Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of April 5, 2016. Every Tuesday we run down new movie and television releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. New on shelves this week are Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Casual Season 1, Mojave, and more.
Movies on Blu-ray
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (J.J. Abrams) Rated PG-13 [135 min] – Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a ragtag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance. Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, and Peter Mayhew
The Force Awakens is everything. Everything we hoped it could be in terms of exceeding expectations, but also copying almost everything about the original trilogy we know and love. Visually, the The Force Awakens is stunning and the casting is perfect. The narrative is familiar, but refreshing. It’s the bee’s knees. But the quality of the movie isn’t just what makes this film great, it’s also the pre-production behind the scenes leading up to The Force Awakens that embodies the magic and the wonder of what it took to turn this dream into a reality. And the special features absolutely capture the charm and excitement surrounding this momentous occasion. Because The Force Awakens is a true event movie that only comes around once every blue moon. Even without seeing the special features you can tell how much heart was put into carefully crafting this movie, but they help build the experience as a fan.
Special features include:
- Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.
- The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script.
- Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.
- Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.
- Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren.
- John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens.
- ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects.
- Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others.
- Deleted Scenes
Casual: Season 1 (Zander Lehmann) Rated TV-MA [25min] – A new comedy series about a bachelor brother and his newly divorced sister living under one roof again. Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while raising her teenage daughter. Starring Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, and Tara Lynne Barr
I am not a subscriber to Hulu because I’d rather not pay money to still see ads, but I’m glad I had the chance to review Casual. It’s really nice to see Jason Reitman get behind a property that actually turned out better than his recent ventures. Casual offers a lot of promise, but it needs to treat its female characters better. The only person who is really fleshed out well and has dimension is Tommy Dewey’s character, who similarly feels like Joel McHale in Community, almost the same mannerisms too. I’d like to see what happens next, but it’s not a show that I would care to watch week to week.
Special features include:
- “Creating Casual” Featurette
Episodes: Season 4 (David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik) Rated TV-MA [30min] – When husband and wife writing team Sean and Beverly set out to reproduce their British TV hit for an American network, all of their worst fears come true as Hollywood lives up to its reputation for absurdity. Starring Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Greig, and Stephen Mangan
In a world where shows get cancelled in a blink of an eye, Episodes does a pretty swell job at luring back it’s main characters to continue writing for Hollywood execs on a show they have little passion for at this point. The honesty in the writing is sharp, but the tone I’m still not very fond. It’s suppose to be a comedy and yet everyone is so miserable and unhappy. It’s hard to root for characters when they’re always down on their luck and at the same time we’re suppose to be laughing at the situations they get themselves into. It’s a decent show and a solid fourth season for the series in generally, it’s just not something I’m truly over the moon for.
Special features include:
- No special features included
House of Lies: Season 4 (Matthew Carnahan) Rated TV-MA [28 min] – A subversive, scathing look at a self-loathing management consultant from a top-tier firm. Marty, a highly successful, cutthroat consultant is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his clients the information they want. Starring Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, and Ben Schwartz
Season 4 of House of Lies is littered with the aftermath of an explosive third season. Backstabbing and plotting continue while Don Cheadle remains to be a true force of nature. While the show is slick and quick-witted, I’m not that fond of many of its supporting characters. If it weren’t for Don Cheadle’s charisma, I’m not sure I’d be able to enjoy House of Lies as much. I think this fourth season does a good job at answering the many questions the third season leaves us with while also establishing many things to look forward to for fans coming into the fifth season.
Special features include:
- No special features included
Mojave (William Monahan) Rated R [1h 33min] – A suicidal artist goes into the desert, where he finds his doppelgänger, a homicidal drifter. Starring Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, and Mark Wahlberg
If you’re looking to find another stellar Oscar Issac performance in Mojave best of luck to you. Although the esteemed up-and-coming actor puts on quite the show, the rest of the film will leave you frustrated. For the man who wrote The Departed, William Monahan, does not bring the best judgement when it comes to sitting in the director’s seat. Aside from Isaac chewing up every scene he’s in, it’s as if he’s acting against a wooden plank when. Garrett Hedlund is the yin to Isaac’s yang and it serves Mojave poorly, providing an odd sense of tone and off-balance chemistry. It doesn’t work. Monahan desparately wants Mojave to be all of the things, but within the short run time the film feels overstuffed and frantic. Mojave doesn’t know what it exactly wants to be and at the same time it wants to be all of the things. Not even the special features can really help you on this one. Lacking in extras, the few it offers only mystifies and brings more
Special features include:
- “A Doppelgänger and the Desert: Making Mojave” Featurette
- Deleted Scenes
Also Available to Own
- Banshee (Season 3)
- Brickleberry (Season3)
- The Expanse (Season 1)
- NYPD Blue (Season 9)
- Salem (Season 2)
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