OnVideo Guide to Home Video Releases: DVDs


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OnVideo's Guide to DVDs

DVD Resources
Links to DVD news, information and sales sites.

Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

DVD Releases
July 2009 Releases
July 7
July 14
July 21
July 28
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
July 7

Bedtime With Elmo (2009) Sesame Workshop feature combines clever and familiar bedtime situations with engaging stories, lullabies and humor to illustrate to children how important it is to get a good night's sleep; $14.93. (Warner).

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Coco Chanel (2008) Shirley MacLaine Critically acclaimed film that charts the rise of one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. From her humble childhood and early days as a young dressmaker's assistant, to her passionate love affair with a dashing Englishman and ultimate success as a pioneering fashion icon, Coco Chanel is the story of a glamorous woman who was hard to love and harder to ignore. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Universal).
Flying By (2009) Billy Ray Cyrus, Heather Locklear, Olesya Rulin, David Zayas, Patricia Neal. A real estate developer goes to his 25th high school reunion without his wife and teams up with his old band for a reunion tour. Faced with a world where dreams collide with life, he has to consider the effects on his marriage, his daughter and his business. Extras: Alternate ending performance and montage, "A Film Conversation" with the director, DP and editor. (MTI Home Video).
Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes (2008) PBS American Masters' documentary follows humorist and commentator Garrison Keillor as he takes his skits and monologues across the country in America's most popular radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion." Filmed during the course of more than a year, this intimate portrait captures Keillor, his actors and musicians as they mingle fact and fiction to create America's collective hometown, Lake Wobegon, on the radio program. The weekly show, celebrating its 35th anniversary this July, has more than 4 million listeners and is broadcast on 590 stations. $26.95. Extras: Outtakes, "Garrison Keillor Talks to Students," interview with Robert Altman (who directed the big-screen feature "A Prairie Home Companion") and Keillor, filmmaker biography. (Docurama).
Kath & Kim: Season 1 (2008-09) Two-disc set with 17 episodes, $29.98. Extras: Gag reel, deleted scenes, commentaries. (Universal).
Knowing (2009) Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury. Extras: Commentary, "Visions of the Apocalypse" and "The Making of a Futuristic Thriller" featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Summit Entertainment).
Lonely Are the Brave (1962) Kirk Douglas, Gena Rowlands, Walter Matthau, George Kennedy, Carroll O'Connor. (Universal).
Moon Machines (2008) Just in time for the 40th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon comes this critically-acclaimed six-part documentary focusing on the efforts of the 400,000 people who created the equipment used to achieve the lunar landings. Originally debuted on "The Science Channel" during Space Week. The episodes: "Saturn V," "Command Module," "Navigation," "Lunar Module," "Suits" and "Lunar Rover/" $24.98. (Image Entertainment).
Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Tenth Season (1984-85) Five-disc set with 21 episodes, $49.98. (Universal).
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XV Four-disc set with four "misunderstood masterpieces" that get the MST commentary treatment: "The Robot Vs. The Aztec Mummy," "The Girl in Lovers Lane," "Zombie Nightmare" and "Racket Girls"; $59.99. Extras: Four limited-edition mini-posters, new interviews with the stars from "Zombie Nightmare"; Frank Dietz and Jon Mikl Thor in "Zombie Nightmare = MST3K Dream" featurette; "Glimpses of KTMA: MST3K Scrapbook Scraps I" (original wrap-around segments from the KTMA season in Minneapolis); "Behind-the-Scenes: MST3K Scrapbook Scraps II"; Kevin Murphy and Trace Beaulieu in a sneak peak from the upcoming "Hamlet A.D.D."; promos. (Shout! Factory).
Night Train (2009) Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn, Matthias Schweighoefer, Geoff Bell, Richard O'Brien. Three strangers find themselves on a collision course with destiny when they discover a dead body onboard a night train. Among his possessions: a mysterious box with a treasure so valuable that the three conspire to hide the body and split the fortune themselves. Extras: "Making-of" featurette, interviews with the cast and crew, photo gallery. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (National Entertainment Media).
Nursery University (2009) In communities across the country, competition for admission into the best schools is starting very early ... as in preschool. This documentary takes a wry look at this cultural phenomenon, revealing with humor and humanity the surprisingly elaborate process of applications, anxious parent-toddler interviews, placement lotteries and pricey consultants. Cue the tears, hysterics and breakdowns and that's just the parents. $26.95. Extras: "Tips from the Experts: Advice for Getting Into Nursery School"; commentary by the filmmakers; Q&As with the parents, admissions officers, and filmmakers; deleted scenes. (Docurama)
Peanuts 1960s Collection (Two-disc set with six Peanuts TV specials: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965), "Charlie Brown's All-Stars" (1966), "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (1966), "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (1967), "He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown" (1968) and "It was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" (1969); $29.98. (Warner).
Power Rangers RPM: Start Your Engines Vol. 1 (2009) The latest episode from the new Power Rangers series; $19.99. (Disney).
Push (2009) Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Maggie Siff, Scott Michael Campbell. Extras: Commentaries, deleted scenes, "The Science Behind the Fiction" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Summit Entertainment).
The Released (2008) PBS Frontline documentary looks at the lives of mentally ill public offenders and the obstacles they face once released from prison. This year, hundreds of thousands of prisoners with serious mental illnesses will be released into communities across America, the largest exodus in the nation's history. Typically, mentally ill offenders leave prison with a bus ticket, $75 and two weeks worth of medication. Within 18 months, nearly two-thirds are re-arrested. Frontline examines what happens to the mentally ill when they leave prison and why they return at such alarming rates. $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Reno 911! The Complete Sixth Season -- Uncensored (2008) Two-disc set with 11 episodes, $26.99. Extras: Reno Department Presents: Office Policies and Workplace Etiquette" eight-part featurette, "Reno Officers at Mardi Gras." (Paramount).
Third Watch: The Complete Second Season (2000-01) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. (Warner).
The Unborn (2009) Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Meagan Good, Cam Gigandet, James Remar, Atticus Shaffer, Jane Alexander, Idris Elba. Extras: Deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).
Young & Handsome: A Night With Jeff Garlin (2009) Comedy Central standup act filmed at the historic Second City Theatre in Chicago. (Shout! Factory).

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July 14

American Gladiators The Original Series: The Battle Begins (1989) Three-disc set with 26 episodes, $29.99. Extras: Special booklet on the gladiators; commentaries with Dan "Nitro" Clark, Ray "Zap" Hollitt and Jim "Laser" Starr; interview with contestant and actor Billy Wirth. (Shout! Factory).
Barney: Book Fair DVD + Book Collection (2009) Barney's friends are holding a book drive in the park and every time they open a new book, a new tale begins. Package includes a DVD inside a custom-sized reprint of the 20-page hardcover Barney storybook "Count to 10." $14.98. (HIT/Lionsgate).
Beach Kings (2008) David Charvet, Torrey DeVitto, Kristin Cavallari. A former college basketball star has one last shot at greatness: the professional beach volleyball tour. (MGM).
photo The Beatles Rare and Unseen: Unofficial Account of the Biggest Band in the World (2008) All new documentary tells the story of The Beatles from their humble beginnings in Liverpool to their break-up in London. Told for the first time using original rare film and video of the band, including home-movies, concert footage, newsreels and photographs from private collections. There are also interviews with those who surrounded the band, and those who were there from the very start. Features earliest known footage of the Beatles on stage in Liverpool in February 1962; the only existing film on tour in Scotland, from Caird Hall, Dundee, October 1964; footage from the Bahamas, February 1965, during the filming of "Help!" September 1967 footage in Newquay while filming "Magical Mystery Tour"; home movie footage from Paris Olympia Theatre, January 1964; highlights of an interview with John Lennon recorded in New York for French TV. $19.95. (MVD Entertainment Group).
Bewitched: The Complete Eighth and Final Season (1971-72) Four-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.95. (Sony).
Bob the Builder: Built for Fun (2009) Bob the Builder and the Can-Do crew build a radio station, design greenhouses and more; five episodes; $14.98. Includes a collectible toy vehicle. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Break (2009) Frank Krueger, Sarah Thompson, Chad Everett, Michael Madsen, Charles Durning, James Russo, Xin Sarith Wuku, David Carradine. Comic book-style thriller about a terminally ill crime boss, known only as The Man, who hires a hit man named Frank to carry out his own assassination as well as the assassination of The Woman he loves. When The Woman turns out to be Frank's long lost lover, he turns against The Man, becoming the target himself. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, interviews, still gallery. (Cinema Epoch).
The Butcher (2007) Eric Roberts, Robert Davi, Keith David, Bokeem Woodbine. Merle "The Butcher" Hench (Roberts), a hit man with 20 years of bad luck and gambling debts he can't repay, is an ageing loser with nothing to show for himself but a lifetime of bad decisions. So when he's setup as a fall guy by those he trusts, he decides to start making his own luck: Merle will set them straight and The Butcher will have his revenge. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Vivendi Entertainment).
Bye Bye Monkey (1978 -- French) Gerard Depardieu, Marcello Mastroianni, Geraldine Fitzgerald. The first English-language film from acclaimed Italian director Marco Ferreri ("La Grande Bouffe") is a typically off-the-wall satire on capitalism, sexual politics and modern society. Lafayette (Depardieu), a young-ish Frenchman and Nocello (Mastroianni), an older Italian, are a pair of misfit friends living in a run-down section of New York City. Lafayette works for a women's lib group, which one day decides to "rape" him to see how the shoe fits on the other foot. Rather than being much bothered, Lafayette starts a liaison with the woman who had sex with him. And while walking along the beach, Nocello discovers the corpse of King Kong -- and his alive infant son! -- and brings him to Lafayette, who decides to raise baby Kong as his own. (Koch Lorber).
The Doors From the Outside (2008) New documentary tells the story of The Doors, not from the perspective of the surviving members -- as has been told so many time before -- but from the recollections, memories, stories and anecdotes of those who knew the group and its members best; $19.99. Extras: "Conversation with The Lizard Queen" featurette, in which Patricia Morrison reveals her own views about Jim Morrison as an artist, a poet and a visionary. (MVD Entertainment Group).
Don't Touch the White Woman (1974 -- French) Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli, Catherine Deneuve. Satirical comedy by acclaimed Italian director Marco Ferreri ("La Grande Bouffe") transplants the Battle of Little Big Horn to the site of a demolished Parisian Mall. Mastroianni plays a preening, primping General Custer, Piccoli is an effeminate Buffalo Bill who performs at a Parisian nightclub, and Deneuve is the seemingly demure frontier gal who literally picks up Custer and throws him into bed where she ravishes him before the Indians do. A wry look at many of the political and social issues that shaped America. (Koch Lorber).
ER: The Complete Eleventh Season (2004-5) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.98. Extras: Outpatient outtakes: Unaired Scenes. (Warner).
El Camino (2008) Elisabeth Moss, Chris Denham, Leo Fitzpatrick. A film about friendship, family and identity in today's America. Three friends travel from Virginia to Mexico to fulfill their mutual friend's last request to deposit his cremated ashes there. As the young adults journey through a culture traumatized by war and economic collapse, they confront their unrealized selves and their grief with surprising results. (LifeSize Entertainment/Koch Entertainment).
The Edge of Love (2009) Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, Matthew Rhys. In the Bohemian underground of World War II London, a stirring love story ignites among legendary poet Dylan Thomas (Rhys) and the two extraordinary women who inspire him. Caitlin (Miller) is Thomas' free-spirited wife, while Vera (Knightley) is the long-lost teenage sweetheart who later reconnects with Thomas. Despite their romantic rivalry, the two women form a surprisingly close bond. The trio is unusually blissful until Vera's husband, a handsome soldier (Murphy), sends their uninhibited lives spiraling out of control. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
For All Mankind (2008) In July 1969, the space race ended when Apollo 11 fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." No one who witnessed the lunar landing will ever forget it. Al Reinert's documentary is the story of the twenty-four men who traveled to the Moon, told in their words, in their voices, using the images of their experiences. Original Music by Brian Eno. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by producer-director Al Reinert. Extras: Commentary by Reinert and Apollo 17 commander Eugene A. Cernan, the last man to set foot on the Moon; "An Accidental Gift: The Making of For All Mankind" documentary; "On Camera," a collection of excerpted, on-screen interviews with fifteen of the Apollo astronauts; NASA audio highlights and liftoff footage; booklet featuring essays by film critic Terrence Rafferty and Reinert. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Grey Gardens (2009) Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange. Based on the life stories of the eccentric aunt and first cousin of Jackie Kennedy, this HBO drama tells the tender, intimate story of an eccentric mother and daughter (both named Edith Bouvier Beale, aka "Big and Little Edie"). They were raised as Park Avenue debutantes but withdrew from New York society, taking shelter at their Long Island summer home. As their wealth and contact with the outside world dwindled, so did their grasp on reality. They were reintroduced to the world when international tabloids learned of a health department raid on their home, and Jackie swooped in to save her relatives. Based on the lives that inspired the Maysles Brothers' classic documentary.(HBO Home Entertainment).
The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas, Amanda Crew. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
The Human Condition (1959-61) Tatsuya Nakadai. Masaki Kobayashi's mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour, adapted from Junpei Gomikawa's six-volume novel, tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji (Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet POW. Constantly trying to rise above a corrupt system, Kaji time and again finds his morals an impediment rather than an advantage. Four-disc set with new, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Excerpt from a rare Directors Guild of Japan video interview with director Masaki Kobayashi, conducted by filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda; new video interview with actor Tatsuya Nakadai; video appreciation of Kobayashi and "The Human Condition" featuring Shinoda; booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp. (The Criterion Collection).
The Jean-Jacques Beineix Collection: Roselyne and the Lions (1989) Cinema in the 1980s saw a new wave of French auteurs explode onto the scene, redefining modernity in film. With "Diva" (1982) and "Betty Blu" (1986), director Jean-Jacques Beineix created two of the most provocative films of the era that were dark, memorable, filled with voluptuous imagery and generous dollops of sex and/or violence. Both films were international hits. In the 90s, Beineix turned towards more socially conscious subjects, directing two documentaries as well as taking up the paintbrush. He returned to feature filmmaking in 1992 with "IP5: The Island of the Pachyderms," which was the last film for renowned actor Yves Montand. This summer, film lovers nationwide will get the chance to view Beineix's work in theaters and on DVD, with several titles released for the first time in the U.S. The second release is the drama "Roselyn and the Lions," about a young man (Gerard Sandoz) who drops out of school to apprentice as a circus lion tamer where he falls in love with Roselyne (Isabelle Pasco). Landing in Germany, they both fall under the tutelage of an aging big cat trainer. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette "The Grand Circus." (Cinema Libre Studio). For more information see "The Return of Jean-Jacques Beineix."
Journey to the Moon: The 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 (2008) Documentary on the July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, including reflections by Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Also contains six classic documentaries from the NASA archive along with two spectacular NASA photograph slideshows. $14.98. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
Karl Rove, I Love You (2007) Dan Butler, featuring Phil Leirness, Julia Miranda, John Hoffman, Kira Tirimacco, Richard Waterhouse, Alex Cruz and with special appearances by Alec Baldwin and Peter Paige. Comedy documentary follows Dan Butler as he prepares for the role of a lifetime: playing Bush administration architect Karl Rove in an election-year documentary. Butler sets out to discover the "Karl Rove" inside us all, but the more Butler sees the world through Rove's eyes, the more Butler's friends and associates find themselves worried about his well-being. And when Butler finds himself falling in love with Rove, truly scary events begin to occur. Extras: Commentary by cast and crew, deleted scenes. (Ariztical Entertainment)
Leverage: The First Season (2008) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.99. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes: "Leverage: Behind the Scenes," "Anatomy of a Stunt Fight," "The Cameras of Leverage," "Leverage Gets Renewed" and "Beth Riesgraf's Crazy Actress Spoof." (Paramount).
Mad Men: Season Two (2008) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.98. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Ménage (1986 -- French) Dir.: Bertrand Blier; Gerard Depardieu, Michel Blanc, Miou-Miou When a crude, charismatic thief (Depardieu) encounters a bored and dissatisfied couple, Antoine (Blanc) and Monique (Miou-Miou), at a bar, he offers to help the young, impoverished lovers get over their recent run of bad luck by enlisting them to help him rob wealthy homes. Turned on by the illicit thrills of thievery, the couple soon abandons their world of middle-class predictability and falls under the influence of their raffish savior. But Bob also has an ulterior motive: as he works his seductive wiles on the couple, a bizarre love triangle develops between the trio. (Koch Lorber).
1,001 Classic Commercial Collection (2009) Twelve plus hours with 1,001 commercials from the early days of television, $14.98. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
One Way (2006) Til Schweiger, Lauren Lee Smith, Michael Clarke Duncan, Eric Roberts, Sebastien Roberts, Stefanie von Pfetten. Blackmail and revenge thriller. Star advertising executive Eddie (Schweiger) has the seemingly perfect life. He just landed a huge account, he earned a promotion and he's about to marry the boss' daughter. But when he provides a false alibi for an accused rapist in order to protect his career and upcoming marriage, Eddie winds up in over his head with more than he bargained for. (Vivendi Entertainment).
Peyton Place: Part Two Five-disc set with 31 episodes, $39.99. (Shout! Factory).
[Rec] (2007 -- Spain) Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge Serrano, Pablo Rosso. The Spanish horror-thriller that inspired 2008's "Quarantined," about a TV crew that covers an apartment fire and gets stuck in the building to fight off a lethal terror. (Sony).
Shark Week: Great Bites Collection (2009) Two-disc set of the Discovery Channel programming about the world of Sharks, $24.98. Extras: Featurettes: "MythBusters: Jaws," "Shark Attack Files IV," "Dirty Jobs: Jobs That Bite" and "Dirty Jobs: Jobs That Bite Harder." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
The State: The Complete Series Five-disc set with all 24 episodes of the MTV cult comedy sketch show, $69.99. Extras: Commentary, outtakes, interviews, show pilot, unaired sketches, more. (Paramount).
Thomas & Friends: Percy and the Bandstand (2009) Four Thomas & Friends episodes on the island of Sodor involving a hot-air balloon ride, a top-secret birthday party, a special surprise at the bandstand and more; $14.98. Extras: Songs and read-alongs. (HIT/Lionsgate).
The Transformers: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Edition Collector's Set (1983) Sixteen-disc set with 98 restored episodes, a collectible 60-page book, Autobots and Decepticon Magnets, more. Extras: Retrospective featurettes, concept art, voice cast reunion, archival Hasbro Toy commercials, printable scripts, rare PSAs, "From the Files of Teletraan-2," Fan art gallery, animated fan film. $140.00 direct from Shout! Factory.
12 (2007 -- Russian) Directed by Nikita Mikhalkov (often referred to as the Russian "Steven Spielberg"), "12" is a modern Russian adaptation of Sidney Lumet's "12 Angry Men," the movie classic starring Henry Fonda. (Sony).
The Unwinking Gaze (2008) Documentary takes viewers inside the titanic struggle of one of the great spiritual and political figures of our time -- the Dalai Lama -- as he tries to lead his people to a peaceful resolution with China. $24.95. Extras: Footage of the Dalai Lama's recent trip to Canada, extended interviews. (IndiePix).
Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009) Jonathan Bennett, Kristin Cavallari, Steve Talley, Kurt Fuller, Linden Ashby. A young Van follows in his wealthy father's footsteps by enrolling at prestigious Coolidge College. Much to the easygoing slacker's dismay, however, Coolidge is hardly the party school he envisioned. Instead, it's a strict institution led by an uptight dean-and to make matters worse, all the girls have taken a vow of chastity! Determined to rectify this intolerable situation, the civic-minded Van launches a personal crusade to free his school from the shackles of sexual oppression and party dysfunction. Third installment in the series of popular and rude college humor comedies. In rated and unrated editions. Extras: Commentary by director Harv Glazer and cast, "Creating the Legend: The Making of Van Wilder: Freshman Year," "Going Balls Out: Colossus," "Coolidge College: Orientation Video," "Previously on Decatur," "Teacher's Pets," bloopers, more. (Paramount).
Vegas: The City the Mob Made (2009) Series chronicles the untold history of this most American of cities, Las Vegas; $14.98. (Mill Creek Entertainment).
The Wiggles Go Bananas! (2009) The musical darlings of the pre-school set offer 24 new songs and special appearances by Kylie Minogue and Wiggles fan favorite Captain Feathersword. Released just in time for their U.S. concert tour kicking off on July 15. $14.98. Extras: "Safety Around Dogs," two bonus "Wiggle and Learn" episodes, photo gallery. (Warner).
Wild Pacific (2009) Two-disc set of the BBC series that explores the world's mightiest ocean, $29.98. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
WWE: Allied Powers -- The World's Greatest Tag Teams (2009) Fans can enjoy the greatest tag teams in WWE history in this three-disc set hosted by The Miz and John Morrison, who are the current World Tag Team champions and the longest-running WWE Tag Team Champions in recent history. Featured are New Age Outlaws vs. Rock 'N' Sock Connection, Tully Blanchard & Leg Luger vs. Nikita Koloff and Dusty Rhodes, more. $24.99. (World Wrestling Entertainment).

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July 21

American Outrage (2008) Two feisty, elderly Western Shoshone Indian sisters put up a heroic fight for their land rights -- and their human rights. Carrie and Mary Dann endure terrifying roundups by armed federal marshals in which thousands of their horses and cattle are confiscated, for the crime of grazing them on the open range outside their private ranch -- even though that range is part of 60 million acres recognized as Western Shoshone land by the U.S. After the government sued them for trespassing, their dispute went to the Supreme Court, and eventually the United Nations. $24.95. (First Run Features).
Anita O'day: The Life of a Jazz Singer (2008) Documentary chronicles the extraordinary life of Anita O'Day, one of the most legendary female jazz vocalists of all time. The DVD is an intimate portrait of the maverick jazz vocalist -- a self-professed "song-stylist" -- documenting her wild ride from her early days singing alongside Gene Krupa, Roy Eldridge, Stan Kenton, Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael through her many great adversities she fought to overcome; a 20-year heroin and alcohol addiction, several failed marriages, abortions and arrests and finally, her last-hurrah album, completed just before the singer's 2006 death at age 87. In addition, there's incredible footage from O'Day's incomparable career, starting as far back as the 1940's through the recording of her last album. There's more than 30 songs, including "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," "Let Me Off Uptown," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Tea for Two," "Let's Fall in Love" and from her legendary performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, "Sweet Georgia Brown." Available in two editions: A two-disc set with director's commentary, 45 minutes of uninterrupted musical performances from the film, 45 minutes of outtake interviews of Anita, and a 32-page full-color booklet including essays by jazz novelist Jim Gavin and jazz critic-author Will Friedwald, a selected chapter from Anita's autobiography, "High Times Hard Times" and 16 pages reproduced from Anita's personal scrapbooks; $29.98. A deluxe limited edition is a 9 x 9-inch black burnished fabric covered hard bound book containing over 160 full color pages including Anita's complete scrapbooks as well as all the material included in the basic release; $69.99. (RED).
Ballerina (2008) In the grand tradition of the Ballets Russes comes this portrait of five Russian ballerinas from the Mariinsky Theatre (also known as the Kirov), a new generation of rising stars: Alina Somova, Svetlana Zakharova, Diana Vishneva, Ulyana Lopatkina and Evgenia Obraztsova -- tough, insightful and exceptionally talented women, each with her own personal hopes, dreams and career-changing challenges. In Russian, English and French with English subtitles. $24.95. Extras: Photo gallery, filmmaker biography, dance film gallery. (First Run Features).
The Big Blue Documentary about the world's largest creature, the Blue Whale, which inhabits a unique spot in the ocean off the coast of Southern Australis. The Big Blue can grow to 100-feet long, weigh up to 180 tons, with a heart the size of a Volkswagen and a tongue that weighs more than an elephant. $9.98. (Smithsonian Networks/Infinity Entertainment Group).
Bundy: A Legacy of Evil (2008) Corin Nemec, Kane Hodder. Details the dark psyche of Ted Bundy, a handsome, charming all-American guy who was actually one of the most notorious serial killers of all time. He eventually confessed to more than 30 murders, though the actual total of victims is estimated to be more than 100. (Barnholtz Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Carmen & Geoffrey (2005) Documentary about Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder, two living legends in the world of American dance. De Lavallade achieved notoriety in the early 1950s as a lead dancer of incomparable beauty and grace with Alvin Ailey's American Dance Theater; Holder, large in life and an elemental force on stage, found fame not only as a dancer but also as an actor ("Live and Let Die"), soda spokesman ("7-UP, the Un-Colaaaaa ...") and theater director ("The Wiz"). The pair met in 1954 and married a year later. $24.95. (First Run Features). Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc.
Charlie's Angels: The Complete Fourth Season (1979-80) Six-disc set with 26 episodes, $39.95. (Sony).
Children of God (2008 -- Korea/Nepal) Documentary explores the life of the children who live beside the Baghmati River in Nepal -- on the sacred grounds of a Hindu temple in Katmandu -- an area forgotten and ignored by the world, but considered the holiest and most sacred to the Nepalese people. The children are undeterred by the daily cries and wailing from the daily funeral ceremonies; instead they rob the corpses for food and dive into the river to grab coins used as funeral offerings by the mourners. (Vanguard Cinema).
Common Senses (2005) Holly Montgomery-Webb, Luis A. Perez. The burgeoning friendship between a kleptomaniac and a hustler is strained when a child goes missing. Told through five chapters by five award-winning Chicago filmmakers. (Vanguard Cinema).
Coraline (2009) Dir.: Henry Selick; voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, Robert Bailey Jr., Ian McShane,. Available in Blu-ray combo pack, two-disc collector's edition DVD and single-disc DVD. All editions contain the 2-D and 3-D versions of the film and four pairs of 3-D glasses. Extras: Single DVD: Commentary by director Henry Selick and composer Bruno Coulais. Two-disc set adds deleted scenes; "The Making of Coraline"; "Voicing the Characters"; digital copy. Blu-ray adds "Creepy Coraline" featurette with director and screenwriter Henry Selick and "Coraline" author Neil Gaiman; "The World According to Henry." (Universal).
Cupid's Mistake (2001) Everado Gil, Susan Petry, Toya Cho, Ken Yasuda. A humorous take on dating in Los Angeles follows the lives of four of the city's inhabitants as they fall in and out of love. (Vanguard Cinema).
Dakota Skye (2008) Eileen Boylan, Ian Nelson. For as long as she could remember, Dakota Skye (Boylan) has been cursed with a super power; she has the ability to see the truth in any lie she hears, from small, harmless white lies, to the more devious kind, from the people that she should trust the most; her family, friends and teachers. Now 17, cynical and aloof, she finds little joy in life, until her boyfriend's best friend Jonah (Nelson) comes to town. Unlike everyone else, Jonah doesn't lie. But is he really that squeaky-clean, or is he Dakota's arch-nemesis, a villain who has found a way to conceal his deceit from her? Extras: Commentary, making-of documentary, outtakes, bloopers. (E1 Entertainment).
Echelon Conspiracy (2009) Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames, Martin Sheen. High-tech action-thriller weaves together greed, intrigue and national security. Mysterious cell phone messages promise a young American engineer untold wealth, then make him the target of a deadly international plot when dangerous security operatives chase the engineer across the globe, while a powerful government official pursues a mysterious agenda that threatens the stability of the entire world. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount).
Faerie Tale Theatre: Princess Tales Four tales from Shelley Duvall's famous Faerie Tale Theatre: "Cinderella," "The Little Mermaid," "The Dancing Princesses" and "The Princess and the Pea." $14.98. (E1 Entertainment).
Faerie Tale Theatre: Tales From Hans Christian Andersen Four tales from Shelley Duvall's famous Faerie Tale Theatre: "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Nightingale," "The Snow Queen" and "Thumbelina." $14.98. (E1 Entertainment).
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: Season 1.1 (1985) Four-disc set with 22 episodes, $29.99. Extras:"Knowing is Half the Battle" PSAs, "Looking Back With Writer Ron Friedman," archival Hasbro toy commercials, G.I. Joe's original 1963 Toy Fair presentation, printable script for "Jungle Trap." (Shout! Factory).
G.I. Joe Collector's Set A limited edition footlocker with all 95 episodes of the 1980s series on 17 discs, $145.00. Includes a collectible 60-page book featuring special introduction by actor Seth Green; a 1-GB "Dog Tag" Flash Drive (USB 2.0); two G.I. Joe "Silent" Comics; Arashikage and Cobra rub-on tattoos. Extras: Eight new retrospective featurettes including two that appear only on this set: a conversation with Larry Hama and a voice cast reunion; 25 archival Hasbro toy commercials; G.I. Joe's original 1963 Toy Fair presentation; "Knowing Is Half the Battle" PSAs"; printable script for "Jungle Trap"; live-action fan film "Battle for the Serpent Stone." (Shout! Factory).
Ghost Month (2007) Marina Resa, Shirley To, Akiko Shima. A young housekeeper disrupts ancient customs and awakens the vengeful spirits of the dead during the seventh month of the Chinese calendar -- Ghost Month, when restless spirits break free from Hell to mix among the mortals and the living cannot whistle, for it will invite them into your house, nor disturb ashes on the ground, as it will anger the spirits, of a host of other rituals. (Barnholtz Entertainment/North American Motion Pictures).
Global Metal Two Disc Special Edition (2008) Directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn discover how the West's most maligned musical genre has impacted world culture as they go on a raucous journey through Asia, South America, and the Middle East with platinum-selling-artists including Metallica, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Deep Purple, Slayer, X-Japan, Tang Dynasty, Sepultura, Lamb of God, Orphaned Land, and Inflames. $24.98. Extras: Commentary by directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, "Heavy Metal Baraka" music montage, outtakes, extended interviews. (Warner).
The Human Rights Watch DVD Collection Seven-disc boxed set of films that promote awareness of human rights abuses taking place around the world, endorsed by the Human Rights Watch: "S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine" (a documentary about the nearly two million Cambodians who lost their lives when the Khmer Rouge forced the urban population into the countryside in 1975-79), "The Devil's Miner" (a documentary portrait of two brothers, ages 14 and 12, who work deep inside the silver mines of Cerro Rico, Bolivia), "Dreaming Lhasa" (a drama about a young Tibetan woman from New York who travels to Dharamsala in northern India only to find herself unwittingly falling in love with an enigmatic ex-monk), "Silent Waters" (a drama in which a Pakastani Muslim widow who teaches young girls the Koran watches helplessly as her beloved son falls in with a group of Islamic fundamentalists), "Dangerous Living" (a documentary that explores the lives of gay and lesbian people in non-Western cultures, from Egypt to Honduras to Kenya, Thailand and more), "The Camden 28" (a documentary about the infiltration of a group of anti-war activists by the FBI in 1971), and "Roses in December" (a documentary about lay missioner Jean Donovan and three American nuns who were brutally murdered by El Salvador's security force in 1980). $89.95. Extras: Film notes, bonus films, filmmaker interviews, extra footage. (First Run Features).
Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht Season 4, Volume 2: The Big Move (2008-09) Two-disc set with 17 episodes, $19.95. (TLC/Genius Products).
A Life Among Whales (2005) Documentary delves deeply into the unique relationship between humans and whales as told by renowned, pioneering whale biologist Dr. Roger Payne. For four decades the charismatic and passionate Payne has advanced the boundaries of science and activism -- beginning with his pioneering work on whale songs in the 1970s to his study of ocean pollution today. $19.95. Extras: Additional interviews with Roger Payne and director Bill Haney. (IndiePix).
Made in U.S.A (1966) Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard; Anna Karina, Laszlo Szabo With its giddily complex noir plot and widescreen, color-drenched images, "Made in U.S.A" was a final burst of exuberance from Godard's early-sixties barrage of delirious movie-movies. Yet this chaotic crime thriller and acidly funny critique of consumerism featuring Anna Karina as the most brightly dressed private investigator in film history, rummaging through an intricate plot for a former lover who might have been assassinated, also points toward the more political cinema that would come to define Godard. Featuring characters with names such as Richard Nixon, Robert McNamara, David Goodis, and Doris Mizoguchi, and appearances by a slapstick Jean-Pierre Leaud and a sweetly singing Marianne Faithfull, this piece of pop art is like a Looney Tunes rendition of "The Big Sleep" gone New Wave. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Interviews with stars Anna Karina and Laszlo Szabo; video piece on the personal and the political in "Made in U.S.A" and "2 or 3 Things I Know About Her," featuring Godard biographers Richard Brody and Colin MacCabe; visual essay cataloguing the multiple references in the film; new essay by film critic J. Hoberman. (The Criterion Collection).
The Madoff Affair (2009) "Frontline" examines Bernard Madoff, one of the most shocking financial criminals of our time, who used the trust of the Jewish community to hide millions of dollars for his own uses. He then set his sights on Europe and Latin America. This is the story behind the world's first truly global Ponzi scheme -- a deception that lasted longer, reached wider and cut deeper than any other business scandal in history. (PBS Home Video).
Messengers 2: The Scarecrow (2009) Norman Reedus, Richard Riehle. Prequel to the box office hit "The Messengers" goes back to the farm to finally learn the story of John Rollins -- the simple North Dakota farmer who, struggling to save his farm and hold his family together, places a mysterious scarecrow in his field; his luck changes for the better ... but at what cost? Extras: Commentary. (Sony).
Monk: Season Seven (2008-09) Four-disc set with 16 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Commentaries. (Universal).
The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens (2008) Dalton Mugridge, Ciara O'Hanlon, Christopher Fazio, and WWE superstar Roddy Piper. Family fantasy about a young boy who stumbles upon William Thurgood's Treasure Trove & Pawn Shop and finds a magical wand that allows him to enter a world of adventure with mythical creatures, haunted caves ... and unsuspected evil. (MTL Home Video).
The Northern Kingdom (2007) Heidi Armbruster, Richard Bekins, Ed Blunt. A meteor shower lights up the winter sky over a rural Vermont community, illuminating the lives of three disparate families. (Vanguard Cinema).
Pandas in the Wild Close-up look at the secret lives of pandas, captures the warmth between a mother panda and her newborn, the competition among male pandas fighting for females, and the struggles pandas endure during the snow-bound winter in China. $9.98. (Smithsonian Networks/Infinity Entertainment Group).
Prison Break: The Final Break (2009) Wentworth Miller, Sarah Wayne Callies, Dominic Purcell, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, William Fichtner. Two-hour feature picks up some time after the series finale; this time Michael must rescue Sara from prison. Two-disc set. Extras: Deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Psych: The Complete Third Season (2008-09) Four-disc set with 16 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Gag reel, deleted scenes, commentaries. (Universal).
Pushing Daisies: The Complete Second Season (2007) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98.Extras: "The Master Pie Maker" and "From Oven to Table" behind-the-scenes featurettes, "Secret Sweet Ingredients" music featurette, "Add a Little Magic" visual effects featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
Robot Chicken: Star Wars: Episode II (2008) Includes the 22-minute broadcast version as well as the 38-minute extended edition, $19.97. (Warner).
Sky View Four episodes offer a birds-eye view of Europe, using cutting-edge, high-definition camera mount technology, journeying over majestic castles, historic landmarks, city views, mystical sites and ruins. Episodes: Emerald Isle, French Riviera, Heart of Italy, Southern Britain. $14.98. (Smithsonian Networks/Infinity Entertainment Group).
SpongeBob SquarePants: To SquarePants or Not to SquarePants (2009) Eight sponge-tacular episodes, $16.99. Extras: Animation art gallery with storyboard panels and character art. (Nick/Paramount).
Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods (1997) The feature-length pilot of television's longest running Sci-Fi series debuts on DVD as a re-mastered, re-cut and re-imagined Final Cut. Includes an entirely original score and features a more self-contained story line. Extras: Commentary by co-writer and executive producer Brad Wright and Richard Dean Anderson; "Back to the Beginning" featurette. (MGM).
Super Capers (2009) Christine Lakin, Steve Braun, Ray Griggs, Clint Howard, Doug Jones, Tommy "Tiny" Lister, June Lockhart, Jon Polito, Michael Rooker, Tom Sizemore, Adam West. Would-be superhero Ed Gruberman, who possesses no super powers, joins a team of misfit heroes-in-training known as the Super Capers. Having only faith, Gruberman must travel through time to uncover an evil plot involving some gold bullion, a fiery femme fatale and a criminal mastermind with a dark secret about Ed's past. (Lionsgate).
2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967) Dir.: Jean-Luc Godard; Marina Vlady. In "2 or 3 Things I Know About Her" (2 ou 3 choses que je sais d'elle) Godard beckons us ever closer, literally whispering in our ears as narrator. About what? Money, sex, fashion, the city, love, language, war: in a word, everything. Considered by many to be among the legendary French filmmaker's finest achievements, the film takes as its ostensible subject the daily life of Juliette Janson, a housewife from the Paris suburbs who prostitutes herself for extra money. Yet this is only a template for Godard to spin off into provocative philosophical tangents and gorgeous images. A revelatory look at consumer culture, shot in ravishing widescreen color by Raoul Coutard. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Archival television interviews: the first featuring Vlady on the set of the film, the second with Godard engaged in debate with a government official on the subject of prostitution; new video interview with Godard friend Antoine Bourseiller; visual essay cataloguing the multiple references in the film; new essay by Sasha Frere-Jones. (The Criterion Collection).
Wanted: Anaconda A crew of wildlife photographers and biologists travel to Guyana to photograph one of the world's most legendary creatures, the Anaconda, which can grow as big as a man. The Anaconda kills its prey by coiling their powerful bodies around their victims, squeezing until they're suffocated or crushed, then swallowing the victim whole. $9.98. (Smithsonian Networks/Infinity Entertainment Group).
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Watchmen Director's Cut (2009) Dir.: Zack Snyder; Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Carla Gugino, Stephen McHattie, Matt Frewer. Extras: Director's Cut (with 25 minutes of extra footage) will be available in two editions: on Blu-ray for $35.99 and as a two-disc special edition DVD for $34.99. The standard two-disc DVD will include a featurette ("The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics," webisodes, a My Chemical Romance "Desolation Row" music video and a digital copy; the Blu-ray disc will introduce a new interactive technology, "Maximum Movie Mode," which, according to Warner, "is a first-of-its-kind bonus feature that showcases a seamless multi-story presentation of the Director's Cut. Hosted by Zack Snyder, the feature will offer in-depth scene analysis, picture-in-picture videos from the cast and crew, side-by-side comparisons of the graphic novel and the film, photo galleries and more." Three featurettes ("The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics," "Real Superheroes, Real Vigilantes" and "Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World"), a My Chemical Romance "Desolation Row" music video, BD Live and digital copy round out the bonus features. A single disc theatrical version DVD will also be available, for $28.98. (Warner).
Wire in the Blood: The Complete Sixth Season (2008) Four-disc set with the final four mysteries from the BBC America series, $59.98 Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (E1 Entertainment).

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July 28

Agatha Christie: Poirot & Marple Seventeen-disc set with 21 spine-tingling murder mysteries, $134.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Ancient Aliens (2009) Is it possible that intelligent life forms visited Earth thousands of years ago, bringing with them technology that drastically affected the course of history and man's own development? This top-rated History Channel special explores evidence of super-human influences on ancient man and embarks on a round-the-world search for answers. $19.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Angel of Death (2009) Zoe Bell, Lucy Lawless, Doug Jones, Ted Raimi. Uncut feature-length movie of Crackle.com's dark and gritty internet series about a cold-blooded assassin, employed by a ruthless crime family, who suffers severe head trauma on the job, begins to hallucinate, and becomes haunted by her victims. She's driven to seek revenge on those who originally ordered the hits -- her mob employers. The film makes its broadcast debut on Spike TV July 25. Extras: Commentary by creator Ed Brubaker and star Zoe Bell, making-of featurette, "Casting an Angel: Zoe Bell as Eve," "Writing, Ed Brubaker Style," "Behind the Stunts," Zoe Bell's screen test, "Eve's Tips for Killing." (Sony).
Armchair Thriller, Set 1 Classic 1980s suspense series with top-notch British actors including Ian McKellen, John Shrapnel and James Bolam. Featuring sophisticated suspense, strong writing, and dramatic cliffhangers, these four multi-episode psychological thrillers are cult classics. Four-disc set, $59.99. (Acorn Media).
Bart Got a Room (2008) William H. Macy, Cheryl Hines, Jennifer Tilly, Alia Shawkat, Steven Kaplan. A high school student goes on a desperate quest to find a prom date and becomes progressively more pathetic once he learns that Bart, the school's biggest dweeb, has not only secured a date for the prom, but has a hotel room as well. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 And They Have a Plan
photo (2009) Four-disc set with the last 10 episodes, Extras: Three extended episodes of the series finale; "Evolution Of A Cue": Composer Bear McCreary goes step-by-step through his process of creating the music of "Battlestar Galactica"; "What the Frak is Going On With Battlestar Galactica?" recap of "Battlestar Galactica's" first three thrilling seasons -- in only eight minutes; "And They Have a Plan": What do they mean every episode when the opening sequence on the Cylons states "And They Have a Plan?"; "The Journey Ends: The Arrival" featurette; "A Look Back" six-part retrospective with filmmakers, cast and crew; commentaries by Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, And Edward James Olmos; Ronald d. Moore's podcast commentaries; David Eick's video blogs; deleted scenes. DVD: $49.98, Blu-ray Disc: $69.98. (Universal).
Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series Twenty-five disc set for the completist. DVD: $279.98; Blu-ray Disc: $349.98. (Universal).
Bill Plympton's Dog Days From 2004-2008, cartoonist Bill Plympton had an unparalleled string of hit films. Featured here are the best of this golden age, including the celebrated dog trilogy ("Guard Dog", "Guide Dog" and "Hot Dog") and a number of rare and seldom seen films, such as "The Fan and the Flower," "Shuteye Hotel," "Santa, The Fascist Years" and a controversial experimental film "Spiral." $24.95 from Plymptoons.com.
Chicka Chicka 123 ... And More Counting Fun (2009) Just in time to help kids sharpen their brainpower for school, Scholastic Storybook Treasures presents this unique DVD exploring the magical world of numbers in a colorful, animated and engaging production. The lead story, "Chicka Chicka 123," has been adapted from Bill Martin Jr.'s award-winning and best-selling book. When 101 numbers race each other up the apple tree, bad bumblebees come buzzing. Which number will save the day? The DVD also features three other stories celebrating the fun of numbers: "Emily's First 100 Days of School," "How Much is a Million?" and "If You Made a Million." $14.95. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
Comic Legends (2008) Five American comedy giants are seen in their prime as well as in their formative years in this four-disc set: "Dick Van Dyke: In Rare Form," "Phyllis Diller: Not Just a Pretty Face," "Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy" and "Redd Foxx & Groucho Marx," $19.98. (MPI Home Video).
Doc Martin, Series 2 (2006) Three-disc set with nine episodes of the British series about a hotshot London surgeon who develops a crippling fear of blood and is forced to give up surgery and relocate to the sleepy, picturesque seaside village of his youth; $49.99. (Acorn Media).
Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead (2009) When a London bus travels through a worm-hole to an alien world, the Doctor (David Tennant) must join forces with the extraordinary Lady Christina to help the unfortunate passengers, and themselves, get back home. But the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets. $14.98. Extras: "Dr. Who Confidential." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (BBC Video/Warner).
Dollhouse Season One (2009) Three-disc set with all 12 episodes, $49.98. Extras: Never-before-seen standalone episode "Epitaph One," the original unaired pilot "Echo," deleted scenes, seven making-of featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
The Donna Reed Show: Season Two (1959-60) Four-disc set with 38 episodes, $39.95. (Virgil Films Entertainment).
Dragonball Evolution Z Edition (2009) Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Emmy Rossum, Eriko Tamura, Joon Park, Chow Yun-Fat, Texas Battle, Ernie Hudson Extras: Digital copy, eight deleted scenes, featurettes, gag reels, scavenger hunt game, music video, more. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Dragon Hunter (2008) Isaac Singleton Jr., Orlando Seale, Kelly Stable, Maclain Nelson. Sci-fi fantasy adventure in which two orphaned brothers leave their ravaged village to seek the land of Ocard to train to become dragon hunters. (Monarch Home Video).
Green Lantern: First Flight (2008) Voices of Christopher Meloni, Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer, Michael Madsen. Animated feature of the DC Comics hero. Available as a single-disc DVD, two-disc special edition, and Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Bonus features, digital copy. (Warner)
Fast & Furious (2009) Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, John Ortiz, Laz Alonso, Sung Kang, Tego Calderon, Don Omar. Available as a two-disc Blu-ray set, a two-disc Special Edition DVD, a single-disc DVD and as a download-to-own. Extras: DVD: Filmmaker commentary, gag reel and outtakes. photoExtras: Special Edition: "Los Bandoleros" original short film that provides character backstory; "Under the Hood: Muscle Cars" featurette looks at some of the muscle cars in the film including the return of Vin Diesel's iconic Charger; "Under the Hood: Imports"; "Getting the Gang Back Together" featurette; "Driving School With Vin Diesel"; "Shooting the Big Rig Heist"; "Races and Chases"; "High Octane Action: The Stunts"; "South of the Border: Filming in Mexico"; trailers from all four "Fast and Furious" films; "Blanco" music video by Pitbull featuring Pharrell; gag reel and outtakes; filmmaker commentary; digital copy. Extras: Blu-ray: All of the above plus: "U-Control" feature that lets viewers access bonus materials without leaving the movie; "Take Control": Paul Walker and Justin Lin take control of the viewing experience in this unique feature, offering a personal visual commentary by engaging with select scenes of the film to reveal details of the filmmaking process; "Virtual Car Garage and Tech Specs" allows viewers to view specs on a particular car, go to the garage where they can browse the vehicles up close, and even build their own custom-made car to share with the BD-Live community; BD-LIVE interactive features including "Fast & Furious Video Mash-Up," "My Scenes Sharing," "My Chat" and "My Fast & Furious" Commentary. (Universal).
The Fifth Commandment (2008) Rick Yune, Keith David, Bokeem Woodbine, Dania Ramirez. An elite assassin is contracted to eliminate a gorgeous pop star, whom his long-lost brother is assigned to protect. Refusing the job, the assassin joins forces with his sibling to battle a ferocious cartel that will use any means necessary to destroy them. Extras: "Creating The Fifth Commandment" featurette, "The Stunts of The Fifth Commandment" featurette. (Sony).
Guns on the Clackamas (1995) Cartoonist Bill Plympton's second live-action feature, a behind-the-scenes look at an imaginary disastrous Western. A notable documentary filmmaker is trying to make a behind-the-scenes movie about the making of the Western "Guns on the Clackamas." But everything is going wrong and when cast members start dropping like flies due to accidents on the set and some really bad catering, the filmmakers must resort to solutions that are startling and hilarious. Plympton said the idea came from the 1937 movie "Saratoga," in which star Jean Harlow died during the filming and a stand-in was used to finish: Every time Harlow was in a scene, a box or something blocked the view. Available from Plymptoons.com.
In Search of the Great Beast 666 (2009) Aleister Crowley, self proclaimed "The Great Beast" and known by the press as "The Wickedest Man in the World" was perhaps the most controversial and notorious individual in British history -- if not the entire 20th century. This film dramatically documents the chilling life, impulses and journey of Crowley (1875-1947), a man who was voted in a BBC poll to be one of the most influential Britons of all time. This documentary unearths the barely believable and shocking facts surrounding this infamous occultist, spy, poet, dark magician, hedonist, writer and accomplished mountaineer. Under various guises and camouflaged by pseudonyms, Crowley travelled the world in his quest for supreme knowledge and ultimate power through the occult. He reveled in what some describe as acts of sexual decadence yet recognized by others as extreme depravity. And his influence on modern culture is evident yet his reputation remains shrouded in a veil of infamy. Was he related to U.S. President George Bush? And how was he connected to Scientology, Jack the Ripper, Winston Churchill, Hitler and Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond)? $19.95 (The Disinformation Company). Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc.
Inglorious Bastards (1978) The original film that inspired Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," starring Brad Pitt, due this August. Bo Svenson, Fred Williamson, Ian Bannen. A gang of condemned criminals escape from an Allied prison convoy with a plan to blast their way to the Swiss border, only to find themselves 'volunteering' for a suicide mission deep inside Nazi-occupied France. Extras: "A Conversation With Quentin Tarantino & (the original's director) Enzo Castellari." Also available on Blu-ray Disc, with such extras as "Inglorious Reunion At The New Beverly," "Enzo's 70th Birthday Party in L.A.," making-of documentary "Train Kept A-Rollin," commentary, more. (Severin Films).
Jim Breuer: Let's Clear The Air (2009) Comedy Central stand up concert with Jim Breuer. Breuer joined NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in 1995; since then he went on to star in several movies, toured the country with his "Heavy Metal Man" and "Family Man" comedy tours, and hosts a daily radio show. Extras: "Photo Shoot" and "Fireside Chat With Dad." (Paramount).
Knight Rider (2008): Season One (2008-09) Four-disc set with 17 episodes, $59.98. Extras: "The Icon Reborn," "K.I.T.T. -- From 2000 to 3000," "Knight Rider -- Legacy," commentary by executive producer David Bartis and stars Justin Bruening and Deanna Russo. (Universal).
Liberace: Greatest Songs (2009) Two-disc set of performances from the 1950s "The Liberace Show," $24.98. (MPI Home Video).
Life on Mars, Series 1 Award-winning, original U.K. police drama with a twist. Hot on a killer's trail in modern-day Manchester, police detective Sam Tyler gets struck by a passing car and wakes up in 1973. Is he mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever the answers, he still has crimes to solve, albeit with low-tech, highly aggressive 1970s methods. He finds himself working on a homicide squad where hard drinking replaces hard thinking; forensics takes weeks to analyze; and his boss, DCI Gene Hunt has no qualms about roughing up suspects -- or Sam himself. The original U.K. series aired on BBC One for two series (2006-2007); ABC remade it for the 2008-2009 season starring Jason O'Mara and Harvey Keitel. Extras: Commentaries; "Take a Look at the Lawman," an hour-long documentary with cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage; interview clip with director Bharat Nalluri; "The Music of Life on Mars" featurette; "Get Sykes" featurette with the series' production designer Brian Sykes; outtakes reel. Four-disc set with eight episodes, $59.99. (Acorn Media).
The Mafia (2009) Four-disc set of the History Channel series that takes a cold-blooded look at organized crime in the 20th century, from prohibition to WWII and the Cold War, to JFK's presidency and John Gotti. $34.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
The Middleman: The Complete Series (2008) Four-disc set with 12 episodes, $34.99. Extras: Commentaries by the cast and crew, alternate scenes, Web featurettes, gag reel, audition footage, The complete "The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome" table read, gallery of photography by Ralph King, more. (Shout! Factory).
Miss March (2009) Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore, Raquel Alessi, Molly Stanton, Holly Hindman, Craig Robinson, Alexis Raben, Tanjareen Martin. Theatrical and unrated version of the film. Extras: Viral videos, auditions, "Down & Dirty" music featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Repulsion (1965) Dir.: Roman Polanski; Catherine Deneuve. Roman Polanski followed up his international breakthrough "Knife in the Water" with this controversial, chilling tale of psychosis, starring Catherine Deneuve as Carole, a fragile, frigid young beauty cracking up over the course of a terrifying weekend. Left alone by her vacationing sister in their London flat, Carole is haunted by specters real and imagined, and her insanity grows to a violent pitch. Thanks to its unforgettable attention to disturbing detail and Polanski's unparalleled adeptness at turning claustrophobic space into an emotional minefield, "Repulsion" remains one of cinema's most shocking psychological thrillers. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Commentary by Polanski and Deneuve; "A British Horror Film" (2003), a documentary on the making of "Repulsion," featuring interviews with Polanski, producer Gene Gutowski, and cinematographer Gil Taylor; a 1964 television documentary filmed on the set of "Repulsion," featuring rare footage of Polanski and Deneuve at work; booklet featuring an essay by film scholar and curator Bill Horrigan. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Ripped Off: Madoff and the Scamming of America (2009) History Channel documentary looks at the monetary chaos brought about by Bernie Madoff, a popular and trusted investor from middle-class Queens, New York -- and alleged Ponzi schemer -- and his $65 billion scam, from its humble beginnings to its stunning downfall; $19.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Robby the Blue Koala Rides the Discovery Express (2008) Animated adventure for ages 2 to 5. Robby the blue koala guides kids on a train ride of discovery to Shapetown, Colorville, and the Animal City, along the way learning about colors, shapes, animal sounds, body parts, healthy eating, exercise, counting to 10, saying please, and opposites. Available for $12.99 from Gift of Happiness.com.
The Spectacular Spider-Man: The Complete First Season (2008) Two-disc set with 13 episodes, $28.96. Extras: Two behind-the-scenes featurette. (Sony).
Star-ving: The Complete First Season (2009) Raunchy online "reality" series from Crackle.com stars Corin Nemec and David Faustino in an ANTI-"Entourage" outing, $19.94. Released July 23. (Sony).
Streets of Blood (2009) Val Kilmer, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Sharon Stone, Michael Biehn. The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina sparks an investigation into the criminal underworld in New Orleans, where crime and corruption are about to go to all new levels of depravity. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Super Why! Jack and the Beanstalk & Other Fairytale Adventures (2008) Four episodes of the PBS KIDS superhero series that helps children ages 3-6 learn to read through interactive storybook adventures. Explores classic fairytales "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Princess and the Pea," "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" with a modern twist. $14.99. Extras: Interactive games, music videos, printable activities and coloring pages, resources for parents. (PBS KIDS/Paramount).
The Terry Jones Collection (2008) Monty Python star Terry Jones presents this award-winning documentary series, featuring ancient inventions, the surprising history of sex and love and the hidden histories of Egypt and Rome. Two-disc set. (Microcinema).
Torchwood: Children of Earth (2009) All-new five-part series, $29.98. (BBC Video/Warner).
Touch of Frost: Season 14 (2009) Two-disc set with three episodes of British television's Detective Inspector William "Jack" Frost, a moody, rule-breaking "street copper": "Mind Games," "Dead End" and "In the Public Interest"; $34.98. (MPI Home Video).

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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 Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, 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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July 20, 2009
(ISSN 1094-3676).