Blu-ray Disc Movies

Legendary Hong Kong director Gordan Chan brings Wen Ruian's hit novel to the screen in this action-packed supernatural thriller that's the first chapter of an epic trilogy centered on the adventures of four legendary detectives and martial arts masters. A coin cast has been stolen, counterfeit currency is circulating, and now Coldblood (Deng Chao), Emotionless (Liu Yi Fei), Life Snatcher (Ronald Cheng), and Iron Hands (Collin Chou) are on the case. Operating under the powerful Master Zhuge (Anthony Wong), they form a powerful quartet capable of solving any crime. As government institutions and financial organizations conspire the four sleuths follow a trail of clues. Meanwhile the dead are rising up under the command of an unknown force, and carving out a swath of terror on their trail to the capitol. Master Zhuge's team may be the best at capturing criminals, but can they stand up to a horror that's beyond the realm of this reality? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A famed sushi chef's daughter runs away to a remote hot springs inn after getting fed up with her father's ultra-strict working habits, and uses her many years of training to save the lives of the guests when a twisted former researcher perfects a method of creating killer sushi. Keiko's father is one of the most respected sushi chefs in Japan. He always gives 110%, and he expects the same from his daughter. Determined to live life on her own terms, Keiko lands a job at a serine inn surrounded by soothing hot springs. Unfortunately for her, both the employees and the pharmaceutical specialists staying there on a work retreat take no small amount of pleasure in mocking the new addition to the staff. But when a disgruntled former employee of the firm shows up at the inn with a bizarre formula that transforms delicious sushi into rampaging monsters, only Keiko and her unique skill set can save them all from being eaten alive. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

English actor Clive Brook's only directorial effort, On Approval, is based upon Frederick Lonsdale's frothy 1926 play, though reset in the late 19th century. Brook plays George, a titled duke whose wealth has largely been spent but who has no intention of settling further into genteel poverty. George is enormously appealing to Helen (played by Googie Withers), a good-natured American heiress, and is equally appalling to Maria (Bea Lillie), an Englishwoman of considerable means. The imperious Maria is dating the eternally devoted Richard (Roland Culver), who worships her. Maria decides that she will marry Richard -- after he spends a month with her in a secluded Scottish castle, where she will try him out "on approval." Maria, however, does not intend to discover whether they are suitable for all aspects of marriage; every night he is to row across the loch and spend his nights at a local inn. Neither Maria nor Richard will lack for company, though, as George and Helen invite themselves along. Things get complicated when it turns out that there are no rooms available at the inn, leaving the men to share the castle with the women -- a prospect that so horrifies the servants that they promptly leave the two couples high and dry. Left to their own devices, the foursome get to know each other -- and they don't necessarily like what they find. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Romanian hitman Viktor rises up through the ranks thanks to his unique talent for killing, but flees to London to join a new syndicate following a betrayal that leaves him marked for death. Amidst this new environment Viktor's lethal skills are sharpened to perfection, but when an encounter with a beautiful woman presents the promise of a better life, he knows that in order to outrun his past, he'll have to stare death square in the eye. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Originally Chronique d'Un Ete, this black & white, 16-millimeter film is an exercise in cinema verite, conceived by an anthropologist/moviemaker (Jean Rouch) and a sociologist/movie critic (Edgar Morin). The all-amateur cast includes a black university student, a factory worker and a young holocaust survivor. Each is interviewed on a variety of current-events topics, and each is permitted to ramble on until the camera runs out of film. As a coda, the interviewees are seen talking among themselves, asking each other if they had been "acting" while on camera. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The early days of William Adama as a young and eager Academy graduate during the first Cylon War are chronicled in this prequel to the Battlestar Galactica update that originally aired on Syfy from 2003-09. ~ Megan Walsh-Boyle, Rovi

Douglas Fairbanks is at his most graceful and charismatic in one of the classic silent films of the 1920s. As the thief of Baghdad, his movements are dance-like -- nothing like the athletics he performed in most of his other films. In this Arabian take, the thief ignores the holy teachings and sneaks into the palace of the Caliph (Brandon Hurst). All thoughts of robbery slip away, however, when he sees the beautiful princess (Julanne Johnston). Princes have come from many faraway lands to win the princess' hand (and it's amusing to watch her face growing ever more alarmed at their arrival, because each one is uglier than the last). The thief disguises himself as a prince and the princess falls in love with him. After having a pang of conscience, the thief confesses all to the Holy Man (Charles Belcher), who sends him to find a magic chest. He braves many obstacles to get it, and when he returns he discovers that the Mongol Prince (Sojin) has taken over the city. Using the chest, the reformed thief creates armies of men out of nothingness and recaptures the city. He then uses the cloak of invisibility to spirit the princess away on a magic carpet. Fairbanks stole some of the special effects for his film from Fritz Lang's Der Müde Tod, which he had purchased for American distribution. The Thief of Baghdad, with its look of unrealistic beauty (courtesy of art director William Cameron Menzies), was not fully appreciated in its day. Because of its huge cost (two million dollars -- a real fortune in those days), it made little money. After that, Fairbanks stuck closer to the swashbuckling persona he felt his audience wanted. Available now on DVD, the remastered film features a new score by Carl Davis. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

 

A handful of old friends make some unexpected discoveries about one another in this comedy-drama from French writer and director Guillaume Canet. Eight pals who are settling into middle age have observed an annual tradition for years in which they get together to enjoy some vacation time. However, fate puts a damper on this year's gathering when one of the group, Ludo (Jean Dujardin), ends up in the hospital after an auto accident. His friends decide to go away together anyway, but Ludo's troubles portend a week of difficult feelings and awkward situations. Max (Francois Cluzet), who is paying host this year at his summer home, is startled by a declaration of love from Vincent (Benoit Magimel), which comes as an unwelcome surprise to the married and very straight Max. Meanwhile, Marie (Marion Cotillard), Eric (Gilles Lellouche), and Antoine (Laurent Lafitte) are all dealing with various forms of romantic disappointment, and seemingly everyone has a skeleton in the closet that he or she is hiding from the group. Les Petits Mouchoirs (aka Little White Lies) received its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A hot-shot Hollywood horror director (David Newcomer) is taken hostage in his own home by a vengeful father (Academy Award-nominee Michael O'Keefe) whose daughter was killed in an episode that directly reflected the filmmaker's gruesome handiwork. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Award-winning Canadian blues singer Rita Chiarelli ventures to Louisiana State Maximum Security Penitentiary (aka Angola Prison) to explore her musical roots, and ends up performing for some of the most dangerous convicts in the country in this documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo, Pontypool). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This CG animated action adventure offers a prequel to Mass Effect 3, telling the story of James Vega, Alliance Marine and leader of an elite military unit sent deep into distant space to combat a strange and largely unknown race of aggressive aliens known as The Collectors. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi