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1/20/09 V13.3
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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
For Tuesday, January 20 -- Monday, January 26
The Children of Huang Shi
Based on real events, "The Children of Huang Shi" is set against war-torn China in the 1930s, revolving around a young English journalist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an American nurse (Radha Mitchell) and the leader of a Chinese partisan group (Chow Yun Fat) who meet in desperate and unexpected circumstances. Together they rescue 60 orphaned children, leading them on an extraordinary journey across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain, through snow-covered mountains and an unforgiving desert. Along the way, they discover the true meaning of love, responsibility and courage. Vitals: Director: Roger Spottiswoode. Stars: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: R, 114 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.027 million, Sony.
City of Ember
To save the human race, an underground city was built to last 200 years. For generations, the people of the City of Ember have thrived in an amazing underground world of flickering lights. Built as a refuge for humanity and powered by a massive generator, the city's time is almost up and now Ember is falling into darkness as the generator fails. In a race against time, it's up to two brave teenagers to unravel the mystery behind the city's existence, maneuver around corrupt politicians and save world. Vitals: Director: Gil Kenan. Stars: Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Martin Landau, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Toby Jones, Mary Kay Place. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 123 min., Science Fiction, Box office gross: $7.658 million, Fox.
The Express
Based on a true story. Follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country, Davis hurdled social and economic obstacles to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Under the guidance of legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), he became a hero who superseded Jim Brown's achievements and set records that stand to this day. Decorated veteran Schwartzwalder was a Southerner with a single vision of a national championship and hardened ideas about how the world worked. But though he and Davis clashed mightily, he taught the player everything he knew about football, just as Davis helped him learn the true meaning of victory. As the growing civil rights movement divided the country in the '60s, Davis became a symbol for achievement that transcended race. Refusing to flinch from others' prejudices, he achieved all his goals -- until his career was cut short by leukemia. Vitals: Director: Gary Fleder. Stars: Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Omar Benson Miller, Clancy Brown, Charles S. Dutton. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 129 min., Melodrama, Box office gross: $9.589 million, Universal.
Fireproof
Lt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. Inside burning buildings, it's his natural instinct. In the cooling embers of his marriage, it's another story. After a decade of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. Yet as they prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare. While hoping The Love Dare has nothing to do with his parents' newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. But can he attempt to love his wife while avoiding God's love for him? Will he be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person that's no longer receptive to his love? Or is this just another marriage destined to go up in smoke? Vitals: Director: Alex Kendrick. Stars: Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, Alex Kendrick, Bailey Cave, Jim McBride, Tommy McBride, Janet Lee Dapper. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 122 min., Action, Box office gross: $32.9 million, Sony.
Henry Poole Is Here
His life turned upside down by circumstances beyond his control, Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) offers full price on a cookie cutter house in a drab, middle-class L.A. neighborhood. But just as he settles in to his indulgent isolation with a case of vodka and all the junk food he can eat, his neighbor, a well-meaning busybody named Esperanza, drops by with a plate of homemade tamales and a whole lot of questions. Despite his desire for solitude, Henry can't help noticing Dawn, the beautiful young divorcee next door and her daughter Millie, an 8-year-old amateur spy who hasn't spoken a word since her parents' break-up. Henry's self-imposed exile is shattered when Esperanza discovers a mysterious stain on Henry's stucco wall that is seen to have miraculous powers. She begins leading pilgrimages to the "holy site" and invites church officials, including her pastor, Father Salizar, to inspect the apparition. Although Henry remains skeptical, he finds himself gradually drawn back towards life, especially after his silent friendship with Millie brings him closer to Dawn. As news of the apparition spreads throughout the neighborhood and his feelings for Dawn grow, Henry realizes his plan to live out his days in quiet desperation is going to be much harder than he ever imagined. Vitals: Director: Mark Pellington. Stars: Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin, Morgan Lily, Rachel Seiferth, Beth Grant. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 99 min., Comedy Drama, Box office gross: $1.829 million, Anchor Bay.
Igor
Animated twist on classic monster movies. Determined to prove he can create his own diabolical invention, a mad scientist's (John Cleese) nice-guy assistant, Igor (John Cusack), creates a female Franken-monster. But his creation, Eva (Molly Shannon), is sweet and sings show tunes. That is, until she falls into the clutches of Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard) and his shape-shifting girlfriend (Jennifer Coolidge). Now it's up to Igor and his sidekicks (Steve Buscemi, Sean Hayes) to save Eva -- and their country -- from real evildoers, including sneaky Prince Malpert (Jay Leno). Vitals: Director: Anthony Leondis. Voices of John Cusack, Eddie Izzard, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cleese, Sean Hayes, Molly Shannon, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 87 min., Animated, Box office gross: $19.098 million, MGM.
Max Payne
Stylized adaptation of the hugely popular fan-favorite video game. Max Payne (Mark Wahlberg) is a maverick cop with little regard for rules and nothing left to lose. Hell-bent on revenge, he's determined to track down those responsible for the brutal murder of his family, but his obsessive investigation takes him on a nightmarish journey where dark fantasy collides with stark reality. As the mystery deepens, Max is forced to battle enemies beyond the natural world...and face an unthinkable betrayal that will drive him to the edge of his own sanity. Vitals: Director: John Moore. Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Chris O'Donnell, Amaury Nolasco, Olga Kurylenko. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 100 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $40.300 million, Fox.
Saw V
In the fifth installment of the "Saw" franchise, Detective Hoffman is seemingly the last person alive to carry on the Jigsaw legacy. But when his secret is threatened, he must go on the hunt to eliminate all loose ends.Vitals: Director: David Hackl. Stars: Tobin Bell, Julie Benz, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Mark Rolston, Samantha Lemole, Meagan Good, Carlo Rota, Greg Bryk, Laura Gordon. 2007, CC, MPAA rating: R, 92 min., Horror, Box office gross: $56.729 million, Lionsgate.
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NEWS
DVD Collectibles:
A fabulous Douglas Sirk outing arrives today from The Criterion Collection: "Magnificent Obsession"
(1954), starring Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Agnes Moorehead
and Otto Kruger. Reckless playboy Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson, in his
breakthrough role) crashes his speedboat, requiring emergency attention
from the town's only resuscitator -- at the very moment that beloved
local Dr. Phillips has a heart attack and dies waiting for the
life-saving device. Thus begins one of Douglas Sirk's most flamboyant
master classes in melodrama, a delirious Technicolor mix of the sudsy
and the spiritual in which Bob and the doctor's widow, Helen (Jane
Wyman), find themselves inextricably linked amid a series of
increasingly wild twists, turns, trials, and tribulations. For this
release, Criterion also presents John M. Stahl's 1935 film version of
the Lloyd C. Douglas novel, starring Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor. The
new, restored high-definition digital transfer, in a two-disc set,
includes commentary featuring film scholar Thomas Doherty; "From UFA to
Hollywood: Douglas Sirk Remembers" (1991, 82 minutes), a rare
documentary by German filmmaker Eckhart Schmidt in which Sirk reflects
upon his career; video interviews with filmmakers Allison Anders and
Kathryn Bigelow, in which they pay tribute to Sirk; and a booklet featuring a new essay by film critic Geoffrey O'Brien ... Also from Criterion this week comes
"El Norte" (1993 -- Spanish), directed by Gregory Nava
and starring Ernesto Gomez Cruz, David Villalpando, Zaide Silvia
Gutierrez and Alicia del Lago. Brother and sister Enrique and Rosa flee
persecution at home in Guatemala and head north, through Mexico and on
to the United States, with the dream of starting a new life. It's a
story that happens every day, but until Gregory Nava's groundbreaking
"El Norte (The North)," the personal travails of immigrants crossing
the border to America had never been shown in the movies with such
urgent humanism. A work of social realism imbued with dreamlike
imagery, "El Norte" is a lovingly rendered, heartbreaking story of hope
and survival, which critic Roger Ebert called "a Grapes of Wrath for
our time." In a director approved special edition, two-disc set with a
new, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved
by director Gregory Nava. Also available on Blu-ray Disc.
"MGM: When the Lion Roars" (1992) is a three-part Emmy award-winning miniseries that explores the history of MGM, keying in on the moguls, stars and directors that made the studio great in the 1920s, 30s and 40s; narrated by Patrick Stewart. Two-disc set, $29.98.
Glowing Blu-ray:
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment unleashes sci-fi thrillers "The One" and Ghosts of Mars"
on Blu-ray High-Def on March 31 for $28.95 each. Exploring unseen
dimensions and the concept of divine energy, Jet Li moves through
several parallel universes tracking down an evil version of himself in
"The One" (2001), co-starring Carla Gugino, Delroy Lindo and Jason
Statham; In John Carpenter's "Ghosts of Mars" (2001), humans mining the
Red Planet's ore must fight to keep and protect their souls from the
awakened ghosts of Martian warriors seeking to take over their bodies
and minds, starring Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Clea
DuVall, Pam Grier, and Joanna Cassidy. Both discs include commentaries
and featurettes.
From TV to Video:
"Captains and the Kings" (1976) stars Richard Jordan,
Perry King, Patty Duke, Ray Bolger, Blair Brown, John Carradine,
Katherine Crawford, Charles Durning, Henry Fonda, Celeste Holm, John
Houseman, Burl Ives, Vic Morrow, Barbara Parkins, Joanna Pettet. Jane
Seymour, Ann Sothern and Robert Vaughn in a nine-part mini-series based
on the best-selling novel by Taylor Caldwell, a rags-to-riches tale of
an Irish immigrant in late 1800s, in a three-disc set for $39.98 from
Koch Vision ...
When her beloved grandfather Charlie suddenly falls ill, 12-year-old
Casey finds herself making some life or death decisions -- and learning
to live with the consequences in "Charlie & Me" (2008), starring Tom Bosley and Jordy Benattar, from Genius Entertainment ... "Children of the Stones"
includes seven episodes of the cult 1970 British sci-fi series about
paranoia and the paranormal in a sleepy English village, $24.99 from
Acorn Media ... "Criss Angel Mindfreak: The Complete Season Four" (2008) is a three-disc set with 18 episodes, $34.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Emergency! Season Five" (1975-76) is a five-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.98 from Universal ... "George Wallace"
(1997) is the award-winning miniseries directed by John Frankenheimer,
starring Gary Sinise, Angelina Jolie and Mare Winningham, from Warner
... "The Girls of Little House on the Prairie: Country School" and "The Girls of Little House on the Prairie: Prairie Friends" each contain three episodes from the classic series, $14.98 from Lionsgate ... "Jonathan Creek: Season 3" is a two-disc set with seven episodes of the British answer to "The X-Files," $34.98 from Warner ... "Jurassic Fight Club: The Complete Season One" is a four-disc set with 12 dinosaur confrontations, $34.95 from A&E Home Video ... 
"The Last Detective: Complete Collection" is a
nine-disc set with all 17 episodes of the hit British series about the
comically competent detective who always gets his man, but never any
respect, $99.99 from Acorn Media ... "MI-5: Volume 6" is a five-disc set with 10 episodes of the British spy series, $24.98 from Warner ... "Monsterquest: The Complete Season Two" (2008) is a five-disc set with 18 episodes, $39.95 from A&E Home Video ... "Moonlight: The Complete Series" is a four-disc set with 16 episodes, $39.98 from Warner ... "My Three Sons: Season One, Volume Two" (1961) is a three-disc set with 18 episodes, $42.99 from Paramount ... "Paranormal State: The Complete Season Two" (2007) is a two-disc set with 12 episodes, $24.95 from A&E Home Video ... "The Rockford Files: Season Six" (1979-80) is a three-disc set of the final season, with 12 episodes, $39.98 from Universal.
"Boogeyman 3" (2008) stars Erin Cahill, Kate Maberly, Matt Rippy and Jayne Wisener in the series second sequel; from Sony ... It's Double-O excitement as The Girl From BIKINI returns in her newest espionage thriller, "Bikini Royale" (2008): Spies have never been naughtier as Agent Tanya X goes "undercovers" and does whatever it takes to retrieve stolen missile plans in a high-stakes poker game; from Infinity Entertainment ... "Center Stage: Turn It Up " (2008) is the heartwarming story about a self-trained dancer from the streets of Detroit who makes her way to New York's most prestigious ballet academy; the dance-filled sequel to "Center Stage" stars Ethan Stiefel, Peter Gallagher, Sarah Jayne Jensen and Rachele Brooke Smith; from Sony ... "Voodoo Dollz" (1990) stars Grace Phillips and Nathalie Gauthier in ghoulish adventures at an exclusive finishing school where the girls truly are finished; from Infinity Entertainment ...
"Vacancy 2: The First Cut" (2009) is a direct-to-video
prequel in which a recently engaged couple check into the deadly motel
with a friend, unaware they're the first intended victims of a team of
psychopaths bent on filming and profiting from their murders, starring
Agnes Bruckner, Trevor Wright and Scott G. Anderson; from Sony ...
We've seen this one before too many times: Three women are stalked by a
killer with a grudge that extends back to the girls' childhoods in "Amusement" (2008), starring Keir O'Donnell, Katheryn Winnick, Jessica Lucas, Laura Breckenridge and Tad Hilgenbrink, from Warner ... "Poison Ivy: The Secret Society"
(2009) is the fourth installment in the series about sexy temptresses
who let nothing get in the way of their ambitions; here it revolves
around college; stars Miriam McDonald, Catherine Hicks, Greg Evigan and
Crystal Lowe; from Warner ... A Stone Age visionary goes up against the
reigning Neanderthals in "National Lampoon's Stoned Age"
(2007), starring Adam Rifkin, Ali Larter, David Carradine, Talia Shire,
Carol Alt and Gary Busey (originally released as "Homo Erectus"); from
Paramount ... In "Palo Pinto Gold"
(2009), starring Trent Willman, Glynn Praesel and Joanna Goode, a Texas
Ranger turns bad and murders his partner for gold, only to be hunted
down by the son of the man he killed; from Monarch Home Video.
On the Indie Front:
"The Deal" (2008), starring William H.
Macy, Meg Ryan, LL Cool J, Elliot Gould and Jason Ritter, is a
screwball Hollywood satire about renegade producers dealing in love and
moviemaking: A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew's
film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli (Also available on Blu-ray Disc); from Peace Arch Entertainment ... 
In "American East"
(2007), starring Sayed Badreya, Tony Shalhoub, Sarah Shahi, Constance
Zimmer and Kais Nashif, a widowed immigrant and devoted family man
faces societal pressures and discrimination in a post-9/11 world. Owner
of Habibe's Cafe, a popular Middle Eastern hangout in Los Angeles,
Mustafa (Sayed) decides to take on a new venture and open a restaurant
with Jewish partner Sam (Shalhoub). Unfortunately, his plan leads to
resistance from his cafe regulars and the local Arab and Jewish
communities; from MGM ... In "Save Me" (2008),
starring Chad Allen, Robert Gant, Judith Light and Stephen Lang, a sex
and drug addicted young man is forced into a Christian-run ministry in
an attempt to cure him of his "gay affliction", but instead he is faced
with the truth in his heart and spirit, from First Run Features ... In
the near future, after a worldwide epidemic of organ failures that
devastates the planet, a biotech company begins offering organ
transplants ... for a price. Those who miss their payments are
scheduled for repossession and hunted by the villainous Repo Men in "Repo! The Genetic Opera" (2008), a "rock opera" starring Anthony Stewart Head, Sarah Brightman, Alexa Vega, Bill Moseley, Paul Sorvino and Paris Hilton (Also available on Blu-ray Disc); from Lionsgate.
Foreign:
"Taxi Blues" (2008 -- Russian) is one of the first
works to address the coming end of the Soviet Union. In a world filled
with hustlers and black marketers, Shlykov, a hard-working,
anti-Semitic taxi driver, is pushed over the edge when Lyosha, a Jewish
saxophonist who personifies everything he despises, stiffs him for a
fare. Shlykov tracks the irresponsible musician down and the two form a
bizarre love-hate relationship. At first, class and race division make
friendship for these two nearly impossible, until they both learn they
aren't so different after all; from Koch Lorber Films ... "Cold Prey"
(2006 -- Norway) is a Norwegian horror film that took Europe by storm
and won an international fan following. Five youngsters are heading for
the Jotunheimen mountain area to go snowboarding. On the slope, one of
them has a bad fall and breaks a leg; with their mobile phones out of
range, they take shelter in a deserted mountain hotel. But it turns out
they're not alone: In the basement they discover a filthy dungeon of a
room, where somebody has recently lived; from Anchor Bay Entertainment
... "Another Man's Garden" (2006 -- Portuguese) is a
groundbreaking film about a young woman from Mozambique whose
aspirations are in conflict with the typical opportunities afforded
women in her culture; $24.95 from First Run Features Global Lens Film
Series ... The documentary "On Each Side" (2006 --
Spanish) follows the interconnected lives of several people who are
affected by the building of the Rosario-Victoria Bridge -- a
gargantuan, modern undertaking that links two Argentine cities. As the
bridge rises, director Hugo Grosso introduces characters from both
modern and traditional Argentina, bringing into stark relief the
connections and conflicts between generations; $24.95 from First Run
Features Global Lens Film Series.
For the little ones this week there's "The Adventures of Walker & Ping Ping," a new animated series that introduces kids to Chinese life, culture and language. The first two episodes: "The Great Wall" and "The Chinese Market," $11.99 each from Little Emperor ... "The Powerpuff Girls: 10th Anniversary Collection: The Complete Series" is a six-disc set with 78 episodes, $59.97 from Warner ... "The Berenstain Bears: Kindness, Caring and Sharing" includes five episodes featuring the loveable animated bears in stories that provide positive role models for parents and children; $12.99 from Sony ... "The Great Polar Bear Adventure" (2007) is a Discovery Kids special that shows the world through the eyes of the largest predator found on land -- the polar bear. Combines stunning real life cinematography with cutting edge animation, with the voices of Howie Mandel and Megan Follows; $14.95 from Genius Products.
Special Interest:
"The End of America" (2008) is a documentary based on
Naomi Wol's New York Times bestseller. As our country ushers in a
historic new administration, the film offers an eye-opening indictment
of the sweeping policy changes enacted during the Bush Administration
that have greatly limited individual liberties while increasing the
power of government. Artfully weaving insightful interviews with a
cache of spectacular and telling archival photos and footage spanning
the last eight years, filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern
expertly bring to life Wolf's chilling case that American democracy is
under grave threat and her galvanizing call urging regular citizens to
take back our legacy of freedom and justice. Two-disc set, $29.95 from
IndiePix: www.indiepixfilms.com ... On a lighter note there's "Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger,"
an
HBO stand-up performance, available as a standard DVD and a three-disc
special edition with five hours of bonus features including an
interview with rock; from HBO Video.
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THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:
American East(2007) Sayed Badreya, Tony Shalhoub, Sarah Shahi, Constance Zimmer, Kais Nashif. A widowed immigrant and devoted family man faces societal pressures and discrimination in a post-9/11 world. Owner of Habibe's Cafe, a popular Middle Eastern hangout in Los Angeles, Mustafa (Sayed) decides to take on a new venture and open a restaurant with Jewish partner Sam (Shalhoub). Unfortunately, his plan leads to resistance from his cafe regulars and the local Arab and Jewish communities. (MGM).
Amusement (2008) Keir O'Donnell, Katheryn Winnick, Jessica Lucas, Laura Breckenridge, Tad Hilgenbrink. We've seen this before: Three women are stalked by a killer with a grudge that extends back to the girls' childhoods. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
Another Man's Garden (2006 -- Portuguese) Groundbreaking film about a young woman from Mozambique whose aspirations are in conflict with the typical opportunities afforded women in her culture; $24.95. (First Run Features Global Lens Film Series).
The Berenstain Bears: Kindness, Caring and Sharing. Five episodes featuring the loveable animated bears in stories that provide positive role models for parents and children; $12.99. (Sony).
Bikini Royale (2008) Beverly Lynne, Monique Parent. It's Double-O excitement as The Girl From BIKINI returns in her newest espionage thriller. Spies have never been naughtier as Agent Tanya X goes "undercovers" and does whatever it takes to retrieve stolen missile plans in a high-stakes poker game. (Infinity Entertainment).
Boogeyman 3 (2008) Erin Cahill, Kate Maberly, Matt Rippy, Jayne Wisener. Second sequel. Extras: Deleted scenes, "Creating the Boogeyman" featurette, "Deconstructing the Deaths" featurette, "Boogey in Bulgaria" featurette. (Sony).
Captains and the Kings (1976) Richard Jordan, Perry King, Patty Duke, Ray Bolger, Blair Brown, John Carradine, Katherine Crawford, Charles Durning, Henry Fonda, Celeste Holm, John Houseman, Burl Ives, Vic Morrow, Barbara Parkins, Joanna Pettet. Jane Seymour, Ann Sothern, Robert Vaughn. Three-disc set of the nine-part mini-series based on the best-selling novel by Taylor Caldwell, a rags-to-riches tale of an Irish immigrant in late 1800s.. $39.98. (Koch Vision).
Center Stage: Turn It Up (2008) Ethan Stiefel, Peter Gallagher, Sarah Jayne Jensen, Rachele Brooke Smith. Heartwarming story about a self-trained dancer from the streets of Detroit who makes her way to New York's most prestigious ballet academy; dance-filled sequel to "Center Stage." Extras: "The Choreography of Center Stage" featurette, "Center Stage: Turn It Up" featurette. (Sony).
Charlie & Me (2008 -- TV) Tom Bosley, Jordy Benattar. When her beloved grandfather Charlie suddenly falls ill, 12-year-old Casey finds herself making some life or death decisions -- and learning to live with the consequences. (Genius Entertainment).
The Children of Huang Shi (2008) Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh. Extras: "The Challenge of Huang Shi" behind-the-scenes featurette. (Sony).
Children of the Stones. Seven episodes of the cult 1970 British sci-fi series about paranoia and the paranormal in a sleepy English village, $24.99. (Acorn Media).
Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger. HBO stand-up performance, available as a standard DVD and a three-disc special edition with five hours of bonus features including an interview with Rock. (HBO Video).
City of Ember(2008) Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Martin Landau, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Toby Jones, Mary Kay Place. (Fox).
Cold Prey (2006 -- Norway) Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Rolf Kristian Larsen, Tomas Alf Larsen, Endre Martin Midtstigen, Viktoria Winge. Norwegian horror film that took Europe by storm and won an international fan following. Five youngsters are heading for the Jotunheimen mountain area to go snowboarding. On the slope, one of them has a bad fall and breaks a leg. Their mobile phones out of range, they catch sight of a mountain hotel in the distance, and decide to find shelter there. The hotel lies empty and silent, obviously closed down years ago. The phone lines are dead, and the youngsters realize they have to spend the night in the hotel. But it turns out they're not alone: In the basement they discover a filthy dungeon of a room, where somebody has recently lived. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Criss Angel Mindfreak: The Complete Season Four (2008) Three-disc set with 18 episodes, $34.95. (A&E Home Video).
The Deal (2008) William H. Macy, Meg Ryan, LL Cool J, Elliot Gould, Jason Ritter. Screwball Hollywood satire about renegade producers dealing in love and moviemaking: A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew's film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, digital copy. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Peace Arch Entertainment).
El Norte (1993 -- Spanish) Dir.: Gregory Nava; Ernesto Gomez Cruz, David Villalpando, Zaide Silvia Gutierrez, Alicia del Lago. Brother and sister Enrique and Rosa flee persecution at home in Guatemala and journey north, through Mexico and on to the United States, with the dream of starting a new life. It's a story that happens every day, but until Gregory Nava's groundbreaking"El Norte (The North)," the personal travails of immigrants crossing the border to America had never been shown in the movies with such urgent humanism. A work of social realism imbued with dreamlike imagery, "El Norte" is a lovingly rendered, heartbreaking story of hope and survival, which critic Roger Ebert called "a Grapes of Wrath for our time." Director approved special edition, two-disc set. New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Gregory Nava. Extras: Commentary featuring Nava; "In the Service of the Shadows: The Making of "El Norte": a new video program featuring interviews with Nava, producer and co-writer Anna Thomas, actors Zaide Silvia Gutierrez and David Villalpando, and set designer David Wasco; "The Journal of Diego Rodriguez Silva," Nava's 1972 award-winning student film; gallery of Chiapas location-scouting photographs; booklet featuring an essay by novelist Hector Tobar and Roger Ebert's 1983 review of the film. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Emergency! Season Five (1975-76) Five-disc set with 24 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).
The End of America (2008) Documentary based on Naomi Wol's New York Times bestseller. As our country ushers in a historic new administration, the film offers an eye-opening indictment of the sweeping policy changes enacted during the Bush Administration that have greatly limited individual liberties while increasing the power of government. Artfully weaving insightful interviews with a cache of spectacular and telling archival photos and footage spanning the last eight years, filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern expertly bring to life Wolf's chilling case that American democracy is under grave threat and her galvanizing call urging regular citizens to take back our legacy of freedom and justice. Two-disc set. Extras: Extended interviews: Daniel Ellsberg ("Pentagon Papers"); Vincent Cannistraro, former CIA Counter Terrorism chief; Eric Lichtblau, New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist; Col. David Antoon, author; Brigadier General James P. Cullen, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals; Mike German, former FBI agent; featurettes; commentary; 2008 pre-election ending and 2008 post-election update. $29.95. (IndiePix: www.indiepixfilms.com).
The Express (2008) Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, Omar Benson Miller, Clancy Brown, Charles S. Dutton. Extras: "Making of the Express" featurette, "Making History: The Story of Ernie Davis," "Inside the Playbook: Shooting the Football Games," commentary, deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).
Fireproof (2008) Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, Alex Kendrick, Bailey Cave, Jim McBride, Tommy McBride, Janet Lee Dapper.
George Wallace (1997) Award-winning miniseries directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Gary Sinise, Angelina Jolie, Mare Winningham. Extras: Featurette. (Warner).
The Girls of Little House on the Prairie: Country School. Three episodes from the classic series, $14.98. (Lionsgate).
The Girls of Little House on the Prairie: Prairie Friends. Three episodes from the classic series, $14.98. (Lionsgate).
The Great Polar Bear Adventure (2007) Discovery Kids special that shows the world through the eyes of the largest predator found on land -- the polar bear. Combines stunning real life cinematography with cutting edge animation. Voices of Howie Mandel and Megan Follows. Extras: Making-of featurette. $14.95. (Genius Products).
Henry Poole Is Here (2008) Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin, Morgan Lily, Rachel Seiferth, Beth Grant. Extras: "The Making of Henry Poole Is Here" featurette; commentary by director Mark Pellington and writer Albert Torres, "All Roads Lead Home" and "Henry Poole Is Here" music videos, more. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
Igor (2008) Voices of John Cusack, Eddie Izzard, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cleese, Sean Hayes, Molly Shannon, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall. Extras: Deleted scenes, bloopers, "Be an Igor" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (MGM).
Jonathan Creek: Season 3. Two-disc set with seven episodes of the British answer to "The X-Files," $34.98 .(Warner).
Jurassic Fight Club: The Complete Season One. Four-disc set with 12 dinosaur confrontations, $34.95. (A&E Home Video).
The Last Detective: Complete Collection. Nine-disc set with all 17 episodes of the hit British series about the comically competent detective who always gets his man, but never any respect. Never aired in the States. $99.99. Extras: "Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective" 1981 movie, interviews. (Acorn Media).
Magnificent Obsession (1954) Dir.: Douglas Sirk; Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Agnes Moorehead, Otto Kruger. Reckless playboy Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson, in his breakthrough role) crashes his speedboat, requiring emergency attention from the town's only resuscitator -- at the very moment that beloved local Dr. Phillips has a heart attack and dies waiting for the life-saving device. Thus begins one of Douglas Sirk's most flamboyant master classes in melodrama, a delirious Technicolor mix of the sudsy and the spiritual in which Bob and the doctor's widow, Helen (Jane Wyman), find themselves inextricably linked amid a series of increasingly wild twists, turns, trials, and tribulations. For this release, Criterion also presents John M. Stahl's 1935 film version of the Lloyd C. Douglas novel, starring Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Two-disc set. Extras: Commentary featuring film scholar Thomas Doherty; "From UFA to Hollywood: Douglas Sirk Remembers" (1991, 82 minutes), a rare documentary by German filmmaker Eckhart Schmidt in which Sirk reflects upon his career; video interviews with filmmakers Allison Anders and Kathryn Bigelow, in which they pay tribute to Sirk; booklet featuring a new essay by film critic Geoffrey O'Brien. (The Criterion Collection).
Max Payne (2008) Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Chris O'Donnell, Amaury Nolasco, Olga Kurylenko. Available as a single-disc DVD, Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Extras: The single-disc DVD includes the theatrical Version and unrated extended cut of the film ands commentary by director John Moore, production designer Daniel Dorrance and visual effects supervisor Everett Burrell. The Special Edition adds a behind-the-scenes documentary, "Michelle Payne" animated graphic novel, unrated digital copy. (Fox).MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992) Three-part Emmy award-winning miniseries explores the history of MGM, keying in on the moguls, stars and directors that made the studio great in the 1920s, 30s and 40s; narrated by Patrick Stewart. Two-disc set, $29.98.
MI-5: Volume 6. Five-disc set with 10 episodes of the British spy series, $24.98. (Warner).
Monsterquest: The Complete Season Two (2008) Five-disc set with 18 episodes, $39.95. (A&E Home Video).
Moonlight: The Complete Series. Four-disc set with 16 episodes, $39.98. (Warner).
My Three Sons: Season One, Volume Two (1961) Three-disc set with 18 episodes, $42.99. (Paramount).
National Lampoon's Stoned Age (2007) Adam Rifkin, Ali Larter, David Carradine, Talia Shire, Carol Alt, Gary Busey. A Stone Age visionary goes up against the reigning Neanderthals. Originally released as "Homo Erectus." Available in R-rated and unrated editions. Extras: Commentary, bloopers, outtakes, deleted scenes, more. (Paramount).
On Each Side (2006 -- Spanish) Follows the interconnected lives of several people who are affected by the building of the Rosario-Victoria Bridge -- a gargantuan, modern undertaking that links two Argentine cities. As the bridge rises, director Hugo Grosso introduces characters from both modern and traditional Argentina, bringing into stark relief the connections and conflicts between generations; $24.95. (First Run Features Global Lens Film Series).
Palo Pinto Gold (2009) Trent Willman, Glynn Praesel, Joanna Goode. A Texas Ranger turns bad and murders his partner for gold, only to be hunted down by the son of the man he killed. (Monarch Home Video).
Paranormal State: The Complete Season Two (2007) Two-disc set with 12 episodes, $24.95. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (A&E Home Video).
Poison Ivy: The Secret Society(2009) Miriam McDonald, Catherine Hicks, Greg Evigan, Crystal Lowe. Fourth installment in the series about sexy temptresses who let nothing get in the way of their ambitions; here it revolves around college. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
The Powerpuff Girls: 10th Anniversary Collection: The Complete Series. Six-disc set with 78 episodes, $59.97. (Warner).
Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008) Anthony Stewart Head, Sarah Brightman, Alexa Vega, Bill Moseley, Paul Sorvino, Paris Hilton. Rock opera. In the near future, after a worldwide epidemic of organ failures that devastates the planet, a biotech company begins offering organ transplants ... for a price. Those who miss their payments are scheduled for repossession and hunted by the villainous Repo Men. Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
The Rockford Files: Season Six (1979-80) Three-disc set of the final season, with 12 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).
Save Me (2008) Chad Allen, Robert Gant, Judith Light, Stephen Lang. A sex and drug addicted young man is forced into a Christian-run ministry in an attempt to cure him of his "gay affliction", but instead he is faced with the truth in his heart and spirit. Extras: Interviews, deleted scenes, director's notes. (First Run Features).
Saw V (2008) Tobin Bell, Julie Benz, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Mark Rolston, Samantha Lemole, Meagan Good, Carlo Rota, Greg Bryk, Laura Gordon. Available in four versions: rated DVD, unrated DVD, Collector's Box DVD and Blu-ray Disc.Extras: Commentaries, featurettes, more. The Collector's Box features a spinning saw blade as part of the packaging along with a voice chip that creates the "Jigsaw" voice and saw sound effects when activated; also includes a picture booklet with a letter from director David Hackl. (Lionsgate).
Taxi Blues (2008 -- Russian) Natalia Kolikanova, Vladimir Kachpour, Hal Singer, Elena Saphonova. One of the first works to address the coming end of the Soviet Union. In a world filled with hustlers and black marketers, Shlykov, a hard-working, anti-Semitic taxi driver, is pushed over the edge when Lyosha, a Jewish saxophonist who personifies everything he despises, stiffs him for a fare. Shlykov tracks the irresponsible musician down and the two form a bizarre love-hate relationship. At first, class and race division make friendship for these two nearly impossible, until they both learn they aren't so different after all. (Koch Lorber Films).
Vacancy 2: The First Cut (2009) Agnes Bruckner, Trevor Wright, Scott G. Anderson. Prequel has a recently engaged couple check into the deadly motel with a friend, unaware they're the first intended victims of a team of psychopaths bent on filming and profiting from their murders. Extras: Deleted scenes, "Caught on Tape: Behind the Scenes of Vacancy 2," "Behind the Facade: Constructing the Meadow View Inn" featurette, commentary with filmmakers and cast. (Sony).
Voodoo Dollz (1990) Grace Phillips, Nathalie Gauthier. Adventures at an exclusive finishing school where the girls truly are finished. (Infinity Entertainment).
For more DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>
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