by Matt Marshall
Brad Pitt scored his very first $200 million domestic hit less than two weeks ago with summer’s surprise zombie apocalypse, World War Z. Now it’s up for debate what’s the bigger shocker – that this double century milestone is a first for Pitt or that World War Z clawed its way to that success in the midst of a congested summer. Regardless, home media audiences have to opportunity to experience World War Z again on Blu-ray alongside this week’s other titles: The Bling Ring, The East, Behind the Candelabra and Dracula: Prince of Darkness: Collector’s Edition.
Loosely based on the Max Brooks novel of the same name, World War Z depicts the start of a global zombie pandemic spreading exponentially. Former UN employee Gerry Lane (Pitt) globetrots from country to country attempting to locate a cure, while squaring off against the undead.
World War Z is released this Tuesday from Paramount Pictures in various formats and retailer exclusives. The standard two formats available are a Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy, UltraViolet combo pack as well as a 3D version featuring a 3D copy added to the contents of the standard edition. Two versions of World War Z are offered on Blu-ray – a theatrical cut and an unrated cut with seven minutes of additional footage reinserted.
Several big box retailers are offering exclusives for World War Z. Both exclusives from Walmart will include one hour of additional content for the standard edition as well as the 3D edition. Target’s includes a 48-page art book and alternate packaging for both the standard and 3D combo packs. Best Buy’s exclusive features alternate artwork and bonus content.
Lionsgate Films and 20th Century Fox are each releasing an independent film to Blu-ray this Tuesday. First up, Lionsgate Films debuts Sofia Coppola’s docudrama, The Bling Ring starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2). Watson’s character is based on the real-life events of a celebrity-obsessed teenager who robs celebrity houses in Southern California with her friends. The Bling Ring is released as a Blu-ray, Digital Copy, UltraViolet combo pack. 
Fox will be releasing eco-drama, The East starring Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard and Ellen Page as a Blu-ray, Digital Copy, UltraViolet combo pack. The East is the third collaboration between Marling and director Zal Batmanglij, where Marling as a former FBI agent infiltrates an eco-terrorist group hell bent on bringing down three corrupt corporations.
Though not theatrically released in the US, HBO’s Behind the Candelabra debuts this week on Blu-ray. Starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, Candelabra retells the life of Liberace and his relationship with his lover, Scott Thorson. Candelabra is directed by Steven Soderbergh (Side Effects) and is packaged as a Blu-ray, Digital Copy, UltraViolet combo pack.
Last up this week coming from Millennium Entertainment is the Collector’s Edition of Dracula: Prince of Darkness. In this 1966 iteration of Dracula, Christopher Lee portrays the iconic bloodsucker. Dracula is released a single Blu-ray disc, but is supplemented with a handful of special features exclusive to this edition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matt Marshall is a YouTube movie reviewer who hosts MNMreviews. He has a B.A. in Communications/Journalism from St. John Fisher College and resides in Rochester, NY.
