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Release: September 6, 2022

$6.99

Description

August, 1944. With the American Eighth Air Force poised to strike over Nazi Germany, British Intelligence learns that they could be flying into a deadly trap. With only hours to spare, Flight Lieutenant Edward Barnes must fly a life-or-death mission over Berlin in his unarmed Spitfire to obtain photographic evidence and save the lives of 1,200 Airmen. Featuring breathtaking aerial footage and a viscerally engaging tale of bravery, heroism and heart-stopping suspense, Spitfire Over Berlin is a cinematic spectacle you cannot miss. Bonus Content: Audio Commentary with Director Callum Burn, Producer Andrew Burn and Director of Photography Sam Parsons Theatrical Trailer

Release: September 10, 2018

$6.99

Description

Spitfire is the epic tale of the world's most famous fighter plane, told by the last surviving veterans who flew her in the white heat of combat.

Release: January 9, 2024

$6.99

Description

Split Image is a spirit-stirring story revolving around an all-American college athlete, Danny Stetson (Michael O’Keefe, The Great Santini), who is innocently lured into Homeland, a youth-oriented cult, by a compellingly beautiful girl (Karen Allen, Raiders of the Lost Ark). Here he is programmed by the charismatic leader Neil Kirklander (Peter Fonda, Ulee’s Gold) to believe that his new life now has the true meaning that it previously lacked. Anguished by their son’s disappearance, the Stetsons hire a modern-day bounty hunter, Charles Pratt (James Woods, Cop), to abduct Danny and exorcise his brainwashed mind, deprogramming him to return him to his family and friends. A truly intense psychological drama directed by suspense master Ted Kotcheff (Billy Two Hats, North Dallas Forty, First Blood). Featuring Elizabeth Ashley (The Carpetbaggers) and Brian Dennehy (F/X) as Danny’s parents; music by Bill Conti (Rocky). Special Features: • Brand New HD Master – From a 2K Scan of the 35mm Interpositive • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Filmmaker Daniel Kremer • Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K) • Optional English Subtitles

Release: November 18, 2025

$7.99

Description

Good-natured Carey (Kyle Marvin) runs to friends Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Covino) after his wife Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce. He’s shocked to learn the secret to their happiness is an open marriage.

Release: November 11, 2025

$7.99

Description

Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams lead a critically acclaimed cast in this gripping true story about the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation that uncovered a scandal that rocked one of the world's oldest and most trusted institutions. Delving into allegations of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese, a tenacious team of Boston Globe reporters exposes a decades-long cover-up that reaches the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment. "Brilliantly acted and flawlessly directed" (New York Post), Spotlight is a powerful and riveting drama the critics are calling "the All the President's Men of our time" (Los Angeles Times). Bonus Content: 4K Dolby Vision Presentation Uncovering The Truth: Spotlight Ream Roundtable Spotlight: A Look Inside The State of Journalism

Release: April 29, 2025

$7.99

Description

Academy Award winner Gary Cooper stars as a Union officer in the United States' Civil War who goes undercover--pretending to be court-martialed--to uncover who is stealing army horses and selling them to the South before they can hijack a delivery of the new Springfield Rifle. While delivering a shipment of horses desperately needed to mount a big offensive in the United States' Civil War, Union Major Lex Kearny (Cooper) is overwhelmed by a band of Confederate raiders. Rather than risk the lives of his men, he sounds retreat, leaving the precious cargo behind--for which he faces a court-martial. But this is only a ploy to send Kearny underground to find who has been stealing horses from the Union Army. Kearny's mission remains so secret that even his wife (Phyllis Thaxter) believes he has gone renegade, and she surrenders evidence that implicates him as a Southern spy. Now, can Kearny stop the gang of traitorous horse thieves before he is sentenced to death for espionage?

$6.99

Description

The Spy Kids are back again! This time, their trademark action is combined with the very latest digital technology and the thrill of the 3-D experience to deliver a motion picture event that pushes family fun to the next level! Secret agents Juni (Daryl Sabara) and Carmen Cortez (Alexa Vega) set out on their most mind-blowing mission yet: a journey inside the virtual reality world of a 3-D video game where awe-inspiring graphics and creatures come dangerously to life! As they face escalating challenges through increasingly difficult levels of the game, the Spy Kids must rely on humor, high-tech gadgets, and the bonds of family in order to stop a power-hungry villain (Sylvester Stallone) set on controlling the youth of the world! Also featuring familiar faces Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, and Ricardo Montalban in an incredible all-star cast!

Release: March 18, 2025

$6.99

Description

A young telepath gets involved in a dangerous mission that her adopted father is a part of.

Release: March 26, 2019

$7.99

Description

Michael Keaton and Rae Dawn Chong star in this wild comedy thriller filled with colorful characters, a touch of romance and an adventure plot that races at an action-packed clip. A down-and-out New Wave artist meets a straight and narrow young woman when she serves him a summons for unpaid alimony. This unlikely pair team up after Keaton stumbles onto a murder.

Release: August 9, 2011

$6.99

Description

Re-creates the 1954-62 Algerian fight for independence from the French. Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo.

Release: November 22, 2016

$7.99

Description

With excruciating honesty, The Squid and the Whale chronicles the experiences of two young brothers growing up in 1980s Park Slope, Brooklyn, as they navigate the jagged contours of the divorce of their parents, both writers. The acclaimed third feature by Noah Baumbach (Kicking and Screaming, Frances Ha) marked a critical development for the filmmaker as he turned toward an increasingly personal style a move that garnered him an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay. Shot in Super 16 mm and featuring a quartet of nuanced, understated performances from Jeff Daniels (Something Wild), Laura Linney (Mystic River), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), and Owen Kline, this comic and poignant drama, peppered with autobiographical elements, deftly captures the heartache and confusion of a fracturing family. DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES - New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Robert Yeoman and director Noah Baumbach, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack - New interviews with Baumbach and actors Jeff Daniels, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, and Laura Linney - New conversation about the score and other music in the film between Baumbach and composers Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips - Behind The Squid and the Whale, a 2004 documentary featuring on-set footage and cast interviews - Audition footage - Trailers

Release: October 28, 2025

$6.99

Description

At St. Denis Medical Center, the dedicated doctors and nurses are trying their best to treat patients without completely losing their own minds. Overworked and often underappreciated, these everyday heroes are busy saving lives with a healthy dose of humor and heart. Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper and Kaliko Kauahi star.

Release: October 28, 2025

$6.99

Description

At St. Denis Medical Center, the dedicated doctors and nurses are trying their best to treat patients without completely losing their own minds. Overworked and often underappreciated, these everyday heroes are busy saving lives with a healthy dose of humor and heart. Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper and Kaliko Kauahi star.

Release: December 27, 2022

$7.99

Description

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.

Release: January 25, 2022

$6.99

Description

A masked killer stalks actors trapped inside a theater during rehearsals for a gruesome stage production.

Release: December 27, 2022

$6.99

Description

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.

Release: November 19, 2024

$6.99

Description

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the most fierce and relentless killing machine ever to threaten the survival of mankind! An indestructible cyborg - a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) - is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman whose unborn son will become humanity's only hope. This legendary sci-fi thriller from pioneering writer/director James Cameron, written with Gale Anne Hurd, fires an arsenal of action and heart-stopping suspense that never lets up!

Release: July 18, 2017

$7.99

Description

Andrei Tarkovsky s final Soviet feature is a metaphysical journey through an enigmatic postapocalyptic landscape, and a rarefied cinematic experience like no other. A hired guide the Stalker leads a writer and a scientist into the heart of the Zone, the restricted site of a long-ago disaster, where the three men eventually zero in on the Room, a place rumored to fulfill one s most deeply held desires. Adapting a science-fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Tarkovsky created an immersive world with a wealth of material detail and a sense of organic atmosphere. A religious allegory, a reflection of contemporaneous political anxieties, a meditation on film itself Stalker envelops the viewer by opening up a multitude of possible meanings. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES - New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack - New interview with Geoff Dyer, author of Zona: A Book About a Film About a Journey to a Room - Interview from 2002 with cinematographer Alexander Knyazhinsky - Interview from 2002 with set designer Rashit Safiullin - Interview from 2002 with composer Eduard Artemyev - New English subtitle translation - More! - PLUS: An essay by critic Mark Le Fanu

Release: March 26, 2019

$6.99

Description

Laurel and Hardy, one of the world's greatest comedy teams, set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. As the charm and beauty of their performances shines through, they re-connect with their adoring fans. Even as the tour becomes a hit, Stan and Ollie can't quite shake the specter of Laurel and Hardy's past; the long-buried ghosts, coupled with Oliver's failing health, start to threaten their precious partnership. A portrait of the most tender and poignant of creative marriages, they are aware that they may be approaching their swan song, trying to rediscover just how much they mean to each other.

Release: September 24, 2024

$6.99

Description

Based on a true story, a dedicated math teacher inspires his East Los Angeles students to conquer calculus and exceed expectations.

Release: July 15, 2025

$7.99

Description

Former Special Forces operative, Jack Johnson, seeks vengeance after his wife's murder, igniting a brutal war against a local crime lord's family. Former Special Forces operative, Jack Johnson, uses the Stand Your Ground law to seek vengeance after his pregnant wife is murdered during a home invasion fueled by prejudice. Upon his release from prison, Jack targets a local crime lord and his family, sparking a brutal war. As alliances shift and tensions rise, Jack prepares for a final, explosive showdown, confronting both his enemies and his own humanity. Cast & Crew Actors: Daniel Stisen Peter Stormare Eric Roberts Adam Basil Akie Kotabe Director: Fansu Njie Producer: Daniel Stisen Producer: Alan Latham

Release: September 8, 2020

$6.99

Description

GORUCK’s SELECTION is not only one of the toughest endurance events on the planet, it’s also an attempt by its creators to bridge the military-civilian divide. Hosted by a group of Special Forces combat veterans, this 48-hour challenge is a condensed interpretation of the US Army’s 24-day Assessment and Selection. For the participants, the event is a chance to test their limits while paying tribute to those who serve. For the Cadre, it’s an opportunity to honor their community and connect with civilians. Less than 2% of participants finished the first 18 iterations of the event. Will anyone in Class 019 meet “The Standard?"

Release: April 12, 2016

$6.99

Description

A troubled veteran gets a chance at redemption by protecting a girl from an assassin after she witnesses a murder. Holding a shotgun with a single shell, he engages in physical and psychological warfare in a desperate fight for the girl's life.

$6.99

Description

A psychological study at Stanford spirals out of control as student volunteers sink into the roles of prisoners and guards.

Release: January 24, 2017

$10.99(Not Free for Subscribers)

Description

A lonely widow helps an illiterate baker learn to read, forming a gentle relationship built on dignity, trust and second chances.

$6.99

Description

Producer David O. Selznick turned his attention to Hollywood with this 1937 original classic directed by William A. Wellman. Its Academy Award-winning screenplay co-written by Dorothy Parker tells the story of hopeful, young would-be actress Esther Blodgett (Academy Award winner Janet Gaynor) whose career is launched by movie star Norman Maine (Academy Award winner Fredric March), who also wins the young actress' heart. Esther becomes leading lady Vicki Lester and Mrs. Norman Maine, but as Maine's career flounders, he sinks into an abyss of alcoholism. Esther chooses to sacrifice her stardom to care for her husband, but he will not allow Esther to abandon her dreams for him. Remade three times in years ahead, this original version has at long last been meticulously restored and remastered from its original Technicolor camera negatives. The result is a sterling presentation of a landmark in film history for its first studio-authorized home entertainment release.

Release: June 4, 2019

$6.99

Description

Star is Born, A: The Encore: EXT Cut (Blu-ray)

Release: February 19, 2019

$6.99

Description

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons A Digital Copy is a digital version of the full-length movie that you get when you own specially-marked Blu-ray/DVD discs bearing the “Digital” logo. Owning the digital version of the movie extends your enjoyment because it enables you to download or stream your movie to a computer, mobile device, internet-connected TV, Blu-ray player, or set-top box.

Release: February 19, 2019

$7.99

Description

Star Is Born, A (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

Release: June 14, 2016

$6.99

Description

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before. CREDITS: Actors: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg Directors: J.J. Abrams FEATURES: Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen Language: English Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish Dubbed: French, Portuguese, Spanish Region: Region A/1 Number of discs: 3 Rated: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned Studio: PARAMOUNT Run Time: 126 minutes Star Trek XI -- 4K ULTRA HD

Release: June 14, 2016

$6.99

Description

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before. CREDITS: Actors: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg Directors: J.J. Abrams FEATURES: Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen Language: English Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish Dubbed: French, Portuguese, Spanish Region: Region A/1 Number of discs: 3 Rated: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned Studio: PARAMOUNT Run Time: 126 minutes Star Trek XI -- 4K ULTRA HD

Release: November 1, 2016

$6.99

Description

"Star Trek Beyond," the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In “Beyond," the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Release: November 1, 2016

$6.99

Description

Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his crew are stranded on an uncharted world after the Enterprise suffers a surprise attack by vicious alien commander Krall (Idris Elba). With help from a scavenger (Sofia Boutella) also marooned on the planet, Kirk and his people must find a way to foil Krall's plan to use an ancient and deadly bioweapon to wage war on the Federation. Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg (who also co-wrote), John Cho, and Anton Yelchin co-star in this hit sci-fi sequel. 122 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Portuguese, Spanish; deleted scenes; more. Blu-ray 3D requires a 3D television, a 3D Blu-ray player, and special glasses to reproduce the original theatrical experience. Number of discs: Three - 3D Blu-ray/2D Blu-ray/DVD

Release: November 1, 2016

$6.99

Description

Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his crew are stranded on an uncharted world after the Enterprise suffers a surprise attack by vicious alien commander Krall (Idris Elba). With help from a scavenger (Sofia Boutella) also marooned on the planet, Kirk and his people must find a way to foil Krall’s plan to use an ancient and deadly bioweapon to wage war on the Federation. Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg (who also co-wrote), John Cho, and Anton Yelchin co-star in this hit sci-fi sequel. 122 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Portuguese, Spanish; deleted scenes; more. Two-disc set. CREDITS: Actors: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoë Saldana, John Cho FEATURES: Format: 4K Language: English Region: Region A/1 Number of discs: 2 Rated: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned Studio: Paramount Run Time: 122 minutes Star Trek Beyond 4K ULTRA HD

Release: March 26, 2013

$6.99

Description

Set in the 22nd century, a hundred years before James T. Kirk helmed the famous starship of the same name, ENTERPRISE takes place in an era when interstellar travel is still in its infancy. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) has assembled a crew of brave explorers to chart the galaxy on a revolutionary spacecraft: Enterprise NX-01. As the first human beings to venture into deep space, these pioneers will experience the wonder and mystery of the final frontier as they seek out new life and new civilizations.

Release: August 20, 2013

$6.99

Description

Set in the 22nd century, a hundred years before James T. Kirk helmed the famous starship of the same name, ENTERPRISE takes place in an era when interstellar travel is still in its infancy. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) has assembled a crew of brave explorers to chart the galaxy on a revolutionary spacecraft: Enterprise NX-01. As the first human beings to venture into deep space, these pioneers will experience the wonder and mystery of the final frontier as they seek out new life and new civilizations.

Release: January 10, 2017

$6.99

Description

After a surprise attack on Earth leaves over seven million people dead, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the crew of the Enterprise swear to find those responsible - the Xindi. Taking off into the uncharted region known as the Delphic Expanse, the crew of the Enterprise must hunt down the Xindi and stop them from enacting their ultimate plan: the total destruction of humanity. Along the way they travel to the year 2004 to prevent a bioweapon attack, fend off the mysterious Sphere-Builders, and even meet their own descendants due to a wormhole mishap - all leading up to a desperate race back to Earth to prevent its destruction.

$6.99

Description

Captain Archer and the crew of Earth's first Warp 5 starship begin humanity's earliest deep-space missions.

Release: October 31, 2022

$6.99

Description

After more than thirty years of service as a top naval aviator, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot. Yet, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past when he returns to TOPGUN to train a group of elite graduates and comes face to face with Lt. Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his former wingman "Goose". Bitter rivalries ignite as the pilots prepare for a specialized mission which will require the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it. Top About this item Similar From the Brand Reviews Top Gun: Maverick [Blu-ray]

Release: October 3, 2017

$6.99

Description

Spectacularly produced, and the winner of seven Academy Awards� (1957), including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Alec Guinness), THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI continues to be one of the most memorable cinematic experiences of all time. Experience director David Lean?s legendary classic like never before with this 60th anniversary edition.

Release: January 10, 2017

$6.99

Description

After a surprise attack on Earth leaves over seven million people dead, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the crew of the Enterprise swear to find those responsible - the Xindi. Taking off into the uncharted region known as the Delphic Expanse, the crew of the Enterprise must hunt down the Xindi and stop them from enacting their ultimate plan: the total destruction of humanity. Along the way they travel to the year 2004 to prevent a bioweapon attack, fend off the mysterious Sphere-Builders, and even meet their own descendants due to a wormhole mishap - all leading up to a desperate race back to Earth to prevent its destruction.

Release: April 11, 2017

$6.99

Description

Captain Archer and the Enterprise crew enter the dangerous Delphic Expanse to stop the Xindi from destroying Earth.

Release: September 5, 2017

$6.99

Description

Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.

Release: March 26, 2013

$6.99

Description

Set in the 22nd century, a hundred years before James T. Kirk helmed the famous starship of the same name, ENTERPRISE takes place in an era when interstellar travel is still in its infancy. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) has assembled a crew of brave explorers to chart the galaxy on a revolutionary spacecraft: Enterprise NX-01. As the first human beings to venture into deep space, these pioneers will experience the wonder and mystery of the final frontier as they seek out new life and new civilizations.

Release: January 10, 2017

$6.99

Description

After a surprise attack on Earth leaves over seven million people dead, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the crew of the Enterprise swear to find those responsible - the Xindi. Taking off into the uncharted region known as the Delphic Expanse, the crew of the Enterprise must hunt down the Xindi and stop them from enacting their ultimate plan: the total destruction of humanity. Along the way they travel to the year 2004 to prevent a bioweapon attack, fend off the mysterious Sphere-Builders, and even meet their own descendants due to a wormhole mishap - all leading up to a desperate race back to Earth to prevent its destruction.

$6.99

Description

In its fourth season, Star Trek: Enterprise embraces classic franchise mythology as Captain Archer and crew face temporal war fallout and major Federation-era events.

$6.99

Description

In its fourth season, Star Trek: Enterprise embraces classic franchise mythology as Captain Archer and crew face temporal war fallout and major Federation-era events.

$6.99

Description

In its fourth season, Star Trek: Enterprise embraces classic franchise mythology as Captain Archer and crew face temporal war fallout and major Federation-era events.

Release: September 10, 2013

$6.99

Description

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. The digital code works irrespective of the expiry date.

Release: September 10, 2013

$6.99

Description

Product Description Note: The Digital Copy code is valid till September, 2023. When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. Amazon.com A good portion of Trekkies (or Trekkers, depending on one's level of Star Trek obsession) have special affection for episodes of the original TV series that related to Earth and other-Earth cultures visited by the crew of the Enterprise, version 1.0. Some of the shows unfolded in distorted forms of the past, some in the present day of Star Trek's future reality. Director J.J. Abrams recognized the importance of this relationship in his origin-story reboot of the franchise in 2009, and in Star Trek Into Darkness he has made it an even greater touchstone to the roots of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's defining philosophy from nearly 50 years ago. The human home world is key to the plot of this spectacularly bold leap into Star Trek lore, which cleverly continues along the alternate path that was established as separate from the "original" Star Trek universe in Abrams's first whiz-bang crack at advancing the mythology. But it's not just Earth that is cool and imperiled in this rendering of adventure in the 23rd century; Into Darkness also plays with the original conceit that Earthlings were member to a multi-species United Federation of Planets ruled by a "Prime Directive" of noninterference with other civilizations. The conflict comes when rogue elements in the Earth-based Starfleet Command hunger to shift focus from peaceful exploration to militarization, a concept that is anathema to the crew of the Enterprise and her ongoing mission. The new cast is again inventively reunited, each of them further investing their characters with traits that reveal novel acting choices while staying true to the caricatures that are ingrained in our popular culture. The interplay between Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock is deeper, and Zoe Saldana as Uhura is a solid third in their relationship. John Cho (Sulu), Simon Pegg (Scotty), Anton Yelchin (Chekov), and Karl Urban (McCoy) all have standout roles in the overall ensemble mystique as well as the plot-heavy machinations of this incarnation's narrative. Fortunately, the burdens of the story are well served by some important additions to the cast. Benedict Cumberbatch's Shakespearean aura, ferociously imperious gaze, and graceful athleticism make him a formidable villain as the mysterious Starfleet operative John Harrison. Harrison has initiated a campaign of terror on Earth before leading the Enterprise to even greater dangers in the enemy territory of Klingon-controlled space. That his background may make dedicated Trekkies/Trekkers gasp is just one acknowledgment of the substantial and ingrained legacy Star Trek has borne. There are many references, nods and winks to those with deep reverence for the folklore (some of them perhaps a little too close to being inside-baseball), though the fantastical and continually exciting story stands as an expertly crafted tale for complete neophytes. Another new face is Peter Weller--iconically famous in sci-fi-dom as RoboCop--here playing a steely, authoritative Starfleet bigwig who may also be following a hidden agenda. Not only is he running a covert operation, he's also at the helm of a fearsome secret starship that looms over the Enterprise like a shark poised to devour its prey. Which brings us to the awesome CGI effects driving the dazzling visual style of Into Darkness and the endlessly fascinating cosmos it makes real. The wow factor extends from the opening set piece on an alien world of primitive humanoids, garish vegetation, and a roiling volcano to the finale of destruction in a future San Francisco that is elegantly outfitted with gleaming-spired skyscrapers and all manner of flying vehicles. (London also gets a breathtaking 23rd-century makeover). With a coolness that glistens in every immaculately composed shot, the movie never forgets that humanism and creativity make the myriad design details and hyper-technology pop out as much more than eye candy. The biggest achievement of Star Trek Into Darkness is that it hews to the highest standard of a highly celebrated tradition. Though Kirk and co. may bend it a little, the Prime Directive remains unbroken. --Ted Fry