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8/4/09 V13.31
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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
For Tuesday, August 4 -- Monday, August 10
Obsessed
Derek Charles (Idris Elba), a successful asset manager who has just received a huge promotion, is blissfully happy in his career and in his marriage to the beautiful Sharon (Beyonce Knowles). But when Lisa (Ali Larter), a temp worker, starts stalking Derek, all the things he's worked so hard for are placed in jeopardy. Vitals: Director: Steve Shill. Stars: Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter, Bruce McGill, Jerry O'Connell, Christine Lahti. 2009, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 91 min., Drama, Box office gross: $67.637 million, Sony.
Race to Witch Mountain
Walt Disney Pictures resurrects one of their time-honored franchises with "Race to Witch Mountain," a family film that tells the story of two children with psychic abilities just trying to get back home. When a Las Vegas cab driver (Dwayne Johnson) finds two teens (AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) in his cab, he doesn't believe their claim that they're aliens from another planet ... until they use their fantastic powers. They need to get back to their crashed spaceship at Witch Mountain to save the world from an alien invasion. So the race begins, as the government, mobsters and extraterrestrials try to stop them. The original 1975 "Escape to Witch Mountain" was followed by the sequel "Return From Witch Mountain" as well as a 1995 made-for-TV remake. Vitals: Director: Andy Fickman. Stars: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Ludwig, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall. 2009, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 99 min., Action, Box office gross: $65.814 million, Disney.
Soloist, The
The true story of musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers, who developed schizophrenia in his second year at Juilliard and ended up homeless on the streets of downtown L.A. Based on the best-selling book by Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez, the film is a moving and emotional story of the transformative power of friendship. When Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) discovers former classical music prodigy Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Jamie Foxx) playing his violin on the streets of L.A., he endeavors to help the troubled genius find his way back. The film revolves around the unique bond that forms between the two men. Vitals: Director: Joe Wright. Stars: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton. 2009, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min., Drama, Box office gross: $31.294 million, Paramount.
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NEWS
"Icons of Screwball Comedy: Volume 1" from Sony are
two two-disc set with four classic screwball comedies each from the
'30s and '40s. The screwball comedy was virtually invented at Columbia
Studios during the height of the depression. Following the huge success
of Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" (1934), Columbia would make
more of these madcap romantic comedies than any other studio. Typical
"screwballs" featured marital mix-ups and plenty of opportunities to
poke fun at the wealthy, while allowing audiences to dwell in the
luxury of the upper class. These films also offered some of the best
roles for actresses in this period, often playing working-girls in a
man's world (Rosalind Russell in "His Girl Friday") or socially liberal
gals battling restrictive upper-crust society (Katherine Hepburn in
"Holiday"). A breezy approach to male and female roles was a hallmark
of the screwball comedy. 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"; $16.25 each set. More info on the titles.Glowing Blu-ray:
Due this week: Cult film "Big Trouble in Little China," directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall, from Fox; "Sling Blade Director's Cut," directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton, from Miramax; "The Waterboy" starring Adam Sandler, from Disney; and "Stargate Atlantis: Fans' Choice," from MGM.
From TV to Video:
"Agatha Christie's Marple, Series 4" (2008-09) is a
four-disc set with four gripping new adaptations of Christie mysteries,
starring Julia McKenzie, $59.99 from Acorn Media ... "Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Second Season" is a two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.98 from HBO Home Entertainment ... "Project Runway Season Five" (2008) is a four-disc set with eight extended episodes, $27.95 The Weinstein Co./Genius Products.
Buzzin' the 'B's:
"Delgo" (2009) features the voices of Freddie Prinze
Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Val Kilmer, Chris Kattan, Kelly Ripa, Anne
Bancroft, Lou Gossett Jr. and Burt Reynolds in a direct-to-video
animated adventure about an unlikely hero and a spirited princess in
whose hands rest the fate of an ancient world; from Fox ... In "Demon Warriors"
(2008 -- Thailand), a police investigator learns of a group of
invincible warriors who must die and be resurrected to achieve
superpowers; he decides to infiltrate the group but becomes seduced by
his new powers and immortality; from Magnolia Home Entertainment ... "The 5 Deadly Venoms"
(1978 -- Hong Kong) is a martial arts masterpiece that inspired
generations of action films, rap music, and pop culture. The dying
master of the notorious Poison Clan assigns his final martial arts
student one last, epic quest -- find his five most mysterious and
dangerous disciples, each trained in a different fighting style, each
hiding under an assumed identity, and bring them together ... or bring
them to justice; from The Weinstein Co. Dragon Dynasty label/Genius
Products ... The survivors of a gruesome restaurant murder are left to
ponder their own mortality and how it relates to their connection to
society in "Fragments (Winged Creatures)"
(2008), starring Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Jeanne
Tripplehorn, Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson; from Sony ... Four
Hollywood kids get involved with an insane director as "stars/victims"
in his new breed of filmmaking, "Horror Reality," in "Hollywood Kills"
(2006), starring Domin
ic Keating, Happy Mahaney, Angela DiMarco, Mathew
Scollon, Gillian Shure and Zack Ward, from Osiris Entertainment ...
Set in the year 2707, "Mutant Chronicles"
(2009) revolves around the constant warfare on Earth between four super
corporations seeking to control the planet's dwindling resources. When
an ancient buried seal is destroyed during the battles, a horrific
mutant army is released, threatening human extinction. Stars Thomas
Jane, Ron Perlman, Devon Aoki, Sean Pertwee, Benno Furmann, Anna
Walton, Tom Wu, Steve Toussaint, Luis Echegaray and John Malkovich;
from Magnolia Home Entertainment ... In "Nature's Grave"
(2008), starring James Caviezel and Claudia Karvan, a couple take a
camping trip in the hopes putting the spark back into their
relationship but it quickly turns into a horrific battle for their
lives: They unknowingly stumble onto an untouched beach that doesn't
take kindly to human intruders; from Screen Media Films ... In "Wolfhound"
(2007 -- Russian), the last surviving member of a slaughtered tribe --
enslaved, left for dead, destined to become the world's most feared
warrior -- is consumed by a lifelong quest to avenge his family's
murder and is drawn into an all-out war to destroy a vicious monster
and save a nation; from The Weinstein Co./Genius Products.
"The Tigger Movie 10th Anniversary" (2000) is a two-disc set with digital copy of the animated adventure with such extras as "King of the Beasties" and "Tigger's Houseguest" new-to-DVD episodes from the TV series "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh"; "Your Heart Will Lead You Home" Kenny Loggins music video; "Round My Family Tree" sing-along song; "Tigger Movie" trivia game; "Thingamajigger" matching game; "Round Your Family Tree"; and "Tigger Movie" DVD storybook; from Disney ...
"VeggieTales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella"
(2009) is the latest adventure in the VeggieTales franchise. Minnesota
Cuke is on the search for Noah's famous ark when he learns of a
mysterious and powerful umbrella -- and a clever villain who wants it
for his own schemes. Will Minnesota have the confidence to face the
challenges and keep searching -- or will all hopes of finding the ark
be washed away for good? $14.99 from Big Idea ... "Dive Olly Dive! Ship Shape Sub,"
(2009) includes five episodes of the 3D-animated underwater adventure
series for preschoolers that airs daily on PBS Sprout; $12.99 from
NCircle Entertainment ... "Hippos and Rhinos"
features four kid-friendly programs -- "Jessica the Hippo," "There's a
Rhino In My House," "Saba and the Rhino's Secret" and "That's My Baby:
Cleo the Hippo" -- from Animal Planet; $14.95 from Genius Products ... "Kidwinks"
(2009) is a new speech-development series for children just learning to
speak or facing delayed speech and language development. The
live-action series is designed to stimulate children's interest and
increase their awareness of words and language by teaching through
short phrases, repetition, sign language, music and simple movements
Three 20-minute DVDs are now available: "Kidwinks: Farm," "Kidwinks:
Play" and "Kidwinks: Things That Go"; $14.95 each from KidwinksUSA.com
... "Looney Tunes Movie Collection: Daffy Duck's Quackbusters"
is a single disc with the 1988 feature-length "Daffy Duck's
Quackbusters" as well as shorts "Night of the Living Duck," "Daffy
Dilly," "The Prize Pest," "Water, Water Every Hare," "Hide and Go
Tweet," "Claws for Alarm," "The Duxorcist," "Transylvania 6-5000," "The
Abominable Snow Rabbit," "Punch Trunk" and "Jumpin' Jupiter"; $14.98
from Warner ... "Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club" and "Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens"
(2009) each feature four episodes from the Parents Choice-recommended
PBS KIDS series that is co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET
Los Angeles. Developed to inspire a lifelong curiosity and love for
learning in young children, "Sid the Science Kid" is designed to appeal
to preschoolers' instinctive quest to figure out how things work, using
humor and music as key teaching tools; $12.98 from NCircle
Entertainment.Special Interest:
Elvis Presley: The Ed Sullivan Shows: The Performances
"Elvis Presley: The Ed Sullivan Shows: The Performances"
showcases Elvis' unforgettable first three performances on the Ed
Sullivan Show. Appearing on the show Sept. 9, 1956, Elvis sent shock
waves through a repressed nation with his soulful singing, wild hip
gyrations and raw energy, attracting a record-breaking TV audience of
more than 60 million. Presley returned on Oct. 28, 1956, continuing to
provoke ecstatic screams with hits such as "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me
Tender" and "Hound Dog." In fact, these exhilarating performances were
so explosive that Elvis was filmed above the waist during his final
Sullivan show appearance on January 6, 1957; from Image Entertainment.-----------------------------------------------------------
THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:
Agatha Christie's Marple, Series 4 (2008-09) Four-disc set with four gripping new adaptations of Christie mysteries, starring Julia McKenzie, $59.99. (Acorn Media).Delgo (2009) Voices of Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Val Kilmer, Chris Kattan, Kelly Ripa, Anne Bancroft, Lou Gossett Jr., Burt Reynolds. Direct-to-video animated adventure. The land of Jhamora is torn apart by the mutual prejudice of two peoples -- the winged Nohrin, masters of the skies, and the terrestrial Lockni, who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Prinze Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled Empress (Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule. Extras: Commentary by the directors, featurettes, behind-the-scenes documentary, "Sounds of Delgo," "Meet the Characters," "See the Creatures," award-winning animated short: "Chroma Chameleon," deleted scenes. (Fox).
Demon Warriors (2008 -- Thailand) A police investigator learns of a group of invincible warriors who must die and be resurrected to achieve superpowers; he decides to infiltrate the group but becomes seduced by his new powers and immortality. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Dive Olly Dive! Ship Shape Sub (2009) Five episodes of the 3D-animated underwater adventure series for preschoolers that airs daily on PBS Sprout; $12.99. (NCircle Entertainment).
Elvis Presley: The Ed Sullivan Shows: The Performances. Elvis' unforgettable first three performances on the Ed Sullivan Show. Appearing on the show Sept. 9, 1956, Elvis sent shock waves through a repressed nation with his soulful singing, wild hip gyrations and raw energy, attracting a record-breaking TV audience of more than 60 million. Presley returned on Oct. 28, 1956, continuing to provoke ecstatic screams with hits such as "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender" and "Hound Dog." In fact, these exhilarating performances were so explosive that Elvis was filmed above the waist during his final Sullivan show appearance on January 6, 1957. Extras: A rare home movie capturing a very early Elvis performance, shot on August 7, 1955, at Magnolia Gardens near Houston, Texas; "Elvis and Ed remembered, Elvis Is on His Way!" Ed Sullivan Show clips; home movies of Elvis and Priscilla, Elvis and his friends cutting up on a film set and some of the first shots of daughter Lisa Marie; collectible booklet featuring liner notes by Griel Marcus. (Image Entertainment).
The 5 Deadly Venoms (1978 -- Hong Kong) Philip Kwok. Martial arts masterpiece that inspired generations of action films, rap music, and pop culture. The dying master of the notorious Poison Clan assigns his final martial arts student one last, epic quest -- find his five most mysterious and dangerous disciples, each trained in a different fighting style, each hiding under an assumed identity, and bring them together ... or bring them to justice. Extras: Commentary by Hong Kong Cinema expert Bey Logan. (The Weinstein Co. Dragon Dynasty label/Genius Products).
Fragments (Winged Creatures) (2008) Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson. In the aftermath of a gruesome restaurant murder, the survivors of the attack are left to ponder their own mortality and how it relates to their connection to society. Extras: Commentary. (Sony).
Flight of the Conchords: The Complete Second Season.
Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $29.98. Extras: Deleted scenes, featurette. (HBO Home Entertainment).
Hippos and Rhinos.
Four kid-friendly programs -- "Jessica the Hippo," "There's a Rhino In
My House," "Saba and the Rhino's Secret" and "That's My Baby: Cleo the
Hippo" -- from Animal Planet; $14.95.(Genius Products).
Hollywood Kills (2006)
Dominic Keating, Happy Mahaney, Angela DiMarco, Mathew Scollon, Gillian
Shure, Zack Ward. Four Hollywood kids get involved with an insane
director as "stars/victims" in his new breed of filmmaking, "Horror
Reality." (Osiris Entertainment).
Icons of Screwball Comedy: Volume 1.
Two-disc set with four classic screwball comedies from the '30s and
'40s: "If You Could Only Cook," "Too Many Husbands," "My Sister Eileen"
and "She Wouldn't Say Yes"; $16.25. Extras: "Ain't Love Cuckoo?" (1946) short screwball comedy. More info on the titles. (Sony).
Icons of Screwball Comedy: Volume 2.
Two-disc set with four classic screwball comedies from the '30s and
'40s: I"Theodora Goes Wild," "Together Again," "A Night to Remember"
and "The Doctor Takes a Wife"; $16.25. Extras: A Rhapsody Cartoon: "Mad Hatter." More info on the titles. (Sony).
Mutant Chronicles (2009)
Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, Devon Aoki, Sean Pertwee, Benno Furmann, Anna
Walton, Tom Wu, Steve Toussaint, Luis Echegaray, John Malkovich. Set in
the year 2707, this sci-fi actioner revolves around the constant
warfare on Earth between four super corporations seeking to control the
planet's dwindling resources. When an ancient buried seal is destroyed
during the battles, a horrific mutant army is released, threatening
human extinction. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
For more
DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>
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ISSN 1094-3676
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