******************************
ONVIDEO E-MAIL NEWS
******************************

7/10/07 V11.28

This is an automated mail list; please do not reply to this
message. Messages should be sent to mail@...

ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
For Tuesday, July 10 -- Monday, July 16

After the Wedding
Far from home, Jacob (Mads Mikkelsen), runs a struggling orphanage in one of India's poorest regions. Desperate to save the orphanage from closure, he returns to Denmark to meet Jorgen (Rolf Lassgard), a wealthy businessman and potential benefactor. What appears to be nothing more than a friendly gesture to attend a wedding sets in motion an increasingly devastating series of surprises, revelations, and confessions that will forever change their lives. In Danish with English subtitles. Vitals: Director: Susanne Bier. Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgard, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen, Christian Tafdrup. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: NR, 119 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.363 million, Genius Products.

The Astronaut Farmer
From the time he was a child, Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) had only one goal: to be an astronaut. Earning his degree in aerospace engineering and joining the Air Force as a pilot, Farmer was a natural for NASA's astronaut training program and was well on his way when a family situation forced him to drop out and return home -- effectively ending his career. But Farmer was not a man to let anything stand in the way of a dream. He spent the next decade and every cent he had building his own rocket in a barn on his ranch in Story, Texas, working toward the day when he could triumphantly launch it into space. By himself. Sharing his vision are his wife Audie (Virginia Madsen), their children and Audie's father, Hal (Bruce Dern). On the eve of the long-anticipated launch, an unexpected problem arises. Farmer's efforts to secure 10,000 pounds of high-grade fuel catch the attention of the FBI ... and subsequently the media, who encamp in droves outside his gate, speculating wildly about this "space cowboy" and his homemade rocket. Farmer finds himself depicted on TV screens worldwide as a renegade hero, inspiring an outpouring of popular support, while simultaneously drawing heavy scrutiny and surveillance from the FBI, CIA, FAA and the U.S. military -- all of which see Farmer as a potential risk to civilian safety and will take the necessary steps to shut down his operation. But Farmer knows this is his only chance, not only to reach his goal of breaking through the Earth's atmosphere but to instill in his children the courage to pursue their own ideals and never give up ... no matter the odds. He will not let himself be grounded again. Vitals: Director: Michael Polish. Stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern, Jon Gries, Kiersten Warren, Mark Polish, Sal Lopez, Tim Blake Nelson, Virginia Madsen, Max Thieriot, Jasper Polish, Logan Polish, J.K. Simmons. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 104 min., Drama, Box office gross: $10.996 million, Warner.

Last Mimzy, The
Based on the acclaimed sci-fi short story by Lewis Padgett, "The Last Mimzy" tells the story of two children on vacation who discover a mysterious box that contains some strange devices they think are toys. As the children play with these "toys," they begin to display higher and higher intelligence levels. Back at school, their teacher reports to their parents that they seem to be growing beyond genius. Emma, the younger of the two, tells her confused mother that one of the toys, a stuffed toy rabbit, is called Mimzy and that "she teaches me things." Emma's mom becomes increasingly concerned, when suddenly a blackout shuts down the city. The government traces the source of the power surge to the family's house. Things quickly spin wildly out of control. The children are focused on these strange objects, Mimzy, and the important mission on which they seem to have been sent. When the little girl says that Mimzy contains a most serious message from the future, a scientific scan shows that Mimzy is part extremely high level electronics, and part organic! Everyone realizes that they are involved in something incredible ... but exactly what? Vitals: Director: Bob Shaye. Stars: Joely Richardson, Timothy Hutton, Michael Clark Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh, Chris O'Neil, Rainn Wilson. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 90 min., Fantasy, Box office gross: $20.520 million, New Line.

Sweet Land
Inge is a feisty young German woman who has come to Minnesota to marry Olaf, a young Norwegian immigrant farmer of few words. But in a post-WWII, anti-German climate, the local minister openly forbids the marriage. Inge and Olaf fall in love despite the town's disapproval. But when the town banker attempts to foreclose on the farm of his friend Frandsen, Olaf takes a stand ... and the community unites around the young couple, finally accepting Inge as one of their own. Vitals: Director: Ali Selim. Stars: Alan Cumming, Ned Beatty, Lois Smith, Alex Kingson, John Heard, Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee. 2006, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 110 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.624 million, Fox.

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

NEWS

DVD Collectibles:
Highlight of the week is The Criterion Collection's release of "Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara," a four-disc set with four films written and directed by the great Japanese director Hiroshi Teshigahara: "Pitfall" (1962), "Woman in the Dunes" (1964) and "The Face of Another" (1966), all in new, restored high-definition digital transfers. The existential ghost story "Pitfall," the shocking erotic fable "Woman in the Dunes" and the sci-fi tinged nightmare "The Face of Another" are three of cinema's most enduring enigmas and rare treats, from one of its greatest artists. A man of many faces, Teshigahara was not just a Japanese new wave trailblazer, a Kafka of the moving image, but also a painter, sculptor, flower arranger, designer of gardens and tearooms, and director of operas and Noh plays. And these three atmospheric portraits remain the quintessential expressions of his lifelong fascination with the perils of identity and the horrors of isolation. Extras in the simply gorgeous box set include video essays on all three films by critic and festival programmer James Quandt; four short films by Teshigahara: "Hokusai" (1953), "Ikebana" (1956), "Tokyo 1958" (1958) and "Ako/White Morning" (1963); a new documentary about the working relationship beween Teshigahara and author Kobo Abe, including interviews with Japanese-film scholars Donald Richie and Tadao Sato; and a booklet featuring essays by James Quandt, Howard Hampton, Audie Bock, and Peter Grilli and Max Tessier's 1964 interview with Teshigahara.

The MGM Film Noir label has released four classic noir thirllers: "A Bullet for Joey" (1955), starring Edward G. Robinson, George Raft and Audrey Totter; "Kansas City Confidential" (1952), starring John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster, Neville Brand, Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam; "The Stranger" (1946), directed by Orson Welles and starring Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young and Richard Long; and "The Woman in the Window" (1944), directed by Fritz Lang and starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey and Dan Duryea.

From TV to Video:
Due this week: "Beauty and the Beast: The Second Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $50.99 from Paramount ... "Bewitched: The Complete Fifth Season" (1967-68), a four-disc set with 30 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Extras: The Complete Second Season" with six episodes, $29.98 from HBO Video ... "My Super Sweet 16: Season 1 & 2," a two-disc set with 13 episodes, $24.99 from MTV/Paramount.

Buzzin' the 'B's:
"The Contractor (aka The Shooter)" (2007) stars Wesley Snipes, Lena Headey and Charles Dance in an action-thriller about an ex-CIA agent who is asked to take out a terrorist, only to realize he's been set up by his former employer, from Sony ... In "The Last Time" (2007), starring Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser, Amber Valletta, Neal McDonough, Michael Lerner, David Jensen and Daniel Stern, a top salesman (Keaton) rediscovers a lust for life after falling for the fiancee of a new salesman (Fraser) he has taken under his wing, a Midwest transplant finding his footing in New York, also from Sony ... In "The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark," the writers and star of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" bring their brand of film commentary to a new line of B-movie sendups. First up is "Hollywood After Dark" (1968) starring Jack Vorno and Rue McClanahan about a down-on-his-luck loner who falls in with the wrong crowd in Tinseltown and finds salvation in the arms of a stripper; $19.99 from Shout! Factory ... "Super Sweet 16: The Movie" (2007) is an MTV movie based on the MTV series, from Paramount.

On the Indie Front:
BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Ltd. has released two interesting films this week: "Dancing in Twilight" (2005), in which a middle-aged man must cope with the death of his wife and the arrival of his son and his son's girlfriend, starring Erick Avari, Louise Fletcher, Mimi Rogers, Kal Penn and Sheetal Sheth; and "Ever Since the World Ended" (2001), a sci-fier that takes place 12 years after a devastating plague has emptied most of the world of people; two San Francisco filmmakers traverse the nearly deserted city with a camera and a microphone, exploring the harsh ralities people must face to rebuild civilization.

For the Family:
An 11-year-old boy's amazing ability to break wind leads him to fame as he fulfills his ambition of becoming an astronaut in "Thunderpants" (2002), starring Rupert Grint, Stephen Fry, Bruce Cook, Anna Popplewell, Ned Beatty, Paul Giamatti and Keira Knightley, from The Weinstein Co./Genius Products.

Special Interest:
"Home Run Derby: Volume 1": "Home Run Derby" was a 1959 TV show held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, pitting the top sluggers of the Major Leagues against each other in a nine-inning home run contest. The eight episodes in Vol. 1 pitted Mickey Mantle vs. Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew vs. Mantle, Hank Aaron vs. Ken Boyer, others; $14.98. Vol. 2 will be out August 14 and Vol. 3 will arrive September 25. From MGM.

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

THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

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

After the Wedding (2007) Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgard, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen, Christian Tafdrup. (Genius Products).

The Astronaut Farmer (2007) Dir.: Michael Polish; Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern, Jon Gries, Kiersten Warren, Mark Polish, Sal Lopez, Tim Blake Nelson, Virginia Madsen, Max Thieriot, Jasper Polish, Logan Polish, J.K. Simmons. Extras: "How to Build a Rocket: The Making of The Astronaut Farmer" featurette, "A Conversation With NASA Astronaut David Scott" featurette, outtakes. (Warner).

Beauty and the Beast: The Second Season. Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.99. Extras: Introduction on select episodes by Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. (Paramount)

Bewitched: The Complete Fifth Season (1967-68) Four-disc set with 30 episodes, $39.95. (Sony).

A Bullet for Joey (1955) Edward G. Robinson, George Raft, Audrey Totter. (MGM Film Noir).

The Contractor (aka The Shooter) (2007) Wesley Snipes, Lena Headey, Charles Dance. An ex-CIA agent is asked to take out a terrorist, only to realize he's been set up by his former employer. (Sony).

Dancing in Twilight (2005) Erick Avari, Louise Fletcher, Mimi Rogers, Kal Penn, Sheetal Sheth. A middle-aged man must cope with the death of his wife and the arrival of his son and his girl friend. (BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Ltd.).

Ever Since the World Ended (2001) Twelve years after a devastating plague has emptied the world of people, two San Francisco filmmakers traverse the nearly deserted city with a camera and a microphone, exploring the harsh ralities people must face to rebuild civilization. (BFS Entertainment & Multimedia Ltd.).

Extras: The Complete Second Season. Six episodes, $29.98. Extras: "Art of Corpsing" behind-the-scenes featurette, "Extras Backstage" featurette, "Taping Nigel: The Gimpening" featurette, outtakes and bloopers. (HBO Video).

The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark. Writers and star of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" bring their brand of film commentary to a new line of B-movie sendups. First up is "Hollywood After Dark" (1968) starring Jack Vorno and Rue McClanahan about a down-on-his-luck loner who falls in with the wrong crowd in Tinseltown and finds salvation in the arms of a stripper. $19.99. (Shout! Factory).

Home Run Derby: Volume 1. "Home Run Derby" was a 1959 TV show held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, pitting the top sluggers of the Major Leagues against each other in a nine-inning home run contest. The eight episodes in Vol. 1 pitted Mickey Mantle vs. Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew vs. Mantle, Hank Aaron vs. Ken Boyer, more; $14.98. Vol. 2 will be out August 14 and Vol. 3 will arrive September 25. (MGM).

Joan Collins: Superstar Collection. Five-disc set with "Girl in the Red Velvet Swing," "Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!" "Sea Wife," "Seven Thieves" and "Stopover Tokyo," $19.98 each or $49.98 the set. (Fox).

Kansas City Confidential (1952) John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster, Neville Brand, Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam. (MGM Film Noir).

The Last Mimzy (2007) Joely Richardson, Timothy Hutton, Michael Clark Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh, Chris O'Neil, Rainn Wilson. Extras: Commentary by director Bob Shaye, "Hello (I Love You)" Roger Waters music video, deleted scenes, "Adapting the Story" featurette, "Bob Shaye: Director Profile," "Casting the Kids" featurette, "Production Design and Concept Art" featurette, "Real Is Good: The Visual Effects" featurette, "Editing and Music," six "Behind-the-Movie" featurettes, interactive games, more. (New Line).

The Last Time (2007) Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser, Amber Valletta, Neal McDonough, Michael Lerner, David Jensen, Daniel Stern. A top salesman (Michael Keaton) rediscovers a lust for life after falling for the fiancee of a new salesman (Brendan Fraser) he has taken under his wing, a Midwest transplant finding his footing in New York. Extras: Deleted scenes. (Sony).

My Super Sweet 16: Season 1 & 2. Two-disc set with 13 episodes, $24.99. Extras: Two bonus episodes. (MTV/Paramount).

The Stranger (1946) Dir.: Orson Welles; Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young, Richard Long. (MGM Film Noir)

Super Sweet 16: The Movie (2007 -- TV) MTV movie based on the MTV series. Extras: "Best of My Super Sweet 16," deleted scenes, outtakes and bloopers. (MTV/Paramount).

Sweet Land (2006) Alan Cumming, Ned Beatty, Lois Smith, Alex Kingson, John Heard, Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee. Extras: Commentary by director Ali Selim and Elizabeth Reaser and Tim Guinee; "Labor of Love: The Making of Sweet Land." (Fox).

Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara. Four-disc set with four films written and directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara: "Pitfall" (1962), "Woman in the Dunes" (1964) and "The Face of Another" (1966). New, restored high-definition digital transfers. Extras: Video essays on all three films by critic and festival programmer James Quandt; four short films by Teshigahara: "Hokusai" (1953), "Ikebana" (1956), "Tokyo 1958" (1958) and "Ako/White Morning" (1963); new documentary about the working relationship beween Teshigahara and Kobo Abe, including interviews with Japanese-film scholars Donald Richie and Tadao Sato; booklet featuring essays by James Quandt, Howard Hampton, Audie Bock, and Peter Grilli and Max Tessier's 1964 interview with Teshigahara. (The Criterion Collection).

Thunderpants (2002) Rupert Grint, Stephen Fry, Bruce Cook, Anna Popplewell, Ned Beatty, Paul Giamatti, Keira Knightley. An 11-year-old boy's amazing ability to break wind leads him to fame as he fulfills his ambition of becoming an astronaut. Extras: "Patrick Smash's Video Diary," "The Official Fart Thesaurus," "Going All the Way" music video by allSTARS. (Weinstein Co./Genius Products).

The Woman in the Window (1944) Dir: Fritz Lang; Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey, Dan Duryea.(MGM Film Noir)

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

------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2007 CyberPod. All rights reserved.
ISSN 1094-3676

An archive of past issues of the OnVideo E-Mail News can be found
at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/onvideoguide

Messages and missives: mail@...

Thanks to the Woo family of Culver City, Calif. and Leslie
Rigoulot for helping support this issue of the news.

Subscriptions to OnVideo E-Mail News are
free for the asking by sending an e-mail request to
onvideoguide-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
No subject or body text is required.

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you can
un-subscribe by sending an e-mail message to
onvideoguide-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
No subject or body text is required.

And don't forget to bookmark our major OnVideo Web site located
at http://www.onvideo.org