. While each has chosen a different path, both must unite to fight the powers that be. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 51% (Okay) Metacritic: 51 (Okay) IMDB: 6.4 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.08 (DVD)   Anna (DVD and Instant) Directed by Jorge Dorado Written by Guy Holmes (written by), Martha Holmes (story) Starring: Mark Strong, Taissa Farminga, Brian Cox Mark Strong plays, John, a mind-reading detective who uses his unique gift to solve cases. He meets the brilliant 16-year-old Anna (Farminga), and must decide if she is the victim of a heinous crime or, more sinisterly, a calculating sociopath. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 52% (Okay) Metacritic: 52 (Okay) IMDB: 6.2 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $15.98 (DVD); $6.99 (Instant Rent) Re-release:   The Big Chill (1983) (Criterion Blu-ray/ DVD Combo) Directed by Lawrence Kasdan Written by Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek Starring: Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum A group of high school friends reunite to bury one of their best friends, after being apart for a decade. The group uses the opportunity to reconnect with one another, and discover just how much they have each changed. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 69% (Good) Metacritic: 61 (Good) IMDB: 7.2 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Special Features: 4K digital film transfer supervised by director of photography John Bailey and approved by director Lawrence Kasdan; Uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray and alternate remastered 5.1 surround soundtrack, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray; Interview with Kasdan; Reunion of cast and crew from the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival including Kasdan and actors Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly and JoBeth Williams; Documentary from 1998 on the making of the film; Deleted scenes; Trailer; Booklet featuring an essay by writer and filmmaker Lena Dunham and a 1983 piece by critic Harlan Jacobson Amazon: $27.59 (Criterion Blu-ray/ DVD combo) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 3 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4.5 stars; Extras: 3.5 stars; Replay: 2 stars. Recommended.