DVD Playhouse: April 2010

DVD PLAYHOUSE—APRIL 2010
By
Allen Gardner

RIDE WITH THE DEVIL (Criterion) Ang Lee’s revisionist take on the Civil War is awash in moral ambiguity, along with some stunning cinematography, production design, and fine performances. Set during the Kansas-Missouri border war, Tobey Maguire and Skeet Ulrich star as two friends who join up with the Confederate-sympathizing Bushwhackers, finding an odd ally in a former slave (Jeffrey Wright). While it’s fascinating to see America’s bloodiest conflict through the eyes of a foreigner, thereby allowing much of the previously mentioned ambiguity a certain latitude, the film never loses the bad taste it leaves for one simple reason: it asks us, the audience, to side with not just the Confederates, but some of the lowest trash that made up the dregs, and the fringes, of the movement. Big points for audacity, but snake eyes on the story itself. Singer Jewel is impressive in her film debut. Also available on Blu-ray disc, which really makes Frederick Elmes’ images pop. Bonuses: Director’s cut features 14 minutes of additional footage; Audio commentaries by Lee and producer-screenwriter James Schamus, Elmes, and other key crew; Interview with Wright. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
SUMMER HOURS (Criterion) Fine drama from French director Olivier Assayas, tells the story of three upper middle class siblings (Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, Jeremie Renier) who must decide what to do with the country estate, and all its trappings, they’ve inherited from their late mother. Deliberately paced, and more reminiscent of the subtle, yet tightly-wound family dramas from Ingmar Bergman than most French films, Assayas directs the proceedings with a master’s hand. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interview with Assayas; Making-of documentary; Inventory, another documentary that explores the film’s approach to art. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD surround.
VIVRE SA VIE (Criterion) Jean-Luc Godard’s 1962 film marked a turning point in both his career and the direction of the French New Wave. Anna Karina stars as a young woman who aspires to be an actress, but instead falls into a downward spiral that finds her suffering through a life of prostitution, all portrayed through some of Godard’s most lyrical filmmaking. Touching, funny, and tragic, a real jewel of the period. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin; Interview with film scholar Jean Narboni, conducted by historian Noel Simsolo; 1962 TV interview with Karina; Illustrated essay on “La Prostitution,” the book that inspired the film; Photo gallery; Trailer. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
GEORGIA O’KEEFE (Sony) Joan Allen gives one of the finest performances of her career as artist Georgia O’Keefe, whose life and love affair with legendary photographer Alfred Stieglitz (Jeremy Irons) is portrayed in this fine period drama. Fine support from Ed Begley, Jr., Kathleen Chalfont, and Tyne Daly. Sure-handed direction from veteran actor Bob Balaban. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
DOLAN’S CADILLAC (NEM) Solid Stephen King adaptation about a vengeful husband (Wes Bentley) whose wife, the material witness in a mob trial, has been killed by the gangster (Christian Slater) she was scheduled to testify against. Hatching a brilliant, and cold-blooded, plan to give the killer his just desserts, the husband tracks his prey, learns his routines, and finally strikes. Lots of build-up with a great pay-off, although Stephen King’s short story has been liberally padded in this adaptation to fit into a 90 minute running time. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CRAZY ON THE INSIDE (Boxing Cat Films) Tim Allen plays an average guy recently paroled from prison after doing time for a crime he didn’t commit, taking the rap for his much more crazy, and dangerous, pal. In spite of his seeming normalcy, he just can’t quite adjust to life on the outside, particularly when his nutty family gets back into his life, making him wish he were back in the sanity of the big house. Tim Allen makes his directing debut with this forced effort that, in spite of a dream cast (Sigourney Weaver, Jeanne Tripplehorn, J.K. Simmons, Kelsey Grammer and Ray Liotta), never quite gels. Bonuses: Featurette; Gag reel. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
MAMMOTH (IFC Films) Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Williams star as Leo and Ellen, a stressed-out New York couple whose professional lives eat into their time with their 8 year-old daughter, who is primarily being raised by his Filipina nanny. When Leo is on a trip to Thailand, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events that will affect everyone in his life. Powerful, heartfelt drama, expertly performed. Bonuses: Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
UNCERTAINTY (IFC Films) Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins star as a New York couple who finds their lives at a crossroads as they travel across the Brooklyn Bridge on July 4th, and toss a coin, creating two parallel stories: one a low-key domestic drama with the girl’s family in Brooklyn, the other a chase-thriller a la Hitchcock set in Manhattan when the two stumble upon a cell phone with sensitive info contained therein. Interesting exercise feels like a student film expanded to feature length, and like most student films, there are truly inspired moments mixed in with those that inspire groans. Worth a look for its good bits, and kudos to the filmmakers for their audacity and originality. Bonuses: Photo gallery; Audition footage; Script/scene comparison; TV spot; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
REEFER MADNESS 75th ANNIVERSARY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (Walking Shadows) The classic anti-drug propaganda film from 1935 just keeps getting funnier with each passing year. This edition offers a beautifully-restored version of the film that “Tells the truth about marijuana parties!” and “Takes you through HELL!” as the ads promised back in the day. See fresh-scrubbed youngsters driven to fits of giggling, fondling, manic piano playing and, dare we say it, murder, after taking just a few hits off a seemingly-innocuous-looking joint. Produced, believe it or not, by the U.S. Government! Bonuses include over two hours of anti-pot, and not-so-anti-pot, shorts and cartoons, including The Weed of Death (1924), Betty Boop in Happy You and Merry Me (1936), The Pusher (1951), and more! Great fun. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
WAKE (E1 Entertainment) Quirky story of a lonely young woman (Bijou Phillips) who goes to strangers’ funerals to feel some connection with humanity. When a series of mix-ups finds her in possession of a recently-deceased woman’s engagement ring, she finds herself madly in love with the woman’s grieving fiancée (Ian Somerhalder). More than a bit of the classic Harold and Maude can be found in this slight, but likable comedy, which is saved by the skillful performances of its cast, including Danny Masterson and Jane Seymour. Bonuses: Commentary by director Ellie Kanner, writer/producer Lennox Wiseley and producers Hal Schwartz and Bill Shraga; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (IFC Films) Director Oliver Hirschbiegel’s thriller is inspired by true events which occurred in 1975 Northern Ireland, when a 17 year-old Protestant named Alistair Little assassinated a 19 year-old Catholic youth named Jim Griffin in his home, the murder witnessed by Griffin’s 11 year-old brother, Joe. Thirty years later Little (Liam Neeson) has been released from prison, a changed man, repentant for his sins, while Joe (James Nesbitt) remains traumatized and bitter. When local news decides to stage a live reconciliation between the two on a talk show, the situation blows up in everyone’s faces. The flashback scenes are so powerful, and beautifully capture the time and place, that the present day story pales in comparison, in spite of the formidable talents present, resulting in an overly-talky, and ultimately anti-climatic film. A mixed bag, not without its merits. Bonuses: Featurette, Trailer. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
8 FILMS TO DIE FOR Lionsgate releases more titles in its After Dark Horrorfest series, now in its fourth installment. KILL THEORY finds seven college students in a secluded vacation home, celebrating graduation, when they become trapped in a deadly game by a mysterious killer. Forced to kill each other by 6 A.M. the following morning, only one of them can remain alive. But if morning comes, and more than one is still breathing, everybody dies. Claustrophobic horror exercise is really nail-biting in parts, predictable in others. LAKE MUNGO tells the grisly tale of a teenage girl who, seemingly drowned accidentally in the local dam, is laid to rest by her grieving family, only to find their house plagued by a series of inexplicable events. When the family seeks the aid of a local psychic, he discovers that the girl was leading a dark, secret life, one that leads them back to the icy waters of Lake Mungo. Well-made, helped by its cinema-verite style. ZOMBIES OF MASS DESTRCUTION is a horror satire set in the conservative enclave of Port Gamble, Washington, which suddenly finds itself overrun by brain-eaters, with the clean-cut Republicans seemingly powerless to stop them. Only an Iranian college student suspected of being a terrorist and a gay businessman find the wherewithal to turn the tide against the undead and save the white man’s paradise. Quite funny, with a barbed, clever script by Ramon Isao and Kevin Hamedani. HIDDEN tells the story of KK, a young man who returns to his hometown to settle his estranged mother’s affairs after her death, only to uncover some deadly secrets that mom left behind for her only son. Some creepy, truly disturbing moments highlight this entry. THE GRAVES finds two sisters, on their last weekend of partying together before college, lost in a remote part of the Arizona desert, taking shelter in the abandoned mining town of Skull City. Only the girls discover, too late, that the town is far from abandoned, and there’s no escape. Decent little thriller, with nice turns from horror vets Amanda Wyss and Tony Todd. THE FINAL tells the story of high school outcast Dane, who assembles a group of fringe-dwellers to plot revenge for the years of humiliation they’ve suffered at the hands of their school’s “beautiful people,” setting up a night that will leave their tormentors scarred for life. Nifty revenge film, with echoes of Carrie and other “Revenge of the Nerds” horror pictures from years past. THE REEDS has a weekend boating trip turning into a terrifying ordeal for six twentysomething Londoners. After a freak accident on the water, the boat runs aground, and the group finds itself pursued by a gang of young punks and a mysterious hooded man. Not bad of its type, but derivative and really bloody/disgusting at times. Finally, DREAD follows film students Stephen (Jackson Rathbone) and Cheryl making a documentary about what people truly dread in life, unaware that their partner Quaid saw his parents murdered by an axe-wielding psycho as a child, and now wants others to experience the same demons that he faces. Produced by horror maestro Clive Barker, whose presence adds a bit of panache to the proceedings. Bonuses on all: Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Deleted scenes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
EX DRUMMER (Palisades Tartan) Grisly black comedy from Holland about a punk rock band that hires a well-known writer and local celebrity to be their drummer, only to have everything go, almost literally, straight to hell. Reminiscent somewhat of Trainspotting, but (yes) even darker, more twisted, and (much) more bloody. Not for all tastes, to be sure, but for those with strong constitutions, what a ride! Bonuses: Trailers; Featurette; 3 music videos. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TAXIDERMIA (E1 Entertainment) Almost indescribable feature from Hungary about three generations of men (an obese speed freak, a taxidermist who specializes in giant cats, and a man with…ahem, pyromaniacal privates). From the very twisted mind of filmmaker Gyorgy Palfi, who must be an Eastern European cousin to David Lynch and Terry Gilliam. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.



DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! Acorn Media releases a new host of titles from across the Pond: MURDOCH MYSTERIES SET 2 is a sassy-smart Victorian-era whodunit that follows an intrepid Toronto police inspector (Yannick Bisson), who employs the latest scientific techniques to solve the city’s most brutal murders. Sort of a 19th century CSI, with a dash of Masterpiece Theater. 13 episodes on 4 discs. Bonuses: Featurettes; Photo gallery; Cast filmographies and biographies. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. HOPE SPRINGS follows three female ex-cons (Alex Kingston, Annette Crosbie, Sian Reeves) who, armed with three million pounds stolen from one of their gangster husbands, lie low in the Scottish Highlands town of Hope Springs, planning their escape to Barbados, not realizing that this seemingly-innocuous hamlet harbors some dark secrets of its own. Great blend of comedy and thriller, with an expert cast. 8 episodes on 3 discs. Bonuses: Photo gallery; Bio of Kingston. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. GEORGE GENTLY SERIES 2 stars veteran actor Martin Shaw ("The Professionals") as a former Scotland Yard sleuth now tracking murderers in Britain’s North Country in the 1960s. Great blend of policier, character study, and period drama. 4 episodes on 4 discs. Bonuses: Interviews with Shaw and co-star Lee Ingleby; Production notes; Historical facts about 1964. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. THE GLORY BOYS/THE CONTRACT are two vintage (1984 and 1988) Cold War spy tales. Glory Boys stars Rod Steiger as an Israeli nuclear scientist who is the target of a joint IRA-PLO hit squad. Soon the hunters find themselves hunted by their very wily and resourceful prey. The Contract follows the exploits of a former covert op (Kevin McNally) called back into service to help the Soviets’ leading missile designer escape to the West. Tense thriller, well-made. Bonuses: Bios of cast and author Gerald Seymour. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. WE’LL MEET AGAIN portrays culture clash in wartime Britain between the local residents of tiny Market Wetherby and the American servicemen ensconced at a nearby airbase. Susannah York stars in this terrific blend of romance, nostalgia and intrigue. 13 episodes on 4 discs. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. MIDSOMER MURDERS SET 15 is a sort of British, rural version of "Law & Order," set in the tiny, picturesque villages of Midsomer Country. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, John Nettles and Jason Hughes star as the detectives who sniff out the guilty culprits in some of the darkest crimes this side of Hannibal Lecter, all of which hide beneath an idyllic countryside exterior. 3 mysteries on 3 discs, plus a bonus disc containing a feature-length documentary about the series’ production. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. E1 Entertainment releases THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW, the complete series from 1952-53 featuring the veteran comedians at their zany best. Time Magazine cited the series as one of the 100 best shows of all-time, and it has been named by modern comic master Jerry Seinfeld as the inspiration for his own hit series. 9 disc set features all 52 episodes of the series, plus over three hours of bonus features, including “Hey Abbott!” 1978 TV special; Classic routine reel; Lou Costello home movies; Interviews with Chris and Paddy Costello; 1948 short film. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. MPI releases LUCY CALLS THE PRESIDENT, Lucille Ball’s 1976 special in which she plays an Indiana housewife who phones the White House to discuss a housing project, then finds herself making last-minute preparations for the President to visit her house for dinner. Zany high jinks abound, of course, with fine support from Lucy veterans Vivian Vance, Gale Gordon, and even Ed McMahon. Bonuses: Lost production footage; Featurette. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE HILLS, SEASON FIVE, PART TWO follows the gang after Heidi and Spencer’s wedding and the arrival of Kristin Cavallari back on the scene. Beautiful people everywhere along with lots of sudsy drama, and we do mean LOTS. 10 episodes on 2 discs. Bonuses: Featurettes; Deleted scenes; After show remixes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. A&E releases RITA ROCKS THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE, starring Nicole Sullivan as an overworked wife, mother, and former lead singer of a Bangles cover band who has traded in pseudo-rock n’ roll glory for suburbia and PTA meetings. Funny sit-com manages to be a cut above the norm, thanks to some sharp writing and a strong supporting cast. 20 episodes on 3 discs. Bonuses: Music video by Sullivan and cast members. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. SHERI THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE stars Sherri Shepherd as a single mother who tries to juggle kid, job and her dream of becoming a standup comedian. Great support from Cosby Show vet Malcolm-Jamal Warner and a talent cast. 13 episodes on 2 discs. Bonuses: Webisodes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle star in a sumptuous BBC production of Jane Austen’s PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Set in Georgian England, the story of strong-willed romantic Elizabeth Bennet, who is determined to wed for love, and not money, unfolds against a magnificent backdrop that captures the time and place to near-perfection. 2 disc set. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox/MGM releases STARGATE ATLANTIS THE COMPLETE SERIES , featuring all 5 seasons and 100 episodes on 26 discs in a magnificent boxed set. Story revolves around the city of Atlantis, built thousands of years ago by an evolved race known as the Ancients, and is now home base to an expedition team from Earth, who leap through the city’s Stargate to explore wondrous new galaxies and do battle with enemies who threaten the existence of Atlantis. Terrific sci-fi adventure owes more than a small debt to the original Star Trek, but when what sci-fi TV series doesn’t? Bonus disc includes two featurettes on the series’ history and production. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. ALLY MCBEAL, THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON features all 23 episodes from the 1998-99 season on 6 discs, following the continued adventures of a quirky lawyer (Calista Flockhart) and her adventures in life and love. Fine support from Portia de Rossi, Lucy Liu, and Greg Germann). Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 surround.



BLU-RAY TITLES Criterion releases a BD version of Fritz Lang’s classic 1931 thriller M, starring Peter Lorre as a serial killer preying on children in pre-war Berlin. Viewed by most film scholars as the first serial killer thriller, as well as the model for all future police procedurals, Lang’s location shooting (and casting of real-life criminals in supporting roles) and attention to detail and authenticity give the film an eerie, fly-on-the-wall feel. Lorre’s whistling of “Peer Gynt” (actually it’s Lang doing the whistling, because Lorre didn’t know how) before he strikes is one of the most chilling devices ever used in a film. Beautifully restored to near-pristine quality, as befits its stature as a cinematic masterpiece. Bonuses: Commentary by German film scholars Anton Kaes and Eric Rentschler; The “lost” English-language version of M, from a nitrate print preserved by the BFI; Conversation with Fritz Lang, a film by William Friedkin; Claude Chabrol’s short M le Maudit, plus a conversation with Chabrol about Lang; Interview with Harold Nebenzal, son of M producer Seymour Nebenzal; Audio recording of lecture by M editor Paul Falkenberg; Documentary on the film’s production; Photo gallery. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. Sony releases Barry Levinson’s THE NATURAL, starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, a one-time baseball prodigy whose unlucky encounter with fate gave him a wound that nearly kept him out of the game forever, until as a middle-aged man, he gets one more shot in the big leagues. Terrific blend of magical realism and sports melodrama, boasting eye-popping cinematography from Caleb Deschanel, soaring musical score by Randy Newman, and a supporting cast that dreams are made of: Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Robert Prosky, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Barbara Hershey, and Richard Farnsworth. Bonuses: Six featurettes. Widescreen. DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround. New Line/Warner Bros. releases Wes Craven’s 1984 horror classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, about suburban teens who find their dreams haunted by the spirit of a deranged killer whom their families burnt to death years before. A true milestone in modern horror films, emphasizing psychological terror over gratuitous gore (although the gore is definitely there). Film debut for Johnny Depp. Robert Englund became an icon with his manic turn as the blade-fingered killer Freddy Krueger. Followed by countless (and completely inferior) sequels, imitations, and a soon-to-be-released remake, which will have a tough act to follow. Bonuses: Ready Freddy Focus Points—See alternate takes and learn filmmaking secrets by jumping to video highlights while watching the movie; Commentaries by Craven, cast and crew members; Alternate endings; 3 featurettes; Interactive trivia track. Widescreen. DTS-HD 7.1 surround and Dolby EX 1.0. Palm Pictures releases THE BASKETBALL DIARIES, the film adaptation of author/musician Jim Carroll’s autobiographical novel about his tumultuous adolescence in New York City as he juggled high school basketball stardom with teenage rebellion and hard drugs. Notable for being Leonardo DiCaprio’s “adult” acting debut, as well as that of Mark Wahlberg. Along with a fine supporting cast that includes Lorraine Bracco, Juliette Lewis, Bruno Kirby, Ernie Hudson, Michael Imperioli and James Madio, film boasts some powerful moments, but is undone by one fatal flaw: Carroll’s novel was set in the mid-60s, and the filmmakers try to set the same tone and story in modern times, which simply doesn’t work. Could have been a masterpiece, but instead of being all net, winds up a brick. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Interview with Carroll, along with poetry reading. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround, PCM 2.0 stereo. 20th Century Fox/MGM releases COCOON, Ron Howard’s charming fantasy about aliens who plant life pods off the Florida coast, next to a retirement community, where its residents suddenly find themselves the recipients of a fountain of youth after plunging into the waters. Don Ameche jump-started his career again with an Oscar-winning turn as a sure-footed octogenarian, with fellow vets Hume Cronyn, Wilford Brimley, Jack Gilford, Maureen Stapelton, Jessica Tandy and Gwen Verdon all delivering equally impressive turns in their twilight years. On the younger side, Steve Guttenberg, Brian Dennehy and Tahnee Welch (daughter of Raquel) deliver, as well. Bonuses: Commentary by Howard; 5 featurettes; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround. THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR is director John McTiernan’s 1999 reboot of the ’68 Steve McQueen classic, this time with Pierce Brosnan quite ably filling the shoes of the blue-blooded businessman who masterminds an art heist, all under the watchful, and lustful, eye of an insurance investigator (Renee Russo) who can’t decide whether to bust Crown, or bed him. One of the few cases where a remake is an improvement on its predecessor, which hasn’t aged well. Terrific combination of style, suspense, and some truly sexy scenes between the two leads. Good stuff. Bonuses: Commentary by McTiernan. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.



DOCUMENTARY DAYS A&E releases THE ESSENTIAL GAMES OF THE DETROIT TIGERS, a 4 DVD set containing four historic Detroit Tigers games: The 1968 World Series game 5 vs. St. Louis, 1984 World Series game 5 vs. San Diego, Sept. 27, 1999 vs. Kansas City—the final game in Tiger Stadium; and the 2006 ALCS game vs. Oakland. Bonuses: Highlights from over 20 Tigers games from 1971-2007. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Athena Learning releases TESTAMENT, a global search for the roots of the Bible. In this 3-disc, seven-part series, archeologist John Romer traces the roots of the world’s most influential book in light of archeological evidence that’s been discovered over the centuries. Join Romer as he visits dig sites in Jerusalem, Jericho, and many other ancient cities and locations, and marvel in the treasure trove of history that has been unveiled. Bonuses: 20-page viewer’s guide; Biographies of major figures in the development of the Bible; Web extras. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Acorn Media releases ON THE ROAD WITH CHARLES KURALT SET 2, featuring more episodes of the roving reporter’s adventures on the road in the United States, and some the very extraordinary “ordinary” Americans he meets and profiles. Originally debuted on a 1967 edition of The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, Kuralt is an engaging and gregarious host over these 18 episodes that are featured on 3 discs. Bonuses: Featurettes; Kuralt bio. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Indiepix releases LOINS OF PUNJAB PRESENTS, a look at three days in the life of a small New Jersey town where five Indian-Americans and one Jewish Indiophile participate in a Bollywood-style signing contest sponsored by a pork billionaire. Yes, it is as bizarre and hilarious as it sounds! Bonuses: Commentary by director Manish Acharya; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Deleted scenes; Short films; Trailer; Music videos. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. MVD Visual releases three “Solos Jazz Sessions” titles, featuring unaccompanied performances by some of the brightest stars, and up-and-comers, in the jazz world: GONZALO RUBALCABA shows why he has become one of the most important Afro-Cuban jazz artists since his debut in the 1990s. ANDREW HILL was a groundbreaking composer and pianist, renowned for his spontaneity and lack of cliché, working to extend the techniques of bop and hard bop while many of his contemporaries abandoned them altogether. LEE KONITZ is one of the most revered alto sax players, specializing in cool tones and driven by an insatiable musical curiosity which has made him one of the most innovative musicians on the scene. All programs were originally broadcast on Bravo!Canada. All are widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Bravo Media releases THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY SEASON 1, a look at the real-life wives of the Garden State, and their lavish lifestyles, some of whom would put Carmella Soprano to shame. The complete season one features everything from the girls’ wild weekend in Atlantic City to the infamous “table flip” episode. Bonuses: Featurettes; Reunion episodes; Lost footage; Season finale director’s cut; Quiz: Are you a Jersey girl? Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Disinformation releases PLUNDER THE CRIME OF OUR TIME, a look by filmmaker Danny Schechter that examines how the current financial crisis was built on a foundation of criminal activity. Speaking with bankers, noted economists, insider experts, journalists including Paul Krugman, and many more, Schechter paints a grim portrait of how the crisis developed, and how it easily could have been avoided, if just a handful of people had been held accountable early in the process. Fascinating and nail-biting, much like All the President’s Men. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Finally, Discovery Channel releases MAN VS. WILD SEASON 4 with survivalist Bear Grylls tackling his own mortality in one extreme situation after another deep in the wilds of nature. 3 disc set contains 11 episodes set in divergent locals from rural Alabama, to North Africa, to China, and more. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, this one is for you! Bonuses: Extended scenes; Extra episode. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.



ANIMATION NATION Disney re-releases their hit THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE in a digitally-remastered edition. Film is a rodent variation on the Sherlock Holmes character, here played as Basil of Baker Street, who, along with loyal sidekick Dawson, goes after diabolical Professor Ratigan when he kidnaps the city’s master toymaker. Clever humor for kids and adults alike along with eye-popping visuals makes this one of Disney’s better efforts of the 1980s (’86, to be precise). Bonuses: Games; Featurettes; Sing-alongs. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. 20th Century Fox releases AVLIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS THE SQUEAKQUEL, taking up where the last Alvin movie left off, featuring the chipmunk singing sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore as they take a break from their singing careers to enroll in school, but soon meet their match in the beautiful and talented Chipettes. Cuteness abounds in this pleasant ditty, which is sure to please the little folks in your house. Available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Bonuses: Featurettes; Music videos; Song trivia; BD-LIVE features. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. Warner Bros. releases BURT AND ERNIE'S GREAT ADVENTURES, featuring the legendary Sesame Street duo taking pre-schoolers on 13 exciting adventures, learning valuable skills such as friendship, cooperation and critical thinking skills. Think of it as a “greatest hits” from public television’s most revered team since MacNeil and Lehrer. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. BERT & ERNIE’S WORD PLAY has the duo putting on a play, featuring some of our favorite words as the stars. Creative, involving educational storytelling, designed to help the little ones with their reading skills. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. A&E/New Video release two new Scholastic Storybook Treasures titles: HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS…AND MORE STORIES TO CELEBRATE THE ENVIRONMENT, feature seven stories on one DVD which teach children about the value of ecology. Narrated by B.D Wong, Laila Ali, Chief Jake Swamp, and more. Features three bonus stories, as well. RUNAWAY RALPH, based on the book by Beverly Cleary, about a mouse who runs away from home, and befriends a young outcast at a summer camp. Features young stars-to-be like Fred Savage, Summer Phoenix, Sara Gilbert and Kellie Martin. Bonus story: Commander Toad in Space. Both are full screen, Dolby 2.0 mono. Lionsgate releases JIM HENSON’S THE SONG OF THE CLOUDED FOREST AND OTHER EARTH STORIES, four stories featuring Jim Henson’s Muppets celebrating the Earth and the importance of maintaining her. Three other stories include: Fraggle Rock: “River of Life,” “Owl & Frog,” and “Kangaroo & Frog.” Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. JIM HENSON’S ANIMAL SHOW WITH STINKY AND JAKE, is the first “animal talk show,” as hosts Stinky the skunk and Jake the polar bear welcome guests of the animal kingdom who discuss their ways of life and native habitats. 5 episodes on one disc. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Sony releases THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN VOLUME EIGHT, featuring episodes 24-26 of the hit TV series. Watch Spidey do battle with the Green Goblin, Molten Man, and the Chameleon. Terrific animation and some clever one-liners should make this a fun view for kids and parents alike. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Finally, Paramount releases THE GREAT PANDA ADVENTURE, from the Nickelodeon series “Go Diego, Go!” featuring Diego embarking on a rescue mission to save endangered Panda Bears in China. Three more globe-trotting adventures ensue, with Diego helping native wildlife: “Leaping Lemurs,” Koala’s Birthday Hug,” and “Diego Saves the Beavers.” Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. DORA THE EXPLORER: EXPLORE THE EARTH! Features four episodes of the “Dora” series: “Mixed-up Seasons,” “To the South Pole,” “Save Diego,” and “Beaches.” All four episodes help expose kids to different seasons and environments, animals in different parts of the world, and Spanish language skills. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.