Movies

The Flying Swordsman (Action, Adventure)

Extraordinary fight sequences and choreography highlight the Wuxia action/adventure tale “The Flying Swordsman,” debuting on DVD and Digital Tuesday, Jan. 9, from Well Go USA Entertainment.

After a wicked plot to steal a hidden fortune results in the death of two renowned warriors, the map leading to the treasure’s rumored location inexplicably disappears. But when the map is finally located a decade later, the eight assassins from the original plot re-emerge only to be challenged by a mysterious swordsman.

Directed by Lei Qiao -K (“The Assassin”), “The Flying Swordsman” reunites the stars of “Sakra,” Huawei Zhao and Ray Lui, along with Yusi Chen (“Seven Killings”), Shanshan Chunyu (“Big Snake King”) and Zihan Chen (“New Kung Fu Cult Master”). The film is presented in Mandarin with optional English subtitles.

The Marsh King’s Daughter (Crime, Drama, Mystery)

Based on the book by Karen Dionne, the tense thriller “The Marsh King’s Daughter” is now available to own as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack with digital copy from Lionsgate.

A woman with a secret past will venture into the wilderness she left behind to confront the most dangerous man she’s ever met: her father. In the film, Helena’s (Daisy Ridley, “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens”) seemingly ordinary life hides a dark and dangerous truth: her estranged father is the infamous Marsh King (Ben Mendelsohn, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), the man who kept her and her mother captive in the wilderness for years. When her father escapes from prison, Helena will need to confront her past. Knowing that he will hunt for her and her family, Helena must find the strength to face her demons and outmaneuver the man who taught her everything she knows about surviving in the wild.

Bonus features on the release include “The Art of Survival: Making ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter,’” the film’s theatrical trailer and a commentary track with director Neil Burger (“Divergent”).

Varsity Blues (Comedy, Drama, Romance)

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the enduringly popular football classic “Varsity Blues” when the film arrives for the first time on 4K Ultra HD Tuesday, Jan. 9, from Paramount Home Entertainment.

At first, backup quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxom (James Van Der Beek, “Dawson’s Creek”) is nowhere close to being a star athlete. Perfectly content to stay on the bench, he has no time for coach Kilmer’s (Jon Voight, “Midnight Cowboy”) win-at-all-cost strategies. But when the starting quarterback (Paul Walker, “The Fast and the Furious”) is injured, Mox is in the game and confronting the pressures and temptations of gridiron glory. Soon, everyone will realize there’s not just a new star quarterback in town — there’s a new kind of hero.

Originally released on Jan. 15, 1999, director Brian Robbins’ (“Ready to Rumble”) exciting and often funny coming-of-age story remains a cult classic 25 years later. James Van Der Beek won the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance and Teen Choice Award for Breakout Performance for his star turn as high school backup quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxom, who is thrust into the limelight in the football-crazed community of West Canaan, Texas.

Newly remastered from the original camera negative, the “Varsity Blues” two-disc 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray set includes access to a digital copy of the film as well as the following legacy bonus content on the Blu-ray disc: a commentary track with director Brian Robbins and producers Tova Laiter and Mike Tollin, “Football is a Way of Life: The Making of ‘Varsity Blues,’” “QB Game Analysis,” “Billy Bob with No Bacon” and “Two-A-Days: The Ellis Way.”

Calling all action movie fans! Front Row Features is giving away a copy of “The Flying Swordsman” on DVD to three lucky readers. To enter the contest, simply email socalmovieeditor@aol.com by Jan. 15 for your chance to win. Good luck!