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More News: January -- June 2006

Coming Soon:
Due July 25 is noirish L.A. melodrama "Ask the Dust," directed by Robert Towne and starring Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek and Donald Sutherland, from Paramount ... Broad farce "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector" is due August 8 from Paramount ... Robin Williams' latest comedy, "RV," directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and co-starring Jeff Daniels, Cheryl Hines, Joanna "Jojo" Levesque and Kristin Chenoweth, drives home August 15 from Sony ... On August 22 Warner will release the horror thriller "Silent Hill," starring Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger, Kim Coates, Tanya Allen and Alice Krige ... Due August 29 is comedy "Friends With Money," with a strong cast headed up by Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Greg Germann, Simon McBurney, Jason Isaacs and Scott Caan, from Sony ... "Kinky Boots" is a wacky English comedy starring Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sarah-Jane Potts, due from Miramax on September 5 ... "Stick It," a teen comedy about gymnasts, starring Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, Nikki SooHoo and Maddy Curley, swings home September 19 from Buena Vista ... and video game horror thriller "Stay Alive," starring Jon Foster, Samaire Armstrong and Frankie Muniz, scares its way home from Buena Vista, also on September 19. (Posted June 27)

DVD Collectibles:
"The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection" includes all 14 original Sherlock Holmes features starring Basil Rathbone as the legendary Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as the venerable Dr. John H. Watson. The films have been restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive in 35mm and were digitally remastered. The titles: "The Hound of the Baskervilles," "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror," "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon," "Sherlock Holmes in Washington," "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death," "Sherlock Holmes in the Spider Woman," "Sherlock Holmes the Scarlet Claw," "Sherlock Holmes in Pearl of Death," "Sherlock Holmes House of Fear," "Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green," "Sherlock Holmes Pursuit to Algiers," "Sherlock Holmes Terror by Night" and "Sherlock Holmes Dressed to Kill." The five-disc set sells for $129.98; from MPI Home Video. (Posted June 27)

From TV to Video:
"Columbo: The Complete Fifth Season" is a three-disc set, $29.98 from Universal ... "The Color Honeymooners Collection 1" is a three-disc set with nine digitally re-mastered and unedited episodes of the show, originally broadcast live from Miami Beach on Saturday nights in 1966; $39.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Commander-in-Chief: The Inaugural Edition, Part 1" is a two-disc set with the first 10 episodes, $29.99 from Buena Vista ... "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movies" features two Dr. Quinn telefilms: "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie" (1999) and "Dr. Quinn: The Heart Within" (2001); $19.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Family Affair Season 1" (1966) is a five-disc set with 30 episodes, $39.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Fear Factor: The First Season" is a two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.98 from Universal ... "JFK: Reckless Youth" is a 1993 telefilm starring Patrick Dempsey, Robin Tunney, Terry Kinney, Diana Scarwid, Loren Dean, Stan Cahill and Claire Forlani; $9.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Monk: Season Four" is a four-disc set with 16 episodes, $39.98 from Universal ... "Monk: The Obsessive Compulsive Collection (Seasons One -- Four)" is a 16-disc set, $119.95 from Universal ... "Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes" (2000) is a two-disc set with four episodes of the BBC series that stars Ian Richardson, Sean Wightman, Robin Laing, Dolly Wells and Charles Dance; $39.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Project Runway: The Complete Second Season" is a four-disc set with 13 extended episodes, $39.92 from Miramax ... "Puppets Who Kill: The Complete Second Season" features thirteen episodes, $19.95 from Eclectic DVD ... "Strangers With Candy Gift Set" (1999-2000) is a six-disc set, $62.99 from Paramount ... "Taggart: Cold Blood Set" and "Taggart: Root of Evil Set" are three-disc sets of all new episodes from the longest-running police detective drama on British television, $49.98 each from BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Limited ... "Vampire Wars: Battle for the Universe (aka Bloodsuckers)" is a 2005 telefilm starring Michael DeLuise, Joe Lando, Natassia Malthe and Dominic Zamprogna, from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. (Posted June 27)

For the Kids:
"Cow Belles" is a 2006 Disney Channel movie about two spoiled, rich sisters forced to work in the family business, starring Alyson Michalka and Amanda Michalka; $26.99 from Disney ... "Leroy & Stitch" (2006) is a direct-to-video feature-length animated sequel starring the original film's Stitch and his evil twin Leroy; $26.99 from Disney ... "Red Riding Hood" (2004) is a lavish musical retelling of the fairy tale starring Lainie Kazan, Joey Fatone, Henry Cavill, Debi Mazar and Daniel Roebuck; from Fox ... "Chicka Chicka 123 ... And More Stories About Counting" features three animated musical stories about numbers and counting, based on the award-winning book by Bill martin Jr. and Michael Sampson; for children ages 2 to 6; $14.95 from Scholastic Video ... Family film "Arizona Summer" (2003) follows two brothers and their adventures and high jinks at a cowboy summer camp (discovering girls, among other things), starring Morgan Fairchild, Greg Evigan, Gemini Barnett, Scott Clifton, Shane Van Dyke and Lee Majors; $19.95 from MTI Home Video. (Posted June 27)

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"The Hunt for Eagle One: Crash Point" (2005) is a direct-to-video sequel in which terrorists gain control over a U.S. military base and steal an encoder that gives them control over commercial airlines; stars Theresa Randle and Jeff Fahey; $24.96 from Sony ... In "Personal Sergeant" (2004), a young female soccer player discovers that her grizzled Korean vet grandfather is the coach her father isn't; stars Celine Marget, Victor Argo, Anthony Berry, Jon Budinoff and Michael Buscemi; $26.95 from Monarch Home Video ... "Sweet Insanity" (2006) is a horror thriller about a high school student who brings something evil with her to her new school, starring Mackenzie Firgens, Rebekah Isaacs, Rebekah Hoyle and David Fine; $24.95 from MTI Home Video ... "Ghost Game" (2004) is an "Evil Dead" clone about three couples at a weekend retreat in the mountains who stumble on an ancient game that shouldn't be played; stars Alexandra Barreto, Robert Berson and Curt Cornelius; from Image Entertainment ... "Spaced Out (aka Outer Touch)" (1979) stars Barry Stokes, Tony Maiden and Glory Annen in a comedy about three voluptuous female aliens who crash land in England and kidnap three hapless men; also from Image Entertainment. (Posted June 27)

Foreign:
In "Evil (aka Ondskan)" (2003 -- Swedish), young troublemaker Erik is sent to Stjarnsberg, a private boarding school that turns out to be home to malevolent fraternal traditions in which the word of the senior students is law; stars Andreas Wilson, Henrik Lundstrom, Gustaf Skarsgard; $26.98 from Magnolia Home Entertainment. (Posted June 27)

Special Interest:
This is the week of documentaries on DVD: The "Docurama Film Festival I" is an impressive 10-disc set of documentary films billed as a mini film festival; a dedicated docuramafilmfestival.com Web site has been set up for festival "attendees" to interact with the films and filmmakers via blogs, Q&A's, podcats and more. The films: "Aging Out," "Broken Rainbow," "Doing Time: Life in the Big House," "Full Frame 4," "Legac," "Sister Rose's Passion," "The Fire Next Time," "Omar Pete," "The Police Tapes" and "The Wobblies" are available for $26.95 each or as a complete set for $229.95 in an exclusive Platinum package containing an informative "Docurama Film Festival I" catalog ... Other documentaries available this week: "The Montreux Dream: The Story of the Montreux Jazz Festival" (2005) features some of the best moments and performances from the many years of the jazz fest, featuring Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Buster Williams, George Duke & Gershwin, Beverley Knight, Charles Lloyd, Michael Stipe, Ahmet Ertegun and Claude Nobs; $19.99 from Kultur ... "Margot" (2006) profiles the famous ballerina; $29.98 from Kultur ... "10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America" (2006) is a four-disc set with 10 one-hour documentaries from the History Channel series, $39.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Hoover Dam" is an American Experience documentary on the creation of the mighty, 700-foot dam; $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Fly Girls" (1999) is an American Experience documentary on female pilots during WWII; $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "The Salzburg Festival: A Brief History" is a three-hour documentary that presents classic footage of performances spanning eight decades of the classical music festival, plus interviews with the most influential musicians of today including Placido Domingo, Valery Gergiev, Lang Lang, Anna Netrebko, Riccardo Muti and Simon Rattle; $29.98 from Kultur.

On the lighter side this week is "Damon Wayans: Still Standing" (2006), an HBO stand-up comedy special, $19.98 from Fox ... The "Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road" (2006)is the third and final installment of regular-guy comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and Ron White, recorded at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.; $24.99 from HBO Video. (Posted June 27)

Coming Soon:
Due August 22 is spooky horror thriller "Silent Hill," starring Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger, Kim Coates, Tanya Allen and Alice Krige, from Warner ... Fox will release on August 29 the spy thriller "The Sentinel," starring Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Kim Basinger, Blair Brown and David Rasche. (Posted June 20)

DVD Collectibles:
Clark Gable fans will appreciate the "Clark Gable Signature Collection," a wonderful six-disc set with the DVD debuts of "Boom Town," "China Seas", "Dancing Lady," "Mogambo," "San Francisco" and "Wife vs. Secretary"; $49.92 from Warner. Extras include featurettes and shorts ... Warner also will release this week five comedies that epitomize the 1960s: "A Fine Madness" (1966) starring Sean Connery, Joanne Woodward, Jean Seberg, Patrick O'Neal and Colleen Dewhurst, based on the novel by Elliott Baker; "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas" (1968),about a thirtysomething straight-laced man who falls for a hippie, starring Peter Sellers, Jo Van Fleet, Leigh Taylor-Young and Joyce Van Patten; "The Loved One" (1965), based on the satirical novel by Evelyn Waugh, directed by Tony Richardson and starring Robert Morse, Jonathan Winters, Rod Steiger, Anjanette Comer, Dana Andrews, Milton Berle, James Coburn, John Gielgud, Tab Hunter, Margaret Leighton, Liberace, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Barbara Nichols and Lionel Stander; "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" (1971), a mob spoof starring Jerry Orbach, Leigh Taylor-Young, Jo Van Fleet, Lionel Stander and Robert De Niro; and the quintessential 1960s flick, "Petula" (1968), directed by Richard Lester and starring Julie Christie, George C. Scott, Richard Chamberlain, Arthur Hill, Shirley Knight and Pippa Scott; $14.94 each ... From Fox comes "The Charlie Chan Collection Volume One," a gift set with four Warner Oland-starring Charlie Chan mysteries: "Charlie Chan in Egypt" (1935), "Charlie Chan in London" (1934), "Charlie Chan in Paris" (1935) and "Charlie Chan in Shanghai" (1935); $59.98. Extras include three featurettes: "The Real Charlie Chan," "The Legacy of Charlie Chan" and "In Search of Charlie Chan." (Posted June 20)

From TV to Video:
Due this week: "Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third & Fourth Seasons" (1955-56), a five-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.98 from Warner... "The King of Queens: The Complete Fifth Season," a three-disc set with 25 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Lois & Clark -- The New Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98 from Warner ... "Married ... With Children: The Complete Fifth Season," a three-disc set with 25 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season Four," a three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "NewsRadio: The Complete Fourth Season," a three-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Superboy: The Complete First Season," a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.98 from Warner. (Posted June 20)

For the Kids:
"Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure" (2001) is a well-done sequel to the 1955 animated classic, featuring the voices of Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano, Chazz Palminteri, Jeff Bennett, Jodi Benson, Bill Fagerbakke, Mickey Rooney, Bronson Pinchot and Cathy Moriarty; $29.99; this edition features commentary by the filmmakers, Disney song selection sing-alongs, "Junkyard Games," a "Hide & Seek Game," "The Making of Lady & the Tramp II: From Tramp to Scamp," and three classic Disney bonus shorts; from Disney ... "What's New Scooby-Doo? Vol. 9: Route Scary Six" includes four episodes themed around road trips: "Fright House of a Lighthouse," "Go West Young Scoob," "Demon Farmer: Farmed and Dangerous" and "Gentlemen Start Your Monsters"; $12.95 from Warner ... Continuing the "Month of Superman" theme (see TV-to-Video Superman releases above)-- coinciding with the June 28 theatrical release of "Superman Returns" -- Warner will release for kids "Krypto the Superdog Volume 1: Cosmic Canine," a five-episode compilation, $14.97; "Superman: The Animated Series, Volume 3," a two-disc set with 18 episodes, $26.99; and "Superman: Brainiac Attacks" (2006), an original animated feature film; $19.98. (Posted June 20)

Special Interest:
"Blossoms of Fire" is a 2006 documentary on the women of the Juchitan, "Mexico's matriarchy," whose beauty and strength have inspired legends and songs for centuries, as well as recent tabloid stories about male harems and free love, The docu sets out to separate fact from fiction; $29.95 from New Yorker Video ... "Austin City Limits Music Festival 2005" (2005)is a two-disc set with performances by Jet, The Allman Brothers Band, The Bravery, Thievery Corporation, The Black Keys, Kasabian, Bloc Party, The Frames, Kaiser Chiefs, Blues Traveler, Ambulance LTD, Eisley, The Decemberists, Jason Mraz, Mike Doughty, Aqualung, Keane, Rachael Yamagata, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle and the Dukes, Gov't Mule, John Prine, Widespread Panic and the John Butler Trio; $24.99 from Image Entertainment. (Posted June 20)

Coming Soon:
Due August 8 is Wim Wenders' "Don't Come Knocking," starring Sam Shepard as a down-on-his luck Western star who walks off his last film in search of his past, co-starring Jessica Lange, Tim Roth, Gabriel Mann, Sarah Polley, Fairuza Balk and Eva Marie Saint, from Sony ... Comedy "Phat Girlz<," starring Mo'Nique as an up-and-coming fashion designer, arrives August 22 from Fox ... Hip-hop/ballet hybrid "Take the Lead," starring Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard, dances home August 29 from New Line ... On September 12 Disney will release the animated animal adventure "The Wild," featuring the voices of Kiefer Sutherland, James Belushi, Eddie Izzard, Janeane Garofalo, William Shatner, Patrick Warburton and Greg Cipes ... and, on September 26, brace yourself for "The Notorious Bettie Page," starring Gretchen Mol, Chris Bauer, Jared Harris, Sarah Paulson, Cara Seymour, David Strathairn and Lili Taylor in the bio of the 1950s pin-up and fetish queen, from HBO Video. (Posted June 13)

DVD Collectibles:
Due this week are the wonderful gams of "The Betty Grable Collection: Volume One," a four-disc set with four of Grable's starring films: "The Dolly Sisters," "Down Argentine Way," "Moon Over Miami" and "My Blue Heaven," $59.98 the set or $19.98 each, with such extras as commentaries, featurettes and photo galleries, from Fox ... The Criterion Collection will release for the first time as single discs "Monterey Pop" featuring the 1968 festival's groundbreaking performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & the Papas, The Who, Ravi Shankar, et al; and "Jimi Plays Monterey/Shake! Otis at Monterey" (1968), featuring the entire Monterey Pop Festival sets of these legendary musicians; $29.95 each ... Love those dolls: Fox will release the scandalously bad (and by now cult film status imbued) "Valley of the Dolls" films: The original and not-to-be-duplicated "Valley of the Dolls" (1967), starring Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Paul Burke, Sharon Tate, Tony Scotti, Martin Milner, Charles Drake and Lee Grant, with such extras as commentary by Parkins, "Gotta Get Off This Merry Go-Round: Sex Dolls and Showtimes" documentary, "The Divine Ms. Susann" featurette, "Hollywood Backstories" Valley of the Dolls" featurette, "Jacqueline Susann and Valley of the Dolls" documentary with rare footage, a "Pill Pop-Up Karaoke" follow-the-bouncing-ball sing-along on three songs, screen tests, more; and the not-a-sequel-but-cashing-in-on-the-name "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970), directed by the great exploitation mater Russ Meyer and starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John Lazar, Michael Blodgett, David Gurian and Edy Williams, with such extras as commentary by "Beyond" screenwriter Roger Ebert, "Above Beneath and Beyond the Valley: The Making of a Musical-Horror-Sex Comedy," "Look On Up at the Bottom: "The Music of the Dolls," "The Best of Beyond" featurette, "Sex, Drugs, Music & Murder: Signs of the Time, Baby!" featurette, and more... From Anchor Bay comes the modern horror-black comedy classic "Cemetery Man" (1994), directed by Michele Soavi and starring Rupert Everett as Francesco Dellamorte, the guardian of the cemetery of Buffalora, a little town in the north of Italy, in which corpses rise from tombs and Dellamorte has to "kill" them again. He doesn't ask why this happens, he just answers his front door with his gun and dispatches the zombies back to their graves. When his assistant falls in love with one of the undead, Dellamorte decides it's time to leave town. A wonderfully engrossing and fun outing. Extras include a "Death Is Beautiful" featurette including interviews with co-star Anna Falchi, director Michele Soavi and more, and an eight-page collectors' booklet ... And, last but not least there's the fabulous "The Princess Bride Collector's Edition" (1987), directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage, Robin Wright Penn, Peter Falk, Peter Cook, Mel Smith, Carol Kane and Billy Crystal, in a two-disc set available in two different collectible packages: the Buttercup Edition for the romantic and the Dread Pirate Edition for the swashbuckler. Extras include commentary by Reiner, commentary by author William Goldman, "Dread Pirate Roberts: Greatest Legend of the Seven Seas" historical analysis, "Love Is Like a Storybook Story" documentary, "Miraculous Make-up" featurette, "The Quotable Battle of Wits" trivia game, "As You Wish: The Story of The Princess Bride" documentary, Cary Elwes' home movies, original 1987 featurette, vintage making-of documentary, and an eight-page "Fezzik's Guide to Florin" collectible booket; from Sony. (Posted June 13)

From TV to Video:
"Beavis & Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection, Volume 2" is a three-disc set with 40 episodes, 17 of which were never released, $39.99 from Paramount ... "Cheers: The Complete Eighth Season" (1989-90) is a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $42.99 from Paramount ... "Coach: The First Season" is a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $34.98 from Universal ... "Dharma & Greg Season One" is a three-disc set with 23 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Frasier: The Complete Eighth Season" (2000-01) is a four-disc set with 22 episodes, $42.99 from Paramount ... "MacGyver: The Complete Sixth Season" (1990-91) is a six-disc set, $36.99 from Paramount ... "Medium: The Complete First Season" (2005) is a five-disc set, $62.99 from Paramount ... "Merlin's Apprentice" is a 2006 Hallmark sequel to "Merlin," starring Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson, John Reardon, from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... "Mother Teresa" is a 2003 TV biodrama starring Olivia Hussey, from Fox ... "Nature Unleashed: Avalanche" and "Nature Unleashed: Earthquake" are 2005 disaster telefilms from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... "The Rockford Files: Season 2" is a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $29.98 from Universal ... "Walker Texas Ranger: The Complete First Season" (1993-94) is a seven-disc set, $54.99 from Paramount. (Posted June 13)

For the Kids:
"Dora the Explorer: Animal Adventures" (2006) features four animated episodes from the popular Nick Jr. series, $16.99 from Paramount... "This Is America, Charlie Brown" (2006) is a two-disc set with the complete series (eight episodes) that has the Peanuts gang traveling through time to visit important events in American history; $19.99 from Paramount ... "Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?" is a three-disc set with 13 episodes of the animated TV series; $29.98 from Shout! Factory. (Posted June 13)

Special Interest:
"Gallagher Sledge-O-Matic Collection" (2000) is a four-disc set featuring 765 minutes of the stand-up's work, in special packaging, $34.98 from Anchor Bay ... HBO Video lets loose this week with four "One Night Stand" comedy specials: "One Night Stand: Jim Norton," "One Night Stand: Caroline Rhea," "One Night Stand: Earthquake" and "One Night Stand: Louis CK," $14.98 each ... In "Dr. Andrew Weil's Healthy Aging" (2006), one of America's best-known doctors brings home his popular message of health and happiness. Aging is not an evil to be fought off with magic elixirs and invasive procedures -- not according to Dr. Weil. In a PBS special based on his latest New York Times bestseller, Weil emphasizes the rewards of growing older, a refreshing perspective in our youth-obsessed times. He offers practical steps for staying healthy in mind and body, covering diet and exercise, sleep, and emotional wellbeing. Includes bonus footage not seen on PBS; $19.99 from Acacia/Acorn Media ... For sports fans there's "The Cincinnati Reds 1975 World Series Collector's Edition," a seven-disc set with broadcasts of each game with additional never-before-seen footage, interviews and more, $69.95 from A&E Home Video; and "Legends in Pinstripes," a three-disc set of baseball documentaries: "Mantle," "Babe Ruth: The Life Behind the Legend" and "Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?" $29.92 from HBO Video ... Wrestling fans will appreciate three titles from WWE Home Video: "Backlash 2006" with more than three hours of bone-crunching action featuring, among others, Chris Masters vs Carlito, Umaga vs Ric Flair, RVD vs Shelton Benjamin, and Mickie James vs Trish Stratus, $24.95; "The Dusty Rhodes Story," a two-disc profile of "the working man's champion," $29.95; and "The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers," a single disc that looks at such managers as Captain Lou Albano, the Grand Wizard, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, others, $24.95. (Posted June 13)

Coming Soon:
Due July 25 is nerd comedy "Benchwarmers," starring Rob Schneider, David Spade, Jon Heder, Jon Lovitz, Craig Kilborn and Molly Sims, from Sony ... Horror film spoof "Scary Movie 4," starring Anthony Anderson, Craig Bierko, Chingy, Phil McGraw, Carmen Electra, Chris Elliott, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Cloris Leachman, Michael Madsen, Bill Pullman, Leslie Nielsen, Charlie Sheen, Molly Shannon, Shaquille O'Neal, Conchita Campbell, the Youngbloodz and many, many others, arrives August 15 from The Weinstein Co. in rated and unrated & uncensored editions. (Posted June 6)

DVD Collectibles:
This is the set film lovers have been waiting for: "John Ford--John Wayne Film Collection," a 10-disc set containing eight John Ford/John Wayne collaborations: "The Searchers" Ultimate Collector's Edition" two-disc set (newly remastered and restored from VistaVision film elements),"Stagecoach": Two-Disc Collector's Edition (newly remastered from best available film elements), new-to-DVD "Fort Apache," new-to-DVD "The Long Voyage Home," new-to-DVD "Wings of Eagles," She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," They Were Expendable" and "3 Godfathers"; $79.92 from Warner. Highlights: "The Searchers" Ultimate Collector's Edition" extras feature an introduction by Patrick Wayne (John's son), commentary by Peter Bogdanovich, "The Searchers: An Appreciation," "A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and The Searchers," "Behind the Cameras: Meet Jeffrey Hunter, Monument Valley, Meet Natalie Wood, Setting Up Production." The set, available separately for $39.92, also includes a full color 36-page press book, a 36-page reproduction of the original Dell comic book tied-in to the movie in 1956, filmmaker memos and correspondence, several behind-the-scenes photos and a mail-in theatrical poster. "Stagecoach" extras include the new feature-length "American Masters: John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker & the Legend" retrospective profile; new documentary "Stagecoach: A Story of Redemption"; commentary by Scott Eyman, author of "Print the Legend: The Life and Times of John Ford"; audio-only bonus: radio adaptation with Claire Trevor and Randolph Scott. Available separately for $26.99. Read Glenn Abel's review. (Posted June 6)

Also due this week from Warner is the "John Ford Film Collection" with five new-to-DVD titles: "The Lost Patrol," "The Informer" and "Cheyenne Autumn," which will be available individually for $19.97, "Mary of Scotland" and "Sergeant Rutledge," which will be exclusive to the five-disc set at $52.92. (Posted June 6)

Film Noir: Fox has added two titles to its Fox Film Noir line: ""House of Strangers" (1949), directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, Luther Adler, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Debra Paget; and "I Wake Up Screaming" (1941), starring Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Carole Landis, Alan Mowbray and Elisha Cook Jr. ... Paramount has two film noirish titles due this week: "Plunder of the Sun Special Collector's Edition" (1953) starring Glenn Ford, Diana Lynn, Patricia Medina, Francis L. Sullivan and Sean McClory and "Man in the Vault" (1956). directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring William Campbell, Karen Sharpe, Anita Ekberg, Berry Kroeger, Paul Fix and Mike Mazurki. (Posted June 6)

Two terrific releases from The Criterion Collection: "A Nos Amours" (1983), starring Sandrine Bonnaire, Evelyne Ker, Dominique Besnehard, Maurice Pialat and Anne-Sophie Maille. With his raw style of filmmaking, Maurice Pialat has been called the John Cassavetes of French cinema, and the scorching "A nos amours" is one of his greatest achievements. In a revelatory film debut, the dynamic, fresh-faced Sandrine Bonnaire plays Suzanne, a 16-year-old Parisian who embarks on a sexual rampage in an effort to separate herself from her overbearing, beloved father (played with astonishing magnetism by Pialat himself), ineffectual mother, and brutish brother. A tender character study that can erupt in startling violence, the film is one of the high-water marks of eighties French cinema. In a two-disc set with new, restored high-definition digital transfer ... "Dazed and Confused" Richard Linklater's 1993 homage to 1970s high school angst, starring Jason London, Rory Cochrane, Wiley Wiggins, Sasha Jenson, Michelle Burke, Adam Goldberg, Anthony Rapp, Matthew McConaughey, Marissa Ribisi, Shawn Andrews, Cole Hauser, Milla Jovovich, Joey Lauren Adams, and Ben Affleck. It's the last day of school. Bongs blaze, bell-bottoms ring, and rock and roll rocks. Among the best teen films ever made, Linklater's "Dazed" revolves around a group of seniors-to-be and incoming freshmen. A launching pad for a number of future stars, Linklater's first studio effort also features endlessly quotable dialogue and a blasting, stadium-ready soundtrack. Sidestepping nostalgia, "Dazed" is less about the best years of our lives than the boredom and excitement of teenagers waiting ... for something to happen. The beautifully packaged two-disc set features a new high-definition digital transfer with commentary by Linklater; "Making Dazed," a 50-minute documentary by filmmaker Kahane Corn; tons of rare on-set interviews and behind-the-scenes footage featuring cast and crew; audition footage and deleted scenes; a booklet featuring new essays by Chuck Klosterman, Kent Jones, and Jim DeRogatis, plus the original, collectible poster. (Posted June 6)

From TV to Video:
Due this week: "Air America; The Complete Series," a six-disc set with 26 episodes, $49.95 from Sony ... "Beavis & Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection Volume 2" (1993-97), a three-disc set with Mike Judge chosen episodes, specials, promos and guest appearances; $39.99 from Paramount ... "Charmed: The Complete Fifth Season" (2002-03), a six-disc set with 21 episodes, $54.99 from Paramount ... "Cheyenne: The Complete First Season," a five-disc set with 15 episodes of the Clint Walker-starring classic Western, $39.98 from Warner ... "Entourage: The Complete Second Season," a three-disc set with 14 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Home Improvement: The Complete Fourth Season," a three-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.99 from Buena Vista ... "My name Is Bill W." (1989), the award-winning telefilm about AA, starring James Woods, JoBeth Williams, James Garner, Gary Sinise and Fritz Weaver, from Warner ... "NCIS: The Complete First Season" (2003-04), a six-disc set with 23 episodes, $68.99 from Paramount ... "Reno 911: The Complete Third Season," a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $26.99 from Paramount ... "Star Trek Fan Collective: Q," a four-disc set with the top 10 Q episodes as picked by fans, $42.99 from Paramount ... "The Time Tunnel Volume Two," a four-disc set with the series' final 15 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Wild Wild West: The Complete First Season 40th Anniversary Edition" (1965-66), a seven-disc set with 28 digitally remastered episodes, $54.99 from Paramount. (Posted June 6)

For the Kids:
Two Nick anthologies are due this week: "Nick Jr. Favorites: Volume Four" (2006), a single disc with six episodes from six franchises including "Dora the Explorer," "The Backyardigans," "Blue's Clues," "Lazytown," "Max & Ruby" and "Little Bill"; $16.99; and "Nick Picks: Volume Four" (2006), a single disc of eight episodes across seven different Nicktoons franchises including "All Grown Up," "SpongeBob SquarePants," "The Fairly OddParents," "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," "Danny Phantom," "My Life as a Teenage Robot" and "The X's"; $16.99; both from Paramount ... The folks at Disney have reissued the classic 1941 "Dumbo" in a special edition for toddlers: The "Dumbo Big Top Edition" includes such extras as "DisneyPedia: My First Circus" learning game with matching cards, "Baby Mine" music video, "Dumbo's Big Discovery" DVD storybook, sing-along songs, "Celebrating Dumbo" featurette, animated shorts "Elmer Elephant" and "The Flying Mouse," and more; $29.99 ... Fox will release the direct-to-video sequel "Like Mike 2: Streetball," starring Michael Beach, Moneca Delain, Leslie Hopps and Brett Kelly in a young teen film about street basketball players; $26.98. (Posted June 6)

Special Interest:
"The Ron White Show" (2006) features an uncensored performance, $14.94 from Sony ... "NFL Super Bowl Collection -- Super Bowl XXXI-XL" is a five-disc set that highlights every Super Bowl from 1997-2006, $49.98 from Warner ... "Antone's: Home of the Blues" (2004) is a documentary that celebrates Antone's nightclub in Austin, Texas, a premier showcase for blues and roots music, with performance footage of Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Hubert Sumlin, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Sue Foley, Kim Wilson,Angela Strehli and more; $19.99 from Koch Lorber (Clifford Antone died last month) ... Two DVDs from The Who: "Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests," available for the first-time as a single disc, features a live version from the Who's 1996-1997 U.S. Tour; and "Tommy Live With Special Guests," also available for the first-time as a single disc; performed live by the Who in 1989 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles; both from Rhino. (Posted June 6)

DVD Collectibles:
Warner Home Video will release this week "The Bette Davis Collection Volume Two," a seven-disc set with "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" two-disc special edition (restored and remastered), "Jezebel" (restored and remastered), new-to-DVD titles "Old Acquaintance," "Marked Woman," "The Man Who Came to Dinner"; and the excellent Turner Movie Classics' "Stardust: The Bette Davis Story." The set sells for $59.92; "Baby Jane" is available separately for $26.99; the other four titles are available separately for $19.99; "Stardust" is exclusive to the set. And, of course, each disc is loaded with extras, including shorts, cartoons, featurettes and documentaries.

More celebrations: "The Marilyn Monroe 80th Birthday Celebration Collection" is a six-disc boxed set with previously released "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Let's Make Love," "Niagara," "River of No Return," "The Seven Year Itch" and the documentary "Marilyn: The Final Days"; $49.98 from Fox ... Getting the jump on Warner's June 6 John Wayne boxed set, Universal will release "John Wayne: An American Icon," a two-disc set with five films: "Seven Sinners" (1940) starring John Wayne and Marlene Dietrich; "The Shepherd of the Hills" (1941) starring Wayne; "Pittsburgh" (1942) starring Wayne, Marlene Dietrich and Randolph Scott; "The Conqueror" (1955) starring Wayne and Susan Hayward; and "Jet Pilot" (1957) starring Wayne and Janet Leigh; $26.98 ... "The Lon Chaney Collection" is a single disc with four Chaney rarities: "Manfish" (1956), "The Indestructible Man" (1956), an episode of the 1959-61 TV series "Lock-Up" featuring Chaney, and "The Golden Junkman" 1956 episode of the TV series "Telephone Time"; $19.99 from Image Entertainment ... and last, but not least, there's the "Riddick Trilogy," a two-disc salute with "Pitch Black" (2000), "The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury" (2004 -- animated) and "The Chronicles of Riddick" (2004); $19.98 from Universal.

First debuting in 1970, "Oh! Calcutta!" turned taboos upside down by playfully representing the 1960s sexual revolution through a series of skits, dance and musical numbers - featuring nudity. The adult musical took Broadway - and the nation - by storm by mixing the naughtiness of a peep show with Broadway sensibilities and a catchy rock score performed by a live band. This is a filmed version of an original cast performance, with sidesplitting and body-baring skits concocted by the top writers of the time, including John Lennon, Sam Shepard, Jules Feiffer and Samuel Beckett; $26.95 from Docurama. (Posted May 30)

From TV to Video:
"Alf Season 3" is a four-disc set from Lionsgate ... "All Passion Spent" (1986) is a two-disc set of the BBC adaptation of Vita Sackville-West's novel, starring Wendy Hiller and Harry Andrews; $39.99 from Acorn Media ... "Dark Shadows DVD Collection 24" is a four-disc set with 40 episodes, $59.98 from MPI Home Video ... "The Doris Day Show Season 3" (1970-71) is a four-disc set with 26 episodes; $39.98 from MPI Home Video ... "The Doris Day Special" (1971 -- TV) is Day's first musical TV show, with guests Perry Como and Rock Hudson; $14.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Dukes of Hazzard: The Complete Sixth Season" is a four-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Joey: The Complete First Season" contains 24 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "A Most Mysterious Murder" is a two-disc set with five BBC dramatizations of real unsolved British murder cases; $39.99 from Acorn Media ... "Night Stalker: The Complete Series" is a two-disc set of the series that also includes four unaired episodes, $29.99 from Buena Vista ... "Numb3rs: The Complete First Season" (2005) is a four-disc set, $68.99 from Paramount ... "Portrait of a Marriage" (1990) is a two-disc set of the BBC bio-drama of writer Vita Sackville-West; $39.99 from Acorn Media ... "Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television" is a vintage variety show featuring classic Broadway performances with Diahann Carroll, Richard Kiley, Patti Lupone, Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Shields & Yarnell and Rich Little, taped live from Las Vegas at the Tropicana Hotel in 1983; $19.99 from Kultur ... "The Venture Bros.: Season One" is a two-disc set with 13 episodes of the Adult Swim series, $29.98 from Warner. (Posted May 30)

For the Kids:
"Hip Hop for Kids: Pop! Lock! & Break!" is a dance DVD for kids nine to 16. Hip-hop master Roger G takes kids through classic hip hop styles and the hottest new moves, including Pop, Lock, Shake and Break dances. Geared as a fun and exciting way to learn new dance moves and stay in shape, the DVD offers kids the chance to have great workouts doing the Chingy, the Ponytail, The Uprock and more. From Jumping Fish Productions for $19.95; direct orders: www.hiphop4kids.net ... "Ozzie" (2001) is a family film centering on a cute, cuddly Koala who is unique in a special way...he talks. When evil businesswoman Maxine Happy conspires to clone Ozzie to sell to stores in time for the holiday season, she dispatches two bumbling henchmen to the Australian outback to bring him to America. On the plane, Ozzie escapes and hides in the backpack of Justin, an 8-year-old boy, returning from vacation with his mom. Soon, however, the bad guys track them down, and it's up to Justin to save the day and return Ozzie home safely; stars Joan Collins, Spencer Breslin, Ralf Moeller and Rachel Hunter; $19.95 from MTI Home Video. (Posted May 30)

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Dead Broke" (1999) is a mystery thriller about a detective investigating the eight likely suspects to the murder of a shady character outside a debt collection agency on a film nourish pier; stars Jayne Deely, Kevin Dewey, John Glover, Jill Hennessy, Christopher Lawford, Tony Roberts, Paul Sorvino and Justin Theroux; $19.97 from Polychrome Pictures ... "Complete Guide to Guys" (2006) is a film version of Dave Barry's novel about the foibles of guy behavior, from the Stone Age to today, featuring such guy syndromes as Lust-Induced Brain Freeze, the "fixing-household appliances chromosome," and the metaphysical power that makes guys think they can affect the outcome of a sporting event by channeling energy toward the TV set. Stars Lochlyn Munro, Christina Moore, Megan Ward, and John Cleese (as four British experts); $26.95 from Monarch Home Video. (Posted May 30)

On the Indie Front:
"The Flats" (2003) stars Chad Linberg, Jade Herrera and Sean Christensen in a stylish film shot in beautiful coastal Oregon that focuses on best friends Harper and Luke and the girl that comes between them. Harper returns home to face a trial that could land him in jail and he finds unexpected comfort in Luke's beautiful girlfriend Paige, leading to a showdown between the friends. Winner of the best feature award at the New York International Independent Film Festival; $19.95 from Vanguard Cinema. (Posted May 30)

Special Interest:
Milestone Film & Video releases this week the DVD premiere of the acclaimed documentary "Winter Soldier," the landmark 1972 antiwar film about the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. On January 31, 1971, more than 125 Vietnam veterans, representing every major combat unit to see action in the war, gathered at a Howard Johnson's hotel in Detroit to heal a nation ... and themselves. The veterans saw themselves as winter soldiers battling against the wrongs of the war and the brutal training that had made them capable of unthinkable violence. Eighteen filmmakers calling themselves the Winterfilm Collective -- including Barbara Kopple ("Harlan County, USA"), Robert Fiore ("Pumping Iron") and Lucy Massie Phenix ("You Got to Move") -- captured the extraordinary event. Rarely seen since its 1972 Cannes premiere. Packed with bonus features; $24.95. Toll-free ordering: 800-603-1104.

Also due this week: "Robert Anton Wilson -- Maybe Logic" (2005) is a mind-bending journey into the multi-dimensional life of Robert Anton Wilson, who is one of the foundations of 20th Century Western counterculture; $19.95 from Disinformation Co. ... "A Visit to Ali Farka Toure" (2005) is a documentary on the life and music of the two-time Grammy winning African musician; $19.99 from Kultur ... "London" (1994) is a fictionalized documentary tour of London, configured as an "historical travelogue," pointing out (lovingly) the city's flaws and degeneration, with a decidedly anti-Tory government stance; narrated by Paul Scofield and directed by Patrick Keiller ("Robinson in Space"); $29.95 from Facets ... "Paul Klee: Silence of an Angel" is a visual journey through the works of one of the 20th century's most important artists; includes a video catalogue of Klee's paintings; $29.95 from Facets ... "Lovesick" (2006) is a profile of the artists of the Las Vegas phenomenon "Zumanity: Another Side of Cirque du Solei"; from Sony ... "American Muscle Car Season 2" is a boxed set of 12 half-hour Speed Channel episodes on two discs, $29.98; also available as six single discs with two episodes at $9.98 each from MPI Home Video ... "The Ultimate Fighter -- Season 2" is a reality show with 18 mixed martial arts fighters all living under one roof competing against and fighting with each other for a shot at two UFC contracts; $39.99 from Ventura Home Entertainment ... "UFC: Best of 2005" features three hours of Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view fights; $19.99 from Ventura. (Posted May 30)

Warner Home Video announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and plans two new DVD releases of the futuristic classic. Rights had lapsed a year ago, but negotiations for a long-term license have now been completed, and the film will again be available to the public. First, a restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director's Cut will debut in September in the U.S. for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium. Later in 2007, to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil "Blade Runner: The Final Cut," Scott's definitive new version of the science fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the original U.S. theatrical cut, the expanded international theatrical cut and the 1992 director's cut. Ample bonus features will also be included. (Posted May 26)

Coming Soon:
Due July 11 is the rude psychological thriller "Basic Instinct 2," starring Sharon Stone, David Morrissey, Charlotte Rampling and David Thewlis, in rated and unrated editions, from Sony ... on August 1 Warner will release the sci-fi thriller "V for Vendetta," starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry and John Hurt. (Posted May 23)

DVD Collectibles:
Due from The Criterion Collection is one of the finest films of all time: Luis Bunuel's "Viridiana" (1961), starring Silvia Pinal, Francisco Rabal and Fernando Rey. Banned in Spain and denounced by the Vatican, surrealist genius Bunuel's hilarious vision of life as a beggar's banquet is regarded by many as his masterpiece. Young novice Viridiana does her utmost to maintain her Catholic principles, but her lecherous uncle and a motley assemblage of paupers force her to confront the limits of her idealism. Highlight of the film is, indeed, the blasphemous beggar's banquet. Winner of the Palme d'or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, this anticlerical free-for-all is as shocking today as ever. Also due this week from Criterion is "Harlan County, U.S.A.," Barbara Kopple's absorbing film that won a best documentary Oscar in 1976. In a small Kentucky town in 1973, when the Brookside coal miners voted to join the United Mine Workers union, The Duke Power Co. refused to sign the union's contact. The struggle that broke out between the company and the workers was brilliantly documented by Kopple. With a haunting country and bluegrass soundtrack, the film is a powerful, sometimes heartbreaking record of the 13-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.

Due this week from Warner is "The Dirty Dozen Two-Disc Special Edition" of the 1967 actioner, directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Richard Jaeckel, George Kennedy, Trini Lopez, Ralph Meeker, Robert Ryan, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Clint Walker. Extras include commentary; a bonus movie "The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission," the 1985 sequel with Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine and Richard Jaeckel reprising their original roles; two new documentaries: "Armed and Deadly: The Making of The Dirty Dozen" and "The Filthy Thirteen: Real Stories From Behind the Lines"; a "Marine Corps Combat Leadership Skills" vintage recruitment documentary featuring Lee Marvin; and more ... And, last but not least, Universal will release the "Cecil B. Demille Collection," a five-disc set with "The Sign of the Cross" (1932), "Four Frightened People" (1934), "Cleopatra" (1934), "The Crusades" (1935) and "Union Pacific" (1939); $44.98. (Posted May 23)

From TV to Video:
"Boston Legal Season One" is a five-disc set with 17 episodes, $49.98 from Fox ... "Brilliant but Cancelled: Crime Dramas" is a single-disc anthology of episodes of four classic series cancelled before their time: "Tempted" from "Johnny Staccato" (1959-60) starring John Cassavetes; "Licensed to Kill" from "Delvecchio" (1976-77) starring Judd Hirsch; "Sleep Well, Professor Oliver" from "Gideon Olive" (1989) starring Louis Gossett Jr.; and "K" from "Touching Evil" (2004) starring Jeffrey Donovan; $19.98 from Universal ... "Brilliant but Cancelled: EZ Streets" is a single disc with the edgy, innovative 1996 series from Academy Award-winning writer-director Paul Haggis featuring tales of greed and treachery told from three differing points of view, starring Joe Pantoliano, Ken Olin and Jason Gedrick; $19.98 from Universal ... "The Bugaloos: The Complete Series" (1970) is a three-disc set of 17 uncut original episodes of the Sid & Marty Krofft Saturday morning TV classic; $34.95 form Rhino Video ... "The Closer: The Complete First Season" is a four-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Deadwood: The Complete Second Season" is a six-disc set, $99.98 from HBO Video ... "The Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan" is the complete first season of the National Geographic Channel show in a boxed set with 26 episodes, from Screen Media Films ... "The 4400 Season 2" (2005) is a four-disc set, $42.99 from Paramount ... "M*A*S*H Season 10" is a three-disc set with 21 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Samurai Jack: Season Three" is a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98 from Warner ... Two SNL compilations arrive from Universal: "Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies," a collection of spoofs of commercials, and "Saturday Night Live: The Best of Cheri Oteri," a collection of skits; $19.98 each ... "Wings: The Complete First & Second Seasons" (1990-91), a four-disc set, $42.99 from Paramount. (Posted May 23)

For the Kids:
Due this week: "High School Musical" (2006), the Disney Channel's surprise song-filled hit about kids putting on a high school musical, with such extras as "Learning the Moves" with director-choreographer Kenny Ortega, "I Can't Take My Eyes Off You" music video, "We're All In This Together" music video, behind-the-scenes featurette, and an extra version of the film in a sing-along format, from Disney ... "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Chipmunk Adventure" (1987) is digitally re-mastered from the original 35mm film that marked the loveable threesome's silver screen debut, $14.99 from Paramount ... "Berenstain Bears: Fun Family Adventures" features six animated adventures from the PBS series, $14.94 from Sony ... "Dragon Tales: Let's Be Brave" includes five animated adventures and three sing-alongs from the PBS series, $14.94 from Sony ... "Jim Henson's The Storyteller: The Definitive Collection" is a two-disc set with all 13 episodes of the television series, $19.94 from Warner ... "Fairly OddParents: Fairy Idol" (2006) is a single-disc with the four-part episode, $14.99 from Paramount. (Posted May 23)

Special Interest:
"Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" (2006) is a fascinating documentary on Metal culture featuring Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Bruce Dickison and Lemmy Killmeister, in a two-disc set, $24.98 from Paramount ... "The Goebbels Experiment" (2004 -- Germany) is an in-depth documentary on the Nazi propaganda mastermind; $29.95 from First Run Features ... "The New Medicine: Treating the Whole Person on the Road to Healing" is a documentary on changes taking place in American medicine, $24.95 from First Run Features ... "Martha's Summer Favorites" (2006) is a two-disc set with 21 recipes and 24 projects; $24.98 from Warner ... Two NOVA documentaries arrive from WGBH Boston Video: "The Vikings" (1999) and "Fireworks" (2006), $19.95 each ... Three Chicken Soup for the Soul episodes from the PAX TV series based on the best-selling book series arrive this week: "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspirational Stories Celebrating Mothers and Fathers," "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspirational Stories to Touch the World" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspirational Stories Honoring Family"; hosted by Michael Tucker, from Ventura. (Posted May 23)

Just Announced:
Due June 27 from Fox is a weak comedy outing from director Sidney Lumet: "Find Me Guilty," starring Vin Diesel, Peter Dinklage, Linus Roache, Ron Silver, Annabella Sciorra and Alex Rocco. The film is based on the Lucchese crime family trials in the late-1980s. (Posted May 18)

Coming Soon:
Due June 27 is the light comedy "Failure to Launch," starring Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates, from Paramount ... Celebrating the Fourth of July are "The Libertine," starring Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton and John Malkovich; and comedy-spy film "The Matador," starring Pierce Brosnan, Arlin Miller, Azucena Medina, Jonah Meyerson, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis and Philip Baker Hall; both from The Weinstein Co. ... Silly teen comedy "She's the Man," starring Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Robert Hoffman and Julie Hagerty, arrives July 18 from DreamWorks ... And, for "Star Wars" fans, Fox and George Lucas will release the first three entries in the series in new two-disc sets, each with the original theatrical version (available for the first time on DVD) and the enhanced trilogy versions with commentary by Lucas, cast and crew; $19.95 each. (Posted May 16)

DVD Collectibles:
Five classic films are due this week from Paramount: "Body & Soul" (1947), directed by Robert Rossen and starring John Garfield and Lilli Palmer; "The Dark Mirror" (1946), directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Olivia de Havilland, Lew Ayres, Thomas Mitchell and Richard Long; "Letter From an Unknown Woman" (1948), directed by Max Ophuls and starring Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan; "Love Happy" (1949), starring Marilyn Monroe, Raymond Burr, Vera-Ellen and the Marx Brothers; and "Secret Beyond the Door" (1948), directed by Fritz Lang and starring Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave ... "Napoleon Dynamite: Like, the Best Special Edition Ever" (2004) is a special edition of the cult teen film starring Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Diedrich Bader and Tina Majorini, in a two-disc set with such extras as commentary by director/co-writer Jared Hess, actor John Heder and producer Jeremy Coon; cast commentary; "On Location: Napoleon Dynamite" nine-part featurette; audition tapes; Napoleon sightings at MTV, Teen Choice Awards, more; outtakes and extended/alternate scenes; and much, much more; from Fox ... Two Disney cartoon compilations are due this week: "Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun: Vol.1," a collection of animated shorts themed to different countries from around the world: "The Flying Gauchito," "In Dutch," "Goliath II," "Mickey Down Under," "African Diary," "A Cowboy Needs a Horse" and "Grievance of a Starmaker"; and "Walt Disney's It's a Small World of Fun: Vol. 2" with "Pedro," "The Olympic Champ," "Peter and the Wolf," "The Brave Little Tailor," "Crazy With the Heat" and "Susie, the Little Blue Coupe"; $14.99 each. (Posted May 16)

From TV to Video:
"The Big Valley Season One," a five-disc set with 30 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Here Come the Brides: The Complete First Season," a six-disc set with 26 episodes, $49.95 from Sony ... "Hill Street Blues Season Two," a three-disc set with 18 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Home Movies: Season Four," a three-disc set with the last 13 episodes, $34.98 from Shout! Factory ... "Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume 9," a four-disc set containing four more of the top fan-requested episodes (feature films with snappy commentary): "Women of the Prehistoric Planet," "Wild Rebels," "The Sinister Urge" and "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies"; $59.95 from Rhino Video ... "Supernanny Season One," a three-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.99 from Ventura Home Entertainment ... "That Girl Season One" (1966-67), a five-disc set, $39.98 from Shout! Factory. (Posted May 16)

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Side Effects" (2005) is a loopy romantic comedy about an alluring sales rep for a pharmaceutical company (Katherine Heigel of "Grey's Anatomy") who gets fed up with "pushing" drugs to doctors and, after meeting the man of her dreams, decides to become brutally honest with her clients and tell them about the drug's true side effects. Ironically, her sales start to go through the roof. From Pro-Active Entertainment ... "Clawed: The Legend of Sasquatch" (2005) is a thriller about a mountain town terrorized by what at first appears to be a grizzly bear but turns out to be ..., from First Look Home Entertainment. (Posted May 16)

Special Interest:
"Magic Johnson Always Showtime: Special Edition" (2005) is an in-depth look at one of the most entertaining players in NBA history, narrated by Danny Glover; $19.98 from Warner. (Posted May 16)

Coming Soon:
Due June 27 is raucous comedy "Madea's Family Reunion," directed by and starring Tyler Perry and co-starring Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Maya Angelou, Jenifer Lewis, Tangi Miller and Cicely Tyson, from Lionsgate ... On August 1 Disney will release the remake "The Shaggy Dog," starring Tim Allen, Kristin Davis, Zena Grey, Spencer Breslin, Danny Glover, Robert Downey Jr., Jane Curtin and Philip Baker Hall. (Posted May 9)

DVD Collectibles:
Two excellent films are due this week from The Criterion Collection: Francois Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" (1959), starring Jean-Pierre Leaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Remy, Guy Decomble and Georges Flamant. This is Truffaut's first and most personal feature film, told from the perspective of the director's lifelong cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel. Sensitively recreating the trials of Truffaut's own childhood, "The 400 Blows" unsentimentally portrays aloof parents, oppressive teachers, petty crime, and a friendship that would last a lifetime. Available after a long absence as a single-disc release ... and "Late Spring" (1949), directed by Yasujiro Ozu and starring Chishu Ryu and Setsuko Hara. "Late Spring" is one of the most powerful of Ozu's family portraits, telling the story of a widowed father who feels compelled to marry off his beloved only daughter. Loyal Ozu players Chishu Ryu and Setsuko Hara command this poignant tale of love and loss in postwar Japan, which remains as potent today as ever -- almost by itself justifying Ozu's inclusion in the pantheon of cinema's greatest directors. In a new, restored high-definition digital transfer.

Three heavy-duty disaster films arrive this week: "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin and Arthur O'Connell, from Fox; "The Towering Inferno" (1974), starring Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn and Robert Wagner, also from Fox; and "Earthquake" (1974), starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Genevieve Bujold, Richard Roundtree, Marjoe Gortner, Barry Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Victoria Principal and Walter Matthau, from Universal. On a lighter note, Warner will release "The Lucy and Desi Collection," a three-disc set with The Long, Long Trailer," "Forever, Darling" and "Too Many Girls," $29.92. Each disc includes featurettes and cartoons. (Posted May 9)

From TV to Video:
Due this week: "Andy Griffith: The Complete Sixth Season" (1965-66), a five-disc set with 30 episodes, $39.99 from Paramount ... "Dr. Katz Professional Therapist: Season One" (1995), a single disc, $19.99 from Paramount ... "Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Sixth Season," a five-disc set with 24 uncut episodes, $44.98 from HBO Video ... "The Facts of Life: The Complete First and Second Seasons," a four-disc set with 29 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "The Golden Girls Season 5," a three-disc set, $39.99 from Buena Vista ... "Here Come the Brides: The Complete First Season," a six-disc set with 26 episodes, $49.95 from Sony ... "Life Goes On: The Complete First Season," a six-disc collection with 22 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Northern Exposure: The Complete First and Second Seasons," a four-disc set, $39.98 from Universal ... "Queer as Folk: The Final Season," a four-disc set, $109.98 from Showtime ... "Sgt. Bilko (The Phil Silvers Show) 50th Anniversary Edition" (1955), a wacky show about a wacky platoon of Army misfits, staring Phil Silvers, in a three-disc set, $42.99, from Paramount. Extras on this memorable package include the lost audition show, Allan Melvin episode intros, Phil Silvers on "The Dick Cavett Show," a photo gallery, 1956 and 1957 Emmy Awards, Friars stag roast for Humphrey Bogart audio, original network opening and commercials, Tony Randall and Jack Klugman remember Bilko on TV Land, the cast on "Phil Silvers on Broadway" and more ... "Scrubs Season 3" is a three-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.99 from Buena Vista ... "That '70s Show Season Four," a four-disc set with 27 episodes, $49.98 from Fox ... "The West Wing: The Complete Sixth Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98 from Warner. (Posted May 9)

For the Kids:
"Blue's Clues: Blue's Jobs" is a pre-school delight in which Blue and her friends explore various jobs; four animated episodes for $16.99 from Paramount ... "The Barbie Diaries" is a new animated feature-length adventure featuring Barbie and friends at school, from Lionsgate. (Posted May 9)

On the Indie Front:
"Forty Shades of Blue" (2005) is a critically acclaimed 2005 drama starring Rip Torn as an aging music producer living with his Russian trophy wife in Memphis, whose life is turned upside down when his estranged 30-year-old son returns home. Co-stars Dina Korzun and Darren Burrows; from First Look Home Entertainment ... "Robin's Hood" (2003) stars Khathee V. Turner and Clody Cates star in a lesbian "Bonnie & Clyde" thriller, from Wolfe Video ... "On the Outs" (2004) is a drama about three young girls from the same tough neighborhood who all make the wrong choices and cross paths in juvenile hall before continuing along their difficult paths, starring Anny Mariano, Judy Marte and Paola Mendoza, from Polychrome Pictures. (Posted May 9)

DVD Collectibles:
From the sublime to the absurd: Due this week is Warner's massive homage to Tennessee Williams and the feature film debut of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Warner's "The Tennessee Williams Film Collection" is an eight-disc set with DVD debuts of "Sweet Bird of Youth," "Night of the Iguana," "Baby Doll" and "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone," along with a newly remastered two-disc special edition of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and single disc deluxe edition of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Also included is a bonus disc, the rarely seen feature-length documentary, "Tennessee Williams' South." The set sells for $68.92; $19.97 each except for "A Streetcar Named Desire," which sells for $26.99. All the discs are, of course, loaded with extras ... "Delicatessen" (1991) is a wild post-apocalyptic black comedy from the eclectic director of "Amelie," "A Very Long Engagement, "Alien: Resurrection" and "The City of Lost Children." In the film's bleak future, meat is rare and a butcher hires and prepares "handymen" to become prime cuts for his eccentric (and cannibalistic) clientele. Unfortunately for the butcher, his daughter falls in love with the latest hired helper, an ex-clown, and enlists the aid of an underground (literally) group of anti-meat revolutionaries to save his life. "Delicatessen" is a cult classic available for the first time on DVD, from Miramax.

"Creation of the Humanoids/War Between the Planets" is a "Drive-In" double bill with "Creation of the Humanoids" (1962), a post-nuclear war sci-fier in which mankind creates a race of blue-skinned androids to assist in the reconstruction of civilization, but the robots grow more intelligent and human-like, threatening their masters; and "War Between the Planets" (1965-Italy), about a seemingly barren planet set on a collision course with Earth that turns out to harbor a bloodthirsty life form (dubbed in English); $14.98 -- with drive-in intermission ads -- from Dark Sky Films/MPI Home Video. (Posted May 2)

From TV to Video:
"Dinosaurs: The Complete First and Second Seasons" is a four-disc set, $39.99 from Disney ... "Dick Francis Mysteries" contains three 1989 telefilms based on the work of Dick Francis: " "In the Frame," "Blood Sport" and "Twice Shy," each starring Ian McShane, from Koch Vision ... "Fall of Eagles" (1974) is a 13-part British miniseries about the collapse of three great European dynasties: the Romanovs, the Habsburgs and the Hohenzollerns, $69.98 from Koch Vision ... "I Love Lucy Complete Sixth Season" is a four-disc set with such extras as commentaries from writers Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Schiller, the 1956 Christmas show, flubs and lost scenes, restored music, original series openings and cast commercials, original animation, promotional spot, scene and song selections, guest cast information, colorized Christmas show scenes, five episodes of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband," "Bob Hope Chevy Show Sketch Highlights" and more; $54.99 from Paramount ... "Kate & Allie Season One" sells for $29.98 from Universal ... "King of the Hill Season Six" is a three-disc set with 21 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... Strong>"Leave It to Beaver: The Complete Second Season" is a three-disc set with 39 episodes, $39.98 from Universal ... "The Nanny: The Complete Second Season" is a three-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Nicholas Nickleby" is the 1977 BBC miniseries starring Nigel Havers, Peter Bourke, Kate Nicholls and Derek Godfrey, from Koch Vision ... "The Omega Factor" (1979) is the complete first season of the BBC TV series about a covert branch of British Intelligence assigned to investigate the strange and the supernatural; $39.98 from Koch Vision ... "Rescue Me: The Complete Second Season" is a three-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.95 from Sony. (Posted May 2)

Special Interest:
Ventura Entertainment will release this week three volumes from the PAX TV "Chicken Soup for the Soul" TV series (each hosted by Michael Tucker: "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspirational Stories Celebrating Mothers and Fathers," "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspirational Stories to Touch the World" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspirational Stories Honoring Family" ... "African American Lives" is a 2006 PBS four-hour documentary series profiling some of the most accomplished African Americans of all time; participants include Dr. Ben Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Mae Jemison, Quincy Jones, Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Chris Tucker and Oprah Winfrey; $24.99 from Paramount ... "Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection" is a four-disc set of performances from the annual Tony Award broadcasts, produced as PBS specials: "Broadway's Lost Treasures I," "Broadway's Lost Treasures II," "Broadway's Lost Treasures III," and "The Best of the Tony Awards -- The Play"; $59.99 from Acorn Media ... "The Real Da Vinci Code" is a 2005 Discovery Channel documentary that investigates questions raised by Dan Brown's blockbuster novel. $14.99 from Acorn Media ... "Cochise County, USA -- Cries From the Border" (2005) is a timely documentary on how illegal immigration affects one U.S. border town: As politicians argue over proposed changes to immigration laws and Homeland Security struggles to protect the U.S., a quiet rural community in Arizona has become Ground Zero for the undocumented alien invasion. Though home to only 130,000 permanent residents, Cochise County sees as many as one million illegal immigrants cross its borders into the U.S. each year and is the birthplace of the first Minuteman Project. Providing a balanced exploration of the complex and multi-faceted problem of regulating illegal immigration, the controversial and thought-provoking documentary will be released by Genius Products for $19.98. (Posted May 2)

Coming Soon:
Due May 16 is the filmic realization of the Broadway production of Mel Brooks' hilarious "The Producers, starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell, Gary Beach and Roger Bart, from Universal ... Also from Universal on that day is "Something New," a romantic comedy starring Sanaa Lathan, Simon Baker, Mike Epps, Donald Faison, Blair Underwood, Wendy Raquel Robinson and Alfre Woodard ... Cop action-thriller "16 Blocks," starring Bruce Willis, Mos Def and David Morse, will run home June 13 from Warner ... "Aquamarine," a cute teen comedy about friendships, boys and a mermaid, starring Emma Roberts, JoJo and Sara Paxton, swims to DVD on June 13 from Fox ... Futuristic sci fi thriller "Ultraviolet," starring Milla Jovovich, Cameron Bright, Nick Chinlund, Sebastien Andrieu, Ida Martin and William Fichtner arrives June 27 in rated and unrated (extended) editions, from Sony ... Dancing to DVD on July 4 is "Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School," a melodrama starring Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, John Goodman, Mary Steenburgen, Sean Astin, Danny DeVito, Donnie Wahlberg, David Paymer, Camryn Manheim, Adam Arkin, Sonia Braga, Elden Henson, Ernie Hudson, Miguel Sandoval, from Sony ... and, on July 18, Miramax will release the South African drama "Tsotsi," directed by Gavin Hood and starring Presley Chweneyagae, Terry Pheto, Kenneth Nkosi, Mothusi Magano and Zenzo Ngqobe. (Posted April 25)

DVD Collectibles:
At the top of this week's must-have list this week is Michelangelo Antonioni's "The Passenger" (1975), starring Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider, Jenny Runacre and Ian Hendry. Though there's little by way of extras, the film -- about a journalist who exchanges identities with a dead man in Africa -- is gorgeous to behold and a definite modern masterpiece in its examination of "existence" in the modern world. From Sony. Read Glenn Abel's review ... Warner's "Classic Musicals From the Dream Factory" contains five newly-remastered favorites from MGM's Golden Era, $59.92 the set or $19.97 each, remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround: "It's Always Fair Weather" (1955), directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly and starring Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse and Dolores Gray; "Summer Stock" (1950), starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven, Marjorie Main, Phil Silvers and Ray Collins; "Three Little Words" (1950), starring Fred Astaire, Red Skelton, Vera-Ellen, Arlene Dahl, Keenan Wynn, Gale Robbins and Gloria DeHaven; "Till the Clouds Roll By" (1946) starring June Allyson, Lucille Bremer, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Van Heflin, Lena Horne, Van Johnson, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Robert Walker, Gower Champion and Cyd Charisse; and "Ziegfeld Follies" (1946) starring Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, James Melton, Victor Moore, Red Skelton, Esther Williams, William Powell and Edward Arnold. Each disc contains featurettes, shorts and cartoons from the era ... "Elevator to the Gallows" is Louis Malle's debut feature film, a mesmerizing thriller of murder and mistaken identity that captures the beauty of Jeanne Moreau, the brilliant camerawork of Henri Decae, and the musical force of Miles Davis' straight-ahead jazz score; in a $39.95 two-disc set from The Criterion Collection.

In a more modern vein there's "The Replacement Killers Extended Cut" (1998), an exciting thriller that eerily mimics the early work of John Woo, transplanting Hong Kong-style action onto the streets of America as a hit-man (Chow Yun-Fat) declines to execute a cop and his son and teams up with a beautiful passport forger (Mira Sorvino) to save his family and outrun the assassins sent as "replacement killers"; directed by Antoine Fuqua and co-starring Michael Rooker, Kenneth Tsang, Jurgen Prochnow, Til Schweiger, Danny Trejo and Clifton Collins Jr. The film is extended with 10 extra minutes and the disc includes an HBO making-of featurette "Where the Action Is" and a "Chow Yun-Fat Goes Hollywood" featurette; from Sony ... Two interesting releases this week from Dark Sky Films/MPI Home Video: "Magic" (1978), starring Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret, Burgess Meredith, Ed Lauter and David Ogden Stiers in a horror thriller about a magician who adds a dummy to his standup act, only to fall under the dummy's spell; $14.98; and the Japanese double bill featuring "Invasion of the Neptune Men" (1961) in which clunky metallic aliens from Neptune invade the Earth and "Prince of Space" (1959) in which equally weird aliens from the barren rock planet Krankor attack Earth and are repelled by the Prince of Space (a showshine boy in disguise); $14.98. (Posted April 25)

From TV to Video:
"American Dad Volume One" is a three-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Andre's Mother" (1990) is an American Playhouse drama starring Sada Thompson, Cal Porter and Sylvia Sidney, from WGBH Boston Video ... "Avengers 1962" features all 14 episodes of the 1962-63 season, $59.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Flickers" (1980) is a three-disc set of the Masterpiece Theatre miniseries about Britain's silent film industry, starring Bob Hoskins, $49.99 from Acorn Media ... "The Last Detective, Series 1" (2003) is a two-disc set of the contemporary British mystery series, based on the popular "Dangerous Davies" novels by Leslie Thomas, $39.99 from Acorn Media ... "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" is a three-disc set with the complete cancelled series, $59.98 from Universal ... "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Double Feature" is a two-disc set that includes "Murder Me, Murder You" and "More Than Murder," the two telefilms that launched the successful "Mike Hammer" TV series, starring Stacy Keach, from Sony ... "Nero Wolf Megaset" is the complete 20 episode series starring Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton, $99.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Odyssey 5: The Complete Series" is a five-disc set with 19 episodes, $49.95 from Sony ... "Reba: The Complete Third Season" is a three-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "The Rifleman Volume 5" is a four-disc set with 20 episodes, $49.98 from MPI Home Video ... "The Sculptress" is a 1996 Masterpiece Theatre thriller starring Pauline Quirke and Caroline Goodall, $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "A Touch of Frost Seasons 9 and 10" is a two-disc set with five episodes, $39.98 from MPI Home Video ... "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is the 1997 telefilm starring Michael Caine, Patrick Dempsey, Bryan Brown and Mia Sara , from Warner ... "The Waltons: The Complete Third Season" is a five-disc set with 25 episodes, $39.98 from Warner. (Posted April 25)

For the Kids:
Technology, technology, technology! More school money for technology and comparatively little for art, drama, music, and dance are resulting in a generation of children with little exposure to the performing arts. Enter "The Toy Castle," an award-winning live action series of narrated ballet stories, which dances into stores on this week from Questar Inc. with three volumes, "Beautiful Ballerina," "Birthday Bash," and "Twinkle, Twinkle"; $14.99 each. Appearing on many PBS stations nationwide, The Toy Castle -- performed in the universal language of dance and mime by members of the renowned Royal Winnipeg Ballet -- is set in a castle where the Toys come to life "only at night, when your eyes are shut tight." Each 90-minute DVD features 12 delightful stories. For kids 8 and under ... "Little Einsteins: Team Up for Adventure" (2005) features three interactive musical adventures that invite preschoolers to explore real-world destinations where they'll get to solve important missions and have fun along the way: close encounters with a bald eagle, an erupting volcano, friendly Orca whales and African animals; $19.99 from Buena Vista ... "Dr. Dolittle 3" is a direct-to-video family comedy sequel starring Kyla Pratt as a girl who not only struggles with being a teenager but has to accept her "gift" of being able to talk to and understand animals, just like her father; with the voices of Danny Bonaduce, Gary Busey and Norm MacDonald; $26.98 from Fox. (Posted April 25)

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Widow Theory" (2004) is a comedy about a young man, an aimless playboy with a "Peter Pan" syndrome, who returns home for the wedding of his best friend to his high school sweetheart; stars Corey Large and Luke Flynn, from Monarch Home Video ... "12 Days of Terror" (2004) is a telefilm based on true events that took place in the summer of 1916 when a man-eating shark terrorized New Jersey beachgoers. Stars Colin Egglesfield, John Rhys-Davies, Mark Dexter and Jenna Harrison, from MTI Home Video ... "Shadows in the Sun (aka The Shadow Dancer)" (2005) is a melodrama about a famous writer who goes into seclusion in rural Italy and meets up with a younger, admiring writer who eventually woos the older man's daughter. Stars Harvey Keitel, Joshua Jackson, Claire Forlani, John Rhys-Davies and Giancarlo Giannini, from Buena Vista ... David Schwimmer stars as "Duanne Hopwood" (2005), a comedy about a down-on-his-luck divorced father working as a Las Vegas pit boss who struggles to regain his life after the demise of his marriage. Co-stars Janeane Garofalo; from HBO Video ... "Mercenary for Justice" (2006) is the latest direct-to-video Steven Seagal actioner, here about a mercenary blackmailed to orchestrate an impossible prison break in South Africa. Co-stars Luke Goss and Jacqueline Lord; from Fox ... In the romantic comedy " Everything You Want" (2005) a perky art student discovers that she's falling for a quirky fun-loving charmer she's tutoring despite her being in love with her long-time dream-guy boyfriend. Stars Shiri Appleby, Nick Zaro; from Buena Vista. (Posted April 25)

Foreign:
"The Intruder" (2005 -- France) is the latest film from Claire Denis, a harrowing tale of a mysterious loner who lives alone in an isolated woodland compound on the French-Swiss border in the Jura mountains. An enigmatic figure and emotionally distant father, he has little contact with his grown up son, Sidney, seemingly preferring the company of his dogs. Faced with an ailing heart, he buys a new heart on the black market. When he recovers from the clandestine transplant operation, he invests everything in a new life, returning, hopefully, to his estranged family ... shadowed by a mysterious, unnamed Russian woman. $24.98 from Wellspring Video. (Posted April 25)

Special Interest:
"Penn Teller: Off the Deep End" (2006) is a compendium of all-new, never-before-seen tricks by the wacky magic duo; $24.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Bird Flu: How Safe Are We?" (2006) is a timely Rx for Survival series documentary, narrated by Brad Pitt; $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Firepower" is a four-disc set with 20 episodes (including Battle Tanks, Missile Copter, War on Wheels, Wild Weasels, Stealth Jets and more) from The Military Channel series, $39.98 from MPI Home Video... "Ernest Hemmingway: Rivers to the Sea" is a 2005 PBS American Masters biography, $24.99 from Paramount ... "Rosemary Clooney" (2006) features Clooney's final performance, recorded in 2000 at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago; $19.99 from Kultur ... "UFC 56: Full Force" features Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin defending his title against the hard-hitting The Ultimate Fighter -- Season 1 veteran Nate Quarry before a sold-out crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas; $19.99 from Ventura Home Entertainment ... The Japanese animation classic "Patlabor the Movie" (1990) from acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii ("Ghost in the Shell," "Jin-Roh," "Avalon") arrives on DVD in a single-disc ($29.99) and two-disc Limited Collector's Edition ($89.99). The Limited Collector's Edition, limited to 10,000 numbered sets, boasts an illustrated cover designed especially for this release by illustrator Yutaka Izubuchi. From Image Entertainment. (Posted April 25)

Coming Soon:
Steven Spielberg's suspense-thriller about political revenge "Munich," starring Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Ciaran Hinds, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hanns Zischler, Ayelet Zurer and Geoffrey Rush, arrives May 9 from Universal ... Also on that day from Universal comes the family comedy "Nanny McPhee," starring Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kelly MacDonald, Angela Lansbury and Thomas Sangster ... On May 30 Sony will release suspense-thriller "Freedomland," starring Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, Edie Falco, Ron Eldard, William Forsythe, Aunjanue Ellis, Anthony Mackie and LaTanya Richardson ... Two off-beat films are due June 20: Sled-dog lost-in-the-wilderness adventure "Eight Below," starring Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood and Jason Biggs, from Disney; and Russian comic book thriller "Night Watch," starring Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valeri Zolotukhin and Mariya Poroshina, in Russian and English-dubbed versions, from Fox ... On June 27 Sony will release the acclaimed French thriller "Cache" (Hidden), directed by Michael Haneke and starring Juliette Binoche, Daniel Auteuil, Maurice Benichou, Annie Girardot, Bernard Le Coq and Nathalie Richard. (Posted April 18)

DVD Collectibles:
Three fine boxed sets are due this week: "TCM Archives: The Laurel and Hardy Collection," a two-disc set with "The Devil's Brother" (aka "Fra Diavolo") (1933) and "Bonnie Scotland"(1935), both newly restored from original nitrate film elements. Extras include commentaries on both movies by Laurel and Hardy aficionados Richard W. Bann and Leonard Maltin; introductions by Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne; a 2002 TCM feature-length documentary "Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story," narrated by Chevy Chase and showcasing Laurel and Hardy, The Little Rascals, The Three Stooges and dozens of others; vintage Laurel and Hardy excerpts from feature films; and more. $39.92 from Warner ... "The Robert Altman Collection" is a four-disc set with the DVD premieres of "A Perfect Couple," "Quintet" and "A Wedding"; the fourth disc is a re-issue of "MASH"; $39.98 from Fox ... Also from Fox is the "William Shakespeare Compilation Box Set" with three William Shakespeare Tribute Special editions of "Titus" (1999), two-disc set; "Romeo + Juliet" (1996), two-disc set; and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1999) single disc; $24.98. The collection is timed for the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth (and death) on April 23.

Also due this week is Orson Welles' "Mr. Arkadin" (1955), starring Akim Tamiroff, Gregoire Aslan, Welles, Mischa Auer, Peter van Eyck, Michael Redgrave, in a beautifully packaged Criterion Collection edition with new, restored high-definition digital transfers of three different versions of the film; commentary by scholars Jonathan Rosenbaum and James Naremore; interviews with Welles biographer Simon Callow, star Robert Arden, radio producer Harry Alan Towers, director Peter Bogdanovich, and film archivists Stephan Droessler and Claude Bertemes; three half-hour episodes of the radio program "The Lives of Harry Lime," upon which the film is based; outtakes; rushes; alternate scenes; stills gallery and more. (Posted April 18)

From TV to Video:
Due this week: "Remington Steele: Season Three," a four-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "The Sentinel -- The Complete First Season" (1996), a three-disc set with 10 episodes, $42.99 from Paramount. (Posted April 18)

For the Kids:
"Dora the Explorer: Dora's First Trip" (2006) contains four animated episodes, $16.99 from Paramount ... "Thundercats: Season 2, Volume 1" is a six-disc set with the first 34 episodes of the final season of the Thundercats, $64.92 from Warner ... "Teenick Pics" (2005) includes five highly rated episodes from "Drake & Josh," "Ned's Declassified," "Zoey 101," "Romeo!" and "Unfabulous," $16.99 from Paramount. (Posted April 18)

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Irresistible" (2005) stars Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill and Emily Blunt in a thriller about a housewife who believes that one of her husband's female co-workers is stalking her family, from First Look Home Entertainment ... In "The Last Drop" (2005), a small unit of Allied soldiers go behind enemy lines in World War II Holland in an attempt to lay claim to a horde of Nazi gold, starring Billy Zane, Karel Roden, Michael Madsen and Tommy Flanagan, from First Look Home Entertainment ... "Americano" (2005) stars Joshua Jackson, Leonor Varela, Dennis Hopper, Timm Sharp and Ruthanna Hopper in a melodrama about a young man whose life is at an emotional crossroads in Spain during the famous Running of the Bulls at Pamplona, from MTI Home Video. (Posted April 18)

On the Indie Front:
Two films are due this week from Magnolia Home Entertainment: "Klepto" (2003), starring Meredith Bishop, Jsu Garcia, Leigh Taylor-Young, Henry Czerny and Michael Nouri in a thriller about a department store detective and a kleptomaniac who team up for a shady affair; and "Dead Bodies" (2003), a thriller about a young man who must dispose of his dead girlfriend's body, starring Andrew Scott, Kelly Reilly, Darren Healy, Katy Jones, Sean McGinley and Gerard McSorley. (Posted April 18)

Foreign:
From Wolfe Video comes "Unveiled" (2005 -- Germany), an acclaimed political drama about an Iranian lesbian who must live as a man in Germany to escape persecution back home, starring Jasmin Tabatabai, Navid Akhavan and Bernd Tauber ... "Games of Love & Chance" (2005 -- France) stars Osman Elkharraz and Sara Forestier in a moving drama about a group of teenagers living in the projects outside Paris and surviving in a world marginalized by society; the film has become even more relevant given the recent unrest in the French suburbs; from New Yorker Video. (Posted April 18)

Special Interest:
"Herbie Hancock: Possibilities" (2006) is an intimate behind-the-scenes documentary about jazz great Herbie Hancock and his in-studio collaborations with a dozen pop recording artists on his August 2005 album "Possibilities." The film -- also about Hancock's unique worldview and how it shapes a creative environment that encourages artists to step outside "the prison of easy expectations" -- follows Hancock over a year and a half collaborating with Carlos Santana, Sting, Angelique Kidjo, Annie Lennox and Paul Simon, young stars Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, Trey Anastasio and Jonny Lang and newcomers Joss Stone, Raul Midon, Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan. The film also includes rarely seen archival footage of Hancock with the Miles Davis Quintet in 1962; footage of him leading his Headhunters with their hit tune, "Chameleon"; Hancock's classic video for "Rockit"; and never-before-seen duets of Hancock and Wayne Shorter playing for peace in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2005 on the 60th anniversary of the atomic explosions. $26.98 from Magnolia Home Entertainment ... First Run Features has two interesting documentaries this week: "One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern," a documentary on McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign, a bold, grassroots, seat-of-the-pants campaign that energized young and progressive Americans to a degree never before seen, setting the table for today's powerful and sophisticated progressive movement. The film uses a wealth of amazing archival materials, interviews with provocative figures -- including historian Howard Zinn -- and extensive interviews with McGovern himself; $29.95; and "A Bigger Splash," a fascinating and intimate look at the life and times of artist David Hockney; $24.95 ... "Destination America" (2006) is a PBS documentary series that explores immigration to the U.S., narrated by Blair Brown, $24.99 from Paramount ... and Warner has put together a massive 15-disc collector's set on the New York Rangers" "NHL Original Six: New York Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup Champions" featuring all seven Conference Finals games and all seven Stanley Cup Finals games, $99.98. (Posted April 18)

Coming Soon:
Due May 30 is teen spoof "Date Movie," starring Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Jennifer Coolidge, Tony Cox, Fred Willard, Eddie Griffin and Carmen Electra, in PG-13 and unrated editions from Fox ... Warner will release the Harrison Ford actioner "Firewall," which also stars Paul Bettany and Virginia Madsen, on June 6 ... Two pleasant hits are due June 13: "Neal Young: Heart of Gold," Jonathan Demme's documentary on Young's pair of Prairie Wind concerts at Nashville's hallowed Ryman auditorium in the summer of 2005, from Paramount; and prequel "The Pink Panther," starring Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Henry Czerny and Kristin Chenoweth, from Sony ... On June 20 Fox will release the horror-thriller "The Hills Have Eyes," starring Michael Bailey Smith, Ted Levine, Kathleen Quinlan, Dan Byrd and Billy Drago, in R and unrated editions ... also on that day Sony will release the political documentary "Why We Fight," which examines -- for better of for worse -- the U.S.'s involvements in wars around the globe; extras include a "Military Industrial Complex: A Brief History of Time" featurette ... On June 27 Fox will release the romantic comedy "Imagine Me & You," starring Piper Perabo, Lena Headey, Matthew Goode, Celia Imrie and Anthony Head ... And, on July 25, New Line will release " Final Destination 3 Two-Disc Thrill Ride Edition," starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Merriman, Kris Lemche, Alexz Johnson, Sam Easton, Jesse Moss and Gina Holden. For the first time, a major studio has created a DVD that offers a true interactive movie experience: viewers can change the course of the movie and the fate of the characters by choosing story lines and creating new deaths, choosing from more that 15 minutes of new and alternate scenes in dozens of possible viewing combinations. There's also a 10-part making-of documentary, animated short "It's All Around You" that examines the statistical likelihood of death occurring in different situations, a "Dead Teenager Movie" featurette, and much more. (Posted April 11)

DVD Collectibles:
Fox has on hand this week the "Laurel and Hardy Giftset," a three-disc set with three of the boys most famous flicks: "The Big Noise" (1944), "Great Guns" (1941) and "Jitterbugs" (1943); $34.98 from Fox ... the folks at Disney have three cartoon compilations due this week: "Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites Volume 10: Best Pals Mickey and Minnie," "Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites Volume 11: Best Pals Donald and Daisy" and "Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites Volume 12: Best Pals Mickey and Pluto" each containing eight animated shorts, $14.99 per volume. (Posted April 11)

From TV to Video:
"Attack of the Sabretooth" is a 2005 Sci Fi Channel telefilm starring Natalie Avital, Nicholas Bell, Billy Aaron Brown, Robert Carradine and Cleopatra Coleman, from Lionsgate ... "The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Third Season" is a three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "In Living Color: Season Five" is a three-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy" is an Emmy-winning Masterpiece Theatre classic that portrays the human drama behind the historic events that ended British rule in India, starring Ian Richardson and A.K. Hangal, in a two-disc $39.99 set from Acorn Media. (Posted April 11)

For the Kids:
"Pooh's' Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin" is a 1997 feature-length animated adventure released to DVD from the Disney vaults in honor of author A.A. Milne's publication of the first "Pooh" story 80 years ago. The $29.99 DVD includes new games and a bonus musical featurette ... "Postcards From Buster: Buster's World of Sports" contains four sports-filled animated episodes, $14.99 DVD and $9.95 VHS from Paramount ... "Bratz Genie Magic" is the latest CGI-animated feature with the popular dolls; here Yasmin, Cloe, Sasha and Jade make friends with a teenage genie named Katia - with wild results; $19.98 from Fox ... "Spymate" (2003) is a family movie about a dashing chimp spy who tries to thwart the plans of an evil scientist and save a kidnapped child inventor; the live-action adventure stars Chris Potter, Emma Roberts, Richard Kind, Pat Morita and Barry Bostwick; $26.99 from Buena Vista. (Posted April 11)

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Mortuary" (2005) is a new horror-thriller from director Tobe Hooper about what befalls an unsuspecting family when they move into the abandoned Fowler Funeral Home and Mortuary; stars Dan Byrd and Denise Crosby. $26.99 from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. (Posted April 11)

On the Indie Front:
In "Little Fish" (2005) Cate Blanchett stars as a woman whose goal of starting a small business is thwarted by the return of her ex-boyfriend and the criminal intentions of her no-good brother; also stars Sam Neill, Hugo Weaving and Martin Henderson; $24.98 from First Look Home Entertainment. (Posted April 11)

Special Interest:
"Deep Blue" (2003) is a documentary exploration of the wonder and drama of the secret lives of aquatic creatures above, below, and far beneath the ocean's surface, $29.99 from Miramax ... "Corteo" (2006) is the latest phantasmagoria by Cirque du Soleil, released to coincide with the opening of "Corteo" in New York on April 25; $24.96 from Sony ... "The Fantastic World of M.C. Escher" (1980) is a fascinating documentary on the Dutch graphic artist who created optical illusions and distortions of space and time, $19.99 from Acorn Media ... With Sony's May release of "The Da Vinci Code" fast approaching, BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Limited has released two programs exploring the phenomenon: "Opus Dei and the Da Vinci Code" and "The Da Vinci Code: Where It All Began," $19.98 each ... "Shaquille O'Neal: Like No Other" (2006) is an inside look at one of the most dominating centers the NBA has ever seen; $24.98 from Warner ... "Empires: Great Religions" is a five-disc set of PBS documentaries: "Islam: Empire of Faith," "Martin Luther," "Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites," "Peter & Paul: The Making of the Christian Revolution" and "Warriors"; $89.99 from Paramount ... Two comedy DVDs shine this week: "Dave Attell's Insomniac Tour Uncensored" (2006) is a feature length Comedy Central film recorded at a Las Vegas stage show; $19.99 from Paramount; "David Spade: Take the Hit" (2005) is the comedian's first HBO solo stand-up special, $19.97 from HBO Video ... For wrestling fans there's "No Way Out," a three-hour compilation of Smack Down events including Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship, Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton, Chris Benoit vs. Booker T, and more; from World Wrestling Entertainment Home Video. (Posted April 11)

Coming Soon:
On May 16 Sony will release meek thriller "When a Stranger Calls," starring Camilla Belle as a very scared babysitter ... On June 6 Sony will release "Underworld Evolution," the action thriller sequel pitting vampires against werewolves, starring Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Tony Curran, Shane Brolly, Derek Jacobi and Bill Nighy; and modern-day Western "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada," directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones ... "The World's Fastest Indian," starring Anthony Hopkins as the New zealander who ran his motorcycle on the Bonneville Salt Flats to set a world land speed record, arrives June 13 from Magnolia Home Entertainment ... "End of the Spear," the harrowing true story of a group of missionaries slaughtered by Ecuador indians in the 1950s, is due June 13 from Fox. (Posted April 4)

DVD Collectibles:
"The Mel Brooks Box Set Collection" is an eight-disc set of the wacky director's films; five new-to-DVD: "High Anxiety," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "To Be or Not to Be," "The Twelve Chairs" and "Silent Movie"; and three previously released: "Young Frankenstein," "History of the World Part 1" and "Blazing Saddles"; $99.98 from Fox ... Anchor Bay will release three interesting titles this week: "The Anniversary" (1968), starring Bette Davis, Sheila Hancock, Jack Hedley, James Cossins and Christian Roberts; "The Long Good Friday" (1980) starring Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Dave King, Bryan Marshall, Derek Thompson, Eddie Constantine and Pierce Brosnan; and "Mona Lisa" (1986), starring Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine and Robbie Coltrane ... Koch Lorber Films will release two classics from Lina Wertmuller: "Seven Beauties" (1975), starring Giancarlo Giannini, Fernando Rey, Shirley Stoler, Elena Fiore, Piero Di Iorio and Enzo Vitale; and "Swept Away" (1974) starring Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato; both are restored and remastered ... and, finally, Universal will release sets of films by three film sirens: Carole Lombard, Mae West and Marlene Dietrich: "The Glamour Collection: Carole Lombard," a two-disc set with "Man of the World," 'We're Not Dressing," "Hands Across the Table," "Love Before Breakfast," "The Princess Comes Across" and "True Confession"; "The Glamour Collection: Mae West," a two-disc set with "Night After Night," "I'm No Angel," "Goin' to Town," "Go West Young Man" and "My Little Chickadee"; and "The Glamour Collection: Marlene Dietrich," a two-disc set with "Morocco," "Blonde Venus," "The Devil Is a Woman," "Flame of New Orleans" and "Golden Earrings"; $19.98 each. (Posted April 4)

From TV to Video:
" The A-Team: Season Four" is a three-disc set with 22 episodes, $37.98 from Universal ... "Category 7: The End of the World" is a 2005 telefilm starring Shannen Doherty, Randy Quaid, James Brolin, Robert Wagner, Swoosie Kurtz, Tom Skerritt and Gina Gershon, from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... "David Copperfield" (1974) is a two-disc set of the BBC miniseries starring David Yelland, Patience Collier and Colette O'Neil, from Koch Vision ... "Dawson's Creek: The Complete Sixth Season " is a four-disc set with 23 episodes, $49.95 from Sony ... "Full House: The Complete Third Season" is a four-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.95 from Sony ... "Knight Rider: Season Four" is a three-disc set with 21 episodes, $37.98 from Universal ... " Magnum P.I.: The Complete Fourth Season" is a three-disc set with 21 episodes, $37.98 from Universal ... "Star Trek: Fan Collective -- Time Travel features the top 10 most popular time travel episodes as picked by fans, from Paramount.

For the Kids:
Koch Vision will release two sets of "The Adventures of The Little Prince," the animated series that aired on Nick throughout the 1980s: "The Adventures of The Little Prince: The Perfect Planet" and "The Adventures of The Little Prince: The Star Gazer," each containing three episodes, $9.98 each ... "Garbage Pail Kids -- The Complete Series" is a two-disc set with all 13 episodes based on the popular "Garbage Pail Kids" trading cards phenomenon in the 1980s, $26.99 from Paramount. (Posted April 4)

Foreign:
"Ushpizin" is a heartwarming and humorous Israeli drama -- reportedly the first made by members of the Israeli ultra-Orthodox community -- about a married couple suffering through a financial crisis who get help from unexpected strangers, from New Line; in Yiddish and Hebrew with English subtitles ... "Kill Devil (Kill Onigokko)" (2004 -- Japan) is a frightening, violent, futuristic shocker involving teenagers who are unwilling participants in an experiment involving a "murder gene" in the year 2025; from AsiaVision. (Posted April 4)

Special Interest:
"Around the World in 72 Days" is a 2000 American Experience documentary about famous newspaper reporter Nellie Bly's exploits, including her 72-day trip around the world in 1890; $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Jean Michael Cousteau: Ocean Adventures" is a 2006 PBS documentary; $24.99 from Paramount ... "Patton Oswalt: No Reason to Complain" (2004) is an uncensored 42 minutes with Comedy Central's Patton Oswalt; $19.99 from Paramount ... "The Great War" (1964) is a three-disc set of the eight-part British series about WWI: "1914: To Arms," "1915: Death in Foreign Fields," "1916: Stalemate," "1917: The Breaking of Armies," "1918: Germany's Last Gamble," "Land Warfare Technology," "Air Power Technology" and "Sea Power Technology"; $29.98 from Koch Vision. (Posted April 4)

Coming Soon:
Due May 9 from Fox is sequel "Big Momma's House 2," starring Martin Lawrence ... On June 6 New Line will release actioner "Running Scared," starring Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Vera Farmiga, Chazz Palminteri and Johnny Messner ... "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen, Dash Mihok, Larry Miller, Rockmond Dunbar and Shannyn Sossamon, will arrive June 13 from Warner ... and, on June 27, Buena Vista will release "Annapolis," starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Donnie Wahlberg and Chi McBride. (Posted March 28)

DVD Collectibles:
Several fascinating collections are due this week. First off there's "3 Films by Louis Malle," a four-disc set with "Murmur of the Heart," "Lacombe, Lucien" and "Au Revoir Les Enfants," plus a fourth disc of supplements, exclusive to the box set; $79.95 set or $29.95 each; from The Criterion Collection ... next up is "Planet of the Apes: The Ultimate DVD Collection," a massive 14-disc set that includes all five original "Ape" films, the live-action TV series, the animated TV series, the 2001 "Ape" remake, plus oodles of extras, $179.98 from Fox ... also from Fox is "Planet of the Apes: Legacy Edition Box Set," which includes all five original "Ape" films plus a bonus disc with the documentary "Behind the Planet of the Apes" and other bonuses, $49.98 ... "The Horror of Party Beach/The Curse of the Living Corpse Double Feature" are two wild 1960s exploitation films in one package: "The Horror of Party Beach" (1963) with John Scott, Alice Lyon, Allan Laurel, Eulabelle Moore, Marilyn Clarke and Augustin Mayor; and "The Curse of the Living Corpse" (1963) with Roy Scheider, Candace Hilligoss, Helen Warren, Margot Hartman, Robert Milli and Hugh Franklin; from Dark Sky Films/MPI Home Video ... Also due this week is Vittoria De Sica's 1944)"The Children Are Watching Us." In his first collaboration with renowned screenwriter and longtime partner Cesare Zavattini, De Sica examines the cataclysmic consequences of adult folly on an innocent child. Heralding the pair's subsequent work on some of the masterpieces of Italian neorealism, "The Children Are Watching Us" is a deeply humane, vivid portrait of one family's disintegration. In a new, restored high-definition digital transfer with extras, from The Criterion Collection. (Posted March 28)

From TV to Video:
"The Andy Milonakis Show: Season 1" (2005) is a two-disc set of the MTV2 show, $26.99 from Paramount ... "Dark Shadows DVD Collection 23" is a four-disc set with 40 episodes, $59.98 from MPI Home Video... Three "Friends" compilations debut this week: "Friends: The One With All the Babies," "Friends: The One With All the Birthdays" and "Friends: The One With All the Weddings," each a single-disc with six themed episodes, $14.97 from Warner ... "Invisible Man, Season 1" is a single disc with 13 episodes of the 1950s TV series; $19.98 from Dark Sky Films/MPI Home Video ... "Knots Landing: The Complete First Season" is a five-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Little House on the Prairie" (2005) is the complete six-hour miniseries in a two-disc set, $29.99 from Buena Vista ... "Robot Chicken: Season 1" Is a two-disc set with 20 11-minute episodes, $29.98 from Warner ... "Tales of the Unexpected Set 4" is a three-volume set with 20 episodes, $39.99 from Acorn Media ... "The Triangle" (2005), the Sci Fi Channel miniseries starring Eric Stoltz, Catherine Bell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bruce Davison and Sam Neill, from Lionsgate ... "Wonder Showzen: Season 1 -- Uncensored" (2005) is a two-disc set of the MTV2 absurdist comedy/variety show, spiked with a team of puppets, kids,cartoons and old educational films, $26.99 from Paramount. (Posted March 28)

For the Kids:
Paramount will release this week three PBS Kids favorites to VHS and DVD: "Boohbah: Building Blocks," three episodes of magical adventures, "Caillou: The Everyday Hero," with four episodes packed with discovery and imagination, and "Teletubbies: Blue Sky," in which the Teletubbies go outside to play; $9.95 VHS and $14.99 DVD. Also from Paramount comes two all-time family favorites: "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (1969) and "Snoopy, Come Home," $14.99 each ... Sony has two DVDs of animated Godzilla adventures for younger boys: "Godzilla: The Series: Monster Mayhem" and "Godzilla: The Series: Mutant Madness"; each has three episodes and sells for $9.98. (Posted March 28)

On the Indie Front:
Sony will release this week "The Left Behind Collection," a three-disc set with all three faith-based films: "Left Behind: The Movie," "Left Behind II: Tribulation" and "Left Behind: World at War," $33.95 ... "Arizona" is a slick, award-winning look at teenage love and redemption as four teenagers -- two brothers and two sisters -- cross paths and find their lives intertwining; the directorial debut of Daniel & David M. M. Holechek; from Vanguard Cinema. (Posted March 28)

Foreign:
"The Gladiators" (1969 -- Sweden) is director Peter Watkins take on a future in which the U.N. organizes a series of televised military games -- to maintain international security -- based on the gladiatorial games of ancient Rome; the DVD includes commentary, "The Diary of an Unknown Soldier" Peter Watkins short film, Peter Watkins filmography, and a 12-page booklet with a new Peter Watkins interview; $29.95 from New Yorker ... "Kibakichi 2" (2006 -- Japan) is a fantasy horror film about a samurai werewolf who helps a blind girl and her small village seek revenge on a murdering madman; $24.95 from MTI Home Video ... "Exils" (2004 -- French) is a seductive road movie about a young Arabic couple who leave Paris with no money or connections to travel to Algeria in search of their roots; $24.99 from Home Vision Entertainment. (Posted March 28)

Special Interest:
"American Muscle Car, Season 1" relieves the glory days of the most outrageous cars to ever hit the streets in a two-disc set with 12 episodes, $29.98; single discs are also available with two episodes at $9.98 each: '64 Pontiac GTO and Pontiac GTO Judge, '53-'62 Chevrolet Corvette and Chevrolet Camaro SS 396, '64 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt and the Shelby Mustangs, Buick Gran Sport and Oldsmobile 442, Chevrolet Chevelle SS and Chevrolet Impala 409, Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda/Dodge Hemi Challenger and Chevrolet Nova SS; from MPI Home Video ... "Galileo's Battle for the Heavens" is a NOVA documentary on scientist Galileo Galilei's incredible achievements that forever changed the way we view our place in the universe, $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Genius: The Science of Einstein, Newton, Darwin, and Galileo" is a four-disc set of NOVA biographies: "Einstein's Big Idea," "Newton's Dark Secrets," "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" and "Galileo's Battle for the Heavens"; $49.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Plymptons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton" (1990) is a journey through political-cartoonist-turned-animator George Plympton's canvas of animation, from his first film created during his college days, "Self Portrait," to the Academy Award-nominated "Your Face," his first solo effort; $26.95 from Docurama ... "TransGeneration" (2005) is an eight-part miniseries on four students transitioning from their birth sex, $29.95 from Docurama ... "Walking the Bible" (2005) is a PBS documentary series that follows award-winning author and host Bruce Feiler through 10 countries and four war zones as he searches for traces of the great biblical heroes, $39.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Ballroom Dancing Made Easy!" is a step-by-step guide to learning the waltz, quick step, tango, cha cha and jive, hosted by Angela Rippon and professional dance coach and European champion Ian Waite, $19.98 from BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Ltd. (Posted March 28)

Coming Soon:
Universal will release on April 4 "Brokeback Mountain," directed by Ang Lee and starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal ... Due April 18 is "Mrs. Henderson Presents," a delightful period piece about a nude theatre company during the London blitzkrieg, directed by Stephen Frears and starring Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Will Young, Kelly Reilly, Thelma Barlow and Christopher Guest, from the Weinstein Co. ... Wayne Wang's comedy "Last Holiday," starring Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Giancarlo Esposito, Alicia Witt, Gerard Depardieu and Jane Adams, will arrive May 2 from Paramount ... and on May 23 the Weinstein Co. will release "Transamerica," starring Academy Award winner Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Elizabeth Pena, Graham Greene and Burt Young. (Posted March 21)

DVD Collectibles:
Due this week is Warner Bros. "The Busby Berkeley Collection," with five Busby Berkeley classics meticulously restored and remastered from original nitrate camera negatives and optical soundtracks. Included are "Gold Diggers of 1933," "Footlight Parade," "Dames," "Gold Diggers of 1935" (all new to DVD), "42nd Street" (repackaged) and "The Busby Berkeley Disc," a nearly three-hour compendium of the unique musical extravaganzas created by Berkeley during his Warner Bros. years; $59.92. Only "42nd Street" remains available individually for $14.95.

"42nd Street" (1933) represents Berkeley's first major cinematic masterpiece. Warner Baxter stars as stage director Julian Marsh, pressured by the threat of an impending early demise, to create one last great Broadway hit. The quintessential 'put-on-a-show' plot spins merrily, full of snappy banter with then-newcomers Ruby Keeler (her film debut), Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. Soon after 42nd Street, Warner Bros. released "Gold Diggers of 1933," a sensational Depression-lifting production. Mervyn Le Roy directed the non-musical portions involving three wonderfully silly love matches (including Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler). Berkeley brings his peerless magic to the production numbers, including the pre-production code, sexually suggestive "Pettin' in the Park," the stunning spectacle of "The Shadow Waltz" and the remarkably provocative and frank "Remember My Forgotten Man." The film is probably best known for opening up with a close-up of lovely Ginger Rogers and her leggy dancing chorus girls in giant coins singing "We're in the Money." "Footlight Parade" (1933) is one of Berkeley's greatest extravaganzas. The frequent Berkeley cast of stars including Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell has to take less of the spotlight due to the bravura performance of triple-threat James Cagney, making his musical film debut. Cagney was one of the hottest actors of the era, known for his portrayal of fast-talking, hard-boiled gangsters and tough guys. However, Cagney got his start in vaudeville years earlier, not only singing, but dancing in a way that was surely his own. One of the highlights of the film is the utterly sensational "By a Waterfall," a show-stopping, imagination-bending production number that includes a revolving wedding cake fountain, an elaborate aquacade of 100 bathing-suited girls and a 20,000-gallon-per-minute waterfall. In "Dames" (1934), Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler again star in a tale of stage hopefuls, this time running up against a disapproving decency group. Berkeley reinvents filmmaking with a subway dream ("I Only Have Eyes for You"), a staggeringly kaleidoscopic arrangement of showgirls in black tights ("Dames"), and other bravura imaginings. In "Gold Diggers of 1935" Dick Powell stars as a desk clerk who agrees to be a gentlemanly escort for the sheltered daughter (Gloria Stuart) of a wealthy widow. Considered a sequel of sorts to "Gold Diggers of 1933," this film contains some of Berkeley's most unusual and accomplished musical sequences -- "The Words Are in my Heart" featuring rows of twirling baby grand pianos and, what is likely Berkeley's greatest masterpiece, literally a 16 minute film-within-a film, the unforgettable "Lullaby of Broadway," which features vocals by Powell and Wini Shaw, and is highlighted by a heart-stopping sequence of more than 150 dancers tapping their way into musical legend. "The Busby Berkeley Disc" Compilation contains more than 20 complete musical numbers from nine Warner Bros. films of the 1930s, including several rarities.

Also due this week: From Paramount comes Billy Wilder's "Stalag 17 Special Collector's Edition" (1953), starring William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss, Harvey Lembeck, Richard Erdman, Peter Graves, Neville Brand, Sig Ruman and Gil Stratton. The disc includes commentaries and featurettes ... Paramount also will release "The Ten Commandments: Anniversary Collection" (1956), Cecil B. DeMille's opus starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, John Derek, Cedric Hardwicke, Nina Foch, Martha Scott, Judith Anderson, Vincent Price and John Carradine, in a three-disc set loaded with extras. The third disc includes the complete restored and remastered 1923 silent DeMille "The Ten Commandments" (starring Theodore Roberts, Charles de Rochefort and Estelle Taylor) with a featurette of hand-tinted footage from the film's Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea sequences. (Posted March 21)

From TV to Video:
"The Best of Unsolved Mysteries" is a three-disc set with 36 of the best segments plus a fourth disc of "Treasures" segments; $29.98 from First Look Home Entertainment ... "Bewitched: The Complete Third Season" is a four-disc set with 33 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "The Flying Nun: The Complete First Season" is a four-disc set with 30 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Gidget: The Complete Series" is a four-disc set with 32 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Huff: The Complete First Season" is a four-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Mind of Mencia: Season One -- Uncensored" (2005) is a two-disc set, $29.99 from Paramount ... "Over There: The Complete Series" is a four-disc set with all 13 episodes of the 2005 series, $39.98 from Fox ... "Six Feet Under: The Complete Fifth Season," a five-disc set with 12 episodes, $99.98 from HBO Home Video ...
"South Park: The Complete Seventh Season" (2005) is a three-disc set with 15 episodes, $49.99 from Paramount ... "Taggart: Killer Set" and "Taggart: Death Call Set" are compilations from the longest-running police detective drama on British television, set in Glasgow and featuring Scotland's Chief Inspector Jim Taggart; each three-disc set sells for $49.98, from BFS Entertainment & Multimedia ... "Tales From the Crypt: The Complete Third Season" is a three-disc set with 14 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Unsolved Mysteries: The Ultimate Collection" is a 25-disc set comprising all six "Unsolved Mysteries" boxed sets (UFOs, Ghosts, Miracles, Psychics, Bizarre Murders and Strange Legends, plus a bonus Treasures disc) in a collectible "treasure chest" box, $129.98, from First Look Home Entertainment ... "The White Shadow Season Two" is a four-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "The Young Riders Season 1" is a five-disc set with 24 episodes, $59.95 from Sony). (Posted March 21)

For the Kids:
"Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Fred's Birthday" (2006) contains four episodes of the popular Nick show, $16.99 from Paramount ... For older kids there's "Batman Beyond: Season 1," a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $26.99 from Warner and "Justice League: The Animated Series Season 1," a four-disc set with 26 episodes, $44.98, also from Warner ... The latest installment of the series