New Blu-ray Reviews

Australia's First 4 Billion Years Blu-ray Movie  

Nova: Australia's First 4 Billion Years

PBS | 2013 | 217 min | Not rated | Jun 25, 2013 | Brian Orndorf

Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of our planet's origins than Australia. NOVA's four-part "Australia's First 4 Billion Years" takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today.

Documentary / Nature

The Dragon Pearl Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Ketchup | 2011 | 95 min | Rated PG | Aug 20, 2013 | Michael Reuben

At an archaeological dig in China with their parents, Josh and Ling discover a mournful dragon trapped deep inside a mystical temple. According to ancient legend, the dragon is missing its life force, a sacred pearl that is hidden away in a secret chamber. Josh and Ling must battle evil forces to return the magical pearl to its rightful owner.

Adventure / Family / Fantasy

A Place at the Table Blu-ray Movie  

Magnolia Pictures | 2012 | 84 min | Rated PG | Jun 25, 2013 | Casey Broadwater

A Place at the Table examines the shocking paradox of hunger in the wealthiest nation on earth, through the stories of three Americans who face food insecurity daily.

Documentary

Phantom Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + UV Digital Copy

20th Century Fox | 2013 | 98 min | Rated R | Jun 25, 2013 | Casey Broadwater

The haunted Captain of a Soviet submarine holds the fate of the world in his hands. Forced to leave his family behind, he is charged with leading a covert mission cloaked in mystery.

Drama / Thriller

Pusher Blu-ray Movie  

Starz / Anchor Bay | 2012 | 89 min | Not rated | Jun 25, 2013 | Martin Liebman

Based on the edgy and explosive series by visionary director Nicolas Winding Refn, Pusher stars Richard Coyle as a drug dealer who grows increasingly desperate over the course of a week after a botched deal lands him in the merciless clutches of a ruthless crime lord. The more desperate his behavior, the more isolated he becomes until there is nothing left standing between him and the bullet his debtors intend to fire his way.

Crime / Drama / Thriller

Hangar 18 Blu-ray Movie  

Olive Films | 1980 | 97 min | Rated PG | Jun 25, 2013 | Jeffrey Kauffman

Could it be true? Is the U.S. government really hiding an alien spaceship in the mysterious Hangar 18? According to the producers at Sunn Classic Pictures, the answer is yes, and this sci-fi drama sets out to prove it. The trouble begins when an orbiting satellite runs into the UFO and it crashes. Inside are alien bodies, and the President, who is busy with his re-election campaign, is most eager to conceal them.

Action / Sci-Fi

Shark! Blu-ray Movie  

Caine

Olive Films | 1969 | 93 min | Rated PG | Jun 25, 2013 | Jeffrey Kauffman

An American gunrunner, Caine (Burt Reynolds) arrives in a small dusty town in Sudan after escaping corrupt government soldiers. Broke and desperate, he agrees to sign up as a deck hand to ichthyologist Dan Mallare (Barry Sullivan) and his mistress Anna (Silvia Pinal) who are supposedly collecting rare fish specimens. Caine soon discovers that his new employers are crooked treasure hunters looking for gold bullion buried in the deep, shark-infested waters and that they would stop at nothing to get their hands on sunken treasure. Arthur Kennedy co-stars as Doc, an alcoholic American doctor who befriends Caine. Co-written and directed by legendary director Samuel Fuller (China Gate, The Big Red One).

Action / Adventure / Thriller

Identification d'une femme Blu-ray Movie    

Identification of a Woman / Identificazione di una donna

Gaumont | 1982 | 130 min | Rated U Tous publics | May 22, 2013 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

A film director finds himself drawn into affairs with two women while searching for an actress for his next film.

Drama / Romance / Erotic / Foreign

The Call Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD + UV Digital Copy

Sony Pictures | 2013 | 94 min | Rated R | Jun 25, 2013 | Martin Liebman

Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin star in this thriller in which a woman races against time to prevent a serial killer from taking another victim. Emergency services telephone operator Jordan Turner (Berry) answers a call from teenager Leah Templeton (Evie Thompson), who is trying to evade the clutches of a murdererous man (Michael Eklund). When their conversation is disconnected, Jordan calls Leah back but the ring of the phone alerts the killer to the girl's whereabouts and he subsequently takes her life. Six months later, Jordan is still struggling to come to terms with what happened but soon finds herself facing a similar situation, with the killer this time after another teenage girl, Casey Welson (Breslin). Can Jordan save Casey from meeting the same fate as the previous caller?

Crime / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Thriller / Psychological thriller

Alicia Keys: VH1 Storytellers Blu-ray Movie  

RCA | 2012 | 54 min | Not rated | Jun 25, 2013 | Jeffrey Kauffman

VH1 Storytellers captures an intimate performance and the stories behind the music of singer/songwriter/producer Alicia Keys' biggest hits, spanning her more than decade-long career.

Music

Comment ça va? Blu-ray Movie  

How Is It Going?

Olive Films | 1978 | 78 min | Not rated | Jun 25, 2013 | Jeffrey Kauffman

A film about politics and the media, in which two workers in a newspaper plant attempt to make a film.

Drama / Foreign

Retreat, Hell! Blu-ray Movie  

Olive Films | 1952 | 95 min | Not rated | Jun 18, 2013 | Jeffrey Kauffman

During the Korean War, a U.S. Marine battalion must fight its way out of a frozen mountain pass despite diminishing supplies, freezing temperatures and constant attacks by overwhelming numbers of Chinese soldiers.

Drama / War

Crashout Blu-ray Movie  

Gunmen on the Loose

Olive Films | 1955 | 89 min | Not rated | Jun 25, 2013 | Jeffrey Kauffman

The survivors of a prison break set out on an arduous journey to retrieve some loot.

Crime / Drama / Film-Noir

Passion Blu-ray Movie    

ARP Sélection | 2012 | 101 min | Rated U Tous publics | Jun 18, 2013 | Dr. Svet Atanasov

A young businesswoman plots a murderous revenge after her boss and mentor steals her idea.

Thriller / Psychological thriller / Erotic

Universal Soldier: The Return Blu-ray Movie  

Sony Pictures | 1999 | 83 min | Rated R | Apr 14, 2009 | Martin Liebman

Luc Deveraux, the heroic former Universal Soldier, is about to be thrown into action once again. With the Cold War over and defense budgets slashed, the entire Universal Soldier team is facing elimination, including SETH, the super-computer that controls the ultra-warriors. Knowing that his days are numbered, SETH decides to seek revenge by destroying his creators and implementing a reign of terror on the outside world. Morphing into human form as the quintessential Universal Soldier, SETH begins to unleash his wicked plan with the aid of his top soldier. When conventional military strength fails to thwart his efforts, Luc must take charge. As Luc faces SETH and his team of unstoppable soldiers, a battle pitting man against machine and good against evil ensues, offering the kind of high-intensity sci-fi action you've come to expect from Van Damme in a story you won't soon forget.

Action / Sci-Fi

Second in Command Blu-ray Movie  

Mill Creek Entertainment | 2006 | 92 min | Rated R | No Release Date | Martin Liebman

He's a former Navy S.E.A.L. with the combat experience to protect U.S. interests anywhere. But the day he arrives at his new post in a turbulent Eastern European nation, Commander Sam Keenan is thrust into a bloody and chaotic scene.

Action / Thriller / War

Universal Soldier: The Return / Second in Command Blu-ray Movie  

Mill Creek Double Feature

Mill Creek Entertainment | 1999-2006 | 2 Movies | 175 min | Rated R | May 14, 2013 | Martin Liebman

See individual titles for their synopses.

Action / Sci-Fi / Thriller / War

Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story Blu-ray Movie  

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Arc Entertainment | 2013 | 86 min | Rated PG | Jul 09, 2013 | Michael Reuben

Hockey great Gordie Howe retired after 25 winning seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. But he realized that retirement just didn’t work for him. When his sons were drafted to the Houston Aeros he came out of retirement to join the team. He was written off by many who thought he was too old to be playing competitively.

Drama / Sport

Inu X Boku Secret Service: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie  

Sentai Filmworks | 2012 | 300 min | Rated TV-14 | Apr 09, 2013 | Kenneth Brown

Ayakashi Kan: a mysterious condominium, widely believed to be haunted, where every resident is required to have a personal bodyguard, or Secret Service agent. When the socially inept Ririchiyo moves in, all she's looking for is a little peace and quiet and some practice at inter-personal communications. However, she quickly discovers that her bodyguard Soushi might not just be foxy; he might actually be a fox – a fox spirit that is. In fact, all of Ayakashi Kan's residents, and their agents, are more than they seem at first glance: each and every one of them has both human and non-human ancestors. But that's okay, because Ririchiyo does too. Welcome to the weirdest, wackiest mansion in town where no one is entirely human and mayhem is the order of the day.

Anime / Comedy / Comic book / Foreign

In the Family Blu-ray Movie  

New Yorker Video | 2011 | 169 min | Not rated | Jun 25, 2013 | Michael Reuben

In the town of Martin, Tennessee, Chip Hines, a precocious six year old, has only known life with his two dads, Cody and Joey. When Cody dies suddenly, Joey and Chip struggle to find their footing again. Then Cody's will reveals that he named his sister as Chip's guardian.

Drama / Romance