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11/22/05 V9.47

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR TUESDAY, November 22 -- MONDAY, November 28

HONEYMOONERS, THE
An urban version of the classic TV series with Cedric the
Entertainer and Mike Epps toplining in the Ralph Kramden and Ed
Norton roles, respectively. Ralph Kramden is a man of vision,
taste, and refinement. Now, if he can just get the rest of the
world to see it. By day, Ralph's an ordinary New York City bus
driver. But in his off-hours, he's an innovator, an inventor, an
entrepreneur who's just one great idea away from instant wealth.
(Unfortunately for Ralph, none of those ideas has yet panned
out.) His best friend (and neighbor) is Ed Norton, who's always
up for the latest plan. Wherever Ralph goes, no matter how
harebrained the idea, Ed's ready to run down the fire escape and
lend a hand. These two dreamers believe they're taking their
families to the next level, but Ralph's wife, Alice (Gabrielle
Union), has set her sights on a more practical goal: buying a
duplex fixer-upper with Ed and his wife, Trixie (Regina Hall).
When Ralph loses their down payment on yet another of his half-
baked projects, Alice is at the end of her rope, giving Ralph
just one day to come up with the cash and save their marriage.
Director: John Schultz. Stars: Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps,
Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall, Eric Stoltz, Jon Polito, John
Leguizamo. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 85 min., Comedy, Box
office gross: $12.615 million, Paramount, No VHS SRP, Priced for
rental.

POLAR EXPRESS, THE
Kids adventure based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children's
book by Chris Van Allsburg. "The Polar Express" tells the story
of a boy who maintains his belief in Santa Claus despite the
teasing of his more cynical friends. The boy's conviction is
rewarded one Christmas Eve when a steam train appears in front of
his house and carries him and his disbelieving friends off to the
North Pole. It's a journey of self-discovery that shows him that
the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Combining
classic storytelling with cutting-edge filmmaking, "The Polar
Express" debuts a highly advanced version of motion capture
technology developed and tailored to meet Zemeckis' vision and is
the first feature ever to be shot entirely in this format.
Director: Robert Zemeckis. Stars: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola, Peter
Scolari, Eddie Deezen, Michael Jeter, Steven Tyler, Leslie Harter
Zemeckis, Nona Gaye. 2004, CC, MPAA rating: G, 99 min., Animated,
Box office gross: $162.753 million, Warner, No VHS SRP, Priced
for rental.

PUNISHMENT PARK
Peter Watkins' controversial pseudo-documentary about the Vietnam
War, dissent and repression in 1970s America. The film has
virtually been banned since its release in 1971. The year is
1970. The war in Vietnam is escalating. President Nixon has
decided on a secret bombing campaign in Cambodia. There is
massive public protest in the United States and elsewhere. Nixon
declares a state of national emergency, and activates the 1950
Internal Security Act (the McCarran Act), which authorizes
Federal authorities, without reference to Congress, to detain
persons judged to be "a risk to internal security." In a desert
zone in southwestern California, not far from the tents where a
civilian tribunal are passing sentence on Group 638, Group 637
(mostly university students) find themselves in the Bear Mountain
National Punishment Park, and discover the rules of the "game"
they are forced to undergo as part of the alternative they have
chosen in lieu of confinement in a penitentiary. Group 637 has
been promised liberty if they evade pursuing law enforcement
officers and reach the American flag posted 53 miles away across
the mountains, within three days. Meanwhile, in the tribunal
tent, Group 638 -- assumed guilty before being tried -- endeavor
in vain to argue their case for resisting the war in Vietnam.
While they argue, amidst harassment by the members of the
tribunal, the exhausted Group 637 -- dehydrated by exposure to
temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit -- have voted to split
into three subgroups: those for a forced escape out of the Park,
those who have given up, and those who are determined to reach
the flag. "Peter Watkins' (1971) film is a cinema verite
masterpiece of technique. Utilizing non-professional actors, only
one camera, and an almost totally improvised script, he's come up
with one of the finest films about dissension in America that's
been made in a long time. It's not perfect, though. The
characters have a nasty habit of becoming caricatures of people
we know. Shadows of Judge Julius Hoffman, Bobby Seale, Pat Nixon,
Spiro Agnew, Dick Gregory -- all can be found in the film."
(Rolling Stone, which voted "Punishment Park" one of the 10 Best
Films of 1971). "Punishment Park" was filmed in August 1970, in
the San Bernadino desert, about 100 kms from Los Angeles. The
cast was a mix of mainly non-professional and young professional
actors, mostly from Los Angeles and environs. The members of the
tribunal were all portrayed by citizens of Los Angeles -- a trade
union officer, a dentist, a housewife. Available for the first
time in over 25 years in North America. Director: Peter Watkins.
1971, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 88 min., Drama, New Yorker.

SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE
Ryu (Shin Ha-kyun), a young factory worker, has recently quit art
school in order to look after his sister, who is dying a slow,
agonizing death for want of a kidney. When a doctor tells Ryu
that he is an unsuitable donor and that the chances of finding
one is slim, Ryu turns to the black market. But the old lady who
runs an underground organ ring cheats him, taking both his life
savings and his kidney and leaving him without the kidney she
promised in exchange. Ryu's girlfriend, a Raggedy-Ann leftist
named Youngmi (Bae Doona), urges Ryu to kidnap the four-year-old
daughter of industrialist owner Park Dong-jin (Song Kang-ho).
Dong-jin's deep grief quickly turns to rage and he embarks on an
implacable quest for vengeance. At the same time, Ryu goes after
the organ traders, knowing that if they had come through, none of
the tragic occurrences would ever have happened. Director: Park
Chan-wook. Stars: Bae Doona, Shin Ha-kyun, Song Kang-ho. 2002,
CC, MPAA rating: R, 121 min., Thriller, Tartan Asia Extreme.

WAR OF THE WORLDS
Contemporary retelling of H.G. Wells's seminal classic. Tom
Cruise stars as Ray Ferrier, a divorced dockworker and less-than-
perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) and her new
husband drop off his teenage son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and
young daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) for a rare weekend visit,
a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down. Moments
later, at an intersection near his house, Ray witnesses an
extraordinary event that will change all their lives forever. A
towering three-legged war machine emerges from deep beneath the
earth and, before anyone can react, incinerates everything in
sight. An ordinary day has suddenly become the most extraordinary
event of their lifetimes -- the first strike in a catastrophic
alien attack on Earth. Ray scrambles to get his children away
from this merciless new enemy, embarking on a journey that will
take them across the ravaged countryside, where they become
caught in the desperate tide of refugees fleeing from an
extraterrestrial army of tripods. But no matter where they run,
there is no safety, no refuge -- only Ray's unconquerable will to
protect the ones he loves. Brutally intense version of Wells'
story pulls no punches with its emphasis on death and
destruction; the human aspect of the film (Cruise's acting, for
example) leaves much to be desired. Director: Steven Spielberg.
Stars: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto,
Tim Robbins, Rick Gonzalez, Yul Vazquez, Lenny Venito, Ann
Robinson, Gene Barry. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min.,
Science Fiction, Box office gross: $231.806 million, DreamWorks,
No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

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


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

NEWS

COMING SOON:
Teen roller skating comedy "Roll Bounce," starring Bow Wow,
Brandon T. Jackson, Marcus T. Paulk and Rick Gonzalez, will glide
to video on December 13 from Fox ... Inspirational drama with
music "The Gospel," starring Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Clifton
Powell, Aloma Wright, Donnie McClurkin, Omar Gooding, Tamyra
Gray, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Nona Gaye, sings its way to DVD
on January 3 from Sony ... John le Carre thriller "The Constant
Gardener, starring Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Hubert Kounde and
Danny Huston, is due January 10 from Universal ... On January 24
Paramount will release "The Weather Man," starring Nicolas Cage,
Michael Caine, Hope Davis, Gemmenne de la Pena, Nicholas Hoult
and Michael Rispoli ... The 2005 remake of the 1980 horror
classic "The Fog," here starring Tom Welling, Maggie Grace and
Selma Blair, also arrives on January 24 from Sony ... Also on
that day weird black comedy "Thumbsucker," starring Lou Taylor
Pucci, Tilda Swinton, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vince Vaughn, Keanu
Reeves, Benjamin Bratt, arrives from Sony ... On January 31
Warner will release the wild and wonderful stop-motion animation
"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride," with the voices of Johnny Depp,
Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Albert Finney,
Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee and Danny Elfman ... On
February 7 Sony will release Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's
fantastical fantasy "MirrorMask" ... Golf drama/biopic "The
Greatest Game Ever Played," directed by Bill Paxton and starring
Shia LaBeouf, Stephen Dillane, Elias Koteas and Peyton List, will
swing its way home March 14 from Disney.

DVD COLLECTIBLES:
This week's highlights: Timed to take advantage of the December
14 release of Peter Jackson's "King Kong," Warner releases this
week the original 1933 "King Kong," starring Fay Wray, Robert
Armstrong and Bruce Cabot, in several configurations. There's a
two-disc special edition, a two-disc collector's edition, and
"The King Kong Collection." The $19.95 special edition includes
the original classic in glorious black and white, restored and
digitally mastered, with commentary by Ray Harryhausen and Ken
Ralston, with Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack, Ruth Rose,
Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong; "I'm Kong: The Exploits of Merian
C. Cooper" documentary by Kevin Brownlow; "RKO Production 601:
The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World" a two-hour,
seven-part feature; and much, much more. The $39.98 collector's
edition puts the two-disc "Kong" set in a collectable tin with a
20-page reproduction of the original souvenir program, postcard
reproductions of the original one sheets, and a mail-in offer for
a reproduction of a vintage 27-inch-by-41-inch movie poster. The
$39.92 "King Kong Collection" includes the two-disc special
edition" and new-to-DVD "The Son of Kong" and "Mighty Joe Young."

Two diverse releases arrive from the folks at The Criterion
Collection: "The Tales of Hoffmann" (1952), directed by Michael
Powell and Emeric Pressburger. In Jacques Offenbach's fantasy
opera, the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann dreams of three women -- a
mechanical performing doll, a bejeweled siren who steals his
reflection, and the consumptive daughter of a famous composer --
all of whom break his heart in different ways. Powell and
Pressburger create a phantasmagoric marriage of cinema and opera
in their one-of-a-kind take on this classic story. Feverishly
romantic, "The Tales of Hoffmann" is a feast of music, dance, and
visual effects. In "Ran" (1985), legendary director Akira
Kurosawa re-imagines Shakespeare's tragic King Lear as a singular
historical epic set in 16th century Japan. Tatsuya Nakadai stars
as Lord Hidetora, a warlord who cedes authority over his vast
dominion to his eldest son, setting off a familial power struggle
for control of his kingdom. Majestic in scope, "Ran" is a visual
masterpiece in which Kurosawa contrasts the immensity of war with
the crumbling of one family under the weight of betrayal, greed,
and the insatiable thirst for power. As with all Criterion
editions, these come packed with fine extras.

New Yorker Video will release this week "Punishment Park," Peter
Watkins' controversial pseudo-documentary about the Vietnam War,
dissent and repression in 1970s America. In the film, the war in
Vietnam is escalating. There is massive public protest in the
United States and elsewhere. President Nixon declares a state of
national emergency and the Federal authorities are given the
power to detain persons judged to be a risk to national security.
In a desert zone in southwest California, a civilian tribunal
passes sentence on groups of dissidents and gives them the option
of participating in law enforcement training exercises in the
Bear Mountain National Punishment Park. In an atmosphere of
aggression and intimidation and in soaring temperatures, the
prisoners have to fight for their lives as they are hunted down
by the forces of law and order. The film has virtually been
banned since its release in 1971. Extras include a new 28-minute
introduction by Watkins; commentary by Dr. Joseph A. Gomez,
founding director of Film Studies at North Carolina State
University; "The Forgotten Faces" (1961), an 18-minute amateur
film by Watkins recreating the 1956 Hungarian revolution; a text
essay by media critic Scott MacDonald on audience response to the
film; a Watkins filmography; the original 1971 press kit; and a
24-page booklet with the "Punishment Park" chapter from Gomez's
book, "Peter Watkins."

FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Three hot offerings come home this week: Just in time for the
December 2 big screen version of "Aeon Flux," starring Charlize
Theron, comes "Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection"
(1991-95), a three-disc set with all the episodes plus extras,
$39.99 from Paramount ... "Barbra Streisand: The Television
Specials" is a five-disc set that includes Streisand's five CBS
television performances: "My Name Is Barbra" (1965), "Color Me
Barbra" (1966), "The Belle of 14th Street" (1967), "Barbra
Streisand: A Happening in Central Park" (1968) and "Barbra
Streisand ... And Other Musical Instruments" (1973), $59.99 from
Warner ... And sure to top many a holiday season gift list are
the Seinfeld compilations released this week by Sony -- and
touted on cable: "Seinfeld Season 5" a four-disc set with 22
episodes, $49.95, and "Seinfeld Season 6" four-disc set with 24
episodes, $49.95, both with such extras as "Yada Yada Yada"
commentaries; "In the Vault" deleted scenes; "Not That There's
Anything Wrong With That" bloopers; "Notes About Nothing" trivia
tracks; "Master of His Domain" stand-up footage, more. Sony will
package both sets as the "Seinfeld Seasons 5 & 6 Giftset" that
also includes a Puffy Shirt collectible and a reproduction of a
handwritten script by Seinfeld; $119.95.

Also due this week: "Andy Griffith -- The Complete Fourth Season"
(1963-64) is a five-disc set with all 32 episodes, $39.99 from
Paramount ... "The Best and Worst of American Idol Limited
Edition" includes DVDs of both the "Best" and "Worst" of
"American Idol" plus an exclusive bonus disc, $34.98 from Capital
Entertainment ... "CSI: Miami -- The Complete Third Season"
(2004-5) is a seven-disc set, $59.99 from Paramount ... "Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 21" is a four-disc set with 40 episodes,
$59.98 from MPI Home Video ... "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" a
two-disc set, $29.99 from Buena Vista ... "The Golden Girls
Season Three" is a three-disc set with 25 episodes, $39.99 from
Buena Vista ... "Home Improvement: Season Three" is a three-disc
set with 22 episodes, $39.99 from Buena Vista ... "King of the
Hill Season Five" is a three-disc set with 20 episodes, $39.98
from Fox ... "Leave It to Beaver The Complete First Season" is a
four-disc set with 39 episodes, $49.98; in a lunchbox gift set,
$69.98, from Universal ... "Tracey Takes On ... Season One" is a
three-disc set with 10 episodes of the Tracey Ullman show; $34.98
from HBO Video ... "The True Stories Collection" features four
telefilms about life-altering situations: "Choices of the Heart:
The Margaret Sanger Story" (1995) starring Dana Delaney, Henry
Czerny, Rod Steiger; "Guilt by Association" (2002) starring
Mercedes Ruehl; "Her Desperate Choice" (1996) starring Faith
Ford, Kyle Secor; "My Breast" (1994) starring Meredith Baxter,
Jamey Sheridan; $9.98 each from MPI Home Video ... "The X-Files
Mythology: Super Soldiers" is a four-disc set with 14 episodes
centering around the results of secret government genetic
engineering experiments, $39.98 from Fox.

BUZZIN' THE 'B's:
In "Skeleton Man" (2004), the evil spirit of an Indian warrior
haunts the Pacific Northwest and may be responsible for the
mysterious deaths of four Army Special Forces officers, starring
Michael Rooker and Casper Van Dien, on DVD and VHS from MTI Home
Video.

FOR THE KIDS:
Youngsters can plug into the King Kong hoopla this week with
"Kong: King of Atlantis," a new direct-to-video animated feature
about the rebirth of a modern Kong using DNA from the original;
the film, which originally aired on Toon Disney Channel, contains
three original songs; $19.98 from Warner.

FOREIGN:
"The Grand Role" (2005) is a French comedy about an American
director who comes to Paris to cast a Yiddish version of "The
Merchant of Venice," starring Stephane Freiss, Berenice Bejo and
Peter Coyote, $29.95 from First Run Features ... "Scary True
Stories: Ten Haunting Tales From the Japanese Underground" is a
compilation of 10 allegedly true tales depicting the experiences
of everyday people with ghosts and spirits, set in contemporary
Japan. Three of the short films are directed by Norio ("Ring 0:
Birthday") Tsuruta. The series is considered to be the godfather
of the Japanese Horror film movement; $19.98 from Dark Sky/MPI
Home Video.

ON THE INDIE FRONT:
"The Ross McElwee DVD Collection" is a five-disc set with six
films by the acclaimed nonfiction filmmaker, plus an hour of
bonus material: "Charleen" (1978), "Backyard" (1984), "Sherman's
March" (1986), "Time Indefinite" (1993), "Six O'Clock News"
(1997) and "Bright Leaves" (2004); $99.95 from First Run
Features.

SPECIAL INTEREST:
Manga: "Astro Boy Collectors Box Set" is a seven-disc set with 51
half-hour episodes, $39.98 from Manga Entertainment ... "Ghost in
the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig Vol. 2" (2005) is the
second season of the smash hit Japanese animated television
series, $24.98 from Manga Entertainment.

Music: "Ozzfest 10th Anniversary" (2005) features performances,
interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences -- plus
live CD -- from the iconic tour's 10th year; $19.98 from Clear
Channel Entertainment Home Video/Ventura Entertainment
Enterprises ... "Still Growing Up: Peter Gabriel Live &
Unwrapped" is a two-disc set featuring Gabriel live on his 2002
"Growing Up Live" tour, with performances at small, intimate
venues around Europe, as well as the Anna Gabriel/Hamish
Hamilton-directed documentary "Still Growing Up Unwrapped," which
explores the world behind the songs; $29.99 from Rhino ... "Harry
Chapin: Remember When, The Anthology" features 11 live
performances from MPI Home Video.

Misc.: "The French Chef With Julia Child 2" offers eight hours of
recipes and cooking, $39.95 VHS and DVD, from WGBH Boston Video
... "A Dog's Life: A Dogamentary" (2004) is a documentary on
Chelsea, the Shih Tzu Diva, as she hits the streets of New York
with her two-legged stage mother, filmmaker Gayle Kirschenbaum,
on their never-ending comic search for love; features cameos by
Albert Maysles, Joe Piscopo, Katie Couric and Al Roker, from
Facets Video ... "Hell on Wheels" is a 2004 documentary that goes
behind the scenes of Le Tour de France, $29.95 from First Run
Features ... "Operation Last Patrol" (1972), is a documentary
that follows Ron Kovic ("Born on the Fourth of July") and his
fellow Vietnam veterans on their epic road trip to the Republican
National Convention in Florida, $24.95 from Cinema Libre Studio.


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

THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

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

** Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection (1991-95) Three-
disc set, $39.99. Extras: Commentary by original creators,
including Peter Chung; "Aeon Flux" pilot episode; original Liquid
Television shorts; two featurettes: "Investigation: The History
of Aeon Flux," "Desiderata: Deviant Devices of Aeon Flux";
production art including animatics; sketches and pencil tests;
more. (Paramount).
** Alien vs. Predator Unrated Collector's Edition (2004) Dir.:
Paul W.S. Anderson; Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen,
Ewen Bremner, Colin Salmon, Tommy Flanagan. Double-disc set.
Extras: Commentary by Anderson, Lathan and Henriksen; "AVP the
Beginning" featurette (with an inside look at the special effects
and the evolution and mythologies of the Alien and Predator
cultures); deleted scenes; more. (Fox).
** Andy Griffith -- The Complete Fourth Season (1963-64) Five-
disc set with all 32 episodes, $39.99. (Paramount).
** Astro Boy Collectors Box Set. Seven-disc set with 51 half-hour
episodes, $39.98. (Manga Entertainment/Anchor Bay).
** Barbra Streisand: The Television Specials. Five-disc set
includes Streisand's five CBS television performances: "My Name
Is Barbra" (1965), "Color Me Barbra" (1966), "The Belle of 14th
Street" (1967), "Barbra Streisand: A Happening in Central Park"
(1968) and "Barbra Streisand ... And Other Musical Instruments"
(1973); $59.99. (Warner).
** The Best of American Idol, Seasons 1-4 (Capital Entertainment)
** The Best and Worst of American Idol Limited Edition Includes
both the Best and Worst of American Idol plus an exclusive bonus
disc; $34.98. (Capital Entertainment).
** CSI: Miami -- The Complete Third Season (2004-5) Seven-disc
set, $59.99. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, five
featurettes: "CSI: Miami -- Delivering the Goods," "CSI: Miami --
Visualizing Season 3," "CSI: Miami -- Locations: Coast to Coast,"
"CSI: Miami -- Deep Blue Sea," "Medical Examiner School" (in
eight-parts). (Paramount).
** Cheaper by the Dozen: Baker's Dozen (2003) Dir.: Shawn Levy;
Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, Hilary
Duff. Extras: Commentary by Levy, commentary by the "Baker" kids,
deleted scenes, extended scenes, featurettes ("Frogs & Eggs,"
"Dylan's Birthday," "Critters" and "Director's Viewfinder:
Creating a Fictional Family"). (Fox).
** Dark Shadows DVD Collection 21. Four-disc set with 40
episodes, $59.98. (MPI Home Video).
** A Dog's Life: A Dogamentary (2004) Documentary on Chelsea, the
Shih Tzu Diva, as she hits the streets of New York with her two-
legged stage mother, filmmaker Gayle Kirschenbaum, on their
never-ending comic search for love. Featuring cameos by Albert
Maysles, Joe Piscopo, Katie Couric and Al Roker. (Facets Video).
** 8mm2 (2005) Jonathan Schaech, Julie Benz. Direct-to-DVD
sequel. In rated and unrated versions. (Sony).
** Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Two-disc set, $29.99. Extras:
"Construction of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" behind-the-
scenes featurette, "Rest and Relaxation" cast antics featurette,
"Preston and Paul" banter montage featurette, bloopers, outtakes.
(Buena Vista).
** The French Chef With Julia Child 2. Eight hours of recipes and
cooking, $39.95. Extras: Printable master recipes from "The
French Chef Cookbook," Julia Child bibliography. (WGBH Boston
Video).
** Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig Vol. 2 (2005)
Second season of the smash hit Japanese animated television
series. Regular Edition: Japanese and English Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio, $24.98; Two-disc Special Edition: Disc 1: Japanese and
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio; Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio; Disc 2:
Japanese English DTS Digital Surround Audio; comes with Playing
Card and Mouse Pad; Extras: Interview with Takayuki Goto and
Tetsuya Nishio (character designers). (Manga Entertainment).
** The Golden Girls Season Three. Three-disc set with 25
episodes, $39.99. Extras: "Golden Moments" gag reel, "The Golden
Girls Scrapbook" collection of clips from each "Golden Girl."
(Buena Vista).
** Goodnight Mr. Tom (1998 -- TV) Masterpiece Theatre WWII drama
starring John Thaw and Nick Robinson; $19.95. (WGBH Boston
Video).
** The Grand Role (2005) Stephane Freiss, Berenice Bejo, Peter
Coyote. (First Run Features).
** Harry Chapin: Remember When, The Anthology. Features 11 live
performances. Extras: Chapin photos and memorabilia. (MPI Home
Video).
** Hell on Wheels (2004) Documentary behind-the-scenes of Le Tour
de France. (First Run Features).
** Home Improvement: Season Three. Three-disc set with 22
episodes, $39.99. (Buena Vista).
** The Honeymooners (2005) Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps,
Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall, Eric Stoltz, Jon Polito, John
Leguizamo. Extras: Commentary by director Schultz, Cedric the
Entertainer and Mike Epps; "Hanging With the Honeymooners"
featurette; six deleted/extended/alternate scenes; two
interstitials: "The Intervention," "Relaxing With Ralph and Ed."
(Paramount).
** King Kong (1933) Dir.: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper;
Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam
Hardy. Two versions: a two-disc special edition ($19.95) and a
two-disc collector's edition ($39.98) packaged in a collectable
tin and including a 20-page reproduction of the original souvenir
program, postcard reproductions of the original one sheets, and a
mail-in offer for a reproduction of a vintage 27-inch-by-41-inch
movie poster. Extras: Disc 1: Original 1933 film classic in
glorious black and white, restored and digitally mastered;
commentary by Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston, with Merian C.
Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack, Ruth Rose, Fay Wray and Robert
Armstrong; 2005 documentary directed by renowned filmmaker Kevin
Brownlow: "I'm Kong: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper"; Merian C.
Cooper movies trailer gallery. Disc 2: "RKO Production 601: The
Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World" a two-hour, seven-
part feature with 2005 "King Kong" director Peter Jackson;
creation test footage with commentary by Ray Harryhausen.
(Warner).
** The King Kong Collection. "King Kong Two-Disc Special Edition"
and new-to-DVD "The Son of Kong" and "Mighty Joe Young," $39.92.
(Warner).
** King of the Hill Season Five. Three-disc set with 20 episodes,
$39.98. (Fox).
** Kong: King of Atlantis (2005) Direct-to-video animated
feature. (Warner).
** The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) Dir.: Ernest B. Schoedsack,
Merian C. Cooper; Preston Foster, Alan Hale, Basil Rathbone, John
Wood, Louis Calhern. (Warner).
** Leave It to Beaver The Complete First Season. Four-disc set
with 39 episodes, plus the "It's a Small World" pilot, $49.98.
Remastered. Also available as a limited edition gift set in a
specially designed, vintage-style lunch box that includes "The
Cleaver Photo Album," $69.98. (Universal).
** Mighty Joe Young (1949) Dir.: Ernest B. Schoedsack; Terry
Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh. Extras:
Commentary by Ray Harryhausen, Ken Ralston and Terry Moore; "Ray
Harryhausen and the Chioda Brothers" and "Ray Harryhausen and
Mighty Joe Young" featurettes. (Warner).
** 9 Songs (2005) Dir.: Michael Winterbottom; Kieran O'Brien,
Margot Stilley. Extras: Concert performance only option;
interviews with Winterbottom, O'Brien and Stilley. (Tartan
Video).
** Operation Last Patrol (1972) Documentary follows Ron Kovic
("Born on the Fourth of July") and his fellow Vietnam veterans on
their epic road trip to the Republican National Convention in
Florida. $24.95. Extras: Interviews with the director and Kovic.
(Cinema Libre Studio).
** Ozzfest 10th Anniversary (2005) Performances, interviews and
exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences plus live CD from the
iconic tour's 10th year, recorded at the Donington, U.K. show,
attended by more than 100,000 fans; $19.98. (Clear Channel
Entertainment Home Video/ Ventura Entertainment Enterprises).
** The Polar Express (2004) Dir.: Robert Zemeckis; Tom Hanks,
Chris Coppola, Peter Scolari, Eddie Deezen, Michael Jeter, Steven
Tyler, Leslie Harter Zemeckis, Nona Gaye. Two-disc set.Extras:
Movie-only DVD, $28.98 SRP on a single disc in widescreen and
full frame formats. The Special Edition will be available at
$29.95 in collectable rainbow foil packaging on a two-disc DVD in
widescreen format. .Extras: Additional song: The never-before-
heard "Smokey and Steamer" song; "You Look Familiar" featurette
about Tom Hanks' five unique roles; "A Genuine Ticket to Ride":
Behind-the-scenes secrets; "True Inspiration An Author's
Adventure": Chris Van Allsburg discusses his artistic background
and how he conceived the idea for "The Polar Express book";
"Believe": Josh Groban music video from the Greek Theater;
"Behind the Scenes of Believe"; "Polar Express Challenges" (two
menu challenges that kids can play); "Meet the Snow Angels": The
moviemakers' Christmas memories; "Flurry of Effects:" (Easter
Eggs) showcases the "performance capture" process used to create
the animation (This feature allows viewers to watch short scenes
from the film with the ability to toggle between several video
sequences: All aboard, Hot chocolate, Hobo on top of train, I
believe, Good bye); THQ "Polar Express" game demo. (Warner).
** Punishment Park (1971) Dir.: Peter Watkins. Psuedo-documentary
on the repression of dissent against the Vietnam War. Extras: New
28-minute introduction by Watkins; commentary by Dr. Joseph A.
Gomez, founding director of Film Studies at North Carolina State
University; "The Forgotten Faces" (1961), an 18-minute amateur
film by Watkins recreating the 1956 Hungarian revolution; 24-page
booklet with "Punishment Park" chapter from Gomez's book, "Peter
Watkins"; text essay by media critic Scott MacDonald on audience
response to the film; Watkins filmography; original 1971 press
kit. (New Yorker).
** Ran (1985) Dir.: Akira Kurosawa; Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao,
Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada, Yoshiko Miyazaki. Two-
disc set. Newly-restored transfer. Extras:, "A.K.," Chris
Marker's 74-minute documentary on Kurosawa's craft in making the
film; an introduction by filmmaker Sidney Lumet; a half-hour Toho
documentary on the making of the film; a half-hour video piece
reconstructing the film through Kurosawa's paintings and
sketches; new interview with star Tatsuya Nakadai; more. (The
Criterion Collection).
** Ringers: Lord of the Fans (2005) Direct-to-video documentary
that traces the influence that J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy has had on pop-culture during the past five
decades, cumulating with Peter Jackson's film version; $24.94.
Extras: Filmmaker commentary, deleted and extended scenes, "Rock
and Ringers: Lord of the Rings's" influence on rock music, "The
Ring Comes Full Circle" behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews
with cast and crew from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. (Sony).
** The Ross McElwee DVD Collection (2005) Five-disc set with six
films by the acclaimed nonfiction filmmaker, plus an hour of
bonus material: "Charleen" (1978), "Backyard" (1984), "Sherman's
March" (1986), "Time Indefinite" (1993), "Six O'Clock News"
(1997) and "Bright Leaves" (2004); $99.95. (First Run Features).
** Scary True Stories: Ten Haunting Tales From the Japanese
Underground. Compilation of 10 allegedly true tales depicting the
experiences of everyday people with ghosts and spirits, set in
contemporary Japan. The series is considered to be the godfather
of the Japanese Horror film movement. $19.98. (Dark Sky/MPI Home
Video).
** Seinfeld Season 5. Four-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.95.
Extras: "Yada Yada Yada" commentaries; "In the Vault" deleted
scenes; "Not That There's Anything Wrong With That" bloopers;
"Notes About Nothing" trivia tracks; "Master of His Domain"
stand-up footage, more. (Sony).
** Seinfeld Season 6. Four-disc set with 24 episodes, $49.95.
Extras: "Yada Yada Yada" commentaries; "In the Vault" deleted
scenes; "Not That There's Anything Wrong With That" bloopers;
"Notes About Nothing" trivia tracks; "Master of His Domain"
stand-up footage, more. (Sony).
** Seinfeld Seasons 5 & 6 Giftset. Includes Seasons 5 and 6, a
Puffy Shirt Collectible, and a reproduction of a handwritten
script by Jerry Seinfeld; $119.95. (Sony).
** The Shirley Temple Collection Volume 2. Three Shirley Temple
classics restored and remastered, in both black and white and
colorized versions: "Baby Take a Bow," "Bright Eyes" and "Rebecca
of Sunnybrook Farm"; gift set (with charm bracelet and three
charms) priced at $29.98; singles (packaged with a single charm)
priced at $14.98 each. (Fox).
** Skeleton Man (2004) Michael Rooker, Casper Van Dien. (MTI Home
Video).
** The Son of Kong (1933) Dir.: Ernest B. Schoedsack; Robert
Armstrong, Helen Mack. (Warner).
** Still Growing Up: Peter Gabriel Live & Unwrapped. Two-disc set
features Gabriel live on his 2002 "Growing Up Live" tour, with
performances at small, intimate venues around Europe, as well as
the Anna Gabriel/Hamish Hamilton-directed documentary "Still
Growing Up Unwrapped," which explores the world behind the songs;
$29.99. (Rhino).
** Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002 -- S. Korea) Dir.: Park Chan-
wook; Bae Doona, Shin Ha-kyun,Song Kang-ho. Extras: Commentary by
Chan-wook, behind-the-scenes featurette, photo gallery. (Tartan
Asia Extreme).
** The Tales of Hoffmann (1952) Dir.: Michael Powell, Emeric
Pressburger; Moira Shearer, Ludmilla Tcherina, Anne Ayars, Pamela
Brown, Leonide Massine, Robert Helpmann. Extras: Commentary by
Martin Scorsese and film historian Bruce Eder, new introduction
to the film by director and fan George A. Romero, Michael
Powell's short musical film "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," rare
collection of production design sketches and paintings, more.
(The Criterion Collection).
** Tracey Takes On ... Season One. Three-disc set with 10
episodes of the Tracey Ullman show; $34.98. Extras: Emmy award-
winning special "Tracey Takes on New York," commentary by Ullman,
character specials, slide show of characters. (HBO Video).
** The True Stories Collection. Four telefilms about life-
altering situations: "Choices of the Heart: The Margaret Sanger
Story" (1995) starring Dana Delaney, Henry Czerny, Rod Steiger;
"Guilt by Association" (2002) starring Mercedes Ruehl; "Her
Desperate Choice" (1996) starring Faith Ford, Kyle Secor; "My
Breast" (1994) starring Meredith Baxter, Jamey Sheridan; $9.98
each. (MPI Home Video).
** War of the Worlds (2005) Dir.: Steven Spielberg; Tom Cruise,
Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Rick
Gonzalez, Yul Vazquez, Lenny Venito, Ann Robinson, Gene Barry.
Single and two-disc set versions. Extras: Two-disc set:
"Revisiting the Invasion" featurette with Spielberg and Cruise;
"The H. G. Wells Legacy" featurette; "Steven Spielberg and the
Original War of the Worlds" featurette; "Characters: The Family
Unit" featurette; "Production Diaries: East Coast"; "Production
Diaries: West Coast"; pre-visualization featurette with
Spielberg; "Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens"; "Scoring
War of the Worlds"; "We Are Not Alone" cast and crew featurette;
photo gallery. (DreamWorks).
** The Worst of American Idol, Seasons 1-4 (Capital
Entertainment)
** The X-Files Mythology: Super Soldiers. Four-disc set with 14
episodes centering around the results of secret government
genetic engineering experiments, $39.98. Extras: Commentary on
select episodes, part four of Chris Carter's "Threads of the
Mythology" documentary. (Fox).


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


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

THIS WEEK'S VHS SELL-THROUGH RELEASES:

** The French Chef With Julia Child 2. Eight hours of recipes and
cooking (WGBH Boston Video): $39.95
** War of the Worlds (2005) Dir.: Steven Spielberg; Tom Cruise,
Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Rick
Gonzalez, Yul Vazquez, Lenny Venito, Ann Robinson, Gene Barry
(Paramount): $19.95


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


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Copyright 2005 CyberPod. All rights reserved.
ISSN 1094-3676

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