HIGH DEF UNIVERSE

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Ancient Aliens: Season 6 - Volume 1 on H2 digs deeper into what role aliens may have played in shaping our world. Explore whether lost islands and mysterious, Eden-like paradises were actually earthly homes for aliens, and find out why the Greeks, Macedonians and other ancients believed the world's mountains to be sacred homes to all-powerful gods. Experience American history via rock carvings from an 8,000 B.C. man-made cave filled with ancient objects and mummies. Is there a link between this cave and the Native American legend of the "star beings"? From the "treasures of the gods" that may have been purposely hidden and protected by an extraterrestrial source, evidence of the famed "Ark of the Covenant" and even ancient celestial travel through "stargates" to tales of ancient life on Mars, there are worlds to explore in this special compilation.

Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) take advantage of New York's new marriage laws and tie the knot after being together for 39 years. Unfortunately, the Catholic school where George teaches does not approve and they reluctantly fire him, forcing the couple to split up while they sell their apartment and look for cheaper housing. George moves in with two friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Manny Perez) while Ben ends up across town with his nephew (Darren Burrows), his wife (Marisa Tomei) and their teenage son with whom Ben shares a bunk bed. While struggling with the pain of separation, Ben and George are further challenged by the intergenerational tensions and capricious family dynamics of their new living arrangements.

When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

The new era of Doctor Who starring Peter Capaldi delivered the highest rated season premiere ever on BBC AMERICA. In the feature-length premiere, the new Doctor crash-lands in Victorian London. As Clara (Jenna Coleman, Dancing on the Edge) struggles to recognize the man she thought she knew so well, killers are stalking the capital. A slaughterhouse restaurant and a buried spaceship lead the Doctor into a confrontation with a long forgotten foe… but how far is this new man ready to go to protect his friends? The new season sees the Doctor and Clara encounter wonders and horrors. They meet a fleet of Daleks as they attempt to rescue a stranded ship of human survivors, face ranks of Cybermen stalking the Earth, go back in time and join Robin Hood in a fight with killer robots in Sherwood Forest, become bank robbers when they break into the deadliest bank in the cosmos, face a mummy on the Orient Express, discover a deadly horror dwelling on the Moon, and come to know the last man standing at the end of the Universe. And as Clara falls for handsome fellow teacher, Danny Pink (Samuel Anderson, The History Boys), can she keep her two extraordinary lives going?

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Kevin Bacon and UK's James Purefoy ("Rome") star in this hit psychological thriller from Kevin Williamson ("The Vampire Diaries," Scream). Heading into its intense, spellbinding second season, the show catches up with a healthy and healed Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) a year after the tragic events of last season. Following a horrific new murder spree, the FBI calls on Ryan and Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore) to speak with the lone survivor, Lily Gray (Connie Nielsen), in order to help them solve the case. Having worked tirelessly to rehabilitate his life, Ryan is reluctant to re-engage with the FBI. Instead, he proceeds with his own investigation behind closed doors, and finds a valuable ally in his niece, Max Hardy (Jessica Stroup), an NYPD cop working in the Intel Division. Throughout the season, Ryan will cross paths with several complicated individuals, including Mandy Lang (Tiffany Boone) and the enigmatic Luke (Sam Underwood), which furthers his suspicion that Joe Carroll's (James Purefoy) reign of terror is far from over.

Shout Factory is bringing out some great releases this November including: "Hill Street Blues: Season Three," "Sgt. Bilko/The Phil Silvers Show: The Complete Series," The Doctor and the Devils, Dolls: Collector's Edition, UHF: 25th Anniversary Edition, The Compleat Al, "Quincy, M.E.: Season Seven," The Bruce Lee Premiere Collection, The Jimmy Wang Yo Collection, and The Dark Half. Click on the link to learn more about this releases and to access the pre-order links!

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

From two-time Academy Award winner Paul Haggis (Best Picture & Best Writing, Original Screenplay,Crash, 2004) comes Third Person, a collection of multi-strand stories of love, relationships and betrayal. An intriguing and thought‐provoking film, Third Person intricately weaves together the stories of three couples, in three different cities, who appear to have nothing related -- but share deep commonalities. The three tales play out in three cities: in Paris, where a Pulitzer Prize-winning author (Liam Neeson) who recently left his wife (Kim Basinger) is having a tempestuous affair with an ambitious young journalist (Olivia Wilde); in Rome, where a shady American businessman (Adrien Brody) meets a mysterious woman (Moran Atias); and in New York, where a lawyer (Maria Bello) is helping a young mother (Mila Kunis) in a custody battle with her famous ex-husband (James Franco).

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

The Emmy Award-winning "Justified" returns for its fifth season with Dewey Crowe heading north to invest a $300,000 settlement from the Marshals Service in a brothel owned by Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), but it isn’t long before his cousin Daryl Jr. and the rest of their Florida crime family arrive to cash in, too. As Daryl looks to consolidate the business in Harlan, Boyd’s efforts to help Ava (Joelle Carter) fix her murder trial run aground, forcing him to reach out to ruthless crime bosses from Lexington, Detroit, and even Canada and Mexico. With the Crowes complicating life in Harlan, Boyd enters into a series of ill-fated alliances that threaten to bring him down and expose Raylan Givens’ (Timothy Olyphant) involvement in a mobster’s questionable death. With Raylan’s future in doubt, a revenge attack catches Art (Nick Searcy) in its crosshairs, unleashing a federal investigation that throws the Crowes into turmoil and puts Boyd on a collision course with the law.

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Two years ago, filmmakers Howard J. Ford and Jon Ford took international audiences on an unforgettable journey through a zombie-infected African veldt with the critically acclaimed and audience favorite The Dead. The first international zombie film production to be shot in India, The Dead 2 utilizes the spectacular vistas of Rajasthan, Delhi and Mumbai to create yet another unforgettable journey into the heart of darkness baked in sunlight. Unfolding across an epic vista of breathtaking scope, thrilling action, death-defying stunts and spine-chilling fright, yet always keeping the emotional resonance in focus, The Ford Brothers’ The Dead 2 once again melds the terror of the end of the world, with the inspiration of the human drive to survive.

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

In the world where magic is real, death is the ultimate illusion. From best-selling author and celebrated director Clive Barker comes a supernatural thriller that rips apart the boundaries between sanity and madness, and between the art of illusion and the terrifying forces of magic. Written and directed by Clive Barker (Nightbreed) and based on his popular short story, The Last Illusion (from Books of Blood Vol. 6), the 1995 cult film classic LORD OF ILLUSIONS stars Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap), Kevin J. O’Connor (The Mummy), Famke Janssen (X-Men, Taken,Hemlock Grove) and Daniel Von Bargen (Crimson Tide, The Faculty).

Pierce Brosnan stars in this action-packed spy thriller set in the ruthless world of international espionage. Code named The November Man; Peter Devereaux (Brosnan) is a lethal and highly trained ex-CIA agent, who has been living in Switzerland. When Devereaux is lured out of retirement to safeguard a beautiful witness targeted for assassination (Olga Kurylenko), he’s drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with his former friend and protégé David Mason (Luke Bracey). With no one to trust, Peter must survive Mason’s relentless assault, and root out a suspected CIA mole who may pose the greatest threat of all.

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

BBC Home Entertainment will release the eight-part suspense series Intruders on Blu-ray and DVD on December 23, 2014. From writer and executive producer Glen Morgan (The X-Files), Intruders is a chilling tale that spins a fascinating and complex web of drama in the moody Pacific Northwest. John Simm (Doctor Who, Life on Mars) and Academy Award-winner Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite, Norma Jean & Marilyn) star in this paranormal thriller about a secret society devoted to chasing immortality by seeking refuge in the bodies of the living. The Hollywood Reporter called the series “…spooky and riveting, a paranormal thriller as addictive as anything on television.” The Blu-ray and DVD includes “Inside the Intruders” a special behind-the-scenes look at the series featuring interviews with John Simm, Mira Sorvino, Glen Morgan and more.

One of television’s most exhilarating series, The Americans, returns for Season 2 – with more danger, more intrigue and more steamy alliances. Technological advances have escalated Cold War tensions to an all-time high, and undercover KGB operatives Elizabeth and Philip Jennings (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) face the growing threat of discovery. As their assignments grow more deadly, their family is in more danger, and their loyalties are tested like never before in this thrilling series.

When a freak virus kills all but four passengers on an airplane at JFK, Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), head of the Center for Disease Control’s “Canary Team,” is immediately called to the scene. With help from a mysterious Holocaust survivor (David Bradley), “Eph” and his colleague (Mía Maestro) uncover the outbreak’s ties to vampirism. Now, the only way to stop the terrifying disease from wiping out mankind is to face its source – a sinister supernatural creature known as “The Master” – whose evil intent seems more powerful than any other force on Earth!

Private Eye, Mike Hammer's sexy secretary Velda is missing... and Mike's hot on her trail. Mickey Spillane himself, the best-selling author of The Girl Hunters, turns in a "tremendous" performance (Time magazine) in the leading role. Count on some pulse-pounding action when Hammer tangles with a ruthless band of communist spies determined to see him dead. But even more dangerous might be the seductive, bikini-clad widow (Shirley Eaton, Goldfinger) who's caught Hammer's eye. Spillane's Mike Hammer murder mysteries have sold in the millions across the world. And The Girl Hunters is vintage Spillane - fast and furious. And now see it from a Brand New HD master loaded with extras!

The storm may have passed, but now the relationships and romance of Grey-Sloan Memorial must survive in its wake. Bonds are tested, love is lost and the hospital bids farewell to Dr. Cristina Yang. Experience every heart-stopping moment in the "can't miss" tenth season of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." Following a massive mudslide, the hospital becomes a madhouse, and the lives of two doctors hang in the balance. The drama escalates as Arizona tries desperately to mend her broken marriage, while Derek and Meredith juggle their roles as surgeons and new parents. Meanwhile, a stunning betrayal pits Cristina against Meredith and, as April prepares for her big day, a familiar face returns to town. Big secrets lead to big problems and turn best friends into rivals.

The Expendables return tougher and faster than ever as old friends face off in the exclusive unrated edition of The Expendables 3, arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus Digital HD) and On Demand November 25 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray Combo Pack will include the never-before-seen unrated edition of the film - featuring more action, more explosions, more fights - and a higher body count - everything fans have come to love in the franchise!  And now, with the immersive Dolby Atmos soundtrack experience, audiences will feel like they're at the center of the action.  The Blu-ray Combo Pack will also feature the original theatrical movie. Full of "testosterone-fueled fun" (IGN), both versions of the film will be available two weeks earlier on Digital HD November 11. Also available November 25, The Expendables 3 DVD (plus Digital) will include only the original theatrical version of the film.

It’ll be out of this world, Morty! This October, Adult Swim’s interdimensional – and unsuspecting – space crusaders Rick and Morty will make their home entertainment debut with the release of Rick and Morty: The Complete First Season. Available October 7 on Blu-ray, and DVD, the release features all 11 hilariously-frantic first season episodes plus a healthy dose of bonus materials including an exclusive, 16-page comic book created by Dan Harmon (Community) and Justin Roiland (House of Cosbys), as well as guest commentary tracks from industry luminaries like The Simpsons writers, Pendleton Ward and Kent Osborne (Adventure Time), and Robert Kirkman and Scott Gimple (Walking Dead). Other bonus features include an extensive behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted animatics and creator commentaries and animatics for each episode. Additionally, the title’s Blu-ray version will also include a digital version on Digital HD with UltraViolet Packaged in custom-designed slip case, the Rick and Morty: The Complete First Season Blu-ray and DVD release is an impressive home video debut for one of Adult Swim’s most popular series.

BBC Home Entertainment continues to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the start of World War One with the World War One Collection, available on November 4, 2014.This collection features four gripping BBC productions ranging from documentary to docu-drama that unlock the mysteries of this important chapter in our history and share a fresh perspective on how it came to be. 37 Days covers from the assassination of the archduke Franz Ferdinand to the tragic declaration of war between Britain and Germany. Royal Cousins at War reveals the uneasy relationships among King George V, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Tsar Nicholas II, and the roles the three cousins played in the frantic days before war broke out. Watch 39-year old Winston Churchill try to recover from personal and professional disaster in Churchill’s First World War. And in Walter’s War, be inspired by the story of Walter Tull, the professional English football star who became a heroic warrior and the first black officer in the British Army.

From two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple and executive producer Oprah Winfrey, RUNNING FROM CRAZY examines the personal journey of Oscar-nominated actress, author and mental health advocate Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. The film follows Mariel as she strives for a deeper understanding of the suicide and mental illness that have afflicted so many of her family members, including her supermodel/actress sister Margaux Hemingway, who committed suicide near the anniversary of Ernest's own suicide, and her eldest sister, artist Joan "Muffet" Hemingway, who was diagnosed with manic depression and now lives in Idaho.

“Black Sails: The Complete First Season” begins in 1715 The Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean is at its apex. The former British colony of New Providence Island is now lawless territory, controlled by a few dozen of the most notorious pirate captains in history. The most feared among them is Captain Flint (Toby Stephens). s the British Navy returns to these waters, and the threat of extinction looms, another side of Flint emerges. A man driven by deep, complicated, even romantic motives. He will ally himself with the beautiful Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), daughter of the local smuggling kingpin who turns the pirates’ loot into profits. Together, they forge a plan to hunt the ultimate prize, and by winning it, stave off reclamation of their home by a resurgent empire. Arrayed against them are a series of opponents: rival captains, jealous of Flint's power; Eleanor's father, whose ambitions for the island conflict with his daughter’s; and a young sailor, recently recruited onto Flint's crew, who will somehow manage to constantly undermine his captain’s agenda. His name is John Silver (Luke Arnold).

From Marvel, the studio that launched the epic franchises of “Iron Man,” “Thor,” “Captain America” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” comes an unlikely new team—the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands into the cosmos when brash space adventurer Peter Quill steals a coveted orb and becomes the object of a relentless bounty hunt. To evade his enemies, Quill forges an uneasy truce with Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon; Groot, a tree-like humanoid; the deadly assassin Gamora; and the revenge-driven Drax. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb, he must rally his ragtag band of misfits for a desperate battle that will decide the fate of the galaxy. Featuring amazing new characters and exclusive bonus features, this must-own blockbuster will have you hooked on a feeling… of pure adrenaline!

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

By all appearances, new parents Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) are living the American Dream - complete with an adorable baby girl and a beautiful new starter home in the suburbs. Still, the early-thirtysomethings want to believe they have a modicum of coolness left within them. So when they discover that their new next-door neighbors are none other than dozens of Delta Psi Beta fraternity brothers led by charismatic president Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron), they try to make the best of an awkward situation. But when the frat’s parties grow increasingly more epic, both sides of the property line begin to fend for their turf. The neighbors’ relentless sabotage escalates into outrageous one-upmanship, beginning a Greek war for the ages. Also stars Dave Franco and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

Acclaimed magician Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), has dazzled audiences across Europe with feats of supernatural amazement. But when it comes to explaining the inexplicable, Stanley is a dedicated skeptic. Enter Sophie Baker (Emma Stone), psychic, soothsayer, and stunning seductress. As Stanley and Sophie embark on misadventures up and down the French Riviera, will they discover proof of a world beyond the laws of physics or have they fallen under the sway of a more earthly chemistry? Woody Allen pulls the strings with masterful precision in this enchanting romantic comedy that explores the realm between what is understood in our minds and what is known in our hearts.

In the pantheon of great American talk-show hosts stands the charming and intelligent Merv Griffin, who became one of the most beloved TV personalities of his time, thanks to his long-running, 10-time Emmy-winning daily talk show. Now, in an unprecedented retrospective covering 24 years of star-studded entertainment and provocative in-depth interviews, MPI Home Video and Reelin' in the Years Productions will release The Merv Griffin Show - 1962-1986 on November 4, 2014. The 12-disc collection, containing 44 classic episodes and more than 7 hours of bonus material, has been newly transferred from recently discovered master tapes, making for a spectacular viewing and listening experience.