By Bob Bloom
The following Blu-rays and DVDs are being released on Tuesday, March 31:
Wild (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, Fox Home Entertainment Rated: R, sexual content, nudity, drug use, language The lowdown: Reese Witherspoon stars as Carol Strayer who, after the death of her mother, undertakes an arduous trek of self-discovery. Along the way, Strayer reviews her uncontrolled life as she seeks redemption and the strength to heal herself and begin again. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the supplemental materials are a look at the real Strayer, a featurette on the locations, a interactive map of the Pacific Crest Trail, deleted scenes, a group of seven featurettes on the making of the movie, a message from Strayer at the trail and a commentary track.
Veep: The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, HBO Home Entertainment Rated: TV-MA, language The lowdown: Emmy Award-winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns as Vice President Selina Meyer in this HBO comedy series rife with political satire. In season three, Meyer ponders aiming for the White House after the president announces he will not seek re-election. In this two-disc set, the vice president begins a series of photo ops to promote her viability as a candidate. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 DTS Digital surround and Spanish 2.0 DTS Digital surround; English SDH, French, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian subtitles. Don’t miss: Deleted scenes and commentary tracks comprise the bonus features.
Silicon Valley: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, HBO Home Entertainment Rated: TV-MA, language The lowdown: A comedy series about a group of gifted and brilliant people discover that finding success and handling it are two very different animals. The series is one that computer geeks will appreciate, while the rest of us will enjoy the characterizations. The two-disc set features all eight first-season episodes. 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, Spanish, German, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the supplemental materials are a making of featurette, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the TechCrunch Disrupt conference and a tour through the Pied Piper headquarters.
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, Warner Home Video Rated: G The lowdown: Morgan Freeman narrates this IMAX production that looks at the lives of these interesting animals as they explore and go about their daily business. Lemurs arrived at Madagascar millions of years ago as castaways and have since evolved into hundreds of species that, unfortunately, are now highly endangered. The set includes a standard 2D as well as 3D version of the film. Technical aspects: 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; DVD: 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a look at the making of the movie, a behind-the-scenes documentary, the story of lemurs, a look at a baby Indri, five things about Indri, a go-kart racers featurette, a look at the cutest lemur and a profile of Patricia Wright.
Gravity: Two-Disc Special Diamond Luxe Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 2013, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, intense and dangerous sequences, disturbing images, language The lowdown: Director Alfonso Cuaron’s exciting and thrilling space drama is reissued in a two-disc set that features additional extras as well as “Silent Space” version of the film with an introduction by the Oscar-winning director. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star in this technological cinematic marvel that is impressive to watch. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 7.14 Dolby Atmos and English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the extras is a “Looking to the Stars: The Evolution of Space Films” featurette, a behind-the-scenes peek at Bullock’s birthday wish for Cuaron, a featurette with filmmakers and former astronauts discussing the physical and emotional impact of space exploration as well as featurettes from the film’s original release for home use.
Song One (Blu-ray) Release date: March 24 Details: 2014, Cinedigm Rated: PG-13, sexual content, language The lowdown: Anne Hathaway stars in this romantic feature set against the backdrop of Brooklyn’s music scene. Hathaway plays Franny, who returns home after her musician brother is injured in a car accident and lapses into a coma. Franny uses his notebook to see how his life has evolved over the years. She also meets her brother’s musical idol and the two begin a romance. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby Digital surround. Don’t miss: Deleted scenes and a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of the film’s soundtrack comprise the extras.
Wild Card (Blu-ray + Ultraviolet) Details: 2014, Lionsgate Rated: R, violence, language, nudity, sexual content The lowdown: Jason Statham stars as a Las Vegas bodyguard with a gambling problem. When a friend is badly beaten by a sadistic thug, Statham’s Nick Wild, sets out to even the score and is chased by mob enforcers. The feature’s cast includes Anne Heche, Sofia Vergara, Jason Alexander, Hope Davis and Stanley Tucci. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH, English and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: A commentary track and a featurette about Las Vegas and the film’s characters comprise the major bonus offerings.
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (Blu-ray) Details: 1945, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: George Sanders stars as a mild-mannered fabric mill owner who falls in love with a New York fashion designer, played by Ella Raines. The major obstacle, though, is Sanders’ domineering sister, portrayed by Geraldine Fitzgerald, who uses her physical ailments as a means of controlling her brother. Robert Siodmak directed this film-noir feature. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture.
The Facts of Life (Blu-ray) Details: 1960, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A pair of comedy icons, Bob Hope and Lucille Ball, star in this feature about two longtime friends whose spouses cannot join them on a trip. In Acapulco, the two friends find themselves falling in love, creating all kinds of guilt and complications. Being a comedy, everything works out for the best in the final reel. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.66:1 widescreen picture; English DTS. Don’t miss: A trailer is the only extra.
The Shanghai Story (Blu-ray) Details: 1954, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A group of Westerners are held in confinement by the Communist Chinese government in this Cold War drama. The Chinese commander suspects that one of his “guests” is an American spy, while an American doctor (Edmond O’Brien) believes the informant is a beautiful woman who seems immune to the martial law around her. Veteran Frank Lloyd, who directed the original “Mutiny on the Bounty” was behind the camera for this feature. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture.
I, The Jury Release date: March 17 Details: 1982, Fox Home Entertainment Rated: R, graphic violence The lowdown: Armand Assante stars in this thriller as Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer who seeks the killer of an old friend. During his investigation, he encounters a group of lowlifes and mysterious characters, including a female doctor who runs a sex clinic. The release is part of the Fox Cinema Archives collection and can be found at www.foxconnect.com or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture.
Stranger at My Door (Blu-ray) Details: 1956, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A Western centering on a young bank robber who takes refuge with a minister, his wife and son. The minister gives the robber every opportunity for redemption and in time earns his respect. Just when he has the outlaw ready to change the path of his life, a sheriff shows up, setting the stage for a deadly confrontation. Former Republic Pictures serial and B-Western specialist William Witney directed the film. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.66:1 widescreen picture.
The Quiet Gun (Blu-ray) Details: 1957, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Forrest Tucker stars as the sheriff of a corrupt town in this violent Western that has elements of “High Noon.” Lee Van Cleef is featured as a rustler who must pass through the town in order to get his cattle to his hideout. The corrupt actions of some of the town’s citizens leads to the lynching of a rancher while the sheriff battles to maintain law and order and fight injustice. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture.
The Day Mars Invaded Earth Release date: March 17 Details: 1963, Fox Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: After scientists send a probe to Mars, visitors from the Red Planet come to Earth and begin making exact duplicates of an entire town and killing the original people. Their reason is supposedly to protect the fact that life does exist on Mars. One scientist discovers the plot and fights to save humanity in this Fox Cinema Archives release that can be found at www.foxconnect.com or other online dealers. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture.
Hand of Death Release date: March 17 Details: 1962, Fox Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: John Agar stars in this low-budget science fiction thriller about a scientist trying to develop a paralyzing gas who, due to an accident, turns himself into a monster whose touch can kill. This minor effort was directed by former singer-dancer Gene Nelson and is part of the Fox Cinema Archives series. It can be found at www.foxconnect.com or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 16x9 widescreen picture
Challenge of the GoBots: The Series: Volume Two Release date: March 10 Details: 1964, Warner Home Video Rated: Not rated The lowdown: More exciting animated adventures as the GoBots face various challenges as they battle evil, travel through space to New Earth and seek the Last Engineer. The release is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.warnerarchive.com, www.wbshop.com or other online DVD sellers. Technical aspects: 1.37:1 (4x3) full-screen picture; English Dolby Digital monaural. Don’t miss: The DVD’s bonus offering features the “Robo-Force: The Revenge of Nazgar” TV special.
The Beat Generation (Blu-ray) Details: 1959, Olive Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The tone of this sordid crime drama is somewhat lightened by its bizarre spoof of the era’s Beatnik world. The film is a detective story about a hard-hearted cop, a serial rapist and the cop’s wife, who becomes one of the victims. The film was co-written by science fiction legend Richard Matheson. It is a strange brew of hard-hitting crime and satire. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture.
Other Blu-rays and DVDs being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: House Keeping (DVD + Ultraviolet) (Lionsgate) WWJD (What Would Jesus Do): The Journey Continues (Cinedigm) Squad Car (Fox Home Entertainment-Fox Cinema Archives, March 17) FOR KIDS Chuggington: Fire Patrol Rescue (Anchor Bay Entertainment) Monster High: Haunted (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, March 24)
Coming next week: Immigrant
Bob Bloom is a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. He reviews movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for 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.