Last week brought with it Drew Goddard’s directorial debut, The Cabin in the Woods, to our shelves, penned by Goddard and the ever-brilliant Joss Whedon.

And this week, we’ve got a huge selection of films and TV shows coming to our shelves, so without further ado…

My picks of the week:

Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom     &     Rupert Sanders’ Snow White and the Huntsman.

Modern Family – Season 3.

And James Cameron’s The Terminator Blu-ray release.

 

Moonrise Kingdom

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DVD and Blu-ray

Breaking records upon release with the highest ever per-theatre-average in its opening weekend (which Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master broke again last month), Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom is something of a masterpiece.

His first live-action film since 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited, Anderson takes us back to childhood with two young secret romantics running away together, on the fictional island of New Penzance.

The film has been almost universally praised by critics, and though its debut came early in the year at Cannes, it could well be a strong contender in the coming awards season.

And in case you missed it last week, we got a fantastic exclusive look at the animated excerpts from Suzy’s book, which you can watch by clicking here.

“On an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, two twelve-year-olds (Kara Hayward, Jared Gilman) who fall in love, make a secret pact and run away together into the wilderness. As a local search party led by the Sheriff (Bruce Willis) and the girl’s parents (Bill Murray, Frances McDormand) try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.”

 

Snow White and the Huntsman

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DVD and Blu-ray (inc. Digital and UltraViolet Copies)

Also available in several Limited Edition, exclusive, and Collectors’ sets.

Taking just shy of $400m. at the box office this spring, Rupert Evans’ directorial debut was very impressive, with brilliant visuals, fantastic effects, and a strong storyline giving us a new take on the classic Snow White story.

Kristen Stewart leads as a terrific Joan of Arc-esque Snow White, with Chris Hemsworth starring as The Huntsman, and Charlize Theron playing the evil Queen.

A sequel is already in the works, so be sure to catch up on the original in the meantime.

And if you’re reading this before midnight tonight, 1st October, you can enter our competition here to win the film on Blu-ray.

“In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Oscar® winner Charlize Theron) who is out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth, Thor) who was dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power.

The breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale is from Joe Roth, the producer of Alice in Wonderland, producer Sam Mercer (The Sixth Sense) and acclaimed commercial director and state-of-the-art visualist Rupert Sanders.”

 

Monsieur Lazhar

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DVD

Nominated at the Oscars earlier this year, this French dramatic-comedy from writer-director Philippe Falardeau has been praised by audiences and critics alike.

The film was given a limited release here in the UK earlier this year, and now arrives on the shelves on DVD in case you didn’t get a chance to see it on the big screen.

“After the tragic passing of their well-liked teacher a school class is left shaken and fragile. A new primary teacher is appointed, the mysterious and charming Bachir Lazhar who, as each day passes, earns the trust of the class and allows them to grieve. Lazhar’s compassion has a huge impact on the most sensitive pupils, but unbeknown to them, he is also fighting his own personal battles that have left him emotionally vulnerable.

Produced by the team behind the Academy Award-nominated Incendies and directed by veteran filmmaker Philippe Falardeau, Monsieur Lazhar was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2012.”

 

The Pact

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DVD and Blu-ray

Premiering at Sundance this year to solid reviews, The Pact has seen its star Caity Lotz highly praised for her breakthrough performance in the lead.

The film came out here at the start of summer, and if you missed the horror/thriller on the big screen, now’s your chance to enjoy it in the darkened comfort of your living room.

“Caity Lotz (Death Valley, Mad Men) gives the breakout performance of the year in this edge-of-your seat horror that chills to the bone.

Struggling to hold her family together after the death of their mother, biker-chick Annie (Lotz) returns to the family home. There she senses a mysterious presence, discovering a terrifying evil spirit that puts her and those closest to her in grave danger. Confronting the spirit and her family’s dark secrets from the past, can she break free from this living nightmare…?”

 

2 Days in New York

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Julie Delpy’s sequel to 2007’s 2 Days in Paris sees her starring opposite the great Chris Rock this time around, switching locations to the USA.

Another film premiering at Sundance to strong reviews, the film was released here in the spring, and only came out in the US towards the end of the summer, and is now arriving on our shelves today for those of us who missed its theatrical release.

“Having separated from American boyfriend Jack from 2 Days in Paris (2007), Marion and her son Lulu are living a cozy lifestyle in a New York apartment with radio talkshow host Mingus (Chris Rock) and his young daughter from a previous relationship. When Marion’s jolly father, oversexed sister and sleazy ex-lover arrive from Paris for two days, Marion and Mingus find their relationship put to the test in this hilarious cross-cultural comedy.”

 

Casa de Mi Padre

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DVD and Blu-ray

Will Ferrell ventured into new territory this year with the release of Casa de Mi Padre, a Spanish-language film produced by the actor and frequent collaborator Adam McKay, which saw Matt Piedmont (Funny or Die) make his feature directorial debut.

Receiving mixed reviews from critics – and you can read our review of the Blu-ray here – the film was given a limited release in the US and UK and did solid business at the box office. It looks to be something of a divisive film, but if you’re a big Ferrell fan, you can’t go too wrong.

“From the makers of Anchorman and the writers of the American TV show Saturday Night Live comes Casa de mi Padre, the new hilarious comedy with Will Ferrell.

Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell – Anchorman) has lived and worked on his father’s ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando’s younger brother Raul (Diego Luna – Y Tu Mamá También), shows up with his new fiancée, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez – Man on a Ledge). It seems that Raul’s success as an international businessman means the ranch’s troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul’s business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Gael García Bernal – Babel).”

 

Television

Modern Family – Season 3

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DVD and Blu-ray

Also available: Seasons 1 – 3 Box Set on DVD and Blu-ray.

One of the great television programmes in recent years (and, in my opinion of all time), Modern Family has continually kept audiences in love with its unique blend of comedy, consistently hilarious, and continues to sweep the comedy sections at the Emmys.

The third season brings us another twenty-four episodes of entertainment, and with a fourth season kicking off now in the US, it’s the perfect time to catch up.

And if you’re reading this before 8th October, you can enter our competition here to win the third season on Blu-ray.

“Critically acclaimed and lauded for revitalising the television sitcom, Modern Family is also quickly cementing itself as a culturally defining series. A recipient of the 2010 and 2011 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Modern Family returns for its third season.

Modern Family stars Ed O’Neill as Jay, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ty Burrell as Phil, Sofía Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Nolan Gould as Luke, Ariel Winter as Alex, Rico Rodriguez as Manny and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily. These three unique families give us an honest and often hilarious look into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted, embrace of the modern family.”

 

Bones – Season 7

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DVD and Blu-ray

Also available: Seasons 1 – 7 on DVD.

Starring David Boreanaz and Emily       Deschanel in the leads, Bones has is still going strong, with Fox renewing the show for an eighth season, which began last month in the US.

The crime/comedy-drama returns with its seventh season to our shelves this week, and will naturally be an absolute must for fans of the show.

“Bones, a darkly amusing procedural entering its seventh season, is inspired by real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist Kathy Reichs.

In last season’s final episode, Brennan stunned Booth when she revealed the news that she was pregnant with his child. In the Season Seven premiere, we pick up with the new couple well into Brennan’s pregnancy. Still seeing the world from radically different perspectives, Booth and Brennan grapple with the issues surrounding the upcoming birth of their child – all while continuing to deal with a series of gruesome and baffling crimes. And this season brings more than a baby. Our team will also have to contend with a nefarious tech-savvy foe who uses his unparalleled skills to challenge Booth, Brennan and the squints to solve a string of murders designed to embarrass and humiliate them.”

 

Spartacus: Vengeance

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DVD and Blu-ray

Also available: Seasons 1/2: Blood and Sand / Vengeance Box Set on DVD and Blu-ray.

The latest season in the Spartacus series, Vengeance continues to be esteemed by both audiences and critics, and with the show recently announcing the next season, War of the Damned, will be its last, now is the time to pick up the second season before it all comes to an end.

And if you’re reading this before midnight on 2nd October, you can enter our competition here to win the box set.

“On the heels of the bloody escape from the House of Batiatus that concluded “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”, the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic in “Spartacus: Vengeance”. Gaius Claudius Glaber and his Roman troops are sent to Capua to crush the growing band of freed slaves that Spartacus leads before it can inflict further damage. Spartacus is presented the choice of satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man that condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his budding army from breaking apart. Containing all of the blood-soaked action, exotic sexuality, and villainy and heroism that has come to distinguish the series, the tale of Spartacus resumes in epic fashion.”

 

Blu-ray Re-Releases

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James Cameron’s The Terminator leads the pack of the classic films given the HD treatment this month. The film has become a classic since its release, and one of the most iconic films of the twentieth century, part of what launched Arnold Schwarzenegger to worldwide recognition.

Also released this week is an entirely different film, in Disney’s The Rescuers. The 1977 animated family film has been a huge success, and is a must-own classic for all fans of the studio’s work. And alongside it is yet another very different film in Rob Reiner’s Oscar-winning Misery, starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. The 1990 thriller the Best Actress Award for Bates for her leading performance opposite Caan, and is finally getting the HD treatment this week.

A number of horror films are also being released on Blu-ray this week, with Tom Holland’s 1988 classic, Child’s Play, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Oscar-winning classic, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, leading the way.

And alongside those two are a slew of classic horror films from the earlier twentieth century, coming our way in the new format, headed up by Phantom of the Opera (1943), The Mummy (1932), Frankenstein (1931), Dracula (1931), and Invisible Man (1933).