08.08.11 | Chris Cummins | New Releases This WeekPrint this Post
Classics, recent films and TV favorite highlights this week's new DVD and Blu-ray offerings. There are a lot of great releases to get excited about, from favorites starring the likes of Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield and Charles Bronson to the most recent effort from UK comedy team Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. There's also some great cartoons making their DVD debut, so if you grew up in the 1970s you can pick them up and kick back to enjoy them with a bowl of your favorite sugary cereal. So what are you waiting for? It's time to check out what titles are now available!
The colorful inhabitants of John Steinbeck's novel are brought to life in this seriocomic tale of friendship and romance in a central California fishing town. While Pilon (Spencer Tracy) plots to steal the life savings of his pal Pirate (Frank Morgan), Danny (John Garfield), who recently inherited a pair of houses from his late grandfather, tries to woo beautiful cannery worker "Sweets" (Hedy Lamarr). Akim Tamiroff co-stars; directed by Victor Fleming.
John Garfield stars in this exciting adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "To Have and Have Not" as cash-strapped fishing boat captain Harry Morgan. With creditors breathing down his neck and desperate to put food on his family's table, Morgan takes a big risk when he hires his boat out to a group of gangsters who've just pulled a racetrack heist. Will his gamble pay off or get him in even bigger trouble? Patricia Neal, Phyllis Thaxter co-star; Michael Curtiz directs.
Two British comic book nerds (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) befriend a foul-mouthed alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) while touring UFO-related sites in the American Southwest. Agreeing to help get their new pal rescued by his people, they embark on a hilarious road trip, accompanied by a bible-thumper (Kristen Wiig) and pursued by a trio of government agents (Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio).Sigourney Weaver also stars in this smart sci-fi comedy, co-written by Pegg and Frost
Based on the book by Berkeley Breathed, this computer-animated epic focuses on 9-year-old Milo as he discovers just how much his mother means to him when she is abducted by Martians who need her to care for their young. During his quest to get her back, he meets offbeat astronaut Gribble and together the pair embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Features Seth Green (in a motion-capture performance as Milo that features the vocals of Seth Dusky); with the voices of Dan Fogler and Joan Cusack.
What happens when a regular guy puts on tights and tries to become a superhero? Mopey schlub Frank (Rainn Wilson) is about to find out, after his wife (Liv Tyler) takes up with a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon) who can supply her habit. Crazed with visions of dispensing justice, Frank dons ill-fitting red leotards and recruits a pretty sidekick (Ellen Page) who knows a thing or two about his amazing fantasies. Writer/director James Gunn's ("Slither") wily satire co-stars Michael Rooker,Linda Cardellini.
Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff
He literally grew up in the British cinema of the 1920s and '30s; went behind the camera on that country's first Technicolor film, 1937's "Wings of the Morning"; won an Academy Award for his work on "Black Narcissus"; and went on to shoot such classic movies as "The Red Shoes," "The African Queen," "War and Peace," and "Fanny." Follow the nine-decade career of innovative cinematographer/director Jack Cardiff in this clip-filled documentary that includes comments by Kirk Douglas, Michael Powell, Martin Scorsese, and others.
In this hilarious urban culture-clash comedy, working-class Jason falls for wealthy Sabrina and the pair decides to get married in a lavish Martha's Vineyard ceremony. As Sabrina's stuck-up mom and Jason's postal worker mother square off, the lovebirds discover how tricky making it to the altar may be. But with their shared faith and love for each other, can they somehow make their nuptials joyous? Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, and T.D. Jakes star.
The sword-and-sorcery genre gets a ribald ribbing with this comedic saga of the heroic Prince Fabious (James Franco) and his pot-smoking sibling, Prince Thadeous (Danny McBride). Sallying forth to rescue Fabious' beloved (Zooey Deschanel), the brothers befriend a foxy warrior chick (Natalie Portman) who agrees to assist them in defeating an evil wizard (Justin Theroux). David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express") directs; Toby Jones, Damian Lewis co-star
The Fox & The Hound/The Fox & The Hound 2
Two childhood chums, bloodhound pup Tod and fox cub Copper, grow up to find their friendship put to the ultimate test when they wind up on opposite sides of a hunting party, in the bittersweet Disney animated tale "The Fox and the Hound" (1981). Features the voices of Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey, Sandy Duncan, and Pat Buttram. And, can Tod and Copper stay pals when Tod joins a canine country-singing combo? Featuring all-new songs by Reba McEntire, the charming cartoon sequel "The Fox and the Hound 2" (2006) stars the voices of McEntire, Patrick Swayze, and Jeff Foxworthy.
Fun and intrigue abound in this action-packed entry in the popular film series focusing on Michael Lanyard (Warren William), a slick former criminal known as "The Lone Wolf." This time, Lanyard is in London during the Blitz, battling Nazi agents and trying to clear his name of a crime he didn't commit. Eric Blore,Hillary Brooke, Thurston Hall, Fred Kelsey, andForrest Tucker co-star; look for an uncredited Lloyd Bridges. Directed byEdward Dmytryk.
Originally airing on Saturday mornings from 1967-69, this Hanna-Barbera animated series followed the Herculoids, a team of daring defenders who protect the planet Amzot from all sorts of alien threats. Led by the humanoid Zandor, the group also included his wife Tara, their son Dorno, the flying, laser-shooting dragon Zok, rock-ape Igoo, the four-horned, 10-legged Tundro, and protoplasmic creatures Gloop and Gleep.
The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones
The Space Age meets the Stone Age in this feature-length made-for-TV cartoon adventure. Elroy's time-travel experiment accidentally sends him and the rest of the Jetsons back to Bedrock where they encounter Fred, Barney, and company. And when a malfunction transports the Flintstones and Rubbles into the future, everyone must adapt to life in a new era while trying to get home.
"The Lone Wolf" Michael Lanyard (Warren William, making his ninth and final appearance in the role) is again recruited to aid the Allies in their fight against the Nazis in this suspenseful and humorous film. In this adventure, the retired jewel thief is after a set of secret documents being pursued by Hitler's hordes. This early thriller from acclaimed director Andre De Toth co-stars Ann Savage,Eric Blore, and Lloyd Bridges.
Airing from 1983 to 1989, this comedy series stars Emmanuel Lewis as Webster-an African-American orphan who is taken in by his football player father's ex-teammate George (Alex Karras), and his socialite wife, Katherine (Susan Clark). Living in Chicago, the thrown-together family learns heartwarming lessons about life and love. With Henry Polic II, Cathryn Damon, Eugene Roche. All 29 episodes from the third season-including the two-part "How the West Was Once," "Alien," "Chained," "Gotcha," and the two-part "Rear View Mirror"-are featured in a four-disc set.
Charles Bronson is a cop on the trail of crime kingpin Martin Balsam and his vicious assassination bureau. Think Harry Callahan plays dirty? Wait until you see how Bronson (just one year away from "Death Wish") gets the job done, racing against time to uncover a mob plot involving Vietnam veterans. It's cross-country mayhem and nonstop action! Jack Colvin, Norman Fell, and Stuart Margolin co-star.
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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