The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, Sept. 8:
The Age of Adaline (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) Details: 2015, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, sexual references The lowdown: A story with an intriguing premise that is sabotaged by its romantic soap opera underpinnings and some science fiction gobbledygook that is expounded by a tedious narrator who sounds as if he is auditioning for a PBS “Nova” special. Blake Lively is lovely if not a bit cardboard as a woman who, after surviving what should have been a fatal car accident, has not aged for 80 years. The movie is slowly paced, and it seems an eternity passes before the finale. Still, the digital transfer is high quality in both picture and sound. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD compatible), English descriptive audio and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, a commentary track, a look at the film’s fashions, deleted scenes and a profile of the actor playing a young Harrison Ford.
The Goldbergs: The Complete Second Season Details: 2014-15, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A three-disc set featuring all 24 second-season episodes of the popular ABC series starring Jeff Garlin. Season two finds the Goldberg siblings involved in hoverboard accidents, modeling, wannabe pop stars, reenacting “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and the usual family squabbles and misunderstandings familiar to any sitcom fan. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH, English and French subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the extras are an on location visit with Sean Giambrone, deleted scenes, a look at the making of “Barry Goldberg’s Day Off,” a gag reel and an on-the-set tour with Wendi McLendon-Covey.
Dressed to Kill: Special Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1980, The Criterion Collection Rated: Unrated, graphic violence, sexual content The lowdown: Brian De Palma’s erotic thriller is a Hitchcockian pastiche that is tongue in cheek as well as frightening. The story revolves around the murder of a Manhattan woman, played by Angie Dickinson, and how her psychiatrist, played by Michael Caine, her teenage son, played by Keith Gordon, and a prostitute, portrayed by Nancy Allen, who witnessed the killing, attempt to solve the crime. The film’s big revelation really comes as no surprise, especially if you are a film buff immersed in the world of Alfred Hitchcock. Still, this is a stylish thriller with solid performances, enhanced by a top-notch Blu-ray upgrade. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a conversation between De Palma and filmmaker Noah Baumbach, interviews with Allen, producer George Litto, composer Pino Donaggio, shower-scene body double Victoria Lynn Johnson and poster photographic art director Stephen Sayadian, a 2001 “Making of ‘Dressed to Kill’ ” documentary, a profile of cinematographer Ralf Bode, a 2001 interview with Gordon and pieces from a 2001 about the different versions of the movie and the cuts made to avoid an “X” rating. An essay by critic Michael Koresky also is included.
Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season Details: 2014-15, Warner Home Video Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The Winchester brothers continue to fight evil in all shapes and forms in the 10th season of this popular CW series. The season begins with Dean Winchester transformed into a demon, and brother Sam following sinister paths in order to save his sibling. Meanwhile, the brothers’ angelic comrade, Castiel, is going about picking up the pieces after Metatron’s campaign to conquer Heaven. New and old threats continue to bedevil our heroes throughout the six-disc set that features all 23 episodes. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: More than five hours of extras, including a gag reel, unaired scenes, commentaries on three episodes, a featurette on crew and cast members sharing their favorite memories and monsters from the first nine seasons, a look at the cast at the 2014 Comic-Con, a behind-the-scenes look at staging the 200th episode, including “Supernatural: The Musical,” a look at the show’s ardent fan base and a featurette on the mythological influences of the 10th season.
Blue Bloods: The Fifth Season Details: 2014-15, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A six-disc set that follows the professional and personal lives of the multi-generational Reagan family of New York, whose members serve and protect the public in uniform and in the courts. The cast includes Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan and Will Estes as they bring criminals to justice, fight amongst themselves, but always resolve issues and stick together in solidarity. Technical aspects: 16x9 full-screen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital stereo; English SDH and Portuguese subtitles. Don’t miss: A look at the celebration of the show’s 100th episode, an overview of season five, a tour of the police commissioner’s office, a look at the stunts, a cast appearance of “The Talk,” an inside the “Blue Bloods” cookbook with Moynahan, a gag reel and commentaries on select episodes comprise the bulk of the bonus offerings.
Shocker: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1989, Scream Factory Rated: R, graphic violence, language The lowdown: The recently passed Wes Craven wrote and directed this horror feature about a mass murderer who harnesses electricity to do his killing. The killer, Horace Pinker, is about to be electrocuted for his various crimes when he transforms himself into a diabolical energy source. He and a young athlete named Jonathan Parker, who is connected to Pinker through his dreams, dive in and out of TV programs as to chase each other and battle from channel to channel. The cast includes Peter Berg, Michael Murphy, Ted Rami and Mitch Pileggi as Pinker. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio stereo; English subtitles. Don’t miss: A pair of commentaries, including one with Craven, interviews with Pileggi, actress Cami Cooper and executive producer Shep Gordon, a featurette on the film’s music and vintage interviews comprise the major bonus features.
The World According to Garp (Blu-ray) Release date: Aug. 25 Details: 1982, Warner Home Video Rated: R, violence, language, sexual situations The lowdown: Robin Williams stars in this acclaimed adaptation of the John Irving novel about a writer whose life takes some triumphant and tragic turns. Among the memorial costars are Glenn Close in her film debut as Garp’s mother and John Lithgow as a transsexual former football star. The movie has lost none of its luster or empathy over the years. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
New Girl: The Complete Fourth Season Release date: Sept. 1 Details: 2014-15, Fox Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A three-disc set featuring all 22 fourth-season episodes of this popular Fox TV sitcom. Zooey Deschanel is charming as Jess whose romantic life seems to be on a roller coaster ride. Luckily, she has the support of her friends to help her through her various comedic situations. This is a video-on-demand DVD-R release from Fox Home Entertainment, and can be found at www.foxconnect or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital.
Star Wars: Rebels: Complete Season One (Blu-ray) Release date: Sept. 1 Details: 2014, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Rated: TV Y7, violence The lowdown: In this animated series, a group of rebels — Ezra, Hera, Kanan, Sabine, Zeb and Chopper — unite on a remote planet to battle the oppression of the Galactic Empire in order to help restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. The series, aimed for kids, features lots of action and light-saber duels as well as guest appearances by some “Star Wars” favorites. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a virtual ticket to a Rebels event at the “Star Wars” Celebration in Anaheim, Calif., a recap of the first season, a look ahead to the second season, a series of behind-the-scenes companion pieces to the first-season episodes, a featurette on the property of Ezra Bridger and an art attack featurette.
The Editor (Blu-ray + DVD) Details: 2015, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This horror feature that is a throwback to the “giallo” Italian horror thrillers popularized by Dario Argento and Mario Bava, centers on world-renowned film editor who, after an accident, is left with four wooden fingers on his right hand and is reduced to cutting pulp films and trash pictures. When the lead actors from the film he’s been editing are killed, he becomes the main suspect and must struggle to prove his innocence. Fans of the gory and erotic “giallo” genre will find much to embrace in this feature. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles; DVD: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital; English closed-captioned subtitles. Don’t miss: A making of documentary, deleted scenes, a commentary track, an introduction to the film as the Astron-6 Film Festival and a “Making Movies Used to Be Fun” documentary comprise the extras.
The Blood Lands (Blu-ray) Release date: Sept. 1 Details: 2015, Magnolia Home Entertainment Rated: R, graphic violence and terror, language, sexual references The lowdown: Another horror feature about another couple who move into a farmhouse in the country, only to realize that something is terribly wrong and that they may not be alone. These city slickers soon learn that the Scottish Highlands are filled with sinister beings who are out to get them. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles. Don’t miss: A making of featurette is the major bonus offering.
Other Blu-rays and DVDs being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
American Heist (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) The League: The Complete Season Six (Fox Home Entertainment, Sept. 1) Yelawolf & DJ Paul (MVD Visual, July 7)
Coming next week: Furious 7 Cinderella Love & Mercy
Bob Bloom is a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. He reviews movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. He can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow Bloom on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. Movie reviews by Bloom also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.