This Week's Releases (January 24)
From the Big Screen:
"Real Steel," "The Whistleblower," "50/50," "Paranormal Activity 3" and "Restless." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

DVD Collectibles:

The highlight of the week is the Blu-ray debut of the first Academy Award-winning film:William Wellman's 1927 "Wings." Meticulously restored, this World War I drama explores the devastating effects of war through the story of two men who go off to battle and the woman they both leave behind. Featuring groundbreaking aerial dogfights and epic battle sequences, "Wings" is both a cinematic spectacle and a compelling story of love and sacrifice that effectively dramatizes

the bitter wages of war. Because the original negative was lost decades ago, contemporary audiences have only seen "Wings" in a compromised form. The restoration process used a duplicate negative housed in the Paramount archive, but despite this being the best element available, the negative was beset by damage, including entire reels that were strafed with scratches and printed-in nitrate deterioration that was literally eating into the edges of the frames. Using state-of-the-art digital tools normally used to create special effects, the film was meticulously restored frame-by-frame. Original tints and effects, such as colors that were embossed onto the film strip to give flames and explosions a fiery look, were also digitally recreated based on a detailed continuity script that still existed and tinting/toning guides from the period. For this release, the film's original paper score was procured from the Library of Congress and recorded with a full orchestra. Like many silent film scores, the music was a combination of original composition, popular songs of the period and themes from classical music. From Paramount.

Blu-ray Collectibles:

Another round of MGM must-see fan favorites arrive on Blu-ray for the first time this week

from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. There's two Woody Allen films: "Annie Hall" (1977), starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton and Tony Roberts; and "Manhattan" (1979), starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway and Meryl Streep. There's three Alfred Hitchcock thrillers: "Notorious" (1946), starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains; "Rebecca" (1940) starring Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders and Judith Anderson; and "Spellbound" (1945), starring; Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Michael Chekhov and Leo G. Carroll. And one smashing comedy/social satire from Billy Wilder: "The Apartment: Collector's Edition" (1960), starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray and Ray Walston.

Poker on the Big Screen
If you polled 100 poker fans on what their favorite poker movie is, the odds are great that the easy winner would be "Rounders," which many people claim played a large part in launching the poker boom. "Rounders" has big stars (including Matt Damon, Ed Norton and John Malkovich) and big hands, with tons of great poker scenes that will leave you wanting to play poker games yourself.
Provided by PokerListings -- all the poker sites online in one place.

From TV to Video:

"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season One" (1979-80) is a six-disc set with all 21 episodes, $24.98 from Universal ... "Mannix: The Sixth Season" (1972-73) is a six-disc set with 24 episodes, $54.99 from CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment ... "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns: Season 4" (2011) is a three-disc set with 20 episodes, $29.98 from Lionsgate

Buzzin' the 'B's:

In "Essential Killing" (2010), directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, Vincent Gallo gives an award-winning performance as Mohammed, a Taliban fighter captured by the U.S. military in Afghanistan after a violent desert attack goes awry. While being transported to a secret detention center in Europe, the vehicle crashes and he suddenly finds himself free. But his newfound freedom quickly disappears as he is relentlessly pursued in a snow-blanketed forest by an army that does not "officially" exist. Co-stars Emmanuelle Seigner. From Tribeca Film/New Video ...

When a successful country lawyer captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member -- a female -- of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast coast for decades, he puts the lives of his family in jeopardy in "The Woman" (2011) from The Bloody Disgusting Selects/Vivendi Entertainment ... In "Tales of an Ancient Empire" (2011), starring Kevin Sorbo, Michael Pare, Melissa Ordway, Whitney Able, Sarah Ann Schultz, the world's greatest warriors are summoned to save the peaceful kingdom of Abelar, which is threatened by a demon sorceress and an army of vampires. From Lionsgate ... When a tycoon's daughter is found dead of a cocaine overdose after being rescued from abduction, he stops at nothing to avenge her death, turning to his trusted bodyguard to seek out the perpetrators and exact revenge in the exceptional 2011 Hong Kong actioner "Punished," starring Anthony Wong, Richie Jen, Janice Man, Maggie Cheung. From Indomina Releasing ... An innocent man goes for the ride of his life after picking up a beautiful hitchhiker, ending up entangled in a web of love, lies and deceit in "Dirty Little Trick" (2011), starring Michael Madsen, Dean Cain, Christie Burson. From Maya Entertainment ... and finally, there's the "Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol. 2," with three Roger Corman cult classics: "The Arena," "Cover Girl Models" and "Fly Me." From Shout! Factory.

On the Indie Front:

Ezra Miller, Jesse McCartney, Zoe Kravitz, Amy Sedaris, Campbell Scott star in "Beware the Gonzo" (2011), about a wild-eyed rebel journalist ousted from his prep school's newspaper who starts an underground paper,

The Gonzo Files, to give voice to all the school's misfits. From Tribeca Film/New Video ... On Christmas Eve, a hit man enters a church to confess his sins. Through a series of flashbacks, the Confessor's journey is revealed, laying out what has brought him to this moment and leading to a climax where his chance at ultimate redemption hangs in the balance in "The Confession" (2011), starring Keifer Sutherland, John Hurt. From Flatiron Film/New Video ... In "The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom" (2011), starring Macha Grenon, Gil Bellows and Julia Stone, an average suburban 11-year-old in 1976, praying for adolescence to arrive, discovers her whole life has been a lie and runs away in search of her true identity, forcing her adoptive mother to break out of the carefully constructed "truth" she's been clinging to and go after her. From Osiris Entertainment.

Special Interest:

There's three very interesting documentaries this week:

"Revenge of the Electric Car" (2011) By 2006, as many as 5,000 electric cars were destroyed by the major car companies that built them. Today, the electric car is back… with a vengeance. Without using a single drop of foreign oil, this new generation of car is America's future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever. Narrated by Tim Robbins, and from the director of "Who Killed the Electric Car?," the film goes behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors and an independent car converter to find the story of the global resurgence of electric cars, following the race to be the first and the best, and to win the hearts and minds of the public around the world. From Docurama/New Video.
"WWII In 3D" (2011) Tells the epic story of the war from the rise of the Nazis, their sweep across Europe, the Allied counterattack and the fall of Nazi Germany. Presents for the first time dramatic moments of WWII that were captured in 3D with stereographs and then shuttered away in secret archives and attics until now. A stunning collection of color 3D photos includes Allied reconnaissance photos, a trove of images that documents the rise and fall of the Third Reich, and photos secretly taken by a civilian in occupied France. Also features an actual 3D motion picture film shot by the Nazis in 1943 to create a fully immersive, three dimensional portrait of history's largest and bloodiest conflict. From A&E.
"Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?" (2011) Documentary about one of the most urgent and crucial environmental issues of our time: The disappearance of honeybees from their hives with no clear single explanation, a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder. It's also a chronicle of man's historic and sacred relationship with bees and the integral role that the honey-fueled insects hold around the world. According to a reported Albert Einstein quote, "If bees disappear from the earth, then man will only have four years of life left." From Music Box Films.

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This Week's Releases (January 17)
From the Big Screen:
"The Ides of March," "Abduction" and "Courageous." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

DVD Collectibles: (1/17)

Two outings by Robin Williams -- featuring his early dramatic roles -- and three releases by The Criterion Collection highlights this weeks slate of collectibles. Williams stars as a dedicated teacher broaching the middle-class stability of a private school in Peter Weir's

Dead Poets Society (1989), starring Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Norman Lloyd and Kurtwood Smith. Bonus features include "Dead Poets: A Look Back" featuring interview footage with director Peter Weir, Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard and others; "Raw Takes"; "Master of Sound: Alan Splet" interviews with David Lynch and Peter Weir; "Cinematography Master Class" intensive and inspirational lighting workshop with cinematographer John Seale; commentary by Weir, Seale and writer Tom Schulman. In Barry Levinson's Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Williams plays an unorthodox and irreverent DJ who shakes things up when he is assigned to the U.S. Armed Services Radio station in Vietnam. The film co-stars Forest Whitaker, Tung Thanh Tran, Bruno Kirby, Robert Wuhl and J.T. Walsh. Extras include a production diary (five features): "How the Movie Came to Be, Actor Improv"; "Music of the Movie";" Origin of the Good Morning, Vietnam Sign-On"; "Shooting in Thailand & Overview of the Film a Year Later;" raw monologues. Both films are making their Blu-ray debut from Disney.

From Criterion comes Belle de jour (1967), a surreal and erotic late-sixties daydream from provocateur for the ages Luis Bunuel; it's an examination of desire and fetishistic pleasure (its characters' and its viewers'), as well as a gently absurdist take on contemporary social mores and class divisions. The porcelain perfection of Catherine Deneuve hides a cracked interior in the actress's most iconic role: Severine, a chilly Paris housewife by night, a bordello prostitute by day. Fantasy and reality commingle in this burst of cinematic transgression, which was one of Bunuel's biggest hits. A new high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition ... "Traffic" (2000) examines the question of drugs as politics, business, and lifestyle. With an innovative, color-coded cinematic treatment distinguishing his interwoven stories, Steven Soderbergh embroils viewers in the lives of a newly appointed drug czar and his family, a West Coast kingpin's wife, a key informant, and police officers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The film, delivering a complex and nuanced take on this issue of such great international importance without sacrificing any energy or suspense, is a contemporary classic, and the winner of four Oscars, for best director, best screenplay, best editing, and best supporting actor for Benicio del Toro ... Eclipse Series 31: Three Popular Films by Jean-Pierre Gorin highlights the work of filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin, widely known for his early-seventies collaborations (including "Tout va bien") with Jean-Luc Godard in the Dziga Vertov Group, established his singular voice with this trio of accomplished, fascinating, and nontraditional documentaries, made in Southern California after his relocation there. "Poto and Cabengo" (1978) is a compelling visit with two young San Diego twins who have invented their own language. "In Routine Pleasures" (1986), Gorin conjoins the story of a group of model train enthusiasts in Del Mar with a meditation on the work of critic and painter Manny Farber. And "My Crasy Life" (1992) is an expectation-shredding exploration of a Samoan gang in Long Beach. With these three films, Gorin excavates hidden communities that are a part of everyday American life, and shows himself to be a major chronicler of what is eccentric and beautiful in our common culture.

From TV to Video: (1/17)

"Merlin: The Complete Third Season" (2010) i a five-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.98 BBC Home Entertainment ... "Sliders: The Fifth and Final Season" (1999-2000) is a four-disc set with 18 episodes, $34.98 from Universal ... "Waking the Dead: The Complete Season Six" (2007) is a three-disc set 12 episodes, $39.98 BBC Home Entertainment.

Buzzin' the 'B's: (1/17)

The "Age of Heroes" (2011), starring Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, James D'Arcy, is a WWII action-thriller about the formation of Ian Fleming's (yes, James Bond's Ian Fleming) 30 Commando unit -- a precursor to the elite U.K. SAS assault forces -- that

operated smash-and-grab missions during the war. From Entertainment One ... In "Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star" (2011), starring Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff, Bucky (Swardson) is a buck-toothed Mid-Western small town grocery bagger, going nowhere in life -- until he discovers that his conservative parents were once adult film stars. Armed with the belief that he has found his destiny, Bucky packs up and heads out to L.A., hoping to follow in his parents' footsteps -- despite certain shortcomings. From Sony ... In "Dirty Girl" (2010), starring Juno Temple, Jeremy Dozier, Milla Jovovich, William H. Macy, Dwight Yoakam, Mary Steenburgen, it's 1987 and Danielle, the high school "Dirty Girl," is running away. With her is chubby, gay Clarke, a bag of flour called Joan and a Walkman full of glorious '80s tunes. From The Weinstein Co./Anchor Bay ... A pair of whacked-out old men douse women -- lured to their decrepit mansion via the Internet -- in nitroglycerine for illicit terror experiments in "Cold Sweat" (201O -- Argentina), starring Facundo Espinosa, Marina Glezer, Camila Velasco. From Dark Sky Films/MPI Media.

On the Indie Front: (1/17)

"Division III: Football's Finest" (2011), starring Andy Dick, Adam Carolla, Will Sasso, is a football black comedy about a psycho coach with a suspect record (the attempted murder of a Pee Wee football team) who takes over the Pulham Blue Cocks when the team's coach drops dead on the sidelines. From Image Entertainment ... "KickOff" (2011), starring Duncan MacInne, Ian Sharp, Jason Maza, Nathan Clough, Jay Brown, Stephen Hoo, is a British comedy set in the world of 5-a-side footie (soccer to you Yanks) that finds a macho football team meeting their match when they're forced to compete against a team comprised entirely of gay men in their Sunday soccer league. From Wolfe Video.

Foreign: (1/17)

In the "Special Treatment" (2010 -- France), the darkly erotic drama from cult filmmaker Jeanne Labrune, Isabelle Huppert stars as a high-class prostitute named Alice who serves up sexual fantasies for her clientele,

from schoolgirl innocence to S&M. Fed up with the seamy underbelly of French masculinity, Alice crosses paths with Xavier, a neurotic psychoanalyst facing a marriage crisis. The two quickly realize their professions share a thing or two in common as they navigate the overlapping worlds of psychotherapy and sex therapy. From First Run Features ... "Mysteries of Lisbon" (2011 -- Portugal) is one of the final works by legendary filmmaker Raul Ruiz. This acclaimed adaptation of the epic Portuguese novel tells a sweeping tale of romance, war, passion and betrayal. Adapted from the 19th Century novel by Portugal's Camilo Castelo Branco, the film covers three decades, four countries and a host of rich characters -- all sparked by one man's search for the truth. From Music Box Films.

For the Family: (1/17)

It's a wild ride with Thomas and his friends on the Island of Sodor as they deliver some curious cargo -- from giraffes and cows to birds and bunnies and more in the four episodes of "Thomas & Friends: Curious Cargo" (2012), $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate.

Special Interest: (1/17)

"Bill Moyers: Amazing Grace" (2011) is the inspiring, Emmy-winning PBS documentary that traces the history of the beloved hymn. Legendary journalist Bill Moyers explores the song's origins and enduring power through 24 captivating performances including Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Jessye Norman, Marion Williams, the Boys Choir of Harlem, and more. From Acorn Media ... The award-winning investigative documentary "Enemies of the People" (2009 -- U.K./Cambodia) presents exclusive interviews, confessions, revelations, and chilling footage behind Cambodia's "killing fields" of the 1970s. From Old Street Films ... The critically-acclaimed one-man show "Thurgood" (2011) features Laurence Fishburne in his Emmy-nominated performance as the legendary civil rights pioneer and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as he tells audiences his story. From HBO ... With the unexpected death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the succession of his untried 28-year-old son Kim Jong Un, the threat of nuclear escalation looms once again. Media speculation of the heir is anything but optimistic; some predict that he

may be even more dangerous than his father. Bloomberg News suggests that Kim's death may prompt his son to accelerate nuclear weapons development and menace his neighbors in a show of force (and with other nine nations who also have nuclear weapons on alert, resulting in 23,000 weapons worldwide, North Korea certainly is not the only one ensuring fear in the world). The timely documentary "The Forgotten Bomb" (2010) focuses on gathering a comprehensive perspective of the various sides of the nuclear weapons debate, while surveying the nuclear weapons cycle from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to its continuing effect on the world today. When the Cold War ended, the generations that lived through it were relieved to finally vanquish the specter of a mushroom cloud from their minds. But today, thousands of nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia remain on high-alert, still poised to destroy the planet. From Cinema Libre Studio.

Criterion Celebrates 'Harold and Maude' in April

(January 15) Iconoclastic American filmmakers will be in the spotlight in April when The Criterion Collection presents the Hal Ashby's very wicked "Harold and Maude," the whimsical cult classic featuring cinema's ultimate May-December romance; "¡Alambrista!," the long unavailable debut feature from American independent director Robert M. Young about an illegal immigrant's travails in the U.S.; and a collection of important avant-garde works by the great Hollis Frampton, never before on home video. April will also see "The Organizer," a gripping tale of a union strike in early-20-century Italy by Mario Monicelli ("Big Deal on Madonna Street"), and Criterion's first title by the great Yasujiro Ozu to come to Blu-ray, the magnificent "Late Spring." And, this month's Eclipse release focuses on the pearls of the Czech New Wave with five films from the 1960s -- by Vera Chytilova, Jaromil Jires, Jirí Menzel, Jan Nemec, and Evald Schorm. Sometimes rollicking, sometimes sobering, these movies are politically provocative and immensely entertaining. Read more here.

This Week's Releases (January 10)
From the Big Screen:
"Moneyball," "Killer Elite," "What's Your Number?" and "Higher Ground." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

DVD Collectibles: (1/10)

The much-anticipated release of "Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season" (2011), a five-disc set with 12 episodes for $59.99, heads up this week's collectibles. Steve Buscemi stars as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson -- the powerful and corrupt boss of Atlantic City during the decadent and violent "roaring" 1920s. The Great War was over, Wall Street was about to boom, women got the vote and everything was for sale, even the World Series. The undisputed ruler of Atlantic City was the town's treasurer, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (Buscemi), a political fixer and backroom dealer who was equal parts politician and criminal and equally comfortable in either role. Because of its strategic location on the seaboard, minutes from Philadelphia, hours from New York City and less than a day's drive from Chicago, the town was a hub of activity for rumrunners. And Nucky Thompson took full advantage. Extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes that delve into the creation of the 300-foot Boardwalk set, explore the main characters, reveal Atlantic City as it was in the 1920s and present an insider's view of the show through commentaries from the actors, directors and producers. On Blu-ray and DVD from HBO.

From TV to Video: (1/10)

"Columbo: Mystery Movie Collection 1994-2003" is a three-disc set with seven Columbo TV feature movies, $26.98 from Universal ... "Dennis the Menace Season Four" (1962-63) is a five-disc set with all 38 episodes from the final season,

$29.93 from Shout! Factory ... "Diary of a Single Mom" (2011 -- TV), directed by Robert Townsend and starring Monica Calhoun, Valery M. Ortiz, Janice Lynde, Leon, Richard Roundtree, Billy Dee Williams, chronicles the seemingly endless challenges and ultimate successes of three urban women struggling to create lives that not only sustain them and their extended families, but also inspire others toward self-determination and compassion in their own lives. From Image Entertainment ... "Doctor Who Classic: The Android Invasion" stars Tom Baker (the Fourth Doctor) and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), $24.98 from BBC/Warner ... "Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs" features Jon Pertwee (the Third Doctor) and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), from BBC/Warner ... "Hawaii Five-0: The Twelfth and Final Season" (1979-80) is a five-disc set with 20 episodes, $54.99 from CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment ... "Primeval: Volume Three" (2011) is a four-disc set of the complete U.K. seasons four and five, $59.98 from BBC Home Entertainment.

Buzzin' the 'B's: (1/10)

"1911" (2011), directed by Jackie Chan, details a key moment in modern Chinese history -- the fall of the Qing Dynasty -- and the violent rebellion that brought it down. Stars Jackie Chan, Li Bing Bin, Winston Chao, Joan Chen, Jaycee Chan. From Well Go USA ... In "Sinners and Saints" (2010), starring Johnny Strong, Kevin Phillips, Costas Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flanery, Bas Rutten, Clifford "Method Man" Smith, Kim Coates, Louis Mandylor, Jolene Blalock, Tom Berenger, the leader of an elite "Street Crimes" task

force squad in New Orleans must not only cope with the death of his young son and the abandonment of his wife, he must deal with the ambush and the vicious murder of his partner and a baffling gangland homicide case that points toward one of his childhood friends, a security contractor just back from the Middle East. From Anchor Bay Entertainment ... In the direct-to-video "The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption" (2012), starring Victor Webster, Ron Perlman, Billy Zane, the Scorpion King's kingdom has fallen, he's lost his queen to plague, and he's now an assassin for hire; he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew. From Universal ... Arising out of the horror of the Spanish Civil War, a candidate for canonization is investigated by a journalist who discovers his own estranged father had a deep, dark and devastating connection to the saint's life in "There Be Dragons" (2011), directed by Roland Joffe and starring Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott. From Fox ... "Answer This!" (2010), starring Christopher Gorham, Arielle Kebbel, Nelson Franklin, Chris Parnell, is a comedy set in the world of competitive bar trivia, centering around a group of frustrated academics who finally get a shot at beer, women and nerdy redemption when they enter a citywide trivia tournament. From Lionsgate.

On the Indie Front: (1/10)

"A Mile In His Shoes" (2011) stars Luke Schroder, Dean Cain, George Canyon in a family-friendly film about Mickey Tussler, an autistic pitcher in the 1940s, who joins a minor-league baseball team and has a profound effect on the team and manager Arthur "Murph" Murphy over the course of a season. From Nassar Entertainment.

For the Family: (1/10)

"The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs and Other Animal Adventures" (2012) features six animal-themed episodes, $14.93 from Vivendi Entertainment ... "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Series 2, Season 1" is a four-disc set with 24 episodes and fan favorite five-part miniseries "Operation Dragonfire," from Shout! Factory.

Special Interest: (1/10)

In "An Idiot Abroad" (2011), Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, co-creators of "The Office" and "Extras," send their friend Karl Pilkington around the world ... against his will. Karl thinks he's visiting the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but along the way the "Little Englander" must endure camel rides, jungle treks, tribal customs and local

oddballs while dining on toads and testicle and searching for a clean bathroom. Will this be the trip of a lifetime, or the vacation from hell? And will Karl even know the difference? From BBC Home Entertainment ... There's three NOVA documentaries this week: "NOVA: Deadliest Volcanoes" (2011), in which NOVA travels with scientists who are attempting to discover how likely volcanoes are to erupt, when eruptions might happen and how deadly they could prove to be; "NOVA: Iceman Murder Mystery" (2011), in which defrosts the ultimate time capsule -- 5,000-year-old Otzi, the mummified corpse pulled from an Alpine glacier nearly two decades ago. Undergoing an autopsy like none other, scientists attempt to unravel more mysteries from this ancient mummy; combining the latest telescope images with dazzling CGI, "NOVA: Finding Life Beyond Earth" (2011) immerses audiences in the sights and sounds of alien worlds, while top astrobiologists explain how these places are changing how we think about the potential for life in our solar system. $24.99 each from PBS Distribution.

This Week's Releases (January 3)
From the Big Screen:
"Contagion," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," "The Guard," "I Don't Know How She Does It" and "Shark Night." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

DVD Collectibles: (1/03)

The highlight this week is the HBO version of "Mildred Pierce" (2011), in a two-disc set The Emmy-winning HBO miniseries stars Kate Winslet, Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood, Melissa Leo, Mare Winningham, Hope Davis and Brian F. O'Byrne. Directed by Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven"), "Mildred Pierce" is based on James M. Cain's classic 1941 novel of pride and status in the middle class. It tells the story of Mildred, a struggling single mother in Depression-era Los Angeles determined to fulfill the demands of her eldest daughter Veda, while surpassing societal expectations and the duplicity of the men in her life. With a talent for baking and a tremendous work ethic, Mildred sets her sights on becoming a restauranteur. Along the way she finds unexpected romance with Monty Beragon, a charming and wealthy idler, but personal tragedy soon strikes and Mildred faces the ultimate betrayal of love by her gifted but haughty daughter. $39.99. Extras: Commentaries from Haynes, co-writer Jon Raymond and production designer Mark Friedberg (who created the historically accurate setting); a menu-based "Series Index" and "Previews" of each of the five parts. Also available as a DVD/Blu-ray Collector's Edition for $52.99, which adds "Inside the Episode" pieces and the behind-the-scenes featurette "The Making of Mildred Pierce." From HBO.

From TV to Video: (1/03)

"Dr. Willoughby" (1999) stars Joanna Lumley as Donna Sinclair, an actress desperately clinging to her fading career in a sleazy daytime soap in which she stars as competent and compassionate Dr. Willoughby; off-screen, Sinclair is a holy terror -- conniving, vain, and utterly insincere. $29.99 from Acorn Media ... "Justified: The Complete Second Season" (2011) is a three-disc set with 13 episodes, $45.99; also available on Blu-ray Disc, $55.99; from Sony ... "Man in a Suitcase, Set 2" (1968) is a four-disc set with 15 episodes, $59.99 from Acorn Media ... "Royal Pains: Season Three -- Volume One" (2011) is a two-disc set with the first half of Season 1, $26.98 from Universal.

Buzzin' the 'B's: (1/03)

Gothic horror meets industrial-strength cleaning products in this spine-tingler about a pill-popping cleaning service employee and a sprawling mansion with secrets of its own in "Removal" (2010), starring Billy Burke, Mark Kelly, Oz Perkins, Kelly Brook, Emma Caulfield, Elliott Gould. From Lionsgate ... "Puncture" (2011) is a David and Goliath law drama about a drug-addicted lawyer who takes on a health supply corporation while battling his own personal demons. Stars Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, Marhsall Bell, Vinessa Shaw, Michael Biehn, Jesse L. Martin. From Millennium Entertainment.

For the Family: (1/03)

"A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure" (2011) is an animated tale that follows Sammy the turtle's incredible 50-year journey across the world as he meets new friends, including his best friend Ray, finds his true love Shelly and discovers how important it is to protect the earth we live on. Voices of Melanie Griffith, Jenny McCarthy, Kathy Griffin, Tim Curry, Anthony Anderson, Stacy Keach. $19.95 from StudioCanal and Vivendi Entertainment ... In "Barney: I Love My Friends" (2012), Barney takes his friends on a super-dee-duper adventure that shows just what it means to be a friend, $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate ... Love and friendship take center stage in these five episodes of the popular pre-school series, "Angelina Ballerina: Sweet Valentine" (2012), $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate.

Special Interest: (1/03)

A resilient lioness in Botswana's Okavango Delta embarks on an epic journey of survival to protect her three cubs in "The Last Lions" (2011), a nature documentary from National Geographic and award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the stark reality that lions are vanishing from the wild; in the past 50 years, lion populations have plummeted from 450,000 to as few as 20,000. Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons. From Virgil Films and Entertainment ... Last year, the Obama administration set new records for detaining and deporting immigrants who were inside the country illegally. The government plans to best those numbers in 2011, removing more than 400,000 people. "Frontline: Lost in Detention: The Hidden World of Immigration Enforcement" (2011) is a penetrating look at Obama's vastly expanded immigration net, exploring the controversial Secure Communities enforcement program and going inside the hidden world of immigration detention. $24.99 from PBS Distribution ... "The Windsors: From George to Kate" (2011)is an absorbing documentary that traces the recent history of the British monarchy from King George VI through Prince William's recent wedding. Provides a window into the captivating lives of the British Royal Family. $29.99 from Acorn Media.

This Week's Releases (December 27)
From the Big Screen:
""Final Destination 5" and "Apollo 18." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

From TV to Video: (12/27)

"Archer: The Complete Second Season" (2011) is a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "The Borgias: The First Season" (2011) is a three-disc set with all nine episodes, $49.99 from Showtime Networks/CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment ... "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, Series 1" (2010) is a single disc with six episodes featuring the misadventures of an American office temp and convenient liar (David Cross) who bluffs his way into a senior sales job heading up the London office of the new energy drink Thunder Muscle; $24.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Jersey Shore Uncensored: Season Four" (2011) is a four-disc with all 12 uncensored episodes, $26.99 from MTV/Paramount ... "Shameless: The Complete First Season" (2011) is a three-disc set with 12 episodes, $39.98 from Warner.

Buzzin' the 'B's: (12/27)

The gruesome antics continue in the unrated version of the direct-to-video "Hostel: Part III" (2011): While attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas, four friends are enticed by two sexy escorts to join them at a private party way off the Strip, where they find themselves the subjects of a perverse game of torture. Stars Brian Hallisay, Kip Pardue, John Hensley, Chris Coy, Skyler Stone, Sarah Habel. From Sony ...

Based on Graham Greene's chilling 1938 novel, "Brighton Rock" (2010) follows the nasty adventures of young antihero Pinkie -- a cunning charmer trying to make his mark on the vicious gangland of Brighton. When a young waitress stumbles on evidence that links him and his gang to a revenge killing, he draws her into a conned romance to keep the loose end tied up. Stars Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough, Helen Mirren, John Hurt. From IFC Films ... "The Pool Boys" (2011), starring Matthew Lillard, Rachelle Lefevre, Efren Ramirez, Brett Davern, Tom Arnold, follows a pool boy and his friends who, tired of working dead end jobs, scheme to get rich quick by turning an empty mansion into a home for the hottest escorts in Beverly Hills. From Entertainment One ... A lethal, ex-Special Forces soldier (Dolph Lundgren) finds himself transported back to a mystical age of sorcery, dragons and savage hand-to-hand combat to defeat the forces of darkness and fulfill an ancient prophecy in "In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds" (2011). From Fox.

A thirtysomething party animal famous for his lavish summer theme parties at his father's swanky Hamptons pad organizes one last blow-out before his circle of friends disbands and his father sells the estate in "A Good Old Fashioned Orgy" (2011), starring Jason Sudeikis, Leslie Bibb, Lake Bell, Michelle Bort. From Sony ... Months after a zombie plague has wiped out 90 percent of the American population, a small group of survivors fight their way cross-country to a rumored refuge on the island of Catalina in "Zombie Apocalypse" (2011), starring Ving Rhames, Taryn Manning, Leslie-Ann Brandt. From The Asylum ... "Dispatch" (2011), starring Michael Bershad, Bruce Bohne, follows one turbulent night in the life of a successful screenwriter-turned-overnight Hollywood limousine night dispatcher. From Monarch Home Entertainment ... In "Game Time" (2011), starring Phil Haus, Jason Hurt, Maria DiDomenico, two friends find themselves as the top contenders in a basketball championship in New York City. From Lionsgate ... In "The Hunters" (2011), starring Steven Waddington, Tony Becker, Dianna Agron, Terence Knox, a group of friends decide to spend time in the one place that was forbidden to them as kids -- the woods, where they come upon what they believe is an abandoned fort, until they find the walls dripping with blood and decomposing bodies lining the floor. From Lionsgate.

Foreign: (12/27)

"Love Crime" (2010 -- France), starring Ludivine Sagnier and Kristin Scott Thomas -- the final film from director Alain Corneau -- pits the fiery talents of Sagnier and Scott Thomas against each other in a deliciously twisted tale of office politics that turn, literally, cut-throat. When Christine, a powerful executive (Scott Thomas), brings on a naive young ingenue, Isabelle (Sagnier), as her assistant, she delights in toying with her naivete and teaching her hard lessons in a ruthless professional philosophy. But when the protege's ideas become tempting enough for Christine to pass one as her own, she underestimates Isabelle's ambition and cunning-- and the ground is set for all out war. From IFC Films.

Special Interest: (12/27)

"Jane's Journey" (2011) It would be hard to name anyone who has had more of an impact in the realm of animal research and wildlife conservation than Jane Goodall, whose 45 year study of wild chimpanzees in Africa is legendary. This documentary travels with her across several continents, from her childhood home in England, to the Gombe National Park in Tanzania where she began her groundbreaking research and where she still returns every year to enjoy the company of the chimpanzees that made her famous. Also features Pierce Brosnan, Kofi Annan, Angelina Jolie. $27.95 from First Run Features.

From the Big Screen This Week:

December 20-26: "Midnight in Paris," "Dolphin Tale," "Warrior," "Straw Dogs," "Colombiana," "Margin Call" and "Glee: The Concert Movie." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

From TV to Video:(12/20)

"Futurama Volume 6" (2010) is a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "One Tree Hill: The Complete Eighth Season" (2010-11) is a five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. from Warner.

Buzzin' the 'B's:(12/20)

"Burke & Hare" (2010), directed by John Landis and starring Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Curry and Isla Fisher, is a black comedy about two 19th century grave robbers who find a lucrative business providing cadavers for an Edinburgh medical school. From IFC Films ... "Saint Nick" (2010 -- Netherlands) is a horror film that depicts the jolly old saint as a murderous bishop who kidnaped and murdered children every 32 years during a full moon on December 5. Slain by the villagers he tormented, he swears vengeance on their descendants and, centuries later, returns (with his minions) to terrorize Amsterdam. From IFC Films ... A woman who is slowly losing her sight investigates the mysterious death of her twin sister, uncovering a mysterious world overshadowed by a malignant presence -- and the disappearance of people close to her in "Julia's Eyes" (2010 -- Spain), from IFC Films.

... It's been said (but unsubstantiated) that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed in a standoff with the Bolivian military in 1908. In "Blackthorn" (2011), Cassidy (Shepard) survived, and is quietly living out his years under the name James Blackthorn in a secluded Bolivian village. Tired of his long exile from the U.S. and hoping to see his family again before he dies, Cassidy sets out on the long journey home. However, when an unexpected encounter with an ambitious young criminal derails his plans, he is thrust into one last adventure, the likes of which he hasn't experienced since his glory days with the Sundance Kid. Stars Sam Shepard, Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea, Nicolaj Coster-Waldau. From Magnolia Home Entertainment ... All hell breaks loose when three female hoods fail to intercept a double-cross drug shipment for their crime boss in "Catch .44" (2011), starring Forest Whitaker, Bruce Willis, Malin Akerman, Nikki Reed, Deborah Ann Woll and Brad Dourif. From Anchor Bay Entertainment.

March Criterion Favors Brits

(December 17) In March, the Criterion Collection will dive into some classic British cinema with two cultural titans of the 20th century with the deluxe Blu-ray or DVD box set" David Lean Directs Noe Coward," which features "In Which We Serve," "This Happy Breed," "Blithe Spirit" and "Brief Encounter," all of them marvelous, award-winning entertainments. Then, Roy Ward Baker's "A Night to Remember," the brilliant dramatization of the sinking of the Titanic, resurfaces in a new special edition, on both Blu-ray and DVD, 100 years after the monumental disaster took place. Plus, two greats from the States: D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus's fast and furious political documentary "The War Room," about the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign, on Blu-ray and DVD; and Martin Scorsese’s powerful religious drama "The Last Temptation of Christ," for the first time on Blu-ray. All this and the long unavailable, visually astounding Soviet adventure film "Letter Never Sent" in Blu-ray and DVD editions. Read more.

22 More MGM Classics Scheduled for End of December

(December 19) As December comes to a close, MGM Home Entertainment will release more MGM Limited Edition Collection titles on DVD for the first time ever through their special Manufacturing-On-Demand Platform. The 22 films will be available through major online retailers and feature classics from 1953 to 1994 including performances by Hollywood’s greats – Edward G. Robinson, Susan George, Peter Fonda, Helena Bonham Carter, and Rob Lowe to name just a few. Titles include "The Magnetic Monster" (1953), "Diary of a Bachelor" (1963), "Busting" (1973), "A Small Town in Texas" (1976), "Up the Creek" (1984), "Nutcracker: The Motion Picture" (1986) and "Getting it Right" (1989). Check out the complete list of films and the press release here.

From the Big Screen This Week:

December 13-19: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," "Fright Night," :Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

DVD Collectibles: (12/13)

The top collectible releases this week belong to The Criterion Collection, with two offerings from very independent Japanese New Wave bad boy director Seijun Suzuki. In the jazzy gangster film "Tokyo Drifter" (1966), reformed killer Phoenix Tetsu's

attempt to go straight is squashed when his former cohorts call him back to Tokyo to help battle a rival gang. This onslaught of stylized violence and trippy colors got director Seijun Suzuki in trouble with Nikkatsu studio heads, who were put off by his anything-goes, in-your-face aesthetic, equal parts Russ Meyer, Samuel Fuller and Nagisa Oshima. "Tokyo Drifter" is a delirious highlight of the brilliantly excessive Japanese cinema of the sixties. In a new high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition ... When Suzuki delivered the brutal, hilarious, and visually inspired masterpiece "Branded to Kill" (1967) to the executives at his studio, he was promptly fired. "Branded to Kill" tells the ecstatically bent story of a yakuza assassin (Joe Shishido, the chipmunk-cheeked superstar from "Gate of Flesh") with a fetish for sniffing boiled rice who botches a job and ends up a target himself. This is Suzuki at his most extremethe flabbergasting pinnacle of his sixties pop-art aesthetic. With a new high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. As is de rigueur with Criterion, both releases are loaded with extras as well as informative booklets.

From TV to Video: (12/13)

"Family Guy Volume 9" (2006-07) is a three-disc set with 14 episodes, from Fox ... "Gunsmoke: Season Five, Volume Two" (1959-60) is a three-disc set with 20 episodes, $42.99 from CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount ... "The Life & Times of Tim: The Complete Second Season" (2010) is a two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.98 from HBO ... "Spin City: The Complete Sixth Season" (2001-02) is a four-disc set with all 22 episodes from the show's last season, $29.98 from Shout! Factory ... "Swamp People: Season Two" (2011) is a four-disc set with 16 episodes, $24.95 from A&E ... "Switched at Birth: Volume 1" (2011) is two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.99 from Disney.

Buzzin' the 'B's: (12/13)

"Tanner Hall" (2011) is a provocative peek into the private, sometimes reckless, and always scandalous world of a privileged all-girls boarding school, starring Rooney Mara, Georgia King, Amy Ferguson, Brie Larsen, Amy Sedaris, Chris Kattan, Tom Everett Scott. From Anchor Bay ... Seduced by the ghost of a Civil War soldier, whose spirit dwells in her new home, Dr. Barbara Haughton contrives to have him live again in the body of a man who died in her hospital, giving the doctor more than she bargained for in "The Undying" (2009), starring Robin Weigert, Anthony Carrigan, Jay O. Sanders, Sybil Temtchine, Wes Studi. From MTI Home Video.

Foreign: (12/13)

New Video's China Lion imprint has two new releases this week: "A Beautiful Life" (2011 -- China), a melodrama about a beautiful real-estate agent who accidentally bumps into a straight-laced, lonely cop and a friendship is born -- despite the fact that she's having a tortuous affair with a married man. As the woman gradually abandons her materialistic values and falls in love with the good-hearted cop, it becomes apparent that he is suffering from a disease that is robbing him of his mental faculties; and "If You Are the One: Love and Marriage" (2010 - China), which picks up where director Feng Xiaogang's popular first romantic comedy ends: Wealthy middle-aged retiree Qin Fen and serious-minded young airline attendant Xiaoxiao enter into a trial marriage by living together full-time in a tropical villa, where they learn more about each other and what it takes to make romance blossom ... "Circumstance" (2011 -- Iran) is a provocative coming of age story that cracks open the hidden world of Iranian youth. As culture wars and politics define the country, a wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain their personal lives as their children lead a group of friends in Tehran to rebel against the constant oppression. Atafeh and Shireen's lifelong friendship has turned sexual, and they dream of escaping to Dubai, while Atafeh's brother harbors a dangerous obsession. From Lionsgate ... nspired by true events, "Champions" (2011 -- China) tells the story of China's search for the martial artist to bring their national sport of Wushu to the world during the Olympics hosted in Beijing. Competing for the honor of demonstrating the sport of Wushu on behalf of China, millions of martial artists come together to show off their strength and skills. With a chance to represent their country's national sport at the Olympics, honor is on the line for two men ... and the road to the Games is paved with hardship and heartbreak, and their journey will test their strength, skill and spirit to its limits. From Lionsgate.

Special Interest: (12/13)

"Steve Jobs: One Last Thing" (2011) An unflinching look at Steve Jobs' difficult, controlling disposition, offering unique insights into what made him tick. While there has been near-universal agreement that Jobs was a great innovator in business and technology, this docu -- featuring interviews with colleagues and others who knew him -- looks into why he was so great. What were the influences that shaped his character? What drove him from such humble beginnings to the heights of success? $24.99. (PBS Distribution).

"Vietnam in HD" (2011) Through a collection of color Vietnam footage never seen by the public from private collections, museums, the U.S. government, veterans and news organizations as well as sources from Vietnam, Vietnam veterans tell their stories and relive their struggles, courage and fears. This six-hour miniseries spans the massive initial troop build-up in 1965 to the fall of Saigon a decade later. $24.95. Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc, $34.95. (A&E).
"The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975" (2011) A treasure trove of 16mm material shot by Swedish journalists who came to the U.S. drawn by stories of urban unrest and revolution in the 1960s. Gaining access to many of the leaders of the Black Power Movement -- Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis and Eldridge Cleaver among them -- the filmmakers captured them in intimate moments and remarkably unguarded interviews. Thirty years later, this lush collection was found languishing in the basement of Swedish Television. Director Goran Olsson and co-producer Danny Glover bring this footage to light in a mosaic of images, music and narration chronicling the evolution one of our nation's most indelible turning points, the Black Power Movement. $24.98. (IFC Films).

"Eames: The Architect and the Painter" (2011) Design history was born in a cavernous warehouse on a gritty street in Venice Beach, California, where Charles and Ray Eames set up their Renaissance-style studio in the optimistic flush of American victory during World War II. Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey's definitive cinematic foray into the world of the Eames is the first film to be made about Charles and Ray since their deaths -- and the only one that peers deeply inside the link between their artistic collaboration and sometimes tortured love for one another. Narrated by James Franco, the film brings to light a virgin cache of archival material, visually stunning films, love letters, photographs and artifacts produced in mind-boggling volume by Charles and Ray with their talented staff during the hypercreative 40-year epoch of the Eames Office. The work of Charles and Ray Eames remains an ideal of design at its most virtuous - an alchemical combination of beauty and purpose. Their light and whimsical designs became emblematic of a new West Coast lifestyle whose influence reached Europe, Asia, and beyond. Though the Eameses are best known for their ubiquitous furniture and the signature innovation of the classic Eames chair, this essential documentary shows Charles and Ray applying the same process of inquiry to architecture, exhibitions and their quirky, beautiful films. $29.95. Extras: Bonus scenes. (First Run Features).
"Elusive Justice: The Search for Nazi War Criminals" (2011) Candice Bergen narrates this new documentary providing a definitive account of efforts -- official and unofficial -- to locate, prosecute and punish fugitive Nazis around the world. In the aftermath of the World War II, the Allies declared the Nazi party a criminal organization and pledged to prosecute and punish all those who took part in genocide and crimes against humanity. During the Nuremberg Trials, approximately 1,000 Nazi officials were convicted of crimes against humanity; but hundreds of thousands of suspected war criminals evaded prosecution -- by returning to the societies they’d helped destroy; by concealing their war records, by assuming false identities; by fleeing Europe; or by serving the Allies as spies and scientists. Thousands of Nazi criminals are presumed to be alive. Filmed in eight countries over the course of three years, "Elusive Justice" profiles the men and women who took matters into their own hands and succeeded in tracking down Nazi fugitives when official institutions failed. $24.99. (PBS Distribution).

From the Big Screen This Week:

December 6-12: "The Help," "The Hangover Part II," "Cowboys & Aliens," "The Debt," "Point Blank" and "Mr. Popper's Penguins." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."

DVD Collectibles: (12/6)

This week's releases are highlighted by a pair of Criterion selections deserving spots on everyone's home video shelf. "Design for Living": (1933) Gary Cooper, Fredric March and Miriam Hopkins play a trio of Americans in Paris who enter into a very adult "gentleman's" agreement in this continental pre-Code comedy freely adapted by Ben Hecht from a play by Noel Coward and

directed by Ernst Lubitsch. A risque relationship comedy and a witty take on creative pursuits, it concerns a commercial artist (Hopkins) unable -- or unwilling -- to choose between the equally dashing painter (Cooper) and playwright (March) she meets on a train en route to the City of Light. "Design for Living" is Lubitsch at his most adroit, an entertainment at once debonair and racy, featuring three stars at the height of their allure. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. "The Lady Vanishes": (1938) In Alfred Hitchcock's most quick-witted and devilish comic thriller, the beautiful Margaret Lockwood, traveling across Europe by train, meets a charming spinster (May Whitty), who then seems to disappear into thin air. The younger woman turns investigator and finds herself drawn into a complex web of mystery and high adventure. Also starring Michael Redgrave, "The Lady Vanishes" remains one of the great filmmaker's purest delights. High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.

More Collectibles:
"Mission: Impossible -- Extreme Trilogy Collection" is timed for the Dec. 21 release of Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," and includes "Mission: Impossible," with such extras as "Mission: Remarkable -- 40 Years of Creating the Impossible," "Mission: Explosive Exploits," "Mission: Spies Among Us," "Mission: Catching the Train." "Mission: Impossible 2," with commentary by director John Woo, " Behind the Mission," "Mission Incredible," "Impossible Shots." "Mission: Impossible 3," with commentary by Tom Cruise and director J.J. Abrams. $19.99. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, $29.99. From Paramount ... The "Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition" is also timed with a theatrical release, this for the Dec. 21 David Fincher-directed U.S. version of the first film in the trilogy, starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer. The four-disc set with all three 2009 "Dragon Tattoo" films encompasses nine hours with characters and plot developments only seen in European versions. Extras include "Millennium: The Story," a 53 minute documentary detailing the phenomenon of the "Millennium" trilogy and the personal history of author Stieg Larsson up until his tragic death before "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was published. $59.98; also available on Blu-ray Disc, $79.95. From Music Box Films ... "Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) makes its Blu-ray debut this week. The film, directed by Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku and Toshio Masuda (Japanese sequences) stars Martin Balsam, So Yamamura, Joseph Cotten, Tatsuya Mihashi, E.G. Marshall, James Whitmore, Takahiro Tamura, Eijiro Tono and Jason Robards, and includes Extras: Blu-ray book includes the extended "Japanese Cut" containing 10 minutes of previously unreleased footage and rare photos. From Fox.

From TV to Video: (12/6)

"Big Love: The Complete Fifth Season" (2011) is a four-disc set with 10 episodes, $59.99 from HBO ... "Big Love: The Complete Collection" (2011) is a 19-disc set, $199.95 from HBO ... "Designing Women: The Complete Fifth Season" (1990-91), a four-disc set with 24 episodes, $44.95 from Shout! Factory ... "The Game -- The Fourth Season" (2011), a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.99 from CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment ... "Law & Order: The Ninth Year" (1998-99), a five-disc set with 24 episodes, $49.98 from Universal ... "The Lucy Show: The Official Fifth Season" (1966-67),a four-disc set with 22 episodes, $42.99 from CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment ... "The Simpsons Season 14" (2002-03), a four-disc set with 22 episodes, including the incredible 300th episode starring Tony Hawk and Blink-182, $49.98 from Fox.

Foreign: (12/6)

In "Life, Above All" (2010 -- South Africa), starring Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane, Lerato Mvelase, just after the death of her newly-born sister, 12-year-old Chanda hears a rumor that spreads like wildfire through her small, dust-ridden village near Johannesburg that destroys her family and forces her mother to flee. Sensing that the gossip stems from prejudice and superstition, Chanda leaves home and school in search of her mother and the truth. From Sony ... "Medea" (1969 -- Italy) is Pier Paolo Pasolini's acclaimed production of the Greek tragedy, starring Maria Callas, one of the best-selling classical singers of all time, as the title character in the only dramatic film role of her life. Fully restored and re-mastered from a new 35mm film-to-tape transfer. From Entertainment One.

For the Family: (12/6)

"The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete Fourth Season" (2011) is a two-disc set of the "Doctor Who" spin-off children's series that follows the exploits of school friends Luke, Clyde and Rani, who team up with alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith and her trusty super-computer Mr. Smith to examine strange and mysterious events. $29.98 from BBC Home Entertainment ... "Transformers Prime: Darkness Rising" (2011) is a new five-part miniseries. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Arcee, AUTOBOT Ratchet, Bulkhead, and many others are back to "roll out" against Megatron's latest attempt to conquer Earth after he acquires a rare element that allows him mastery over life itself. $14.97 from Shout! Factory.

Special Interest: (12/6)

"Bobby Fischer Against the World" (2011) is a searing portrait of a brilliant, yet troubled man -- chess prodigy Bobby Fischer -- using news clips and archival footage, as well as rare interviews with Fischer himself. From Docurama.

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