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ONVIDEO E-MAIL NEWS
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11/30/04 V8.49

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR TUESDAY, November 30 -- MONDAY, December 6

BOBBY JONES: STROKE OF GENIUS
Jim Caviezel stars in the true story of inspirational golf icon
Bobby Jones, who through his intense passion for the game, rose
from obscurity to become one of the sport's all-time greatest
legends. His ability made him a star, but it was his passion that
made him a legend. Robert "Bobby" Tyre Jones, Jr. was perhaps the
most naturally gifted golfer in the history of the game. Battling
a disabling illness and a volcanic temper, Jones struggled
through a succession of early defeats to reach the pinnacle of
his sport -- becoming, at age 28, the only man ever to win the
coveted Grand Slam of golf. But it was his devotion to his wife
Mary (Claire Forlani) that led to the astounding announcement
that shocked the world. Director: Rowdy Herrington. Stars: James
Caviezel, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam, Malcolm McDowell. 2004,
CC, MPAA rating: PG, 128 min., Biodrama, Box office gross: $2.694
million, Columbia TriStar, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental. DVD:
Day & Date.

HERO
Sumptuously choreographed martial arts drama with colors that
just drip off the screen and a "Rashomon"" story line. At the
height of China's Warring States period, the country was divided
into seven kingdoms: Qin, Zhao, Han Wei, Yan, Chu and Qi. For
years, the separate kingdoms fought ruthlessly for supremacy. As
a result, the populace endured decades of death and suffering.
The Kingdom of Qin was the most determined of all. The Qin King
was obsessed with conquering all of China and becoming her first
Emperor. He had long been the target of assassins throughout the
other six states. Of all the would-be killers, none inspired as
much fear as the three legendary assassins, Broken Sword, Snow
and Sky. To anyone who defeated the three assassins, the King of
Qin promised great power, mountains of gold and a private
audience with the King himself. But defeating the killers is a
near impossible task. For 10 years no one came close to claiming
the prize. So when the enigmatic county sheriff, Nameless, came
to the palace bearing the legendary weapons of the slain
assassins, the King was impatient to hear his story. Sitting in
the palace, only 10 paces from the King, Nameless told his
extraordinary tale. For 10 years, Nameless studied the way of the
sword and resolved to challenge the three assassins. Using the
secrets of swordsmanship, Nameless defeated the mighty Sky in a
furious showdown. Following this initial victory, he destroyed
the famed duo of Snow and Broken Sword, this time using a weapon
far more devastating than his sword -- their extraordinary love
for each other. The King hung on every detail of this curious
story. But then something most unexpected happened -- the King
has a different story to tell of how Nameless really came to sit
there, face to face with the King! It appears that everything was
not so simple. In the center of the intrigue sits Nameless -- a
solitary ranger and the King of Qin -- the ruler of the Kingdom,
with only 10 steps between them. Within those 10 steps holds an
earth-shattering tale of love, honor and duty, a story that moves
beyond the reaches of history. A story about what it means to be
a hero. In Chinese with English subtitles. Director: Zhang Yimou.
Stars: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Zhang
Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, Donnie Yen. 2004, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 99
min., Martial arts, Box office gross: $41.652 million, Miramax,
No VHS SRP, Priced for rental. DVD: Day & Date.

LUTHER
Biodrama that explores the life and times of Martin Luther.
Regional princes and the powerful church wield a fast, firm and
merciless grip over 16th century Germany. But when Luther (Joseph
Fiennes) issues a shocking challenge to their authority, the
people declare him their new leader -- and hero. Even when
threatened with violent death, Luther refuses to back down,
sparking a revolution that shakes the entire continent to its
spiritual core. Director: Eric Till. Stars: Joseph Fiennes,
Alfred Molina, Claire Cox, Peter Ustinov. 2003, CC, MPAA rating:
PG-13, 124 min., Bio drama, Box office gross: $0.908 million,
MGM, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental. DVD: Day & Date.

SPIDER-MAN 2
Two years have passed since the mild-mannered Peter Parker (Tobey
Maguire) walked away from his longtime love Mary Jane Watson
(Kirsten Dunst) and decided to take the road to responsibility as
Spider-Man. Peter must face new challenges as he struggles to
cope with "the gift and the curse" of his powers while balancing
his dual identities as the elusive superhero Spider-Man and life
as a college student. Peter's life-long yearning for M.J. becomes
even stronger as he fights the impulse to abandon his secret life
and declare his love. In the meantime, M.J. has moved on with her
life. She has embarked on an acting career and has a new man in
her life. Peter's relationship with his best friend Harry Osborn
(James Franco) has been overshadowed by Harry's growing vendetta
against Spider-Man, whom he holds responsible for his father's
death. Peter's life becomes even more complicated when he is
pitted against a powerful new nemesis, Dr. Otto Octavius (Molina)
-- the multi-tentacled "Doc Ock" (created in an experiment,
sponsored by Osborn's company, to harness an inexhaustible supply
of energy for humankind, an experiment that goes horribly awry).
Peter must now learn to accept his fate and harness all his
superhero talents in order to stop this diabolical madman in his
octagonal tracks. Director: Sam Raimi. Stars: Tobey Maguire,
Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K.
Simmons, Donna Murphy, Daniel Gillies, Dylan Baker, Willem Dafoe,
Cliff Robertson. 2004, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 127 min., Action
adventure, Box office gross: $360.973 million, Columbia TriStar,
$24.97 VHS SRP. DVD: Day & Date.

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


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NEWS

COMING SOON:
Due December 28 from DreamWorks is "Ghost in the Shell 2:
Innocence," acclaimed writer-director Mamoru Oshii's follow up to
his cult anime hit "Ghost in the Shell" ... Due February 1 is the
long-awaited "Degrassi Junior High -- Season 1," featuring 13
episodes for $39.95, from WGBH Boston Video.

FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Due this week: "Lost in Space Season Two: Volume Two," a four-
disc set with 16 episodes, $39.98 from Fox ... "Northern Exposure
-- The Complete Second Season," a two-disc set, $59.98 from
Universal ... "The Protectors," a four-disc set with 26 episodes
of the 70s cult classic featuring a trio of British
crimefighters, $79.95 from A&E Home Video ... and "Tru Calling
Season One," a six-disc set with 20 episodes, $59.98 from Fox.


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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

** Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) James Caviezel, Claire
Forlani, Jeremy Northam, Malcolm McDowell. Extras: Commentary by
director Rowdy Herrington, deleted scenes, bloopers, photo
gallery, "Celebrating the Legend" featurette. (Columbia TriStar).
** Daredevil Director's Cut (2003) Dir.: Mark Steven Johnson.
Stars: Ben Affleck, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jennifer Garner, Colin
Farrell, Jon Favreau, Scott Terra, Ellen Pompeo, Joe Pantoliano,
Coolio. Twenty minutes of additional footage. DTS and Dolby.
Extras: Commentary by director Johnson and producer Gary Foster,
"Giving the Devil His Due: The Making of Daredevil Director's
Cut" featurette. (Fox).
** Eating (1990) Dir.: Harry Jaglom; Nelly Alard, Frances Bergen,
Mary Crosby, Lisa Richards. (New Video).
** Fantastic Films of Ray Harryhausen: Legendary Science Fiction.
Five-disc set, $57.95. "First Men in the Moon" (1964), "20
Million Miles to Earth" (1957), "Earth vs the Flying Saucers"
(1956), "Mysterious Island" (1961), "It Came From Beneath the
Sea" (1955). (Columbia TriStar).
** The Happy Gilmore/Billy Madison Collection. Two-disc set with
Adam Sandler's "Billy Madison Special Edition" and "Happy Gilmore
Special Edition," $27.98. Extras: Deleted and alternate scenes,
outtakes, more. (Universal).
** Hero (2004 -- Chinese) Dir.: Zhang Yimou; Jet Li, Tony Leung
Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming,
Donnie Yen. Extras: "Hero Defined" behind-the-scenes featurette,
storyboards, "Inside the Action: A Conversation With Quentin
Tarantino." (Miramax).
** It's All True (1993) Documentary based on the unfinished film
by Orson Welles. (Paramount).
** Kathy Griffin: Allegedly. Uncensored concert featuring the "D-
List" comedienne. (Anchor Bay).
** The Keep (1983) Dir.: Michael Mann; Scott Glenn, Alberta
Watson, Jurgen Prochnow, Robert Prosky, Gabriel Byrne, Ian
McKellen. (Paramount).
** The Lords of Discipline (1983) David Keith. (Paramount).
** Lost in Space Season Two: Volume Two. Four-disc set with 16
episodes, $39.98. Extras: Original 1966 cast interviews, stills.
(Fox).
** Luther (2003) Joseph Fiennes, Alfred Molina, Claire Cox, Peter
Ustinov. Extras: Cast featurettes. (MGM).
** Northen Exposure -- The Complete Second Season. Two disc set,
$59.98. (Universal).
** The Protectors. Four-disc set with 26 episodes of the 70s cult
classic featuring a trio of British crimefighters, $79.95. (A&E
Home Video).
** Racing With the Moon (1984) Dir.: Richard Benjamin; Sean Penn,
Elizabeth McGovern, Nicolas Cage, Suzanne Adkinson. Extras:
Commentary by Benjamin, three featurettes: "The Story -- The
People," "The Making of Racing for the Moon," "The Race Goes On."
(Paramount).
** Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004) AnnaSophia Robb, Mia
Farrow, Jordan Bridges. Live-action film based on the best-
selling character from American Girl's book and doll collection.
(Warner).
** Spider-Man 2 (2004) Dir.: Sam Raimi; Tobey Maguire, Kirsten
Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K.
Simmons, Donna Murphy, Daniel Gillies, Dylan Baker, Willem Dafoe,
Cliff Robertson. Two-disc set for $29.96; a gift set will also be
available for $49.95 that will include such goodies as a
portfolio of artwork "inspired by" the film and a reprint of a
classic "Spider-Man" comic. Extras: Ten hours of extras including
an "Enter the Web" feature that allows viewers to experience in a
virtual sense what it's like to be on the set of the film,
commentaries, featurettes, a 12-part "making of" documentary,
bloopers, and much, much more. (Columbia TriStar).
** Tru Calling Season One. Six-disc set with 20 episodes, $59.98.
Extras: Commentary on select episodes; deleted scenes;
featurettes: "Finding the Calling: The Pilot," "The Tru Path:
Season One," "Evil Comes Calling: A Late Season Twist"; Full
Blown Rose "Somebody Help Me" music video; Easter egg. (Fox).

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:

** Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004) AnnaSophia Robb, Mia
Farrow, Jordan Bridges. Live-action direct-to-video film based on
the best-selling character from American Girl's book and doll
collection (Warner): $14.94
** Spider-Man 2 (2004) Dir.: Sam Raimi; Tobey Maguire, Kirsten
Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K.
Simmons, Donna Murphy, Daniel Gillies, Dylan Baker, Willem Dafoe,
Cliff Robertson (Columbia TriStar): $24.97


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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