HIGH DEF UNIVERSE

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 30th anniversary of the generation-defining fantasy: Labyrinth, newly restored in 4K. Directed by renowned filmmaker Jim Henson, executive produced by George Lucas (Star Wars) and with a screenplay by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, Labyrinth stars David Bowie (The Prestige) and Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly (Best Supporting Actress, A Beautiful Mind, 2001) in the story of a girl (Connelly) who must save her little brother from the Goblin King (Bowie). The film is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the release of the 4K set as well as a Limited Edition Gift Set and Collectible Digibook Packaging. A theatrical release happened in the weeks prior, and some adorable funko pop figures and board game are coming soon for the Labyrinth enthusiast.

Academy Award nominee Eddie Murphy (Best Supporting Actor, Dreamgirls, 2006) and Britt Robertson (Tomorrowland) star in the heart-warming film Mr. Church,arriving on Digital HD and On Demand October 21 and on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) October 25 from Codeblack Films and Lionsgate. Mr. Church tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook – Henry Joseph Church. What begins as a six-month arrangement instead spans fifteen years, and creates a family bond that lasts forever.

Reviewed by Sean Ferguson

One of the biggest movies in Disney history, Beauty and the Beast has already been released to Blu-ray, but it’s being re-released as a 25th Anniversary Signature Edition. With its incredible blend of traditional animation with computer generated images, Beauty and the Beast was the only animated movie to ever be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture until the Disney/Pixar release of Up eighteen years later. All in all, the movie received two Academy Awards for music in 1992, three Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture, (the first animated movie to do so), Best Original Score, and Best Original Song in 1992, and two Grammy Awards in 1993. Beauty and The Beast was also the first Disney animated film to inspire a Broadway stage production by the same name. In addition to the film’s fantastic music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, seven new songs were written for the stage musical. The resulting stage production was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 1994 and ran on Broadway for 5,464 performances until 2007, becoming Broadway’s sixth-longest running production in history.

Four couples plan to reunite for a “marriage intervention” disguised as a fun-filled weekend at a lakeside vacation home. In an attempt to push Ruby (Cobie Smulders) and her husband Peter (Vincent Piazza) toward divorce, Annie (Melanie Lynskey) and her fiancé Matt (Jason Ritter) have gathered family and friends to address their failing marriage. Ruby’s sister Jessie (Clea DuVall), her girlfriend Sarah (Natasha Lyonne), old buddy Jack (Ben Schwartz), and “baby-stranger” Lola (Alia Shawkat) engage in various games while trying to maintain the illusion of a fun weekend together. As it all falls apart, close quarters bring longstanding issues to the surface. As each couple reels from these revelations, they reach out to each other in unexpected ways, struggling to express their devotion and conceding that things may never be perfect. New bonds form and old wounds heal as all see the result when the best of intentions comes out in the most awkward fashion.

Edina and Patsy are back in their fabulous and hilarious big-screen debut! Still oozing glitz and glamour while clubbing their way around London, the beloved boozers find themselves in a media firestorm when they’re blamed for accidentally killing Kate Moss at a fashion event. Perfectly accessorized with dozens of celebrity cameos, including Jon Hamm, Kate Moss, Joan Collins and many more, this uproarious, madcap romp is bloody good fun, sweetie darling!

This month, the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl, beloved children’s author of family favorites like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda” and Dahl’s personal favorite, “The BFG,” as well as World Dream Day, an annual event honoring “the dreamer, visionary and innovator in all of us.” It seems a fitting time to announce the in-home release of “The BFG,” Disney’s fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, on Dec. 6 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand.

Conceived as a rural alternative to Rowan & Martin's "Laugh-In," HEE HAW landed on television in 1969 as a summer replacement series for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." With a cast of characters including Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones and Archie Campbell, knee-slapping comedic zingers, and jaw-dropping musical performances, the comedy-variety show, co-hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark, captivated the country. In 1971, after two successful years, CBS dropped the show in an effort to "de-countrify" the network's programming; however, it was quickly picked up and aired for the next 21 years, making HEE HAW the longest-running weekly syndicated original series in television history.

It’s Christmastime in turn-of-the-century Toronto, and Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and his team have a murder to solve. At a charity gala for sick children, Murdoch and Dr. Ogden (Hélène Joy, Durham County) find the host, dressed as Santa Claus, dead from a broken neck. To make matters worse, all the presents that were collected for the children have been stolen. When witnesses report hearing a wild animal near the scene, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street) suspects the legendary creature Krampus. Meanwhile, Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Still Standing) worries he’ll have nowhere to spend the holidays. Can Murdoch and the rest of Station House No. 4 catch the murderer in time to save Christmas?

From acclaimed animation studio LAIKA comes an all-new epic adventure starring the voice talents of Academy Award® winners Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar). Young Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of "Game of Thrones") mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning fantastical tales. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo journeys on an action-packed quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father, discover his own magical powers, and reunite his family.

Reviewed by Sean Ferguson

Peter Falk and Alan Arkin make for a hilarious dream team in this beloved American sidesplitter. Directed by Arthur Hiller from an ingenious script by Andrew Bergman, The In-Laws may at first seem like a generic meet-the-parents comedy, as Arkin’s mild-mannered dentist suspiciously eyes Falk’s volatile mystery man, whose son is engaged to his daughter. But soon, through a series of events too serpentine and surprising to spoil, the two men are brought together by a dangerous mission that takes them from suburban New Jersey to Honduras. Fueled by elaborate stunt work and the laconic, naturalistic charms of its two stars, The In-Laws deserves its status as a madcap classic -and has continued to draw ardent fans in the years since its release.

The intrepid crew of the USS Enterprise returns in “the best action movie of the year” (Scott Mantz, “Access Hollywood”). The “highly entertaining” (David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter) new installment in the iconic franchise, STAR TREK BEYOND sets a course on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray Combo Packs, DVD and On Demand November 1, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The sci-fi adventure will also be available as part of the STAR TREK TRILOGY Blu-ray Collection. The film warp speeds to Digital HD four weeks early on October 4, 2016.

BATMAN - The Telltale Series - Episode 2: Children of Arkham is now available for download on PC/Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. We'll be announcing release dates for additional platforms later this month. In today's all-new behind the scenes video, hear from Troy Baker (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Laura Bailey (Selina Kyle/Catwoman) and Travis Willingham(Harvey Dent) on their creative process in bringing these iconic characters to life with a fresh spin, as well as the exciting and challenging experience of performing in an interactive narrative. 

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

The Heroes in a half-shell are back as their latest adventure releases on September 20, 2016. The film is available in Blu-ray combo pack, DVD and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray combo pack or Blu-ray 3D combo pack. Two weeks earlier, the film debuted on Digital HD. Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo and Michelangelo are back and can be seen in 4K Ultra with a high dynamic range, meaning brighter, deeper and more lifelike colors.

Reviewed by Sean Ferguson

Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl.

Academy Award winners George Clooney (Best Supporting Actor, Syriana, 2005) and Julia Roberts (Best Actress, Erin Brockovich, 2000) reteam for Money Monster, the intense and exciting conspiracy thriller set against a ticking clock. Clooney plays a financial TV host put into an extreme situation when he and his producer (Roberts) are taken hostage by an irate investor. Also starring are Jack O’Connell (Unbroken), Dominic West (“The Wire”), Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander”) and Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”). Directed by two-time Best Actress Oscar winner Jodie Foster (The Accused, 1988; The Silence of the Lambs, 1991), 

This December, Criterion will finish the year with some extraordinary editions of classic and contemporary titles. The legendary Federico Fellini adds another entry to the collection with his extravagant and outrageous Roma-a spectacle-filled ode to Italy's capital city that the director called "the most wonderful movie set in the world." We're also thrilled to release another deeply personal and autobiographical film: Laurie Anderson's Heart of a Dog, the incomparable multimedia artist's tender and provocative meditation on love and loss, and her first feature in over thirty years. Meanwhile, John Huston's seminal The Asphalt Jungle is a masterful film noir that forever changed the heist genre and that features an all-star cast, including Sterling Hayden, Marilyn Monroe, Louis Calhern, and Sam Jaffe. All this plus a Blu-ray upgrade of Luis Buñuel's shocking surrealist comedy The Exterminating Angel.

Across three new-to-retail configurations, THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: THE LOST EPISODES - CLASSIC CAROL, fans will have the opportunity to restore their CB connections and tune in to rediscover what made the program tick and stick around as one of the best hours on TV. The 6-disc set ($59.95 SRP) set features fourteen episodes, as they originally aired on television, and showcases some of the most acclaimed and beloved moments from "The Carol Burnett Show" including classic sketches "The Old Folks," "Carol and Sis," "The Ham Actors," and "As the Stomach Turns;" TV spoofs including the ever-popular commercials; movie parody presentations from Tearjerker Theatre, Insomnia Theatre, and The Early Early Show; and guest stars including Lucille Ball, Ken Berry, George Carlin, Ray Charles, Cass Elliot, Robert Goulet, Bernadette Peters, Debbie Reynolds, Lana Turner and many more! The 3-disc set ($29.95 SRP) features seven episodes, and the single disc ($12.95 SRP) includes three.

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious and Riddick franchises) battles to protect mankind from the ultimate evil in The Last Witch Hunter from Summit Entertainment. Diesel stars as the heroic Kaulder, a legendary warrior sworn to protect the modern world from treacherous black magic and prevent the Queen Witch from returning. With stunning special effects, the film also features Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings trilogy), Rose Leslie (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Julie Engelbrecht (Before the Fall), and two-time Academy Award winner Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, The Cider House Rules, 1999; The Dark Knight franchise), who assist in his quest to save our civilization.

Reviewed by Sean Ferguson

Amid growing Imperial oppression on Lothal, the rebels are forced to seek out new allies throughout the galaxy and additional resources to sustain their fight against the Empire. With the help of Ahsoka Tano, the crew of the Ghost bands together with a secret rebel cell and ex-soldiers from the Clone Wars to join a fledgling alliance determined to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. As Ezra continues his journey to become a Jedi under Kanan’s guidance, the threat of the dark side looms large over the fate of the growing rebellion. Darth Vader himself will dispatch new Inquisitors to snuff any spark of resistance, setting the stage for a climactic showdown in which past lives will be revealed, terrible truths will be discovered, and the lives of our heroes will be changed forever.

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

The Huntsman: Winter's War stars Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, Monster) as the evil Queen Ravenna, who betrays her good sister Freya (Emily Blunt: Sicario, Edge of Tomorrow) with an unforgivable act, freezing Freya's heart to love and unleashing in her an icy power she never knew she possessed. Retreating to a kingdom far to the north, Freya raises an army of Huntsmen as her protectors, with the only rule that no two of them should ever fall in love. As a war for domination escalates between the two queens, the hero standing between good and evil is Freya's most elite Huntsman, Eric (Chris Hemsworth: Thor, Star Trek). Alongside fellow warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain: The Martian, The Help) - the only woman who has ever captured his heart - Eric must help Freya vanquish her sister or Ravenna's wickedness will rule for eternity.

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Discover what happens when the only thing more dangerous than finding the truth is exposing it, when Exposed fires onto Digital HD, Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), and DVD (plus Digital) March 29 from Lionsgate. Ana de Armas (Knock Knock), Keanu Reeves (John Wick), and Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino (Best Supporting Actress, Mighty Aphrodite, 1995) headline this intense thriller, which also features compelling performances by Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Big Daddy Kane (Blade: Trinity), and Laura Gómez (Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black”). As a police officer investigates the death of his partner, the case exposes disturbing police corruption along with a dangerous secret that leads him to a troubled young woman.

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Hero Quest follows the grand life journey of ten-year-old boy Savva (Jovovich) who is devoted to saving his mother and fellow village people after his home is taken over. Escaping into the woods, Savva befriends a majestic white wolf Angee (Chase) and together with the help of quirky forest friends Puffy (Stone) and Mosquito (Pesci), they embark on a fun-filled adventure to save the village. This colorful fairytale is all about caring for your loved ones, making true friends, growing strong and believing in a dream with all your heart.

Taking place between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, these new adventures follow a family of scavengers who build and sell starships from battle debris strewn throughout the galaxy. When their youngest discovers a natural connection with the Force through an ancient artifact – the Kyber Saber –he and his family are thrown into an epic struggle against the Empire to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. The Freemakers explore new worlds, meet new and familiar characters and discover the strength of family. Relive all 13 action-packed episodes in LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Season One.

From the Academy Award–winning creators of Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” (Best Animated Feature, 2003) comes an epic undersea adventure filled with imagination, humor and heart. When Dory, the forgetful blue tang (Ellen DeGeneres), suddenly remembers she has a family who may be looking for her, she, Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence) take off on a life-changing quest to find them … with help from Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Bailey, a beluga whale who’s convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark. Bring home the movie overflowing with unforgettable characters, dazzling animation and gallons of bonus extras.

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “Chef”) and produced by Favreau and Brigham Taylor (executive producer of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Tomorrowland”), “The Jungle Book” is a live-action epic adventure based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, inspired by Disney’s classic 1967 animated film and centered on Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. The film’s musical score, composed by Emmy® winner and Oscar-, BAFTA- and Annie Award-nominee John Debney (“Elf,” “Iron Man 2”), features a classic orchestral sound accented by ethnic instruments and pays homage to the original film by highlighting snippets of the classic songs we all know and love.

Set in the 1930s, Woody Allen’s romance Café Society follows Bronx-born Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) to Hollywood, where he falls in love, and back to New York with his colorful Bronx family, where he is swept up in the vibrant world of high society nightclub life. The all-star cast of this 1930s romantic comedy includes Jeannie Berlin (Inherent Vice), Academy Award®nominees Steve Carell (Best Actor, Foxcatcher, 2014) and Jesse Eisenberg (Best Actor, The Social Network, 2010), alongside actors Blake Lively (“Gossip Girl”), Parker Posey (Irrational Man), Kristen Stewart (Twilight franchise), Corey Stoll (“House of Cards”) and Ken Stott (The Hobbit franchise.)

Reviewed by Allie Schembra

Reviewed by Jami Ferguson

In the animated comedy-adventure, The Angry Birds Movie, we’ll finally find out why the birds are so angry. The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds – or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to. The Angry Birds Movie, based on the highly popular game, is now available to own.  The film is available on a variety of high definition formats and will answer the question, what makes the Angry Birds so angry.  The Combo Pack includes a lengthy list of fun extras for the family to enjoy.

Experience the blockbuster phenomenon franchise like never before when The Hunger Games series arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital HD) November 8 from Lionsgate. Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) stars as Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, who took the world by storm with a four-film cumulative worldwide box office of over $3 billion! With four times the resolution of Full HD and High Dynamic Range (HDR) that delivers the brightest, most vivid and realistic color and greatest contrast, The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 4K Ultra HD Combo Packs will each be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will be available for the suggested retail price of $42.99.

Bob Hope, the greatest entertainer of the 20th century, moved from Broadway to radio to movies to television as easily as a pro golfer sinking a two-foot putt. There was no better showcase for his prodigious talents then his NBC comedy-variety TV specials, which began in 1950 and spanned five decades and ten presidential administrations from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton. Hope's hilarious TV specials - many of which are still among the most watched shows of all time -- became a vehicle for the stars of the day and defined the variety show for generations of loyal fans. Whether he was ringing in the festive Christmas season with the biggest celebrities in Hollywood, along with major figures from the worlds of sports, music and politics, or bringing a taste of home to servicemen and women scattered thousands of miles from their families with his legendary USO shows, Hope's warmth and goodwill knew no boundaries. He knew, whether home or abroad, laughter was truly the best medicine. And, for more than 50 years, Hope served it up like no other entertainer in history.