With less than a week until Christmas, the heat is on to get all of your holiday shopping done. Fortunately, there’s plenty of new and upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases for everyone on your shopping list. Take a look!
A British theatrical troupe continues to perform during the London blitz, in “Tonight and Every Night” (1945), a sprightly, song-filled drama that features Rita Hayworth as an American singer who falls for an RAF pilot. With Leslie Brooks, Janet Blair; songs include the title tune, “The Boy I Left Behind,” “Cry and You Cry Alone.” Next, “Salome” (1953) is a revisionist retelling of the Biblical story, starring Hayworth as the princess who performs the seductive Dance of the Seven Veils in an effort to save the life of John the Baptist. With Judith Anderson, Stewart Granger, and Charles Laughton as Herod. And, Hayworth stars as a bawdy playgirl on a Pacific island after WWII whose encounters with a hypocritical minister (Jose Ferrer) lead to violence, in “Miss Sadie Thompson” (1953), a musical vers ion of a short story by Somerset Maugham. Songs include “The Heat Is On,” “Hear No Evil, Seek No Evil,” “Blue Pacific Blues.” Five-disc set also includes “Cover Girl” and “Gilda.”
When in Rome
A romantically challenged New Yorker (Kristen Bell) removes coins from a magical “fountain of love” during a trip to Rome. Returning home, she finds herself pursued by the men who threw them in: a male model (Dax Shepard), a street magician (Jon Heder), and a sausage mogul (Danny DeVito). But when she meets a handsome reporter (Josh Duhamel), she’s unsure if he’s one of the coins’ former owners or if he really loves her. Will Arnett, Anjelica Huston also star in this clever romantic comedy.
Step Up 3
This third installment in the “Step Up” saga follows skilled dancer Natalie as she joins a male-dominated B-boy crew in Brooklyn. In order to save the gang’s hangout/performance space, they decide to enter a dance contest with hopes of winning a $100,000 prize. Along with such pals as charismatic hoofer Luke and NYU freshman Moose, Natalie prepares to take on the world’s greatest hip-hop dancers. Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson star. Also available in 3-D on Blu-ray.
Devil
M. Night Shyamalan co-produced and wrote the story for this supernatural thriller, the first entry in “The Night Chronicles” trilogy. A man commits suicide by jumping from a high-rise office building at the same time five strangers with checkered pasts get trapped in its elevator. As anxious terror looms, the passengers soon learn that one of them is the Devil incarnate! Chris Messina, Jenny O’Hara, Bokeem Woodbine, and Bojana Novakovic star.
Easy A
Olive (Emma Stone) is an unpopular high school student who doesn’t want to admit spending the weekend alone, so she lies about losing her virginity. When word gets around school, Olive finds her reputation transformed and uses it to her advantage. However, what will happen when she finds her life resembling that of Hester Prynne, the heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter“? Amanda Bynes, Dan Byrd, and Patricia Clarkson co-star.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Michael Douglas returns as ruthless money man Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone‘s sequel. In 2008, Gekko, having served time in prison, attempts to warn Wall Street of an impending economic meltdown while mending his relationship with his estranged daughter (Carey Mulligan). Both goals lead him to an alliance with her fiance (Shia LaBeouf), an ambitious trader seeking revenge against the man (Josh Brolin) he blames for his mentor’s death. But can Gekko really be trusted? Susan Sarandon co-stars.
Angelina Jolie stars as highly respected CIA agent Evelyn Salt, who only wants to enjoy a quiet anniversary dinner with her husband. However, a defecting Russian spy walks into the office and accuses Salt of being a double agent and getting involved in a plot to kill the president. She must then go on the run to clear her name even as her rebellious actions cast more doubt upon her. Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor co-star in this thrilling ride.
The Andy Griffith Show: 50th Anniversary: The Best of Mayberry
Celebrate five decades in Mayberry with this “best of” collection that includes 17 of the series’s most popular episodes. (I bet the show’s whistle-heavy theme is now in your head, isn’t it?)
Family Guy Presents It’s A Trap!
The Family Guy satires of George Lucas’ interstellar adventures come to a hilarious head in this climactic installment of the trilogy spoofing the cosmic and cuddly thrills of “Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.” You won’t have a bad feeling about this–unless of course you get sore from laughing at the in-jokes coming at you at lightspeed.
Inspired by the “Harriet the Spy” book by Louise Fitzhugh, this fun-filled adventure follows the aspiring writer as she attempts to become the blogger for her high school class. Competing with her nemesis, Marion, Harriet becomes determined to do whatever it takes to become an Internet success. Jennifer Stone, Kristin Booth, Vanessa Morgan star.
For details and availability of more of this week’s new releases, click here.
Here’s a look at last week’s New DVD Releases.