Prepare your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of November 18, 2014. Each week we run down new releases in movies, television series, and video games that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. On shelves this week, you can find titles such as 22 Jump Street, Sin City 2, Princess Mononoke, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and more. Check out the complete list of new releases after the jump.
Movies on Blu-Ray
22 Jump Street (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller) Rated R 112 min – After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college. Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, and Nick Offerman
Hilariously equivalent to its predecessor, 22 Jump Street continues its meta roots with tons of laughs. This 21st century bromance works on all levels, and I’m glad to see a comedy sequel work for once. The story isn’t as strong as the first, but there is still a lot to gain from onslaught of jokes. And just look at this barrage of special features:
- Five Deleted and Extended Scenes
- The Perfect Couple of Directors
- Line-O-Rama
- Audio Commentary with directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Channing Tatum, and Jonah Hill
- Seventeen Additional Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Four Additional Line-O-Ramas
- Joke-A-Palooza
- Everything is Better in College
- Jenko Split Video
- The Perfect Line: Ad-Libbing on Set
- The Dramatic Interpretation of 22 Jump Street — The Version Without the Jokes!
- Don’t Cut Yet: The Mister Walters Prison Scene
- New Recruits: Casting 22 Jump Street
- Janning and Chonah
- Extended 200K & McQuaid Football Video
- Optional Directors’ Commentary
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller) Rated R [102 min] – Some of Sin City’s most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with a few of its more reviled inhabitants. Starring Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, Powers Booth, Ray Liotta, Rosario Dawson, Jaime King, Jamie Chung, Dennis Haysbert, and Juno Temple
I wouldn’t call Sin City: A Dame to Kill for disappointing only because I had very little expectations going into it. It’s been nine years since the magic of Sin City graced the big screen with its neo-noir ultra violence and visual flair. Cinema has dramatically changed since 2005, but Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller did little to capitalize on the changing of times. The source material works favorably, but the new stories Miller wrote for this film were completely ham-fisted and weak. Special features included here are:
- ‘The Movie In High-Speed Green Screen—All Green Screen Version
- Makeup Effects Of Sin City With Greg Nicotero
- Stunts Of Sin City With Jeff Dashnaw
- Character Profiles
Princess Mononoke (Hayao Miyazaki) Rated PG-13 [134 min] – On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami’s curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime. Starring Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, and Yûko Tanaka
A Miyazaki classic. One of the most visually compelling Studio Ghibli films ever created, which isn’t saying much because they are all unique in their own respect and completely stunning. But its the story that beautifully compliments its art. Princess Mononoke is a very powerful cinematic experience. Special features included are:
- Princess Mononoke in the USA – In September of 1999, Princess Mononoke’s director, Hayao Miyazaki traveled to the US and Canada to promote the film’s release. This feature is a record of those events
- Jada Pinkett Smith, Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup talk about acting in the English voice cast in Princess Mononoke
- Original Japanese Storyboards
- Original Japanese and English Trailers
- Original English Theatrical Trailer
- Original TV Spots
The Wind Rises (Hayao Miyazaki) Rated PG-13 [126 min] – A look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II. Starring Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Martin Short
Miyazaki’s supposed final feature-length film, The Wind Rises is a true craftsmanship and a very incredibly told story. By far, this is Miyazaki’s most ambitious movies in his catalog because it is unlike anything we’ve ever seen from the filmmaker before. Special features included are:
- The Wind Rises: Behind the Microphone
- Storyboards
- Original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots
- Announcement of the Completion of the Film
Kiki’s Delivery Service (Hayao Miyazaki) Rated G [103 min] – A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Minami Takayama, and Rei Sakuma
A cute, simple story that is great for all ages. More of a children’s tale than his other works, Miyazaki still finds a way to write a strong female lead that is both interesting and fun to watch. Special features included are:
- Introduction by John Lasseter
- Original Japanese Storyboards
- Original Japanese Trailers
- Behind the Microphone – English voice cast members Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo and Phil Hartman give voice to their on-screen characters
- Creating Kiki’s Delivery Service – Director Miyazaki discusses how he created the world of the movie
- Kiki & Jiji – Producer Toshio Suzuki reveals how Director Miyazaki based the character of Kiki on Suzuki’s teenage daughter
- Flying with Kiki & Beyond – The director discusses how he approached Kiki flying
- Producer’s Perspective: Collaborating with Miyazaki – The producer talks about how he worked with the director through the years
- The Locations of Kiki – The real world locations that influenced the look of the film are revealed
- Scoring Miyazaki – Composer Joe Hisaishi talks about his approach in writing the music.
If I Stay (R.J. Cutler) Rated PG-13 [106 min] – Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley, and Joshua Leonard
The ridiculousness of this melodrama created zero appeal to me. From what I can tell, Chloë Grace Moretz does just fine because she is a solid actress, but the story looks like it beats you over the head one too many times. Special features included are:
- “I Never Wanted To Go” Music Montage
- Beyond The Page featuring interviews with the cast, crew and Author Gayle Forman (Blu-ray only)
- Audio Commentary by R.J. Cutler and Alison Greenspan
- “Never Coming Down” Music Video
- Free download from the If I Stay Soundtrack of the song “Mind” courtesy of WaterTower Music
- Deleted Scenes Commentary by R.J. Cutler and Alison Greenspan:
- Music Commentary by R.J. Cutler
Into the Storm (Steven Quale) Rated PG-13 [89 min] – Storm trackers, thrill-seekers, and everyday townspeople document an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes touching down in the town of Silverton. Starring Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh
Beyond its special effects, Into the Storm does little to captivate your interest with its dull characters and bland story. I’d stick with the classic Twister if I were you. Special features included here are:
- Into the Storm: Tornado Files
- Titus: The Ultimate Storm-Chasing Vehicle
- Fake Storms: Real Conditions
Turn The Right Corner 