Whether you are ready for them or not, there’s no stopping the holidays. But at least things aren’t to crazy yet, so you’ll have some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the huge new titles that the studios are rolling out in advance of the season of celebrating. From biting blockbusters to cosmic comedies, there’s a little bit of viewing magic for everyone on DVD and Blu-ray this week. Check out what titles are now available!
No one believed rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) when he claimed he encountered a giant monster of a sea creature during a mission. They do now. The disgraced Taylor gets more than he bargained for when he’s recruited to save three members of an underwater research team and finds himself trying to prevent a massive prehistoric shark known as a Megalodon from attacking a Chinese beach. Based on Steve Alten’s novel, this exciting undersea actioner also stars Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Cliff Curtis.
Black ops agent James Silva (Mark Wahlberg) and his team agree to safely escort Indonesian police officer Li Noor (Iko Uwais) out of the country in exchange for his knowledge of the location of a dangerous chemical element Silva’s group failed to destroy. The 22-mile trip to their airstrip destination proves to be a harrowing journey as Silva and his people become targeted for elimination by local intelligence agents. Lauren Cohan, Ronda Rousey, and John Malkovich co-star in this thrilling actioner.
This delightful live television performance, inspired by the holiday film classic and hit Broadway musical, is set in 1940s Indiana and follows young Ralphie Parker (Andy Walken) on his desperate campaign to ensure a Red Ryder BB gun is waiting under the Christmas tree. Maya Rudolph, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ana Gasteyer, Jane Krakowski, Ken Jeong, and Matthew Broderick also star. Songs include “It All Comes Down to Christmas,” “When You’re a Wimp,” “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out,” and more.
Britisher Annie Platt (Rose Byrne) was fed up with the fixation her pretentious long-term guy Duncan Thomson (Chris O’Dowd) had over obscure, reclusive rocker Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke)…and happily trolled the uncovering of rare acoustic tracks from the musician. Well, someone who shared her dim view–Crowe himself–reached out…and she soon found herself in an improbable triangle. Engaging take on the Nick Hornby novel also stars Jimmy O. Yang, Megan Dodds, Lily Newmark.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Plus 6 Disney Tales
Join Olaf for warm hugs and holiday cheer as he presents Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (22 min)-with 4 great new songs-starring all your favorite characters from Frozen. Olaf and Sven set out on a merry mission to save Christmas for Anna and Elsa. This special collection also includes 6 winter-themed tales (46 min) featuring classic Disney characters-Donald Duck in The Hockey Champ, Goofy in The Art of Skiing and Mickey Mouse in the holiday treat Pluto’s Christmas Tree-as well as Once Upon A Wintertime, Winter and Polar Trappers.
Written by Raymond Chandler, this crackerjack film noir features Alan Ladd as Johnny Morrison, a sailor returning home to Los Angeles who discovers that his wife is involved with another man. When she’s found murdered, Morrison becomes the prime suspect, forcing him to launch his own investigation with the estranged spouse (Veronica Lake) of his wife’s lover. With William Bendix, Howard Da Silva; directed by George Marshall.
A Story from Chikamatsu (Criterion Collection)
In 18th-century Kyoto, quirks of circumstance cause a miserly printer (Eitarō Shindō) to unjustly accuse his wife (Kyōko Kagawa) and his apprentice (Kazuo Hasegawa) of having an affair. With adultery being punishable by crucifixion, the two lean upon each other as they flee for their lives…and as the forbidden love for which they were hunted actually blossoms. Kenji Mizoguchi’s masterful take on a Chikamatsu Monzaemon play co-stars Yōko Minamida, Eitarō Ozawa. AKA: “The Crucified Lovers.”
Shaken by a fatality during a location shoot in a remote Peruvian village, Hollywood stunt rider Kansas (Dennis Hopper) decides to chuck show business and make himself a new life with a local hooker (Stella Garcia). His idyll is short-lived, though, as he’s asked to intercede when the natives start primitively re-creating his ill-starred production. Hopper’s seldom-seen, notoriously excessive directing follow-up to “Easy Rider” co-stars Julie Adams, Tomas Milian, Rod Cameron, Sam Fuller, Dean Stockwell.
Tragically widowed actress Carla Harris (Deborah Tranelli) returned to her hometown to forget…but the journey ended with her rape and her parents’ murder by local lowlifes. Escaping from the hospital, she makes sure each pays in bloody turn, in Ciro Santiago’s revenge actioner “Naked Vengeance.” Kaz Garas, Carmen Argenziano co-star. After her kid sister goes to jail for a self-defense slaying–and is murdered inside–stuntwoman Laurie Collins (Karen Chase) gets herself imprisoned so she can get final payback from those responsible, in “Vendetta.” Sandy Martin, Kin Shriner, Roberta Collins co-star.
Slinking onto your screen, this thriller from the sinister imagination of Lucio Fulci (“Zombie”) concerns a physician (Jean Sorel) who juggles unhealthy relationships with both a mistress and a stripper who resembles his suspiciously deceased wife. Will the salacious doctor’s overconfidence prove to be his undoing? Packed with cruelty and depravity, the film also stars Marisa Mell, Elsa Martinelli. AKA: “The Conspiracy of Torture.”
Star Trek Discovery: Season One
Debuting in 2017, this exciting entry in the ever-popular sci-fi franchise takes place approximately 10 years before the original “Star Trek” series. Imprisoned for mutiny, disgraced Starfleet officer Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) gets a chance at redemption when she’s recruited to join the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery on an important interstellar mission. Doug Jones, Shazad Latif, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Jason Isaacs also star.
Unappreciated housewife and mom Agnes (Kelly MacDonald) sat down to the complex jigsaw puzzle she got for her birthday…and astonished herself with how quickly she assembled it. As she frequents a hobby shop to indulge this previously unknown gift, she catches the eye of eccentric inventor Robert (Irrfan Khan), who’s looking for a tournament partner…and who might help piece together a change in her life. Charming effort co-stars David Denman, Austin Abrams, Bubba Weiler, Liv Hewson.
Respected High Court judge Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) was determined not to her work be impacted by her fraying marriage to Jack (Stanley Tucci). However, when she opts to take first-hand review of a sensitive 17-year-old Jehovah’s Witness (Fionn Whitehead) rejecting treatment for his leukemia, she might be venturing into profound personal and professional jeopardy. Ben Chaplin, Eileen Walsh, Jason Watkins, Anthony Calf co-star; Ian McEwan adapted his novel for the screen.
A band of ruthless terrorists seizes an English soccer stadium in search of a revolutionary leader (Pierce Brosnan), and former U.S. soldier Michael Knox (Dave Bautista) may be the only one who can stop them. With the lives of 35,000 spectators hanging in the balance, Knox finds things taking a much more personal turn when the bad guys make the mistake of abducting Danni (Lara Peake), the daughter of one of his fallen war buddies. Ray Stevenson co-stars in this explosive actioner.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Don’t Panic! The British TV adaptation of Douglas Adams’ cult sci-fi book series follows the misadventures of Arthur Dent, sole survivor of the demolished planet Earth. Join Dent and interplanetary researcher Ford Prefect as they encounter bad alien poetry, a depressed robot, a two-headed spaceship thief, and the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Simon Jones, David Dixon, and Sandra Dickinson star. All six episodes of the series are included in this release.