Now Available to Own: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Legend of Korra, The Crew, and More

Prepare your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of December 2, 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 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Legend of Korra Book Three, The Crew, and more. Check out the complete list of new releases after the jump.

Movies on Blu-Ray

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Matt Reeves) Rated PG-13 [130 min] – A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species. Starring Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Andy Serkis, and Kodi Smit-McPhee

A very triumphant follow up to one of the most unexpected prequels of our time. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes poses as much emotional weight on the apes as it does the humans and continues to ask compelling questions of humanity. The ape performances are again spectacularly well done by the actors as well as the visual artists. There are more human characters this time around, who are not as interesting as the apes, but still create a well thought out narrative. (Watch the trailer) Special features included are:

Audio Commentary by Matt Reeves
Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Matt Reeves
Journey to Dawn
Andy Serkis: Rediscovering Caesar
Humans and Apes: The Cast of Dawn
The World of Dawn
The Ape Community
Move Like an Ape: An Artist s Artist’s Medium
Weta and Dawn
The Fight for a New Dawn
Four Galleries

As Above, So Below (John Erick Dowdle) Rated R [93 min] – When a team of explorers ventures into the catacombs that lie beneath the streets of Paris, they uncover the dark secret that lies within this city of the dead. Starring Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge, and François Civil

I had a lot of high hopes for this mash up between The Descent and Event Horizon. The beginning of the exploration is quite compelling, but it kind of loses steam once the catacombs start terrorizing our protagonists. What’s more frustrating is the choice to shoot this as a found footage film. It is completely unnecessary and would have been more enjoyable without it. Special features included are:

Inside As Above So Below
Digital HD UltraViolet Digital Copy

The Congress (Ari Folman) Not Rated [122 min] – An aging, out-of-work actress accepts one last job, though the consequences of her decision affect her in ways she didn’t consider. Starring Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm, and Kodi Smit-McPhee

I did not get to catch this one, but I had heard rather positive and interesting reviews. Special features included are:

Commentary with Director Ari Folman, Production Designer David Polonsky and Animation Director Yani Goodman
Robin Wright at The Congress
:30 Spot
Trailers
Booklet

The Hundred-Foot Journey (Lasse Hallastöm) Rated PG [122 min] – The Kadam family clashes with Madame Mallory, proprietress of a celebrated French restaurant, after they open their own nearby eatery, until undeniable chemistry causes the Madame to take gifted young chef Hassan under her wing. Starring Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, and Charlotte Le Bon

I had not gotten a chance to see this film either. But if Oprah’s praises are any indication about this film’s worth, I would have to guess that this film is substandard old Oscar bait fair. Special features included are: