Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 8/14/12

The Raid: Redemption Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

Any week that gives more people a chance to see “The Raid: Redemption” is a good week. So if you haven’t seen this sucker yet – hey, put some money down on the Blu-ray! It’s just that good. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 8/14/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

The Raid: Redemption (Blu-ray/DVD) – writer/director Gareth Evans and star Iko Uwais delivered the most talked about action movie of 2012. This Indonesian martial arts flick has earned universal acclaim across the web for its bone-crunching fight scenes

Godzilla vs. Megalon (DVD) – Tokyo Shock releases this 1973 Godzilla film featuring the size-shifting robot Jet Jaguar

Sword Identity (DVD) – from the writer of Wong Kar-Wai’s upcoming film “The Grandmasters” comes this 2011 sword-wielding Chinese epic

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (DVD) – this collection from distributor Pop Flix promises 5 monster flicks on 2-discs, including “Gamera the Invincible” and “War of the Monsters”

Sultry Assassin: Ninja Brainwash (DVD) – a 2012 Japanese live-action film that promises ‘erotic ninja action’

FOREIGN CINEMA

Juan of the Dead (DVD) – this internet-acclaimed 2011 Cuban horror flick promises nonstop zombie splatter AND socio-political commentary

Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Kino brings the legendary 7-hour French silent film crime story to hi-def

La promesse (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers this 1996 French-language film about a 15 year-old boy’s struggle with domestic and immigration issues

Rosetta (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1999 French-Belgian production follows a teenage girl’s struggle to escape from the dreariness of her life. In hi-def from the Criterion Collection

Korczak: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1990 Polish film follows a doctor’s struggle to protect local children during the Holocaust

MAINSTREAM

The Hunger Games (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2012 blockbuster based on the best-selling young adult series comes to home formats

Assassin’s Bullet (Blu-ray/DVD) – from the director of “Undisputed III” comes this European-set 2012 action-thriller, starring Christian Slater and Donald Sutherland

Iron Sky (Blu-ray/DVD) – Space Nazis attack from their hidden moon base in this internet-hyped 2011 feature

Hick (DVD) – Hit Girl Chloe Moretz strikes out on her own in this controversial 2012 indie drama

NEW TO BLU-RAY

Jaws (Blu-ray + DVD) – at last, Steven Spielberg’s riveting 1975 classic about a giant shark comes to hi-def

Romeo Must Die (Blu-ray) – Jet Li and the late singer Aaliyah star in this 2000 qausi-update of the “Romeo & Juliet” story, crossed with martial arts and hip-hop

Cradle 2 the Grave (Blu-ray) – by all rights this 2003 action flick starring Jet Li and DMX should have been a classic due to its final bout between Jet Li and Mark Dacascos (“Drive”), but it somehow managed to underwhelm

Death Wish II (Blu-ray) – Charles Bronson once again cleans up the streets in this 1982 sequel

Death Wish III (Blu-ray) – far removed from the gritty vigilanteism of the first film, this 1985 Charles Bronson-starring sequel maintains a cult following due to its over-the-top, Cannon Group violence

Death Wish IV (Blu-ray) – AKA “Death Wish 4: The Crackdown,” Charles Bronson is out to end the drug war once and for all in this 1987 action film

The Royal Tenenbaums (Blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection offers Wes Anderson’s acclaimed 2001 indie drama on Blu

Fallen (Blu-ray) – this 1996 supernatural thriller stars Denzel Washington as the cop on the trail of a body-hopping killer

New Jack City (Blu-ray) – Wesley Snipes headlines this 1991 drug-dealin’ crime saga

Shaft (Blu-ray) – we’re just talkin’ about the 1971 blaxploitation classic starring Richard Roundtree in the title role

A Man Apart (Blu-ray) – fresh off his “Fast and Furious” success, Vin Diesel starred in this 2003 action/revenge movie

RE-ISSUES

Stallone Collection (Blu-ray/DVD) – an odd assortment of Sylvester Stallone films populate this collection: “First Blood,” “Cop Land,” and “Lock Up.” Hey, at least the first two films allowed Sly to stretch his acting chops

Schwarzenegger: 3-Film Collection (Blu-ray/DVD) – Arnold also gets his due with this 3-film set including “Terminator 2,” “Red Heat,” and “Total Recall”

HORROR

Kill List (Blu-ray/DVD) – the acclaimed 2011 indie horror-thriller, about a hitman taking on a supposedly easy assignment, arrives on home formats

The Life and Death of a Porno Gang (Blu-ray/DVD) – the ‘other’ Serbian film comes to America with this gruesome 2009 feature about a troop of adult actors performing murders on camera for extra cash

The Snowtown Murders (DVD) – based on a horrific series of crimes that plagued Australia in the late 90’s, in this 2011 film a serial killer becomes a mentor to a young teen

Father’s Day 4 Disc Limited Edition (Blu-ray + DVD) – Troma’s 2011 video nasty in a 4 disc Limited Edition

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