This Week in Blu-ray / DVD Releases: Angry Birds Movie, Gotham, Raiders!

By John Law

August 16th 2016, 10:20am

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

This Week: Birds with bad attitude, bad guys take over Gotham, and best buds who re-made Raiders of the Lost Ark.

► If you think there isn’t a Pokemon Go movie on the horizon, may I remind you of THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE – the app-turned-movie that made more than $345 million worldwide earlier this year. And it’s hardly the worst animated movie of the year, as Jason Sudeikas, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph and Josh Gad put in the work to give the agitated fowl real personalities. There’s even some introspection on anger and emotion in general, though certainly not in 'Inside Out’s league. The movie’s worst asset was the insufferable marketing and merchandizing, which had a lot of people sick of this thing before it even opened. Blu-ray includes four ‘hatchling’ shorts and deleted scenes.

► The mostly engaging RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE revisits the three Mississippi pre-teens who spent seven years making a shot-by-shot recreation of their favourite Spielberg flick. The only scene they couldn’t do was the complex (and expensive) scene of the plane exploding after Indy’s scrap with the Nazi mechanic. Decades later, they get their chance. This isn’t so much about the fan film as it is about being a movie fan in the early 80s, which you kids may think of as the dark ages but trust me – it was the greatest.

► Season 2 of GOTHAM serves up The Joker and Mr. Freeze to go with the expanding criminal empire of The Penguin. Det. Jim Gordon tests his own morals dealing with his out-of-control city, all the while befriending the young kid who will eventually become The Dark Knight. By all accounts, the show’s second season was an improvement by moving away from the tired ‘case of the week’ routine of network TV. Extras include the show’s 2015 Comic Con Panel, a featurette on Alfred, and a closer look at Victor Fries.

► As cult classic as they get, 1984’s THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE 8th DIMENSION gets the fancy treatment from Shout! Factory with this two-disc deluxe edition. Goodies include the two-hour (!) documentary ‘Into the 8th Dimension,’ commentaries from the director and writer, an alternate opening with Jamie Lee Curtis, deleted scenes and a Buckaroo Banzai Declassified featurette.

► When 2014’s ‘God’s Not Dead’ made more than $60 million on a $2 million budget, you knew heaven would order a sequel. GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 has Melissa Joan Hart as a history teacher who gives the wrong answer when someone asks about Jesus in class. The resulting court case puts God’s place in the classroom front and center. Ernie Hudson and Jesse Metcalfe co-star, along with Fred Thompson in his final role.

► THE VAMPIRE DIARIES keeps chugging along on The CW, though Season 7 was minus Nina Dobrev, whose character Elena bid adieu after the Season 6 finale. The rest of the undead gang pick up the pieces, which is the perfect time for Damon and Stefan’s mom Lily (Annie Wersching) and her gang of Heretics to try and drive a wedge between them. Mystic Falls is on the brink in these 22 episodes. Extras include the 2015 Comic Con Panel, and behind the scenes with stars Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder.

► After last season’s ‘Frozen’ fiesta, ONCE UPON A TIME gets medieval as the gang goes looking for Merlin before Emma goes full dark side. Complicating matters is King Arthur, who plans to use Excalibur to tip the scales for the bad guys. Things get worse when they have to descend into Hades to rescue Hook. It all sets the table for the arrival of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Set includes 23 episodes, a celebration of the show’s 100th episode, and plenty of behind-the-scenes features. Season 6 starts Sept. 25.

► The 5th and final season of HELL ON WHEELS was divided into two 7-episode half seasons. Here’s the first, with Cullen (Anson Mount) switching companies to work on the Central Pacific Railroad after the developer’s promise to help find his family. Of course, there’s just more corruption to deal with, and it doesn’t help when President Ulysses Grant intervenes. The show’s final episode aired July 23.

Also out this week: