By David Weiner
9:51 AM PST, November 8, 2011
The final Harry Potter is finally available to own; Ryan Reynolds & Jason Bateman body switch; Blue Velvet creeps onto Blu-ray for the first time and much more in new releases.
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'Liam Neeson Film Collection'
Twentieth Century Fox
The Story: Liam Neeson has commanded the big screen for more than 30 years, and now some of the best action, adventure and suspense films of his career are available in a 10-disc set: The Bounty, A Prayer for the Dying, High Spirits, Shining Through, Nell, Rob Roy, Kinsey, Kingdom of Heaven and Taken. If you love Liam, you can't do without the Liam Neeson Film Collection.
Notable Bonus Features: An entire disc of special features from Kingdom of Heaven.
Notable Bonus Features: An entire disc of special features from Kingdom of Heaven.
'Mutiny on the Bounty' on Blu-ray
Warner Bros. Home Video
The Story: The Marlon Brando classic is now on Blu-ray, restored from the original 65mm negative! It's 1787 and the HMS Bounty is headed out on a journey through the seas to a tropical paradise. But abuse by the captain and blatant disregard for direct orders leads to one of the most infamous rebellions on record – the mutiny on the Bounty! Trevor Howard, Richard Harris and Hugh Griffith also star in the 1962 film that was filmed on location in beautiful Tahiti and was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Notable Bonus Features: Alternate prologue and epilogue not seen theatrically; "The Journey of Bounty" featurette; four vintage featurettes, including "The Story of the HMS Bounty" and "The Tour of Bounty"; theatrical trailer.
Notable Bonus Features: Alternate prologue and epilogue not seen theatrically; "The Journey of Bounty" featurette; four vintage featurettes, including "The Story of the HMS Bounty" and "The Tour of Bounty"; theatrical trailer.
'Little Big Man' on Blu-ray
Paramount
The Story: Dustin Hoffman stars as Jack Crabb, a white man raised by Native Americans, in this revisionist Western classic, now available on Blu-ray. Crabb is forced back into the white world, and a preacher's wife (Faye Dunaway) immediately tries to seduce him. He attempts to fit into this society, but returns to the Cheyenne, where he was raised. Sadly, he witnesses the Washita massacre, and is the only white survivor of Little Big Horn. This film exemplifies how prejudice and injustice nearly destroyed Native American life, while using satire to display its message.
Notable Bonus Features: Theatrical trailer.
Notable Bonus Features: Theatrical trailer.
'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl' on Blu-ray
Miramax
The Story: Taylor Lautner's feature-film debut is now on Blu-ray! David Arquette, Kristin Davis and George Lopez also star in this imaginative, fun family adventure. Max's wild imagination always surprised everyone, but when his two creations, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, wind up being real, they help to show Max that he isn't as strange as people make him out to be. This hilarious, heartwarming film will get your imagination rolling!
Notable Bonus Features: "Creating Sharkboy and Lavagirl with Racer Max" behind-the-scenes featurette; audio commentary with director Robert Rodriguez.
Notable Bonus Features: "Creating Sharkboy and Lavagirl with Racer Max" behind-the-scenes featurette; audio commentary with director Robert Rodriguez.
'Blue Velvet' on Blu-ray
MGM
The Story: The creepy David Lynch classic is now available on Blu-ray! Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and Dennis Hopper deliver memorable performances in this story of evil in a picture-perfect small-town. Jeffrey Beaumont (MacLachlan) finds a severed ear in a field while visiting his hometown, leading him to an unexpected romance with a torch singer (Rossellini) and access to a menacing underworld ruled by the sadistic, gas-huffing Frank Booth (Hopper).
Notable Bonus Features: Over 50 minutes of never-before-seen footage; outtakes.
Notable Bonus Features: Over 50 minutes of never-before-seen footage; outtakes.
'How the States Got Their Shapes'
A&E Home Entertainment
The Story: How did our state borders evolve, and how are they changing still? This History special goes deep into religion, transportation, communication and more to explore the history of our map. Brian Unger goes across America and details how 13 colonies became 50 states. Learn more about state borders than you thought you ever could!
Notable Bonus Features: Feature-length History special.
Notable Bonus Features: Feature-length History special.
'Band of Brothers/The Pacific' Special Edition Gift Set
HBO
The Story: Two of the greatest portrayals of World War II -- in two separate corners of the globe -- are now available in one incredible gift set. Band of Brothers, based on Stephen E. Ambrose's best-selling book, goes deep into the story of Easy Company, who parachuted into France on D-Day. The Pacific, based on the books Helmet for my Pillow by Robert Leckie and With the Old Breed by Eugene B. Sledge, explores the lives of three marines -- Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone -- as they travel to and fight within the Pacific Theater. These Emmy-award winning mini-series' are a must-have!
Notable Bonus Features: The exclusive, never-before-seen documentary He Has Seen War; "The Making of Band of Brothers" goes behind the scenes of the miniseries; picture-in-picture video commentary; Ron Livingston's video diaries; "The Pacific Enhanced Viewing" features archival footage from The March of Times; "The Pacific Field Guide" and more.
Notable Bonus Features: The exclusive, never-before-seen documentary He Has Seen War; "The Making of Band of Brothers" goes behind the scenes of the miniseries; picture-in-picture video commentary; Ron Livingston's video diaries; "The Pacific Enhanced Viewing" features archival footage from The March of Times; "The Pacific Field Guide" and more.
'Mr. Magoo: The Television Collection'
Shout Factory
The Story: With over 30 hours of content, this collection of Mr. Magoo's best cartoons allows fans to relive all of their favorite Magoo moments. The collection features 26 episodes of The Mr. Magoo Show, the TV movie Uncle Sam Magoo, The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo, and 16 episodes of What's New Mr. Magoo? Being one of pop culture's most beloved characters, you won't want to miss a moment of his hilarious, vision-impaired encounters.
Notable Bonus Features: Commentaries with animation historians Jerry Beck, Darrell Van Citters, and more; photo gallery, "Oh Magoo... You've Done it Again" featurette.
Notable Bonus Features: Commentaries with animation historians Jerry Beck, Darrell Van Citters, and more; photo gallery, "Oh Magoo... You've Done it Again" featurette.
'Atlas Shrugged: Part 1'
20th Century Fox
The Story: Starring Taylor Schilling, Matthew Marsden and Grant Bowler, this film adaptation of the best-selling novel by Ayn Rand tells the story of life in 2016. Dagny Taggart (Schilling) runs a large railroad during the economic collapse. Her CEO brother, James (Marsden), offers no help to her. She goes to Henry Rearden (Bowler), an entrepreneurial industrialist, for advice. As Dagny watches the industrial world collapse, she constantly hears people asking: "Who is John Galt?" Watch to find out!
Notable Bonus Features: "Road to Atlas Shrugged" gives a behind-the-scenes look at the film; The John Galt Theme slide show; commentary with writer/producer John Aglialoro, Brian Patrick O'Toole, and Harmon Kaslow.
Notable Bonus Features: "Road to Atlas Shrugged" gives a behind-the-scenes look at the film; The John Galt Theme slide show; commentary with writer/producer John Aglialoro, Brian Patrick O'Toole, and Harmon Kaslow.
'Life in a Day'
Virgil Films & Entertainment
The Story: Producer Ridley Scott and director Kevin Macdonald bring to life this groundbreaking documentary. Shot on a single day -- July 24, 2010 -- Scott and Macdonald asked random people around the world to capture just one day of their lives. With over 80,000 submissions from 192 countries, over 4,500 hours of footage was documented – and it's all from YouTube. The film's honesty truly represents what life is like today.
Notable Bonus Features: Interviews with Joe Walker and Kevin Macdonald; commentary with director and editor; footage from unused submissions.
Notable Bonus Features: Interviews with Joe Walker and Kevin Macdonald; commentary with director and editor; footage from unused submissions.
'The Change-Up'
Universal
The Story: Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman star in this hilarious comedy in which two friends switch bodies after wishing they had the other's "perfect" life. The chemistry between Reynolds and Bateman, who have been off-screen friends for years, just gets funnier with age. Directed by David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers), the film also stars Leslie Mann and Olivia Wilde.
Notable Bonus Features: "Time for a Change" featurette with cast describing what it takes to create the ultimate R-rated comedy; the "Family Matter" featurette goes behind-the-scenes of the film; feature commentary with director David Dobkin; gag reel; deleted scenes.
Notable Bonus Features: "Time for a Change" featurette with cast describing what it takes to create the ultimate R-rated comedy; the "Family Matter" featurette goes behind-the-scenes of the film; feature commentary with director David Dobkin; gag reel; deleted scenes.
'Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection' (out Friday)
Warner Bros.
The Story: The Harry Potter series will never be truly over since you can now watch the entire series again and again with this special eight-film collection! Catch every moment of Harry's life, from finding out that he's a wizard and his first steps into Hogwarts to battling the giant Basilisk to his many dangerous encounters with the evil Lord Voldemort. No part of Harry's life can be missed with this 8-film set that includes Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
Notable Bonus Features: "Capturing the Stone," a conversation with the filmmakers; additional scenes; interviews with students and professors; Maximum Movie Mode with interviews, focus points, and scene comparisons.
Notable Bonus Features: "Capturing the Stone," a conversation with the filmmakers; additional scenes; interviews with students and professors; Maximum Movie Mode with interviews, focus points, and scene comparisons.
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2' (out Friday)
Warner Bros.
The Story: It's finally here – the final chapter of the story of "The Boy Who Lived." After 18 years, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) finally faces up to Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), the evil wizard who killed his parents when he was just a baby. In the final film, no one is safe in the Wizarding World, including Harry himself. Who will survive the epic battle, Harry or Voldemort? Will Harry finally find out what really happened the night his parents were killed? Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter and more return for the final curtain call.
Notable Bonus Features: "A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe," discussing bringing Harry Potter to life; "The Goblin of Gringotts" shows the process of becoming a goblin in the film; "The Women of Harry Potter" looks at the ladies in Harry's life; deleted scenes; a digital copy of the film.
Notable Bonus Features: "A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe," discussing bringing Harry Potter to life; "The Goblin of Gringotts" shows the process of becoming a goblin in the film; "The Women of Harry Potter" looks at the ladies in Harry's life; deleted scenes; a digital copy of the film.