10.17.11 | Chris Cummins | New Releases This WeekPrint this Post
Tags: Jean Arthur, Johnny Depp
Yarr! Another week, another batch of terrific new Blu-ray and DVD releases. So mateys, let's see what films and TV shows are now available. These are all worth walking the plank for!
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rousing fourth installment in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga finds Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) crossing paths with Angelica (Penelope Cruz), a woman from his past. Forced to join her aboard the ship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack embarks on a perilous mission to find the Fountain of Youth-encountering zombies, mermaids, and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) along the way. With Kevin McNally, Keith Richards; directed by Rob Marshall.
Cameron Diaz is raunchy and riotous as a foul-mouthed, boozed-up, drug-addled junior high teacher whose only goal is to raise $10,000 for breast augmentation surgery. Her attempts to come up with the cash include trying to land a wealthy colleague (Justin Timberlake), participating in an inappropriately provocative 7th grade car wash, and buckling down when she learns that she'll get a bonus if her class scores the highest on a state exam. With Jason Segel, Lucy Punch.
Jean Arthur stars as a manicurist on an ocean liner who falls in love with a cocky reporter who's come aboard in hot pursuit of a notorious gangster, in the comedic crime caper "The Public Menace" (1935). George Murphy, Douglass Dumbrille, George McKay also star. Next, it's an "Adventure in Manhattan" (1936) when a journalist (Joel McCrea) with a talent for predicting crimes gets involved with an actress (Arthur) who's been hired to put one over on him. But the pair is soon mixed up in trying to stop an art gallery heist perpetrated by Arthur's producer (Reginald Owen). With Thomas Mitchell, Victor Kilian. Arthur is "More Than a Secretary" (1936) in a delightful romantic romp about the unlikely attraction that develops between an administrative assistant and the sexist magazine mogul (George Brent) she works for. Lionel Stander co-stars. And, a soldier (Lee Bowman) and his young bride (Arthur) try to make their marriage work despite only having known each other for a few days before he was shipped off to fight in World War II, in "The Impatient Years" (1944). With Charles Coburn, Edgar Buchanan.
Ex-CIA agent Bill Fenner (Robert Vaughn) gets mixed up in a high-stakes game of world diplomacy and international intrigue after a U.S. diplomat engages in a suicide bombing at a Venice peace conference. Now a journalist, Fenner is tasked with the job of getting to the bottom of a terrifying conspiracy. Exotic spy thriller co-stars Elke Sommer, Edward Asner, and Boris Karloff.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: 8-Movie Collection
Episodes from the popular series were re-edited and expanded for these eight theatrical releases. First, "To Trap a Spy" (1965) chronicles U.N.C.L.E.'s attempts to stop a THRUSH assassination plot. Robert Vaughn, David McCallum star. Then, there's an evil double causing problems, in "The Spy with My Face" (1965). With Senta Berger. It's "One Spy Too Many" (1966) for our heroes to deal with when they meet a megalomaniacal foe. Features Rip Torn. "One of Our Spies Is Missing" (1966), focuses on a vanished scientist and a plot to reverse the aging process. With Vera Miles. In "The Spy in the Green Hat" (1967), Solo and Kuryakin go undercover to infiltrate an enemy facility in Sicily. Co-stars Jack Palance, Janet Leigh. "The Karate Killers" (1967) has the agents scrambling to retrieve a secret formula. With Joan Crawford. AKA: "The Five Daughters Affair." In "The Helicopter Spies" (1968), U.N.C.L.E. attempts to intercept a destructive thermal weapon. John Carradine co-stars. Lastly, "How to Steal the World" (1968) concerns a gas that causes people to lose their free will. With Leslie Nielsen.
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete Series
This one-season NBC spinoff series from "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." stars Stefanie Powers as April Dancer, a new agent brought into the network to keep the evil members of THRUSH from terrorizing the world. Leo G. Carroll reprises his role as agency chief Alexander Waverly, who sends April on assignments of espionage along with her partner, Mark Slate (Noel Harrison). Many guests such as Boris Karloff (in drag) and Wally Cox co-star in this spy spoof.
Based on Frank Miller's acclaimed four-part comic book story arc, this feature-length animated tale chronicles the beginning of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne's career as the Caped Crusader, Lt. James Gordon's war against the crime and corruption in Gotham City, and the circumstances that led to their long-standing partnership. Ben McKenzie, Bryan Cranston, Eliza Dushku, Katee Sackhoff, Alex Rocco supply voices.
After graduating from high school, energetic teen Grace (Selena Gomez) goes on vacation in Paris with her best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) and her stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester). But when Grace is mistaken for British royalty and whisked away to Monte Carlo, she and her pals are thrust into the most glamorous week of their lives. With Cory Monteith, Andie MacDowell.
This probing documentary follows filmmaker Andrew Rossi as he's granted unprecedented access to the New York Times newsroom and media desk, as the newspaper industry struggles with precipitous drops in circulation and declining ad sales in the age of the Internet. Focusing on journalists Brian Stelter, Tim Arango, and David Carr, the film chronicles their efforts to adapt over time, even as the paper continues to set the tone for relevant news.
Director Kevin Smith's controversial blend of horror, action, and dark humor follows three teens as they're lured into the depraved world of fundamentalist religious leader Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks). Held prisoner by Cooper and his army of followers, the boys witness terrifying acts of violence. But their disappearance becomes the catalyst for a brutal showdown between cult members and a government task force led by a dedicated ATF agent (John Goodman). Melissa Leo, Ralph Garman also star.
Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol
In the 1950s and '60s, teen sensation and "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" offspring Ricky Nelson (Gregory Calpakis) held young music and TV fans captive with his unique talents. This made-for-TV biopic finds Nelson retelling his own life story only hours before his tragic 1985 plane crash, reflecting on his early childhood and his struggles with father Ozzie (Jamey Sheridan) as he attempted to engineer the rise of his own star through pop music. Sara Botsford, Anthony Lemke co-star.
The Visitors arrive on Earth once more in this reimagining of the 1983 sci-fi miniseries. Though the extraterrestrials come to Earth promising friendship and beneficial changes for human society, they conceal far more sinister plans for mankind. While the "Vs" pose as saviors and fool the majority of the world's people, a suspicious counterterrorism agent (Elizabeth Mitchell) begins to organize the planet's resistance. Scott Wolf, Morena Baccarin co-star. All 10 episodes from the second and final season-including "Red Rain," "Serpent's Tooth," "Siege," "Uneasy Lies the Head," and "Mother's Day"-are presented in a two-disc set.
For details and availability of more of this week's new releases, click here.
Here's a look at last week's new releases.
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