When you have a big home theater setup, it's hard not to blow your Blu-ray budget on films loaded with special effects. That's certainly an option this week.
However, we're giving this week's Blu-ray spotlight to a little indie drama that's absolutely stuffed with A-list talent. The Place Beyond the Pines is a really good film. It's surprisingly sad, surprisingly entertaining, and well... surprisingly long. At 141 minutes, it's probably not gonna be the first film that you reach for on movie night. However, you should reach for Derek Cianfrance's film at some point, just to get a glimpse at the excellent performances given by Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Ray Liotta.
If you prefer those big-budget special effects, Tom Cruise will never let you down. This week also finds a creepy Matthew McConaughey, Robin Hood's anniversary, a vampire-free K-Stew, and one of the biggest Hollywood flops ever.
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 August 6, 2013, except where noted. Enjoy!
The Place Beyond the Pines
This fantastic little drama isn't loaded with special effects. Instead, Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) is all about the heartache here. At 141 minutes, the film may seem lengthy, but it flies through three stories that intertwine Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Ray Liotta.
Not only is the movie good, but the Blu-ray is a gem as well. Expect a very nice 2.40:1 image with a surprisingly active DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. If you think the content is a downer though, wait until you get a peek at the extras. Besides deleted/extended scenes, the release only has Cianfrance's audio commentary and one measley 4-minute short. That said, the 2-disc set does come with a standard-def DVD, the Digital Copy and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. [Universal]
Oblivion
Say what you want about Tom Cruise; the guy knows how to make an entertaining movie. At 125 minutes, this sci-fi spectacle is a bit on the long side. However, once it gets beyond the initial tour of a post-apocalyptic Earth, you'll be glued to the action and gorgeous cinematography. Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Melissa Leo also star.
No one wants to make Cruise look bad, so you can expect Universal's 2.40:1 image to look razor sharp with spot-on colors and awesome detail. That's paired with an equally awesome DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. The extras section has an M83 Isolated Score and deleted scenes, as well as the excellent five-part "Promise of a New World: The Making of Oblivion." The 2-disc set also includes a standard-def DVD, the Digital Copy and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. [Universal]
Mud
Matthew McConaughey dons a shirt (sometimes) to portray the title character. He's a mysterious drifter who befriends two boys (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) and fills their heads with stories of his life, including how he once killed a man. Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Joe Don Baker, Sarah Paulson, and Reese Witherspoon also star.
This little movie gets a big release, with a 2.35:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It also has an impressive collection of extras, including shorts on the location and the cast, "A Very Personal Tale: Writing and Directing Mud," an audio commentary with writer/director Jeff Nichols, and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. [Lionsgate]
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Robin Hood robs from the rich and gets his own Blu-ray. Despite seeing several versions of this story hit the high-def format, this Disney classic has been sitting in the vault for years -- 40, to be exact. Now, Robin Hood, Little John and the rest of the Merry Men are getting that long overdue release. It's not a Diamond Edition, but Disney is giving this 1973 classic a nice birthday gift.
Disney rarely disappoints, and they don't plan to start that trend with a classic like this one. Expect a nice 1.67:1 image and a fun DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. All of the extras are short, but sweet. Expect a peek at original artwork, sing-along options, an alternate ending, a deleted storyline, and an on-screen storybook. There's also a Mickey Mouse short titled, "Ye Olden Days," which serves as a nice little pre-movie treat. The 2-disc set also comes with the standard-def DVD and a Digital Copy of the film. [Disney]
My Little Pony: Equestria Girls
Pony-mania is upon us, people. So it's about time that My Little Pony has gotten a full-length release. This film finds Twilight in search of her stolen crown. However, to defeat the thieving Sunset Shimmer, she must conquer a strange new world -- one that turns our beloved pony into a teenage girl!
Pony fans can expect a sparkly 1.78:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The release also has several short featurettes to cover the cast and crew, the animation, the music, and more. There's even a blip titled, "Ponify Yourself." The 2-disc set also comes with a standard-def DVD and a Digital Copy. [Shout Factory]
On the Road
This big-screen telling of Jack Kerouac's classic didn't garner the same following as the book, but it does have a half-naked Kristen Stewart -- and she's smiling (sometimes)! She plays part of the duo (with the other half being Garrett Hedlund) that turns writer Sal Paradise's (Sam Riley) world upside down. The film also stars Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Sturridge, Amy Adams, Alice Braga, and Elisabeth Moss.
MPI has given this film a 2.40:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. That said, don't expect to learn too much about On the Road beyond what's in the movie, since this single-disc release only has a few deleted scenes and the film's theatrical trailer. [MPI Home Video]
Ishtar
The name "Ishtar" has become synonymous with the Hollywood flop. However, stars Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman seem to have recovered nicely -- despite a silly plotline that has the two singing (!) in the Middle East. That said, it looks like Sony is about to rub salt in some old wounds by bringing this "comedy" to the Blu-ray format.
The single-disc release comes with a 1.85:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. However, we're not sure why the studio bothered to release this one without any extras. There's absolutely nothing; not even a trailer. While we understand why some people would want to distance themselves from this flick, it's hard to believe that someone didn't have something (good or bad) to say after all of these years. [Sony]
Also New This Week:
