New on DVD/Blu-ray: Spielberg's Latest Arrives in Gorgeous HD; 'The Sandlot' Hits Its 20th Anniversary

By Peter Hall Mar 26, 2013

Spielberg Gets Historical (Again)

Lincoln - DreamWorks - Blu-ray and DVD

Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader. Full cast + crew

Steven Spielberg is perhaps best known for his sci-fi blockbusters, but it's his historical films that make up some of the best entries in his filmography. His latest, Lincoln, may not be quite the milestone as Schindler's List and Empire of the Sun, but it's in the same league. It's a stylish, sweeping and accessible look into the life of one of America's most talked about political figures that's bound to reignite patriotism in even the most jaded audiences, no matter what side of the aisle you're on.

But beyond the politics and the patriotism, this is just an impressive acting showcase. Daniel Day-Lewis is obviously the centerpiece here, once again giving a performance most actors can only ever dream of, but the wide supporting cast are all magnificent, particularly James Spader and Tommy Lee Jones.

Special Features: There's a two-disc and four-disc release of the film out. The four-disc set (pictured) contains an additional 80 minutes of content, including a look at what drew Spielberg and longtime producer Kathleen Kennedy to the project, a look at the performers and their methods, and more.

Nostalgia Bomb of the Week

The Sandlot - 20th Century Fox - Blu-ray

Director: David Mickey Evans
Cast: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York. Full cast + crew

Has it really been 20 years since the world was given the best kids' sports movie? Oh how the time flies. It'll be interesting to see how a new generation relates to the technology-free childhood on display in The Sandlot, but for those of us who can still remember a simpler time, this is still a crackerjack family film. Few films really nail the bond that forms between boys in the free hours of a school-free summer, but The Sandlot is one of them. To this day it holds up as a great example of how a wholesome film doesn't need to be cheesy and silly. Sometimes sincerity pays off, and in the case of this little film about a how baseball can bring everyone together, it never grows old.

Special Features: Unfortunately there's not anything new here, just a featurette and trailers from the last Blu-ray release. But, as part of the new release, you can snag a pair of Benny the Jet's favorite shoes, so that's something.

Other Notable Releases

BD, DVD

If you loved The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, you are going to want to check out director Andrew Dominik's latest film, the dark thriller Killing Them Softly. For a complete 180, you can get your hands on the heartwarming nature documentary To the Arctic about the survival of a polar bear family. Then there's A Royal Affair, one of this year's Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Language film. It's about a queen who falls in love with her doctor, and it's considerably more captivating than that premise or cover may imply.

If you like your horror movies bloody and out-there, check out The Collection and From Beyond, two films that fit that bill for two very different reasons. The former is a sequel to The Collector, which dials up a body count in absurd, delirious ways. The latter is one of the best films of Stuart Gordon's career and one of the finest H.P. Lovecraft adaptations ever made.

Everything Else