Being There
(1979) Dir.: Hal Ashby; Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart. Extras: "Memories From Being There" featurette. Available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
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The Berenstain Bears: Springtime Surprises
Mama, Papa, Brother and Sister Bear spring into song as they help Boss Bunny learn the true meaning of the holiday spirit. Four episodes including "Easter Surprise"; $12.99. (Sony).
Bewitched: The Complete Seventh Season
(1970-71) Four-disc set with 28 episodes, $39.95. (Sony).
Bottle Shock
(2008) Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Freddy Rodriguez, Chris Pine, Rachael Taylor, Eliza Dushku, Dennis Farina. Extras: Commentary by Bill Pullman, Chris Pine and Eliza Dushku, director-producer Randall Miller, writer-producer Jody Slavin, producer J. Todd Harris and writers Ross Schwartz and Lannette Pabon; "An Underdog's Journey: The Making of Bottle Shock" featurette; "Chateau Montelena: One Winery's Search for Excellence" featurette; deleted scenes. (Fox).
Brainstorm
(1983) Dir.: Douglas Trumbull; Christopher Walken, Natalie Wood, Louise Fletcher, Cliff Robertson. (Warner).
Gym Teacher: The Movie
(2008) Christopher Meloni, Paul Dinello, Amy Sedaris, Nathan Kress. Nickelodeon original family telefilm about a former Olympic gymnast turned high school coach who must transform an athletically adverse new student into a star athlete in order to win a championship tournament. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, bloopers, deleted scenes. (Sony).
Holly Hobbie: Marvelous Makeover
(2007) Two adventures featuring the animated Holly Hobbie and The Hey Girls, $12.99. Extras: "Dress Up With Holly Hobbie" game. (Sony).
Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht Season 3
Four-disc set with 33 episodes of the TLC series, $34.95. Extras: "Behind the Scenes of Jon & Kate Plus 8," "View FAQ," "Hug & a Kiss" music Video. (Genius Products).
Natalie Wood Collection
Six-disc set with "Splendor in the Grass," "Gypsy," "Sex and the Single Girl," "Inside Daisy Clover," "Bombers B-52" and "Cash McCall"; $59.92. "Splendor in the Grass" and "Sex and the Single Girl" will also be available for $19.97 each. (Warner).
Night Court: The Complete Second Season
Three-disc set with 22 episodes, $29.98. (Warner).
Oliver & Company
(1988) Voices of Joseph Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin, Richard Mulligan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Dom DeLuise, Taurean Blacque, Robert Loggia, William Glover, Bette Midler. 20th anniversary edition of Disney's 27th animated feature. Extras: Animated shorts, featurettes, games. (Disney).
The Partridge Family: The Complete Fourth Season
(1973-74) Three-disc set with 22 episodes, $29.95. (Sony).
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous
(2008) Vivica A. Fox, Steve Guttenberg, Cheri Oteri, Olesya Rulin, Jill Marie Jones. A spoiled Hollywood actress suddenly finds herself broke and humiliated in the public eye after one disastrous night out. With no money, no job and no boyfriend, she ends up at an Army recruiting office and decides to trade in her high heels for combat boots in an impulsive effort to turn her life around. Extras: Making-of featurette, deleted scenes. (Sony).
Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway
(2007) Will Chase, Adam Kantor, Michael McElroy, Tracie Thoms, Justin Johnstonl, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Eden Espinosa, Larson's rock musical provides a modern interpretation of the iconic opera "La Boheme" and tells the story of a group of friends struggling to live and pay rent against the gritty background of New York's East Village while holding fast to their bohemian ideals and pursuits. Extras: "Rent: The Final Days on Broadway" retrospective documentary, "The Final Curtain Call" - past/present cast members sing "Seasons of Love" on stage one last time, "The Wall" - a rare look at the famous backstage wall, more. Available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
Space Buddies
(2009) Disney's talking puppies are back, this time shooting into outer space for an intergalactic adventure.Extras: Bloopers, music video. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Disney).
The Tenth Circle
(2008) Kelly Preston, Ron Eldard, Brittany Robertson, Michael Riley, Jamie Johnston. Lifetime telefilm about a family whose idyllic life is turned upside down when their daughter accuses the wife's ex-boyfriend of rape. When the latter dies in an apparent suicide, the family finds itself at the center of a high profile investigation that rocks their community and reveals just how far parents will go to protect their children. (Sony).
Tom and Jerry Tales
Features 15 cartoons from the popular Kids' WB Series; $14.97.
(Warner).
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February 10
Blindness
(2008) Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal, Danny Glover, Alice Braga. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Miramax).
December Bride
(1991) Donal McCann, Saskia Reeves, Ciaran Hinds. At the beginning of the 20th century a young servant provokes an independent Irish farm community by her relationship with two brothers. (BFS Entertainment).
The Exterminating Angel
(1962) Dir.: Luis Bunuel; Silvia Pinal, Claudio Brook. Double-disc set with a new, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras:
"The Last Script: Remembering Luis Bunuel," a 2008 documentary featuring Jean-Claude Carriere and Jean Luis Bunuel; interviews with filmmaker Arturo Ripstein and actress Silvia Pinal; booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Marsha Kinder and a reprinted interview with Bunuel (The Criterion Collection).
Frozen River
(2008) Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Mark Boone Junior. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Courtney Hunt and producer Heather Rae. (Sony).
Kennedy: The Complete Series
(1983) Two-disc set of the miniseries chronicling the presidency of John F. Kennedy; starring Martin Sheen (as Kennedy), John Shea, E.G. Marshall, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Vincent Gardenia, Blair Brown; $19.98. (MPI Home Video).
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
(1993 -- TV) Lucie Arnaz hosts this emotional and honest glimpse at the extraordinary lives of her world-famous parents, highlighted by never-before-seen color family movies along with insightful interviews from family members, business associates and celebrity friends such as Bob Hope; $19.98. (MPI Home Video).
Ode to Billy Joe
(1976) Dir.: Max Baer Jr.; Robby Benson, Glynnis O'Connor. Extras: Vintage featurette. (Warner).
Sam Elliott Western Collection
Four-disc set with "The Desperate Trail," "Rough Riders" and "You Know My Name," $19.97. (Warner).
Simon of the Desert
(1965) Dir.: Luis Bunuel; Silvia Pinal, Claudio Brook. new, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: "A Mexican Bunuel" (1995), a 50-minute documentary by Emilio Maille; interview with actress Silvia Pinal; booklet featuring a new essay by critic Michael Wood and a reprinted interview with Bunuel. (The Criterion Collection).
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February 17
Alien from Earth: The Little People of Flores
(2009) NOVA presents an exclusive new investigation into the sensational discovery of the bizarre ancient bones of the so-called "Hobbit" unearthed in a cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia. No more than 3 feet tall when fully grown, these tiny humans survived in the cave for tens of thousands of years, hunting the huge and fierce Komodo dragons that roamed their remote island home. NOVA explores the latest evidence in a furious scientific debate on what the Hobbit bones represent. $24.99. (WGBH Boston Video).
Alien Raiders
(2008) Carlos Bernard, Mathew St. Patrick, Courtney Ford, Rockmond Dunbar. A Nerve-shredding battle for human survival against aliens that invade our world by invading our bodies. (Warner).
Arctic Dinosaurs: Warm-Blooded Creatures of the Cretaceous?
(2009) How is it that dinosaurs managed to survive and even thrive in the gloom of the dark and frigid polar regions? It is one of paleontology's most intriguing enigmas; but now, a unique field expedition covered exclusively by NOVA will set out for Alaska's North Slope to defrost a jackpot of new fossil clues; $24.99. (WGBH Boston Video).
Columbia: Space Shuttle Disaster
(2009)On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas just 16 minutes before it was due to land. All seven astronauts aboard perished; NASA responded by announcing the retirement of the shuttle program in 2010. What caused the Columbia disaster? An engineering flaw? A failure within NASA? Could this catastrophe have been avoided? Through interviews with astronauts, NASA personnel, and members of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, "Space Shuttle Disaster" gives viewers a new look at the Columbia tragedy; $24.99. (WGBH Boston Video).
Essential Art House: Volume II -
No-frills editions of "Black Orpheus," "The 400 Blows," "Ikiru," "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp," "Pygmalion," "La Strada."
Available separately at $19.95 each and in a boxed-set for $99.95. (The Criterion Collection).
Faces
(1968) Dir.: John Cassavetes; Gena Rowlands, Starring Seymour Cassel, John Marley. Double-disc set with new, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Seventeen-minute alternate opening sequence, from an early edit of the film; "Cineastes de notre temps" (1968), a 48-minute episode from the French television series dedicated to Cassavetes, featuring rare interviews and behind-the-scenes footage; "Making Faces," a 2004 documentary including interviews with actors Lynn Carlin, Seymour Cassel, Gena Rowlands, and director of photography Al Ruban; "Lighting and Shooting the Film," a short documentary from 2004 in which Ruban explains how he and the crew achieved the distinct look of "Faces"; booklet featuring an essay by critic Stuart Klawans. (The Criterion Collection).
The Helen Morgan Story
(1957) Dir.: Michael Curtiz; Ann Blyth, Paul Newman. (Warner).
Hobson's Choice
(1954) Dir.: David Lean; Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda De Banzie. High-definition digital transfer-restoration by the BFI National Archive, funded by the David Lean Foundation and StudioCanal. Extras: Commentary by film scholars Alain Silver and James Ursini, co-authors of "David Lean and His Films"; "The Hollywood Greats: Charles Laughton," a 1978 BBC documentary about the actor's life and career, featuring interviews with his friends and colleagues; new essay by critic Armond White. (The Criterion Collection).
The Outrage
(1964) Dir.: Martin Ritt; Paul Newman, Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom, Edward G. Robinson. (Warner).
Rachel, Rachel
(1968) Dir.: Paul Newman; Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Estelle Parsons. (Warner).
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: Season One, Volume One
(1996) Two-disc set with 13 episodes of the sequel to one of TV's first animated science fiction action-adventure series, $26.99. Extras: New and vintage bonus materials from Hanna-Barbera. (Warner).
Screamers: The Hunting
(2009) Lance Henriksen, Gina Holden, Jana Pallaske. The killing machines of the cult hit "Screamers" are back and deadlier than ever. It's been 13 years since the robotic killing machines known as Screamers destroyed the human population of Sirius 6B. But now a distress signal brings a team of rescuers to the supposedly abandoned planet. Can it be a long-lost colony of human survivors? Or have the Screamers evolved into something even more sinister: a half-man/half-machine hybrid that needs to escape Sirius 6B to finish its mission: the complete annihilation of the human race? Extras: "Screamers: The Hunting Behind the Scenes" featurette. (Sony).
Shadows
(1959) Dir.: John Cassavetes; Lelia Goldoni, Hugh Hurd. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Video interviews from 2004 with actress Lelia Goldoni and associate producer Seymour Cassel, rare silent 16 mm footage of John Cassavetes and Burt Lane's acting workshop, restoration demonstration, stills gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes production photos, booklet featuring an essay by Gary Giddins and a reprinted essay by Cassavetes. (The Criterion Collection).
The Silver Chalice
(1954) Paul Newman, Pier Angeli, Virginia Mayo, Jack Palance. (Warner).
The Smurfs: Season 2, Volume One
Two-disc set of the Saturday morning cartoon series ; $14.98. (Warner).
When Time Ran Out
(1980) Paul Newman, Jacqueline Bisset, William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Edward Albert, Red Buttons, Veronica Hamel. (Warner).
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February 24
Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder
(2009) Fourth feature-length animated adventure has mankind standing on the brink of a wondrous new Green Age. But ancient forces of darkness, three years older than time itself, have returned to wreak destruction. Even more shocking: Bender's in love with a married fembot, and Leela's on the run from the law -- Zapp Brannigan's law! Fry is the last hope of the universe ... so if you're in the universe, you might want to think about going somewhere else. Could this be the end of the Planet Express crew forever? Extras: Commentary by Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, John DiMaggio, Maurice LaMarche, Michael Rowe, Lee Supercinski, Patric M. Verrone and Peter Avanzino; storyboard animatic: "Into the Wild Green Yonder, Part 1"; "Matt Groening and David X. Cohen in Space!" featurette; "Docudramarama: How We Make Futurama So Good"; "Louder! Louder!: The Acting Technique of Penn Jillette"; "Golden Stinkers: A Treasury of Deleted Scenes"; "How To Draw Futurama In 10 Very Difficult Steps"; "Bender's Movie Theater Etiquette"] more. $29.98. (Fox).
Available on Blu-ray Disc.
The Last House on the Left Collector's Edition
(1972) Dir.: Wes Craven; Sandra Cassell, Lucy Grantham, David Hess, Fred J. Lincoln, Jeramie Rain, Marc Sheffler. When two young girls are kidnapped and brutalized by a vicious group of escaped convicts, one of the victim's parents takes matters into his own hands and seeks ultimate vengeance. Extras: Commentary by actors David Hess, Marc Sheffler and Fred Lincoln; more than 80 minutes of featurettes including all-new interviews with Wes Craven; a deleted scene featuring Mari dying at the lake; never-before-seen outtakes; Craven's annotated shooting scripts. Timed for the release of the theatrical remake. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (MGM).
Summer Heights High
(2009) In this mockumentary series set in a real Australian high school, creator and comedian Chris Lilley brings to life three hilarious characters: Jonah, a 13-year-old delinquent breakdancer from Tonga; Mr G, an ego-driven drama teacher with delusional showbiz dreams; and Ja'mie, a spoiled private school girl on a student exchange. Two-disc set, $29.98. (HBO Video).
The Wiggles Present Dorothy the Dinosaur
(2009) Nineteen new songs and special features from the best-selling musical artists that cater to the preschool set; $14.98. (Warner).
All listings are based on information from
the home video studios. Some release dates may change and titles may come out
after a specified date (with no announcement from the studio). Additionally,
some titles may be released with little or no advance announcement. And since
all DVDs are priced at sell-through and are available for substantial discounts
at both online and brick-and-mortar stores, we only list suggested retail prices
for some special editions, box sets and collections.
All DVDs are screened on a reference system consisting of a
Rotel RDV-1060 DVD Audio/Video Player, a
Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center),
and 50 (rear) speakers and Power 10 subwoofer.
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