By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Aug. 14, unless otherwise noted:
Avengers: Infinity War (Blu-ray + digital) Details: 2018, Marvel Studios-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, intense sequences of science fiction action and violence, language, crude references The lowdown: “Avengers: Infinity War” is a game-changer. You need the oversized self-confidence of Thor, the smug ego of Iron Man and the agile skills of Black Widow to accomplish what directors Anthony and Joe Russo, along with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have done. Mostly, everyone is attending this party, which stretches from deep space to New York to Wakanda. And every character from Groot to Vision gets in on the action. It’s impressive how “Avengers: Infinity War” squeezes in so many heroes and plot lines without making your head spin. The movie is like a runaway steamroller, never letting up — yet, retaining wit, humor, adventure, heart and pathos. It features love and loss and courage and conviction. The scope of the movie is massive. Yet, it feels intimate because, through the previous Marvel movies, we have become emotionally invested in many of these characters. Despite the dire circumstances under which our Marvel-ous band comes together, at times, the movie has a light — almost snarky — air. The filmmakers also have the mettle to create a sobering finale that will elicit gasps and challenge your patience for what comes next. “Avengers: Infinity War” is an epic experience; a terrific high adventure that will definitely leave you wanting more. The movie impressed critics, who gave it an 83 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 descriptive audio and Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include an introduction by directors Joe and Anthony Russo, an examination of the new team-ups and how those creative choices impact the future of the universe, a featurette about Thanos and his impact on the Marvel movies, looks at the battles on Titan and in Wakanda, a gag reel, deleted scenes and a commentary track.
Strike Back: The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray + digital) Details: 2017, HBO Home Entertainment Rated: TV-MA, violence, language The lowdown: The fifth season of this action-filled Cinemax series introduces a new team of commandos recruited by the resurrected Section 20. The new season features fearless, smart protagonists and ruthless and deadly villains playing a global chess match of cat-and-mouse that could have deadly consequences. The three-disc set’s action is set in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French and Spanish 5.1 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, French, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include inside looks at the new episodes and a profile of Section 20’s new team members.
The Rider Release date: Aug. 7 Details: 2018, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: R, language, drug use The lowdown: “The Rider” is a poetic and melancholy exploration of a young man standing at a crossroads in his life, in which he must contemplate giving up what he loves to do and that which defines him. Writer-director Chloe Zhao’s character study follows former rodeo star Brady Blackburn, played by real-life rodeo star Brady Jandreau, in the aftermath of a traumatic head injury that basically ends his bronco-riding career. The film is a dramatized account of Jandreau’s life, as Brady struggles to maintain his cowboy credo, while finding a new purpose and redefining himself. Zhao has cast Jandreau’s family and friends, which gives the movie a heightened sense of truth and honesty. These people are not trained actors — and it shows. Ironically, that is one of the movie’s strength. It’s as if you were eavesdropping, rather than watching professional performers. It gives the film an intimate context that draws you in. Zhao tells the story at a leisurely pace, as if you were gently riding a mount across the plains, simply to feel the wind on your face and take in the landscape. “The Rider” has heart, especially in sequences when Brady interacts with his friend, Lane Scott, who suffered severe injuries in a mishap that left him paralyzed and unable to speak. “The Rider” is a sensitive feature that should be seen and appreciated. It is an original vision about a small segment of America that — at times — almost feels like another nation, and one worth visiting. At Rottentomatoes.com, “The Rider” garnered a fantastic 97 percent fresh rating. Technical aspects: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, English audio description track and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental offerings include cast and filmmaker question-and-answer sessions and deleted scenes.
The Death of Superman (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + digital) Release date: Aug. 7 Details: 2018, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, action violence, bloody images The lowdown: This latest offering from the DC Universe is an intense adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel that highlights Superman’s greatest encounter. An asteroid crashes into the ocean, and with it comes Doomsday, a creature with an uncontrollable rage that is heading for Metropolis. The Man of Steel, with the help of Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern and other Justice League members battle the monster. The fighting ends in victory for the Justice League, but the cost is monumental — the loss of the last son of Krypton. This is an intense animated feature, heightened by a strong digital presentation. To take full advantage of the 4K Ultra HD experience you will need a compatible 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR and an Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Technical aspects: 2160 UHD, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a look at the making of the movie, two bonus cartoons from the DC Comics Vault and a sneak peek at the next film in the series, “Reign of the Supermen.”
Bad Samaritan Details: 2018, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: R, violence, language, drug use, nudity The lowdown: An uneven thriller about two petty thieves who work as valet attendants and, on the side, rob the homes of rich people. During one such caper, they find a woman tied to a chair with some torture-inducing tools nearby. The thieves panic, call the police and flee. The police search the house and find nothing. One of the thieves, however, has a conscience and returns to the house to save the woman, thus incurring the wrath of its owner, Cal Erendreich (David Tennant), who sets out to exact his revenge. The movie divided critics who gave the film a 51 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Deleted scenes and a commentary track comprise the major bonus features.
NCIS: New Orleans: The Fourth Season Details: 2017-18, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A six-disc set featuring all 24 episodes about NCIS Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) and his team as they battle adversities from within and without to keep the citizens of New Orleans safe from dangers — both foreign and domestic. Episodes also focus on personal issues for agents Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black), Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito), Sonja Percy (Shalita Grant), Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich), computer specialist Patton Plame (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell) and coroner Dr. Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder). Guest stars popping up during the season include Stacy Keach, Tom Arnold, Steven Weber, Tim Russ, Chelsea Field and Jimmy Buffett. Technical aspects: 16:9 picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a featurette on the season four story arcs, another on Bakula and his wife, Chelsea Field, working together, an interview with Mitchell, deleted scenes and cast members responding to questions from fans.
The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez: Special Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1982, The Criterion Collection Rated: PG The lowdown: Edward James Olmos produced and stars in this historical drama directed by Robert M. Young about Mexican-American farmer Gregorio Cortez who is forced to flee from Texas Rangers after an argument that led to the death of a lawman. The film, based on an incident enshrined in a corrido folk song, examines the layers of prejudice and myth surrounding Cortez, showing the man who was persecuted by the law and transformed into a legend. The movie, a landmark of Chicano cinema, shifts its perspective between the lawmen and Cortez as he undertakes a desperate flight to avoid the manhunt. A top-flight cast of character actors is featured, including James Gannon, Bruce McGill, Brion James, William Sanderson, Tom Bower, Pepe Serna, Rosanna DeSoto and Barry Corbin. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English and Spanish LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a new interview with Olmos, an interview with Chon A. Noriega, author of “Shot in America: Television, the State and the Rise of Chicano Cinema,” a 2016 cast-and-crew panel and an essay about the movie.
Seal Team: Season One Details: 2017-18, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A six-disc set featuring all 22 episodes of this popular new CBS series that pays tribute to Navy SEALs by following an elite unit, led by David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes, leader of the Tier One team. The series focuses on the intense dedication of these warriors, who travel the globe to keep America safe. The episodes also dive into the personal lives of the team members and how the cost of serving impacts not only their lives, but those of their families. The series mixes personal drama with thriller-type military operations. Technical aspects: 16:9 picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include cast and crew interviews about the show’s first season, a look at the location used to recreate Afghanistan, a featurette on the show’s canine cast, a tour of the set, deleted scenes and a gag reel.
Return of the Living Dead Part II: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1988, Scream Factory Rated: R, violence, language The lowdown: Gore and comedy clash in this sequel that finds zombies returning after mysterious barrels bounce off an Army transport as it passes through a new housing development and land near an abandoned cemetery. Neighborhood kids discover the barrels and, as most kids would do, open them, allowing the deadly green vapor to escape. The vapor turns the living into flesh-eating zombies and causes the dead to rise from their graves. Those unaffected must fight for survival from the dead dead and the living dead. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio stereo; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include three commentary tracks, a featurette on the special effects, a featurette with writer-director Ken Wiederhorn, an interview with composer J. Peter Robinson, cast and filmmaker interviews, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie with cast and filmmaker interviews and archival footage from the set.
Lady Street Fighter (Blu-ray) Details: 1981, AFGA Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Renee Harmon, produced, wrote and stars in this story about a tough, formidable cop with karate skills who goes after the ruthless lowlifes who murdered her twin sister. The film features some outrageous fight scenes and an eye-popping wardrobe worn by Harmon’s Linda. The movie is over-the-top exploitation and chaos that is fun to watch. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English stereo. Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include the unreleased sequel, 1990’s “Revenge of Lady Street Fighter,” a commentary track and liner notes by Annie Choi of “Bleeding Skull.”
The Unborn (Blu-ray) Details: 1991, Scream Factory Rated: R, gore, violence, sexual situations, language The lowdown: Brooke Adams stars in this chiller about a young wife with a history of miscarriages who suspects that a strange doctor, played by James Karen, has inseminated her with mutated sperm in an attempt to create a super-human fetus. The wife begins suffering from some extreme side effects. Despite its exploitative narrative, the movie, which features early appearances by Lisa Kudrow and Kathy Griffin, is boosted by its performances. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio stereo. Don’t miss: The major bonus offering is a commentary track.
To Auschwitz and Back: The Joe Engel Story Details: 2017, Dreamscape Media-Holocaust Education Film Foundation Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Joe Engel was born in Poland in 1927. At 14, he was taken by the Nazis and imprisoned. He never saw his parents again. At 90, Engel is a part of living history, spending his retirement years ensuring that the Holocaust is never forgotten. Filmmaker Ron Small, with the aid of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s film and photographic archives, has weaved Engel’s story into a visual presentation that is historic and contemporary. The movie looks at the Warsaw Ghetto and the death camps of Birkenau and Auschwitz, as well as Engel’s daring escape from a Death Train at 17 and his work as a freedom fighter. Engel takes viewers on his personal journey of faith, renewal and redemption and his steely will that allowed him to overcome horrors most of us can only imagine. Technical aspects: 16:9 picture; Dolby digital stereo.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Action Point (Blu-ray) (Paramount Home Entertainment) Affairs of State (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Choosing Signs (Random Media) Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (Kino Lorber) Inhumanity (DVD + VOD) (Wild Eye Releasing) The Last Warrior (Blu-ray + DVD + digital download + VOD) (4Digital Media) Show Yourself (DVD + VOD) (Summer Hill Entertainment) The Suffering of Ninko (IndiePix Films) What Have They Done to Your Daughters? (Blu-ray) (Arrow Video) The Song of Solomon (Blu-ray + DVD) (Unearthed Films, Aug. 15)
FOR KIDS Steven Universe: The Heart of the Crystal Gems (Cartoon Network-Warner Home Video)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD The Grand Son (Uncork’d Entertainment) (VOD) King Cohen (Dark Star Pictures) (VOD) 800 Words: Series 3, Part 2, Episode 9 (Acorn TV, Aug. 15) (streaming) Tag (Warner Home Video, Aug. 17) (digital download) Mystery Road (Acorn TV, Aug. 20) (streaming) The Spy Who Went into the Cold (Acorn TV, Aug. 20) (streaming) Testament (Acorn TV, Aug. 20) (streaming)
I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.