In case you can’t make it out to the movies this week, here are some home video release highlights. There are plenty to choose from this week, so be sure to check them out!
Big New Releases!
After Earth – Odds are, you didn’t see this one at the theater. Now’s your chance to catch up with one of the biggest domestic box office flops of the summer and make up your own mind. This futuristic science fiction tale follows a father and son astronaut team who crash land on Earth a thousand years after a mass extinction event forced its residents off of the planet. Will Smith not only stars (with real life son, Jaden) but also wrote the story. It was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, but there have been reports suggesting the film’s performances were directed by Smith himself, while Shyamalan handled the visuals. Whatever might have happened behind the scenes, critics were less than kind upon its release. Read our review HERE.
The Curse of Chucky – It’s been almost ten years since the last Child’s Play film, but the little killer doll has returned, in this, the fifth sequel. This time out, a new family comes into contact with Chucky and must fend off his attacks. Don Mancini, writer of all the previous installments, once again returns and also sits in the director’s chair. Brad Dourif also returns as the voice of the title character. Alas, this sequel was made for blu-ray and DVD, but a few early reports from horror fans have suggested the quality may be a little higher than the typical straight-to-video fare. We’ll see.
Europa Report – Perhaps the most curious release of the week, this small sci-fi film mixes documentary and fiction, was met with strong critical notices earlier in the year, who praised the film’s attempts to portray science and space exploration in a more realistic manner. The story follows a space crew (played by Sharto Copley, Embeth Davidtz and Michael Nyqvist) searching for life on the Europa moon orbiting Jupiter. It’s said to be quite tense, so those interested in a different kind of science fiction film will want to check it out.
The Hangover Part III – This final film in the comedy series follows the leads (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis) as they return to Vegas. Dumping the memory loss device of the previous two films, the main story deals with a kidnapping plot. Noticeably darker than previous installments, this sequel received mixed notices, but some admired the attempt to try something different. Read the original review HERE.
The Lifeguard – Kristin Bell stars as the titular character in this independent comedy/drama film that received a limited release over the summer. She play a 30-ish woman who, after a personal crisis, moves back to her hometown and regresses into her old high school state (eventually forming a romantic relationship with a troubled young teen). The film received extremely poor notices upon its release, though fans of Bell and co-star Martin Starr may want to test the waters.
Much Ado About Nothing – Decompressing after the massive success of The Avengers, director Joss Whedon quickly filmed this low-budget, black and white, modern day production of the Shakespeare play. The cast includes Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Fran Kranz and Jilian Morgese in the main roles, while also featuring familiar faces Nathan Fillion and Clark Gregg. It garnered a lot of good press and might be a decent way to introduce new viewers to the Bard of Avon.
The Purge – This little $3 million dollar horror flick became a surprise hit thanks to an effective marketing campaign. In a dystopian future, all crime is legalized for one night a year. Star Ethan Hawke and his family do their best to survive an onslaught of home invaders on the evening in question. Critics didn’t like it, but the movie tallied up more than $64 million at the box office.
Blasts from the Past!
The Exorcist: 40th Anniversary – It’s the time of year for horror and Warner Home Video leads the way this week with a blu-ray re-release of a classic catalogue title. Director William Friedkin took great pains in creating a harrowing battle between the forces of good and evil, and the result is an incredible film with the most dynamic exorcism scenes in the history of cinema. This edition includes the original theatrical cut with an “all new” Extended Director’s Cut comprised of even more footage than the first Director’s Cut released many moons ago. Truthfully, the original version is just fine, but there’s certainly no harm in checking out the new footage. Besides what is sure to be a top notch transfer, there are also commentaries, making of featurettes, full documentaries and just about anything related to the movie that you could think of. If you’re a fan or have never seen it, it’s definitely worth checking out.
You Know, For Kids!
Monster High: 13 Wishes – After all the classic children’s films last week, it looks like a much, much slower week for small fry. The only (not-so) significant release is this straight-to-blu-ray flick based off the Mattel toy line and featuring a cast of Barbie-esque monsters. If your young one is a fan, they might enjoy it. Can’t see anyone else being too impressed, though.
On the Tube!
While there aren’t any older series coming out this week, there are plenty of recent TV shows coming to home video.
American Horror Story: Asylum
Bones – Season 8
The Middle – Season 3
Psych – Season 7
Robot Chicken – Season 6
White Collar – Season 4