Movie DVD Releases of the Week: Maleficent Offers Alternative to Interstellar, Planes: Fire & Rescue Can Counter Big Hero 6
As awards buzz continues to heat up at the box office, the studios bring out some of the summer hits of the summer to the small screen on DVD when the latest new DVD movie releases come out Tuesday.
Disney is giving options for those who are interested in "Interstellar" or "Big Hero 6" this weekend while Roadside Attractions will give awards enthusiasts an option to "The Theory of Everything."
The following is a list of this week's DVD releases:
Maleficent
The Angelina Jolie starrer arrives on Home entertainment after having been one of the standouts of the summer. The latest Disney live action film tells the story of a vengeful fairy who is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land. The film was the retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" and continued Disney's success of turning a classic animated film into a live action film. Despite mediocre reviews, the movie became one of the highest grossing films of the year and remained in theaters for a substantial amount of weeks. Disney hopes that "Maleficent's" audience returns next year when it unveils "Cinderella."
Planes: Fire & Rescue
After the 2013 hit, Disney believed it could relive the same success. However, the second installment to "Planes" was panned and flopped at the box office. The film tells the story of Dusty, who learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again. However, he joins a forest fire and rescue unit to be trained as a firefighter. The movie is likely to attract young children and fans of the original. Additionally, it will serve as an alternative to children who are interested in Disney's newest animated film "Big Hero 6," which opens in theaters this Friday.
Hercules
Brett Ratner's latest film starring Dwyane Johnson will attempt to reach its fan base after a disappointing box office. The latest retelling of Hercules tells the story of the legendary Greek demigod who has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Even though the feature scored favorable reviews, it was unable to reach its target audiences and performed under expectations. With very few action films in the market at the moment, expect "Hercules" to soar on DVD.
A Most Wanted Man
Philip Seymour Hoffman's final lead performance was hailed as one of the best of the year and the movie became an instant box office hit. Latin Post called it "a tremendous triumph."
The Anton Corbijn thriller tells the story of a Chechen Muslim who illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror. The feature was hailed as an awards contender early on in the summer but quickly dissipated. However, now that Roadside Attractions has released it on DVD, perhaps buzz will reemerge and gain pundits' attention. Based on John le Carré's novel and also starring Robin Wright and Rachel McAdams, this thriller is likely to attract older audiences, as well.
Frontera
The Ed Harris, Eva Longoria and Michael Pena drama tells the story of a former Arizona sheriff who searches for answers when his wife is killed.
As he investigates, he comes across a Mexican man who illegally crosses into the U.S. and their lives change forever. The drama was released by Magnolia on VOD and obtained solid numbers. However, reviews were mixed and marketing was low and this led to a disappointing box office. With little marketing, it is unlikely this movie will pick up on DVD and it will most likely fade.
Other new releases include Kino Lober's "Archipelago" and the Indie hit by EchoLight Studios "The Christmas Candle." Drafthouse will also release "The Dog" and Music Box will also unveil "A Five Star Life."