DISCussion: New to DVD and Blu-ray (8.12.14)

Disney unlocked its vault this week to release some iconic cartoons, but we have decided to pick a new release, The Railway Man, as our Recommendation of the Week.  New Release: The Railway Man – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Muppets Most Wanted – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Locke – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Bears – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Filth – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) A Haunted House 2 – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Rage – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Re-Release: Hercules (1997) – (Blu-ray) Tarzan (1999) – (Blu-ray) Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) – (Blu-ray) Toxic Avenger (1984) – (Blu-ray) Love Streams (1984) – (Criterion Blu-ray)   The Railway Man – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) *Recommendation of the Week* Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce (screenplay), Andy Paterson (screenplay) and Eric Lomax (book) Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jeremy Irvine, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård Colin Firth plays Eric Lomax, a British prisoner of war traumatized by his Japanese captors. After falling in love with Patti (Kidman), Lomax is nearly able to put his past behind him. When Patti learns that the Japanese Officer responsible for the majority of Lomax's punishment is still alive, Lomax becomes determined to confront the man responsible for so many of his inner demons. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 66% (Good) Metacritic: 59 (Okay) IMDB: 7.1 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 7.5/10 (Listen to our episode of The Plot Hole) DISC DETAILS Special Features: Commentary with Director Jonathan Teplitzky and screenwriter Andy Patterson; “The Making of Railway Man” featurette Amazon: $24.96 (Blu-ray); $14.96 (DVD); $3.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4.5 stars; Extras: 3.5 stars; Replay: 4 stars. Highly Recommended.   Muppets Most Wanted – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by James Bobin Written by James Bobin, Nicholas Stoller and based on characters created by Jim Henson Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell Continuing the success of 2011's reboot, Muppet Most Wanted takes the roving band of characters on a whirlwind adventure through Europe. Packed with an all-star cast, it is a welcome addition to the franchise. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 79% (Very Good) Metacritic: 61 (Good) IMDB: 6.7 (Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.99 (Blu-ray); $14.96 (DVD); $14.99 (Instant Buy)   Locke – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed and written by Stephen Knight Starring: Tom Hardy This gripping character study follows Ivan Locke (Hardy) on his evening drive home. Shot entirely from inside the vehicle, Locke receives a life-changing phone call which could risk his very existence. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (Excellent) Metacritic: 81 (Excellent) IMDB: 7.2 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 7.2/10 (Read Our Review or Listen to our episode of The Plot Hole ) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $21.24 (Blu-ray); $14.59 (DVD); $3.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy)   Bears – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey Starring John C. Reilly Disney's documentary, Bears, follows the life of a family of bears raising young cubs. Narrated by John C. Reilly, Bears' beautiful and intimate footage makes it a perfect family or educational movie. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 91% (Excellent) Metacritic: 68 (Good) IMDB: 7.5 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Amazon: $22.99 (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo); $14.99 (Instant Buy)   Filth – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Jon S. Baird Written by Jon S. Baird (screenplay), Irvine Welsh (novel) Starring: James McAvoy, Jamie Bell, Eddie Marsan Police Officer, Bruce Robertson (McAvoy) is a corrupt, drug-addicted cop on a mission. In line for a promotion, and losing his grip on reality, Robertson must solve a murder while ducking jilted co-workers and an estranged family. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 63% (Good) Metacritic: 68 (Good) IMDB: 7.5 (Very Good) DISC DETAILS Special Features: Deleted Scenes; Outtakes; Commentary from Director Jon Baird and Irvine Welsh; “James McAvoy as Detective Bruce Robertson: The Antihero” featurette; “On the Set: Merry Filthmas” featurette that gives a behind the scenes look at the party sequence Amazon: $17.99 (Blu-ray); $12.99 (DVD); $3.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 4.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4.5 stars; Audio: 4.5 stars; Extras: 3.5 stars; Replay: 2.5 stars. Highly Recommended.   A Haunted House 2 – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Michael Tiddes Written by Marlon Wayans (written by and characters) and Rick Alvarez (written by and characters) Starring: Marlon Wayans, Jaime Pressly, Essence Atkins Malcolm (Wayans) has moved on after exorcising the demon of his ex, and has started a new life with a woman and her children. Things are going well until he is again plagued by bizarre paranormal activity in this comedy horror spoof. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 8% (Devastatingly Horrible) Metacritic: 14 (The Cut off for a 'good' rating is 60) IMDB: 4.6 (Not even the fans liked this one) DISC DETAILS Special Features: Commentary with Marlon Wayans, Michael Tiddes and Rick Alvarez; Deleted scenes; Outtakes Amazon: $22.99 (Blu-ray); $17.99 (DVD); $4.99/$14.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 0 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4 stars; Extras: 1.5 stars; Replay: 0 stars. Skip It.   Rage – (Blu-ray, DVD and Instant) Directed by Paco Cabezas Written by Jim Agnew and Sean Keller Starring: Nicholas Cage, Rachel Nichols, Max Ryan When Paul Maguire's (Cage) daughter is kidnapped, he resorts to his criminal background in order to get her back. Reassembling his criminally-inclined crew, he sets out to exact his own brand of revenge. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 15% (Superbly Bad) Metacritic: 28 (Superbly Bad) IMDB: 5.0 (Bad) Entertainment Fuse: 1.5/10 (Read Our Review) DISC DETAILS Special Features: “Making of” featurette; Deleted Scenes; Amazon: $16.48 (Blu-ray); $12.48 (DVD); $3.99/$12.99 (Instant Rent/ Buy) Score (DVDTalk.com): Content: 2.5 stars(out of 5); Video: 4 stars; Audio: 4 stars; Extras: 2 stars; Replay: 2 stars. Rent It.   Re-Release:   Hercules (1997) – (Blu-ray) Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker Written by Ron Clements (animation screenplay), John Musker (animation screenplay) Don McEnery (animation screenplay), Bob Shaw (animation screenplay), Irene Mecchi (animation screenplay) and story by: Kaan Kalyon, Kelly Wightman, Randy Cartwright, John Ramirez, Jeff Snow, Vance Gerry, Kirk Hanson, Tamara Lusher, Francis Glebas, Mark Kennedy, Bruce Morris, Don Dougherty and Thom Enriquez Starring: Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, James Woods A Disney musical/comedy spin on the popular Greek legend, Hercules is a well-written and hilarious movie for kids of all ages. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 82% (Very Good) IMDB: 7.2 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 7/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $17.99 (Blu-ray)   Tarzan (1999) – (Blu-Ray) Directed by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima Written by Tab Murphy (screenplay), Bob Tzudiker (screenplay) Noni White (screenplay), story by: Stephen J. Anderson, Mark Kennedy, Carole Holliday, Gaëtan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi, Don Dougherty, Ed Gombert, Randy Haycock, Don Hall, Kevin Harkey, Glen Keane, Burny Mattinson, Frank Nissen, John Norton, Jeff Snow, Michael Surrey, Chris Ure, Mark Walton, Stevie Wermers, Kelly Wightman and John Ramirez and Edgar Rice Burroughs (story "Tarzan of the Apes") Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Brian Blessed A man raised by apes must decide whether to stay in his jungle home, or move back to civilization and join fellow humans. A great Disney cartoon, Tarzan is a wonderful addition to any collection. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 88% (Very Good) Metacritic: 79 (Very good) IMDB: 7.2 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 8/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $17.99 (Blu-ray)   Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) – (Blu-ray) Directed by Robert Stevenson Written by Ralph Wright (animation story), Ted Berman (animation story), Bill Walsh (screenplay) Don DaGradi (screenplay) and Mary Norton (book) Starring: Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy McDowall A Disney classic, Bedknobs and Broomsticks stars Angela Lansbury as an apprentice witch who must enlist the help of three children and a conman in order to acquire a spell vital to Britain's war effort. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 66% (Good) IMDB: 7.0 (Very Good) Entertainment Fuse: 8/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (Blu-ray)   Toxic Avenger (1984) – (Blu-ray) Directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman Written by Lloyd Kaufman (story and additional material), Joe Ritter (screenplay), Gay Partington Terry (additional material) and Stuart Strutin (additional material) Starring: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist This campy cult classic 80's horror/action movie features a janitor that becomes a superhero (the Toxic Avenger) after falling into a tub of radioactive waste. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 63% (Good) IMDB: 6.2 (Good) Entertainment Fuse: 6/10 DISC DETAILS Amazon: $19.99 (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo)   Love Streams (1984) – (Criterion Blu-ray/ DVD Combo) Directed by John Cassavetes Written by Ted Allen (play and screenplay) and John Cassavetes Starring: Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Diahnne Abbott An emotionally complex drama between two siblings who, once reunited, begin to piece together their shattered lives. Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (Perfect @ 13 reviews) IMDB: 8.0 (Excellent) DISC DETAILS Special Features: New 2K digital restoration with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray; New audio commentary featuring writer Michael Ventura; New video essay on actor Gena Rowlands by film critic Sheila O’Malley; New interviews with executive producer and director of photography Al Ruban and actor Diahnne Abbott; Interview from 2008 with actor Seymour Cassel; “I’m Almost Not Crazy . . .”—John Cassavetes: The Man and His Work (1984), a sixty-minute documentary by Ventura on the making of Love Streams; Trailer; A booklet featuring an essay by critic Dennis Lim and a 1984 New York Times piece on the film by Cassavetes Amazon: $30.38 (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo);