This Summer’s Biggest Blu-Ray/DVD & Cinema Releases

The summer months always been big money for the film industry- the kids have time off school, the big kids have time off work and with the unreliable British weather, indoor activities can never been underestimated.

DVD/Blu Ray

One of this year’s biggest blockbusters was ‘Oz: The Great and Powerful’, which gained $233,671,832 in Canada and the USA alone. It was released on 11^th June and tells the story of the land of Oz 20 years before the arrival of Dorothy and the story of the Wizard of Oz we all know and love.

June 18^th sees the release of ‘Movie 43’- a black comedy composed of 14 differing storylines, and with an all-star cast boasting the l ikes of Seth MacFarlane, Gerard Butler, Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and Emma Stone, what’s not to like? It was shot over several years and directed by over 10 directors, so its style is extremely diverse and unique.

‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ will also be on sale on DVD and Blu-Ray on 18^th June. It’s an adventure and fantasy film telling the classic coming-of-age tale young farmhand Jack and his quest of rescuing a beautiful princess from the top of a mystical beanstalk and the creatures that live upon it. This movie stars ‘Skins’ and ‘About a Boy’ actor Nicolas Hoult and Ewan McGregor.

If you love supernatural horror flicks, then look no further than ‘The Last Exorcism: Part II’ which will be availiable from 18^th June on DVD and Blu-Ray. If the movie’s poster isn’t creepy enough, the movie itself is set in the format of found footage of possessed Nell Sweetzer as her personality begins to change and become darker and darker. The film is full of all the murder, blood, gore and demons you could ever hope for.  

‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’ is a comedy starring Steve Carrell and will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 25^th June. It follows the life and times of Vegas magician Burt Wonderstone as he attempts to find his former partner to take on an infamous street magician.

July 9^th sees ‘The Host’ finally come to be available to purchase. The film stars the acting talents of Max Irons and Frances Fisher and is based on ‘Twilight’ author Stephanie Meyer’s novel of the same name. Although it was criticised in the press, the flick did make $47,955,000 at the box office. It tells the supernatural tale of the human race being taken over by extra-terrestrial physic parasites and the characters’ struggles to overcome their grasp.

Starring Disney heavyweights Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez, as well as James Franco, ‘Spring Breakers’ is about four college girls on their spring break. It made over $25.5 million dollars at the box office despite its $5 million budget, but this is no coming-of-age movie. The film begins with the friends robbing a fast food joint to obtain funds for their trip and the foursome encounter drinking, drugs, guns, parties, gangsters and death.

American-Action Thriller ‘Olympus Has Fallen’ will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray from 13^th August and showcases all the signature fears of the United States- terrorism and the deterioration of government and the general order of society. It stars Morgan Freeman and Gerard Butler and earned over $148 million dollars at the cinema worldwide.

Cinema Releases

The long-awaited ‘Monsters Inc.’ prequel ‘Monsters University’ will be released across the UK on 12^th July. Although  the smaller details of the plot have yet to be confirmed, Pixar has divulged that Sulley and Mike got up to all sorts of mischief during their university days and weren’t always the best of friends.

On 26^th June, Hugh Jackman’s handsome face will return to UK screens with ‘The Wolverine’. Although the flick is not a follow up to ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’, it is set in modern-day Japan where the protagonist meets a long-standing old enemy that could change the course of his future.

Ryan Reynolds stars in blockbuster ‘R.I.P.D’ based on the comic books by Peter M Lenkov. It will be in UK cinemas on 28^th June and also stars Kevin Bacon and Jeff Bridges, as well as the directing talents of Robert Schwentke. The story follows a recently-slaughtered cop as he attempts to track down his murderer with the help of the Rest In Peace Department.

For the first time since ‘Minority Report’, Steven Spielberg is welcomed back with open arms into the Sci-Fi world for ‘Robopocalypse’, which will be release on 3^rd July. Based on the Daniel H Wilson novel about a robot-reliant w orld that becomes threatened when one of the robots becomes self-aware, it is not yet clear how faithful Drew Goddard will be to the original text with this scriptwriting.

 ‘Despicable Me 2’ (28^th June) is sure to be an all-new comedy adventure starring all your favourites from the original film. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s already rumours of a third movie. Boasting the voice talents of Miranda Cosgrove and Steve Carrell, it’s sure to be an animated battle to the death this summer between ‘Monsters University’ and this flick.

Got a thing for sequels? Look no further than side-splitting ‘Grown Ups 2’ starring Adam Sandler. Set for UK release on 9^th August, the film sees Lenny (Sandler) carting himself back to his hometown to be with his friend s and family, he finds himself encountering bullies, drunken cops and crazy bus drivers!

July 31^st will see ‘The Smurfs 2’ hit British cinemas, and it’s a sure-fire success story in the making, what with the original film making well over $500m at the box office worldwide. After Smurfette is kidnapped by the evil Gargamel, the little blue people set out to rescue her with the help of their full-size human friends.

Whatever genre of film you’re into, there’s something hitting British silver screens and DVD players this summer that’s perfect for you. There’s so much variety to enjoy in the film industry currently, so embrace it!