—Being Human: Season 1 ( already out; $34.98 ) : The United States doesn't have a monopoly on TV shows featuring monsters, as this British series features George ( Russell Tovey ) and Mitchell ( Aidan Turner ) , who work as hospital porters in Bristol, England. ( It turns out that Mitchell's a vampire and George is a werewolf. ) They move into a house, only to find that Annie ( Lenora Crichlow ) , the ghost of a woman killed in mysterious circumstances, haunts it. Among the special features are behind-the-scenes featurettes and an interview with creator Toby Whithouse.
—The Breakfast Club: 25th Anniversary Edition ( already out on Blu-ray; $26.98 ) : It's hard to believe that a quarter-century has passed since this film starring Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy premiered in theaters, but here it is, in high definition.
—Death at a Funeral ( Aug. 10; $26.98 ) : Less than three years after the British comedy Death at a Funeral hit theaters, this remake—featuring Chris Rock and the off-kilter Tracy Morgan—surfaced on the big screen. Once again a family has gathered for the dignified memorial service for a patriarch: older son ( Rock ) has prepared a eulogy; younger son ( Martin Lawrence ) has flown in on his celebrity as a best-selling author; and favorite niece ( Zoe Saldana ) , who has brought her fiancé ( the handsome James Marsden, who runs around naked in one scene ) . You know, the usual fare for a funeral. The wild card is a stranger ( Peter Dinklage, the only member of the cast to repeat his role from the 2007 film—as a gay extortionist ) . The director is Neil LaBute, who's usually known for more serious fare such as In the Company of Men and The Wicker Man.
—Henson's Place ( already out; $14.98 ) : Henson's Place ( released by Lionsgate ) celebrates the late Jim Henson, who created the Muppets, the TV show Fraggle Rock and fantasy movies The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. The film shows Henson's early fascination with puppetry and visual media, and has interviews with figures such as his wife, Jane, and fellow puppeteer Frank Oz. There's also a digital yearbook that provides a rare look at Henson's studio staff.
—The Judy Garland Show: Volume Five ( Aug. 31; $19.98 ) : Infinity Entertainment Group is releasing the shows from this 1963-64 program in groups of two episodes. Featured guests in this star-studded, medley-filled two-episode set are Tonight Show creator Steve Allen; famed musician Mel Tormé, a.k.a. "The Velvet Fog"; stage, film and television legend Jayne Meadows; and Tony Award-winning and Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated actress Diahann Carroll ( from TV shows Julia and Dynasty ) .
—Kick-Ass ( already out; $29.95 ) : This fun ( and, to some extent, controversial ) Lionsgate film, features unlikely real-life teenage crimefighters Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse ( who played McLovin in Superbad ) and Chloë Grace Moretz, who was the source of some of the controversy as an 11-year-old who says all types of curse words. Nicolas Cage co-stars as Moretz's father. People can choose the DVD or the Blu-ray Disc Combo Pack ( three discs, including Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy, for $39.99 ) . By the way, the Blu-ray Disc allows for "Ass-Kicking Bonus View Mode."
—La Mission ( Aug. 10; $24.98 ) : Starring Benjamin Bratt and directed by his brother, Peter, La Mission is about a straight macho father ( Benjamin Bratt ) adjusting to having a gay son ( Jesse Borrego ) . In his review of the movie, Windy City Times film critic Richard Knight, Jr., wrote that La Mission is "an entertaining, sincere effort livened by the magnetic performance of Bratt. Fans of other Latino-themed gay dramas, Shelter and Quinceanera, which explore similar thematic terrain, will especially enjoy the film."
—Raging Sun, Raging Sky ( already out; $19.99 ) : Directed by Julian Hernandez, this movie focuses on Kieri and Ryo, two handsome Mexican men who strongly love each other. However, when Ryo is kidnapped, Kieri embarks on a search for his soulmate—while under the watchful eye of a female spirit. ( Yes, you read that correctly. ) This movie has been called "stunning"—and at 192 minutes, it better be.
—Six Centuries of Verse ( already out; $69.99 ) : Presented by the late openly gay Oscar® winner John Gielgud, this star-studded series that aired during the '90s traces the evolution of English-language poetry from Beowulf to modern times. Historical background complements the poems themselves, which are performed by revered actors such as Lee Remick and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
—We Have to Stop Now ( already out; $19.95 ) : Starring Jill Bennett and Cathy DeBuono—who both have been profiled in Windy City Times—Wolfe Video's We Have to Stop Now centers around a lesbian couple, Dyna and Kit, who both happen to be therapists and who write a book about how to have a successful relationship. Their book hits the best-seller list at the same time that their relationship hits the skids. They end up in therapy themselves, which they want to naturally want to keep a secret—and all sorts of comic complications ensue. Lesbian comic Suzanne Westenhoefer co-stars.
—Wolverine and the X-Men: Final Crisis Trilogy ( Aug. 17; $14.98 ) : Marvel Animation and Lionsgate Home Entertainment are thrilling gay and lesbian comic-book fans ( on the eve of the local Comic-Con, no less ) by releasing the three-part season finale with Wolverine, Beast, Cyclops, Jean Gray, Professor Xavier and the rest of the gang. Special features include very entertaining audio commentaries by supervising producer Craig Kyle, head writer Greg Johnson and writer Chris Yost.
—Wonderland ( Blu-ray out Oct. 5; $19.95 ) : Starring Val Kilmer, Lisa Kudrow and Christina Applegate, this film—originally released on DVD in 2007—looks at the notorious "Wonderland Murders" ( a quadruple homicide ) of 1981. The movie attempts to explain how the legendarily endowed porn actor John C. Holmes ( portrayed by Kilmer ) was involved in the killings, while deliberately suggesting the difficulty of knowing the truth of a murky case. Special features on the DVD ( which is already out ) include deleted scenes and interviews with people who knew Holmes.
