Sunday, August 18, 2019

New August Releases to Blu-ray and DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment (Review)


Disclosure: I was sent screeners from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.




While I was not excited to turn the page on the wall calendar and see August this month, I also knew it would mean a new shipment of DVDs would be coming from the folks at Mill Creek Entertainment.  Ever since I started blogging in 2008, I have been working with Mill Creek Entertainment, sharing their new releases for the whole family (kids, adults and family genre titles), as well as shared reviews of many of these releases.  In a day and age where many families are doing away with cable to save money each month, they are turning to streaming services and buying or renting DVDs and Blu-Rays to keep their families entertained.  We gave up our satellite service at the beginning of the year, saving us over $250 a month.  As a result, we have relied on https://www.movieSPREE.com (a Mill Creek Entertainment streaming service available for use with RokuApple TVAmazon Fire TV, and Android devicesand all the fun and entertaining screeners the folks at Mill Creek Entertainment send each month to get our binge watching on. :-)

This month's shipment included the following releases, many of which would make for a great in-house date night, like me husband and I do each week.  And, just like with past months of Mill Creek Entertainment, they recently released some of their retro movies that come with slip covers that look like old VHS cases.  I really like these releases and have a nice collection of these 80's and 90's hit movies, thanks to Mill Creek Entertainment.  This month's offering of the Retro VHS titles are in Blu-ray format.  Usually I share DVD features of the Retro VHS titles, but like how they are also turning out Blu-ray discs for those who prefer this over DVDs.

Check out the new releases my family has been enjoying, and that are now available through the Mill Creek Entertainment website, as well as through Amazon...


"Inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac, the comic story of a man with the heart of a great lover, the soul of a poet, and the nose for trouble.
In the little resort town of Nelson, Washington, well-loved Fire Chief C.D. Bales (Steve Martin) is sensitive about his remarkably long nose. Beautiful, intelligent astronomer Roxanne (Daryl Hannah), arrives in town to study a comet, finds herself attracted to another newcomer, C.D.'s imported professional firefighter Chris (Rick Rossovich). Roxanne confides her interest to the secretly-smitten C.D., who reluctantly passes it on to Chris. But Chris is dumbstruck, and convinces C.D. to ghost-write a letter to Roxanne-one that, unbeknownst to Chris, is an outpouring of C.D.'s own feelings for her. Since it seems to both men that Roxanne wants, as Chris tells C.D., “a man that looks like me and talks like you,” the deception continues, until Roxanne has fallen in love with the author of the passionate letters-while C.D. remains certain that she could never love a remarkable face like his.
“a comic masterpiece.” – Siskel & Ebert   “lyrical, sweet-natured, touching, and very, very funny.” – Time Out"
My Thoughts:
OMG, I was so excited when I saw Roxanne in the shipment of new releases, as this by far one of my favorite movies.  I grew up watching this movie, and fell in love with Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah, thanks to this movie.  Don't worry, I am not going to do in depth giving you a review of this movie, and the next few movies, which are part of the Retro VHS collection.  Instead, I just wanted to make you aware that now you can own some of your favorite retro hit movies, and watch over and over again, without worrying about wearing out an old VHS tape. :-)  
I did watch this movie the other night with my husband.  He told me he had never seen the movie, so I told him that he had to sit and watch it as he has been missing out.  He likes Steve Martin as a comedian, but isn't familiar with him in many movies.  At first he thought the movie was a little cheesy, but he stuck with it, and in the end said he really liked it.  He even wants to watch it again with me soon.  And, I am not going to say "No," as it had been a long time since I watched Roxanne -- I usually catch it on television late in the evening when I can't sleep.  But, now that I own the movie I can watch it time and again.  If you loved Roxanne and have been hoping to catch it on television or find through a streaming service, don't go crazy looking for it.  Instead, pick up a copy of the new Retro VHS Blu-ray version of this movie, now available from Mill Creek Entertainment.


"Abby McWilliams' (Lori Loughlin, TV's Full House) nightmare begins when she attracts the unwanted attention of teenage psychopath Eddie Dutra (James Spader, TV’s The Blacklist). Turned down for a date, Eddie destroys Abby's home, vandalizes her uncle's car and nearly stomps her brother to death. But it's only when he kidnaps Abby from the school dance, that Eddie shows his true feelings. Fueled by cocaine and armed with a shotgun, Eddie's lust turns to uncontrollable rage, as he takes Abby on a date from hell, in this terror-packed thrill-ride from the director of Friday the 13th
“an effective, tense little thriller– Exploitation Retrospect"


"Carrol Jo Hummer - A working man who's had enough!
A young Air Force veteran, Carrol Jo Hummer (Jan-Michael Vincent, TV’s “Airwolf”), starts a business as the owner-operator of a thirteen-speed, seven-and-one-half-ton diesel truck, which he “dresses up” and names “The Blue Mule.” With his bride, Jerri (Kay Lenz, Falling from Grace), he sets off to Tucson, Arizona, where his old friend Duane (Slim Pickens, Dr. Strangelove), the manager of a trucking company, gets him a job. But after Carrol Jo realizes he will be carrying illegal cargo and refuses the assignment, he’s beaten by a band of gangsters working for an organized group of criminals headed by Cutler (Don Porter, 711 Ocean Drive). When Carrol Jo’s commitment to staying honest results in even further violent retribution from the trucking syndicate, he has no choice but to team up with other independent truckers to break Cutler’s stranglehold and uphold the rights of the decent working man."

"An a Time of Turmoil, One Man Must Make a Stand!
Marlon Brando stars in this volatile political thriller based on the critically acclaimed best-selling book. As a compassionate American ambassador to the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation of Sarkhan, Brando tries to keep the Communists in the north from overrunning the weakened democracy in the south by making sure a vital road into the country's inaccessible interior goes through. But, from his very arrival, The Ugly American is met with suspicion and hate even by an influential freedom fighter now suspected of being a Communist agent. Intrigue and danger surround Brando and co-stars Pat Hingle, Arthur Hill and Sandra Church, in this tense story of Cold War politics that remains all too real today.

My Thoughts:
I grew up watching Marlon Brando movies, but had never seen this one.  You could say I am an old soul, as I preferred movies featuring Elvis Presley, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, while other kids my age were tuning in to 80's cartoons.  After seeing a few movies with my grandmother while she babysat my brothers and I, I found myself hooked on these famous actors and actresses, and wanted to watch all their movies and television specials I could find.  I had heard about the movie, but never found it on VHS to watch.  So, it was nice to see this in the batch of new releases from Mill Creek Entertainment, to watch and review.   
I have to saw as I was watching this political movie I couldn't help see similarities in the movie that is still relevant in today's political arena.  It is sad that the two parties are divided, and that every time I turn on the television or pick up a paper, I see more and more political upheaval causing a divided nation.  Truly sad, when a movie from years ago included political tensions that still remain today.  After seeing this movie, I found myself talking about it with my husband. He was intrigued by what I was sharing, and wanted to sit and watch it with me.  So, last  night I put this on for us to watch, and introduced him not only to this classic political movie, but also to Marlon Brando.  I have to say, that I am glad I waited to see this movie, as it would have been a little over my head when I was younger.  


"In July of 1918, the Bolsheviks shot Russian Czar Nicholas II, his wife and their five children during the Russian Revolution. So begins the epic saga of Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed until the day she died in 1984 that she was truly Grand Duchess Anastasia, the youngest child of Czar Nicholas II and sole survivor of the family's execution. Her story became one of the greatest romantic mysteries of the twentieth century. This breathtaking adaptation of Anna's journey is also a depiction of a lost era, from her days of Russian royalty, her flight from execution and her years of struggle to reclaim her royal heritage. Amy Irving leads a luminary cast in this spectacular drama filled with triumph, tragedy, mystery and hope."

My Thoughts:
This was one of the DVDs I was excited about receiving with this month's shipment.  After seeing the trailer last month on the Mill Creek Entertainment website, it looked like a great movie.    Are you familiar with Anna Anderson?  I had never heard about this mystery until I sat to watch the movie.  And, after watching it, I have to say it was a riveting movie.  It had you feeling so many emotions, and had you glued to the screen, to see what happened next.  If you are a fan of drama, then I highly recommend this movie.



"Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers return after a successful series run as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart for 8 feature-length mysteries that will entertain and thrill you. See everyone’s favorite crime-solving couple along with their loyal butler, Max (Lionel Stander), and their dog, Freeway in these eight whodunits.
“romantic chemistry and charm are key in these Hart to Hart reunion movies, and Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner have loads of both” – Paul Mavis, DVDTalk",
My Thoughts:
Were you a big Hart to Hart fan? I used to watch these made for TV movies with my family.  My parents are big on mysteries, thanks to Murder She Wrote, and were hooked after watching the first Hart to Hart TV movie.  And, I have to say, I was, too!  So, when I saw this DVD collection in the mail,  I was all smiles, as I knew I would be in for a treat, catching up on some of my favorite TV mystery movies, and also because I didn't have to search hard for a gift to give my parents this holiday season.  After watching the first two movies, out of the eight that are included with this Hart to Hart DVD collection, I couldn't help but call up my parents and tell them all about this new Mill Creek Entertainment release.  I told them not to buy the DVD as I would be getting them one to give them at the holidays.  That way they could watch some of their favorite Hart to Hart mystery movies, over and over again, just like I have been doing. :-)  
If you were a huge Hart to Hart fan, and would love to relive some of these gripping mysteries, then you definitely have to pick up this new DVD release.




"The Jet Age just hit full swing and leading the way are Pan Am's elite stewardesses who can navigate any culture and overcome any challenge. From New York City to the edge of the world, they will discover romance, natural dangers and exotic intrigue in a lush recreation of 1963 that will take your breath away. Christina Ricci (Penelope, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) leads an accomplished cast including Karine Vanasse (Midnight in Paris), Kelli Garner (The Aviator), Margot Robbie (I, Tonya), Mike Vogel (The Help) and Michael Mosley (The Proposal). Join the journey in all 14 exciting episodes collected in this complete edition of the original series Pan Am."
My Thoughts:
I caught a few of these episodes when Pan Am aired on television. But, then life got in the way and I missed a bunch.  So, instead of trying to play catch up or sit and watch the remaining episodes in the series, I just forgot about it.  Thanks to this new complete series DVD, I can now start over and watch all 14 episodes of this popular series featuring Christina Ricci, at my own pace, and finally see how the series ended.  Shh, don't share any spoilers. :-)




Beloved stories are lovingly retold in this delightful animation collection!
"Tales as old as time come to life in this enchanting assortment of animated feature films. 
The Jungle Book, Cinderella, The Legend of Snow White and Simba The King Lion - The Last Battle are all assembled on one fun-filled DVD.
DIGITAL BONUS:  Includes Digital Streaming Access to 6 additional adventures via redemption insert including: Welcome Back Pinocchio, Pocahontas I: Princess of American Indians, The Thief of Baghdad, The Three Musketeers, Hercules, Robin Hood"
My Thoughts:
My girls were so excited to start watching the movies that make up this new DVD release, which also includes bonus digital content, and six additional animated adventures!  Even though these are remakes of classic movies we all know and love, my girls were still excited to watch them, especially the Simba: The King Lion movie.  And, after they were done watching this movie, they moved onto The Jungle Book movie, which is based on Rudyard Kipling's book.  My girls really liked this retelling of the classic Jungle Book tale, and said the animated was colorful and fun.  
After they were done watching the four full-length movies that make up this DVD, they had me show the how to access the digital content, which included the following movies:
  • Welcome Back Pinocchio
  • Pocahontas I: Princess of American Indians
  • The Thief of Baghdad
  • The Three Musketeers
  • Hercules
  • Robin Hood
The girls are halfway through this extra bonus content, and loving all the movies.  So far the Pinocchio and Pocahontas movies are standouts to them.  They have been watching the movies at home, as well as in the car.  If you love collection DVDs like this that offer a wide assortment of family-friendly movies that the whole family will enjoy, then you will love this new release.  My girls are loving all the movies, and they have made for great family movie night picks.
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These are just some of the new releases from Mill Creek Entertainment.  You can check out all the new releases, as well as upcoming releases by visiting https://www.millcreekent.com/.  All the movies are affordable, which makes them great to purchase and watch time and again with your family.  And, be sure to check out their streaming service, www.movieSPREE.com, where you can purchase digital copies of many of these Mill Creek Entertainment titles, as well as access the digital version of the movies, once you purchase the DVD/Blu-ray versions, making them great for enjoying at home and on the go.  I can't wait to see what September has in store...so stay tuned!

Disclosure: I was sent screeners from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.



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