DVD Playhouse--October 2009

DVD PLAYHOUSE—OCTOBER 2009
By
Allen Gardner

THE WIZARD OF OZ 70th ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Warner Bros.) A true highlight in digital restoration technology, Warner Bros. restoration of the 1939 classic is cause for celebration. The Technicolor of the late ‘30s looks as though it was shot yesterday, and is especially stunning on Blu-ray, which was produced by scanning each of the film’s original Technicolor camera negatives using 8K resolution. From this scan, a final “capture” master was created in 4K, yielding twice the resolution seen in the master utilized for the film’s previous DVD release. Judy Garland’s Dorothy is charming as ever, and the entire cast: Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch, are all stellar. Four disc set bonuses include: Sing-along track; Documentaries and featurettes; Two 1914 silent films produced by Oz author L. Frank Baum, based on his stories; Reproductions of archival material; Behind the Curtain, a 57-page hardcover book, assembled by Oz historian John Fricke; Wizard of Oz watch; The Dreamer of Oz, a 1990 TV movie about L. Frank Baum; Commentary track by Fricke, surviving cast and crew members, children of cast members; Music and effects track; Original mono track; Home movies; Outtakes and deleted scenes; Audio jukebox; 3 vault shorts; Photo galleries; Trailers. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
AWAY WE GO (Universal/Focus) Director Sam Mendes’ charming tale of young marrieds (John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) who take a cross-country road trip before the birth of their first child, hoping to find a perfect home in which to raise their family. Picaresque story has echoes of Hal Ashby’s The Last Detail, as well as some of the other great road pictures of the ‘70s in its unpretentious portrait of real people facing real problems, with all the humor and pathos that come with the territory. A winner. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Mendes, screenwriters Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LEAVING BARSTOW (Osiris Entertainment) Moving, realistic story of a high school senior (Kevin Sheridan) who aspires to bigger and better things than hometown Barstow, CA. has to offer, but finds himself inextricably homeward bound by his mother (Michelle Clunie) and his growing affection for the new girl in town (Ryan Michelle Bathe). Director Peter Paige and screenwriter Kevin Sheridan deliver nary a false note in this indie gem, winner of multiple film festivals—deservedly so. Exceptional work behind the camera by cinematographer Jayson Crothers. Bonuses: Trailer: Featurette; Interviews with cast members. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.
WHATEVER WORKS (Sony) Woody Allen’s latest has Larry David filling in for Woody before the camera, playing a curmudgeonly washed-up genius who falls into an awkward romance with a teen runaway (Evan Rachel Wood) from the Deep South. When her down-home parents (Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley, Jr.) arrive to track her down, all heck (a bit gentler than hell) breaks loose. A bit of “early, funny” Woody Allen to tickle your sense of humor, and for good reason: Allen penned the script in the late ‘70s for Zero Mostel to play the lead. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
MONSOON WEDDING (Criterion) Mira Nair’s sexy, smart tale of romantic culture clash follows an upper middle class Indian-American family as they prepare a very traditional wedding for their very Americanized daughter, who hasn’t even met her intended husband and is carrying on a torrid affair with a local TV host. Nair wisely avoids sentimentality and keeps the people and their actions very real in this sleeper hit, which captured the Golden Lion at the 2001 Venice Film Festival. Two disc set. Bonuses: Commentary by Nair; Interviews with cast and crew; Trailer; Seven short films by Nair. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DEATH IN THE GARDEN (Transflux Films/Microcinema) Luis Bunuel's 1956 Eastmancolor epic is set amidst a South American revolution where a disparate band of desperate fugitives (Georges Marchal, Simone Signoret, Michel Piccoli) must flee for their lives into the forboding jungle. Near-perfect blend of adventure and surrealism, courtesy of one of the genre's masters. Bonuses: Commentary by film scholar Ernesto R. Acevedo-Munoz; New interviews with Piccoli and film scholar Victor Fuentes. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
Z (Criterion) Costa-Gavras’ groundbreaking political thriller tells the true story of the 1963 assassination of a Greek, left-wing activist, and how his death sent shockwaves throughout Greece and the international community. Yves Montand turns in one of his finest performances as the passionate activist who wants to bring democracy to his country, which is under the brutal thumb of a military police state. Strong reverberations of our country’s own history in the ‘60s abound in this masterpiece, a true synthesis of filmmaking from the head, gut and heart. Not to be missed. Bonuses: Commentary by film historian Peter Cowie; Interviews with cast and crew, both new and archival; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE PROPOSAL (Touchstone) A ball-busting CEO (Sandra Bullock) finds out that she’s about to be deported from the U.S. due to the fact that she’s Canadian, and her work visa has expired. Her solution: fake a marriage to her subordinate (Ryan Reynolds), with whom she shares mutual hate, in his small Alaskan hometown, to earn her green card. Again, a film loaded with talent in front of and behind the camera that never passes the sitcom mark in terms of quality. When will studios stop making films by committee, and start letting the people who have talent tell stories the way they want to? Our advice: turn this proposal down! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Alternate ending; Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Commentary by director Anne Fletcher and writer Peter Chiraelli. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
LILI AND THE BAOBAB (Casque d’Or Films) Tender story of Lili (Romane Bohringer), a French freelance photographer assigned to a story on the remote village of Agnam, in the Senegalese desert. Upon developing a friendship with Aminata (Aminata Zaaria), a young woman who has no family in the village, Lili forms a sister-like bond with the girl, and soon finds herself caring for Aminata, and her newborn, fatherless, child. Striking portrait of culture clash, maternal instinct and how humanity has no borders. Bonuses: Making-of documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE GATE: MONSTROUS SPECIAL EDITION (Lions Gate) Minor classic of mid-1980s horror about a trio of pre-teens (led by a young Stephen Dorff) who discover a gateway to hell in their own backyard, after an old tree is uprooted, allowing a surge of pint-sized demons to spill into their suburban neighborhood. Not nearly as bad as it could have been, but I doubt Stanley Kubrick was green with envy when this low-budget crowd-pleaser was released, either. Bonuses: Commentary by the filmmakers; New interviews with cast and crew; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.
ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT (Sony) When the all-American student body president of a private Catholic school is busted for stealing SAT exams, an intrepid sophomore reporter (Reece Daniel Thompson, a real find) is determined to get to the bottom of the story. Just like the “hard-boiled detective story set in high school” film Brick, this film must have been a great read as a screenplay, but nearly chokes on its own cleverness and self-satisfaction as a piece of celluloid. Attractive young cast try their best, and Bruce Willis is a hoot in a deadpan self-parody as the school’s gung-ho principal, but in the end, this film is all attitude and very little story. Bonuses: Commentary by filmmakers; Alternate, extended, and deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ORAL FIXATION (Life Size Entertainment) Very funny, very odd black comedy about a needy young woman (Emily Parker) who develops an infatuation with her handsome dentist. When her amorous feelings aren’t returned, her feelings evolve from love to homicide. Disturbing, humorous, original work from writer/director Jake Cashill was the inaugural winner of Francis Coppola’s screenplay competition, and it’s easy to see why. Bonuses: Commentary by Cashill; Short documentary; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE ELEPHANT KING (E1 Entertainment) Strong drama about a young man (Tate Ellington) who reluctantly travels to Thailand at the insistence of his domineering mother (the great Ellen Burstyn) to bring his fugitive brother (Jonno Roberts) back home. When he finds himself seduced by the wild, intoxicating lifestyle the Far East has to offer, a moral quandary quickly finds itself thrust into his life. Solid drama is a traditional morality play given an exotic backdrop, but is exceedingly well-done. Bonuses: Commentary by Roberts and writer/director Seth Grossman; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CHERI(Miramax) Provocative, sexy period piece set in pre-WW I Paris where a famed courtesan (Kathy Bates), who is approaching retirement, calls upon her arch-rival (Michelle Pfeiffer) to sexually educate her spoiled 19 year-old son (Rupert Friend). Excellent study of morals, manners and class, helmed under the expert hand of Stephen Frears, and delivered by a fine cast. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.



THE HORROR, THE HORROR! Halloween brings more frights to disc this month. Here’s a few of the high (and low)-lights: Warner Bros. releases TRICK R’ TREAT, a surprisingly scary and effective horror anthology, produced by Bryan Singer and starring the likes of Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin and Brian Cox, offer up four interwoven tales of Halloween horror. Good stuff. Bonuses: Animated short, Trick R’ Treat: Season’s Greetings, with optional commentary. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Universal releases Sam Raimi’s DRAG ME TO HELL, about a hapless bank employee (Alison Lohman) who finds her life literally turned upside down when she denies a vengeful gypsy woman an extension on her house payment. Loaded with Raimi’s signature visual panache (and dark humor) but never quite gels, and Lohman is less-than stellar in her underwhelming turn as the cursed victim. A real disappointment from one of our most original horror directors. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: PG-13 and unrated versions of the film; Featurettes; Commentary by Raimi, cast and crew; Production video diaries; BD-Live features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Severin Films releases HARDWARE, the low budget, post-nuke thriller about a scavenger (Dylan McDermott) who brings home a battered cyborg’s metal head for his sculptor girlfriend (Stacey Travis) to make art out of. Little do they know, this scrap is the remnants of a deadly military robot that can reassemble itself, and has an insatiable hunger for human flesh! Uncompromising in the extreme, this notorious cult classic from 1986 got slapped with an X-rating upon its release, and has earned a strong following since. Holds up quite well, with its low budget adding to its grungy authenticity. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: New interviews with cast and crew; Featurettes; Deleted and extended scenes; Commentary by writer/director Richard Stanley; Short films by Stanley. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Lions Gate releases more titles in its Ghost House Underground series: SEVENTH MOON tells the tale of a honeymooning couple (Amy Smart and Tim Chou) in China who find themselves unwitting victims of a cult sacrifice. THE THAW stars Val Kilmer as an environmental activist who, after discovering the carcass of a woolly mammoth, finds that his entire team has been infected by a prehistoric parasite. Some good claustrophobic chills. JACK KETCHUM’S OFFSPRING follows the bloody exploits of a flesh-eating clan that resurfaces in small town Maine. Lots of blood and…lots of blood. THE CHILDREN is an unsettling tale about a family holiday that turns into hell on Earth when a flu-like virus sweeps through the group’s kids, turning them into deadly killers. Echoes of George Romero, although not as smart or socially conscious. All titles are also available on Blu-ray disc, and feature: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Music videos; Commentary by cast and crew; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Sony releases GHOST: THE LAST VAMPIRE, based on the hit anime series, about a half-vampire/half-human samurai (Gianna) who preys on those who feast on humans, and must battle an army of demons who have infested Earth. Lots of stunts, bloody pyrotechnics and eye candy for those who like this kind of thing. Others, beware. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Storyboard gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Palisades Tartan releases P, about a young girl, raised in rural Thailand, who finds that the homespun magic taught to her by her grandmother is taking on a decidedly evil taint after arriving in Bangkok. Sexy, bloody and surprisingly moving at times. Bonuses: Commentary by director/writer/editor Paul Spurrier; Featurettes; Music video; Photo gallery; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. THE BUTCHER is the controversial Korean hit, told entirely through two POV cameras, about a team of snuff film producers who butcher their victims on-camera one-by-one. Strong stuff, so much so in fact, that its brutality becomes its main focus, which only differentiates it from the snuff films it supposedly is condemning by the fact that it’s make-believe. Well-done, but really sick. Bonuses: Alternate ending; Photo gallery; Storyboard sketches; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. E1 Entertainment releases THE HAUNTED AIRMAN, starring Robert Pattison as a WW II pilot wounded in action who takes refuge at a sanatorium in Wales to recuperate. There, under the care of a creepy psychiatrist (Julian Sands) and his beloved aunt (Rachael Stirling), he finds himself slowly slipping into madness as he’s beset by haunting nightmares and visions. Short (70 min.), and plays like an extended “Twilight Zone” episode made for “Masterpiece Theater,” but worth a look. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.



BLU-RAY TITLES Blue Underground releases Lucio Fulci’s gore-fest THE NEW YORK RIPPER onto Blu-ray, in all its uncut, arterial-spraying glory. NYPD detectives are baffled by a knife-wielding psycho who is preying on the city’s most beautiful women. As a series of suspects come to light, will the guilty culprit be revealed? Unabashedly sleazy and sensationalistic in its depiction of savage killing, but Fulci did manage to capture the last gasp of the New York City of days past (and of Scorsese’s Taxi Driver) and uses the atmosphere to good effect in this notorious giallo that was heavily cut for its U.S. release to obtain an R-rating. Bonuses: Interview with actress Zora Kerova; Featurette; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS 7.1 surround. Severin releases EAGLES OVER LONDON, a serviceable, Italian-made WW II epic helmed by Enzo Castellari (The Inglorious Bastards) starring Van Johnson and Frederick Stafford as military intelligence operatives pursuing Nazi saboteurs through war-torn London. Some great set pieces raise this spaghetti war flick up a few notches from the norm, although Johnson is a bit long in the tooth, even in 1969 when this was made, to be playing cloak-and-dagger. Bonuses: Featurettes, including Castellari being interviewed by Quentin Tarantino. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround. Universal releases Kevin Costner’s ill-fated epic WATERWORLD, a soggy mess of a sci-fi tale about a grim future where global warming has caused the Earth to be completely covered by water, and only a lone wanderer (Costner, who else?) can battle an evil despot (Dennis Hopper, who chews the scenery with aplomb) and help the good people find their way to the mythical “dryland.” Lots of money and special effects in search of a story that is never discovered. Bonuses: BD-Live features; D-Box enabled. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, with Jim Carrey in the title role, is nearly as ill-advised as the previous title, with Carrey mugging as best he can on lavish sets, loaded with opulent production design but again, where are the characters and the story to frame them in. Worked great as a slim-volume for the kids, not so much as a nearly-two hour film. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes and outtakes; Music video by Faith Hill; Commentary by Howard; D-Box enabled; BD-Live features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.



ANIMATION NATION The big news in animated releases this month is Disney’s magnificent digital restoration of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS: DIAMOND EDITION. The 1937 classic was named by The American Film Institute as the greatest animated film of all-time, and rightly so. The restoration makes the film look as if it were made yesterday, with the colors and sounds particularly vivid and striking on Blu-ray. A treasure for young and old alike, and a gift for cinefiles everywhere. 3 disc set bonuses include: Commentary by John Canemaker; Music video; Featurettes; Games; Storyboard gallery; Karaoke sing-along. Full screen. Dolby 7.1 and 5.1 surround. Disney also releases MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, a Disney-fied version of Dickens’ classic tale, this time with Scrooge McDuck as the greedy miser who rains on everyone’s Yuletide parade, only to get comeuppance from a trio of ghosts. Bonuses: Classic Disney shorts; Full screen. Dolby 2.0 surround. WINNIE THE POOH: SEASONS OF GIVING—10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, features the gang from L.L. Milne’s classic books as they search for the perfect ingredients for a Thanksgiving feast, and share in the warm glow of a Christmas that brings a surprise visit from an old friend. Bonuses: Two new Pooh adventures; Featurettes; Christmas stocking. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 surround. Warner Bros. releases SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES an original animated movie that pits Batman and Superman against arch-villain Lex Luthor, who has somehow been elected President! The Man of Steel and The Caped Crusader must work against not only conventional law enforcement, but former allies The Justice League to bring Luthor and his corrupt regime down. Great fun, and surprisingly adult in content (it’s rated PG-13). Two disc set. Bonuses: Featurettes; Bonus cartoons and animated movies. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Palisades Tartan releases PRINCESS, a harrowing fable of vengeance from Denmark about August, a young man who returns from years of missionary work to find his beloved sister, a former porn star, dead from a drug overdose, and his niece in need of a caretaker. Fueled by rage, August seeks out to destroy those that brought his sister down. Striking visuals, reminiscent of the work of Ralph Bakshi. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. New Video releases WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE…AND 5 MORE STORIES BY MAURICE SENDAK, fun animated re-tellings of Sendak’s most celebrated children’s stories, beginning with Wild Things, and including In the Night Kitchen, Alligators All Around, One Was Johnny, Pierre, and Chicken Soup With Rice. Music by Carole King. Bonuses: Featurette on Sendak; Spanish and French versions of Wild Things. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.



DOCUMENTARY RELEASES Aplethora releases BACK TO BACK LIVE: MR. B & BOB SEELEY, a terrific filmed record of two of the world’s greatest pianists, Mr. B (Mark Lincoln Braun) and Bob Seeley, playing back-to-back grand pianos to a sold-out house. Fourteen tracks will have you jumpin’, jivin’ and wailin’. Bonuses: Extra footage and songs. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Sony releases EVERY LITTLE STEP: THE JOURNEY OF “A CHORUS LINE” which follows the auditions for the Broadway revival of one of the longest-running shows in musical theater history, including interviews with theater legends Marvin Hamlisch, Bob Avian, Michael Bennett, Charlotte D’Amboise and Donna McKechnie. A real life drama that nearly mirrors what the legendary show itself is about, and every bit as gripping and entertaining. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Commentary by filmmakers and Hamlisch. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Disinformation releases NEW WORLD ORDER, a portrait of Alex Jones and several other renowned activists and their ceaseless quests to uncover the “massive global conspiracy” that they believe threatens the future of humanity. A fascinating look at a highly-organized anti-globalist movement that will either have you ready to join the call, or make a call: to the guys with butterfly nets and keys to the rubber rooms! A real litmus test. Watch and judge for yourself. Bonuses: Extra footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Shout Factory releases OTIS REDDING: THE BEST SEE + HEAR, featuring an audio CD of Redding’s greatest hits, as well as a DVD of live performances from 1967, shortly before his untimely death in a plane crash. A must for fans of this supremely talented performer. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. A&E releases THE OTHER BRITISH INVASION: MONTY PYTHON, a two-disc set featuring interviews, rare vintage footage and an intimate look at the British loons who conquered the BBC’s stuffy airwaves in the late ‘60s and soon dominated the comic sensibility of the world. Two documentaries: Before the Flying Circus and Monty Python Conquers America give the viewer an insightful, funny look into their genius. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS PLAY THE MUSIC OF RAY CHARLES, feature the music legends performing 15 of Charles’ biggest hits, along with guest performer Norah Jones, recorded live at Lincoln Center in 2009. Also available on Blu-ray. Bonuses: Behind-the-scenes documentary; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. EXPEDITION AFRICA takes viewers on an epic journey as four renowned explorers retrace the journey of Henry Morton Stanley, and his search for the “lost” Dr. David Livingstone in the heart of Africa during the 19th century. 2 disc set looks especially stunning on Blu-ray. Bonuses: Behind-the-scenes documentary; Featurettes; Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. Warner Bros. releases ALL DAY WITH ADRIAN PETERSON, a look at the Minnesota Viking’s running back and his uncompromising process that has moved him to the rank of NFL all-star. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Virgil Films releases I AM BECAUSE WE ARE, a look at singer Madonna and her journey exploring the lives of children in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. Features interviews with such world leaders as President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Prof. Jeffrey Sachs. Bonuses: Photo gallery; Deleted scenes; Extended interviews. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Sexy Intellectual releases THE WHO, THE MODS AND THE QUADROPHENIA CONNECTION, a fascinating look into the mod culture of the mid-60s that caused a sensation in the UK and continues to be felt to this day, crystallized with The Who’s landmark 1973 album “Quadrophenia,” and the film of the same title six years later. Great archival footage, interviews with the band, and of course the music that made it all happen. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Indiepix releases HORI SMOKU SAILOR JERRY, a look at iconic American tattoo artist Jerry Collins, who helped elevate tattooing to an art form all its own. Bonuses: Commentary by director Erich Weiss; Deleted scenes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. E1 Entertainment releases NICKELBACK: LIVE AT STURGIS 2006, a terrific record of the group’s sold-out concert, featuring them performing their biggest hits. Bonuses: Featurettes; Photo gallery; Music video. ROB THOMAS—SOMETHING TO BE TOUR: LIVE AT RED ROCKS features the singer at the famed outdoor amphitheater in Colorado, and live performances of nearly 20 of his biggest hits. Bonuses: Music video. Both discs are also available on Blu-ray, and are widescreen, Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.



DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! Shout Factory releases the TV-to-DVD event of the month, with the unveiling of "ITS GARRY SHANDLINGS SHOW" THE COMPLETE SERIES, the groundbreaking cable show that ran on Showtime from 1986-1990 and was renowned for breaking the fourth wall, with star/host Shandling talking directly to his audience. Ostensibly a surreal look at the daily life of a young comic, Shandling turns the sitcom genre on its ear, blending ideas that would eventually evolve into reality TV, much of the Internet, and his own “The Larry Sanders Show” a decade later. 72 episodes that nearly defy description and should be seen to be believed, and are a true testament to a very unique comic genius. Bonuses: Six featurettes with cast, crew and writers; 40-page book; Outtakes; Original episode promos; 18 commentaries by cast and crew. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. ANDY BARKER, P.I.: THE COMPLETE SERIES is a hilarious, off-the-wall comedy from the minds of Conan O’Brien and star Andy Richter about an accountant-turned-private eye. Very smart, very funny stuff that wasn’t given its due during its brief run on NBC in 2007. 2 disc set bonuses include: Featurettes; Commentary with cast and crew; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround. Sony releases MARRIED WITH CHILDREN: THE COMPLETE ELEVENTH SEASON, the final season of the blue collar, white trash Bundy family and their mission to offend everyone not only in their own dingy neighborhood, but apparently around the world, as well. 25 episodes on 3 discs offer plenty of big (literally and figuratively) laughs for fans of the series. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Paramount releases FLASHPOINT: THE FIRST SEASON, follows an urban police department’s Strategic Response Unit (SRU—a latter day equivalent of SWAT) and its high-octane adventures dealing with hostage situations, bomb threats, and murder. Effectively combines gritty, realistic action with good writing and strong performances from its ensemble cast. Bonuses: Commentary by director David Frazee; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. GIRLFRIENDS: THE SEVENTH SEASON, follows a trio of sophisticated L.A. ladies who tackle life, love and work with equal aplomb in one of the world’s most competitive cities. Attractive cast, lots of sexy situations. Bonuses: Commentary by executive producer/creator Mara Brock Akil. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. HAWAII FIVE-O: THE SEVENTH SEASON, is a six-disc collection featuring 24 episodes of Det. Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) and his squad of crime-fighters on the Big Island. Bonuses: Episodic promos. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE SECOND SEASON, features more ‘80s-era horror anthology fun, from the mind of George A. Romero. 24 spine-tingling episodes, many featuring up-and-coming young actors who would go onto movie stardom. Bonuses: Featurette on Romero. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. MANNIX: THE THIRD SEASON, features Mike Connors and his never-moving hair in 25 episodes on six discs, all from the 1969-70 season. Great fun. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE FUGITIVE: SEASON THREE, VOL. 1, stars David Janssen as framed murderer on the run Dr. Richard Kimble, featuring the first half of the 1965 season on four dics. Suspenseful, extremely well-done, with a who’s-who of guest stars. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Genius Entertainment releases ELEPHANTS, two terrific episodes about Africa’s biggest, most noble creatures. Africa’s Elephant Kingdom follows an extended family of pachyderms as they make a life-and-death journey across the continent’s plains. Queen of the Elephants follows adventurer/conservationists Mark Shand and Parbarti Barua, as they trek 1300 miles across India on the backs of elephants. Great fun for kids and adults. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Warner Bros. releases SCARE TACTICS: SEASON 3, PART ONE, an uncensored version of the hit prank show, hosted by comic Tracy Morgan, in which elaborate hoaxes are played upon unsuspecting victims, with often hilarious and outrageous outcomes. A sort of R-rated “Candid Camera,” for the 21st century. Very funny. Bonuses: Bloopers and outtakes; Extra footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. HBO releases JIM JEFFRIES: I SWEAR TO GOD, a no-holds-barred recording of the comic’s live HBO special, featuring hilarious and caustic rants on some of society’s most sacred cows. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Acorn Media releases LIFE ON MARS: SERIES 2, the conclusion to the hit British show about a modern-day cop in Manchester who, after being put into a coma after an accident, wakes up in 1973, and finds himself facing a very different English legal system, as well as his own checkered childhood. One of television’s best, most inventive series. Bonuses: Documentary; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Bravo releases TOP CHEF: NEW YORK, the number one rated food show on cable TV, featuring 17 contestants competing for culinary stardom in the Big Apple. Surprisingly involving and suspenseful, even for those who only enjoy the consumption part of cooking, as opposed to the preparation! Bonuses: Featurettes; Cookbook; Deleted scenes; Extended interviews; PC game demo. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.