The Yes Men Fix the World
(2009) Documentary follows two gonzo political activists from New Orleans to NYC to India as they pull off the world's most outrageous pranks, getting even with corporate greed-mongers. Read more about "The Yes Men Fix the World" in the April Calendar.Extras: Deleted scenes; additional actions and videos: More footage of Yes Men antics including "The Horribly Stupid Stunt Which Led to his Untimely Death," a 24-minute short film in which the Yes Men pose as the World Trade Organization in this legendary stunt; filmmaker biography. (Docurama).
April 6
Ally McBeal Season Two
(1998-99) Six-disc set with 23 episodes, $39.98. (Fox).
The Awakening of Spring
(2008) Jon Aniston, Victoria Tennant, Alex Schemmer, Jesse Lee Sofer. Coming-of-age and sexual awakening story based on the 1891 play by German playwright Frank Wedekind (and which the Broadway musical "Spring Awakening" was based). (E1 Entertainment).
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
(2009) Dir.: Werner Herzog; Stars: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk, Jennifer Coolidge, Vondie Curtis Hall, Shawn Hatosy, Denzel Whitaker, Xzibit, Katie Chonacas, Brad Dourif. Read more about "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" in the April Calendar.Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (First Look).
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Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series Box Set
Twenty-five-disc set. (Universal).
Black Crescent Moon
(2008) William Atherton, Joanne Baron, Gil Bellows, Bob Bledsoe, Brent Briscoe. A small town sheriff who's investigating a murder at the local diner ends up finding more than he bargained for in the town and in himself. (Monarch Home Video).
The Collector
(2009) Josh Stewart, Karley Scott Collins, Juan Fernandez, Jabari Thomas, Colvin Roberson, Michael Reilly Burke. Read more about "The Collector" in the April Calendar.Extras: Alternate ending, deleted scenes, soundtrack song preview, commentary, music video. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Genius Products/Vivendi Entertainment).
Dirt! The Movie
(2009) Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, this documentary tells the story of humans trying to re-connect to dirt -- the living skin of the earth. Dirt feeds us and gives us shelter. Dirt holds and cleans our water. Dirt heals us and makes us beautiful. Dirt regulates the earth's climate. Why do we humans ignore, abuse, and destroy our most precious living natural resource? Traveling from the vineyards of California to the plains of Kenya, "Dirt!" reveals how repairing our relationship with dirt can create new possibilities for all life on earth. $26.95. Extras: Extended animations, bonus scenes, interviews, filmmaker biography. (Docurama).
Dolan's Cadillac
(2010) Wes Bentley, Emmanuelle Vaugie, Christian Slater. Based on a Stephen King short story. A man seeks revenge for his wife's death at the hands of a Las Vegas mobster; a modern day twist on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." Extras: "Behind the Wheel of Dolan's Cadillac" making-of featurette, B-roll footage. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (National Entertainment Media).
Elmo: Love the Earth; Elmo: Being Green
(2010) Two Sesame Street eco-conscious and Earth-friendly DVDs, $14.98 each. (Warner).
Finn on the Fly
(2009) Ryan Belleville, Ana Gasteyer. Disney Channel movie about a young boy whose world is turned upside down when his dog is transformed into a flea scratchin', cat chasin', frisbee lovin' human in a genetic experiment gone awry. (E1 Entertainment).
Harlem Aria
(1999) Damon Wayans, Christian Camargo, Gabriel Casseus. A street musician takes care of a young man conned out of his life savings by a hustler and, discovering that he has an amazing singing talent, attempts to keep him safe from exploitation. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
High Plains Invaders
(2009) James Marsters, Sebastian Knapp, Cindy Sampson. The hanging of honorable Indian-fighter Sam Phoenix in a small Western town is cut short by the unexpected invasion of uranium-based insectoid creatures, forcing Sam and a small band of survivors to take refuge in a church, where they'll need more than a prayer and a pistol to survive the Wild West landscape inundated by a killer force of alien pioneers. Another in the Syfy Channel "Maneater Series." (Vivendi Entertainment).
The Icons of Suspense Collection Presents Hammer Films
Six-disc set of British Hammer films: The uncut version of the futuristic classic "These Are the Damned" (aka The Damned, 1963), directed by Joseph Losey; "Cash on Demand" (1961), starring Peter Cushing and Andre Morell; "The Snorkel" (1958), about a young girl who can't convince anyone her stepfather is a murderer; the-Val Guest directed psychodrama "Stop Me Before I Kill!" (aka The Full Treatment, 1960); "Maniac" (1963), in which Kerwin Matthews finds himself in the middle of a strange mother/daughter threesome; plus the rarity, Cyril Frankel's astounding "Never Take Candy From a Stranger" (aka Never Take Sweets from a Stranger, 1960), a serious chiller about a small town terrorized by an elderly child molester. $24.96. (Sony).
I'm No Dummy
(2009) Documentary explores and examines the world of ventriloquism through clips, photos and interviews with many of the greatest vents from today and yesterday, illustrating that this perceived novelty act is truly an extraordinary art form. $19.98. (Salient Media).
Loins of Punjab Present
(2007) Shabana Azmi, Ayesha Dharker, Ajay Naidu. Six contestants in a small New Jersey town -- five Indian-Americans and one Jewish Indophile -- step up to the mic to compete for the title of Desi Idol, a Bollywood-style singing contest, in this affectionate, yet barbed satire on the Indian-American community. Two-disc set. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews, music videos, short films, more. (IndiePix).
The Lord of the Rings
(1978) Ralph Bakshi. $29.99. Ralph Bakshi's literal adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings," is brought to the screen. Remastered. Two-disc set.Extras: Featurette with legendary director Ralph Bakshi: "Forging Through The Darkness: The Ralph Bakshi Vision for The Lord of the Rings" Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
Murder.com
(2008) Alexandra Paul, David Chokachi, Robyn Lively, Bart Johnson. A lawyer investigating the mysterious death of her sister uncovers an online dating site that promotes kinky sex -- and may lead her to her sister's killer. (E1 Entertainment).
My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths
(2009) New full-length adventure for pre-schoolers. A magical shooting star lands in Rabbit's Garden, transforming the vegetables into super-sized power-granting produce that give Pooh, Tigger and the rest of the gang surprising superhero powers, which they use -- as the Super Sleuths -- to help friends all over the Hundred Acre Wood. $26.99. Extras: "Darby Gets Lemons, Makes Lemonade/Dancing With Darby" episode of the series; Discovery Mode Interactive Feature with three ways to watch and play. (Disney).
Party Down: Season 1
(2009) Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.97. Extras: "Party Down: A Look Behind the Scenes," "What Is Party Down" featurette, gag reel, outtakes, commentaries. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Sharpe's Peril
(2010) Sean Bean returns as Lt. Col. Richard Sharpe in this British action-adventure film that premiere's on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre in April. >Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (BBC/Warner).
Simon & Simon: Season Four
(1984-85) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.97. (Shout! Factory).
Strictly Ballroom Special Edition
(1992) Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson, Gia Carides. Baz Luhrmann's ("Romeo + Juliet," "Moulin Rouge") funny take on championship ballroom dancing. Extras: New featurette "Strictly Ballroom: From Stage to Screen," design galleries, deleted scene, "Samba to Slow Fox" dance featurette, commentary by director/co-writer Baz Luhrmann, production designer and co-costumer Catherine Martin, and choreographer John (Cha Cha) O'Connell. (Miramax).
Taxidermia
(2006 -- Hungary) Csaba Czene, Gergo Trocsanyi, Mark Bischoff. A surrealistic journey through the lives of three generations of Hungarian men: a dim grandfather who seeks gratification in extreme ways; an obese father, a competitive speed eater in the post-war pro-Soviet era who may or may not have exploded from over-eating; and a grandson, a meek taxidermist who yearns for immortality. (E1 Entertainment).
The Weathered Underground
(2010) Brea Grant, Michael Ciriaco, Efren Ramirez. An interactive DVD that plays like a video version of the "Choose Your Own Adventure Books." The story follows 21-year-old Eric, a struggling musician who works a side job and just broke up with the greatest love of his life, the somewhat insane yet adorable Liz. The viewer must guide Eric through one insane evening with criminals, drugs and damsels while deciding whether he will win back his girl or crumble into moral decay. Viewers can use their remote or mouse (online) to control the story, ultimately choosing redemption or debauchery. The story opens with the choice of: Should Eric go to work or a bar, and things spiral out of control from there. Featuring over 30 different endings and 1,000 choices, the film can be viewed for up to four hours without getting the same plot line. Each chosen vignette is pretty short (running less than 20 minutes) giving you plenty of time to go back and redo your choices to see another outcome. A bit artsy at time (with colorization and animation) and there is some amateurish posturings on slackerdom and moral philosophy, but all-in-all an enjoyable outing -- and it should make a great gift for the video fanatic in your midst. (Indican Pictures).
Yesterday Was a Lie
(2008) Kipleigh Brown, John Newton, Chase Masterson, Mik Scriba. Modern noir-type thriller has a woman with a sharp mind and a weakness for bourbon on the trail of a reclusive genius. Her work takes a series of unforeseen twists as events around her grow increasingly fragmented, disconnected and surreal as she's plunged into a complicated and mind-bending world of mysterious secrets and figures. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews, photo gallery, eight-page preview of the graphic novel. (E1 Entertainment).
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April 13
Crazy on the Outside
(2010) Dir.: Tim Allen; Stars Tim Allen, Kelsey Grammer, Sigourney Weaver, Ray Liotta, Jeanne Tripplehorn, J.K. Simmons, Julie Bowen. When Tommy (Allen) gets released from prison for taking the rap for his best friend, he discovers life on the outside is even crazier than it was behind bars: His eccentric sister won't get off his back, his sexy ex-girlfriend won't leave him alone, and his former partner in crime won't take no for an answer. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Creature of Darkness
(2009) Devon Sawa, Sanoe Lake, Matthew Lawrence, Fernanda Romero, Kevin Alejandro. A man's nightmare of dying a horrible death in the claws of a rampaging creature come true when he goes on an off-road cycling trip with friends. (MTI Home Video).
Dallas: The Complete Thirteenth Season
(1989-90) Three-disc set with 27 episodes, $39.98. (Warner).
Defendor
(2009) Woody Harrelson, Sandra Oh, Kat Dennings, Elias Koteas, Michael Kelly. Comedy-drama about a regular man who takes on a superhero persona in order to combat crime in his local city. Arthur Poppington (Harrelson) doesn't need superpowers or fancy toys to fight crime. Armed only with a childlike sense of wonder and his quirky arsenal of cheap, homemade gadgets, he becomes Defendor, and finds an unexpected partner when he rescues and falls for a local prostitute. Can the two of them take down the city's most fearsome crime boss without getting killed in the process? Extras: Commentary by Harrelson, Dennings and the filmmakers; five featurettes; deleted scenes; outtakes. (Sony).
Dora the Explorer: Explore the Earth!
(2010) Dora and Boots embark on colorful adventures across the globe, from the South Pole, to rain forests, to tropical beaches, giving kids the opportunity to learn all about our big, beautiful planet Earth. Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment. $16.99. (Paramount).
Emergency! Season Six
(1976-77) Five-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).
Essential Art House: Volume Five
These elegant, movie-only DVD editions of the true classics of art-house cinema are a practical, lower-cost alternative to the more elaborate Criterion Collection special editions. Available individually or in box sets of six, Essential Art House editions are the touchstones of world cinema, and feature beautiful digital transfers, accompanied by informative liner notes. Volume Five includes David Lean's "Brief Encounter" (1945), Federico Fellini's "8 1/2" (1963), Yasujiro Ozu's "Floating Weeds" (1959), Francois Truffaut's "Jules and Jim" (1962), Gillo Pontecorvo's "Kapo" (1959) and Milos Forman's "Loves of a Blonde (1965); $19.95 each or $99.95 for the six-film boxed set. (The Criterion Collection).
Gone With the Wind: The Scarlett Edition
(1939) Dir.: Victor Fleming; Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Thomas Mitchell, Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, George Reeves, Fred Crane, Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen, Victor Jory. Extras: Eight hours of extras including "Moviola: The Scarlett O'Hara Wars" 1980 WBTV Special, "Gone With the Wind: The Legend Lives On" featurette, "Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Presents 1939 Hollywood's Greatest Year" documentary narrated by Kenneth Branagh. A "Gone With the Wind: Special Edition" two-disc set is also available that includes the two-hour documentary "The Making of a Legend." Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds the six-hour documentary "MGM: When the Lion Roars."
Gone With the Wind: Making of a Legend
(1989) (Warner).
The Great Mouse Detective: Mystery in the Mist Edition
(1986) Voices of Vincent Price, Melissa Manchester, Barrie Ingham. The world's greatest sleuth dons his miniature deerstalker hat and puts his extraordinary deductive ability into animated action as the renowned Basil of Baker Street takes on his archenemy, the evil genius Dr. Ratigan, and this time the battle is for the entire city of London. Inspired by the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes, "The Great Mouse Detective: Mystery in the Mist Edition" marks the directing
debut of now legendary filmmakers Ron Clements and John Musker, creators of such
Disney animated blockbusters as "The Princess and the Frog," "The Little Mermaid" and
"Aladdin." Extras: "You Think You Can Sleuth?" is an animated look at the history of detective work, complete with a crime-solving puzzle for the entire family; "The Making of The Great Mouse Detective"; "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" sing-along song. $19.99. (Disney).
The Grind
(2009) C. Thomas Howell, Tom Sizemore, Tanya Allen, Michael Welch, Danny Trejo, Eve Mauro.
A seedy grifter who owes money to the Mexican Mob cooks up one final scheme to pay off his debt or be killed -- getting a local loan shark to advance him cash to start a Hot All-Girl Website. Unfortunately, the girls run off with the money, people start dying and all hell breaks loose. The movie starts out with a long, ponderous chase scene that goes on and on and on, culminating with a hand being forced into a running garbage disposal -- and then goes downhill after that. (Indican Pictures).
John Deere Earth Mover Action
(2010) A tribute to big earth-moving machines -- excavators, front-end loaders, graders, scrapers, backhoes -- for kids and adults 3 and older. In addition to segments about plowing snow in the Rockies and powerful earth-moving action, there's stop-action segments featuring die-cast toys mining candy at the Big Rock Candy mountain Quarry, sing-alongs, and a "Let's Pretend" game. $14.95. (TM Books & Video).
The Korean
(2008) Josiah D. Lee, Jennifer Voss, John Yost, Jack Erdie, Rik Billok, Rose Smith. A big city mob boss is betrayed by four criminal associates who disappear with his loot, his girl and more importantly, his pride. With only hours until his arrest, he calls in the deadliest "cleaner" on the Eastern seaboard to track them down and finish them. Now the four of them hole up in Pittsburgh and try to turn the tables on the man known only by the moniker "The Korean." (Indican Pictures).
The Madeline Movie: Lost In Paris
(1999) Animated feature based on the classic Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans, with the voices of Jason Alexander, Lauren Bacall, Christopher Plummer and Andrea Libman. $14.99. (Shout! Factory).
The Missing Person
(2009) Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Margaret Colin, Linda Emond, Yul Vazquez, John Ventimiglia. A private detective hired to tail a man on a train from Chicago to Los Angeles discovers that the man is one of the missing presumed dead after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. (Strand Releasing).
Pirate Radio
(2009) Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Sturridge, Jack Davenport, Ralph Brown, Chris O'Dowd, January Jones.
Read more about "Pirate Radio" in the April Calendar.Extras: Commentary by write-director Richard Curtis, producer Hilary Bevan Jones and actors Nick Frost and Chris O'Dowd; deleted scenes. Blue-ray Disc adds six featurettes: "Tuning In," about the enormous influence pirate radio had in the U.K. in the 1960s; "7" OF HEAVEN," about the life-changing effects of the music of the 1960s; "All at Sea," about the fun and perils of filming at sea; "Getting Ship Shape"; "Hitting the Decks"; "Mark's Love Den"; BD-Live; Pocket Blu. (Universal).
Plunder: The Crime of Our Time
(2010) A hard-hitting investigative film that explores how the current financial crisis was built on a foundation of criminal activity. America's financial crisis has become a global catastrophe. Everyone is still debating how to fix it, what caused it and who is to blame for the loss of trillions in personal wealth and shareholder value. While politicians and some experts blame "mistakes" and "errors" driven by greed or poor business models, veteran journalist Danny Schechter has probed more deeply into a complex web of fraud and crime that he shows played a major, if largely unreported, role in bringing the economy down. The film looks into how the crisis developed, from the mysterious collapse of Bear Stearns to the shadowy world of trillion dollar hedge funds. Insiders who work in the industry and know it well tell both of these stories. "Plunder" also shows how hastily arranged government bailouts did not revive the economy and may have lost billions. To tell this eye-opening story, Schechter spoke with bankers, respected economists, insider experts, top journalists including Paul Krugman, and even a convicted white-collar criminal, Sam Antar, who blows the whistle on intentionally dishonest practices. Ultimately, the film calls for a full investigation and structural reforms of financial institutions to insure accountability by the white-collar perpetrators who profited from the misery of their victims. $19.98. (The Disinformation Co.).
The Slammin' Salmon
(2009) Michael Clarke Duncan, Will Forte, Vivica A. Fox, Morgan Fairchild. Comedy from the Broken Lizard moviemaking comedy group. A former heavyweight boxing champ turned restaurant owner (Duncan), indebted to the Japanese mob, challenges his waiters to sell more food in one night than they've ever sold before -- or face a pummeling by the Champ. Extras: Two commentaries, "Hellish Kitchens: Art Imitates Restaurant Life" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
Stoic
(2009) Edward Furlong, Shaun Sipos. A group of nonviolent criminals locked in a single prison cell, where claustrophobia and paranoia threaten to steal their sanity, witness a shocking death and a mysterious cover-up. (Vivendi Entertainment).
Tenure
(2009) Luke Wilson, Gretchen Mol, David Koechner, Sasha Alexander, Bob Gunton. An inspiration to students, Charlie Thurber is up for tenure at Gray College, but a low tolerance for out-of-class expectations and a notable lack of political skills have kept his career on the slow track. With the help of his well-meaning, Sasquatch-hunting best friend, Charlie goes out on a limb to prove his worth to the university, but his plans are unexpectedly threatened by the arrival of a hotshot new female faculty member up for his job -- who he happens to fall for. Extras: Deleted scenes, blooper reel. (Vivendi Entertainment).
Tom and Jerry Tales: The Complete First Season
(2009) Two-disc set with 13 episodes, nine never-before-seen on TV, of the animated series that features contemporary adventures of the beloved cat and mouse team. $19.98. (Warner).
We Believe
(2009) Documentary -- with a veritable who's who cast of Chicagoans -- explores the extraordinary love affair between the city of Chicago and its baseball team, the Cubs. Narrated by Chicago native Gary Sinise. Among those interviewed are Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Bob Costas, Dennis Franz, Jeff Garlin, legendary Blues musician Buddy Guy, Hugh Hefner, Bonnie Hunt, Joe Mantegna, George Will and rare interviews with Bud Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball and Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago.
Extras: interviews, deleted scenes. (Virgil Films & Entertainment).
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April 20
Adopt a Sailor
(2008) Bebe Neuwirth, Peter Coyote, Ethan Peck. Comedy about a self-involved NYC couple who "adopt" a quiet young sailor from Turkey during Fleet Week. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela
(2008 -- Iceland) Raquela Rios, Stefan C. Schaefer, Olivia Galudo, Brax Villa. Raquela is a transsexual (or "ladyboy") from the Philippines who dreams of escaping the ghetto streets of Cebu City for a fairy tale life in Paris. In order to make her dreams come true, she turns from prostitution toward the more lucrative business of Internet porn, where her success as a porn star brings new friends, travels to Iceland and gets ready for a possible rendezvous in Paris. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, making-of featurette, Queen Raquela music video. (E1 Entertainment).
Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures
(2010) Eleven clay animated adventures from Sesame Street's new TV series, $12.99. (Warner).
Big Heart City
(2008) Shawn Andrews, Desi Lydic, Jake Alston, Seymour Cassel. Frank Polowski returns from jail to the cracked concrete fringes of industrial Los Angeles to pick up the pieces of his interrupted life, conning his way into a warehouse job. But the girl he expected to be waiting for him is long gone and he sets out on a journey to find her, a journey of lost souls searching for their place in a hardscrabble world. (Vanguard Cinema).
The Bill Cosby Show: Season Two
(1970-71) Four-disc set with 26 episodes, available only at ShoutFactoryStore.com. Extras: New interview with Bill Cosby. (Shout! Factory).
Bump In the Night: The Complete Series
(1994-1995) Four-disc set with 26 episodes from the classic Saturday morning cartoon series, available only at ShoutFactoryStore.com. Extras: "Twas the Night Before Bumpy" hour-long Christmas special, Karaoke Cafe. (Shout! Factory).
The Blue Tooth Virgin
(2009) Austin Peck, Bryce Johnson, Amber Benson. Karen Black. An aspiring screenwriter and a successful magazine editor have been friends for years, but when one gives the other's latest screenplay negative feedback, a fissure is opened in their friendship that spreads through the rest of their lives. The truth hurts in this comedy of manners. Extras: Cast and crew commentary, interviews. (E1 Entertainment).
Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This
(2010) Documentary follows the comedy duo as they reunite for the "Cheech and Chong Light Up America and Canada Tour." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Vivendi Entertainment/The Weinstein Company).
Citizen Duane
(2006) Vivica A. Fox, Devon Dostick, Donal Logue, Douglas Smith. Comedy about a teenaged Don Quixote born into a family of spectacular failures who runs for mayor of his tiny home town. (MTI Home Video).
Cloud 9
(2009 -- Germany) Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg, Horst Westphal. The provocative story of a seductive love affair at a golden age. Set in East Berlin, this is the groundbreaking, lyrical and moving story of Inge (Ursula Werner), a 67-year old married woman who rediscovers passion and her sexuality when she unexpectedly falls in love with 76 year-old Karl (Horst Westphal). Winner of a host of international awards. (Music Box Films).
Crazy Heart
(2009) Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Sarah Jane Morris Read more about "Crazy Heart" in the April Calendar.Extras: Deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which includes deleted scenes, alternate music cuts, commentary by Bridges, Gyllenhaal and Duvall, digital copy. (Fox)
Crimes of Fashion
(2004 -- TV) Kaley Cuoco, Megan Fox. A young woman at a fashion school inherits the family business from a grandfather she never knew, skyrocketing from nobody to a mob boss. An ABC Family original movie. (Image Entertainment).
Deadly Impact (aka To Live and Die)
(2010) Sean Patrick Flanery, Joe Pantoliano, Amanda Wyss. A police officer with a painful past returns home to help the FBI track down the mastermind assassin who shattered his life; this time the murderer is out to terrorize the entire city. Unrated. (MGM).
Earth Days
(2009) Profiles of the pioneers of the modern environmental movement, including former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall; biologist/"Population Bomb" author Paul Ehrlich; "Whole Earth Catalogue" founder Stewart Brand; Apollo Nine astronaut Rusty Schweickart; and renewable energy pioneer Hunter Lovin. $24.99. (PBS).
Falcon Crest: The Complete First Season
(1981-82) Four-disc set with 18 episodes, $39.98. (Warner).
44 Inch Chest
(2009) Ray Winstone, Joanne Whalley, Melvil Poupaudm John Hurt, Ian McShane, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Dillane. Colin Diamond has just learned of his wife's infidelity and with the help of his friends -- a motley crew of ex-thugs and thug hopefuls -- he kidnaps his wife's lover and submits him to a kangaroo court form of justice. Extras: Commentary by director Malcolm Venville, interview with Venville, making-of featurette, epilogues. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List
(2010) Frank Zappa published a record of his most important influences on the inside cover of his debut album and it became a road map to the music he was to make over the following 40 years. Even in the early 1990s, when asked about his most-loved composers, musicians and artists, he would repeat names from this, by then legendary, index. This film explores the musical roots of Frank Zappa by putting "The Freak Out List" under the microscope and tracing the lineage from the most pivotal names on the list to the recordings and performances of the man himself. Features rare footage of Zappa and the Mothers plus archive film of "Freak Out List" artists, exclusive interviews with The Mothers Of Invention's Ian Underwood, Don Preston and George Duke, 1950s Doo Wop legends The Cadillacs, contributions from Zappa biographers Ben Watson and Greg Russo, Edgar Varese biographer Alan Clayson, experimental modern music historian professor David Nicholls, soul and R'n'B expert Robert Pruter and many others. $19.95. (Sexy Intellectual/MVD Visual).
Handy Manny: Big Race
(2010) New animated feature. Start your engines and get ready for Manny (Wilmer Valderrama) and Elliot (Lance Bass), who team up to build a fabulous race car to enter into the Wood Valley 500 race. However, with the pressure of the race approaching, Elliot decides he's not quite ready to take the wheel and bows out. It's up to Manny to put his driving skills to the test in an attempt to reach the checkered flag and win the race for the team. features the voice of NASCAR champ Dale Earnhardt Jr. For preschoolers age 2-5. $19.99. (Disney).
Heartland: The Complete First Season
(2007-08) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98. (E1 Entertainment).
Heartland: The Complete Second Season
(2008-09) Five-disc set with 18 episodes, $39.98. (E1 Entertainment).
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys -- Season 1
(1995) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $26.98. (Universal).
He's Got The Whole World in His Hands ... and More Stories to Celebrate the Environment
(2010) Featuring a guide for parents and kids with tips on how to be green, the DVD includes a wonderful adaptation of the beloved folk song, illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Kadir Nelson and sung by Crystal Taliefero. Additional stories in this celebration of all things green include Jane Yolen's "Owl Moon", "Come On, Rain!" "Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message," "The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks," "Patrick" and "A Boy, A Dog and a Frog." $14.95. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
Homecoming
(2009) Jessica Stroup, Matt Long, Mischa Barton. Hell hath no fury like an unstable ex-girlfriend. A young woman gets much more than she bargained for when she visits her boyfriend for the weekend; she must contend with his obsessive ex-girlfriend who will stop at nothing to keep her away from her man.(Paramount).
I Can Tell the World
(2009) Documentary follows members of an interracial, multigenerational choir committed to the preservation and performance of African American spirituals. (Vanguard Cinema).
Jordon Saffron: Taste This!
(2009) Sergio Myers. Mockumentary about Jordon Saffron (Sergio Myers), a big-time Hollywood chef with an ego to match who uses his "secret ingredient" to fill women with ecstasy over his food. (Synergetic Distribution).
Knife Edge
(2008) Natalie Press, Joan Plowright, Hugh Bonneville, Tamsin Egerton. Blissfully happy in her new marriage, a young woman gives up her successful Wall Street career and moves with her family to a secluded country estate. But her dream of a perfect life quickly turns into a nightmare when she begins seeing strange and terrifying visions of horrific events from the mansion's past. Are these visions meant to drive her insane or are they a warning of things to come? (E1 Entertainment).
Love the Beast
(2009) From a very young age Australian actor Eric Bana had an obsession with cars and racing. At 15 he purchased his first car -- a Ford GT Falcon Coupe (yeah, the same car Mad Max drove). For the next 25 years he and his mates would come together, building and rebuilding the car -- it became, as Eric calls it, their "campfire." Bana initially set out to document the rebuilding of the "Beast" for the Targa Tasmania, one of the toughest motor sport events in the world that is a personal Everest for both man and machine. However, due to unforeseen speed bumps, it quickly came to be about so much more. The film follows Eric from inside the race car to the surreal world of the red carpet and the personal and social pressures that mount up in the face of rebuilding a car that means so much to him. Along the way, Eric seeks guidance and wisdom from not only his three lifelong friends but also car-enthusiasts Jay Leno, Jeremy Clarkson, and Dr. Phil. Two-disc set. Extras: Interview with director Eric Bana, extended interview with Jeremy Clarkson, "The Speed Merchants: the Targa Florio" segment, image gallery of the "Beast," commentary by Bana and producers Matt and Peter Hill, 1970s Ford Falcon television commercials, "Targa Tasmania Rally" short film. Patikalar Productions. Available exclusively at Amazon.com.
The Lovely Bones
(2009) Dir.: Peter Jackson; Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli. Read more about "The Lovely Bones" in the April Calendar.Also available in a two-disc Blu-ray set with "Filming The Lovely Bones," an extensive production diary in 15 segments hosted by Peter Jackson and co-screenwriter Philippa Boyens that follows the film's shoot and post-production work on the visual effects. (Paramount).
Mammoth
(2009 -- Sweden) Gael Garcia Bernal, Michelle Williams. While on a trip to Thailand, a successful American businessman tries to radically change his life; back in New York, his wife and daughter find their relationship with their live-in Filipino maid changing around them. (IFC Films).
Merlin: The Complete First Season
(2008) Five-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.98. (BBC/Warner).
My True Self
(2008) Jerod Edington, Rohit Nahata, Silas Gaither, Spencer Hill, Erin Gray. A young man attempts to accomplish something meaningful before his life is taken by cancer, determined to show his three best friends -- who are on the money-making fast track -- that there is more to live than just career success. (Vanguard Cinema).
Perry Mason: Season Five, Volume One
(1961-62) Four-disc set, $54.99. (Paramount)
Prom Wars
(2008) Ricky Ullman, Rachelle Lefevre, Alia Shawkat, Kevin Coughlin, Nicolas Wright, Chad Connell. The graduating class of Miss Aversham and Miss Cronstall's School for Girls seek payback for years of frustration at the hands of the immature boys of rival schools Selby House and Lancaster College: The winners in a series of athletic and academic competitions will be awarded exclusive prom date rights to the stunning Aversham/Cronstall senior class -- the hottest, most brilliant and sought-after high school girls in the country. Good luck, guys. (E1 Entertainment).
Secret Shorts
(2006-09) An anthology of eight short films from independent filmmakers in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Includes: "No Shoulder" (10 min.): A haunted woman with a tragic past meets a mysterious teenage hitchhiker, which results in their sealing their mutual fate. "Dear Lemon Lima" (10 min.): A lonely girl with a vivid imagination struggles to plant seeds of love after her narcissistic sweetheart breaks her heart. "Still Living" (13 min.): Charts the daily routine of a young pretty blonde. She likes to party, she dresses to kill, and then there are the secrets. "The Clearing" (10 min.): Describes the chance encounter on a Scottish rural road, by Beth, a young woman fresh from a break-up, and a man intent on committing suicide. The
chance encounter gives Beth's life a new perspective. "Foster" (9 min.): A young adopted child on his way out of the orphanage
has strange parallel recurrences in his adult life. "7.23" (6 min.): A chance encounter on a subway creates chemistry between two
strangers -- a man and a woman -- but time runs out before they can define the relationship. "Birth" (4 min.): A quality control worker must decide whether to accept or reject a newborn 10 year old at a human cloning facility. "La meme nuit" (18 min.): A concierge at a chic apartment building shares his insights into the relationships of three couples on a night of partying, quarrels and infidelity. (Vanguard Cinema).
Summer Hours
(2008) Dir.: Olivier Assayas; Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling. Widely hailed by critics as 2009's best film, "Summer Hours" is the great contemporary French filmmaker Olivier Assayas's most personal film to date. Three siblings, played by Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, and Jeremie Renier, must decide what to do with the country estate and objects they've inherited from their mother. From this simple story, Assayas creates a nuanced, exquisitely made drama about the material of globalized modern living. Naturalistic and unsentimental yet suffused with genuine warmth, this is that rare film that pays respect to family by treating it with honesty. Director approved special edition. Extras: New video interview with Assayas; short documentary featuring interviews with Assayas and actors Charles Berling and Juliette Binoche; "Inventory," an hour-long documentary by Olivier Gonard, shot partly in Paris's Musee d'Orsay, that examines the film's approach to art; booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Surviving Crooked Lake
(2008) Alysha Aubin, Candice Mausner, Morgan McCunn, Stephannie Richardson. A summertime canoe trip turns into a nightmare for four 14-year-old girls who end up losing more than their innocence. (Neoclassics Films).
Tales From the Script
(2009) Comprehensive documentary about screenwriting: Author-filmmakers Peter Hanson and Paul Robert Herman present a in-depth look at the eternal quandary of the Hollywood screenwriter. By showcasing the first-person experiences of dozens of writers, from A-listers to newcomers, the dual project provides a mix of you-are-there gossip and practical advice. The film features interviews with a who's who of Hollywood storytellers, from newcomers to veterans. Among the 46 screenwriters featured in the movie are Allison Anders ("Gas Food Lodging"), John August ("Go"), Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), Antwone Fisher ("Antwone Fisher"), two-time Oscar winner William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), David Hayter ("Watchmen"), Oscar-winner Bruce Joel Rubin ("Ghost"), Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver"), Guinevere Turner ("American Psycho"), and Oscar-winner David S. Ward ("The Sting"). Extras: Bonus film "More Tales from the Script" (47 min.) with fascinating unheard stories from top screenwriters; bonus film: "The Gospel According to Bill" (12 min.), featuring the wit and wisdom of author-screenwriter William Goldman; bonus film: "Advice for New Screenwriters" (9 min.). (First Run Features).
The Transformers: Seasons Three and Four
The Final 33 episodes featuring the rarely seen three-episode fourth season. Extras: "The Autobots, The Decepticons & The Fans" featurette looks at the loyal fans of "The Transformers"; "From the Files of Teletraan," two rare PSAs; archival Hasbro Toy commercials; art gallery. $29.93. (Shout! Factory).
Uncertainty
(2009) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lynn Collins. A young couple, in love and facing a life-changing decision, find one seemingly ordinary July 4 cleaved in two by the flip of a coin on the Brooklyn Bridge. (IFC Films).
Vivre sa vie
(1962) Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard; Anna Karina. "Vivre sa vie" was a turning point for Jean-Luc Godard and remains one of his most dynamic films, combining brilliant visual design with a tragic character study. The lovely Anna Karina, Godard's greatest muse, plays Nana, a young Parisian who aspires to be an actress but instead ends up a prostitute; her downward spiral is depicted in a series of discrete tableaux of daydreams and dances. Featuring some of Karina and Godard's most iconic moments -- from her movie theater vigil with "The Passion of Joan of Arc" to her seductive pool-hall strut -- "Vivre sa vie" is a landmark of the French New Wave that still surprises at every turn. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Commentary featuring film scholar Adrian Martin; video interview with film scholar Jean Narboni, conducted by historian Noel Simsolo; television interview from 1962 with actress Anna Karina; excerpts from a 1961 French television expose on prostitution; illustrated essay on "La prostitution," the book that served as inspiration for the film; stills gallery; Godard's original theatrical trailer; booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Atkinson, interviews with Godard, a reprint by critic Jean Collet on the film's soundtrack, and Godard's original scenario. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Wake
(2009) Bijou Phillips, Ian Somerhalder, Jane Seymour, Danny Masterson. When things get tough for Carys Reitman (Bijou Phillips), she does what any emotionally isolated girl would do -- she goes to strangers' funerals. But after an unexpected series of mix-ups and white lies, Carys finds herself in possession of a dead woman's engagement ring and finds herself in love with the grieving fiance. Extras: Commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette. (E1 Entertainment).
Where's Spot? And Other Stories
(2009) Based on the best-selling books by Eric Hill. $9.97. Extras: Three bonus episodes, Spot's colors and shapes game, Hill reads "Where's Spot." (Warner).
Xena: Warrior Princess -- Season 1
(1995-96) Five-disc set with 24 episodes, $26.98. (Universal).
The Young Victoria
(2009) Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Thomas Kretschmann, Mark Strong. Read more about "The Young Victoria" in the April Calendar.Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, four featurettes: "Making of The Young Victoria," "The Real Queen Victoria," "The Coronation," "The Wedding"; "Lavish History: A look at the Costumes and Locations." Also available on Blu-ray Disc which adds movieIQ+sync and BD-Live. (Sony)
April 22
Avatar
(2009) Director: James Cameron. Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel Moore, CCH Pounder, Peter Mensah, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi, Stephen Lang, Matt Gerald.
Read more about "Avatar" in the April Calendar.Extras: None. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. Both DVD and Blu-ray versions will not include any bonus features, previews or trailers so as to use every bit of disc space for optimum picture and audio quality. An "ultimate' edition -- perhaps with additional footage -- will be released in November. But, for the present, there will be no 3D versions on DVD. (Fox).
The Barbara Stanwyck Collection (Universal Backlot Series)
Three-disc set with six rare Stanwyck films. $49.98. (Universal).
"Internes Can't Take Money" (1937) Bullets fly and tensions rise when a desperate woman (Barbara Stanwyck) must turn to Dr. Kildare (Joel McCrea) for help getting her child back from gangsters.
"The Great Man's Lady" (1942) A reflective 100-year-old woman (Barbara Stanwyck) looks back on her life and how her extraordinary sacrifice helped her husband (Joel McCrea) become one of the nation's greatest men.
"The Bride Wore Boots" (1946) Comedy of errors about a bookish husband (Robert Cummings) who tries to win back the affections of his horse-breeding wife (Barbara Stanwyck).
"The Lady Gambles" (1949) When novice gambler Joan Booth (Barbara Stanwyck) bets it all -- and loses -- she is thrust into a downward spiral from which only her devoted husband (Robert Preston) can save her.
"All I Desire" (1953) New scandals erupt and old ones resurface when an aging stage actress (Barbara Stanwyck) returns to her small hometown and the family she abandoned 10 years earlier.
"There's Always Tomorrow" (1956) In this romantic tale of passion, an unlucky-in-love fashion designer (Barbara Stanwyck) must decide if she should succumb to her feelings for a married man (Fred MacMurray).
Battle Planet
(2008) Zack Ward, Monica May, Brea Grant, Kevin Thompson. Sci-fi actioner about a Special Ops Officer sent to a desolate planet to arrest possible traitors to the Alliance, where he learns of a plot to destroy the human race. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).
Disgrace
(2008) John Malkovich, Natalie Becker. Malkovich stars as University of Cape Town Professor David Lurie, whose world is shattered when he is fired for seducing a college student. He finds peace at his estranged daughter's modest farm until a horrific incident of terror and violence forces Lurie to confront his beliefs and the disturbing racial complexities of the new South Africa. Extras: "Disgrace: Behind the Scenes," cast and crew interviews. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
District 13: Ultimatum
(2009) Sequel to the cult hit "District 13," set in the ghettos of Paris in 2010 in which an undercover cop and ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb. This time around corrupt officials cash in on the district's redevelopment, causing civil unrest and the threat of a nuclear strike. More Parkour, the explosive art of movement. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
The End of Poverty?
(2010) Documentary that moves from the slums of Africa to the barrios of Latin America to explores how the true causes of poverty stem from actions taken during (and since) colonial times to perpetuate exploitation: first by forcing people from their land and their access to natural resources, then through unfair trade, debt repayment and unjust taxes on labor and consumption. Narrated by Martin Sheen. (Cinema Libre Studio).
The Fear Chamber
(2009) Richard Tyson, Rhett Giles, Steven Williams, Miranda Kwok. A detective must track down a serial killer prowling the streets of Los Angeles, murdering young, healthy women for their organs. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).
Five Minutes of Heaven
(2009)Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt, Anamaria Marinca. Thriller about the long-lasting pain caused by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. A man and the killer of his brother meet on a TV talk show 30 years after the murder. >Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Films).
The Fugitive Kind
(1959) Dir.: Sidney Lumet; Marlon Brando, Anna Magnani, Joanne Woodward, Maureen Stapleton. Four Academy Award-winning actors -- Brando,Magnani,Woodward and Stapleton -- sink their teeth into this enthralling drama, which brings together the legendary talents of director Sidney Lumet and writer Tennessee Williams. A smoldering, snakeskin-jacketed Brando is Val Xavier, a guitar-strumming drifter trying to go straight. He finds work and solace in a southern small-town variety store run by Lady Torrance (Magnani), who's lonely, sexually frustrated, and abused by her vile, deathly ill husband, and who proves as much a temptation for Val as local wild-child Carol (Woodward). Lumet captures the intense, fearless performances and Williams's hot-blooded storytelling and social critique with his customary restraint, resulting in a drama of uncommon sophistication and craft. Two-disc set; restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by Lumet. Extras: New video interview with Lumet; new documentary featuring Tennessee Williams scholar Robert Bray and film historian R. Barton Palmer discussing Williams's work in Hollywood and "The Fugitive Kind"; "Three Plays by Tennessee Williams," an hour-long television presentation of three one-act plays by Williams, directed by Lumet in 1958; booklet featuring an essay by film critic David Thomson. The Criterion Collection).
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Season 2.0
(1983) Four-disc boxed set with 30 episodes, $29.93. Includes the five-part mini-series "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!" Extras: "Greenshirts: The Legacy of G.I. Joe," "Knowing Is Half the Battle" PSAs, archival Hasbro toy Commercials. (Shout! Factory).
Georgia O'Keeffe
(2009) Joan Allen, Jeremy Irons, Ed Begley Jr., Linda Emond, Henry Simmons, Tyne Daly. Lifetime's critically acclaimed original movie about America' most influential female artist and her turbulent 20-year relationship with renowned photographer Alfred Steiglitz. Extras: "Portrait of an Artist: The Making of Georgia O'Keeffe." (Sony).
Girl, Positive
(2007) Andrea Bowen, Jennie Garth. A popular high school girl finds out that a boy she slept with was HIV positive. Lifetime telefilm. (A&E Home Entertainment).
The Hills: Season Five -- Part Two
(2009) Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $26.98. Extras: "The Bitch Is Back Special," deleted scenes, after show remixes. (Paramount).
I Love Lucy: The Movie
(1953) In 1953, three classic first season "I Love Lucy" episodes ("The Benefit," "Breaking the Lease" and "The Ballet") were edited together with newly-filmed connecting scenes to create this never-before-released feature-length film. (It was shelved when Lucy and Ricky signed a deal with MGM to do 'The Long, Long Trailer"). Extras: "Lucy Goes to Scotland," TV Academy PSA, Emmy Awards: "The Ed Wynn Show," series premiere opening, "Rear Window" animated commercial, "Here's Johnny! The Ballet" -- TV Version, "Handcuffs/Movie," "Wilbur's Hands." (Paramoun
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
(2009) Dir.: Terry Gilliam; Stars: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law.
Read more about "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" in the April Calendar.Extras: Deleted scene, Heath Ledger wardrobe test, introduction and commentary by director Terry Gilliam, interview with Heath Ledger, "Behind the Mirror," "Building the Monastery," "The Artwork of Doctor Parnassus," "Doctor Parnassus Around the World." Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds "The Imaginarium of Terry Gilliam," "Heath Ledger and Friends" in which cast and crew remember their friend, "The Drunk" Multi-angle progression sequence, movieIQ+sync and BD-Live. (Sony).
In Search of Beethoven
(2009) Comprehensive documentary about the life and works of the great composer. Over 65 performances by the world's finest musicians were recorded and 100 interviews conducted in the making of this beautifully crafted film that delves beneath the mythical image of the tortured, cantankerous genius to search for the real Ludwig van Beethoven. Extras: "In the Edit Room," complete movements, deleted scenes, interview with the director. (Microcinema International).
It's Complicated
(2009) Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Zoe Kazan, Lake Bell, Hunter Parrish, Pat Finn, Rita Wilson. Read more about "It's Complicated" in the April Calendar.Extras: "The Making of It's Complicated" featurette; commentary by producer-writer-director Nancy Meyers, executive producer Suzanne Farwell, director of photography John Toll, and editor Joe Hutshing. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds My Scenes and pocket BLU App. (Universal).
The Jackal
(1997) Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, Mathilda May, J.K. Simmons. Blu-ray + DVD Combo Disc. Extras: "The Making of The Jackal," commentary by director Michael Caton-Jones. (Universal).
Looney Tunes Super Stars: Bugs Bunny
Collection of 15 cartoons never-before-released to DVD, $19.98. (Warner).
Looney Tunes Super Stars: Daffy Duck
Collection of 15 cartoons never-before-released to DVD, $19.98. (Warner).
Marked
(2007) Tara Carroll, Samuel Child, Tony Suraci, Mark Colson. A group of ghost hunters discover a powerful force that points to the killer of the father of one of the researchers. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).
More of Me
(2007) Molly Shannon, Steven Weber. An overworked and overextended wife, mother and career woman discovers a unique way of coping with the stress and demands of her chaotic life: she splits into three separate versions of herself, each with a distinct personality to take over a different aspect of her life. Lifetime telefilm. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Out of Africa 25th Anniversary Edition
(1985) Dir.: Sydney Pollack; Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer. Blu-ray + DVD Combo Disc. Extras: "A Song of Africa," commentary by director Sydney Pollack. (Universal).
Passed the Door of Darkness
(2008) Matthew John Prater, Mark Colson, Kathryn Hansen, James Micheal Connor. Two L.A. detectives in search of "The Shadow of God," the most sadistic serial killer the city has ever seen, slowly realize "The Shadow" is stalking them. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).
Pride and Prejudice
(1995) Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle. Two-disc set of the BBC production, color enhanced and completely digitally restored from hi-def source materials, $39.95. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, in-depth look at the digital restoration process. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Racing for Time
(2008) Charles S. Dutton. True story of prison guard, Noel Chestnut, who, after witnessing the cycle of destructive choices and racial tensions among female teen offenders at the Texas Correctional Youth Authority, creates an unconventional track program for some of the toughest and most violent offenders to put them on a path to turn their lives around. Lifetime telefilm. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Ride With the Devil
(1999) Dir.: Ang Lee; Tobey Maguire, Jeffrey Wright, Skeet Ulrich. With this new director's cut, Ang Lee reconstructs his original vision for his Civil War epic, "Ride With the Devil," an intimate, harrowing look at a country torn in half, told from a daringly unorthodox perspective. Set in 1862, during the Kansas-Missouri border war, the film stars Tobey Maguire as Jake and Skeet Ulrich as his friend Jack Bull; they join the Confederate-sympathizing Bushwhackers after Jack's father is killed by marauding members of the abolitionist Jayhawkers. But "Ride with the Devil" is also the story of their unusual ally Holt (an astonishing Jeffrey Wright), who's fighting for the South despite being a former slave. A rumination on identity and loyalty, both political and personal, the film is a provocative challenge to preconceptions about America's bloodiest conflict. New director's cut featuring 13 minutes of added footage; new, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Ang Lee and director of photography Frederick Elmes. Extras: Two audio commentaries, one featuring Lee and producer-screenwriter James Schamus and one featuring Elmes, sound designer Drew Kunin, and production designer Mark Friedberg; new video interview with star Jeffrey Wright; booklet featuring an essay by critic Godfrey Cheshire. >Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Rita Rocks: The Complete Season One
(2008-09) Three-disc set with 20 episodes, $24.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Runaway Ralph
(1988) Voices of Fred Savage, Summer Phoenix, Sara Gilbert, Kellie Martin, Mark Hamill, Nichelle Nichols. Beverly Cleary's classic tales about Ralph and his motorcycle have entertained kids for decades. Ralph, a young mouse, decides that he's going to run away from the hotel his family lives in, so he sets out on his toy motorcycle and ends out in a camp where he meets Garf. Things aren't so great when a mean cat appears in the picture. As Garf and Ralph bond and try to deal with the cat they learn lessons about teamwork, friendship and also come to realize that home might not be such a bad place after all. $14.95. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
Sherri: The Complete Season One
(2009) Two-disc set with 13 episodes, $19.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
The Spectacular Spider-Man: Volume 8
(2009) Final three episodes from the second season of the Disney XD series, $19.94. (Sony).
Surviving Desire
(1991) Dir.: Hal Hartley; Martin Donovan, Matt Malloy, Merritt Nelson, Julie Kessler, Mary B. Ward. Comedy about obsessive love in which a handsome young college professor is smitten with a beautiful young female student who's more interested in empiricism than experience. It's a swift dissection of male infatuation that is as fierce as it is compassionate. Extras: Three Hal Hartley short films. (Microcinema International).
Survivors
(2008) Five-disc set with Seasons One and Two of the BBC series, $59.98. Extras: Making-of featurette, character profiles, effects reel. (BBC/Warner).
Survivors
(1975-77) Six-disc set with 38 episodes from the three seasons of the cult BBC series, $79.98. (BBC/Warner).
Tales From The Darkside: The Third Season
(1986-87) Three-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.99. (Paramount).
To Be Fat Like Me
(2007) Kaley Cuoco, Caroline Rhea. A physically fit teenager dons a fat suit as part of a film project to experience the hardships facing overweight high school students. Lifetime telefilm. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Traffic
(2000) Dir.: Steven Soderbergh; Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, Luis Guzman, Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Albert Finney. Blu-ray + DVD Combo Disc. Extras: "Inside Traffic" featurette. (Universal).
Transylmania
(2009) Oren Skoog, Worm Miller, Patrick Casey, Jennifer Lyons, Tony Denman, Patrick Cavanaugh. A dimwitted college student and his friends -- looking for beer, babes and bongs at what they think is a prestigious Transylvanian university -- instead discover a creepy castle populated by a torture-loving mad scientist, an over-cybersexed humpback, the nubile spirit of a decomposed sorceress and a bevy of vampire chicks that have finally found a student body they can really sink their fangs into. Extras: Commentary, alternate opening and ending, deleted and extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette, "Stoner" trailer. (Sony).
The Two Mr. Kissels
(2008) John Stamos, Anson Mount, Robin Tunney, Gretchen Egolf. Based on the shocking true story of multi-millionaire brothers who marry the women of their dreams and then wind up dead. Lifetime telefilm. (A&E Home Entertainment).
All listings are based on information from
the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out
after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally,
some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since
all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts
at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices
for some special editions, box sets and collections.
All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a
Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center),
and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.
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