Sondheim, More ‘Iron Fists,’ a Vigilante and the end of ‘War’ on Home Video
THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM COLLECTION. (DVD Art). ©Image Entertainment.

THE STEPHEN SONDHEIM COLLECTION. (DVD Art). ©Image Entertainment.

By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

“The Stephen Sondheim Collection,” a DVD compilation of the composer’s greatest works is available on DVD Tuesday, April 14. The collection includes stage performances of “Into the Woods,” “Company,” “Sunday in the Park With George,” “Follies In Concert,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Sondheim: The Birthday Concert.”

Directed by James Lapine, Lonny Price, Michael Houldey, and Terry Hughes, the various musicals star Bernadette Peters, Carol Burnett, Neil Patrick Harris, David Hyde Pierce, Jon Cryer, Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone, Adolph Green, Anika Noni Rose, Audra McDonald, Barbara Bryne, Barbara Cook, Charles Kimbrough, Chip Zien, Christina Hendricks, Craig Bierko, Elaine Stritch, George Hearn, Joanna Gleason,Mandy Patinkin, Martha Plimpton, Robert Westenberg, Stephen Sondheim, Timothy Nolen, Tom Aldredge and Victoria Clark.

Making its debut Tuesday in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is the action packed “The Man With the Iron Fists 2” unrated cut, starring global hip-hop star, actor and filmmaker RZA.

A mysterious stranger leads a rebellion to liberate a Chinese village from its oppressive overlord in this highly anticipated sequel. This Blu-ray combo pack includes a Digital HD version. It also is available On Demand from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

RZA reprises his role as the enigmatic blacksmith Thaddeus in this sequel to the 2012 action-adventure “The Man with the Iron Fists.” Inspired by classic kung-fu films, “The Man with the Iron Fists 2” Blu-ray and DVD are packed with exciting bonus material including a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes and commentary by director Roel Reiné and executive producer and star RZA.

RZA, who first emerged in the hip-hop world as the co-founder of the Wu-Tang Clan), co-wrote the film with screenwriter John Jarrell (“Romeo Must Die”). The cast includes Dustin Nguyen (“22 Jump Street”), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (“47 Ronin”) and Eugenia Yuan (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend”).

Director Reiné previously helmed “The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption: and “Death Race 2.”

When Thaddeus (RZA) is found badly wounded near a 19th-century Chinese town, miner Li Kung ( Nguyen) and his wife Ah Ni ( Yuan) offer him refuge. As he heals, he becomes entrenched in a conflict that pits the townsfolk against the evil Master Ho (Carl Ng), his nefarious Beetle Clan and the terrifying Lord Pi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). With Thaddeus at his side, the mild-mannered Kung transforms into a deadly warrior in this martial arts epic.

More action is in store Tuesday with the DVD release of “John Doe: Vigilante,” starring Jamie Bamber (“Battlestar Galactica”) in the title role.

Frustrated with a failing legal system that allows violent criminals to go free, John Doe (Bamber) begins exacting justice the only way he know how – by killing one criminal at a time.  Soon he becomes a media sensation and inspires a group of copycat vigilantes, but who is the real John Doe—a pillar of justice or a cold-blooded murderer?

The action drama also stars Daniel Lissing (“Last Resort”) and Lachy Hulme (“The Matrix: Revolutions”).

Special features include an audio commentary with director/co-writer Kelly Dolen, co-writer Stephen M. Coates and Bamber; “Behind-the-Scenes: Courthouse Explosion,” “Gang Fight” and “I’m Not John Doe.”

The final season of the longrunning British crime drama “Foyle’s War,” Set 8, debuts on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday from Acorn.

The acclaimed detective series finishes its long run with three new mysteries set in the uncertain days at the beginning of the Cold War. In 1946 London, former DCS Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen, “Out of Africa”) now employs his unerring investigative skills on behalf of MI5, assisted by his ever-faithful driver, Sam Wainwright (Honeysuckle Weeks).

The season premiered in the UK in January 2015, in the U.S. on Acorn.TV, the British TV streaming service in North America, in February, and will air on public television stations beginning in May. Set 8 guest stars two-time Emmy and Golden Globe nominee John Mahoney (“Frasier”) and co-stars Daniel Weyman (“Great Expectations”), Ellie Haddington (“Life Begins”), Tim McMullan (“The Woman in Black”), Jeremy Swift (“Oliver Twist”) and Rupert Vansittart (“Holy Flying Circus”).

The DVD 3-disc set and Blu-ray 2-disc set feature three feature-length episodes plus over two hours of bonus features including a day in the life of Foyle’s War and an interview with Mahoney.

The entire “Foyle’s War” series also is available to stream on Acorn TV at www.Acorn.TV.