THE RAID: REDEMPTION
(2011, Blu-ray released August 14, 2012 – MSRP $29.95)

THE FILM:

“As a rookie member of an elite special-forces team, Rama is instructed to hang back during a covert mission involving the extraction of a brutal crime lord named Tama from a rundown apartment block. But when a spotter blows their cover, Tama offers lifelong sanctuary to every killer, gangster and thief in the building in exchange for the intruders’ heads. Now Rama must stand in for the team’s fallen leader and use every bit of his fighting strength – winding through every floor and room – to complete the mission and escape with his life.“

TOTAL RECALL: ULTIMATE REKALL EDITION
(1990, Blu-ray released July 31, 2012 – MSRP $29.95)

THE FILM:

“Arnold Schwarzenegger is perfectly cast as Quaid, a 2084 construction worker haunted by dreams of Mars in this crowd-pleasing science fiction spectacle. Against the wishes of his sexy blonde wife (Sharon Stone), Quaid goes to Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories, so he can “remember” visiting the red planet that is now being settled by human inhabitants. However, Quaid is actually an amnesiac secret agent from Mars – or is he?“

TWINS OF EVIL
(1971, Blu-ray released July 10, 2012 – MSRP $29.95)

THE FILM

Two beautiful orphaned identical twins, Maria and Frieda Gellhorn (Playboy centerfold models Mary and Madeleine Collinson), move to the village of Karnstein to live with their uncle Gustav Weil (played by Hammer horror favorite, Peter Cushing), a fanatical puritan and leader of the local witch-hunting Brotherhood. The village Count (Damien Thomas, Never Let Me Go), an evil man who secretly practices Satanism, uses black magic and transforms into a vampire. Unhappy with her new life, Frieda seeks escape and tragically falls under the spell of the Count. Now overcome with an insatiable hunger for human blood, Frieda has to hide her secret from her sister, and escape her uncle’s killing grasp!

COMIC-CON EPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE
(2012, Blu-ray released July 10, 2012 – MSRP CDN$ 32.99)

THE FILM:

“Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope–a film by Morgan Spurlock explores this amazing cultural phenomenon by following the lives of five attendees as they descend upon the ultimate geek mecca at San Diego Comic-Con 2010. One on one interviews with Comic-Con veterans who have turned their passions into professions include Stan Lee, Joss Whedon, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Matt Groening, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and others are shared throughout the film along with up close and up front coverage of all the panels, parades, photos, costumes, crowds and camaraderie that make up one of the largest fan gatherings in the U.S.“

WRATH OF THE TITANS
(2012, Blu-ray released June 26, 2012 – MSRP $35.99)

THE FILM:

“Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson star once again as gods at war in “Wrath of the Titans“, under the direction of Johnathan Liebesman. A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kaken, Perseus (Worthington) the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson) is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades (Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramrez), switch loyalties and make a deal, with kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.“

Criterion‘s latest batch of title announcements has got me all excited, as they tend to do every month. But you might be surprised to learn that I’m not a big fan of the marquee release of this current bunch. I love me some Fincher, as I’m sure loyal readers are well aware, but I’ve never cared for his 1997 film The Game. Something about the ludicrous nature of the plot and the day-glo fluorescent production design just keeps me at arms length. Could be I just don’t like the story or design of it, huh? That could be the “something”. Also, it could be Michael Douglas just beeng too Michael Douglas-y. So, knowing of my dislike of The Game you might not be terribly surprised to learn that it’s the announcement of the release of not one, but two Carné films on Blu that has gotten my blood pumping this month. Both Children of Paradise and Les Visiteurs du Soir will be released on September 18th, a week after the Blu-ray upgrade of De Sica‘s exceptional Umberto D., originally released on Criterion DVD in 2003. Finally, Paul Bartel‘s Eating Raoul, a film that sports a cover and title that haunted me through the ’80s via a busted up VHS that lingered, unrented on my local shop’s shelves, joins the collection on September 25th. To this day, I’ve yet to brave the film but I think it might finally be time…

RED SCORPION
(2012, Blu-ray released June 12, 2012 – MSRP $29.95)

THE FILM:

“International action star Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, The Expendables) is Lt. Nikolai Rachenko, a Soviet Special Forces “killing machine” assigned to infiltrate an African rebel uprising and assassinate their anti-Communist leader. Taken into custody and tortured after the mission fails, he stages a harrowing prison escape. Befriended by an African bushman while on the run, Nikolai discovers he was fighting on the wrong side of this violent conflict all along. Nikolai finds the rebel army once more but, this time, he’s on their side and wages bloody war against his former comrades! This action-packed controversial cult classic is now available from Synapse Films in a brand-new 2K high-definition transfer of the uncensored version, containing footage never before seen in the U.S. Featuring amazing performances from Dolph Lundgren, M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple) and the late Brion James (Blade Runner), RED SCORPION contains bloody special effects from the legendary Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, Friday the 13th). Loaded with interviews and other amazing special features, this disc will blow you away!“

JOHN CARTER
(2012, Blu-ray released June 5, 2012 – MSRP $39.99)

THE FILM:

“From Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton (Best Animated Film, Wall-E, 2008) comes John Carter — a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs‘s classic novel, John Carter is a war-weary, former military captain who’s inexplicably transported to Mars and reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict. It’s a world on the brink of collapse, and Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands. Stunning special effects, great characters and villains — and complete with extraordinary bonus features — John Carter is a heroic and inspirational adventure that will thrill you beyond imagination.“