New Blu-rays: ‘Kubo,’ ‘War Dogs,’ ‘Mechanic’ ‘Hell or High Water’
For the week of November 22nd, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is releasing one of the best reviewed animated films of the year home this Tuesday. Kubo and the Two Strings is the fourth animated feature from stop-motion studio, Laika, and has received much acclaim from critics and audiences. Rounding out the week is comedy War Dogs from Warner Bros. as well as Mechanic: Resurrection and Hell or High Water both from Lionsgate.
In a year led by Disney’s Zootopia, Finding Dory and now Moana, Kubo is right there with them. Set in ancient Japan, Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson) is a young boy living with his ailing mother. In the nearby village, he is known for his noteworthy storytelling, bringing to life origami figure to retell the tales of samurai heroes. He, himself, is special too, pursued by the evil Moon King (voiced by Ralph Fiennes) and his two masked daughters who desire his remaining eye. Aided by Monkey (voiced by Charlize Theron) and Bettle (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), Kubo begins a quest to hunt down magical armor and defeat the evil supernatural beings. Matt Marshall was wowed by the film, deeming Kubo “a brilliant one-of-a-kind experience.”
Universal is releasing the stop-motion film as a Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD combo pack. A 3D combo pack will also be available. For fans looking for more Laika films, Universal is also releasing the Ultimate Laika Collection. That set will include Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing the Todd Phillips comedy, War Dogs this week. Based on a true story, Miles Teller and Jonah Hill star as two young arms dealers contracted to supply weapons for the US in the Middle East. While not the major hit, Todd Phillips is used to after The Hangover trilogy, War Dogs was still decently received. Scott Menzel believed the film to be “surprisingly entertaining drama that works best when its not trying to be humorous.” The R-rated comedy-drama is set to be released as a Blu-ray, Digital HD combo pack. A 4K UHD combo pack will also be available. Target will be releasing an exclusive steelbook as well.
Lionsgate is set to release two of its summer films to Blu-ray. The first is Mechanic: Resurrection. In this sequel to the 2011 action film, Jason Statham stars as hitman Arthur Bishop. This installment has him going around the globe to undertake multiple assassinations. The only catch is to make them look like accidents. The film also starts Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones and was poorly received by critics. Lionsgate is distributing the action thriller as Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD combo pack. A 4K UHD combo pack will be another option.
Last up, also from Lionsgate, is the crime drama, Hell or High Water. Starring Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Ben Foster, Hell or High Water follows a family desperate to rob a bank after their house nearly forecloses. Bridges plays a Texas Ranger on the hunt for thieving brothers, Pine and Foster. After a leggy run at the box office, Lionsgate hopes that word-of-mouth will translate on home media. We Live Entertainment critic Daniel Rester called the film “one of the best films of the year thus far.” Lionsgate is releasing the film as a Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD combo pack.
