Disclaimer: Warner Brothers Home Entertainment requests that we note it provided a free copy of Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season, and Mare of Easttown for review purposes. The opinions I share are my own.
“Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms picks up shortly after the explosive finale of Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge, the 2020 blockbuster hit that initiated these animated films – which are based on one of the most popular videogame franchises in history. In Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, our team of heroes are besieged by the enemy forces of Shao Kahn – forcing Raiden and his group of warriors into a deal to compete in a final Mortal Kombat that will determine the fate of the realms. Now our heroes must travel to Outworld in order to defend Earthrealm and, simultaneously, Scorpion must find the ancient Kamidogu before it’s used to resurrect the One Being – which would mean certain destruction of all things in the universe. Time is short and the stakes are high in this action-packed continuation of the Mortal Kombat journey.” — from Warner Brothers
Out now on Blu-ray and 4K UHD Combo Pack is Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms. Bonus features include the behind-the-scenes featurette “The God and the Dragon: Battling for Earthrealm”, a featurette spotlighting Joel McHale, Jennifer Carpenter, and the cast as they discuss creating voices for the film’s characters, an audio commentary from producer Rick Morales and screenwriter Jeremy Adams, and a gag reel. Both formats are currently available on Amazon, with the Blu-ray priced at $19.96 and the 4K UHD Combo Pack at $24.96.
“For young Sheldon Cooper, being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in East Texas. And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him. Now as Sheldon graduates high school and embarks on his college career, a whole new chapter begins. For over a decade, The Big Bang Theory audiences came to know the iconic, eccentric and extraordinary Sheldon Cooper. Now, with the release of Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season, meets him as he sets forth on his innocent, awkward journey toward the man he will become.” – from Warner Brothers
Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season is out now on DVD and Blu-ray. The set includes all eighteen episodes of Season Four as well as “Cooped Up with the Coopers”, a virtual “family” reunion with the ensemble cast broadcasting from their respective homes during the pandemic. Fans can snag the DVD for $17.49 and the Blu-ray for $22.99.
“NCIS: New Orleans is a drama about the local field office that investigates criminal cases involving military personnel in The Big Easy, a city known for its music, entertainment and decadence. Leading the team is Special Agent Dwayne Pride, a.k.a. “King,” a native of New Orleans who is driven by his need to do what is right. Working with Pride is tough and acerbic Special Agent Tammy Gregorio, a former FBI Agent who was sent to New Orleans to investigate NCIS and upon completion joined Pride’s team, Forensic Agent Sebastian Lund, a brilliant scientist who left the lab and, after much training, became an agent, Special Agent Hannah Khoury, a seasoned agent who specializes in international counter-intelligence and has spent most of her career on overseas assignments; and Quentin Carter, a former Marine with a wry sense of humor and an independent streak, who makes it a point never to stay in one place long enough to get too comfortable. Supporting them is coroner Dr. Loretta Wade, who is as eccentric as she is smart, and Investigative Computer Specialist Patton Plame, an animated and talented hacker. Helping Pride is Rita Devereaux, who after a successful career as an attorney with the Department of Justice, returns to her hometown of New Orleans to pursue a relationship with him. This colorful city that harbors a dark side is a magnet for service personnel on leave, and when overindulgence is followed by trouble, Pride’s team is at its best.” – from CBS
NCIS: New Orleans: The Complete Series is out now in a nicely-packaged DVD box set, which features all 157 episodes from the show’s seven-year run. There is also quite a respectable lineup of bonus content, including spin-off episodes, launch promos, behind-the-scenes featurettes, talks with cast and creators, special looks at the costumes, props, writing process, and sets of the series, audio commentaries on select episodes, deleted scenes, and much more. Fans can grab the DVD set on Amazon for $78.72.
“As life crumbles around her, the sole detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates the murder of a teen in the riveting, suspenseful HBO original limited series [Mare of Easttown]. Oscar and Emmy winner Kate Winslet has created an iconic character in Detective Mare Sheehan, a worn-down, brutally honest, beer-swilling local basketball legend who must cope with the loss of her son while dealing with her nosy mother, rebellious teenage daughter and grandson at home, and an ex-husband who lives a stone’s throw away with his new fiancee. Just as the case of a missing young girl has grown cold, the murder of a teen adds immense pressure on Mare to find the killer in a town where everyone is a potential suspect.” – from Warner Brothers
Mare of Easttown is available now on Blu-ray and DVD. Bonus features on this one are rather limited (totaling a little under twenty minutes of content in the form of four short featurettes all extracted from the same interviews with the cast, crew, and creators), but at least it’s something. To get your own copy of the limited series, check it out on Amazon, where the DVD is priced at $18.99.
“The first four Star Trek original motion picture adventures boldly voyage to 4K UHD in one collection. Starring the original series cast, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and James Doohan, all four have been remastered in HDR for optimum picture quality from their original film elements. The human adventure is just the beginning when Captain James T. Kirk returns to the hem of a newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise in STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE. In STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, an adversary from Kirk’s past returns with a vengeance. The crew is forced to defy Starfleet regulations in STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK. And in STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, an unforgettable time-travel adventure places Earth on the brink of disaster. Featuring hours of special features, this highly anticipated collection is an essential for original fans of the franchise, and beyond!” – from Paramount
For the first time ever, the original four Star Trek films are now available in a combo set in 4K UHD, releasing in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the September 1966 airing of the very first Star Trek episode. In addition to the films themselves are a wide array of bonus features, including audio commentaries on each film, featurettes on the writing, production process, costumes, props, characters, etc. of the films, a Star Trek reunion special, a tribute to Ricardo Montalbán, a look at the visual effects of Star Trek, storyboards, trailers, original interviews with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and Ricardo Montalbán, and more. If you’re feeling the need to add Star Trek: The Original 4 Movies 4K UHD / Blu-ray Collection to your own Trekkie library, you can grab it on Amazon now for $76.99.
“NCIS: Los Angeles is a drama about the high-stakes world of a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals, who pose a threat to the nation’s security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets. Special Agent “G” Callen is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna, a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The team includes the all-knowing Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, who handles the politics of the job and is tasked with providing everything from micro-surveillance cameras to cars for the team; Special Agent Kensi Blye, the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenaline rush that comes with undercover work; Marty Deeks, a seasoned LAPD undercover detective who was recruited to the team by Hetty; tech operator Eric Beale, who has mastered every gadget and computer in the Ops Center; intelligence analyst Nell Jones, who won the team’s respect with her spot-on assessments and her shrewd insights; Fatima Namazi, a Middle East specialist and a razor-sharp cryptologist; and former FBI Agent Devin Rountree, whose unique upbringing, discipline and athletic ability are a welcome addition to the team. Armed with the latest in high-tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests.” – from CBS
Out now on DVD is NCIS: Los Angeles – The Twelfth Season, which includes all eighteen episodes of Season Twelve and a handful of extras. Special features include “Season 12: Greater by the Dozen” (a featurette examining the storylines of the twelfth season), “Daniela Directs” (a look at Daniela Ruah’s first experience as a director), commentary on the episode “Russia, Russia, Russia”, and deleted and extended scenes. Fans can grab the DVD on Amazon for $27.33.
“Before Fame, Pink Floyd: The Wall, The Commitments, and Evita, acclaimed director Alan Parker redefined the movie musical with his first feature length film. Set in 1929 New York City, Bugsy Malone captures a flashy world of would-be hoodlums, showgirls, and dreamers—all portrayed by child actors. As Tallulah, the sassy girlfriend of the owner of Fat Sam’s Grand Slam Speakeasy, future superstar Jodie Foster leads a talented cast. Parker’s sharp script, combined with the music and lyrics of Paul Williams (Phantom of the Paradise) makes for an irresistible satire that’s truly one-of-a-kind.” – from Paramount
Out as part of the Paramount Presents line, Bugsy Malone is making its Blu-ray debut in the U.S. In addition to the film, the set includes two new special features with Paul Williams and David Puttnam speaking about the movie, a digital copy of the film, and collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. If you’re a fan of the movie and don’t own it yet (or want to take advantage of the remastered Blu-ray release with special packaging), you can get a copy on Amazon for $22.99.
