DVD Playhouse--June 2012

By Allen Gardner

HAROLD AND MAUDE (Criterion) Hal Ashby’s masterpiece of black humor centers on a wealthy young man (Bud Cort) who’s obsessed with death and the septuagenarian (Ruth Gordon) with whom he finds true love. As unabashedly romantic as it is quirky, with Cat Stevens supplying one of the great film scores of all-time. Fine support from Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack, Charles Tyner, and Ellen Geer. Fine screenplay by Colin Higgins. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Hal Ashby biographer Nick Dawson, producer Charles Mulvehill; Illustrated audio excerpts from seminars by Ashby and Higgins; Interview with Cat Stevens. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
IN DARKNESS (Sony) Agnieszka Holland’s WW II epic tells the true story of a sewer worker and petty thief in Nazi-occupied Poland who single-handedly helped hide a group of Jews in the city’s labyrinthine sewer system for the duration of the war. Bravura acting across the board, but the film is so chock full of characters that, after a point, it’s difficult to keep them all straight, not to mention have a consistent point of view. In spite of its shortcomings, In Darkness is still a powerful, grim work that makes rewarding viewing for discerning filmgoers. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE GOLD RUSH (Criterion) Charlie Chaplin’s 1925 feature is regarded by most film scholars and diehard fans as his first masterpiece, featuring Charlie playing his Little Tramp alter ego as a prospector during the California Gold Rush, with portions of the film shot on location in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Near-seamless blend of humor, pathos and heartbreak, never more so than when the tramp waits of his true love (Georgia Hale) to join him for a dinner which we know she will never attend. Contains the original 1925 silent release, running 88 minutes, and the 1942 re-release, running 72 minutes, featuring music, sound effects, and narration by Chaplin. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance; Three new documentaries about the film’s production; Short documentary; Four trailers. Full screen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround on the 1925 version, offering a new recording of Chaplin’s original score, Dolby 1.0 mono on the 1942 version.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (Warner Bros.) Robert Downey, Jr. returns as the Victorian-era sleuth with Jude Law as Dr. Watson in director Guy Ritchie’s post-MTV take on one of fiction’s greatest detectives. This latest chapter has the boys facing off against master criminal Dr. Moriarity (Jared Harris) and pursuing him across Europe, their quest aided by a mysterious and formidable femme fatale (Noomi Rapace). Massive, over-the-top, dripping with production design, CGI effects and everything money can buy except a coherent story and characters we can connect with and/or care about. While some find this reboot of Holmes as an action hero charming and fun, we feel it has as much in common with Arthur Conan Doyle’s original creation as Mad Dog 20-20 does with Dom Perignon. Fine supporting cast includes Stephen Fry, Rachel McAdams, Kelly Reilly and Eddie Marsan. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses on BD: Watch the film with Robert Downey Jr. along with interactive features such as picture-in-picture, storyboards, focus points, and photo galleries. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
SHALLOW GRAVE (Criterion) Danny Boyle announced his arrival to the cinematic world with this twisted, Hitchcockian tale of three Edinburgh roommates (Ewan McGregor, Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston) who find their world crumbling when their new boarder OD’s, leaving behind a suitcase full of ill-gotten cash. As the three experience a downward spiral of greed, double-crosses, and murder that makes The Treasure of the Sierra Madre look like a Disney flick, Boyle deftly balances full-throttle horror and brutal laughter that stings in your throat. Not for the faint-of-heart, but not to be missed, either! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Boyle, screenwriter John Hodge and producer Andrew Macdonald; Interviews with cast and crew; Digging Your Own Grave, a 1993 documentary by Macdonald on the making of the film; Featurettes. Trailers and teasers. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 2.0 surround.
MACHINE GUN PREACHER (20th Century Fox) Gerard Butler stars in a (supposedly) true story as hardened ex-con who leaves his family in Pennsylvania behind to travel to Sudan for missionary work after experiencing a religious epiphany in prison. Once there, horrified by the butchery of the Kony regime, he takes up arms to protect his new flock. Butler is terrific as a sort of latter-day Billy Jack character: a man who preaches peace and tolerance but likes nothing more than blasting baddies with automatic weapons and ripping out their throats. Director Marc Forster, who has helmed fine fare like Monster’s Ball, can’t quite find the balance between the message of peace and the violence he very graphically portrays in (we think) the name of the message. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Music video by Chris Cornell. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
JOHN CARTER (Disney) Loosely based on Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs’ story “A Princess of Mars,” director Andrew Stanton’s film follows a battle-scarred Civil War vet (Taylor Kitsch) who finds himself transported to Mars, where he soon finds himself in the middle of two warring cities, choosing to side with the Tharks, and the beautiful Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). Stanton, who scored so big with animated titles like Wall-E, A Bug’s Life, and Finding Nemo, scores major points on the eye candy scale, creating a beautifully-realized world full of incredible images. It’s just when the characters start to speak and the story doesn’t quite add up that you start to question whether this film’s script was really ready for a green light. That said, it certainly didn’t deserve the excoriation given to it by audiences and critics alike upon its initial release. Is it a masterpiece? Well, no. Is it a complete bomb and failure? Certainly not. Is it a decent night’s entertainment? Well, maybe. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes; Bloopers; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 and DTS-HD 7.1 surround.
TWO FROM BERGMAN Criterion releases two of Ingmar Bergman’s earliest films: SUMMER INTERLUDE (1951) follows a young ballet dancer (Maj-Britt Nilsson) haunted by her tragic affair with a fellow student (Birger Malmsten). Told in flashback, the film juxtaposes the sunny summer memories of her romance with the dark shadows of backstage life in the theater. Quietly affecting film was one that Bergman considered a major breakthrough. SUMMER WITH MONIKA (1953) stars Harriet Andersson as a teenage girl who runs off with her boyfriend (Lars Ekborg) to spend a romantic weekend at the beach with their parents’ permission. Groundbreaking at the time because of its (very tasteful) nudity, today the film resonates as an honest portrait of feverish, and naïve, young love. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Introduction by Bergman; Interview with Andersson by film scholar Peter Cowie; Featurettes; Documentary; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (Vivendi) Tough Hong Kong thriller from genre master Johnnie To, stars Lau Ching Wan, Richie Jen and Denise Ho star as a disparate and desperate trio vying for a bag filled with five million dollars cash. Lean and mean in the extreme, the film is reminiscent of the no-frills thrillers from the ‘50s by people like Don Siegel and Robert Aldrich. Dynamite! Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
A NECESSARY DEATH (FilmBuff) A film student puts an ad in the classifieds looking for a subject who intends to commit suicide, with the intention of recording the person’s life from planning to inception. Shot pseudo-documentary “found footage” style, the film feels all too real, particularly when the film’s crew begin to question the morality of their actions and begin to turn on one another. Writer/director Daniel Stamm has fashioned a suspenseful thriller that will also have you checking your moral clock at every turn. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Alternate ending; Commentary by cast and crew; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
GOON (Magnolia/Magnet) Seann William Scott stars as a bouncer who gets a shot at pro hockey glory after flattening a thuggish player. Scott finds himself quickly hired as the team’s new “enforcer,” whose given the task of taking specific players from the opposing team out of the game. Very funny, often brutal film is buoyed immeasurably by Scott’s likability and the film’s many heartfelt, realistic moments, particularly the scenes between Scott and his family and his awkward best friend (Jay Baruchel, who also co-wrote). Not quite in the same league as Slap Shot, but not far off, either. Fine support from Eugene Levy, Alison Pill, Liev Schreiber. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interactive Power Play Mode; Deleted scenes; Outtakes/blooper reel; Featurettes; Commentary by director Michael Dowse and Baruchel. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
ACCIDENT (Shout Factory) Intriguing thriller about a team of professional assassins who stage their killings to look like freakish “acts of God” to which nobody can be traced. Brain (Louis Koo), the team’s leader, finds the guilt of his profession catching up with him and when a colleague is killed during a botched job in what looks like a freak accident, Brain is convinced that someone is after him this time. Twisty, clever thriller works both as suspense and character study. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THIS MEANS WAR (20th Century Fox) A successful professional woman (Reese Witherspoon) finds herself torn between two hunky men (Tom Hardy and Chris Pine) whom she met on an online dating service. The twist: they both work for the CIA and will do anything to get rid of the other so the girl’s attention is focused soley on him. That’s the premise of this painfully thin, painfully unfunny and just plain painful effort at combining romantic comedy and action movie genres. Director McG has never been in the running for David Lean or Stanley Kubrick’s crown as a cinematic auteur, but this is a low point even for him. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Extended and theatrical versions; 3 alternate endings; Featurettes; Gag reel; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
PERFECT SENSE (IFC Films) Curious blend of love story and sci-fi finds a scientist (Eva Green) who has spent her life consumed by work with no room for love, falling for a good-natured chef (Ewan McGregor) just as an epidemic is sweeping the world, causing people to lose all sensory perception. Are these two people feeling such intense love for one another in spite of the virus or because of it? Thought-provoking, chilling and quite erotic, a unique work that bears multiple viewings. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
CERTIFIED COPY (Criterion) Mind-bending film from Iranian Abbas Kiarostami focuses on a couple in Tuscany (Juliette Binoche and William Shimell) who appear to be meeting for the first time and getting to know one another, only to reveal itself to be about something much more (no spoilers ahead, fear not). One-of-a-kind film will probably reveal new treasures upon repeated viewings as the viewer explores its layers deeper. A true masterpiece, not to be missed. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Kiarostami’s rarely-seen 1977 film The Report; Interview with Kiarostami; Documentary on film’s production; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL THING (Palisades Tartan) Touching family drama from Italy about a determined single mother (Micaela Ramazzotti) who leaves her abusive, jealous husband in 1971 and struggles to raise her two children against all odds. Director Paolo Virzi has fashioned a winsome, winning film, avoiding sentimentality and melodrama in favor of a delicate touch, resulting in very rewarding, very real people and moments. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE YANKLES (Magnolia) A washed-up baseball player (Brian Wimmer) is ordered to serve community service hours as a baseball coach. When no team wants him, the Yankels, a group of college-age Orthodox Jewish ballplayers, agree to take him on as a mitzvah, or good deed. When their pairing turns out to be a triumph, they find themselves headed to the College World Series. Genial, gentle little comedy is great fun and nicely balances inspirational sports movie moments with ethnic comedy. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary with co-writer/director David R. Brooks and Zev Brooks; Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
BAD ASS (20th Century Fox) Danny Trejo stars as a Vietnam vet who stops a hate crime on a bus and becomes an overnight celebrity when the video of the event goes viral. When his best friend is murdered and the police show little, if any, interest in solving it, Trejo decides to take out the punks who did it himself. Fun vehicle for the inimitable Trejo works for a while, but then sinks into a subpar bloodbath. Trejo is still good, with muscular support from Charles S. Dutton and Ron Perlman. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by filmmakers; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
RUN FOR THE SUN (MGM/Fox) Richard Widmark and Jane Greer star in this reworking of The Most Dangerous Game, as an author and magazine reporter who find themselves being hunted as big game by a war criminal after a plane crash in the Mexican jungle. Old school thriller is well-directed by British cinema stalwart Roy Boulting, with Trevor Howard a memorably evil villain. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
GAS PUMP GIRLS (MGM/Fox) Two run-down gas stations on the same street vie for what little business comes there way, but when one industrious owner decides to hire a bevy of sexy girls to work the pumps, their business goes through the roof. Utterly inane 1979 sex comedy delivers just what you would expect, which shouldn’t be much! The attractive young cast helps. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
THE HOUSE ON GARIBALDI STREET (MGM/Fox) Superb dramatization of the Israeli army’s 1960 kidnapping and deportation of Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann from Argentina back to Israel to stand trial. Fine cast headed by Topol, Nick Mancuso, Janet Suzman, Leo McKern and Martin Balsam really make the proceedings cook, with Alfred Burke doing an excellent turn as Eichmann, personifying the banality of evil. Terrific script by Steve Shagan, direction by Peter Collinson. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.



BLU BAYOU

DJANGO KILL…IF YOU LIVE, SHOOT! (Blue Underground) Director Guilio Testi and co-writer/editor Franco Araclli (co-writer of Once Upon a Time in the West and Last Tango in Paris) conjured up this surreal, horrific and one-of-a-kind spaghetti western in 1967. Genre stalwart Tomas Milian stars as a half-breed bandit, double-crossed and left for dead. Seeking revenge and trailing his attackers to a bizarre western town called “The Unhappy Place,” a hamlet populated by a town boss with a private army of pseudo-fascist, homosexual enforcers dressed in all-black and a strange priest, all of whom lust for a cache of gold that is hidden in everything from lanterns to assassins’ bullets. Truly strange, horrifically violent, and quite possibly a masterpiece, a must-see for fans of the genre. Bonuses: Interviews with surviving cast members; Trailer; Poster and still gallery. Widescreen. DTS-HD 1.0 mono.
STEVE MARTIN MANIA Touchstone/Disney release three Steve Martin titles to Blu: First, a double-feature of FATHER OF THE BRIDE and FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II, starring Martin in the (very loose) remakes of the Elizabeth Taylor/Spencer Tracy classics, with Steve playing a nervous father who very reluctantly watches his “little girl” (Kimberly Williams) tie the knot, followed in part II by the equally-sobering event of grandparenthood. Diane Keaton is a delight as Martin’s level-headed wife, and Martin Short nearly steals the show in both as a gleefully fay event planner. Bonuses: Commentary with writer/director Charles Shyer; Featurettes. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround. BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE pairs Martin with Queen Latifah as an uptight lawyer and recently-escaped ex-con respectively, who quickly find that each needs the other more than they realized. Eugene Levy and Betty White co-star in this very forced comedy that, in spite of a bevy of heavyweight talent, never quite gels. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Gag reel; Featurettes; Music video by Latifah. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
THREE FROM CHUCK NORRIS MGM/Fox release three Chuck Norris titles to Blu: THE DELTA FORCE teams Norris with the great Lee Marvin (in his final film), as special forces operatives who undertake a top secret mission to rescue a plane full of hostages that has been commandeered by Arab terrorists, led by everyone’s favorite Arab, Robert Forster (!). All-star cast includes Martin Balsam, Joey Bishop, Lanie Kazan, George Kennedy, Hannah Schygulla, Susan Strasberg, Robert Vaughn and Shelley Winters. Trashy as hell, but also great fun. MISSING IN ACTION stars Chuck as a Vietnam vet and former POW who goes back into Vietnam to rescue American POWs still being held captive long after the war has ended. Exploitation fare masquerading as jingoistic adventure is utterly without merit, but delivers pretty much what you would expect. MISSING IN ACTION 2: THE BEGINNING is a prequel to part 1, showing Norris’ capture during the Vietnam war and his subsequent escape from a brutal POW camp. Slightly better than part 1, which isn’t saying much. Neither film will give Oliver Stone’s Vietnam sagas a run for their money, however. All are widescreen, DTS-HD 5.1 surround.



DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL!

ROOKIE BLUE: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (eOne) More trials and tribulations with rookie cops (most of whom also look like Abercrombie & Fitch models) learning the ropes on the streets and sowing respective oats with each other. Often called “’Grey’s Anatomy’ with guns,” but nowhere near that show’s level of wit, characterization and plotting. As with the first season, there is plenty of talent and potential in this series, but it has yet to find its legs. Talented young cast includes Missy Peregrym, Gregory Smith, Enuka Okuma, Travis Milne, Charlotte Sullivan, Eric Johnson and Ben Bass. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurettes. Widescreen. DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
TEEN WOLF: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE (20th Century Fox/MGM) A teen (Tyler Posey) just wants to be a normal kid, play lacrosse, and date the hottest girl (Crystal Reed) in school. But when a werewolf bite leaves him anything but ordinary, he must reconcile his new gift/curse along with navigating the already-treacherous minefield of adolescence. Seriocomic take on the goofy Michael J. Fox (and later Jason Bateman) teen comedies of the ‘80s certainly gets points for chutzpah in its willingness to tackle some edgy subject matter, and works more often than not. Bonuses: Extended finale; Deleted, alternate and extended scenes; Gag reel; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
BRAD MELTZER’S DECODED: SEASON TWO (History/New Video) More adventures with history buff and best-selling author Meltzer, who explores the hidden codes and symbols that surround us. Some of season two’s subjects include Ft. Knox, UFOs, Billy the Kid and the Spear of Destiny. Fascinating stuff, proving that science fact is often more confounding and unbelievable than science fiction. Bonuses: Additional footage. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
AMERICAN PICKERS: VOLUME THREE (History/New Video) Self-made archeologists Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz hunt down more ancient, semi-ancient and somewhat modern artifacts that are buried in fields, barns and front lawns across the U.S. One of History Channel’s most popular programs, this season has the duo exploring a century-old amusement park, a geodesic dome, and finally allowing Danielle into the action. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER: TAKING IT TO THE STREETS (A&E) Four-episode collection, a sort of “best of” selection from the hit reality series, featuring a modern day bounty hunter and his cohorts tracking down some of society’s most nefarious law-breakers. Entertaining, to be sure, but also full of moral ambiguity that is more than slightly unsettling. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.



DOCUMENTARY DAYS

HIT SO HARD (Well Go USA) Sobering look at the life and times of drummer Patty Schemel, who kept time for Courtney Love’s landmark ‘90s band Hole and kept a video diary of the seminal years of the grunge rock movement, including intimate footage of Love and husband Kurt Cobain. Fascinating and sobering examination of an artistic explosion as well as utter self-destruction, both in terms of Cobain’s suicide and the drug abuse that abounded within the grunge community, including Schemel’s own near-fatal addiction. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Schemel and director P. David Ebersole; Rare footage; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
JOHN MELLENCAMP: IT’S ABOUT YOU (MPI) Entertaining and revealing look at John Mellencamp during his 2009 concert tour with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, tracing his journey to American landmarks where his critically-acclaimed album “No Better Than This” begins to take shape. Stunningly filmed on Super8 video by acclaimed photographer Kurt Marcus and his son Ian, this is one of the better rock star docs to arrive in many a moon. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo and PCM 2.0 lossless audio.
ANDREW LLOYD WEBER’S LOVE NEVER DIES (Universal) Filmed version of the lavish stage play, a sequel to Phantom of the Opera, finds the Phantom relocated to a vivacious amusement resort in Coney Island. Once there, he uses a pseudonym to invite renowned soprano Christine Daaé to perform. She and her husband Raoul have no idea what lies in store for them as they arrive. Opulent, lush and chock full of bizarre, over-the-top staging as only Lloyd Weber can provide, truly a stage spectacle, expertly filmed. Fans of the original Phantom will surely want to take a look. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
NEW YORK GIANTS ROAD TO XLVI (Vivendi) Two disc set that contains all the original network broadcasts of the New York Giants’ entire 2011 playoff run, featuring the four games that led to their Super Bowl win: Giants vs. the Atlanta Falcons, Giants vs. the Green Bay Packers, Giants vs. the San Francisco 49ers and finally, Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants vs. the New England Patriots. A must have for any die-hard Giants fan! Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
PBS leads the pack, as always, with a host of new titles: RIVER OF NO RETURN takes a look at the year-long honeymoon of Isaac and Bjornen Babcock in one of the most remote areas of the U.S., in the untamed heart of Idaho. Fascinating blend of human drama and nature documentary. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
MURDOCH’S SCANDAL takes a hard look at the scandal involving media baron Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World and allegations that its reporters and editors knowingly invaded the privacy of individuals they were reporting on. Fascinating story of hubris in its most powerful form, a joint production of the CBC and PBS, produced by veteran Lowell Bergman. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
THE POLAR EXPLORER looks at how the melting global ice cap will affect the world in terms of our eco-system. A group of the world’s foremost polar scientists are interviewed in the field as they explain how the delicate balance of nature is in grave danger. Bonuses: Featurette; Trailer. Dolby 5.1 surround.
CRACKING YOUR GENETIC CODE is a fascinating piece of conjecture about what might happen when we can all afford to have our DNA read, stored and available for analysis. A cancer patient who cheated certain death is interviewed, as well as a cystic fibrosis sufferer who now breathes easier because both were able to have their genetic abnormalities pinpointed and neutralized by scientists using DNA analysis. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
TITANIC & ME offers a unique account of the greatest maritime disaster of all-time, through interviews with the descendants of the ship’s victims and survivors, all of whom recount how their relatives’ being on the doomed ship affected their pasts and presents. Superb BBC production is sure to satisfy the most hardcore Titanic buff! Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
VIOLIN MASTERS: TWO GENTLEMEN OF CREMONA offers a portrait of two violin makers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries from the same town, even the same block, in the small town of Cremona, Italy, who made the most sought-after violins ever created. One was the legendary Antonio Stradivari, but the other was the lesser-known Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu, whose instruments are viewed as being just a perfect and priceless today as his better-known counterpart. Narrated by Alfred Molina. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
CHARLIE DANIELS BAND: LIVE AT ROCKPALAST (MIG) Terrific document of the legendary rockabilly band’s live performance in Germany during their 1980 European tour. Terrific audio and video quality considering its age, with the boys signing 15 of their biggest hits, including “Trudy,” “Devil Went Down to George,” “Long Haired Country Boy,” and “Orange Blossom Special.” Full screen. PCM 2.0 stereo.
DIVINYLS LIVE: JAILHOUSE ROCK (MVD) Recorded in 1993 in Queensland’s notorious Boggo Road Prison, this amazing show features not only Chrissie Amphlett and her band singing their greatest hits, but also offers Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and Rose Tattoo in unbridled performances, as well. Songs include “Boys in Town,” “Science Fiction,” “I Touch Myself,” and “Make Out Alright.” Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.





FOR THE WEE ONES

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (Disney) Gorgeous Japanese production about a secret world beneath our floorboards inhabited by little people called the Borrowers. But when tenacious Borrower Arrietty is discovered by Shawn, a human boy of equal curiosity, their forbidden friendship spawns into an extraordinary adventure. Beautifully designed and expertly told, from the same people who brought such family classics as Ponyo and Spirited Away to life. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Original Japanese storyboards; Music videos; Trailer and TV spots; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (Warner Bros.) Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson stars in this CGI fantasy follow-up to Journey to the Center of the Earth in which now-17 year-old Sean (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island, a place of deadly animals, erupting volcanoes, and astonishing secrets. Along with his stepfather (Johnson), Sean joins forces with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his daughter (Vanessa Hudgens) to rescue the person in need. Should please young kids, but older ones should stay clear. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interactive map; Gag reel; Deleted scenes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-HD 5.1 surround.
G.I. JOE RENEGADES: SEASON 1 VOLUME 1 (Shout Factory) When a spy mission against Cobra Industries goes awry, a young band of G.I. Joes must hit the road as fugitives. Now the team must use all their wits and resources to prove their innocence before the law, and the people who framed them, catch up. Well-drawn and plotted, Japanese anime-style, with terrific voice acting from Clancy Brown, Michael Emerson, Phil LaMarr, Peter MacNicol and Lee Majors. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TEAM UMIZOOMI/UMIGAMES (Paramount/Nickelodeon) Four math lessons disguised as entertaining animated adventures, featuring the members of Team Umizoomi, filled with games sure to please the most choosy pre-schooler in your house. Bonuses: Three bonus games. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
BABAR: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (eOne) Thirteen episodes from the classic, beloved children’s series about a young elephant named Babar who becomes king of the jungle. Along the way, Babar and his friends in Celesteville learn family values from their adventures, proving that despite life’s challenges, great things are always possible. Two-disc set. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
MY FIRST COLLECTION VOL. 3, FEATURING CHICKEN LITTLE (Scholastic/New Video) Thirteen stories in a three-disc collection, including classics like “Chicken Little,” “Katie Loves the Kittens,” and “Bark, George.” All the stories are animal-themed and offer great lessons for the young ones. Bonuses: Interviews with authors and illustrators; Read-along. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.