Videodrone Tip Sheet – DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Debuts for the Week of April 24

Here's our thumbnail guide to what's new, notable and recommended (or not) this week for home viewing. Just click on the titles and links for full reviews and more information.

 

The New Release Rack

 

"Contraband" (Universal), starring Mark Wahlberg as a legendary smuggler, is a pretty far-fetched but quite entertaining in its crazy twists and cliffhanger capers. Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and On Demand. 

 

"Let the Bullets Fly" (Well Go), highest-grossing Chinese film of all time, is a wild mix of Hong Kong action and spaghetti western in twenties-era China. Blu-ray and DVD.

 

Also new this week:

"Pariah" (Universal), an award-winning drama about a young African American woman coming out as a lesbian. Blu-ray and DVD, available On Demand.

"Return" (eOne), with Linda Cardellini as an American soldier back from Iraq. DVD only.

"The Innkeepers" (Dark Sky), a ghost story. Blu-ray and DVD.

 

Browse the complete New Release Rack here

 

TV on Disc

 

"Cinema Verite" (HBO), a made-for-cable feature about the revolutionary seventies documentary "An American Family" starring Diane Lane and Tim Robbins. Blu-ray and DVD.

 

"Titanic" (2012) (eOne), the new four-part miniseries written by "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellows. Blu-ray and DVD.

 

Also new this week:

"Birdsong" (PBS), the made-for-BBC movie shown on "Masterpiece Classic." Blu-ray and DVD. 

"Car 54, Where Are You?: The Complete Second Season" (Shanachie Entertainment), the final season of the sitcom.

"X-Men: Animated Series" (Sony) and "Iron Man: Animated Series" (Sony), both made in Japan. DVD.

 

Flip through the TV on Disc Channel Guide here

Off the Rack – Classic, Cult and Blu-ray Debuts

 

"The Organizer" (Criterion), the compassionate 1963 Italian drama of a 19th century labor strike, stars Marcello Mastoisanni as an idealistic organizer. Blu-ray and DVD.

 

"Camelot" (Warner), the 1967 musical epic starring Richard Harris as King Arthur and Vanessa Redgrave as a flower-child Guenevere, debuts on Blu-ray.

 

Also new this week:

"Pearls Of The Czech New Wave (Eclipse Series 32)" (Criterion) collects six stand-out films from Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s. DVD.

"The Buccaneer " (1938) (Olive), directed with a dash of brio by Cecil B. DeMille. DVD.

"The Girl on a Motorcycle" (Kino Lorber/Jezebel with Marianne Faithfull. Blu-ray and DVD.

"Hit!" (Olive), a revenge thriller with Billy Dee Williams. Blu-ray and DVD

 

All of the Cool, Classic and Cult here

Peruse all the new Blu-rays here

 

Netflix Instant

 

"Everything Must Go" (2011), a small but lovely film adapted from a Raymond Carver short story and starring Will Ferrell.

 

Ken Burns' epic documentary series "The Civil War" (1990), arguably the most influential piece of historical non-fiction ever produced for television.

 

Also new on Netflix Instant Streaming:

"The Passion of the Christ" (2004), Mel Gibson's passionate, personal, and cinematically visceral story of Christ.

"Sweetgrass" (2010), a quietly mesmerizing documentary.

 

Browse more Instant offerings here

 

New at Redbox

 

Arriving day and date at Redbox: "Dark Tide" (Lionsgate), the surf-and-shark thriller with Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez.

 

Also arriving in Redbox kiosks this week: "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" (Fox) with the animated singing rodents, "Let Me In" (Anchor Bay) with the adolescent vampire girl, and the TV series "Downton Abbey: Season One" (PBS) with the British aristocracy and their servants.

 

And in anticipation of "The Avengers" coming to the big screen, Rebox is restocking DVD and Blu-ray versions of "Iron Man," "Iron Man 2," "Thor," and "Captain America." Start your team building exercises now!

 

Coming next week:

"Haywire" (Lionsgate)

"New Year's Eve" (Warner)

"Joyful Noise" (Warner)

"W.E." (Anchor Bay)

"The Front Line" (Well Go)

"Bird of Paradise" (Kino)

"Suits: Season One" (Universal)

"The Big C: The Complete Second Season" (Sony)

"Covert Affairs: Season Two" (Universal)

"Men in Black" Blu-ray (Sony)

"Men in Black II" Blu-ray (Sony)

"Mimic: 3 Film Set" Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

"Jeremiah Johnson" Blu-ray (Warner)

"Clueless" Blu-ray (Paramount)

 

For more releases, see Hot Tips and Top Picks: DVDs, Blu-rays and streaming video for April 24