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1/17/06 V10.3

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR TUESDAY, January 17 -- MONDAY, January 23

ASYLUM
Set in 1950s England. Stella Raphael (Natasha Richardson), a
psychiatrist's wife, develops a curious attraction to inmate
Edgar (Marton Csokas) at a maximum security asylum outside London
where she and her husband, Max (Hugh Bonneville), live. As the
attraction blossoms into a passionate affair, Stella becomes
aware of Edgar's history: he murdered his wife in a jealous rage
six years ago. Max and his colleague, Edgar's psychiatrist Peter
Cleave (Ian McKellen), are powerless to stop their torrid affair,
especially once Edgar escapes the asylum. Stella and Edgar's love
lead to startling -- and unexpected -- consequences in this tale
of passion, obsession and manipulation. Director: David
Mackenzie. Stars: Natasha Richardson, Marton Csokas, Hugh
Bonneville, Ian McKellen, Gus Lewis, Joss Ackland, Wanda Ventham,
Sara Thurston. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: R, 99 min., Thriller, Box
office gross: $0.374 million, Paramount, No VHS SRP, Priced for
rental.

ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM
Inside story of one of history's greatest business scandals, in
which top executives of America's seventh largest company walked
away with over $1 billion while investors and employees lost
everything. Based on the best-selling book "The Smartest Guys in
the Room" by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind
and featuring insider accounts and incendiary corporate audio and
videotapes, director Alex Gibney reveals the almost unimaginable
personal excesses of the Enron hierarchy and the utter moral
vacuum that posed as corporate philosophy. The film comes to a
harrowing denouement as we hear Enron traders' own voices as they
wring hundreds of millions of dollars in profits out of the
California energy crisis. As a result, we come to understand how
the avarice of Enron's traders and their bosses had a shocking
and profound domino effect that may shape the face of our economy
for years to come. January 17 is the date set for the fraud and
conspiracy trial of Enron founder Kenneth Lay and former CEO
Jeffrey Skilling. Director: Alex Gibney. 2005, CC, MPAA rating:
NR, 110 min., Documentary, Box office gross: $4.064 million,
Magnolia Home Entertainment, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

JUNEBUG
When Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz), a British-born dealer in
regional, "outsider" art, travels from Chicago to North Carolina
to pursue a local painter for her gallery, she and her brand-new,
younger husband George (Alessandro Nivola) extend the trip to
include an introduction to his family: his prickly mother Peg;
his taciturn father Eugene; his angry younger brother Johnny (Ben
McKenzie) who has always suffered in the shadow of his over-
achieving brother; and Johnny's very pregnant and innocently
garrulous wife Ashley (Amy Adams). Although Ashley immediately
takes to the sophisticated Madeleine and embraces her as a
sister, the other members of George's family, especially his
mother, are less than receptive. With George falling into this
old routine of spending time alone, Madeleine relies almost
entirely on Ashley to help her navigate the family dinners,
church meetings and Ashley's baby shower, all while desperately
trying to close the deal on the artist. Tensions mount when
Ashley goes into labor and each family member's priorities are
confronted. Director: Phil Morrison. Stars: Amy Adams, Ben
McKenzie, Alessandro Nivola, Embeth Davidtz, Scott Wilson. 2005,
CC, MPAA rating: R, 107 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $2.611
million, Sony, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

LORD OF WAR
Action adventure set in the world of international arms dealing.
The film, based on fact, follows the globetrotting exploits of
arms dealer Yuri Orlov (Nicolas Cage). Through some of the
deadliest war zones, Yuri struggles to stay one step ahead of a
relentless Interpol agent (Ethan Hawke), his business rivals,
even some of his customers who include many of the world's most
notorious dictators. Finally, Yuri must also face his own
conscience. Director: Andrew Niccol. Stars: Nicolas Cage, Bridget
Moynahan, Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Eamonn Walker, Shake
Tukhmanyan, Jean-Pierre Nshanian, Ian Holm. 2005, CC, MPAA
rating: R, 122 min., Action, Box office gross: $24.127 million,
Lions Gate, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

MAN, THE
A Federal Agent turns up dead on the mean streets of Detroit.
When it's learned that the Agent was 'on the take' in a multi-
million dollar arms heist, all eyes turn toward his partner,
Derrick Vann (Samuel L. Jackson) a hardcore undercover Federal
Agent known for his untrusting, street-wise style. Vann's given
24 hours to recover the stolen arms and find the cop killers, but
he's about to stumble upon an unlikely ally ... Enter Andy
Fiddler (Eugene Levy) an affable dental supply salesman in town
for a two-day convention. When the bad guys mistake Andy to be
the buyer in a stolen arms deal, Vann is forced to use the
talkative salesman as 'the face' of his sting operation. With the
clock ticking, this unlikely duo speed through the streets of
Detroit in an adventure that uncovers much more than they could
have ever anticipated. Including laughs. Director: Les Mayfield.
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Eugene Levy, Miguel Ferrer, Luke Goss,
Anthony Mackie, Susie Essman. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 84
min., Comedy, Box office gross: $8.326 million, New Line, No VHS
SRP, Priced for rental.

TWO FOR THE MONEY
High stakes drama set in the adrenalized world of wheeler-dealers
whose fortunes are won and lost betting on sports. Matthew
McConaughey stars as Brandon Lane, a former college football star
whose uncanny ability to predict the outcome of a game introduces
him to an unexpected new career when his gridiron glory is
sidelined by a crushing injury. Brandon's talent makes him a
prime candidate for recruitment by Walter Abraham (Al Pacino),
the head of one of the biggest sports consulting operations in
the country. Walter hires the small town ex-athlete and grooms
him into a shrewd front man. Brandon soon begins to enjoy his
status as a Manhattan golden boy and finds himself growing
comfortable with Walter's high-rolling lifestyle. The surrogate
father/surrogate son relationship fattens Walter's business and
personal accounts ... until Brandon's golden touch begins to
falter at the same time that Walter's manipulation of his protege
crosses the line. With millions of dollars on the line, Brandon
and Walter engage in a deadly game of con versus con, each one
trying to maintain the upper hand while everyone in their world,
including Walter's wife, Toni (Rene Russo), are drawn into the
escalating duel -- where ultimately everything isn't what it
appears to be. Director: D.J. Caruso. Stars: Al Pacino, Matthew
McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante, Jeremy Piven, Gedde
Watanabe. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: R, 122 min., Drama, Box office
gross: $22.862 million, Universal, $29.98 VHS SRP.

UNDERCLASSMAN
Most kids go to school to get an education, but when a stolen car
ring infiltrates an exclusive private school, it's up to Tre
Stokes (Nick Cannon) to go undercover and teach the bad guys a
lesson. Maverick cop Tracy "Tre" Stokes is about to get schooled
in a whole new way of solving crime as he goes undercover at an
elite private high school. A fast-talking, street-smart but baby-
faced detective who's honed his renegade crime-fighting skills in
urban L.A., Stokes has no clue what he's in for when he heads
back to high school to infiltrate a group of ultra-rich, hyper-
smart students under suspicion. Cultures clash as Stokes' no-
holds-barred style meets the ultimate in high school high-
society. But soon Stokes finds himself getting closer to his
killer ... and to passing Spanish and making the basketball team
... as he works his way with tenacity into the 'in' crowd and
uncovers the dangerous ring of criminals. Director: Marcos Siega.
Stars: Nick Cannon, Roselyn Sanchez, Shawn Ashmore, Angelo
Spizzirri, Hugh Bonneville, Cheech Marin, Kelly Hu. 2005, CC,
MPAA rating: PG-13, 93 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $5.654
million, Miramax, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

VENOM
A voodoo horror tale set deep in the swamps of Louisiana centered
around a group of teenagers trying to uncover the truth behind a
friend's mysterious death. What they discover is an evil force
worse than they could have possibly imagined and end up running
for their lives. Director: Jim Gillespie. Stars: Agnes Bruckner,
Jonathan Jackson, Meagan Good, Bijou Phillips, Laura Ramsey,
Method Man. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: R, 85 min., Thriller, Box
office gross: $0.881 million, Dimension, No VHS SRP, Priced for
rental.

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

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NEWS

COMING SOON:
Action film "Supercross," starring Steve Howey, Mike Vogel,
Cameron Richardson, Sophia Bush, Aaron Carter, Channing Tatum,
Robert Patrick and Robert Carradine, speeds home January 31 from
Fox ... On February 7 Warner will release "Eros," an anthology of
three films that explore erotica, by three world-renowned
directors: Michelangelo Antonioni ("Il filo pericoloso delle
cose"), Steven Soderbergh ("Equilibrium") and Wong Kar Wai ("The
Hand") ... Rock musical "Rent," directed by Chris Columbus and
starring Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L.
Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thoms, Taye
Diggs and Sarah Silverman, arrives in a two-disc set on February
21 from Sony ... Thriller/comedy "The Ice Harvest," directed by
Harold Ramis and starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie
Nielsen, Randy Quaid and Oliver Platt, capers home February 28
from Universal ... On March 7 New Line will release
teen/twentysomething comedy "Just Friends," starring Ryan
Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Chris Klein, Chris Marquette and
Julie Hagerty ... "The Dying Gaul," starring Patricia Clarkson,
Peter Sarsgaard and Campbell Scott, will make its way to home
video on March 21, from Sony ... On March 28 Paramount will cut
loose with "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," directed by Jim Sheridan and
starring 50 Cent, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Joy Bryant, Omar
Benson Miller, Tory Kittles, Terrence Howard, Bill Duke and Viola
Davis ... Fox will release on April 4 family drama "Bee Season,"
starring Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Flora Cross, Max
Minghella and Kate Bosworth; and first-love romantic comedy
"Little Manhattan," starring Josh Hutcherson, Charlie Ray,
Bradley Whitford and Cynthia Nixon ... On April 11, Fox will
release horror psychological thriller "Stay," directed by Marc
Forster and starring Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Kate Burton,
Naomi Watts, Elizabeth Reaser, Bob Hoskins, Janeane Garofalo and
B.D. Wong.

DVD COLLECTIBLES:
Two cartoon collections become available this week: "Walt
Disney's Funny Factory, Vol. 1: Mickey," featuring some of Mickey
Mouse's best animated shorts ("Mickey and the Seal," "Magician
Mickey," "Tugboat Mickey," five others) and "Walt Disney's Funny
Factory, Vol. 2: Donald," featuring some of Donald Duck's best
animated shorts ("Daddy Dick," "Window Cleaners," "Self Control,"
four others), $14.99 each from Walt Disney.

FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Due this week: "Adventures of Superman: The Complete Second
Season," a five-disc set with 26 episodes of the 1950s TV series,
$39.98 from Warner ... "Lois & Clark -- The New Adventures of
Superman: The Complete Second Season" is a six-disc set with 22
episodes, $59.98 from Warner .. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season
Three" is a three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98 from Fox.

BUZZIN' THE 'B's:
In "Half Light" (2006), a successful mystery writer (Demi Moore)
moves to a secluded fishing village after the accidental drowning
of her 5-year-old son. But instead of peaceful retreat, the
writer finds herself caught up in a supernatural murder mystery.
On VHS and DVD from First Look Home Entertainment ... "The Second
Front" (2005) is a World War II action-thriller about an American
agent sent to kidnap a German scientist developing a weapon of
tremendous power, starring Craig Sheffer, Svetlana Metkina and
Ron Perlman, from MTI Home Video.

SPECIAL INTEREST:
"Gendernauts: A Journey Through Shifting Identities" is an
illuminating and compassionate documentary look at the world of
transgender identities, as seen through portraits of some of San
Francisco's leading gender mixers, $24.95 from First Run Features
... "We Were So Beloved: The German Jews of Washington Heights"
is an examination of Jewish emigres from Nazi Germany who flocked
to New York's Washington Heights area and created a community
dubbed "Frankfort-on-the-Hudson"; the documentary uses gripping
personal testimony to examine the complex emotional and
philosophical underpinnings of the community; $29.95 from First
Run Features.


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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

** Adventures of Superman: The Complete Second Season. Five-disc
set with 26 episodes of the 1950s TV series, $39.98. Extras:
Commentaries on two key episodes; "The First Lady of Metropolis"
featurette about Noel Neill reprising her "Superman and the Mole
Men" role as "Lois Lane" in the second season; "Stamp Day for
Superman" specially produced short episode of the show that was
distributed to schools in 1954 to promote the U.S. Treasury
Department's Saving Stamp program. (Warner).
** Asylum (2005) Dir.: David Mackenzie; Natasha Richardson,
Marton Csokas, Hugh Bonneville, Ian McKellen, Gus Lewis, Joss
Ackland, Wanda Ventham, Sara Thurston. (Paramount).
** Classic Comedies Collection. Three-disc set of Bill Murray
comedies: "Stripes Extended Cut" (1981), "Ghostbusters" (1984)
and "Groundhog Day" (1993), $24.95. (Sony).
** Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) Dir.: Alex Gibney;
documentary on the Enron scandal. Extras: Commentary by writer-
director Gibney, deleted scenes, "The Making of Enron," Enron
company skits, Enron commercials, gallery of Enron cartoons,
original Fortune magazine articles, "Where Are They Now?" updates
on the key players. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
** The Escapist (2001) Jonny Lee Miller, Andy Serkis. (Sony).
** Half Light (2006) Demi Moore. Direct-to-video. (First Look
Home Entertainment).
** Junebug (2005) Amy Adams, Ben McKenzie, Alessandro Nivola,
Embeth Davidtz, Scott Wilson. Extras: Commentary by Adams and
Davidtz; deleted scenes; "Places and Faces" featurette; "Outsider
Art" photo gallery. (Sony).
** Lois & Clark -- The New Adventures of Superman: The Complete
Second Season. Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras:
"Lois and Clark: Secrets of Season 2" and "Marveling Metropolis:
The Fans of Lois & Clark" featurettes. (Warner).
** Lord of War (2005) Dir.: Andrew Niccol; Nicolas Cage, Bridget
Moynahan, Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Eamonn Walker, Shake
Tukhmanyan, Jean-Pierre Nshanian, Ian Holm. (Lions Gate).
** The Man (2005) Dir.: Les Mayfield; Samuel L. Jackson, Eugene
Levy, Miguel Ferrer, Luke Goss, Anthony Mackie, Susie Essman.
Extras: Deleted scenes, gag reel, "Sam Jackson's Guide to Cursing
Like a Bad A&% Motha F$#@*" featurette, "Who's the Man?"
featurette, "Making an Action Scene" featurette, "The Ride: A
Look at the '83 Cadillac" featurette. (New Line).
** The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season Three. Three-disc set with 24
episodes, $29.98. (Fox).
** Nutty Professor I & II. Single-disc, $19.98. (Universal).
** The Richard Pryor Collection. "Bustin' Loose," "Brewster's
Millions," "Car Wash" and "Which Way Is Up?" $26.98. (Universal).
** The Second Front (2006) Craig Sheffer, Todd Field, Lana
Litwak, Ron Perlman. (MTI Home Video).
** Sueno (2005) John Leguizamo, Elizabeth Pena, Ana Claudia
Talancon. (Sony).
** Two for the Money (2005) Dir.: D.J. Caruso; Al Pacino, Matthew
McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante, Jeremy Piven. Gedde
Watanabe. (Universal).
** Underclassman (2005) Nick Cannon, Roselyn Sanchez, Shawn
Ashmore, Angelo Spizzirri, Hugh Bonneville, Cheech Marin, Kelly
Hu. Extras: Commentary by the writers and director, deleted
scenes, making-of featurette, cast auditions. (Miramax).
** Venom (2005) Agnes Bruckner, Jonathan Jackson, Meagan Good,
Bijou Phillips, Laura Ramsey, Method Man. Extras: Storyboard to
film comparison of four scenes, "Voodoo Nightmare: The Making of
Venom," cast auditions. (Dimension).
** Walt Disney's Funny Factory, Vol. 1: Mickey. Features some of
Mickey Mouse's best animated shorts: "Mickey and the Seal,"
"Magician Mickey," "Tugboat Mickey," five others; $14.99.
(Disney).
** Walt Disney's Funny Factory, Vol. 2: Donald. Features some of
Donald Duck's best animated shorts: "Daddy Dick," "Window
Cleaners," "Self Control," four others. (Disney).

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:

** Two for the Money (2005) Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene
Russo, Armand Assante, Jeremy Piven, Gedde Watanabe (Universal):
$29.98

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


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Copyright 2006 CyberPod. All rights reserved.
ISSN 1094-3676

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