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6/28/05 V9.26

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR TUESDAY, June 28 -- MONDAY, July 4

ACACIA
After 10 years of marriage, Do-il (Kim Jin-geun) and Mi-sook
(Shim Hye-jin) live a seemingly happy and secure life together.
Unable to conceive, they decide to adopt Jin-Sung (Moon Woo-bin),
a young boy that Mi-sook is drawn to after seeing his Munch-like
paintings. Quiet and introverted, Jin-Sung spends most of his
time playing underneath the Acacia tree in their backyard, away
from the family. When Mi-sook becomes miraculously pregnant, he
becomes even more detached. As the once-dead Acacia tree in the
backyard begins to bloom, terrible "accidents" start to tear the
household apart. Is it Jin-Sung or something far more sinister?
Director: Park Ki-Hyung. Stars: Na-yoon Jeong, Shim Hye-jin, Kim
Jin-geun, Moon Woo-bin. 2003, CC, MPAA rating: R, 102 min.,
Horror, Tartan Asia Extreme. DVD only.

DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN
Filled with a mix of comedy and drama, "Diary of a Mad Black
Woman" is based on the immensely popular play of the same name
written by Tyler Perry. The story focuses on Helen McCarter
(Kimberly Elise), who has seemingly had the perfect life with
husband Charles McCarter (Steve Harris). Over the years, Helen
has been a faithful and loving wife, while Charles built a
successful and lucrative career as a prominent Atlanta attorney.
They wear the latest fashions and drive the nicest cars. They
live on an expansive estate complete with an extravagant mansion,
swimming pool, tennis court and all the trappings of wealth.
However, on the eve of their 18th wedding anniversary Helen's
paradise begins to crumble as Charles announces that he wants a
divorce. He abruptly -- and literally -- tosses Helen out of the
mansion to make room for the "other woman". With all of her
belongings packed in a moving van, Helen starts on her journey to
put the pieces of her life back together. Through the assistance
of her family, faith, and a twist of fate, Helen finds the
strength and empowerment she needs to get control of her
circumstances. She also finds that the tragic events of her life
soon become comic, especially with the help -- mostly unsolicited
-- of pot-smoking, gun-toting, and much beloved, grandmother
figure Madea (Tyler Perry). Director: Darren Grant. Stars:
Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris, Shemar Moore, Tamara Taylor, Lisa
Marcos, Tiffany Evans, Cicely Tyson, Tyler Perry. 2005, CC, MPAA
rating: PG-13, 116 min., Drama Comedy, Box office gross: $50.382
million, Lions Gate, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

GUNNER PALACE
Director Michael Tucker's intimate portrait of the lives of
American soldiers in Iraq. Tucker spent two months living with
soldiers in one of Uday Hussein's former "pleasure palaces." The
unprecedented footage he obtained takes viewers beyond the
evening news reports and reveals what life is like in a war that
rages on even after the conflict is declared officially over.
Gunner Palace is a unique portrait of the fragmented, chaotic and
stress-filled existence of American soldiers at war in Iraq.
Tucker captured the lives of the members of the 213 Field
Artillery, AKA the "Gunners", whose living headquarters are
housed in Uday Hussein's Azimiya Palace, situated in the middle
of Adhamiya, the most volatile area in Baghdad. Four months after
President Bush declared the end of "major combat operations,"
this troop of U.S. soldiers continues to live and die through
what they jokingly call "minor combat." Their residence, a bombed
out palace complete with swimming pool and putting green,
provides a surreal backdrop to their stories. Tucker filmed the
troops over two one-month periods, slowly gaining their trust
while he lived with them in the once royal residence now fondly
known as "Gunner Palace." With total access to all unit
operations and activities, captured in his own distinct verite
style, filmmaker Tucker provides a rare series of intimate
"snapshots" that reveal the complex realities of a war that has
to be seen to be understood. Portion of proceeds from each
"Gunner Palace" DVD sold goes directly to help military families
through the Fisher House Foundation. Director: Michael Tucker.
2005, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 85 min., Documentary, Box office
gross: $0.586 million, Palm Pictures.

PACIFIER, THE
Vin Diesel stars as Navy SEAL Shane Wolfe who, as an elite member
of the world's fiercest and most highly trained force, thought he
was prepared to take on any duty no matter how perilous or
impossible ... until he tried baby-sitting. Assigned to protect
the five out-of-control children of an assassinated scientist
working on vital government secrets, Shane is suddenly faced with
juggling two outrageously incompatible jobs: fighting the bad
guys while keeping house. Replacing his usual arsenal of wetsuits
and weapons with diapers and juice boxes, Shane not only must
battle a deceptive enemy but wrangle teen rebel Zoe (Brittany
Snow), sullen 14 year-old Seth (Max Theriot), 8 year-old Ninja-
wanna-be Lulu (Morgan York), as well as 3 year-old Peter and baby
Tyler -- not to mention their off-beat Romanian Nanny (Carol
Kane). But while drop zones, demolitions and destroying enemy
targets come naturally to Shane, he has no idea what tough really
is until he pits his courage against diapering, den-mothering and
driver's education. He's truly a SEAL out of water, and now it's
up to this one-time lone warrior to take on the most important
mission of his life: keeping a family together. Director: Adam
Shankman. Stars: Vin Diesel, Lauren Graham, Faith Ford, Brittany
Snow, Max Thieriot, Chris Potter, Carol Kane, Brad Garrett. 2005,
CC, MPAA rating: PG, 95 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $100.566
million, Disney, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

TETSUO: THE IRON MAN
From director Shinya Tsukamoto -- whose stylistic and explosive
science fiction cinema has been likened to the work of David
Lynch and David Cronenberg -- comes this re-release of the film
that caused a cyber-cult sensation overseas. Somewhere between a
modern-day nightmare and a techno-fetishist's ultimate fantasy, a
young man gradually mutates into a metal being. A surreal black-
and-white journey into a dark and disturbing world where self-
inflicted body transformations and post-human women form the
fabric of a strange new reality. Explosive violence, bizarre
sexual imagery and jet-black humor. Director: Shinya Tsukamoto.
Stars: Tomorowo Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka. 1988, CC,
MPAA rating: NR, 67 min., Sci Fi Horror, Tartan Asia Extreme. DVD
only.

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


------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS

COMING SOON:
New Line will release on August 30 "Monster-in-Law," the all-too
predictable comedy starring Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Michael
Vartan and Wanda Sykes ... "Crash," the sleeper thriller hit
about life, love and death in L.A., with an ensemble cast
including Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer
Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Dashon
Howard, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate,
Tony Danza, Keith David, Shaun Toub, Loretta Devine, arrives
September 6 from Lions Gate ... Due September 13 is baseball
romantic comedy "Fever Pitch," directed by Bobby Farrelly and
Peter Farrelly and starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon, from
Fox ... The remake of "The Longest Yard," starring Adam Sandler,
Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds and James Cromwell, arrives from
Paramount on September 20 ... On October 4 Universal will release
Sydney Pollack's dramatic thriller "The Interpreter," starring
Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn ... And, on November 22, Warner will
release Robert Zemeckis' animated "The Polar Express," starring
the voice(s) of Tom Hanks.

FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Due this week: "Cadet Kelly" (2002), starring Hilary Duff,
Christy Carlson Romano and Gary Cole, from Buena Vista .... "The
Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004," a three-disc set
with all four shows from the Democratic National Convention taped
at Boston University; all four shows from the Republican National
Convention taped at Comedy Central's World News Headquarters in
New York City; "Election Night 2004: Prelude to a Recount," the
culmination of the show's "Indecision 2004" coverage that
originally aired as a special one-hour primetime presentation;
more; from Comedy Central Home Entertainment/Paramount ... "The
Doris Day Show Season 1" is a four-disc set with 28 episodes of
the 1968-73 series, from MPI Home Video ... "The Even Stevens
Movie" (2003), starring Christy Carlson Romano and Shia LaBeouf,
from Buena Vista ... "Game Over: The Complete Series," a two-disc
set, $19.98 from Anchor Bay ... "Homicide: Life on the Street:
The Complete Season 7," a six-disc set with the final season of
22 episodes, $99.95 from A&E Home Video... "La Femme Nikita: The
Complete Third Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $69.98
from Warner ... "The Long Days of Summer," a 1980 telefilm
starring Dean Jones and Joan Hackett, from MPI Home Video ...
"Nero Wolfe: The Complete Second Season." a five-disc set with 12
episodes, $99.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Revelations," a two-
disc set with all six hours of the recent NBC series; $27.98 from
Universal ... "Romeo & Juliet" (1976), an eight-part Thames TV
miniseries starring Ann Hasson and Christopher Neame, $24.95 from
A&E Home Video ... "Tales of the Unexplained" (originally
"Mysteries, Magic and Miracles" TV seriesE1994-1998), featuring
four episodes: "UFO Chronicles," "Creatures of the Night,"
"London Underworld" and "Mysteries of Life"; $14.98 from Westlake
Entertainment ... "A Touch of Frost: A Chilling Sixth Season,"
four episodes of the British detective series, $39.98 from MPI
Home Video ... "When Every Day Was the Fourth of July," a 1978
telefilm starring Dean Jones, from MPI Home Video.

FOREIGN:
Two films from the great Jean-Luc Godard: one recent, "For Ever
Mozart" (1998 - French) starring Madeleine Assas, Ghalia Lacroix,
Berangere Allaux and Vicky Messica; and one old: "Weekend" (1967-
- French), starring Mireille Darc, Jean Yanne, Jean-Pierre Kalfon
and Valerie Lagrange; both from New Yorker.

FOR THE KIDS:
Due this week: "The Ren & Stimpy Show: Seasons Three and a Half-
Ish," a three-disc set with 17 episodes, around $30 from
Paramount ... and two anime collections from the trading card
sensation turned TV series "Duel Masters": "Duel Masters: Go
Ahead Make My Duel" and "Duel Masters: Show Me the Mana," one
episode each on $9.99 VHS and three episodes each on $19.99 DVD,
also from Paramount.

SPECIAL INTEREST:
Plenty of documentaries this week: First off there's "Gunner
Palace," director Michael Tucker's intimate portrait of the lives
of American soldiers in Iraq. Tucker spent two months living with
soldiers whose headquarters are housed in one of Uday Hussein's
former "pleasure palaces." The unprecedented footage he obtained
takes viewers beyond the evening news reports and reveals what
life is like in a war that rages on even after the conflict is
declared officially over. "Gunner Palace" is a unique portrait of
the fragmented, chaotic and stress-filled existence of American
soldiers at war in Iraq; $24.99 from Palm Pictures ... "Beyond
the Da Vinci Code" (2005) is a History Channel documentary that
examines the ideas behind the best seller, $19.95 from A&E Home
Video ... "Colors Straight Up," an Academy Award-nominated look
at the lives of inner-city children who are beating the odds
through music, acting and dancing, $26.95 from Docurama ...
"America's Castles," a two-disc set with six episodes of the
popular series, featuring a grand tour of such extraordinary
homes as the Rockefellers' country estate in the Hudson Valley
and Donald Trump's Mar-A Lago in Palm Beach; $39.95 from A&E Home
Video ... "Gray Matter," a 2002 documentary about the search for
the Austrian Dr. Mengele, a forensic psychiatrist who
experimented on the brains of dead children killed during the
Third Reich's reign; $26.95 from Docurama.

High Plains Films has released two interesting documentaries:
"Libby, Montana," about the victims of asbestos posioning in that
town, and "American Values, American Wilderness," which looks at
the value of wild country as seen though interviews with a
diverse group of Americans from across the United States,
narrated by the late Christopher Reeve. Libby made national
headlines earlier this year when a 10-count criminal indictment
was handed down to seven top executives and managers of W. R.
Grace and Company. The documentary, filmed between 2000 and 2004,
chronicles the history of Grace's involvement in the rural town
of Libby, and the events which resulted in at least 200 deaths
and many more hundreds of victims of asbestos-related lung
abnormalities. The film closely follows the lives of Libby
residents as they struggle to deal with what some officials have
called one of the worst public health crises in U. S. history.
The one-hour "American Values, American Wilderness" introduces
viewers to a wide range of people from Florida to Alaska,
including among others: a teen-age daughter of Cambodian
refugees. a children's book author, a cancer survivor, a Native
American tribal chairman, a man increasingly disabled by polio,
and inner city kids visiting the wilderness for the first time.
These people share their values for wilderness as a place of
sanctuary for animals and plants, the source of clean air and
water, a place for challenge and spiritual renewal, and as a
legacy for future generations. The docu will also begin airing on
PBS stations across the country in the fall. For more information
on these titles, go to www.highplainsfilms.org.

For music lovers there's "Jimi Hendrix Deluxe Edition," a
remastered and remixed 1973 rockumentary that offers rare on-
stage performances as well as behind-the-scenes access to the
guitar wizard; $19.98 from Warner ... "Femi Kuti: Live at the
Shrine" is a DVD/CD set recorded live in Lagos, Nigeria,
featuring the best of Femi and his band Positive Force's Afro-
beat music, plus a documentary; from Palm Pictures.

Young girls, women and anime collectors of all ages might want to
investigate "Piano: The Melody of a Young Girl's Heart -- Vol. 1:
Secret Love," the first of three volumes in a DVD series from
innovative director Norihiko Sudo and character designer Kosuke
Fujishima. A young girl discovers the joy of music and the
courage to share her heart in the tale of shy Miu Nomura, a
musical prodigy, in the midst of her first high school crush. The
sweeping melodies and visual beauty is a welcome relief from the
slam-bam anime tradition. Three episodes for $29.95, in Japanese
with English subtitles, from The Right Stuf International.


------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

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

** Acacia (2003 -- South Korea) Na-yoon Jeong, Shim Hye-jin, Kim
Jin-geun, Moon Woo-bin. Extras: Making-of featurette, cast and
director commentaries, photo gallery. (Tartan Asia Extreme).
** Beyond the Da Vinci Code (2005) History Channel documentary
examines the ideas behind the best seller; $19.95. (A&E Home
Video).
** The Browning Version (1951) Dir.: Anthony Asquith; Michael
Redgrave, Jean Kent, Nigel Patrick, Ronald Howard, Brian Smith,
Wilfrid Hyde-White. Extras: Commentary by film scholar Bruce
Eder; a new video interview with Mike Figgis, who directed a
remake of the film in 1994; and an archival interview with
Redgrave. (The Criterion Collection).
** Cadet Kelly (2002 -- TV) Hilary Duff, Christy Carlson Romano,
Gary Cole, Shawn Ashmore. Extras: Commentary, "Cadet Captain
Stone's Drill Team Challenge," "Learning the Drills" behind-the-
scenes featurette. (Buena Vista).
** Crazed Fruit (1956 -- Japan) Dir.: Ko Nakahira; Ayuko
Fujishiro, Taizo Fukami, Mie Kitahara, Harold Conway, Masumi
Okada. Extras: Commentary by Japanese film scholar Donald Richie,
more. (The Criterion Collection).
** The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004. Three-disc
set with all four shows from the Democratic National Convention
taped at Boston University; all four shows from the Republican
National Convention taped at Comedy Central's World News
Headquarters in New York City; "The Bush-Kerry Debate: The
Squabble in Coral Gables," a special live presentation of the
first presidential debate held on September 30, 2004; "Election
Night 2004: Prelude to a Recount," the culmination of the show's
"Indecision 2004" coverage that originally aired as a special
one-hour primetime presentation; highlights from the 2004
campaign; plus original content produced exclusively for the DVD.
Priced around $30. (Comedy Central Home Entertainment/Paramount).
** Decadent Evil (2005) Dir.: Charles Band; Phil Fondacaro, Brian
Garton, April Gilbert, Raelyn Hennessee, Nikki Hunter. Direct-to-
video horror thriller. (Goldhil Entertainment).
** Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) Dir.: Darren Grant; Kimberly
Elise, Steve Harris, Shemar Moore, Tamara Taylor, Lisa Marcos,
Tiffany Evans, Cicely Tyson, Tyler Perry. Extras: Commentary by
playwright-star Tyler Perry, making-of featurette, deleted
scenes, more. (Lions gate).
** Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) Peter Fonda, Susan George, Adam
Roarke, Kenneth Tobey, Vic Morrow, Roddy McDowall. Extras:
Commentary by director John Hough, new interview with Peter
Fonda. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
** The Doris Day Show Season 1. Four-disc set with 28 episodes of
the 1968-73 series. Extras: Doris Day on What's My Line?;
interviews with actors Philip Brown and James Hampton; A Word
from Doris Day; Season 2 preview; Doris Day movie trailers; photo
gallery. (MPI Home Video).
** The Even Stevens Movie (2003 -- TV) Christy Carlson Romano,
Shia LaBeouf. Extras: Commentary, "Even Stevens' Survival
Challenge." (Buena Vista).
** Femi Kuti: Live at the Shrine. DVD/CD set recorded live in
Lagos, Nigeria. Extras: Documentary. (Palm Pictures).
** For Ever Mozart (1998 -- French) Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard;
Madeleine Assas, Ghalia Lacroix, Berangere Allaux, Vicky Messica.
(New Yorker).
** Game Over: The Complete Series. Two-disc set, $19.98 Extras:
Unaired episode, trivia game, featurette, more. (Anchor Bay).
** Gunner Palace (2004) Documentary. Director Michael Tucker's
intimate portrait of the lives of American soldiers in Iraq;
$24.99. Portion of proceeds from each "Gunner Palace" DVD sold
goes directly to help military families through the Fisher House
Foundation. Extras: Additional interview footage not included in
the theatrical film, unedited freestyle performances from several
of the soldiers, as well as three audio tracks of Gunner
Freestyles, including a mix from underground hip-hop artists DJ
Chops and Lt. Dan. (Palm Pictures).
** Homicide: Life on the Street: The Complete Season 7. Six-disc
set with final season of 22 episodes, $99.95. Extras: Commentary
and panel session with the series creators. (A&E Home Video).
** Jimi Hendrix Deluxe Edition. Remastered and remixed 1973
rockumentary. Extras: "From the Ukulele to the Strat" feature
that remembers Hendrix through interviews with family and friends
including father Al Hendrix, Eric Clapton, drummer Mitch
Mitchell, Billy Cox, girlfriend Fayne Pridgeon, Buddy Miles, Pete
Townshend, Jimi's producer/engineer Eddie Kramer, Jimi's road
manager Eric Barrett and touring manager Gerry Stickells; "Stone
Free Uncut," never-before-seen performance at the Atlanta Pop
Festival, summer of 1970; "The Making of Dolly Dagger" with
original Hendrix engineer Eddie Kramer breaking down the mix;
$19.98. (Warner).
** La Femme Nikita: The Complete Third Season. Six-disc set with
22 episodes, $69.98. Extras: "Designing Nikita" featurette,
deleted scenes, commentary, special gag reel footage. (Warner).
** The Long Days of Summer (1980 -- TV) Dean Jones, Joan Hackett,
Ronnie Scribner. (MPI Home Video).
** Nero Wolfe: The Complete Second Season. Five-disc set with 12
episodes, $99.95. Extras: "The Making of Nero Wolfe" behind-the-
scenes featurette; "The Golden Spiders," the first original movie
adapted from the Wolfe canon; "The Silent Speakers (Parts 1&2)"
bonus program in 16:9 letterbox. (A&E Home Video).
** The Pacifier (2005) Vin Diesel, Lauren Graham, Faith Ford,
Brittany Snow, Max Thieriot, Chris Potter, Carol Kane, Brad
Garrett. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Adam Shankman,
deleted scenes, bloopers, "Special Ops" TV commercials, "On Set
With Brad Garrett: Unpacified," "On Set With Mr. Diesel: Action
Hero and Nice Guy." (Disney).
** The Ren & Stimpy Show: Seasons Three and a Half-Ish. Three-
disc set with 17 episodes, around $30. (Paramount).
** Revelations (2005 -- TV) Two-disc set with all six hours of
the NBC series; $27.98. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette.
(Universal).
** Romeo & Juliet (1976) Eight-part Thames TV miniseries starring
Ann Hasson and Christopher Neame, $24.95. (A&E Home Video).
** Tales of the Unexplained. Four episodes: "UFO Chronicles,"
"Creatures of the Night," "London Underworld" and "Mysteries of
Life"; $14.98. (Westlake Entertainment).
** Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1988 -- Japan) Tomorowo Taguchi, Kei
Fujiwara,Nobu Kanaoka. DTS Surround. Extras: Interview with
director Shinya Tsukamoto, sneak peek at Tsukamoto's upcoming
films. (Tartan Asia Extreme).
** The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) Moe Howard, Larry Fine,
Joe DeRita, Vicki Trickett, Quinn K. Redeker, Samson Burke.
(Sony).
** A Touch of Frost: A Chilling Sixth Season. Four episodes of
the British detective series, $39.98. (MPI Home Video).
** The Tyler Perry Collection: "Madea's Class Reunion," "Madea's
Family Reunion," "Meet the Browns," "I Can Do Bad All by Myself,"
$19.98 each. (Lions Gate).
** Weekend (1967 -- French) Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard; Mireille Darc,
Jean Yanne, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Valerie Lagrange. Extras:
Commentary by critic David Sterritt; biographies of Godard,
cinematographer Raoul Coutard, director Mike Figgis, film
historian Colin MacCabe; more. (New Yorker).
** When Every Day Was the Fourth Of July (1978 -- TV) Dean Jones,
Louise Sorel, Chris Petersen, Katy Kurtzman, Harris Yulin.
Extras: Commentary by Dean Jones and producer-director Dan
Curtis, photo gallery. (MPI Home Video).
** The Woodlanders (1997) Emily Woof, Rufus Sewell. (Miramax).


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

------------------------------------------------------------
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