By David Weiner
7:47 AM PDT, May 31, 2011
"True Blood"'s sexy third season, Nic Cage drives angry, Javier Bardem is 'Biutiful,' Kubrick and 'A Clockwork Orange' return along with John Wayne on Blu-ray and more in this week's releases.
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'A Man Called Horse' on Blu-ray
Paramount
Richard Harris stars in this compelling 1970 drama, now on Blu-ray. Harris plays Lord John Morgan, an English aristocrat in the early 19th century who is captured by a tribe of Sioux Indians. Learning to embrace the Sioux way of life, he must first gain acceptance by enduring the savage, painful Sun Vow ritual.
'Big Jake' on Blu-ray
Paramount
Now on Blu-ray, John Wayne plays Big Jake McCandles, a man whose grandson is kidnapped by a vicious outlaw gang in this 1971 western. While the law gives chase in rickety automobiles, Big Jake saddles up with an Indian scout (Bruce Cabot) and sets out to deliver the ransom -- with some good old-fashioned frontier justice thrown in. Maureen O'Hara also stars.
'Rio Lobo' on Blu-ray
Paramount
Now on Blu-ray, Howard Hawks directs this 1970 John Wayne western. Wayne plays a Union pay train colonel who teams up with former enemies after the Civil War to stop Union traitors responsible for a string of Confederate train robberies.
'Once Upon a Time in the West' on Blu-ray
Paramount
Sergio Leone's western epic is now fully restored and on Blu-ray! Henry Fonda takes a dark turn as Frank, a ruthless and murderous psychopath who destroys an entire family at the bidding of a powerful railroad tycoon. Jason Robards is the half-breed falsely accused of the terrible slaughter who embarks on a journey with the young widow left behind to seek the real killer, and Charles Bronson is the mysterious man with a harmonica who joins forces with them on their quest.
Special features on the Blu-ray (which includes both the fully restored version of the film and the original theatrical version) includes commentary by directors John Carpenter, John Milius and Alex Cox, film historians Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr. Sheldon Hall, and cast and crew; the in-depth featurettes "An Opera of Violence," "The Wages of Sin," "Something to do with Death," "Railroad: Revolutionizing the West" and "Locations Then & Now"; a production gallery and more.
Special features on the Blu-ray (which includes both the fully restored version of the film and the original theatrical version) includes commentary by directors John Carpenter, John Milius and Alex Cox, film historians Sir Christopher Frayling and Dr. Sheldon Hall, and cast and crew; the in-depth featurettes "An Opera of Violence," "The Wages of Sin," "Something to do with Death," "Railroad: Revolutionizing the West" and "Locations Then & Now"; a production gallery and more.
'American Graffiti' on Blu-ray
Universal
George Lucas' first blockbuster before 'Star Wars' (produced by Francis Ford Coppola) is now on Blu-ray featuring all-new video commentary! Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Charles Martin Smith, Suzanne Somers and Harrison Ford star in this nostalgic look back at the early '60s as a group of teenagers cruise the streets in their hot rods on their last summer night before college. The rock 'n' roll soundtrack features favorites by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets as well as the howling sounds of DJ Wolfman Jack. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Special features on the Blu-ray (with a digitally remastered picture supervised by Lucas) includes never-before-seen director video commentary by Lucas; "The Making of American Graffiti" documentary; "The Music of American Graffiti"; never-before-seen screen tests; the theatrical trailer and more.
Special features on the Blu-ray (with a digitally remastered picture supervised by Lucas) includes never-before-seen director video commentary by Lucas; "The Making of American Graffiti" documentary; "The Music of American Graffiti"; never-before-seen screen tests; the theatrical trailer and more.
'Savage County'
MPI Media Group
Part 'Hostel' and part 'Deliverance,' this shocking film -- initially a web miniseries expanded to a feature as part of MTV's "Demand It!" contest -- finds a group of mischievous teens knocking on the wrong door. The group of fresh-faced high school kids trespass on a run-down ranch to guzzle beer and skinny dip, but find out the hard way that their "ring and run" prank will have dire consequences since the ranch is home to a group of mutant in-bred Tennessee lunatics with a taste for torture.
The DVD features the uncensored cut that was too graphic for basic cable.
The DVD features the uncensored cut that was too graphic for basic cable.
'Never Apologize'
Warner Bros.
'A Clockwork Orange' star Malcolm McDowell can tell a riveting tale, and he does just that in this spirited and fascinating documentary about his relationship with his mentor -- the provocative director Lindsay Anderson (who directed a newbie McDowell in 'If…'). He also spins tales of Princess Diana and his experiences with old Hollywood stars such as Alan Bates, Bette Davis, John Ford, John Gielgud, Lillian Gish, Richard Harris and Laurence Olivier.
'Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Blu-ray Collection'
Warner Bros.
'The Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection' on Blu-ray contains every film the visionary director made since 1960, including the brand-new Blu-ray debuts of 'Lolita' and 'Barry Lyndon.' Other films included are 'Spartacus,' 'Dr. Strangelove,' '2001: A Space Odyssey,' 'A Clockwork Orange' (40th Anniversary Edition), 'The Shining,' 'Full Metal Jacket' and 'Eyes Wide Shut.'
The Blu-ray collection is elegantly boxed in new book-style premium packaging and includes a 40-page book that explores the breadth of genres and themes in Kubrick's work.
The Blu-ray collection is elegantly boxed in new book-style premium packaging and includes a 40-page book that explores the breadth of genres and themes in Kubrick's work.
'A Clockwork Orange' 40th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray
Warner Bros.
Director Stanley Kubrick's controversial masterpiece is back on Blu-ray with an all-new edition featuring newly-produced bonus features. Malcolm McDowell stars in the 1971 classic as Alex, a Beethoven-loving, good-time-having hooligan with a tendency to commit "ultra-violence" along with his pals in future England. When he's caught in the act and accused of murder, he volunteers for a radical experiment that may have far-worse consequences than he ever imagined.
New special features on the Blu-ray book (with 40 pages of rare color photos, production notes and text exploring the film) include "Turning Like Clockwork," a 25-minute documentary about the film's "Ultra-violence" and its cultural impact, and a short documentary in which McDowell reminiscences about working closely with Kubrick. The two disc 40th Anniversary Edition also includes the feature-length documentaries: "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures" and "O Lucky Malcolm!" The title is also available On Demand.
New special features on the Blu-ray book (with 40 pages of rare color photos, production notes and text exploring the film) include "Turning Like Clockwork," a 25-minute documentary about the film's "Ultra-violence" and its cultural impact, and a short documentary in which McDowell reminiscences about working closely with Kubrick. The two disc 40th Anniversary Edition also includes the feature-length documentaries: "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures" and "O Lucky Malcolm!" The title is also available On Demand.
'Passion Play'
Image Entertainment
Is Megan Fox an angel sent from heaven, or a freak of nature? The former 'Transformers' star finds herself caught in a dangerous love triangle with older men Mickey Rourke and Bill Murray in this modern-noir fable of romance, heartbreak and danger. Mickey plays Nate, a down-on-his-luck jazz trumpeter whose life changes when he meets Lily (Fox), the star of a carnival sideshow attraction. What makes Lily so special is the fact that she has beautiful, real wings on display for the world to see. As these two damaged souls fall for each other, their happiness is threatened when sleek and menacing gangster Happy Shannon (Murray) decides he wants Lily for himself.
'Biutiful'
Lionsgate
Oscar winner Javier Bardem stars in this heart-wrenching film from director Alejandro González Iñárritu ('Babel,' 'Amores Perros') as Uxbal, a man working the angles on the dangerous streets of Barcelona in order to provide for his family. Facing declining health and gifted with the ability to communicate with the recently departed, Uxbal must learn to accept the realities of life, whether bright, bad or beautiful. 'Biutiful' was nominated for two 2010 Academy Awards -- Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor (Bardem).
Special features include a making-of documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes of this powerful, arresting film.
Special features include a making-of documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes of this powerful, arresting film.
'Drive Angry'
Summit Entertainment
Nicolas Cage burns rubber as an undead felon from hell in this high-octane thrill ride. Cage plays Milton, a man who breaks out of hell to even the score with killers who murdered his daughter and kidnapped her baby. William Fichtner, Amber Heard, Billy Burke, David Morse and Tom Atkins also star.
The 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD contain bonus content that includes filmmaker commentary; deleted scenes; and the "Milton's Mayhem" feature in which viewers can track Milton's trail of carnage throughout the film. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the special feature "Access: Drive Angry," which allows viewers to activate dynamic scene-specific features including interviews with cast and filmmakers.
The 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD contain bonus content that includes filmmaker commentary; deleted scenes; and the "Milton's Mayhem" feature in which viewers can track Milton's trail of carnage throughout the film. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the special feature "Access: Drive Angry," which allows viewers to activate dynamic scene-specific features including interviews with cast and filmmakers.
'True Blood' Season Three
HBO
Vampires, shapeshifters and werewolves, oh my! The sexy, seductive third season of the hit HBO series based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download! Season three finds Bill (Stephen Moyer) kidnapped and Sookie (Anna Paquin) heading to Mississippi to find him. There she becomes entangled in a world ruled by a powerful Vampire King (Denis O'Hare) and the werewolves who do his bidding. Meanwhile, back in Bon Temps, new threats emerge that make previous problems seem tame by comparison.
Special features include seven audio commentaries with cast and crew; "Anatomy of a Scene" (viewers are taken through the exciting werewolf fight in the beginning of the season); "True Blood Post Mortems" (end-of-episode guides); Snoop Dogg's tribute music video "Oh Sookie"; the interactive on-screen guide "True Blood Lines" (highlighting the connections between the many worlds in the series); and Enhanced Viewing, which provides an amplified picture-in-picture display with original, interactive content such as "Character Perspectives," "Flashback/Flash Forward," "Vampire Histories/Character Bios" and "Hints/FYIs."
Special features include seven audio commentaries with cast and crew; "Anatomy of a Scene" (viewers are taken through the exciting werewolf fight in the beginning of the season); "True Blood Post Mortems" (end-of-episode guides); Snoop Dogg's tribute music video "Oh Sookie"; the interactive on-screen guide "True Blood Lines" (highlighting the connections between the many worlds in the series); and Enhanced Viewing, which provides an amplified picture-in-picture display with original, interactive content such as "Character Perspectives," "Flashback/Flash Forward," "Vampire Histories/Character Bios" and "Hints/FYIs."