The past meets the present in this week’s new DVD and Blu-ray releases, in which Hollywood classics mingle with contemporary hits. From two of the Duke’s finest films to the latest Jackie Chan and Wimpy Kid adventures, there’s plenty of offerings here to put a smile on your face. Take a look at what titles are now available!
Two of the Duke’s best-loved films are featured in this sharp-shooting double feature. First, in Rio Lobo (1970), John Wayne stars as ex-Union officer Cord McNally, as he recruits two former Confederate soldiers to help track down the traitor who conspired with the rebels to rob a Union payroll train. McNally’s mission takes him to the town of Rio Lobo where he finds the man he’s looking for keeping the local ranchers under his boot. Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O’Neill, Jack Elam, Christopher Mitchum, Victor French co-star in this rousing western tale that was director Howard Hawks’ last film.
Then, in Big Jake (1971), Wayne stars as Jacob “Big Jake” McCandles, a grizzled old cowboy who hasn’t seen his family in years. But when his grandson is kidnapped by a band of outlaws and held for a million dollar ransom, and a rescue attempt mounted by the Texas Rangers fails, Big Jake may be the only one who can save the boy. Maureen O’Hara, Richard Boone, Christopher Mitchum co-star in this western actioner.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
When an embarrassing video of him goes viral, Greg Heffley (Jason Drucker) hopes that attending an upcoming video game convention will help him get over his crushing humiliation. A planned visit to his great-grandmother’s house will bring Greg close to the con’s location, but his mom’s (Alicia Silverstone) insistence that the trip is for family time might foil his plan. Tom Everett Scott, Charlie Wright co-star in this fun family comedy, based on the ninth book in Jeff Kinney’s series.
Fargo: 20th Anniversary Edition
In this seven-time Oscar-nominated film, things go terribly awry when small-time Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) hires two thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife so he can collect the ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. Once people start dying, the very chipper and very pregnant Police Chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) takes the case. Is she up for this challenge? You betcha. This special 20th anniversary edition includes audio commentary, featurettes and more Minnesota Nice than you can shake an Arby’s sandwich at.
On the surface, it looked to be an evening’s fine dining out for a polished congressman (Richard Gere), his resentful teacher brother (Steve Coogan), and their respective spouses (Rebecca Hall, Laura Linney). The topic of heated conversation, however–their response to the couples’ teenage sons having posted a now-viral video of themselves in the commission of a callous and heinous assault–stands to strip away their pretense of decency. Jarring drama–the third film adaptation of the Herman Koch novel in four years–co-stars Chloë Sevigny, Charlie Plummer, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Infusing street-level sensibilities into the Arthurian legends, director Guy Ritchie delivered a gritty, kinetic medieval adventure. Having been driven into exile as a boy by the treachery of his usurper uncle Vortigern (Jude Law), the poverty-hardened Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) finds himself with the daunting challenge of reclaiming the mystic sword Excalibur…and his birthright from Vortigern’s determined forces. Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Eric Bana also star.
With the captaincy of his high school basketball team and recruitment from Cornell seemingly in the bag, Anthony Keller (Taylor John Smith) seemed in command of his destiny. Faced with the resentments and instability of his hard-drinking, gambling-addicted professor father (Michael Shannon), however, the conflicted kid might find himself boxed out of a future. Intense drama co-stars Carla Gugino, Zazie Beets, John Douglas Thompson.
Adventuring archeologist Jack (Jackie Chan) is approached by the gorgeous Indian professor Ashmita (Disha Patani) for his help in uncovering a fabulous treasure convoy lost on the Indo-Tibetan border in the 7th century. Unfortunately, a determined raider (Sonu Sood) beats their expedition to the goods…and the intrepid team faces a frenetic race across Asia to recover the prize. Crackling Jackie actioner also stars Amyra Dastur, Eric Tsang, Aarif Rahman, Lay Zhang.
Which of these are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!