Home Video News 

Today we get a Tarantino-inspired mystery, a Paris Hilton movie (insert sex tape joke here,) and last but not least, yet another opportunity for us to fatten George Lucas’ pocket book.

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What’s that?  There are DVDs available at my convinient Wal-Mart or even my nearest Wal-Mart Supercenter for the first time today?  Oh my!

Film:

Lucky Number Slevin – The only mystery more difficult to solve than the twist-a-minute plot of Slevin is the one of the film’s lack-luster popularity.  Given only a 50% approvel from the guys at Rotten Tomatoes, and making a paltry $22 million in theatres, the Tarantino-inspired hitman mystery never got the chance it deserves so very much.  Boasting a cast any summer tent-pole would kill for (with Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Josh Hartnett, Lucy Liu, along with multiple other A-Listers,) Slevin weaves its way in and out of complicated but easily-enough understood story with commanding visuals and dialogue so deliciously wound in circles that almost sounds like Dr. Suess wrote it.  It already passed you by in theatres, so be sure to catch Slevin on DVD as soon as you can.  Of course, not all of us agreed on the film, which you can discover in Alan’s review of the film.

Bottom’s Up – As any pursuist of fine film could tell you, it has been far too long since Paris Hilton has graced a film with her presence.  Well, wait no longer!  This direct-to-video release stars Jason Mewes in what appears to be his most significant, non-Askewniverse role yet.  In the film Mewes, a good ol’ boy from the middle of the country, moves into Hollywood, somehow becomes a part of the system and of course, falls in love along the way.

Goal! – The first of a planned trilogy, it would be wrong to say that Goal!, another athelete-overcomes-the-odds soccer drama, is that great.  But at the same time, it’d be wrong to say that the feel-good won’t grab the sucker in all of us and captivate us for a couple of hours.  Goal! is about a Mexican-American who never quite got the chance to let his supreme soccer abilities shine in the spot-light, only to find a second chance after he moves to the U.K. chasing the dream he’s carried.  The plot, characters, conflicts can all be predicted within the first five minutes; but nevertheless, Goal! is a satisfying peice of film perfect for family viewing.

The Wild – Oh wait, I already own Madagascar.  Never mind.  But if you want to, you can read Alan’s review by kindly clicking on the link.

Special Edition:

The original editions of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi – Less than two years after George Lucas swore that the original cuts of his Star Wars films, the ones that showed up on screens in the 70s and 80s, would never make it to home video again, comes the original cuts of his Star Wars films.  Whether or not it’s just a ploy for the Beard to buy another home away from Skywalker Ranch, fans should have at least a little cause for celebration.  Although the audio and video quality of the film are rumored to be sub-par (read a review from our friends at DVD Active here,) the hoarde of bloggers who have been dying to see Greedo get his too-slow gun-drawing ass shot the way it was 29 years ago will get their due.  It may be worth mentioning that these discs are essentially individual releases of the films as they were seen in the 2004 release of the trilogy, with the original cuts relegated to a second disc under the title of “Supplimental Material,” but the die-hards out there won’t care as long as they get to see a sans-Hayden Christensen finish to the trilogy to rule them all.

Television:

Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Second Season -Members of age bracket 18 – 34 rejoice!  After four long months without having anything to watch, you can finally own the second installment of ABC’s wildly popular Hospital-based soap, Grey’s Anatomy!  And on top of that, you get to see it all uncut!  That’s right, Hundreds upon Hundreds of seconds more of your favorite hotties as they operate on patients and work on their love-life!

The Office – Season Two – Who would have thought that an Americanized, dumbed down version of the brilliant BBC comedy The Office would have worked so well?  Steve Carell is no replacement for Ricky Gervais, but the U.S. version of The Office successfully sits on the edge between a traditional Sitcom and an innovative one, making it funnier than just about any other network television show, while keeping it universally appealing.

We’re here to let you know what’s out there for your entertainment dollar.  Every week a new batch of DVD’s gets shipped out and thrown onto the shelves.  This week we’ve got Denzel Washington and Clive Owen in Spike Lee’s heist flick, another film of cheerleaders “bringing it on,” Larry the Cable Guy as a health inspector, the Avengers assembling once more, and season sets of Sealab 2021, Prison Break,  Farscape, and more.  Take a peek inside for the full list.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

Inside Man – Spike Lee gives us a heist flick which pits Denzel Washington against Clive Owen.  The DVD includes commentary by Lee, an interview with Lee and Washington discussing their past collaborations, and deleted and extended scenes.  As I said in my original review “it’s a pretty good heist flick.  If you’re a fan of the genre or these actors I’d recommend the film to you.”  Read the full review here.

Brick – A loner (Joesph Gordon Levitt), who in searching for the truth about the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, finds himself suddenly in the middle of a high school crime ring.  Included on the DVD are extended and deleted scenes, a casting of the film featurette, and commentary by cast and crew.

Bring It On: All or Nothing – Hey, I’ll admit I’m a fan of the first film, but do we really need a franchise of straight to DVD sequels?  The latest stars Hayden Panettiere as the school’s spunky cheerleading captain.  DVD extras include a gag reel, a behind the scenes featurette, a dance tutorial, and a cheer camp featurette.

The Lost City – A project Andy Garcia has been trying to get made since he hit Hollywood is a loving look at his native Cuba and his directorial debut.  The story involves a nightclub owner (Garcia) in 1958 Cuba caught between the transition from the oppressive Fulgencio Batista (Juan Fernandez) regime to Fidel Castro’s Marxist government.  The DVD extras include commentary by Garcia, Nestor Carbonell, and production designer Waldemar Kalinowski, a featurette on the making of the film, deleted scenes, a still gallery, and notes from cast and crew.

Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector – The one-joke redneck blue collar comedian gets his own film playing a health inspector(?), teamed up with a rookie partner (Iris Bahr), trying to uncover the cause of food poisoning at all the top restaraunts while wooing (can a cable guy woo?) a waitress (Megyn Price).  No DVD extras.

 

Special Edition:

Airplane (“Don’t Call Me Shirley!” Edition) – Do you like gladiator movies?  Jim Abrahams and David Zucker bring us their first, and best, crazy film that taught us not to call Leslie Neilsen “Shirley,” the troubles of a drinking problem, how to talk jive, and the lesson to never order the fish on a plane.  This new edition contains commentary by Abrahams, Jerry and David Zucker, and producer Jon Davison, deleted scenes, an extended edition of the film, interviews, a trivia track, and the theatrical trailer.

 

Animated/Family:

Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther – For fans of the first animated film of the Ultimate line of the Marvel heroes, here’s a sequel.  The team reunites to help the Black Panther stop a new force of invading aliens.

Sealab 2021 – Season Four – More misadventures of the Adult Swim hit involving “scientists” in the research station at the bottom of the sea.  All 13 episodes are included with deleted scenes, alternate endings, and a best of Sealab featurette.

 

TV:

Prison Break – Season One – Last year’s unexpected hit about a wrongfully convicted man (Dominic Purcell) and his brother (Wentworth Miller) who decides to break him out of prison.  All 22 episodes are collected on six discs including commentary, alternate and deleted scenes, a featurette on the making of the show, TV spots and more.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – The Complete Fourth Season – All 26 fourth season episodes of Will Smith and the rest of the Banks family in their wacky adventures.

Farscape – Season 4, Collection 2 – More of the Sci-fi original.  This collection includes commentary for one episode by cast and crew, a “listening in” segment, select histories, a production design gallery, and deleted scenes.

We’re here to let you know what’s out there for your entertainment dollar.  Every week a new batch of DVD’s gets shipped out and thrown onto the shelves.  This week we’ve got Pierce Brosnan as an assassin in Mexico, a Doctor who travels through time (if not space), more people finding meaning in dance lessons, a trio of beautiful detectives, and more.  Take a peek inside for the full list.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

The Matador – Pierce Brosnan shines as a hit man who is slowly losing his nerve (and mind) when he happens to cross paths with Greg Kinnear in a Mexican bar.  The DVD contains commentary tracks by writer/director Richard Shepard, and Brosnan and Kinnear, deleted and extended scenes, trailers and TV spots, and a featurette on the making of the film.  Check out our original reviews: you can read December’s review here, or mine here.

The Libertine – Lush but lackluster big budget production starring Jonny Depp as the master of debauchery, the Earl of Rochester.  Grainy, gritty, and pretty empty and unfulfilling.  The DVD includes commentary by director Laurence Dunmore, deleted scenes, and a featurette on the making of the film.

Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School – Yet another dance movie where characters find meaning of their lives by learning to dance.  Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, and John Goodman star.  The DVD includes commentary and a short 1990 film that was the basis for this feature.

Firecracker – The small independent film from last year deals with murder in the small Kansas town, an abusive family, new love, and a sideshow carnival.

Animated/Family:

The Legend of Prince Valiant – The Complete Series, Volume One – After losing his kingdom the Prince of Thule journeys to find the fabled Camelot and become a knight of King Arthur.  The set includes interviews with creators and Arthur historians, commentaries for two episodes by creators, writers, and artists, storyboards and slideshows, and DVD-Rom episode scripts.

TV:

Doctor Who – The Complete First Season – The return of the Doctor was a little disappointing.  True Christopher Eccleston is a good pick for the next incarnation of the role and Billie Piper works well as Rose, but was anyone else disappointed that the TARDIS never left the Earth, and could only get out of modern day London in a scant handful of episodes!?!  All 13 episodes are available here on five discs.  Extras include commentary on every episode by writers and producers, an interview with Eccleston, a video diary, storyboards, trailers, and a collection of featurettes on the the new series narrated by Simon Pegg.

Charlie’s Angels – The Complete Third Season – All 24 third season episodes of the gals (Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd, and Jaclyn Smith) and ol’ Bosley (David Doyle) solving crimes in sunny California.

We’re here to let you know what’s out there for your entertainment dollar.  Every week a new batch of DVD’s gets shipped out and thrown onto the shelves.  This week we’ve got the last (and funniest) film of my best of 2005 list to finally get released, Steve Martin on the trail of the Pink Panther, teenagers finding a mermaid, Neil Young playing that rock ‘n roll, a special edition of an inconceivably good film about a princess a pirate and an giant, and season sets of Cheers, Coach, Dharma & Greg and more.  Take a peek inside for the full list.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang – Aaron had a lukewarm reaction to writer/director Shane Black’s pulp detective murder mystery but I fell in love with it from the opening credits (read my original review) and still stand by the film that found its way into my best of 2005 list.  The DVD contains commentary with stars Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr and Shane Black.

16 Blocks – Bruce Willis is a New York cop (no, not that movie) who takes custody of a criminal (Mos Def) and must transport him to the courthouse to testify against cops who will do whatever they can to make sure he never takes the stand.  The DVD includes an alternate ending and deleted scenes.  Read the original review here.

A Good Woman – Screen version of Oscar Wilde’s play “Lady Windermere’s Fan” casting Helen Hunt as the seductive older woman, Scarlett Johansson as the young Mrs. Windemere, and Mark Umbers as her husband.  Read the original review here.

Documentary:

Neil Young – Heart of Gold – A little bit documentary and large part concert film of the music legend performing work from his new album and past hits.  The DVD contains rehearsal diaries, six featurettes and a performance by Young in 1971 on The Johnny Cash Show.  Read the original review here.

Dave Chapelle’s Block Party – Speaking of concert films…  Dave Chapelle’s huge Brooklyn bash includes comedy, stand-up, and some darn good music.  The DVD is available in both original and unrated versions and includes a making of the film featurette and extended musical and comedy acts.

Special Editions:

The Princess Bride (Dread Pirate/Buttercup Edition) – What!  You’ve already bought this film on DVD and now they’ve put out a special edition!  Inconceivable!  Rob Reiner has never been better than here telling the story of young Buttercup (Robin Wright in her first film) and her Wesley (Cary Elwes).  The 2 disc DVD contains commentary tracks from Reiner and screenwriter William Goldman, featurettes on the making of the film and Miracle Max, a mockumentary on the Dread Pirate Roberts, behind the scenes footage, trivia game and more.

The Pink Panther (Special Edition) – Forgettable 2006 Remake that casts Steve Martin as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau.  Extras include deleted scenes, Beyonce music videos, an alternate opening sequence, commentary by director Shawn Levy, a documentary, and featurettes on the making of the film.  Available in the Dred Pirate Edition with Elwes on the front or the Buttercup Edition with both lovers on the cover.

Valley of the Dolls (Special Edition) – 1967 film about sex and show business gets the special edition treatment with commentary by Barbara Parkins and Ted Casablanca, a new documentary on the film, featurettes on the film and its stars, still galleries, a trivia game, and original screen tests.

Family/Animated:

This is America, Charlie Brown – All eight episodes of the CBS run of the blockhead and gang visiting important events in human history including the Mayflower’s voyage, the Wright Brothers flight, and the signing of the Constitution.

Aquamarine– Think Splash for teenage girls.  Extras include commentary by director Elizabeth Allen, deleted scenes, and featurettes.

TV:

Walker, Texas Ranger – The Complete First Season – All 26 first season episodes of Chuck Norris dispensing Texas justice.

The Rockford Files – Season Two – All 22 episodes from the second season with James Garner as the ex-con turned private eye.

Cheers The Complete Eighth Season – All 26 episodes from season eight in the Boston bar where everybody knows your name.

Coach – The First Season – All 13 episodes from the first season of Craig T. Nelson as the football coach of the Minnesota State Screaming Eagles.

Dharma & Greg – Season One – Opposites attract as hippie yoga instructor Dharma (Jenna Elfman) meets and marries conservative lawyer Greg (Thomas Gibson).  All 23 first season episodes are included along with commentary for select episodes by Elfman, Mimi Kennedy and Alan Rachins, featurettes, and an interactive game.

We’re here to let you know what’s out there for your entertainment dollar.  Every week a new batch of DVD’s gets shipped out and thrown onto the shelves.  This week we’ve got Johnny Knoxville “pretending” to be mentally retarded, a film December and I disagree about, another flick from my worst list of 2005, special editions of convicts flying the friendly skies, Napoleon Dynamite, Gene Hackman and Will Smith arguing on a submarine, and people chasing Will Smith (hmm, maybe they saw I, Robot), season sets of Hill Street Blues and more.  Take a peek inside for the full list.

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Here’s what is getting released today on DVD:

Film:

The Producers – Unnecessary re-adaption of the Broadway play (which itself was adapted from the original Mel Brooks film) starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Will Ferrell, and Uma Thurman.  Extras include a commentary by director Susan Stroman, deleted scenes, outtakes, and an analysis of a scene.  The film earned a spot on my worst of 2005 (click here).  Let’s just say Broderick is no Gene Wilder.  Check out the original review here.

Winter Passing – Speaking of films I disliked (check out the original review).  This one stars Zoeey Deschanel as a moody drug addict daughter of a famous writer (Ed Harris) who goes home to find letters her parents wrote to each other years ago to sell them to a publisher.  Included on the DVD are trailers and a behind the scenes featurette.  I couldn’t find it in myself to like or care for any of these characters but December enjoyed it for what it was (read her DVD review here).

The White Countess – Ralph Fiennes plays a blind American diplomat who falls for a Russian refuge (Natasha Richardson) in Shanghai during the 1930’s.  Extras include commentary by directory James Ivory and Natasha Richardson, a making of featurette, a behind the scenes featurette, and a tribute to Ismail Merchant.

The Ringer – Johhny Knoxville and his friends scheme to make some cash by entering himself as a contestant in the Special Olympics.  The DVD includes commentary by director Barry Blaustein, screenwriter Ricky Blitt, Peter Farrelly, Johnny Knoxville, Edward Barbanell and John Taylor, deleted scenes, featurettes on the Special Olympics and the movie, and a message from the Chairman of the Special Olympics Tim Shriver.

Something New – A young black female lawyer (Kenya McQueen) finds love in the arms of a white landscaper (Simon Baker) to the consternation of her friends and family.  The DVD includes an introduction by Blair Underwood and featurettes on the making of the film and the do’s and dont’s of dating.

When a Stranger Calls – A high school student (Camilla Belle) is harassed by a threatening prank caller while babysitting only to discover the calls are (gasp) coming from inside the house.  Extras include commentary tracks from the director, writer, and cast, deleted scenes, and a featurette on the making of the film.

Special Editions:

Napoleon Dynamite (Like, the Best Special Edition Ever!) – Jon Heder as the alienated teen who, when not bustin’ the moves,  helps his friend Pedro (Efren Ramirez) run for student president.  This collection contains two discs with commentary by director and co-writer Jared Hess, Heder, and producer Jeremy Coon, and commentary with Ramirez, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, and Tina Majorino, deleted and extended scenes with commentary, outtakes, audition clips, and featurettes on Jared Hess, shooting on location, and the wedding.  Also included are promo spots, trailers, a still gallery, and clips from TV appearances.  All of this is also available in the “Freakin’ Sweet Collector’s Set” which also includes iPod stickers and bobble-heads of Napoleon and Kip.

Con Air (Unrated Extended Edition) – A former US ranger gets out of prison after serving a stint for manslaughter only to have the transport hijacked by the other fellons (John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Dave Chapelle).  John Cusack and Colm Meaney also star. 

Enemy of the State (Unrated Extended Edition) – “You’re not paranoid if they’re really after you.”  Yeah, whatever.  Will Smith plays a lawyer who beomes the subject of an NSA investigation when a man drops evidence a corrupt politician into his unsuspecting lap and turns his life upside down.  This edition includes a featurette on the making of the film, deleted scenes, and the trailer.

Crimson Tide (Unrated Extended Edition) – The nuclear submarine Alabama has a new XO (Denzel Washington) who doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the captain (Gene Hackman) during a possible nuclear attack by Russia.  Extras include deleted scenes and a featurette on the making of the film.

Family/Animated:

Home Movies – Season Four – The final 13 episodes of eight year-old Brendon Small’s visionary early work captured in his homemade movies staring his friends Jason and Melissa.  The set also contains bonus commentary tracks with cast, crew and guests, episode animatics, a featurette on the genesis of the series, and a bonus CD with 52 tracks collecting music from all four seasons.

Duma – Parents of young South African boy (Alexander Michaletos) bring home an abandoned baby cheetah who grows up with the boy until the day Duma becomes old enough to return to the wild.  Extras include extended scenes and the trailer. 

TV:

Hill Street Blues – Season Two – Another season Steven Bocho’s overworked inner-city cops in all 19 episodes.  The set includes commentary on two episodes, featurettes on the show, star Richard Belker, Captain Freedom, and more.

That Girl – Season One – Before Mary Tyler Moore there was Marlo Thomas as the liberated and single struggling model and actress in New York City.  All 30 first season episodes are included with the original pilot, series promos, featurettes on the making of the show, outtakes and clips, and an eight page episode guide.

The Big Valley – Season One – Western soap opera involes the brood of the Barkley Ranch in the San Joaquin Valley during the 1870’s.  All 30 episodes of the first season are collected here.