Monday, March 16, 2015

Paramount Home Media Distribution Selects May 5 For The DVD And Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Debut Of Selma


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Paramount Home Media Distribution put forth a blizzard of new Blu-ray and DVD product announcements this past week … Selma, The Gambler and the return of Liev Schreiber as Ray Donovan, professional “fixer” for the rich and powerful who reside in LA LA LAnd, are all at the top of the list.

Streeting on May 5 will be DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (with UltraViolet) editions of director Ava DuVernay’s Best Picture nominee, Selma.

The ARR works out to 130 days and domestic ticket sales stand at $51 million.

The riveting portrayal of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by David Oyelowo (Interstellar, The Butler, Jack Reacher, Lincoln) is the very glue that holds this Best Picture candidate together, and yet his name was not included in the five finalists for the Best Actor Oscar.   Really?

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Such are the mysteries of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and its voting members.   Selma is Oscar-worthy, but Oyelowo is not?   Go figure.

But then these are the same enlightened voters who selected Birdman — an ego-driven tale about a once famous actor who has hit the skids — as Best Picture.   Ten, 20 years from now Birdman will not be remembered, but filmmaker Clint Easterwood’s powerful American Sniper will be … that is the film that registered emotionally with paying theatre patrons, not Birdman.   But it was deemed too political.

Perhaps this same group of self-serving, ego-driven narcissists who anointed Birdman Best Picture also found that David Oyelowo’s performance as the slain civil rights’ leader was too political as well.   Indeed, these are the mysteries of the Academy voters that will likely never be understood.   
DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey


You want an example?   How about Shakespeare in Love as Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan in 1998!   If you can decipher that bid of nonsense out, then the voting record of the members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will become crystal clear and as easy to understand as the core elements of string theory.  

As to bonus goodies (exclusive to the Blu-ray SKU), viewers will have two separate commentary options — one featuring director Ava DuVernay (I Will Follow, Middle of Nowhere) and the film’s star, David Oyelowo, and a second that teams DuVernay with her long-time filmmaking associates, film editor Spencer Averick and the film’s director of photography, Bradford Young.   

Other bonus features include five production featurettes, deleted and extended scenes and the music video, “Glory,” performed by Common (aka: Lonnie Lynn) and John Legend (aka: John Stephens).

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Streeting one week earlier, on Apr. 28, will be both DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (with UltraViolet) editions of director Rubert Wyatt’s remake of the 1974 film of the same name, The Gambler.

The ARR is 123 days and domestic ticket sales at the local multiplex registered $33.7 million.

Mark Wahlberg reprises the role first made famous by James Caan … the name of the character as been changed from Axel Freed to Jim Bennett, but the academic calling of literature professor remains the same.   Oh yes, and the addiction to gambling carries over as well!

Jim Bennett finds that his addiction has landed him in a deep, deep hole and indebted to some very unsavory characters.   With his life on the line he finds that his only out is to make THE BET!!!

Bonus goodies (exclusive to the Blu-ray SKU) are five featurettes — “Mr. Self Destruct: Inside The Gambler,” “Dark Before Dawn: The Descent of The Gambler,” “Changing The Game: Adaptation,” “In The City: Locations” and “Dressing The Players: Costume Design” — and deleted and extended scenes.

On May 26 everyone’s favorite “fixer” returns as four-disc DVD and three-disc Blu-ray collections of Ray Donovan: The Second Season.
DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey


Liev Schreiber stars as Ray Donovan, with Jon Voight returning once again as his criminally scheming father Mickey, in another 12 episodes of double-dealing, scams and ultra violence (murder is a benevolent act in Mickey’s world).

Bonus goodies include selected episode commentaries.

Not done yet!!!  Also on the way from Paramount Home Media Distribution on the first street-date Tuesday in June (June 2) are DVD releases of Bonanza: The Official Eighth Season, Volume One (a five-disc set), Bonanza: The Official Eighth Season, Volume Two (four discs), Dora the Explorer: Whirl & Twirl Collection (a double-disc collection), L Word: The Complete Series (a whopping 24 disc set) and Max & Ruby: Sharing and Caring.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Selects June 9 As The Street Date Four New Blu-ray Releases From The Golden Year Of 1939


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
The banner film year of 1939, which saw Gone With The Wind win eight Oscars (including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director), will be celebrated on June 9 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with the release of not one, but four films from that year on Blu-ray.

Heading home under “The Golden Year Collection” promotional banner are The Hunchback of Notre Dame (a brand new film restoration), Dark Victory (Bette Davis was nominated Best Actress), Dodge City (in glorious Technicolor) and Ninotchka (also nominated Best Picture and Greta Garbo for Best Actress).

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph TribbeyEach of these new Blu-ray releases are priced at just $19.98 each, but it gets better.  Consumers who buy The Golden Year Collection, which is priced at just $69.95 (and that’s before discounts at retail), get as bonus Gone With The Wind on Blu-ray, plus a bonus disc (exclusive to the package) that contains the documentary Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Presents 1939: Hollywood’s Greatest Year, which is narrated by Kenneth Branagh.

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph TribbeyAlso getting a release date this past week from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is directors Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone’s newest animated feature teaming Tom and Jerry with Jonny Quest … Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest.

The DVD will be arriving at retail on June 23.

Bonus features include six bonus animated episodes — The Tom and Jerry Show: Birthday Bashed, The Tom and Jerry Show: Feline Fatale, The Tom and Jerry Show: For the Love of Ruggles, The Tom and Jerry Show: Sleuth or Consequences, Jonny Quest: The Fraudulent Volcano and New Adventures of Jonny Quest: Deadly Junket.


VCI Entertainment Tabs Apr. 21 For The Release Of A Widescreen Edition Of Director Greydon Clark's Satan's Cheerleaders


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
VCI Entertainment has gone to the vaults and reworked director Greydon Clark’s 1977 cult horror/sexploitation gem, Satan’s Cheerleaders and will be releasing a new widescreen film transfer on DVD on Apr. 21.

Billy (Jack Kruschen — Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actor in The Apartment, plus such films as Lover Come Back, Cape Fear and The Unsinkable Molly Brown) is the none-too-bright peeping tom janitor at Benedict High School.   Being the janitor does have its perks, which includes his love (lust) of the cheerleading squad (played by Kerry Sherman, Alisa Powell, Sherry Marks and Hillary Horan) and long “steamy” showers.   So it is with great glee that he jumps at the chance to “chauffer” them — and their coach (Jacqueline Cole) — to an away game.  

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
As it turns out, Billy has other plans for his truckload of well-endowed teens, an off-the-beaten path rendezvous with a cult of Satan worshipers headed by none other than screen veterans Yvonne De Carlo and John Ireland.   They need a virgin to sacrifice … but these are cheerleaders!!!

Bonus features include commentary from Greydon Clark (Dracula vs. Frankenstein, Without Warning, Black Shampoo, etc.).


Priced-To-Own Double-Disc DVD Collection Of Jungle Girls From The Film Chest On Apr. 28


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
The Film Chest, in conjunction with Synergy Entertainment, has targeted Apr. 28 as the DVD release date for the double-disc, priced-to-collect release of Jungle Girls.

This collection begins with director Harry Fraser’s Christmas of 1932 (pre-Code) film release of The Savage Girl, starring Rochelle Hudson (Rebel Without a Cause, Devil’s Cargo, Meet Boston Blackie and many more) as the mysterious “White Goddess” who is guarded by a killer gorilla.   

When zoo and circus animal hunter Jim Franklin (Walter Byron) shows up in her jungle it is just a matter of time before he falls under her spell … true love will bloom if the sinister Bernouth (Adolph Milar) doesn’t have his way with her first!!!

Teamed with The Savage Girls — and in keeping with the “Jungle Girls” theme — are 16 classic episodes of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, starring Irish McCalla (She Demons, Five Bold Women, etc.) as the legendary comic book heroine. 

Sheena's sidekick is none other than Neal the Chimp!

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey


Eagle Rock Entertainment's Styx: Live at the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas Heads To Both DVD And Blu-ray On May 26


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Eagle Rock Entertainment will be rockin’ out with Styx on May 26 with the release of both DVD and Blu-ray editions of Styx: Live at the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas.

The timing of the home entertainment debut of this live concert (July of 2014) coincides with the beginning of the group’s summer-long national concert tour that kicks off in June and runs well into early October.

This 12-song set features Styx’s 1973 breakout song, “Lady,” plus such fan favorites as “Come Sail Away,” “Renegade” and “The Grand Illusion.”

Bonus features include newly-prepared video sessions with founding band members Chuck Panozzo and James “JY” Young, plus other current members of the group that have joined Styx over the years Tommy Shaw (since 1976), Todd Sucherman (1995), Lawrence Gowan (2000) and Ricky Phillips (2003).


The MVD Entertainment WIll Bring To DVD On May 19 Writer/Director Brian Avenet-Bradley's Malignant


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Avenet Images, with sales and distribution expertise provided by the MVD Entertainment Group, has tabbed May 19 as the DVD debut date for writer/director Brian Avenet-Bradley’s Malignant.

He is known only as “The Man” (Brad Dourif), a deranged scientist who enjoys inflicting “cures” on those who have addictions.   His latest “patient” is Allex (Gary Cairns — The Night Visitor, Monumental), who soon discovers that the treatment is far worse than the grief that consumes him.   Malignant is not for squeamish!

Bonus features include a making-of documentary and behind-the-scenes footage.

Breaking Glass Pictures Will Release Documentary Filmmaker Hedda Muskat’s Ron Jeremy: Life After The Buffet On DVD This Coming May 5


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Breaking Glass Pictures revealed this past week that May 5 will be the DVD debut date for documentary filmmaker Hedda Muskat’s Ron Jeremy: Life After The Buffet, an insightful look at the life and career of the self-styled “King of Porn,” Ron Jeremy (aka: Ronald Jeremy Hyatt).

From parts in main stream movies (including an uncredited cameo in The Godfather, Part III and as Detective Rico Depinto in Sorority Party Massacre) to starring roles in such porn classics as Wanda Whips Wall Street and Debbie Does Dallas II he has done it all.   

And then in January of 2013 he got a “wake-up” call … a near-fatal aneurysm.   That got him to thinking about his work and his life and Hedda Muskat was there to capture it all on film!

Anchor Bay Entertainment Tabs Apr. 28 As The Street Date For DVD And Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Editions of Paddington


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Anchor Bay Entertainment will be serving up Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack (with UltraViolet) and DVD editions of director Paul King’s absolutely delightful CGI film presentation of Paddington (based loosely on Michael Bond’s series of children’s books) on Apr. 28.

The ARR is 102 days and the box office haul was a very nice $72.1 million.

Ben Whishaw (The Zero Theorem, The Hollow Crown) provides the voice of the very polite globe-trotting bear.   Bonus features include three production featurettes and the music video “Shine” by Gwen Stefani & Pharrell Williams.