November DVD Playhouse

DVD PLAYHOUSE—NOVEMBER 2008
By
Allen Gardner

JFK: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITON (Warner Bros.) Mammoth 3-disc box set of Oliver Stone’s director’s cut (an extra 17 minutes of footage) of his controversial, spellbinding look at New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner)’s investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Also features an excellent new documentary THE KENNEDYS: AMERICA’S EMERALD KINGS which takes a look at five generations of America’s most influential and tragic public family. Bonuses: Documentaries; Featurettes; Multimedia essays; Deleted/extended scenes; Trailers; 44 page book; Reproductions of JFK’s correspondence; Archival footage; Commentary by Stone. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
PARAMOUNT CENTENNIAL COLLECTION Paramount inaugurates a new series of classic films on DVD with two disc sets of SUNSET BOULEVARD, Billy Wilder’s cynical classic about a washed-up screenwriter (William Holden)’s self-destructive affair with a faded silent movie queen (Gloria Swanson). ROMAN HOLIDAY stars Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn as an American reporter and a European princess, respectively, whose chance encounter goes from a day of playing hooky from their duties to full-blown romance. SABRINA again stars Hepburn and Holden, with able support from Humphrey Bogart, in Billy Wilder’s classic love triangle about two brothers who fall for their chauffeur’s newly-blossomed daughter. Bonuses on all: Featurettes; Documentaries; Trailers; Photo galleries. All are full screen, Dolby 2.0 mono.
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (Image) Beautiful, fascinating documentary from Werner Herzog explores the frozen tundra of Antarctica and reveals sights and sounds that few humans have, or ever will, see in their lifetime. Truly a work of art and beauty, and one of Herzog’s most joyous works. Bonuses: Commentary by Herzog; Featurettes; Jonathan Demme interviews Herzog; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE RON HOWARD SPOTLIGHT COLLECTION (Universal) Four of director Ron Howard’s most-lauded films, all in 2-disc sets: A BEAUTIFUL MIND, Howard’s Oscar-winning true story of a brilliant mathematician (Russell Crowe) struggling with mental illness; APOLLO 13, about the near-disastrous NASA mission that gripped the world; CINDERELLA MAN again stars Crowe, this time as Depression-era boxer James Braddock; and BACKDRAFT, the story of Chicago firefighters, enhanced by eye-popping special effects. Bonuses include: Commentary by Howard; Featurettes; Documentaries; Photo galleries; Trailers. All are widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HANCOCK (Sony) Will Smith stars as Hancock, the world’s most obnoxious, politically incorrect superhero, who wreaks more havoc with his super gifts than he would like. After hiring a publicist (Jason Bateman) to help improve his image, Hancock finds his life turned around by a mystery woman (Charlize Theron) who shares some of his powers and a key to his past. Big, loud and completely lacking in any kind of subtlety, there are a few equally big, loud laughs, but overall film feels forced and never quite “takes off.” Bonuses: PG-13 and unrated versions; Featurettes; Digital copy of the film. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE GREGORY PECK FILM COLLECTION (Universal) Six classic titles featuring Gregory Peck: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Peck’s Oscar-winning turn as lawyer Atticus Finch; ARABESQUE, a fun romantic thriller with Peck and Sophia Loren; CAPE FEAR, the original version of the nail-biting thriller starring Peck and Robert Mitchum, the latter as a vengeful ex-con seeking payback from his lawyer who double-crossed him; MIRAGE stars Peck as an amnesiac who struggles to remember why he’s surrounded by danger, deception and murder; CAPTAIN NEWMAN, M.D. has Peck leading an all-star cast in a look at life and love in a military hospital during WW II; THE WORLD IN HIS ARMS features Peck as a sea captain out to rescue his lady love and beat his rival (Anthony Quinn). Bonuses: Documentary on Peck; Featurettes; Trailers, Photo galleries. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE HOMEFRONT COLLECTION Warner Bros. releases three of its most popular WW II-era titles: IRVING BERLIN’S THIS IS THE ARMY, propelled by Berlin’s patriotic songs, this Technicolor revue features an all-star GI cast; THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS features an all-star cast in a breezy, behind-the-scenes Hollywood story; HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN is a who’s-who of Hollywood stars from the ‘40s, in a scintillating salute to the legendary Tinseltown nightclub for servicemen. Bonuses: Documentary; Outtakes; Featurettes; Warner Night at the Movies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
A CHRISTMAS STORY: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Warner Bros.) The late Bob Clark’s beloved adaptation of Jean Shepherd (who narrates)’s autobiographical look at his childhood in WW II-era Ohio. Charming film just gets better with each passing year. 2-disc set is beautifully packaged in a cookie tin, with five cookie cutters, a 48-page recipe book, and a custom chef’s apron. Film-oriented bonuses include: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Jean Shepherd audio readings; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ANIMAL HOUSE: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Universal) Classic comedy about college shenanigans in the early ‘60s made a star of John Belushi and launched the “slob comedy” genre. Raucous fun all the way around. Bonuses: New retrospective documentary; Featurettes; Scene It: Animal House Edition; Faber College yearbook. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TROPIC THUNDER: 2 DISC DIRECTOR’S CUT (Paramount) Co-writer/director/star Ben Stiller’s outrageous Hollywood satire about a company of actors shooting a war epic in the jungles of Vietnam who find themselves at war for real with drug-runners. Robert Downey, Jr.’s portrait of an Aussie Method actor gone haywire is worthy of an Oscar nod. Bonuses: Cast and crew commentary; Featurettes; Deleted/extended scenes; Alternate ending; Rehearsal footage. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CASINO ROYALE: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (MGM/UA) This 1967 “adaptation” of Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel is a glorious mess, helmed by numerous directors (including John Huston), and featuring as bizarre a cast ever assembled for a studio picture (Woody Allen and Orson Welles, anyone?). Still, a fun and fascinating time capsule of the psychedelic era, with truly dazzling sets and costumes. Bonuses: Commentary by film historians; Five-part documentary; Trailer; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (Paramount) William Friedkin directs Mart Crowley’s own adaptation of his landmark play about gay men in New York City for this controversial 1970 film, the first mainstream studio release to deal with the subject of homosexuality openly. Dated in part, to be sure, but also remarkably contemporary and still-relevant, with the original Broadway cast, including Cliff Gorman, reprising their roles. Bonuses: Commentary by Friedkin; Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER? (Sony) Fine drama about a renowned writer and poet (Colin Firth) coming to terms with his dying father (Jim Broadbent) during a visit home. Honest to a fault and never maudlin, featuring expert performances by a who’s-who of British stage and screen, including Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee, and Claire Skinner. Bonuses: Commentary by director Anand Tucker; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HELLBOY II: SPECIAL EDITION (Universal) Hellboy is back as a ruthless prince awakens an unstoppable army of otherworldly creatures who wage war upon the human world. Ron Perlman is great fun again as the red-hued, cigar-chomping “good demon,” with fine support from Selma Blair and Jeffrey Tambor. As always, director Guillermo Del Toro offers up enough eye candy for a dozen movies. Also available in Blu-ray format. 3-disc set bonuses include: Documentary; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Commentary by Del Toro; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FANFAN LA TULIPE (Criterion) Gerard Philipe stars in this swashbuckling adventure as a peasant solider who finds himself in the midst of high adventure and the arms of lovely Gina Lollobrigida. Dazzling stunts and set pieces galore in this 1952 French classic, beautifully restored. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailer; Colorized clip. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
WARNER BROS. CLASSIC HOLIDAY COLLECTION, VOL. 2 Four classic holiday-themed films from the brothers Warner: ALL MINE TO GIVE is an early Technicolor classic about a youth who sets out to find homes for all five of his orphaned siblings; HOLIDAY AFFAIR stars Robert Mitchum as an out-of-work clerk who puts his meager funds where his heart is to help a child; IT HAPPENED ON 5th AVENUE follows a group of GI families hit by the post-WW II housing crunch who take over an abandoned mansion in NYC; BLOSSOMS IN THE DUST stars Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in a biopic of children’s activist Edna Gladney. Bonuses: Warner Night at the Movies. All are full screen, Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE FILMS OF BUDD BOETTICHER (Sony) Classic westerns introduced by the likes of Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese and Taylor Hackford: THE TALL T, DECISION AT SUNDOWN, BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE, RIDE LONESOME, and COMMANCHE STATION all filmed between 1957-1960 by Boetticher, a master of the western genre, starring Randolph Scott, and penned by Burt Kennedy, who would go onto a prominent directing career himself. Fun early work from the likes of James Coburn, Richard Boone and Lee Van Cleef in support. Bonuses: Commentary by Eastwood, Hackford and Scorsese; Documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
MISSING (Criterion) Gripping political thriller from Costa-Gavras about an American (Jack Lemmon) who teams with his estranged daughter-in-law (Sissy Spacek) to find his son (John Shea) who disappeared during the 1973 coup in Chile. All the more chilling as it is based on a true story! Bonuses: Trailer; Interviews with cast, crew and real-life counterparts; Archival interviews; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
COLUMBIA PICTURES BEST PICTURE COLLECTION (Sony) Mammoth box set featuring eleven Best Picture winners from decades’ past: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1966); KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979); YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938); FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953); ON THE WATERFRONT (1954); THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957); OLIVER! (1968); IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1933); ALL THE KING’S MEN (1949); GANDHI (1983) and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) are all beautifully restored and remastered. Bonuses: Commentary from cast, crew and film historians; Commemorative book; Trailers; Photo galleries; Featurettes. Full and widescreen. Dolby 1.0 and 2.0 mono, 5.1 surround.
WHAT WE DO IS SECRET (Peace Arch/Rhino Films) Powerful docudrama about Darby Crash, lead singer of the pioneering L.A. punk band The Germs, and his short, tortured life that was snuffed out by drugs, alcohol and mental illness. Beautifully captures late ‘70s/early ‘80s Los Angeles, and the disaffected kids who made up the punk scene. Shane West scores big as Darby, in an eerily accurate portrayal. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Trailer; Digital copy of film. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SLACKER UPRISING (BraveNew/Disinformation) Michael Moore’s documentary look at his 62-city tour of the swing states during the 2004 presidential election, where he tries to convince 18-29 year-old so-called “slackers” to become involved in the democratic process and exercise their right to vote. Fascinating, frank and funny, with Moore’s very specific brand of humor running throughout. Bonuses: 9 featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE BOURNE TRILOGY (Universal) Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac who discovers that he was a CIA assassin in three thrillers that helped reinvent the spy film genre: THE BOURNE IDENTITY, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM. All shot in gritty, cinema-verite style, with only the final chapter lacking somewhat in story and character and engaging in sensory overload with non-stop action and a camera that just won’t stop shaking! Still, great fun all around. Bonuses on all: Commentary by directors Paul Greengrass and Doug Liman; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
WARNER BROS. GANGSTERS COLLECTION, VOL. 4 More of WB’s greatest classic gangster titles arrive on DVD: THE AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE stars Edward G. Robinson as a doctor who infiltrates a gang led by Humphrey Bogart; INVISIBLE STRIPES features Bogie and George Raft as ex-cons trying to go straight; KID GALAHAD stars Bogie, Robinson, and Bette Davis in one of the all-time great boxing pictures; LARCENY, INC. Features Robinson, Anthony Quinn and Jane Wyman in the story of ex-cons planning a bank heist; THE LITTLE GIANT stars Robinson as an ex-gangster who tries to join high society. Bonus disc: the documentary PUBLIC ENEMIES: THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE GANGSTER FILM. Other bonuses: Commentary by film historians; Warner Night at the Movies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
ROBERTO ROSSELLINI: 2-DISC COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Lions Gate) Two rare films from “the father of neo-realism.” WHERE IS FREEDOM? is a darkly comic satire about a recently-paroled murderer who finds that the outside world has become so evil and corrupt, he must find a way back to prison! ESCAPE BY NIGHT is a riveting thriller set in Nazi-occupied Rome where a beautiful bootlegger gives sanctuary to three escaped POWs: an American, a Brit and a Russian, with the Germans hot on their tails. Both are full screen, Dolby 1.0 mono.
ABBOT & COSTELLO: THE COMPLETE UNIVERSAL PICTURES COLLECTION features all 28 feature films from the comedy duo, made between 1940-1955, in a magnificent box set. Highlights from the films include the classic service comedy BUCK PRIVATES (1941) and ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948). Bonuses include: Collectible book; Featurettes; Six commentary tracks by film historians; Trailers; Archival footage; Photo galleries. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON (Magnolia) Alex Gibney’s knock-out portrait of writer Hunter S. Thompson and his elusive brand of self-destructive genius is a one-of-a-kind look at a truly unique voice of American letters. Through interviews with Thompson’s family, friends and colleagues, archival footage of Thompson at work and at play, and excerpts of Thompson’s writings, Gibney paints a warts-and-all picture of a man who made leaping into the personal and creative abyss an art form. Bonuses: Commentary by Gibney; Deleted scenes; Extended interviews; Audio excerpts; Featurettes; Ralph Steadman art gallery; Photo galleries. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BLU-RAY TITLES The biggest news for Blu-ray this month is MGM/20th Century Fox’s release of THE JAMES BOND BLU-RAY COLLECTION, VOL. 1 and 2, featuring DR. NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, THUNDERBALL, LIVE AND LET DIE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, and DIE ANOTHER DAY, a nice combination of different Bonds (Connery, Moore, and Brosnan) from different eras, there couldn’t be a more perfect fit for Blu-ray than the Bond series! Loaded with bonuses and extras, including: Commentary with cast and crew; Smart menu technology; Featurettes; Trailers, TV spots and radio ads; Interviews with cast and crew, both archival and new; Photo galleries. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Also from Fox, Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny de Vito in the comedy adventure ROMANCING THE STONE and its sequel, JEWEL OF THE NILE. Bonuses: Audio commentary; Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THE OMEN COLLECTION features all four films in the series: the original THE OMEN, directed by Richard Donner, starring Gregory Peck, one of the ‘70s great chillers; DAMIEN: OMEN II; OMEN III: THE FINAL CONFLICT, and the 2006 remake of THE OMEN. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Mel Brooks’ comedy classic YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN with Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman arrives, loaded with extras, including Commentary by Brooks; Featurettes; Outtakes; Isolated score track; Archival interviews; Deleted scenes; Photo galleries; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Somerville House releases the erotic classic THE STORY OF O, from French porn auteur Just Jaecklin, about a young woman who indulges her lover’s desire for sexual fantasy and exploration. Bonuses: Commentary by Jaecklin; Trailers; Deleted scenes; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. BLACK CHRISTMAS is an early slasher classic from 1975 about a killer running amuck in a sorority house. Margot Kidder scores in an early turn as a foul-mouthed co-ed. Bonuses: Documentary; Interviews with cast members and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Blue Underground releases the sci-fi adventure THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen in a fantastic tale about a modern-day nuclear aircraft carrier that’s transported back in time to the day before the Pearl Harbor attack! Bonuses: Commentary by cinematographer Victor J. Kemper; Interviews with cast and crew; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 7.1 surround.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! Some of television’s greatest hits arrive on disc this month. Here’s a few of the highlights: A&E releases THE COMPLETE MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS COLLECTOR’S EDITION, a 21 DVD set featuring every episode of “Flying Circus,” plus two discs of live material, and two brand new Python documentaries, featuring interviews with the surviving members, as well as the comics who were influenced by them. Other bonuses: Deleted scenes; Additional animations; Featurettes; Six mega-quizzes; Pythonism glossary; Art gallery. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Also from A&E is THE ADVENTURE COLLECTION, featuring all four “Horatio Hornblower” films starring Ioan Gruffudd: THE DUEL, THE FIRE SHIPS, THE DUCHESS AND THE DEVIL, and THE WRONG WAR, as well as LONGITUDE, NAPOLEON, SHACKLETON, THE LOST BATTALION and BENEDICT ARNOLD: A QUESTION OF HONOR. All the films feature world-class talent such as Kenneth Branagh, Aidan Quinn, Kelsey Grammer, Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich. Bonuses: Featurettes; Documentaries; “Biography” episodes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. MPI releases DARK SHADOWS: THE BEGINNING, VOL. 6 featuring 30 rare, early episodes from 1967. Bonuses: Extra footage; Original commercials; Sales reel and promos; Newsreel footage; New interviews with cast and crew. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Universal releases THE INCREDIBLE HULK: THE COMPLETE SERIES, all 82 episodes on 20 discs, and KNIGHT RIDER: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, all 85 episodes on 24 discs. Bonuses include: Interviews with cast and crew; Featurettes; Photo galleries; Episode commentary by Hulk series creator Kenneth Johnson. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. NIGHT GALLERY: SEASON TWO, features more fantastic tales from creator/host Rod Serling, as well as commentary from director Guillermo Del Toro, and TV historians; Featurettes; TV promos; Two “lost” episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Paramount releases THE WILD WILD WEST: THE COMPLETE TV SERIES, a 27-disc collection of all four seasons of the hit series, starring Robert Conrad and Ross Martin as 19th century Secret Service agents. Bonuses: Both Wild Wild West TV movies; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. STAR TREK THE ORIGINAL SERIES: SEASON THREE arrives with all 24 episodes remastered with new and enhanced special effects. Bonuses: Original pilot episode “The Cage,” in its original and extended versions; Home movies. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE 4400: THE COMPLETE SERIES is a 15 disc collection of all four of the series’ seasons which tells the supernatural story of 4400 people who have disappeared throughout history, then suddenly return to Earth at once in a blinding explosion. Smart, suspenseful and fun sci-fi. Bonuses: Commentary on pilot episode; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; TV spots and promos. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE L WORD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON, is a 4-disc set of 12 episodes full of romance, intrigue and provocative storylines. Bonuses: Featurettes; Music video; Bonus episodes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE MOD SQUAD: SEASON 1, VOL. 2 features more groovy, late ‘60s adventures from everyone’s favorite undercover hippie cops. Great time capsule of the era. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. HAWAII FIVE-O: THE FIFTH SEASON, features more bare-fisted crime fighting tales from Jack Lord’s Honolulu Police Department. 6-disc set features 24 episodes. Bonuses: Episode promos. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO: SEASON 2, VOL. 2 has Karl Malden and Michael Douglas keeping the city by the bay safe. 3 disc set with 12 episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. JAG: THE SEVENTH SEASON, features 24 episodes on 5 discs, following the adventures of Naval lawyers in the Judge Advocate General’s office. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Lions Gate releases THE PERSUADERS!, three feature-length films cut together from episodes of the ‘70s British TV classic, starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore as unlikely partners in crime fighting and adventure. Great fun! Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Arts Alliance releases THE DONNA REED SHOW: SEASON ONE, featuring the all-American, 1950s antics of Reed and her Midwestern family. Campy and fun. Bonuses: Photo gallery; Original TV spot; Production notes. BANACEK: THE COMPLETE SERIES features George Peppard as Boston’s wealthiest and most suave sleuth. 5-disc set features all 16 episodes which ran from 1972-74. Bonuses: Pilot episode; Photo gallery; Crossword puzzles. B.L. STRYKER: THE COMPLETE SERIES stars Burt Reynolds as a former New Orleans detective who returns to his native Florida as a private eye. 7-disc set features all 12 episodes, co-starring Ossie Davis and Rita Moreno. Bonuses: Original scripts. All are full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Shout Factory releases SON OF THE BEACH, VOL. 2, featuring 21 episodes from seasons two and three, in this satire of “Baywatch” and shows of the like. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by series creators; Audition tapes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.