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DVD News/Info
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of a football game and a brothel." -- Federico Fellini
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This Week's Releases (December 22)
From the Big Screen:"All About Steve," "District 9," "Extract," "(500) Days of Summer" and "It Might Get Loud." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
From TV to Video:"Family Guy: Something, Something, Something, Darkside" (2009) is a Family Guy animated "retelling" of "The Empire Strikes Back," from Fox ... "Kyle XY: The Complete Third and Final Season" (2009) is a three-disc set with 10 episodes, with such extras as deleted scenes, commentaries, and "Kyle XY: Future Revealed," look at what would have happened in Season 4; $39.99 from Disney ... "The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season Three" (2009) is a three-disc set with 12 episodes, $39.99, from Disney.
Buzzin' the 'B's:Two films with big stars -- but no theatrical traction -- hit home video this week. Three lives intersect in the forgotten borough of New York City in "Staten Island" (2009), starring Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Seymour Cassel and Julianne Nicholson. Sully Halverson (Hawke) is a septic tank cleaner who is desperate to give his unborn son the chance he never had. Jasper Sabiano (Cassel) is a deaf-mute deli worker who wants to escape the mobsters that have infiltrated his life and business Parmie Tarzo (D'Onofrio) is a local mob boss who dreams of crushing the competition and achieving infamy any way he can. Once their lives intersect, nothing will ever be the same. From National Entertainment Media ... "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" (2009) is a remake of the 1956 film noir classic in which a writer's plan to expose a corrupt district attorney takes an unexpected turn. High profile District Attorney Mark Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney's perfect record is up for scrutiny. Though directed by Peter Hyams and starring Michael Douglas, Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Orlando Jones and Joel Moore, this film found little boxoffice appeal. From Anchor Bay Entertainment."Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging" (2009) is a comedy about a soon-to-be-15-year-old girl who creates a series of mad schemes in order to attract the attention of the new boy in school, directed by Gurinder Chadha and starring Georgia Groome, Eleanor Tomlinson, Aaron Johnson and Alan Davies, from Paramount ... "American Pie Presents: The Book of Love" (2009), starring Eugene Levy, Rosanna Arquette, Bug Hall, Kevin M. Horton and Curtis Armstrong in this latest direct-to-video chapter in the "American Pie" franchise. Three high school buddies discover a legendary guide to seduction -- written by some of the school's previous generations -- hidden in the school library. From Universal.
On the Indie Front:
There's three independent films due this week from Vanguard Cinema: "Chasing Butterflies" (2009) is a screwball comedy roller coaster, with one unexpected plot twist: Nina, a runaway bride, is unaware that her mother has married her fiance in her stead, and that the two have set out to bring her back ... "Loser"
(1999) is the tragic tale of 23 year-old James Dean Ray, a small-time drug dealer bent on self-destruction, who spends his final hours hanging out and selling drugs, with, of course, an occasional robbery, oblivious and indifferent to his pending doom ... and "Off the Ledge" (2009), a comedy-drama that revolves around a New Years Eve Party where most of the partygoers are oblivious to the true atmosphere of pain amid their celebration of life and renewal. As off beat partygoers spontaneously ring in the New Year at a Hollywood Hills home, four hapless individuals intertwine as they do their best to survive the evening.
For the Family:
"Call of the Wild 3-D" (2009) stars Christopher Lloyd, Ariel Gade, Wes Studi, Aimee Teegarden, Devon Graye, Kameron Knox, Jaleel White, Joyce DeWitt, Veronica Cartwright and Timothy Bottoms in this modern-day adaptation of Jack London’s classic. In this version, the story revolves around Ryan (Ariel Gade), a 9-year old girl visiting her grandfather (Christopher Lloyd) in Montana. When a wild hybrid wolf/dog shows up injured on the back porch one night, Ryan wants to take him back to Boston as a pet, but her grandfather knows the animal will eventually have to return to the wild. To help his granddaughter understand, he begins to read her Jack London's "Call of the Wild" each night ... but Ryan has ideas of her own, and helps a local boy train the magnificent animal to become a sled dog leader. In 3-D and 2-D versions. From Vivendi Entertainment.
Special Interest:"In Search of Mozart" (2009), made to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, is the first feature-length documentary on the composer's life. Produced with the world's leading orchestras and musicians, it traces the composer's life through his music and extensive correspondence, dispelling the many common myths about Mozart's genius, health, relationships, death and character, to present a new image, very different from Milos Forman's "Amadeus." From Microcinema.
'Avatar' Takes Over the World
(December 20)
According to The Hollywood reporter, James Cameron's "Avatar" linked into international circuits during the weekend, flying high above the fray with $159.2 million in its opening five days, making it No. 1 at the boxoffice, overshadowing the $10 million take of "Twilight: New Moon," which of course has been in the market for several weeks now. In North America, "Avatar" took in some $73 million (numbers could have been higher if the East hadn't been socked in with snow), making its worldwide total an estimated $232.2 million. According to distributor 20th Century Fox, "Avatar" ranks as the "highest-grossing nonfranchise, nonsequel opening ever." Top honors go to Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which set the current record in July, and Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which opened in May 2007 to $218.4 million over five days.
More News:'Harry Potter' Bewitches DVD Sales
(December 16)Three high-profile new releases battled it out on the national home video charts this past week, as the flood of theatrical hits -- crammed into December to capture the impulse shopper -- continues. The biggest winner, by far, was Warner Home Video's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which topped the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart its first week in stores, outselling second-ranked Public Enemies, a fellow newcomer from Universal Studios, by a more than 4-to-1 margin. Read the complete story at Home Media Magazine.This Week's Releases (December 15)
From the Big Screen:"G-Force," "The Hangover," "Inglourious Basterds" and "Taking Woodstock." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
From TV to Video:
"Chris Angel: Mindfreak Collector's Edition Megaset" is a 15-disc set containing every astounding episode from Seasons 1-5 of the amazing series, including the Halloween Special and six "lost" episodes; it's 36 hours of mind-blowing magic, illusions and death-defying demonstrations, in collectible pop-up packaging, $99.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... A&E also has "The Five Lives of Criss Angel Mindfreak," a two-disc set with five episodes from the fifth season, $24.95. This set includes "White Death," in which Criss is buried under ice and snow; "death Field," in which he traverses a field of live explosives; "Terminal Velocity," in which Criss attempts to teleport himself; "Death Crash," in which spectators choose which of five coffins (one with Criss inside) are smashed to splinters; and "Mass :Levitation," an attempt to levitate an entire Las Vegas crowd ... "The Paper Chase: Season Two" (1983-84) is a six-disc set with 19 episodes, $49.99 from Shout! Factory. (Posted December 15)
On the Indie Front:
"The Other Man" (2009) stars Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Antonio Banderas in an intimate tale of a man who discovers his wife's infidelity and sets out to track down his rival. Driven to pursue the mystery surrounding his wife's adultery, he embarks on a global pursuit with a haunted passion that begins to probe the nature not simply of jealousy, but of loss and forgiveness. From Image Entertainment ... When filmmaker Nina Paley couldn't make her marriage work, she decided to use it as fodder for an ambitious project: a musical, animated and personal interpretation of the Indian epic, the Ramayana. "Sita Sings the Blues"
(2009) tells two parallel stories: The ancient Hindu story of a god and goddess and Paley's 21st century break-up, woven together using flash animation, watercolor paintings, rotoscoping techniques and jazzy musical interludes that link the narrative 3,000 years apart. From Indiepix. (Posted December 15)
Foreign:In "The Headless Woman" (2008 -- Argentina), a bourgeois woman, driving alone on a dirt road, becomes distracted, and runs over something. In the days following this jarring incident, she is dazed and emotionally disconnected from the people and events in her life as she becomes obsessed with the possibility that she may have killed someone. From Strand Releasing. (Posted December 15)
For the Family:In "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition (2009) the wizards-in-training go on vacation but an accidental spell threatens the family; Max tries to keep his parents together while Alex and Justin use every trick they know as they search for the Stone of Dreams to reverse the spell and save their family. From Disney. (Posted December 15)
Special Interest:"Herb & Dorothy" (2009) is the extraordinary story of a postal clerk and a librarian -- Herb and Dorothy Vogel -- who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. In the early 1960s, when very little attention was paid to Minimalist and Conceptual Art, the Vogels quietly began purchasing the works of unknown artists.
Devoting all of Herb's salary to purchasing art they liked, they were guided by two rules: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment. Within these limitations, they proved themselves curatorial visionaries; most of those they supported and befriended went on to become world-renowned artists; from New Video/Arthouse Films ... On April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union reported the successful launch, orbit and reentry of the first man in space, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, pushing the cold war into a space duel. With the collapse of communism in the Russian Federation, recent access to documents in the Kremlin archives reveal a story intended to remain buried forever. Yuri Gagarin, the icon of triumphant communism known world over, was not the first man in space. He was preceded by Vladimir Ilyushin, an unsung hero and the man at the center of this decades old conspiracy, examined in "Fallen Idol: The Yuri Gagarin Conspiracy" (2009), narrated by Elliott Gould; from Indican Pictures ... "Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall" (2009) is a documentary that uses computer imagery to reconstruct how the Berlin Wall grew from a meager obstacle to a mighty barrier of seven concentric walls with ditches, fences, signal wires, tank-traps and a flood-lit death strip patrolled by half-starved dogs -- a nearly impenetrable barricade with a 96-mile circumference, 200-plus bunkers and 302 watchtowers -- the Cold War icon whose demise, beginning on Nov. 9, 1989, signaled the start of one of history's most dramatic political transformations; from A&E Home Entertainment ... "George Lopez: Tall, Dark & Chicano" (2009) is an HBO comedy special, $19.97 from HBO Home Entertainment ... "New York Yankees 2009: Season of Pride, Tradition & Glory" is a documentary on the Yankees' winning season, featuring a tour of the new Yankee Stadium, memorable moments and highlights from the '09 season, interviews, a Nick Swisher road trip, pre-game ceremonies, a season-ending recap and "Hope Week" features; $19.95 from A&E Home Entertainment. (Posted December 15)AFI Picks Top 10 Films of 2009
(December 13)
The American Film Institute announced its picks for top 10 films of the year and, surprisingly, the list skewed heavily to smaller independent productions. Included were Pixar/Disney's 3D-animated "Up," "The Hangover," "Coraline,"; "The Hurt Locker," "The Messenger," "Precious," "A Serious Man," "A Single Man," "Sugar" and "Up in the Air." Read more about the AFI winners at The Hollywood Reporter.10 Years of Bad Films: The 40 Worst of the Decade
(December 9)
It's the end of 2009 and it's time for the best and worst lists of the year -- and, since it's the end of a decade, some people are putting together best and worst of the decade lists. The folks at Moviefone (disclaimer: we also blog for Moviefone's Inside Movies) have put together their take on the 40 worst films of the decade. The list includes films from big stars like Eddie Murphy ("Norbit"), Mike Myers ("Love Guru"), Al Pacino ("88 Minutes") and Halle Berry ("Catwoman") to needless sequels like "Basic Instinct 2" and "Son of the Mask." The No. 1 worst film of the decade started it: John Travolta's 2000 "Battlefield Earth." For more, check out Moviefone's "The 40 Biggest Stinkers of the Decade."This Week's Releases (December 8)
From the Big Screen:"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Julie & Julia" and "Public Enemies." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
DVD Collectibles:The creator of such timeless masterpieces as "Rashomon," "Ikiru," "Seven Samurai," "Yojimbo" and "High and Low," Akira Kurosawa is one of the most influential and beloved filmmakers who ever lived. Now, on the occasion of the centenary of his birth, The Criterion Collection has released the massive "AK 100: 25 Films By Akira Kurosawa,"
a boxed set featuring 25 of the films Kurosawa made over the course of his 50 years in movies, from samurai epics to postwar noirs to Shakespeare adaptations. Includes four rare films that have never been available on DVD. Housed in a deluxe, linen-bound collector's set that also includes an illustrated book featuring an introduction and notes on each of the films by Stephen Prince ("The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa") and a remembrance by Donald Richie ("Films of Akira Kurosawa"). Titles: "The Bad Sleep Well "(1960), "Dodes'ka-den" (1970), "Drunken Angel" (1948), "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), "High and Low" (1963), "I Live in Fear" (1955), "The Idiot" (1951), "Ikiru" (1952), "Kagemusha" (1980), "The Lower Depths" (1957), "Madadayo" (1993), "The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail" (1945)(first time on DVD), "The Most Beautiful" (1944)(first time on DVD), "No Regrets for Our Youth" (1946), "One Wonderful Sunday" (1947), "Rashomon" (1951), "Red Beard" (1965), "Sanjuro" (1962), "Sanshiro Sugata" (1943)(first time on DVD), "Sanshiro Sugata, Part II" (1944) (first time on DVD), "Scandal" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Stray Dog" (1949), "Throne of Blood" (1957) and "Yojimbo" (1961).This is the week of Harry Potter, with Warner Home Video not only releasing the sixth outing in the franchise, but Ultimate Editions (standard and Blu-ray disc) of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" as well as the "Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset," a six-disc set with all six Harry Potter films, in standard DVD and Blu-ray Disc configurations ... It's a far cry from Harry Potter and Kurosawa, but you can also add to this week's interesting mix Image Entertainment's "Brigitte Bardo Classic Collection," featuring three of the sex kitten's less well-know films: "The Night Heaven Fell," "Plucking the Daisy" and "Don Juan." (Posted December 8)
From TV to Video:"Get Smart Season 5" (1969-70) is a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $24.98 from HBO Home Video ... "The Judy Garland Show Collection" includes three of the best episodes from the classic 1963-64 "The Judy Garland Show." Features guests Mickey Rooney, Bobby Darin, George Maharis Bob Newhart, Jack Carter, Leo Durocher, The Dillards; $29.98 from Infinity Entertainment ... "Lost: The Complete Fifth Season" (2009) is a five-disc set with 17 episodes, $59.99 from Disney ... "Rescue Me: Season Five, Volume Two" (2009) is a three-disc set with 11 episodes from the second half of the fifth season; from Sony ... "The Sherlock Holmes Collection": Only five episodes of the BBC's celebrated -- and long sought after -- 1960s Sherlock Holmes series survive. Coincidentally, all five star the inimitable Peter Cushing as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective, with Nigel Stock as Dr. Watson. All five have been made available in this $29.95 three-disc set from A&E Home Entertainment. (Posted December 8)
Buzzin' the 'B's:"World's Greatest Dad" (2009), directed by Bob Goldthwait and starring Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Geoff Pierson, Henry Simmons and Mitzi McCall, is a thoughtful but outrageous comedy about a man who learns the things you want most may not be the things that make you happy, and that being lonely is not necessarily the same as being alone. Robin Williams plays a high school poetry teacher who copes with his son's death from a freak masturbation accident by faking a suicide note to spare the family shame. The note, published without his permission, ends up becoming a sensation, and Lance reignites his writing career by penning a personal journal he claims was written by his son. From Magnolia Home Entertainment ... In "The Skeptic" (2009), starring Timothy Daly and Zoe Saldana, a stubbornly rational lawyer and control freak who is about to have his disbelief in the paranormal challenged big-time when he goes to stay in his late aunt's big, creepy Victorian mansion while he contests her will; from IFC Films ...
"Home Movie"
(2008), starring Adrian Pasdar and Cady McClain, documents one family's descent into darkness, using a compilation of "found" home-made footage. To outward appearances, they are the all-American family. Dad is a minister in their idyllic upstate New York town, mom is a psychologist, and 10-year-old twins Emily and Jack seem to be the perfect little children. That is, when they’re not stapling frogs to trees. From IFC Films ... The relationships of three girls and four guys, all living in an affluent, adolescent suburban reality, intersect through the topsy-turvy world of love, power and "Hooking Up" (2008), starring Corey Feldman, Bronson Pinchot and Brian O'Halloran; from MTI Home Video) ... Set in the exotic terrain of the Yucatan Peninsula, a group of tomb-raiders steal precious Mayan artifacts and come up against evil forces greater than they ever anticipated in "Lost Treasure of the Maya" (2008), starring Michael Madsen, Protasio, Heather Storm, Richard Tyson, Declan Joyce and Keith David; from MTI Home Video.
Don and Janna, a married couple struggling to reconnect after the death of their daughter, answer each other's phony classified ads to begin an elaborate game of pretend blind dates, hoping this ruse will allow them finally to talk openly about the demise of their relationship in the wake of tragedy in "Blind Date" (2007), starring Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson; from E1 Entertainment ..."McLeod's Daughters: The Original Movie" (1996) stars Jack Thompson, Sonia Todd, Lisa Chappell and Bridie Carter in the feature film behind the popular TV series; from E1 Entertainment ...
Foreign:When two fed-up, underpaid street soldiers decide to double-cross their boss on a cash-collection shakedown -- and gun down his beloved godson -- the crime lord dispatches every murderous gangster and merciless thug in the city, and even a voodoo priestess, to eliminate the desperate duo in "Dog Eat Dog" (2008 -- Columbia), from IFC Films ... "Ghosted" (2009 -- Mandarin) is a mysterious love story set in Taiwan and Germany. German artist Sophie is trying to come to terms with the unsolved murder of her Taiwanese lover Ai-Ling. After a run-in with the seductive Mei-Li, a journalist investigating Ai-Ling's death, Sophie flees back to Germany. But when Mei-Li turns up on her Hamburg doorstep, the mystery deepens; from First Run Features). (Posted December 8)
For the Family:"The Night Before Christmas: Special Edition" is a two-disc set featuring a dozen favorite heartwarming holiday chestnuts that celebrate the winter holiday season, with stories about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other family celebrations; $19.95 from Scholastic Storybook Treasures ... "Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics and More" is a seven-disc set that brings to life 50 award-winning and classic children's stories; $49.95 from Scholastic Storybook Treasures ... "SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 6, Volume 1 " (2009) is a two-disc set with 24 epiosdes, $26.98 from Nickelodeon/Paramount. (Posted December 8)
Special Interest:
"Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me" (2009) is a profile of the Georgia-born lyricist, singer and composer whose solo and collaborative efforts have kept the world singing for more than eight decades with such songs as "Hooray for Hollywood," "Jeepers Creepers," "That Old Black Magic," "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," "Skylark," "Blues in the Night," "Moon River," "The Days of Wine and Roses" and many, many more. The documentary features rare interviews and performances by Mercer himself and includes movie and television clips of Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, Fred Astaire, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Tony Bennett, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra and others. Produced by Clint Eastwood. Two-disc set, $29.98 from Warner ... "Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem" (2009) is a History Channel documentary revealing the real people behind some of America’s most notorious criminals: John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly, Babyface Nelson and Bonnie and Clyde; from A&E Home Entertainment ... "The Cove" (2009) is a documentary on the fishermen of Taiji, a town along the Japanese coast, where hunting dolphins is a major part of the local economy; a few dolphins are saved during hunting season and sold off to aquariums for water shows, and the rest are crowded together and -- away from prying eyes -- stabbed to death, their meat sold as food; from Lionsgate ... "The Life and Times of the King of Pop 1958-2009" (2009) is a documentary on Michael Jackson's last days and his memorial service; from MVD Entertainment Group. (Posted December 8)Warners Salutes Eastwood With Massive DVD Set
(November 6)
Clint Eastwood is one of a kind in Hollywood, and Warner Home Video will offer a DVD collection Feb. 16 that proves it. Packed with 34 of his films and a brand new documentary, "Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years at Warner Bros." celebrates the actor-director's long association with the studio. The collection opens with "Where Eagles Dare" (1968) and "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) and closes with 2008's "Gran Torino." In between are "The Outlaw Josey Wales," all the Dirty Harry movies, Oscar winners "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby" and recent selections "Letters from Iwo Jima." "The Eastwood Factor" documentary is by film historian Richard Schickel. For more information, see Home Media Magazine. Eastwood's 'Invictus,' about Nelson Mandela, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, opens Dec. 11.Uni 'Flippers' Out for DVD/Blu-ray Combo
(December 2)
According to a report in Video Business, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has taken an old idea and made it new: Beginning with the Jan. 19 re-releases of single discs of "The Bourne Identity," "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum," the studio will take the popular DVD/Blu-ray Disc combo concept further by including both formats on opposite sides of a single disc. Similar hybrid discs have been around for awhile: widescreen/full screen discs were a staple at the dawn of DVD, and high-definition/standard discs rolled out a couple years ago, but with an HD DVD on one side and a DVD on the other. The 'flipper discs' by Universal would mark the first time that Blu-ray and standard DVD formats were offered on one disc. Each Bourne flipper disc will be offered separately for $29.98.This Week's Releases (December 1)
From the Big Screen:"Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," "Paper Heart" and "Terminator Salvation." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
DVD Collectibles:There's two completely opposite releases this week from the folks at The Criterion Collection. First up is "A Christmas Tale" (2008 -- French), starring Catherine Deneuve, Mathieu Amalric and Melvil Poupaud in a beguiling holiday melodrama that has the troubled Vuillard family coming together at Christmas after family matriarch Deneuve learns she needs a bone marrow transplant from a blood relative. The simple family reunion setup, however, can't begin to describe the unpredictable experience of this film, an inventive, magical drama that deals with unrequited childhood loves and blinding grudges, brutal outbursts and sudden slapstick, music, movies, and poetry, all tied together in a marvelously messy package. At the other extreme is Criterion's Blu-ray Disc edition of "Gimme Shelter" (1970), a film that has been called the greatest rock film ever made. This landmark documentary follows the Rolling Stones on their notorious 1969 U.S. tour that culminated in a free concert at Northern California's Altamont Speedway, where the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels, resulting in uncharacteristic brutality and murder. On hand were cinema verite pioneers David and Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, who immortalized on film the bloody clash that transformed a decade's dreams into disillusionment. (Posted December 1)
From TV to Video:
"Better Off Ted Season One" (2009) is a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "The Donna Reed Show: Season Three" (1960-61) is a four-disc set with 38 episodes, $39.95 from Virgil Films & Entertainment ... "Into the Storm"
(2009) stars Brendan Gleeson, Janet McTeer, James D'Arcy and Patrick Malahide in the TV biodrama about Winston Churchill as he leads Britain into World War II; sequel to the 2002 TV movie "The Gathering Storm"; from HBO Home Video ... "Mental Season One"
(2009) is a four-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.98 from Fox ... "Saturday Night Live: The Complete Fifth Season" (1979-80) is a seven-disc set with 20 episodes, $69.98 from Universal. (Posted December 1)
Buzzin' the 'B's:In "All Hell Broke Loose" (2009), a former Civil War sharpshooter becomes an assassin until a change of heart drives him to take up ranching ... until a U.S. Marshall asks him to pick up his gun again to go after the gang he once rode with; stares Jim Hilton and David Carradine; from North American Motion Pictures. (Posted December 1)
For the Family:Disney has two animated outings this week: "Handy Manny: Manny's Motorcycle Adventure" (2009) is the character's first-ever full-length animated feature; Manny brings his friends and tools along for a cross-country ride for a host of adventures; features an original song by Latin-rock band Los Lobos; and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo Choo Express" (2009), starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy in a feature-length adventure revolving around Professor Von Drake's creation of a snow that never melts; features an original song by alt-rock band They Might Be Giants. Both DVDs feature two interactive viewing modes: "Adventure mode 1 (ages 2-3) uses the remote to answer fun questions about colors, shapes and sizes, Adventure mode 2 (ages 4-5) moves to a higher level with more challenging questions using the remote. $26.99 each from Disney ... "Ben 10: Alien Swarm" (2009) is the fourth edition of the Cartoon Network series, $19.97 from Warner. (Posted December 1)
Special Interest:"Ride Around the World" (2006) is a documentary that takes a journey across Morocco, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Patagonia, Texas and British Columbia to meet vaqueros, gauchos, baqueanos and cowboys -- all part of a single global horse culture, an unbroken trail stretching back 1,200 years. Winner of the 2007 Best Documentary Award at the Western Heritage Awards and a Gold Medal winner at the 2007 Park City Film Music festival; from Image Entertainment ... "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XVI" is a limited edition four-disc set with "The Corpse Vanishes," "Warrior of the Lost World," "Santa Claus" and "Night of the Blood Beast," with such extras as a new interview with "Warrior of the Lost World" director David Worth, "Santa Claus Conquers the Devil: A 50-Year Retrospective," "Night of the Blood Beast" (Turkey Day Version), Turkey Day '95 intros, four exclusive MST3K mini-posters by artist Steve Vance, and a collectible Tom Servo figurine. $64.99 from Shout! Factory ... "WWE: History of the World Heavyweight Championship" is a three-disc set that highlights the story of the World Heavyweight Championship, from the early National Wrestling Alliance, to World Class Wrestling through its current home at WWE; includes more than 20 championship matches; $34.95 from WWE Entertainment. (Posted December 1)
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In "Moonlight Serenade" (2009), starring Amy Adams and Alec Newman, a hat check girl at a local jazz club and a successful financial manager who aspires to be a musician team up for an act that soon turns romantic; from Magnolia Home Entertainment ... "Runaway"
(2005) is a psychological thriller about a young man and his brother who hide out in a small town, on the run from an abusive relationship; stars Aaron Stanford, Robin Tunney and Zack Savage; from E1 Entertainment ... When a fatal kidnapping ignites a firestorm of suspicion and rage in idyllic 1933 San Jose, California, a hard-nosed young reporter takes on the powers-that-be to prevent the lynching of two men he believes are innocent in "Valley of the Heart's Delight" (2006), starring Gabriel Mann, Pete Postlethwaite, Emily Harrison, Diana Scarwid, Bruce McGill and Tom Bower; from Indican Pictures ... "Carriers" (2009) stars Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Emily VanCamp and Chris Melon in a post-apocalyptic saga about four teens who, determined to escape a deadly virus, set out in search of an uncontaminated refuge, encountering a truth far more horrifying than the virus they are trying to survive. For rental only; from Paramount. (Posted December 8)
