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DISCussion: New on DVD and Blu-ray (9.17.2013)

The release of World War Z was controversial before and during its release amongst fans of the novel, but fortunately pleased many people, including here on Entertainment Fuse. Now the movie is being released onto DVD and Blu-ray with the Blu-ray having a behind the scenes featurette.

First Release

- World War Z (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Bling Ring (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Behind the Candelabra (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The East (DVD and Blu-ray)

Re-Release
- Autumn Sonata (1978) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Day of the Dead (1985) (DVD and Blu-ray)


World War Z
(DVD and Blu-ray) *Recommendation of the Week*

Directed by Marc Forster
Written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, Damon Lindelof (screenplay), Matthew Michael Carnahan, J. Michael Stracynski (story), Max Brooks (novel)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Fana Mokoena, Ludi Boeken, Daniella Kertesz

Many critics were ready to dismiss World War Z before its release: it was a movie that was an adaptation in name only of a popular novel, had to go through 40 days of re-shoots and had its third act completely rewritten by new writers after principal photography. But World War Z defied expectations, earning mostly positive reviews and made over $536 Million worldwide.

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is a former UN war crimes investigator who wants to live a normal life with his wife Karin (Mireille Enos, The Killing) and two daughters. But when the zombie epidemic suddenly strikes Gerry takes his family to safety on a UN fleet, but to keep them there Gerry has to investigate the source of the virus, taking him on a mission to South Korea, Israel and Wales.

A sequel is now in the works.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 67% (good)
Metacritic Rating:
63/100 (good)
Entertainment Fuse Score:
7.1/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features:
Closed Caption

Additional Blu-ray Special Features: Behind-the-scenes featurettes: ; A compelling insider's look at the creation of the WWZ apocalypse

Amazon Price: $14.96 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray), $24.96 (3D Blu-ray)


Indie dramas are the name of the game this week with the other three Releases and one of the re-releases all being dramatic pieces of work. Whilst fans of zombie movies also have the re-release of Day of the Dead to keep you happy.


The Bling Ring
(DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Sofia Coppola
Written by Sofia Coppola (screenplay), Nancy Jo Sales (article ‘The Suspects Wore Louboutins’)
Starring: Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Georgia Rock, Emma Watson, Leslie Mann

2013 saw two movies being released about teenage women embark on a crime spree. The first was Spring Breakers, the other is The Bling Ring. Based on an exposé written by Nancy Jo Sale for Vanity Fair, Sofia Coppola adapts the story about a group of fame obsessed teenagers who rob celebrates like Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes):
60% (good)
Metacritic Rating: 66/100 (good)
Entertainment Fuse Score:
6.0/10 (read our review)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features:
cc "Making The Bling Ring: On set with Sofia, the cast and crew" featurette "Behind the Real Bling Ring" featurette "Scene of the crime with Paris Hilton" featurette Theatrical trailer

Amazon Price:
$11.99 (DVD), $14.99 (Blu-ray)


Behind the Candelabra
(DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Scott Thorson, Alex Thorleifson (autobiography ‘Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace’)
Starring: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon

Behind the Candelabra is a TV movie with a lot of big name talent in front and behind the camera with the likes of Michael Douglas, Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh and was nominated for the Palme d’Or the Cannes Film Festival. Based on Scott Thorson’s autobiography Behind the Candelabra focuses on the famous pianist Liberace (Douglas) as he forms a relationship with a much younger man Scott (Damon) and slowly making Scott into a copy of Liberace with plastic surgery, making the young man go down a dark road.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 94% (excellent)
Metacritic Score:
82/100 (very good)
Entertainment Fuse Score:
6.5/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: Closed Caption; The Making Of Behind the Candelabra - explore the wild and wonderful legacy of Liberace with several cast and crew members including Douglas and Damon.

Amazon Price: $13.49 (DVD), $17.79 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 3.5 stars, Extras 2.5 stars, Replay 3.5 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended


The East (DVD and Blu-ray)

Directed by Zal Batmanglij
Written by Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling
Starring: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Patricia Clarkson

Writer/actress Brit Marling made a real splash when her first movie Another Earth premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Her follow-up, The East, was also greeted with a similar positive reaction as she stars as Sarah Moss, an investigator for a private firm hired to infiltrate an anarchistic group called “The East”. But her mission is made very complex as she befriends members of the groups, starts to fall for the group’s leader, Benji (Alexander Skarsgård) and the group embarks on more dangerous attacks.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 74% (good)
Metacritic Rating:
68/100 (good)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features:
Closed Caption; Examining the moral gray; Cause and effect: the movement of The East; Two brothers collaboration

Amazon Price:
$14.98 (DVD), $19.99 (Blu-ray)


Autumn Sonata (1978) (DVD and Blu-ray)

Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Lena Nyman, Halver Björk

From the Criterion Collection this week is the Swedish drama Autumn Sonata directed by Ingmar Bergman. Ingrid Bergman stars as Charlotte, a successful concert pianist who visits her daughter Eva (Liv Ullmann) for the first time in seven years. Tensions between the two build-up because of years of resentment and Eva’s decision to care for her mentally handicapped sister Helena (Lena Nyman).

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes):
95% (excellent)

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features:
New 2K digital film restoration; Introduction by director Ingmar Bergman from 2003; Audio commentary featuring Bergman expert Peter Cowie; The Making of “Autumn Sonata,” a three-and-a-half-hour program examining every aspect of the production; New interview with actor Liv Ullmann;  A 1981 conversation between actor Ingrid Bergman and critic John Russell Taylor at the National Film Theatre in London; Trailer; English-dubbed track; New English subtitle translation; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme

Amazon Price:
$24.99 (DVD), $34.99 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4 stars, Video 4.5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 4.5 stars, Replay 4.5 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended.


Day of the Dead (1985) (DVD and Blu-ray)

Written and directed by George A. Romero
Starring: Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty

George A. Romero’s ‘Living Dead’ series is often considered the gold standard of the zombie genre and has a die-hard fan base. Day of the Dead is the third movie in the series focusing on a group of soldiers and scientists hiding out in a bunker as the zombie apocalypse rages around the world and clash about what is the best way to deal with the living dead.

Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes):
81% (very good)
Entertainment Fuse Score:
7.0/10

DISC DETAILS

DVD Special Features: New high-definition transfer; New documentary - World's End: The Legacy of Dawn of the Dead; Audio commentary with writer/director George A. Romero, special makeup effects artist Tom Savini, production designer Cletus Anderson and actress Lori Cardille; Behind-the-scenes footage from special makeup effects artist Tom Savini's archives; Photo galleries; Theatrical trailers; TV spots; And more...

Amazon Price:
$16.78 (DVD), $19.59 (Blu-ray)

Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4.5 stars, Video 4 stars, Audio 4 stars, Extras 3.5 stars, Replay 5 stars (out of 5). Highly Recommended.

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