DVD Playhouse: June 2008

DVD PLAYHOUSE—JUNE 2008
By
Allen Gardner

Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector's Edition(Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood and his fabled .44 Magnum have been restored to pristine condition, with all five Dirty Harry films: Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact, and The Dead Pool arriving in a gorgeous box set, loaded with extras. Of the five, the first two films are masterpieces of the genre, the last two are delightfully entertaining, tongue-in-cheek variations, with only The Enforcer being the series’ lone weak link. Dirty Harry is featured in a two disc, special edition. In addition, the Eastwood documentary Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows is offered as a bonus disc, offering a fascinating glimpse into the usually-reserved Eastwood’s creative process. Other bonuses include: Retrospective documentary; Audio commentaries and featurettes; Hardcover retrospective book; Replica Dirty Harry badge; Poster; Art cards; Production letters. All are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
Indiana Jones - The Adventure Collection (Special Editions of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark / Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom / Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)(Paramount) On the heels of the latest installment in the series, the first three Indiana Jones films have been repackaged with new features. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade all look terrific and still hold up beautifully after 20+ years, with their intoxicating blend of full-throttle thrills and pure, unadulterated fun. Bonuses include: New intros to each film by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas; Ten featurettes; Storyboard and photo galleries; Original adventure game demo. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Classe Tous Risques - Criterion CollectionCriterion) Classic French film noir about a fugitive gangland boss (Lino Ventura) who returns to Paris with his bodyguard (Jean-Paul Belmondo) in spite of a death sentence hanging over his head. Fascinating character study of a career criminal at the end of his rope, great location shooting on the streets of Paris add to the overall feeling of doom. Bonuses: Excerpts from documentary on director Claude Sautet; Interview with screenwriter Jose Giovanni; Archival interview with Ventura; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland(New Line) Vince Vaughn hosts a 30 day tour featuring four up-and-coming comics “from Hollywood to the heartland,” with the highlights making up this (mostly) very funny concert picture. Some nice backstage moments between Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Dwight Yoakam and the young comedians add depth to the proceedings. Bonuses: Commentary by Vaughn and the filmmakers; Featurettes; Bonus comedy sketches. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Semi-Pro (Single-Disc R-Rated Edition)(New Line) Most successful goofball comedy starring Will Ferrell as basketball star Jackie Moon, team captain, head coach and owner of the Flint Tropics, one of the ABA (American Basketball Association)’s flagship teams in 1976. When a merger with the NBA threatens to shut them down, Jackie must turn up the heat on his players to win the ABA championship so their merger into the NBA is guaranteed. Fine support from Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin and Will Arnett. 2 disc set. Available in R-rated and unrated versions. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Five featurettes; Music video; Trailers; Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Vanaja(Emerging Pictures) Fine film from India follows the 14 year-old daughter of a poor fisherman who agrees to work in the home of her landlady in the hopes of learning Kuchipudi dance. Things turn ugly when the landlady’s son returns home, putting the girl in the middle of a battle of caste, class and animus from which there is only one escape. Excellent drama won 24 awards in festivals worldwide and will stick with you long after the final fade out. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
The Thief of Bagdad - Criterion Collection(Criterion) Early Technicolor epic from 1940, produced by the legendary Alexander Korda, telling the tale of a young prince who is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), then plots his revenge by joining forces with the master thief Abu. Dynamic adventure film is sure to thrill viewers of all ages. 2 disc set bonuses include: Audio commentaries from Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, film and music historian Bruce Eder; Music and effects track; Trailer; Documentary; The Lion Has Wings, Korda’s 1940 film for the British war effort; Excerpts from co-director Michael Powell’s autobiography; Archival interview with composer Miklos Rozsa; Photo gallery. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
The WalkerTHINKFilm/Image) Woody Harrelson plays Carter Page, one of Washington D.C.’s premiere “walkers” : a companion to the city’s most elite set of wives when their husbands are unavailable. When Carter tries to protect one of his closest friends (Kristen Scott Thomas) from a scandal, he finds himself a murder suspect, and suddenly bereft of the circle of powerful friends he once held. Fine sociological thriller is slightly reminiscent of director/writer Paul Schrader’s earlier classic American Gigolo, but still works well, with a knock-out turn by Lauren Bacall as a tart-tongued D.C. doyenne who has seen it all. Bonuses: Featurette; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets (Widescreen)Disney) Nicolas Cage returns in another globe-trotting quest, this time to locate the fabled City of Lost Gold. There’s one catch: he must kidnap the sitting U.S. President to complete his mission! Far-fetched and goofy to the max, but delivers exactly what it promises, and is aided immeasurably by the presence of Jon Voight and the great Helen Mirren (both of whom I’m sure were compensated very handsomely for their participation). 2 disc edition bonuses include: Commentary with director Jon Turtletaub and Voight; Deleted scenes; Bloopers and outtakes; Eight featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Be Kind Rewind (New Line) Two outcasts (Jack Black and Mos Def) must save a local video parlor after Black becomes magnetized and erases every title in the store! Using a vintage video camera, the two film geeks attempt to remake every film in the store, starring themselves! Outrageous comedy by the immensely talented Michel Gondry is spot-on social satire. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (Widescreen Edition)(Paramount) A family moves into a spooky old house, and strange events start to occur. When the precocious son (Freddie Highmore) investigates, he discovers a book that contains the legend of the Spiderwick Estate: an alternative universe with fantastic creatures that is parallel to our own. Fun fantasy film for the whole family with eye-popping effects and an imaginative storyline. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Seven featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Persepolis(Sony) Groundbreaking animated film tells the autobiographical story of writer/director Marjane Satrapi’s experience of living through Iran’s Islamic Revolution as a teenager, and her harrowing experience of living a modern, westernized lifestyle one moment, and being thrust into a fundamentalist, totalitarian society the next. English-language version features the voices of Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Sean Penn, Gena Rowlands, and Iggy Pop. Bonuses: Two featurettes; Cannes Film Festival footage; Animated scene comparisons; Commentary by Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud and Mastroianni. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Australia ]IFC Films/Genius Entertainment) Harrowing portrait of Communist Romania in the ‘80s, and one young woman’s desperate attempt to get an abortion, which was illegal. Writer/director Christian Mungiu has created a film destined to be studied, remembered and regarded as a classic. Winner of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Bonuses: Documentary; Interview with Mungiu, cinematographer Oleg Mutu. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Sophia Loren 4-Film Collection (Neapolitan Carousel / Attila / Madame Sans-Gene / Sunflower)Lions Gate) Four films from one of Italian cinema’s most legendary leading ladies. Attila, from 1954, is a dramatic war epic, featuring Sophia as a maiden who promises to marry Attila the Hun (Anthony Quinn) if he will topple her hated brother from power; Sunflower, from 1970, directed by Vittorio De Sica, has Loren as a WW II widow searching for the truth about her husband (Marcello Mastroianni)’s fate; Madame Sans-Gene, from 1962, stars Sophia as Napoleon Bonaparte’s laundress, who rises to become a member of his court when he reaches power; Carosello Napoletano, from 1954, stars a young Loren in a supporting role in this celebration of opera in the city of Naples. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Catherine Deneuve Collection(Lions Gate) Five films from France’s reigning queen of cinema! Manon 70 (1968) stars Deneuve as a gold-digger who achieves a life of luxury, only to fall in love with a poor, young reporter (Sami Frey); Le Sauvage (1975) stars Catherine in a madcap comedy as she follows a stranger (Yves Montand) to his private island, and proceeds to take over his life; Hotel Des Ameriques (1981) is a powerful drama featuring Deneuve as a doctor who engages in an affair with an emotionally unbalanced man (Patrick Dewaere); Le Choc (1982) pairs Catherine with Alain Delon, who plays a hitman desperate to retire from his brutal trade; Fort Saganne (1984) teams Deneuve with frequent co-star Gerard Depardieu, who plays a young military officer in the French Sahara who falls in love with Deneuve’s beautiful journalist. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 mono.
City Slickers (Collector's Edition)(MGM/20th Century Fox) Comedy classic about three buddies (Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby) entering middle age who decide to spend a couple weeks of adventure on a dude ranch in New Mexico. Jack Palance won an Oscar for his memorable turn as a leathery trail boss. Watch for a young Jake Gyllenhaal as Crystal’s son. Bonuses: Commentary by director Ron Underwood, Crystal, Stern; Featurettes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TWO FROM LOUIS MALLE Criterion releases two classics from French director Louis Malle.The Lovers - Criterion Collection stirred a firestorm of controversy worldwide upon its release in 1958 for its frank portrayal of human sexuality, in a tale of a bored middle class housewife (Jeanne Moreau) who finds herself in bed with various men. The Fire Within - Criterion Collection is a brooding masterpiece following a self-destructive writer (Maurice Ronet) who decides to commit suicide and, for the next 24 hours, attempts to connect with all the important people in his life. Both films are a testament to Malle’s power as a filmmaker, and hold up beautifully. Bonuses: Archival interviews with Malle, cast and crew; Photo galleries; Documentary short. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
Control (The Miriam Collection) (Genius Products/Weinstein Co.) Riveting docudrama from director Anton Corbijn about Manchester’s legendary band Joy Division, led by the enigmatic, brilliant, and troubled Ian Curtis (Sam Riley, in a star-making turn). Vividly recreates the grimy life of northern England in the 1970s, with fine support from Samantha Morton as Curtis’ long-suffering wife. Bonuses: Commentary by Corbijn; Featurette; Music videos; Photo gallery; Interview with Corbijn; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. As a companion piece, Grant Gee’s documentary Joy Division (The Miriam Collection) offers an in-depth look at the band, featuring interviews with its surviving members, and their growth into the equally-influential New Order, following Curtis’ death. Bonuses: Music video; Bonus interviews. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Flawless(Magnolia) Smart and sexy heist thriller stars Demi Moore as a frustrated diamond company executive in 1960s London whose avarice grows as she sees male colleagues promoted ahead of her. Deciding she wants some payback, she enlists Hobbs (Michael Caine), the equally overlooked nighttime janitor with intimate knowledge of the firm’s security system. Fine work from cast and crew across the board. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
OL’ BLUE EYES Warner Bros. releases three boxed sets of Frank Sinatra classics. Frank Sinatra - The Early Years Collection (It Happened in Brooklyn / Step Lively / The Kissing Bandit / Double Dynamite / Higher and Higher), features Frank in the 1940s classics Double Dynamite, co-starring Jane Russell and Groucho Marx; Higher and Higher, his feature debut; It Happened in Brooklyn, featuring Frank as an ex-GI who can’t find an apartment, but does find love with Kathryn Grayson; The Kissing Bandit, a musical comedy; and Step Lively, his first starring role based on the Broadway hit. The Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly Collection (On the Town / Anchors Aweigh / Take Me out to the Ball Game) feature the musical classics On the Town, which won an Oscar for Best Adapted Score; Take Me Out to the Ballgame, featuring Sinatra and Kelly as womanizing ballplayers; and Anchors Aweigh, following Frank and Gene as two sailors on leave in Hollywood. Frank Sinatra - The Golden Years Collection (Some Came Running / The Man with the Golden Arm / The Tender Trap / None but the Brave / Marriage on the Rocks), features titles from the 1950s and 60s, starting with The Man With the Golden Arm, Otto Preminger’s groundbreaking study of heroin addiction; Marriage on the Rocks, a screwball comedy starring Frank, Deborah Kerr and Dean Martin; None But the Brave, a WW II drama and Sinatra’s directing debut; Some Came Running, Vincente Minelli’s fine drama about small town hypocrisy, featuring great work from Frank, Dean Martin, and especially Shirley MacLaine; The Tender Trap features Sinatra as a libidinous Manhattan talent agent who may, or may not, find love with Debbie Reynolds. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Die Hard - The Ultimate Collection (Die Hard / Die Hard 2 / Die Hard with a Vengeance / Live Free of Die Hard Two-Disc Special Editions)(20th Century Fox) Bruce Willis’ intrepid cop John McClane’s four adventures arrive in a single box: Die Hard, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Die Hard With a Vengeance, and Live Free or Die Hard. The first two films are great fun, with the first installment deserving to be called a groundbreaking classic on the 20th anniversary of its release. Part 3 leaves a lot to be desired, in spite of the presence of Jeremy Irons as the villain, and part 4 is entertaining albeit ultimately…unnecessary. Watch the first two, skip parts 3 and 4, and you’re in good shape! Bonuses include: Audio commentary from cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Marvel Heroes Collection (Daredevil, Elektra, X-Men, X2, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four & Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer)(20th Century Fox) Mammoth boxed set features 8 discs of Marvel comics-to-film adaptations: X-Men, X2, X3: The Last Stand, Elektra, Fantastic 4, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Fantastic 4: The World’s Greatest Heroes, Vol. 1, and Daredevil. The first two X-Men films, and Daredevil are grand entertainments, while the animated F4: World’s Greatest Heroes will surely please the younglings in your house. The other titles, proceed at your own risk! Great bonus includes Marvel Collectibles, made up of two X-men comics, a Silver Surfer digital comic book and a custom-designed lobby card. Other bonuses: Audio commentaries by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ASIAN ACTION Dragon Dynasty releases Heroes of the East, a Shaw brothers classic about Chinese and Japanese martial artists that must come together after a marital misunderstanding sparks an international incident. Come Drink with Me, another Shaw brothers classic from the ‘70s, set the bar for sword-wielding kung-fu heroines, its influence seen in countless films made since. INVISIBLE TARGET is a tough, mean Hong Kong cop thriller starring Jaycee Chan, son of Jackie, as a cop who must team up with a burned-out veteran to take down one of the city’s worst gangs. Incredible action sequences. Bonuses on all: Audio commentary by cast, crew and film scholars; Interviews with cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted/extended scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono and 5.1 surround. Genius Entertainment/Weinstein Co. releases the Korean thrillers A Invisible Target, about an ambitious young hood and his rise to power in the Seoul mob, and Typhoon, which tells the high-octane story of a modern-day pirate who steals a ship full of nuclear waste and the naval officer who must stop him. The Restless tells the epic, period story of a warrior who awakens to find himself in a mystical realm filled with restless, wandering souls. He soon learns that he must defend Heaven, Earth and the Middle World against the Armies of Darkness. Stunning blend of fantasy and martial arts action. Finally, Justin Lin’s Finishing the Game is a hilarious comedy loosely based on the search for a Bruce Lee replacement after his untimely death in 1973. Bonuses on all: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
GO WEST! Some of cinema’s best “oaters” hit DVD this month. Our favorites include: Universal releases James Stewart - The Western Collection (Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed), featuring the classics Destry Rides Again, with Jimmy as a tenderfoot who must tame a wild western town (and saloon girl Marlene Dietrich); Winchester ’73, an all-time great from director Anthony Mann with Stewart obsessively tracking the men who stole his rifle; The Far Country, set during the Gold Rush; Night Passage, with Stewart as a lawman guarding a cache of money on a train; Bend of the River, with Stewart leading settlers over the Oregon trail; and The Rare Breed, co-starring Maureen O’Hara. Full and widescreen, Dolby 2.0 mono. 20th Century Fox releases the rest of the titles, starting with John Wayne: The Fox Westerns Collection (The Big Trail / North to Alaska / The Comancheros / The Undefeated), featuring Raoul Walsh’s The Big Trail, a 70mm epic from 1930, and Duke’s first starring role; North to Alaska, with Wayne hoping to strike it rich in the Yukon, circa 1898; The Comancheros, stars the Duke as a Texas Ranger facing off against a violent band of outlaws; and The Undefeated, which teams Wayne with Rock Hudson, as former Civil War adversaries who must join forces to defend themselves. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by critic/film historian Richard Schickel; Fox Movietone News; Photo galleries; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Fox Western Classics (Rawhide / The Gunfighter / Garden of Evil) features Gregory Peck in The Gunfighter, Henry King’s timeless tale of a gunslinger who wants to hang up his hogleg, but keeps finding himself challenged wherever he turns; Rawhide stars Tyrone Power as a mild-mannered sort who must defend a buxom babe (Susan Hayward) and her young niece against vicious band of outlaws; Garden of Evil stars Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward and Richard Widmark as fortune hunters stranded in Mexico. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. The Day of the Outlaw features the great Robert Ryan as a rancher who must deal with the jealous husband of his true love (Tina Louise) as well as brutal outlaw Burl Ives and his gang. The Westerner stars Walter Brennan as legendary Judge Roy Bean and Gary Cooper as an accused horse thief whom the judge winds up befriending. The Way West features Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark in a tale of eastern settlers trying to tame the old west; Navajo Joe stars Burt Reynolds in an early starring role as an Indian brave who survives a massacre led by outlaws, upon whom he swears vengeance. Helmed by spaghetti western maestro Sergio Corbucci; The Man with the Gun stars Robert Mitchum as an honest man who rides into town to woo a young lady (Jan Sterling) only to find himself in the middle of a fight between the town’s denizens and a ruthless gang of outlaws bent on taking the place over; The Gunfight at Dodge City stars Joel McCrea as legendary gunslinger Bat Masterson, who must avenge his brother’s murder in the infamous Dodge City, KS.; Finally, Man of the West is another classic from director Anthony Mann, penned by the great Reginald Rose, starring Gary Cooper who reluctantly joins his old gang of train robbers after vowing to go straight. Smart, powerful western with a legendary fistfight between Cooper and Jack Lord. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 mono and stereo.
BLU-RAY TITLES Blu-Ray technology offers a new standard in DVD viewing and the home theater experience: 1080p resolution; Lossless audio, which delivers the finest uncompressed digital sound available; and Smart Menu Technology, which floats on-screen during playback so you never leave the film. Just a few of the titles arriving on Blu-Ray this month include: 20th Century Fox releases The Longest Day [Blu-ray], the 1962 epic that brings WW II’s decisive D-Day battle to life with an all-star cast; Battle of Britain [Blu-ray], starring Michael Caine, which recreates the greatest air battle of WW II; A Bridge Too Far [Blu-Ray] [Blu-ray], Richard Attenborough’s thrilling spectacle about the disastrous allied push into Holland during WW II; Robert Wise’s The Sand Pebbles [Blu-ray],starring Steve McQueen in an epic tale of adventure in 1926 war-torn China; and Patton [Blu-ray], the multi-Oscar winning story of WW II’s most legendary, and controversial, General, with George C. Scott in the title role, giving the performance of his career. Disney releases M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable [Blu-ray], starring Bruce Willis as a man who slowly realizes that he has super powers; John Adams (HBO Miniseries)tells the story of sexy lady bartenders hustling drinks and men in Manhattan; National Treasure [Blu-ray] stars Nicolas Cage in the first installment of the globe-trotting adventure franchise; and Shall We Dance? [Blu-ray], an Americanized remake of the Japanese hit, stars Richard Gere as a workaholic who finds a new lease in life through dance instructor Jennifer Lopez. Bonuses on all include: audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! More of TV land’s greatest programs hit disc this month: HBO releases its magnificent miniseries John Adams (HBO Miniseries), starring Paul Giamatti in a brilliant turn as our second President, with Laura Linney in fine support as his devoted wife, Abigail. Bonuses: Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Warner Bros. releases the second season of CHiPS, the ‘70s icon about hunky California Highway Patrolmen and their Harley Davidson cruisers. Bonuses: Featurette; Bonus episodes. Full screen Dolby 2.0 mono. ER - The Complete Ninth Season, features more adventures on and off the job of the emergency room staff at Chicago’s Country General Hospital. Bonuses: Outtakes; Deleted scenes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox releases 24: Season One (Special Edition), featuring an introduction by Kiefer Sutherland; Audio commentary by cast and crew; Extended and delete scenes; Documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround. Burn Notice - Season One, tells the suspense-filled story of a former intelligence agent (Jeffrey Donovan) who finds himself blacklisted in the community, with a price on his head to boot! Bonuses: Commetnary by cast and crew; Gag reel; Character montages; Audition footage. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. The Magnificent Seven: The Complete Series stars Michael Biehn, Ron Perlman, and Eric Close in a spin-off of the classic 1960 western. Five disc set. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 surround. The Rat Patrol: The Complete Series, is a seven disc collection of the 1966-68 hit about an elite commando unit in WW II North Africa, led by square-jawed hero Christopher George. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Paramount releases a 20th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking miniseries Holocaust, starring Meryl Streep and James Woods in early turns, in a story of how Nazi atrocities affected two German families: one Gentile, and one Jewish. A masterpiece, not for the faint-of-heart. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. American Gangster - The Complete Second Season, gives an in-depth look into the lives of the 20th century’s most notorious African-American gangsters. Bonuses: Extended interviews. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Californication - Season One, is a witty, smart adult comedy about a burned-out writer (David Duchovny) dealing with life, love and career woes in Venice, CA. Great stuff! Bonuses: Episodes of Dexter and The Tudors. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Mannix - The First Season, from 1967, tells the story of two-fisted private eye Joe Mannix, who gets into some of the most brutal fist and gunfights in TV history, yet his hair doesn’t move! Bonuses: Interviews with and commentary by cast and crew; Archival interviews; Photo gallery; Vintage promos. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Finally, The Invaders - The First Season arrives on five discs. This 1966 cult hit was one of the first “sci-fi paranoia” series, starring Roy Thinnes as an architect who discovers that an alien race is attempting to conquer Earth! Great fun. Bonuses: Extended version of the pilot; Interviews with Thinnes; Commentary by creator Larry Cohen. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Sony releases What's Happening: The Complete Series, the late ‘70s comedy hit contains all 3 seasons on 9 discs, and follows the adventures of four pals from south-central L.A. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Soap: The Complete Series, another late ‘70s classic, arrives with all four seasons on four discs. Notable for introducing Billy Crystal to audiences and breaking many network censor taboos! Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Rescue Me - The Complete Fourth Season, follows NY fireman and 9-11 survivor Denis Leary and his dysfunctional family and fellow NYFD pals through their blackly comedic lives and misadventures. Bonuses: 6 featurettes; 22 deleted scenes; Gag reel; Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Koch Vision releases four titles from across The Pond: City of Vice follows law enforcers in 18th century London as they dispense their own particular brand of justice! Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. A Harlot's Progress takes place in 1731 England, and stars Toby Jones as a young artist who finds his muse in a beguiling prostitute (Zoe Tapper). Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Twelfth Night, is a 1969 BBC production of the Shakespeare classic starring Sir Alec Guinness, Sir Ralph Richardson and Joan Plowright, one of the great comedies. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. Acorn Media brings us more fine fare from the UK, starting with Anglo Saxon Attitudes, a scathing social satire set in WW I era England, featuring Daniel Craig in an early role. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. The Ruth Rendell Mysteries - Set 3, features five episodes of suspense and mystery in this hit anthology series. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Rebus - Set 3 stars Ken Stott as a hard-living Scottish detective in a crackling good series that revels in the dark side! Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Finally, Beau Brummell - This Charming Man, stars James Purefoy as the dandy of Regency England who changed men’s fashion forever. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
DOCUMENTARY DAYS Some terrific documentaries arrive on DVD this month. A few of our faves include Kultur International’s Churchill: The Life and Speechesa fascinating look into the life and mind of one of history’s great leaders and orators; Noel Coward Trilogy: The Boy Actor, Captain Coward, Sail Away, three programs about the noted playwright, actor and raconteur: The Boy Actor follows Coward’s meteoric rise to fame at age 30; Captain Coward focuses on his journeys to the Far East with Earl Amherst, as well as entertaining the troops during WW II and his film appearances; Sail Away takes a look at Coward’s cabaret triumphs in London and Las Vegas, and his final years in Switzerland and Jamaica as a tax exile. John Adams (HBO Miniseries)is an engaging and fascinating study of the iconic revolutionary leader, from his middle class beginnings in Argentina, to his victory in Cuba with Castro, to his execution by firing squad in the jungles of Bolivia. Some astonishing, and graphic, footage. Finally, George Segal: American Still Life chronicles the life and work of the internationally acclaimed sculptor. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. History Channel/New Video presents History Channel: Journey to 10,000 B.C., which examines a time of cataclysmic change on Earth in which climatic changes through the planet into an ice age; Dogfights -The Complete Season 2 (History Channel) is a handsome, 5-disc boxed set of the popular series complete second season, featuring astonishing archival footage, as well as CGI recreations of some of history’s greatest aerial battles. Bonuses: Additional scenes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Acorn Media releases The 2007 Newport Music Festival - Connoisseur's Collection, a mammoth, 10-disc box set collection of concerts and highlights from last year’s famed classical music festival in Newport, RI., held in the city’s most opulent mansions. Bonuses: Commentary clips; Six hours of bonus performances. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. TLC/Genius Entertainment releases Operation Homecoming: Stories from the Heart, featuring five uplifting stories of soldiers returning from Iraq. Very moving, without crossing the line into sentimentality. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Finally, Koch Vision releases China's Great Wall, an account of the myths, legends, and technological marvels behind the massive, awe-inspiring structure, shot in state-of-the-art digital video. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Secrets of China's First Emperor: Tyrant and Visionary takes an in-depth look at Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, credited with planning the first great wall, and much of the country’s earliest achievements. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. They Filmed the War in Color is a handsome, 2-disc set of beautifully restored WW II archival footage, all shot in color! Three hours plus of astonishing footage, shot both on the fronts of battle and the homefront. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.