The following Blu-rays and DVDs, unless noted, are being released on Tuesday, April 5:
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Blu-ray + DVD + digital HD) Details: 2015, Lucasfilm LTD-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, science fiction action violence, disturbing images The lowdown: Director J.J. Abrams adeptly fuses a new generation of heroes with the iconic figures of the past in this reboot of the “Star Wars” franchise. The movie introduces two younger figures, Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega), as they join forces with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Gen. Leia (Carrie Fisher) to fight the evil First Order and find a map that will help find Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi, in order to restore balance to the galaxy. The home screen presentation is excellent, with a sharp picture that captures every speck and an awesome audio track that lets you hear every whoosh of a light saber and blast from any weapon. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 descriptive audio track and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 audio descriptive track; English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the bonus offerings is a four-part “Secrets of ‘The Force Awakens’: A Cinematic Journey” that takes you from the announcement of a new movie, through the script process, the casting, the filming and the decision about the fate of one of the franchise’s most beloved characters; a behind-the-look at the first table reading of the script; a featurette on building BB-8, a look at creating the some new creatures, a behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of the snow fight, deleted scenes, a featurette on composer John Williams and the scoring of the movie and a featurette about the artists at Industrial Light and Magic who created the movie’s visual effects.
Banshee: The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2015, HBO Home Entertainment Rated: TV-MA, violence, language, sexual content The lowdown: A four-disc set featuring the third season of this Cinemax action series about an ex-convict who assumes the identity of sheriff in a rural Amish community, where his former lover and crime partner has been living under an alias of her own. In season three, Carrie Hopewell, now exposed as a former criminal, is estranged from her husband and children. During the day she works as a waitress, but at night she moonlights with the sheriff and two other on several heists. The sheriff, Lucas Hood, is finding it more and more difficult to keep his true identity hidden. At the same time, his police force is facing an escalating conflict with Amish gangsters and a local Indian tribe. The sheriff, meanwhile, begins planning one last big score so he and his crew can finally get out of Banshee. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French and German 5.1 DTS digital surround and Spanish 2.0 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French, German, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. Don’t miss: An interactive feature on episode seven’s heist, eight prequel videos, a look at the lives of some of the major characters before they made their way to Banshee, a featurette on the making of the second episode’s title sequence, a look at an epic fight scene, a look at the stunt work, a featurette on the season finale’s big showdown, a behind-the-scenes look at how some adrenaline-filled scenes were filmed, deleted scenes and commentaries comprise the bulk of the major extras.
Mojave (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2015, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Rated: R, language, violence The lowdown: Garrett Hedlund stars in this thriller as a suicidal artist who goes into the desert and meets a homicidal drifter, played by Oscar Isaac, putting in motion a taut chain of events. A game of cat-and-mouse that starts in the desert eventually leads back to Los Angeles, where the artist soon discovers he can be as dangerous as his adversary. Technical aspects: 2.40:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: A making of featurette and deleted scenes comprise the major bonus components.
Episodes: The Fourth Season Details: 2015, CBS DVD-Showtime Entertainment-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated, sexual content, language The lowdown: A two-disc set featuring the complete fourth season of the Showtime comedy series starring Matt LeBlanc as an exaggerated version of himself. During the season, an embezzlement scheme drains Matt’s finances, but also, his show is un-canceled. Meanwhile, Sean and Beverly have a hot new script, but Hollywood politics may sink them again. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital and Spanish stereo; English closed-captioned subtitles.
House of Lies: The Fourth Season Details: 2015, CBS DVD-Showtime Entertainment-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated, sexual content, violence The lowdown: In season four of this edgy Showtime series, Don Cheadle’s Marty Kaan is released from prison and begins rebuilding his failing firm. He is very focused on his objective, to the point where he considers firing his pregnant off-and-on partner, Jeannie (Kristen Bell). The two-disc set contains all season four episodes. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby surround and English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby stereo; English closed-captioned subtitles.
#Horror (Blu-ray) Details: 2015, IFC Midnight-Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Virtual terror becomes frightening real for a group of spoiled suburban preteen girls whose obsession with a disturbing online games goes too far. A strong cast is featured in this thriller, including Academy Award-winner Timothy Hutton, Chloe Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne and Taryn Manning. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
NYPD Blue: Season 9 Details: 2001-02, Shout! Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A multidisc set featuring all 22 ninth season episodes of this highly acclaimed Steven Bochco-David Milch series that follows the lives — professional and personal — of a squad of New York City detectives. Dennis Franz’s Andy Sipowicz finally gets his long-overdue promotion. He also gets a new partner, John Clark, played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The attack on the Twin Towers is incorporated into the season. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English Dolby digital; English closed-captioned subtitles.
Stealing Cars Details: 2015, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: R, language, sexual references, drug use The lowdown: Emory Cohen (“Brooklyn”) stars as a promising, but troubled, young man who winds up at the Bernville Camp for Boys. While there, he must wend his way through dangerous inmates and an unfeeling and cruel staff. Despite all these obstacles, the young man learns to inspire others as well as the truth about himself. Others in the cast include Academy Award-winner William H. Macy, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman and Mike Epps. Technical aspects: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Japanese 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai subtitles.
The Hallow (Blu-ray) Details: 2015, IFC Midnight-Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A London-based conservationist is sent to Ireland with his wife and infant child to survey a forest area believed to be hallowed ground by the superstitious locals. The man’s actions accidentally unleash a horde of demonic creatures that prey upon those lost in the woods. The conservationist must battle back in order to protect his family against this ancient evil. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include a making of featurette, director’s storyboards, original illustrations, a director’s sketchbook, screenwriter Corin Hardy’s original concept sketches and creature concepts.
The Odd Couple: Season One Details: 2015, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This reboot of the beloved TV series lacks that magic and spark that Jack Klugman and Tony Randall brought to the series. While Thomas Lennon’s Felix and Matthew Perry’s Oscar try hard as the mismatched longtime friends, they are simply adequate and nothing more. The two-disc set features the complete first season. Technical aspects: 16:9 full-screen picture; English 5.1 Dolby surround and stereo; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include deleted scenes, a season-in-review featurette, a gag reel and a look at reviving the series.
Melinda (DVD-R) Release date: March 22 Details: 1972, Warner Archive Collection-Warner Home Entertainment Rated: R, language, violence, sexual content The lowdown: A blaxploitation feature starring Calvin Lockhart, Rosalind Cash, Vonetta McGee and martial arts favorite Jim Kelly. The story centers on the murder of Melinda Lewis (McGee). Lockhart plays the disc jockey who sets out to clear her name and find her killer. He learns she was the mistress of a Chicago mobster and had evidence the gangster wanted back. He enlists Cash and Kelly to help track down the mob boss and get justice for the slain woman. The movie, which is a made-on-demand DVD-R from the Warner Archive Collection, marks the film debut of Kelly. The movie can be found at www.wbshop.com, www.warnerarchive.com or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 1.85:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English Dolby digital monaural.
Other Blu-rays and DVDs being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
Mutual Friends (MVD Visual Entertainment) The Von Trapp Family: A Life in Music (DVD + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Confession of a Child of the Century (Cohen Media Group, March 29) Payback (DVD + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Feb. 2)
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS Ip Man 3 (Well Go USA Entertainment) Joy (Fox Home Entertainment, April 8)
Coming next week: The Forest Only Angels Have Wings
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.