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![Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]](/wp-content/plugins/pp/images/5073178ab6bfd1ab9ac1706a34b587f1.jpg)
One of Hollywood’s great political thrillers, "All the President’s Men," and a science-fiction classic, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," lead this week’s impressive list of Blu-ray releases.</p><p> "All the President’s Men" (Warner Brothers, 1976, $34.99) focuses on the Watergate burglary investigation that eventually would end President Richard Nixon’s administration. When the break-in occurred, it didn’t cause much of a stir among much of the news media. However, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) thought there was more to it.</p><p> Despite doors being slammed in their faces, denials and even threats on their lives, the two reporters pressed on to get the story. It helped that Woodward turned up a secret informant called "Deep Throat" (Hal Holbrook) who would steer the reporters on the right path by telling them "to follow the money."</p><p> It wasn’t easy. Most other newspaper and TV outlets treated it as a minor story while the members of the Nixon administration adamantly denied the Post’s reports. Meanwhile, tough Post executive editor Ben Bradlee (Jason Robards) stuck by his reporters and also made sure Woodward and Bernstein got the facts correct.</p><p> The film is based on the book written by Woodward and Bernstein. The movie won four Oscars, including best supporting actor for Robards, and was nominated for four others. It was estimated that applications for newspaper reporting jobs more than tripled after "All the President’s Men" was released. Highly recommended.</p><p> "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (Sony, 1977, $19.95): Steven Spielberg directed this science-fiction gem that still manages to inspire a feeling of wonder. It opens with a series of international incidents. such a squadron of World War II fighter planes, missing for more than 30 years, being found in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. A lost ship is found in the Gobi desert. A group of scientists, led by France’s Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffant), shows up at every spot to investigate.</p><p> Meanwhile, one night in Indiana, husband and father Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), who works for the electric company, is assigned to check on some line problems. While driving his truck in the countryside, Roy sees bright lights which he believes to be an alien spaceship. Afterwards, he is suddenly compelled to construct models of some sort of mountain. His wife, kids and neighbors began to think he is crazy.</p><p> Later, Roy meets Jillian (Melinda Dixon), whose young son was taken away in an alien ship. Both are determined to find out what is going on. "Close Encounters" was first released on Blu-ray in 2007 when the format was in a limited number of households. Now Sony is re-releasing the 30th anniversary edition as part of its Blu-ray Essentials Collection. It includes three versions if the film. Highly recommended.</p><p> </p><p> Other Blu-ray releases:</p><p> "Moonstruck" (MGM/UA, 1987, $19.99): Nearly 25 years after its initial release, this delightful film directed by Norman Jewison remains one of the best romantic comedies to ever come out of Hollywood. Cher plays 37-year-old Italian-American Loretta Castorini, who lives in Brooklyn with her father Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) and her mother Rose (Olympia Dukakis). Loretta’s husband died in a bus accident a few years earlier. Although she thinks her first marriage was cursed, Loretta has agreed to wed Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) because she thinks it would be a safe marriage. When Johnny is called to Italy to be with his sick mother, Loretta meets his brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage). A passionate romance quickly blossoms. "Moonstruck" was nominated for six Academy Awards and won for best original screenplay, best actress (Cher) and best supporting actress (Dukakis). Highly recommended.</p><p> "Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol" (BBC, 2010, $19.89): This special premiered Christmas Day on both BBC One and BBC America. It stars Matt Smith as the doctor and Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond. Wedding bells ring for Amy and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill). Unfortunately, Amy and Rory decide to honeymoon on a space liner that carries more than 4,000 passengers. The ship, flying through a strange cloud cover, appears to be out of control and heading for a crash. The only way the Doctor can save them is with the help of an old miser, Kazan Sardick (Michael Gambon). Recommended.</p><p> "Network" (Warner Brothers, 1976, $19.98): This biting satire of television news from writer Paddy Chayefsky and director Sidney Lumet seems even more relevant today than it did doing its initial release. Since then, the television universe has grown enormously and has spawned ratings wars among cable news networks. Peter Finch plays newscaster Howard Beale, who has become fed up with the "cute" stories he is forced to report each night. He begins to unleash his rants on this nightly newscast: "I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore." His outburst results in big ratings, much to the delight of the TV exec played by Faye Dunaway. Also in the cast are William Holden and Robert Duvall. Recommended.</p><p> "Waiting for ‘Superman’" (Paramount, 2010, $29.99): Director Davis Guggenheim takes an eye-opening look at American public education with its defects and at those who are trying to change it. The film depicts the struggles of real-life students and their families and the efforts of educators and reformers who are trying to make the system better. This stirring visual experience was named Best Documentary of the Year by the National Board of Review and was picked by the American Film Institute as one of the year’s best movies. Recommended.</p><p> "Rain Man" (MGM/UA, 1988, $19.99): Tom Cruise plays Charlie Babbitt, a California car dealer, who learns that his estranged father has died and left his multimillion-dollar estate to his brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). The biggest surprise for Charlie is that he didn’t even know he had a brother. Charlie, aiming to get some of the money for himself, travels to Cincinnati where Raymond lives and learns that Raymond is autistic. On the ride back to California, Charlie begins to develop a fondness for his brother. "Rain Man" won four Oscars including best picture, best director (Barry Levinson), best original screenplay (Barry Morrow) and best actor (Hoffman). Recommended.</p><p> "Unstoppable" (20th Century Fox, 2019, $39.99): Tony Scott directed this rousing action-thriller starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. Because of a couple of human blunders, a runaway train is zooming toward Scranton, Pa. Aboard is a load of deadly toxic criminals that could explode if the train crashes into any structure. There doesn’t seem to be any way to stop it until veteran engineer Frank Barnes (Washington) and young conductor Will Colson (Pine) get involved. The two race against time to prevent a major disaster. Recommended.</p><p> "Chaplin" (Lionsgate, 1992, $19.99): Richard Attenborough produced and directed this film about the life of Charlie Chaplin. It follows him from his poverty-ridden childhood in London to his triumphs on screen and his controversies off screen. Robert Downey Jr. gives a fine performance as Chaplin, which earned him an Oscar nomination. It was one of three Academy Award nominations the film received. Lovers of film history should enjoy spotting Hollywood legends such as producer Mack Sennett (Dan Aykroyd), Douglas Fairbanks (Kevin Kline), Stan Laurel (Matthew Cottle) and Mary Pickford (Maria Pitillo). Geraldine Chaplin, Charlie’s real-life daughter, plays the comedian’s mother.</p><p> "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (Sony, 2010, $38.96): Woody Allen wrote and directed this film that follows the up-and-down lives of two married couples – Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) and Helena (Gemma Jones) and their daughter Sally (Naomi Watts) and her husband Roy (Josh Brolin). Each one attempts to find fresh romance. Alfie leaves his marriage to pursue a call girl named Charmine (Lucy Punch) and Helena falls in with a goofy fortuneteller. Meanwhile, Sally develops a crush on her art gallery boss Greg (Antonio Banderas) and Roy has eyes for a mysterious woman named Dia (Freida Pinto).</p><p> "Top Gear: Season 14" (BBC, 2009-10, $29.99) and "Top Gear: Season 15" (BBC, 2010, $24.99): Seen on BBC America each week, this has become one of the channel’s most popular series. It’s all about cars, with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May showing them off. In episode one of season 14, the boys head for Romania to test three cars including the Aston Martin DBS Volante, the Ferrari California and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. Season 14 includes contains discs. Season 15 contains 2 discs.</p><p> "Game of Death" (Sony, 2010, $30.95): Still another movie about a hit man who is forced to flee from various factions. Wesley Snipes plays CIA Agent Marcus Jones, a professional hit man caught in a double-cross among his partners in the agency, a powerful Wall Street broker and a ruthless arms dealer. Framed for murder, Jones fights to clear his name before he is gunned down by assassins.</p><p> "Dungeons & Dragons: 2-Movie Collection" (Warner Brothers, 2000, 2008, $19.98): Based on the popular role-playing video game, the first film stars Jeremy Irons as the evil Profion. It’s up to Thora Birch and Damon Wayans to thwart his efforts and defend the Empire of Izmer. The second film, "Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God," is a direct-to-video production. Fans of the game might like the movies.</p><p> "Hoodwinked" (Weinstein, 2010, $24.99): What really happened in the Red Riding Hood case? This animated adventure answers that question as Detective Flippers investigates the incident. Called in to testify are the big bad wolf, who might not be so bad, the sweet grandmother who might not be so sweet, a lumberjack who doesn’t seem to know anything and Red Riding Hood, who might not be as innocent as she acts. Among those supplying their voices are Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close and Jim Belushi. Also includes a standard DVD copy of the movie.</p><p> "Last Tango in Paris" (MGM/UA, 1972, $19.99): With its frank treatment of sex, this was considered a ground-breaking film and sparked plenty of controversy. If you’re looking for something uplifting; this isn’t it. Marlon Brando plays Paul, an American hotel owner, who is trying to get over his wife’s suicide. While in Paris, he meets a young woman named Jeanne (Maria Schneider), who is engaged to be married. She begins a torrid affair with Paul, who sees it as a way to forget his wife. The ending is unsatisfactory but you won’t forget it.</p><p> "Stag Night" (Lionsgate, 2008, $29.99): You might not want to ride the New York underground after watching this horror tale. A group of friends head to New York City for a bachelor party but they get stalled in an abandoned subway station. They soon find themselves fleeing from a secret gang of cannibal dwellers who has been living in the tunnels for years.</p><p> "Glorious 39" (entertainmentone, 210, $29.98): On the eve of World War II, Anne Keyes (Romola Garai) is enjoying some success as an actress. As the adopted daughter of Alexander Keyes (Bill Nighy), a member of Parliament, she is living the good life. One evening, Hector (David Tennant), one of Alexander’s friends, stops by for dinner and, during a heated conversation, says he disapproves of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s efforts to appease Hitler’s Nazi regime. Later, Hector is found dead. Anne is jolted when she discovers sinister, secret recordings of a local pro-Hitler movement.
Source: USA Today
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