After the Memorial Day holiday, we had a fairly slow week for Blu-ray releases. Well, the studios are definitely back to business. This week, we have a flood of action, a little romance, and a whole lot of Adventure Time!
This week's spotlight goes to the rom-zom-com, Warm Bodies. Unlike the original rom-zom-com, Shaun of the Dead, this funny flick focuses more on the romance between R (Nicholas Hoult) and Julie (Teresa Palmer). Of course, it also has the zombies -- and John Malkovich!
Otherwise, this week we see the return of John McClane, a buddy comedy with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, and more scary business from Breaking Bad's Walter White.
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 June 4, 2013, except where noted. Enjoy!
Warm Bodies
If movies and TV have taught us anything, it's that zombies love brains. However, R (Nicholas Hoult) is more after the heart -- well, at least Julie's (Teresa Palmer) heart. The two find love amidst a zombie apocalypse, with funny, romantic results. Written and directed by Jonathan Levine (50/50), the film also stars Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Analeigh Tipton, Cory Hardrict, and John Malkovich.
Summit Entertainment has given this surprise hit a 2.40:1 image and a DTS HD-Master Audio 7.1 mix. There set includes nine extras, not counting deleted scenes, a gag reel, the trailer and the commentary track with Hoult, Palmer and Levine. The single-disc release also comes with a Digital Copy and the UltraViolet Digital Copy. [Summit Entertainment]
A Good Day to Die Hard
Yippee-ki-yay, John McClane fans! Five years after the last Die Hard, Bruce Willis is back as everyone's favorite New York cop, but he's fleeing the city, well... because he already captured everyone there! In this fifth installment, he's headed to Moscow to save his imprisoned son, Jack (Jai Courtney). However, Jack appears to be the one person that doesn't need McClane's saving, because the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. After a quickie reunion, the two pair up to track down a terrorist.
This aging action franchise is looking pretty good, with a 1.85:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. The blockbuster release also has plenty of extras, including an extended cut of the film, deleted scenes and trailers, shorts on the special effects and cast, and a multi-part peek at "Making it Hard to Die." The 2-disc set also includes a standard-def DVD and an UltraViolet Digital Copy of the film. [Fox]
Adventure Time
Because of its insane popularity (and yes, it is quite insane), Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. are finally putting this weird, wonderful show out on Blu-ray. This week, we get Adventure Time: The Complete First Season and Adventure Time: The Complete Second Season as separate releases. Both follow the story of a boy named Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada) and his dog/best friend Jake (Futurama's John DiMaggio), who happens to have the power to change size.
Each set features a perky 1.78:1 image, a solo Dolby Digital 2.0 track and an UltraViolet Digital Copy. The first season set has commentary on a few select episodes and a trio of short, super-weird tidbits about the show. The second season has commentary across all 26 (!) episodes and a funky featurette that introduces some of the Adventure Time crew. [Cartoon Network/Warner Bros.]
Identity Thief
The idea probably sounded awesome on paper. Make the act of identity theft into a comical situation, with Jason Bateman playing the straight man/victim to crude con artist Melissa McCarthy. The cast is pretty much all this painful "comedy" has going for it. Proceed with caution.
If you're going to bother, know that this 2.35:1 image is very nice and there's a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track to match. As far as extras, there's an extended version of the film, a gag reel and alternate scenes, a making-of short, and 4 minutes with co-star Robert Patrick. The 2-disc set also comes with a standard-def DVD, a Digital Copy, and an UltraViolet Digital Copy. [Universal]
Falling Skies: The Complete Second Season
Before the third season kicks off on TNT next week, you may want a refresher of this sci-fi hit's second season. Set in the aftermath of a worldwide alien attack, the show stars ER vet Noah Wyle as a former BU history professor thrust into the position of second-in-command of the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment.
This stylish show comes packing a 1.78:1 image and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. There's also a very nice collection of extras, which includes commentary on four episodes, an overall look at the second season, a Q&A, and a peek at the location and sets. If you want to know what's coming next, the set has a preview of season 3. Also, in case you're looking to cram, the 2-disc set includes an UltraViolet Digital Copy of the season. [Warner Bros.]
Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season
There's no sign of Walter White slowing down, or at least this drama slowing down. Of course, AMC is killing off the show this summer, but this fifth season is better than ever. Season four ended with a real bang -- literally. The show picks up exactly where it left off, with the shit hitting the fan and pretty much everywhere else. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are as awesome as you'd expect, leaving you wanting more from this short half of a season.
Yes, this is the first half of season five. That means you're only getting eight episodes here. All of the episodes include a 1.78:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Also, despite the number of episodes, Sony has spread this set across two discs, with audio commentaries, extended and deleted scenes, interviews and pretty much every other extra you'd want to see in a TV show set. There's even a short with Cranston, Paul, Betsy Brandt and RJ Mitte bowling for chrissakes. [Sony]
Mad Max Trilogy
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls ... dying buying time's here! The Mad Max Trilogy is out and about, packing 1979′s original Mad Max, 1982's The Road Warrior, and 1985′s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome into one shiny set. All three star Mel Gibson as the slightly crazed, extremely dangerous Max Rockatansky.
Each of the three films has its own 2.40:1 image and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It should be noted that the first two films are pickups from previous releases, with only the last film making its Blu-ray debut here. Also, we have a Thunderdome-style beef with Warner Bros. over this release; it's a money-grab if ever we've seen one. The studio basically packaged up the first two films with the third in a "special" box, but there are no other interesting extras here. It's a weak collection, with trailers for all three films, old commentary for the first two, a blip by film critic Leonard Maltin, and one measley 25-minute documentary from the first film's Blu-ray. [Warner Bros.]
The Odd Couple
We don't have really high hopes for this being the Blu-ray that it should be, with a huge collection of extras and stellar AV. However, it's going to be hard to stay away because it's such a good movie. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon appeared on-screen many times together. However, this is certainly one of the most beloved, with the duo playing a mismatched pair trying to keep house -- and the peace. Based on the Neil Simon play, the film spawned a not-so-stellar 1998 sequel, as well as the popular 1970s Jack Klugman/Tony Randall sitcom of the same name.
Warner Bros. is putting this one out as a single disc, with a 2.35:1 image. At press time, the studio had yet to announce audio or any of the special features that will be included. [Warner Bros.]
Also New This Week:
