From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, three Studio Ghibli classics -- ‘Tales from Earthsea,’ ‘Porco Rosso’ and ‘Pom Poko’ -- make their way onto Blu-ray.
Among the new titles teaming up on store shelves for this week’s home entertainment releases, three Studio Ghibli classics -- Tales from Earthsea, Porco Rosso and Pom Poko -- have made their way onto Blu-ray. Check out the rest of the titles, below, and let us know which ones are on your wish list.
Doc McStuffins: Cuddle Me Lambie (2015)
DVD ($19.99) available from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
No one gives better cuddles than Doc’s warm and fuzzy best friend! She’s a princess and a ballerina, and she’s always there for toys that need an extra helping of tender loving care. Just say three little words: “Cuddle Me Lambie.”
Join Doc and the whole gang as they laugh, play and have a ball fixing boo-boos and discovering great ways to stay happy and healthy. Celebrate the power of true friendship as new, sparkly heart toy Val shows Lambie there’s plenty of love to go around. Meet Donny and Alma’s monster creation Charlie -- who turns out to be very sweet and not scary after all. Then, see how Lambie gets out of a super-sticky jam. Bursting with five song-filled episodes and cuddles galore, this “hug-stravaganza” is magical fun your little one will adore.
DVD includes five episodes, plus free, exclusive Lambie hair clips.
Dracula Untold (2014)
Blu-ray ($34.98) DVD ($29.98) available from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Dracula Untold is the origin story of one of legend's most captivating figures. The year is 1462 and Transylvania has enjoyed a prolonged period of peace under the just and fair rule of the battle-weary Vlad III, the prince of Wallachia (Luke Evans). But when Sultan Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper) demands that 1,000 of Wallachia's boys -- including Vlad's own son -- become child soldiers in his army, Vlad must enter into a Faustian bargain to save his family and his people. He gains the strength of 100 men, the speed of a falling star, and the power to crush his enemies. In exchange, he's inflicted with an insatiable thirst for human blood that could force him into a life of darkness and destroy all that he holds dear.
Bonus extras include “Day in the Life -- Luke Evans” featurette with personal moments with the film's star on set; “Dracula Retold” production featurette; “Slaying 1000” behind-the-scenes look at the making of Vlad's epic battle against an army of thousands; and commentary with director Gary Shore and production designer Francois Audouy.
The Blu-ray adds an alternate opening and deleted scenes along with “The Land of Dracula” interactive map that explores Dracula's mysterious world, including Castle Dracula, Cozia Monastery, Broken Tooth Mountain and Borga Pass, and the featurette, “Luke Evens -- Creating a Legend.”
John Wick (2014)
Blu-ray (39.99) DVD (29.96) available from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.
An ex-hitman, John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves) comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. When sadistic young thugs senselessly attack John Wick -- a brilliantly lethal ex-assassin -- and KILL HIS PUPPY, they have no idea that they've just awakened the boogeyman. With New York City as his bullet-riddled playground, Wick embarks on a merciless rampage, hunting down his adversaries with the skill and ruthlessness that made him an underworld legend.
Extras include six featurettes: “Don't F*#% With John Wick,” “Calling in the Cavalry,” “Destiny of a Collective,” “Assassin's Code,” “Red Circle” and “NYC Noir.” The Blu-ray version contains commentary by filmmakers Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.
Ouija (2014)
Blu-ray ($34.98), DVD ($29.98) available from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Following the sudden death of her best friend, Debbie, Laine finds an antique Ouija board in Debbie's room and tries to use it to say goodbye. Instead, she makes contact with a spirit that calls itself DZ. As strange events begin to occur, Laine enlists others to help her determine DZ's identity and what it wants. As the friends delve deeper, they find that Debbie's mysterious death was not unique, and that they will suffer the same fate unless they learn how to close the portal they've opened.
Bonus features include “Adapting the Fear” featurette. Blu-ray edition also includes “The Spirit Board: An Evolution” and “Icon of the Unknown” featurettes.
Pom Poko (1994)
Blu-ray ($36.99) available from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
Studio Ghibli presents a film about the clash between modern civilization and the natural world from acclaimed director Isao Takahata. The raccoons of the Tama Hills are being forced from their homes by the rapid development of houses and shopping malls. As it becomes harder to find food and shelter, they decide to band together and fight back. The raccoons practice and perfect the ancient art of transformation until they are even able to appear as humans. In often hilarious ways, the raccoons use their powers to try to scare off the advance of civilization. But will it be enough? Or will the raccoons learn how to live in balance with the modern world? Celebrate the magic of the forest and the beauty of the creatures who live among us in Pom Poko -- now on Disney Blu-ray for the first time ever.
English-language voice cast includes Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption, Starship Troopers) as Gonta, J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, The Closer) as Seizaemon, Jonathan Taylor Thomas (The Lion King, Home Improvement) as Shokichi, John DiMaggio (Futurama, Adventure Time) as Ryûtarô and Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years, Conan the Destroyer) as Koharu.
Bonus features include original Japanese storyboards and original Japanese trailers.
Porco Rosso (1992)
Blu-ray ($36.99) available from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
Take flight with Porco Rosso, a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. When Porco -- whose face has been trans- formed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell -- infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to get rid of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it’s in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious? For the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray, Porco Rosso is a thrilling ride you’ll never forget!
English-language voice cast includes Michael Keaton (Batman, Toy Story 3) as Porco Rosso, Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) as Curtis, Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim, Father of the Bride) as Fio, Susan Egan (Hercules, 13 Going on 30) as Gina, David Ogden Stiers (Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, M*A*S*H) as Grandpa Piccolo and Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond, Ratatouille, Finding Nemo) as Mamma Aiuto Boss.
Bonus features include original Japanese storyboards, original Japanese trailer, and an interview with Toshio Suzuki, “Behind the Microphone.”
Tales from Earthsea (2006)
Blu-ray ($36.99) available from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
An epic animated adventure from Studio Ghibli directed by Goro Miyazaki, Tales from Earthsea features the voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin and Mariska Hargitay. Based on the classic "Earthsea" fantasy book series by Ursula K. Le Guin, Tales from Earthsea is set in a mythical world filled with magic and bewitchment. In the land of Earthsea, crops are dwindling, dragons have reappeared and humanity is giving way to chaos.
Journey with Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk, a master wizard, and Arren, a troubled young prince, on a tale of redemption and self-discovery as they search for the force behind the mysterious imbalance that threatens to destroy their world. Featuring a timeless story and magnificent hand-drawn animation, Tales from Earthsea is now available for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray.
Bonus features include original Japanese storyboards, original Japanese trailers & TV spots, and two featurettes, “Birth of the Film Soundtrack” and “Origins of Earthsea.”
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
