Every week on The Hollywood News, we are going to post a brand new column, written by yours truly featuring all of the DVD and Blu-Ray releases hitting shelves that week. This week is week one, so let’s kick things off with all of the titles hitting stores in the UK on Monday 25th July, 2011.

RANGO

One of the better animated movies of the year featuring superb direction from Gore Verbinski, wonderful vocal acting from Johnny Depp, and superb animation from Industrial Light and Magic. I saw this movie at a press screening earlier on this year just before the film was released theatrically and the kids and adults in the audience loved it. As did I. The Blu-Ray Triple Play (which is region free) is going to be available for around the £16.99 mark, with Amazon kicking them out for a superb £16.93. The DVD can be picked up for a superb first week price of just £9.99. Definitely this week’s must purchase.

Here are the DVD special features:

– Theatrical and extended version
– Director commentary by Gore Verbinski
– Deleted scenes, including a never-before-seen alternative ending

THE LINCOLN LAWYER

Matthew McConaughey is back! In possibly one of his better films of recent years, THE LINCOLN LAWYER revolves around Mickey Haller (McConaughey), who deals his way around Los Angeles in his chauffeured Lincoln, linking up with clients on the road. Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe and Willaim H. Macy round out the supporting cast. I can’t see that there are any extra features available on the release, including the Blu-Ray version, which just comprises of the HD version, DVD and Digital Copy over the three discs.

The best price that I can find for the film is Amazon, who are selling the DVD for £10.93 and the Triple Play Blu-Ray for £14.93.

THE EAGLE

Another Roman-set swords and sandals affair starring former dancers Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell. Again, I caught this theatrically and quite enjoyed it – then again I love good old Roman epic and Tatum and Bell gel well too, though the whole thing seemed a little too far fetched towards the end. Still, it’s based on a very well received book, The Eagle of the Ninth and is directed by Kevin MacDonald, celebrated helmer for THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and the superb TOUCHING THE VOID.

Just £10 will get you a copy of the movie from Amazon on DVD, while you can pick up the Blu-Ray for £15.93, which has some superb extra features (listed below). This is worth a few quid if you’re into your historical movies. I liked it.

Features (DVD):

• Feature Commentary with Director Kevin Macdonald
• Alternate Ending
• Deleted Scenes
• The Eagle: The Making Of A Roman Epic

Features (BD):

• Feature Commentary with Director Kevin MacDonald
• Alternate Ending
• Deleted Scenes
• The Eagle: The Making Of A Roman Epic
• Pocket blu
• The Eagle: Creating the Standard 45 Min Making Of Documentary and lots more

ORANGES AND SUNSHINE

I must admit, I haven’t seen ORANGES AND SUNSHINE as yet, but our own Tom Fordy raved about it when it was released in cinemas earlier in the year. This one is a bit light on the extras, and is only available on the DVD format, which you can pick up at Amazon for £9.99. I may pick this up as my eyes Emily Watson can literally do no wrong. Here’s the synopsis…

Synopsis: Oranges and Sunshine tells the story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals of recent times: the deportation of thousands of children from the United Kingdom to Australia. Almost single-handedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own well-being, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and drew worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. Children as young as four had been told that their parents were dead, and been sent to children’s homes on the other side of the world. Many were subjected to appalling abuse. They were promised oranges and sunshine: they got hard labour and life in institutions.

JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER

Another one that I missed on its initial cinema release, but I have actually heard good things about director John Cho’s documentary/biopic/concert movie. A definiate must for all Beliebers out there, the film is available on DVD (£9.99) and Blu-Ray (£15.00). Apparently, each copy offers the chance to win two pairs of tickets for a special ‘meet and greet’ with the teen sensation through an online prize draw… The DVD features a director’s commentary, while the Triple Play Blu’s features are listed below. Strangely, the DVD is rated as a U, while the Blu a PG, possibly down to the features…

• Concert Dance Off
• RIP Hair Flip
• Giving Back
• Favourite Girl

UNIVERSAL CLASSICS at £7.99 each on Blu-Ray

Universal have brought out four new titles at the £7.99 price mark that include FAST TIMES AND RIDGEMONT HIGH, AMERICAN GRAFFITTI, CRY BABY and NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE. All are obviously from their teen heart throb/high school/college back catalogue. All of these are bog-standard vanilla releases with zero in the way of special features, but at that price, who can complain? All are also region free. Hit the links above for more on those.

Here’s the box art for each…

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MIDDLE MEN

A film that seemingly went direct-to-DVD and Blu-Ray in the UK, MIDDLE MEN is billed a a cross between THE SOCIAL NETWORK and BOOGIE NIGHTS, and revolves around two businessmen who strive, and indeed succeed to make millions on the Internet. The two, surrounded by heaps of cash, organised crime and the FBI, they ‘fool themselves into believing that they’re staying clean in a dirty business.’ I don’t know a lot about it more than that. The BD is priced at £12.93 on Amazon, with the DVD less than £10… seven pence.

Here’s the extras.

• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes
• Slap Montage

So, our release of the week? Got to be RANGO!

Until next week!