Sorry, It’s a Little late today, but still on schedule.  There are some AWESOME releases this week.  Some that I have been waiting years for. Anyway – as usual – the pics and titles link over to AMAZON – where you can learn more about the film in question – and can purchase the item, which helps give a small donation to help keep this column going. Now – here we go…

Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure Edition (Bluray)

During the Vietnam War, young U.S. Captain Willard is given the assignment to hunt down and kill one of his own: Colonel Kurtz who has apparently gone insane, murdered hundreds of innocent people, and constructed a strange kingdom for himself deep in the jungle. Willard and his crew embark on a surreal river journey to find Kurtz, meeting along the way a Lieutenant- Colonel who likes to watch surfing during live combat, and Playboy bunnies dropped in by helicopter to entertain rowdy troops.

This is one of the best films about war to date.  It has an all-star cast including: Robert Duvall, Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, and Francis Ford Coppola as director.  It is loaded with extras.  I highly recommend this.

Supplements

• Interviews
• Featurettes
• Deleted scenes
• Lost scene
• “Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
• “The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
• The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog

Exclusive HD Content

• Hearts of Darkness Documentary
• Hearts of Darkness audio commentary with Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola
• 48-page collectible printed booklet with special note from Francis Ford Coppola, never-before-seen archives from the set, behind the scenes photos and more
• John Milius Script Excerpt with Francis Ford Coppola Notes
• Storyboard Gallery
• Photo Gallery, including images from photographer Mary Ellen Mark
• Marketing Archive

Assault Girls (Bluray)

Now I do not know much about this movie, but the synopsis makes me want to buy this and watch it.  Could be a hell of a lot of chix-ploitation fun.

Plot Synopsis: When a video-game company creates an immersive gaming environment where players wage war against gigantic sand-dwelling monsters, three gorgeous gals armed to the teeth (Meisa Kuroki, Hinako Saeki and Rinko Kikuchi) accept the challenge and jump into the virtual desert. But as they blaze their way into the game’s higher levels, they face ever-more ferocious foes. Yoshikazu Fujiki also stars in this sci-fi action flick from director Mamoru Oshii.

That just sounds AWESOME.  Will be checking this out.

Moulin Rouge (Bluray)

I remember seeing this in the theatre when it was first released and I was in AWE at the set design and all the cool songs that were re-done for this movie.  This movie was just so beautiful to watch and I am glad it has finally received the HD treatment.  So enter this fantastic world where nothing is forbidden and everything is possible and purchase this movie.

Supplements

• Introduction by Baz Luhrmann
• A Creative Adventure
• Uncut and Unreleased Footage
• Production Featurettes (The Stars, The Writers, The Dance, The Music, The Design, and The Cutting Room)
• The Making of Moulin Rouge

Exclusive HD Content

• Spectacular, Spectacular Picture-in-Picture Viewing Mode – With audio commentary by Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Donald M. McAlpine and Craig Pearce, and featuring behind-the-scenes footage and stills
• BD-Live

Night of the Demons (2009 Remake)  (Bluray)

This is a remake of the 1980’s horror film about a group of college kids who summon a demon at a party and kills everyone.  This remake is basically the same thing.  A group of kids go to a Halloween party, only to have to face down a group of demons.  If you like Demon movies and tons of gore and boobies, then this is a must own.  I would also purchase the original movie as well.  Just in time for Halloween.

Supplements

• Writer/director commentary
• Cast and crew interviews
• Behind-the-scenes footage

Predators (Bluray)

A mercenary (Adrien Brody) reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they’ve been brought together on an alien planet… as prey. With the notable exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers—mercenaries, Yakuza, convicts, death squad members—human “predators” that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators.

I remember anticipating this film and that Robert Rodriguez was a major producer on this.  This a re-vamp of the original film which starred Arnold, but instead of a Predator coming to Earth, humans go to the Predator planet.  Worth a look and a must have for the fans of the franchise.  I still miss VENTURA in his role.

Supplements

• Commentary by producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimród Antal
• Motion Comics: “Moments of Extraction” – Robert Rodriguez presents exclusive prequel vignettes voiced by the cast of Predators. Witness the secret adventures that turned our world’s most ruthless killers into the ultimate Predator prey (Isabelle, Mombasa, “Crucified”)
• De-Cloaking the Invisible: Alien Terrain

Exclusive HD Content

• Additional Motion Comics (Cuchillo, Hanzo, and Noland Intro (part 1)/Noland Ending (part 2))
• Predators as Prey
• The Chosen
• Yuatja Transformed
• Rite of Passage
• Fox Movie Channel presents: Making a Scene
• Nine deleted and extended scenes
• BD-Live: Exclusive Predator Features
• Live Lookup – Powered by IMDB
• Bloodline
• Intelligent Design: The Hunting Camp

Psycho: 50th Anniversary Edition (Bluray)

Alfred Hitchock’s masterpiece, “Psycho” finally gets the HD treatment.  This is hands down one of the scariest films of all time.  They built a ride after this film.  This film still scares me and Anthony Perkins is BRILLIANT.

Norman Bates, whose old dark house and adjoining motel are not the place to spend a quiet evening. No one knows that better than Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), the ill-fated traveler whose journey ends in the notorious “shower scene.” First a private detective, then Marion’s sister (Ver Miles) searches for her, the horror and the suspense mount to a terrifying climax where the mysterious killer is finally revealed.

This is a must own for any collection.

Supplements

• Audio Commentary
• Documentary
• Featurettes
• Storyboards
• Posters and Lobby Cards
• Theatrical Trailers
• Hitchcock/Truffaut Interviews
• Photo Gallery

Exclusive HD Content

• BD-Live
• My Scenes

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 35th Anniversary Edition (Bluray)

One of the greatest cult films of all time gets the HD treatment.  I remember seeing this film when I was about 10 years old and i was forever warped.  Excellent music and young stars such as: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Meatloaf make this film what it is…..AMAZING.  They still today all over the country show midnight screenings of this film with audience participation where you can throw stuff at the screen and see actors act out the movie live in front of the screen in synch with the film.  Love this film.

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ is an “erotic nightmare beyond any measure.” Relive Richard O’Brien’s sinfully twisted salute to horror, sci-fi, B-movies and rock music – A “sensual daydream to treasure forever” – starring Tim Curry (in his classic gender-bending performance), Barry Bostwick, and Oscar®-winner Susan Sarandon. Do the “Time Warp” and sing “Hot Patootie” with Meatloaf again…and again…and again. Pull up a slab and let the madness begin!

Supplements

• Audio Commentary by Richard O’Brien and Patricia Quinn
• Deleted Musical Scenes and Outtakes
• Alternate Credit Ending and Misprint Ending
• Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show
• Beacon Theater, New York City “Time Warp” Music Video

Exclusive HD Content

• Rocky-oke: Sing It!
• Don’t Dream It, Be It: The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast, Part I
• An-tic-i-pation: The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast, Part II
• Mick Rock (A Photographer)
• Mick Rock’s Picture Show (A Gallery)
• Pressbook and Poster Gallery
• The Midnight Experience: The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture-in-Picture Show, Vintage Callback Track (Unrated), Prop Box, Trivia Track
• BD-Live

Seven Samurai: Criterion Collection (Bluray)

One of the greatest films of all time by Akira Kurosawa is about a Japanese farming village, constantly besieged and pillaged by an army of bandits, recruits seven independent samurai to defend it.  This is phenomenal and am very happy to purchase this title AGAIN to get it on BLURAY.  A MUST OWN.

Supplements

• My Life in Cinema, a two-hour video conversation between Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Oshima produced by the Directors Guild of Japan
• Audio commentary with Film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns, and Donald Richie
• Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences, a new documentary looking at the samurai traditions and films that impacted Kurosawa’s masterpiece
• Audio commentary with Japanese film expert Michael Jeck
• Theatrical trailers and teaser
• A 50-minute documentary on the making of Seven Samurai, part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
• Gallery of rare posters and behind-the scenes and production stills
• My Life in Cinema, a two-hour video conversation between Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Oshima produced by the Directors Guild of Japan
• A booklet featuring essays by Peter Cowie, Philip Kemp, Peggy Chiao, Alain Silver, Kenneth Turan, Stuart Galbraith, Arthur Penn, and Sidney Lumet and an interview with Toshiro Mifune
• Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences, a new documentary looking at the samurai traditions and films that impacted Kurosawa’s masterpiece
• Theatrical trailers and teaser
• Gallery of rare posters and behind-the scenes and production stills
• A booklet featuring essays by Peter Cowie, Philip Kemp, Peggy Chiao, Alain Silver, Kenneth Turan, Stuart Galbraith, Arthur Penn, and Sidney Lumet and an interview with Toshiro Mifune

That’s about it for this week.  Stay tuned for next week for tons of new releases.