By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

Movies

Best Sellers (Dramedy)

The heartwarming dramedy “Best Sellers” arrives on DVD Tuesday Nov. 2, from Screen Media.

Lucy Standbridge (Aubrey Plaza) has inherited her father’s publishing house, and the ambitious would-be editor has nearly sunk it with failing titles. She discovers she is owed a book by Harris Shaw (Michael Caine), a reclusive, cantankerous, booze-addled author who originally put the company on the map decades earlier. In a last-ditch effort to save the company, Lucy and Harris release his new book and embark on a book tour from hell that changes them both in ways they didn’t expect.

Directed by Lina Roessler (“Little Whispers: The Vow,” “Mustard Seed”), from writer Anthony Greico, who won the 2015 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting Award with this screenplay.

The Guns of Navarone (War Drama/Action)

Arriving on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever, “The Guns of Navarone” will be available Tuesday Nov. 2, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Academy Award winners Gregory Peck (“To Kill a Mockingbird”), David Niven (“Separate Tables”) and Anthony Quinn (“Viva Zapata!”) star as a team of Allied military specialists recruited for a dangerous but imperative mission: to infiltrate a Nazi-occupied fortress and disable two long-range field guns so that 2,000 trapped British soldiers may be rescued. Faced with an unforgiving sea voyage, hazardous terrain, and the possibility of a traitor among them, the team must overcome the impossible without losing their own lives.

Adapted by screenwriter Carl Foreman from Alistair MacLean’s best-selling novel, the 1961 war drama “The Guns of Navarone” was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and won for Best Special Effects.

Chernobyl 1986 (Documentary)

The shocking documentary “Chernobyl 1986” arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday Nov. 2, from Capelight Pictures and MPI Media Group.

After the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant number 4, the USSR and all of Europe are faced with an even greater threat—a possible steam explosion that would eject even more radioactive material into the atmosphere over the entire continent. Firefighter Alexey volunteers for what seems like a suicide mission: manually drain the plant’s reservoir before the melting reactor collapses into it. Risking their lives in service to their country, Alexey and his colleagues must navigate the labyrinthine passages of the plant’s underground, facing danger at every turn from the facility’s quickly failing infrastructure. With time running out, and the fate of all of Europe hanging in the balance, this team of ordinary citizens turned heroes must use all their strength and bravery to save their nation from complete devastation.

The East (Drama)

“The East” arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD Tuesday Nov. 2, from Magnolia Home Entertainment.

During the post-World War II Indonesian War of Independence, a young Dutch soldier joins an elite unit led by a mysterious captain known only as “The Turk.” When the fighting intensifies, the young soldier finds himself questioning, and ultimately challenging, his commander’s brutal strategy to stop the resistance.

Hacksaw Ridge (War Drama/Action)

From Oscar winning director Mel Gibson (“Braveheart”) comes the thought-provoking war drama, “Hacksaw Ridge,” arriving on 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Tuesday Nov. 2, from Lionsgate.

Andrew Garfield (“The Amazing Spider-Man”) earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in this inspiring tale of wartime heroism. The film tells the extraordinary true story of Desmond Doss (Garfield) who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of World War II, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He was the only American soldier in in that war to fight on the front lines without a weapon, as he believed that while the war was justified, killing was nevertheless wrong.

As an army medic, he single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers, was wounded by a grenade, and hit by snipers. Doss was the first conscientious objector to ever earn the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) and Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers”) also star.

Featuring all-new artwork from artist Krzysztof Domaradzki, “Hacksaw Ridge” will be available on 4K Ultra HD Steelbook exclusively at Best Buy for the suggested retail price (SRP) of $27.99. Bonus features exclusive to this edition include deleted scenes, Veterans Day greetings with Mel Gibson, the theatrical trailer, “The Soul of War,” a making of documentary, including the real-life people and story, casting, filming, special effects, stunts and interviews from Mel Gibson, Andrew Garfield, and more.

The Hidden Life of Trees (Documentary)

Branching off of his bestselling book, renowned forester and writer Peter Wohlleben guides us through his most precious ideas and understanding of how trees work in his enlightening documentary on Blu-ray and DVD from Capelight Pictures.

Presenting ecological, biological and academic expertise with matter of fact candor, Wohlleben inspires viewers to really see the forest for the trees. Traveling through Germany, Poland, Sweden and Vancouver, he discusses, debates and explains the amazing process of life, death and regeneration he has observed in the woodland, and the amazing scientific mechanisms behind these wonders of which we are too often blissfully unaware.

Nine Days (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)

Edson Oda’s “Nine Days” arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Tuesday Nov. 2, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Will (Winston Duke) and Kyo (Benedict Wong) spend their days in a remote outpost watching the live Point of View (POV) on TV’s of people going about their lives, until one subject perishes, leaving a vacancy for a new life on earth. Soon, several candidates—unborn souls—including Emma (Zazie Beetz) and Kane (Bill Skarsgård) arrive at Will’s to undergo tests determining their fitness, facing oblivion when they are deemed unsuitable. But Will soon faces his own existential challenge in the form of free-spirited Emma, a candidate who is not like the others, forcing him to turn within and reckon with his own tumultuous past. Fueled by unexpected power, he discovers a bold new path forward in his own life. Making his feature-film debut after a series of highly acclaimed and award-winning short films and music videos, Japanese-Brazilian director Oda delivers a heartfelt and meditative vision of human souls in limbo, aching to be born against unimaginable odds, yet hindered by forces beyond their will.

A making-of “Nine Days” is included on the “Nine Days” Blu-ray, DVD and Digital edition.

Paw Patrol: The Movie (Animated Adventure)

“Paw Patrol: The Movie” arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday Nov. 2, from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Spin Master Entertainment.

“Paw Patrol” follows the beloved pack as they fight to save the citizens of Adventure City from their rival, Humdinger. With new headquarters, new gadgets and vehicles, and even a new pup named Liberty, the PAW Patrol is on a roll in an epic adventure.

The Blu-ray and DVD include exclusive, never-before-seen bonus content. “Paw Patrol: The Movie” on Blu-ray includes “A Totally PAW-some Team,” “CAN: Adventure City News Reports” with Marty Muckracker (Jimmy Kimmel) and “Paw Patrol: The Movie Lyric Video.”

“Paw Patrol: The Movie” also is available now on Digital platforms and includes hours of entertainment with exclusive bonus content, including the extras that are on the Blu-ray. It is available for purchase only on participating digital platforms, where viewers also can see bonus television episodes from the wildly popular Nickelodeon series, including a never-before-seen episode, and a never-before-seen episode of “Blaze and the Monster Machines.”

The Sheik (Romantic Drama)

Originally released in 1921 at the height of the nation’s appetite for motion pictures, the epic romantic drama “The Sheik” became a massive sensation, breaking box office records and earning over $1 million during its first year of release. A century later, Paramount Pictures celebrates this towering classic of the silent film era with a brand-new Blu-ray release, arriving as part of the Paramount Presents line Tuesday Nov. 2.

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, “The Sheik” was directed by George Melford and stars the legendary Rudolph Valentino as the title character. The role helped propel Valentino into stardom and sealed his status as a Hollywood heartthrob—and the original “Latin Lover”—at the age of 26.

Ahmed Ben Hassan (Valentino) is a charming Arabian sheik who becomes infatuated with the adventurous, modern-thinking Englishwoman Lady Diana Mayo, played by Agnes Ayres. When the sheik abducts Lady Diana, the two clash, but ultimately profess their love for one another in this quintessential “desert romance” that effectively capitalized on the popularity of the genre.

“The Sheik” restoration employed modern technology so viewers can experience the original beauty of this monumental silent film. Since original negatives for silent films rarely exist, Paramount searched the world for the best elements and used a print and an intermediate element called a fine grain.  One source of the film yielded better results for image quality, another for inter-titles. One of the elements was “stretch-printed” and had to be adjusted digitally during the restoration process.

In the silent era, there was no standard frame rate, so stretch printing was done to show silent films at 24 frames per second. In addition, tints and tones were digitally applied, guided by an original continuity script from the Paramount archive. The result is the best picture quality the romantic drama has had since it was originally shown in theaters 100 years ago.

While “The Sheik” was wildly successful, it did provoke controversy, much as the source material had upon its original publication in 1919. Many of the themes and controversial elements of the film are still being grappled with today, a subject that is explored in a new featurette on the Blu-ray with film historian and professor Leslie Midkiff DeBauche entitled “Desert Heat: 100 Years with The Sheik.” The disc also includes a music score by Roger Bellon and access to a Digital copy of the film.

As with all films released in the Paramount Presents line, “The Sheik” is presented with collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.

The Spore (Horror)

The lives of 10 strangers intersect through a terrifying chain of events as a mutating fungus begins to spread through a small town wiping out everyone that comes into contact with it in “The Spore,” coming to Digital, On Demand and DVD Tuesday Nov. 2, from Lionsgate.

Fleeing from civilization as a horrific plague ravages mankind. Meadow gets a lift from a stranger. When she sees that the driver is gruesomely infected, Meadow escapes and takes refuge in a cabin that’s abandoned…or is it? The apocalypse started days earlier when an evil spore, long dormant beneath an ancient ice field, was awakened by global warming. Now, as the strangers try to evade the madness, some

Written and directed by D.M. Cunningham, “The Spore” stars Jeanie Jefferies, Haley Heslip, Peter Tell and Brian Hillard.

Bonus features include a filmmakers’ commentary, “The Spore-Random Acts of Filmmaking” and more.

TV Shows

The Crown: The Complete Fourth Season (Drama)

The Emmy winning series “The Crown: The Complete Fourth Season” arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday Nov. 2, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

As the 1970s are drawing to a close, Queen Elizabeth II (Olivia Colman) and her family find themselves preoccupied with safeguarding the line of succession by securing an appropriate bride for Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor), who is still unmarried at 30. As the nation begins to feel the impact of divisive policies introduced by Britain’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson), tensions arise between her and the Queen which only grow worse as Thatcher leads the country into the Falklands War. While Charles’ romance with a young Lady Diana Spencer (Emma Corrin) provides a much-needed fairy tale to unite the British people, behind closed doors, the Royal Family is becoming increasingly divided.

Special features include “Triumph & Tragedy: Diana and Charles,” “Three Groundbreaking Women,” Research, Costumes & More: The Making of Season Four,” and more.

Created by award-winning writer Peter Morgan, fourth season of the hit series includes Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Bailey, Erin Doherty, Emerald Fennell and Stephen Boxer.

The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol (Comedy)

“The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol” arrives Tuesday Nov. 2, from MPI Media Group.

In 1977, Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney and Jane Kean reunited for the second of four hour-long specials representing the final performances of their classic “Honeymooners” characters. ​

Ralph enlists Alice, Ed and Trixie to perform with him on stage after he agrees to supervise and star in the annual office holiday fundraiser for a charity chosen by his boss’ wife. Meanwhile, Ralph ends up rewriting and reimagining Charles Dickens’ dramatic classic “A Christmas Carol” with comedic results when Ed serves as the inexperienced director.

Kung Fu: The Complete First Season (Action)

“Kung Fu: The Complete First Season” stars Olivia Liang (“Dating After College”) as Nicky Shen in the reimagined version of the legendary 1970s series, which finds a young Chinese-American woman protecting her community and bringing criminals to justice. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release all 13 episodes of the new action-adventure series on Blu-ray and DVD Nov. 2.

A quarter-life crisis causes young Chinese-American woman Nicky Shen to drop out of college and journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to San Francisco, she finds her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption and her parents are at the mercy of a powerful Triad. Nicky will right the wrongs he encounters while searching for the assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor.

“Kung Fu: The Complete First Season” also stars Kheng Hua Tan, Eddie Liu, Shannon Jon Prasida, Gavin Stenhouse, Vanessa Kai, Tony Chung and Tzi Ma. Christina M. Kim (“Blindspot”) wrote the pilot episode and serves as executive producer/co-showrunner of the series with Robert Berens (“Supernatural”). “Kung Fu” is produced by Berlanti Productions and Quinn’s House in association with Warner Bros. Television, and is inspired by the original 1970s series created by Ed Spielman.

“Kung Fu: The Complete First Season” is priced to own for the suggested retail price (SRP) of $19.99 ($29.98 in Canada) for the DVD and $24.99 SRP ($39.99 in Canada) for the Blu-ray, which includes a Digital copy (U.S. only). “Kung Fu: The Complete First Season” also is now available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers and to stream exclusively on HBO Max.

The Original Christmas Specials Collection (Animation)

Tis the season to enjoy the timeless holiday classics in “The Original Christmas Specials Collection” featuring five unforgettable stories on Blu-ray for the first time in a limited edition collectible Steelbook, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Produced by Rankin/Bass, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” and “The Little Drummer Boy” feature iconic “Animagic” stop-motion animation and “Frosty the Snowman” and “Cricket on the Hearth” are beautifully animated. Starring the iconic voice talents of Fred Astaire, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Danny Thomas, Burl Ives and many more, these favorites also feature some of the most beloved songs of the holiday season.

Bonus content includes “The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass,” “Restoring the Puppets of Rudolph,” “Re-imagining Rudolph in 4D,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Attraction Film,” commentaries and more.

Sex and the City: The Complete Series + 2-Movie Collection (Comedy)

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release all six seasons of the groundbreaking HBO comedy series “Sex and the City” plus both “Sex and the City” feature films on Blu-ray for the first time Tuesday Nov. 2.

Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, “Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection” will feature 96 episodes of the iconic series plus “Sex and the City: The Movie” and “Sex and the City 2” in one, elegant box set. It’s the ultimate collection for any “Sex and the City” fan.

Experience the friendships and the fashion in gorgeous high-definition and catch up on all the episodes and films before the highly anticipated next chapter, “And Just Like That…,” debuts on HBO Max this year.

“Sex and The City: The Complete Series + 2 Movie Collection” will be available for $179.99 SRP ($194.99 Canada). It also is available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers, and to stream on HBO Max.

Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Carrie Bradshaw, a New York-based writer who explores and experiences the unique world of Manhattan’s dating scene, chronicling the mating habits of single New Yorkers. The series also stars cast regulars Kim Cattrall as PR executive Samantha Jones, who’s seen and done it all; Kristin Davis as Charlotte York, still trying to hold on to the idea of happily ever after; and Cynthia Nixon as corporate lawyer and mother Miranda Hobbes, a pragmatist trying to balance the idea of love with the realities of life.

Winner of seven Emmy awards, and the first cable show to win Outstanding Comedy Series, the groundbreaking series celebrates the bond of female friendship. It’s a salute to New York City, and a celebration of fashion and style. It’s a revolutionary series that broke boundaries, changed television and liberated women.

“Sex and the City” set cultural and fashion trends, taught women to have honest conversations about relationships, and showed viewers how to express their individuality through fashion and style. Now fans can re-live every iconic scene of the trailblazing series and films in dazzling high-definition.