We're right in the middle of the lazy days of summer. Now, it seems as though some of us have been lazier than others, which resulted in a few really slow weeks of Blu-ray releases. Thankfully, the weather isn't the only thing that's heating up. This is the week to crank up the AC and enjoy a new Blu-ray!
This week's spotlight belongs to the biopic 42. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson deserves a good movie. Of course, he already had a good movie, which he also starred in. The man could certainly play baseball, but act? Let's just say that his performance wasn't exactly a home run. Brian Helgeland's version of the tale has a larger roster of acting talent, including Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Christopher Meloni, John C. McGinley, Alan Tudyk, and more.
If a bit of baseball history isn't your game, there are several other high-profile releases this week. We've got Sly Stallone back in action, the reincarnation of Evil Dead, another addictive AMC series, and the Regular Show? Well, it's just weird.
Did we miss one of your favorites for the week? Have something to say about one of this week's new releases? Sound off in the comments below. Otherwise, all of these titles are out as of July 16, 2013, except where noted. Enjoy!
42
If there's a sports figure deserving of a good biopic, it's the late Jackie Robinson. He sort of gets it here, with Chadwick Boseman stepping into the iconic baseball player's cleats. Harrison Ford also stars as Branch Rickey, with Andre Holland, Christopher Meloni, John C. McGinley, Lucas Black, Alan Tudyk, T. R. Knight and Max Gail filling out the cast. Hey, if Jackie Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, liked it, so should you.
You should also like this 2.40:1 transfer, which is paired with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The extras are probably the release's biggest disappointment, given the subject matter. That said, there are two behind-the-scenes shorts and a piece with athletes discussing Robinson's role in baseball history. The 2-disc set also has a standard-def DVD, a Digital Copy and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. [Warner Bros.]
Evil Dead
You won't find cult favorite Bruce Campbell starring here -- although he is tucked away in an uncredited cameo. Instead, Campbell and original writer/director Sam Raimi serve as producers for this franchise reboot. Mia (Jane Levy of TV's Suburgatory) is the main focus here, as is her drug addiction. Several friends (Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, and Elizabeth Blackmore) whisk Mia off to a secluded cabin to help her kick her evil habits. Well, some of her evil habits.
This reboot doesn't have the charm of the original, but the AV is certainly a massive improvement. Expect a stellar 2.39:1 image and a scary good DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Otherwise, the single-disc release has a series of short featurettes that revolve around the director, the cast and the inspiration. There's also a commentary track and an UltraViolet Digital Copy of the movie. [Sony]
Bullet To The Head
Sylvester Stallone in another shoot-em-up may feel a little like a bullet to the head, but it's not going to keep the aging action from cranking out popcorn fare. This time, he teams up with director Walter Hill (48 Hrs.) to star as a hit man forced to partner with cop Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang). Sarah Shahi, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, and Jon Seda also star.
Warner Bros. has given Sly a 1.78:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, as well as a standard-def DVD, a Digital Copy and an UltraViolet Digital Copy. Otherwise, the set has just one lone extra titled, "Mayhem Inc." [Warner Bros.]
Hell on Wheels: The Complete Second Season
AMC delivers a stellar second season of this drama. It stars Anson Mount as former Confederate officer Cullen Bohannon, who is still desperately trying to leave the past in the past. Instead, greed and corruption keeps following all the way down the first transcontinental railroad. Colm Meany (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) also stars.
The 3-disc set has a 1.78:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for all 10 episodes. Other features include a recap of season one, a piece on the cast, a making-of featurette, and a "Set Tour with Anson Mount." There are also 10 "Inside the Episode" shorts. [Entertainment One]
Regular Show: Season 1 & Season 2
"Oooooohhhh" -- another Cartoon Network classic is coming to Blu-ray! This time, the network has stuffed 40 11-minute episodes into one release. It follows best friends Mordecai and Rigby, who just happen to be a Blue Jay and a raccoon. The two manage to escape park life (not literally) by getting into mischief with friends Pops (a lollipop), Skips (a yeti), Muscle Man (a muscle man), and many others. Of course, we can't forget about Benson, the duo's boss -- who is also an anthropomorphic gumball machine.
Each episode has a 1.78:1 image and a Dolby Digital 2.0 track. The 2-disc set includes the original pilot, commentaries, and a slew of short featurettes. It also has a Digital Copy and an UltraViolet Digital Copy to get your Regular Show fix on the go. [Cartoon Network]
Lord of the Flies: Criterion Collection
When I was a kid, there was nothing more interesting or creepy than William Golding's novel. As adult, it's even scarier to imagine a bunch of schoolboys trying to create a "civilization" in the aftermath of a plane crash. Director Peter Brook recreates the classic book in a documentary-style, with unknowns James Aubrey, Tom Chapin, Hugh Edwards, Roger Elwin and Tom Gaman filling out the cast.
Ripe for a Criterion Blu-ray, this classic comes with a 1.37:1 image and an LPCM Mono track. As with many Criterion releases, this one also has an insane amount of extras. That lineup includes a delete scene, three behind-the-scenes featurettes, a 2008 interview with the director, and several other shorts. There's also a commentary track that includes snippets from Brook, as well as a 29-page booklet. [Criterion]
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