The new year starts with a bang and January through February have a lot to offer for video releases. A number of adventure, drama, romance and some action films are being released on DVD, Blu-ray, and On-Demand as well. Whether you are looking for horror, action-adventure, drama, comedy, crime or alternative lifestyle— the next two months will have a little something for most everyone.
JANUARY 2015
January 6, 2015
Get on Up- Blu-ray/DVD
GET ON UP Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, Get On Up gives a fearless look inside the music, moves, and moods of James Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Chadwick Boseman (42) stars as Brown, and is joined by Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Jill Scott, Craig Robinson, and Dan Aykroyd in the Tate Taylor directed drama.
The Guest- Blu-ray/DVD
THE GUEST From the creators of You’re Next comes The Guest, a pulse-pounding thriller starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) and Maika Monroe (Labor Day). Recently discharged from the Army, David Collins (Stevens) unexpectedly shows up on the Petersons’ doorstep, claiming to be their late son’s best friend. Welcomed into their home, the well-mannered stranger becomes part of the family until a shocking wave of violence raises daughter Anna’s (Monroe) suspicions that the mysterious ex-soldier is not quite what he seems.
January 13, 2015
Two Mothers- DVD
TWO MOTHERS When happily married German couple Katja and Isabella decide to have a child, they are confronted with many unexpected obstacles, inconsistent laws and bigotry. Although they are married, most of the fertility clinics don’t offer treatment for homosexuals under German law.
Jimi: All Is By My Side- DVD/Blu-ray and VOD
JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE The film covers a year in Hendrix’s life from 1966-1967. He was unknown backup guitarist playing New York’s Cheetah Club. He made his mark in London’s music scene and eventually captured the respect of audiences during his Monterey Pop triumph. The film presents an intimate portrait of the sensitive young musician on the verge of becoming a rock legend.
Zarra’s Law- DVD
ZARRA’S LAW Retired cop Tony (Tony Sirico) finds he is unable to forget the murder of his younger brother, who was in the mob. He’s outraged when he finds out the man he holds responsible is getting out of prison after only two years. He needs to find answers fast and if necessary, seek revenge, Italian-style. Joined by his attorney nephew, Gaetano (Brendan Fehr), he infi ltrates the seamy world of organized crime and gets lost in a labyrinth of greed, dead ends, and lies.
Walk Among the Tombstones- Blu-ray/DVD
WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES Liam Neeson stars in A Walk Among the Tombstones, an action-thriller based on Lawrence Block’s bestselling series of mystery novels. Neeson plays Matt Scudder, an ex-cop turned unlicensed private investigator who reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens, TV’s Downton Abbey) hunt down the men who brutally murdered his wife. When the PI learns that this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that these men have committed this sort of twisted crime, he must blur the line between right and wrong as he races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again.
Racing Hearts- Blu-ray/DVD
RACING HEARTS Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey) stars in this romantic, drama-filled love story of unraveling secrets and discovery. Colin (Dornan) is a wealthy New York businessman who always gets what he wants. But when a deal with a wealthy Dubai sheikh hinges on his acquisition of a coveted racing bird, Colin finds himself in unfamiliar territory with the trusting Belgian townspeople who protect the creature. As Colin falls for the owner’s gorgeous granddaughter (Charlotte De Bruyne), will he resort to his ruthless techniques of the past or give in to a passion he never knew existed?
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power- Blu-ray/DVD
THE SCORPION KING 4: QUEST FOR POWER Mathayus (Victor Webster) and his only remaining allies, a mysterious woman and her unconventional father, are the last hope to stop the evil heir to the throne on his quest for an ancient and almighty mystical power. Featuring Lou Ferrigno (“The Hulk”) and an all-star cast of fighters, including Roy “Big Country” Nelson (Winner of “The Ultimate Fighter”), Royce Gracie (UFC Hall of Fame) and Don Wilson (Three-time World Kickboxing Champion).
January 20, 2015
A Little Game- DVD
A LITTLE GAME Ostracized at her posh new uptown school and shaken by the death of her beloved grandmother, a 10 year-old downtown girl finds an unlikely mentor in the form of an irascible chess-master, who uses the game to teach Max lessons in resilience, perseverance, and how to embrace inevitable change.
Lucy- Blu-ray/DVD
LUCY an action-thriller about a woman accidentally caught in a dark deal who turns the tables on her captors. Altered by a dangerous new drug allowing her to use 100% of her brain capacity, Lucy transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
The Mule- Blu-ray
THE MULE It’s 1983. A naive man with lethal narcotics hidden in his stomach is detained by Australian Federal Police. Alone and afraid, ‘the Mule’ makes a desperate choice; to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence…literally. And by doing so becomes a “human time- bomb,” dragging cops, criminals, lawyers and his mother into his impossible escapade. Inspired by true events.
The Boxtrolls- Blu-ray/DVD
THE BOXTROLLS are a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of a city called Cheesebridge. The story is about a young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors who tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator, the 
town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher. When Snatcher comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls. Eggs decides to venture above ground and “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie. Together, they devise a daring plan to save The BoxTrolls family. The film is based upon the children’s novel ‘Here Be Monsters’ by Alan Snow
January 27, 2015
My Old Lady- Blu-ray/DVD
MY OLD LADY New Yorker Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) arrives in Paris on a mission to visit the homestead of his late father who has willed the very enchanting yet valuable piece of property to him. He arrives at the nicely located mansion and after an impromptu walk inside the home comes across Madame Mathilde Girard (Dame Maggie Smith) who introduces herself. After a brief chat about the inheritance, spending the balance of his savings to get to Paris and his intentions of selling the estate, Mme Gerard informs him that she is a “viager”. In France a person who sells their home, if agreed by the buyer, may remain in the house for life if desired.
FEBRUARY 2015
February 3, 2015
The Reagans: The Legacy Endures- DVD and Digital Download
THE REGANS: THE LEGACY ENDURES tells the story of a small town boy from Illinois with big dreams. Ronald Wilson Reagan began his rise to public life in sports broadcasting and then as a star of film and television. But it was during his years in Hollywood as president of the Screen Actor’s Guild that he discovered the two great passions of his life: politics and his soul mate, Nancy Davis. Together, Ron and Nancy forged a legacy as the first couple of California and then the United States of America as they led the charge for the rebirth of conservative values. This candid and intimate portrait captures the Reagans’ inspiring journey, historic partnership and touching love story.
February 10, 2015
Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day -Blu-ray/DVD
ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY follows the exploits of Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life and wonders if bad things only happen to him. But he discovers he’s not alone when his dad (Steve Carell), mom (Jennifer Garner) and family live through their own terrible – and hilarious – day.
101 Dalmatians-Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD
101 DALMATIANS Pongo, Perdita and their super-adorable puppies are in for thrills, hilarious spills and an epic action-packed adventure when they face off with Cruella De Vil, Disney’s most fabulously outrageous villainess. When Cruella dognaps all of the Dalmatian puppies in London, brave animal heroes launch a daring plan to save all puppies from Cruella’s clutches!
Frankenstein vs. The Mummy- DVD and VOD
FRANKENSTEIN VS. THE MUMMYDr. Victor Frankenstein and Egyptologist Naihla Khalil are both professors at a leading medical university. Victor’s latest grisly “experiment” is the re-animated corpse of a sadistic madman and Naihla’s most recent find is the cursed mummy of an evil pharaoh. When the two monsters face-off in an epic showdown, no one is safe from the slaughter.
RPG- DVD and VOD
RPG In a future world not too far away, multimillionaire Steve Battier (Rutger Hauer) is dying from a terminal disease. He accepts an offer from a biotechnological company that provides a very select group of clients the opportunity to be young again and free from disease… but there is a catch. Steve is joined by 9 other powerful players of the world, and they scheme against each other to survive. It soon turns into a game of death for all but one. He will enjoy all the seductions of youth, but may have to pay the ultimate price.
Rosewater- DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack
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.
Poker Night- Blu-ray/DVD
POKER NIGHT In this twisted thriller, a young detective is caught in a sadistic game of cat-and-mouse when he is kidnapped and tormented by a masked serial killer. In order to survive, the rookie must use the wisdom imparted to him by senior detectives on their regular poker night.
February 24, 2015
Big Hero 6- Blu-ray Combo Pack
BIG HERO 6 is an action-packed comedy adventure that introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his diverse group of friends — adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred — who transform into a band of unlikely heroes.
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
