DVD Playhouse--September 2011

DVD PLAYHOUSE—SEPTEMBER 2011
By Allen Gardner

IN A BETTER WORLD (Sony) Winner of last year’s Best Foreign Film Oscar, this Danish export looks at two fractured families and the effect that the adult world dysfunction has on their two sons, who form an immediate and potentially deadly bond. Director Susanne Bier delivers another powerful work that maintains its drive during the films’ first 2/3, then falters somewhat during the last act. Still, well-worth seeing, and beautifully made. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Commentary by Bier and editor Pernille Bech Christensen; Interview with Bier. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
X-MEN FIRST CLASS (20th Century Fox) “Origins” film set in the early 1960s, traces the beginnings of Magento and Professor X (played ably here by Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy), and how the once-close friends and colleagues became bitter enemies. First half is slam-bang entertainment at its stylish best, with director Matthew Vaughn bringing to memory the best of the early James Bond films with Sean Connery, then veers off course so severely (and in so many different directions), it’s as though a room full of six year-olds with AD-HD got hold of the script and went crazy. At 132 minutes, it’s far too long and by the time it finally ends, this viewer had lost all interest. A real disappointment. Fine supporting cast includes Jennifer Laurence, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, Oliver Platt, Nicholas Hoult and January Jones. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Composer's Isolated Score; Deleted Scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE 5TH QUARTER (20th Century Fox) Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn star as the proud parents of Jon (Ryan Merriman), a football star at Wake Forest University, all of whom find their lives shattered when the family’s youngest son is killed in a car accident. Inspired by his youngest brother’s memory, Jon goes on to lead the team to a series of improbable victories. Well-meaning film has a top flight cast, but delivers its message with a sledgehammer. Feels more like a movie-of-the-week than a feature, and would be well-served by viewing at home. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY (Lionsgate) Comedy has never been more of a drag than in this latest effort starring Tyler Perry in front of, and behind, the camera as the eponymous character who brings her family together when her niece’s health is failing. Some funny moments, but delivered with such a broad stroke as to make Mel Brooks’ humor look positively subtle in comparison. Still, fans should be pleased. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 and DTS-HD 7.1 surround.
ORPHEUS (Criterion) Jean Cocteau’s 1950 update of the Orpheus myth follows a celebrated poet (Jean Marais) and his love for both his wife (Marie Dea) and a mysterious princess (Maria Casares). When the poet follows the princess into the land of the dead, one of the cinema’s most poetic works weaves its inimitable magic. A hypnotic masterpiece, beautifully restored. Bonuses: Commentary by French film scholar James S. Williams; Feature-length documentary on Cocteau; Archival interviews with Cocteau; Short 16mm color film by Cocteau; Newsreel footage; Photo gallery; Trailer. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE COMPLETE JEAN VIGO (Criterion) Jean Vigo was one of French cinema’s pioneers. His career was cut short by an untimely death due to tuberculosis at twenty-nine. His four films, produced from 1930-34, are included in gorgeously-restored prints on this disc: A Propos de Nice is an absurdist, rhythmic slice of life from the bustling coastal city; Taris is an inventive short looking at the life of a swimming champion; Zero de Conduite, Vigo’s most famous film, explored boarding school rebellion, and remains one of cinema’s most influential works; L’Atlante, regarded by many as one of the great films of all time, takes a look at the lives of young marrieds beginning their lives together on a canal barge. Bonuses: Commentary by Michael Temple, Vigo scholar; Featurettes; Alternate edit from A Propos de Nice; Conversation from 1968 between Francois Truffaut and Eric Rohmer on L’Atlante; Animated tribute to Vigo by Michel Gondry. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
HENRY’S CRIME (20th Century Fox) Keanu Reeves stars as Henry Torne, a hapless loner who winds up in jail for a bank robbery he didn’t commit. Once released, he decides to actually pull off the heist he was convicted for in the first place, with the help of his prison mentor (James Caan, wonderful, as always). As Henry’s plan, and gang, start to go awry, he finds himself acting in a community theater production of Chekov, and falling for his co-star (Vera Farmiga), all the while waiting for the perfect time to break the bank. Pleasant comedy is nice enough viewing, but not terribly memorable once it’s over. Nice support from Peter Stormare, Fisher Stevens, Bill Duke and Judy Greer. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
3 WOMEN (Criterion) Another masterpiece from director Robert Altman, this 1977 puzzler set in a gone-to-seed California resort town follows waif-like Pinky Rose (Sissy Spacek) , who idolizes her co-worker/roommate Millie (Shelley Duvall, in her best turn). What starts out as puppy love devolves into an identity crisis far stranger and more dangerous than anyone expects, particularly when a bitter, middle-aged woman (Janice Rule) comes between them. Like all of Altman’s films, an utterly unique work that defies easy description. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Altman; Photo gallery; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
WRECKED (IFC Films) Adrien Brody stars as a man who wakes up in a wrecked car stuck deep in a mountainous ravine. Surrounded only by two dead passengers, a pile of cash and a .38 special stashed under his seat, Brody must use all his wiles and resources to survive, and also piece together the mystery of how he got there. Claustrophobic drama is tense as hell during Brody’s ordeal in the car, but as soon as he’s back on terra firma, loses steam almost immediately. Still, Brody delivers a double-barreled turn as the “wrecked” victim, making this worth a look. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
MY LIFE AS A DOG (Criterion) Lasse Hallstrom’s 1985 drama about a young boy named Ingmar who is sent to live with his uncle in a rural village when his mother falls ill. Once there, the boy finds a surrogate family in the village’s eccentric denizens, and a refuge from the misfortunes he has suffered, as well as the growing pains of adolescence. Sensitive, gentle film will stay with you long after the final credits roll. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Short film by Hallstrom; Interview with Hallstrom; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE BEAVER (Summit) Mel Gibson stars as Walter Black, a man whose demons have consumed him, destroying his marriage (to Jodie Foster, who also directed), his relationship with his son (Anton Yelchin), and virtually everything he worked to build. When Walter discovers a beaver hand puppet, he begins communicating his inner-most feelings through it (speaking in a very solid Cockney dialect), and attempts to repair the wreckage of his life. Uncomfortable to watch for many reasons, not the least of which is the “art imitating life” aspects of this story, which mirror much of Gibson’s own very public real-life meltdown in recent years. The other problem is the conceit of the beaver itself: it was too difficult for this viewer to take any scene seriously where the beaver was doing the talking—and he talks a lot, even during a very unsexy sex scene between Foster and Gibson. I don’t think the film needed the character of the beaver to come off successfully, and perhaps would have been more powerful as a straightforward drama with no gimmicks. As it is, it’s a noble failure on virtually every level. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Foster; Deleted scenes; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE ENTITLED (Anchor Bay) Paul Dynan (Kevin Zegers) finds himself a victim of the modern age when his parents are wiped out by the recession. Wanting to have a future, but unsure where to come up with the legal funds to obtain it, Paul hatches a plan to kidnap three rich kids (Laura Vandervoort, Dustin Milligan, John Bregar) for a ransom of $3 million. When the kids’ wealthy fathers (Ray Liotta, Stephen McHattie, Victor Garber) get involved in the fracas over whether to pay or not, the drama really begins. Solid thriller for the first 2/3, then sinks into melodrama and a cop-out ending that nearly ruins the entire proceedings. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Alternate ending. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HESHER (Lionsgate) Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the titular character, a heavy metal wasteoid with a raised middle finger tattooed on his back, and a lovely portrait of a man dusting his head with a .357 magnum on his chest. When he inexplicably appears on T.J. (Devin Brochu)’s doorstep, neither he nor his flummoxed father (Rainn Wilson) know what to do when Hesher crashes in their garage, uninvited. Soon, all those in Hersher’s path find themselves infused with his spirit of anarchy. Natalie Portman also stars in this oddity, which not only has center, but not much of a start or ending, either. The cast are all more than talented and appealing, but why would they appear in such an unappealing movie? Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Outtakes; Sketch gallery; Featurettes; Teasers and trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 and DTS-HD 7.1 surround.
THE PERFECT HOST (Magnolia) When fastidious Warwick Wilson (David Hyde Pierce) is putting the finishing touches on preps for an elegant dinner party at his Hollywood Hills home, he wasn’t expecting bank robbery on-the-run John Taylor (Clayne Crawford) to drop in unexpectedly, posing as a friend of a friend who was invited to tag along to the party. And that’s just the beginning of this smart, sly cat-and-mouse thriller about two very wily and dangerous men who are not what they initially seem. Hyde Pierce and Crawford play off each other beautifully. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TROLLHUNTER (Magnolia) Very funny “mockumentary” where a group of Norwegian college students film a doc on a “troll hunter,” who purports the government has been covering up a growing plague of trolls that are wreaking havoc on the countryside. Clever and deadpan throughout, almost like a hybrid of Christopher Guest and Jurassic Park. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Improv and bloopers; Extended scenes; Visual effects; Featurettes; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT (Magnolia) Directed by Thai action film icon Panna Rittikrai, this slam-bang action film follows a group of fight club friends whose mixed martial arts matches make them a force to contend with when they band together to rescue a kidnapped friend. Short on plot and character, but absolutely dazzling in its display of kinetic martial arts mayhem! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
PHANTOM PAIN (eOne) German export stars Til Schweiger as a cyclist who loses a leg in a hit-and-run. After recovering, he all but gives up on life until he meets Nika (Jana Pallaske), who offers him both unconditional love and redemption. Charming, unsentimental romance, with echoes of Cassavetes’ Minnie & Moskowitz. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
POLITICS OF LOVE (Vivendi) Set during the 2008 presidential election, an African-American conservative (Brian White) falls hard for a liberal counterpart (Mallika Sherawat). Engaging and smart, with a knowing script by LA Times film critic Gary Goldstein, and fine support from Loretta Devine and the great Ruby Dee. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
NORWEIGAN NINJA (Dark Sky Films) Fictionalized account of the most notorious political scandal in Norway’s history, the notorious Treholt affair. Blending recreations of historical events with actual newsreel footage, writer/director Thomas Cappelen Malling creates a savage satire of both Cold War politics and contemporary action films. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Bonus scenes; Featurettes; Trailer and teasers; TV spots; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
SKATELAND (20th Century Fox) Shiloh Fernandez stars as a gifted, yet aimless 19 year-old in Austin, TX. circa ’85, who squanders his talent for writing to manage the local roller rink, once the community hotspot during the disco age, but now fading to the ravages of time, much like his friends (Heath Freeman, Ashley Greene). They spend their summer at beer parties, racing cars, and getting into fights when not busy falling carelessly in love. Film tries hard for the loose narrative style of the ‘60s-era coming-of-age films that came out of Europe, and still endure today, which in turn influenced modern classics like American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused, but this film sadly never finds its center and is never compelling as a result. Of the attractive young cast, Freeman is a real standout, with a multi-layered performance that hints at the tragedy around the corner. Bonuses: Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TWO BY CLAUDE CHABROL Criterion releases the first two films from “the French Hitchcock.” 1958’s LE BEAU SERGE follows a successful young man (Jean-Claude Brialy) beset by health problems who returns to the small town of his youth, quickly finding himself at odds with the provincial life he left, manifested by his former best friend (Gerard Blain). The following year brought LES COUSINS, Chabrol’s sly fable about a provincial lad who travels to Paris to live with his sophisticated cousin. The film recasts the stars of Beau Serge, Brialy and Blain, in reversed roles, and it works beautifully. Both films are stark, blackly funny and startling. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: commentary by Chabrol scholar Guy Austin, film scholar Adrian Martin; Trailers. Documentary on Chabrol; Featurettes; Interviews with Chabrol and Brialy. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
LITTLE SENEGAL (Cinema Libre) Director Rachid Bouchareb’s tale of Alloune, a Senegalese man who, after years as a tour guide in the country’s slavery museum, decides to journey to the US to find the ancestors who were taken from his village 200 years ago and sold as slaves in the New World. Finding himself in a section of Harlem called Little Senegal, Alloune discovers in the quest of discovering his roots, tensions between African immigrants and the African-Americans who populate the neighborhood. Fascinating, verite-style look at culture clash and identity. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
CAPTAIN AMERICA (MGM/Fox) Uber-low budget 1990 feature based on the classic comic book was one of a series of ill-fated films produced by Menahem Golan, formerly of Canon Films, and his short-lived company 21st Century Film Corporation. Matt Salinger (son of J.D.) stars as the square-jawed hero who, after being defeated by arch-enemy the Red Skull (Scott Paulin) during WW II, finds himself thrown into suspended animation and revived 50 years later to face his nemesis again. Laughably inept on every level, with some good actors (Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Michael Nouri, Melinda Dillon) sorely wasted. Directed by grade-Z movie vet Albert Pyun. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE WARPED WORLD OF KOREYOSHI KURAHARA (Criterion/Eclipse) Koreyoshi Kurahara had one of the most varied careers in Japanese cinema, helming pictures from virtually every genre, but was at the peak of his powers during the 1960s, with a series of crime and youth-oriented films that remain far out and dazzling in their stylishness. INTIMIDATION (1960) is a sleek, tough film noir about a heist gone wrong. THE WARPED ONES (1960) follows a juvenile delinquent’s decent into a jazz-scored, hopped-up hell of his own creation. I HATE BUT LOVE (1962) follows a celebrity who tires of the fast lane, and tries to escape to a faraway village, only to find his manager/lover and adoring public won’t let his escape be an easy one. BLACK SUN (1964) tells the tale of a jazz-loving Japanese youth and an AWOL black American GI who evade authorities as they amble about Tokyo. THIRST FOR LOVE (1967) is an adaptation of a Yukio Mishima novel about a young widow’s twisted relationship with her late husband’s wealthy family. All are widescreen, Dolby 1.0 mono.





BLU BAYOU The big news in Blu this month is the long-awaited release of Brian De Palma’s SCARFACE (Universal), the notorious 1983 remake of Howard Hawks’ Prohibition-era classic (which is also offered in this two disc set as a bonus), re-set by screenwriter Oliver Stone in early ‘80s Miami after the Mariel Harbor exodus from Cuba. Al Pacino plays one of his most iconic roles in Tony Montana, the psychotic gangster whose rags-to-riches story ends in bloodbath of excess. Excoriated by most critics upon its initial release and now viewed as one of the great cinematic touchstones of an era, Scarface just keeps getting better with age and repeated viewings. Supporting cast of then-unknowns (Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Loggia, Steven Bauer, F. Murray Abraham) who later become stars themselves, just adds to the grandeur that the film brings to the table. Loaded with extras, including deleted scenes; Featurettes; U-Control features, including The Scarface Scorecard (which counts the f-bombs and number of bullets fired) and picture-in-picture features; BD-LIVE features. Widescreen. D TS-HD 7.1 surround.
MGM/Fox release a slew of new titles, including another De Palma classic, 1980’s DRESSED TO KILL, starring Angie Dickinson, Michael Caine, Nancy Allen and Keith Gordon in a bloody Alfred Hitchcock homage about a deranged killer stalking the female patients of an uptown Manhattan shrink (Caine). Delicious mix of suspense and the darkest humor, executed with a master’s touch by De Palma. Features the unrated version, which was severely cut to receive the R-rating that was released to theaters. Other extras include: Making-of documentary; Featurettes; Photo gallery. Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
STRAW DOGS is one of director Sam Peckinpah’s seminal works, starring Dustin Hoffman as a bookish pacifist who moves to his comely wife (Susan George)’s rural English village to escape the violence that seems to be plaguing the United States, circa ’71. Hoffman soon finds that man’s primal nature is something that can’t be avoided, even in himself. One of the cinema’s greatest portraits of violence: physical, psychological, and spiritual, and the insidious effect it has on all it touches. Still packs a wallop 40 years later, and still sadly relevant. Uncut, European version. Fine support from David Warner, T.P. McKenna, Peter Vaughn, Del Henney, and Colin Welland. Bonuses: Trailer and TV spots. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
BLOOD SIMPLE is the Coen brothers’ debut feature from 1984, a delicious modern film noir about two young lovers (Frances McDormand and John Getz) who run afoul of her cuckholded husband (Dan Hedaya) and the sleazy private eye (M. Emmet Walsh, in one of the great portraits of a low-life on screen) who tries to dupe them all. Gripping, funny and shocking from start to finish, loaded with the Coens’ signature brand of cinematic eccentricity. Bonuses: Commentary by Kenneth Loring; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 surround.
The first two chapters of Sergio Leone’s “Man With No Name” trilogy arrive in single title BD packages. A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS started it all for Leone, Clint Eastwood and the Italian “spaghetti western.” A western remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Eastern Western” Yojimbo, Eastwood plays a nameless gunslinger who comes between two warring factions in a desolate desert town. In FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, Eastwood and ex-Calvary officer Lee Van Cleef play bounty hunters who team up to capture a murderous bandit (Gian Maria Volonte, also the baddie in Fistful) and the huge bounty that goes with him. Both films are elegiac classics of the genre, and look great on Blu! Bonuses: Commentary by Sir Christopher Frayling; Frayling’s archives; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew; Trailers and TV spots. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN is director John Sturges’ remake of Kurosawa’s seminal The Seven Samurai, and is nearly its equal. All-star cast in their salad days includes Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Horst Buchholz and Robert Vaughn. Yul Brynner, Brad Dexter and Eli Wallach add terrific veteran support. Classic score by Elmer Bernstein. Bonuses: Making-of documentary; Featurettes; Photo gallery; Trailers; Commentary by Coburn, Wallach and producer Walter Mirisch. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (aka RETURN OF THE SEVEN), released five years after the original classic is a competent, although forgettable follow-up, with Brynner the only returning original cast member, leading a two-fisted tale of the seven setting out to rescue one of their own who has been kidnapped by banditos south of the border. Nice support from the great Warren Oates. Muscular direction from western vet Burt Kennedy. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Lionsgate releases 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, a raunchy, sexy comedy starring Josh Harnett as Matt Sullivan, a lothario who tries to mend his philandering ways by remaining celibate for the time allotted in the title. When a sexy new woman (Shannon Sossamon) enters his life, Matt finds his oath tested in ways he never thought possible. Passable, but forgettable sophomoric comedy has some cute moments. Bonuses: Commentary by director Michael Lehmann, producer Michael London, screenwriter Robert Perez; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
SCARY MOVIE 2 and SCARY MOVIE 3 are, you guessed it, much the same movie, mostly unfunny satires of modern day horror flicks, with part 2 helmed by Keenan Ivory Wayans, starring his brothers Marlon and Shawn, while David Zucker helms part 3, starring Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards , Anna Faris and Queen Latifah, with welcome cameos from George Carlin, Leslie Nielsen and Jenny McCarthy. Bonuses include: Featurettes; Filmmaker commentary; Alternate endings; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TRAINSPOTTING is director Danny Boyle’s film of Irvine Welsh’s celebrated novel about Scottish heroin addicts eeking out an existence in modern day Glasgow. Ewan McGregor became a star with his portrait of the druggie family’s “leader,” and is aided by stars-to-be such as Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlisle, Ewen Bremmer, Kevin McKidd and Kelly MacDonald. Bonuses: Commentary by cast and crew; Featurette; Deleted scenes; Photo gallery; Trailers and teasers. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE OTHERS Director Alejandro Amenabar fashions a highly atmospheric thriller in this tale of an upper crust lady (Nicole Kidman) living in the Channel Islands circa 1945, who waits with her two young children for her husband to return from the war. When a new household staff mysteriously arrives, things in their old house start to go bump in the night…Highly charged supernatural mystery will keep you guessing to the end. Bonuses: Documentary on film’s production; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Blue Underground releases TORSO, a classic “giallo” from 1973 in which someone is hacking up lovely co-eds on a college campus. When a group of friends (who all happen to be gorgeous women) decide to seek refuge from the violence by hiding in a remote villa, the killer follows them. Director Sergio Martino is viewed as something of a master of the Italian exploitation film and, as they go, this one is skillfully enough made, but is nothing more than an excuse to come up with inventive ways to hack up pretty girls, not this reviewer’s idea of a good time. Still, viewed as a classic by aficionados, so judge for yourself. Features the heavily cut US version and the uncut Italian version. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers, radio and TV spots; Poster and still gallery. Widescreen. DTS-HD 2.0 mono.
THE 10th VICTIM is an ultra-groovy ‘60s relic starring Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress as the top assassins in futuristic government-sanctioned games of hunting criminals and political dissidents, all televised live! Great blend of satire, suspense and sci-fi, beautifully shot and designed, not to mention highly influential. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers; Poster and still galleries. Widescreen. DTS-HD mono.
Criterion releases a Blu edition of Lindsay Anderson’s classic IF….the film that rocked the English establishment to its core upon its release in 1968. Malcolm McDowell became an overnight star as Mick Travis, a rebellious upperclassman in an elite boarding school who becomes fed up with the Fascistic ways of the teachers and student prefects. What begins as minor acts of rebellion and indiscretion soon boil over into full-blown anarchy and revolution. Utterly brilliant film in every respect, with a final shot that is one of the cinema’s greatest and most enduring images. Bonuses: Commentary by McDowell and film critic/historian David Robinson; Interviews with cast and crew; Thursday’s Children, Academy Award-winning documentary from 1954 directed by Anderson. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.



DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! PBS releases INSPECTOR LEWIS SERIES 4, which offers four TV-movies featuring the intrepid college town sleuth (Laurence Fox) and his team (Kevin Whatley and Clare Holman). The films are “Old Unhappy Far Off Things,” about a pair of murders that cloud an Oxford don’s retirement, “Wild Justice,” about a string of killings affecting Oxford’s venerable St. Gerard’s Hall, “The Mind Has Mountains,” which has the trio investigating the mysterious death of a student during a clinical drug trial, and “The Gift of Promise,” about a seemingly ordinary murder investigation that suddenly gets sticky when spooks from MI5 get involved. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Warner Bros. releases FRINGE THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON, offers more sci-fi fun as the Fringe team escapes from the parallel universe, save for Olivia, who is replaced in our world by her double. Loaded with twists, turns and inventive surprises, and well-played by a fine cast. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Pop-up commentaries; Gag reel; Network promos. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE BIG BANG THEORY THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON brings more comedic hijinks from the eggheads, whose romantic universe is expanding. On the rebound from Penny, Leonard falls for Raj’s sister, Priya. Sheldon gets a girlfriend, Howard and Bernadette heat up, and Raj is romancing in Bollywood-style daydreams. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Music video from Barenaked Ladies; Gag reel. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TWO AND A HALF MEN THE COMPLETE EIGHTH SEASON, features Charlie Sheen’s last hurrah as his life-imitates-art character, as he womanizes, schemes and sleazes his way through life, while co-star Jon Cryer tries his best to remain noble in his brother’s deviant shadow. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
A&E releases MICKEY SPILLANE’S MIKE HAMMER, the short-lived 1958-59 series starring Darren McGavin as the two-fisted private eye who dished out beatings and bullets as easily as he kissed dames. Controversial in its day for the (by ‘50s standards) excessive violence that became Spillane’s signature, it seems quite tame today, but great fun indeed. 78 episodes on 12 discs. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
eOne releases SANCTUARY THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON, offers more stories of Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), a beautiful and enigmatic scientist who seeks out all manner of monstrous creatures. Aided by her team (Robin Dunne, Ryan Robbins, Agam Darshi, Christopher Heyerdahl), the Sanctuary team tracks down, studies and protects the strange creatures that secretly populate our world. Fun, inventive and quite scary at times! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Commentary on select episodes; Blooper/outtakes; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Shout Factory releases KOJAK THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON, featuring Telly Savalas as the eponymous, lollipop-scarfing Greek-American detective, who takes down the baddest baddies of the Big Apple. Season two finds Kojak taking on organized crime, drug traffickers, a serial bomber and murderous millionaire thief that takes Kojak undercover as a Greek millionaire. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.



DOCUMENTARY DAYS Magnolia releases CONAN O’BRIEN CAN’T STOP, an hilarious and moving record of the comic’s 32-city tour after his unceremonious termination from “The Tonight Show.” Director Rodman Flender captures O’Brien in many candid moments, and he proves to be not only funny, but reflective, thoughtful and whip-smart. Terrific, fly-on-the-wall documentary filmmaking. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by O’Brien, Flender, Andy Richter, Mike Sweeney and Sona Movesesian. Interview with O’Brien; Outtakes; Additional scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
New Video/History release two Civil War docs. GETTYSBURG, exec produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, takes an in-depth look at the battle that changed the course of the war between the states. Framed by Abraham Lincoln’s iconic Gettysburg Address, this two-hour film is a breathtaking commemoration of the battle’s 150th anniversary, a fight that lasted three days and cost 50,000 men their lives. Narrated by Sam Rockwell. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LEE & GRANT takes a look at the leaders of the Confederate and Union forces during the bloodiest war ever held on American soil. Produced with the cooperation of historian and author (Forrest Gump) Winston Groom, this doc focuses on the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg that, within days of each other, turned the tide of the war. Bonuses: Additional footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
PBS releases NOT IN OUR TOWN: LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS which examines the 2008 case of brutal attacks against Latino residents of Patchogue, New York, which culminated in the murder of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero. Filmed over two years, the film follows the village’s mayor, Paul Pontieri, the victim’s brother Joselo Lucero, and the village’s disparate citizens as they address the underlying causes of the violence. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
MARS: THE RED PLANET is a Nova compilation of four discs that take an in-depth look at that most mysterious planet in our solar system, the source of endless science fact and fiction. The four discs are “Can We Make it to Mars?” “Is There Life on Mars?” “Welcome to Mars” and “MARS dead or alive.” Loaded with never-before-seen NASA footage, scientific data, and computer graphics. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
DOGS: MAN’S BEST FRIEND is a four-disc set that looks at the relationship between humans and canines that stretches back to the beginning of time. The four discs “How Smart Are Animals?” “Dogs Decoded” “Through a Dog’s Eyes” and “Dogs and More Dogs” look at everything from a dog’s communication techniques, how they perceive the world, how humans and dogs have always had a close social and working relationship, as well as their work with the elderly and infirm. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
MVD releases THE JESUS LIZARD CLUB, a terrific record of the band’s July 14, 2009 concert in Nashville, TN. Sixty-five minute show features 22 songs, including “Puss,” “Seasick,” and “Boilermaker.” Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER…WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS, is a stunning record of the band’s 40th anniversary reunion concert in London, in 2010. The rock fusion trio has never sounded better as they play some of their most classic songs, including “From the Beginning,” “Lucky Man,” and “Fanfare for the Common Man.” Full screen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
A&E releases more in their series of BASEBALL’S GREATEST GAMES. This month’s titles are “Derek Jeter’s 3,000th Hit,” a look at the Yankees’ historic win against the Tampa Bay Rays, “1991 World Series Game 7,” in which the Minnesota Twins won the pennant with Jack Morris’ 10-inning shutout, “2004 ALCS Game 4” features the Boston Red Sox win against the New York Yankees, and David Ortiz’s historic home run, and finally “1986 World Series Game 6” features the New York Mets’ win over the Red Sox, featuring Mookie Wilson’s game winning play. All are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Two golf-oriented titles from A&E are HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2011 MASTERS TOURNAMENT, in which golf’s greatest players vie for the iconic green jacket presented to the champion of the world’s most venerated golf tournament. Bonuses: Featurettes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
YES SIR! JACK NICKLAUS AND HIS HISTORIC 1986 MASTERS WIN takes a look at golfing legend Nicklaus and his win, at age 46, of the legendary tournament. Entering the tournament without a major win since 1980, Nicklaus was a dark horse, at best, but pulled it out in a breathtaking series of moves that are still the stuff of legend on the green. Bonuses: Extra interviews. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.



FOR THE WEE ONES Disney releases PROM, a fun and surprisingly smart look at contemporary teens, starring Aimee Teegarden as a high school gal who’s determined to have the perfect prom night, but finds herself oddly drawn to the very guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of that happening. Funny, touching and quite realistic, especially for a Disney flick! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Short film; Bloopers; Deleted scenes; Featurette; 7 music videos. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
Paramount releases SPONGEBOB’S RUNAWAY ROADTRIP, featuring SpongeBob and Patrick on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, Plankton and Karen on a romantic cruise, Mr. Krabs and Pearl on a trip to the Ocean Mint, Patrick on a homebound holiday and Sandy on a trip out of this world! Bonuses: Extra episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
iCARLY: THE COMPLETE 3rd SEASON, features more fun from Carly, Shay, Nevel, Creddie and Seddie. Two disc set features 11 episodes. Bonuses: Featurettes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Three Dora the Explorer titles arrive, including DORA’S HALLOWEEN PARADE, offering four All Hallow’s Eve-themed episodes featuring Dora, Boots, and Little Monster. DORA’S ENCHANTED FOREST ADVENTURES offers three fantasy-themed episodes, including Dora and a unicorn king, the secret of Atlantis, and more. Finally, there’s the DORA’S STORYBOOK ADVENTURES box set, featuring three discs, including “Fairytale Adventure,” “Dora Saves the Snow Princess,” and “Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom.” All are full screen, Dolby 2.0 stereo.
Warner Bros. releases THE WIGGLES: UKULELE BABY! is a music-filled romp starring the Wiggles as they embark on a Hawaiian adventure. 21 new songs should keep the most finicky songbird in your house happy as the puppets and humans offer educational fun and adventure. Bonuses: Featurette; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
SESAME STREET: ELMO’S MUSIC MAGIC features the beloved Sesame Street character in a series of adventures kicked off when he turns everyone into singing sensations with Abby’s wand. 13 songs from the series’ most beloved characters, including Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster, and more. Bonuses: Karaoke feature; Faeturettes; Downloadable coloring pages. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Scholastic/New Video releases THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS…AND MORE INSPIRING TALES offers four animated tales, including the titular one, inspired by Phillippe Petit’s legendary 1974 high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal. “Crow Boy,” “The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins” narrated by Jonathan Pryce, and “Miss Rumphius” narrated by Claire Danes. Bonuses: Interviews with authors and illustrators; Spanish version of “Miss Rumphius”; Read-along. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
JORGE, EL MONITO CICLISTA, is Curious George in Spanish, along with two other discs designed to teach early learners a new language. In addition to everyone’s favorite simian, there’s “Harry the Dirty Dog” and “Chato’s Kitchen,” featuring narration from Luis Guzman, Cheech Marin, and others. Bonuses: Spanish narration with Spanish and English read-along and vice-versa. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
Anchor Bay releases HOODWINKED TOO! HOOD VS. EVIL, finds heroine Red Riding Hood (Hayden Pantierre) in a sequel where she is in training with a mysterious covert op group called Sisters of the Hood, but her training is cut short when a witch (voiced by Joan Cusack) kidnaps two innocent children named Hansel (Bill Hader) and Gretel (Amy Poehler). Red recruits the whole Hoodwinked gang (Glenn Close, Patrick Warburton, Cory Edwardsd) to come to their rescue. Great fun for the whole family. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Music videos; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.