‘S.W.A.T.’ Sequel, ‘Ben Hall,’ ‘Big Little Lies,’ on Home Entertainment … plus a giveaway!

S.W.A.T. UNDER SIEGE. (DVD Artwork). ©Sony Home Entertainment.

By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

When the drug war hits home, the tables are turned in “S.W.A.T.: Under Siege,” available to own on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Tuesday Aug. 1 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. In the latest high-octane adventure in the S.W.A.T. franchise, LAPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics team (S.W.A.T.) must defend their compound from a series of assault units seeking to recover a mysterious prisoner with ties to a powerful drug cartel.

The explosive action-thriller stars Sam Jaeger (TV’s “Parenthood,” “American Sniper”), Adrianne Palicki (TV’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “John Wick”) and Michael Jai White (“Never Back Down” franchise).

When a D.E.A. and S.W.A.T. cartel takedown ends in a shootout, S.W.A.T. Agent Travis Hall (Jaeger) seizes a mysterious prisoner and takes him into custody. Before long, the S.W.A.T. compound is under siege by wave after wave of assault teams attempting to recover the prisoner known as “The Scorpion” for the tattoo emblazoned across his back. When Travis discovers that his prisoner is a black ops specialist with the goods on both U.S. intelligence agencies and international criminals, it’s up to Travis and the expert S.W.A.T. team to keep The Scorpion and his billion-dollar secrets safe.

Produced by Neal H. Moritz (“Fast and the Furious” franchise, “S.W.A.T.,” “S.W.A.T.: Firefight”), this thrill ride actioner co-stars Kyra Zagorsky (“Home Invasion”), Ty Olsson (“War for the Planet of the Apes”) and Matthew Marsden (“Resident Evil: Extinction”).

“S.W.A.T.: Under Siege” was directed by Tony Giglio (“Extraction,” “Chaos”) and written by Jonas Barnes (“Babysitter Wanted”) and Keith Domingue. It was produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vicki Sotheran (“30 Days of Night: Dark Days,” “Hollow Man II”) and Greg Malcolm (“30 Days of Night: Dark Days,” “Hollow Man II”). Jonas Barnes executive produced.

Written and directed by Matthew Holmes, “The Legend of Ben Hall” is being released on DVD and VOD by Vega Baby Releasing and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on Tuesday Aug. 1. After two years on the run, bushranger Ben Hall considers surrendering to the law when his old friend John Gilbert entices him back into the game. Taking on fresh recruit John Dunn, the gang rides again, and before long they become the most wanted men in the country. When they are declared outlaws, the three decide to flee forever. As Hall seeks to make peace with his tortured past, a trusted friend becomes an informant. The law sets a cunning trap for the outlaws, and on the cold morning of May 5, 1865, Hall emerges alone from his camp and walks into legend forever. The film stars Jack Martin, Jamie Coffa, William Lee, Joanne Dobbin, Callan McAuliffe, Lauren Grimson, Billy Dargin, Arthur Angel, PiaGrace Moon, Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Andy McPhee and Adam Willson.

HBO’s hit limited series “Big Little Lies,” starring Academy Award-winner winners Reese Witherspoon Nicole Kidman as well as Shailene Woodley, arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday Aug. 1. It also is available via Digital Download. Big Little Lies includes all seven episodes as well as six fascinating “Inside the Episode” pieces and an exclusive extended “About Big Little Lies” piece featuring never-before-seen cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. “Big Little Lies” is based in the tranquil California seaside town of Monterey, where nothing is quite as it seems. Doting moms, successful husbands, adorable children, beautiful homes: Lies will be told to keep their perfect worlds from unraveling. Told through the eyes of three mothers—Madeline (Witherspoon), Celeste (Kidman) and Jane (Woodley)— “Big Little Lies” paints a picture of a town fueled by rumors and divided into the haves and have-nots, exposing the conflicts, secrets and betrayals that compromise relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbors.

The series also stars Alexander Skarsgard, Emmy-nominee Laura Dern, Adam Scott, Zoe Kravitz, James Tupper and Jeffrey Nordling. It was written and created by David E. Kelley (“Picket Fences,” “LA Law,” “The Practice” and “Ally McBeal”; “Goliath”) and directed by Jean-Marc Vallee (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Wild” and “Demolition”).

Front Row Features is giving away a copy of HBO’s star-studded limited series “Big Little Lies” on Blu-ray to one lucky reader. To enter the contest, email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Tuesday Aug. 8 and let us know which of the show’s three leading ladies—Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon or Shailene Woodley—is your favorite actress. Good luck!