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DVD News/Info
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of a football game and a brothel." -- Federico Fellini
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From the Big Screen:"The Boondock Saints II," Capitalism: A Love Story," "Old Dogs" "Planet 51," "Precious" and "Up in the Air." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."
Collectibles:
"The Brothers Warner" (2009) is an intimate portrait and saga of four film pioneers -- Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner, who rose from immigrant poverty through personal tragedies, persevering to create a major studio with a social conscience. The Warner brothers turned a storefront that used a sheet for a screen into a dream factory rooted in the credo of "educate, entertain and enlighten." In this fascinating documentary, filmmaker (and Harry's granddaughter) Cass Warner Sperling tells a story of sibling rivalry, social conscience and the silver screen. It's a story of pioneering (risking all for Talkies) and politics (standing alone in Hollywood against the Nazis), of reels ("The Public Enemy," "Casablanca" and more) and rifts (including a shocking family betrayal). It’s a story told from the inside (via rare family archives), by those who lived it (among them such stars as Dennis Hopper, Debbie Reynolds, Tab Hunter and more) and from the outside by film historians. $19.98 from Warner.
From TV to Video:"Amazing War Machines" is a three-disc set of the 13-part series, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "America: The Birth of Freedom" is a two-disc set of the 10-part documentary series, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Chronicles of War" is a three-disc set of documentary features that brings viewers to the front lines of war with captivating interviews, rare video footage and stunning images creating a 13-hour journey into the history of the American soldier, $24.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "The Commish -- Season 1" (1991-92) is a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Fight! Dragon" is a three-disc set with all 26 episodes of the Japanese Kung-Fu TV show, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Greek: Chapter Four" (2009) is a three-disc set with 12 episodes, $29.99 from Disney ... "Hannah Montana: Miley Says Goodbye?" (2009) features six episodes, including the season finale with Miley's pivotal decision-making moment about staying in Hollywood or returning home to Tennessee, $19.99 from Disney ... "Hell on Earth" is a two-disc documentary collection with 25 features chronicling some of the most epic disasters humankind has faced throughout the 20th century, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "In Plain Sight: Season Two" (2009) is a three-disc set with 15 episodes, $39.98 from Universal ... "Iron King" (1972-72) is a three-disc set with all 26 episodes of the gloriously loopy Tokusastu Japanese superhero television shows, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Life With Derek: The Complete Third Season"
(2007-08) is a three-disc set with 26 episodes, $29.98 from E1 Entertainment ... "Matt Houston: The First Season" (1982) is a six-disc set with 23 episodes, $49.99 from Paramount ... "Rampage: Killing Without Reason" is a two-disc set of the 10-part documentary series on rage-murders, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Scarecrow & Mrs. King: The Complete First Season" (2009) is a five-disc set with 21 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Silk Stalkings -- Season 1" (1991-92) is a six-disc set with 20 episodes, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe" (1980) is a three-disc set with 14 episodes, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Trail Of Tears: A Native American Documentary Collection" is a two-disc set with four documentary programs that chronicle the struggles of the Native American culture from the forced relocation known as the Trail of Tears to current issues today, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Tremors: The Complete Series" (2003) is a three-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98 from Universal ... "Walker, Texas Ranger: The Seventh Season" (1998-99) is a five-disc set with 23 episodes, $49.98 from Paramount ... "Wanted: Dead or Alive -- Season Two" (1959-60) is a four-disc set with 32 episodes, $14.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment ... "Wiseguy -- The Collector’s Set" (1987-90) is a 13-disc set with 67 episodes, $44.98 from Mill Creek Entertainment.
Buzzin' the 'B's:"The Sensei" (2010), starring Diana Lee Inosanto, Michael O'Laskey II, Keith David and Louis Mandylor, is a martial arts film with a heart -- and a cause -- and even ends up being a tearjerker: A lonely gay teenager struggles to fit in with his classmates in a small, conservative Colorado town. After he's severely beaten at school, a female martial arts Sensei secretly trains him to defend himself; from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment ... In "Fix" (2009), starring Olivia Wilde, Tao Ruspoli and Shawn Andrews. documentary filmmakers Bella and Milo dash across Los Angeles -- from Beverly Hills to Watts -- and everywhere in between -- in a race-against time to get Milo's brother Leo from jail to rehab before 8 p.m., or Leo goes to prison for three years; from E1 Entertainment ... In "Possession" (2009), starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lee Pace and Michael Landes, newlyweds Jess (Gellar) and Ryan (Landes) seem to have it all until a car accident renders both Ryan and his brother Roman (Pace) comatose; things spin eerily out of control when Roman wakes up and tries to convince Jess that he is her husband; from Fox ... In "Justin Time" (2009), starring Chris Laird, Shareece Pfeiffer, Michael Flynn, Matthew Reese and Danny Trejo, a young Shoshoni Indian comes into possession of an ancient stone amulet and calendar disc that has the power to stop time; he chooses to use the power to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, a power-seeking financier goes after the stone to indulge in the riches of the world; from MTI Home Video ... After suffering a parent's worst nightmare -- the abduction and murder of their 8-year-old daughter -- a married couple move to a charming old house in need of repair -- but soon a presence that may or may not be the spirit of their murdered daughter starts to haunt them in "Haunted Echoes"
(2008), starring David Starzyk, Sean Young and M. Emmet Walsh; from E1 Entertainment.
On the Indie Front:"The Art of Being Straight" (2008) is a sexy, comedic drama about two college friends questioning their careers and sexuality in east Los Angeles. Winner of the Audience Award at the Dublin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and an Official Selection at the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival. Stars Jesse Rosen, Jared Grey, Johnny Ray Rodriguez and Rachel Castillo; from E1 Entertainment.Foreign:The Nazi occupation of Tunisia strains the bonds of friendship between a Muslim woman and a Sephardic Jewess who are both preparing for their marriages in "The Wedding Song" (2008 -- France), starring Lizzie Brochere, Olympe Borval, Najib Oudghiri, Simon Abkarian and Karin Albou; from Strand Releasing ... "Service"
(2008 -- Philippines/France) is a drama that follows the travails of the Pineda family in the Filipino city of Angeles. Bigamy, unwanted pregnancy, possible incest and bothersome skin irritations are all part of their daily challenges, but the real "star" of the show is an enormous, dilapidated movie theater that doubles as the family business and living space. At one time a prestige establishment, the theater now runs porn double bills and serves as a meeting ground for hustlers of every conceivable persuasion. The film captures the sordid, fetid atmosphere, interweaving various family subplots with the comings and goings of customers, thieves and even a runaway goat while enveloping the viewer in a maelstrom of sound, noise and continuous motion. Stars Gina Pareno, Jacyln Jose, Julio Diaz, Coco Martin and Kristofer King; from E1 Entertainment.
For the Family:
"Hachi: A Dog's Tale" (2009), directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Jason Alexander and Sarah Roemer, is based on one of the most treasured and heartwarming true stories in Japanese culture. Richard Gere stars as Professor Parker Wilson, a distinguished scholar who discovers a lost Akita puppy on his way home from work. Despite initial objections from Wilson's wife, Hachi endears himself into the Wilson family and grows to be Parker's loyal companion. As their bond grows deeper, a beautiful relationship unfolds embodying the true spirit of family and loyalty, while inspiring the hearts of an entire town. From Sony ... "Elmo and the Rainbow and Other Springtime Stories " (2009) features three episodes in which Elmo and friends explore the seasons, bumble bees and rainbows; from Sesame Workshop/Warner ... "Charlie and Lola" (2009) includes nine episodes from the animated Playhouse Disney pre-school series; from Warner.
Hey Abbott!
(March 5)
E1 Entertainment has a very special treat for early-TV and comedy fans: On March 30 they'll release "The Abbott and Costello Show: The Complete Series -- Collector's Edition," a nine-disc custom-packaged set with all 52 episodes of the wacky series that ran from 1952-53, digitally restored and re-mastered, with a 44-page book, and more than three hours of bonus features including a TV retrospective hosted by Milton Berle, a classic routines reel, Lou Costello's rare home movies, and much more; $59.98. Beginning in 1952, the filmed half-hour series "The Abbott and Costello Show" appeared in syndication on local stations across the country. Loosely based on Abbott and Costello's popular radio series, the show cast the duo as unemployed actors, perpetually looking for work while struggling to pay back-rent to Sidney Fields, their often frustrated landlord. Other fan-favorites/recurring characters included the elegant Hillary Brooke, the belligerent Mike "The Cop" Kelly (Gordon Jones), the malevolent and child-like Oswald "Stinky" Davis (Joe Besser) and the ever-gainfully employed immigrant entrepreneur Mr. Bacciagalupe (Joe Kirk). Order it Today (He's the catcher).
More News:'Alice's' Big Boxoffice Adventure
(March 7)
Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" took the No. 1 spot on both the domestic and overseas box office charts this weekend, taking in an amazing $116.3 million in North America and an estimated $94 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $210.3 million. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, "Alice" displaced "Avatar," which had been No. 1 offshore for 11 consecutive weeks; the film was also the biggest opening launch of any title this year. ("Avatar" opened on Dec. 20.) The rest of the domestic Top 5: "Brooklyn's Finest ($13.5 million), "Shutter Island" ($13.3 million), "Cop Out" ($9.1 million) and "Avatar" ($7.7 million).
From the Big Screen:"Cold Souls," "Ponyo," "2012" and "Where the Wild Things Are." For more releases this week, see the "Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases."DVD Collectibles: (3/2)With the release this coming weekend of Tim Burton's highly anticipated 3D version of "Alice in Wonderland," two older live-action versions come to home video this week: the 1933 "Alice in Wonderland", directed by Norman McLeod with a screenplay by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and William Cameron Menzies and starring Charlotte Henry, Leon Errol, Louise Fazenda and Ford Sterling, from Universal; and the 1999 TV "Alice in Wonderland," which combined Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" for a three-hour special, starring Gene Wilder, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lloyd, Miranda Richardson, Martin Short, George Wendt, Robbie Coltrane and Tina Majorino., from Vivendi Entertainment.In conjunction with this week's release of "Ponyo" from Japanese Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki, the folks at Disney are re-releasing two-disc versions of three of Miyazaki's previous films -- films that take your breath away with the sheer breadth of imagination and execution -- "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988), "Kiki's Delivery Service" (1989) and "Castle in the Sky" (1986) ... Shout! Factory delivers this week "Elvis" (1979), the long-awaited DVD debut of the classic bio of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, timed closely to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Presley's birth. The movie, restored from the original film elements, was originally broadcast February 11, 1979, on ABC. John Carpenter took time away from directing horror films to helm this biography, which stars Kurt Russell, Shelley Winters, Season Hubley, Bing Russell, Pat Hingle, Robert Gray, Joe Mantegna and Ed Begley Jr. Extras: include the "Bringing a Legend to Life" featurette with archival interviews of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter (1979); commentary by "The Voice of Elvis" in the film, Ronnie McDowell, and author Edie Hand; rare clips from "American Bandstand" and a photo gallery.
From TV to Video: (3/2)"Designing Women: Season Three" (1988-89) is a four-disc set with 22 episodes, $44.99 from Shout! Factory ... "Have Gun -- Will Travel: Season 4, Volume 1" (1960) is a three-disc set with 19 episodes, $39.98 from Paramount) ... "Matlock: The Fourth Season" (1989-90) is a six-disc set with 24 episodes, $49.99 from Paramount.
Buzzin' the 'B's: (3/2)A lovable loner's life is turned upside down when a pretentious fantasy author steals his story at a writers camp in "Gentlemen Broncos" (2009), starring Jemaine Clement, Michael Angarano, Jennifer Coolidge, Sam Rockwell and Mike White, from Fox ... In When the tempting trio arrive in the desert to retrieve stolen jewels at a ruthless gangster's hideout, they find themselves competing against an assortment of bizarre criminals -- and each other in "Bitch Slap" (2009), starring Julia Voth, Erin Cummings and America Olivo, from Fox ... "Return to the 36th Chamber" (1980 -- Hong Kong) Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Hsiao Ho. is the action-packed sequel to one of the best martial arts films of all time, "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin," which is being released on Blu-ray this week, from Vivendi Entertainment/The Weinstein Co.
On the Indie Front: (3/2)After her much older husband forces a move to a suburban retirement community, a woman engages in a period of reflection and finds herself heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown in "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" (2009), starring Robin Wright Penn, Mike Binder, Alan Arkin, Winona Ryder, Ryan McDonald, Cornelius West and Maria Bello, from Screen Media Films.
For the Family: (3/2)"Barney: Egg-Cellent Adventures" (2010) features three Easter and egg-themed episodes of the adventures of the purple dinosaur and his friends, a favorite of kids 1 to 5, $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate ... "Thomas & Friends: Thomas & the Runaway Kite" (2010) includes four episodes featuring the animated locomotives of the Island of Sodor; the title episode has Thomas and his railroad friends chasing a runaway kite; $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate ... In a creative parody of the beloved story of Pinocchio, the new "VeggieTales: Pistachio -- The Little Boy That Woodn't" (2010) adventure features a helpful lesson in listening to parents, a new Silly Song, and more, $14.99 from Big Idea ... Sony has two TV Bible stories due this week: "The Bible Stories: Esther" (1999), starring Louise Lombard, F. Murray Abraham, Jurgen Prochnow and Thomas Kretschmann; and "The Bible Stories: Jesus" (1999), starring Jeremy Sisto, Debra Messing, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Jacqueline Bisset and Gary Oldman; $14.94 each ... "Super Why! Peter Rabbit & Other Fairytale Adventures" (2009) offer new interpretations of the classic stories "Peter Rabbit," "Tom Thumb," "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and "Rapunzel," as Super Why and his friends practice spelling and investigate rhyming words, $14.99 from Paramount ..."Sesame Street's Abby in Wonderland" (2009) is a Sesame Street take on "Alice in Wonderland," timed for the release of Tim Burton's big-screen version, $14.98 from Sesame Street/Warner ... In the new CGI animated feature "Strawberry Shortcake: The Berryfest Princess Movie" (2010), Berry Bitty City is preparing for the annual spring festival, and Strawberry Shortcake has been appointed Berryfest Princess to ensure the festival and parade are the sweetest events the town has ever seen, $19.98 from Fox ... "Olivia ... Takes Ballet" (2009) is the second Olivia DVD, with four episodes of the Nick Jr. character based on acclaimed author/illustrator Ian Falconer's award-winning titles about a 6-year-old dynamo who believes she can do anything and sees every day as an opportunity to try new things, $16.99 from Paramount.
Special Interest: (3/2)"We Live in Public" (2009) On the 40th anniversary of the Internet, this Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Documentary winner tells the story of the effect the web is having on our society as seen through the eyes of "the greatest Internet pioneer you've never heard of", visionary Josh Harris. Award-winning director, Ondi Timoner documented Harris' tumultuous life for more than a decade to create a riveting, cautionary tale of what to expect as the virtual world inevitably takes control of our lives. Harris, often called the "Warhol of the Web," rose to prominence during the dot.com boom of the 1990s. He founded Pseudo.com, the first Internet television network, and created his vision of the future, an underground bunker in NYC where 100 people lived together on camera for 30 days over the millennium. He proved how in the not-so-distant future of life online, people will willingly trade privacy for the connection and recognition they desire. Through his experiments, including a six-month stint living under 24-hour live surveillance online -- which led him to mental collapse -- he demonstrated the price we will all pay for living in public. From IndiePix Films.Warners Restores 'A Star Is Born'
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The reason, according to Walt Disney Co. chief executive Bob Ager, is to maximize DVD revenue and conform to changing consumer habits; consumers want their movies to come home to their HD TVs, computers and hand-held devices sooner and sooner after the images fade from the movie screen.
Despite a hue and cry from theater owners, who feel -- and perhaps rightly so -- that some consumers will wait for a DVD release instead of going to a theater if the window is shortened -- the folks at Disney are struggling to offset the growing slump in DVD sales. Additionally, according to Disney, the shortened window will be implemented on a case-by-case basis and not for every film. DVD sales have long propped up the filmmaking industry, and Disney sees the shortened window as a way to maximize sales to help defray the costs of making and distributing an expensive 3-D movie such as "Alice." They want the movie out as fast as possible so that it's still fresh in people's minds.
The only flaw in that thinking: "Alice," if it's a big blockbuster as it most likely will be, won't need any help in jogging consumers' minds four months after its theatrical release. What needs a boost is a film like "Everybody's Fine," which Disney's Miramax division released in December to poor reviews and even poorer box office. That's when the window needs to be opened.
Highlight of the week is Sony's "Bad Girls of Film Noir: Volume 1 and Volume 2," two-disc sets that each feature four restored and remastered Columbia Pictures classics highlighting the tough dames of cinema. In the '40s and '50s, the juiciest roles for actresses in Hollywood were often in B-pictures that explored the dark side of life and offered them starring roles as cool, calculating gals who could stick a knife in a man's back and make him like it. Volume 1 includes "The Killer That Stalked New York" (1953), "Two of a Kind" (1951), "Bad for Each Other" (1953) and "The Glass Wall" (1953); Volume 2 includes "Night Editor" (1946), "One Girl's Confession" (1953), "Women's Prison" (1955) and "Over-Exposed" (1956). $24.96 each. (Posted February 9)E1 Entertainment has three classic TV dramas on release this week: "Omnibus: King Lear," shot live for the prestigious OMNIBUS Series; Orson Welles made his dramatic television debut in this legendary performance, presented newly restored and re-mastered in the first authorized release since its original CBS live telecast on October 11, 1953; $29.98 ... "Studio One: Twelve Angry Men," the Emmy Award-winning drama featuring Norman Fell, Robert Cummings and Franchot Tone in the 1954 Studio One production; $19.98 ... and "Studio One: Rod Serling Studio One Dramas," featuring two of Rod Serling's classic contributions to the anthology series with "The Arena," called a mesmerizing exploration of political machinations and personal ambitions, and "The Strike," about a life or death situation during the Korean War; $19.98. (Posted February 9)
"Gary Unmarried: The Complete First Season" (2008) is a three-disc set with 20 episodes, $39.99 from Disney ... "Ice Castles" (2009)is a remake of the 1978 tearjerker about a young skater with Olympic dreams who is blinded in an accident and attempts to overcome the tragedy with the help of her loving boyfriend; from Sony ... "JAG: The Final Season"
(2004-05) is a five-disc set with 22 episodes, $55.98 from Paramount ... "The Life & Times of Tim: The Complete First Season" (2008) is a two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.98 from Warner ... "Maneater" (2009) stars Sarah Chalke, Judy Greer, Gregory Harrison and Maria Conchita Alonso in the Lifetime miniseries about an enterprising young woman who navigates the professional waters of Beverly Hills in order to land the hottest producer in town, fully unaware that she is about to get in way over her head; $24.96 from Sony ... "Rad Girls" (2007) is a two-disc set with eight episodes of the series that's dead-set on proving that "Jackass"-style humor isn't just for boys; $19.98 from E1 Entertainment ... "The Sarah Silverman Program: Season Two Volume Two"
(2008) is a two-disc set, $26.98 from Paramount ... "Stargate Universe 1.0"
(2009) is a three-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray with all 10 episodes of the first season, $49.98 and $69.98 from MGM ... "Vega$: The First Season, Volume 2" (1979) is a three-disc set, $36.09 from Paramount. (Posted February 9)
"A Dangerous Man" (2010) is the latest Steven Seagal direct-to-video action; here Seagal stars as a man released from prison after serving six years for a crime he didn't commit. Just hours after regaining his freedom, he witnesses the murder of a State Trooper by two members of the Chinese mafia and rescues a terrified girl holding a bag of money. Now he must fight his way through a corrupt town in order to take the girl to safety. From Paramount ... "The Brotherhood V: Alumni"
(2009)is the latest installment in the horror franchise: A year after a mean-spirited prom prank turned deadly, the most popular students of Sunnydale High are summoned back for a surprise reunion only to find themselves at the mercy of a relentless killer; from E1 Entertainment. (Posted February 9)
"Hurricane Season" (2009) stars Forest Whitaker, Bow Wow, Isaiah Washington, Lil Wayne, Taraji P. Henson and Bonnie Hunt in the true story as Louisiana high school basketball coach Al Collins who, a year after Hurricane Katrina, assembles a team of kids from previously rival schools and leads them on a path to the state championship; from Vivendi Entertainment ... In "I Can't Think Straight" (2007), starring Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth, two women from different worlds and cultures (one a London-based Jordanian of Palestinian origin, the other a British Indian woman) meet and form a powerful bond; from E1 Entertainment ... "Peter and Vandy" (2009) stars Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler, Jesse L. Martin, Tracie Thoms and Noah Bean in a romantic tale about a love affair gone bad; from Strand Releasing ... "The Pleasure of Being Robbed" (2008) stars Eleonore Hendricks and Joshua Safdie in an offbeat comedy about a young woman who steals her way through life; from MPI Media/IFC Films. (Posted February 9)
"The Penguins of Madagascar Operation: DVD Premiere" (2010) features never-before-seen "missions" that continue the penguins' MAD-tastic adventure, plus escapades from the Nickelodeon series "The Penguins of Madagascar," from Paramount ... "Disney Little Einsteins: Animal Expedition" (2009) is a new release from the hit Playhouse Disney series, featuring four episodes and an interactive bonus feature "The Animal Crane Game," $19.99 from Disney ... "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Bow-Tique" (2009) features four Minnie-themed stories including a never-before-seen episode and a Minnie magnet bow frame, $19.99 from Disney ... "Free Style" (2008) stars Corbin Bleu, Penelope Ann Mille, Madison Pettis and Sandra Echeverria in a family motocross adventure about a young man determined to win a coveted spot on the Grand National racing team without compromising his devotion to his friends and family, from Fox ... "So You Want to Be President? ...And More Stories to Celebrate American History" (2010) is an all-new animated adaptation of Judith St. George's Caldecott Medal-winning book, "So You Want to Be President?" narrated by Stockard Channing, and other stories about America's vibrant political life, for young citizens ages 5 and up; $14.95 from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. (Posted February 9)
brought powerfully to life by a who's who of entertainers, using letters, diaries, speeches, journalistic accounts, historical text and military records to document the accomplishments of black men and women since the earliest days of the republic, from the Revolutionary War whose first casualty was a Black man, Crispus Attucks, to the current battle against global terrorism. From Melee Entertainment/Eleventh Day Entertainment/Vivendi Entertainment ... "Welcome to Nollywood" (2009) is a documentary that takes a look at the emerging Nigerian film industry: Just behind the U.S. and India, rampant consumers have made "Nollywood" the third largest film industry in the world, generating a staggering $286 million yearly for the Nigerian economy; $19.95 from Indiepix. (Posted February 9)
(February 7)
After eight weekends sitting atop the box office charts, James Cameron's sci-fi epic "Avatar" has been dethroned -- and by an unlikely culprit: a "chick flick." According to Inside Movie's weekend box office report, "Dear John" took in an estimated
$32.4 million, an astonishing number for a film aimed strictly at women. No tears for Cameron, however; its weekend second-place total of $23.6 million takes its domestic box office record to $630 million. In third place was "From Paris With Love," which took in $8.1 million, a low number for an action film and one starring John Travolta. Maybe the guys were too hyped on the Super Bowl to have the energy for a flick this weekend. "Edge of Darkness" with $7 million and
"Tooth Fairy" with $6.5 million round out the Top 5.This Week's Releases (February 2)
Universal is releasing this week a special edition of "The Wolf Man"
(1941), starring Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya and Patric Knowles, in a two-Disc special edition, with a digitally remastered picture and new bonus features ... just in time for the February 12 theatrical release of director Joe Johnston's remake starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Hugo Weaving and Anthony Hopkins (also released by Universal). Bonus features include a trailer gallery, commentary by film historian Tom Weaver, a host of featurettes: "Monster by Moonlight," "The Wolf Man Archives," "The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth," "Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney Jr.," "He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce," "Universal Horror."
Over at Warner Home Video there's another wave of releases in the TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection, a collaboration between Turner Classic Movies and Warner to present low-priced collections of some of the greatest films of all to serve both serious film buffs and a new generation of movie lovers. Each four-disc set sells for $27.92: TCM Greatest Classic Films: Marx Brothers: "A Day at the Races," "A Night in Casablanca," "Room Service" and "At the Circus"; TCM Greatest Classic Films: Romances:"Love in the Afternoon," "Splendor in the Grass," "Mogambo" and "Now, Voyager"; and TCM Greatest Classic Films: Sci-Fi Adventures: "Them!" "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms," "World Without End" and "Satellite in the Sky." (Posted February 2)
"Beverly Hills 90210: The Ninth Season" (1998-99) is a six-disc set with 26 episodes, $59.98 from Paramount ... "Dr. Who: The Complete Specials"
(2009) features four action-packed specials -- "The Next Doctor," "Planet of the Dead," "Waters of Mars" and "The End of Time, Parts 1 and 2" -- that serve as a farewell to David Tennant; from BBC/Warner ... "Doc Martin, Series 3" (2007) features seven episodes of the British (and PBS) series about the surly, tactless, self-centered, and uptight doctor living amid eccentric townsfolk and spectacular scenery, kind of "Northern Exposure" meets "House"; $39.99 from Acorn Media ... " Dynasty: Season Four, Vol. 2" (1984) is a three-disc set with 12 episodes, $36.98 from Paramount ... "The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season Six" (1975-76) is a three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98 from Fox ... "A Mind to Kill: The Complete First Series" (1994-95) features six episodes of the British series about an old-school Welsh cop tackling disturbing modern crimes, $59.99 from Acorn Media ... "Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Eleventh Season" (1994-95) is a five-disc set with 21 episodes, $49.98 from Universal ... "She-Wolf of London: The Complete Series" (1990) is a four-disc set with all 20 episodes, $39.98 from Universal ... "Zane's Sex Chronicles: The Complete First Season" (2008) is a two-disc set with 12 episodes of the Cinemax urban adult series that follows five sexy friends as they take on hot issues of life, love and liberation in the big city, $29.98 from Warner. (Posted February 2)
A creaky Victorian mansion, a graveyard, a lunar eclipse and a pretty college girl: all the elements of classic '80s horror are back with an old-school atmosphere of dread and "satanic panic" and a less-is-more approach -- with a modern twist in "The House of the Devil" (2009), starring Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Jocelin Donahue, Greta Gerwig and AJ Bowen, from Dark Sky Films/MPI Media Group ... Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren reteam for another Universal Soldier chapter, "Universal Soldier: Regeneration"
(2010), about the next-generation Universal Soldier -- an elite fighter genetically altered into a programmable killing machine, from Sony ... Five talented young basketball players from Akron, Ohio, star in "More Than a Game" (2009), the remarkable true-life coming of age story about friendship and loyalty in the face of great adversity. Coached by a charismatic but inexperienced player's father, and led by future NBA superstar LeBron James, the "Fab Five's" improbable seven-year journey leads them from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship; from Lionsgate ...Tony Jaa stars in and directs "Ong Bak 2: The Beginning" (2009 -- Thailand), a prequel to "Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior": A hundred years in the past, an orphan boy is raised by bandits, trained to be a killer and prophesied to be the conqueror of an empire; well-taught in countless styles of weaponry and martial arts, he is a one-man-army hell bent on avenging the murder of his parents; from Magnolia Home Entertainment. (Posted February 2)
"Hitler's Bodyguard," is a four-disc set with 13 episodes of the series that examines how Adolf Hitler managed to survive more than 40 assassination attempts before the end of World War II, $79.99 from Acorn Media ... "The Evelyn Waugh Collection"
brings together faithful adaptations of two of the master storyteller's most brilliant and biting satires, "A Handful of Dust" (1988) and "Scoop" (1988), with casts that include Kristin Scott Thomas in her breakthrough role, Alec Guinness, Rupert Graves, Stephen Fry, Michael Maloney, Anjelica Huston, and Judi Dench in a BAFTA-winning role; $39.99 from Acorn Media ... "Liza's at the Palace" (2009) captures Liza Minnelli's midnight performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2009, where she re-created her Broadway show at the Palace Theater, which, just a few months earlier, had won the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event, with songs written by such greats as George and Ira Gershwin, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Sammy Cahn and the team most associated with Minnelli, John Kander and Fred Ebb, composers of the showstoppers "Cabaret," "Maybe This Time," "But the World Goes 'Round" and "New York, New York"; $24.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me"
(2009) is the comedian' second solo HBO comedy special, $19.97 from Warner ... "
Amelia Earhart: Queen of the Air" (2009) is a Bio Channel documentary just in time for the DVD release of "Amelia," starring Hilary Swank; $12.95 from A&E Home Entertainment. (Posted February 2)
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Rat-pack singer Sammy Davis Jr. filmed a scene for the 007 movie "Diamonds Are Forever." He would have been seen playing casino games (actually Roulette) and complaining about his record contract with lead character Willard Whyte, but the scene was cut as director Guy Hamilton felt it would have been confusing. Or maybe it was just because Sammy made fun of Bond's white tux. Powered by MummysGold |
Exceptional Sound. No Exceptions!
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(March 1)
Warner Home Video has just announced the release of a stunning restoration (by the company's
Motion Picture Imaging division) of Judy Garland's triumphant return to the screen, "A Star Is Born" (1954), scheduled for June 22 in a two-disc Blu-ray package with a 40-page book featuring photography, press materials, production history and more. The film was famously reconstructed in the early 1980s under the leadership of late film historian Ronald Haver, and MPI has meticulously preserved and restored Haver's 176-minute version of the film to its original luster, bringing back the brilliant, saturated colors and crisp picture. Bonus content will include alternate takes, deleted scenes, excerpts from Garland's audio recording sessions, and more. A Deluxe Special Edition two-disc DVD will also be available. Pricing: $34.99 Blu-ray/$20.97 standard. 
(February 19)
Here's a spate of new release announcements: Due April 1 is the funny documentary "The Yes Men Fix the World" that follows two gonzo political activists from New Orleans to NYC to India as they pull off the world's most outrageous pranks, from Docurama; on April 20 Paramount will release Peter Jackson's fantasy thriller The Lovely Bones, starring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan and Stanley Tucci, on DVD and two-disc Blu-ray. The Blu-ray features nearly three hours of bonus content including an immersive, 15-week production diary hosted by Jackson and co-screenwriter Philippa Boyens that provides in-depth, behind-the-scenes access to the film's shoot in the U.S. and New Zealand, as well as a look at the film's visual effects. Also announced: The Criterion Collection's a Blu-ray edition of Fritz Lang's "M" (May 11), Nicolas Roeg's "Walkabout" in DVD and Blu-ray (May 18) and "Stagecoach" in DVD and Blu-ray (May 25). And don't forget Shout! Factory's May 18 release of the campy "Gamera, the Giant Monster" (1965), the unedited original Japanese version of the first Gamera movie, with English subtitles, presented in anamorphic widescreen from a newly restored HD master; $19.93.
The Criterion Collection this week will release Max Ophuls classic "Lola Montes" (1955), starring Martine Carol, Peter Ustinov and Anton Walbrook. "Lola Montes" is a visually ravishing, narratively daring dramatization of the life of the notorious courtesan and showgirl, played by Martine Carol. With his customary cinematographic flourish and, for the first time, vibrant color, Max Ophuls charts Montes' scandalous past through the bombastic ringmaster (Peter Ustinov) of the American circus where she ends up performing. Ophuls's final film, "Lola Montes" is at once a magnificent romantic melodrama, a meditation on the lurid fascination with celebrity, and a meticulous, one-of-a-kind movie spectacle. (Posted February 16)
With the plug about to be pulled on his late night talk show and his wife engaged in a steamy affair with a pro baseball star, a TV host concocts the mother of all media stunts to salvage his life -- which results in comedy, mystery, murder and mayhem in "Remarkable Power"
(2008), starring Kevin Nealon, Tom Arnold, Kip Pardue, Nora Zehetner, Dule Hill, Christopher Titus, Evan Peters and Whitney Able, from MTI Home Video .... In "Hellhounds"
(2009), starring Scott Elrod, James A. Woods and Amanda Brooks, a Greek warrior delves into the trenches of hell and battles ravenous hellhounds in order to save his love from the evil clutches of Hades; from RHI Entertainment/Vivendi Entertainment ... Seventeen years after NASCAR racer Cutter McCullough died in a fiery crash, he and his car return from the grave to settle a score with his old girlfriend Tammy and his rival JJ Sawyer, who hit the road with the Phantom Racer on their tail in "Phantom Racer" (2009), starring Nicole Eggert, Greg Evigan and Brenna O'Brien; from Vivendi Entertainment ..."13teen (aka For Sale by Owner)" (2005), stars Amanda Brown, John Lansch and Marc Hustvedt in a thriller about a serial killer who stalks a small town, carving the number 13 into his victim's chests; from North American Motion Pictures. (Posted February 16)
"Women in Trouble" (2009) stars Carla Gugino, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrianne Palicki, Simon Baker, Elizabeth Berkeley, Connie Britton, Marley Shelton, Cameron Richardson, Garcelle Beauvais, Caitlin Keats and Paul Cassell in a day in the life of seemingly disparate Los Angeles women, including a porn star, a flight attendant, a psychiatrist, a masseuse, a bartender and a pair of call girls. All of them with one crucial thing in common: Trouble; from Screen Media Films ... "Immigrants"
(2006) features the voices of Hank Azaria and Dan Castellaneta in the animated adventures of two recent immigrants to the U.S. -- roommates Vladislav (Russian) and Joska (Hungarian) -- as they get into all kinds of troubles and comical situations while adapting to life in America with their neighbors: Flaco, a friend from Mexico; Mr. Chea, a Chinese restaurant owner; Nazim, a former Pakistani scientist turned tour bus driver; and Mr. Splits, an old black pimp. Directed by Gabor Csupo ("The Rugrats"). From Echo Bridge Entertainment ... In "From Mexico With Love" (2009), starring Kuno Becker, Steven Bauer, Stephen Lang, Alex Nesic, Danay Garcia and Bruce McGill, struggling migrant farm worker Hector spends his days in the fields and his nights as a part-time prizefighter but a brawl with the boss' thugs earns him a one-way ticket back over the Mexican border. Beaten up, broke and jobless, he joins forces with an old-school trainer and sets his sights on the rancher's boxer son for the ultimate David-and-Goliath face off; from Lionsgate ... In "Splinterheads" (2009), starring Lea Thompson, Rachael Taylot and Thomas Middleton, a twentysomething slacker who has decided that his "thing" is that he has no "thing" at all meets a gorgeous con artist who has more "things" going for her than anyone he has ever met in this indie comedy; from Monarch Home Video. (Posted February 16)
"The Spectacular Spider-Man Volumes 6 and 7" (2009) features episodes from the second season of the hit TV series that was recently re-launched on Disney's XD network; $19.94 each from Sony ... "Shaun the Sheep: A Woolly Good Time" (2010) includes six five-minute shorts featuring another ba-a-a-th of adventures of Shaun the Sheep and friends Bitzer, Shirley, Timmy and more; $14.98 from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate ... "Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: Season 1 Volume 1," (2009) is a single-disc with six episodes of the animated series in which an elite team of teen drivers and their ultra-fast vehicles save the planet; $14.97 from Warner ... "Scooby-Doo Abracadabra-Doo" (2009) is a new feature-length animated Scooby-Doo movie. Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang set out on a trip to visit Daphne's sister Madelyn, who has been studying magic at the Whirlen Merlin Magic Academy. When the gang arrives, they learn that the school has been troubled with strange disturbances and they set out to investigate. $19.98 from Warner ... "Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies" (1977) is an animated Easter special that features a star-studded lineup of all-time favorite Looney Tunes characters -- including Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Granny, Pepe Le Pew, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam and Daffy Duck -- auditioning to see who will help deliver Easter baskets; $14.97 from Warner ... "The First Easter Rabbit: Deluxe Edition" (1976) is an animated classic that tells the story of the origin of the first Easter Bunny; narrated by Academy Award winner Burl Ives. Remastered. $14.97 from Warner. (Posted February 16)
"Shooter Series Volume Two: F. Gary Gray" (2010) is the second release in the innovative DVD series dedicated to pioneers behind the camera, this compilation of visual, musical and artistic works from the director of "Law Abiding Citizen" includes "Doing the Impossible" documentary; trailers from "Be Cool," "A Man Apart," "The Negotiator," "Set It Off" and "Law Abiding Citizen"; a "Law Abiding Citizen: Behind the Scenes" featurette; and music videos from Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, R Kelly, Mary J. Blige, TLC, Queen Latifah and others. $24.95 from Genius Products/Vivendi Entertainment ... "World Wrestling Entertainment Titles": WWE has five ruthless DVDs out this month: "TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs," "Survivor Series 2009" (featuring the Triple Threat Match of John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels), "Bragging Rights 2009" (featuring the Fatal Four Way Match for the World Heavyweight Championship with Undertaker vs. CM Punk vs. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio), "John Morrison: Rock Star" (a behind-the-scenes look inside and outside the ring with the upcoming WWE star), and "Raw: The Best of 2009," a three-disc set with the highs and lows of the year in wrestling, featuring 20 complete matches). From WWE Home Video. (Posted February 16)
(February 14)
"Valentine's Day," the Garry Marshall-directed ensemble comedy that wasn't so well-love by the movie critics, conquered all at the box office in the first three days of the four-day Valentine's Day/Presidents Day weekend with an estimated $52.4 million in North America. Action fantasy "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" bolted into second place with
$31.1 million and "The Wolfman" transmuted third with $31.6 million. With "Avatar" taking in $22 million and "Dear John" garnering $15.2 million, this President's Day weekend is headed for a record. And, according to 
