09.05.11 | Chris Cummins | New Releases This WeekPrint this Post
This week's new DVD and Blu-ray releases are made up of recent feature films, classics making their home video debuts and TV season sets aplenty. Here's what viewing treats you can welcome September in with.
Set against the backdrop of the looming Cuban Missile Crisis, this thrilling prequel shows mutants Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) as friends before they became enemies as Professor X and Magneto. Recruited by the CIA, Xavier and Lensherr lead the first team of X-Men on a mission to prevent evil mutants Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) and Emma Frost (January Jones) from starting a global nuclear war. With Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence.
Robert Mitchum stars in this thrilling Korean War epic as Colonel Steve Jankowski, a tough regular army officer matching stratagems with communist forces while falling for a widowed United Nations worker (Ann Blyth) aiding refugees. Harrowing actual footage from the then-current "police action" punctuates the gripping battle scenes. Charles McGraw, William Talman, Margaret Sheridan also star.
Hard-hitting film noir thriller about a mysterious serial killer called "the Judge" who preys on those he believes to be evil, only strikes on rainy nights, and favors strangulation. A dedicated police lieutenant (William Lundigan) is tasked with tracking him down, but his investigation may be hampered by a nosy-but easy on the eyes-tabloid reporter (Dorothy Patrick). Jeff Corey, Charles D. Brown, Edwin Max also star; directed by Richard Fleischer and an uncredited Anthony Mann.
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond
Jolting gangster fare chronicles the life of legendary 1920s hood Jack "Legs" Diamond. Beginning his criminal career as a two-bit jewel thief, Legs works his way up to a position as bodyguard to a notorious mobster-fully intending to take over his empire-before establishing himself as one of New York City's most feared kingpins. Ray Danton electrifies in the title role, with support from Karen Steele, Elaine Stewart, Warren Oates, and Dyan Cannon.
Loosely based on actual events, this gritty crime drama tells the story of a group of teenaged hoodlums who became a criminal force to be reckoned with in 1920s Detroit. Even as the mob is called in to deal with the punks, the conflict ultimately boils down to the personal fight between the Purple Gang's psychotic leader (Robert Blake) and the police lieutenant (Barry Sullivan) who blames him for the death of his wife and unborn child. With Elaine Edwards, Marc Cavell.
Ruthless killer Red Kluger (Charles McGraw) escapes from Folsom Prison with a plan to exact revenge on those he blames for landing him behind bars. Kidnapping the cop (Michael O'Shea) who busted him, the D.A. (Frank Conroy) who got him convicted, and the showgirl (Virginia Grey) who ratted him out, Kluger plots to even the score before making his final flight to freedom. Julie Bishop, Robert Shayne also star in this taut crime drama.
After gaining small-screen fame as Emma Peel on "The Avengers," Diana Rigg returned to TV in a variety of original dramas and plays. This five-disc collection includes the anthology series "Three Piece Suite" (1977), featuring six three-part episodes; a "BBC Play of the Month" staging of Ibsen's "Little Eyolf" (1982), with Anthony Hopkins and Peggy Ashcroft; an adaptation of Alice Thomas Ellis' "Unexplained Laughter" (1989) for "Play on One"; "Screen Two's" controversial satire "Genghis Cohn" (1993), co-starring Antony Sher and Daniel Craig; and Rigg's acclaimed turn as 1920s London socialite-turned-sleuth Mrs. Adela Bradley in the five-episode 1998-2000 series "The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries," with Peter Davison and Neil Dudgeon.
Based on a short story by Raymond Carver, this insightful seriocomedy stars Will Ferrell as Nick-an ennui-stricken salesman and struggling alcoholic. When his drinking causes him to lose his wife and his job on the same day, he decides to start over by parting with all of his worldly possessions in an impromptu yard sale on his front lawn. With the help of a new neighbor, Nick tries to rid himself of his things-and his demons-and start anew. With Rebecca Hall, Laura Dern.
Sleazy lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) learns that, while still sleazy, he's no longer a lawyer after the Colorado bar deems his degree invalid. Forced to start over by enrolling at Greendale Community College, Jeff finds unexpected support in a study group whose members also include befuddled ex-businessman Pierce (Chevy Chase), sharp-tongued Britta (Gillian Jacobs), single mom Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), and would-be filmmaker Abed (Danny Pudi). Alison Brie, Donald Glover also star. All 24 second-season episodes-including "Anthropology 101," "Basic Rocket Science," "Mixology Certification," "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons," and "For a Few Paintballs More"-are featured in a four-disc set.
A diverse group of FBI profilers is assembled into the Behavioral Analyst Unit, an elite team assigned to study the minds of the country's most dangerous criminals in an effort to stay one step ahead of them and bring them to justice before they can hurt anyone else. Debuting in 2005, this gripping CBS crime drama stars Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini and Mandy Patinkin. All 24 episodes from the sixth season-including "The Longest Night," "Safe Haven," "Into the Woods," "Coda," "The Stranger," and "Supply and Demand"-are featured in a six-disc set.
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Forest Whitaker and Janeane Garofalo star in this gritty procedural series spun off from "Criminal Minds," portraying top FBI operatives working on behavioral analysis in Quantico, Virginia. No matter how puzzling the case or elusive the criminal, Whitaker and Garofalo's dedicated team is ready to push the limits of conventional investigation to get the job done. With Matt Ryan, Kirsten Vangsness. 13 episodes on 4 discs.
Fringe: The Complete Third Season
This involving science-fiction series from the creators of "Lost" debuted in 2008, focusing on a highly specialized arm of the FBI dedicated to investigating a series of bizarre events occurring around the world. Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), crazed former government scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), and Bishop's son Peter (Joshua Jackson) make up the team assigned to deal with everything from rare diseases and psychic visions to killer monsters and telepathy. All 22 episodes from the third season-including "Olivia," "The Abducted," "Reciprocity," "Subject 13," and "The Day We Died"-are featured in a four-disc set.
The Good Wife: The Second Season
Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) put her legal career on the back burner years ago in order to raise her family. But when her husband Peter (Chris Noth), a disgraced state attorney, is sent to prison after a political corruption scandal, Alicia takes a job at a prestigious law firm where she finds she must prove herself all over again. Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Josh Charles, and Christine Baranski also star in this CBS drama. All 23 episodes from season two-including "Taking Control," "Bad Girls," "Real Deal," "Ham Sandwich," and "Closing Arguments"-are collected in a six-disc set.
No Ordinary Family: Season One
This ABC family adventure series focuses on members of the Powell clan, who each develop superhuman powers after surviving a plane crash. Jim (Michael Chiklis) must deal with strength and invincibility as his wife (Julie Benz) handles speed, his son (Jimmy Bennett) gets super smart, and his daughter (Kay Panabaker) reads minds. The unit must also balance their tough work, school, and private lives while tempering their new gifts and fighting various villains. 20 episodes on 4 discs.
Based on the renowned 2001-2003 BBC comedy, this NBC mockumentary series chronicles the interoffice politics at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Supply Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. As tactless boss Michael (Steve Carell) presides over his staff-which includes clueless assistant Dwight (Rainn Wilson), bored office drone Jim (John Krasinski), put-upon secretary Pam (Jenna Fischer), and wise temp Ryan (B.J. Novak)-a hilarious glimpse into the contemporary American workplace is revealed. All 24 episodes from the seventh season-including "Nepotism," "Threat Level Midnight," "Training Day," "Goodbye Michael," and "Search Committee"-are featured in a four-disc set.
Parks & Recreation: Season Three
The creators of the American version of "The Office" employ the same mockumentary style for this hilarious sitcom. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) is a mid-level public official with the Pawnee, Indiana Parks and Recreation Department whose infectious enthusiasm and career-minded ambition keep her undaunted as she champions a beautification project that will turn a dangerous construction site into a pristine park. Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Paul Schneider co-star. All 16 episodes from the third season-including "Go Big or Go Home," "Indianapolis," "Camping," "Road Trip," "The Bubble," and "Lil' Sebastian"-are featured in a three-disc set.
From 1973-78, this acclaimed, innovative anthology series told gritty tales of life on the crime-ridden streets of Los Angeles, as seen through the eyes of the brave members of the LAPD. Created by author and former cop Joseph Wambaugh, the show featured a rotating cast that included Don Meredith,Tony Lo Bianco, Scott Brady, and Vic Morrow, with guest appearances by Kurt Russell, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Forsythe, Angie Dickinson, and many more. All 21 episodes form the first season-including "Dangerous Games," "Collision Course," "Chain of Command," "The Wyatt Earp Syndrome," and "The Gamble"-are collected in a six-disc set.
Two and a Half Men: The Complete Eighth Season
In this CBS sitcom, Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) is a wealthy, womanizing jingle writer who finds his lifestyle thrown into turmoil when his uptight, recently separated brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), and nephew Jake (Angus T. Jones) come to live with him at his Malibu home. Now, the trio must stand together as they deal with domineering family matriarch Evelyn (Holland Taylor) and Alan's estranged wife, Judith (Marin Hinkle). All 16 episodes from season eight-including "Three Girls and a Guy Named Bud," "The Immortal Mr. Billy Joel," "Lookin' for Japanese Subs," "Three Hookers and a Philly Cheesesteak," and "That Darn Priest"-are featured in a three-disc set
For details and availability of more of this week's new releases, click here.
Here's a look at last week's DVD and Blu-ray releases.
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