Phil Villarreal's novel, Zeta Male, is available at Amazon.
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Here are the best recent home video releases:
All the Way
Bryan Cranston continues to thrive in his post-"Breaking Bad" career, taking on the role of a lifetime in President Lyndon B. Johnson, who calls in favors and puts his status on the line to work with Martin Luther King (Anthony Mackie) to push the Civil Rights Act through Congress. Top-notch performances and a gritty, warts-and-all look at the way political sausage is made make for an enthralling spectacle. The Blu-ray/digital copy combo includes looks at both historical figures.
The Iron Giant
Debuting on Blu-ray for the first time, this 1999 animated classic boasts a making-of documentary -- "The Giant's Dream" -- that tells the behind-the-scenes story of director Brad Bird's heartfelt tale. A small-town boy (Eli Marienthal) befriends a giant robot (Vin Diesel) amidst Cold War intrigue. The film looks better than it ever has before, with its stunning visuals popping thanks to an authoritative new transfer. The lack of a digital copy is a disappointment.
Money Monster
George Clooney hams it up in a gregarious performance as an egotistical cable investing advice show who becomes targeted by a disgruntled viewer (Jack O'Connell). Julia Roberts plays off of Clooney's energy as his steadfast producer who keeps the camera rolling despite continually ludicrous developments. Unfortunately, the lack of shared screen time undermines much of the stars' chemistry. For my full review, click here. Extras in the Blu-ray/DVD combo include deleted scenes, a "What Makes the World Go 'Round (MONEY!)" music video and a slew of featurettes that examine various aspects of the silly production.
South Park: Season 19
The brilliant animated satire loses no steam as it nears the end of its second decade on air. Trey Parker and Matt Stone take on the likes of CrossFit, political correctness, dudebro culture, online ads and the media spectacle of Caitlyn Jenner in a furious storm of gloriously inappropriate jokes. As is always the case with "South Park" Blu-ray sets, there is no digital copy. Extras include deleted scenes, commentaries and a preview of the upcoming "South Park" video game.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Shimmering in glorious 4K, the hit-and-miss summer flick resurrects the disturbingly detailed, CGI-enhanced superheroes as they take on archenemies Krang and Shredder. Megan Fox is back as the turtles' sidekick and occasional damsel in distress April O'Neil, and Will Arnett debuts in the series as their hockey-masked ally, Casey Jones. Laura Linney and Tyler Perry help pump up the star power in the movie, which flops in the story category but wows with kinetic action scenes. Extras include a digital copy, standard Blu-ray disc, deleted scenes and a look at hidden "turtle eggs" throughout the film.
Studios provided screeners for review.
