Senior Staff Writer Scott Davis returns after a tiring weekend of Comic-Con fun with his weekly look at the releases in the world of Blu-ray. This week in the UK sees the arrival of the astounding Whiplash, sci-fi hit Ex_Machina, US blockbuster American Sniper and Aardman’s loveable Shaun the Sheep in his first movie….
Whiplash
What more can be said about Whiplash that hasn’t been said already? A critically acclaimed drama starring Miles Teller (Fantastic Four) and J.K Simmons (Terminator Genisys), Whiplash is a stunning film about the price of being the best and the what limits we can be pushed to before failure. One of the year’s best, if you haven’t seen it yet, get out a buy a copy on Monday. You wont regret it.
ORDER WHIPLASH VIA AMAZON
SEE ALSO: Hear our thoughts on Whiplash on The Flickering Myth Podcast
Ex_Machina
Another critical darling on it’s UK release back at the start of the year, Ex_Machina is a brilliantly inventive sci-fi drama that includes the year’s best dance sequence. Period. Starring Domhhall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac, Alex Garland’s beautiful film is another must-buy on Blu-ray this week.
ORDER EX_MACHINA VIA AMAZON
SEE ALSO: Listen to our thoughts on Ex_Machina on The Flickering Myth Podcast
American Sniper
A juggernaut of massive proportions in the US, American Sniper was 2014’s highest grossing film with a whopping $350 million in the early part of the year (was on limited release around Christmas 2014). Clint Eastwood’s war/sniper epic saw the film earned 6 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Director and Actor for Bradley Cooper. Sienna Miller co-stars. (Steelbook also released through HMV).
ORDER AMERICAN SNIPER VIA AMAZON
SEE ALSO: Read our review of American Sniper
Shaun The Sheep Movie
Making the leap from the small screen to the big, Aardman’s hit kids television show was a big success when it was unleashed earlier in the year. Set to be a huge seller this summer with the school holidays almost upon us, it will certainly keep little ones quiet through those long weeks.
ORDER SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE VIA AMAZON
Fortitude: Season 1
Sky Atlantic’s hit wintery show, Fortitude is finally available on Blu-ray and DVD. Set in the fictional community of Svalbard in Arctic Norway, regarded as one of the world’s safest places to live, until a murder occurs and the town’s reputation starts to unravel.
ORDER FORTITUDE SEASON 1 VIA AMAZON
The Wire: Complete Collection
Finally, the wait is over. The first release of HBO’s critically-acclaimed show on Blu-ray, remastered for high-definition goodness.
ORDER THE WIRE VIA AMAZON
Also Released:
The Gambler – Mark Wahlberg stars in this remake co-starring John Goodman and Brie Larson
The Terminator – new edition of James Cameron’s original 1984 classic in time for July’s Terminator Genisys
Far From Madding Crowd – the original film gets a Blu-ray re-release
Stretch – action-thriller-comedy from Smokin Aces’ Joe Carnahan, starring Patrick Wilson
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Collection – full Blu-ray boxset of HBO’s hit show