DVD Playhouse--December 2009

DVD PLAYHOUSE—DECEMBER 2009
By
Allen Gardner

PUBLIC ENEMIES (Universal) Johnny Depp portrays legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger in co- writer/director Michael Mann’s take on America’s first “Public Enemy Number One.” Like many big studio releases today, Public Enemies has it all: A-list talent before and behind the camera, but lacks a heart or soul that allows its audience to connect with it. Film plays out like a “true crime” TV show with re-enactments of famous events cast with top actors and shot by the best technicians in the business, with little, if any, character or story development to hold it together in between. A real disappointment from one of our finest filmmakers and finest actors. The lone standout: the great character actor Stephen Lang as a hard-eyed lawman who’s seen a lot, but manages to retain a tiny piece of his heart. For a better take on the same subject, try John Milius’ excellent DILLINGER, from 1973, starring Warren Oates. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Mann; Featurettes; D-BOX motion enabled; BD-LIVE features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
A CHRISTMAS TALE (Criterion) Catherine Deneuve stars in Arnaud Desplechin’s harrowing tale of a troubled upper-class family who gather at Christmas after it’s revealed that the family matriarch (Deneuve) needs a bone marrow transplant from a blood relative. Film nearly runs the entire gamut of human emotions: joy, anger, sadness, revelation, catharsis, and more. A real tour-de-force by all involved. 2-disc set. Bonuses: L’aimee, Desplechin’s 2007 documentary about the sale of his family home; Documentary about film’s production; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FUNNY PEOPLE (Universal) Adam Sandler plays a comedian/movie star who finds out he’s got a terminal disease. Seth Rogen is the young upstart comic who meets Sandler at an open mike night and, to his shock and surprise, finds that his idol is willing to take him under the proverbial wing as a final good deed before he leaves the material plane. Had this been the only plot of writer/director Judd Apatow’s serio-comedy, it might have worked. Instead, you’ve got about three plots too many in this very long (2 ½ hours), unfocused mess of a movie. The high point: Adam Sandler shows he’s got chops as one hell of a fine dramatic actor. Available in R-rated and unrated editions. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary with Apatow, Sandler and Rogen; Featurettes; Documentary; Gag reel; Deleted scenes; Prank calls; James Taylor live. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Touchstone) Teen comedy parody of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew is great fun, and notable for launching the careers of young leads Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, the latter of whom plays Bianca, a hard-headed high school girl who keeps all the boys at bay, and her younger sister Kat (Larisa Oleynik)'s social life as dead as the Bard himself: she can't date until older sister Bianca does. When new kid in school Josepsh Gordon-Levitt falls hard for Kat, he enlists the wily charms of bad boy Ledger to woo Bianca, in order to make Kat fair game. Clever and quite literate for its genre, still holds up well after a decade. Allison Janey is a hoot in support. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Retrospective documentary; Deleted scenes; Commentary by cast members and writers. BD bonuses: Heath Ledger's original screen tests, which are something to behold! Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
MAD DOG MORGAN (Troma Retro) Dennis Hopper stars in an early (1975) Aussie New Wave classic based on the true story of Daniel Morgan, an Irish immigrant who became Australia’s most wanted outlaw of the 19th century. Uncut version features some really excessive violence that was cut for North American release. Aussie stalwart Jack Thompson is fine in support, as are many other faces which later became familiar to fans of films from “Oz.” 2-disc set. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Featurette; Introduction by director Philippe Mora; Slideshow. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
TERMINATOR SALVATION (Warner Bros.) Fourth entry in the Terminator franchise finds Gov. Schwarzenegger nowhere in sight, and an adult John Connor (Christian Bale) leading the human resistance against evil Skynet Corporation’s dastardly machines and plan of human destruction. Once again, a film that is loaded with acting talent (Bale, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Worthington, and Helena Bonham Carter, among others) and a potentially-thrilling storyline gets buried in a morass of state-of-the art “tech,” with director McG seemingly nowhere in sight, as the actors all shout their dialogue at one another. A film that starts out at “11” on a scale of 1-10 and then has nowhere to go—save for a splitting headache. A real let-down. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: PG-13 theatrical and R-rated director’s cuts; Featurettes; BD bonuses: Maximum Movie Mode featuring director McG deconstructing the film’s key moments; Picture (PiP) commentary with cast and crew interviews, storyboards, still galleries, timeline and more; 11 mini featurette focus points spotlighting how the ground-breaking special effects were created; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
EXTRACT (Miramax) Another sharp satire from the mind of Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead, Idiocracy, Office Space), starring Jason Bateman as a top salesman for a flavor extract company whose life is turned topsy-turvy when a workplace accident, his bored wife (Kristen Wiig), and a sexy con artist (Mila Kunis) all hit him at once. Very funny comedy, aimed at an audience with basic motor skills for a change, also features a great supporting turn from Ben Affleck. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; BD bonuses: Some very clever deleted and extended scenes which make this wry, clever comedy even funnier. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (Warner Bros.) More adventures at Hogwarts School, this time finding a very mature-looking Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) joining forces with Dumbledore to prepare him for what they both hope is a final battle between the forces of darkness and the forces of light. Great fun, although not quite the equal of the last two entries, buoyed greatly by its usual who’s-who supporting cast of Britain’s best actors: Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, and Julie Walters. Well-adapted by veteran scribe Steve Kloves. Bonuses: Footage from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows; Additional scenes; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Digital copy of film. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN (20th Century Fox) More fun with Ben Stiller as former night watchman Larry Daley, whose exhibits come to life after dark. Once Larry’s nocturnal pals get retired to the venerable Smithsonian, he finds himself lured back for an all-out battle against the museum’s misfits who are bent on taking over the Smithsonian and, dare we say it, the world! One of the few sequels that is far superior to its predecessor, loaded with smart humor that is sure to appeal to kids and adults alike. Great support from Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Amy Adams and Christopher Guest. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Gag reel; Deleted scenes; Commentaries by cast and crew; Video game; Digital copy. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
THE HANGOVER (Warner Bros.) A group of long-time friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha) head to Vegas for one last wild weekend before one of them ties the knot. After waking up from a wild night of excess, they find their room in a shambles, their lives in danger and their pal the groom…missing! Elbow-in-the-ribs comedy is full of broad yucks and good times, but is as easily forgotten as it is digested. Still, an entertaining way to kill 100 minutes of your life, or 108 if you choose the even raunchier, unrated version, both available here. Bonuses: Gag Reel; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Digital copy of film. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LORNA’S SILENCE (Sony Pictures Classics) An illegal immigrant (Arta Dobroshi), under the thumb of the mob, must do away with the man she married for citizenship, a dangerously-unbalanced drug addict, so that a Russian mobster can get European citizenship for himself. Fascinating study of moral and emotional quandaries is exceedingly well-made, and realistic to a fault, but is filled with nothing but loathsome, unrelenting losers who are hard to feel any sympathy for, much less empathy. A real litmus test for discriminating viewers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
RUNAWAY (E1 Entertainment) A teen (Aaron Stanford) and his eight year-old brother run away from their abusive parents (Melissa Leo and Michael Gaston) and soon finds himself in a torrid love affair with a seductive older woman (Robin Tunney, excellent), who slowly pries dark secrets from the boy’s troubled past. Tough, honest and very powerful little indie packs a punch that will linger in your gut. Bonuses: Commentary by Tunney, Stanford, director Tim McCann; Featurette; Interview with screenwriter Bill True; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BLIND DATE (E1 Entertainment) Stanley Tucci (who also directed and co-wrote the screenplay) and Patricia Clarkson star in this English-language adaptation of the late Theo Van Gough’s play (and subsequent film) about a married couple who meet in a bar for a series of role-playing games as strangers meeting for blind dates, hoping to reignite their damaged relationship. The denouement is a stunner, but the film stumbles numerous times prior to its big reveal, and never becomes cinematic enough to completely lose its obvious origins from the stage. The two leads are, as always, excellent. Bonuses: Commentary by Tucci and Clarkson. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SHERLOCK HOLMES DOUBLE FEATURE (MPI) Basil Rathbone, for many the ultimate cinematic take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s cerebral sleuth, stars in two vintage Holmes films. The first, The House of Fear (1939) finds Holmes and sidekick Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce, wonderful) investigating the mysterious deaths of a gentleman’s club in foggy Scotland. The Pearl of Death (1942) finds the crime-solvers investigating a series of murders that are somehow connected with the theft of a valuable jewel with a checkered past. Both are great fun, and true time capsules. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
STATEN ISLAND (N.E.M.) Tale of intersecting blue collar lives (Ethan Hawke, Seymour Cassel, Vincent D’Onofrio) on New York’s Staten Island whose dreams far exceed their grasps. Nice, authentic-feeling slice-of-life is solid work by all involved but, like most films of this genre, owes much to Scorsese’s MEAN STREETS. Bonuses: Commentary by Hawke, D’Onofrio, and director James DeMonaco; Interview with D’Onofrio; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DOG EAT DOG (IFC Films) Columbia’s first feature film to be selected for Sundance, as well as its official entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, Dog Eat Dog tells the tale of a ruthless drug lord who suffers from agoraphobia, and rules his empire from atop a luxury high-rise. When two street hustlers double-cross the big boss, and kill his beloved godson in the process, he declares all-out war against the two small-timers. Stunning blend of neo-realism and full-throttle thriller. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE SKEPTIC (IFC Films) Tim Daly stars as an analytical attorney who, following the death of his aunt, moves into her supposedly haunted Victorian mansion. The rational, logic-driven mouthpiece soon finds himself besieged by ghostly voices, visions and incidents, until he is finally forced to investigate the seemingly-supernatural goings on. Solid, old-fashioned ghost story, with some genuine scares. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
PENANCE (IMD) A young woman, down on her luck, takes a job as a stripper in an out-of-the-way club and soon finds herself falling prey to a psychotic who is bent on “purifying” her, and all wayward women like her. Some truly frightening and disturbing sequences that will stay with you, along with some truly sick and over-the-top gore and violence. Not for ever taste, or the faint-of-heart! Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
MCLEOD’S DAUGHTERS (E1 Entertainment) Now-classic Aussie film that spawned a hit TV series Down Under, about two wildly different sisters who must make peace and help their father (the great Jack Thompson) save the family farm from bankruptcy. Kym Wilson and Tammy McIntosh are charming in the leads, and the beauty of the Australian outback has never been more stunning. Bonuses: First two episodes of the TV series. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
FAITH-BASED DRAMAS Sony and Affirm Films release two faith-based dramas to DVD. THE MOMENT AFTER is best described as a Biblical suspense thriller, where two FBI agents are dispatched to investigate the sudden disappearence of millions across the globe, uncovering a government conspiracy, and their own long-suppressed faith, in the process. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING tells the story of a young man (writer/director David de Vos) whose life is in a shambles until he reconnects with his biological father, who hasn't long to live. During their short time together, father teaches son his theories of God's existence through scientific evidence. Both films are well-made, and won't be to everyone's taste (or political/social persuasion), but are sure to please the demographic they were produced for. Both are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.



BLU-RAY TITLES Criterion releases a gorgeous Blu-ray edition of Fellini’s seminal 8 1/2, the maestro’s autobiographical look at a filmmaker (Fellini alter-ego Marcello Mastroiani) whose life and career are collapsing around him. One of the great, surreal epics of modern cinema, 8 1/2 helped redefine the language of film after its 1963 release, and continues to influence filmmakers today. A real treasure. Bonuses: Introduction by Terry Gilliam; Commentary by critic and Fellini friend Gideon Bachmann, NYU film professor Antonio Monda; Short film by Fellini; Documentaries and featurettes on Fellini; Photo gallery; Interviews with cast, crew and colleagues; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono. 20th Century Fox releases a dynamite 10th anniversary edition of David Fincher’s FIGHT CLUB, starring Edward Norton as a disenfranchised yuppie who find himself under the spell of the charismatic Tyler Durdin (Brad Pitt) and his underground fight club, where ordinary Joes, dissatisfied with the hands life has dealt them, gather to duke it out bare-knuckled, so they can at last feel something that resembles a human emotion again. Widely criticized when first released as convoluted and far-fetched in the extreme, film now feels extremely prescient in the wake of 9/11 and the economic crisis. One note: as a prank, Fincher has included a “fake” opening DVD menu, making it appear that the consumer has purchased a Blu-ray copy of the Drew Barrymore turkey Never Been Kissed! Almost as clever as inserting a frame of a big, fat…never mind. Bonuses: Commentary by Fincher, Pitt, Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, writers Chuck Palahniuk and Jim Uhls, technical commentary by Alex McDowell, Jeff Cronenwith, Michael Kaplan and Kevin Haug; Featurettes; Deleted and alternate scenes; Trailers, TV and Internet spots; PSAs; Music video; Promo art and photo galleries. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. THE MEL BROOKS COLLECTION feature nine of Mel’s funniest films looking and sounding better than ever: The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World—Part I, To Be or Not to Be, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. All the films are now classic and defy capsule descriptions, save to say that they will leave your funnybone aching for weeks after viewing! Bonuses: 120 page hardcover book, “It’s Good to be the King!” that traces Brooks’ films and career. Also: 7 featurettes; 6 new featurettes exclusive to Blu-ray; 4 new trivia tracks; 5 isolated score tracks; Commentary by Brooks, cast and crew; Documentaries; Photo galleries; Trailers and TV spots. All are widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono, 5.1 surround. MGM/Fox releases ROCKY: THE UNDISPUTED COLLECTION, featuring all six Rocky films in beautiful new, high-def transfers. The first Rocky is certainly an undisputed great film, with parts II-IV and the final entry, Rocky Balboa, all solid pieces of entertainment. Only Rocky V, featuring the Italian Stallion being challenged by a young tough (real-life boxer Tommy Morrison), falls short. 7-disc set. Bonus disc features over 3 hours of special features: Interactive game; Documentary on the series; Featurettes; Video commentary by Stallone; Stallone on 1976 episode of “Dinah!”; Trailers, TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, A VERY SUNNY CHRISTMAS is a feature-length Christmas special spin-off of the popular TV show, with the Paddy’s gang determined to shed their malicious, back-stabbing ways and discover the true meaning of Christmas. Yeah, right! Funny, funny stuff. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurette; Sing-along. Widescreen. DTS. 5.1 surround. HBO releases ROME THE COMPLETE SERIES, a massive 10-disc set featuring all 22 hours of some of the finest, most epic television ever produced. Story follows two Roman Legionnaire grunts (Ray Stevenson and Kevin McKidd) and their encounters with some of history’s most revered Roman citizens. Bold, bloody and literate—a real event, made all the more opulent on Blu-ray. Bonuses: 13 audio commentary tracks with cast and crew; Nine featurettes. New for Blu-ray: All Roads Lead to Rome, an in-depth, interactive on-screen guide prepared by series consultant Jonathan Stamp, and Bloodlines: An interactive on-screen guide highlighting the connections between the soldiers, senate and families of Rome. Widescreen. DTS 5.1 surround. Universal releases Guy Richie’s Cockney gangster comedy LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, an inventive, riotous romp about a charming London grifter (Nick Moran) who must come up with half a million pounds for the biggest gangster in town after loosing a winner-take-all card game that the big boss fixed. Wild romp almost defies description, but is loaded with amazing set pieces, performances and a killer soundtrack. Bonuses: Featurettes; D-Box motion enabled; BD-LIVE features. Widescreen. DTS 5.1 surround. Blue Underground releases the grisly 1978 grindhouse classic THE TOOLBOX MURDERS, starring Cameron Mitchell as a psychotic handyman who uses the tools of his trade to kill the “immoral” female residents of his apartment building. Its low budget makes the film especially realistic and unsettling. Uncut version is really sick, even by today’s standards. Not a recommendation mind you, but if this is your cup of tea, by all means…Bonuses: Commentary by producer Tony DiDio, cinematographer Gary Graver, star Pamelyn Ferdin; Interview with actress Maxine Walter; Trailer, TV and radio spots. Widescreen. DTS 7.1 and Dolby 5.1 surround.



DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! 20th Century Fox releases THE COMPLETE LOVE COMES SOFTLY DVD COLLECTION, based on the best-selling novels by Janette Oke, follows three generations of courageous women of faith through their trials and tribulations. Family, and faith-based, titles in the set are: Love Comes Softly, Love’s Enduring Promise, Love’s Long Journey, Love’s Abiding Joy, Love’s Unending Legacy, Love’s Unfolding Dream, Love Takes Wing, Love Finds a Home. Starring Katherine Heigl, January Jones, Erin Cottrell, Sarah Jones, Patty Duke, Haylie Duff and Dale Midkiff. All are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 mono. BETTER OFF TED THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is a 2-disc set of all 13 season one episodes, starring Jay Harrington and Portia de Rossi in a hilarious, satirical look at the research and development team at fictional Veridian Dynamics. Great mix of slapstick and satire. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Warner Bros. releases ER THE COMPLETE TWELFTH SEASON, where Country General finds itself affected by changes within and beyond its walls, as internal politics and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan affect its denizens. One of TV most enduring series, and for good reason. Bonuses: Unaired scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. A&E releases THE SHERLOCK HOLMES COLLECTION, featuring the five surviving episodes of the BBC’s 1968 series starring Peter Cushing at Holmes and Nigel Stock as Dr. Watson. The classic Arthur Conan Doyle tales dramatized here are The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Sign of the Four, The Blue Carbuncle, A Study in Scarlet, and The Boscombe Valley Mystery. Bonuses: Documentary on Holmes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK is a 15 DVD collection of the groundbreaking illusionist’s series where Angel proves why he’s been dubbed the “Houdini of the 21st century.” Collection features every episode of seasons 1-5, the Halloween Special and a bonus disc featuring six episodes never-before-released on DVD. Bonuses: Commentary by Angel; Interactive features; Featurettes; Interview with Angel; Additional scenes; Photo gallery; Biography. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Disney releases THE WIZARDS OF WAVERY PLACE THE MOVIE, with everyone’s favorite suburban wizards, the Russo family, joining together on a quest for the “stone of dreams” while on vacation. Good clean fun for the kids and those who enjoy “family” entertainment. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. HBO releases INTO THE STORM, the true story of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill continues where its prequel, The Gathering Storm, left off, with Churchill (Brendan Gleeson, born to play the part) rallying his country during WW II, and how Britain seemed to turn its back on the man who saved them once the war was over. Fine support from Janet McTeer as Churchill’s long-suffering wife Clementine. Bonuses: Commentary by producer Frank Doelger and writer Hugh Whitemore; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. GEORGE LOPEZ TALL, DARK & CHICANO, a recording of a recent sold out, live performance by Lopez, where the comic targets modern kids and family values, love, sex, immigration, his Latino roots and more. Very funny, and very dirty! Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround. Acorn Media releases some of TV's finest titles from across The Pond. CALLAN SET 2 features more Cold War, hard-boiled intrigue starring the late, great Edward Woodward as the eponymous spy/assassin who finds himself at odds with his superiors and his own conscience in carrying out his often brutal duties. Quite simply one of television's finest hours, and a cause for celebration, now that it's available in the States. Four disc set. Bonuses: Commentary by Woodward; Woodward biography. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. PIE IN THE SKY SERIES 2 stars Richard Griffiths as semi-retired cop Henry Crabbe, who would just assume be in his kitchen whipping up something worthy of the Cordon Bleu, as opposed to catching criminals. Luckily for the people of the UK (and we, the viewers), he does both! Delightful mix of comedy, mystery and drama. Bonuses: Biography of Griffiths; Cast filmographies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. THE RED GREEN SHOW THE INFANTILE YEARS is a hoot of a comedy series from our cousins to the Great White North, of Canada. Red Green is the master of all things manly, duct-taped, and Canadian. He and his fellow denizens of Possum Lodge get themselves into one fine mess after another in this handsome box set featuring 72 episodes covering the 1991-93 seasons, the first three of a fifteen year run. Bonuses: Introduction by creator and star Steve Smieth; Character profiles; Actor biographies. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Finally, BONEKICKERS stars Adrian Lester, Julie Graham, Hugh Bonneville and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as an interpid team of archeologists who find much mud, blood and adventure when they start digging into the past. A mixture of Doctor Who-type fantasy/satire, The Da Vinci Code and C.S.I., Bonekickers is a unique, and very entertaining pastiche, raised a level by a superb cast. 6 episodes on 3 discs. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.



DOCUMENTARY DAYS Warner Bros. releases Mike Nichols’ film of GILDA LIVE, a record of comedienne Gilda Radner’s 1979 one-woman show at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theater. Radner pulls out all the stops as she performs her characters that made her a household name on “SNL”: Emily Littella, Roseanne Roseannadanna, Candy Slice, and more. A terrific testament to a unique talent who left us far too soon. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. ESPN Films/Buena Vista release Spike Lee’s documentary KOBE DOIN’ WORK, a look at NBA all-star Kobe Bryant, the league’s Most Valuable Player of 2008. Lee splices together footage shot from more than 30 cameras that followed Bryant during the 2007-08 season. A fascinating, warts-and-all look at the life of a professional athlete in the 21st century. Bonuses: Introduction by Lee; Photo montage; Deleted scenes; Music video by Bruce Hornsby; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. A&E releases THE NEW YORK YANKEES 2009 WORLD SERIES COLLECTOR’S EDITION, a seven-disc box set tailor-made for every die-hard Yankee fan! Features all six Series games against the Phillies, as well as the ALCS game 6 versus the Angels, plus a bonus disc that features 2009 season highlights and post-season highlights; Player interviews; Trophy presentation and celebrations; Alternate audio tracks featuring Series announcers from Fox Sports, ESPN, ESPN Deportes Radio, Yankees Radio and Phillies radio. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Inakustic releases four looks at some of the world’s most popular cars: Faszination Hummer, Faszination Porsche, Faszination Supercars and Faszination Modern Classic Cars take in-depth look at the development, marketing and performance of these vehicles, which remain a source of passion for many people as much as sports, politics and even religion. All are widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. MVD Visual releases THE ZOMBIES ODESSEY & ORACLE REVISITED a terrific record of the ‘60s icons 40th anniversary concert in London, 2008. Features 12 live tracks from the original four members of the band, followed by the complete set performed by The Zombies’ Touring Band. Dedicated to the band’s late fifth member, Paul Atkinson, who passed in 2004. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. MARTY BALIN LIVE AT THE BOSTON ESPLANADE, features the former Jefferson Airplane frontman’s solo show from June, 2008, where he performs some of the Airplane’s biggest hits, as well as some new compositions, all proving him to be in fine form. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Acorn Media releases BRAVA ITALIA, a terrific three-part travelogue of one of the world’s great countries, its history, its culture and its people. Narrated by Paul Sorvino. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Algean releases GEORGE MICHAEL LIVE IN LONDON, a two-disc set featuring the pop star’s sold out London concert, and 23 live tracks, plus 3 bonus songs. Bonuses: Documentary. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Rock City releases MICHAEL JACKSON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE KING OF POP 1958-2009, featuring clips of the singer’s final days, and highlights from his Los Angeles memorial service. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.



ANIMATION NATION Disney releases a batch of kid-friendly titles: MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: CHOO-CHOO EXPRESS, a new animated feature starring Mickey Mouse and pals who take an adventure on their Clubhouse Train into the mountains to load up with snow so all those in the city can have a white Christmas. HANDY MANNY MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE features the motorcycle-riding hero packing his box of talking tools and hitting the road for his family reunion. Finally, SANTA BUDDIES, THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, features an adorable cast of real-life dogs and puppies, voiced by human actors, in a Christmas-themed adventure. Features both Blu-ray and regular DVD versions. Bonuses on all: Bonus cartoons; Music videos; Interactive mode; Sing-alongs. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono, 5.1 surround and DTS 5.1 surround on Blu-ray. G-FORCE The G-Force, an elite squad of highly-trained guinea pigs, is on the brink of saving the world when, for unknown reasons, the FBI shuts them down. Not to be stopped, the stubborn little beasts forge on, with the Feds hot on their tails (literally) and continue their top secret mission. The little ones in your house should appreciate this amusing, pet-friendly adventure story, but there are few inside jokes planted for grown-ups, as well. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Music videos. BD features: Cine-Explore with the G-Force and their creator; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. New Video releases two Scholastic Storybook Treasures box sets: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS…AND MORE CLASSIC HOLIDAY TALES brings 12 beloved holiday stories to life on 2 DVDs: The Night Before Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, nine more tales sure to delight the youngsters gathered around the tree. Bonuses: Spanish version of Too Many Tamales. 50 ANIMAL ANTICS is a terrific collection on 7 DVDs of award-winning and classic children’s stories, including old favorites like Harry the Dirty Dog and Make Way for Ducklings, as well as new tales such as Click, Clack and Moo: Cows That Type and I Stink! A terrific gift for kids that is sure to excite their heads, eyes and hearts. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Indiepix Films releases SITA SINGS THE BLUES, an enchanting animated tale which incorporates Ramayana art traditions to tell the tale of “the greatest break-up story ever,” set to the music of 1920s blues and torch songs by vocalist Annette Hanshaw. Winner of numerous awards, and deservedly so. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.