“I had a purpose, I was needed again and again and again. With each new life I was learning a new lesson.”
A DOG’S PURPOSE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL HD AND ON BLU-RAY & DVD MAY 2ND
Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A DOG’S PURPOSE, from director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, Dear John, The 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. The family film told from the dog’s perspective also stars Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Peggy Lipton, Pooch Hall and Dennis Quaid.
Now you can own A DOG’S PURPOSE Blu-ray. We Are Movie Geeks has seven copies to give away.All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie starring Dennis Quaid? (mine is BREAKING AWAY!). It’s so easy!
Good Luck!
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.
Excuse the pun, but Hollywood has gone to the dogs. And it’s not the first time. Man’s (and the movies’) best friend has been the hero and heroine of many a flick since the old nickleodeon days. The first canine superstar was probably Rin-Tin-tin way back in the silent era. He was a German Shepherd who rescued human co-stars and even a soon to be major studio (the Warner Brothers might not have survived without his box office bucks). Then came Lassie in her many media incarnations, along with other dogs that provided comic relief from Nick and Nora’s terrier Asta to that Saint Bernard behemoth, Beethoven. With the advent of social media there’s been an avalanche of pet adoration, with funny home videos of dogs taking a big bite out of the bandwidth. This helped fuel last summer’s animated smash THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (primarily dogs, with a few kitties, birdies, and an ill-tempered bunny). Now comes this (mostly) live action ode. But it attempts more than just silly slapstick and tugs at the ole’ heartstrings. This movie ponders the whys and wonders of A DOG’S PURPOSE.
Or should the title be plural, since several dogs share the same spirit, given voice by Josh Gad (yes, Olaf from FROZEN). First he’s an unnamed wondering puppy, quickly scooped up by the city’s Animal Control (and happily sent to that “farm up north” off camera). Then we get to the main story as that life force jumps into a Red Retriever pup that is taken in by eight year-old Ethan (Bryce Gheisar) and named Buddy. The two become inseparable even as Ethan’s parents slowly drift apart. That bond is still strong as Ethan matures into a high school football star (now played by K.J. Apa) who hopes for a scholarship while starting a romance with Hannah (Britt Robertson). Things don’t go as planned while Buddy begins to feel the effects of old age, and soon that chatty spirit goes traveling, finally returning as a German Shepherd lady (!) named Ellie. She’s put to work almost immediately, training to be a police dog, taught by her owner/partner, a lonely cop named Carlos (John Ortiz). Their strong bond is soon cut short by the mean streets of Chicago. Then it’s puppy time again, this time as a cute Corgi named Tio, who’s adopted by a shy college student, Maya (Kirby Howell-Baptiste). The two bond over a mutual love of junk food, which leads to long walks in the park (the vet prescribes lots of exercise) where they meet another college student Al (Pooch Hall). Tio’s along for the romance with Al and his jumbo-sized lady dog, watching as their owners marry and have kids, until time passes by. Boom, another host, this time a big mixed breed mutt neglected and abandoned by a disreputable couple. The dog’s lost, but the sights and sounds seem vaguely familiar. He recognizes Hannah’s scent at a playground and soon stumbles upon the familiar farm now owned by middle-aged bachelor Ethan (Dennis Quaid). He names the dog Bailey, who returns to that playground and follows that smell to the grandmother of those kids in the park, Hannah (Peggy Lipton). Bailey soon embarks on a mission to reunite the high school sweethearts. Could the role of canine cupid be his real purpose?
The human actors in the cast do their level best not to be upstaged by the adorable and energetic canine actors, proving that W.C. Fields adage quite true (“Never work with animals or children”). The best known of the cast is probably the ever charming Dennis Quaid who utilizes his well-worn crinkly smile to great advantage as the good man who’s endured his share of bad breaks. We’re really rooting for him and hope he gets one last chance at love. That chance is epitomized by the dazzling, forever mod Lipton, an actress deserving of many more high-profile roles. Their younger counterparts are also very engaging. Robertson, a real rising star, embodies the ultimate wholesome “girl next door”. As for the “Ethans”, Apa is both tender and tough (defending his dysfunctional family), while Gheisher melts our hearts as he bonds with his best pal (and he’s got excellent taste in literature…faded 50’s issues of “Captain America: Commie Smasher”). Ortiz is quite compelling as the tough, emotionally wounded cop who finally begins to heal. Howell-Baptiste and Hall have believable chemistry as the young couple brought together by their pets. Kudos to Luke Kirby who brings a real bit a pathos to a part that could easily be a standard villain, that of Ethan’s dad who turns to booze when his dreams are crushed. Oh, and Gad is thankfully more cute and endearing rather than cloying or obnoxious as the “dog spirit”.
This story, credited to five (?!) writers too often wallows in sentimentality when it’s not trying to deliver laughs with sophomoric slapstick (dinner time calamity with the boss and his wife…who’ll go face down into the mashed potatoes?) and gross-out gags (butt-sniffing and doggie flatulence). The anthology structure really slows the story’s pace, as we wait for Gad’s voice to change bodies and meet new owners (it could almost be titled “Marley Can Wait” ala the Warren Beatty 70’s classic). Being a comic book fan, I was reminded of DC’s “Deadman” (hmmm, “Deaddog” would’ve been quite off-putting). Director Lasse Hallstrom gets some good performances out of all the cast, while making sure the dramatic moments aren’t too mawkish (hey, this is a step up from those Nicholas Sparks adaptations). Much like the recent MONSTER TRUCKS, this is a flick squarely aimed at kids, one that is more watchable than expected. And if adult animal lovers can get past the recent behind the scenes video scandal, they should have a pretty good time. Though it’s not great cinematic art, for those audiences, A DOG’S PURPOSE, for lack of a better word, fulfills its purpose.
Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures have released the trailer for A DOG’S PURPOSE.
Check out the cuteness now.
Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Purpose, from director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, Dear John, The 100-Foot Journey), shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love. The family film told from the dog’s perspective also stars Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, John Ortiz and Pooch Hall.
A Dog’s Purpose is produced by Gavin Polone (Zombieland, TV’s Gilmore Girls). The film from Amblin Entertainment and Walden Media is executive produced by Alan Blomquist and Mark Sourian, and it will be distributed by Universal Pictures.
Twenty-five years after the shocking murder of Laura Palmer in the acclaimed series from legendary filmmaker David Lynch and writer/producer Mark Frost, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution will release TWIN PEAKS – THE ENTIRE MYSTERY.
Arriving for the first time on stunning High Definition Blu-ray with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio on July 29th, this comprehensive collection contains every episode from the complete television series; both the U.S. and international versions of the series’ Pilot; the North American Blu-ray debut of Lynch’s follow-up feature Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me; and nearly 90 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes from the film. The set also features newly transferred Log Lady introductions for each episode; picture upgrades to many shots in the TV series; a new featurette with Lynch and the actors who portrayed the Palmer family which includes a mesmerizing return to the lives of their characters today; and hours of never-before-released material that dives into the fascinating story behind the celebrated pop culture classic.
Along with a newly transferred version of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, created from a 4K scan of the original negative, TWIN PEAKS – THE ENTIRE MYSTERY Blu-ray box set boasts the long-awaited missing pieces from the original version of the film – nearly an hour-and-a-half of deleted/alternate scenes from Twin Peaks:Fire Walk With Me – often referred to as the “holy grail” of Twin Peaks fandom. This feature-length experience has been directed and edited by Lynch exclusively for this release. Capping off more than 30 deleted/alternate scenes is an epilogue providing a fascinating glimpse beyond the cliffhanger finale of the TV series.
“During the last days in the life of Laura Palmer many things happened, which have never been seen before,” said David Lynch. “They’re here now alongside the new transfer of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Twin Peaks, the television series.”
“We set the bar very high with our prior complete series TWIN PEAKS DVD Gold Box,” said Ken Ross, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CBS Home Entertainment. “THE ENTIRE MYSTERY Blu-ray had to be spectacular in terms of both content and presentation. We are confident that we hit the mark and are bringing the fans something very special. None of this could have been possible without the day-to-day involvement of David Lynch.”
TWIN PEAKS – THE ENTIRE MYSTERY is loaded with special features. In the two-part feature “Between Two Worlds,” Lynch himself interviews the Palmer family (Leland, Sarah and daughter Laura) about their current existence in this life and the next, and follows up with a discussion with the actors who portray them. TWIN PEAKS – THE ENTIRE MYSTERY alsofeatures “Moving Through Time: Fire Walk With Me Memories,” an exclusive retrospective documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew who recount the making of the Twin Peaks movie and working with David Lynch. The collection also features high-definition versions of the Log Lady episode introductions, transferred from recently unearthed 16mm film negative, a selection of newly discovered deleted scenes and outtakes from the television series, and three Twin Peaks photo galleries with over 130 behind-the-scenes images from David Lynch’s personal never-before-released collection. Also new to this release are 10 vignettes of iconic Twin Peaksthemes called “Atmospherics.” Each features a unique montage of music, dialogue and video (including some rare outtakes) that appear as both menu backgrounds and as their own textless experience to further immerse fans in the mysterious world of Twin Peaks.
Additionally, the set features a massive collection of pre-existing special features, some of which have been re-mastered in high definition exclusively for this release, including the award-winning four-part documentary “Secrets From Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks,” and a newly extended version of the Gold Box featurette “A Slice of Lynch,” featuring the complete and uncut conversation between David Lynch and actors Kyle MacLachlan and Mädchen Amick. Additionally, this 10-disc set houses an extraordinary archive of special features culled from the entire history of Twin Peaks on home video, including featurettes, cast and crew interviews, promotional reels, archival deleted scenes…and much, much more.
Winning a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama in 1991, and a fixture in all-time top TV series lists from TIME, Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide, Twin Peaks follows the inhabitants of a quaint northwestern town who are stunned after the homecoming queen Laura Palmer is suddenly found murdered. The investigation that follows engenders an eerie chain of events with cataclysmic results felt across the entire town.
The series features an ensemble cast including Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Sheryl Lee, Sherilyn Fenn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Richard Beymer, Ray Wise, Peggy Lipton and Warren Frost. Although shot after the series ended, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is the prequel to the television series and focuses on the seven days leading up to Laura Palmer’s death. Many of the TV series cast members reprise their roles in the film and are joined by others including Kiefer Sutherland, David Bowie, Chris Isaak and Harry Dean Stanton.
TWIN PEAKS – THE ENTIRE MYSTERY will be available in 1080p with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (Series and Feature), original English Stereo 2.0 (Series and Feature), Latin American Spanish Mono (Series), Latin American Spanish Stereo (Feature), Brazilian Portuguese Mono (Series), French Mono (Series), French 5.1 (Feature), Italian Mono (Series), Italian Stereo (Feature), German Mono (Series), German 5.1 (Feature), Castilian Mono (Series), Castilian Stereo (Feature), Japanese Mono (Series), and Japanese Stereo (Feature). The 10-disc collection also includes English SDH, Latin American Spanish, French, Italian, German, Castilian, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Finnish subtitles (Series and Feature).
It will be available for the suggested retail price of $109.99 U.S. and $129.99 Canada.
17 Pieces of Pie: Shooting at the Mar T (AKA RR) Diner
Mark Frost Interview with Wrapped in Plastic
Learning to Speak in the Red Room
An Introduction to David Lynch
Lucy Bumpers
1-900 Hotline
Production Documents
Image Galleries
Log Lady Intros (HD)
Preview and recaps on select episodes (HD)
Disc Six:
Episode 19
Episode 20
Episode 21
Episode 22
Special Features
Postcards From The Cast
Twin Peaks Sneak Peaks (HD)
Log Lady Intros (HD)
Preview and recaps on select episodes (HD)
Disc Seven:
Episode 23
Episode 24
Episode 25
Episode 26
Special Features
Cast And Crew Interviews
Log Lady Intros (HD)
Preview and recaps on select episodes (HD)
Disc Eight:
Episode 27
Episode 28
Episode 29
Special Features
Secrets From Another Place: Creating Twin Peaks (HD)
Northwest Passage: Creating the Pilot
Freshly Squeezed: Creating Season One
Where We’re From: Creating the Music
Into the Night: Creating Season Two
Log Lady Intros (HD)
Preview and recaps on select episodes (HD)
Disc Nine:
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
The Missing Pieces: Deleted/Alternate Scenes (HD) – NEW!
Special Feature
Archival Interviews
Disc Ten:
Special Features
Between Two Worlds (HD) – NEW!
Palmer Family Interview
Actors Discussion
Moving Through Time: Fire Walk With Me Memories (HD) – NEW!
Reflections On The Phenomenon Of Twin Peaks
US Trailer
International Trailer
Fire Walk With Me Photo Gallery – NEW!
Atmospherics (HD) – NEW!
Trees/Woods
Pie
Signs/Places
Coffee
Notes
Water
Donuts
Owls
The Ring
The Red Room
Visit andthemissingpieces.tumblr.com for the latest details on TWIN PEAKS – THE ENTIRE MYSTERY. Use #theentiremystery to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
