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9/18/07 V11.38
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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
For Tuesday, September 18 -- Monday, September 24
The Condemned
Steve Austin stars as Jack Conrad, a death-row prisoner in a corrupt Central American prison who is "purchased" by a wealthy television producer and taken to a desolate island to participate in an illegal reality game show. Conrad must fight to the death against nine other condemned killers from all corners of the world, with freedom going to the sole survivor. With no possible escape -- and millions of viewers watching the uncensored violence online -- Conrad must use all of his strength to remain the last man standing. Vitals: Director: Scott Wiper. Stars: Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman, Robert Mammone. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: R, 113 min., Action, Box office gross: $7.327 million, Lionsgate.
Death Proof
A vehicular slasher film fused with ultra-intense car chases and action. Kurt Russell stars as a deranged stuntman-turned-psycho serial killer who stalks his victims from behind the wheel of a roving, revving, racing death machine. The car is tricked out to be "death proof" for the driver only; it's a machine of death for passengers and the female victims he crashes into head on. But when Stuntman Mike picks on the wrong group of women, all bets are off in an adrenaline-pumping, high speed duel of epic proportions. Unfortunately when you take out the chase and mayhem scenes, Tarantino's homage to hot rod grindhouse films of the 1950s and 60s falls apart faster than you can say "talking heads." A much touted lap dance scene is tame and lame. One-half of the April release "Grindhouse." The second half, Robert Rodriguez's "Planet Terror," is scheduled for an October release. Vitals: Director: Quentin Tarantino. Stars: Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Zoe Bell, Michael Parks, James Parks, Quentin Tarantino. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: R, 113 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $25.031 million, Weinstein Co./Genius Products.
Gracie
Set in 1978, "Gracie" is an inspirational film about a teenage girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer at a time when girls' soccer did not exist. Based on true events from the lives of the Shue family (producer and co-star Andrew Shue, actress Elisabeth Shue), the film is directed by Davis Guggenheim, who happens to be part of the family as well, being married to Elisabeth Shue. Living in South Orange, New Jersey, 15-year-old Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only girl in a family of three brothers. Their family life revolves almost entirely around soccer: her father (Dermot Mulroney) and brothers are obsessed with the sport, practicing in the backyard's makeshift field every day from morning 'til night. Tragedy unexpectedly strikes when Gracie's older brother Johnny, star of the high school varsity soccer team and Gracie's only protector, is killed in a car accident. Struggling with grief over her family's loss, Gracie decides to fill the void left on her brother's team by petitioning the school board to allow her to play on the boy's high school varsity soccer team in his place. Her father, a former soccer star himself, tries to prove to Gracie that she is not tough enough or talented enough to play with boys. Her mother, Lindsey Bowen (Elisabeth Shue), already an outsider in the sports-obsessed family, is no help either. Undeterred, Gracie finds reserves of strength she never knew existed, and persists in changing everyone's beliefs in what she is capable of, including her own. Gracie not only forces her father to wake up from his grief and see her as the beautiful and strong person that she has always been but she also brings her family together in the face of their tragedy. Vitals: Director: Davis Guggenheim. Stars: Elisabeth Shue, Dermot Mulroney, Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 95 min., Drama, Box office gross: $2.906 million, New Line Cinema.
The Valet (La Doublure)
Francois (Gad Elmaleh), a parking valet at a posh Paris restaurant, is photographed by a paparazzo leaving the restaurant along with Pierre Levasseur (Daniel Auteuil), a wealthy tycoon, and his beautiful supermodel mistress Elena (Alice Taglioni). In a desperate attempt to avoid an ugly divorce with his wife Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas), Pierre's scheming lawyer (Richard Berry) concocts an outrageous plan. By paying the valet a large sum of money to live with Pierre's mistress, the two men hope to mislead the tabloids and, most importantly, hide the affair from Christine. Meanwhile, the ruthless Pierre must convince the stunning Elena to live with Fran¨ois in his crummy apartment until the dust settles. All the while, he continues to reassure his wife that Francois is really Elena's boyfriend. Vitals: Director: Francis Veber. Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas, Richard Berry, Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, Virginie Ledoyen. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 85 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $2.21 million, Sony.
We Are Marshall
Based on true events, "We Are Marshall" tells the inspiring story of how a small town in West Virginia struggled to cope with a devastating loss and restore their community after one of the worst disasters in the history of American sports. On the evening of Saturday, November 14, 1970, a chartered jet carrying Marshall University's football team, coaches and fans, was on its way home from a hard-fought game in North Carolina. Less than a minute before its scheduled landing at Tri-State Airport, the plane crashed in the Appalachian Mountains, killing everyone aboard: 37 players, eight coaches and university staff, the flight crew, and 25 prominent Huntington citizens who had made the trip as they always did to cheer their "Thundering Herd." In the aftermath of this stunning tragedy, university president Donald Dedmon (David Strathairn) prepared to suspend the school's football program for the season -- perhaps indefinitely. Assistant coach Red Dawson (Matthew Fox), who narrowly missed the ill-fated flight, couldn't face going back onto the field. After some initial setbacks, the teaml found hope and strength in the leadership of outsider Jack Lengyel (Matthew Mcconaughey), a young coach determined to rebuild Marshall's football program and, in the process, help to heal the community. Less than a year later, on September 18, 1971, Marshall University's brand new Thundering Herd was poised to stage one of the greatest comebacks in collegiate sports. A raw, youthful and inexperienced squad, patched together under the guidance of Lengyel and Dawson, they would defy overwhelming odds just to march onto the gridiron for the school's first game since the accident. That season, it didn't matter whether Marshall won or lost. It didn't even matter how they played the game. All that mattered was that they played. Vitals: Director: McG. Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, David Strathairn, Ian McShane, Kate Mara, January Jones, Kimberly Williams. 2006, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 124 min., Drama, Box office gross: $ 43.532 million, Warner.
------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS
DVD Collectibles:
There's an interesting mix of collectible releases this week. From The Criterion Collection comes
"Robinson Crusoe on Mars"
(1964), starring Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin and Adam West, in a new,
restored high-definition digital transfer. Special-effects wunderkind
and genre master Byron Haskin ("The War of the Worlds," "The Outer
Limits") won a place in the hearts of fantasy-film lovers everywhere
with this gorgeously designed journey into the unknown. When his
spaceship crash-lands on the barren wastelands of Mars, U.S. astronaut
Commander "Kit" Draper (Paul Mantee) must fight for survival, with a
pet monkey seemingly his only companion. But is he alone? Shot in vast
Techniscope and blazing Technicolor, "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" is an
imaginative, fun and beloved techni-marvel of classic science fiction.
Extras include commentary; "Destination: Mars," a new video featurette
by filmmaker and space historian Michael Lennick detailing the science
behind the film; a booklet featuring a new essay by Lennick, a "Brief
Yargorian Dictionary" of the film's original alien dialect, and a list
of facts about Mars included with the original screenplay. Also from
Criterion comes G. W. Pabst's 1931 "The Threepenny Opera,"
starring Rudolf Forster, Carola Neher, Reinhold Schunzel, Fritz Rasp,
Valeska Gert and Lotte Lenya, in a new, restored high-definition
digital transfer (taken from a new film restoration element from the
Bundesarchiv in Germany). Extras include a new exclusive documentary on
"Threepenny's" controversial journey from stage to screen to lawsuits,
commentary, production photos, more.From overseas: "Cinema 16: European Short Films" is a two-disc set celebrating the short film by showcasing the best classic, cult and award-winning shorts on DVD. The label launched in Europe in 2003 with the release of "British Short Films," a collection that included films by Peter Greenaway, Mike Leigh and Stephen Daldry among others. That was followed up by the "European Short Films" release in 2004 and "American Short Films," which included work by Gus Van Sant, Andy Warhol, Tim Burton and others, in 2005. "Cinema16: European Short Films" includes rare and never-before-seen films by noted directors such as Christopher Nolan ("Memento"), Lars Von Trier ("Dogville"),
Lynne Ramsay ("Ratcatcher"), Ridley Scott ("Blade Runner"), Roy
Andersson ("Songs From the Second Floor"), Mathieu Kassovitz ("La
Haine") and Nanni Morettti ("Dear Diary"), as well as award-winning and
celebrated shorts including Anders Thomas Jensen's Oscar winner
"Election Night", Juan Solanas' Cannes Jury Prize winner "The Man
Without a Head" and Toby MacDonald's BAFTA nominated "Je T'aime John
Wayne." $29.99 from Cinema 16 ... "The Up Series Box Set"
is a six-disc set with U.K. films "Seven UP," "7 Plus Seven," "21 UP,"
"28 UP," "35 UP," "42 UP" and "49 UP." "Give me the child until he is
seven and I will give you the man." Starting in 1964 with "Seven Up,"
the UP Series has explored this Jesuit maxim. The original concept was
to interview 14 children from diverse backgrounds from all over
England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future.
Every seven years, renowned director Michael Apted, a researcher for
"Seven Up," has been back to talk to them, examining the progression of
their lives. From cab driver Tony to schoolmates Jackie, Lynn and Susan
and the heart-breaking Neil, as they turn 49 more life-changing
decisions and surprising developments are revealed. An astonishing,
unforgettable look at the structure of life in the 20th century. $99.95
from First Run Features.
Dance time from Paramount: Tony Manero (John Travolta)
tears up the screen with the
working-class-boy-looking-for-more-in-the-world dance moves that
celebrated and exemplified the disco era of the mid-1970s in 
"Saturday Night Fever Special Collector's Edition,"
(1977), directed by John Badham and also starring Karen Lynn Gorney,
Barry Miller, Joseph Cali, Paul Pape, Donna Pescow, Bruce Ornstein,
Julie Bovasso, Martin Shakar and Sam Coppola. Extras include commentary
by Badham, a five-part documentary "Catching the Fever" with new cast
interviews as well as interviews with Barry and Robin Gibb, a "Back to
Bay Ridge" featurette, "Dance Like Travolta With John Cassese," and a
"'70s Discopedia" ... "Flashdance Special Collector's Edition"
(1983), directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Jennifer Beals, Michael
Nouri, and Lilia Skala, celebrated the moves of another era. Extras
include five featurettes on the film as well as a bonus CD with six
songs from the film: "Flashdance .... What a feeling," "Manhunt," "He's
a Dream," "Lady Lady Lady," "Romeo" and "Maniac." (Paramount).
On a grittier note there's "Deliverance 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" (1972), directed by John Boorman and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox; extras include commentary by Boorman, four featurettes and "The Dangerous World of Deliverance" original behind-the-scenes documentary, from Warner ... "Cruising" (1980), the once-controversial murder-thriller set against the gay S&M subculture of the late 1970s, directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox and Don Scardino, featuring remastered sound and image and such extras as commentary by Friedkin, "The History of Cruising" and "Exorcising Cruising" featurettes, from Warner ... and "Wall Street 20th Anniversary Edition" (1987), directed by Oliver Stone and starring Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen, with such extras as an introduction by Stone, interviews with Douglas and Charlie Sheen, deleted scenes, a "Money Never Sleeps: The Making of Wall Street" featurette and "Greed Is Good" featurette, from Fox.
On a musical note there's 
"The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story (Deluxe Edition)"
(2005), a personal and candid profile of the once effervescent musician
and now cult figure Syd Barrett. The original songwriter for Pink Floyd
was only with the band three years when he left in 1968, yet when the
band released their greatest hits album in 2001 Barrett had written
over a fifth of the tracks. This new definitive edition includes two
discs loaded with extras, including lengthy unedited interviews from
all members of the Pink Floyd. It's a limited edition run of 5,000 in
Oyster Box packaging with 10 items of reproduction memorabilia in a
special printed envelope. After the limited edition has sold out, the
double disc version will be then packaged in a standard plastic double
DVD box. "The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story" retells the fascinating
story of the start of one of the largest and most influential bands in
rock and the drug-induced breakdown of their original songwriter and
lead man. Roger Waters, Dave Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright retell
how Barrett's slip from reality haunted the band for many years. This
fascinating documentary traces the creative and personal tumult of
Barrett's days with Pink Floyd, and the fallout from his psychedelics
induced breakdown. The set is loaded with extras; $29.95 from MVD
Visual.
And, on a cult note, there's "The Roger Corman Collection," a four-disc set with eight Corman films: "Bloody Mama," "A Bucket of Blood," "Gas-s-s," "The Trip," "The Premature Burial," "X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes," "The Young Racers" and "The Wild Angels," $39.98 from MGM.
From TV to Video:
Due this week: "Blade: House of Chthon"
(2007), the feature-length, extended, unrated season premiere of the television series, from New Line ... "Boston Legal Season Three," a three-disc set with 24 episodes, $59.98 from Fox ... "Brothers and Sisters: The Complete First Season," a six-disc set with 23 episodes, $59.99 from Buena Vista ... "Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Ninth Season," a four-disc set with 16 episodes, $44.98 from HBO Video ... "Ghost Whisperer: The Second Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $57.95 from Paramount ... 
"Josie and the Pussycats: The Complete Series," a two-disc set with 16 episodes, $26.99 from Warner ... "Married ... With Children: The Complete Seventh Season"
(1992-93), a three-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Smallville: The Complete Sixth Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98 from Warner ... "Stargate: Atlantis Season 3,"
a five-disc set with 20 episodes, $49.98 from MGM ... "Upright Citizens Brigade: The Complete First Season" and "Upright Citizens Brigade: The Complete Second Season,"
each two-disc sets of the Comedy Central sketch comedy show revolving
around an underground organization "with no government ties and
unlimited resources" dedicated to creating and monitoring chaos around
the world; includes real-life pranks; $26.99 each from Paramount.
Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Closure (aka Straightheads)" (2007) stars Gillian
Anderson and Danny Dyer in a dark thriller about a couple who seek
revenge after surviving a violent attack by a group of hunters, from
Sony ... "Masters of Horror: Brad Anderson's "Sounds Like"
(2007) is an episode from Season 2 of the Showtime horror series in
which Chris Bauer stars as a call center supervisor whose hearing has
slowly intensified to where it borders on the superhuman, forcing him
to contend with simple noises magnified into a cacophony of torment,
from Starz Home Entertainment ... In "Masters of Horror: Peter Medak's "The Washingtonians" "
(2007), another episode from Season 2 of the Showtime horror series,
Johnathon Schaech and Saul Rubinek star in a tale that sheds new
(bloody) light on American history: When a grisly secret that has been
kept for more than two centuries is in danger of exposure, a group of
homicidal historians will stop at nothing to keep loose tongues from
wagging; from Starz Home Entertainment ... In "BloodRayne 2: Deliverance"
(2007), starring Natassia Malthe, Zack Ward and Chris Coppola, a
blood-thirsty battle in Transylvania heads to the West, from Vivendi
Visual Entertainment ... In "Severence" (2007),
starring Danny Dyer, Laura Harris and Tim McInnerny, a corporate
weekend retreat for the executives of an international weapons
manufacturer is sabotaged by a deadly enemy, from Magnolia Home
Entertainment ... 
Written by three-time Emmy-winner Terence Winter ("The Sopranos"), "Brooklyn Rules"
(2007), which stars Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze Jr., Mena Suvari,
Scott Caan and Jerry Ferrara, is a crime drama set in Brooklyn circa
1985 against the backdrop of John Gotti's rise to power, revolving
around three lifelong friends whose different ambitions threaten to
shake their enduring bond: Michael (Prinze, Jr.), a lovable charmer
with the soul of a con man who successfully scams his way into the
pre-law program at Columbia University to leave Brooklyn, Carmine
(Caan), a handsome lady-killer enamored of the Mafia lifestyle who
wants nothing more than to stay there, and Bobby (Ferrara), an
endearing cheapskate who longs for a simple life of working at the Post
Office and settling down with his fiancee; from City Lights Home
Entertainment ... In "Final Draft" (2007), starring
James Van Der Beek, a screenwriter suffering from writer's block locks
himself in his apartment for 18 days, where he soon finds himself
living in a world where what's real and what's fiction begin to cross
lines with chilling and fatal consequences, from Genius Products ... In
"The Insatiable" (2006), starring Charlotte Ayanna,
Sean Patrick Flanery, Michael Biehn and Boyd Kestner, a shy salesman
falls in love with and captures a beautiful female vampire and
imprisons her in a cage in his cellar. Not wanting to kill her, and not
able to release her, he's faced with a complicated decision: does he
follow his heart or protect mankind from a bloodthirsty vampire; from
ThinkFilm.
On the Indie Front:
"Pittsburgh"
(2007) is a "mockumentary" that melds real-life with fiction. Actor
Jeff Goldblum agrees to do a two-week regional theater production of
"The Music Man" in Pittsbugh in order to secure a green card for his
young Canadian fiance. But what's fiction and what's fact? Only
Goldblum knows and he isn't saying. Also stars Ed Begley Jr., Illeana
Douglas, Moby, Conan O'Brien, Alanis Morissette and Craig Kilborn, from
Starz Home Entertainment ... In a "A Dog's Breakfast"
(2007), staring Kate Hewlett, Paul McGillion, Christopher Judge and
Rachell Luttrell, an obsessive young man tries to break up his sister's
impending wedding by any means available when he learns that his
brother-in-law-to-be plans on killing her; from MGM ... "Two Weeks"
(2006) stars Sally Field, Ben Chaplin, Thomas Cavanaugh, Julianne
Nicholson, Glenn Howerton and Clea DuVall in a melodrama that looks at
the physical reality of a parent's death and its impact on the family,
from MGM ... An exhausted Catholic priest and an idealistic young
teacher find themselves caught in the 1994 Rwanda genocide in "Beyond the Gates"
(2005), starring John Hurt and Hugh Dancy; based on actual events
during The Rwandan Genocide, from Fox ... In the romantic comedy "Crazylove"
(2005), starring Reiko Aylesworth, Bruno Campos, JoBeth Williams, Meat
Loaf and Marla Sokoloff, a woman suffering from a nervous breakdown
meets a schizophrenic in the hospital and the two fall in love; from
MTI Home Video.
Foreign:
In "The Boss of It All"
(2006 -- Denmark), directed by Lars von Trier; an IT company hires an
actor to serve as the company's president in order to help the business
get sold to a cranky Icelander, but the buyer insists on dealing only
with "the boss," creating new problems for all concerned; from Genius
Products ... "L'Iceberg" (2005 -- Belgium) is a wacky
comedy about Fiona, the manager of a fast-food restaurant, who gets
accidentally locked into a walk-in freezer, after which she develops an
obsession for everything cold and icy. One day she drops everything and
leaves home -- for a real iceberg; from First Run Features.
For the Family:
"Tweety's High-Flying Adventure" is a 2000 animated feature with the delightful flying mischief-maker, $14.98 from Warner ... "Superman Doomsday" (2007) is an original animated movie, with the voices of Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche and James Marsters, from Warner ... "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive Volume 1" and "Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive Volume 2" are the
first two volumes of a five-volume set featuring the live-action heroes
in a new adventure in which they search for magical jewels to save the
world; $19.99 each from Disney ... For pre-schoolers there's two
volumes of the CGI-animated show "Bigfoot Presents Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks"
that follows Meteor, a moon buggy monster truck and his monster truck
friends as they romp and stomp their way through growing up in
Crushington Park: "Start Your Engines! (Volume 1)" and "Let's Go, Go,
Go! (Volume 2)," $14.95 each from Genius Products ... and two volumes
of the Discovery Kids Channel animated series "ToddWorld," which
encourages toddlers to embrace their individuality and express their
feelings in a positive way: "ToddWorld: Being an Individual (Volume 1)" and "ToddWorld: Appreciating Differences (Volume 2," $14.95 each from Genius Products.
Special Interest:
There's a nice selection of musically themed DVDs from MVD this week: "All My Loving,"
Tony Palmer's groundbreaking documentary on music and its effect on pop
culture in the late '60s, with previously unseen footage from The
Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Pink Floyd and many more;
produced and initially broadcast on the BBC in 1968; $19.95 ... "Byrds Under Review" and "Keith Richards Under Review" are feature-length music documentaries, $24.95 each.
"Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team" (2007) is an HBO Video documentary that chronicles the relentless perseverance and hope of the female athletes who shaped America's vision of the sport, from the team's first appearance in 1991 through their second Olympic gold medal in 2004, $19.97 ... "The Real Jesse James Collection" comprises two documentaries: "Gunfighters: The James Gang" and "Legends of the American West: Jesse James," timed to coincide with the theatrical release of "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" starring Brad Pitt; $12.95 from Genius Products ... "Nazi Secrets Revealed" is a three-disc collection of five NOVA documentaries: "Hitler's Lost Sub," "Hitler's Sunken Secret," "The Great escape," "Nazi Prison Escape" and "Decoding Nazi Secrets," $39.95 from WGBH Boston Video ... "Zoo" (2007) is a shocking documentary about a secret community of zoophiles, an expressionistic rendering of how apparently upstanding citizens banded together and videotaped their journey into the most taboo realms of behavior; $27.98 from ThinkFilm.
-----------------------------------------------------------THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:
Weekly listings of DVD releases can now be viewed on mobile
devices at www.tagtag.com/onvideo
Alexander: Revisited: The Final Cut. Oliver Stone's expanded version now available on two-disc HD DVD and Blu-Ray disc. Includes almost three hours of new bonus content: an introduction by the director; an all-new documentary from Stone's son, filmmaker Sean Stone; "Fight Against Time: Oliver Stone's Alexander," with 85 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage; exclusive web-enabled features; more. (Warner).
All My Loving. Tony Palmer's groundbreaking documentary on music and its effect on pop culture in the late '60s, with previously unseen footage from The Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Pink Floyd and many more. Produced and initially broadcast on the BBC in 1968. $19.95. (MVD Visual).
Beyond the Gates (2006) John Hurt, Hugh Dancy. An exhausted Catholic priest and an idealistic young teacher find themselves caught in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Based on actual events during The Rwandan Genocide. Extras: "The Making of Shooting Dogs" and "Filmmaker's Diaries" featurettes; International Rescue Committee PSA: "Ways To Get Involved: the International Rescue Committee's Efforts with War-Torn Communities and Uprooted People." (Fox).
Blade: House of Chthon (2007 -- TV) Sticky Fingaz, Jill Wagner. Feature-length, extended, unrated season premiere of the television series. Extras: "Turning Blade" documentary, commentary by director Peter O'Fallon, commentary by writers Davod Goyer and Geoff Johns. (New Line).
BloodRayne 2: Deliverance (2007) Natassia Malthe, Zack Ward, Chris Coppola. Two-disc set. Includes the full-length "BloodRayne: Tibetan Heights" digital comic book and the original BloodRayne PC video game from Majesco Entertainment. Blood-thirsty battle of Transylvania heads to the West. In rated and unrated versions. Extras: Extended scenes, deleted scenes, director commentary, cast and director interviews. (Vivendi Visual Entertainment),
The Boss of It All (2006 -- Denmark) Dir.: Lars von Trier; Jens Albinus, Peter Gantzler, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, Benedikt Erlingsson, Iben Hjejle. An IT company hires an actor to serve as the company's president in order to help the business get sold to a cranky Icelander but the buyer insists on dealing only with "the boss." Extras: "The Making of The Boss of it All," "The Director of It All," "The Actors (and the Journalist) of It All," "Automavision: The New Dogma," "The Foreigners of It All,: "Behind the Scenes Slide Show." (Genius Products).
Boston Legal Season Three. Three-disc set with 24 episodes, $59.98. Extras: "Out of Order" featurette, "Character Witness" featurette. (Fox).
Brooklyn Rules (2007) Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze Jr., Mena Suvari, Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara. Set in Brooklyn circa 1985, and against the backdrop of John Gotti's rise to power, the film revolves around three lifelong friends whose different ambitions threaten to shake their enduring bond. Extras: Cast interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, writer and director's commentary, "Sympathy for the Devil: Phat Mix" Rolling Stones music video. (City Lights Home Entertainment).
Brothers and Sisters: The Complete First Season. Six-disc set with 23 episodes , $59.99. Extras: Bonus un-aired episode, " Walker Family Tree" featurette, "Behind the Scenes With the Brothers" featurette, "Family Business" featurette, bloopers, deleted scenes, commentaries. (Buena Vista).
Byrds Under Review. Feature-length music documentary, $24.95. (MVD Entertainment).
Cinema 16: European Short Films. Cinema16 celebrates the short film by showcasing the best classic, cult and award-winning shorts on DVD. The label launched in Europe in 2003 with the release of "British Short Films," a collection that included films by Peter Greenaway, Mike Leigh and Stephen Daldry among others. That was followed up by the "European Short Films" release in 2004 and "American Short Films," which included work by Gus Van Sant, Andy Warhol, Tim Burton and others, in 2005. "Cinema16: European Short Films" includes rare and never-before-seen films by noted directors such as Christopher Nolan ("Memento"), Lars Von Trier ("Dogville"), Lynne Ramsay ("Ratcatcher"), Ridley Scott ("Blade Runner"), Roy Andersson ("Songs From the Second Floor"), Mathieu Kassovitz ("La Haine") and Nanni Morettti ("Dear Diary"), as well as award-winning and celebrated shorts including Anders Thomas Jensen's Oscar winner "Election Night", Juan Solanas' Cannes Jury Prize winner "The Man Without a Head" and Toby MacDonald's BAFTA nominated "Je T'aime John Wayne." Two-disc set, $29.99. (Cinema 16).
Closure (aka Straightheads) (2007) Gillian Anderson, Danny Dyer. Dark thriller about a couple who seek revenge after surviving a violent attack by a group of hunters. (Sony).
Commando Director's Cut (1985) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, James Olson, Alyssa Milano, Bill Duke. Original theatrical film plus an all-new unrated version as envisioned by director Mark L. Lester. Extras: Commentary by Lester (on theatrical version only), deleted scenes, "Pure Action" featurette, "Let Off Some Steam" featurette, photo galleries, "Creating Commando" featurette, "Domestic Bliss With John and Jenny" featurette, "Kill Arnold, Kill!" featurette, "Trashing the Galleria" featurette. (Fox).
The Condemned (2007) Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman, Robert Mammone. Extras: Five part "The Making of The Condemned" featurette, "Capital Carnage Reunion" look back at the first meeting of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones in 1998, commentary by Stone Cold Steve Austin and director Scott Wiper, commentary by director Scott Wiper, Stone Cold at Movie World, storyboard sequences. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Crazylove (2005) Reiko Aylesworth, Bruno Campos, JoBeth Williams, Meat Loaf, Marla Sokoloff. Romantic comedy. A woman suffering from a nervous breakdown meets a schizophrenic in the hospital and the two fall in love. (MTI Home Video).
Cruising (1980) Dir.: William Friedkin; Al Pacino, Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox, Don Scardino. Remastered sound and image. Extras: Commentary by Friedkin, "The History of Cruising" and "Exorcising Cruising" featurettes. (Warner).
Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team (2007) Documentary, $19.97. (HBO Video).
Death Proof Unrated and Extended Cut (2007) Dir.: Quentin Tarantino; Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Zoe Bell, Michael Parks, James Parks, Quentin Tarantino. Two-disc set. Extras: "Finding Quentin's Gals" featurette, "The Guys of Death Proof," "Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike," "Introducing Zoe Bell," "Quentin's Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke," "Double Dare" trailer, international poster gallery. (Weinstein Co./Genius Products).
Deliverance 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (1972) Dir.: John Boorman; Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox. Remastered. Extras: Commentary by Boorman; featurettes: "Deliverance: The Beginning," "Deliverance: The Journey," "Deliverance: Betraying the River," "Deliverance: Delivered," "The Dangerous World of Deliverance" original behind-the-scenes documentary. (Warner).
A Dog's Breakfast (2007) Kate Hewlett, Paul McGillion, Christopher Judge, Rachell Luttrell. An obsessive young man tries to break up his sister's impending wedding by any means available when he learns that his brother-in-law-to-be plans on killing her. Extras: Commentary by the filmmakers, "Cooking Up a Dog's Breakfast" featurette, deleted scenes. (MGM).
Dragon Heat (2005 -- Hong Kong) Michael Biehn, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q, Shawn Yue. When five Interpol agents are drafted into Hong Kong to give testimony at the trial of a crime lord, a gang of masked gunmen ambushes a convoy, snatching the mobster. A menacing and furious war ensues as two evenly matched Special Forces teams are pitted against each other in an intense and fiery battle. Extras: Commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan, "The Making of Dragon Heat," deleted scenes, interview with Michael Beihn. (Dragon Dynasty/The Weinstein Co./Genius Products).
Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Ninth Season. Four-disc set with 16 episodes, $44.98. Extras: "The Last Laugh" retrospective, commentaries on select episodes, bloopers, deleted scenes.HBO Video).
Family Guy Volume 5. Three-disc set with 13 episodes from the first half of the fifth season, $39.98. Extras: Commentary on every episode, deleted scenes, "Drawing Peter" featurette, "Toys, Toys Galore" featurette, three animatic episodes, more. (Fox).
Final Draft (2007) James Van Der Beek . A screenwriter suffering from writer's block locks himself in his apartment for 18 days, where he soon finds himself living in a world where what's real and what's fiction begin to cross lines with chilling and fatal consequences. Extras: "The Making of Final Draft" featurette, music video. (Genius Products).
Flashdance Special Collector's Edition (1983) Dir.: Adrian Lyne; Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala. Extras: Five featurettes: "The History of Flashdance," "The Look of Flashdance," "Flashdance: Music and Songs," Flashdance: The Choreography," "Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon." Also includes a bonus CD with six song from the film: "Flashdance .... What a feeling," "Manhunt," "He's a Dream," "Lady Lady Lady," "Romeo" and "Maniac." (Paramount).
The Flying Scotsman (2007) Jonny Lee Miller. True story of Graeme Obree, an amateur cyclist and homegrown hero who became Scotland's two-time world one-hour cycling record holder while also struggling and learning to cope with debilitating bouts of depression and anxiety. (MGM).
Ghost Whisperer: The Second Season. Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $57.95. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, "Crystal Ball Mind Game," webisodes, "A Conversation With the Living" featurette, "Ghostly Visions" makeup featurette, "Grandview Graveyard" backstory featurette, "Melinda's Closet" costume design featurette, more. (Paramount).
Gracie (2007) Elisabeth Shue, Dermot Mulroney, Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue. Extras: Commentary by director Davis Guggenheim, commentary by Elisabeth Shue and producer/co-star Andrew Shue, "Bringing Gracie to Film" featurette. (New Line).
The Insatiable (2006) Charlotte Ayanna, Sean Patrick Flanery, Michael Biehn, Boyd Kestner. A shy saleman falls in love with and captures a beautiful female vampire. He imprisons her in a cage in his cellar. Not wanting to kill her, and not able to release her, he's faced with a complicated decision: does he follow his heart or protect mankind from a bloodthirsty vampire. (ThinkFilm).
Josie and the Pussycats: The Complete Series. Two-disc set with 16 episodes, $26.99. Extras: "The Allure and Charm of Dan DeCarlo" documentary that tells the story of the comic book artist, turned gag cartoonist and illustrator, who contributed to the creation of the legendary Archie comics. (Warner).
Keith Richards Under Review. Feature-length music documentary, $19.95. (MVD Entertainment).
L'Iceberg (2005 -- Belgium) Lucy Tulugarjuk, Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel. After Fiona, the manager of a fast-food restaurant, gets accidentally locked into a walk-in freezer, she develops an obsession for everything cold and icy. One day she drops everything and leaves home -- for a real iceberg. (First Run Features).
Married ... With Children: The Complete Seventh Season. (1992-93) Three-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.95. (Sony).
Martha Graham: Dance on Film. New, restored high-definition digital transfers of three films: "A Dancer's World" (1957), "Appalachian Spring" (1958), "Night Journey" (1960). Extras: "Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed," an American Masters documentary following Graham's career; side-by-side comparison, by dance critic Deborah Jowitt, of excerpts from a 1940s performance of "Appalachian Spring," featuring Graham, Eric Hawkins and Merce Cunningham, with the 1958 film; "Aaron Copland: Art in America," a short documentary by Nathan Kroll, featuring composer Aaron Copland discussing "Appalachian Spring" with artist Paul Jenkins; a visual essay narrated by Kroll; new interview with Museum of Television & Radio curator Ron Simon discussing Kroll's work and legacy; interviews with film editors Eleanor Hamerow and Miriam Arsham discussing their work on the three films; new interviews with Graham company dancers Mimi Cole, Mary Hinkson, Linda Hodes, Stuart Hodes, Yuriko Kikuchi and Ethel Winter; excerpts from "The Martha Graham Technique," a 1975 filmed demonstration featuring company members and narrated by Graham; 16mm home-movie footage of Graham's company from a 1954 European tour; booklet featuring an essay by writer Joan Acocella. (The Criterion Collection).
Masters of Horror: Brad Anderson's "Sounds Like" (2007) Episode from Season 2 of the Showtime horror series: Chris Bauer stars in a psychological terror story about a call center supervisor whose hearing has slowly intensified to where it borders on the superhuman, forcing him to contend with simple noises magnified into a cacophony of torment. Extras: Commentary by director Brad Anderson, "Aural Madness: The Making of Sounds Like," "A Cacophony of Sounds Like" sound effects featurette, DVD-ROM script, photo gallery. (Starz Home Entertainment).
Masters of Horror: Peter Medak's "The Washingtonians" (2007) Episode from Season 2 of the Showtime horror series: Johnathon Schaech and Saul Rubinek star in a tale that sheds new (bloody) light on American history: When a grisly secret that has been kept for more than two centuries is in danger of exposure, a group of homicidal historians will stop at nothing to keep loose tongues from wagging. Extras: Commentary by director Peter Medak and writer-star Johnathon Schaech, "Feast on This: The Making of The Washingtonians," "Wigs, Teeth and Powder" makeup effects featurette, DVD-ROM script, photo gallery. (Starz Home Entertainment).
The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story (Deluxe Edition) (2005)
Personal and candid profile of the once effervescent musician and now
cult figure Syd Barrett. The original songwriter for Pink Floyd was
only with the band three years when he left in 1968, yet when the band
released their greatest hits album in 2001 Barrett had written over a
fifth of the tracks. This new definitive edition includes two discs
loaded with extras, including lengthy unedited interviews from all
members of the Pink Floyd. It's a limited edition run of 5,000 in
Oyster Box packaging with 10 items of reproduction memorabilia in a
special printed envelope. After the limited edition has sold out, the
double disc version will be then packaged in a standard plastic double
DVD box. "The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story" retells the fascinating
story of the start of one of the largest and most influential bands in
rock and the drug induced breakdown of their original songwriter and
lead man. Roger Waters, Dave Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright retell
how Barrett's slip from reality haunted the band for many years. This
fascinating documentary traces the creative and personal tumult of
Barrett's days with Pink Floyd, and the fallout from his psychedelics
induced breakdown; $29.95.
Pittsburgh (2007) Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Illeana Douglas, Moby, Conan O'Brien, Alanis Morissette, Craig Kilborn. Real-life "mockumentary." Jeff Goldblum agrees to do a two-week regional theater production of "The Music Man" in Pittsbugh in order to secure a green card for his young Canadian fiance. Extras: Commentary by directors Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache, deleted scenes. (Starz Home Entertainment).
Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive Volume 1. First volume of a five-volume set featuring the live-action heroes, in this adventure searching for magical jewels to save the world; $19.99. Extras: "Reserve Ranger Training Course: Level 1" featurette, Ranger bios. (Disney).
Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive Volume 2. Second volume of a five-volume set featuring the live-action heroes, in this adventure searching for magical jewels to save the world; $19.99. Extras: "Reserve Ranger Training Course: Level 2" featurette, Ranger arsenal featurette. (Disney).
The Real Jesse James Collection. Two documentaries: "Gunfighters: The James Gang" and "Legends of the American West: Jesse James," timed to coincide with the theatrical release of "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" starring Brad Pitt; $12.95. (Genius Products).
Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Commentary featuring screenwriter Ib Melchior, actors Paul Mantee and Victor Lundin, production designer Al Nozaki, Oscar-winning special effects designer and "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" historian Robert Skotak, and excerpts from a 1979 audio interview with director Byron Haskin; "Destination: Mars," a new video featurette by Michael Lennick detailing the science behind "Robinson Crusoe on Mars"; excerpts from Melchior's original screenplay; new music video for Victor Lundin's song "Robinson Crusoe on Mars"; stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos, production designs, and promotional material ; theatrical trailer; booklet featuring a new essay by filmmaker and space historian Michael Lennick, a "Brief Yargorian Dictionary" of Melchior's original alien dialect, and a list of facts about Mars included with his original screenplay. (The Criterion Collection).
The Roger Corman Collection. Four-disc set with eight Corman films: "Bloody Mama," "A Bucket of Blood," "Gas-s-s," "The Trip," "The Premature Burial," "X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes," "The Young Racers" and "The Wild Angels," $39.98. (MGM).
Saturday Night Fever Special Collector's Edition (1977) Dir.: John Badham; John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller, Joseph Cali, Paul Pape, Donna Pescow, Bruce Ornstein, Julie Bovasso, Martin Shakar, Sam Coppola. Extras: Commentary by director John Badham, five-part documentary "Catching the Fever" with new cast interviews as well as interviews with Barry and Robin Gibb, "Back to Bay Ridge" featurette, "Dance Like Travolta With John Cassese," "'70s Discopedia." (Paramount).
Selena: 10th Anniversary Special Edition (1997) Dir.: Director: Gregory Nava; Jennifer Lopez, Jackie Guerra, Constance Marie, Alex Meneses, Jon Seda, Edward James Olmos, Jacob Vargas. Remastered two-disc edition. Includes never-before-released extended version. Extras: New interviews with Jennifer Lopez and Selena's family, deleted scenes, new "Making of Selena" featurette. (Warner).
Severence (2007) Danny Dyer, Laura Harris, Tim McInnerny. A corporate weekend retreat for the executives of an international weapons manufacturer is sabotaged by a deadly enemy; forget office politics, only the smartest will survive this bloody office outing. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Smallville: The Complete Sixth Season. Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes. (Warner).
Stargate: Atlantis Season 3. Five-disc set with 20 episodes, $49.98. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, "Inside the Stargate: Atlantis Visual FX Department," "Mission Directives," profiles, photo galleries, production design galleries, "Masters of the Alien" featurette, more. (MGM).
Superman Doomsday (2007) Original animated movie. Voices of Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters. Extras: The Clash of the Juggernauts" retrospective look at the craze surrounding the "Death of Superman," "The Artists Playground ... From Art to Sound Design in Superman Doomsday" featurette, " "Defeat Doomsday: Battle Challenge" game. (Warner).
The Threepenny Opera (1931) Dir.: G. W. Pabst; Rudolf Forster, Carola Neher, Reinhold Schunzel, Fritz Rasp, Valeska Gert, Lotte Lenya. New, restored high-definition digital transfer (taken from a new film restoration element from the Bundesarchiv in Germany). Extras: Commentary by scholars David Bathrick, author of "The Dialectic and the Early Brecht," and Eric Rentschler, author of "The Films of G. W. Pabst "; "L'opera de quat'sous," Pabst's French-language version of "The Threepenny Opera," starring Albert Prejean and Florelle; video interview with film scholar Charles O'Brien on the differences between the English and French versions; new exclusive documentary on "Threepenny's" controversial journey from stage to screen to lawsuits; gallery of production photos by Hans Casparius; production sketches by art director Andre Andrejew; new and improved English subtitle translation; new essay by film critic Tony Rayns. (The Criterion Collection).
Troy Director's Cut (2004) Dir.: Wolfgang Petersen; Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, John Shrapnel, Brendan Gleeson, Diane Kruger, Eric Bana, Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones. Two-disc set with the debut of Wolfgang Petersen's all-new, unrated version, with 30 minutes of new footage. Also offered will be the "Troy Ultimate Collector's Edition," which will include collectible memorabilia such as "The Art of Troy" photo book, behind-the-scenes photos and select pages from the shooting script. Extras: "Troy Revisited: An Introduction by Wolfgang Petersen," "Troy in Focus," "In The Thick of the Battle" featurette about the film's epic battle sequences, "From Ruins to Reality" featurette on the ruins of ancient Troy and the film's production design re-creation of the city, "Troy: An Effects Odyssey" special effects featurette, "Attacking Troy," "Greek Ship Towing." Also available on HD DVD and Blu-ray disc. (Warner).
Tweety's High-Flying Adventure (2000) Animated feature, $14.98. (Warner).
Two Weeks (2006) Sally Field, Ben Chaplin, Thomas Cavanaugh, Julianne Nicholson, Glenn Howerton, Clea DuVall. Melodrama looks at the physical reality of a parent's death and its impact on the family. Extras: Movie Club Discussion Guide, "Learning to Live Through Dying" featurette, commentary by director Steve Stockman, deleted scenes. (MGM).
The Up Series Box Set. Six-disc set with "Seven UP," "7 Plus Seven," "21 UP," "28 UP," "35 UP," "42 UP" and "49 UP." "Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man." Starting in 1964 with "Seven Up," the UP Series has explored this Jesuit maxim. The original concept was to interview 14 children from diverse backgrounds from all over England, asking them about their lives and their dreams for the future. Every seven years, renowned director Michael Apted, a researcher for "Seven Up," has been back to talk to them, examining the progression of their lives. From cab driver Tony to schoolmates Jackie, Lynn and Susan and the heart-breaking Neil, as they turn 49 more life-changing decisions and surprising developments are revealed. An astonishing, unforgettable look at the structure of life in the 20th century. $99.95. Extras: Roger Ebert talks with Michael Apted, commentary by Apted on "42 UP," photo gallery for each film. (First Run Features).
Upright Citizens Brigade: The Complete First Season (2007) Two-disc set of the Comedy Central sketch comedy show revolving around an underground organization "with no government ties and unlimited resources" dedicated to creating and monitoring chaos around the world; includes real-life pranks; $26.99. (Paramount).
Upright Citizens Brigade: The Complete Second Season (2007) Two-disc set of the Comedy Central sketch comedy show revolving around an underground organization "with no government ties and unlimited resources" dedicated to creating and monitoring chaos around the world; includes real-life pranks; $26.99. (Paramount).
The Valet (La Doublure) (2007 -- French) Dir.: Francis Veber; Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas, Richard Berry, Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, Virginie Ledoyen. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Francis Veber, "Making of the Valet" featurette. (Sony).
Wall Street 20th Anniversary Edition (1987) Dir.: Oliver Stone; Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Hal Holbrook, Martin Sheen. Extras: Introduction by Stone, interviews with Douglas and Charlie Sheen, deleted scenes, "Money Never Sleeps: The Making of Wall Street" featurette, "Greed Is Good" featurette. (Fox).
We Are Marshall (2006) Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, David Strathairn, Ian McShane, Kate Mara, January Jones, Kimberly Williams. Extras: "Legendary Coaches" featurette, "Marshall Now" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD.(Warner).
Zoo (2007) Shocking documentary about a secret community of zoophiles, an expressionistic rendering of how apparently upstanding citizens banded together and videotaped their journey into the most taboo realms of behavior; $27.98. (ThinkFilm).
For more DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>
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Copyright 2007 CyberPod. All rights reserved.
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