DVD Playhouse--September 2009

DVD PLAYHOUSE—SEPTEMBER 2009
By
Allen Gardner

THE HUMAN CONDITION (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet POW, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.
STATE OF PLAY (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend. Dream cast (Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jeff Daniels, Kathleen Chalfont, to name a few), three top screenwriters (Tony Gilroy, Matthew Michael Carnahan, Billy Ray) and an A-list director (Kevin MacDonald, The Last King of Scotland) all join forces to create 2/3 of a terrific movie that topples like a house of cards in its third act. Too bad, as one gets the feeling that there was a great story here before development execs started fucking with it! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurette. Blu-ray features: Picture-in-picture interviews and commentary from cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage; Interactive grid of Washington D.C.. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
DUPLICITY (Universal) Clive Owen and Julia Roberts as former covert ops (and lovers) turned corporate espionage mercenaries who find themselves on competing sides of a battle royale between rival companies and egomaniacal execs (Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson). Writer/director Tony Gilroy, who scored aces with the brilliant Michael Clayton, comes up with a pair of hearts in this somewhat clever, but ultimately disappointing, romantic game of cat and mouse that is all downhill from a virtually perfect opening scene. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Gilroy and editor/co-producer John Gilroy. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surrround.
ADVENTURELAND (Miramax) Charming coming-of-age story set in the mid-80s about a confused recent college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) whose dreams of grad school are suddenly gone with the wind when his parents hit financial hard times. Taking a summer job at a local amusement park, he finds love (with Kristen Stewart, who just keeps getting better with every performance), disillusionment, and ultimately an odd sort of wisdom. Writer/director Greg Mottola’s story takes its time to gather steam, but when it does, it takes off. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurette; Commentary by Mottola and Eisenberg. Blu-ray bonuses: Frigo’s taps; Lisa P’s guide to style; Adventureland commercials, orientation video. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
HOMICIDE (Criterion) David Mamet’s masterful meditation on truth, identity, and the fine line between good and evil stars Joe Mantegna as a Jewish homicide detective in Chicago who stumbles upon more than he bargained for in the course of what seems like a straightforward murder investigation. Fine support from Mamet regulars William H. Macy, Ricky Jay, and Jack Wallace. Bonuses: Commentary by Mamet and Macy; Interviews with cast; Gag reel and TV spots; Essay by critic Stuart Klawans. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.
AUDITION: 2-DISC COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Shout Factory) Takashi Miike’s deceptively dark thriller about a lonely widower (Ryo Ishibashi) who holds fake auditions for a leading lady in the hopes of finding a mate. When he falls for a stunner (Eihi Shiina) who appears to be a soft-spoken submissive, her true nature gradually rears its very ugly head. Unsettling film gets right into the marrow of your bones and will stay there, as it raises many moral and philosophical questions along with masterful staging of one of the most horrific sequences ever filmed. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan; Interviews with cast members; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.0 surround.
THAT HAMILTON WOMAN (Criterion) Viewed by most film scholars as the greatest on-screen pairing of (then) real-life couple Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, producer/director Alexander Korda’s epic love story set against the Napoleonic Wars tells of the scandalous affair between British Naval officer Lord Horatio Nelson and Emma, Lady Hamilton, the wife of a British ambassador. Seamlessly combines epic-scale war movie pyrotechnics with intimate romantic drama. Interesting note: this was Winston Churchill’s favorite film, which he claimed to have seen over 80 times! Bonuses: Commentary by film historian Ian Christie; Interview with Korda’s nephew Michael Korda; Trailer; Promotional radio piece from 1941; Essay by critic Molly Haskell. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
EASY VIRTUE (Sony) Smart, sassy, and fun adaptation of Noel Coward’s play about a society lad (Ben Barnes) who surprises his stuffy family by bringing home an “older” (Jessica Biel) American wife: a liberated spitfire who races cars and speaks her mind, shaking the repressed family’s 1930’s values and ideals to its core. Terrific turns by the entire cast, particularly Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth as the parents, and Biel, in a masterful turn that should redefine her career. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Blooper reel; Featurette; Commentary by director Stephan Elliott and screenwriter Sheridan Jobbins. Blu-ray bonuses: BD Live features. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST (New Line) Matthew McConaughy stars as an incorrigible womanizer who finds the ghost of his dead uncle (Michael Douglas, in a very funny self-parody), his former mentor in all things playboy, advising him to mend his ways and give into true love, here in the form of very lovable Jennifer Garner. Starts off well, then loses steam quickly, mostly due to a one-joke premise. Too bad, as there is talent to spare in this misfire. Also available on Blu-ray disc. BR bonuses: Featurettes; Behind-the-scenes; Additional scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.

OBSERVE AND REPORT (Warner Bros.) Seth Rogen stars in this suprisingly funny and sweet-natured comedy about a mall cop who aspires to be the real thing. Anna Faris provides an attractive love interest as a makeup counter girl with a heart of gold, and Ray Liotta is his usually sleazy, wonderful self as the real cop who also has eyes for Anna. Nice work from writer/director Jody Hill. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses on BR: Featurettes; Mall cop recruitment video; Outtakes and gag reel; BD-Live features. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (20th Century Fox) Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the invulnerable, spike-knuckled mutant Wolverine, the most ill-tempered of the X-Men, here in the story of how he came to be. You know you're in trouble when a film opens with the legend "Northwest Territories of Canada--1840" when Canada didn't exist as a country until 1867 and the Northwest Territories till 1870. Hair-plucking aside, there are some great ideas in the first third of the film that director Gavin Hood, who scored so strongly with his debut feature Tsotsi, and writers David Benioff and Skip Woods never fully flesh out, opting instead for wall-to-wall mayhem instead of characters and plot. Films like The Dark Knight and Iron Man have proven that you can have your mayhem and wash it down with some content, as well. Story revolves around Wolverine's ongoing feud with his homicidal half-brother (Liev Schreiber) who is in cahoots with an evil army general (Danny Huston) to kidnap all known mutants, harness their powers, and then kill them. There is nary an untalented person in sight who worked on this film, making its utter mediocrity all the more disappointing. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Hood, producers Lauren Schuler Donner and Ralph Winter; Featurettes; Deleted and alternate scenes; Trivia track; Interviews with cast and crew; BD-LIVE features on Blu-ray. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.

O’HORTEN (Sony) When train engineer Horten (Bard Owe) retires, he finds his life suddenly adrift without the rigid structure of timetables and schedules on which it previously ran. A story of one man’s self-discovery in late middle age, this art house hit from Norway is as glacially-paced as the terrain in which it’s set, and is surely not for every taste. For discriminating viewers who appreciate dry humor and offbeat characters, it is sure to offer its share of rewards. Bonuses: Interviews with writer/director Bent Hamer and composer John Erik Kaada. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SILENT LIGHT (Palisades Tartan) Visually-stunning work, reminiscent of early Terence Malick, about a Mennonite community in northern Mexico where a man and woman, both married to others, fall in love and begin a forbidden affair. Unique work defies description otherwise, except to say it is one of the most moving, breathtaking works of cinema in recent years. Bonuses: Featurette; Interview with actor Cornello Wall; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
SIN NOMBRE (Universal/Focus) Compelling drama about a young woman and her father making the trek to the promise of a better life in the U.S. from rural Latin America. Along the way they cross paths with a teenage gangster fleeing his violent past in Mexico, who joins them on their journey north. Stark, moving neo-realist drama is reminiscent of Gregory Nava’s El Norte, and pulls no punches in its raw depiction of life south of the border. Exec produced by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Commentary by writer/director Cary Fukunaga and producer Amy Kaufman. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TRIANGLE (Magnet/Magnolia) Twisting, turning heist thriller directed by three masters of Hong Kong cinema: Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, and Johnnie To. When three drinking buddies down on their luck are tipped off that a huge cache of priceless treasure lies beneath a high-security government building, their best-laid plans soon go the way of mice and men. Suspenseful, funny and more than a bit convoluted at times, but stick with it. The payoff is a knockout! Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
RUMBA (Koch-Lorber) Funny, stylish romantic comedy from Belgium about a couple (Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel, who also directed) who live for their shared passion of Latin dancing. When a devastating car accident turns their lives upside down, each stays determined to keep their rhythm on the dance floor going. Blackly hilarious film is also quite touching. Bonuses: Deleted scenes and outtakes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SUGAR (Sony) Terrific biopic of Miguel “Sugar” Santos, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and his rise from minor league baseball in a small Iowa town, where Sugar struggles to fit in, and make it to “the show,” knowing that only his success can save his family back home. Authentic, powerful film avoids most of the sentimental clichés that “inspirational” sports movies have become notorious for, and comes out on top as a result. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CRANK 2: HIGH VOLTAGE (Lions Gate) More adventures of unstoppable hit man Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), this time tracking down his indestructible heart which has been sold to a Triad gang boss, and replaced with a battery-powered pump—which is slowly losing power! With the clock literally ticking, Chev must team up with his gal pal (Amy Smart) and smash everything and everyone that stands in their way. High octane action is sure to please the adolescent boy (literally or metaphorically) in us all. If you’re looking for Merchant-Ivory, however, look elsewhere! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by filmmakers; Gag reel; Featurettes. Blu-ray features: BD Live features, allowing viewer to view interactive features with cast and crew; MoLog—the first BD Live application that allows users to insert and animate shapes, text and audio into the film itself to create blogs to share with other users. This is, in many ways, the most intriguing aspect of this release! Also, Lionsgate Live, a new interactive menu system that allows the user to access exclusive content such as ringtones, special offers and more. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 and DTS 7.1 surround.
SUPER HERO DOUBLE FEATURE Warner Bros. releases two animated features from the pages of DC Comics: THE BATMAN/SUPERMAN MOVIE sees two of comics’ most iconic heroes join forces when The Joker and Lex Luthor team up to unleash mayhem upon Metropolis. Can Batman and Superman put aside their differences long enough to save the city, and the world? THE BATMAN VS. DRACULA is an intriguing blend of super hero adventure and the supernatural, as Gotham City finds itself suddenly plagued by a hoard of undead, led by the prince of the undead himself, Count Dracula! Iconic figures such as The Joker, The Penguin and Vicki Vale also make appearances in this fun romp for kids of all ages. Bonuses: Featurettes; Interactive games; Music montage. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround.

SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS (Warner Bros.) Direct-to-video feature with live-action versions of the iconic 1960s-70s Saturday AM cartoon (and a CGI Scooby), with the teenage sleuths looking to clear their names after being blamed for what appears to be a spooky prank at Coolsville High. Sure to please the little people in your house. Mom and dad, however, might want to keep a copy of The New Yorker handy while they watch with the kids! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Gag reel; Music video. BR bonuses: Trivia track; Interactive features. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
AMERICAN SON (Miramax) A 19 year-old (Nick Cannon) has four days to make peace with all the people in his life before shipping out to Iraq. Sincere, honest, quiet film was a hit at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and is a poignant look at one young man’s uncertain feelings and uncertain future. Bonuses: Deleted scenes, Featurettes; Commentary by director Neil Abramson, producers Danielle Renfrew and Michael Roiff. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS: ENCHANTED MUSICAL EDITION (Disney) Oscar-winner for Best Visual Effects in 1971, this delightful Disney concoction tells the tale of an apprentice witch (Angela Lansbury) who takes three siblings under her wing in a small village in England during WW II. This is the extended, 140 minute version of the film, which fleshes out the story and characters more than the original release. Also stars vet performer Roddy McDowall. Bonuses: Featurettes; Musical ,featurettes and interactive games; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
NIGHTWATCHING (E1 Entertainment) Peter Greenaway’s visually-arresting piece of historical fiction follows legendary artist Rembrandt (Martin Freeman) as he discovers a murder plot among the subjects of his latest painting: a group portrait of the Amsterdam Musketeer Militia. Determined to expose the conspiracy, Rembrandt builds his accusation within the form of the painting itself, entitled “The Night Watch,” with potentially lethal results. Fascinating blend of fact and fiction, expertly told under a master’s hand. 2 disc edition bonuses include: Feature-length documentary: Rembrandt’s J’Accuse; Featurettes; Interviews with Greenway, cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.

BLU-RAY TITLES Universal releases AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON: FULL MOON EDITION, John Landis' landmark 1981 masterpiece is a near-perfect blend of horror and humor, telling the tale of a recent U.S. college grad (David Naughton) who is bitten by a lycanthrope while foolishly wandering misty English moors with his less-fortunate best friend (Griffine Dunne, hilarious). Jenny Agutter provides an attractive love interest. Still holds up beautifully nearly 30 years later. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary by Landis; Feature-length documentary on film's production; Trailers; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. DTS 5.1 surround. SHAUN OF THE DEAD stars Simon Pegg as an average British bloke who finds himself holed up in his local pub, defending his 'hood from an army of the recently-dead who have come back to life. Like WEREWOLF, also blends humor and horror deftly. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Extended scenes with filmmaker commentary; U-Control features; Trailers and TV spots; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. ARMY OF DARKNESS: SCREWHEAD EDITION is Sam Raimi's third chapter in the Evil Dead trilogy which has lantern-jawed hero Ash (Bruce Campbell) traveling back in time to fight zombies, evil knights, and anyone else who gets in his chainsaw-toting, boomstick-wielding way! Great fun. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Documentaries; Photo gallery; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. DTS 5.1 surround. VAN HELSING is a not-so-funny or scary take on the Dracula legend, with Hugh Jackman's formidable talents wasted in the title role as the legendary vampire hunter/slayer. Feels like it was made by committee--too bad. Bonuses: Commentary by director Stephen Sommers; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; BD-Live features; Trialers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. HOT FUZZ: ULTIMATE EDITION stars Simon Pegg again, this time in a hoot of a cop movie satire, about an over-zealous London bobby who is sent to a precinct in the sticks as punishment, only to uncover a hotbed of crime, murder and evil! Features a who's-who of legendary British character actors in support. Bonuses: Eight commentary tracks by cast and crew; Featurettes: Pop-up trivia track; Deleted scenes and outtakes; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. DTS 5.1 surround. Blue Underground releases Ralph Bakshi's animated fantasy FIRE AND ICE, an eye-popping visual feast that has a storyline which owes much to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but is imaginative enouogh to stand on its own. Bonuses: Commentary by Bakshi; Featurettes; D-Box enabled. Widescreen. DTS 7.1 surround and Dolby 5.1 surround. Sony releases the revisionist westerns THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, boasting a dream cast (Gene Hackman, Sharon Stone, Leonardo di Caprio, Russell Crowe) and lots of director Sam Raimi's signature visual flourish, but little in the way of plot or character. Still a fun watch on a slow night. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. SILVERADO is director/co-writer Lawrence Kasdan's smart, funny, thrilling western starring Kevin Kline, Danny Glover, Scott Glenn and Kevin Costner as homesteaders facing off against a corrupt sheriff (Brian Dennehey) in a burgeoning western town. Terrific. Bonuses: Commentary by Kasdan, cast and crew; Featurettes and documentaries; Photo gallery; Deleted scenes; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. FIREPROOF and FACING GIANTS are both earnest dramas with conservative Christian overtones that, depending on your own beliefs, will either inspire you or put you to sleep. FIREPROOF does boast some impressive production values, however. Both films were major hits at the box office, particularly in red states. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Miramax releases four recent martial arts hits from Asia: Jackie Chan stars in the classic THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER, featuring Chan's signature blend of martial arts mayhem and physical comedy brilliance, here playing a man who, the drunker he gets, the better he fights! Think of Popeye's spinach replaced with a bottle of hooch, and you get the picture. Goofy as hell, and completely entertaining. Bonuses: Interview with Chan. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. IRON MONKEY, helmed by famed martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping, tells the story of an Asian Robin Hood, who comes to the aid of the poor and oppressed in Feudal China. Dazzling stunts and set pieces galore. "Presented" by Quentin Tarantino. Bonuses: Interview with Tarantino and star Donnie Yen. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Tarantino also presents Jet Li's epic HERO, co-starring a who's-who of Hong Kong cinema: Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming and Donnie Yen. Li stars as a nameless warrior gifted with supernatural fighting ability who embarks on a mission of vengeance against the brutal army that massacred his town. One of the best Asian cinematic imports in years. Bonuses: Featurettes; Interview with Tarantino and Li; Storyboards; Soundtrack spot. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Beat Takeshi's take on the 1960s samurai franchise ZATOICHI: THE BLIND SWORDSMAN, is a balletic bloodbath that very appropriately has its tounge firmly planted in-cheek. Takeshi plays the sightless, masterless samurai who wanders Feudal Japan doing good deeds, mostly by killing bad guys who seem to have fire hoses full of bright red blood inside their kimonos! Great fun. Bonuses: Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. 20th Century Fox releases Robert Altman's classic M*A*S*H, the seminal black comedy set during the Korean war about a trio of surgeons (Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt) in a mobile medical unit who engage in various forms of debauchery and rebellion in order to keep their sanity amidst the insanity of war. One of the all-time greats. Fine support from Robert Duvall, Sally Kellerman, Michael Murphy and a host of other actors who would become part of the Altman "stable." Bonuses: The complete interactive guide to M*A*S*H; Commentary by Altman; Documentaries and featurettes; Trailers; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THE HANNIBAL LECTER COLLECTION features three films based on Thomas Harris' novels invovling the brilliant serial kiler. The first (and best) of the lot is Michael Mann's 1986 MANHUNTER, an unheralded masterpiece, starring William Petersen as FBI agent Will Graham who must consult the imprisoned Lecter (played for the first, and only time, by Scottish actor Brian Cox, who is absolutely chilling) during his pursuit of an evasive psychopath (Tom Noonan, also terrifying). Terrific support from Joan Allen, Kim Greist, Dennis Farina and Stephen Lang. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS swept the Oscars in 1991, this time with Jodie Foster as FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who consults Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, in what became his signature role) in the hopes of profiling a killer targeting large women. Dynamite filmmaking from Jonathan Demme, and one of the screen's best thrillers, bar none. HANNIBAL is Ridley Scott's follow-up to Silence, and is 2/3 of a good movie, this time with Julianne Moore stepping into the role of Clarice Starling, hot on Lecter's trail after his escape. Bogged down by an ending that wallows in sensationalism, as opposed to suspense. Nice support (and scenery-chewing) from Ray Liotta and Gary Oldman. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.



DOCUMENTARY RELEASES Genius Entertainment releases LIONS, a collection of four Animal Planet docs about some of nature's most beautiful, and deadly felines. Kid friendly, with some remarkable up-close footage of the big cats. Bonuses: Featurettes; Extra footage. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Disney releases DISNEY NATURE EARTH, a truly phenomenal nature documentary comprised of footage culled from the BBC and Discovery Channel's Planet Earth series, which follows families of African elephants, Arctic polar bears and humpback whales for an entire year. Narrated by James Earl Jones, its truly a feast for the eyes and the other senses, as well. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Extra footage; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Microcinema releases LOOSE CHANGE 9/11: AN AMERICAN COUP, a provocative and controversial examination of several conspiracy theories behind the 9/11 attacks in New York and D.C. Lots of interviews with "experts," computer graphic re-creations and archival footage present a strong, if not-entirely convincing argument. Judge for yourself. Bonuses: Commentary; Extra interviews; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. A&E releases LIFE AFTER PEOPLE, takes an intriguing "what if" look at what might happen to the planet if man becomes extinct. Unsettling, to say the least, but also a fascinating piece of conjecture. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Additional scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. UNIVERSE, SEASONS 1-3, is an in-depth look at the makeup of our solar system, highlighted by state-of-the-art CGI, interviews with some of the world's greatest scientists, and terrific produciton values. Great education for young and old alike. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Documentaries and featurettes; Photo galleries. Widescreen. PCM stereo. MANSON takes a look at infamous cult leader and killer Charles Manson, and his "family" of followers who went on a killing spree in Los Angeles, 1969. Lots of unsettling archival footage, photos, and interviews with the people who lived through the family's reign of terror. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. MYSTERIES OF THE FREEMASONS takes an in-depth look at one of the world's most famous secret societies, and the role they have played in history past and present. Fascinating blend of sociology and history. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. HBO releases RUSSELL SIMMONS PRESENTS BRAVE NEW VOICES, a collection of spoken word monologues and poetry from up-and-coming young artists from a variety of background. An eclectic colleciton of language arts. Bonuses: Extra footage; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Indiepix releases IN A DREAM, a fascinating glimpse into the creative process of South Philadelphia muralist Isaiah Zagar, in which the artist opens himself, and his very turbulent life, up for public consumption. Tough to watch at times, but gripping in the most voyeuristic sense. Bonuses: Short films and music videos; Trialers; Deleted scenes; Alternate ending. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. THE LEAST OF THESE takes a penetrating look at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a former medium-security prison that re-opened in 2006 as a prototype family detention center to house immigrant families awaiting asylum or deportation hearings. A tough look at the flip side of the American dream, and some ugly realities of the post-9/11 world. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Acorn Media releases ON THE ROAD WITH CHARLES KURALT, SET 1, a three disc set featuring the legendary newsman's homespun vignettes of everyday life in the U.S., which first started airing in 1967. For nearly forty years, Kuralt traveled through all 50 states, speaking with Americans from all walks of life. Fascinating sociological time capsule. Bonuses: Featurettes; Updates on subjects; Bio of Kuralt. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. VISIONS OF EUROPE is a mammoth, six disc set, featuring a collection of episodes from one of public television's most beloved series. Features the programs Visions of Italy: Northern Style; Visions of Italy: Southern style; Visions of Sicily; Visions of Italy: The Great Cities; Visions of France: Provence; Visions of France: The Riviera; Visions of Greece; Visions of Greece: Off the Beaten Path; Visions of Austria; Visions of Germany: Bavaria; Visions of Germany: Along the Rhine; and Visions of the Great Cities of Europe. Bonuses: Bonus footage. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.


DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! 20th Century Fox releases THE SIMPSONS: THE TWELFTH SEASON, featuring all 21 episodes from the 2000-2001 season, highlights being “Lisa the Tree Hugger,” “Trilogy of Error,” and “Children of a Lesser Clod,” all smart, subversive humor courtesy of the creative brilliance of Matt Groening. Bonuses: Introduction by Groening; Audio commentary from cast and crew; Deleted scenes; Multi-angle animation showcases; Featurettes; Original sketches. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround. LIE TO ME: SEASON ONE, stars Tim Roth as Dr. Cal Lightman, an expert in the field of deception, whose uncanny ability to read body language makes him a human polygraph machine, which is put to good use in the interrogation of criminals, terrorists and even his own family. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. SONS OF ANARCHY: SEASON ONE, stars Ron Perlman as the leader of a legendary outlaw biker gang a la The Hells Angels who finds himself increasingly at odds with his stepson (Charlie Hunnam) as he steers the gang toward more illegal activities. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Audio commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Universal releases HEROES: SEASON 3, containing all 25 episodes of the hit series’ most talked-about season, where some truly head-spinning revelations occur! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Alternate stories; Art gallery; Commentary by cast and crew. Blu-ray bonuses: Season 4 sneak peak; Coyote Sands featurette; BD Live features; Picture in picture interactive features; Hero connections. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THE OFFICE: SEASON FIVE, features more deadpan hilarity from Steve Carell and his fellow paper-pushers in Scranton, PA.’s busiest, and most inept, workplace. 26 episodes on four discs. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Gag reel; Featurettes; Webisodes; Commentary by cast and crew; Blu-ray bonuses: One-liner soundboard; BD-Live features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. PARKS AND RECREATION: SEASON ONE, stars SNL alum Amy Poehler as an ambitious small town government bureaucrat whose dreams far exceed her talents. Very funny, dry satire made with intelligent adults in mind. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Extended cut of season finale; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. WORST WEEK: THE COMPLETE SERIES is an outrageous comedy series about a family (Kurtwood Smith, Nancy Lenehan, Erinn Hayes, Kyle Bornheimer) who find themselves in one catastrophe after another. From the creators of Scrubs. Bonuses: Commentary by exec producer Matt Tarses and Bornheimer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. KINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES stars the great Ian McShane in a "what if?" dramatization of a modern-day monarchy. Reaches for Shakesperian heights, and sometimes reaches them, but was never quite able to find its legs before getting the network's axe. Too bad, as there is great promise in this single season of shows. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Commentary by cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Paramount/CBS releases CALIFORNICATION: THE SECOND SEASON, starring David Duchovny as struggling, once-best-selling author Hank Moody, whose amorous adventures (intentional and otherwise) and quest for meaning in the shallow waters of LA dominates this smart, funny, profane cable TV favorite. 12 episodes on 2 discs. Bonuses: Commentary by actress Pamela Adion; Featurettes; Interviews with cast members; Bonus PC features include episodes of The United States of Tara and The Tudors. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. The young ones in your house should enjoy perpetual falsettos Alvin and the Chipmunks in THE VERY FIRST ALVIN SHOW, the original 1961 episode that launched the beloved animated series. Also includes two bonus episodes from the original program. AVLIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS GO THE MOVIES: STAR WRECK, features the boys in a new animated satire, sending up Star Trek and boldy going where no chipmunk has gone before. Features two additional episodes. Both are Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. HBO releases THE NO.1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, based on the best-selling series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith, chronicling the adventures of Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), the proprietor of Botswana’s sole female-owned detective agency. Offbeat, charming fun. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Acorn Media releases some fine titles from across the Pond: TRIAL & RETRIBUTION, SET 3 is from the fertile mind of Lynda La Plante, creator of Prime Suspect, here offering up a sort of British version of the U.S. hit Law & Order, following a single case from committal of the crime, to its conclusion at trial. Riveting drama, with a who's-who of British character actors in its cast. Bonuses: Cast and crew interviews; Bio of La Plante. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. PARADISE POSTPONED & TITMUSS REGAINED is a gripping family series from Rumpole of the Bailey creator John Mortimer, circa 1986, featuring Kristin Scott-Thomas in one of her earliest turns, following a British family’s rise from humble origins to the corridors of power from WW II to the Thatcher era. 14 episodes. Bonuses: Cast and author biographies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. VANDERWALK MYSTERIES: SET 1, stars veteran British character actor Barry Foster as a world-weary, highly-unorthodox Amsterdam police detective who tries to enjoy the finer things in life while dealing with the underbelly of society. Fine drama, and pretty strong stuff for 1972. Bonuses: Biography of author Nicolas Freeling. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. James Nesbitt headlines MURPHY’S LAW: SERIES 1, as a maverick Irish cop who tackles the London crime world head-on. Having nothing to lose following the brutal death of his daughter at the hands of the IRA, Murphy hits London like a sledgehammer, taking on all comers from the city’s dens of crime. Edgy, darkly funny, and stylish. Bonuses: Biography of Nesbitt. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Warner Bros. releases THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON, following science geeks Leonard, Sheldon and their fellow geek pals as they navigate their lives as top physicists and socially-inept lonely guys. Bonuses: Featurettes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround. TWO AND A HALF MEN: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON, continues the humorous escapades of odd couple roomies Charlie (Charlie Sheen), an unrepentant bad boy and ladies’ man, and shy nice guy Alan (Jon Cryer). Bonuses: Featurettes; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. FRINGE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, is courtesy the fertile imagination of J.J. Abrams, about an ambitious FBI agent, a brilliant scientist recently released from a mental hospital and his roguish son who join forces to investigate a series of bizarre deaths and disasters which have paranormal overtones. Interesting blend of police procedural and sci-fi. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Gag reel. Blu-ray bonuses: Interactive features allowing viewer to watch the episodes with experts who evaluate the events on-screen; BD-Live features, including writer/producer commentary. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Lionsgate releases TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: SEASON 8, featuring eight episodes of the pizza-munching reptiles who do battle against some truly trippy bad guys! Sure to please all the little folks in your house. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Sony releases ASTRO BOY: VOL 1-5, a stunning modern update of Tezuka Osamu’s groundbreaking Anime series of the 1960s about an atomic-powered robot boy, modeled after the son of a scientist, who becomes a superhero. Eye-popping animation and imaginative storylines, just as in the original, makes this an animated series sure to be appreciated by young and old alike. Ten episodes on each disc. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. E1 Entertainment releases SANCTUARY: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON following Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) a scientist who seeks out all manner of monstrous creatures, who along with her protégé (Robin Dunne) and daughter (Emilie Ullerup) track down the strange and terrifying creatures who secretly populate our world. Nice blend of smart science and pure mayhem. Bonuses: Cast and crew commentary; Featurettes; Webisodes; Bloopers; Photo gallery; Season two sneak peak. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. SHELLEY DUVALL'S TALL TALES & LEGENDS is a three-disc set offering all nine episodes of Duvall's additional takes on fractured fairy tales and legends, featuring an all-star cast (Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael York, Elliott Gould, Danny Glover, and many others) acting out favorite stories such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Johnny Appleseed, Davy Crockett, and others. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Lifetime releases GEORGIA O'KEEFFE, an intimate look at the life and times of the famed American artist (Joan Allen) and her husband, photographer Alfred Steiglitz (Jeremy Irons). Well-scripted by Michael Cristofer and directed by actor Bob Balaban. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.