“Cubs win, Cubs win,” announcer Harry Caray used to excitedly proclaim after a Chicago Cubs victory in the 1980s and 1990s. One can only imagine what he would have screamed into the microphone if he had been alive last month, when the Cubs squeaked out a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Cleveland Indians to win the World Series for the first time in 108 years.
Shout! Factory celebrates the Cubs with two awesome releases: “2016 World Series,” which is the official film from Major League Baseball, and “2016 World Series Collector’s Edition: Chicago Cubs.” The former is a two-disc Blu-ray and DVD combo pack, and the latter is an eight-disc Blu-ray (or DVD).
For real fans, the collector’s edition option offers all seven complete World Series games, plus the pennant-clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field. Viewers may listen to the TV broadcast, the Cubs announcers, Indians announcers or Spanish-language version.
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“Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Complete Season One” (Walt Disney Studios) is certainly the “lighter” side of the force! The 13 episodes take place between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” and will fascinate young audiences.
Another kids title, “The Legend of Korra: The Complete Series” (Paramount Home Media Distribution/Nickelodeon) is also a great stocking stuffer. Available on DVD or limited-edition Blu-ray, the set contains all 52 episodes.
It has been almost eight years since pilot (and captain) Chelsley “Sully” Sullenberger flew a disabled jet to safety by landing in the Hudson River, saving all the lives of the 155 aboard. Tom Hanks pulls off an amazing performance of the Clint Eastwood-directed “Sully” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment). The Blu-ray contains must-see bonus features, including a private look at Sullenberger, a moment-by-moment examination of the incident and more.
On Dec. 27, be on the lookout for “Snowden” (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), the Oliver Stone flick about Edward Snowden, who exposed illegal surveillance activities by the NSA. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a great job portraying Snowden, and the special features even includes an interview with the elusive Snowden.