Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of September 29, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie, television, and video game releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can save you some coin. New on shelves this week are Avengers: Age of Ultron, Spy, Jane the Virgin, NBA 2K16 and more.
Movies on Blu-ray
Avengers: Age of Ultron (Joss Whedon) [AVAILABLE OCT. 2] Rated PG-13 [141 min] – When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it’s up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemswort, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and James Spader (Watch the trailer)
What can be said about one of the most bloated, disappointing, and yet gleefully entertaining films of the year? I believe I saw The Avengers three times in theaters, but only managed to see Avengers: Age of Ultron once. Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe upped the game and when it came time to Age of Ultron I was fully unprepared for how Earth-shattering it would be. Reality did not align with my expectations. Age of Ultron is just about everything I could have ever asked for. Maybe it came too late? If this was the first Avengers film I might have shit my pants. However, with no build up to Ultron, himself, the reward of the team up doesn’t seem as fun or meaningful. I still like the movie, it’s solid popcorn fare, but I needed more. [Read my full review here]
Special features include:
- Audio Commentary
- Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
- Making-of Featurettes
- Gag Reel
Entourage (Doug Ellin) Rated R [104 min] – Movie star Vincent Chase, together with his boys Eric, Turtle, and Johnny, are back – and back in business with super agent-turned-studio head Ari Gold on a risky project that will serve as Vince’s directorial debut. Starring Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon, and Jeremy Piven
Entourage has always been given a bad rap. Never having seen the HBO series, I’ve always had the idea in the back of my mind that it is trash-TV. So I decided to give it a chance and check out the Entourage movie. And boy did my expectations meet reality far better than with Age of Ultron. The Entourage movie is pure cinematic garbage. It’s shot beautifully, and there are beautiful people in almost every frame, but Entourage is a total train wreck. Not only is a model/actress a McGuffin, the entire crew of sleazebags have no redeeming qualities to care about their circumstances. Watching Entourage is like subjecting myself to pin pricks to my eyeballs. I had more enjoyment staring at the super blood moon eclipse for less than five minutes than I did this film’s entire run time.
Special features include:
- The Gang – Still Rockin’ It
- Hollywood, Baby!
- The Making of Hyde
- Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Meet the Newest Member of Entourage
- Lucas Ellin is Jonah Gold
Spy (Paul Feig) Rated R [120 min] – A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster. Starring Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Jason Statham, Allison Janney, Miranda Hart, and Peter Serafinowicz
I liked Bridesmaids and disliked The Heat, so I had a mixed-bag of feelings toward Spy and director Paul Feig. The trailer made the flick look bad and Melissa McCarthy’s filmography hasn’t exactly been filled with more hilarious hits as enjoyable as Bridesmaids. Taking this all into consideration, I walked away pleasantly delighted by what I saw. It could have amped up the energy a little earlier on, but Spy proved to be a pretty refreshing take on the genre. [Read more of my thoughts on Spy here]
- No special feature details listed online
Television Series
iZombie: The Complete First Season (Diane Ruggiero and Rob Thomas) Rated TV-14 [42 min] – A medical resident finds that being a zombie has its perks, which she uses to assist the police. Starring Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley, and Blaine DeBeers
I’m not a crime procedural kind of guy. I think flavor of the week investigation shows like CSI and NCIS are almost as bad as reality television. But with iZombie there’s an actual through line with a cohesive plot that carries over to each episode – this is what keeps me invested. From what I’ve seen thus far from Season 1, iZombie is light and easily digestible thanks to its likable cast. When the show first appeared on the scene I disregarded it like any other youthful CW series, but iZombie surprises and the lead, Rose McIver, is pretty fun to watch in the undead role.
- Deleted Scenes
- iZombie: 2014 Comic-Con Panel
Jane the Virgin: The Complete First Season (Jennie Snyder Urman) Rated TV-14 [43 min] – Jane is a 23 year old hard-working, religious Latina woman, whose family tradition and vow to save her virginity until marriage to a long time boyfriend and detective, is shattered when her doctor mistakenly artificially inseminates her during a checkup. And to make matters worse, the biological donor is a married man, a former playboy, and cancer survivor who is not only the new owner of the hotel where Jane works, but was also her former teenage crush. Starring Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas, Justin Baldoni, Ivonne Coll, Brett Dier, Jaime Camil, and Anthony Mendez
I never watched a single episode while Jane the Virgin aired because once again I disregarded this series as yet another youthful CW series. But after Gina Rodriguez continued to gain recognition and awards for her role as Jane I figured no harm would come in checking this series out. After binging over 120 hours of ABC Family shows, Jane the Virgin felt like a breeze. There’s many similarities in tone in what you’d find on both networks. But unlike any ABC Family dramedy where the most coincidental instances happen to their characters, Jane the Virgin purposefully amps up the drama due to its telenovela roots. It’s a sweet, silly romp that carries pretty heavy themes that cleverly balances out with comedy thanks to its smart writing.
Special features include:
- Special features include:Jane the Virgin: Immaculate Creation
- Getting to Know the Cast of Jane the Virgin
- Gag Reel
- Deleted Scenes
More Titles Now Available (I Haven’t Seen These):
- Grimm: The Complete Fourth Season
- Cop Car
- A Room with a View
- Outlander: Season 1 Vol. 2
- Christine (1983)
- Bones: The Complete Tenth Season [DVD Only]
- Fresh Off the Boat: The Complete First Season [DVD Only]
Video Games
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 [Robomodo and Disruptive Games] – Available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox 360, Xbox One – Tony Hawk’s® Pro Skater 5 offers a fresh take on combo-driven skateboarding, the most advanced online multiplayer experience, and a state-of-the-art skatepark builder. Ride, build, and repeat!
I spent way too many hours playing this game back in the day on my Nintendo 64/Dreamcast/PlayStation 2. And as fun and challenging as they were, most Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games reached a pinnacle of entertainment before they became boring. Bringing THPS to next generation consoles works in its favor to increase replayability with online multiplayer and a park creator that can be shared, almost like Super Mario Maker.
Key features include:
- Classic Gameplay
- Seamless Online Multiplayer
- Play as a Pro or Create-a-Skater
- Endless Shred Sessions
- Skate Park Creator
NBA 2K16 [Visual Concepts] – Available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC – The NBA 2K franchise is back with the most true-to-life NBA experience to date with NBA 2K16. Guide your MyPLAYER through the complete NBA journey, take control of an entire NBA franchise, or hone your skills online competing against gamers from around the world. With animations that provide smoother movement and more realistic articulation, it’s certain to be the most authentic NBA gaming experience yet.
Sports!
Key features include:
- MyCAREER – A SPIKE LEE JOINT
- 2K Pro-Am
- Enhanced Gameplay
- Play Now Online
- Featured DJs
- Play with Modern Legends
- MyPark
- MyTeam
- MyLeague
- MyGM
- NBA 2KTV
NBA Live 16 [EA Tiburon] – Available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One – Rooted in self-expression, NBA LIVE 16 takes player customization to another level. Whether it’s how you look or play, your entire journey is all about you. Put yourself in the action with an all-new, easy-to-use HD face scanning app, GameFaceHD and outfit your player with the freshest gear before you even hit the court. With the all-new physics-based player movement system, LIVE Motion, experience free-flowing movement and unparalleled control on the court. Add in fast-paced and fun online multiplayer play through the innovative LIVE Pro-Am mode, to progress and compete with your friends and it’s the perfect time to Rise Together.
More sports!
Key features include:
- LIVE Pro-Am
- Summer Circuit
- LIVE Run
- LIVE Motion
- Player Customization
Blu-Ray Deals and Steals
- All Marvel Phase 2 Films – $16.99–19.96
- Interstellar – $9.99
- Transformers: Age of Extinction – $9.99
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – $14.96
- Cape Fear – $6.99
- The DUFF – $14.99
- This is the End – $6.72
- Paddington – $15
- Everly – $9.99
All prices from Amazon.com. Best Buy, Frys, and Target all price match online prices.
What will you be taking home this week? Tell us in the comments section below!
All plot synopses come courtesy of IMDb.com