With the fall now well underway, we are seeing a deluxe of hot hits being released on Blu-ray and DVD. This is a great thing for film and TV lovers!From the latest Star Trek series to holiday films and beyond, this week sees another exciting batch of releases becoming available. How many of these will you want to get your hands on? Think it over while you browse all of the following new releases.
Star Trek: Picard: Season One (2020)
Patrick Stewart reprises his role as the legendary Jean-Luc Picard in this exciting sci-fi adventure series that premiered in 2020. Having left Starfleet 14 years earlier under less-than-amicable circumstances, Picard must assemble his own ragtag crew when the appearance–and subsequent death–of a mysterious young woman (Isa Briones) sends him back out among the stars on a dangerous mission. With Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Santiago Cabrera, Harry Treadaway, Evan Evagora, and Jeri Ryan. All 10 episodes from the first season are included in this three-disc set.
The Secret Garden (2020)
Having lost her parents in India, pampered 10-year-old Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx) was delivered to the Yorkshire manor–and aloof attentions–of her distant, widowed uncle Archibald Craven (Colin Firth). As she bonds with infirm cousin Colin (Edan Hayhurst) and servant’s son Dickon (Amir Wilson), they find that the hidden garden her late aunt once maintained has uncanny properties. Splendid retelling of the Frances Hodgson Burnett family classic co-stars Julie Walters, Isis Davis.
Picture a Perfect Christmas (2019)
With her boyfriend taken off on a holiday gig, nothing was keeping photographer Sophie Griffith (Merritt Patterson) from heading to her hometown and helping out her hobbled grandmother Sophie (Paula Shaw) with her pageant. As she gets to know also Sophie’s single neighbor David Murphy (Jon Cor)–and his struggles raising his orphaned nephew Troy (Luke Roessler)–some changes with her future plans are sure to develop. Cheering Hallmark tale also stars Nicole Oliver, Toby Levins.
Christmas at the Plaza (2019)
The daunting task of researching Christmases past at New York City’s Plaza Hotel brings archival historian Dr. Jessica Cooper (Elizabeth Henstridge) and decorator Nick Perrelli (Ryan Paevey) together to work on the project. Their initially chilly relationship begins to warm the more time they spend with each other, but their respective lingering romantic entanglements could cool things off permanently. Bruce Davison, Julia Duffy, Karen Holness co-star in this delightful Hallmark holiday romance.
Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen (2019)
Flighty Ella Dashwood (Erin Krakow) wanted to prove to her grounded sister Marianne (Kimberley Sustad) that she could hold up her end of the family party planning concern. Dumb-lucking into a gig planning the corporate Christmas shindig for less-than-jolly toy company CEO Edward Ferris (Luke Macfarlane), will she be able to pull it off alone while charming her frosty client? Hallmark holiday spin on the Jane Austen staple also stars Jason McKinnon, Anna Van Hooft, Jan Bos, Ellen Kennedy.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (2019)
Sarah Reed (Tricia Helfer) and Liam Clark (Eric Mabius) carried their grade school rivalry into the mayor’s offices of adjoining New Hampshire towns, and with the statewide Christmas spirit competition ramping up, each was determined to land the cash prize and bragging rights. Will the campaign of dirty trickery that results wind up with a (more than) amicable compromise? Engaging Hallmark Holiday tale also stars Aliza Vellani, Raf Rogers, April Telek.
When Calls the Heart: 6-Movie Collection
Inspired by Janette Oke’s “Canadian West” novels, this moving Hallmark Channel drama stars Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thatcher, a young woman from a well-to-do family in 1910s Canada. Taking a job as schoolteacher in Coal Valley, a remote town still reeling from a recent mine disaster that claimed many lives, Elizabeth finds her place in the community with help from local widow Abigail (Lori Loughlin) and the new constable, Mountie Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing). Three-disc set includes “The Heart of a Father,” “Family Matters,” “Sweet and Sour,” “An Unexpected Gift,” “In Perfect Unity,” and “Heart of a Writer.”
Best of Warner Bros.: 50 Cartoon Collection: Looney Tunes
Celebrate the wonderful world of Warner Bros. animation with this two-disc collection that features 50 of the most popular Looney Tunes shorts. Includes “I Love to Singa,” “The Wise Quacking Duck,” “The Great Piggy Bank Robbery,” “The Scarlet Pumpernickel,” “Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century,” “What’s Opera, Doc?,” “The Pied Piper of Guadalupe,” and more.
The Soul of the Midnight Special
For the first time, the greatest soul performances from The Midnight Special are available in one collection: The Soul of Midnight Special. These soul performances showcase straight-from-the-heart soul singing—with LIVE musicians in front of a LIVE audience. Featuring artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Sly & the Family Stone, Bill Withers, James Brown — our DVD set features over 70 live performances. Plus, bonus interviews with Patti LaBelle, Bobby Womack, Gladys Knight, James Brown, George Benson and more.
I Got You Babe: The Best of Sonny and Cher (10-Disc Set)
Throughout the 1970s, singers Sonny and Cher Bono–whether married, divorced, solo, or reunited–delivered an array of decade-defining comedy/music programs. Included here are 10 complete episodes of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” (1971-1974), five complete episodes of “Cher” (1975), and three complete episodes of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” (1976-1977), featuring guest stars like Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, Flip Wilson, Steve Martin, Betty White, Elton John, The Jackson Five, Ike & Tina Turner, Wayne Newton, and many more.
Save Yourselves! (2020)
Brooklynite couple Su (Sunita Mani) and Jack (John Reynolds) thought it’d be best for their relationship and respective sanity if they completely unplugged from their devices for a private, low-fi getaway week in the woods upstate. While a great time was had, they were out of the loop while Earth was being invaded by creatures from space–making for a comically perilous trip home! Incisive fantasy farce also stars Ben Sinclair, Johanna Day, John Early, and Amy Sedaris.
Pierrot Le Fou (Criterion Collection)(1965)
Filmed without a script “improv”-style at each day’s shooting, Jean-Luc Godard’s acclaimed and introspective drama follows a bored family man (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who flees with his lover (Anna Karina) when a dead gangster turns up in her apartment. Haunting, poetic drama with an unforgettable ending also stars Dirk Sanders; look for filmmaker Sam Fuller playing himself.
Valley Girl (2020)
Spirited jukebox musical redo of the 1983 comedy follows Encino native Julie Richman (Jessica Rothe) as she strikes up a romance with Randy (Josh Whitehouse), lead singer of a (barf me out!) Hollywood punk band. Now, Julie and Randy will have to deal with the disapproval of her friends and family–while everybody belts out some ‘80s pop and new wave hits, of course. With Jessie Ennis, Ashleigh Murray; soundtrack includes “We Got the Beat,” “Crazy for You,” “Take on Me,” and more.
The Tax Collector (2020)
In South L.A., David (Bobby Soto) made sure his family was taken care of–and that meant making sure that the crime overlord called Wizard got his regular tribute from dozens of street gangs, alongside fellow bagman Creeper (Shia LaBeouf). Unfortunately, Wizard’s old rival Conejo (Conejo) has come north looking for some of his action…and he’s not taking Bobby’s rejection of his recruitment offer well. Wheelhouse crime actioner from David Ayer co-stars Cinthya Carmona, George Lopez.
To Your Last Death (2019)
It was bad enough that Miriam DeKalb (voiced by Dani Lennon) and her three siblings were summoned by their estranged industrialist father (Ray Wise) to his high-rise complex just so he could brutally slay them. It got still crazier when she was plucked out of time by alien entities betting on the outcome of the awful scenario–and given a mulligan so she could possibly save them all. Distinctive animated fantasy-shocker also features the voices of Morena Baccarin, William Shatner, and Bill Moseley.
The 2nd (2020)
It was going to be a tense enough trip for Secret Service agent Vic Davis (Ryan Phillippe), heading to his estranged son’s (Jack Griffo) college to pick him up. And that was before he had to back-burner any father/son reconnecting and go back on the clock in order to stop some heavily armed terrorists from abducting a Supreme Court justice’s daughter (Lexi Simonsen). Fast-paced actioner co-stars Casper Van Dien, Samaire Armstrong, and William Katt.
The Deeper You Dig (2019)
Catskills goth teen Echo Allen (Zelda Adams) had the misfortune of being fatally sideswiped by drunk driver Luke Miller (John Adams), who then buried her to cover up the crime. Echo’s spirit, however, won’t rest easily–and torments Luke as she attempts to reach out to Ivy (Toby Poser), her lapsed psychic mother, who’s on her own pursuit of the truth. Moody and singular chiller, co-directed by its husband/wife/daughter principals, also stars Shawn Wilson, Joan Poser.
Charge of the Black Lancers (1962)
Sweeping Italian/French action saga is set during the Middle Ages and stars Mel Ferrer as Andrea Di Tula, a Polish soldier who must compete with brother Sergio (Jean Claudio) for the position of military commander. Andrea is granted the coveted promotion, and soon finds himself facing his brother on the battlefield when the treasonous Sergio helps an army of savage barbarians stage a brutal attack. With Yvonne Furneaux, Letícia Román, Lorella De Luca.
Before the Fire (2020)
With the globe in the grip of a pandemic, TV actress Ava Boone (Jenna Lyng Adams, who scripted) was packed off by her fiancé Kelly (Jackson Davis) for the isolation and–he thought–relative safety of their rural South Dakota hometown. The raw nerves of the strained community, however, might combine with her own dark and shrouded family history to pose no less dangerous a threat. Eerily prescient fantasy-thriller also stars Ryan Vigilant, Charles Hubbell, Dakota Morrissiey, M.J. Karmi. AKA: “The Great Silence.”
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
In tiny Mount Rose, Minnesota, the annual teen beauty pageant is the major event…and onetime winner/local royalty Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley) wants to see her catty daughter Rebecca (Denise Richards) follow in her tap-clad footsteps. But when the competition looks steep–particularly from trailer park overachiever Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst)–the contestants start falling prey to all manner of bizarre fatal accidents! Dark farce also stars Ellen Barkin, Allison Janney, Brittany Murphy, Amy Adams.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases.