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5/29//07 V11.22

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
For Tuesday, May 29 -- Monday, June 4

Hannibal Rising Fifth outing for Hannibal Lector and a prequel to "Silence of the Lambs." The story begins in Eastern Europe at the desperate end of World War II. For many it was no longer a conflict of nations but one of individual survival -- at any cost. A young Hannibal watches from only steps away as his parents violently die, leaving his cherished young sister in his care. This horrific moment will soon pale in comparison to the atrocities done to her that he is forced to witness, changing him forever. Alone and without any means of support, he lives in a Soviet orphanage that was once his family's beloved home. He flees to Paris seeking an uncle, who he finds has died, but his uncles's beautiful and mysterious Japanese widow, Lady Murasaki welcomes him. Even her kindness and love cannot soothe the nightmares and sorrows that plague him. Showing a cunning aptitude for science he is accepted into medical school, which serves to hone his skills and provide the tools to exact justice on the war criminals that haunt him day and night. This quest will ignite an insatiable lust within a serial killer who was not born, but made. Vitals: Director: Peter Webber. Stars: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Richard Brake, Kevin McKidd. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: R, 117 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $27.579 million, MGM.

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

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NEWS

Coming Soon:
Get ready, Spartans. Warner Home Video has just announced the July 31 release of the blockbuster hit "300." The film will be released in a single-disc and a two-disc Special Edition; extras on the Special Edition will include commentary by director Zack Snyder and others, deleted scenes, and several featurettes: "The 300: Fact or Fiction?" "Who Were The Spartans: The Warriors of 300," "Frank Miller Tapes," more. Also available on Blu-ray and HD DVD.

There's lots of other new release announcements this week: Due June 12 is crocodile tale "Primeval," starring Dominic Purcell, Orlando Jones, Brooke Langton and Jurgen Prochnow, from Buena Vista ... On June 19 Disney will release kids fantasy tale "Bridge to Terabithia," starring Josh Hutcherson, Anna Sophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel and Robert Patrick; and The Weinstein Company will release biodrama "Miss Potter," starring Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson ... Three theatrical fetaures will hit home on June 26: horror flick "Dead Silence," starring Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg and Bob Gunton, from Universal; "Pride," starring Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold and Kimberly Elise, from Lionsgate; and thriller "Shooter," starring Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koteas, and Ned Beatty, from Paramount ... July 17 will see the release of "The Hills Have Eyes II" from Fox ... On July 24 DreamWorks/Paramount will release Tom Tykwer's "Perfume -- The Story of a Murderer," starring Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood and Dustin Hoffman; also on that day Warner will release the thriller "Zodiac," starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Elias Koteas, Donal Logue and Dermot Mulroney ... Turtle lovers will appreciate the August 7 release of "TMNT," with the voices of Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Laurence Fishburne and Ziyi Zhang, from Warner ... And, on August 14, New Line will release the mystery thriller "Fracture," starring Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike and Embeth Davitz.

DVD Collectibles:
Due this week is TCM and Warner Home Video's tribute to Katharine Hepburn, "The TCM Spotlight: Katharine Hepburn Collection," a six-disc set with 1978's TV drama "The Corn is Green," "Dragon Seed" (1944), "Morning Glory" (1933), George Cukor's "Sylvia Scarlett" (1936), Vincente Minnelli's "Undercurrent" (1946) and "Without Love" (1945), reteaming her with Spencer Tracy; $59.92 or individually $19.97 each ... Two Weinstein Co. Dragon Dynasty Hong Kong martial arts films showcasing prodigious physical prowess and action will be released this week: "Above the Law" (1986), directed by Corey Yuen and starring Biao Yuen and Cynthia Rothrock, in which a lawyer takes justice into his own hands when the legal system turns a blind eye to the murder of his family; and "Shanghai Express" (1986), directed by Sammo Hung Kam-Bo and starring Biao Yuen, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Cynthia Rothrock and Rosamund Kwan in a train-heist adventure about multiple

From TV to Video:
Due this week: "The Closer: The Complete Second Season," a four-disc set with 14 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "F-Troop: The Complete Second Season," a six-disc set with 31 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "Rawhide: Season Two, Volume One" (1959), a four-disc set with 16 episodes, $54.99 from Paramount ... "Warlords (Allies at war)" (2001) is a two-disc set of the four-part British documentary about Hitler, Stalin, Churchhill and Roosevelt during World War II, $39.99 from Acorn Media.

Buzzin' the 'B's:
In "Rapid Fear" (2005), an ex-con with a chance at parole is teamed with six teenage offenders in a rehab program designed to frighten the streetwise youths into going straight; they're dropped in an isolated forest to travel down river by raft but someone, or something, doesn't want them to survive, from MTI Home Video ... In "The Final Patient" (2005), a physician uncovers the key to eternal youth, but the lust for immortality has deadly consequences, from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment.

For the Family:
"Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure" (2005) is a feature-length animated film based on the celebrated Scholastic children's books and now a Noggin kids series; $14.98 from HBO Video.

Special Interest:
There's several interesting releases from Kultur International this week: The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was created to honor the greatest vocal groups of the world, to preserve their music at a world-class museum, and to pay tribute to the Inductees as National Music Treasures. "The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Induction Concert Vol. 4" is a DVD/2-CD set featuring performances by 2005 inductees The Association, The Lettermen, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, The Tokens and The Diamonds. Also performing are a host of acts, including The Skyliners, The Ink Spots, The Platters, The Coasters and The Drifters; $19.99 ... "Steve Reich's City Life," a documentary that traces the background to the creation of renowned American composer Steve Reich's "City Life." Reich masterfully captures sounds from New York City street life with the aid of two sampling keyboards and microphone, forging the noise of the city street into a work for string quartet, wind, percussion and two pianos. The film culminates in a performance of the piece from the Frankfurt Opera House with the Ensemble Modern conducted by Sian Edwards, $19.99 ... and eight documentaries that reveal the lives of Russia's most influential writers; the "Great Russian Writers" DVD lines includes individual DVDs ($19.99) on Alexander Blok, Alexander Pushkin, Anton Chekhov, Boris Pasternak, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Maxim Gorky and Vladimir Mayakovsky.

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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

The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) Gary Cooper, Basil Rathbone, Sigrid Gurie. (MGM).

Above the Law (1986 - Hong Kong) Dir.: Corey Yuen; Biao Yuen, Cynthia Rothrock, Roy Chiao, Siu-Wong Fan. A lawyer takes justice into his own hands when the legal system turns a blind eye to the murder of his family. Extras: Commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan; "The Vigilante," an interview with producer and star Biao Yuen; "Action Overload" featurette with Cynthia Rothrock; "From the Ring to the Silver Screen" featurette; alternate endings. (Weinstein Co. Dragon Dynasty)

The Closer: The Complete Second Season. Four-disc set with 14 episodes, $39.98. Extras: "Breaking Down the Closer" featurette, gag reel, deleted scenes. (Warner).

F-Troop: The Complete Second Season. Six-disc set with 31 episodes, $39.98. Extras: "Fall In With F-Troop" featurette reconstructing the back-story of F-Troop. (Warner).

The Final Patient (2005) Bill Cobbs, Alex Feldman. A physician uncovers the key to eternal youth, but the lust for immortality has deadly consequences. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure (2005) Feature-length animated film based on the celebrated Scholastic children's books and now a Noggin kids series. (HBO Video).

Hannibal Rising (2006) In R-rated and unrated editions. Extras: Five deleted scenes, commentary by director Peter Webber and producer Martha DeLaurentiis, "Hannibal Lecter: The Origin of Evil" featurette, "Allan Starski: Designing Horror and Elegance" featurette. (The Weinstein Co./Genius Products).

Rapid Fear (2005) Steven Grives, Peter Kent, Guy Edmonds, Remi Broadway, Craig Marriott. An ex-con with a chance at parole is teamed with six teenage offenders in a rehab program designed to frighten the streetwise youths into going straight; they're dropped in an isolated forest to travel down river by raft but someone, or something, doesn't want them to survive. (MTI Home Video).

Rawhide: Season Two, Volume One (1959) Four-disc set with 16 episodes, $54.99. (Paramount).

Shanghai Express (1986 - Hong Kong) Dir.: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo; Yasuaki Kurata, Biao Yuen, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Cynthia Rothrock, Rosamund Kwan. Train-heist adventure about multiple cutthroat gangs plotting to rob a luxury locomotive and its wealthy passengers. Extras: Commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan; "Way Out West" interview with Biao Yuen; "Trailblazer" featurette with Cynthia Rothrock; "Express Delivery" interview with Sammo Hung Kam-Bo. (Weinstein Co. Dragon Dynasty)

The TCM Spotlight: Katharine Hepburn Collection. Six-disc set with "The Corn is Green," "Dragon Seed," "Morning Glory," "Sylvia Scarlett," "Undercurrent" and "Without Love." $59.92 individually $19.97 each. (Warner)

• Morning Glory (1933) Katharine Hepburn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Adolphe Menjou. Extras: Pete Smith short "Menu," classic cartoon "Bosko's Mechanical Man."
• Sylvia Scarlett (1936) Dir.: George Cukor; Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Brian Aherne, Edmund Gwenn. Extras: Vintage Fitzpatrick TravelTalk short "Los Angeles: Wonder City of the West," classic cartoon "Alias St. Nick."
• Undercurrent (1946) Dir.: Vincente Minnelli; Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Marjorie Main, Jayne Meadows. Extras: Theater of Life short "Traffic With the Devil," classic cartoon "Lonesome Lenny."
• Without Love (1945) Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn. Extras: Vintage Crime Doesn't Pay Short "Purity Squad," classic cartoon "Swing Shift Cinderella."
• The Corn Is Green (1978 -- TV) Dir.: George Cukor; Katharine Hepburn.
• Dragon Seed (1944) Katharine Hepburn, Walter Huston, Aline MacMahon, Akim Tamiroff. Extras: Vintage short "Romance of Celluloid: Twenty Years After," classic cartoon "Happy-Go-Nutty."

Warlords (AKA Allies at war) (2001) Two-disc set of the four-part British documentary about Hitler, Stalin, Churchhill and Roosevelt during World War II. (Acorn Media).

For more DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at

<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>

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