Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company are proud to announce the season one home entertainment release of the gripping Netflix drama, MARCO POLO. Featuring over an hour of never-before-seen special features including The Marco Polo Documentary, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, Fight Scene Rehearsals and more, MARCO POLO will be available on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay and Digital HD from Starz Digital on December 15, 2015.

This epic adventure follows a young Marco Polo, who finds himself in the court of the great Kublai Khan and must navigate a world of greed, betrayal and sexual intrigue as the Mongol leader wages a bloody campaign to become Emperor of the World.

Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schrieber, Brian D’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delve into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Thomas McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT is a tense investigative thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest crime stories in modern times.

Interview conduction by Stefan Blitz

Imagine a time in medicine where a doctor who simply washed his hands and tools before a procedure was considered “finicking and affected.” Imagine a place where if an ill woman refused her doctor’s treatment of applying leeches to her uterus, it would be perfectly acceptable for him to scream, “Well, then, madam, I suppose you will die!” Imagine an era where all operations, no matter how brutal or invasive, were performed on patients who were wide-awake and screaming, and who sometimes even attacked their doctors—often with the surgeon’s own instruments.

This was the world that Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter was born into, and the one which he was destined to change.

By Leah Williams

“Valar Morghulis” translated, "All men must die."

– From A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Written by Toshio Ban & Tezuka Productions Translated by Frederik L. Schodt

Stone Bridge Press announces that they will be publishing The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime, a huge (900+ pages) single-volume work that covers the entire life of Japan’s most beloved artist/comics/animation visionary. Currently in production, The Osamu Tezuka Story will see a release in July of 2016.

This graphic-format biography of Osamu Tezuka—Japan’s “God of Manga”—looks at one of the twentieth century's great creative artists (Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack). It is also an anecdotal study of the evolution of Japan’s early manga and anime business and its heroes. A never-before-seen popular culture history of postwar Japan, it is sure to fascinate fans and anyone interested in manga, anime, and the potential of the graphic storytelling medium.

When Disney acquired Lucasfilm, and in effect, the entirety of the Star Wars universe, it quickly went about consolidating the enormous number of canon and non-canon stories. What was known as the Extended Universe (EU), featuring books, comics, and other media based on the Star Wars universe, was re-categorized as “Legends." The official Star Wars canon was narrowed down to the six official films, the Clone Wars and Rebels cartoons, and some new illustrated and written media. Of all the EU media delegated to Legends status, none was more loved and admired by the fandom than the stories surrounding the famous starfighter squadron led by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles.

Labeled the Rogue Squadron, these elite Rebel Alliance pilots went on to take part in numerous heroic missions across comic books, novels, and video games. The most well-known of these Rogue Squadron stories is the trilogy of games released for the Nintendo 64 and GameCube consoles. Finally, entire games were devoted to this rag-tag group of Empire crushing pilots. With state-of-the-art graphics (for the time), full 360 degree flight, and numerous Alliance and Empire crafts to control, the Rogue Squadron series was an instant best-seller.

2016 will see the release of Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One, a story set before Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. It will tell the story of the pilots that stole the plans to the first Death Star. The Force Awakens has already introduced the brash and headstrong character of Poe Dameron in the first teaser trailer, who is seen whooping and hollering as his X-wing flies low over the water of a planet's surface. Beyond the films, the latest Star Wars themed video game, entitled Star Wars Battlefront, will allow players to battle against their friends in the skies and on the ground in familiar locations such as Hoth, Tatooine, and Endor. With Rebel pilots and Rogue leaders such an important part of the Star Wars experience going forward, check out this brief history of one of their finest gaming moments. Take flight with us as we careen through the history of Rogue Squadron and the various ground and space crafts that are playable across the series.

In the Outback’s Wild West, two desperate brothers take a job as bounty hunters to save their home. But in The Timber, brutality and bloodshed is the law of the land.

See the world’s most famous detective as you’ve never seen him before, portrayed by acting legend Ian McKellen, in this ingeniously plotted suspense-thriller. For thirty years, Sherlock Holmes has been haunted by his final case, one that remains unsolved. Now, spurred by a mysterious trip to Japan, Holmes quietly slips out of retirement to confront the ghosts of his past—and a spellbinding mystery that will take all of his deductive powers to solve.

Explore the Robot Universe, and discover the hundred most epic androids and automatons from myth, through popular culture, to modern-day machines. Robot aficionado Ana Matronic—vocalist with world-famous band Scissor Sisters—explores their creation, design, purpose, and how they have comforted, fascinated, or terrified us across the ages and galaxies, profiling key sidekicks, servants, saviors, murder machines, cyborgs, and others in every genre. In-depth features cover special focus topics, such as robots in art and fashion, video games and comics, and music. This richly illustrated collection deftly shows how we have defined and redefined robots, why they capture our imagination, and why they’re here to stay, ending with a look at real-life robots from early prototypes to what lies in our robotic future.

Before "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show", before the spoof-tastic films The Groove Tube and Kentucky Fried Movie came THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM MACHINE, an irreverent, satirical weekly variety show that aired on PBS for two seasons from 1971-1972. Unlike anything ever seen on public television, the eclectic, often controversial series - an early proving ground for many top comedic talents including Chevy Chase, Albert Brooks and Charles Grodin -- combined humorous skits, drama, musical performances and political commentary in an "experimental" format and was considered Channel Thirteen's first prime-time hit, setting new records for attracting younger adult viewers to public broadcasting.


Produced by public broadcaster WNET IN New York, THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM MACHINE was dubbed "the intellectual Laugh-In" and immediately struck a countercultural chord in the '70s, poking fun at politics, commercialized mass culture, advertising, and television with eclectic vignettes and uproarious sketches. With no host, no narration and no set format, the imaginative, thought-provoking series gave free, creative reign to an astounding cast of actors, comedians and contributors who'd go on to far greater fame, including Chevy Chase (making his TV debut), Albert Brooks, Charles Grodin, Penny Marshall, Henry Winkler, Marshall Efron, Andy Rooney, writer Studs Terkel, David Steinberg, Carly Simon, Tiny Tim and many others. And though it drew the ire of conservative critics who had it cancelled after two seasons, THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM MACHINE is a heralded cultural time capsule ready to be unveiled after a 40+ year absence to discover a new generation of fans.


THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM MACHINE set includes nearly every hilarious, unforgettable and trenchant moment from the show's two season run - nearly 13 hours of peerless and thoughtful comedy and opinion, including Marshall Efron's memorable "Lemon Pie from Scratch" sketch, Albert Brooks' famous "School for Comedians", Andy Rooney's pre-"60 Minutes" opinion segments including his very first "In Defense of Politicians", Chevy Chase's "Singing Faces" mime, "Great American Weather Days", a Dream Machine style weather forecast with a glance back at some of the greatest days in U.S Weather history, a "Great American Hero" profile of daredevil Evel Knievel, Elaine Stritch performing the Broadway classic "Here's to the Ladies Who Lunch" from her role as Joanne in Stephen Sondheim's "Company" and much, much more.

The suspenseful horror-thriller The Vatican Tapes is a haunting tale of demonic possession starring Olivia Taylor Dudley (Chernobyl Diaries), Michael Peña (American Hustle), Dougray Scott (Taken 3), and two-time Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou (Best Supporting Actor, Blood Diamond, 2006).

Angela Holmes is an ordinary 27-year-old until she begins to have a devastating effect on anyone close, causing serious injury and death. Holmes is examined and possession is suspected, but when the Vatican is called upon to exorcise the demon, the possession proves to be an ancient satanic force more powerful than ever imagined. It's all up to Father Lozano to wage war for more than just Angela's soul, but for the world as we know it.

The Disney Book is a beautiful, visual exploration of all things Disney from the animated and live-action movies to the theme parks and attractions that have made Disney the beloved brand it is today. This classic DK-style book is packed with stunning visuals including concept art, original story sketches, merchandise, a range of movie posters, and collectibles.

Explore rarely seen treasures including props, art, early merchandise, and more from Disney's extensive archives and celebrate more than 90 years of Disney storytelling and entertainment with The Disney Book.

The six Angulo brothers have spent their entire lives locked away from society in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Nicknamed “The Wolfpack,” they’re all exceedingly bright, are homeschooled, have no acquaintances outside their family and have practically never left their home. All they know of the outside world is gleaned from the films they watch obsessively and recreate meticulously, using elaborate homemade props and costumes. For years this has served as a productive creative outlet and a way to stave off loneliness - but after one of the brothers escapes the apartment (wearing a Michael Meyers mask for protection), the power dynamics in the house are transformed, and all the boys begin to dream of venturing out. Armed with unprecedented access into the subjects’ world and vast archive of home movies, first-time director Crystal Moselle crafts a fascinating portrait of an extraordinary family, capturing the thrill of the Wolfpack's discoveries without skirting the darker questions of abuse and confinement that weigh upon all of them. THE WOLFPACK charts a fascinating coming of age story and becomes a true example of the power of movies to transform and save lives.

SKULLS AND TEETH

A skull is the bony bowl that protects an animal’s brain. Not all animals have skulls. For example, insects and octopuses don’t have any bones at all. But mammals do— and their skulls and teeth can be pretty easy to find for a budding collector.

In most mammals, the upper teeth are attached to the skull. The bottom teeth are attached to the lower jaw. The lower jaw is not part of the skull. When the animal is alive, the lower jaw is attached to the skull by soft tissues. After an animal dies, those soft tissues decay. So if you find a skull in the wild, you may not find the lower jaw with it. Both pieces—the lower jaw and the skull—are fun to collect. Often, the teeth will remain planted in the skull or lower jaw, which can help you figure out what kind of a skull you have. Each mammal has a certain number of each kind of tooth. Scientists call this information a “dental formula.” It is the first thing they look at when they want to identify a skull.


Skunk (genus Mephitis)

There are twelve different species of skunks. Skunks eat a wide variety of foods including insects, worms, plants, garbage, and pet food people leave out for their cats and dogs. That last habit often brings them into conflict with humans. The skunk usually wins. Unlike many wild animals, skunks don’t readily run away when confronted by a human. Their ability to spray a horrible smelling fluid makes them bold. They keep eating what they want and only waddle away when they’re done.

Like most carnivoras, they also eat meat. They obtain the meat by preying on small animals like lizards, frogs, and mice, and also by scavenging—eating animals that are already dead. Their skulls match their meat-eating ways. The dental formula of one common species, the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), is . The skull is small enough to hold in your palm, and the ridge of carnassial teeth will be clearly visible on the sides. Other teeth often fall out after death, but in a good specimen you’ll still be able to see the holes they were in.

WHERE TO FINDAlmost all the species of skunks can be found in the Americas. The striped skunk, which is the most common one, can be found throughout North America. Skunks favor open lands next to forested areas, but can adapt to a variety of habitats, and it is not uncommon for them to burrow under porches or homes.


Goat (genus Capra)

The goat has been closely associated with humans for at least ten thousand years, and it’s become one of the most useful animals. Its milk is suitable for drinking. (It tastes stronger and less sweet than cow’s milk.) Its meat is a staple in some parts of the world. Its hide can be made into clothes. Even the hair of some breeds can be spun into wool.

Goat skulls are a common item for a collection because they are fairly easy to find. Goats can be found in the wild or on farms. Many of them have two long, curved horns protruding from the top of their skulls. The dental formula is . If you find the skull without the lower jaw, there will be no teeth at all in front, only the flattened premolars and molars in back. That’s because a goat mostly eats plants.

WHERE TO FINDGoats, both domesticated and wild, can be found nearly everywhere in the world.


Squirrel (genus Sciurus)

Squirrel skulls are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Squirrels, like other rodents, have unusual teeth. At the very front of a squirrel’s head are a few very long, sharp incisors. The squirrel’s incisors can bite off a chunk of food, like ours do, but they are also good at gnawing on things, like the hard shells of nuts. The squirrel wears its incisors down gnawing through hard things, but they grow fast to keep up with the wear. (Rats, which are also rodents, can even gnaw through concrete and steel.)

Rodents—including squirrels, rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, beavers, and others—lack canine teeth. Where their canine teeth would be, there’s an empty space. The rodent uses this empty space for holding on to things it wants to gnaw—like acorns. With an acorn held tight in that empty jaw space, a squirrel can really get to work with its incisors. In the case of one common species called the Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), the empty space is big enough for a walnut. The squirrel’s molars—typically three on each side of the top jaw—are tiny compared to a person’s.

Another prominent feature of a squirrel skull is the big eye holes, or eye sockets. For a small animal, a squirrel has enormous eyes. It uses them to look around for predators. Squirrels need excellent vision to help them judge leaps between branches.

WHERE TO FINDSquirrels can be found throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.


Cow (genus Bos)

At first glance, a cow’s skull doesn’t look like it came from a cow. It lacks the broad, velvety nose and the twitchy ears. These parts are made of soft tissue rather than bone, so they don’t last. There’s nothing left of its ears to let you know what powerful instruments they were. A cow can hear sounds too deep and too high for human ears.

The nose is another matter. Even though the fleshy end is gone, the skull will still reveal the long snout. The large size of the snout is a hint that the cow also had a good sense of smell. Cattle can sometimes detect predators miles away just by scent.

Then there are the eyes. Their sockets are placed on the sides of the head so that the cow can see in almost every direction at once. This is a useful trait for a prey species that must constantly watch for predators.

WHERE TO FINDThere are over a billion cows in the world, making them one of the most plentiful mammals on the planet. They can be found on every continent.