Fans of the hugely popular American-produced Power Rangers franchise have been clamoring for years to see a stateside DVD of the Japanese TV program that inspired it and its finally been released this week.
Super Sentai Zyuranger (Shout!/DVD, 1992-93, 10 discs, 50 episodes, in Japanese with English subtitles, featurette). Live-action Japanese program relating the adventures of a band of young warriors awakened from suspended animation when their sworn enemy, Bandora the witch, is inadvertently released from imprisonment. The warriors are armed with enchanted weaponry and call upon ancient robotic deities the Guardian Beasts to battle monsters released by Bandora.
This series the 16th in a long-running Japanese Super Sentai franchise was adapted for the 1993 initial season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which has led to a variety of Power Rangers series.
Wahlburgers: The Complete Second Season(Lionsgate/DVD, 2014, two discs, nine episodes, Fourth of July special, featurettes). The Boston-based Wahlbergs Mark (Transformers: Age of Extinction); Donnie (TVs Blue Bloods); Paul, a chef; and their mother Alma, among others celebrate food and family in this reality show. The title is the name of their Boston restaurant.
Z Nation: Season One (Universal/DVD, 2014, three discs, 13 episodes, featurettes, bloopers). Three years after a virus-born zombie apocalypse, a group of survivors is tasked with transporting from New York to California the lone immune human whose antibodies may save mankind. Obvious Walking Dead-inspired horror series has captured a rabid audience.
Game of Thrones: The Complete Fourth Season (HBO/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital/On Demand, 2014, four/five discs, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). This is a graphically gory, sexual HBO series based on George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire novels. This season builds on more allegiances and betrayals as the dynasties continue to struggle for more and more power.
Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness (Warner/DVD, 2015, featurette; glow-in-the-dark light-switch decal). New made-for-video feature-length cartoon (72 minutes) has Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma going into outer space on a billionaires tourism vessel when they are attacked by an alien and forced to land on the dark side of the moon.
Gladiators of Rome (Paramount/DVD, 2015, PG). Italian animated feature originally released in 3-D is an anachronistic gladiator spoof about a student in ancient Rome whod rather hang with his buds than study. Until he meets a young woman and feels inspired to excel in gladiator school.
Easter Family Fun Pack (Cinedigm/DVD, 1994-2000, six cartoons). Biblical and fanciful Easter-themed cartoons make up this collection, including Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, The Great Easter Egg Hunt, Noahs Ark and Easter in Bunnyland.
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze of Glory (Nickelodeon/Paramount/DVD, one episode, bonus episode). Included here are the first two episodes of this Nickelodeon cable-channel animated series aimed at preschoolers, which follows the adventures of a monster truck named Blaze and his young driver.
Stella and Sam: Bunny Hop (Cinedigm/DVD, 2013, eight episodes, music video; eight-page activity booklet). This series for preschoolers, based on a Canadian book series, has 9-year-old Stella taking her 4-year-old brother on amazing fantasy adventures fueled by their imaginations.
Max & Ruby: Sweet Siblings (Nickelodeon/Paramount/DVD, 2012-13, 12 episodes). Another preschooler brother-sister cartoon based on another childrens book series, this one with a young white rabbit named Max, who acts as foil to his older sister Ruby, who often involves him in various projects. Several episodes here are devoted to trains.
Springtime Adventures (Nickelodeon/Paramount/DVD, 2000-14, seven episodes). Episodes of various Nickelodeon cartoon shows, including Wallykazam, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues and Wonder Pets
Super Sentai Zyuranger (Shout!/DVD, 1992-93, 10 discs, 50 episodes, in Japanese with English subtitles, featurette). Live-action Japanese program relating the adventures of a band of young warriors awakened from suspended animation when their sworn enemy, Bandora the witch, is inadvertently released from imprisonment. The warriors are armed with enchanted weaponry and call upon ancient robotic deities the Guardian Beasts to battle monsters released by Bandora.
This series the 16th in a long-running Japanese Super Sentai franchise was adapted for the 1993 initial season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which has led to a variety of Power Rangers series.
Wahlburgers: The Complete Second Season(Lionsgate/DVD, 2014, two discs, nine episodes, Fourth of July special, featurettes). The Boston-based Wahlbergs Mark (Transformers: Age of Extinction); Donnie (TVs Blue Bloods); Paul, a chef; and their mother Alma, among others celebrate food and family in this reality show. The title is the name of their Boston restaurant.
Z Nation: Season One (Universal/DVD, 2014, three discs, 13 episodes, featurettes, bloopers). Three years after a virus-born zombie apocalypse, a group of survivors is tasked with transporting from New York to California the lone immune human whose antibodies may save mankind. Obvious Walking Dead-inspired horror series has captured a rabid audience.
Game of Thrones: The Complete Fourth Season (HBO/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital/On Demand, 2014, four/five discs, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). This is a graphically gory, sexual HBO series based on George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire novels. This season builds on more allegiances and betrayals as the dynasties continue to struggle for more and more power.
Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness (Warner/DVD, 2015, featurette; glow-in-the-dark light-switch decal). New made-for-video feature-length cartoon (72 minutes) has Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma going into outer space on a billionaires tourism vessel when they are attacked by an alien and forced to land on the dark side of the moon.
Gladiators of Rome (Paramount/DVD, 2015, PG). Italian animated feature originally released in 3-D is an anachronistic gladiator spoof about a student in ancient Rome whod rather hang with his buds than study. Until he meets a young woman and feels inspired to excel in gladiator school.
Easter Family Fun Pack (Cinedigm/DVD, 1994-2000, six cartoons). Biblical and fanciful Easter-themed cartoons make up this collection, including Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, The Great Easter Egg Hunt, Noahs Ark and Easter in Bunnyland.
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze of Glory (Nickelodeon/Paramount/DVD, one episode, bonus episode). Included here are the first two episodes of this Nickelodeon cable-channel animated series aimed at preschoolers, which follows the adventures of a monster truck named Blaze and his young driver.
Stella and Sam: Bunny Hop (Cinedigm/DVD, 2013, eight episodes, music video; eight-page activity booklet). This series for preschoolers, based on a Canadian book series, has 9-year-old Stella taking her 4-year-old brother on amazing fantasy adventures fueled by their imaginations.
Max & Ruby: Sweet Siblings (Nickelodeon/Paramount/DVD, 2012-13, 12 episodes). Another preschooler brother-sister cartoon based on another childrens book series, this one with a young white rabbit named Max, who acts as foil to his older sister Ruby, who often involves him in various projects. Several episodes here are devoted to trains.
Springtime Adventures (Nickelodeon/Paramount/DVD, 2000-14, seven episodes). Episodes of various Nickelodeon cartoon shows, including Wallykazam, Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues and Wonder Pets