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OnVideo's Guide to DVDs

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Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

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April 2

American Masters Philip Roth: Unmasked (2013) Explores the life of the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novelist, one of the greatest living American writers. In candid interviews, Philip Roth discusses intimate aspects of his life and art as he has never done before: his unliterary upbringing in Newark, N.J., his writing process, the inspiration behind his most famous novels, and the many controversies he stirred throughout his career. Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).
The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Romance Warner Home Video will release another new DVD box set as part of their 90th Anniversary celebration. Check out the complete list of films here. Formats: DVD, $98.92. (Warner).

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The Bible (2013) Ten-hour History miniseries features exotic locales and dazzling visual effects that breathe spectacular life into the dramatic tales of faith and courage from Genesis through Revelation. Narrated by Keith David with a score by composer Hans Zimmer. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Six behind-the-scenes featurettes: "The Bible: Genesis," "The Cast of The Bible," "The Bible: Creation," "Scoring The Bible,"" Believing in Miracles" and "The Bible: Visual Effects." (Fox).
Charlie: A Toy Story (2013) Randy Ochoa, Drew Waters, Rheagan Wallace. Dove-approved family film about 10-year-old Caden and his best friend, Charlie, a golden retriever, who set out to thwart the evil plans of the bumbling town bullies who are out to break into Caden's dad's toy shop to steal his new one-of-a-kind toy invention. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
photo Dirk Gently (2010-12) Based on the novels by Douglas Adams ("The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"), Stephen Mangan stars as a quirky but endearing detective. Broadcast on BBC in 2010 and 2012 and available to U.S. audiences for the first time, this four-part dramedy follows Dirk Gently, a perpetually insolvent yet uncommonly talented holistic detective. Although he's regarded as a mere con man by some, Dirk often delivers astonishing results with his unusual tactics. As proprietor of the Holistic Detective Agency, Gently is one part "Monk," one part "Psych," and one part total fun. Includes the pilot and three episodes. Formats: Two-disc DVD. (Acorn Media).
Earth's Final Hours (2012) Hamza Adams, Julia Benson, Cameron Bright, Sage Brocklebank. After dense matter from an imploded white hole hits Earth, a magnetospheric nightmare threatens the planet's rotation. A group of government agents must locate a lost satellite network that is the world's only hope for survival. A Syfy channel feature. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
Forbidden Woman (2013) Clifton Powell, Jackee Harry, Marla Gibbs, Keith Robinson, Erica Hubbard. An up-and-coming attorney reaches a pivotal point in his life and career when he falls in love with the wife of his boss. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
Frontline: The Untouchables: Money, Power and Wall Street (2013) More than four years since the financial crisis, not one senior Wall Street executive has faced criminal prosecution for fraud. Are Wall Street executives "too big to jail?" Frontline investigates why the U.S. Department of Justice has failed to act on credible evidence that Wall Street knowingly packaged and sold toxic mortgage loans to investors, loans that brought the U.S. and world economies to the brink of collapse. Formats: DVD, $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Hello, Dolly! BLU-RAY DEBUT (1969) Dir.: Gene Kelly; Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Tommy Tune. Extras: "Directing Dolly: Gene Kelly Remembered." (Fox).
Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012) Nicole Kidman, Clive Owen, David Strathairn, Rodrigo Santoro, Molly Parker, Parker Posey, Santiago Cabrera, Lars Ulrich, Saverio Guerra, Peter Coyote, Joan Chen, Tony Shalhoub. HBO drama recounts one of the greatest romances of the last century -- the passionate love affair and tumultuous marriage of literary master Ernest Hemingway and trailblazing war correspondent Martha Gellhorn, following the adventurous writers through the Spanish Civil War and beyond. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital. Extras: "Making Hemingway & Gellhorn" behind-the-scenes featurette, "Behind the Visual Effects" featurette, commentary with director Philip Kaufman and editor Walter Murch. (HBO).
Jackie Robinson: My Story (2003) "First person docudrama" blends historic footage with a powerful and dramatic portrayal of Robinson by actor Stephen Hill; chronicles the tragedy, triumph, dignity and great courage of a man who changed the course of American history. Features guest appearances by Robinson's Dodger teammates Don Newcombe, Clem Labine and Carl Erskine. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
John Dies at the End (2012) Dir.: Don Coscarelli; Rob Mayes, Chase Williamson, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman, Doug Jones. A new street drug (dubbed Soy Sauce) that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion? Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with writer-director Don Coscarelli, producer Brad Baruh, Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes; deleted scenes; "Getting Sauced: The Making of John Dies at the End"; "Creature Corps: The Effects of Soy Sauce"; casting sessions, Fangoria interview with Paul Giamatti. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
The Kick (2011 -- Thailand) Petchtai Wongkamlao, JeeJa Yanin, Jamruen Somboon. After the son of taekwondo experts foils an attempt to steal a priceless Thai artifact, the family becomes national heroes -- and also the target of revenge by the criminal gang whose robbery hey stopped. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
Knuckleball (2012) The great baseball batting coach Charley Lau famously said, "There are two theories on hitting the knuckleball. Unfortunately, neither of them works." This heartfelt, funny and deeply engaging documentary delves into the legendary subculture of the knuckleball -- the most disrespected, mocked and frustrating pitch -- and the brotherhood of men who share the drive, imagination and humility to throw baseball's slowest, most disrespected and most mysterious pitch. Filmed throughout the 2011 season, "Knuckleball" follows 37 year-old all-star R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets and 18-year veteran Tim Wakefield, formerly the oldest player in the major leagues and an icon of the Boston Red Sox. The film details their personal and professional struggles and triumphs while exploring the bond between them and the few living retired knuckleballers, including Charlie Hough, Wilbur Wood, Jim Bouton, Tom Candiotti and Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. Formats: DVD. (FilmBuff).
LUV (2012) Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Meagan Good, Lonette McKee. An 11-year-old boy gets a crash course in what it means to be a man when he spends a day with the ex-convict uncle he idolizes. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, "The Making of LUV," commentaries. (Indomina).
Route 66: The Complete Fourth Season (1963-64) Five-disc set with all 23 episodes of the final season, $29.93. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
Stitches (2012) Tommy Knight, Ross Noble, Gemma-Leah Devereux, Valerie Spelman. Years after a cruel kids prank during a birthday party for 8-year-old Tommy left hired clown Richard "Stitches" Grindle dead on the kitchen floor, the childhood friends gather to plan a birthday bash to end all bashes. But they haven't counted on the degenerate jester rising from the grave to seek vengeance on the children who mocked him and caused his grisly, untimely end. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. (MPI/Dark Sky Films).
The Sweeney (2013) Ray Winstone, Damian Lewis, Hayley Atwell, Ben Drew. Based on the popular 1970s U.K. television show of the same name, the U.K. box office smash is based on the Sweeney Flying Squad, London's elite crime-fighting force -- a branch of the Metropolitan Police specializing in tackling armed robbery and violent crime. Led by legendary Detective Jack Regan (Ray Winstone), the group is not afraid to use old school, bare-knuckle tactics to bring down the modern underworld. With a master criminal on the loose and a major bank heist in progress, Regan will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. (Entertainment One).
That Thing You Do! BLU-RAY DEBUT (1996) Dir.: Tom Hanks; Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Obba Babatunde, Giovanni Ribisi, Alex Rocco, Peter Scolari, Rita Wilson, Chris Isaak. Extras: Tom Hanks extended cut, "Feel Alright" music video, "The Wonders! Big in Japan!" "The Story of the Wonders," "Making That Thing You Do!" "That Thing You Do! Reunion," "HBO First Look: The Making of That Thing You Do!" (Fox).
13 Eerie (2013) Six FBI recruits are sent to a remote island for training but unbeknownst to everyone, the site was formerly used as an illegal biological testing ground for life-term criminals who were left for dead, and the zombie criminal convicts begin systematically hunting down the trainees. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Making-of" featurette. (Entertainment One).
Tormented (2011 -- Japan) Hikari Mitsushima, Takeru Shibuya, Tamaki Ogawa, Nao Omori. A young woman and her brother are tormented by a nightmare world of visions, highlighted by large rabbits and an amusement park gone crazy. By Takashi Shimizu, director of "The Grudge." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (Well Go USA).
A Turtle's Tale 2: Sammy's Escape From Paradise (2013) When Sammy and Ray find themselves trapped in The Tank, an underwater aquarium, they must hatch a plan to escape and reunite with their grandkids, Ricky and Ella, and protect them from the dangers of the ocean. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (Studio Canal/Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment).

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April 9

Anatomy of a Psycho/The Lonely Sex Ronnie Burns, Pamela Lincoln, Mary Gonzalez, Karl Light. Exploitation double bill: "Anatomy of a Psycho" (1961): The brother of a convicted murderer set to be executed takes revenge against the people he believes were responsible for his brother's demise. "Lonely Sex": A lonely outcast kidnaps a young woman and holds her hostage in a rural shack while a violent peeping tom goes about his daily routine. Formats: DVD. (Vinegar Syndrome).
Best of Latino Laugh Festival (2012) Highlights of the world's top Latino comedians performing stand-up comedy, monologues and sketches at the Latino Laugh Festival, from the Lila Cockrell Theater in San Antonio, hosted by Cheech Marin. Includes performances by Culture Clash, Greg Giraldo, Felipe Esparza, John Mendoza, Rudy Moreno, Paul Rodriguez and others, along with appearances by Maria Conchita Alonso, Erik Estrada, Daisy Fuentes, Edward James Olmos, Geraldo Rivera. Formats: DVD, $14.99. (CBS/Paramount).
Best of Walden! (2013) Third installment of the "Best of" Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" DVD series. Seven episodes featuring the one and only Walden, Wubbzy's good friend and Wuzzleburg's top thinker. Formats: DVD, $14.98. Extras: Coloring and activity sheets, dance-inducing music videos. (Anchor Bay).
Boss: Season Two (2012) Ten episodes of Starz's saga about Chicago's powerful mayor Tom Kane (Kelsey Grammer). Formats: Three-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Commentary with cast and crew, "The King and His Court: Boss's Treacherous Ensemble" featurette. (Lionsgate).
The Cary Grant Film Collection Six-disc set with "Born t Be Bad," "I Was a Male War Bride," "People Will Talk," "Monkey Business," "An Affair to Remember" and "Kiss Them for Me," $39.98. Formats: DVD.(Fox).
Crush (2013) Lucas Till, Crystal Reed, Sarah Bolger, Reid Ewing, Leigh Whannell, Caitriona Balfe. A secret admirer's crush on a high school athlete takes a fatal turn. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Millennium Entertainment).
Deadball (2011 -- Japan) Tak Sakaguchi, Mari Hoshino. Baseball prodigy Jubeh Yakyu, a 17-year-old juvenile delinquent sent to reform school after killing over 50 people within a week, is forced to join the reformatory team, The Gauntlets, in the national tournament for juvenile inmates, or witness the death of his innocent cellmate. First up: a battle to the death against the sexy "psycho butcher girls" of St. Black Dahlia High School. A wild, over-the-top epic of excess, billed as "more fun than a prison cavity search!" Director Yudai Yamaguchi's follow-up to his earlier zombie baseball horror comedy "Battlefield Baseball." Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette "The Making of Deadball," interviews with cast and crew, spinoff short film "Play Deadball." (Well Go USA).
Down the Shore (2011) Set on the Jersey Shore, the lives of three childhood friends begin to unravel when a deadly secret from their past is revealed. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
Dragon Wasps (2012) Corin Nemec, Dominika Juillet, Benjamin Easterday, Nikollete Noel. A scientist enlists the help of the U.S. army to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her father in Belize, where her entourage of heavily-armed soldiers is besieged by murderous Guerrillas and a horde of murderous Dragon Wasps, massive flying bugs that shoot flame from their abdomens. Formats: DVD. (XLrator Media).
Erroll Garner: No One Can Hear You Read (2012) In a triumphant career that lasted 40 years, Erroll Garner pushed the playability of the piano to its limits, developed an international reputation, and made an indelible mark on the jazz world. And yet, his story has never been told. This documentary explores Erroll's childhood in Pittsburgh; his meteoric rise in popularity while playing on 52nd street, New York's famed jazz epicenter; the origins of his most famous album ("Concert By the Sea") and his most famous composition ("Misty"); his singular, virtuosic piano style; and his dynamic personality, both on and off the stage. Features commentary from Woody Allen; Ahmad Jamal; "Tonight Show" host Steve Allen; Erroll's sister, Ruth Garner Moore; pianist and arranger Dick Hyman; Columbia Records executive George Avakian; Erroll's bass player Ernest McCarty; Erroll's biographer Jim Doran; jazz journalist John Murph; dancer/choreographer Maurice Hines; and Erroll's daughter Kim Garner, who goes on the record about her father for the first time. Formats: DVD, $24.95. (First Run Features).
Family Ties: The Sixth Season (1987-88) Four-disc set with 28 episodes of the second-to-last season of the sitcom that followed the trials and tribulations of liberal parents trying to raise their family (including ultra-conservative son Alex Keaton, played by Michael J. Fox) in the Ronald Reagan-era of the 1980s. Formats: DVD, $46.99. (CBS/Paramount).
The Four (2012 -- China) Deng Chao, Liu Yi Fei, Ronald Cheng, Collin Chou. Four martial arts masters dedicate their special skills to the service of Master Zhuge in solving crimes and apprehending powerful criminals. In this first of a planned trilogy, the agents go on the hunt for whomever is behind the mysterious circulation of counterfeit currency -- and face an army of the undead, created to crush anything that stands in their way. Big budget martial arts fantasy directed by Gordon Chan. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: "The Making of The Four" featurette, deleted scenes. (Well Go USA).
Gate of Hell (1953 -- Japan) A winner of Academy Awards for best foreign-language film and best costume design, "Gate of Hell" is a visually sumptuous, psychologically penetrating work from Teinosuke Kinugasa. In the midst of epic, violent intrigue in 12-century Japan, an imperial warrior falls for a lady-in-waiting; even after he discovers she is married, he goes to extreme lengths to win her love. Kinugasa's film is an unforgettable, tragic story of obsession and unrequited passion that was an early triumph of color cinematography in Japan. In Japanese with English subtitles. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Booklet featuring an essay by film historian Stephen Prince. (The Criterion Collection).
Goodnight for Justice: Queen Of Hearts (2013) Luke Perry, Katherine Isabelle, Rick Schroder. In this third installment of the Hallmark Movie Channel Western saga, Judge Goodnight (Perry) rescues the beautiful Lucy Truffaut (Isabelle) from a stagecoach attack, but soon after begins to suspect that she's not who she seems to be. As they start to fall for each other and her true identity is revealed, Judge Goodnight becomes determined to bring her to justice. Formats: DVD. Extras: Deleted scenes, on-set interviews with Perry, Isabelle and Schroder. (Entertainment One).
Greatest Western Heroes (2012) Twelve-disc set with more than 67 Hours of Wild West action, $29.98. Formats: DVD. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
Hyde Park on Hudson (2012) Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Olivia Colman, Blake Ritson, Samuel West, Elizabeth Marvel, Eleanor Bron. Read more about "Hyde Park on Hudson" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "A Look Inside Hyde Park on Hudson," "First Days," commentary with director Roger Michell and producer Kevin Loader. (Universal).
Into the Cold (2013) Documentary follows two world renowned explorers as they trek 400 miles on foot to the North Pole. Facing harsh temperatures to -50 degrees, the film is a bone-chilling story of true bravery, incredible courage and unrelenting determination as Sebastian Copeland and Keith Heger retrace and commemorate the centennial of Robert E. Peary's successful April 1909 expedition. The expedition was also done to raise awareness about global warming, in which treks like this will not be possible within the next 10–20 years as the Arctic landscape is changing. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Antarctica: The Global Warning" trailer. (Shelter Island).
Lincoln Chronicles Ten-disc set with more than 29 Hours of compelling Lincoln films and documentaries, $29.98. Formats: DVD. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
The Last Flight of Petr Ginz (2011) By 14 he had written five novels and penned a diary about the Nazi occupation of Prague. By 16 he had produced 170 drawings and paintings, edited an underground magazine in the Jewish ghetto, written short stories and walked to the gas chamber at Auschwitz. Filled with intellectual curiosity but prone to mischief, Petr Ginz read voraciously, wrote constantly, built exploding toy cannons to frighten his classmates, and drew and painted a world full of adventure and exotic locations. Through Ginz's art and writing, interwoven with fantastical animation, this unconventional documentary reveals a journey from precocious child to young adult, from gifted artist to prodigy, and of innocence lost. Although Ginz's life ended at Auschwitz, this is not a story of tragedy but rather a testament to how one boy's wonder and creative expression represent the best of what makes us human. Formats: DVD, $24.95. Extras: Bonus shorts: "Boy Animated," "Inside the Artist's World," "A World Imagined: The Music of The Last Flight of Petr Ginz." (First Run Features).
Love Free or Die (2012) This uncompromising documentary challenges the long held belief, supported by most of the world's religions, that homosexuality is in direct conflict with faith. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay person to be elected bishop in Christendom (in New Hampshire), takes on the church's stance and claims a place for all people. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Wolfe Video).
Massage Parlor Murders (1972) Sandra Peabody, Chris Jordan, Brother Theodore, Anne Gaybis. A vicious serial killer is stalking the streets of New York City, murdering Times Square massage girls in a variety of brutal ways, so it's up to a rogue detective team to solve the case as the body count continues to rise. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: Outtakes. (Vinegar Syndrome).
Merlin: The Complete Fifth Series (2012) Final season with 13 episodes. Formats: Four-disc DVD, $49.98; three-disc Blu-ray, $59.98. Extras: Deleted scenes, outtakes, storyboards, making-of featurette, commentaries on select episodes. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Naked Lunch (1991) In this adaptation of William S. Burroughs's hallucinatory, once-thought unfilmable novel "Naked Lunch," directed by David Cronenberg, a part-time exterminator and full-time drug addict named Bill Lee (Peter Weller) plunges into the nightmarish Interzone, a netherworld of sinister cabals and giant talking bugs. Alternately humorous and grotesque -- ­and always surreal -- ­the film mingles aspects of Burroughs's novel with incidents from the writer's own life, resulting in an evocative paranoid fantasy and a self-reflexive investigation into the mysteries of the creative process. High-definition digital transfer, approved by director David Cronenberg, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Formats: Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary featuring Cronenberg and actor Peter Weller; "Naked Making Lunch," a 1992 television documentary by Chris Rodley about the making of the film; special effects gallery, featuring artwork and photos alongside an essay by Cinefex magazine editor Jody Duncan; collection of original marketing materials; audio recording of William S. Burroughs reading from the novel; gallery of photos taken by poet Allen Ginsberg of Burroughs; booklet featuring reprinted pieces by film critic Janet Maslin, director Chris Rodley, critic and novelist Gary Indiana, and Burroughs. (The Criterion Collection).
Paranormal Movie (2013) Kevin P. Farley, Carly Craig, Eric Roberts, Maria Menounos, William Katt. Parody that takes potshots at the "Paranormal" franchise. A man, long haunted by the paranormal, captures on camera the horror and hilarity he and his beautiful girlfriend encounter after moving into a new home -- which is infested with freaky clowns, weed-smoking demons and uninvited celebrities. Formats: DVD, Digital Download. (RLJ Entertainment/Image Entertainment).
Planet Ocean (2012) Filmed by directors Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, along with an outstanding team of international underwater cinematographers in partnership with OMEGA and with the scientific support of Tara Expeditions, the film aims to explain some of the planet's greatest natural mysteries, while reinforcing how essential it is that mankind learns to live in harmony with our oceans. Formats: DVD, $19.98; Blu-ray Disc, $26.98. Extras: "The Making of Planet Ocean": "In the Skies Above Rio," "Underwater," "Shanghai." (Universal).
Rainforest Rescue (2012) Two episodes of PBS Kids' popular "Wild Kratts" series: Animated versions of the brothers and wildlife explorers Martin and Chris Kratt embark on two creature-filled rainforest romps: "Rainforest Stew" and "Shadow: The Black Jaguar." Formats: DVD, $9.99. (PBS Distribution).
Sexcula (1974) Debbie Collins, Jamie Orlando, John Alexander. Canadian erotic/horror hybrid shot in Vancouver, British Columbia; the film screened once before disappearing and then being sought after by cult aficionados for decades. Stars a Marilyn Chambers lookalike in dual roles as Countess Sexcula, a buxom cutie with no qualms about lying nude on a table for the entire movie, and a horny bride who can't wait for her ring. Formats: DVD. (Impulse Pictures).
Sexy Evil Genius (2011) Katee Sackhoff, Seth Green, William Baldwin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Harold Perrineau. A group of guys are lured to the same bar in downtown Los Angeles by Nikki, an ex-girlfriend they all have in common. Beautiful, conniving and downright insane, Nikki has one last surprise in store for her ex-lovers. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Jujitsu-ing Reality" featurette. (Lionsgate).
The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011 -- Hong Kong) Jet Li, Eva Huang, Raymond Lam. Special effects fantasy film based on a Chinese legend that centers around a man who falls in love with a 1,000-year-old white snake disguised as a woman. Discovering the white snake's true identity, the sorcerer goes to battle believing that, in so doing, he is restoring balance and order between man and the supernatural. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: "Behind the Scenes With Jet Li: Fighting, Stunts & Laughs"; "Behind the Scenes: Visual Effects and Production Design"; "Behind the Scenes of the Beauties and the Beasts"; AXS TV: "A Look at The Sorcerer and the White Snake." (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
The Suckers/The Love Garden (1971) Exploitation double bill: "The Suckers": Believed lost for decades, this sleazy sexploitation rendering of "The Most Dangerous Game" has finally been found, in the form of a rare theatrical print. An all-star sexploitation cast, including Sandy Dempsy, Barbara Mills and Richard Smedly, are caught up in a web of graphic sex and brutal violence as they fight for their lives while being hunted by a group of madmen. "The Love Garden": A love triangle unfolds between a young writer, obsessed with his beautiful neighbor who, initially unbeknownst to him, is involved in a lesbian relationship. Stars Linda York, Jason Yukon and Barbara Mills. Formats: DVD. (Vinegar Syndrome).
Thomas & Friends: Railway Mischief (2013) Five new episodes: "Gordon Runs Dry," "Kevin's Cranky Friend," "Scruff's Makeover," "Wayward Winston" and "Steamie Stafford." Formats: DVD, $14.98. Extras: "Calling All Engines" poster, Sodor hide and seek game, "All You Need Are friends" music video, "Guess Who?" puzzles. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Vietnam: The 10,000 Day War (1980) Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and CNN correspondent Peter Arnett and narrated by actor Richard Basehart, this is the real story behind the longest, most controversial war in modern history. Featuring extensive, rarely-seen archival footage and first-hand interviews with combat veterans, politicians and players from both sides, this award-winning series re-examines, without blame or judgment, the rise and fall of America's 20-year commitment to the war in Vietnam, known as history's first "living room war." Formats: Four-disc DVD, $39.95. (StarVista Entertainment/Time-Life).
We Are Egypt: The Story Behind the Revolution (2013) Months before 2011's momentous uprising in Egypt, many talked of a revolution -- but no one knew when that day would come. Going behind the headlines, this story -- filmed in the 14 months leading up to the revolution -- highlights the years of mounting resentment against the ruling regime. Director Lillie Paquette -- deeply embedded inside the turmoil -- followed key opposition figures and young democracy activists as they struggled against extraordinary odds and at great personal risk to remove an uncompromising U.S -backed authoritarian regime determined to stay in power. Formats: DVD. Extras: Featurettes: "Memories of Egypt: 1952 Revolution" with Omar Sharif, "Shaab Misr -- The People of Egypt," "Egyptian Democracy Activists," "Inside NDP Headquarters," "Noam Chomsky on U.S. Foreign Policy in Egypt," more. (The Disinformation Company).
Woochi The Demon Slayer (2009 -- South Korea) Gang Dong-Won, Kim Yoon-Suk, Lim Soo-Jung, Yoo Hae-Jin. This fantasy-action blockbuster based on a Korean folktale broke all boxoffice records in Korea in 2009. Jeon Woo-chi, an undisciplined, womanizing wizard unjustly accused of the death of his master, is trapped inside an ancient scroll until he is set free in 2009 by the wizards that imprisoned him to help fight against evil goblins that have taken over present-day Korea. The only problem is that Woo-chi is more interested in his new modern home -- and the women of Korea -- than becoming a hero. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "Making-of" featurette, deleted scenes, production featurettes, "The Magic of CGI," more. (Shout! Factory).


April 14

Orchestra of Exiles (2012) In the early 1930's Hitler began firing Jewish musicians across Europe. Overcoming extraordinary obstacles, violinist Bronislaw Huberman moved these great musicians to Palestine and formed a symphony that would become the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. With courage, resourcefulness and an entourage of allies including Arturo Toscanini and Albert Einstein, Huberman saved nearly 1000 Jews - and guaranteed the survival of Europe's musical heritage. Features commentary by musical greats including Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta and Joshua Bell. Formats: DVD, $27.95. Extras: Filmmaker interview, bonus shorts: "The Power of Music," "Music Education: The Legacy of the IPO," "Huberman's Dream," "Why Jews Stayed in Europe." (First Run Features).

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April 16

At the Gate of the Ghost (aka The Outrage) (2011 -- Thailand) Ananda Everingham, Mario Maurer, Chermarn Bonnyasak, Phongpat Wachirabanjhong, Phettai Wongkamlao, Dom Hetrakul. Adaptation of the Japanese film "Rashomon," here about three different interpretations of the murder of a warlord, from the perspective of the bandit Singh Khan, the wife of the deceased warlord, and a shaman who conjures up the warlord's spirit. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Making of a Legendary Story," behind the scenes, international trailer. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens (2012) Feature-length CGI-animated movie has 10-year-old Ben Tennyson returning from summer vacation to go to the Total Alien immersion training program -- but total immersion means he can never turn human again. Stuck in his alien form Ben becomes the target of a new evil alien engaging in a deadly cross-world battle where nothing is as it seems. Formats: DVD, $12.97. Extras: "behind the Scenes Sizzle," original animatics, original artwork of character development and scenes, commentary, more. (Cartoon Network/Warner).
China Beach: The Complete Series (2012) The much-anticipated release of the ground-breaking and award-winning TV series finally comes to DVD as a 21-disc set featuring all 62 episodes and over 10 hours of exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features including a recent cast reunion; extensive photo interviews with Dana Delany, Marg Helgenberger, producers John Sacret Young and John Wells; original featurettes ("Life's a Beach -- A Look at the Real China Beach," a documentary about the real China Beach/My Khe Evac Hospital, "Hit the Beach -- How it All Began" about the origins of the program; as well as "Tales From the Five & Dime," a collectible memory book containing casting notes, rare, archival photos, emotional, heartfelt letters from Vietnam veterans and more. Packaged in a deluxe collector's box featuring metallic printing and original artwork and logo treatments from the series; included are keepsake China Beach dog tags. $199.95. For the many die-hard "China Beach" aficionados who've patiently awaited the release of the series, a Collector's Edition, priced at $274.95, will be available: The set includes three original, complete scripts, with reproduced covers sporting autographs from the entire cast and key production personnel, along with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Also included will be four 8 x 10 color photographs of the original China Beach cast and the recent reunion. Both are available exclusively at ChinaBeachOnDVD.com. Formats: DVD. (Time Life).
The Colombian Connection (2011) Robert Thorne, Tom Sizemore. Former cop Jack Hooks is framed by his corrupt partner and sentenced to jail for a drug crime he didn't commit. When the DEA offers an early release deal, he embarks on a do-or-die mission to bring down his former partner's drug trade. Formats: DVD. (Inception Media Group.).
Counting Cars: Season 1 (2012) Two-disc set with 12 episodes of the History "Pawn Stars" spin-off series that follows Danny Koker, a Sin City legend, as he and his team restore, customize and sell cars in record-breaking time. Formats: DVD. Extras: Bonus footage. (Lionsgate).
Delhi Safari (2012 -- India) Voices of Jason Alexander, Carey Elwes, Bard Garrett, Christopher Lloyd, Jane Lynch, Vanessa Williams. A wacky pack of mismatched animals takes on the human race as they travel to the big city to protest the destruction of their jungle. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (ARC Entertainment).
Disneynature: Wings of Life (2013) Spectacular, closer-than-close, high-definition look at the intricate world of butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and bats, and their life-sustaining collaboration with flowers. Narrated by Meryl Streep. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital. (Disney).
Django Unchained (2012) Dir.: Quentin Tarantino; Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, James Remar, Don Johnson, RZA, Gerald McRaney, Anthony LaPaglia, James Russo. Read more about "Django Unchained" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital Download, UltraViolet. Extras: "Reimagining the Spaghetti Western: The Horses and Stunts of Django Unchained," "Remembering J. Michael Riva: The Production Design of Django Unchained," "The Costume Designs of Sharen Davis," "20 Years in the Making: The Tarantino XX Blu-ray Collection," "Django Unchained" soundtrack spot. (The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay).
Dragon (2011 -- Hong Kong) Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Wei Tang. A sinful martial arts expert wants to start a new tranquil life, only to be hunted by a determined detective and his former master. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: "The Making of Dragon" featurettes with Donnie Yen, "Lost in Jianghu" music video. (Anchor Bay).
Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System One of the most important filmmakers to emerge from Japan's cinematic golden age, Masaki Kobayashi is best remembered today for his 1959 epic "The Human Condition," but that is just one of the blistering films he made in a career dedicated to criticizing his country's rigid social and political orders. He first found his voice -- ­rebellious, angry, engaged -- ­in the fifties, following his life-altering experiences as a soldier in World War II; the four films collected here, made in the same period as "The Human Condition," reflect Kobayashi's coming into his own as an artist. He fought to get these powerful dramas made at a studio more oriented at the time toward quiet family melodramas; they are unforgettable pictures of a postwar Japan troubled by identity crises and moral corruption on scales both intimate and institutional. "The Thick-Walled Room" (1953), a drama about a group of rank-and-file Japanese soldiers jailed for crimes against humanity; "I Will Buy You" (1956), Kobayashi's pitiless take on Japan's professional baseball industry; "Black River" (1957), an expose of the rampant corruption on and around U.S. military bases following World War II; "The Inheritance" (1962), a condemnation of unchecked greed: On his deathbed, a wealthy businessman announces that his fortune is to be split equally among his three illegitimate children, whose whereabouts are unknown to his family and colleagues. A bevy of lawyers and associates then begin machinations to procure the money for themselves, enlisting the aid of impostors and blackmail. Formats: DVD. (The Criterion Collection).
Escapee (2011) Dominic Purcell, Christine Evangelista, Faith Ford, Melissa Ordway, Carly Chaikin. A crazed serial killer escapes prison during a hurricane and chases after a young psychology student who visited him on a classroom observational trip. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Making-of featurette, photo gallery. (Anchor Bay).
Flash Gordon: The Complete Series (2011) Four-disc set with 22 episodes from the Syfy Channel series, $14.98. Formats: DVD. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
4Some (2012 -- Czech Republic) Jenovefa Bokova, Gregor Buaer, Vaclav Marhold, Valerie Samalova. Two ostensibly ordinary middle-aged couples, Marie and Vitek, and Dita and Ondra, are linked by more than just a lifelong friendship, a shared house in a small town and same-aged adolescent children: they are linked by love. Both men, Ondra and Vitek, who are work colleagues, sincerely love their wives, but they both also harbor a secret yearning for the other's wife. When, by a stroke of fortune, the foursome finds themselves on an almost uninhabited island in the Caribbean, it's just a matter of time before their long-suppressed feelings come out. Formats: DVD. (Strand Releasing).
The French Chef: Julia Child's Dinner Party Favorites Collection of six original black-and-white episodes from the 1960s brings Julia back into the kitchen to teach cooks of all abilities how to prepare French specialties. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (PBS Distribution).
Future Weather (2012) Perla Haney-Jardine, Marin Ireland, Amy Madigan, Lili Taylor, William Sadler. When her single mom runs off to California and abandons her, 13-year-old Lauduree, a passionate environmentalist, clings to her rural home and a carbon sequestration experiment. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Deleted scenes; director Jenny Deller's debut short film, "Save the Future." (Virgil Films).
The Great Divide (2012) Tosha Landry, Richard T. Jones, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Golden Brooks. An eccentric wife sets up an evening of games for her friends and their husbands, resulting in a comedic night pitting men against women, the revealing of deeply hidden secrets and the unleashing of boiling passions and tempers. Formats: DVD. (Entertainment One).
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013) Abigail Spencer, Chad Michael Murray, Katee Sackhoff, Emily Alyn Lind, Cicely Tyson. Sequel has a young family moving into an historic home in Georgia, only to learn they are not the house's only inhabitants: They find themselves in the presence of a secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet. Extras: Commentary with Director Tom Elkins,writer David Coggeshall and co-producer Brad Kessell; "Seeing Ghosts: The True Story of the Wyricks" featurette; deleted scenes; blooper reel. (Lionsgate).
Iron Man: Rise of Technovore (2012) New chapter in the animated Iron Man franchise featuring Marvel super heroes such as War Machine, Nick Fury, Black Widow, Hawkeye and The Punisher. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Two featurettes: "Tale of Technovore" and "S.H.I.E.L.D.: Protecting the Marvel Universe." Blu-ray adds conceptual art gallery. (Marvel Entertainment/Sony).
Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1998 (1998) The world's longest-running sitcom returns with more antics from everyone's favorite elder delinquents. Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $34.98. Formats: DVD. (BBC Home Entertainment).
The Magic School Bus: All About Earth (2012) Three never-before-released episodes with three eco-friendly adventures to honor Earth Day (April 22): "The Magic School Bus Goes to Seed" (on gardening), "The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top" (on volcanoes) and "The Magic School Bus Goes on Air" (about the mysteries of air pressure). Formats: DVD, $12.95. Extras: Bonus episode. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
Makers: Women Who Make America (2013) Three-hour miniseries chronicles unforgettable moments in history and shares the stories of exceptional women whose pioneering contributions in the Women's Movement of the last 50 years helped shape the world in which we live. Narrated by Meryl Streep, the film takes its cue from the movement's motto, "The personal is political," delving into the personal lives of Gloria Steinem, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Phyllis Schlafly, Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, Hillary Clinton, Linda Alvarado, and many "ordinary" women who confronted the dramatic social upheaval in their own lives. Formats: DVD, $29.99. (PBS Distribution).
A Monster in Paris (2012) Voices of Vanessa Paradis, Sean Lennon, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Goldberg, Bob Balaban, Danny Huston, Jay Harrington. A whimsical animated world of Parisian adventure and fantasy, set in the 1910s, directed and written by Bibo Bergeron ("Shark Tale"). A wacky inventor, his camera-crazy best friend and a madcap monkey make a massive mistake when let loose in a mad scientist's laboratory, where they accidentally create Franc, the product of a reaction between a common flea and one of the scientist's mystery concoctions. But this "monster" is actually a soft-centered soul with an astounding talent for music. With the help of an enchanting nightclub singer Lucille, Franc becomes the talk of the town, just as stories of Paris's newest monster attract the attention of the egotistical police commissioner, hell bent on securing a big prize to help his battle to become mayor. The unwitting scientists and the singer must team up to protect Franc, a monster with more than a musical career to protect. Formats: DVD, two-disc Blu-Ray 3D combo pack with Blu-Ray 3D + 2D + DVD + Digital Copy. (Shout! Factory).
Not Suitable for Children (2012) Ryan Kwanten Sarah Snook, Ryan Corr. Life's a party for a trio of housemates enjoying their hedonistic twenties -- with weekly house parties unimpeded by adult responsibilities and long-term entanglements ... until Jonah is diagnosed with testicular cancer and, facing infertility, he becomes obsessed with having a child before it's too late. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Interviews with cast and crew, "Behind the Scenes of Not Suitable for Children," "Through the Lens," "In the Closet." (Well Go USA).
One Day on Earth (2012) On 10/10/10 across the planet, documentary filmmakers, students and other inspired citizens recorded the human experience over a 24-hour period and contributed their voices to a global day of media creation called "One Day on Earth." It was the first-ever simultaneous filming event occurring in every country in the world and it became a showcase of the amazing diversity, conflict, tragedy and triumph that occur in one day. This event also inspired filming around the world on 11/11/11 and 12/12/12. Formats: DVD,VOD, Digital. (New Video/Cinedigm).
Parade's End (1964) Judi Dench, Ronald Hines, Jeanne Moody. British telefilm adaptation of the classic novel by Ford Madox Ford. Formats: DVD. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Pedal-Driven (2011) An escalating conflict between mountain bikers and the federal land managers charged with protecting public lands is highlighted in this feature documentary that has become a grassroots phenom. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (New Video/Cinedigm).
Police Story/Police Story II BLU-RAY DEBUT (1985/1988) A double feature with the two films that made Jackie Chan a household name among action film lovers in the United States (he was already directing and starring in martial arts films in China). Chan's combination of humor and action was something new in the martial arts world and it brought him worldwide accolades. Both films co-star Maggie Cheung. $19.97. A DVD set is also available for $12.99. Extras: Outtakes, trailers. (Shout! Factory).
Quentin Tarantino's Rolling Thunder Pictures Triple Feature Three exploitation films hand-picked by Tarantino: "The Mighty Peking Man" (1977), "Detroit 9000" (1973) and "Switchblade Sisters" (1975). Formats: DVD, $14.98. (Miramax/Lionsgate).
Repo Man (1984) A quintessential cult film of the 1980s, Alex Cox's singular sci-fi comedy stars the always captivating Harry Dean Stanton as a weathered repo man in desolate downtown Los Angeles, and Emilio Estevez as the nihilistic middle-class punk he takes under his wing. The job becomes more than either of them bargained for when they get involved in reclaiming a mysterious -- ­and otherworldly -- ­Chevy Malibu with a hefty reward attached to it. Featuring the ultimate early-eighties L.A. punk soundtrack, this grungily hilarious odyssey is a politically trenchant take on President Reagan's domestic and foreign policy. New high-definition digital restoration, approved by director Alex Cox, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary featuring Cox, executive producer Michael Nesmith, casting director Victoria Thomas, and actors Sy Richardson, Zander Schloss, and Del Zamora; interviews with Cox, Richardson, and Zamora, producers Peter McCarthy and Jonathan Wacks, actors Olivia Barash, Dick Rude, Miguel Sandoval, and Harry Dean Stanton, musicians Keith Morris and Iggy Pop, and Sam Cohen, the inventor of the neutron bomb; deleted scenes; the complete "cleaned-up" television version of the film, prepared by Cox; trailers; booklet featuring an essay by critic Sam McPheeters, an illustrated production history by Cox, with his original comic and film proposal, and a 1987 interview with real-life repo man Mark Lewis. (The Criterion Collection).
Save the Date (2012) Lizzy Caplan, Geoffrey Arend, Alison Brie, Martin Starr, Mark Webber. An independent young woman begins to confront her shortcomings after she rejects her boyfriend's hasty proposal and soon finds herself in a rebound romance. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
Secrets of War -- Espionage Ten episodes culled from the 1998-2002 series narrated by Charlton Heston, $9.98. Formats: DVD. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
Secrets of War -- Shadows of the Reich Ten episodes culled from the 1998-2002 series narrated by Charlton Heston, $9.98. Formats: DVD. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
Spies of Warsaw (2013) David Tennant, Janet Montgomery. Four-episode miniseries based on The New York Times Bestselling author Alan Furst's acclaimed novel that follows French and German intelligence operatives locked in a life-and-death struggle in the years leading up to the Second World War. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: David Tennant on Spies of Warsaw. (BBC Home Entertainment).
State of Emergency (2010) Jay Hayden, Tori White, Andy Stahl. Chaos consumes a small town when a chemical facility explodes releasing a deadly toxin, transforming the unsuspecting populace into a roaming army of flesh-eating zombies. Formats: DVD, Digital. (RLJ Entertainment/Image Entertainment).
Sugartown (2011) Three episodes of the BBC comedy set in the seaside hamlet of Sugartown, which has been kept afloat for years by the Burr candy factory. Faced with the decision of what to do with the town's struggling candy company, Jason Burr is determined to keep the factory open and his family's legacy alive, while his posh brother, Max, has plans to shutter the factory in favor of a trendy "entertainment complex." Formats: DVD, $29.99. (Acorn Media).
A Whisper to a Roar (2013) Democracy begins to break out in five far-flung countries that have suffered for generations under dictatorship and authoritarianism -- and it's all recorded as it happened in this powerful and eye-opening documentary. Focuses on the recent and ongoing struggles for democracy in Egypt (the Arab Spring), Malaysia, Ukraine (the Orange Revolution), Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Directed by Ben Moses (creator and co-producer of "Good Morning, Vietnam") and narrated by Alfred Molina. Formats: DVD, $19.99. (Virgil Films).
Women in Love (2011) Rosamund Pike, Rachael Stirling, Rory Kinnear. Adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's shocking novel "The Rainbow" -- banned in the U.K. for 11 years -- and its sequel, "Women in Love." Combining elements of both novels, this telefilm focuses on the lives of two sisters, Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen, as they struggle with their desires for two friends, Rupert Birkin and Gerald Crich. Formats: DVD. (BBC Home Entertainment).
WWII Diaries: Volume 1 Sept. 1939-June 1942 Nine-disc set highlights the details and daily headlines of September 1939 through June 1942 showcasing the beginning conflicts between the Axis and the Allies. Includes bonus documentaries from the "Why We Fight" propaganda series used to garner support from soldiers and the public: "Prelude to War" (won an Oscar for Best Documentary) and "The Nazis Strike." Formats: DVD$29.98. (Mill Creek Entertainment).

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April 23

Angel: The Seventh Season (2012) Seven-disc set with all 25 episodes of the critically acclaimed series that brought a message of hope and faith to millions of viewers with the inspirational adventures of angels Monica (Roma Downey), Tess (Della Reese) and Andrew (John Dye). Formats: DVD, $61.99. (CBS/Paramount).
Any Day Now (2012) Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt, Isaac Leyva. Inspired by a remarkable true story, this passionate film chronicles a gay couple who take in a teenage boy with Down Syndrome -- abandoned by his drug-addicted mother -- only to then wage a battle against a biased legal system that wishes to end the unconventional living arrangement and tear the teenager from the only stable environment he has ever known. Inspired by a true story from the 1970s. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital Download. (Music Box Films).
Assassins Run (2012) Christian Slater, Sofya Skya, Cole Hauser, Angus Macfadyen. A Russian ballerina who refuses to turn over her American businessman husband's financial documents after he is murdered, is framed by corrupt cops and pursued by the Russian mob. When her daughter is kidnapped, she finally turns into a killing machine. Formats: DVD. (Lionsgate).
Car's Life 3: The Royal Heist (2013) Voices of Corinne Orr, Sean Schemmel. Sparky the high-spirited sports car gets involved in a turbocharged whodunit adventure when Queen Limousine's jewels go missing. Features lessons about teamwork, cooperation and honesty. Formats: DVD, $12.98. (Entertainment One).
The Central Park Five (2013) This new film from award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns tells the story of the five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman in New York City's Central Park in 1989. Directed and produced by Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns, the film chronicles the Central Park Jogger case, for the first time from the perspective of the five teenagers whose lives were upended by this miscarriage of justice. On April 20, 1989, the body of a woman barely clinging to life was discovered in Central Park. Within days, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise confessed to her rape and beating after many hours of aggressive interrogation at the hands of seasoned homicide detectives. The police announced to a press hungry for sensational crime stories that the young men had been part of a gang of teenagers who were out "wilding," assaulting joggers and bicyclists in Central Park that evening. The ensuing media frenzy was met with a public outcry for justice. The young men were tried as adults and convicted of rape, despite inconsistent and inaccurate confessions, DNA evidence that excluded them, and no eyewitness accounts that connected any of them to the victim. The five served their complete sentences, between 6 and 13 years, before another man, serial rapist Matias Reyes, admitted to the crime, and DNA testing supported his confession. Set against the backdrop of a city beset by violence and facing deepening rifts between races and classes, the documentary intertwines the stories of these five young men, the victim, police officers and prosecutors, and Matias Reyes, unraveling the forces behind the wrongful convictions. The film illuminates how law enforcement, social institutions and media undermined the very rights of the individuals they were designed to safeguard and protect. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. (PBS Distribution).
Cheech and Chong's Animated Movie (2012) Animated film based on Cheech and Chong's classic Grammy award winning albums. Includes the original Ode recordings of "Dave's Not Here," "Let's Make a Dope Deal" and more. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Joint commentary featuring Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong; commentary featuring producers Branden Chambers, Eric D. Chambers and Lou Adler; commentary featuring Tommy Chong and Paris Chong; Low Maintenance Listening Mode; "Medical Marijuana Blues" Blind Mellon's recording session; Cheech and Chong gallery. (Fox).
Cold Prey II (2008 -- Norway) Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik, Kim Wifladt, Fridtjov Saheim, Johanna Morck, Mats Eldoen. During the winter of 2006, four young people faced a brutal death in the Norwegian mountains of Jotunheimen. Only one woman survived: Frozen and weak, Jannicke is brought to the local hospital, along with the body of the vicious mountain man whom she'd killed. But when she wakes up in the hospital, the building is dark and deserted ... and she soon realizes that her nightmare is not yet over. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti: Episodes 15-16, 17-18 (2008-09 -- Germany) Murder, Venice, relationships ... it's a delicious concoction in the hands of crime novelist Donna Leon. Venice provides the backdrop for the lush film versions of the bestselling novels, about the singular Commissario Guido Brunetti, which feature canal boat rides instead of car chases, fine cuisine and crime investigations in one of Europe's most beautiful locations. Uwe Kockisch stars as Brunetti, a police inspector with a keen mind, razor-sharp wit, and a touch of melancholy who strives to bring criminals to justice. Brunetti's experience has taught him that countless things work against this goal -- human frailty, corruption, and police incompetence being chief among them. Each DVD includes two episodes: Episode 15: "Through A Glass Darkly," Episode 16: "Suffer the Little Children," $29.95; Episode 17: "Looks Are Deceiving," Episode 18: "The Girl Of His Dreams," $29.95. Formats: DVD. (MHz Networks).
Electric Button (Moon & Cherry) (2004 -- Japan) Tasuku Nagaoka, Akira Emoto, Yoshikazu Ebisu, Noriko Eguchi. Artsy erotic comedy/drama part of 2010's Japan Cuts section "Best of Unreleased Naughties." Mayama, the star of her erotica writing club, has a bad case of writer's block, so when Tadokoro joins the group and Mayama learns that he's a virgin, she decides that introducing him to a variety of sexual indulgences might just be the inspiration she needs. Formats: DVD. (MVD Entertainment).
Family Weekend (2013) Kristin Chenoweth, Olesya Rulin, Matthew Modine, Joey King, Chloe Bridges. A 16-year-old girl takes her parents hostage after they miss her big jump-roping competition. Formats: DVD. (ARC Entertainment).
Gangster Squad (2013) Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Robert Patrick, Mireille Enos. Read more about "Gangster Squad" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Tough Guys With Style." Blu-ray adds commentary with director Ruben Fleischer, "The Gangland Files" (a series of behind-the-scenes featurettes on the real-life Gangster Squad, Mickey Cohen, the sets, the costumes, the characters and more); "Rogues Gallery: Mickey Cohen" (docu TV series episode on Mickey Cohen); Los Angeles Then and Now featurette; deleted scenes. (Warner).
God's Country (2012) Jenn Gotzon, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Gib Gerard, Michael Toland. Beautiful and ambitious investment banker Meghan Doherty travels to the Mojave Desert to get the land rights for God's Country, an isolated Christian retreat in foreclosure, but the faithful minister who owns the property refuses to consider her offer until she agrees to spend six days learning about his ministry. Meghan trades her stilettos for hiking boots and slowly comes to realize the value of what the rural camp has to offer. Formats: DVD, Digital. (Slingshot Pictures/Image Entertainment).
Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2012) From renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog ("Grizzly Man," "Cave of Forgotten Dreams") and Dmitry Vasyukov comes another journey to the far ends of the world, a place where a remote culture thrives in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Welcome to the tiny village of Bakhta in Siberia, one of the most beautiful yet severe places on the planet, where the culture of some 300 indigenous inhabitants is virtually untouched by modernity and the people live according to their own values and traditions. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Werner Herzog introduction, "Chasing Spring In West Siberia" documentary, Siberia fact sheet. (Music Box Films).
A Haunted House (2013) Marlon Wayans, Marlene Forte, Essence Atkins, David Koechner, Dave Sheridan, Nick Swardson. Read more about "A Haunted House" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: "How to Survive a Paranormal Presence." (Universal).
The Impossible (2012) Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast, Geraldine Chaplin, Marta Etura, Dominic Power, Bruce Blain, Sonke Mohring, Teo Quintavalle, Ploy Jindachote. Read more about "The Impossible" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Commentary with director J.A. Bayona, writer Sergio G. Sanchez and producers Belen Atienza and Maria Belon; "Casting The Impossible" featurette; "Realizing The Impossible" featurette; deleted scenes. (Summit/Lionsgate).
Inhumans photo (2013) Panel-by-panel graphic storytelling based on the characters created by comics legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The Inhumans have always been one of Marvel’s most enduring oddities. A race of genetic outsiders, they live secluded in their island kingdom of Attilan, preferring not to mix with the outside world. Even stranger, their genetic mutations are self-endowed; each Inhuman, as a coming-of-age ritual, endures exposure to the Terrigen Mists, a strange substance that imparts unearthly powers — some extraordinary, some monstrous. But now the kingdom of Attilan is under attack from without and within. Can the Royal Family, led by Black Bolt, repel the foreign invaders who blast at their outer defense, as well as the internal threat of Black Bolt’s insane brother, Maximus the Mad? Formats: DVD, $14.97. Extras: "A Look Back at the Inhumans" with Eisner Award-winning writer Paul Jenkins, Marvel chief creative officer Joe Quesada and supervising producer Kalia Cheng. (Shout! Factory).
It's in the Blood (2012) Sean Elliot, Lance Henriksen. When a father and son become stranded in the wild, they must confront the horrors of their past to escape with their lives. But this wilderness is not what it seems and as they deteriorate, so too does reality. Horrifying creatures, ghostly apparitions -- are they all in their heads ... or could the truth be far more terrible? Formats: DVD. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
Jurassic Park 3D BLU-RAY photo (1993) Dir.: Steven Spielberg; Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's influential film (one of the first to shamelessly merge CGI with actors), the blockbuster has been remastered with advanced 3D formatting that presents the award-winning special effects in a fashion that was unimaginable when the film was first released. In a Blu-ray combo pack with 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet, $49.98. Extras: "The World of Jurassic park 3D" exclusive featurette with Spielberg providing an in-depth look at the 3D conversion. (Universal).
Last Shop Standing: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of the Independent Record Shop (2012) Inspired by the book of the same name by Graham Jones, this documentary takes you behind the counter to discover why nearly 2000 record shops have disappeared across the U.K. The film charts the rapid rise of record shops in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the influence of the record chart, the underhanded deals, the demise of vinyl and rise of the CD, as well as new technologies. It also offers a tantalizing look into the future: who's succeeding and what's the passion driving those individual's who intend to sell records long after the supermarkets have given up and the last chain store has closed. Formats: DVD, $19.95. (MVD Entertainment).
Last Summer Won't Happen (1968) A critical, but sympathetic examination of the anti-war movement in New York City, shot in 1968, one year after the Summer of Love. The film traces the development of a group of activists on the Lower East Side as they grow from isolated, alienated individuals to a politically empowered community. Features Abbie Hoffman, Phil Ochs, Paul Krassner and other counterculture luminaries. Directed by Peter Gessner and Tom Hurwitz. As a bonus feature, the disc also includes "Time of the Locust," Gessner's landmark anti-Vietnam War film, culled from news footage deemed too graphic for the major networks. Formats: DVD, VOD. Extras: Behind the scenes photo gallery, biographies of the film's participants. (Icarus Films Home Video).
Looney Tunes Super Stars Sylvester and Hippety Hopper (2013) From the moment they teamed up, the endlessly-persistent Sylvester J. Pussycat, Sr. and the hyperactive young kangaroo Hippety Hopper would go on to became one of Warner Bros. most reliably hilarious animated duos. Now, together for the first time on DVD, it's the best of the failure-prone feline and spring-loaded little marsupial in 18 classic cartoons re-mastered to all their Golden-Age-of-Animation glory. Formats: DVD, $19.98. (Warner).
Maverick: The Complete Second Season maverick (1958-59) Six-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.98. This was one of our favorite TV series from the 1950s -- mainly cause of the romance and mystique of the Wild West and the series' two charming leads, James Garner and Jack Kelly. Wisecracking ladies' man Bret Maverick (Garner) and his more serious brother Bart ( Kelly) were two handsome bachelors on the loose in the West, traveling with a sense of humor and a knack for getting into trouble -- usually over gambling and women. The two had more success at the game of poker than the game of love, yet they kept trying their luck in one frontier outpost after another. The show -- and its main characters -- offered a more comedic look at the West than any TV Western before. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Masterpiece: Mr. Selfridge (2013) Jeremy Piven, Zoe Tapper, Frances O'Connor, Gregory Fitoussi, Aisling Loftus. PBS/Masterpiece miniseries that centers on the real-life story of the flamboyant and visionary American founder of Selfridge's, London's department store. Fancy window displays, cosmetics counters, merchandise you can touch, and other marketing breakthroughs had to start somewhere, and they sprang from the genius of Chicago native Selfridge, who combined guile, taste, boldness, the poise of a swindler, and the seductive charm of a Casanova -- qualities that spelled success but also trouble. Formats: Three-disc DVD, $49.99; Blu-ray, $54.99. (PBS Distribution).
Pawn (2013) Forest Whitaker, Michael Chiklis, Common, Stephen Lang, Nikki Reed, Sean Faris, Martin Csokas, Jessica Szohr, Ray Liotta. A petty robbery spirals into a tense hostage situation after three gunmen hold up a diner that's a front for the mob. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Anchor Bay).
Pierre Etaix A French comedy master whose films went unseen for decades as a result of legal tangles, director-actor Pierre Etaix is a treasure the cinematic world has rediscovered and taken up with relish. His work can be placed in the spectrum of classic physical comedy with that of Jacques Tati and Jerry Lewis, but it also stands alone. These films, influenced by Etaix's experiences as a circus acrobat and clown and by the silent film comedies he adored, are elegantly deadpan, but as an on-screen presence, Etaix radiates warmth. This collection includes all of his films, including five features, "The Suitor" (1962), "Yoyo" (1965)," As Long as You've Got Your Health" (1966), "Le grand amour" (1969), and "Land of Milk and Honey" (1971 -- )­most of them collaborations with the great screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere -- ­and three shorts, "Rupture" (1961), the Oscar-winning "Happy Anniversary" (1962), and "Feeling Good" (1966). New digital restorations of all five features and three short films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: Three-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-ray. Extras: New interview with director Pierre Etaix; new video introductions by Etaix; "Pierre Etaix, un destin anime" (2010), a portrait of the life and work of the director by his wife, Odile Etaix; booklet featuring an essay by critic David Cairns. (The Criterion Collection).
Promised Land (2012) Dir.: Gus Van Sant; Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Rosemarie DeWitt, Hal Holbrook, Lucas Black. Read more about "Promised Land" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Extended scenes, "The Making of Promised Land." (Universal).
Richard III (1955) With "Richard III," director, producer, and star Laurence Olivier brings Shakespeare's masterpiece of Machiavellian villainy to mesmerizing cinematic life. Olivier is diabolically captivating as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who, through a set of murderous machinations, steals the crown from his brother Edward. The supporting cast -- ­including Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud and Claire Bloom -- ­is just as impressive. Filmed in VistaVision and Technicolor. New high-definition digital master of the Film Foundation's 2012 restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary by playwright and stage director Russell Lees and John Wilders, former governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company; interview with actor Laurence Olivier from a 1966 episode of the BBC series "Great Acting," hosted by theater critic Kenneth Tynan; gallery of behind-the-scenes and production stills and posters, accompanied by excerpts from Olivier's autobiography, "On Acting"; 12-minute television trailer featuring footage of Olivier, producer Alexander Korda, and other cast and crew from the film; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin. (The Criterion Collection).
Thale (2012 -- Norway) Morten Andresen, Erlend Nervold, Jon Sigve Skard, Silje Reinamo. Two crime-scene cleaners discover a mythical, tailed female creature in a concealed cellar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Xlrator Media).
Wasted on the Young (2010 -- Australia) Alex Russell, Adelaide Clemens, Oliver Ackland. When a high school party goes dangerously off the rails, one teenager finds that revenge is just a computer click away. Formats: DVD. (Indomina Releasing).
Wuthering Heights (2011 -- U.K.) Kaya Scodelario, James Howson, Solomon Glave, Shannon Beer. A fresh and distinct take on the classic novel by Emily Bronte. In this version Heathcliff is a poor boy of unknown origins, rescued from poverty and taken in by the Earnshaw family where he develops an intense relationship with his foster sister, Cathy, and the envy and mistrust of his rough-hewn stepbrother. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Video essay with film critic David Fear. (Oscilloscope Pictures).

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April 30

Ben Hur (2010) Joseph Morgan, Stephen Campbell Moore, Emily VanCamp, Kristin Kreuk. Three-hour UK-German-Spanish-Canadian miniseries. Formats: DVD. Extras: "The Making of Ben Hur" featurette. (Sony).
Broken City (2013) Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper. Read more about "Broken City" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital. Extras: Alternate ending, deleted/extended scenes, "Putting It All Together" behind-the-scenes featurette including cast profiles, "Anatomy of a Thriller," a "Black List" script and more. (Fox).
Bruce Lee Double Features "The Big Boss" (1971), in which Lee battles a Big Boss smuggling heroin in ice blocks and "Fist of Fury" (1972), in which Lee avenges the death of his mentor at the hands of the local Japanese martial arts school; $14.97. "Way of the Dragon" (1972), in which Lee travels to Rome to help his friend fend off gangsters, leading to an incredible martial arts showdown against Chuck Norris in the Colosseum, written and directed by Lee; and "Game of Death" (1978), Lee's last film, in which he battles a syndicate harassing young entertainers; $14.97. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene (2013) Documentary portrait of the British author who wrote such critically acclaimed best-sellers as "The Quiet American," "The End of the Affair," "Brighton Rock" and "The Third Man," all adapted for film, TV and theater. Greene's 50 books spanned seven decades and sold tens of millions of copies. The story of his life reveals an extraordinary man who traveled the globe to escape the boredom of ordinary existence: As a journalist for 60 years, Greene covered the most dangerous events of the past century: Kenya's Mau Mau Rebellion, the Vietnam War, Haiti's "nightmare republic," the rise of Castro, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Narrated by Derek Jacobi with Bill Nighy as the voice of Greene. Formats: DVD, $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
The Details (2012) Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney, Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert, Kerry Washington. After 10 years of marriage, Jeff and Nealy Lang (Maguire and Banks) have an idyllic suburban home and a relationship on the skids but when a family of hungry raccoons ransacks their perfectly manicured backyard, Jeff becomes obsessed with eradicating the pests, leading to a battle of wits with a very meddlesome neighbor (Linney) and an absurd mess of infidelity, extortion, organ donation and other assorted mayhem. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Alternate beginning, alternate ending. (Anchor Bay Entertainment/Radius-Twc).
Empire of Silver (2009 -- China) Aaron Kwok, Tie Lin Zhang, Hao Lei, Jennifer Tilly. A story of greed, deception, love, idealism, jealousy, succession, money, and, of course, power, set in China in 1899, in which a carefree young man must prepare to take over his family's Chinese banking empire, reluctantly submitting to pressure from his father -- all the while hiding his undying love for his beautiful young stepmother. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (NeoClassics Home Entertainment).
Friends: The Complete First Season BLU-RAY DEBUT (1994-95) Two-disc set with 24 episodes, $25.98. Includes UltraViolet copy. Extras: Pilot episode producers commentary, "Remember Friends of Friends" via clips of memorable guest stars, Season Two trailer. (Warner).
Friends: The Complete Second Season BLU-RAY DEBUT (1995-96) Two-disc set with 24 episodes, $25.98. Includes UltraViolet copy. Extras: "Friends of Friends Guestbook," "Learn What's Up With Your Friends," uncut version of "Smelly Cat." (Warner).
Funny Girl BLU-RAY DEBUT (1968) Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis, Walter Pidgeon. Extras: Two vintage featurettes: "Barbra in Movieland" and "This Is Streisand." (Sony).
G-Dog (2012) The inspiring story of Jesuit priest Father Greg Boyle, who has spent 25 years in the toughest part of East L.A. offering "jobs not jail" to tough former gang members. G-Dog's Homeboy Industries is now the most successful gang intervention program in the U.S. and a global model for social reform. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. (New Video/Cinedigm).
The Guilt Trip (2012) Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Yvonne Strahovski, Colin Hanks, Adam Scott, Kathy Najimy, Casey Wilson, Danny Pudi, Brett Cullen, Michael Cassidy, Dale Dickey, Nora Dunn. Read more about "The Guilt Trip" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Blu-ray Extras: "Barbra & Seth," "Barbra's World," "Guilt Trip: A Real Mother of a Road Trip," "In the Driver's Seat," "Not Really a Road Trip Movie," alternate openings, alternate ending, deleted scenes, gag reel.(Paramount).
If You Really Love Me (2012) Reagan Gomez, Mel Jackson, Caryn Ward, Eva Marcille, Keith Robinson, DeEtta West, Anthony Edwards. Three attractive, sophisticated sisters seem to have it all, but their faith in God, love and family is profoundly shaken when each of them is confronted with life-shattering challenges: Successful lawyer Fran is shocked to discover her equally successful husband has chosen to become a minister; Christine is obsessively planning her dream wedding, but a stunning infidelity threatens her happiness; and half-sister Tonia has a shameful secret of her own. Dove approved. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: (RLJ Entertainment/One Village Entertainment).
K-11 (2012) Goran Visnjic, Kate Del Castillo, DB Sweeney, Jason Mewes, Portia Doubleday, Tommy "Tiny" Lister. After binging on drink and drugs, a record producer wakes up in a section of the Los Angeles County Jail reserved for LGBT inmates and firmly under the heel of Mousey, a malicious transgendered inmate. The man has no idea how he got there; all he knows is he needs to find a way out. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc,VOD. Extras: Commentary by director Jules Stewart and producer Tom Wright, deleted scenes, interviews with key cast and crew, a behind-the-scenes featurette, the "My Liberty" music video by cast member Billy Morrison, photo gallery. (Breaking Glass Pictures).
Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters (2012) Five animated episodes. Recruited by the mysterious Duel Masters, young Ray --­ joined by his best friends Gabe and Allie --­ must use the powerful art of Kaijudo to defend his home dimension from the sinister mastermind known as the Choten, whose own skills in "The Way Of the Creature" allow him to summon vicious beasts from a parallel dimension to wreak havoc across Earth. Formats: DVD. (Shout! Factory).
The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Complete Collection BBC adaptations of the Dorothy L. Sayers crime thrillers about the ever aristocratic and always urbane Lord Peter Wimsey. Five mysteries: "Clouds of Witness," "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club," "Murder Must Advertise," "Five Red Herrings" and "The Nine Tailors." Formats: DVD, $59.99. Extras: Interviews with Ian Carmichael, production notes, biographies of Dorothy L. Sayers and Ian Carmichael. (Acorn Media).
Manborg (2011) Matthew Kennedy, Conor Sweeney, Meredith Sweeney, Kyle Herbert, Adam Brooks. A soldier, brought back to life as a cyborg, fights alongside a band of adventurers against demon hordes in a dystopian future. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary with director Steven Kostanski; commentary with Kostanski, actor-writer Jeremy Gillespie and executive producer Peter Kuplowsky; deleted and alternate scenes; bloopers; behind the scenes; stop motion montage; VFX montage; short film; premiere Q&A; interviews. (Dark Sky).
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic -- Princess Twilight Sparkle (2013) Includes five episodes from "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic," focusing on Twilight's adventures and the grand coronation event from Season 3. Since arriving in Ponyville, Twilight has learned the meaning of true friendship and after completing an important challenge, she's earned her princess wings and has all new adventures and responsibilities as a princess. The five episodes: "Games Ponies Play," "Magical Mystery Cure," "MMMystery of the Friendship Express," "Magic Duel" and "Lesson Zero." Formats: DVD, $14.97. Extras: Sing-along, coloring sheet. (Hasbro/Shout! Factory Kids).
Nickelodeon Favorites: Once Upon a Rhyme (2013) Preschoolers' favorite characters from "Bubble Guppies," "Team Umizoomi," "Dora the Explorer," "The Fresh Beat Band," "The Wonder Pets!" and "Blue's Clues" star in the all-new two-hour DVD of recast nursery rhymes and fairy tales ("The Three Little Piggies," "Save the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon," "Little Red Riding Blue"). Formats: DVD, $14.99. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection (2012) Sabrina Dickens, Sarah Louise Madison, Richard Goss, Sule Rimi. Set in 2012 but based on the original. The deceased have risen again from their graves with only one instinct -- to feed on the living. As the cities are overrun and civilization crumbles, a family takes refuge from the undead army in an isolated farmhouse in West Wales. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Commentary. (Lionsgate).
Not Fade Away (2012) Dir.: David Chase; John Magaro, Jack Huston, Will Brill, Bella Heathcote, Dominique McElligott, Brahm Vaccarella, Brad Garrett, Christopher McDonald, James Gandolfini. Read more about "Not Fade Away" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Building the Band," "The Basement Tapes" three-part behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes. (Paramount).
photo The Notebook Collector’s Gift Set (2004) Dir.: Nick Cassavetes; Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams,James Garner, Gena Rowlands, James Marsden, Kevin Connolly, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo with Digital and UltraViolet (cloud); $49.99. Extras: Gift set comes with a collectible antique golden locket (a consumer value of $12.99), postcard set with scenes from the film, vintage leather-style blank journal with gold edging and ribbon marker with pages designed with watermarked letters and images from the film. (Warner).
NOVA: Earth From Space (2013) This ground breaking two-hour program reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet, taking data from Earth-observing satellites and transforming it into dazzling visual sequences. Each sequence exposes the intricate and surprising web of forces that sustains life on Earth. See how dust blown from the Sahara fertilizes the Amazon; how a vast submarine waterfall off Antarctica helps drive ocean currents around the world; and how the sun's heating up of the southern Atlantic gives birth to a colossally powerful hurricane. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (PBS Distribution).
Nurses: If Florence Could See Us Now (2012) Documentary offers a rare look into the complex, exciting and challenging world of being a nurse. It explores what it means to be a nurse, the many different roles that nurses play, from the bedside to the board room, and the realities of nursing -- its joys and sorrows and the many ways that nurses impact the lives of others. Formats: DVD, $24.95. Extras: Extended interviews. (First Run Features).
Only the Young/Tchoupitoulas (2012) Two-disc set. "Only the Young" follows three teenagers living in a small desert town in Southern California, a town dominated by foreclosed homes and underpasses, empty swimming pools and skate parks. The innocent yet rebellious kids must find things to do in a place that offers nothing, yet in the course of observing their day-to-day lives, the film shows them navigating friendship, first love and heartbreak. "Tchoupitoulas" is a lyrical documentary that follows three adolescent brothers as they journey through one night in New Orleans, encountering a vibrant kaleidoscope of dancers, musicians, hustlers, and revelers parading through the lamplit streets. Formats: DVD. Extras: "Only the Young": Commentary with directors Jason Tippet and Elizabeth Mims and film journalist Eric Hynes; outtakes; "Thompson," a short film directed by Tippet. "Tchoupitoulas": Behind-the-scenes featurette with the Ross brothers, the film's directors. (Oscilloscope Laboratories).
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982 -- TV) Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen. Adaptation of the swashbuckling tale about the dashing young Englishman who masks his identity to save French aristocrats during the chaotic days of the French Revolution. Formats: DVD, $29.99. (Acorn Media).
Shelter Me (2012) Every year, 3 million to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in America's animal shelters. But this sad fate is being reduced through the heroic efforts of various groups to train abandoned animals to help people with a variety of needs. Their stories are told in this hit PBS two-part documentary. Hosted by Katherine Heigl and sponsored by Ellen DeGeneres' company Halo, Purely for Pets, the film celebrates the human-animal bond with positive stories about shelter pets and their new homes. Formats: DVD, $14.99. (Virgil Films).
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Dir.: David O. Russell; Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Taylor Schilling, Julia Stiles, Anupam Kher. Read more about "Silver Linings Playbook" in the April Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: Deleted scenes, "Silver Linings Playbook: The Movie That Became a Movement," Q&A highlights, dance rehearsal, "Learn to Dance Like Pat & Tiffany," "Going Steadicam With Bradley Cooper." (The Weinstein Co.).
Star Trek: The Next Generation -- The Third Season BLU-RAY DEBUT (1989-90) Six-disc set with 26 episodes, $130.00. Extras: "Inside the Writer's Room" discussion on the creation of the show's acclaimed third season by some of today's most visionary science fiction television writers, moderated by Seth MacFarlane; new multi-part documentary, "Resistance Is Futile -- Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation"; gag reel; commentary on select episodes. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Star Trek: The Next Generation -- The Best of Both Worlds BLU-RAY DEBUT (1990) Seamlessly edited, one-part, feature length presentation of the classic two-part cliffhanger. Extras: "Regeneration: Engaging the Borg" in-depth exploration into the creation of The Next Generation's most iconic villains, gag reel, commentary. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Strictly Ballroom BLU-RAY DEBUT (1992) Dir.: Baz Luhrmann; Gia Carides, Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter. Extras: "Strictly Ballroom: From Stage to Screen" featurette, "Samba to Slow Fox Dance" featurette, deleted scene, design gallery with narration, commentary with director Baz Luhrmann, production designer Catherine Martin and choreographer John "Cha Cha" O'Connell. (Lionsgate).
The Syndicate, Series 1 (2012) Two-disc set with five episodes of the BBC series that follows five cash-strapped supermarket employees bracing for their store's imminent shutdown as their lottery pool wins big. As the unlikely millionaires walk the tightrope between ruin and reward, the narrative follows each character in turn. Formats: DVD, $39.99. (Acorn Media).
Tom and Jerry Kids Show: The Complete Season 1 (1990) Two-disc set with 13 episodes, $19.97. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
The Vampire Lovers BLU-RAY DEBUT (1970) Ingrid Pitt, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Peter Cushing. A female vampire with lesbian tendencies ravages the young girls and townsfolk of a peaceful hamlet in 18th century Europe. An erotic Hammer Films chiller. Extras: Commentary with director Roy Ward Baker, writer Tudor Gates and star Ingrid Pitt; excerpts from the novella "Carmilla" that inspired the film, read by Pitt; original theatrical trailer; new interview with actress Madeline Smith (Emma); new interviews with Hammer Films scholars; original radio spot. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
Vito (2011) Documentary on Vito Russo, an early Gay Rights activist who wrote the seminal book "The Celluloid Closet," which explored the ways in which gays and lesbians were portrayed on film, what lessons those characters taught gay and straight audiences, and how those negative images were at the root of society's homophobia. Formats: DVD, $27.95. Extras: Commentary, interviews. (First Run Features).
Wagner & Me (2010) Can we (and should we) salvage Richard Wagner's spectacular music from its embrace by Adolf Hitler? English actor and raconteur Stephen Fry attempts to answer this question while exploring his own passion for history's most controversial composer. With the witty and charming Fry as our guide, this surprising film is a provocative yet enjoyable look at Wagner's life -- and his "stained" legacy. Formats: DVD, $27.95. (First Run Features).
Walk Away Renee (2011) Jonathan Caouette documentary about his cross-country road trip with his mentally ill mother. Caouette embarks on a road trip to move his mother Renee from Texas to New York, a journey that both tightens and tests their familial bond. As they tackle the numerous roadblocks along their way (chiefly the loss of Renee's mood-stabilizing medications), we get glimpses into moments from their past, lending insight into their anything-but-ordinary mother/son relationship. While Renee fights to maintain a grip on reality, Jonathan is faced with impossible decisions that pit sanity against mortality, familial devotion and personal survival. Through candid home movies, split-screen verite musical montage, hallucinatory psychedelia and dramas both actual and imagined, "Walk Away Renee" raises questions about love, sacrifice and the slippery instability of consciousness. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).
The Wicked (2013) Devon Werkheiser, Justin Deeley, Nicole Forester, Cassie Keller. A group of curious teenagers decide to seek out their town's local legend and go on the hunt for a child-eating witch, not realizing they could be her next meal. Formats: DVD. Extras: "No Soul Is Safe: The Making of The Wicked." (RLJ Entertainment/Image Entertainment).
Young & Wild (2012 -- Chile) Alicia Rodriguez, Maria Gracia Omegna, Felipe Pinto. Seventeen-year-old Daniela is obsessed with sex but her self-proclaimed passion is in direct conflict with her well-to-do, strict evangelical family in Santiago, Chile. Finding an outlet by explicitly detailing her erotic ruminations and exploits on her blog "Young and Wild" to her eager online followers, Daniela soon finds kindred spirits -- but also learns that having it all -- sex, love and eternal salvation -- is more complicated than she ever imagined. Formats: DVD. (IFC Films).

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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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April 5, 2013
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