New to On Demand & DVD

First published in 2003, the four-issue comic book series R.I.P.D. tells the story of a police force made up of officers who are on their second tour of duty, now working with the Rest In Peace Department. These officers can move between the real world and the netherworld and are charged with patrolling the afterlife and capturing “Deados” — spirits that have failed to “cross over” after death and instead return to Earth as murderous ghosts. Having led the team charged with translating some of Dark Horse Comics’ most popular titles into film (including The Mask, Hellboy and Hellboy II: […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 21-27 Fans of comedy have a lot to look froward to this week, with offerings from Kristen Wiig, Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson, and Jeff Bridges & Ryan Reynolds. But don’t be fooled by Steve Carell’s appearance in The Way Way Back, his character is not lighthearted or goofy in this film. With a few days left before Halloween, there are a couple of creepy/scary offerings on board as well this week. Before Midnight Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy return for their third go-round as Jesse and Celine — once again directed by Richard […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 14-20 Not too many big-name titles debuting this week, but there’s still plenty on offer: The Heat Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy star in this buddy-cop comedy about an uptight FBI agent who must partner with a foulmouthed Boston cop to go up against a ruthless drug lord. Directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids). Also stars Demian Bichir (R, 1:57) 10/15 Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain The comic wows the crowds at this filmed performance of a sold-out show from Madison Square Garden. (R, 1:15) 10/15 Pacific Rim Humanity resorts to giant machines controlled by psychic links with their […]

The Purge is set nine years in the future, in a world where crime is completely legal for a single 12-hour period each year. In the film, on the designated night, a family is held hostage for harboring a fugitive being hunted by a murderous syndicate. Writer/director James DeMonaco came up with the idea for The Purge after a road rage incident that happened while out with his wife. On that occasion, the couple was  nearly killed by a reckless driver. DeMonaco recalls, “In a fit of terrible road rage I had gotten out of the car to argue with […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Oct. 7-13 After Earth Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith star in director M. Night Shyamalan’s futuristic tale of a father and son stranded on Earth a millennium after humanity left the planet. The son must brave the treacherous habitat to signal for help for him and his injured father. Also stars Sophie Okonedo (PG-13, 1:40) 10/8 The Hangover Part III Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are back as the Wolfpack in this Vegas-set adventure. An angry gangster holds their friend hostage demanding that they find Chow, who stole millions of […]

On Demand DVD New releases Sept. 30-Oct. 6 Documentary fans and fans of real life stories have a lot to choose from this week:  Linsanity and Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O are documentaries, Underground: The Julian Assange Story  is  technically not a documentary, but more of a biopic and Big Sur is about Jack Kerouac. Start getting in the mood for Halloween with Fright Night 2: New Blood and Apartment 1303. This is the End and Best Man Down should satisfy the itch for comedy. Lastly, make it family night and enjoy The Croods. The Croods This animated adventure follows a […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Sept. 23-29 Brotherhood of the Traveling Rants “Godfather of hipsterdom” Gavin McInnes goes on a stand-up comedy tour with his best friend from high school and things go from bad to worse to downright catastrophic. Also stars Steve Durand, Bryan Gaynor (NR, 1:08) 9/24 The Kings of Summer Three teenage buddies decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land in this coming-of-age comedy. A Grand Jury Prize nominee at Sundance 2013. Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Nick Offerman (R, 1:35) 9/24 Much Ado About Nothing Joss Whedon directs […]

With the benefit of hindsight, all of the drama involved in getting World War Z to the big screen probably was worth it. As of mid August, the film had grossed nearly $200 million in the U.S. Rumor has it, the sequel to the film (which was always intended to be the first in a trilogy) is likely to be produced by Brad Pitt and Paramount Pictures. The film, based on a 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks, tells the story of U.N. investigator Gerry Lane (played by Pitt), who is called back into service after a […]

On Demand DVD New Releases Sept. 16-22 A mid-month set of releases that offers some big names and some smaller titles … let’s see what this week has in store! Bless Me, Ultima Rudolfo Anaya’s controversial novel comes to life in this adaptation set in World War II-era New Mexico, where a young boy’s life is drastically affected by an elderly medicine woman who comes to stay with his family. Miriam Colon, Luke Ganalon, Dolores Heredia (PG-13, 1:46) 9/17 [Same as DVD] The Bling Ring (pictured above) Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) directs this examination of celebrity culture based on a true […]

Star Trek Into Darkness is not, to use a cliché, your father’s Star Trek. Unless you were born between 2009 — when J.J. Abrams first took the helm of the franchise and offered up a cinematic “reboot” of the beloved TV/film series — and now, the new film may not exactly be “your” Star Trek either. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, audience members with no real ties to previous versions of the Enterprise’s crew and history can enjoy Star Trek Into Darkness for what it is: an entertaining sci-fi/action film that doesn’t require prior knowledge of […]