Who is the king of Blu-ray this month? “Doctor Who”!
“Doctor Who: Tom Baker Complete Seventh Season” (BBC Studios) highlights a strong week in home entertainment releases. This eight-disc set has been highly anticipated by fans, as it marks Tom Baker’s electrifying final season as the Fourth Doctor.
All 28 episodes are newly remastered in 1080i, plus the set contains the complete K-9 and Company pilot episode.
What’s to love even more is the special attention given to the bonus features. BBC smartly retained the extensive special features on each disc previously released on DVD, such as featurettes, making-of documentaries and audio commentaries. The Blu-ray is loaded with brand-new special features, too, including a new making-of documentary, two other new documentaries (The Writers Room and Weekend with Waterhouse), new commentaries moderated by Matthew Sweet, new interview with K-9 and Company’s Ian Sears, eight new editions (Behind the Sofa), Tom Baker archive footage from the Panopticon 1993 Convention, and — my favorite — rare behind-the-scenes footage from the Leisure Hive, Full Circle, and Logopolis.
Also coming out is “Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Season,” starring Jodie Whittaker as the series’ first female Doctor. These follow the previous release of “Doctor Who: Peter Davison Complete Season One.”
Other titles
“A Star Is Born” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) is a must-watch title even for those who saw the movie in theaters. The home release features almost 10 minutes of never-seen musical performances by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, available as a bonus feature called Jam Sessions and Rarities. This add-on contains the songs “Midnight Special,” “Is That Alright?” and “Baby What You Want Me to Do.”
In just days, the Academy Awards will be handing out trophies, and “A Star Is Born” could be a true shining star on the red carpet. Cooper and Lady Gaga are both up for best actor and actress, respectively, and the movie is a finalist for best picture.
Cooper and Lady Gaga excel in this modern update of the movie that has been a winner every time it has been made (1937, 1954 and 1976) despite nuances and more obvious differences. A seasoned musician (Cooper) discovers and falls in love with a talented singer (Lady Gaga) who is struggling with the music business so much that she has given up her dreams. Cooper’s character intervenes, and, eventually, the result is a female artist who outshines her mentor. Unfortunately, he experiences struggles, to the point where a life-and-death downfall is imminent.
The original music, recording live during filming of the movie, can really be appreciated at home with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.
Other bonus features include a making-of featurette and four music videos.
“The Last Race” (Magnolia Home Entertainment) is an artistic ode to America — a documentary that centers on one of the country’s most beloved racetracks and those struggling to keep its long-standing tradition alive. The track in question is Long Island’s Riverhead Raceway, a mecca for stock-car racing since 1949. Filmmaker Michael Dweck focuses on 87-year-old raceway owners Jim and Barbara Cromarty, who struggle daily to keep the authentic American racing tradition alive as the real estate industry closes in on the profitable land.