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9/14/04 V8.38

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR TUESDAY, September 14 -- MONDAY, September 20

BAADASSSSS! HOW TO GET THE MAN'S FOOT OUTTA YOUR ASS
The year was 1971 and the hot ticket at the box office was "The
French Connection." Little did audiences and the film industry
know that in the same year the birth of a new era was about to
explode --Independent Black Cinema. The city was Detroit, and a
weathered Melvin Van Peebles sat alone in the Grand Circus
theatre watching only a few ticket buyers enter where his new
film, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," -- his follow up to
the successful comedy "Watermelon Man" -- was about to play.
After months of clawing, scheming and fighting to finish the film
he wanted to make, the moment had arrived, and in a virtually
empty theatre, Melvin sat with just a few curious onlookers. By
the end of the screening, Melvin was alone. No one could have
predicted what happened after that momentous end would be the
beginning of history. More than 30 years later, history is being
fashioned again. Mario Van Peebles, Melvin's son, directs an
honest and revealing portrait of his pioneering father. Following
in his dad's footsteps, and documenting his exceptional journey
towards political defiance through cinema, Mario directs and
stars as Melvin, based on the book "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss
Song," written by his father right after making "Sweetback."
Mario sharply observes Melvin's struggles to raise money to fund
"Sweetback" under the guise of creating a black porno film.
Melvin ducked creditors, the unions and had to bail out his
camera crew after they were arrested because a white cop decided
"a bunch of Negroes and hippies couldn't have come by that camera
equipment honestly." Despite death threats and temporarily losing
sight in one eye, Melvin managed to whip into shape a rag-tag,
multi-racial crew and finish the film. The film had a winning
formula -- a hip, empowered black lead and a driving, energetic
soundtrack with music from the then up-and-coming band Earth Wind
and Fire. Despite the fact that initially only two theatres in
the whole United States would play his film, "Sweetback" became
the top grossing independent hit of 1971 spawning a decade of
similar studio fair -- "Shaft," "Superfly" and "Foxy Brown."
Melvin had brought the hood to Hollywood. Director: Mario Van
Peebles. Stars: Mario Van Peebles, Joy Bryant, T.K. Carter, Terry
Crews, Ossie Davis, David Alan Grier, Nia Long, Paul Rodriguez,
Saul Rubinek. 2004, CC, MPAA rating: R, 109 min., Biopic, Box
office gross: $0.315 million, Columbia TriStar, No VHS SRP,
Priced for rental. DVD: Day & Date.

HOME ON THE RANGE
Delightful animated adventure follows the exploits of three cows,
a karate-kicking stallion and a colorful corral of critters as
they try to save their "Patch of Heaven" dairy farm from the
meanest, no-good rascal in the wild west. This rootin-tootin
adventure features all-new songs from eight-time Academy Award-
winner Alan Menken, who's penned the songs from "The Little
Mermaid," "Pocahontas" and "Beauty and the Beast." Also features
songs by Tim McGraw, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt and the Beu Sisters.
Greedy outlaw Alameda Slim (Randy Quaid), schemes to take
possession of the "Patch of Heaven" dairy farm. Three lovable
cows -- Grace (Jennifer Tilly), Mrs. Caloway (Judi Dench) and
wisecracking Maggie (Rosanne Barr) -- join forces with a karate
kicking stallion named Buck (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and a colorful
corral of critters to save the farm. Braving bad men and the
rugged Western landscape, the bovine beauties and their wacky
team of fellow animals risk their hides and match wits with a
mysterious bounty hunter named Rico in a high stakes race to
capture Slim and collect the reward money, saving the farm. Great
fun for kids of all ages -- and it uses old-fashioned cell
animation, too. Director: Will Finn and John Sanford. Stars:
Voices of Randy Quaid, Jennifer Tilly, Judi Dench, Rosanne Barr,
Cuba Gooding Jr., Steve Buscemi, Estelle Harris. 2004, CC, MPAA
rating: PG, 76 min., Animated, Box office gross: $48.884 million,
Disney, $24.99 VHS SRP. DVD: Day & Date.

JERSEY GIRL
A change of pace for director Kevin Smith, who revels in weird,
outrageous comedies about social outcasts: "Jersey Girl" is a
mild-mannered and at times amusing dramatic comedy about learning
to accept the at-times horrific changes that life throws at you -
- and making the best of what may seem to be a bad situation.
Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is a smooth and successful Manhattan
music publicist who seems to have it all. When his perfect life
is suddenly, tragically upended -- his wife (Jennifer Lopez in a
thankfully brief role) dies during child birth -- Trinke is left
as a single father totally unqualified for the role. Trinke snaps
during a press conference and insults members of the press as
well as up-and-coming star Will Smith and finds his big city life
a memory. Out of a job and out of luck, he reluctantly moves in
with his father (George Carlin) back home to the New Jersey
suburb where he was raised. It is the lowest point in his life.
The years pass and with them Ollie's plans for his future. Stuck
in a run-of-the-mill job as a city public works employee, he sees
no way out and no way back to the life he used to love. But he
adores his young daughter Gertie (Raquel Castro), and she loves
their life in the 'burbs. To her, Jersey is paradise. While
renting Gertie's favorite movie for the zillionth time one day,
Ollie meets Maya (Liv Tyler), who challenges his priorities and
perspective. He regains some confidence and attempts to re-enter
publicity in Manhattan, but realizes he has to choose between the
old and the new, and learn that sometimes you have to forget
about who you thought you were, accept who you are and
acknowledge what makes you happy. There's some nifty explorations
of human feelings and yearnings here, but for the most part the
pat -- and predictable -- story line had us pushing the fast-
forward on the remote. A disappointment for true Smith fans.
Director: Kevin Smith. Stars: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Jason
Biggs, George Carlin, Jennifer Lopez, Raquel Castro. 2004, CC,
MPAA rating: Pg-13, 102 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $25.083
million, Miramax, $24.99 VHS SRP. DVD: Day & Date.

MAN ON FIRE
A wave of kidnappings has swept through Mexico, feeding a growing
sense of panic among its wealthier citizens, especially parents.
In one six-day period, there are 24 abductions, leading many to
hire bodyguards for their children. Into this world enters John
Creasy (Denzel Washington), a burned-out ex-CIA
operative/assassin who has given up on life. Creasy's friend
Rayburn (Christopher Walken) brings him to Mexico City to be a
bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning), daughter
of industrialist Samuel Ramos (Marc Anthony) and his wife Lisa
(Radha Mitchell). Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard,
especially to a youngster, but for lack of something better to
do, he accepts the assignment. Creasy barely tolerates the
precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his
life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable
exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. Creasy's
new-found purpose in life is shattered when Pita is kidnapped.
Despite being mortally wounded during the kidnapping, Creasy is
"a man on fire," as he vows to kill anyone involved in or
profiting from the kidnapping. And no one can stop him. A
straight-ahead actioner that grabs you by the throat and sucks
you into its revenge scenario, then twists and turns you around
with a variety of plot surprises. Washington plays his avenging-
angel role with a thankfully heroic stoicism (no smirking
retribution here). The gorgeously hued images of Mexico combined
with hyper-realistic editing and jerky camera movements
convincingly convey a once beautiful and exotic world horribly
contaminated by the evil of money. A visual tour-de-force for
Scott. Director: Tony Scott. Stars: Denzel Washington, Dakota
Fanning, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken,
Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin, Mickey Rourke. 2004, CC, MPAA
rating: R, 146 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $77.001 million,
Fox, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental. DVD: Day & Date.

SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED
Scooby and the gang lose their cool -- and their stellar
reputation -- when an anonymous masked villain wreaks mayhem on
the city of Coolsville with a monster machine that re-creates
classic Mystery Inc. foes like The Pterodactyl Ghost, The Black
Knight Ghost, Captain Cutler's Ghost and The 10,000 Volt Ghost.
Under pressure from relentless reporter Heather Jasper-Howe
(Alicia Silverstone) and the terrified citizens of Coolsville,
the gang launches an investigation into the mysterious monster
outbreak that leaves Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby
questioning their roles in Mystery Inc. The ever-ravenous duo,
determined to prove they're great detectives, don a series of
far-out disguises in their search for clues. All signs point to
Jeremiah "Old Man" Wickles (Peter Boyle), the former Black Knight
Ghost who was once unmasked by the gang and thrown in jail. Did
the creepy wannabe launch the monstrous attack on Coolsville in a
diabolical quest for revenge? Meanwhile, brainy Velma (Linda
Cardellini) becomes smitten with another key suspect, Coolsonian
Criminology Museum curator Patrick Wisely (Seth Green), as macho
leader Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and image-conscious Daphne
(Sarah Michelle Gellar) attempt to determine the identity of the
Evil Masked Figure whose monster army is wreaking havoc on
Coolsville. Director: Raja Gosnell. Stars: Freddie Prinze Jr.,
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Seth
Green, Peter Boyle, Tim Blake Nelson, Alicia Silverstone. 2004,
CC, MPAA rating: PG, 88 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $82.247
million, Warner, $22.99 VHS SRP. DVD: Day & Date.

YOUNG ADAM
Crime thriller about a young drifter, Joe (Ewan McGregor), who
finds work on a barge owned by the down-to-earth Les (Peter
Mullan) and his enigmatic wife Ella (Tilda Swinton). One
afternoon Joe and Les happen upon the corpse of a young woman
floating in the water and the questions begin. Accident? Suicide?
Murder? As the police investigate the case and a suspect is
arrested, it becomes evident that Joe knows more about the
drowned woman, Cathie (Emily Mortimer), than he will admit.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the investigation, an unspoken
attraction has developed between Joe and Ella, and claustrophobic
tensions evolve between the three of them in the confined space
of the barge. Sensual crime thriller inspired by the classic film
noirs of the 40s and 50s that takes place post-WWII on the canals
between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Director: David Mackenzie. Stars:
Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Peter Mullan, Emily Mortimer. 2004,
CC, MPAA rating: R, 97 min., Crime thriller, Box office gross:
$0.745 million, Columbia TriStar, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.
DVD: Day & Date.

For more release info, check out our calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar.htm>


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NEWS

DVD COLLECTIBLES:
Due this week is "THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut" of
the 1971 film that started the "Star Wars" director on his
career. The sci-fi film about a dystopic future, starring Robert
Duvall, Donald Pleasence and Maggie McOmie, has been digitally
restored with Dolby 5.1 surround sound, and is available as a
two-disc Collector's Edition for $26.99, loaded with features,
and as a single-disc version for $19.97 SRP; from Warner ... The
2003 Emmy-winning "Angels in America," starring Al Pacino, Meryl
Streep, Emma Thompson, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman, Mary-Louise
Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Patrick Wilson, James Cromwell, Michael
Gambon and Simon Callow, will arrive this week as a two-disc set,
from HBO.

FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Lots of series making their way to DVD this week: "Diff'rent
Strokes: The First Season," a three-disc set, $29.95, from
Columbia TriStar . .. "Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete
First Season," in a five-disc set with 22 episodes, $44.98, from
New Line ... "Law & Order: The Fourteenth Year," a three-disc
set, $59.98, from Universal ... "Law & Order: Criminal Intent:
The Third Year," a three-disc set, $59.98, from Universal ...
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Fifth Year," a three-disc
set, $59.98, from Universal ... "Lost in Space Season Two: Volume
One," a four-disc set with 16 episodes, $39.98, from Fox ...
"Sanford & Son: The Fifth Season," a three-disc set with 25
episodes, $29.95, from Columbia TriStar ... "7th Heaven: The
Complete First Season," a six-disc set, priced at around $50,
from Paramount ... "The Simpsons Gone Wild," a single disc with
"Homer's Night Out," "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday," "The Mansion
Family" and "Homer the Moe," $14.98 from Fox ... "Survivor: All-
Stars," a seven-disc set with 10 episodes, priced under $40, from
Paramount.

BUZZIN' THE 'B's:
"The Hazing" is a horror thriller about a group of college
students who plan to initiate new frat members in a possessed
house -- a house that has other plans, starring Brad Dourif,
Brooke Burke, Tiffany Shepis and Nectar Rose, from MTI Home
Video.

FOR THE KIDS:
For the preschool set, HIT Entertainment will release Barney's
Colorful World! LIVE!" a concert video that captures the
preschool dino-star's third stage show extravaganza, which
launched in New York's Radio City Music Hall in January 2003, on
$12.99 VHS and $16.99 DVD.

SPECIAL INTEREST:
"Heir to an Execution," an incisive documentary that looks at the
case against and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg as spies
(on June 19, 1953), directed by their granddaughter, Ivy
Meeropol, arrives this week exclusively on DVD from HBO Video.


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THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

Weekly listings of DVD releases can now be viewed on mobile
devices at www.tagtag.com/onvideo

** Angels in America (2003) Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma
Thompson, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman, Mary- Louise Parker, Jeffrey
Wright, Patrick Wilson, James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, Simon
Callow. HBO miniseries. Two-disc set. (HBO).
** Baadasssss! (How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass) (2004)
Dir.: Mario Van Peebles; Mario Van Peebles, Joy Bryant, T.K.
Carter, Terry Crews, Ossie Davis, David Alan Grier, Nia Long,
Paul Rodriguez, Saul Rubinek. Extras: Commentary by Mario and
Melvin Van Peebles, American Cinematheque Q&A feature with Melvin
Van Peebles, Hollywood premiere interviews with cast and crew,
"The Birth of Black Cinema" featurette, poster explorations.
(Columbia TriStar).
** Blazing Across the Pecos (1948) Charles Starrett, Patricia
Barry. (Columbia TriStar).
** Body Parts (1991) Jeff Fahey. (Paramount).
** Bug (1975) Bradford Dillman. (Paramount)
** demonlover: Special Edition 2-Disc Director's Cut (2002)
Connie Nielsen, Charles Berling, Gina Gershon, Chloe Sevigny.
(Palm Pictures).
** Diff'rent Strokes: The First Season. Three-disc set, $29.95.
Extras: "A Look Back at Diff'rent Strokes" featurette, "Whatchoo
Talkin' Bout?" featurette. (Columbia TriStar).
** Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete First Season. Five-disc
set with 22 episodes, $44.98. Extras: Three making-of pilot
season featurettes: "Everybody Loves Raymond: How We Got Here,"
"Everybody Loves Raymond: Casting the Family," "Everybody Loves
Raymond: On the Air"; commentary by Ray Romano and creator Phil
Rosenthal; Romano's "Late Show With David Letterman" appearance
that inspired the series. (New Line).
** G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom (2004) Feature-length CGI animated
adventure. Extras: Making-of featurette, drawing board to film
comparison, music video, trading cards, more. (Paramount).
** Heir to an Execution (2004) Documentary on Julius and Ethel
Rosenberg, executed as spies in 1953. (HBO Video).
** Home on the Range (2004) Animated. Voices of Randy Quaid,
Jennifer Tilly, Judi Dench, Rosanne Barr, Cuba Gooding Jr., Steve
Buscemi, Estelle Harris. Extras: Yodel Mania game, "Anytime You
Need a Friend" music video, "Joke Corral," deleted scenes,
"Making of Home on the Range" featurette, more. (Disney).
** I Married a Monster From Outer Space (1958) Gloria Talbott,
Tom Tryon. (Paramount).
** Jersey Girl (2004) Dir.: Kevin Smith; Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler,
Jason Biggs, George Carlin, Jennifer Lopez, Raquel Castro.
Extras: Commentary by Smith and Affleck; commentary by Smith,
producer Scott Mosier and special guest Jason Mewes; deleted
scenes; behind-the-scenes "making of" special; "Kevin Smith's
Roadside Attractions as Seen on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno"
featurette; conversation with Smith and Affleck; original text
interviews with cast and crew. (Miramax).
** Law & Order: The Fourteenth Year. Three-disc set, $59.98.
Extras: Profiles of stars Jesse Martin and Fred Thompson, set
tour with Jerry Orbach, interview with forensic scientist Park
Dietz. (Universal).
** Law & Order: Criminal Intent: The Third Year. Three-disc set,
$59.98. Extras: Profiles of stars James Sheridan and Courtney
Vance, set tour with executive producer Fred Berner and star
Kathryn Erbe, "Who Is Robert Goren?" featurette, an interview
with a private eye/show consultant. (Universal).
** Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Fifth Year. Three-disc
set, $59.98. Extras: Profiles of stars Ice-T, B.D. Wong and Dann
Florek; montage of the show's most memorable guest appearances.
(Universal).
** Lost in Space Season Two: Volume One. Four-disc set with 16
episodes, $39.98. (Fox).
** Man on Fire (2004) Dir.: Tony Scott; Denzel Washington, Dakota
Fanning, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken,
Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin, Mickey Rourke. Extras:
Commentary by Scott, producer Lucas Foster, writer Brian
Helgeland, Fanning. (Fox).
** Orca: The Killer Whale (1977) Richard Harris, Charlotte
Rampling, Bo Derek. (Paramount).
** Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles: The Movie (2004) Glenn
Plummer, A.J. Johnson, Clifton Powell. (UrbanWorks
Entertainment).
** Sanford & Son: The Fifth Season. Three-disc set with 25
episodes, $29.95. (Columbia TriStar).
** Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) Freddie Prinze Jr.,
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Seth
Green, Peter Boyle, Tim Blake Nelson. Extras: Deleted scenes;
"Triple Threat" stunts, sets and visual effects featurette; "The
Scooby-Doo Monsters Unleashed" challenge; "Behind the Mystery
Mystery: The Mystery of the Missing Pants" featurette; "Dancing
Dog" CGI featurette; "True Ghoul Hollywood Story"; music videos;
more. (Warner).
** 7th Heaven: The Complete First Season. Six-disc set, priced at
around $50. (Paramount).
** The Simpsons Gone Wild. Single disc with "Homer's Night Out,"
"Sunday, Cruddy Sunday," "The Mansion Family" and "Homer the
Moe," $14.98. (Fox).
** Survivor: All-Stars. Seven-disc set with 10 episodes, priced
under $40. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, four
featurettes, bonus footage. (Paramount).
** THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut (1971) Dir.: George
Lucas; Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Maggie McOmie. Digital
restoration with Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Available as a two-
disc Collector's Edition for $26.99 and as a single-disc version
for $19.97 SRP. Extras: Collector's Edition: Commentary by co-
writer/director Lucas and co-writer/sound designer Walter Murch,
"Theatre of Noise" isolated sound-effects track, master sessions
with Walter Murch, "A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of
American Zoetrope" new documentary, "Artifact From the Future:
The Making of THX 1138" new documentary, "Electronic Labyrinth
THX 1138 4EB": Lucas' student film that inspired the movie. The
single-disc version includes the George Lucas Director's Cut of
the film and commentary by Lucas and Walter Murch. (Warner).
** Watermelon Man (1970) Dir.: Melvin Van Peebles; Godfrey
Cambridge, Estelle Parsons. Extras: Introduction by Van Peebles.
(Columbia TriStar).
** Young Adam (2004) Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Peter Mullan,
Emily Mortimer. Extras: Commentary by director David Mackenzie;
commentary by Swinton, Mackenzie, editor Colin Monie, production
designer Laurence Dorman; extended scene; Ewan McGregor Original
Passage Narration (voice-over narration that was deleted from the
final film). (Columbia TriStar).

For more DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>


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THIS WEEK'S VHS SELL-THROUGH RELEASES:

** Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete First Season. Four-
volumes (New Line): $44.92
** Home on the Range (2004) Animated. Voices of Randy Quaid,
Jennifer Tilly, Judi Dench, Rosanne Barr, Cuba Gooding Jr., Steve
Buscemi, Estelle Harris (Disney): $24.99
** Jersey Girl (2004) Dir.: Kevin Smith; Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler,
Jason Biggs, George Carlin, Jennifer Lopez, Raquel Castro
(Miramax): $24.99
** Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) Freddie Prinze Jr.,
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Seth
Green, Peter Boyle, Tim Blake Nelson (Warner): $22.99

For more sell-through info, check out our Sell-Through/Repriced
pages at <http://www.onvideo.org/reprice.htm>


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Copyright 2004 CyberPod. All rights reserved.
ISSN 1094-3676

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