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Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

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August 3

After.Life (2009) Liam Neeson, Christina Ricci, Justin Long. After a car accident, a young woman (Ricci) is seemingly caught between life and death and a funeral director (Neeson) who appears to have the gift of transitioning the dead to the afterlife, but who also just might be intent on burying her alive. Extras: Commentary by co-writer/director Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo, "Delving Into The After.Life: The Art of Making a Thriller" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).

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Curious George: Back to School (2010) Eight episodes of the PBS KIDS TV series in which George discovers that you can learn new things at school, at home and everywhere in between. $16.98. (Universal).
Days That Shook the World: Season Three (2005) Two-disc set with 10 episodes of the BBC/History Channel series that looks at landmark events in history; episodes include the gunfight at the OK Corral, the broadcast of "The War of the Worlds," the St Valentine's Day Massacre, the flight of the last Iranian Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and the execution of former Romanian president Ceausescu. $29.98. (BBC/Warner).
Deathsport/BattleTruck Collector's Edition Double feature: "Deathsport" (1978, starring David Carradine, Claudia Jennings, Richard Lynch and William Smithers) is being presented in a widescreen format for the first time; "BattleTruck" (released theatrically as "Warlords of the 21st Century" in 1982) is released to DVD for the first time. Part of the Roger Corman's Cult Classics collection. Extras: "Deathsport": Commentary by co-director Allan Arkush and editor Larry Bock; interviews with actor Jesse Vint; original theatrical trailers; still gallery; trailer and TV spots. "BattleTruck": Commentary by director Harley Cokliss, trailers. (Shout! Factory).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Cheesiest Edition (2010) Zachary Gordon, Robert Capro, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn. Blu-ray Disc/DVD Combo PackRead more about "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" in the August Calendar. Extras: "Greg's Deleted Diary Pages," which bring the diary to life with all-new, never-before-seen moments not included in the film, commentary by director Thor Freudenthal and writer Gabe Sachs. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which includes a digital copy. (Fox).
Dora's Big Birthday Adventure (2010) Music-filled, movie-length adventure has Dora and Boots on a whirlwind adventure through Magic Storybook Land, with guest stars Rosie Perez as La Bruja (the witch), John Leguizamo as the Flying Monkeys and Hector Elizondo as the Wishing Wizzle. Includes two other episodes and a DVD game. $16.99. (Nick/Paramount).
The Dungeon Masters (2008) Documentary -- set against the backdrop of crumbling middle-class America -- about three struggling adults (two men and a woman) who devote their lives to Dungeons & Dragons, the storied role-playing game. One player is a sanitation worker who lures friends into a "Sphere of Annihilation." Another is an evil "drow-elf" displaced by Hurricane Katrina. And one is a failed supervillain who starts a cable access show involving ninjas, puppets and a cooking segment. But the baroque fantasies of these three clash with their mundane real lives, and they gradually come to realize that the game's imaginary triumphs can't completely mask the very real disappointments of life. $19.98. (FilmBuff/MPI Media Group).
Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa Years before Akira Kurosawa changed the face of cinema with such iconic works as "Rashomon," "Seven Samurai" and "Yojimbo," he made his start in the Japanese film industry with four popular and exceptional works, created while World War II was raging. All gripping dramas, those rare early films: "Sanshiro Sugata" (1943) and "Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two" (1945), a two-part martial arts saga; "The Most Beautiful" (1944), a portrait of female volunteers helping the war effort; and" The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail," a kabuki-derived tale of deception. A bare-bones set, $59.95. (The Criterion Collection).
photo Elvis on Tour (1972) Golden Globe-winning documentary that followed Elvis on a 15-city tour of the United States in 1972, in newly-restored and remastered Blu-ray and DVD versions. Elvis on Tour, considered to be Presley's last film before his death in 1977, was written and directed by Robert Abel and Pierre Adidge, and the cinematographer was Lucien Ballard. Twenty-five musical numbers spotlight Presley's talent, range and showmanship in captivating on-stage performances and intimate backstage rehearsals with his band, including "See See Rider," "Proud Mary," "Burning Love," "Don't Be Cruel," "Teddy Bear," "Hound Dog," "Can't Help Falling in Love with You," "Love Me Tender," "All Shook Up," "Suspicious Minds," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and more. Extras: Elvis' Ed Sullivan Show performance, montage sequences (supervised by Martin Scorsese) showcasing Elvis' early career and movies. The Blu-ray Disc is packaged as a book filled with Elvis photos, quotes, trivia, a tour itinerary, set lists, costumes, and background information about the filming techniques used. $19.96 DVD, $34.99 Blu-ray. Read more about this month's Elvis releases and the celebrations surrounding the 75th anniversary of the rock 'n' roll icon's birth. (Warner).
The Elvis 75th Anniversary DVD Collection Boxed set commemorating the 75th anniversary of the rock 'n' roll icon's birth, with 17 Elvis films, including the new "Elvis on Tour" as well as "Jailhouse Rock," "Viva Las Vegas," "It Happened at the World's Fair," "Kissin' Cousins," "Girl Happy," "Tickle Me," "Harum Scarum," "Spin Out," "Double Trouble," "Stay Away, Joe," "Speedway," "Live a Little, Love a Little," "Charro!" "The Trouble With Girls," "Elvis: That's the Way It Is" documentary, "This Is Elvis" documentary. The box set includes a 40-page commemorative book with iconic shots from behind the scenes of his movies and stage performances, and insightful career highlights notes. The collection, packed in sparkly, Vegas-inspired, holographic foil with 10 reproduction memorabilia pieces including studio correspondence and signed Elvis Presley checks. $74.92. (Warner).
Errol Flynn Adventures, TCM Spotlight: Five-disc set with five restored and remastered Errol Flynn classic debuting on DVD. The collection includes: "Desperate Journey" (1942), "Northern Pursuit" (1943), "Uncertain Glory" (1944), "Objective, Burma!" (1945), all directed by the legendary Raoul Walsh, and "Edge of Darkness"(1943), directed by Lewis Milestone. $42.92. Read more about "TCM Spotlight: Errol Flynn Adventures." (Warner).
The Ghost Writer (2010) Director: Roman Polanski. Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams, Jim Belushi, Eli Wallach, Timothy Hutton. Read more about "The Ghost Writer" in the August Calendar. Also available on Blu-ray Disc.
Happiness Runs (2010) Mark L. Young, Andie MacDowell, Rutger Hauer, Hanna Hall, Jesse Plemons. A coming-of-age tale about a young man growing up on a Utopian commune, where he's faced with the challenge to either submit to his community's ideals or to escape. Although his mother funds the collective that preaches a lifestyle of free love and out-of-body meditations, the sudden reappearance of his childhood love forces him to create a desperate plot to save them both and escape the polygamous cult. (Strand Releasing).
Heroes: Season 4 (2009-10) Five-disc set with 18 episodes, $59.98. Extras: "Deconstructing Sylar": Discussion with Tim Kring, Adam Armus and Zachary Quinto; "Milo Speaks"; "Heroes Revolution": Tim Kring and Heroes New Media Creatives discuss the importance of a Web series for a hit television show and how New Media entertainment is created; "Genetics of a Scene"; deleted and extended scenes; Screensaver: Sullivan Brothers Design Gallery screensaver for your television; commentaries. which adds "Behind the Big Top Featurette," BD-Live, pocket BLU, U-Control, My Scenes. (Universal).
Humanoids From the Deep (1980) Doug McClure, Ann Turkel, Vic Morrow. Part of the Roger Corman's Cult Classics collection. New high-definition transfer of the uncut international version presented in anamorphic widescreen. Extras: Deleted scenes; trailer; TV and radio spots; Leonard Maltin's interviews with Roger Corman on the making of the film; "The Making of Humanoids From the Deep" featuring new interviews with composer James Horner, second unit/assistant director James Sbardellati, editor Mark Goldblatt; New World trailers. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Shout! Factory).
James and the Giant Peach: Special Edition (1996) Dir.: Henry Selick; voices of Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves, Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes, Pete Postlethwaite, Susan Sarandon, Paul Terry, David Thewlis. Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Blue-ray Extras: "Spike the Aunts Interactive Game," production featurette, "Good News" music video by Randy Newman, still frame gallery. (Disney).
Kick-Ass (2010) Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Garrett M. Brown, Clark Duke, Evan Peters, Deborah Twiss, Lyndsy Fonseca, Sophie Wu, Elizabeth McGovern. Read more about "Kick-Ass" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Matthew Vaughn, "It's On! The Comic Book Origin of Kick-Ass" featurette, "The Art of Kick-Ass" gallery, marketing archive. Also available as a Blu-ray Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray Disc, DVD & Digital Copy), which adds "Ass-Kicking Bonus View Mode" synchronous with the feature film multi-media presentation that incorporates video and audio commentary, behind-the-scenes clips and illustrative graphics with co-writer/producer/director Matthew Vaughn, plus cast and crew providing an all-access perspective on "Kick-Ass"; "A New Kind of Superhero: The Making of Kick-Ass" documentary. (Lionsgate).
The Kim Novak Collection Three-disc set with five of Novak's best-known films, fully restored and remastered, including two new to DVD: "Picnic" (1955) starring William Holden, Rosalind Russell, Cliff Robertson and Susan Strasber; "Jeanne Eagels" (1957) with Agnes Moorehead and Jeff Chandler (DVD debut); "Pal Joey" (1957) starring Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth; "Bell Book and Candle" (1958) starring James Stewart, Jack Lemmon Elsa Lanchester; Paddy Chayefsky's "Middle of the Night" (1959) starring Frederick March (DVD debut). $39.95. Extras: Featurettes: "Kim's Hollywood Picnic," "Back Stage and at Home With Kim Novak," "Bewitched, Bothered and Blonde," "Reflections in the Middle of the Night," commentary on "Jeanne Eagles" by Kim Novak and author Stephen Rebello, commentary on "Pal Joey" by Kim Novak and author Stephen Rebello, original trailers. (Sony).
Mercy: The Complete First Season (2009-10) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. (Universal).
Open House (2010) Brian Geraghty, Rachel Blanchard, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer. When a couple on the brink of divorce decide to sell their home and have an open house, a "potential buyer" kidnaps them and tortures them in their basement. Extras: Commentary by director Andrew Paquin, deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Piranha (1978) Director: Joe Dante; Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies, Kevin McCarthy, Keenan Wynn, Barbara Steele, Dick Miller, Paul Bartel, Belinda Balaski, Richard Deacon, Barry Brown. Part of the Roger Corman's Cult Classics collection. Packaged with a reversible cover and presented in anamorphic widescreen for the first time. Extras: Commentary by director Joe Dante and producer Jon Davison; behind-the-scenes footage; "The Making of Piranha" featurette with new interviews with Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Dick Miller, Belinda Balaski and many More; bloopers and outtakes; "Piranha" trailer with commentary by producer Jon Davison, courtesy of Trailers From Hell (www.trailersfromhell.com); stills gallery with photos and posters from around the world; behind-the-scenes stills gallery featuring photos from Phil Tippett's personal collection; additional scenes from the network television version; radio and TV spots; New World trailers. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Shout! Factory).
A Prophet (2009 -- French) Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Hichem Yacoubi. Read more about "The Prophet" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted scenes, rehearsal footage, screen tests, commentary by director Jacques Audiard, actor Tahar Rahim and co-screenwriter Thomas Bidegain. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony)
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell -- Volume 3 Single disc with Will Ferrell's funniest and best sketches from "Saturday Night Live," including the fan-favorite skits "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Jeopardy" and "Cheerleader-Chess." (Universal).
Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Rosemary Wells Collection Two-disc set features eight of Rosemary Wells best-loved stories: "Max's Chocolate Chicken," "Max's Christmas," "Morris's Disappearing Dog," "Otto Runs for President," "Noisy Nora," "Emily's First 100 Days Of School," "Voyage to the Bunny Planet," "Reading to Your Bunny"; $19.95. Since the beloved "Noisy Nora" was first published in 1973, Rosemary Wells has become one of our most treasured author-illustrators. With a career spanning more than 40 years and 120 books, the estimable Wells has delighted children and adults alike with such unforgettable characters as Max, Ruby, and Nora, the attention-seeking mouse. Extras: Enhanced read-along and comprehension questions to help build early literacy skills, Spanish Versions of "Noisy Nora" and "Max's Christmas," interviews with Rosemary Wells, "Gonna Read to My Bunny" music video. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
To Save a Life (2009) Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel, Robert Bailey Jr., Kim Hidalgo, Sean Michael Afabl, Bubba Lewis, Steven Crowder. Inspirational drama about a popular teen who tries to help high school outcasts after a childhood friend tragically dies. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, gag reel, "To Save a Life: Behind the Scenes" featurette, music videos. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).

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August 10

Adam 12 Season 5 (1972-73) Five-disc set with 24, $34.93. (Shout! Factory).
Clone Hunter (2009) Ben Thomas, Angela Funk, David Ian Lee. In a future world where the wealthy can have their brains implanted in clones so they can be immortal, a bounty hunter is called in to track down a rogue clone. (Lifesize Entertainment).
Crumb (1995) Terry Zwigoff's landmark 1995 film is an intimate documentary portrait of underground artist Robert Crumb, whose unique drawing style and sexually and racially provocative subject matter have made him a household name in popular American art. Zwigoff candidly and colorfully delves into the details of Crumb's incredible career, as well as his past, including his family of reclusive eccentrics, some of the most remarkable people you'll ever see on-screen. At once a profound biographical portrait, a riotous examination of a man's controversial art, and a devastating look at a troubled family, "Crumb" is a genuine American original. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Terry Zwigoff. Extras: Two audio commentaries, one from 2010 with Zwigoff, and one from 2006, featuring Zwigoff and critic Roger Ebert; outtakes and deleted scenes; stills gallery; booklet featuring an essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Date Night (2010) Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Common, Taraji Henson, Leighton Meeste. Read more about "Date Night" in the August Calendar. Extended edition. Extras: Gag reel, extended car chase, "Directing Off Camera" featurette, "Date Night" PSAs (three versions), "Directing 301 With Shawn Levy," commentary by Levy. Also available on two-disc Blu-ray, which adds deleted scenes, extended scenes, disaster dates with the cast, Steve and Tina camera tests, live lookup digital copy. (Fox).
Death at a Funeral (2010) Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Loretta Devine, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, James Marsden, Columbus Short, Luke Wilson, Ron Glass, Keith David, Peter Dinklage. Read more about "Death at a Funeral" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by director Neil LaBute and co-producer-star Chris Rock, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes "Family Album," "Death for Real" and "Death at a Funeral: Last Rites, Dark Secrets." Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds movieIQ+sync and BD-Live, digital copy of the film. (Sony).
The Diplomat (2009) Dougray Scott, Rachael Blake, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Richard Roxburgh, Claire Forlani, Don Hany. Scotland Yard Commander Julie Hales has discovered that British diplomat Ian Porter has dangerous ties to a notorious Russian trafficker in heroin. But the stakes are raised when an attempt on Porter's life leads Hales to a terrifying new discovery: a nuclear bomb previously belonging to the Soviet Union is missing and in the hands of the enemy. Now, with time running out, a life-and-death race is on to uncover Porter's true involvement in a global conspiracy and to prevent a nuclear annihilation. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Vivendi Entertainment).
The Good Heart (2009) Brian Cox, Paul Dano, Stephanie Szostak. When Jacques, the curmudgeonly owner of a gritty New York dive bar that serves as a home to a motley assortment of professional drinkers, meets Lucas, a homeless young man who has already given up on life, he takes Lucas under his wing, schooling him in the male-centric laws of the alcoholic clubhouse: no new customers, no fraternizing with customers, and absolutely no women. However, when Lucas insists they help a distraught and beautiful young woman who shows up at the bar seeking shelter, their unlikely friendship is put to the test. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Helen (2009) Ashley Judd, Lauren Lee Smith, Goran Visnjic. Judd shines as a talented music professor forced to come to terms with her debilitating depression; she finds solace through her friendship with Mathilda, a kindred spirit struggling with bipolar disorder. (E1 Entertainment).
The Joneses (2010) Demi Moore, David Duchovny, Gary Cole, Glenne Headly, Amber Heard. Read more about "The Jones" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted Scenes, Steve's job interview, Steve's post lifeimage career. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Just Say Love (2009) Robert Mammana, Matthew Jaeger. In this intelligent love story that journeys from bliss to devastation, gay Guy becomes involved with Doug, a construction worker, and believes he has found "the one" ... until their no-strings relationship comes to an agonizing end when Doug reveals he has a wife ... and baby on the way. (E1 Entertainment).
Letters to God (2009) Ralph Waite, Bailee Madison, Robyn Lively, Maree Cheatham.(Vivendi Entertainment).
Looney Tunes Super Stars: Bugs Bunny Hare Extraordinaire Fifteen newly remastered shorts featuring everyone's favorite carrot-crunching,"wascally wabbit." Included is "Lumber Jack-Rabbit," which was directed by Chuck Jones and is the only Warner Bros. cartoon short produced in 3-D. Other shorts are directed by such legendary animators as Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, Robert McKimson and Frank Tashlin. $19.98. (Warner).
Looney Tunes Super Stars: Daffy Duck Frustrated Fowl Fifteen newly remastered shorts devoted to that smart-aleck duck. Included is "People Are Bunny," which parodies Art Linkletter's show "People are Funny." Also featured is "This Is a Life?" which is a spoof the classic TV series "This is Your Life," where Elmer Fudd parodies host Ralph Edwards. A parody of Edward R. Murrow's TV series "Person to Person" is also featured on a short titled "Person to Bunny." Because the Daffy Duck shorts featured here are not edited for content, it is more suited for the adult collector than for young viewers. $19.98. (Warner).
Louie Bluie (1985) "Crumb" director Terry Zwigoff's first film is a treat: a documentary about the obscure country blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America. As beguiling a raconteur as he is a performer, Louie makes for a wildly entertaining movie subject, and Zwigoff honors him with an unsentimental but endlessly affectionate tribute. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Terry Zwigoff. Extras: Commentary featuring Zwigoff; outtakes and deleted scenes; illustrations by Howard Armstrong; stills gallery; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Sragow. (The Criterion Collection).
Manuela & Manuel (2007 -- Puerto Rico) Humberto Busto, Elena Iguina. When her best friend Coca gets pregnant and needs a male to act as her fiance, Manuela -- born a man but living as a woman -- is persuaded to put on her former male persona and pretend to be the father-to-be of Coca's child ... but switching back and forth between her masculine and feminine sides is far more difficult than she expected. (E1 Entertainment).
Max Headroom: The Complete Series (1987-88) Five-disc set with all 14 episodes, $49.97. Read more about "Max Headroom." Extras: "Live on Network 23: The Story of Max Headroom" featurette; "Looking Back at the Future" roundtable discussion with stars Amanda Pays, Jeffrey Tambor, Concetta Tomei and Chris Young, moderated by Max Headroom superfan and creator of "The Middleman" Javier Grillo-Marxuach; "The Big-Time Blanks" featurette with Morgan Sheppard and Concetta Tomei; "The Science Behind The Fiction" featurette; "Producing Dystopia" featurette; "The Writers Remember" featurette. (Shout! Factory).
My Name Is Khan (2009 -- India) Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol. Bollywood romance about an Indian man with a unique way of looking at the world who moves to San Francisco and meets a vivacious single mother; they form a special bond and fall in love against all odds, but fate and tragedy conspire to tear them apart. Extras: "Changing the Face of Bollywood" featurette, "Working Together" featurette, "The Music of My Name Is Khan," "The Story of My Name Is Khan," Sajda music promo, Tere Naina music promo. (Fox).
Numb3rs: The Sixth Season (2009) Four-disc set with the last season's 16 episodes, $57.99. Extras: "Coming Full Circle: Numb3rs Season 6," "Pixel Perfect: The Digital Cinematography of Numb3rs," "The Women of Numb3rS," production photo gallery with Nicolas Falacci. (Paramount).
Say Goodnight (2008) Aaron Paul, Carly Pope, Shannon Lucio, Smith Cho, Rob Benedict, David Monahan, Christopher Gessner. Three guys tell the stories of how they met the loves of their lives, and how they managed to completely screw up the relationships. (MTI Home Video).
Tapped (2009) Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? From the producers of "Who Killed the Electric Car" comes this behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water. A couple of eye-opening facts about the business of water in our country: Each year, Americans buy 29 billion single-serve bottles of water. To transport that water we use over 18 million barrels of oil. And, in 2007, water was an $11.5 billion business. $19.98. Extras: Additional featurettes: "Central Valley and Agriculture," "Chemicals in the Water," "Infrastructure," "OC Water," "Oil and Water," "Privatization" and "World Water Crisis." (The Disinformation Company).
Trauma: Season 1 (2009-10) Four-disc set with 18 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).
Triage (2009) Colin Farrell, Juliet Stevenson, Paz Vega, Jamie Sives. Exploration of guilt, forgiveness and love that unravels the shocking tale of a battle-scarred war photographer who returns from covering the fighting in Kurdistan -- without his colleagues -- an entirely different person. (National Entertainment Media).
Under the Mountain (2009) Tom Cameron, Sophie McBride, Oliver Driver, Leon Wadham, Sam Neil. Teenage twins battle dark forces hidden beneath Auckland, New Zealand's volcanoes. Based on the novel and TV series. Extras: Commentary by director/co-writer Jonathan King and co-writer Matthew Grainger; making-of documentary. (Lionsgate).

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August 17

Big Money Rustlas (2010) Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J, Tom Sizemore, Jason Mewes, Ron Jeremy, Brigitte Nielsen, Vanilla Ice, Todd Bridges. In the Wild West town of Mudbug, Sheriff Sugar Wolf arrives to confront an over-the-top villain, deranged gambler Big Baby Chips. (Psychopathic Records, Vivendi Entertainment and Fontana Distribution).
Black Orpheus (1959) Winner of both the Academy Award for best foreign-language film and the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or, Marcel Camus'" Black Orpheus" (Orfeu negro) brings the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice to the 20th-century madness of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. With its eye-popping photography and ravishing, epochal soundtrack, "Black Orpheus" was a cultural event, kicking off the bossa nova craze that set hi-fis across America spinning. Two-disc set with new, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Optional English-dubbed soundtrack; archival interviews with director Marcel Camus and actress Marpessa Dawn; new video interviews with Brazilian cinema scholar Robert Stam, jazz historian Gary Giddins, and Brazilian author Ruy Castro; "A la recherche d' 'Orfeu negro,'" a feature-length documentary about "Black Orpheus's" cultural and musical roots and its resonance in Brazil today; theatrical trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Atkinson. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Burning Bright (2010) Briana Evigan, Charlie Tahan, Garret Dillahunt. A thriller centered on a young woman and her autistic little brother who are trapped in a house with a ravenous tiger during a hurricane. Extras: Introduction by actress Briana Evigan, "Forces of Nature" special effects featurette. (Lionsgate).
Ca$h (2010) Sean Bean, Chris Hemsworth, Victoria Profeta. Sam Phelan and his wife Leslie are facing financial problems to pay their mortgage after a period of unemployment. While driving his old Buick below an overpass, a case falls onto the hood of the car and he finds $600,000 inside. Sam and Leslie quit their job; pay their mortgage; buy a Land Rover; and refurnish their house. But a vicious criminal who had disposed of the money before getting arrested sends his killer brother after the couple to retrieve the ill-gotten gain. Extras: "The Making of Cash" featurette, commentary by director Stephen Milburn Anderson. (Lionsgate).
Cemetery Junction (2009) Written and directed by Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant. Stars Felicity Jones, Matthew Goode, Christian Cooke, Tom Hughes, Jack Doolan, Ricky Gervais, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson. '70s England is in full swing as three outcast friends find themselves drinking, joking, fighting and chasing girls, while dreaming of escape from their blue-collar hometown of Cemetery Junction. Freddie is a salesman suddenly thrown onto the fast track when he gains the attention of his boss; torn between a prior life of partying with his friends and the promise of a brighter future, life gets more complicated when the boss' daughter becomes the focus of Freddie's affection. Extras: Commentary by co-writers/co-directors Gervais and Merchant; commentary by Cooke, Hughes and Doolan; behind-the-scenes featurettes "The Directors: A Conversation with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant" and "The Lads Look Back: The Stars Discuss Cemetery Junction"; deleted scenes; blooper reel; more. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds movieIQ+sync and BD-Live; featurettes "Seventies Style: Production and Costume Design," "The Start of Filming," "Week 1," "Meet the Boys," "The Directors On Set," plus a bonus "Snow Dude" Easter Egg. (Sony).
The City of Your Final Destination (2009) Anthony Hopkins, Laura Linney, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Omar Metwally, Hiroyuki Sanada. After winning a grant to write a biography of the Hispanic author Jules Gund, an Iranian-American student must travel to Uruguay and convince the family to give him permission. He finds more than he expected when he meets the writer's brother (Hopkins), wife (Linney) and mistress (Gainsbourg). (Screen Media Films).
Cougar Town: The Complete First Season (2009-10) Three-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.99. Extras: Bloopers, deleted scenes, "Taming Cougar Town" featurette, "Ask Barb," "Jimmy Kimmel Live: Saber-Tooth Tiger Town," "Stroking It With Bobby Cobb" series. (Disney).
Dark and Stormy Night (2009) Daniel Roebuck, Jennifer Blaire, Dan Conroy, Brian Howe, Fay Masterson. A loving lampoon of the classic "old-dark house" thrillers. Set in the 1930s, this Larry Blamire-directed film begins with the family of the deceased (and very rich) Sinas Cavinder gathered for the reading of his will in a gloomy old mansion, complete with secret passageways, portraits with the eyes cut out and, of course, a gorilla. They soon find themselves being murdered by a mysterious hooded phantom, while two fast-talking rival reporters compete for the story (and do some backstabbing of their own), somewhat hindered by the frightened Brooklyn cabbie who brought them and just wants his "toity-five cents." Extras: Cast and crew commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette, more. (Shout! Factory).
Dexter: The Fourth Season (2009) Four-disc set with 12 episodes, $49.99. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount).
Father Knows Best: Season 5 (1958-59) Five-disc set with 38 episodes, $34.99. (Shout! Factory).
Four Seasons Lodge (2009) Haunted by the past but driven by an unquenchable passion for living, an aging group of Holocaust survivors gathers each summer at an idyllic hideaway in the Catskills, where they savor tightly bonded friendships, find new love and celebrate their survival. Extras: Personal stories of survival, Hymie's story, deleted scenes, the director on making the documentary. (First Run Features).
Furry Vengeance (2010) Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Matt Prokop, Ken Jeong, Angela Kinsey. Read more about "Furry Vengeance" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted Scenes, "The Pitfalls of Pratfalls," "Working With Animals: A Portrait of Ken Beggs," gag reel, commentary by director and cast. Also available as Blu-ray/DVD Combo Disc. (Summit Entertainment).
Friday Night Lights: The Fourth Season (2009-10) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98. (Universal).
The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008 -- South Korea) Director Kim Ji-woon, a master of modern horror thanks to "A Tale of Two Sisters" and "3 Extremes II," turns to pure, high-octane thrills in this wild take on Sergio Leone's Clint Eastwood classic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." One of the most expensive films ever made in South Korea. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films and MPI Media Group).
L'enfance nue (1968) The singular French director Maurice Pialat ("Loulou," "A nos amours") puts his distinct stamp on the lost-youth film with this devastating portrait of a damaged foster child. We see Francois (Michel Terrazon) on the cusp of his teens, shuttled from one home to another, his behavior growing increasingly erratic, his bonds with his surrogate parents perennially fraught. In this, his feature debut, Pialat treats this potentially sentimental scenario with astonishing sobriety and stark realism. With its full-throttle mixture of emotionality and clear-eyed skepticism, "L'enfance nue" (Naked Childhood) was advance notice of one of the most masterful careers in French cinema, and remains one of Pialat's finest works. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: "L'amour existe," Pialat's 1960 short film about life on the outskirts of Paris; "Choses vues, autour de 'L'enfance nue,'" a 50-minute documentary shot just after the film's release; excerpts from a 1973 French television interview with Pialat; visual essay by critic Kent Jones on the film and Pialat's cinematic style; video interview with Pialat collaborators Arlette Langmann and Patrick Grandperret; booklet featuring an essay by critic Phillip Lopate. (The Criterion Collection).
The Last Song (2010) Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth, Hallock Beals, Kelly Preston, Stephanie Leigh, Nick Searcy. Read more about "The Last Song" in the August Calendar. Extras: Set tour with Bobby Coleman, Miley Cyrus music video "When I Look at You," making of the music video "When I Look at You" with Miley Cyrus. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, which adds alternate opening sequence: "The Church Fire," deleted scenes, commentary by director Julie Anne Robinson and co-producer Jennifer Gibgot. (Disney)
The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (2009) Fay Masterson, Brian Howe, Andrew Parks, Susan McConnell, Jennifer Blaire, Dan Conroy. In this clever, over-the-top sequel to "The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra," which brilliantly spoofed no-budget sci-fi movies of the 50s, old friends and new enemies schlep into the Amazon jungle in search of yet another rare element, Jerranium 90. This bigger, better, bonier Round Two ups the ante with some nifty special effects and a dynamic musical score, while retaining the original's hilariously deadpan performances as well as director-writer-actor Larry Blamire's trademark loopy dialogue. Extras: Cast and crew commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette, more. (Shout! Factory).
Madeline's Halloween & Other Spooky Tales (1993) Five episodes from the animated series based on the popular children's books: "Madeline's Halloween"; "Madeline and the Mean, Nasty Horrible Hats"; "Madeline and the Mummy"; "Madeline and the Haunted Castle"; and "Madeline and the Spider Lady." $12.99. (Shout! Factory).
One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season (2009-10) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Unaired scenes, featurettes, gag reel, commentary. (Warner).
Orlando Special Edition (1993) Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane. Writer-director Sally Potter's groundbreaking, Oscar-nominated and visually stunning film, based on Virginia Woolf's gender-bending novel "Orlando: A Biography." A witty, dream-like period piece with lavish sets, stunning costumes and cameos by Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville, of Bronski Beat, and English writer and queer cultural icon Quentin Crisp, author of "The Naked Civil Servant." "Orlando" is the story of a journey through time, spanning over four centuries, first as a man, then as a woman, as Orlando moves from the era of Queen Elizabeth 1 to the turn of the 19th century. Extras: Commentary by Sally Potter; featurettes: "Orlando Goes to Russia," "Orlando in Uzbekistan," "Jimmy Was an Angel"; Venice Film Festival press conference, interview with Sally Potter. (Sony).
Prodigy: An Unauthorized Story on Tiger Woods (2010) Documentary on the legendary golfer, $14.98. Extras: Four featurettes. (Infinity Entertainment).
Sorority Wars (2009) Lucy Hale, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Faith Ford,Amanda Schull. A college freshman who has been groomed from birth to continue her mother's legacy by joining the Delta house decides to pledge their rival, the Kappas, creating an all-out rivalry and fight-to-the-finish competition. (RHI Entertainment/Vivendi Entertainment).
Spring Fever (2009 -- China) Wang Ping's wife suspects him of adultery, so she hires Lou Haitao to spy on him and discovers that her husband's lover is a man, Jian Cheng. Luo Haitao and his girlfriend, Li Jing, form a torrid love triangle with the male lover, marking the beginning of a journey into the confines of jealousy and obsessive love highlighted by asphyxiating sultry nights of physical abandon that exalts the senses. Winner of the Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival. (Strand Releasing).
Ugly Betty: The Complete Fourth and Final Season (2009-10) Four-disc set with 20 episodes, $39.99. Extras: "Betty Bloops," deleted scenes, "Betty Goes Bahamas," "Mode After Hours," Webisodes. (Disney).

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August 24

Addicted to Her Love (aka Love Is the Drug) (2006) John Patrick Amedori, Lizzy Caplan, D.J. Cotrona, Daryl Hannah, Jonathon Trent. An outsider at a new school falls for a girl who travels in an elite circle and finds that he can make friends with the group by supplying them with drugs from the pharmacy he works at -- with dire consequences. Extras: Commentary by director Elliott Lester and star John Patrick Amedori, behind-the-scenes featurette, photo gallery. (E1 Entertainment).
Adventures at School (2009) This essential back-to-school library for kids ages 3 to 9 includes 14 tales on three discs: "Crazy Hair Day ... And More Back to School Stories," "The Teacher From the Black Lagoon ... And More School Stories," and "Miss Nelson Has a Field Day ... And More School Time Stories." $24.95. (Scholastic StorybookTreasures).
The Age of Stupid (2009) The year is 2055. The Earth is devastated. One man (Pete Postlethwaite) remains in "The Global Archive," a vast storage facility protecting all of humanity's collective achievements. Based on mainstream scientific projections from the present day, the film focuses on the archivist as he tries to work out why we didn't save ourselves while we still had the chance. He flips through a startling array of news clips, interviews and scientific reports from our current time, each its own way a warning sign of the destruction that is looming if we don't change our current consumption practices. $29.95. Extras: Making-of documentary; Pete Postlethwaite ambushing the UK's Minister for Climate Change; deleted scenes; extended interviews; eight short climate films; crew commentary; more. (Docurama).
Ax Men: The Complete Season Three (2010) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $34.95. (A&E).
The Back-up Plan (2010) Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, Michaela Watkins, Eric Christian Olsen. Read more about "The Back-up Plan" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted scenes, "Belly Laughs: Making The Back-up Plan" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds movieIQ+sync and BD-Live. (Sony).
The Bad Mother's Handbook (2007) Robert Pattinson, Catherine Tate, Holly Grainger, Anne Reid, Steve John Shepherd. A young man helps a friend with her pregnancy and finds himself on a memorable nine-month journey with three independent, outspoken women. (Lionsgate).
City Island (2010) Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Steven Strait, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Ezra Miller, Alan Arkin, Emily Mortimer. Read more about "City Island" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by writer-producer-director Raymond De Felitta and producer-actor Andy Garcia; "Dinner With the Rizzos" featurette; deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds a digital copy of the film. (Anchor Bay).
Dark Night (2005) Sarah Strange, Kurt Max Runte. A modern noir dark comedy about love, lust, art and the power of the image in today's culture. An eccentric modern-day dandy obsessed by the power of art and visual imagery to mold the behavior and psychology of the individual orchestrates an elaborate series of staged visual events for the sole purpose of subliminally influencing the life of a harmless, down-to-earth graphic designer ... events that begin to take on the cruel and sinister overtones. (Vanguard Cinema).
Dorian Gray (2009) Colin Firth, Ben Barnes, Rebecca Hall, Ben Chaplin. A new horror adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1891 hedonistic best-seller "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Extras: Commentary by director Oliver Parker and screenwriter Toby Finlay, multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes including cast/crew interviews, deleted scenes, more. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (National Entertainment Media).
Dream Boy (2008) Stephan Bender, Maximillian Roeg, Randy Wayne, Owen Beckman, Diana Scarwid, Rooney Mara, Rickie Lee Jones. Chronicles the relationship between two gay teenagers in the rural South in the late '70s. (E1 Entertainment).
The Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Collection (2007-09) Three-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.99. Extras: "Flight of the Conchords: On Air Documentary," "Flight of the Conchords: One Night Stand." (HBO Home Video).
Four Stories of St. Julian (2009) Nicholl Hiren, Ky Evans, David Alan Graf, Tommie St. Cyr. Unconventional thriller takes place entirely inside an elevator: the elevator inside the St Julian building, a decrepit, inner-city building that was once a respected hospital but is now home to the city's downtrodden and corrupt. As four strangers begin a routine descent, the elevator suddenly lurches to a halt, becoming stuck between floors, fomenting a battle for survival among the elevator's habitants. (Vanguard Cinema).
Gangland: Season Five (2009-10) Three-disc set with 11 episodes, $34.95. (A&E).
Gossip Girl: The Complete Third Season (2009-10) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: "Gossip Girl Mode": Interactive viewing experience on Episode 16, "The Empire Strikes Jack"; "A Gossip Girl Fabulous Affair: Throwing a Party Gossip Girl-Style" featurette; Plasticines Bitch and Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" music videos; gag reel; unaired scenes. (Warner).

Deleted scene: "Merci"

Group Sex (2010) Henry Winkler, Tom Arnold, Greg Grunberg, Lisa Lampanelli, James Denton. A young man unwittingly follows his girl into a sexual addiction recovery group where he meets a host of oddball characters, including a man who has a thing for condiments and a newly celibate martial artist. (Monarch Home Video).
Instant Expert Series New line of informative DVDs that offer a quick, authoritative guide to essential subjects, for students and lifelong learners. Each DVD includes an interactive quiz, printed study materials, discussion questions, more. First entries in the series, $14.95 each: "Ancient History: Egypt", "World History: The French Revolution," "American History: The Mayflower," "America History: Ben Franklin," "Arts and Literature: Beowulf," "Science and Technology: The Story of Oil." (A&E Home Entertainment).
Lost: The Complete Sixth and Final Season (2010) Five-disc set with 16 episodes, $59.99. Extras: Bloopers and deleted scenes; commentaries on four episodes ("LA X," "Dr. Linus," "Ab Aeterno" and "Across the Sea"); "The End: Crafting a Final Season" featurette; "A Hero's Journey" featurette; "See You in Another Life, Brotha" featurette that unlocks the mysteries of this season's intriguing flash sideways; "Lost on Location"; plus a featurette that delves deeper into the world of "Lost" with a much-anticipated new chapter of the island's story from executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds immersive "Lost University." (Disney).
Lost: The Complete Collection photo (2009) Thirty-six disc set with every episode in the series (Seasons 1 through 6), $229.99. Extras: More than 30 hours of Season 1-6 bonus materials (previously released materials from Season 1-5 and the all-new Season 6 bonus material); a unique series of featurettes that takes viewers on very personal tours of Oahu where the series was created, with key cast and crew; bonus showcases events ranging from the series cast and crew at San Diego's famed Comic-Con convention to international voice recordings, local events and even fan parties, all of which helped make the show into a worldwide favorite; a closer look at some of the props with cast, writers and producers, exploring their significance, stories and emotional ties to the characters; a look at every character who died on the series; 16 "Lost" "Slapdowns" featurettes showcasing celebrity "Lost" fans who confront executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse to ask press questions about the final season, including the Muppets and cast members Nestor Carbonell, Michael Emerson, Rebecca Mader and more; a special edition collectible "Senet" game as seen in Season 6; a custom "Lost" island replica; an exclusive episode guide; a collectible Ankh; and a black light penlight. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Disney).

Metamorphosis (2007) Christopher Lambert, Corey Sevier, Irena A. Hoffman. Three young Americans encounter vampires and the supernatural in modern Eastern Europe. (MTI Home Video).
NCIS: The Seventh Season (2009-10) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $64.99. Extras: "NCIS: A Sound Investment," "Lucky Number Seven," "Home Sweet Home: Creating the Gibbs House," "The Future Is Now: NCIS Meets the Jet Pack," "Gimme Two Steps: Staging the Bar Fight," "Celebrating Episode 150," "Personal Effects," commentaries. (CBS/Paramount).
Nickelodeon Favorites: Happy Halloween (2009) Six Halloween-themed episodes, one each from "Dora the Explorer," "Go, Diego, Go!, " "Wonder Pets!," "Yo Gabba Gabba," "Blue's Clues" and "Ni Hao, Kai-lan," $16.99. (Paramount).
90210: The Second Season (2009-10) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $47.99. Extras: "New Faces, Same Drama," "From the Hills to the Beach: The Look of 90210," "Beverly Hills Surf Crew," "Welcome to the Beach Club," "Set Tour: Beverly Hills Beach Club," "Adrianna and Navid," "Looking Back: 90210 Season 2 in Review," commentaries. (CBS/Paramount).
One Night (2008) Melissa Leo, Michael Muhney, Bill Sage, Robert Clohessy. A group of New Yorkers venture into Friday night unaware that their lives are about to change. As the night unfolds, they all convene at the same music venue, and their lives intersect in ways both humorous and poignant. (Vanguard Cinema).
The Patty Duke Show: The Complete Third Season (1965-66) Six-disc set with 32 episodes, $39.97. (Shout! Factory).
Pawn Stars: The Complete Season Two (2009-10) Four-disc set with 32 episodes, $24.95. (A&E).
Private (2009) Kelsey Sanders, Samantha Cope, Natalie Floyd, Tristin Mays. Extras: Drama, romance and deadly thrills at a the exclusive Easton Academy private school. Extras: Cast and screenwriters interviews. (NewVideo/Flatiron Film Co.).
Red vs. Blue Season 7: Recreation (2010) Web series based on the "Halo" video game. $19.95. Extras: Commentary, "Relocated" miniseries, special videos and PSAs, deleted scenes, outtakes. (New Video/Flatiron Film Co.).
The Simpsons: The Complete Thirteenth Season (2009) Four-disc set with 22 episodes, packed in a collectible molded head packaging featuring Ralph Wiggum, $59.99. Extras: Commentary on every episode; deleted scenes; featurettes: "A Token from Matt Groening," "Ralphisms," "The People Ball," "The 13th Crewman," "Blame It on the Monkeys," "The Games," "The Sweet Life of Ralph"; animation showcases; sketch galleries; commercials; special language feature; Easter eggs. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
The Square (2010) David Roberts, Claire van der Boom, Joel Edgerton, Anthony Hayes. Sinister tale centering on an adulterous couple whose scheming leads to arson, blackmail and murder. Extras: Deleted Scenes, "Inside The Square" featurette, "Pre-Visualisation" featurette, visual effects scene deconstructions, music video: "Sand" by Jessica Chapnik, director Nash Edgerton's award-winning short film "Spider." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
Squeal (2008) Kevin Oestenstad, Allison Batty, Stephen Dean, Joe Burke. While on their first indie tour, a rock group's bus gets stranded on a country road, where they meet up with some strange farm inhabitants -- members of a half-pig/half-human science experiment, who want to add the rockers to their group. (E1 Entertainment).
Survival of the Dead (2009) Kenneth Welsh, Kathleen Munroe, Julian Richings. The newest film from George A. Romero (creator of the "Night of the Living Dead" franchise), picks up where his last outing, "Diary of the Dead," leaves off: in a nightmarish world where humans are the minority and zombies rule. Set on an island off the coast of North America, two powerful families maintain an impression of order in the wake of a zombie epidemic, but are at opposite extremes: One believes that the undead must be destroyed without exception, while the other family insists that afflicted loved ones be kept "alive" until a cure is found to bring their relatives back to their human state. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes (2010) Original animated movie, $19.98. (Warner).
Three Silent Classics by Josef Von Sternberg Vienna-born, New York-raised Josef von Sternberg ("Shanghai Express," "Morocco") directed some of the most influential, extraordinarily stylish dramas ever to come out of Hollywood. Though best known for his star-making collaborations with Marlene Dietrich, Sternberg began his movie career during the final years of the silent era, dazzling audiences and critics with his films' dark visions and innovative cinematography. The titles in this collection, made on the cusp of the sound age, are three of Sternberg's greatest works, gritty evocations of gangster life ("Underworld"; 1927), the Russian Revolution ("The Last Command"; 1928) and working-class desperation ("The Docks of New York"; 1928) made into shadowy movie spectacle. New, restored high-definition digital transfers. Extras: Six scores: one by Robert Israel for each film; two by the Alloy Orchestra, for "Underworld" and "The Last Command"; and a piano and voice piece by Donald Sosin for "The Docks of New York"; two new visual essays: one by UCLA film professor Janet Bergstrom and the other by film scholar Tag Gallagher; 1968 Swedish television interview with director Josef von Sternberg, covering his entire career; 96-page booklet featuring essays by film critic Geoffrey O'Brien, film scholar Anton Kaes, and author Luc Sante, the original film treatment for "Underworld" by Ben Hecht, and an excerpt from Sternberg's autobiography, "Fun in a Chinese Laundry," on Emil Jannings. (The Criterion Collection).
Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009) Eye-opening documentary about television pioneer Gertrude Berg, the entertainment genius and entrepreneur who wrote, starred in and produced the first successful American sitcom, "The Goldbergs," and charmed a nation. Traces Berg's rise to stardom from her childhood in New York to her early radio days to her enormously influential sitcom, "The Goldbergs" (1949-56), which brought Berg the first Best Actress Emmy in history. Berg's passion and incredible productivity paved the way for a wide variety of causes, including women in entertainment, Jewish-American identity and actors' rights, but she is most celebrated for singlehandedly proving that the American family transcends social, religious and economic divisions. $29.95. Extras: Commentary with director Aviva Kempner; episodes of "The Goldbergs" (including a surprising 1954 episode featuring Molly and Jake in the same bed together, unheard of at the time); Gertrude Berg's guest appearances with Edward R. Murrow and on Ed Sullivan; additional scenes and interviews; a Gertrude Berg recipe; an essay from the director; more. (Docurama).

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August 31

Beatdown (2010) Rudy Youngblood, Michael Bisping, Susie Abromeit, Eric Balfour, Danny Trejo. Respected street fighter Brandon finds himself the target of dangerous gangsters who murdered his brother. He's forced to flee the city and hides out at his father's house in a small Southern town, where he soon gets involved in the local underground cage-fighting circuit and devises a way to get revenge. Extras: Behind the scenes featurette, "On the Set of Beatdown With Michael Bisping" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Brother & Sisters: The Complete Fourth Season (2009-10) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $45.99. Extras: Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, "Off the Clock" quality time with the cast and crew at three events off-set, "The Red Carpet" behind-the-scenes red carpet event at their Season 4 premiere party. (Disney).
FlashForward: The Complete Series (2009-10) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.99. Extras: "Creating a Catastrophe: The Effects of a Global Blackout," "FlashForward: A Look Ahead," commentary, "Architects of Destiny," "Meet Yuko," "FlashForward" on set, interviews from the Mosaic Collective, blooper reel, deleted scenes. (Disney).
For My Wife ... (2008) Feature documentary chronicling the making of an activist. After the tragic death of her wife, Charlene Strong was thrust into the spotlight becoming a powerful voice for the equal rights of same-sex couples and their families, resulting in the passage of Washington State's historic Domestic Partnership legislation. $19.95. Extras: Gloria Steinem on marriage equality, "Meet the Filmmakers," more. (Cinema Libre).
French Film (2008) Hugh Bonneville, Victoria Hamilton, Douglas Henshall, Anne-Marie Duff. A comedy about how French and English cultures differ in their attitudes on relationships. (IFC Films).
Go, Diego, Go!: Diego's Ultimate Rescue League (2010) Three new-to-DVD episodes with the Animal Rescue League as they help Diego and his friends undergo a test to earn a World Rescuers' patch; help Bottlenose become an ocean animal rescuer by saving the ocean animals from a tsunami-like wave and a devastating oil spill; and climb a treacherous mountain to reunite Prince Vicuna with his parents, $16.99. (Paramount).
Harry Brown (2010) Michael Caine, Emily Mortiner, David Bradley, Iain Glen, Charlie Creed-Miles, Sean Harris, Ben Drew. Read more about "Harry Brown" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted scenes; commentary by Michael Caine, director Daniel Barber and producer Kris Thykier. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds movieIQ+sync. (Sony).
House: Season Six (2009-10) Five-disc set with 21 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Commentaries, featurettes: "Before Broken: An Eclusive Original Short," "A Different POV: Hugh Laurie Directs," "New Faces in a New House" and "A New House for House." Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds "A Beginner's Guide to Diagnostic Medicine" multi-disc picture-in-picture feaure, "Crazy Cool Episode: Epic Fail" featurette. (Universal).
iCarly: iSpace Out (2010) Six episodes of the very popular Nickelodeon series, $16.99. (Paramount).
The Judy Garland Show: Volume Five (1963-64) Featured guests in this star-studded, medley-filled two-episode set are Steve Allen, Mel Torme, Jayne Meadows, Diahann Carroll. Restored and digitally remastered from the original videotapes and digitally remixed sound in 5.1 surround sound. $19.98. (Infinity Entertainment).
Made for Each Other (2009) Bijou Phillips, Christopher Masterson, Lauren German. Comedy about an upstanding, hard-working young man who cheats on his beautiful new wife -- and then desperately searches for someone for her to cheat on him with! The question is: who will he choose to bed her? (IFC Films).
Marmaduke (2010) Lee Pace, Judy Greer, voices of Owen Wilson, George Lopez, Keifer Sutherland, Fergie. Extras: "Cowabarka! Surfing Dogs," "Canine Casting," deleted scenes. Also available in a Blu-Ray Disc/DVD Combo Pack, which adds "Marmaduke Mayhem!" gag reel, "Puppy Marmaduke and Kitty Carlos: Home Movies." (Fox).
The Middle (2009-10) Three-disc set with 24 episodes, $44.98. Extras: Featurettes, unaired scenes, gag reel. (Warner).
NCIS: Los Angeles -- The First Season (2009) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $64.99. Extras: Parts 1 and 2 of the crossover episode "Legend" from "NCIS," which first introduced viewers to the Los Angeles team; behind-the-scenes features. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (CBS/Paramount).
OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009 -- French) Jean Dujardin, Louise Monot, Rudiger Vogler. Sequel to the 2006 satirical spy spoof "OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies," which was a smash in its native France and a cult hit in the U.S. "Lost in Rio" once again stars French comedy sensation Dujardin as the ever-absurd Agent OSS 117. In his latest outing, it's 1967 and OSS 117's mission finds him partnering with a sexy Israeli Mossad agent (Monot) and traveling to swinging Rio de Janeiro to track down a roll of elusive microfilm and capture a high-ranking Nazi officer (Vogler) who has gone into exile in Brazil. Extras: Making-of featurette, blooper reel, deleted scenes. (Music Box Films).
Parenthood: Season One (2010) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).
A Quiet Little Marriage (2008) Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Cy Carter, Jimmi Simpson, Michael O'Neill. The future looks bright for a young and attractive Los Angeles couple, but beneath the surface of their wonderful life is a tangle of secrets, lies and pain. (IFC Films).
The Red Riding Trilogy (2009) Three films come together to form one overwhelming cinematic experience about a mysterious -- and perhaps related -- series of gruesome crimes in Northern England. Based on events that occurred over a turbulent decade in the West Riding district of Yorkshire, England, the films present a dark and disturbing world of serial murders, child abductions and police corruption. The three films are connected by recurring events and characters, chiefly a deeply conflicted police detective, Maurice Jobson (David Morrissey), and ruthless high-ranking official Harold Angus (Jim Carter). Three directors use a different method for each film: Julian Jarrold ("Becoming Jane") shoots in 16mm film for 1974; James Marsh ("Man on Wire") in 35mm for 1980; and Anand Tucker ("Leap Year," "Shopgirl") in digital video for 1983. In the end, they've created a modern crime epic in which no one escapes undamaged. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films and MPI Media Group).
Sons of Anarchy Season Two (2009) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Deleted Scenes, "John the Revelator" music video, gag reel, commentary on select episodes, "The Moral Code of Sons of Anarchy," "A Night Out With the Crew at Happy Endings Bar," "Sons of Anarchy Happy Ending Roundtable." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Strawberry Shortcake: The Glimmerberry Ball Movie and Strawberry Shortcake: Berrywood Here We Come (2010) Two new Strawberry Shortcake features, $14.98 each. (Fox).
Thriller (1960-1962) Thriller. Foutreen-disc set with all 67 episodes, remastered, uncut, and loaded with exclusive extras. $149.99. Extras: Twent-seven new audio commentaries featuring Arthur Hiller, Patricia Barry, Ernest Dickerson, David Schow, Tim Lucas, Gary Gerani, Jim Wynorski, Richard Anderson, Lucy Chase Williams, Steve Mitchell, Marc Scott Zicree, Alan Brennert, Beverly Washburn, Larry Blamire, Jon Burlingame, Daniel Benton, Ron Borst, and Craig Reardon; extensive promotional and production still galleries; rare episode promos and the "Thriller" series promo, isolated music and effects tracks for select episodes from composers Jerry Goldsmith and Morton Stevens. (Image Entertainment).
Tormented (2009) Alex Pettyfer, April Pearson, Dimitri Leonidas, Calvin Dean. A bullied teenager comes back from the dead to take revenge on his classmates. (IFC Films).
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010) Janet Jackson, Michael Jai White, Tyler Perry, Tasha Smmith, Richard T. Jones, Louis Gossett Jr., Sharon Leal, Jill Scott, Denise Boutte, Malik Yoba, Cicely Tyson, Keesha Sharp. Read more about "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?" in the August Calendar. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season (2009-10) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Four featurettes, unaired scenes, commentary, gag reel, more. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
The Waiting Room (2007) Anne-Marie Duff, Rupert Graves. Two complete strangers, Anna and Stephen, are brought together by chance by an elderly man who waits for his wife on a train station platform. (IFC Films).
Water Wars: When Drought, Flood and Greed Collide (2009) This timely documentary (particularly in the face of the current, immense flooding in Pakistan) uncovers critical water issues facing humanity. It takes the viewer from the floods and droughts in Bangladesh, to dam building in India, water management in the Netherlands and the latest wake-up call in America: the Katrina disaster and the drought in the Southwest. $19.95. (Cinema Libre).

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All listings are based on information from the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally, some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices for some special editions, box sets and collections.



All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.


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August 22, 2010
(ISSN 1094-3676).