We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Whatever your opinion of Julian Assange — data-terrorist, free-speech-evangelist, or somewhere in between — it's time to forget everything you thought you knew. We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks ($7) takes an unbiased look at the man responsible for the greatest disclosure of state secrets in the history of the world. In a documentary that plays out like a political thriller, Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney follows Assange's progression from infamous Australian hacker, to the public face of WikiLeaks, to his self-imposed hermitage in the British Ecuadorean consulate.
Matt Helm Collection
We'll admit: we've never seen any of the films included in the Matt Helm Collection ($18). And that's pretty surprising, given our love of the Rat Pack, the fact that there are four of them — The Silencers, Murderers Row, The Ambushers, and The Wrecking Crew — and the fact that a ton of famous faces from the past like Karl Malden, Ann Margaret, Elke Sommer, and Sharon Tate appear. But really, all you need to know is that you're paying less than $5 a film for Dean Martin-as-a-spy fun — think Austin Powers + James Bond + your friendly neighborhood drunk + the coolest guy you know — and that's more than enough for us. [via]
Django Unchained
Tarantino has borrowed from Spaghetti Westerns often enough that it was high time he made his own — and Django Unchained ($25) is the result. Winner of two Oscars — the second Original Screenplay trophy for QT, and the second Supporting Actor award for Christoph Waltz — this nearly three-hour tale takes a look at slavery through the lens of pre-Civil War America, with Jamie Foxx in the titular role, and supported by Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio as an infamous plantation owner, Kerry Washington as his lost wife, and Samuel L. Jackson (of course) as a house slave. Expect lots of action, lots of dialogue, and gratuitous use of the N-word — but most of all, expect to be entertained.
Enter the Dragon
Celebrate of one of Bruce Lee's most beloved films with this Enter the Dragon: 40th Anniversary ($35) Blu-ray release. Making its second appearance on Blu-ray, this collectors edition features new cover artwork, three new featurettes, commentary form producer Paul Heller, and a re-mastered video and soundtrack that will hopefully have this classic looking and sounding better than ever.
Socks by Mack Weldon
So comfortable customers routinely claim they’re “walking on clouds” thanks to the cushioned footbed. The No Shows ($14.50/2 pack) have a “no slip grip” that stays put in low cut summer shoes, while the crew length styles actually stay up if you want them to. Get one or get them all - the Sock Drawer ($135) includes 16 pairs. But do get them soon, because like all things Mack Weldon makes, these are in high demand (and insanely comfortable).
Mad Max Trilogy
Normally when a well-known series arrives in a special Blu-ray package, true fans already own all of the films — but that's not the case with the Mad Max Trilogy ($35). This long-awaited post-apocalyptic set includes the original Mad Max, Mad Max Road Warrior, and — making its debut on Blu-ray — the Tina Turner-packing Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Other details, such as potential bonus features and audio formats, are scarce, but word is that it will arrive in premium tin packaging, so at least that's something.
National Lampoon's Vacation
When we first brought you news of National Lampoon's Vacation on Blu-ray, it was with a heavy heart, knowing that the Amazon reviews said the soundtrack was in mono, the picture sucked, the cover art "looked stupid," and generally "pathetic". We're hoping that the National Lampoon's Vacation: 30th Anniversary ($16) release will fix all of that. If nothing else, you'll get new bonus content like the A&E special, "Inside Story: National Lampoon's Vacation". And let's face it — if you're thinking about buying it and have held off this long, you might as well take the plunge.
Sound City
Unbeknownst to most common folk, many of rock's greatest albums came from a not-so-glamorous part of the San Fernando Valley. Sound City ($10-$13) is dedicated to the studio of the same name, and the rare sound board held within — sound featured on albums by Tom Petty, Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Rage Against the Machine, Neil Young, and many more. Directed by Dave Grohl, this full-length documentary features interviews and performances by some of the rockers who held court there, and is a must-watch for true music lovers.
Zero Dark Thirty
And here you thought just watching the killing of Bin Laden was exciting. Zero Dark Thirty ($30) takes you through the entire ordeal, from the inception of the idea to the execution in a room in Pakistan. While we could watch Jessica Chastain torture our own mothers for hours on end, the payoff of the real-time mission at the end was nothing short of amazing. The fact that it's directed by Titanically big director James Cameron's ex-wife probably doesn't matter. But the fact that she won Best Director for The Hurt Locker probably does.
Skyfall
It's not just another Bond movie — it's one of the best ever. And as it turns out, Skyfall ($25) was one of the best action movies of the year, as well. Once again starring Daniel Craig as the British agent, it finds Bond and M facing a complete exposure of MI6. Forced underground, 007 and a single field agent follow the trail of clues to find Silva, played brilliantly by Javier Bardem. Directed by Sam Mendes, it's set the bar awfully high for the inevitable Bond 24.
End of Watch
Yes, it's about a pair of cops, and yes, it's set in a bad part of Los Angeles. But just because End of Watch ($25) was written and directed by the scribe behind Training Day doesn't mean it's a rehash. In fact, it just might be better. All-time bros Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña serve as upstanding police officers who get more than they bargain for over the course of a few days (it gets weird, people), and thanks to plentiful use of first-person, hand-held cameras, it conveys a sense of excitement and visceral terror like few cop films before it. A must-see.
Universal Classic Monsters
It might seem silly now, but back in the day Universal more or less invented the horror genre — and by horror, we mean the iconic baddies that have spawned a million remakes. Universal Classic Monsters ($80) celebrates this legacy by packing eight of their best known monster films — each of which has been painstakingly cleaned up and remastered in 1080p — as well as over 12 hours of bonus features and an exclusive collectible book all into a single package. Included are Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature From the Black Lagoon, or more than enough creepy content to keep you busy this winter.
Die Hard 25th Anniversary Collection
It might be too late for a traditional Christmas viewing, but grab the Die Hard 25th Anniversary Collection ($40) now and you'll be all set for the holidays in 2013. This box set includes all four films on Blu-ray — Die Hard, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and Live Free or Die Hard — as well as an all-new fifth disc packed full of bonus content. Yippie ki yay indeed.
