{"id":29215,"date":"2024-08-13T23:19:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T06:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=29215"},"modified":"2024-08-13T23:19:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T06:19:29","slug":"4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-august-13th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=29215","title":{"rendered":"4K Ultra HD\/Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for August 13th, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra\nHD, Blu-ray and DVD. There are plenty of major releases appearing on disc, as\nwell as notable independents and some exciting older features. So, if you can\u2019t\nmake it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be\nsure to give one of these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BIG NEW RELEASES!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE BIKERIDERS \u2013 This period drama is set in the 1960s is\nloosely based on true stories of the members of the Chicago-based Vandals\nMotorcycle Club. A photography student interviews various members of the group\nover a period of years and learns how the gang was formed, their aspirations as\nwell as details about their members. It focuses on the relationship between one\ncharismatic but fight-prone biker and his wife. Reaction was positive towards\nthis feature. A small group of reviews complained that, to them, the movie\ndidn\u2019t make a clear statement about the gang or create enough memorable story\nmoments. However, most thought the film effectively focused on characters,\naccurately depicting life in a motorcycle gang. They believed it also benefited\nfrom an amazing cast. This picture will be available as in a 4K Ultra HD and\nBlu-ray combo set and as a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Jodie Comer, Austin\nButler, Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BONEYARD \u2013 The 2009 West Mesa murders in New Mexico are the\ninspiration for this crime drama. After the bodies of 11 women and one unborn\nchild are discovered, the FBI are called in to help investigate. They team with\nthe local chief of police to find the responsible party. It eventually becomes\nclear that the psychopath (whom the press name \u201cThe Bone Collector\u201d) may\nactually be a member of law enforcement. Critics weren\u2019t overly impressed with\nthis title. A little more than one-third of them stated that while this wasn\u2019t\na big budget effort, it was well-acted and presented the general facts of the\ncase in a compelling manner. More thought the film was exploitative, lacked\ntension and didn\u2019t deliver a satisfying finale. The cast includes Brian Van\nHolt, Curtis \u201950 Cent\u2019 Jackson, Mel Gibson, Nora Zehetner and Michael Sirow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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COCAINE WEREWOLF \u2013 With a title like this, you can have no\ndoubts about the tone of this picture. It\u2019s a low-budget independent\nhorror\/comedy from Mark Polonia (Cocaine Shark, Amityville in Space,\nSharkula<\/em>) about a drug-addled young movie crew in the remote Pennsylvania\nwoods shooting a horror picture. They are all shocked when an actual werewolf\nappears on set. The beast presumably steals some nose candy and goes on a\nrampage. Apparently, this filmmaker, who is known for working with Wild Eye\nProductions, was approached by another production company and given more money\non this effort. But as of this writing, no one has seen it and there are no\nreviews available. It is debuting on disc and on streaming sites. It features\nBrice Kennedy, Yolie Canales, James Carolus and Marie DeLorenzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA \u2013 The fifth film in the Mad Max<\/em> franchise is actually a prequel detailing the past of Furiosa, a character from the previous entry. A young version of this character is introduced into the wasteland. After being kidnapped by marauders, she is forced to do anything she can to survive. Her difficult experiences ultimately turn her into a deadly warrior. This picture was well-received by the press. A small number commented that the movie didn\u2019t have enough meat on its bones and was too long and meandering in comparison to its predecessors. Still, the vast majority thought that, while not quite as amazing as the previous installment, this was an excellent feature that expanded the Mad Max<\/em> universe, delivering some of the best and most thrilling action set pieces of the year. Multiple versions of the title will be available, including a 4K Ultra HD only release, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, as well as a regular Blu-ray. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke and Alyla Browne. Read a full review of the movie here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE HANGMAN \u2013 Hoping to bond, a father takes his son camping\nin the Appalachian Mountains. The dad wakes up the next morning to discover his\ncar won\u2019t start and that his son has completely disappeared. Panicked, he\nsearches the area and encounters a racist backwoods cult who have also summoned\nan evil demon to do their bidding. The protagonist must face off against the\nmonster and locals to save his boy. This independent chiller hasn\u2019t been seen\nby many and, thus far, genre reviewers have given it mixed reviews. Most state\nthat the concept is interesting and that the cast is strong, but that the\nfinished product is tonally all over the place. Many specified that while the\ncentral father-son drama was effective, the horror elements didn\u2019t make as\nstrong of a strong impression. LeJon Woods, Mar Cellus and Ameerah Briggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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IF \u2013 A child going through a personal trauma suddenly gains\nthe ability to see everyone\u2019s imaginary friends. She discovers that one other\nseemingly human figure can see them as well. The lead introduces herself to the\nman and creatures, discovering the beasts have all been left behind because\ntheir young friends have all grown up. Determined to help them, the girl sets\nout to help find these unique lifeforms new kids to pal around with. This\npicture split critics. Almost half called the movie a sweet and sincere\ntearjerker bolstered by good performances and fun visual effects. The same\nnumber and one or two more didn\u2019t think that the humor worked or that the drama\nwas compelling enough to truly engage them in the story. A few were also taken\nabout by some of the film\u2019s unexpectedly heavy themes. This title will be\navailable in either a 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray edition. The cast includes Cailey\nFleming, Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw and the voices of Jon Krasinski, Phoebe\nWaller-Bridge, Steve Carell and Louis Gossett Jr..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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IT\u2019S A GOOD DAY TO DIE \u2013 Hoping to leave the mob for good,\nan assassin tries to remove himself from a mafia organization after his latest\nassignment. He ends up getting a ride from a stranger who works as a go-go\ndancer, and the two instantly make a connection. They decide to go on the run\ntogether and find themselves ensnared in a series of unexpected twists and\nturns while attempting to start a new life. This is an English-language\nthriller from France that appears to be debuting on disc, as well as a video-on-demand\ntitle in this part of the world. Unfortunately, no one has seen it as of yet\nand so no write-ups are available. Those interested will simply have to take a\nchance on the film and hope for the best. Julie Dray, Daniel Lundh,Vassilis\nKoukalani, Jeanne Bournaud and Ana Adams headline the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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JUNE ZERO \u2013 This international co-production between Israel\nand the US was completed in 2022, but is only now arriving at theaters and on\ndisc. Based on a true story and broken into three tales, the film examines\nAdolf Eichmann\u2019s trial after World War II. Eichmann is notorious for organizing\nthe Holocaust and ordering the construction of crematoriums. Viewers see\nvarious characters try to figure out how to enact justice on the man after his\nconviction. Reaction to the foreign-language picture was quite strong. A few\ndidn\u2019t appreciate the darkly comic tone and didn\u2019t think the film\u2019s varied\nstories gelled together. Still, most called the film unique and stated that it\nasked many insightful questions. They admitted that some segments were better\nthan others, but thought that the focus on individuals discussing various forms\nof retribution were intriguing. It features Tzahi Grad, Joy Rieger and Tom\nHagi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE MOUSE TRAP \u2013 You\u2019ll recall that a year or so ago, the\ncharacter of \u201cWinnie the Pooh\u201d went into the public domain. Almost immediately\nafterward, a low-budget horror film appeared that featured the character as a\nviolent, monstrous killer. Well, that\u2019s now also happened with Disney\u2019s Mickey\nMouse, at least, in its original Steamboat Willie<\/em> iteration. A young\nwoman celebrating her 21st<\/sup> birthday goes to an amusement park with\nfriends, where they are hunted by a killer dressed like this early version of\nthe famous children\u2019s character. So far, genre critics have generally hated\nthis independent horror picture. They suggest that the experience is similar to\nwatching the Pooh film. They call it a quick cash-in on a famous figure with a\npoor story, shoddy production value and zero suspense. It stars Simon Phillips,\nSophie McIntosh and Madeline Kelman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ON OUR WAY \u2013 Here is another title that was made a few years\nago. It debuted on the internet and was made available to stream a year ago,\nbut is only now arriving on disc. This independent drama involves a suicidal\nscreenwriter grieving over the tragic loss of his girlfriend. Just before he is\nabout to kill himself, a mysterious muse appears before him. She discusses his\nlatest script and shows him that he actually has a lot to live for. There\naren\u2019t many reviews for the film, but those that have appeared online have been\nall over the place. A few have written that the picture is moving and does a\nnice job of examining grief. But just as many called the storytelling confusing\nand the final product cliched and uninvolving. The cast includes Michael\nRichardson, Sophie Lane Curtis, Jordana Brewster, Keith Powers, Franco Nero and\nVanessa Redgrave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE PEOPLE\u2019S JOKER \u2013 This independent effort begins with a\nlegal disclaimer stating that it is using \u201cfair use\u201d guidelines to present a\nsatire of DC comic characters. It is a coming-of-age film about a comedian\ngrappling with gender identity who begins to see themselves relating more to a\nHarlequin-like figure than the Joker. As the person undergoes a big change,\nthey must square off against a fascistic caped crusader. The picture was\nproduced in 2022 but took some time to find a distributor. In fact, it was\npulled from the Toronto Film Festival after its debut when Warner Bros.\nthreatened to sue. The issue appears to have now been resolved. Reviewers were\npositive about what they saw. Write-ups suggested that it is a very amusing,\npersonal and completely original feature blending numerous elements with a\nwell-delivered message. It features Vera Drew, Lynn Downey, Tim Heidecker and\nfeatures the voice of Bob Odenkirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s also a busy week if you appreciate older titles. Arrow\nVideo is releasing the \u201cLimited Edition\u201d box set called When Titans Ruled\nthe Earth<\/em>. Next week, it\u2019s appearing on 4K Ultra HD, but right now you can\npurchase it as a standalone Blu-ray set. This release contains the remake Clash\nof the Titans<\/em> (2010) and its sequel Wrath of the Titans<\/em> (2012) both\nstarring Sam Worthington as the Greek hero Perseus. In these titles the\ncharacter squares off against various beasts and Hades himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides the improved picture quality, the movies arrive with\nnew interviews with the producer, as well as tons of featurettes (from earlier\neditions) on the productions, deleted scenes, publicity materials and\nmore. A FULL BOX SET REVIEW WILL APPEAR ON THIS SITE SHORTLY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re an enthusiast of 1980s European horror movies, you\nmay be familiar with the following crazy gorefests that were produced by Dario\nArgento. Demons<\/em> (1985) is being put out on 4K Ultra HD by Synapse Films,\nand it\u2019s a wild one. A group of patrons are invited to a preview screening of a\nhorror movie, only to find the monsters from the show crawling out of the\nscreen and turning them into beasts. This admittedly stylish and entertaining\nbloodbath is full of over-the-top moments and graphic make-up effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new remaster has been taken from the original camera negative and includes the full-length original cut in English and Italian, along with the shorter US version. There is a new film critic audio commentary, as well as an archived track with director Lamberto Bava, SPFX artist Sergio Stivaletti, the composer and a cast member. Additionally, there is a new featurette on all of the films and TV projects produced by Dario Argento. If that wasn\u2019t enough, all bonuses from the previous Synapse edition have also been included. A Blu-ray only version is also available. Read a full disc review right here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t have one of these pictures without the other, so Demons 2<\/em> (1986) is also arriving on 4K Ultra HD (or Blu-ray). This one is set in an apartment complex and features the titular monsters coming out of televisions and creating chaos in the building. It isn\u2019t quite as intense as the original, but comes pretty darn close and features more inventive demonic mayhem. Like the first title, the picture has been remastered in 4K from the original camera negative. You\u2019ll get a new film historian commentary, a recently recorded visual essay on the use of space and technology in the movies, and all previously released bonuses. Click on this link to read more details about this edition. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cauldron Films is presenting a couple of cult titles on Blu-ray. Rat Man<\/em> (1988) is an Italian production about, as you may have already guessed, a monstrous being that is part human, part rodent attacking travelers at a Caribbean resort.  This \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d includes a 4K Picture restoration, a film historian commentary, crew interviews, a trailer and reversible cover artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top Line<\/em> (1988) aka Alien Terminator<\/em> is\nanother Italian genre flick starring Franco Nero as an adventurer in Columbia\nwho discovers a UFO. George Kennedy also appears in the movie. The feature has\nbeen given a 2K restoration for this release and arrives with a Nero interview,\na film historian commentary (that includes case and crew interviews), a\nfeaturette with alien theories, and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a completely different note, you can purchase Brief\nEncounters\/The Long Farewell: Two Films by Kira Muratova<\/em> on Blu-ray\ncourtesy of Criterion. The comedy\/drama titles were made by Ukrainian filmmaker\nMuratova in 1967 and 1971. They both were either banned or shelved by Soviet\ncensors and didn\u2019t see the light of cinema projectors until the late 1980s.\nBoth features arrive on disc with 4K digital restorations, film expert\ninterviews on their importance, an archival interview with Muratova and a movie\ncritic essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also pick up the Academy Award winning period epic, The\nLast Emperor<\/em> (1987) on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It\u2019s a biopic of the\nfascinating life of Emperor Pu Yi, who became the monarch and leader of China\nat age two. Reportedly, it comes with a wonderful and sharper picture on the\ntheatrical cut, and also includes the longer TV version. Bonuses include a\nBernardo Bertolucci director commentary (with other crew members) recorded in\nthe mid-2000s, an archival documentary on Bertolucci, footage from a scouting\ntrip to China, two documentaries on the production, as well as an episode of\nthe TV program The Southbank Show that is devoted to the movie. There is also a\n2007 discussion with composer David Byrne on the score, a featurette on Chinese\nculture, a TV appearance and interview with Bertolucci, and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mirror Mirror<\/em> (1990) is a genre film that is arriving\nexclusively on 4K Ultra HD from Dark Force Entertainment. It follows a teenager\nwho communicates with an evil force in her mirror that helps her take revenge\non tormentors at school. The supporting cast includes Karen Black, Yvonne De\nCarlo, Williamm Sanderson and Stephen Tobolowsky. The new 4K scan is from the\noriginal camera negative and the release includes a film historian commentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you\u2019re into Full Moon Pictures, you can now pick up a\nBlu-ray of The Gingerdead Man<\/em> (2005). Apparently, it has been remastered\nfor this release and arrives with plenty of extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kino is putting out some notable titles as well. 99 River\nStreet<\/em> (1953) is a film noir about an ex-boxer suspected of murdering his\nwife (who was having an affair). This \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray contains a 2K\nfilm transfer, a movie expert commentary and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annie Laurie<\/em> (1927) is a Lilian Gish film set in the\nScottish Highlands that follows a kidnapping during a feud between two\nfamilies. It also comes with a film historian commentary track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bob le Flambeur<\/em> (1956) is a French casino heist film\nthat is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K restoration\nwas taken from the original camera negative and bonuses include a film critic\ncommentary, a trailer, and a documentary about the villain of the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Doulos<\/em> (1963) is a French gangster film about\nbackstabbing crooks that is also getting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray\ntreatment.  Besides the picture improvement, it comes with a movie\nhistorian commentary, an interview with the first assistant director, a documentary\non the beginnings of the detective story and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also a Blu-ray \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d of Navajo Joe<\/em>\n(1966), an Italian\/Spanish western with Burt Reynolds as a man who swears\nrevenge on those who tried to kill him.  The disc features a commentary\nfrom western expert and filmmaker Alex Cox (Repo Man<\/em>), a scene-specific\ntrack with a biographer of Ennio Morricone (who wrote the score) and a\ntrailer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on the Charles Dickens novel, the Ealing Studios\nproduction of Nicholas Nickleby<\/em> (1947) is arriving on Blu-ray. This disc\nfeatures an interview with the curators of the BFI Dickens Season and a 1903\nshort adaptation of the story. A trailer is also included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shout! Factory is putting out a pair of releases. This effort won\u2019t play as well today as it did in the 1980s, but the Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin Cannon Films action picture The Delta Force<\/em> (1986) is coming out in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. The performers play leaders of a secret team of US commandos who use any means necessary to wipe out a group of terrorists after they hijack a plane. It includes a 4K image restoration from the original camera negative and a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observe and Report <\/em>(2009) is a dark comedy with Seth\nRogen about an unhinged individual who is hired as a mall security guard. The\n2K remaster of the image has been approved by writer\/director Jody Hill. There\nis a picture-in-picture commentary with Rogen, Hill and co-star Anna Faris. The\ndisc also comes with featurettes on the production, outtakes, additional scenes\nand a gag reel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you enjoy classic comedy, Sony is releasing out The Three Stooges Collection<\/em> on Blu-ray. This is a 20-disc box set with over 120 shorts and 8 full-length features starring the comedy troupe. It also contains a scrapbook and a button-activated sound chip with classic Stooges noises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bat Whispers<\/em> (1930) is a crime\/chiller that is\nbeing released as a \u201cRestored Collector\u2019s Edition\u201d Blu-ray from VCI\nEntertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributor is also putting out the Dick Tracy RKO\nClassics Collection<\/em> Blu-ray set, containing Dick Tracy<\/em> (1945), Dick\nTracy vs. Cueball<\/em> (1946), Dick Tracy\u2019s Dilemma<\/em> (1947) and Dick\nTracy Meets Gruesome<\/em> (1947), all adaptations of the famous comic character.\nThe latter title features Boris Karloff as Gruesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the Basil Rathbone comedy,\nHillbillys in a Haunted House<\/em> (1967). The plot involves two country and\nwestern singers who end up in a ghastly mansion. The disc comes with a film\nhistorian commentary track, photo gallery and trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warner Bros. is presenting a trio of big titles as 4K Ultra\nHD exclusives (no Blu-rays are included). The first is the gangster biopic Black\nMass<\/em> (2015) starring Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson and\nJoel Edgerton lead an all-star cast about the exploits of criminal Whitey\nBulger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of stars, the comedy Game Night<\/em> (2018) is\nalso getting the 4K Ultra HD upgrade. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play a\ncouple who play weekly board games with friends. When the husband\u2019s brother\nshows up unexpectedly and is kidnapped, the entire group end up on a wild and\ndangerous adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Michael B. Jordan\/Jamie Foxx drama Just Mercy<\/em>\n(2019) is the third feature getting a 4K Ultra HD release.  This biopic\ntells the story of civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson and his work\nin proving the innocence of a death row prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Warner Archives made-to-order Blu-ray collection is also\nadding several options for purchasers. They including the Elvis Presley musical\nHarum Scarum<\/em> (1965), the Clark Gable rom-com and dark comedy Idiot\u2019s\nDelight<\/em> (1939), as well as the Sissy Spacek biopic Marie<\/em> (1985) aka Marie:\nA True Story<\/em> and the Spencer Tracy western, Northwest Passage<\/em>\n(1940).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families may be excited to learn they can pick up a\ndouble-feature Blu-ray of the animated direct-to-video films Scooby-Doo and\nthe Witch\u2019s Ghost<\/em> (1999) and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders<\/em>\n(2000). The Stars Fell on Henrietta<\/em> (1995) is a period oil drama with\nRobert Duvall that is also being released, and you can also check out the\nIreland-set War of the Buttons<\/em> (1994) on Blu-ray too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a list of releases that may be of interest to\nyoungsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scooby-Doo and the Witch\u2019s Ghost<\/em> (1999) and Scooby-Doo\nand the Alien Invaders<\/em> (2000) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Three Stooges Collection<\/em> (Sony) Blu-ray box set<\/p>\n\n\n\n

War of the Buttons<\/em> (for older kids) (Warner Archive)\nBlu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ON THE TUBE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below you\u2019ll find all of the week\u2019s TV-themed discs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Paradise<\/em>: Season 2 (BBC) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chucky<\/em>: Season 3 (Universal) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries 2-Movie Collection:\nShifting Gears & A Taste of Love <\/em>(Hallmark) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope in the Water<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monster High 2<\/em> (TV-movie) (Paramount) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NCIS<\/em>: Season 21 (Paramount) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sister Boniface Mysteries<\/em>: Season 3 (BBC) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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