The Matthew McConaughey movie Killer Joe was a critically acclaimed movie that is set to be a cult classic, but fell victim to the MPAA and was forced to make cuts to attain an R rating. Now the director’s cut is coming out on DVD and Blu-ray for all adults to enjoy.
First Release
- Total Recall (2012) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Pitch Perfect (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Trouble With the Curve (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Liberal Arts (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dogs Dog (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Premium Rush (DVD and Blu-ray) (Release Date Dec. 21)
- Resident Evil: Retribution (DVD and Blu-ray) (Release Date Dec. 21)
- Killer Joe (DVD and Blu-ray) (Release Date Dec. 21)
- Arbitrage (DVD and Blu-ray) (Release Date Dec. 21)
Re-Releases
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) (Blu-ray)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze (1991) (Blu-ray)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993) (Blu-ray)
- Flight of the Navigator (Blu-ray)
Killer Joe (DVD and Blu-ray) (Release Date Dec. 21)
Directed by William Friedkin
Written by Tracey Letts
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Gina Gershon, Thomas Haden Church
From William Friedkin, the director of The French Connection and The Exorcist, is Killer Joe, a dark comedy that is considered one of his best movies in recent years and offers us one of Matthew McConaughey’s best performances.
Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch) is a Texan drug dealer. With the heat on him, he teams up with his father (Thomas Haden Church) to kill his mother for the insurance. The pair hires a contract killer, Joe (McConaughey), to do the job, but he has Chris’ sister, Dottie (Juno Temple, Atonemont) as a retainer.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: 8.5/10
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $12.86 (DVD), $14.99 (DVD Director’s Cut), $16.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Christmas is nearly upon us and many movies are coming onto DVD and Blu-ray to cash in on the last-minute rush. Particular highlights are the remake of Total Recall, Anna Kendrick’s Perfect Pitch, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Premium Rush and the drama Arbitrage.
Total Recall (2012) (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by Len Wiseman
Written by Kurt Wimmer, Mark Bomback (screenplay), Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill, Kurt Wimmer (story), Philip K. Dick (short story)
Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho, Bill Nighy
The 1990 version of Total Recall is a sci-fi classic and one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movies. Len Wiseman of the Underworld series and Live Free or Die Hard fame took on the directing duties of the latest adaptation of Philip K. Dick's story, We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, which was adapted by Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) and Mark Bomback (Unstoppable). Colin Farrell replaces Schwarzenegger as Douglas Quaid.
In the future the world is splits into two superpowers: the United Federation of Britain and the Colony (modern day Australia). Quaid is a factory worker living the Colony and longs for more. He goes to Rekall, a company that plants fake memories in its customers, but it turns out that Quaid already has the memories he seeks and in his past he might have been a spy.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 30% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: 6.3/10 (read our review)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Total Recall With Insight; Gag Reel; Science Fiction vs. Science Fact; Designing The Fall
Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Total Action: Colin Farrell, The Tripping Den, Quaid's Bedroom, Kate Beckinsale, Lobby Escape, Jessica Biel, Quaid vs. Cohaagen; Pre-Visualization Sequences: Apartment Waterfront Chase, The Fall Sight, Flight and Tripping Den, Elevator Chase, Car Chase; God of War - Game Demo
Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $17.99 (Blu-ray), $22.99 (Three Disc Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Pitch Perfect (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by Jason Moore
Written by Kay Cannon (screenplay), Mickey Rapkin (novel)
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Skylar Astin
The beautiful and talented Anna Kendrick has been building her career with supporting roles in Up in the Air, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, 50/50 and The Twilight Saga, and she has finally earn her first leading role in the comedy musical Pitch Perfect.
Beca (Kendrick) is a college freshman who has no interest in college life. But she ends up getting roped into joining an all-girls cappella singing group and it is up to her to modernize the act so the group can compete in a national competition.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 79% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.5/10 (read our review)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Starships, the Pitch Perfect Music Video; Deleted and Extended Scenes; Meanwhile…; Line-O-Rama; Backstage at Barden; On the Set: Burrito Drive By!; A Look Inside; Feature Commentary with Director Jason Moore and Producers Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman; Feature Commentary with Producer Paul Brooks
Additional Blu-ray Special Features: My Scenes; D-BOX; BD-Live; pocket BLU App
Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Trouble with the Curve (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by Robert Lorenz
Written by Randy Brown
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, Matthew Lillard, John Goodman
Gran Torino was meant to be Clint Eastwood’s final acting role, but he returns in front of the camera in the baseball movie Trouble with the Curve for his assistant director Robert Lorenz, who makes his directing debut.
Gus (Eastwood) is an aging scout for the Atlanta Braves whose eyesight is starting to fade. He goes on one last scouting tour with his daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) who he has strained relationship with.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 52% (average)
Player Affinity Score: 6.0/10 (read our review)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: "Trouble With the Curve: For the Love of the Game": Listen in as Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake dish on getting to know each other, secretly identifying with their characters, and falling in love on-screen.
Amazon Price: $14.96 (DVD), $18.99 (Blu-ray), $21.99 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 1 stars, Replay 2.5 stars (out of 5). Rent It.
Liberal Arts (DVD and Blu-ray)
Written and directed by Josh Radnor
Starring: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney
How I Met Your Mother’s Josh Radnor returns to filmmaking, writing, directing and starring in the comedy-drama Liberal Arts. Jesse (Radnor) is a New York admissions officer who returns to his Ohio College for the retirement of his old professor where he forms a relationship with a 19-year-old student, Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene), a woman 16 years his junior.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 69% (good)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $12.99 (DVD), $26.98 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by David Bowers
Written by Wallace Wolodarsky, Maya Forbes (screenplay), Jeff Kinney (novel)
Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Devon Bostick, Steve Zahn
Kid film Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is the third entry is the successful franchise. Zachary Gordon returns as Greg, who spends his summer pretending to work at a local county club so he can be close to his crush, Holly (Peyton List).
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 50% (average)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: **Theatrical Feature **Commentary by Director David Bowers **Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director David Bowers **Class Clown Animated Short **Gag Reel **Theatrical Trailer
Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $21.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Premium Rush (DVD and Blu-ray) (Release Date Dec. 21)
Directed by David Koepp
Written by David Koepp, John Kamps
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez, Wolé Parks
It has been a big year for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, starring in The Dark Knight Rises and Looper. A movie hoping to cash in was Premium Rush, even having its release date delayed to be after The Dark Knight Rises.
Wilee (Gordon-Levitt) is a New York messenger who is tasked with delivering a valuable package and ends up getting chased by a corrupt cop (Michael Shannon).
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 76% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: 7.0/10 (read our review)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $17.99 (DVD), $21.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3.5 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 1.5 stars, Replay 3.5 stars (out of 5). Recommended.
Resident Evil: Retribution (DVD and Blu-ray) (Out Friday)
Written and Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand, Sienna Guillory, Shawn Roberts, Johann Urb, Li Bingbing
Paul W. S. Anderson’s Resident Evil film series is now five films long and the most successful film series based on a computer game. This despite constant negative critical reaction. Like Fast and Furious, Anderson brings back most of the actors from first movie to reprise their roles; remarkable considering some of them are dead.
As the T-Virus rages around the world, Alice (Milla Jovivich) is humanity’s only hope. But she awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s secret testing facility with her old friends now being potential enemies.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 29% (bad)
Player Affinity Score: 4.0/10 (read our review)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Commentary with Writer/Director Paul W.S. Anderson, Milla Jovovich and Boris Kodjoe; Commentary with Writer/Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt; Outtakes (3D); Featurettes Drop (Un) Dead: The Creatures of Retribution; Resident Evil: Retribution - Face of the Fan; Resident Evil: Retribution Soundtrack
Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Project Alice: The Interactive Database; Evolving Alice; Resident Evil: Reunion; Into the Lion's Den; Resident Stuntman; Code: Mika; Maestro of Evil: Directing Resident Evil: Retribution
Amazon Price: $16.99 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray), $27.99 (3D Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Arbitrage (DVD and Blu-ray) (Out Friday)
Written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki
Starring: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling, Tim Roth
Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is a successful hedge fund manager who seems to have a perfect life. But his life starts to collapse as both his professional and personal secrets start to emerge when he tries to sell his crippled financial company and ends up being the focus of Detective Bryer (Tim Roth).
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 85% (excellent)
Player Affinity Score: 7.8/10 (read our review)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: "Who Is Robert Miller?" featurette; "A Glimpse Into Arbitrage" featurette; Audio commentary with Writer/Director Nicholas Jarecki; Deleted scenes with optional Writer/Director commentary
Amazon Price: $12.99 (DVD), $16.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) (Blu-ray)
Directed by Steve Barron
Written by Todd W. Langen, Bobby Herbeck (screenplay), Bobby Herbeck (story), Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird (comic)
Starring: Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Corey Feldman, Josh Pais, Kevin Clash, James Saito, Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas
Back in the late '80s and early '90s, Turtles mania was at its height with comics and cartoons, leading to a live-action movie in 1990.
In the big bad city of New York, four unusual crime fighters have emerged: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo. must stop a clan of ninjas, the Foot-Clan, led by Shredder (James Saito), who are causing havoc.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 44% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $12.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) (Blu-ray)
Directed by Michael Pressman
Written by Todd W. Langen (screenplay), Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird (comic)
Starring: Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Adam Carl, Laurie Faso, Kevin Clash, Paige Turco, François Chau
Made in less than a year after the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the sequel is a more kid-friendly affair, toning down the violence, focusing more on comedy and having a rap song by Vanilla Ice as Shredder and his mutants attempt to defeat the turtles yet again.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 36% (poor)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $10.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (Blu-ray)
Directed by Stuart Gillard
Written by Stuart Gillard (screenplay), Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird (comics)
Starring: Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Corey Feldman, Tim Kelleher, James Murray, Paige Turco, Elias Koteas
Even the most diehard Turtles fans hate the second sequel in the Turtles series as the Turtles are send back to 17th Century Japan to stop a warlord, Lord Norinaga (Sab Shimono).
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 27% (bad)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $13.48 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
Flight of the Navigator (1986) (Blu-ray)
Directed by Randal Kleiser
Written by Michael Burton, Matt MacManus (screenplay), Mark H. Baker (story)
Starring: Joey Cramer, Paul Reubens, Veronica Cartwright, Cliff DeYoung, Sarah Jessica Parker, Howard Hesseman
Flight of the Navigator is a family sci-fi movie about 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer), who falls down a ravine in 1978 and awakens in eight years later without aging.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 78% (very good)
Player Affinity Score: N/A
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: N/A
Amazon Price: $34.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): N/A
