DVD Playhouse: April 2009

DVD PLAYHOUSE—APRIL 2009
By
Allen Gardner

MILK (Universal) Sean Penn deservedly captured his second Best Actor Oscar (and Dustin Lance Black a statuette for his original screenplay) in director Gus Van Sant’s portrait of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office in the U.S. Alternately heartbreaking, infuriating and very funny, a film that both captures a bygone era and is still very timely. Fine support from Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, James Franco and Emile Hirsch. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (20th Century Fox) The Best Picture of 2008 is a kinetic, clever audience-pleaser about a determined lad (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai, who has his chance at literal and financial redemption as a contestant on India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Best Director Danny Boyle dazzles with an eye that captures the horror and beauty of modern-day India. Terrific filmmaking, acting, and storytelling. Also available on Blu-ray disc. 2 disc set bonuses include: Commentary by Boyle and Patel; Featurettes; 12 deleted scenes; Short film; Music video; Digital copy of the film. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
DOUBT (Miramax) John Patrick Shanley adapted and directed his Pulitzer and Tony-winning play for the screen, telling the story of a stern nun (Meryl Streep, never better) in a Bronx Catholic school, circa 1964, who suspects a popular young priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of molesting the school’s only black student, putting a young nun (Amy Adams) sympathetic to both sides in the middle of their tug-of-war. Emotionally-shattering film will stay with you for days. Viola Davis shines as the boy’s mother. Bonuses: Commentary by Shanley; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE READER (Weinstein Co./Genius Products) Stunning adaptation of Bernhard Schlink’s best-seller about a teenager (David Kross) whose affair in post-war, 1950s Germany with a mysterious older woman (Kate Winslet, Best Actress 2008) leads to life-changing altering events for both over the next 30 years of their lives. Nary a false moment in this story of how moral ambiguity and true evil are synonymous in us all. Fine support from Ralph Fiennes, Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
JCVD (Peace Arch/Gaumont) Fading action star Jean-Claude Van Damme finds himself in the middle of a real-life bank robbery while back in his native Belgium, with the local cops believing he’s the mastermind! Fun, clever satire/drama owes a big debt to Dog Day Afternoon, and has more than a few plot holes, but is great fun. Van Damme is a revelation playing a less-than-flattering version of himself, with his “confession” being one of the best moments of screen acting in 2008 (seriously). Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Theatrical, French and English versions of the film; Deleted scenes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FROST/NIXON (Universal) Peter Morgan adapted his award-winning play for director Ron Howard, about the landmark interview between celebrity journalist David Frost (Michael Sheen, excellent and overlooked by Oscar) and disgraced former President Richard M. Nixon (Frank Langella, in the performance of his career) in 1977. Fascinating mental and verbal chess between the two characters, and a terrific rendering of mid-70s zeitgeist. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Commentary by Howard; Featurettes; The real Frost/Nixon interviews. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
NICKELODEON/THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (Sony) 2 disc double feature of two Peter Bogdanovich classics, the real news being the release of the “director’s cut” of Nickelodeon, featuring three extra minutes of footage, and the entire film, a riotous comedy about the fledgling days of the movie business, in black & white instead of color, as Bogdanovich originally envisioned it. Picture Show is the Oscar-winning story of death and redemption in a small Texas town, circa 1953, featuring stellar turns by Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cloris Leachman, and Cybill Shepherd, in her film debut. Bonuses: Commentary by Bogdanovich; Featurettes; Interview with Bogdanovich; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
MAX FLEISCHER’S SUPERMAN 1941-1942 (Warner Bros.) 17 animated short cartoons featuring the Man of Steel, Superman, as penned by the great animator Max Fleischer. Gorgeously produced in early Technicolor, loaded with wartime propaganda and still exciting to watch 60+ years later, these gems are sure to delight young and old alike. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Two featurettes; Sneak preview of The Green Lantern. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
SHAKEN AND STIRRED James Bond, agent 007, returns to DVD with a vengeance this month, led by the latest Bond outing, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, Daniel Craig’s second turn at the wheel of the Aston-Martin finds the story taking up where Casino Royale left off, with Bond hunting down the group responsible for the double-cross, and death, of his great love. This time, he teams up with a Latina firebrand (oddly cast with Russian actress Olga Kurylenko) who seeks revenge against the same group. A few terrific set pieces, including a slam-bang opening sequence that will be hard to top, with a nice turn by Mathieu Amalric as an oily (pun intended) villain. Fine entertainment, but nowhere near in the same league as the last film. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Four featurettes; Music video; Trailers and teasers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Sean Connery donned 007’s tuxedo for a final time in 1983’s NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, an unnecessary, but nevertheless very fun rehash of 1965’s Thunderball, with Bond taking on a supervillain (the great Klaus Maria Brandauer) bent on global domination. Connery is still in fine form, at age 53, as Bond, with fine support from a youthful Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by director Irvin Kershner; Three featurettes; Trailer and photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. JAMES BOND BLU-RAY VOL. 3 arrives, boasting three Bonds, from three different eras: Sean Connery stars in the series’ biggest hit GOLDFINGER, from 1964, which has 007 trying to stop a madman (Gert Frobe) from irradiating the gold supply at Fort Knox. Still one of the greatest popcorn movies ever made. Roger Moore stars in 1979’s MOONRAKER, regarded by many fans and critics alike as the series’ nadir, with Bond doing battle in outer space with another madman (Michel Lonsdale) bent on world domination. A great aerial sequence opens the film, but it’s all downhill from there. Finally, Pierce Brosnan finally got his legs as Bond with Michael Apted’s THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, from 1999, which has 007 locking horns with a nuclear-obsessed terrorist (Robert Carlyle). Dame Judi Dench shines as the venerable M, but Denise Richards is unfortunately cast as a nuclear scientist (!), which keeps this from being one of the best entries in the series. Still well-worth seeing. Bonuses on all: Filmmaker, cast and crew commentary; Retrospective Documentaries; Featurettes; Photo and ad galleries; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD Universal releases six titles released between 1929-34, before the infamous Hays Code of censorship was established, that push the envelope with sex, violence and subject matter: THE CHEAT stars Tallulah Bankhead as a compulsive gambler who will do literally anything to pay off her debt; MERRILY WE GO TO HELL stars Frederic March as an abusive drunk whose tryst with an old flame pushes his wife (Sylvia Sidney) over the edge; HOT SATURDAY follows a scandal that erupts after a young woman innocently spends with night with notorious playboy Cary Grant; TORCH SINGER stars Claudette Colbert as a sultry nightclub singer searching for the illegitimate child she gave up for adoption years before; MURDER AT THE VANITIES follows a murder investigation backstage during a sexy music revue; SEARCH FOR BEAUTY tells the story of Olympic swimming champs (Buster Crabbe and Ida Lupino) who find themselves in hot water after mistakenly endorsing a racy magazine. Bonuses: Documentary featurette on the production code. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE DORIS DAY COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) Four early Doris Day musical comedies: IT’S A GREAT FEELING features Doris as a waitress trying to break into movies, with cameos from big names such as Joan Crawford, Edward G. Robinson, Gary Cooper, and others. TEA FOR TWO stars Day and Gordon MacRae in a musical version of the stage play No, no, Nanette; STARLIFT has Doris in a patriotic romp that features an all-star cast that includes James Cagney, Gary Cooper, Virginia Mayo, Jane Wyman, Randolph Scott, and many others. APRIL IN PARIS stars Doris as brassy chorine Dynamite Jackson, who’s mistakenly named goodwill ambassador to France. Will diplomatic relations ever be the same? Finally, TUNNEL OF LOVE stars Doris and Richard Widmark as a couple dealing with the trials and tribulations of adopting a child. Directed by Gene Kelly. Bonuses: Vintage shorts; Classic WB cartoons; Trailers. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
CAPRICA (Universal) Smart, scintilating blend of sci-fi and social commentary tells the story of feuding families led by rival patriarchs (Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales) who vie for power in a future ruled by human and mechincal engineering. From the creators of Battlestar Galactica, this is a worth addition to the genre of thinking man's sci-fi. Bonuses: Commentary by director Jeffrey Reiner, exec producer/writer Ronald D. Moore, exec producer David Eick; Deleted scenes; Video blogs. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE LOST COLLECTION Lions Gate releases some favorite titles from the '80s that have faded into obscurity over the years. HOMER & EDDIE stars James Belushi and Whoopi Goldberg as "odd couple" friends who make a final, Picaresque road trip together. HIDING OUT stars Jon Cryer as a youthful investment banker marked for death by the mob who uses his appearence to hide out in a local high school, where he finds little has changed since his own less-than-joyful formative years. IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES stars Drew Barrymore as a nine year-old who sues her constantly bickering parents (Shelley Long, Ryan O'Neal) for divorce. Funny, seemingly autobiographical script by Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers. SLAUGHTER HIGH is a respectible entry into the '80s slasher oevre about a nerd who, after being disfigured during a prank gone wrong, returns to school to wreack havoc on his former tormentors. Uncut version. REPOSSESSED is a slightly funny Exorcist take-off with Leslie Nielsen and Linda Blair. Keanu Reeves stars in THE NIGHT BEFORE as a hapless lad who wakes up the day after prom with no memory of the previous night, but a host of problems that await him. Jon Cryer stars again in MORGAN STEWART'S COMING HOME about a rebellious blue blooded teen (Cryer) who tries to repair his relationship with his stodgy parents by helping to clean up dad's senatorial campaign. Finally, MY BEST FRIEND IS A VAMPIRE stars Robert Sean Leonard as a teen who finds himself bitten by the love bug, literally, after a hot date turns into an entry into the land of the undead. Bonuses: Trivia tracks; Trailers. All are full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CLEOPATRA 75th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Universal) Cecil B. Demille’s 1934 epic is the version most film historians agree is the best, with Claudette Colbert sizzling the screen as the Egyptian Queen of the Nile, who plays Roman leaders Julius Caesar (Warren William) and Mark Antony (Henry Wilcoxon) like grand pianos. Still a stunning achievement today. Bonuses: Three documentaries; Commentary by films scholar F.X. Feeney. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
PILLOW TALK 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Universal) The granddaddy of all 1950s sex comedies stars Rock Hudson and Doris Day as mismatched lovers who connect when their party line (shared phone line) results in overlapping conversations, and lives. Tony Randall plays the ‘50s version of “the gay best friend” (ironically enough) to Rock. First Day-Hudson pairing remains the best and holds up quite well today. Bonuses: Two featurettes; Commentary by film scholars and historians; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
DANTON (Criterion) Andrezej Wajda’s lacerating portrait of Georges Danton (Gerard Depardieu) and Maximilien Robespierre (Wojciech Pszoniak), two of the French Revolution’s key figures, one a humanist, the other an icy Jacobin extremist. Wajda draws not-so-subtle parallels to the Polish Solidarity movement, which was going strong at the time of the film’s release (1983). Outstanding historical drama, and piece of political propaganda. Two disc set. Bonuses: Trailer; Interviews with Wajda and crew; Behind-the-scenes documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER/UNDER THE HOOD (Warner Bros.) Nifty companion pieces to the Watchmen feature film: a 30 minute animated adaptation of the gruesome “comic-within-a-comic” that ran in the Watchmen graphic novel, and a “mockumentary” look at the original Nite Owl (Stephen McHattie) and the origin of the original, WW II-era “Minutemen” group of superheroes, and their backstories. The former is a fun, grisly EC Comics style tale of the supernatural, while the latter is a near-brilliant blend of satire and character development, which would have fleshed out the feature even more, had it been included in the theatrical release. Perhaps director Zack Snyder will include it on the Watchmen DVD, which, rumor has it, will be a nearly-four hour cut. Bonuses: Featurette; Watchmen motion comic; BD-Live features. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
IL GENERALE DELLA ROVERE (Criterion) Roberto Rossellini’s gripping 1959 drama stars fellow neorealist director Vittorio De Sica in a rare turn before the camera, playing a wartime opportunist whom the Nazis force to impersonate a dead partisan general. Once they throw him in prison, they force the con man to extract information from fellow prisoners, and a crisis of conscience develops. Bonuses: Interviews with Isabella Rossellini, her siblings, and film scholar Adriano Apra; Visual essay; Trailer. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
BOLT (Disney) Delightful animated fun from the Disney camp about a dog named Bolt, star of the most popular TV show in Hollywood where he plays a canine blessed with super powers, only this Method actor thinks it’s all real! When Bolt gets separated from his beloved owner and lost on the mean streets of New York City, he quickly learns that it takes more than make-believe to survive in the big city. Fun, clever and visually-dazzling. Nice voice work from John Travolta and Miley Cyrus. 2 disc set. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Music videos; Games; Animation galleries. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND (Severin Films) Patrice Leconte’s comedy of manners about an aging Frenchman (Jean Rochfert) whose childhood obsession with a local hairdresser finds itself projected onto a present-day hair sculptress (Anna Galiena) with whom he falls passionately in love. Hailed by critics and audiences the world-over as a modern erotic classic. Bonuses: Two featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.
THE HORROR, THE HORROR. More titles that promise to make your flesh crawl arrive on DVD this month starting with THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT: UNRATED COLLECTOR’S EDITION (MGM/Fox) Two teenage girls on their way to a rock concert are kidnapped by a Manson-like gang of depraved lunatics, only to get their just desserts from the girls’ parents later on. Director Wes Craven’s 1972 exploitation take on Bergman’s The Virgin Spring broke new ground in its depiction of brutality, and remains tough to watch nearly 40 years later, but does that make it a good film? You be the judge with this splatter classic, and with the remake, which hits theaters this month. Bonuses: Commentary by cast members; Featurettes; Unfinished short film by Craven: Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono. 8 FILMS TO DIE FOR: AFTER DARK HORRORFEST III Lions Gate releases eight more horror titles as part of their continuing series. SLAUGHTER tells the gruesome story of a young woman who moves in with her best friend on the family’s farm, soon suspecting that they’re slaughtering more than livestock in the barn. AUTOPSY finds a group of college grads getting more than they bargained for after an accident during a final road trip takes them to a rural Louisiana hospital where the doctors practice unconventional medicine. PERKINS’ 14 tells the story of a father whose son vanished years ago, the final in a string of 14 disappearances. When a stranger appears in town that bears a resemblance to the description of the kidnapper, the father seeks revenge! DYING BREED tells the gory tale of four adventurers in Tasmania seeking a rare tiger, who soon finds themselves the hunted ones when they stumble across a town of cannibals! VOICES, an import from Korea, tells the terrifying story of a young woman who seems to be followed by death, as those around her die in gruesome ways, or seem driven to kill her. Some unsettling images. THE BROKEN stars Lena Headey as a successful radiologist who finds herself haunted by her double. THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT 3: REVELATIONS tells the supernatural story of a man who has the power to travel through time to help police solve cases, with the caveat that he isn’t allowed to alter the future when he goes back. FROM WITHIN tells the grisly story of a small town besieged by suicides. When young Lindsay is afraid she may be next, she decides to investigate. All feature Miss Horrorfest webisodes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Magnolia/Magnet Video release DONKEY PUNCH, an intense exercise in claustrophobia as a group of young Brits find themselves at odds after a wild party on shipboard goes too far. Attractive young cast; Very well-directed. TIMECRIMES is a mind-bending thriller from Spain about an average Joe (writer/director Nacho Vigalondo) who finds that he's literally at war with himself when he travels back in time and encounters his double. SPLINTER starts out as a kidnapping drama when an ex-con and his equally twisted girlfriend carjack a young couple, but the true horror waits for them all at a remote gas station that is being preyed upon by a deadly predator. Bonuses on all: Featurettes; Filmmaker commentary; Outtakes; Short film; Photo galleries; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BLU-RAY TITLES MGM/Fox releases THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, winner of five 1991 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. One of the great procedural thrillers ever made, Jodie Foster stars as a precocious FBI trainee who enlists the aid of a jailed serial killer (Anthony Hopkins, in his iconic turn as Hannibal Lecter) to track down a predator who’s on the loose. Hang on! Bonuses: Five featurettes; Deleted scenes; Anthony Hopkins phone message; Outtakes; TV spots, teasers and trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE PRINCESS BRIDE is Rob Reiner’s film of the William Goldman novel (which the author adapted for the screen) that tells the dual stories of a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading his grandson a bedtime story, and that story, about a brave lad (Cary Elwes) rescuing a fair maiden (Robin Wright, pre-Penn) from the clutches of an evil king (Chris Sarandon, excellent). Terrific pastiche of fantasy, romance and satire, with a supporting cast that dreams are made of. Bonuses: Commentary by Reiner and Goldman; Featurettes; Video diary from Elwes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THE ROBE: SPECIAL EDITION, is a grand, albeit dated Biblical epic starring Richard Burton as a Roman centurion who finds his life changed when he wins Christ’s robe during a dice game at the foot of the cross where he lays crucified. Bonuses: Introduction by Martin Scorsese; Commentary by composer David Newman and film historians; Isolated score; Three featurettes; Audio interview with screenwriter Philip Dunne from 1969; Picture-in-Picture features; Fox Movietonews; Photo galleries; Interactive press book. Widescreen. Dolby 4.0 surround. Sony releases John Carpenter’s GHOSTS OF MARS, stars Natasha Henstridge as a tough cop on the Martian colony, circa 2025, who finds the human population of the planet in trouble when miners unleash some nasty spirits that take over unwitting humans. Scary, funny and very sick! Bonuses: Commentary by Carpenter and Henstridge; Three featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE REUTRN stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, this time returning to action to take on a rebellious ultra-warrior (Michael Jai-White) bent on killing its creators. Bonuses: Featurettes; BD Live enabled. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR is an intriguing thriller about two scientists (Craig Bierko and Vincent D’Onofrio) who create a virtual reality program of 1937 L.A, then find themselves in a real “film noir” type murder mystery. Some great effects and clever moments, but doesn’t all add up in the end. Bonuses: Commentary by filmmakers; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. Jet Li stars as THE ONE, playing a dual role of police inspector and universe-hopping assassin. Fun, if a bit confusing at times. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Four featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. A&E releases PRIDE & PREJUDICE is an epic miniseries adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel starring Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, and Allison Steadman. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Four featurettes. Full screen. PCM 2.0 stereo. Genius Entertainment releases three nature documentaries: THE WORLD’S BIGGEST AND BADDEST BUGS takes an in-depth look at nature’s plus-sized pests the world-over. Fascinating and really icky! AFRICA’S ELEPHANT KINGDOM takes an intimate look inside the world of elephant’s and their very human-like levels of socialization and family structure. Beautifully shot, originally for IMAX theaters. Finally, not everyone will appreciate THE BEAUTY OF SNAKES, but they’ll surely come away captivated by this magnificently-made documentary about some of the world’s rarest, and most colorful, reptiles. All are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround. Acorn Media releases 3 MO' DIVAS, a visually stunning record of a concert in Denver given by three of the world's greatest Sopranos: Nova Y. Payton, Jamet Pittman and Laurice Lanier. From gospel, to jazz, to show tunes, these ladies cover all the musical bases. Bonuses: 29 minutes of bonus performances. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DOCUMENTARY TITLES Microcinema releases Sophie Fiennes’ THE PERVERT’S GUIDE TO CINEMA, PARTS 1, 2, 3, a unique musing on the power of cinema itself from guide and narrator, Slovenian scholar Slavoj Zizek, who delves into what the subtext of certain films tells us about ourselves. Fascinating stuff, and a must for cinefiles. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. GRACE HARTIGAN: SHATTERING BOUNDARIES, takes a look at the woman who was a groundbreaking figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement in American art, a friend a disciple of such iconic figures as Jackson Pollock and Willem deKooning. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Koch Lorber releases DESERT VICTORY: THE BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN, winner of the 1943 Oscar for Best Documentary, is a stirring look at the British army’s clash with Rommel’s Afrika Korps. THE TRUE GLORY: FROM D-DAY TO THE FALL OF BERLIN, won the 1945 Oscar for Best Documentary, and details the allies’ victory in Europe, from the invasion of D-Day to the fall of Berlin. Both are two-disc sets that each feature four bonus documentaries on WW II. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. NICKELBACK: LIVE AT STURGIS 2006 is a rousing and rowdy document of the band’s show at Sturgis’ “Rockin’ the Rally.” Shot in high-def video, the concert features 12 of the band’s greatest hits, plus behind-the-scenes looks at life on the road. Bonuses: Featurette; Photo gallery; Sturgis 101 vignette; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Purple Turtle Films/PBS release BLUE GOLD: WORLD WATER WARS, which examines the idea that the wars of the future will be fought over water rights. In a similar vein as An Inconvenient Truth, and just as powerful. Narrated by Malcolm McDowell. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Acorn Media releases PETE SEEGER: LIVE IN AUSTRALIA 1963, a beautifully-shot record of the folk legend’s first concert Down Under. Seeger sings some of his greatest hits. Bonuses: Extra Seeger concert footage; Interviews and performances on Australian TV; Photo and home movie galleries. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. Magnolia releases AMERICAN SWING a no-holds-barred look at the notorious Plato's Retreat in New York City, a mecca of swinging group sex in the pre-AIDS mid-70s. Not for the prudish among us, but a fascinating look at a time long gone. Bonuses: Deleted scenes;. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. A&E releases THE TEMPLAR CODE, a fascinating look at the Knights Templar and the lore that surrounded their secret society. A History Channel production. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. WOMEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE is a 2 disc set that contains two full-length documentaries: All the President's Wives takes an in-depth look at some of the country's greatest First Ladies, from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton, and First Mothers chronicles the lives of the women who raised some of our most iconic leaders. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! Paramount releases HAWAII FIVE-O: THE SIXTH SEASON features more tough island crime fighting from Detective Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) and his men. 24 episodes on 6 discs. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE--THE SIXTH SEASON is another 6 disc set featuring all 22 episodes from the 1971-72 season, featuring Peter Graves and his group of counter-intelligence operatives battling some of the world's most dangerous villains. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE FUGITIVE: SEASON TWO, VOL. 2, 15 episodes on 4 discs, following the continuing adventures of falsely-accused wife killer Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen), his flight from dogged police detective Gerard (Barry Morse), and his search for the “one-armed man” who really killed his wife. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. RON WHITE: BEHAVOIRAL PROBLEMS is the raunchy comic's latest Comedy Central special in which he tackles subjects ranging from alcohol abuse, the war in Iraq, and other pointed pieces of social commentary. Bonuses: Extra concert footage. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. JIM GAFFIGAN: KING BABY is another hilarious record of the stand-up comic’s biting humor, featuring 30 minutes of footage not shown on his Comedy Central special. Bonuses: Featurettes; Interviews. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. DYNASTY: THE FOURTH SEASON, VOL. 1 brings us more soapy antics from the mega-rich Carrtington clan, led by patriarch John Forsythe, wife Linda Evans, and ex Joan Collins. Oh, so ‘80s! 3 disc set features 14 episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. BEVERLY HILLS 90210—THE SEVENTH SEASON, has the alum of West Beverly High now finishing their senior year of college at California Univeristy, or C.U. 7 disc set features 31 episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. WINGS:THE FINAL SEASON is the swan song of Sandpiper Air’s Joe Hackett (Tim Daly) as he marries long-time love Helen (Crystal Bernard). 23 episodes on 3 discs. Full screen. 2.0 stereo. HBO releases RICKY GERVAIS: OUT OF ENGLAND, a hilarious record of the comic master’s performance during his sold-out American tour. Irreverent, smart, and thought-provoking. Bonuses: Interview with Gervais. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. A&E releases ROOKIES: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE a Southern-fried slice of reality TV that follows green police recruits in Louisiana and Florida learning the ropes during a 12-week street patrol. 16 episodes on two discs. Bonuses: Extra footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. 7 SIGNS OF THE APOCALYPSE takes a scientific look at the Book of Revelation and its relevance, and possible truth, today. Interesting blend of conjecture from scholars, theologians, and laymen. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. SHADOW FORCE: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE, follows an elite group of Special Forces operatives as they battle some of the world’s deadliest terrorist and criminal cartels. Eight episodes on two DVDs. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. GANGLAND: THE COMPLETE SEASON THREE takes an intimate look at the nation’s most vicious street gangs, giving a decidedly human perspective to their menacing exterior. Interviews with past and present gang members, police, psychologists and other experts on the subculture make this fascinating viewing. Bonuses: Additional footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. SEVEN DEADLY SINS examines the impact of the seven deadly sins on mankind from before the dark ages, through modern times. Fascinating blend of myth, fact and fiction. 2 disc set. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox releases THE RICHES: SEASON 2, starring Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard in the series’ final season, playing con artists on the run with their children, hiding out in a seemingly idyllic suburban paradise, where their ruse is catching quickly up with them. Two disc set contains all seven season two episodes. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA: SEASON FOUR, VOL. 1is a three disc set containing 13 episodes of the 1967 series that follows the crew of The Seaview, the world's most powerful nuclear submarine on their underwater adventures. Produced by Irwin Allen. Full screen. Dolby 2. 0 stereo. Acorn Media releases HALLELUJAH! THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, the beloved British sitcom from the early ‘80s about a zealous Salvation Army captain (Thora Hird) who refuses to go gently into the night of retirement. 15 episodes on two discs. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Charles Dance and Emilia Fox star in this miniseries about a psychotic beauty whose brain moves backward in time to try and figure out where it all went wrong. Fascinating look at what goes into the making of a monster. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. PIE IN THE SKY, SERIES 1 is a three disc set containing the first season of the British hit about a veteran police inspector (Richard Griffiths) who is burned out on policing and dreams of opening a restaurant. Unique blend of mystery and culinary adventure. Bonuses: Interviews with cast members. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.