CRANK. (DVD Artwork). ©Lionsgate Entertainment.
Movies
Crank (Action, Crime, Thriller)
Best Buy will exclusively release a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook edition of the crime thriller “Crank” on Tuesday, May 23, from Lionsgate.
There are a thousand ways to raise your adrenaline, and today hit man Chev Chelios (Jason Statham, “The Meg”) will need every one! He has one hour to settle the score and say goodbye to his girl and go out with a little style. The only question is, will he stay alive long enough to see it happen?
Special features on the release include “Shooting ‘Crank,’” “The Stunts of ‘Crank,’” “Pushing ‘Crank’” and the 4K disc exclusives “‘Crank’ @ COMIC-CON” and “More Stories from ‘Crank.’”
Creed III (Drama, Sport)
Michael B. Jordan’s box office record-breaking directorial debut “Creed III” arrives on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, May 23, from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. Additionally, a three-film collection featuring “Creed,” “Creed II” and “Creed III” will be available on Blu-ray and DVD.
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan, “Black Panther”) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter who has nothing to lose.
Directed by Jordan, from a screenplay by Keegan Coogler (“Space Jam: A New Legacy”) and Zach Baylin (“King Richard”), “Creed III” set a franchise record and scored the biggest domestic box office opening for a sports film in history. Bonus features on the 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases include two featurettes — “Michael B. Jordan: In the Ring/Behind the Camera” and “There’s No Enemy Like the Past: Donnie and Dame” — plus deleted scenes.
Fist of the Condor (Action)
A clear love letter to some of the most beloved martial arts films of the 20th century — with a poignant story built on familiar thematic hallmarks of the genre, including duty, honor and sacrifice — “Fist of the Condor” lands on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, May 23, from Well Go USA Entertainment.
Upon the Incan empire’s fall to invading conquistadors, 16th-century Incan martial arts masters quickly hid a sacred manual containing the secrets behind their deadly fighting technique. But after centuries of careful safeguarding, the manual is again at risk of falling into the wrong hands, leaving its rightful guardian to battle the world’s greatest assassins to protect the ancient secrets within.
“Fist of the Condor” is written, edited and directed by Ernesto Díaz Espinoza (“Bring Me the Head of the Machine Gun Woman”) and stars action phenom Marko Zaror (“John Wick: Chapter 4,” “Machete Kills”), who demonstrates yet again why he is the man to watch in martial arts cinema. Zaror is supported by a strong cast, including Eyal Meyer (“Too Late To Die Young”), Gina Aguad (“Mirageman”), Fernanda Urrejola (“Cry Macho”) and Man Soo Yoon (“Kiltro”). Bonus materials on the release include behind-the-scenes content and the film’s trailers.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (Action, Adventure, Comedy)
Experience an action-packed adventure when “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” lands on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, May 23, from New Line Cinema. The film is also currently available for Premium Digital Ownership.
Based on characters from DC, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” continues the story of teenage Billy Batson (Asher Angel, “Andi Mack”) who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult superhero alter ego, Shazam. Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult superhero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy — a.k.a. Shazam (Zachary Levi, “American Underdog”) — and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives and the fate of their world.
The 4K, Blu-ray and Digital releases of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” boast plenty of extras, including more than 30 minutes of deleted, alternate and extended scenes. There’s also a director’s audio commentary with David F. Sandberg (“Shazam!”), four Pay By Play: Scene Breakdowns (Ben Franklin bridge collapse, Rooftop battle of the gods, Unicorn ride in Philadelphia and Epic showdown at the baseball stadium) and six featurettes (“SHAZAM! Let’s Make a Sequel,” “The Rock of Eternity: Decked Out,” “The Zac Effect,” “The Sisterhood of the Daughters of Atlas,” “The Shazamily Runion” and “The Mythology of Shazam!”).
TV Shows
Bonanza: The Official Complete Series (Western)
The legendary First Family of the West, Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe — the indominable Cartwrights of the Ponderosa — triumphantly ride again when “Bonanza: The Official Complete Series” arrives on DVD Tuesday, May 23, from Paramount Home Entertainment.
One of the most beloved and iconic series of all time is presented for the first time in this special edition box set. The collection includes all 14 seasons — 431 full-length episodes — together for the very first time, along with an exclusive bonus disc containing nearly 2-and-a-half hours of rare content not seen in more than 60 years. Every episode has been restored and remastered from the original 35mm film camera negatives for a superior viewing experience. The results are astonishing, with location scenery and scenic vistas filmed at Lake Tahoe, Nevada and majestic locations in California and Arizona preserving the vanishing American West at its most spectacular.
Generations of viewers world-wide have welcomed the Cartwright family into their homes as “Bonanza” has taken its rightful place among the classics of popular culture storytelling. The multiple award-winning series was created and produced by David Dortort and stars Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon, plus appearances by Victor Sen Yung, Ray Teal, Bing Russell, David Canary, Mitch Vogel and Tim Matheson.
Content on the bonus disc includes rare performances, photos, personal appearances and interviews with cast members, footage from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “Sesame Street,” and a never-before-seen blooper reel. Highlights include the 1962 interview “Michael Landon Visits Sweden,” the 1976 “Salute to ‘Bonanza’” narrated by Orson Welles, three “Bonanza” episode trailers with rare on-camera introductions and the “Michael Landon: The Last Interview” slideshow with audio.
Also available on DVD Tuesday, May 23, fans can purchase “Bonanza: The Official Second Season” as well as — for the first time ever — “Bonanza: The Official Twelfth Season,” “Bonanza: The Official Thirteenth Season” and “Bonanza: The Official Fourteenth Season.” Each season of the show has been beautifully restored and remastered from original 35mm film material for the best viewing experience.
Calling all martial arts cinema fans! Front Row Features is giving away a copy of the action-packed homage to classic martial arts films, “Fist of the Condor,” on Blu-ray to three lucky readers. To enter the contest, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by May 29 for your chance to win. Good luck!
