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of a football game and a brothel." -- Federico Fellini
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The Best Movie Vampires: The Top 10 Big-Screen Bloodsuckers
(November 18) With "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" set to take a big bite out of the boxoffice this weekend, the editors of Moviefone have named the 10 best Hollywood vampires of all time. The list ranges from the gothic and the grisly to flat out romantic. Topping the list is Bela Lugosi, followed by Christopher Lee, Frank Langella, Kate Beckinsale ("Underworld"), Kiefer Sutherland ("The Lost Boys"), Robert Pattinson, Tom Cruise, John Carradine, Gary Oldman ("Bram Stoker's Dracula") and George Hamilton ("Love at First Bite"). Read the complete story here.
From the Big Screen:"Star Trek," "Bruno," "Is Anybody There?" and "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."DVD Collectibles:Highlight of the week is clearly the release of three 70th Anniversary editions of the greatest movie of all time, 1939's "Gone With the Wind" (1939).
Warner Home Video has pulled out all the stops for this one: There's a two-disc standard DVD set, a five-disc standard DVD Ultimate Collector's Edition (with 12 hours of bonus features) and a two-disc Blu-ray Ultimate Collector's Edition with 18 hours of bonus features. The Ultimate Collector's Editions will also contain collectible memorabilia including a 20-page reproduction of the original and complete 1939 Souvenir Program; a 40-page Production History Book with photos and production notes; eight Frameable 5x7 art prints; CD soundtrack sampler featuring eight tracks (Main Title, Tara, The Barbecue, Escape From Atlanta, I'll Never Be Hungry Again! Paddock Scene, Scarlett In The Mist/Rhett Leaves, Flashback/Finale). Pricing: Two-disc special edition: $24.98; Standard DVD: $69.92; Blu-ray: $84.99."Farscape" was one of our favorite SciFi channel space operas, one that always threw a surprise at us when we least expected it. The story followed the adventures of an American astronaut mysteriously transported to a strange universe where he encountered even stranger beings and outlandish situations. A&E Home Entertainment has put together" Farscape: The Complete Series Megaset" (1999-2003), a 25-five disc set with all 88 episodes for $149.95. Extras include commentaries; multiple featurettes and documentaries including "In the Beginning: A Look Back With Brian Henson," "Making of a Space Opera" and "Inside Farscape: Save Farscape"; multiple video profiles featuring archival clips and cast and crew discussing their characters and roles; more than 90 minutes of deleted scenes; and much, much more ... "Betty Blue: Director's Cut" (1986 -- French) Jean-Jacques Beineix's shocking and offbeat story of two French lovers, Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade), a simple repairman, and Betty (Beatrice Dalle), a sexy, mercurial younger woman whose mental illness becomes more apparent as time goes on; from Cinema Libre Studio.
From TV to Video:"Andy Barker, P.I.: The Complete Series" (2007) is a two-disc set with all six episodes of the series about an accountant (Andy Richter) turned accidental gumshoe; $24.99 from Shout! Factory ... "Best of Monk" is a two-disc set with eight episodes, $19.98 from Universal ... "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas" (2009)is a Christmas-themed special with the cast of the FX series, from Fox ... "Rome" (2005-2007) is a 10-disc set of the HBO series that follows the lives of two soldiers during the "fall of the Roman Empire," $99.98 from HBO Home Entertainment ... "7th Heaven: The Ninth Season" (2004-05) is a five-disc set with 22 episodes, $34.99 from Paramount ... "The Sopranos: The Complete Series" is a 30-disk set with all 86 episodes, $299.95 from HBO Home Video.Buzzin' the 'B's:"The Limits of Control" (2009) is a stylish and sexy thriller about a mysterious loner and hit man who arrives in Spain with instructions to meet various strangers, each one a part of his dangerous mission; from director Jim Jarmusch and starring Isaach de Bankole, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Gael Garcia Bernal and Bill Murray; from Universal ... From Chan-wook Park, the acclaimed director of the global hit "Old Boy," comes"Thirst" (2009 -- South Korea) an original vampire story with a chilling, erotic style. A blood transfusion saves the life of a priest, but also transforms him into a vampire. He struggles to control his insatiable thirst for blood until a love affair unleashes his darkest desires in deadly new ways; from Universal ...
In "Penance (aka The Devil's Dungeon)" (2008), a single-mother-turned stripper falls into the hands of a sadistic surgeon intent on purifying her -- as well as other women he has incarcerated, starring Marieh Delfino, Graham McTavish, Eve Mauro, Tracy Coogan, Garrett Jones, Jason Connery, Allison Lange, James Duval; from IMD Films and MVD Visual ... In "Prisoner" (2007), starring Julian McMahon and Elias Koteas, an egotistical Hollywood director -- whose take-no-prisoners philosophy of life and work has earned him countless enemies in Hollywood -- picks a violent prison drama as his next production. But while scouting locations at an abandoned prison, he's taken captive by a mysterious jailer; from IFC Films ... In "Wrong Turn at Tahoe" (2009), starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Miguel Ferrer and Harvey Keitel, a tough-as-nails collector for a mob boss one fateful day gets caught in the middle of a double-cross involving the biggest drug lord in the business. When revenge becomes the collector's sole purpose, his life takes a series of very wrong turns; from Paramount ... "Route 30" (2008) stars David DeLuise and Dana Delany in three comedic stories that intertwine on Pennsylvania's Route 30, from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... In "Vampire Party" (2008 -- France), starring Patrick Mille, Frederique Bel, Julie Fournier and Tcheky Karyo, three hardcore partiers get more than they bargained for when they join a wild party hosted by an elite race of lusty vampires; from Dark Sky Films.
On the Indie Front:Rebecca De Mornay plays an irrational mother pushing her figure-skating daughter toward an Olympic gold medal in "American Venus" (2007). But when the girl gets fed up and runs away to Vancouver, mom straps on a pistol and goes looking for her; from IFC Films ...
"Emerald Cowboy" (2002) is the true story of the rise of a Japanese businessman from Los Angeles named Eishy Hayata who transformed himself from an Airline engineer into a legend in the world of emeralds by moving to Columbia in the 70's and -- with six guns at his side -- becoming the czar of emeralds in that country -- the Emerald Cowboy; from Indican Pictures ... The adult son of a baseball legend embarks on a road trip with his girlfriend and his estranged father in "The Open Road" (2009), starring Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges, Mary Steenburgen and Kate Mara; from Anchor Bay ... A struggling young musician having an existential crisis convinces a Canadian self-help guru to come to London and live with his parents as his personal life coach in "How to Be" (2008), starring Robert Pattinson, Rebecca Pidgeon and Jeremy Hardy; from IFC Films.Foreign:Tian Yuan. In the award-winning drama "Luxury Car" (2006 -- Chinese), an old schoolteacher travels from his small village to the city of Wuhan in search of his missing son, who his dying wife wants to see one last time. But instead of finding their son, he discovers his daughter working as a karaoke bar escort, and her mobster boyfriend might be linked to his son's disappearance; from First Run Features.
Special Interest:
"Elvis Costello -- Spectacle: Season 1" (2009) is a four-disc set with all 13 episodes of the show that features intimate one-on-one conversations and live performances with legendary artists and notable newcomers. Each of the thirteen one-hour episodes exposes the essence of iconic and influential figures who are given the rare opportunity to speak intelligently and in-depth about music and their careers; includes Elton John, president Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Julian Schnabel The Police, Smokey Robinson, Rufus Wainwright, Jakob Dylan, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Kris Kristofferson, Roseanne Cash, Norah Jones, John Mellencamp, James Taylor and more; $49.95 from MVD Entertainment Group ... "Gettysburg" is a three-disc set with 13 documentaries that examine The Battle of Gettysburg and its lasting legacy; $29.98 from MPI Home Video ... "The Greatest Battles of the Civil War" is a three-disc set with eight documentaries that give an in-depth look at the hugely important clashes of the Civil War; $29.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Moonshot" (2009) is a History Channel documentary that relives the breathtaking story of Apollo 11 and the first manned landing on the Moon; $19.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ... In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's seminal work "On the Origin of Species" and the 200th anniversary of his birth, National Geographic Home Entertainment will release this NOVA feature, "Darwin's Darkest Hour"
(2009), depicting the professional and personal trauma Darwin endured the year before the publication of his work that became the foundation for evolutionary biology and changed the way the world thought about the origin of mankind; $19.98 from National Geographic Home Entertainment.
Hulk Hogan is an enduring name in sports entertainment, crossing over from the world of wrestling to pop culture: he headlined the first nine Wrestlemania events, in the process becoming a global icon. Hulkmaniacs can add to their collection "WWE: Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series" (2009), a three-disc set featuring 27 never-before-released-to-DVD matches. $34.95 from WWE Entertainment.
Best Buy, Target Battle Over Blu-ray Prices
(November 13)
More proof that the recession is still here (despite government pronouncements that it's over and we're rebounding): Best Buy stores and Target are engaing in a price war over Blu-ray and DVD prices in an effort to lure customers into their stores. According to a report in Video Business magazine, "the price wars continue to heat up, with a leaked Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving sales) ad for Best Buy showing the retailer will offer such catalog Blu-ray titles as 'The Departed,' 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Dirty Dancing' for $7.99, undercutting Target's $8.99 price for older movies on high-definition. Best Buy also plans to make doorbusters out of recent new releases 'Monsters vs. Aliens,' 'X-Men Origins: Wolverin' and 'Fast & Furious,' dropping their Blu-ray price to a new low of $9.99." Read the complete story here.
More News:Blu-ray Prices to Drop
(November 11)
Premium pricing for new Blu-ray Disc releases appears to be falling by the wayside as the format becomes more popular and the studios are anxious to bring the high-definition format to more of the masses. According to a report at Home Media Magazine Wal-Mart and several other mass merchant retailers have begun to sell certain new Blu-ray Discs at less than $20, practically the same price as a new DVD. The studios initially saw Blu-ray as a way to get consumers to pay more for movies after years of steady price erosion on DVD, but the troubled economy has changed that thinking. Read more here.This Week's Releases (November 10)
From the Big Screen:"The Ugly Truth" and "Up." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
DVD Collectibles:
"The Three Stooges Collection Volume Seven: 1952-1954" is a two-disc set with 22 digitally remastered shorts that continue the Stooges legacy with the return of the original Stooge, Shemp. These were made during a tumultuous time for The Three Stooges. In 1952 Curly succumbed to the illness brought on by his stroke six years earlier; he was only 48 when he died. Shemp had really hit his stride by this time and he is at the top of his game in the new shorts from this period, but budget cutbacks at Columbia forced director Jules White to recycle some old footage. Included are such classics as the Stooges' 3D shorts: "Spooks" and Pardon My Backfire," presented for the first time in both 3D and 2D, as well as "Shot in the Frontier," a parody of "High Noon." This compilation also marks the first time many of the shorts will be available in widescreen versions since their original theatrical presentations. $24.96 from Sony.
"Mamma Mia! The Movie Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! More Gift Set"
From TV to Video:"Dawson's Creek: The Complete Series" (1998-2007) is a collectible book-style packaging with all 127 episodes, $119.95 from Sony ... "The Gambler, the Girl and the Gunslinger" (2009) stars Dean Cain, James Tupper, Allison Hossach in a Hallmark Channel Western about two rivals -- co-owners of a ranch and feuding over a local beauty -- team up to fend off a gang of bandits; from E1 Entertainment ... "Heartland: Season 1, Part 2" (2008) is a two-disc set with six episodes, $24.98 from E1 Entertainment ...
"JAG: The Ninth Season" (2003-04) is a five-disc set with 23 episodes, $55.98 from Paramount ... "Nash Bridges: The Third Season"
(1997-98) is a five-disc set with 23 episodes, $49.99 from Paramount ... "Natalee Holloway" (2009) is a Lifetime movie based on the disappearance of Alabama high school student Natalee Holloway during a graduation trip to Aruba; stars Tracy Pollan, Grant Show and Catherine Dent; from Sony ... "Show Me Yours: The Complete Series"
(2004-05) is a two-disc set with all 16 episodes -- unedited and uncensored -- of the racy Canadian dramedy about a reserved psychologist turned sex expert; $24.98 from E1 Entertainment ... "The Untouchables: Season Three, Volume Two" (1961-62) is a three-disc set, $39.98 from Paramount ... "Would Be Kings" (2008), starring Robert Forster, Patrick Lahane, Natasha Henstridge and Jaimie Collins, is a Canadian TV miniseries about two drug-squad cops who are both cousins and best friends whose relationships and families are threatened by police corruption within their force; from E1 Entertainment. (Posted November 10)
Buzzin' the 'B's:In "Spread" (2009), starring Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, Margarita Levieva, Sonia Rockwell, Maria Conchita Alonso, Hart Bochner, Kutcher plays a sexual grifter, a fun-loving, freeloading hipster who understands that his greatest assets are his looks and sexual prowess, both of which he uses to charm his way into the hearts of Los Angeles' richest women and enjoy their lifestyle ... until one day he's forced to decide between love and money in the hopes of finding something real. From Anchor Bay ... In "The Accidental Husband" (2009), a firefighter finds his life turned upside-down when his fiancee suddenly calls off their pending nuptials per the recommendation of a radio love guru. Determined to get back at the "love doctor," Sullivan forges a fake marriage license, "accidentally" marrying him to the radio doctor, who's already engaged to someone else. Directed by Griffin Dunne and starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, Sam Shepard, Isabella Rossellini and Justina Machado; from Sony ...
A young woman gets involved with a hit man who hates himself and is bent on committing suicide in "The Merry Gentleman" (2008), directed by and starring Michael Keaton; co-stars: Kelly Macdonald and Tom Bastounes, from Genius Entertainment ... In "American Virgin" (2009), starring Jenna Dewan, Rob Schneider and Brianne Davis, a virginal college freshman on scholarship from an abstinence group embarks on a cross-country trip after she ruins her squeaky-clean reputation in front of the "Chicks Go Crazy" cameras; from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... In "The Christmas Clause (aka The Mrs. Clause)" (2008), starring Lea Thompson, Andrew Airlie and Laura Mennell, a stressed-out lawyer and mother of three gets her yuletide wish when she asks a department store Santa to see what her life would be like if she were single; from MTI Home Video. (Posted November 10)On the Indie Front:A young girl seduced by a boy's affluent, seemingly idyllic family, goes to extremes to gain acceptance and escape her poverty-stricken home life in "Evergreen" (2009), starring Cara Seymour, Addie Land, Mary Kay Place, Noah Fleiss, Gary Farmer, Lynn Cohen and Bruce Davison, from IndiePix Films. (Posted November 10)Foreign:In "A Woman in Berlin" (2009 -- Germany), starring Nina Hoss, Yevgeni Sidikhin, Irm Hermann and Rüdiger Vogler, a woman tries to survive the invasion of Berlin by the Soviet troops during the last days of World War II; from Strand. (Posted November 10)
For the Family:"SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Square" (2009) features the Special Extended Director's Cut of the "Truth or Square" TV Movie with celebrity appearances; from Paramount/Nickelodeon ... "Sesame Street: 40 Years Of Sunny Days" (2009) is a two-disc set that spans the renowned show's four decades, including never-before-seen archival footage and a limited-edition hard covered commemorative book; $29.93 from Sesame Workshop/Genius Products ... "Justice League: The Complete Series" (2001-06) is a 15-disc set with 91 animated episodes, $99.98 from Warner. (Posted November 10)
Special Interest:"Doomsday 2012" (2008) is a History Channel documentary that cuts through the myths and offers a fact-based examination of the doomsday prophecy that the world will end December 21, 2012. Released to coincide with Roland Emmerich's mega-budget, mega-disaster movie "2012" opening this Friday; $19.95 from A&E Home Entertainment ...
"The Official Major League Baseball World Series Film Collection" (2009) is a 20-disc set that preserves more than six decades of iconic moments, featuring 65 World Series films (covering the years 1943 to 2008) in 50 hours -- with a 58-page commemorative book spanning baseball’s 105 year history; $229.00 from MLB/A&E Home Video."MoveOn: The Movie" (2009) is a documentary on MoveOn. org, the political group born out of a single email that has spread through the Net to become one of the most powerful progressive players in American politics. With no central office and a small staff working from their homes, MoveOn.org has grown to an organization with over 5 million members. Features behind-the-scenes footage with MoveOn staff and members, home movies, archival footage, and interviews with political figures and celebrities both in support and opposition to the group; from The Disinformation Company ... "Rethink Afghanistan" (2009) is a hard-hitting, feature-length documentary about the United States' escalating military involvement in Afghanistan; raises hard questions about the war; $19.98 from The Disinformation Company.
There's a veritable ring full of World Wrestling Entertainment releases this week: "WWE: Breaking Point 2009" featuring the biggest stars in the WWE battling it out in a series of submission matches; $25.00 ... "WWE: Summerslam 2009" featuring the 22nd consecutive year of SummerSlam with intense rivalries Randy Orton vs. John Cena, Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Cryme Tyme, MVP vs. Jack Swagger, five more; $25.00 ... "WWE: Batista -- I Walk Alone," a three-disc set that takes a look at wrestling superstar Batista, nicknamed the Animal; $35.00 ...
Fox Adds iPhone, Computer Synch to DVDs
'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."
"Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics Volume I" is a five-disc set of restored and digitally re-mastered Film Noir classics from the 1950s:
Edward Dmytryk's "The Sniper" (1952), one of the earliest studies of a murderous psychopath who kills randomly and without motive, filmed in San Francisco; "The Big Heat"" (1953),
Gift sets due this week include: 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. (Posted November 3)
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. (Posted November 3)
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. (Posted November 3)
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. (Posted November 3)
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. (Posted November 3)
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. (Posted November 3)
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. (Posted November 3)'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.
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(2008) is a two-disc Special Edition with the complete CD soundtrack and an exclusive 32-page book (with photos and details about the making of the film) in collectible packaging. Extras include "Sing-Along" on-screen lyrics for 22 musical numbers; deleted musical number "The Name of the Game"; commentary by director Phyllida Lloyd; "The Making of Mamma Mia! The Movie"; "Anatomy of a Musical Number: 'Lay All Your Love on Me'": "Becoming a Singer" featurette; "Behind the Scenes With Amanda"; "On Location in Greece"; "A Look Inside Mamma Mia! The Movie"; "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Music Video; Bjorn Ulvaeus cameo; deleted scenes and outtakes. From Universal.
"WWE: Hell in a Cell 2009" in which WWE champs face off in a caged in ring; features United States Championship Triple Threat Match Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger vs. The Miz, World Heavyweight Championship Hell in a Cell Match CM Punk vs. Undertaker, Triple H and Shawn Michaels vs. Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibias, five more. $24.95 ... "WWE: Survivor Series Anthology, Vol. 1 -- 1987-1991" and "WWE: Survivor Series Anthology, Vol. 2 -- 1992-1996," in which the Superstars of Raw, SmackDown and ECW battle to be the ultimate survivors each year in the Survivor events; the unique 5-on-5 elimination matches have always been favorites with WWE fans. Each five-disc set features 30 matches; $59.95. (Posted November 10)
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.
