Top Video Rental Titles, w/e Dec 14

Top video loans (rental) titles for the week ending December 14, 2014, courtesy Rentrak

Rosewater to Release on DVD/ Blu-Ray

A journalist in Iran endures an unthinkable ordeal when he is falsely accused of spying in Rosewater, a political thriller coming to Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD on March 24, 2015 for lending to library patrons, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Based on the thrilling true-life story of Maziar Bahari, the film features first-rate performances from an international cast, as well as an impassioned script that infuses wit and humor into a terrifying and all-too-real situation. Available on DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack, Rosewater comes with bonus content that sheds additional light on this important story.

Rosewater marks the feature-film writing and directing debut of comedian and political "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart. Gael García Bernal (Cesar Chavez, The Loneliest Planet) stars as Baziar, turning in a performance described as "exceptional" by Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, along with Oscarnominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (On the Inside, The Odd Life of Timothy Green). Rosewater has earned the prestigious Freedom of Expression Award from the National Board of Review, as well praise from critics including Sasha Stone of Awards Daily who says "It's not only one of the best films I've seen this year, but one I will keep telling people to see." 

Based on Then They Came For Me: A Family's Story Of Love, Captivity, and Survival, the best-selling memoir by Maziar Bahari and Aimee Molloy, Rosewater follows the Tehran-born, Canada-based Bahari as the journalist returns to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, challenger to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the country's contentious 2009 presidential election. As Mousavi's supporters were protesting Ahmadinejad's victory declaration even before the polls closed, Bahari endured personal risk by sending footage of the street riots to the BBC. For this, Bahari was arrested by police led by a man known only as "Rosewater." He was tortured and interrogated over the next 118 days, while his wife embarked on an international campaign to have her husband freed and media outlets kept the story alive.

 

The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray, DVD and DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet. 

• Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
• DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
• DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

Bonus Features on Blu-ray and DVD

• Iran's Controversial Election
• The Story of Maziar Bahari
• Real Spies Have TV Shows
• What Happens in New Jersey...
• A Director's Perspective

 

Dumb and Dumber To Announced for DVD/Blu-ray Release

Two decades after Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels' endearingly dense pairing spun slapstick comedy into box office gold in Dumb and Dumber, the long-awaited sequel, Dumb and Dumber To, arrives on DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack for library patron loan on March 17, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber; There's Something about Mary; Me, Myself and Irene) the Dumb and Dumber To  Blu-ray Combo Pack offers hilarious extra belly laughs including an alternate opening, deleted and extended scenes, and a multi-part feature that takes viewers behind the scenes of the no-holds-barred comedy.
The side-splitting sequel also stars Rob Riggle (The Hangover, 21 Jump Street), Kathleen Turner (Marley & Me, Romancing the Stone), Laurie Holden ("The Walking Dead," Silent Hill), Rachel Melvin (My Funny Valentine, "Days of Our Lives"), and Steve Tom ("Major Crimes," Seven Pounds).

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their signature roles as Lloyd and Harry in the sequel to the smash hit that took the physical comedy and kicked it in the nuts: Dumb and Dumber To. The original film's directors, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, take Lloyd and Harry on a road trip to find a child Harry never knew he had and the responsibility neither should ever, ever be given. Along for the ride are co-stars Kathleen Turner, Laurie Holden, and Rob Riggle.

Criterion Announces March Releases

In March 2015, Criterion will highlight some of the most important nonfiction films ever made,

starting with the release on Blu-Ray and DVD of a trio of documentaries by Oscar winner Errol Morris. His first two films, Gates of Heaven (which Roger Ebert called “one of the ten greatest films ever made”) and Vernon, Florida, together in one set, are vivid peeks at off-the-beaten-path America; and his incredible The Thin Blue Line is a shocking true story of a miscarriage of justice. The popular Criterion title Hoop Dreams, the 1994 documentary landmark about two teen NBA hopefuls, is back in a new twentieth-anniversary restoration. Ingmar Bergman’s visually astonishing, Oscar-winning Cries and Whispers will be back in a supplement-packed new special edition, and available for the first time in the USA on Blu-ray. And make room on your shelf for two buried cinematic treasures: François Truffaut’s Hitchcock-inspired French New Wave drama The Soft Skin and Robert Montgomery’s gripping Hollywood noir Ride the Pink Horse, both making their American DVD and Blu-Ray debuts. 

 

Stay tuned for details.

Kill the Messenger Announced for February 10, 2015 DVD / Blu-Ray Release

A gutsy investigative journalist pursues the story of a lifetime in Focus Features' Kill the Messenger, a powerful dramatic thriller based on a remarkable true story, coming to Blu-Ray Combo Pack including Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital HD with UltraViolet as well as DVD on February 10, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

The Blu-Ray Combo Pack and DVD feature exclusive bonus content including deleted scenes, cast profiles, filmmaker commentary and more. Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner (The Bourne Legacy) leads an all-star cast with Emmy Award winner Michael Cuesta (Homeland) directing.

Kill the Messenger is based on the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb (portrayed by Jeremy Renner). In the 1990s, this dedicated reporter's quest for the truth took him from the prisons of California to the villages of Nicaragua to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. and his investigative reporting drew the kind of attention that threatened not just his career, but his family and his life. Webb himself becomes the story and a target, as jealous rival reporters who missed the story move to discredit his work and reputation in an increasingly vicious smear campaign. His wife Sue (Rosemarie DeWitt) tries to stand by him even as, despite warnings from drug kingpins and menacing surveillance intended to deter his investigation, Webb keeps digging to prove a direct link between cocaine smugglers and the CIA, a conspiracy with explosive implications.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Announce "Cheek to Cheek LIVE!" DVD and Blu-Ray Release

This summer with great anticipation, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga took to the stage for their first full live concert appearance in New York City and performed a special evening of songs, many of which from their Grammy nominated, #1 album, Cheek To Cheek. 

The DVD and Blu-Ray of "Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga:  Cheek To Cheek LIVE!" will be released on January 20, 2015 and will feature 72 minutes of music and 19 songs; showcasing both vocal duets and solo performances by these two legendary artists.

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek LIVE! was taped at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall on July 28, 2014 and premiered on PBS's award winning series, THIRTEEN's Great Performances this fall.  The concert featured classic selections from the Great American Songbook, each handpicked by the artists, including "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," "Sophisticated Lady," "Lush Life," "Anything Goes," and "Cheek To Cheek."  The DVD and Blu-Ray editions include additional songs not originally aired on television including, "They All Laughed,"  "Lady's In Love With You," "Goody Goody," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Don't Wait Too Long," and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye."

Throughout the concert, Bennett and Gaga demonstrate a strong camaraderie and affection belying the six-decade age differential, inspiring widespread critical praise upon its initial airing.

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek LIVE! was filmed in stunning 4K Ultra High Definition (HD) before a live audience of fans and invited guests, with set and lighting design by Robert Wilson, the stars are joined by a 39-piece orchestra conducted by Jorge Calandrelli, soloists Chris Botti on trumpet and David Mann on tenor sax, and jazz musicians associated with both artists including members of Bennett's quartet, Mike Renzi, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones and Marshall Wood, and Lady Gaga's quintet, including Brian Newman, Paul Francis, Steven Kortyka, Michael Scott Ritchie, and Alex Smith.

 

The album, Cheek To Cheek, debuted in September at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and also hit #1 on the Jazz Album and Traditional Jazz Album charts. Cheek To Cheek was recently nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal" category. With the release of "Cheek To Cheek," Bennett broke his own record, set in 2011 when "Duets II" debuted at #1 at the age of 85.  Now at 88, Mr Bennett remains the oldest artist in music industry history to have an album at the #1 spot on the Billboard charts. "Cheek To Cheek" marks Lady Gaga's third consecutive #1 album release in just over three years, making her the only female artist this decade to achieve this feat; this is the second time in Bennett's career that he has had an album debut at #1 in both Billboard's Pop and Jazz Album charts.

 

 

"Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek LIVE!"  DVD and Blu-Ray editions feature the following musical performances:

1. Anything Goes
2. Cheek To Cheek
3. They All Laughed
4. Lady's In Love With You (Tony Bennett Solo)
5. Nature Boy
6. Goody Goody
7. How Do You Keep The Music Playing? (Tony Bennett Solo)
8. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (Lady Gaga Solo)
9. Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered (Lady Gaga Solo)
10. Firefly
11. I Won't Dance
12. Don't Wait Too Long (Tony Bennett Solo)
13. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
14. Lush Life (Tony Solo)
15. Sophisticated Lady (Tony Bennett Solo)
16. Let's Face The Music And Dance
17. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (Lady Gaga Solo)
18. But Beautiful
19. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

AFI Revels "AFI Awards 2014" Winners

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the official selections of AFI AWARDS 2014 – eleven outstanding films and ten outstanding television programs deemed culturally and artistically representative of the year's most significant achievements in the art of the moving image. This is the first time in AFI AWARDS history that the voting procedure, including tiebreakers, has resulted in the inclusion of eleven motion picture honorees.

An almanac documenting works of excellence that mark a moment in time, AFI AWARDS is also the only national honor for the community's creative teams as a whole, acknowledging the collaborative nature of the art form. With no winners or losers, honorees are selected based on works which best advance the art of the moving image, enhance the rich cultural heritage of America's art form, inspire audiences and artists alike, and/or make a mark on American society. 

"We celebrate these films and television programs as more than just milestones in a year of excellence," said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. "They are a part of our American cultural heritage – collectively, a new chapter in the story of the art form and of our nation."

AFI MOVIES OF THE YEAR	AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
AMERICAN SNIPER	THE AMERICANS
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)	FARGO
BOYHOOD	GAME OF THRONES
FOXCATCHER	HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
THE IMITATION GAME	JANE THE VIRGIN
INTERSTELLAR	THE KNICK
INTO THE WOODS	MAD MEN
NIGHTCRAWLER	ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
SELMA	SILICON VALLEY
UNBROKEN	TRANSPARENT
WHIPLASH

 

Marking the 15th chapter in the American Film Institute's ongoing chronicle of the moving image in the 21st century, the 2014 entries join a notable pantheon of previous AFI honorees – works of significance that not only contribute to the rich cultural legacy, but also define the state of the art form.

 

AFI AWARDS selections are made through a jury process in which AFI Trustees, scholars, film and television artists and critics determine the most outstanding achievements of the year, as well as provide a contextual rationale for each selection.   

Bob Dylan Announces New Studio Album, Shadows In The Night

Columbia Records announced today that Bob Dylan's new studio album, Shadows In The Night, will be released on February 3, 2015. Featuring ten tracks, the Jack Frost-produced album is the 36th studio set from Bob Dylan and marks the first new music from the artist since 2012's worldwide hit Tempest.

Upon Columbia's announcement of the album's forthcoming release, Bob Dylan commented, "It was a real privilege to make this album. I've wanted to do something like this for a long time but was never brave enough to approach 30-piece complicated arrangements and refine them down for a 5-piece band. That's the key to all these performances. We knew these songs extremely well. It was all done live. Maybe one or two takes. No overdubbing. No vocal booths. No headphones. No separate tracking, and, for the most part, mixed as it was recorded. I don't see myself as covering these songs in any way. They've been covered enough. Buried, as a matter a fact. What me and my band are basically doing is uncovering them. Lifting them out of the grave and bringing them into the light of day."  Not a "Frank Sinatra" tribute album though it certainly features many tunes made famous by ole blue eyes.

Bob Dylan's five previous studio albums have been universally hailed as among the best of his storied career, achieving new levels of commercial success and critical acclaim for the artist. The Platinum-selling Time Out Of Mind from 1997 earned multiple Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year, while "Love and Theft" continued Dylan's Platinum streak and earned several Grammy nominations and a statue for Best Contemporary Folk album.

Modern Times, released in 2006, became one of the artist's most popular albums, selling more than 2.5 million copies worldwide and earning Dylan two more Grammys. Together Through Life became the artist's first album to debut at #1 in both the U.S. and the UK, as well as in five other countries, on its way to surpassing sales of one million copies. Tempest received unanimous worldwide critical acclaim upon release and reached the Top 5 in 14 countries, while the artist's globe-spanning concert tours of the past few years have heavily emphasized that album's singular repertoire.

These five releases fell within a 15-year creative span that also included the recording of an Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning composition, "Things Have Changed," from the film Wonder Boys, in 2001; a worldwide best-selling memoir, Chronicles Vol. 1, which spent 19 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, in 2004, and a Martin Scorsese-directed documentary, No Direction Home, in 2005. Bob Dylan also released his first collection of holiday standards, Christmas In The Heart, in 2009, with all of the artist's royalties from that album being donated to hunger charities around the world.

In recent years, Bob Dylan was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor. He was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." He was also the recipient of the Officier de la Legion d'honneur in 2013, Sweden's Polar Music Award in 2000, Doctorates from the University of St. Andrews and Princeton University, as well as numerous other honors. 

 

BOB DYLAN SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT TRACK LISTING:

1.  I'm A Fool To Want You  
2.  The Night We Called It A Day  
3.  Stay With Me  
4.  Autumn Leaves  
5.  Why Try to Change Me Now  
6.  Some Enchanted Evening  
7.  Full Moon And Empty Arms  
8.  Where Are You?   
9.  What'll I Do  
10.  That Lucky Old Sun  

This is Where I Leave You, on DVD / Blu-Ray December 16

The dramatic comedy This is Where I Leave You is directed by Shawn Levy, and based on the hilarious and poignant best-selling novel by Jonathan Tropper. It features a starring ensemble cast including Golden Globe winner Jason Bateman (Arrested Development); Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Tina Fey (30 Rock); and two-time Oscar® winner, multiple Golden Globe honoree and 2013 Emmy Award nominee Jane Fonda (Klute, Coming Home, HBO’s The Newsroom).

When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide — driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

The film also stars Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls), Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, X-Men: First Class), Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Midnight in Paris), Kathryn Hahn (NBC’s Parks and Recreation).

Warner Home Entertainment, releases 12/16/14
UPC-

DVD- 00883929388912                     SLP- $22.97
Blu-Ray- 00883929388769                SLP- $34.97

Dolphin Tale 2 Available Now on DVD/Blu-Ray

Warner Bros. Pictures and Alcon Entertain continues the story of the brave dolphin Winter, whose miraculous rescue and rehabilitation—thanks to the invention of a groundbreaking prosthetic tail—made her a symbol of perseverance to people around the world and inspired the 2011 family hit movie Dolphin Tale.

The film reunites the entire main cast, led by Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Austin Stowell, Austin Highsmith and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby). The remarkable dolphin Winter returns as herself. Charles Martin Smith, who directed Dolphin Tale, wrote and directed the sequel.
 

Several years have passed since young Sawyer Nelson (Gamble) and the dedicated team at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), headed by Dr. Clay Haskett (Connick, Jr.), rescued Winter, a young dolphin who lost her tail after being entangled in a crab trap. With the help of Dr. Cameron McCarthy (Freeman), who developed a unique prosthetic tail for Winter, they saved her life against all odds. In turn, she helped save the Aquarium—as people came from far and wide to see the courageous dolphin firsthand, enabling CMA to greatly expand their mission to “rescue, rehabilitate and, when possible, release” injured animals.

Yet their fight is not over. Winter’s surrogate mother, the elderly dolphin Panama, passes away, leaving Winter alone and grieving, unwilling to engage with anyone, even her best friend, Sawyer. However, the loss of Panama may have even greater repercussions for CMA. The USDA warns Clay they will have to move Winter from the Aquarium because regulations require these social creatures to be paired. If they don’t find a female companion for her—one that she accepts—CMA will lose their beloved Winter. But as time runs out, there may still be Hope…

Available Now on DVD and Blu-Ray
DVD UPC 883929388950  $22.97 SLP

Sony's HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 Adds Mel Brooks to the Cast

Sony Pictures Animation announced this week the casting of Oscar-, Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy-winning writer, director, performer, composer and producer Mel Brooks in the sequel to SPA's 2012 worldwide hit, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2. Brooks has been cast in the role of Vlad, the ancient, undead and incredibly grumpy father to Dracula (Adam Sandler).

Dracula, Mavis, Jonathan and all of their monster friends are back in the brand new comedy adventure: when the old-old-old-fashioned vampire Vlad arrives at the hotel for an impromptu family get-together, Hotel Transylvania is in for a comic collision of supernatural old-school and modern day cool.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 is slated for a September 25, 2015 release (DVD, BD release date tbd), and is being directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, produced by Michelle Murdocca, executive-produced by Sandler, Allen Covert,and Ben Waisbren, and written by Robert Smigel.

Brooks, who takes on the role 40 years after helming the horror-comedy classic Young Frankenstein, said, "I’m having a wonderful time with the character Vlad. He’s been around for eons and he’s a pretty crabby guy. Basically, he reminds me of me."

Brooks isn’t the only icon who will be voicing Vlad, as Sony Pictures Releasing International is securing the talents of additional high-profile stars around the world to voice the ancient one for the non-English versions of the film. So far, these regional Vlads include: France’s Michel Galabru, the esteemed 92-year-old actor who has appeared in more than 200 films; Japan’s Junji Inagawa, whose voice is instantly recognizable as the "go to" narrator of horror films, radio programs and DVDs; Holland’s Bram Van Der Vlugt, who, for decades, was the most requested Dutch TV/film "Sinterklaas" (Saint Nicholas); and Belgium’s Jacques Vermeire, the well-known Flemish performer with decades of memorable comic television and feature film performances.

24th James Bond Film, SPECTRE, Announced for November 6, 2015 Theatrical Release

James Bond Producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli this week released the title of the 24th James Bond adventure, SPECTRE.  The film, from Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fourth film as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007.

SPECTRE begins principal photography on Monday, December 8, and is set for global release on November 6, 2015.   Along with Daniel Craig, Mendes presented the returning cast, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear as well as introducing Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Andrew Scott.  Mendes also revealed Bond's sleek new Aston Martin, the DB10, created exclusively for SPECTRE.

A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

The 007 production will be based at Pinewood Studios, and on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud, in Morocco.  Bond will return to the snow once again, this time in Solden, along with other Austrian locations, Obertilliach, and Lake Altaussee.  Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, "We're excited to announce Daniel's fourth installment in the series and thrilled that Sam has taken on the challenge of following on the success of SKYFALL with SPECTRE."

 

Written by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Director of Photography is Hoyte van Hoytema and Editor is Lee Smith.  Production Designer, Dennis Gassner returns along with Costume Designer, Jany Temime and Composer, Thomas Newman.  Action Specialist, Alexander Witt is the 2^nd Unit Director.  Stunt Coordinator is Gary Powell, SFX Supervisor is Chris Corbould, and Visual Effects Supervisor is Steve Begg.

 

SKYFALL, the 23rd James Bond film, was a worldwide box office phenomenon, opening #1 in 70 territories around the world, taking over $1.1 billion worldwide and setting a new all-time box office record in the UK by becoming the first film to take over £100 million. 

 

Prolific playwright Israel Horovitz makes his directorial debut with My Old Lady, a witty and heartfelt drama about surprising inheritances and unexpected connections that critics are calling "simply wonderful" (Jeffrey Lyons, Lyons Den Radio) and  "a classic in the making" (Sydney Levine, Indiewire).

Following a successful theatrical release through Cohen Media Group, My Old Lady arrives on Blu-ray on DVD on January 27, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The film features an outstanding cast including Academy Award winners Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith and Academy Award nominee Kristin Scott Thomas.

When Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) arrives at the sumptuous Parisian apartment he inherited from his father, he's surprised that the property comes with two stubborn live-in tenants who are not required to leave according to an ancient French real estate law. Unable to sell the place, Mathias moves in with the feisty Englishwoman Mathilde (Maggie Smith) and her daughter, Chloé  (Kristin Scott Thomas). But as Mathias and Chloé draw increasingly closer, Mathilde unveils a complex labyrinth of secrets that unites the trio in unexpected ways.

The film will be available on Blu-ray and DVD

• Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
• DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away. .

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAYStreet Date: January 27, 2015
Selection Numbers: 61168095
Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:Street Date: January 27, 2015
Copyright: 2015 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Selection Numbers: 61168098
Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish

KANSAS Annnounces "Kansas- Miracles Out of Nowhere" DVD/CD Release

Epic Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog music division of Sony Music Entertainment, will KANSAS - Miracles Out of Nowhere, a DVD/CD package celebrating one of the most popular American bands of the 1970s. The package will include a new, full-length, documentary film and a companion audio disc of greatest hits, deep album cuts, and more, in March 2015.

release

2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of KANSAS, the band's debut album. To commemorate the occasion, the classic KANSAS lineup reunited, for the first time in more than 30 years; at the place their incredible journey began, Topeka, Kansas! There, they relived the incredible untold story of one of the most successful American rock bands of their era.  Returning to monumental career landmarks in their hometown, as well as sharing untold memories ranging from touring to songwriting and recording, the band shares how the smash hit "Dust in the Wind" was just a passing comment away from never being recorded!  Viewers will hear the band tell stories about recording in the studio next to John Lennon, a backstage fight with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and how the words "free beer" changed their lives forever! Miracles Out of Nowhere presents KANSAS in a way they have never before been seen.

Directed by Emmy-nominated Charley Randazzo, the documentary features interviews from legendary Queen guitarist and former tourmate Brian May, acclaimed producer Brendan O'Brien, Rolling Stone journalist David Wild, and more. Featured prominently is country icon Garth Brooks, who counts KANSAS, alongside The Beatles and the Eagles, as one of his greatest inspirations. These extraordinary new insights are coupled with rare and unseen footage, including live performances and candid, fan-shot footage of the band on the road.  Miracles Out of Nowhere offers an unprecedented look at the incredible ascent of KANSAS, a story that will appeal to new fans and veteran enthusiasts alike.

Doctor Who Season 8 Releases on DVD & Blu-Ray December 9

The most recent season of Doctor Who brought us a brand new face at the controls of the TARDIS with Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It) as the Doctor. TV Guide Magazine called his performance “Absolutely brilliant” and People Magazine says “His arrival in the premiere is a jolt – and a joy.”

Help your patrons relive all 12 episodes of this electrifying season, as well as bonus features including EXCLUSIVE footage from the London Premiere Q&A with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, four EXCLUSIVE episode commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, a special documentary following Doctor Who: The World Tour, and many more.

The new era of Doctor Who starring Peter Capaldi delivered the highest rated season premiere ever on BBC AMERICA. In the feature-length premiere, the new Doctor crash-lands in Victorian London. As Clara (Jenna Coleman, Dancing on the Edge) struggles to recognize the man she thought she knew so well, killers are stalking the capital. A slaughterhouse restaurant and a buried spaceship lead the Doctor into a confrontation with a long forgotten foe… but how far is this new man ready to go to protect his friends? The new season sees the Doctor and Clara encounter wonders and horrors. They meet a fleet of Daleks as they attempt to rescue a stranded ship of human survivors, face ranks of Cybermen stalking the Earth, go back in time and join Robin Hood in a fight with killer robots in Sherwood Forest, become bank robbers when they break into the deadliest bank in the cosmos, face a mummy on the Orient Express, discover a deadly horror dwelling on the Moon, and come to know the last man standing at the end of the Universe. And as Clara falls for handsome fellow teacher, Danny Pink (Samuel Anderson, The History Boys), can she keep her two extraordinary lives going?

Doctor Who premieres on BBC AMERICA in the USA

Bonus Material-

• EXCLUSIVE footage from London Post-Premiere Q&A with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat
• EXCLUSIVE Doctor Who episode commentaries for Into the Dalek, Robot of Sherwood, The Caretaker, and Kill the Moon
• Behind-the-Scenes featurettes (12 total)
• Doctor Who Exclusive (4 total)
• Doctor Who: The Ultimate Time Lord (special with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison)
• Doctor Who: The Ultimate Companion (special with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison)
• Doctor Who: Earth Conquest (World Tour Documentary)
• Tour of the TARDIS
• Doctor Who: Deep Breath Live Pre-Show & After Who Live (hosted by comedian and Doctor Who superfan Chris Hardwick)
• FOXES – “Don’t Stop Me Now” (Music video from Mummy on the Orient Express)

Street Date: December 9, 2014

Suggested Retail Price: DVD $79.98

Blu-ray $89.98

Length: Approx. 586 mins + bonus material / 4-disc set (Blu-ray)/ 5-disc set (DVD)