By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
Four years after Jennifer Lawrence first appeared on the big screen as Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games,” Lionsgate’s critically acclaimed fantasy action series based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling book trilogy comes to a rousing resolution in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2,” arriving on Digital HD Tuesday, March 8 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack + Digital HD, DVD + Digital, and On Demand March 22. In addition, for the first time ever, “The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection” will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on March 22.
Grossing $647 million in worldwide box office receipts, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2,” was a huge hit when it was released last year. With a critically acclaimed cast including Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson (“Journey to the Center of the Earth”), Liam Hemsworth (“The Expendables”), Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson (“The People vs. Larry Flynt”), Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks (TV’s “Modern Family”), Academy Award winner Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”), Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Capote”), Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Wright (HBO’s “Angels in America”), with Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci (“The Lovely Bones”) and Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland (“Citizen X”), “The Hunger Games” franchise is a worldwide phenomenon that has earned more than $2.9 billion at the box office worldwide.
Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, who began her journey fighting to survive the brutal Hunger Games, and rose to lead the rebellion against Panem’s tyrannical president (Sutherland). In this final installment, Katniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the epic battle that will decide Panem’s future.
Based on the third novel in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, the limited edition Blu-ray release is packed with over five hours of special features, including the “Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2” an eight-part documentary that takes an in-depth look at the making of the film, from production design, costumes, hair, make-up, stunts, special effects and post production.
The documentary also includes a touching piece—from the last day of shooting—in which the cast reflects on their experience shooting the four films. Also included is a detailed look at Cinna’s sketchbook and a walk through the on-set photography along with audio commentary by director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. The Blu-ray is encoded in Dolby TrueHD and features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which delivers captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment alive all around the audience.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2” Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 and $29.95, respectively.
Also available for the first time as a set on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD, “The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection” includes “The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 1” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2: with all of the special features from each film’s initial release plus hours of all-new exclusive content including 13 never-before-seen deleted scenes from “The Hunger Games” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and two all-new featurettes: “Picturing Panem” and “Capitol Cuisine.” “The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection” will be available on Blu-ray and DVD for the suggested retail price of $64.97 and $54.98, respectively.
Experience one of the greatest true stories ever when “In the Heart of the Sea” arrives on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD Tuesday, March 8.
Based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s best-selling book about the dramatic true journey of the Essex, a New England whaling ship, the high seas adventure stars Chris Hemsworth (“The Avengers,” “Rush”) as the vessel’s veteran first mate Owen Chase. The film also stars Benjamin Walker (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) as its inexperienced and reckless captain, George Pollard; Cillian Murphy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) as second mate Matthew Joy, and Ben Whishaw (“Skyfall”) as novelist Herman Melville, whose inquires into the event 30 years later helped bring the story to light in “Moby Dick.”
Tom Holland also stars as young seaman Tom Nickerson, and Brendan Gleeson (“Edge of Tomorrow”) as the same man, 30 years later. Spanish actor Jordi Molla (“Riddick”) is the captain of another ship, the Archimedes, who tries to warn the Essex of the danger that lies ahead.
Howard directed the film from a screenplay by Charles Leavitt (“Blood Diamond”), story by Charles Leavitt and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes’), based on the book, “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex,” by Nathaniel Philbrick.
It is available on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack for $44.95, Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and DVD for $28.98. Extras on the Blu-ray and DVD include “Whale Tales: Melville’s Untold Story,” “The Hard Life of a Whaler,” “Chase & Pollard; A Man of Means and a Man of Courage,” “Lighting Strikes Twice; The Real Life Sequel to Moby Dick,” “Commanding the Heart of the Sea,” deleted and extend scenes and a Captain’s Log by Ron Howard. The DVD includes the extra “Chase & Pollard: A Man of Means and a Man of Courage.”
From award-winning director Carlos Marques-Marcet comes “10,000 km,” a love story about the challenges of a long distance relationship and the role of technology in fighting to keep a romance alive.
Starring Natalia Tena (the “Harry Potter” franchise) and David Verdaguer (“Crackòvia”), the award-winning 10,000 km debuts on DVD Tuesday, March 8 from Broad Green Pictures. The drama is also available on VOD and Digital HD.
“10,000 km” won a Special Jury Prize at the 2014 SXSW Film Festival, where Tena and Verdaguer were also named Best Acting Duo. In addition, the film won the Audience Award at the 2014 AFI Fest; Best New Director at the 2014 Seattle International Film Festival; Best New Director at the 2015 Goya Awards; and swept the 2015 Gaudí Awards, where it took home Best Film not in the Catalan Language, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Female Lead and Best Male Lead.
Alexandra (Tena) and Sergi (Verdaguer) make love in their tiny Barcelona apartment. They’ve decided to have a baby, but find their plans dashed when Alex receives an offer for an artistic residency in Los Angeles. Understanding this may be Alex’s last chance to re-launch her photography career, the couple decides to put their plans on hold for a year. One year apart, with a continent between them, Alex and Sergi must rely on virtual communication to keep the flame of their relationship alive. But with their realities no longer shared and the touch of one another gone, the technology that has supposedly brought the world closer together may just tear them apart.