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DVD News/Info
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of a football game and a brothel." -- Federico Fellini
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"New Moon" Rises at Blockbuster(November 4) Blockbuster Inc. is giving away tickets to advance theatrical screenings of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," the highly anticipated sequel to the teen vampire hit "Twilight," according to a report at Home Media Magazine. Blockbuster stores in 20 select markets will give away free tickets Nov. 13 for the Nov. 19 screening. The cities include Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Fla., and Washington, D.C.This Week's Releases (November 3)
From the Big Screen:"Aliens in the Attic," "Food, Inc.," "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," "I Love You, Beth Cooper" and "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."DVD Collectibles:It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ... and Chanukah and Kwanza ... as the studios start releasing gift sets and special editions to tickle buyers' fancies. Up this week:For its 50th anniversary, Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959) has received a meticulous restoration and remastering with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging scanning the original VistaVision production elements in 8K resolution. 
The film, which starred Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G. Carroll and Martin Landau, will be available as a Special Edition DVD, retailing for $24.98, and in premium Blu-ray Book packaging, selling for $34.99. Extras include "The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style," a featurette that consists of interviews, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage that examines the unmistakable Hitchcock style; "North by Northwest: One for the Ages," featuring Guillermo del Toro, William Friedkin, Curtis Hanson and Francis Lawrence sharing their interpretations on the film's importance and its influence on their own work. The Blu-ray Book also contains 44 pages full of photos, film facts and "insider information."
Also out this week: "Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut," a five-disc set that weaves together the "Tales of the Black Freighter" with the "Watchmen: Director's Cut" and including all 12 episodes of "Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic," $43.87 from Warner ... "Say Anything 20th Anniversary Edition" (1989), starring John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney, Lili Taylor, Joan Cusack and Jeremy Piven, with such bonus features as "A Conversation With Cameron Crowe" featurette, "I Love Say Anything ...! featurette, intro and commentary by Cameron Crowe, John Cusack and Ione Skye; alternate, deleted and extended scenes, and more; from Fox ... and The Criterion Collection edition of Wim Wenders "Wings of Desire" (1987), which we reported on two weeks ago.
From TV to Video:"Here's Lucy: Season Two" (1969-70) is a four-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98 from MPI Home Video ... "The Rockford Files: Movie Collection -- Volume 1," a two-disc set with four Rockford TV movies, $26.98 from Universal ... "The Shield: The Complete Series Collection" (2002-08), a 28-disc set with 88 episodes presented in a collectible 34-page bound anthology book, $159.95 from Sony ... "Spin City: Season Three" (1998-99), a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.99 from Shout! Factory.Buzzin' the 'B's:
In the futuristic thriller "Hardwired" (2009), Cuba Gooding Jr. become the unwitting target of a dangerous corporation hell-bent on controlling mankind through brain implants and mind manipulation; co-stars Michael Ironside and Val Kilmer; from Sony ... A man and his wife must face their tortured pasts in order to save their kidnapped daughter in a Texas border town hell of barrios and bordellos in "Not Forgotten" (2009), starring Simon Baker, Paz Vega, Michael DeLorenzo, Ken Davitian and Claire Forlani; from (Anchor Bay Entertainment ...A group of friends at a dinner party at an isolated mansion must fend off a hoard of contagiously infected birds in "Beast Within (aka Virus Undead) (2008), from Barnholtz Entertainment/Lionsgate ...
A company's plan to create the most addictive food additive goes awry and the substance transforms humans into savage, bloodthirsty creatures in "Mutants (2008), starring Michael Ironside and Steven Bauer; from North American Motion Pictures ... In "Dark Mirror"
(2007), staring Lisa Vidal, David Chisum and Joshua Pelegrin, a former photographer turned stay-at-home mom discovers that the people she photographs die and are reflected in the cut-glass windows and beveled mirrors in her strange new house; from IFC Films.
On the Indie Front:
"Who Is KK Downey?" (2008) is the feature-length debut from Canada's Kidnapper Films comedy troupe, poking fun at recent literary hoaxes in the media; two wannabes -- one a musician, the other a writer -- hatch a plan to turn the writer's fictional book into an autobiography by having the rocker dress up as the story's protagonist, KK Downey, and claim all the events as having happened to him. All of a sudden the book nobody wanted becomes an overnight literary sensation; from IndiePix Films ... In "Where God Left His Shoes" (2007) John Leguizamo stars as Gulf War veteran and washed-up prizefighter -- evicted from his New York City home -- who tries to find a job to get his family into an apartment in a housing project ... on Christmas eve; from IFC films.Foreign:"Lemon Tree" (2008 -- Israel-Germany-France) offers a unique, personal look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: It's the story of a Palestinian widow who must defend her lemon tree field when a new Israeli Defense Minister moves next to her and threatens to have the grove torn down for security reasons; from IFC Films ... With just 72 hours left before the Earth is destroyed by a giant meteorite, a Spanish villager must defend his family against a notorious, brutal serial killer who has escaped from prison in "Before the Fall" (2008 -- Spain); from IFC Films.
For the Family:"Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One" (2008) is a four-disc set with 22 episodes of the hit TV series for kids, $44.98 from Warner ... "Ruby-Spears Superman" (2008) is a two-disc set with all 13 episodes of the Saturday morning animated Superman episodes created by veteran writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, $26.99 from Warner ...
In "Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House Of Mouse"
(2001), Mickey and friends get snowed in at the house of mouse and learn about the true meaning of Christmas in this full-length adventure, $26.99 from Disney ... "Walt Disney Treasures Wave IX: Zorro: The Complete First and Second Season" (1957-59) are two six-disc sets housed in numbered, collectible black tin cases with all 78 episodes of the 1950s action series, $59.99 each; each limited edition, individually numbered volume includes a Zorro pin, an authenticity certificate and exclusive lithograph; from Disney ... "Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol" (2009) is an animated Christmas adventure that has Dora helping her friend Swiper get back on Santa's nice list after being naughty; $19.99 from Nickelodeon/Paramount.
Special Interest:"Ancient Lives" (2008) is a four-part documentary that reveals the daily lives of ancient Egyptians, focusing on a village of royal tomb makers outside Thebes, told through their 3,000-year-old manuscripts, artwork, and other relics; $49.99 from Athena ... "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs" (2007) uses sophisticated computer graphics and dramatic reconstructions to tell the story of one of the greatest archaeological finds: the late-19th century discovery of a cache of 40 mummies, including 12 kings of Egypt, among them the legendary Rameses the Great; narrated by Christopher Lee; $19.98 from Image Entertainment ... "The Christians" is a five-disc set of the 13-part documentary that examines Christianity not as a religious faith, but as a historical and cultural force that has inspired benevolence and conquest, sublime art and barbaric warfare through the centuries; $99.99 from Athena ... Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of "On the Origin of Species's" publication and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, the three-part series "The Genius of Charles Darwin" (2009) examines evolution and its legacy; $49.99 from Athena ... "Earth 2100" (2009) is a powerful documentary that addresses head-on what most of us would prefer not to think about: that by the end of this century, life as we know it could come to an end. Emmy-winning broadcast journalist Bob Woodruff hosts this special that examines how, due to man-made climate change and other factors, civilization could crumble, leaving only faint traces of human existence behind; $14.98 from MPI Home Video ...
"The Botany of Desire" (2009), based on Michael Pollan's best-selling book, shows how human desires are an essential, intricate part of natural history. The documentary explores the natural history of four plants -- the apple, the tulip, marijuana,and the potato -- and the corresponding human desires -- "sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and controlling nature" -- that link the plants' destinies to our own; $24.99 from PBS ... In "Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush" (2009), comedian-actor Will Ferrell takes viewers on a sentimental journey through the life, legend, and legacy of the 43rd U.S President, portraying George W. Bush in this live performance from Broadway's Cort Theater; $19.97 from HBO Home Entertainment ...
"G.I. Joe: Resolute" (2009) is an 11-part series that features a more sophisticated animation style and story than prior G.I. Joe outings; it's intended for the adult fan who grew up with the brand in the 80s; from Paramount.
More News:"Twilight" Comes Back to Life on VOD(November 1) Just days after Warner Bros. and sales/rental tracking firm Rentrak announced that Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" had unseated "Twilight" as the No. 1 VOD title for the year, later data shows that the Oct. 1 re-release of "Twilight" on video-on-demand rental helped Summit Home Entertainment's teen vampire reclaim the No. 1 title. "Twilight" was released on cable VOD through Nov. 1 with additional footage aimed at promoting the theatrical release of the sequel, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," on Nov. 20."Gran Torino" Drives Over "Twilight"
(October 29)
Can a grumpy old man beat out a hot young vampire? Well he can if he's Clint Eastwood. According to a report in Video Business, Eastwood's "Gran Torino" has bested "Twilight" to become the top-renting video-on-demand movie this year, according to Warner Home Video and Rentrak. "Gran Torino" has generated $30 million in consumer VOD spending worldwide on cable and satellite; that doesn't include rentals through iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, Xbox 360 or other digital platforms. "Twilight" was the top VOD title for the first six months of the year.This Week's Releases (November 3)
From the Big Screen:"Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs," "Orphan" and "Whatever Works." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
DVD Collectibles:There's a wealth of collectible DVDs hitting the shelves this week. First up is
"The Collector's Choice: Samuel Fuller Collection," a seven-disc set featuring two of acclaimed auteur Fuller's best films making their DVD debuts: "The Crimson Kimono" (1959) and "Underworld U.S.A." (1961), both directed by Fuller, in addition to five films written by Fuller: "It Happened in Hollywood" (1937, directed by Harry Lachman), "Adventure in Sahara" (1938, directed by D. Ross Lederman), "Power of the Press" (1943, directed by Lew Landers), "Shockproof" (1949, directed by Douglas Sirk) and "Scandal Sheet" (1952, directed by Phil Karlson). All seven have been restored and remastered and are being released on DVD for the first time. The set -- selling for $79.95 -- includes a host of extras; from Sony.
Director Costa-Gavras's "Z" shook up the film establishment when it was released in 1969. In this pulse-pounding political thriller, loosely based on the 1963 assassination of Greek left-wing activist Gregoris Lambrakis Yves Montand stars as a prominent politician and doctor whose public murder amid a violent demonstration is covered up by military and government officials; Jean-Louis Trintignant is the tenacious magistrate who's determined not to let them get away with it.
The Golden Age of Television's "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" anthology series began 50 years ago on NBC, airing 36 episodes from 1960-61, and starred multi-talented actress Barbara Stanwyck, the American Film Institute's "11th Greatest Female Star of All Time." For more modern fare there's "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan" (2009) is an uncensored 90-minute feature (reuniting the series' original TV cast) that follows the evolution of the Cylons (built to serve humanity) from metal robots to humanoids, their attempt (and failure) to destroy the human race, and the flight of humanity to survive; told from the Cylon point of view. From Universal ... He's been called the Prince of Darkness, the Black Pope, the Fox, the Sphinx and the Hunchback, but the nickname Il Divo -- the God -- perhaps best fits the persona of Italy's seven-time prime minister and "senator for life," Giulio Andreotti, a figure who held sway over the entire Italian political landscape for decades. The scandals that plagued Andreotti’s career -- charges of Mafia ties, bribery and deadly violence -- would seem too appalling to be true, but viewers can decide for themselves in the award-winning documentary "Il Divo" (2009), from MPI Home Video. (Posted October 27)
From TV to Video:"Angel and the Badman" (2009) stars Lou Diamond Phillips and Deborah Kara Unger in a remake of the 1947 John Wayne-Gail Russell Western about a notorious gunfighter who's transformed into a man of peace by a good woman, from Barnholtz Entertainment/Lionsgate ... "Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Season 1" (2004-05) is a two-disc set with 12 episodes of the Discovery Health series, from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... "DogTown: Friends in Need" (2009) is a three-disc set with 10 episodes from the National Geographic series featuring the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and its resilient canine wards, $29.98 from National Geographic Home Entertainment) ... "The Fugitive: Season Three, Volume One" (1965) is a four-disc set, $39.98 from Paramount ...
"The Guardian: The First Season" (2001-02) is a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.98 from CBS/Paramount ... "Life After People: The Complete Season One" (2008) is a three-disc set with 10 episodes, $34.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force: The Complete Season One" (2008-09) is a three-disc set with 18 episodes, $24.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "Mannix: The Third Season" (1969-70) is a six-disc set with 25 episodes, $49.99 from Paramount ... "Predators" features three Animal Planet programs that chronicle the world's most dangerous and deadly animals, $14.95 from Animal Planet and Genius Products ... "Tales From the Darkside: The Second Season" (1985-86) is a three-disc set with 23 episodes, $36.98 from Paramount ... "Trial & Retribution Set 3"
(2005-07) is a three-disc set with three riveting crime dramas from the hit British series created by "Prime Suspect" creator Lynda La Plante; $59.99 from Acorn Media. (Posted October 27)
Buzzin' the 'B's:In "Pandemic" (2009), starring Ray Wise, Graham McTavish, Peter Asle Holden and Alesha Clarke, a veterinarian finds herself in the midst of a horrible contagious disease that affects both humans and animals; from MTI Home Video ... When three honest security guards learn that their favorite artworks are being sent to another museum, they concoct a plan to switch the real masterpieces with fakes in "The Maiden Heist" (2009), starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, William H. Macy and Marcia Gay Harden; from Sony ...
In "Criminal Ways"(2003), starring Nick Giannopoulos, Russell Dykstra, Isla Fisher, Michael Carman and Lena Cruz, a no-talent teacher at a performing arts school is hired to turn a clan of shady crooks into a children's theater group in order to infiltrate a child's birthday party and steal a multi-million dollar diamond necklace; from Barnholtz Entertainment/Magnolia Home Entertainment ... Two indirect, distant descendants of Edgar Allan Poe, exploring the famous author's past, begin a romance, causing the dark and deadly secrets of Poe's legacy to emerge in "Descendant" (2003), starring Katherine Heigl, Jeremy London, Nick Stabile, Whitney Dylan, Matt Farnsworth, Margot Hartman Tenny, Arie Verveen and William Katt; from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... In "For Sale by Owner" (2009), starring Scott Cooper, Skeet Ulrich, Tom Skerritt, Rachel Nichols and Kris Kristofferson, a young preservation architect embarks on a project that takes him from the hallways of the esteemed University of Virginia to the banks of the Chesapeake Bay on a dark search for answers to one of America's oldest and most lasting legends: the legend of the Lost Colony; from Monarch Home Video. (Posted October 27)
Foreign:"Fear(s) of the Dark" (2007) is a French anthology that brings together some of the world's leading graphic artists and cartoonists -- Blutch (Christian Hincker), Charles Burns, Marie Caillou, Richard McGuire, Pierre di Sciullo and Lorenzo Mattotti -- to breathe life into nightmares, using stark light and the pitch black of shadows. This is their stark and naked world of phobias, nightmares and shadows, of strange noises, slimy bugs and dead things. It s a creepy, kinky, sometimes funny and always scary ride inside what makes our skin crawl and keeps us awake all night. From MPI Home Video ... In "Sauna" (2008 -- Finland/Czech Republic), two men, part of a detachment commissioned to map a new border between after a 25-year struggle between Sweden and Russia that ended in 1595 and wreaked devastation on Finland, mistreat a family in the swampy terrain and pay the price when they seek relief in a village's ominous sauna; from IFC Films. (Posted October 27)
For the Family:"Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" (2009) is the second film in the continuing Disney Fairies Franchise. Here Tinker Bell must venture out across the sea on a secret quest to set things right after accidentally putting Pixie Hollow in jeopardy during the Autumn Pixie Dust festival; $29.95 with such extras as "Scenes You Never Saw" alternate scenes, "Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow," deleted scenes, "Pixie Hollow Comes to Florida" showing how the filmmakers helped transform Disney's Florida EPCOT into Pixie Hollow; from Disney ...
"Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics" assembles
some of the best-loved tales in children's literature in an unprecedented collection of 100 classic, award-winning storybooks on 16 DVDs with nearly 20 hours of quality entertainment for kids and parents alike. From the Maurice Sendak classic "Where the Wild Things Are" to the beloved adventures of Curious George and Corduroy, the set features works by some of the most acclaimed children's authors and illustrators including: Ezra Jack Keats, H.A. Rey, Kevin Henkes, Doreen Cronin and Robert McCloskey, just to name a few. $99.95 from Scholastic Storybook Treasures ... "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Chicka Chicka 123" is a two-disc set that includes the title stories as well as "Blueberries for Sal" and "Emily's First 100 Days of School," stories aimed at helping kids learn about letters and numbers; $19.95 from Scholastic Storybook Treasures ... "Iron Man: Armored Adventures"
(2009) features six episodes from the Nicktoons Network series for boys aged 6-11, $16.95 from Marvel Entertainment/Genius Products. (Posted October 27)
Special Interest:Award-winning journalist Charles Kuralt has been a household name for decades with his Emmy-winning "On the Road" segments, first airing on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, and, then as the first host of the CBS News Sunday Morning. Beginning in 1967, he and his small CBS television crew crisscrossed the nation in a motor home, avoiding the interstates to meet the ordinary people on America's back roads. The resulting vignettes became a beloved touchstone of American culture for more than 20 years and remain deeply meaningful, touching, and truthful. "On the Road With Charles Kuralt Set 1" is a three-disc that includes 18 episodes, each featuring multiple pieces, on DVD for the first time; $39.99 from Acorn media ... How many Wegman weimaraners does it take to count the Twelve Days of Christmas? Famed artist William Wegman brings together his famous family of weimaraners to get ready for the holidays in a witty and delightful festival of decorating, crafts, cooking, gift wrapping, fruitcake, and more in
"William Wegman's Fay's Twelve Days of Christmas"
(2006). William Wegman's version of the holiday classic is a wonderland dream come true for kids and fans alike; $14.99 from Microcinema International ...
"Adult Swim in a Box" is a seven-disc set with 20 hours of the best of Adult Swim: "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 2," "Space Ghost Season 3," "Moral Oral Season 1," "Robot Chicken Season 2," "Metalocalypse Season 1" and "Sealab Season 2"; $69.98 from Warner ... "The Nostradamus Files" is a two-disc set with two History Channel documentaries: "The Lost Book of Nostradamus" and "Nostradamus 2012", $19.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "The Rise of Monty Python: The Other British Invasion" celebrates the 40th anniversary of Monty Python. This two-disc set features two never-aired documentaries: "Before the Flying Circus" with rare vintage footage and interviews that trace the pre-Monty Python influences that honed the wit of the future Pythons; and "Monty Python Conquers America," the story of the other British invasion -- the funny one; $19.95 from A&E Home Entertainment. (Posted October 27)Hollywood Eyeing New DVD Rental Window(October 25) Remember sell-through windows, when consumers had to wait up to several months to buy a movie on VHS? Better refresh your memory, because the home video industry is about to step backwards in time, with a twist.
According to a report in The Los Angeles Times, "In an effort to push consumers toward buying more movies, some major film studios are considering a new policy that would block DVDs from being offered for rental until several weeks after going on sale." Tarantino's "Basterds" Home for the Holidays
(October 21)
Universal has announced a December 15 release for Quentin Tarantino's imaginative and outrageous take on World War II, "Inglourious Basterds" -- just in time for holiday gift-giving. The film, headlined by Brad Pitt and featuring bravura performances by Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Eli Roth, Samm Levine, B.J. Novak and Til Schweiger, follows a group of Jewish soldiers getting revenge on the Nazi by relentlessly and brutally killing and scalping them in German-occupied France. It's tongue-in-check, violent and -- well, downright brilliant -- and is one of the best Tarantino film in years -- and one of the best films of 2009. "Basterds" will be available as a single-disc DVD, two-disc DVD special edition, and Blu-ray Disc.This Week's Releases (October 20)
From the Big Screen:"Cheri" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
DVD Collectibles:
William Castle, the master of ballyhoo who became a brand name in movie horror with his outrageous audience participation gimmicks and promotions (including wiring theater seats to vibrate in key scenes of "The Tingler" and providing nurses who offered blood-pressure tests in the lobby of theaters screening "Homicidal") will be remembered by Sony with the "William Castle Film Collection," a five-disc set featuring eight of the legendary producer-director's most notable films, including "The Tingler" (1959), "13 Ghosts" (1960), "Homicidal" (1961), "Mr. Sardonicus" (1961) and "Strait-Jacket" (1964). Also included in the collection are "Zotz!" (1962), "The Old Dark House" (1963) and "13 Frightened Girls" (1963), each making their DVD debuts. Among the extras are commentaries; original theatrical openings; alternate sequences; vintage footage; original theatrical trailers; "Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story" (2007), an acclaimed documentary on Castle by director Jeffrey Schwarz; and six featurettes; $80.95 from Sony.
There's a couple of terrific foreign classics due this week: Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire" (1987) is one of cinema's loveliest city symphonies. Bruno Ganz stars as Damiel, an angel perched atop buildings high over Berlin who can hear the thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams of all the people living below. But when he falls in love with a beautiful trapeze artist, he is willing to give up his immortality to come back to earth to be with her. In a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, available on standard DVD and Blu-ray; from The Criterion Collection ... Lastly, Warner Home Video has released "You Must Remember This -- The Warner Bros. Story" (2008), film historian Richard Schickel's perceptive five-episode, 85th-anniversary salute to the studio that gained a four-footed hold with an unlikely star (Rin Tin Tin), championed tough guys and dames who gave the Depression and the Nazis the raspberry, countered the boxoffice onslaught of TV and emerged as a 21st-century giant; narrated by Clint Eastwood; $29.98. (Posted October 20)
From TV to Video:"Black Adder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition" (1983) is a six-disc set of the BBC series starring Rowan Atkinson as the comic villain Edmund Blackadder in the enormously popular comedy series that follows Blackadder in send-ups of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan age, the Regency period, and World War I; $79.98 from Warner ... "Blood +: Part 2" (2007-08) is a five-disc set with 25 episodes, $119.95 from Sony ... "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Series" contains 42-discs with all 159 episodes and two feature-length movies, $149.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "Fawlty Towers Remastered Special Edition" (1975) is a three-disc set of the entire BBC series starring John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, the much put-upon, hard-working hotel manager whose life is plagued by dead guests, hotel inspectors, riff-raff and his nagging wife; $49.09 from Warner ... "Hawaii Five-O: The Seventh Season" (1974-75) is a six-disc set with 24 episodes, $49.99 from Paramount ... "Homicide: Life on the Street: The Complete Series" is a 35-disc set with all 122 episodes, $149.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "It's Garry Shandling's Show: The Complete Series DVD Box Set"
(1986-90) is the anxiously awaited DVD box set with 16 DVDs featuring the complete 72 episodes from the entire four seasons, a payload of bonus content and much more -- all collected in a lavish package; from Shout! Factory ... "The L Word: The Complete Final Season" (2009) is a four-disc set with eight episodes, $59.99 from Paramount ... "Numbers: The Fifth Season" (2008-09) is a six-disc set with 23 episodes, $60.90 from Paramount ... "Route 66: Season Three, Volume Two"
(1963) is a four-disc set with 15 episodes, $29.98 from Infinity Entertainment ... "Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler"
(2009) is a single-disc, $19.99 from Universal ... "Top Chef: New York: The Complete Season Five" (2008-09) is a four-disc set, $29.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "Vega$: The First Season, Volume 1"
(1978) is a three-disc set with 11 episodes, $36.98 from Paramount. (Posted October 20)
Buzzin' the 'B's:The live-action "Blood: The Last Vampire" (2009), based on the cult Japanese anime feature of the same name and the hit "Blood +" television series, tells the story of Saya, a female warrior on a centuries old quest to rid the world of blood sucking vampires; from Sony ... "Last of the Living" (2008) is a low-budget but enjoyable New Zealand post-apocalyptic zombie flick about three slackers who spend their days drifting from one vacant house to another, getting their kicks killing the undead, until they meet a female scientist who may have a cure for the outbreak; from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... "The Elephant King" (2008) stars Ellen Burstyn as a domineering mother who dispatches her young, introverted son Oliver off to Thailand to do anything he can to lure his reckless, older brother Jake back home to face fraud charges. But Oliver finds the intoxication of Thailand hard to resist, and the two brothers find themselves adrift in an exotic world they don't fully understand; co-stars Tate Oliver and Josef Sommer; from E1 Entertainment ... "Night of the Creeps" (1986) is a camp cult film about a small college town ravaged by killer slugs from outer space, directed by Fred Dekker; from Sony ... The direct-to-video sequel "Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead" (2009) has Three Finger and his mutant family overrun with trouble when some of the most vicious killers in the country escape into the woods from a bus transporting them to prison; from Fox. (Posted October 20)
For the Family:There's two compilations of episodes from "Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre" series that ran on Showtime from 1982-1987: "Faerie Tale Theatre: Bedtime Tales" features updated versions of "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Sleeping Beauty," "Rip Van Winkle" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears"; and "Faerie Tale Theatre: Magical Tales" with updated versions of "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp," "Beauty and the Beast," "Puss in Boots" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"; $14.98 each from E1 Entertainment ... "Peanuts 1970s Collection, Volume 1" is a two-disc set with six "Peanuts" TV features: "You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown," "There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," "It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown," "Play It Again, Charlie Brown," "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown"; $29.98 from Warner ... "Plastic Man: The Complete Collection"
(2008) is a four-disc set with 36 classic cartoons, $44.98 from Warner ... "The Transformers: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Edition Collector's Set" (1983) is a 16-disc set with 98 restored episodes, a collectible 60-page book, Autobots and Decepticon Magnets, more; $140.00 from Shout! Factory. (Posted October 20)
Special Interest:"Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary" (2009) features interviews with 38 directors and 163 film clips from classics such as "Grey Gardens" and "The Thin Blue Line," as well as recent work like "Darwin's Nightmare" and "Touching the Void," to explore the complex creative process that goes into making non-fiction films; $29.99 from First Run Features ... "I Am Because We Are" (2009), produced, written, and narrated by Madonna, profiles her journey exploring the lives and suffering of children in Malawi, Africa, who have been orphaned by AIDS; from Virgil Films & Entertainment ... "That Was the GDR" (1993) is a four-part DEFA documentary that chronicles the rise and fall of the German Democratic Republic (or as we called it, East Germany), featuring illuminating interviews complemented by rare archival materials from film, photographs, posters, caricatures, popular songs and speeches; two-disc set, $29.95 from First Run Features ... "One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur" is a journey through the locations that inspired Jack Kerouac's soul-searching memoir "Big Sur," including the Beat haunts of New York's Greenwich Village, San Francisco's North Beach, and an isolated cabin in a fog-banked Big Sur canyon. More than 30 musicians, actors, writers, and poets tell the story of Big Sur and help unearth what made the book a classic work. Featured are writer Sam Shepard, singer Patti Smith, singer Tom Waits, actress Amber Tamblyn, actor Donal Logue, actor John Ventimiglia, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet Aram Saroyan, and many more. More information can be found at OneFastMove.com.)"Blood, Sweat + Gears" (2009) is the inspirational story of America's only ProTour cycling team, a team devoted not only to cleaning up the sport of cycling but to winning the Tour de France. The documentary takes viewers on an incredible emotional journey, following the ups and downs of an underdog cycling team as they try, against all odds, to ride triumphantly into Paris; $29.95 from First Run Features ... "In Search of Santa Claus" (2009) is a revealing pop history look at the amazing transformation of a holy man into a treasured icon of Christmas joy, $9.98 from Smithsonian Networks/Infinity Entertainment Group ... "They Killed Sister Dorothy" (2008) is a documentary about Sister Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old Catholic nun from Dayton, Ohio, who was shot six times at point blank range at the mouth of the Amazon River. The events that led to her death, and the trials that follow, reveal the larger battle being fought for the future of the rainforest. Narrated by Martin Sheen. $24.95 from First Run Features ... "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live" (2009) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a comprehensive collection of performances compiled from a quarter century of induction celebrations. The collection boasts 125 remarkable performances by the most influential and significant figures in rock music history, as well as the speeches, toasts and roasts by which these members of rock royalty salute each others' accomplishments; from Time Life. (Posted October 20) "District 9" Takes Over Dec. 29
(October 19)
Looks like Sony will be capturing the end-of-the-year DVD market with the announcement that it will release the smash hit "District 9" on December 29 (so far, this is the only major post-Christmas theatrical-to-DVD release). The filmmakers of the science fiction film, using hand-held cameras and a cinema verite interview style, created an involving story about an extraterrestrial race, refugees from their planet, forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth, facing racism and exploitation. The movie went on to make $114 million in the U.S. Sony will make the film available as a standard DVD, a two-disc special edition DVD and on Blu-ray. Read about bonus features at the December DVD Calendar page.Netflix Splatters Web With New Horror Series
(October 17) Accortding to a report in Home Media Magazine, Netflix has partnered with 'B'-movie producer Roger Corman and director Joe Dante ("Gremlins," "The Howling") for an original horror online series "Splatter," which launches Oct. 29 at www.netflix.com/splatter. Co-produced by Julie Corman, the series stars former teen actor Corey Feldman as Johnny Splatter, a rocker who takes his own life in his Hollywood Hills home. Five friends gather to hear his last will and testament, but Johnny returns from the grave to toment them. In a nod to reality shows, online viewers will be able to vote weekly on the fate of the characters."Hellraiser" Tops Reapers(October 15) The boxed set of "Hellraiser" won the top honor at the first-ever Reaper Awards, earning Best of Show as well as Best Packaging and Best Re-mastering for Anchor Bay Entertainment. The announcement came at a red carpet gala awards dinner and cocktail party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles this week. The 2009 Reaper Awards were presented by Home Media Magazine and DreadCentral.com. In addition to Best of Show, the ceremony revealed the winners in 14 categories as voted by consumers in an online vote. A blue-ribbon panel of judges comprised of top names in the horror industry selected finalists in each of the categories from titles released between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009. A complete list of winners can be found here.This Week's Releases (October 13)
From the Big Screen:"Adoration," "Drag Me to Hell," "Every Little Step," "Land of the Lost" and "The Proposal." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."DVD Collectibles:Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers" caused quite a firestorm when it was released in 1994; the ultra-violent film starred Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as psychotic lovebirds who go on a killing spree (ala "Badlands"), with Robert Downey Jr. as a newsman who documents their murders.
Prior to the theatrical release, Stone reworked the film, made more than 150 cuts, and removed approximately four minutes in order to get an R rating. This is his original unrated Director's Cut. For this 15th anniversary edition, Warner Home Video has added such goodies as a new introduction by Stone; a new featurette, "NBK Evolution: How Would It All Go Down Now?" that illustrates how current communication technology (blogs, Twitters) would impact the film if it were made today; and a 44-page booklet on the film's production. Also available on Blu-ray Disc.The science fiction horror thriller "Hardware" (1990) -- the feature film debut of South African writer-director Richard Stanley -- was slammed by critics as a "Terminator" ripoff but the low-budget outing stood on its own. Originally rated X by the MPAA and subsequently edited by distributor Miramax, this version will be presented uncut and uncensored for the first time from a print supplied by Stanley himself. Dylan McDermott stars as a post-apocalyptic scavenger who brings home a battered cyborg skull for his metal-sculptor girlfriend. Unfortunately, the steel scrap contains the brain of the military's combat droid programmed to kill all humans and the robot reassemble itself, going on the hunt for human flesh. A thrilling, breathtaking cult tour-de-force. In a two-disc set DVD set and on Blu-ray from Severin ... "Where the Day Takes You" (1992) showcases a host of young actors before their careers really took off: Will Smith, Sean Astin, Adam Baldwin, Lara Flynn Boyle, Balthazar Getty, Robert Knepper, Ricki Lake, James Le Gros, Nancy McKeon, Alyssa Milano, Dermot Mulroney and Christian Slater. The film revolves around a group of teenage runaways who live each day lost in a spiral of drugs, sex, crime and violence in the underbelly of Hollywood. From Anchor Bay Entertainment. (Posted October 13) From TV to Video:"Futurama The Complete Collection 1999-2009" is a 19-disc set with all 72 episodes from the animated cult series, as well as the four feature length adventures: "Bender's Big Score," "The Beast With a Billion Backs," "Bender's Game" and "Into the Wild Green Yonder," $199.98 from Fox ... "Girlfriends: The Seventh Season" (2006-07) is a three-disc set with 22 episodes, $36.98 from Paramount ... "The Hunger: The Complete Second Season" (2009) is a four-disc set with 22 uncut episodes, of the series that's a mesmerizing cross between "The Twilight Zone" and "Tales from the Crypt"; hosted by David Bowie and produced by Tony and Ridley Scott; $39.98 from E1 Entertainment ... "Inspector Lewis 2" (2008) is the second season of the Masterpiece Mystery! series with seven thrillers, $49.99 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Jackass: The Lost Tapes"
(2009) features unaired and new-to-DVD footage from the MTV series; includes "The Self-Defense test," "Stun Collar," "Unicycle Poo Barf," "Fast Food Football," "Roller Jump," more; $22.99 from MTV/Paramount ... "Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season" (2009) is a five-disc set with 22 episodes, $45.99 from Disney ... "Married ... With Children: The Complete Eleventh Season" (1996-97) is a three-disc set with 24 Episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "The Mighty Boosh Special Edition" (2003-07) is a seven-disc set with all 20 episodes of the cult BBC/Adult Swim live-action series, plus bonus features, $79.98 from Warner ... "Paranormal State: The Complete Season Three" (2009) is a three-disc set with 20 episodes, $29.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... "Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour" (1970) is a two-disc set with all 13 episodes of the emmy winner's ABC Show. After starring as a regular on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and running for President in the 1968 election -- one of his slogans was "If elected, I will win" -- the great Paulsen branched out with his own ABC series, featuring the funnyman's famous deadpan delivery in a variety of skits and settings; $24.98 from MPI Home Video ... "TV Western Treasures" is a treasure trove of Western television classics with more than 60 hours (150 episodes) of tough-talkin' cowboys, pistols, petticoats and miles of trails with the legends of the Old West, featuring such classic stars as Roy Rogers, Edgar Buchanan, Jock Mahoney, Dickie Jones, Scott Forbes, Duncan Renaldo, Bill Williams and many more. Twelve-disc set, $29.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment. (Posted October 13)Buzzin' the 'B's:In "Gnaw" (2008), six twentysomething friends go on a weekend break to the English countryside and find a seemingly perfect place to rest and relax: a charming and idyllic farmhouse hosted by kindly Mrs. Obadiah, who lovingly prepares mouth watering meals for her young visitors. But trouble is brewing in the country kitchen and the carefree kids come to the realization that a really big meal is planned -- and they're the main course; from Dark Sky Films ... A young woman obsessed with her dentist heads for a breakdown when he rejects her continued sexual advances, and she sets out to make herself a part of his life by any means necessary -- even if it means murder, in "Oral Fixation" (2009), starring Emily Parker, Kerry Aissa and Chris Keis; from Lifesize Entertainment ... "The Haunted Airman" (2006), starring Robert Pattinson, Julian Sands and Rachael Stirling, is a spine-tingling BBC WWII-era ghost story about a flight lieutenant, confined to a wheelchair after being wounded in combat, who arrives at a remote mansion in Wales to recuperate and suspects that he's become the victim of an eerie paranormal haunting; from E1 Entertainment ... A thousand years after he died while trying to discover a way to fly, a monk's spirit enters the mind of Jack Brown, a modern-day inventor with problems of his own, in the hopes of completing his winged machine so his soul will be set free in "Jack Brown Genius" (1994 -- New Zealand), starring Stuart Devenie, Timothy Balme, Nicola Murphy, Marton Csokas; from Barnholtz Entertainment/Lionsgate ... In "The Objective" (2008), a U.S. Special Forces squad on a secret mission into Afghanistan find themselves lost in a Middle Eastern "Bermuda Triangle" of ancient evil, fighting an enemy they cannot decipher or comprehend; from IFC Films. (Posted October 13)On the Indie Front:In "Red Roses and Petrol" (2003), starring Malcolm McDowell, Olivia Tracey, Heather Juergensen, Max Beesley, Greg Ellis and Susan Lynch, is a darkly comedic drama that offers a tour-de-force showcase for McDowell as Enda Doyle, a university librarian, poet, and rascal who is the flawed patriarch of a dysfunctional family struggling to come to terms with his death and with one another during a haze of cigarette smoke and uneaten food as Enda's family gathers in Dublin for his wake; from World Wide Motion Pictures Corp. ... A heartless art critic retreats to his cottage on a lake where, after a drunken outburst "that any idiot can make art," he finds himself entered in the town's art festival competition in "Mr. Art Critic" (2007), starring Bronson Pinchot, Toni Trucks and John Lepard; from MTI Home Video ... "Jada" (2009), starring Rockmond Dunbar, Clifton Powell, Jason Weaver and Siena Goines, is a Gospel Music Channel feature about a woman whose faith in God saves her family and herself during a tumultuous time; from Vivendi Entertainment. (Posted October 13)Foreign: A high-school student in Copenhagen who dreams of becoming a mixed martial arts champion defies her parents -- conservative immigrants from Turkey -- and secretly joins a kung fu club, where she trains -- and falls in love -- with a sympathetic instructor in "Fighter" (2007 -- Denmark); from IFC Films ... "Left Bank" (2008 -- Belgium) is a horror thriller reminiscent of Roman Polanski's "The Tenant," about a 22-year-old woman who moves into an apartment in the Left Bank area of Antwerp with a young archer and soon discovers that the neighbors are utterly weird, there's something strange and dark going on in the basement, and a previous young female tenant has mysteriously disappeared; from IFC Films. (Posted October 13)For the Family:"Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases Volume 3" features 14 cartoons directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and originally released between 1941 and 1956. Includes "The Two Mousketeers," which was released in 1952 and won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject; $14.97 from Warner ... "Little Spirit: Christmas in New York" (2008) is a holiday special featuring the voices of Danny DeVito, Lucy Liu and Brenda Song, with music by Faith Hill and Duncan Sheik. A magical spirit takes a young boy on the holiday journey of a lifetime when his dog is accidently lost in Central Park and he goes after her; $16.95 from Genius Products ... "Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island" (2009) is a CGI animated DVD premiere that brings the characters and sets from the Playmobil Pirates to life. The DVD will include a special interactive feature that will allow viewers to participate in the action by choosing from various options as the story progresses -- with 28 different possible story combinations; from Sony ... " My Little Pony Twinkle Wish Adventure" (2009) features six sing-alongs, two new animated shorts, and four fun activities featuring Pinkie Pie and all her pony friends as they go on a journey to find the missing Wishing Star; $14.99 from Shout! Factory. (Posted October 13)Special Interest:"Where's Amelia Earhart?" (2009) is a History Channel National Geographic biography of the aviator, timed for the Oct. 23 theatrical release of "Amelia," starring Hilary Swank; $19.98 from Warner ... "Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times" (2009)is a look at one of the City of the Angel's most influential families, the Chandlers, who used their power and their newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, to shape public opinion throughout the 20th century and captain the city's economic, social and cultural growth; $24.99 from PBS ... "Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry" (2008) is a documentary that explores the roots of American tattooing through the life of its most iconoclastic figure, Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, considered by many as the foremost tattoo artist of all time; $24.95 from IndiePix ...
Mill Creek Entertainment has two military releases this week: "The American Soldier: The Complete History of U.S. Wars"
(2009), hosted by George Kennedy, is an ambitious four-volume documentary series that explores every major conflict in America's history; and "WWII Remembered -- A Complete History" (2009), a 10-part documentary series that features compelling interviews with veterans of WWII, capturing the heart and spirit of the 20th century's greatest conflict; both $14.98 ... "NASCAR: Greatest Dominators & Greatest Finishes"
(2009) is a single DVD with two documentaries: "Greatest Finishes" features 10 of the most heart-pounding races throughout four decades of NASCAR racing, and "Greatest Dominators" focuses on the drivers and teams who have consistently ruled the NASCAR world including Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Bill Elliott and more; $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "The American Brew: The Rich and Surprising History of Beer" (2009) is a documentary that explores the rich and surprising history of beer making, from colonial settlers to the struggle of Prohibition, through the rise of microbrews and the unending success of national breweries; from PBS Distribution ... "New World Order" (2009) is a documentary that offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a small, but very vocal movement seeking to expose "global elitists" whom they claim are masterminding the breakdown of the world's economy and society, conspiracy theorists who believe that the attack on the World Trade Center was an "inside job," that the military-industrial complex killed Kennedy, and that an international cabal is plotting to enslave us all; $19.98 from The Disinformation Company ... "Nick Swardson: Seriously, Who Farted?" (2009) is a Comedy Central stand-up special with the writer of "Grandma's Boy" and "Benchwarmers"; $16.99 from Paramount. (Posted October 13)Down Economy Good for Rentals
South Park's New Address: Online(October 7) "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" is coming to the Web. According to a report in Video Business magazine, Paramount and show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are putting the 1999 feature-length film based on the series on the Internet in video-streaming form for the next three weeks just prior to the release of the film on Blu-ray Disc on Oct. 13. The streaming version will feature new commentary from Parker and Stone, who are in their 13th season creating "South Park," and will be online until October 28.This Week's Releases (October 6)
From the Big Screen:"Imagine That," "My Life in Ruins" and "Year One." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
DVD Collectibles:
Highlight of the week is Shout! Factory's release of 1999's "Audition," a very scary Japanese thriller. When director Takashi Miike released this creepy (and acclaimed) film 10 years ago, Miike created a stir around the world that he will forever be associated with. Recently snaring the No. 1 slot on EW.com's 20 Top Horror Films of the Past 20 Years, "Audition" is a cautionary tale of romance gone awry, making men worldwide squirm at its horrific climax. Deceptively innocent at first, Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a middle-aged widower of many years, is urged by his teenage son and his film producer friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura) to get out and start dating again. To help Aoyama meet women, Yoshikawa devises a plan to hold a fake audition for a leading lady. Reluctantly agreeing, Aoyama auditions 30 young hopefuls and falls for the silent beauty of Asami (Eihi Shiina), a former ballerina with a dark past. Their courtship veers from quiet romance to psycho nightmare. Available as a two-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray edition featuring a 1080P high definition transfer from the inter-negative, with a new 5.0 digital soundtack mixed from the original audio elements. A two-disc Collector's Edition DVD is also available to own on the same day. The discs include 75 minutes of new interviews with the cast and filmmaker along with a new commentary by director Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan. Blu-ray: $29.99; DVD: $24.99.Don't forget "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition" (1937), a high definition debut of the most acclaimed animated movie ever made. Walt Disney's original classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which made history in 1937 as the first full-length animated feature, is the premiere entry in Disney's new Diamond Collection. The release will make its bow on Disney Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (two Blu-ray discs + DVD) a full seven weeks before the Deluxe Two-Disc Classic standard definition DVD becomes available on November 24. The package is loaded with extras, including "Snow White Returns," a which newly discovered storyboards suggest a brand new "Snow White" featurette that never got made; "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall": Through BD-Live, the mirror can find the secret princess inside each viewer, then create for them a personal message from their favorite princess who will call them on the telephone; "Hyperion Studios": Audiences are digitally transported to 1937 to discover first-hand the Hyperion Studios, the original studio Walt Disney built where "Snow White" was conceived and developed; "The One That Started It All" featurette; $39.99.
Warner Home Video has two nice compilations this week: "Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics," In "From the East" (1993), noted French filmmaker Chantal Akerman (1975's "Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles") retraces a journey from the end of summer to deepest winter, from East Germany, across Poland and the Baltics, to Moscow in this stunning documentary. It is a voyage Akerman wanted to make shortly after the collapse of the Soviet bloc "before it was too late," reconstructing her impressions in the manner of a documentary on the border of fiction. Without dialogue or commentary, the film is a cinematographic elegy. $29.98 from Icarus Home Video. (Posted October 6)
From TV to Video:"Ally McBeal Season One" (1997-98) is a six-disc set with 23 episodes, $39.98 from Fox (for the completist, Fox also has available "Ally McBeal: The Complete Series" [1997-2002] in a 32-disc set for $199.98 ... "Bones Season Four" (2008-09) is a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98 from Fox ... "Get Smart: Season 4" (1968-69) is a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $24.98 from HBO Home Entertainment ... "The Hills: Season Five -- Part One" (2009) is a two-disc set, $26.98 from Paramount ... "Mr. Ed: Season One" (1961) is a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $34.99 from Shout! Factory ... "The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season Five" (1974-75) is a three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "Medium: The Fifth Season" (2009) is a four-disc set with 18 episodes, $60.90 from Paramount ... "Nip/Tuck: Season Five Part Two" (2008-09) is a three-disc set with eight episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Scare Tactics: Season Three Part One" (2008) is a two-disc set with 13 uncensored episodes, $29.98 from Warner. (Posted October 6)
Buzzin' the 'B's:Two honeymooners rescue a mysterious car crash survivor in the Las Vegas desert but they come to regret that decision when the man makes their ride a hellish one in "Dark Country" (2009), directed by and starring Thomas Jane and co-starring Lauren German and Ron Perlman; from Sony ... "Assassination of a High School President" (2008), starring Mischa Barton, Reece Thompson, Aaron Himelstein, Luke Grimes and Bruce Willis, is definitely a dark high school comedy. Sophomore newspaper reporter Bobby Funke is assigned to write a cover story on the popular class president and top athlete. After a stack of SAT tests is stolen, Funke publishes an expose that names the jock as the prime suspect and suddenly, Bobby is BMOC. But when the jock's girlfriend makes a move on him and even his former bullies play nice, Bobby begins to doubt the boy's guilt, mounting an investigation that uncovers a campus-wide conspiracy that threatens to take down students and teachers alike; from Sony ... "Trick 'r Treat" (2009) features four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: An everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the one guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband. Stars Quinn Lord, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Rochelle Aytes, Anna Paquin, Tahmoh Penikett, Lauren Lee Smith, Britt Mckillip and Jean-Luc Bilodeau; from Warner ... When a group of hikers take off for a weekend of fun and adventure in a remote mountain region, they unwittingly stumble across the Staunton family and find themselves at the mercy of a depraved, diabolical brood that will stop at nothing to rid their property of "trespassers" in "Staunton Hill"
(2009), starring Kathy Lamkin, Cristen Coppen, Kiko Ellsworth and Cooper Huckabee, and directed by Cameron Romero, son of cult filmmaker George A. Romero. From Anchor Bay Entertainment ... An ancient curse returns with a vengeance when "The Seamstress"
(2009), a local legend who terrorizes the community after her brutal death at the hands of bloodthirsty locals years before. attacks a group of kids. Her favorite weapon: sharp sewing needles.From Image Entertainment. (Posted October 6)
For the Family:"HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends" features five winter episodes for the pre-school set: Thomas and Friends' "Percy's New Whistle," Barney's "Gift of the Dinos," Bob the Builder's "Snowman Scoop," Pingu's "Pingu and the Hose" and Kipper's "The Big Freeze"; $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate ... "Chop Socky Chooks Volume One" (2008) is a two-disc set with 13 episodes of the Cartoon Network series about a crack team of kung-fu chickens who battle their evil arch-nemesis, Dr. Wasabi -- a mutant piranha -- and attempt to foil his diabolical plots to become a one-man global superpower; $19.98 from Fox ... "A Miser Brothers' Christmas" (2008) is an original holiday animated musical movie that features the bickering Miser brothers as they get in Santa's way at Christmas; $19.98 from Warner ... "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" (2003) is an animated Peanuts feature centering on Rerun, Linus and Lucy's lovable and wise-beyond-his-years little brother who wants a dog for Christmas after he sees what a great relationship Charlie Brown and Snoopy share; $19.98 ... In "Elmo's Animal Adventures" (2009), Sesame Street's Elmo and his friends embark on three new fun-filled adventures featuring animal antics and games; includes special appearances by Cameron Diaz and Patricia Arquette; $14.93 from Sesame Workshop/Genius Products. (Posted October 6)
Special Interest:"Dinosaurs Alive!" (2007) is a documentary created in IMAX 2D and 3D that follows preeminent paleontologists as they uncover some of history's most astonishing dinosaur finds, from the exotic dunes of the Gobi Desert to the sandstone buttes of New Mexico. Here scientists make new discoveries about dinosaur behavior, their environments and find what could be the oldest dinosaur ever unearthed in North America. Narrated by Michael Douglas. $19.98 from Image Entertainment ... Each year, thousands of new species are discovered and classified -- but there are some creatures that science still refuses to recognize. Inspired by the myths and lore that make blood curdle, the "Lost Tapes" (2008) docu-fiction television series depicts traumatic stories featuring a diversity of cryptozoological oddities such as Bigfoot, Megaconda and Chupacabra. Fourteen episodes, $19.99 from Animal Planet/Genius Products ... "The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter" (2009) is a documentary that takes a look at the "Manson Family" murders in August, 1969, using original Manson Family music recordings, rare vintage photos and never-before-seen autopsy reports; from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Power Squad Bod!" (2009) features three workout DVDs based on the Cheerleaders' CMT series: "Calorie Blasting Dance," "Hard Body Boot Camp" and "Body Slimming Yoga," $16.99 each from CMT/Paramount. (Posted October 6)"Julie" Cooks Dec. 8; "JOE" Strikes Nov. 3
(October 5) Sony has just announced a December 8 release date for the delightful "Julie & Julia," starring Amy Smart and Meryl Streep in an engaging romp about two women -- from different eras -- who "come together" through their own true stories of culinary exploration when dissatisfied writer Julie Powell (Adams) decides to cook and blog her way through Julia Child's (Streep) book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," which launched Child's career. Director Nora Ephron seamlessly melds the two remarkable stories into a comedy that proves that if you have the right combination of passion, obsession and butter, you can change your life. The Blu-ray version of the film includes recipes and cooking lessons. Meanwhile, Paramount has scheduled a November 3 release for the Hasbro-action-figure-come-to-life "G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra," which, in addition to regular extras, features an augmented reality technology that will allow viewers to participate in an exclusive 3D holographic G.I. JOE combat experience, using their webcams and a special website.Meet the Dwarfs(October 2) In celebration of the October 6 release of the Diamond Edition of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" as a Blu-ray Combo Pack with DVD copy, here's some interesting facts about the seven little men whose names have engendered guessing games for several generations of Americans. By late 1933, Walt Disney began to crystallize his idea of making "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" as a feature-length animated film. Development on the seven little men began early on and by the fall of 1934, from several early story meetings in Disney's office, initial shapes and designs of the characters gave them more of a forest nome look. Individually, each dwarf represents a type of human personality. Other names considered for the dwarfs early on included Wheezy, Puffy, Stuffy, Biggo-Ego, Jumpy, Baldy, Nifty, Gabby, Stubby and Burby. Six of the famed dwarfs have eyebrows fashioned after Walt Disney's own expressive eyebrows as they fascinated everyone who ever sat in story meetings with him. Find out more fun facts about the Seven Dwarfs. And check out the Seven Dwarfs introduction clip here.
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Fritz Lang's policier that stars Glenn Ford as a loving husband and father driven by grief to conduct a relentless vendetta against mobster Alexander Scourby and his brutal henchman, Lee Marvin (featuring the famous disfiguring of Gloria Grahame's face by a cup of hot coffee); "5 Against the House" (1955), a thriller about a quartet of Korean war vets -- aided by a sizzling Kim Novak -- who plan a "perfect" crime -- robbing a casino in Reno, Nevada; "Murder by Contract" (1958), starring Vince Edwards as a hired assassin whose latest "assignment" is about to testify against the mob; and Don Siegel's"The Lineup" (1958), a double narrative that follows two criminals involved in a dope smuggling scheme and the police who follow their trail of violence and death across San Francisco. Bonus features include
authors Eddie Muller and James Ellroy on "The Lineup," Muller on "The Sniper," Martin Scorsese on "Murder by Contract," "The Sniper" and "The Big Heat," Michael Mann on "The Big Heat," and "The Influence of Noir With Christopher Nolan" on "The Lineup." $59.95 from Sony.
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Ultimate Collector's Edition" with the 1989 comedy packed in a collectibles gift tin that includes a replica of Clark Griswold's holiday Santa hat, a set of holiday themed drink coasters with memorable quotes from the film, a box of faux snow, and an "I survived a Griswold Family Christmas" button, from Warner ... "It's a Wonderful Life DVD Gift Set," yet another version of the 1946 holiday season chestnut in a new two-disc DVD Shadow Box, from Paramount ... "Irving Berlin's White Christmas Anniversary Edition" (1954), in a two-disc set featuring new commentary and featurettes, from Paramount ... "Forrest Gump Box of Chocolates" featuring a special edition of the 1994 film packaged in a "chocolate box" with chocolate scent, a commemorative booklet and a replica "Forrest Gump" feather bookmark, also from Paramount ... Four more sets in the "TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection": Holiday Classics: "A Christmas Carol," "Christmas in Connecticut," "The Shop Around the Corner" and "It Happened on 5th Avenue"; Comedy Classics: "Arsenic and Old Lace," "A Night at the Opera," "The Long, Long Trailer" and "Father of the Bride"; Family Classics: "National Velvet," "Lassie Come Home," "Flipper" and "The Incredible Mr. Limpet"; Hitchcock Thrillers: "Suspicion," "Strangers on a Train," "I Confess" and "The Wrong Man"; $27.92 per set from Warner.
Featuring kinetic, rhythmic editing, Raoul Coutard's expressive verite photography, and Mikis Theodorakis's unforgettable, propulsive score, "Z" is a technically audacious and emotionally gripping masterpiece that set the standard for political films. In a new, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by cinematographer Raoul Coutard; from The Criterion Collection ... "Death in the Garden (La mort en ce jardin)"
(1956) is a long-unseen Luis Bunuel masterpiece, available for the first time on DVD, in a new, restored print. Amid a revolution in a South American mining outpost, a band of fugitives -- a roguish adventurer (Georges Marchal), a local hooker (Simone Signoret), a priest (Michel Piccoli), an aging diamond miner (Charles Vanel) and his deaf-mute daughter -- are forced to flee for their lives into the jungle. Starving, exhausted and stripped of their old identities, they wander desperately, lured by one deceptive promise of salvation after another. It's pure Bunuel at his Surrealist best; from Microcinema International.
This three-DVD set features 15 of the series' most memorable half-hour dramas, including "The Key to a Killer" with Vic Morrow, "Dear Charlie" with Milton Berle and "Confession" with Lee Marvin. As a bonus, the set also includes the never-before-seen pilot episode "Sponsor's Table." $39.98 from E1 Entertainment ... "The Different Cinema Volume 3" features nine films selected for the 10th anniversary of the Festival des Cinemas Differents de Paris, all linked to the heritage of experimental film and the eternal quest for renewal, causes espoused by the festival. From the historical film "Cesaree" by Marguerite Duras to more contemporary creations, this ensemble of films showcases a variety of innovative work; from Microcinema International.
When VHS tapes hit the market a quarter of a century ago, movies were priced sky-high because there was a small market for sales; the sell-through market (priced to own movies) grew ever-so-slowly until it became the norm with the rise of DVDs. But the studios want to change all that. In this economic recession, they're seen DVD sales tumble while rentals have grown at a startling pace (the studios get a lower chunk of revenue from rentals then sales). The solution, according to the Times, is a plan in which "new DVD releases would be available on a purchase-only basis for a few weeks, after which time companies such as Blockbuster Inc. and Netflix Inc. would be allowed to rent the DVDs to their customers." Yesterday's sell-through window becomes today's rental-window. My how the times have changed.
"Moon in the Gutter" (1983 -- French), making its U.S. DVD debut as part of the Jean-Jacques Beineix Collection, is an atmospheric and vastly underrated adaptation of David Goodis' noir classic. Gerard Depardieu stars as a raffish longshoreman who mourns his dead sister -- who was raped before committing suicide -- amongst the bars and sleazy dives of the seedy Marseilles waterfront. When mystery girl Nastassja Kinski goes slumming in his neighborhood, Depardieu is bewitched by her beauty and soon learns she may know something about the identity of his sibling's attacker. From Cinema Libre Studio.
with four frightfully fun horror classics in one collection and on DVD for the first time. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, iconic horror actors best known for creating the screen's original Frankenstein and Dracula characters, star here in other roles that take the horror genre to new camp heights. Two-disc set with "The Walking Dead" (1936) (directed by Michael Curtiz), "Frankenstein-1970" (1958), "You'll Find Out" (1940) and "Zombies on Broadway" (1945); $26.98 ... TCM/Warner salutes the ravishing beauty who pioneered a new genre of moviemaking -- "Aqua Musicals" -- with "TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2." Williams was one of the biggest movie stars of the era and during the 30s and 40s captivated audiences in some 20 films. As her popularity soared -- she was among the Top 10 boxoffice stars of 1949 and 1950 -- MGM made her swimming sequences more complex and elaborate with each new picture, adding everything from trapezes to fiery hoops. This set features six new-to-DVD MGM outings from America's favorite mermaid: "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952), "Thrill of a Romance" (1945), "Easy to Love" (1953), "This Time for Keeps (1947) "Fiesta" (1947) and "Pagan Love Song" (1950); $59.92. 
