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DISCussion: New on DVD and Blu-ray (11.5.2013)

There was a clear winner for Entertainment Fuse's Recommendation of the Week, the Extended Edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey which has hours of special features to please Peter Jackson's many fans.
 
First Release
- White House Down (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Grown Ups (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Lovelace (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Girl Most Likely (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Parkland (DVD and Blu-ray)
- As I Lay Dying (DVD)

Re-Release
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey -Extended Edition (2012) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Twilight Forever: The Complete Saga (Blu-ray)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition
(2012) (DVD and Blu-ray) *Recommendation of the Week*


Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), J.R.R. Tolkien (novel)
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis

After a nine year hiatus and a troubled production Peter Jackson returned to Middle-Earth with a trilogy prequel based on The Hobbit. With The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug about to hit theaters the world over next month an extended edition of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, similar to what happened with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Martin Freeman starts as the hobbit in question, Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who never desired to The Shire ends up getting recruited by Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) to help Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) to reclaim the Dwarf Kingdom of Eredor from the Dragon Smaug. But an old evil is raising in the forest of Mirkwood and an old orc rival of Thorin wants revenge.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes):
65% (good)
Metacritic Rating:
58/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 7.8/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: THE FILMMAKERS' COMMENTARY Director/writer/producer Peter Jackson and writer/co--‐producer Philippa Boyens provide their Perspective and stories on creating the first film of The Hobbit. NEW ZEALAND: HOME OF MIDDLE--‐EARTH From Matamata to Queenstown, travel with Peter Jackson and his team across the stunning locations of New Zealand, transformed by the filmmakers into Middle--‐earth. THE APPENDICES PART 7 A LONG--‐EXPECTED JOURNEY: The Chronicles of The Hobbit A fourteen--‐part chronological history of the filming of An Unexpected Journey, covering pre--‐production in the various departments of the film in the months leading up to the start of principal photography, the boot camp training for the main cast, and the work done on set chronologically through the three shooting blocks and in the world of its digital effects. · THE JOURNEY BACK TO MIDDLE--‐EARTH · RIDDLES IN THE DARK– Gollum’s Cave · AN UNEXPECTED PARTY– Bag End · ROAST MUTTON–Trollshaws Forest · BASTION OF THE GREENWOOD– Rhosgobel · A SHORT REST– Rivendell and London · OVER HILL– The Misty Mountains · UNDER HILL–Goblin Town · OUT OF THE FRYINGPAN…– The Forest Ledge · RETURN TO HOBBITON– The Shire · THE EPIC OF SCENE 88– Strath Taieri · THE BATTLE OF MORIA– Azanulbizar · EDGE OF THE WILDERLAND- Pick‐ups and the Carrock · HOME IS BEHIND, THE WORLD AHEAD · CREDITS THE APPENDICES PART 8 RETURN TO MIDDLE--‐EARTH THE COMPANY OF THORIN Explores the characters and backgrounds of the five families of dwarves and the company of actors chosen to play Thorin’s company on the Quest of the Lonely Mountain. · ASSEMBLING THE DWARVES · THORIN, FILI & KILI · BALIN & DWALIN · OIN & GLOIN · DORI, NORI & ORI · BIFUR, BOFUR & BOMBUR MR. BAGGINS: THE 14TH MEMBER A revealing look at the film’s charismatic and talented lead actor, Martin Freeman. DURIN’S FOLK: CREATING THE DWARVES Reveals the journey and process of designing, conceptualizing and physically realizing the dwarves in The Hobbit. THE PEOPLES AND DENIZENS OF MIDDLE--‐EARTH Focuses on the realization of new characters and creatures we encounter in Film 1, from casting to characterization to physical and digital design. Including the Stone Trolls; Radagast the Brown; the Great Goblin and his horde; and Azog the Defiler. · THE STONE TROLLS · RADAGAST THE BROWN · GOBLINS · AZOG THE DEFILER REALMS OF THE THIRD AGE: FROM BAG END TO GOBLIN TOWN Follows the creation of the Middle--‐earth locations from conceptual design, to set and prop building to fully digital realities. Realms explored include Hobbiton, Rhosgobel, Rivendell, The Misty Mountains and Goblin Town. · HOBBITON · RHOSGOBEL · RIVENDELL · THE MISTY MOUNTAINS · GOBLIN TOWN THE SONGS OF THE HOBBIT A look at the realization of Tolkien’s songs in Film 1.

Amazon Price:
$24.49 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray), $29.99 (3D Blu-ray)


Most of the movies out on DVD and Blu-ray this week are new releases with movies ranging from indie movies, comedies and the action-adventure of White House Down.


White House Down
(DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Roland Emmerich
Written by James Vanderbilt
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Jason Clarke, Richard Jenkins, Joey King, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Woods

White House Down is second 'Die Hard in the White House' movie of 2013 and despite the movie having the bigger budget, it was the loser at the box-office. The master of disaster Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) took on the directing duties.

John Cale (Channing Tatum) is a U.S. Capitol Police officer and bodyguard to Speaker of the House Eli Raphelson (Richard Jenkins, Let Me In) who wishes to join the President's Secret Service detail to please his political nut of a daughter, Emily (Joey King, Oz: The Great and Powerful). But when terrorists take over the White House, John is the only man who is able to save President Barack Obama, sorry I mean James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) as well as trying to free his daughter.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 50% (average)
Metacritic Rating:
52/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 6.0/10
 
DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: A dynamic duo: Channing Tatum & Jamie Foxx; Men of action: Stunt training; Meet the insiders: Supporting cast; Roland Emmerich - Upping the ante

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Gag reel; The inside story: From script to the big screen; The Beast: Inside the Presidential limo; The full arsenal: Guns, grenades, tanks and choppers; Presidential treatment: A massive production; Crashing the oval office - special effects breakdown; Drowning the beast; Recreating the White House; VFX boundaries down; Lights, camera, heart-pumping action

Amazon Price:
$17.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-ray)


Grown Ups 2
(DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Dennis Dugan
Written by Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy, Fred Wolf
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello, Taylor Lautner

In 2010 Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison production company inflicted Grown Ups on the movie going public, where everyone who saw it ended up paying for Sandler and pals' vacation. The sequel is so bad that even Rob Schneider decided not to return.

Three years after the events of Grown Ups Hollywood super-agent Lenny Feder (Sandler) moves his family to his hometown in Connecticut, but has to face old bullies, drunken cops and fratboys.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 7% (awful)
Metacritic Rating: 19/100 (awful)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Deleted scenes; Shaq and Dante: Police Force - a look at their silly characters

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Look who stopped by - cameo featurette; The feder house - construction of the sound stage where the Feder house was built; Mr. Spade's wild ride - David Spade prepares to ride in the tire down the hill

Amazon Price:
$17.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 0.5 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 0.5 stars, Replay 0.5 stars (out of 5). Skip It


Lovelace (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Written by Andy Bellin
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Adam Brody, Juno Temple

Lovelace is a bio-pic about Linda Lovelace, the star of one the most famous porn films ever, Deep Throat. Amanda Seyfried stars as Linda Boreman who becomes Lovelace, showing her raise to fame but ends up in an abusive relationship with Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don't Cry).

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 55% (average)
Metacritic Rating: 51/100 (average)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Behind Lovelace

Amazon Price:
$14.99 (DVD), $16.99 (Blu-ray)


Girl Most Likely (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Written by Michelle Morgan
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss, Christopher Fitzge, Natasha Lyonne

In the indie-comedy Girl Most Likely Kristen Wigg stars as Imogene, a New York playwright who was once hailed as the next big thing but ends up with a failed career and after faking a suicide attempt to get boyfriend back ends up having to move back with her mother (Annette Bening, The Kids Are Already) in New Jersey.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 20% (awful)
Metacritic Rating:
37/100 (poor)
 
DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Closed Caption; Gag reel; "Making Most Likely" featurette; "Life in the Human Shell" featurette; Deleted scenes  

Amazon Price: $19.98 (DVD), $21.24 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3.5 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 3 stars, Replay 2 stars (out of 5). Recommended.


Parkland (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Peter Landesman
Written by Peter Landesman (screenplay), Vincent Bugliosi (book 'Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy)
Starring: James Badge Dale, Zac Efron, Jackie Earle Harley, Colin Hanks, David Harbour, Marica Gay Harden, Ron Livingston, Jeremy Strong, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacki Weaver, Tom Welling, Paul Giamatti

Parkland is historical drama with ensemble cast that follows numerous people during the aftermath of President Kennedy's assassination, from the doctors and nurses who tried to save Kennedy's life, the cameraman who filmed the fatal shot, the FBI agents who arrest Lee Harvey Oswald and Vice President Lyndon B Johnson who is thrust into the presidency.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes):
47% (average)
Metacritic Rating:
51/100 (average)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Director's commentary; Deleted scenes

Amazon Price:
$9.99 (DVD), $13.15 (Blu-ray), $12.99 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Score (DVDTalk.com):
Content 3 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 3 stars, Replay 2.5 stars (out of 5). Recommended.


As I Lay Dying (DVD)

Directed by James Franco
Written by James Franco, Matthew Rager (screenplay), William Faulkner (novel)
Starring: James Franco

James Franco made his directional debut with an adaptation of William Faukner's novel As I Lay Dying, a story that chronicles a family travel the Mississippi countryside to bury their mother in her hometown.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 38% (poor)
Metacritic Rating: 50/100

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Behind the scenes with cast & crew

Amazon Price: $24.99 (DVD)


Twilight Forever: The Complete Saga (DVD and Blu-ray)

Twilight
(2008)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Written by Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
Directed by Chris Weitz
Written by Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
Directed by David Slade
Written by Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)
Directed by Bill Condon
Written by Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)
Directed by Bill Condon
Written by Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Mackenzie Foy

The Twilight Saga, the story about one teenage girl's choice between bestiality and necrophilia. The highly divisive The Twilight Saga is now coming out onto DVD and Blu-ray box-sets as we follow the romance of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), the third wheel in the form of werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), battle the evil vampire Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre and Bryce Dallas Howard), the vampire order Volturi and give birth to a vampire/human hybrid, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy).

Twilight
(2008)
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 49% (average)
Metacritic Rating: 56/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 5.3/10

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 27% (very bad)
Metacritic Rating: 44/100 (poor)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 4.5/10

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 49% (average)
Metacritic Rating: 58/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 5.5/10

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 24% (awful)
Metacritic Rating: 45/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 4.0/10 (read our review)

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 48% (average)
Metacritic Rating: 52/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 4.5/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: DVD Disc 1 twilight feature film Also includes: extended scenes and music videos DVD Disc 2 : twilight special features Deleted scenes, *new* jump-tos the adventure begins: the journey from page to screen a 7-part documentary, ComiCon featurette, cast interviews, premiere red carpet footage, music featurettes, a conversation with Stephenie Meyer and more DVD Disc 3 : new moon feature film DVD Disc 4: new moon special features Deleted scenes, 6-part documentary, music videos, featurettes, jump-tos and more DVD Disc 5: new moon special features Extended scenes, extended interviews and more DVD Disc 6: eclipse feature film DVD Disc 7 : eclipse special features Deleted scenes, extended scenes, extended interviews, 6-part documentary, music videos, jump-to­Ýs, photo galleries and more DVD Disc 8 : Breaking Dawn Part 1 feature film (theatrical and extended editions) DVD Disc 9: Breaking Dawn Part 1 special features love, death, birth a 6-part documentary, featurettes, jump-to­Ýs, music videos and more DVD Disc 10: Breaking Dawn Part 2 feature film DVD Disc 11 : Breaking Dawn Part 2 special features forever a 7-part documentary, featurette, red carpet footage, music video and more DVD Disc 12: All-New special features Cast retrospective with new interviews Previously unreleased behind the scenes moments with the cast A look at the twilight fan-omenon Highlights of Edward and Jacob­Ýs stories in the saga

Amazon Price: $34.99 (DVD), $44.99 (Blu-ray)

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