6/2/09 V13.22

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES

For Tuesday, June 2 --  Monday, June 8

Defiance
Based on an extraordinary true story, "Defiance" is a tale of family, honor, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death, three brothers take refuge in the dense surrounding woods they have known since childhood. There they begin their desperate battle against the Nazis. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as brothers who turn a primitive struggle to survive into something far more consequential -- a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones by saving thousands of others. At first it's all they can do to stay alive. But gradually, as whispers of their daring spreads, they begin to attract others -- men and women, young and old -- willing to risk everything for the sake of even a moment's freedom. Tuvia (Craig) is a reluctant leader and his decisions are challenged by his brother, Zus (Schreiber) who worries that Tuvia's idealistic plans will doom them all. Asael (Bell) is the youngest -– caught between his brothers' fierce rivalry. As a brutal winter descends, they work to create a community, and to keep faith alive when all humanity appears to be lost. Vitals: Director: Edward Zwick. Stars: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein. 2009, CC, MPAA rating: R, 136 min., Drama, Box office gross: $28.260 million, Paramount.

He's Just Not That Into You
Based on the popular bestseller from "Sex and the City" scribes Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, the comedy tells the stories of a group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty- and thirty-somethings as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life, trying to read the signs of the opposite sex ... and hoping to be the exceptions to the "no-exceptions" rule. Gigi just wants a man who says he'll call -- and does -- while Alex advises her to stop sitting by the phone. Beth wonders if she should call it off after years of committed singlehood with her boyfriend, Neil, but he doesn't think there's a single thing wrong with their unmarried life. Janine's not sure if she can trust her husband, Ben, who can't quite trust himself around Anna. Anna can't decide between the sexy married guy, or her straightforward, no-sparks standby, Conor, who can't get over the fact that he can't have her. And Mary, who's found an entire network of loving, supportive men, just needs to find one who's straight. Vitals: Director: Ken Kwapis. Stars: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long. 2009, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 129 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $93.141 million, Warner.

Revolutionary Road
Adapted from the groundbreaking novel by Richard Yates, "Revolutionary Road" won Kate Winslet her first Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama. Reuniting DiCaprio and Winslet for the first time on screen since "Titanic," the incisive portrait of a 1950s American marriage unfolds as an enthralling drama that is moving, thought-provoking and revelatory. Frank and April Wheeler, a married couple in the 1950s, have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives based on higher ideals. So, as soon as they move into their new house on Revolutionary Road, they proudly declare their independence from the suburban inertia that surrounds them and determine never to be trapped by the social confines of their era. Yet for all their charm, beauty and irreverence, the Wheelers find themselves becoming exactly what they didn't expect: a good man with a routine job whose nerve has gone missing; a less-than-happy homemaker starving for fulfillment and passion; an American family with lost dreams, like any other. Driven to change their fates, April hatches an audacious plan to start all over again, to leave the comforts of Connecticut behind for the great unknown of Paris. But when the plan is put in motion, each spouse is pushed to extremes -- one to escape whatever the cost, the other to save all that they have, no matter the compromises. Vitals: Director: Sam Mendes. Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, Michael Shannon, Zoe Kazan, David Harbour. 2008, CC, MPAA rating: R, 119 min., Drama, Box office gross: $22.575 million, Paramount.


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NEWS

DVD Collectibles:
Koch Lorber releases this week "Une Femme Mariee (A Married Woman)" (1964), French new wave auteur Jean-Luc Godard's eighth narrative feature film and an austere meditation on love, consumerism and the body. Godard here reverses the standard love triangle and challenges the influence of consumer culture in one of his most provocative dissections of modern life. Charlotte (Macha Meril) aimlessly drifts between morning affairs with the artistic Robert (Bernard Noel) and mundane evenings with her paternalistic husband Pierre (Philippe Leroy). Unsure of whether she loves either man, Charlotte discovers she is pregnant and must come to terms with her emotional infidelities. A little-seen gem from the generally hard-to-decipher master.

From TV to Video:
"Army Wives: The Complete Second Season" (2008), a five-disc set with 19 episodes, $45.99 from Disney ... "The Jetsons: Season 2, Volume 1" (1984-85), a three-disc set with 21 episodes, $34.98 from Warner ... "Prison Break: Season Four" (2008), a six-disc set with the last season's 20 episodes, $49.98 from Fox ..."Quincy, M.E.: Season 3" (1977-78), a four-disc set with 20 episodes, $39.98 from Universal ... "Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season" (2008), a three-disc set with 10 episodes, $39.99 from Disney.

Buzzin' the 'B's:
In "Anacondas: Trail of Blood" (2008), starring John Rhys-Davies and Crystal Allen, one of the slithering, genetically enhanced anaconda offspring from the previous outing in the franchise has regenerated to live on in this next chapter of the Anaconda series; from Sony ... An American prisoner in a Russian jail is given a chance at freedom if he can rescue a kidnapped American woman in "Direct Contact" (2009), starring Dolph Lundgren, Gina Marie May, Michael Pare, Bashar Rahal and James Chalke; from Sony ... More snakes: An unstoppable mutant snake species breaks loose aboard a decommissioned submarine in "Silent Venom (AKA Recoil)" (2009), starring Tom Berenger, Luke Perry and Krista Allen; from Fox ... "Spring Breakdown" (2009), starring Amber Tamblyn, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Parker Posey and Mae Whitman, is a comedy about three women vacationing together at a popular travel destination for college co-eds on spring break; from Warner).

For the Family:
"Elmo and Abby's Birthday Fun" (2009) is the latest adventure from Sesame Street: Elmo and Sesame Street's resident fairy-in-training Abby Cadabby teach kids about customary birthday traditions around the world; $14.93 from Genius Products ... "The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space!" (2009) is a feature-length DVD based on the Parents Choice award-winning TV series, "The Zula Patrol." Contains five different adventures from the series, plus never-before-seen animated footage that ties the episodes together. Follows the intrepid intergalactic aliens as they travel the universe in humor-filled stories that begin with a challenge, and end with a resolution, as they explore how insects, reptiles, mammals, plants and rocks form and interact with each other; $14.98 from Well Go USA.

Special Interest:
Born during the 2008 Writers Guild strike as a free-streaming Internet musical miniseries, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" became an instant success, premiering on iTunes as the #1 downloaded TV season for three weeks running, and currently still residing in the Top 10 of all TV shows. Billy, aka Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), is a budding supervillain whose plans for world domination continually go awry. His two goals: getting accepted into the Evil League of Evil, and working up the guts to speak to his Laundromat crush Penny (Felicia Day). The only thing standing in his way is Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), Billy's superhero archnemesis. Created by Joss Whedon; $14.95 from New Video ... "The Adventure of English" (2003) is a four-disc set with eight episodes of the captivating documentary series that traces the history of the English language; $79.99 from Athena/Acorn Media ... "The Bielski Brothers" (1993) is the true story behind "Defiance." Living in the Soviet Republic of Belorussia, Tuvia, Asael, and Zus Bielski fled to the woods to escape the Nazis, where they built an elaborate village for rescued Jews. The Bielskis saved 1,200 men, women, and children -- easily the largest rescue of Jews by Jews during World War II; $9.95 from A&E Home Video ... Taped live and in concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in August 1983, the stand-up special "Eddie Murphy Delirious" (1983) originally aired uncut on the then-still new concept of premium TV and became a massive seller on something called VHS tape. This Special 25th Anniversary Edition includes deleted footage from the original concert, an exclusive unedited interview with Eddie Murphy hosted by Byron Allen, and a new featurette with comics talking about the influence "Eddie Murphy Delirious" had on them; from Anchor Bay.

"Inning By Inning: A Portrait of a Coach" (2008) is a heartwarming documentary biopic of Augie Garrido, head baseball coach at the University of Texas and the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history; directed by Richard Linklater; from Virgil Films & Entertainment ... "The People's Republic of Capitalism" (2008) is Ted Koppel's revealing, four-part look at U.S.-China economic ties; in a two-disc set, $39.99 from Athena/Acorn Media ... "Playing Shakespeare" (1982) is a documentary of an intimate Royal Shakespeare Company acting workshop with Britain's top stars, including Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Peggy Ashcroft, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet; in a four-disc set, $79.99 from Athena/Acorn Media ... and due June 5 (World Environmental Day) is "Home" (2009), a documentary that aims to change the way people see the planet and their impact on it. Directed by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, produced by Luc Besson and narrated by Glenn Close, the all-aerial film was shot in high definition in 54 countries and 120 locations over 217 days, and "highlights the Earth's wonders as well as its wounds and provides a necessary perspective to approach the changing environment ... Following in the tradition of Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth,' 'Home' sets out to shift people's perceptions, inspire action and lay a foundation" for change. $19.98 from Fox (also available on Blu-ray Disc).

Sony Readies "Screwball" Comedies
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has opened the doors to its Columbia Pictures vault with the release of eight classic screwball comedies featuring wit, sophistication, and wild physical comedy. On August 4 the studio will release "Icons of Screwball Comedy Volume 1 & Volume 2" as two-disc sets with a suggested retail price of $16.25 each. The films present a virtual who's who of American comedy of the '30s and '40s: Rosalind Russell, Jean Arthur, Irene Dunne, Fred MacMurray, Melvyn Douglas, Charles Coburn, among many others. Volume 1 includes "If You Could Only Cook," "Too Many Husbands," "My Sister Eileen" and "She Wouldn't Say Yes"; Volume 2 includes "Theodora Goes Wild," "Together Again," "A Night to Remember" and "The Doctor Takes a Wife."

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THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

The Adventure of English (2003) Four-disc set with eight episodes of the captivating documentary series that traces the history of the English language. Extras: Twenty-page viewer's guide that includes key points, discussion questions, avenues for further learning; "The Evolution of the English Alphabet" essay; "Architects of the Language" biographies; $79.99. (Athena/Acorn Media).

Anacondas: Trail of Blood (2008) John Rhys-Davies, Crystal Allen. One of the slithering, genetically enhanced anaconda offspring from the previous outing in the franchise has regenerated to live on in this next chapter of the Anaconda series. Also available today: the original "Anaconda" in Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).

Army Wives: The Complete Second Season (2008) Five-disc set with 19 episodes, $45.99. Extras: "Active Duty: The Cast of Army Wives at Fort Bragg," "Operational Intelligence: Getting the Army's Support," "The Tribe: Behind the Scenes With the Cast," "Army Wives Give Back," deleted scenes, bloopers, commentaries. (Disney).

The Bielski Brothers (1993) The true story behind the recent film "Defiance." Living in the Soviet Republic of Belorussia, Tuvia, Asael, and Zus Bielski fled to the woods to escape the Nazis. There they built an elaborate village for rescued Jews: The forest haven included a bakery, communal bath, synagogue, and even a theater company. Although they mounted guerrilla attacks against the enemy, their priority was saving their people. Tuvia often declared he would "rather save one old Jewish woman than kill ten Nazis." The Bielskis saved 1,200 men, women, and children -- easily the largest rescue of Jews by Jews during World War II. $9.95. (A&E Home Video).

Defiance (2009) Dir.: Edward Zwick; Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein.Extras: Commentary by director Edward Zwick, "Defiance: Return to the Forest" behind-the-scenes featurette, "Bielski Partisan Survivors" photo gallery, "Children of the Otriad: The Families Speak." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount).

Direct Contact (2009) Dolph Lundgren, Gina Marie May, Michael Pare, Bashar Rahal, James Chalke. An American prisoner in a Russian jail is given a chance at freedom if he can rescue a kidnapped American woman. (Sony).

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog  (2008) Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day. Born during the 2008 Writers Guild strike as a free-streaming Internet musical miniseries, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" became an instant success, premiering on iTunes as the #1 downloaded TV season for three weeks running, and currently still residing in the Top 10 of all TV shows. Billy, aka Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), is a budding supervillain whose plans for world domination continually go awry. His two goals: getting accepted into the Evil League of Evil, and working up the guts to speak to his laundromat crush Penny (Felicia Day). The only thing standing in his way is Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), Billy's superhero archnemesis. Created by Joss Whedon. Extras: Commentary by the cast and creators; "Commentary! The Musical": 42 minutes of all new music where the cast and creators ignore the movie and sing about the writers' strike…and each other; behind-the-scenes featurettes; the top 10 video applications submitted by fans who want to join the Evil League of Evil; three Easter eggs. $14.95. (New Video).

Eddie Murphy Delirious Special 25th Anniversary Edition (1983) Taped live and in concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in August 1983, the stand-up special originally aired uncut on the then-still new concept of premium TV and became a massive seller on something called VHS tape. Extras: Deleted footage from original concert, exclusive unedited interview with Eddie Murphy hosted by Byron Allen, new featurette with comics talking about the influence "Eddie Murphy Delirious" had on them: Chris Rock, Katt Williams, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Sinbad, Earthquake, Anthony Anderson, David Allen Grier, Wayne Brady, Arsenio Hall, Aries Spears, John Witherspoon and Ritch Shydner. (Anchor Bay).

Elmo and Abby's Birthday Fun (2009) Latest adventure from Sesame Street. Elmo and Sesame Street's resident fairy in training Abby Cadabby teach kids about customary birthday traditions around the world. $14.93. (Genius Products).

He's Just Not That Into You (2009) Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long. Extras: Deleted scenes, Also available on Blu-ray Disc with additional footage and featurettes. (Warner).

Home (2009) Directed by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, produced by Luc Besson and narrated by Glenn Close, this documentary aims to change the way people see the planet and their impact on it. Shot in high definition in 54 countries and 120 locations over 217 days, the all-aerial film "highlights the Earth's wonders as well as its wounds and provides a necessary perspective to approach the changing environment. In 200,000 years on Earth, humanity has upset the balance of the planet, established by nearly four billion years of evolution. The price to pay is high as humankind has 10 years to reverse the trend, become aware of the full extent of the Earth's riches and change its patterns of consumption. Following in the tradition of Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth,' 'Home' sets out to shift people's perceptions, inspire action and lay a foundation" for change. Released on World Environmental Day. $19.98. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. Due June 5. (Fox).

Inning By Inning: A Portrait of a Coach (2008) Heartwarming documentary biopic of Augie Garrido, head baseball coach at the University of Texas and the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. Directed by Richard Linklater. Extras: Full-length feature on the Texas Longhorns' 2005 season: "A Game of Adversity"; feature on Garrido's coaching philosophy: "Extra Innings With Augie." (Virgil Films & Entertainment).

The Jetsons: Season 2, Volume 1  (1984-85) Three-disc set with 21 episodes, $34.98. Extras: "The Jetsons Return to the Future" featurette. (Warner).

The People's Republic of Capitalism (2008) Ted Koppel's revealing, four-part look at U.S.-China economic ties. Two-disc set, $39.99. Extras: Interview with Ted Koppel; 20-page viewer's guide. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Athena/Acorn Media).

Playing Shakespeare (1982) A documentary of an intimate acting workshop with Britain's top stars, including Judi Dench, Ben Kingsley, Peggy Ashcroft, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet. Anyone who has ever appreciated Shakespeare will find startling new insights in these nine intensive acting workshops. In an intimate, informal setting, the Royal Shakespeare Company's John Barton shares ideas with 21 world-renowned performers. Together they explore hidden direction in the verse, character motivations, and fresh approaches to classic speeches. Four-disc set, $79.99. Extras: Twenty-page viewer's guide. (Athena/Acorn Media).

Prison Break: Season Four (2008) Six-disc set with the last season's 20 episodes, $49.98. Extras: Commentary. (Fox).

Quincy, M.E.: Season 3 (1977-78) Four-disc set with 20 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).

Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season (2008) Three-disc set with 10 episodes, $39.99. Extras: "Behind the Bar: An After-Hours Roundtable With the Cast," "Sworn Testimony: True Stories of a Public Defender," bloopers, commentaries. (Disney).

Revolutionary Road (2008) Dir.: Sam Mendes; Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, Michael Shannon, Zoe Kazan, David Harbour. Extras: Commentary by Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe, "Lives of Quite Desperation: The Making of Revolutionary Road," deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount).

Silent Venom (AKA Recoil) (2009) Tom Berenger, Luke Perry, Krista Allen. An unstoppable mutant snake species breaks loose aboard a decommissioned submarine. (Fox).

Spring Breakdown (2009) Amber Tamblyn, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Parker Posey, Mae Whitman. Comedy about three women vacation together at a popular travel destination for college co-eds on spring break. Extras: Commentary, additional scenes, gag reel. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).

Une Femme Mariee (A Married Woman) (1964 -- French) Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard; Macha Meril, Bernard Noel, Philippe Leroy. An alienated Parisian woman aimlessly drifts between morning affairs with an artist and mundane evenings with her paternalistic husband. Unsure of whether she loves either man, she discovers she is pregnant and must come to terms with her emotional infidelities. (Koch Lorber).

The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space! (2009) Feature-length DVD based on the Parents Choice award-winning TV series, "The Zula Patrol," which airs Saturday mornings on NBC as part of the Qubo programming block and weekdays and weekends on public television stations. Contains five different adventures from the series, plus never-before-seen animated footage that ties the episodes together. Follows the intrepid intergalactic aliens as they travel the universe in humor-filled stories that begin with a challenge, and end with a resolution, as they explore how insects, reptiles, mammals, plants and rocks form and interact with each other. $14.98. Extras: Zula sing-along. (Well Go USA).

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

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