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Catalogs of DVDs released 1999 -- 2006

DVD Releases
August 2011
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August 2

Bittersweet (2007 -- Israel) Tzufit Grant, Nati Ravitz, Eyal Shehter, Michal Yannai, Safrira Zachai. Three successful Israeli couples plan a quiet evening together but are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a fortune teller. Her prophecies disturb the group's fragile harmony and each of their lives begins to unravel. A talented ensemble cast movingly portrays these young men and women who are forced to face fears, desires, and life's most difficult decisions. (SISU Home Entertainment).
Chuggington: It's Training Time! (2011) Six episodes of the train series aimed at the 2 to 7 set, $16.98. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Curious George: A Day at the Library (2011) (Universal).
Diana Rigg at the BBC (2010) Collection of classic performances by BAFTA and Emmy-winner Diana Rigg: "Three Piece Suite," "Little Eyolf," "Unexplained Laughter", "Genghis Cohn," "Mrs. Bradley Mysteries." $49.98. (BBC/Warner).

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Eastbound & Down: The Complete Second Season (2010) Two-disc set with seven episodes, $29.98. Extras: "Invitation to the Set" behind-the-scenes footage, "Big Red Cockfighting" featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes, commentaries. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (HBO)
Everwood: The Complete Fourth Season (2005-06) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98. (Warner).
Exporting Raymond (2011) Phil Rosenthal, the Emmy Award-winning creator of "Everybody Loves Raymond," takes a journey halfway around the world to detail his struggle to make one of America's favorite sitcoms a successful Russian TV series. Read more about "Exporting Raymond" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Phil Rosenthal, deleted scenes, Max Rosenthal's "Restaurant" Joke on OldJewsTellingJokes.com, two full episodes of "Everybody Loves Raymond," two full episodes of "Everybody Loves Kostya." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
Ferris Bueller's Day Off 25th Anniversary (1986) Dir.: John Hughes; Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein. Extras: "Getting the Class Together: The Cast of Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Making of Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Who Is Ferris Bueller?" "The World According to Ben Stein," "Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes," Class Album. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount).
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011 -- TV) Seventh installment of the franchise based on the Robert B. Parker novels, with Tom Selleck starring as Paradise, Mass., Chief of Police Stone. After his involuntary retirement, Stone investigates the suspicious death of a young friend while the Paradise police force deals with the arrogant new chief, who is the son-in-law of a town councilman. (Sony).
John Pinette: Still Hungry (2011) Live, sold-out concert event taped at Chicago's famed Vic Theater. The food-obsessed, storytelling Broadway and television star delivers his smart, original, Bill Cosby-influenced observations on everyday life. Extras: Featurettes: "Tour of Chicago," "Looking for John Pinette," "Worst Snowstorm," "In the Make-up Chair," "Fans," "Photo Shoot,"" #1 Fan"; $19.98. (Entertainment One).
MST3K Vs. Gamera: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XXI (Deluxe Edition) Five-disc set is housed in a limited-edition tin, with five mini-posters, and includes the titles "Gamera," "Gamera Vs. Barugon," "Gamera Vs. Gaos," "Gamera Vs. Guiron" and "Gamera Vs. Zigra"; $64.99. Extras: "So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera," "Gamera Obscura: A History" by August Ragone (author of "Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters"), "Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers," MST Hour host segments, original Japanese trailers. (Shout! Factory).
Maya (2010) Liron Ben-Chelouch, Gil Frank, Shiri Gadni, Alex Anski, Miki Varshaviak, Addi Kaplan. A young actress lands a role as a mental patient in an avant-garde play. To get in character, she enters a psychiatric ward, but the truth she finds there and her fracturing mental state lead to an explosive conflict with her director. Similar to 'Black Swan,' this edgy Israeli drama walks a thin line between acting and madness. (SISU Home Entertainment).
The Music Never Stopped (2011) J.K. Simmons, Lou Taylor Pucci, Cara Seymour, Julia Ormond. Once close, Gabriel and his father Henry have spent the last 20 years estranged from each other. But when Gabriel is diagnosed with a brain tumor that doesn't allow his mind to create new memories, he returns home, where Henry hires a music therapist to help engage the young man; eventually the two men forge a common bound through classic rock music. Soundtrack with music by The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Extras:Commentary by director Jim Kohlberg, interviews with neurologist Oliver Sacks ("Awakenings"), cast interviews, deleted scenes. (Lionsgate).
Outside the Law (2010 -- France) Sami Bouajila, Roschdy Zem, Jamel Debbouze. Drama about the Algerian struggle for independence from France after WWII, as seen through the eyes of three men whose father's farmland was confiscated by the French 30 years before. Extras: Making-of featurette, interview with the director, deleted scenes, cast interviews. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Palisades Tartan).
The Perfect Game (2009) Clifton Collins Jr., Moises Arias, Ryan Ochoa, Jake T. Austin. They were called "los pequenos gigantes": the little giants. In 1957, a team of impoverished baseball-loving kids from Mexico achieved the impossible. Standing tall against hardships no child should face -- poverty, intolerance -- they crossed the border to achieve a dream: Compete in and win the Little League World Series. Cheech Marin, Lou Gossett Jr., Bruce McGill, Emilie de Ravin snd David Koechner make guest appearances. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011) Mercedes Masohn, Josh Cooke, Mattie Liptak, Ignacio Serricchio, Noree Victoria. Sequel to "Quarantine." The deadly virus has escaped the infected building from the first film and is now on board a late night flight. (Sony).
Rio (2011) Voices of Leslie Mann, Kelly Keaton, Jesse Eisenberg, Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Anne Hathaway. Read more about "Rio" in the August Calendar. Available in a three-disc Party Edition, featuring the Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy; as well as in a two-Disc DVD Party Edition. Extras: "Explore the World of Rio," "Blu Shows the Way"(Introduction), "Boom-Boom Tish Tish: The Sounds of Rio," "The Making of Hot Wings." "Saving the Species: One Voice at a Time," "The Real Rio," "Welcome to Rio" music video, deleted scene:"Fruit Stand," "Carnival Dance O Rama," "Rio de JAM-eiro Jukebox," "Taio Cruz -- Telling the World" music video, "Angry Birds Rio" trailer, "Angry Birds Rio Nigel Mash Up," "Angry Birds Rio" instructional video, "Live Lookup" powered by IMDB. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Soul Surfer (2011) AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Carrie Underwood, Kevin Sorbo, Lorraine Nicholson. Read more about "Soul Surfer" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted scenes, the documentary "Heart of a Soul Surfer," three behind-the-scenes featurettes: "The Making of Soul Surfer," which explores the making of the film from the filmmaker's perspective; "Becoming Bethany," which shows how AnnaSophia Robb brought her character to life with the help of Bethany Hamilton; and "Surfing for the Screen: Inside the Action." Also available an a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. (Sony).
Stake Land (2010) Connor Paolo, Nick Damici, Kelly McGillis , Danielle Harris. Survivors of a devastated America fight off vampires and religious fanatics as they travel across the land in search of the rumored safe haven of New Eden. Read more about "Stake Land in the August Calendar. Extras: Two feature-length cast and crew commentaries. Also available as a two-disc special edition and Blu-ray Disc, which adds "Going for the Throat: The Making of Stake Land"; "Character Prequels": Seven short films From Directors Larry Fessenden, Danielle Harris, Glenn McQuaid, JT Petty, Graham Reznick; video diaries by Jim Mickle; Toronto International Film Festival premiere and Q&A. (Dark Sky Films/MPI Media Group).
Streetwalkin' (1985) Melissa Leo, Dale Midkiff, Leon Robinson, Antonio Fargas, Julie Newmar, Randall Batinkoff, Khandi Alexander, Deborah Offner, Greg Germann. Melissa Leo stars as Cookie, a teen runaway who escapes her abusive stepfather and heads for the Big Apple along with her younger brother. When she arrives at the Port Authority bus terminal, she meets a charming but psychopathically violent pimp named Duke . With nowhere to go, Cookie is soon working for Duke, who introduces her to the harsh, brutal life of a prostitute. Extras: Commentary with director-writer Joan Freeman and producer-writer Robert Alden, reversible DVD cover with original '80s theatrical poster key art on the other side, trailers. (Shout! Factory).
Tracy Morgan: Black and Blue (2010) Morgan's first-ever stand-up special, filmed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, $19.97. Extras: Deleted scenes. (HBO).
United States of Tara: The Third Season (2011) Two-disc set with 12 episodes, $46.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Zen: Vendetta, Cabal, Ratking (2011) Two-disc set with three feature-length episodes of the new (debuting July) BBC/PBS adaptation of the best-selling novels by Michael Dibdin about detective Aurelio Zen (Rufus Sewell) and his criminal investigations in Rome. Co-stars Caterina Murino and Callum Blue. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (BBC/Warner).

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August 9

Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) A star-studded documentary about one of the greatest Oscar-winning cinematographers to capture the beauty of such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren in such memorable classics as "The African Queen", "The Red Shoes," "Barefoot Contessa" and "Black Narcissus." This passionate documentary reveals the craft of one of cinema's most indelible image-makers, Jack Cardiff, whose career spanned more than 80 years. $24.99. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Strand Releasing).
Choose (2011) Katheryn Winnick, Nicholas Tucci, Kevin Pollak, Richard Short, Bruce Dern. A journalism student, with the help of her detective father and a therapist, tracks a serial killer who selects a victim and forces them to choose between horrific options. (IFC Films).
Doctor Who Classic: Paradise Towers (1987) Episode 149 with Sylvester McCoy as The Doctor. (Warner).
Doctor Who Classic: The Sun Makers (1977) Four-part episode featuring Tom Baker as Doctor Who. (BBC/Warner).
Dream Home (2010 -- Hong Kong) Josie Ho. Cheng Li-sheung is a young, upwardly mobile professional finally ready to invest in her first home. But when the deal falls through, she is forced to keep her dream alive -- even if it means shedding the blood of her would-be neighbors. (IFC Films).
Evil Things (2009) Laurel Casillo, Morgan Hooper, Ryan Maslyn, Elyssa Mersdorf. Five college friends go on a birthday celebration road trip to a remote, snowy mountain house, only to disappear forever; investigators, however, discover a video left behind that reveals not a tranquil getaway but a sinister and nightmarish descent into terror. Supposed to out-scare "Paranormal Activity" as a "found-footage" creepout. (Inception Media Group).
The Fox and the Hound and The Fox and the Hound 2 30th Anniversary 2-Movie Collection (1981, 2006) Available as a Three-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (one Blu-ray Disc that has both films on it, one DVD of "The Fox and the Hound," one DVD of "The Fox and the Hound 2," $39.99), and a two-disc DVD set of both films, $29.99). Extras: "The Fox and the Hound:" "Best of Friends" sing-a-long. "Passing the Baton: Making of The Fox and the Hound"; "The Fox and the Hound 2": "You Know I Will" music video, "The Making of the Music," which showcases how the songs in the film were created with Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood and others. Blu-ray Disc adds "Unlikely Friends: A Fun and Fascinating Collection of Unlikely Friendships in the Animal Kingdom." (Disney).
Hey Arnold: Season 1 (1996-97) Four-disc set with 20 episodes, $29.93. (Shout! Factorys).
Jumping the Broom (2011) Angela Basset, Mike Epps, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, Julie Bowen. Read more about "Jumping the Broom" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by director Salim Akil, Paula Patton and Laz Alonso; "You're Invited: Behind the Scenes" featurette; "Honoring the Tradition of Jumping the Broom" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony). Commentary with Director Salim Akil, Paula Patton and Laz Alonso; "You're Invited: Behind the Scenes" featurette; "Honoring the Tradition of Jumping the Broom" featurette. (Sony).
The Last Godfather (2010 -- USA/South Korea) Harvey Keitel, Hyung-rae Shim, Michael Rispoli, Jason Mewes. Director Hyung Rae Shim's Mafia spoof. Mob boss Don Carini (Harvey Keitel) is retiring from the family business and surprises everyone by anointing his goofy grownup love child Younggu as his successor, fomenting a struggle for power among family, friends and enemies alike. (Lionsgate).
Mars Needs Moms (2011) Seth Green, Dan Fogler, Joan Cusack, Elisabeth Harnois, Mindy Sterling, Kevin Cahoon, Tom Everett Scott. Read more about "Mars Needs Moms" in the August Calendar. Available as a four-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray 2D + DVD + Digital Copy), two-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 2D +DVD), single-Disc DVD. Extras: "Fun With Seth" featurette, "Martian 101" language featurette. Blu-ray adds extended opening; "Life on Mars: The Full Motion-Capture Experience" picture-in-picture viewing mode also lets you listen to director Simon Wells and actors Seth Green and Dan Fogler give an look into creating the movie; deleted scenes; "Flower Power" Easter Egg. Blu-ray 3D adds "Mom-Napping" (All-new 3D alternate scene of the Martian abduction of Milo's Mom.) (Disney).
M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series (1985-86) Twelve-disc set with 65 episodes, $99.99. Led by multimillionaire Matt Trakker, the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand -- better known simply as M.A.S.K. -- defends the world against Miles Mayhem and his nefarious international criminal organization V.E.N.O.M.Extras: "Unmasking M.A.S.K.": retrospective interview with show writers, "Saturday Morning Krusaders": entertaining look back with loyal fans. (Shout! Factory).
Paul (2011) Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen (the voice of Paul), Sigourney Weaver, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Jane Lynch, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Jeffrey Tambor, Blythe Danner Read more about "Paul" in the August Calendar. Available in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and DVD with theatrical and unrated versions. Extras: Bloopers; "The Evolution of Paul," an inside look at how Paul became a living, breathing alien; "Simon's Silly Faces"; "Who the Hell is Adam Shadowchild?" commentary by Greg Mottola, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Hader and Nira Park; photo galleries, storyboards and posters. Blu-ray combo adds "Between the Lightning Strikes: The Making of Paul," eight more featurettes. (Universal).
Secret Diary of a Call Girl: The Final Season (2011) Two-disc set with eight episodes, $26.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Super (2011) Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Michael Rooker, Nathan Fillion. After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy (Rainn Wilson) transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills. (IFC Films/MPI Media Group).
Tactical Force (2010) Steve Austin, Michael Jai White, Keith Jardine. An LAPD SWAT team begins a routine training exercise in an abandoned hanger, but things spiral dangerously out of control when they find themselves caught in a three-way war with two rival gangs who will kill anyone who gets in their way. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Nasser Entertainment/Vivendi Entertainment).
Top Gear 16 (2010) Three-disc set with all six U.K. episodes, plus "U.S. Road Trip," "Middle East Special," outtakes, extended scenes, deleted scenes, behind the scenes. $24.95. (BBC/Warner).
Webster: Season Three (1983-84) Four-disc set with 29 episodes, $29.93. (Shout! Factiry).
Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Makes Me Move! (2011) The Gabba gang stars in four episodes where they start a band, learn it's okay to be different and ride on trains; $16.99. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
Your Highness (2011) Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Justin Theroux, Zooey Deschanel. Read more about "Your Highness" in the August Calendar. Rated and unrated versions. Extras: Alternate scenes, gag reel, "Damn You Gods: The Making of Your Highness," commentary with video intro by director Gordon Green, executive producer/co-writer/star Danny McBride and stars James Franco and Justin Theroux. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds Line-O-Rama, "Perverted Visions," "A Vision of Leezar," digital copy. (Universal).



August 13
Veggietales: Princess and the Pop Star (2011) Princess Poppyseeds' life on her family's farm is far from the glamorous but lonely world of her favorite pop singer, Vanna Banana. On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize that they look almost exactly alike -- which leads to the crazy secret plan where they decide to switch lives. As each girl realizes that the life they longed for doesn't fulfill all of their dreams, they learn that the life they have is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed. Extras: Sing-alongs, behind-the-scenes featurette, commentary. (Big Idea).

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August 16

The Bang Bang Club (2010) Ryan Phillippe, Taylor Kitsch, Malin Akerman. A drama based on the true-life experiences of four combat photographers capturing the final days of apartheid in South Africa. The men were bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. And, while this intense political period brought out their best work -- two won Pulitzers -- it also exacted a heavy price. Extras: Making-of featurette, commentary by director Steven Silver. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Entertainment One).
The Best and the Brightest (2010) Neil Patrick Harris, Bonnie Somerville, Amy Sedaris, Peter Serafinowicz, Christopher McDonald, Kate Mulgrew. Set in the world of New York City's elite private kindergartens; centers on a fresh-faced young couple from Delaware who have recently moved into town, and the extreme lengths they must go to in order to get their five-year-old daughter into school. (New Video/Flatiron Film Co.).
The Big Lebowski Limited Edition BLUE RAY DEBUT (1998) Dir.: Coen brothers; Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro, Sam Elliott. Available for a limited time with an all-new 28-page companion book featuring an exclusive interview with Jeff Dowd -- the real-life inspiration for The Dude; Jeff Bridges' personal, on-set photography; a film timeline; trivia and much more. Bonus features: U-CONTROL: "Scene Companion" lets you watch cast and crew interviews, behind the scenes footage and more during key scenes with this picture-in-picture companion; "Mark It Dude" onscreen counter ties the film together, keeping track of all the "F-Bombs," "Dudes" and "Dude-isms" in the film with this ultimate fan guide; "The Music of The Big Lebowski" instantly identifies the songs heard while watching the film, allowing you to create a custom playlist of your favorites and even purchase them from iTunes; "Worthy Adversaries: What's My Line Trivia" tests your Lebowski knowledge by finishing lines of dialogue during the film; you can play as Walter or The Dude or in two-player mode against friends. Additional bonus features: "Jeff Bridges Photo Book" shots taken on the set, with personal commentary on each photo; "The Dude's Life" retrospective with Bridges, Goodman, Moore, Buscemi and Turturro; "The Dude Abides: The Big Lebowski Ten Years Later"; "The Lebowski Fest: An Achiever's Story" in-depth look at the popular Lebowski Festival, formed by the legion of fans in honor of the film: "Flying Carpets & Bowling Pin Dreams: The Dream Sequences of the Dude" behind-the-scenes featurette; "The Making of the Big Lebowski"; photo gallery; interactive location map; "An Introduction" featuring Mortimer Young, a practitioner of "non-uptight" film preservation. His restoration of the famous "toe scene" will blow your mind. (Universal).
Bob the Builder: Super Scrambler (2011) There's four super-sized adventures in this new DVD for Bob the builder and his crew: "Travis' New garage," "Scratch and the Dream House," "Super Scrambler" and "Roley and the Fix," $9.98. Extras: "I Love Rockin" music video. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Breath (2007 -- South Korea) Chen Chang, Jung-Woo, Park Ji-a. A love story involving a convicted prisoner who slowly falls for a woman who decorates his prison cell with wallpaper and trinkets represented in vivid colors. Extras: Making-of featurette, interviews. (Palisades Tartan).
The Conspirator (2011) Dir.: Robert Redford. Stars: James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, Danny Huston, Justin Long, Colm Meaney, Tom Wilkinson, Alexis Bledel, Johnny Simmons. Read more about "The Conspirator" in the August Calendar. Two-disc set. Extras: Commentary with director Robert Redford, "The Conspirator: The Plot to Kill Lincoln" feature-length documentary, introduction to the American Film Company, "Making of" featurette, introduction to the "History Behind the Film" featurette, production design featurette, costume design featurette, props and special effects featurette, "The Conspiracy" featurette, "Mary Surratt's Catholicism" featurette, "Military Trial" featurette, "Frederick Aiken: Defense Lawyer" featurette, "Mary Surratt: Guilty or Innocent" featurette, "Sentence and Execution" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Cul-de-sac (1966) Roman Polanski orchestrates a mental menage a trois in this slyly absurd tale of paranoia from the director's golden 1960s period. Donald Pleasance and Francoise Dorleac star as a withdrawn couple whose isolated house is infiltrated by a rude, burly American gangster on the run, played by Lionel Stander. The three engage in a game of shifting identities and sexual and emotional humiliations. "Cul-de-sac" is an evocative, claustrophobic, and morbidly funny tale of the modern world in chaos. New digital restoration, approved by director Roman Polanski, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: "Two Gangsters and an Island," a 2003 short documentary about the making of "Cul-de-sac," featuring interviews with Polanski, producer Gene Gutowski, and cinematographer Gil Taylor; interview with Polanski from 1967; theatrical trailers; booklet featuring an essay by film critic David Thompson. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Dexter: The Complete Fifth Season (2010) Four-disc set with 12 episodes, $49.99. Extras: Interviews with cast and crew. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Showtime Networks/CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment).
Elvira's Movie Macabre: "The Terror "(1963) and "Eegah!" (1962). (Entertainment One).
Elvira's Movie Macabre: "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" (1962)) and "The Manster" (1959). (Entertainment One).
The Final Destination BLU-RAY 3D DEBUT (2009) (Warner).
Gone (2011) Molly Parker. Lifetime Original Movie about a woman whose 9-year-old daughter has been kidnapped and who is instructed to kill a patient at her hospital if she ever wants to see her again. (A&E Home Entertainment).
The Grace Card (2010) Louis Gossett Jr., Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom. When Mac McDonald (Michael Joiner) loses his son in an accident, years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God ... and everyone else. This "next generation" faith-based film brings Church and Hollywood together with the Memphis' Calvary Church. Extras:Commentary by director David G. Evans, executive producer Lynn Holmes and actor Michael Joiner; two featurettes, deleted scenes. (Sony).
The Gruffalo Voices of Helena Bonham Carter, James Corden, Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane. 2011 Academy Award nominee for Best Short Film. An animated film based on the classic children's picture book, The Gruffalo tells the magical tale of a mouse who takes a walk though the woods in search of a nut. Encountering three animals who all wish to eat him - a fox, an owl and a snake - the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive. $9.99. (NCircle Entertainment).
Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil (2011) Voices of Hayden Panettiere, Glenn Close, Joan Cusack, Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Patrick Warburton, David Alan Grier, Andy Dick, Brad Garrett, Martin Short, Heidi Klum, Wayne Newton, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Read more about "Hoodwinked Too!" in the August Calendar. Available as a 3D Blu-ray 4-Pack (3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, standard definition DVD, and digital copy of the film), Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack; standard definition DVD. Extras: Music videos; "The Voices of Hoodwinked Too!" featurette; storyboard sequences; production artwork; video game applications. (The Weinstein Co./Anchor Bay).
Horatio Hornblower: The Further Adventures (2011) Two-disc set with two feature-length chapters in the Emmy-winning Hornblower saga: "The Duchess and the Devil" and "The Wrong War," $14.95. (A& E Home Entertainment).
Jane Eyre (2011) Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Judi Dench, Jamie Bell, Su Elliot, Imogen Poots, Sophie Ward. Read more about "Jane Eyre" in the August Calendar. Extras: "A Look Inside Jane Eyre," "To Score Jane Eyre: Cary Fukunaga and Dario Marianelli Team Up," "The Mysterious Light of Jane Eyre," commentary by director Cary Fukunaga. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).
The Killing (1956) Stanley Kubrick's account of an ambitious racetrack robbery is one of Hollywood's tautest, twistiest noirs. Aided by a radically time-shuffling narrative, razor-sharp dialogue from pulp novelist Jim Thompson, and a phenomenal cast of character actors, including Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Timothy Carey and Elisha Cook Jr., "The Killing" is both a jaunty thriller and a cold-blooded punch to the gut. And with its precise tracking shots and gratifying sense of irony, it's Kubrick to the core. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: New video interview with producer James B. Harris; excerpts of interviews with actor Sterling Hayden from the French television series "Cinema cinemas"; new video interview with film scholar Robert Polito about writer Jim Thompson and his work on "The Killing"; restored transfer of Stanley Kubrick's 1955 noir feature "Killer's Kiss"; new video appreciation of Killer's Kiss with film critic Geoffrey O'Brien; theatrical trailers; booklet featuring an essay by film historian Haden Guest and a reprinted interview with Marie Windsor on "The Killing." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Lavell Crawford: Can A Brother Get Some Love? (2011) The inimitable Lavell Crawford takes on topics such as life in heaven, President Obama and a hilarious bit on a Mama's unconditional love and the universal rules of grocery shopping with her. Recorded at the historic Orpheum Theatre in his hometown of St. Louis. $19.98. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette, pre-Concert St. Louis sightseeing tour. (Entertainment One).
Life After Django (2011) Documentary. Django Reinhardt is considered by many to be the single most important guitarist in the history of jazz. To honor the 100th anniversary of Django's birth, 100 of his disciples, including his grandson David Reinhardt, gathered together for the "Django 100 Centennial Tour." $19.95. (Cinema Libre Studio).
Marley & Me: The Puppy Years (2011) Prequel to the smash hit "Marley & Me." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Meet Monica Velour (2011) Dustin Ingram, Kim Cattrall, Brian Dennehy, Keith David. Read more about "Meet Monica Velour" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary Kim Cattrall (with writer-director Keith Bearden), deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo to tie-in with the new "The Muppets" movie due Nov. 23.(Sony).
Muppets From Space (1999) Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo to tie-in with the new "The Muppets" movie due Nov. 23.(Sony).
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Red Zone Cuba (1966) Escaped convicts volunteer to fight in the Bay of Pigs. (Shout! Factory).
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Unearthly (1957) Tor Johnson co-stars as Lobo in this horror flick about a mad scientist (John Carradine) whose experiments with immortality accidentally produce mutants. (Shout! Factory).
Priest (2011) Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Lily Collins, Karl Urban, Christopher Plummer, Stephen Moyer. Read more about "Priest" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by Paul Bettany, Maggie Q, director Scott Stewart, and writer Cory Goodman; deleted and extended scenes; making-of featurettes "The Bloody Frontier: Creating the World of Priest" and "Tools of the Trade: The Weapons and Vehicles of Priest." Also available on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, which adds "Bullets and Crucifixes: Picture-in-Picture Experience" and "Weapons and Vehicle Exploration in 3D," respectively. (Sony).
Roadkill (2011) Kacey Barnfield, Eliza Bennett, Stephen Rea. What begins as a scenic road trip through Ireland soon turns deadly for a group of friends when an ancient curse takes wing by way of a bloodthirsty bird of prey. Syfy Channel Maneater Series original. (Vivendi Entertainment).
Shalom Sesame: The Sticky Shofar (2011) Tenth of a 12-part series that sees the Sesame Street characters travel to Israel to introduce Jewish holidays, traditions and cultures to viewers of all ages. Here Grover Avigail and Brosh learn about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New year. $14.95. (SISU Home Entertainment).
Shalom Sesame: Monsters in the Sukkah (2011) Eleventh of a 12-part series that sees the Sesame Street characters travel to Israel to introduce Jewish holidays, traditions and cultures to viewers of all ages. Here Avigail and Brosh get ready for the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot. $14.95. (SISU Home Entertainment).
Something Borrowed (2011) Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski, Colin Egglesfield, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams. Read more about "Something Borrowed" in the August Calendar. Extras: TBA. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. (Warner).
Spin City: The Complete Fifth Season (2000-01) Four-disc set with 23 episodes (featuring Charlie Sheen as the new Deputy Mayor), $29.93. (Shout! Factory).
The Thomas Hardy Collection (2011) Two-disc set with "Tess of the D'urbervilles" and "The Mayor of Casterbridge," $19.95. (A& E Home Entertainment).

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August 23

The Angry Beavers: Seasons One & Two (1997-98) Four-disc set with 26 episodes, $29.93. (Shout! Factory).
Bambi II Special Edition (2006) Sequel reveals how Bambi was raised by his father, the Great Prince of the Forest. Available as a two-disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and a single DVD. (Disney).
The Beaver (2010) Dir.: Jodie Foster; Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Lawrence, Anton Yelchin. Read more about "The Beaver" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by Jodie Foster, deleted scenes, "Everything Is Going to Be O.K." making-of featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Summit Entertainment).
The Bleeding House (2011) Alexandra Chando, Patrick Breen, Charlie Hewson. A stranger with mysterious intentions comes to stay the night at a secluded country home, but what he finds inside is a family torn apart by a violent past and a secret more deadly than he expected. (New Video/Tribeca Film).
Brothers and Sisters: The Complete Fifth and Final Season (2010-11) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $45.99. (Disney).
Citizen Jane (2009) Ally Sheedy, Sean Patrick Flanery, Meat Loaf, Nia Peeples. Hallmark Channel film. Based on a true story about a San Francisco woman whose charismatic lover kills her beloved aunt and disappears with her money. She spends the next 13 years tracking him down, eventually bringing him to justice. (Green Apple Entertainment).
Closed for the Season (2010) Aimee Brooks, Damian Maffei, Joe Unger. Trapped in a forgotten amusement park, a young girl finds herself terrorized by the living memories of the park, and she must break free from the park's grasp before she becomes its next victim. (MTI Home Video).
Dear Uncle Adolf: The Germans and Their Fuhrer (2011) More than any other documents, it is the personal private letters written by the German people to Adolf Hitler that provide the most intimate details of the Third Reich. A treasure of more than 100,000 such letters was recently found, hidden in a secret Russian archive. The uncensored letters, which include declarations of loyalty, love letters and the occasional words of protest, reveal the true feelings of the German people -- their hopes, longings and fears. Women who wrote particularly ardent letters were monitored by the Gestapo as Hitler feared that his cult of personality could lead to a destabilization of home life in the Reich. As his power became absolute, so the tempo of the letters increased. Like a seismograph, they reflect the changing mood in Nazi Germany, and the highs and lows of the German spirit, from 1932 to 1945. A shocking documentary. $24.95. (First Run Features).
Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara Over the course of his varied career, Koreyoshi Kurahara made exacting noirs, jazzy juvenile delinquency pictures, and even nature films. His free-form approach to moviemaking was perfectly suited to the spirit of the 1960s; he was one of the biggest hit-makers working at the razzle-dazzle, youth-oriented Nikkatsu studio during the radical Japanese New Wave. The five films collected here hail from that era, and encompass breathless teen escapades, cruel crime stories, a Mishima adaptation, and even a Hollywood-inspired romantic comedy. "Intimidation" (1960): Koreyoshi Kurahara's ingeniously plotted, pocket-sized noir concerns the intertwining fates of a desperate bank manager, blackmailed for book-cooking, and his resentful but timid underling, passed over for a promotion. "The Warped Ones" (1960): A juvenile delinquent gets out of the pen and immediately embarks on a rampage of misdirected anger, most of it unleashed on an unsuspecting young woman. Shot through with the same kind of bebop bravado that Godard was experimenting with half a world away, the anarchic descent into amoral madness that is "The Warped Ones (Kyonetsu no kisetsu)" sounded a lost generation's cry for help and kicked off Japan's cinematic sixties with a bang. "I Hate But Love" (1962): Inspired by Preston Sturges's "Sullivan's Travels," "I Hate But Love (Nikui anchikusho)" is a high-octane romantic comedy and road movie that follows a celebrity dissatisfied with his personal and professional life who impulsively leaves Tokyo to deliver a much-needed Jeep to a remote village. When his controlling girlfriend (also his career manager) follows, the two must reconcile while dodging reporters. "Black Sun" (1964): You've probably never seen anything quite like this manic, oddball, anti–buddy picture about a young, jazz-obsessed Japanese drifter and a black American GI on the lam in Tokyo. The two outsiders become outlaws, and Kurahara depicts their growing bond as an increasingly absurd culture clash. Features original music by American jazz drummer Max Roach. "Thirst for Love" (1967): Kurahara adapted a novel by Yukio Mishima for this tense psychological drama about a young woman who is widowed after marrying into a wealthy family, and becomes sexually involved with her father-in-law while harboring a destructive obsession with the family gardener. Kurahara's atmospheric style is a perfect match for Mishima's brooding sensuality. (The Criterion Collection).
The Event: The Complete Series (2010-11) Five-disc set with 22 episodes. (Universal).
The Garfield Show: Spooky Tails (2011) Six Halloween-themed episode, $14.93. (Vivendi Entertainment).
Gossip Girl: The Complete Fourth Season (2010-11) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes, gag reel, unaired scenes. (Warner).
Henry's Crime (2010) Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga, James Caan, Judy Gree, Bill Duke, Peter Stormare. Keanu Reeves stars as Henry Torne, a wrongly accused man who winds up behind bars for a bank robbery he didn't commit. Now,­ having done the time, he decides he may as well do the crime. But his outlandish plan to rob the very same bank spins wildly out of control, as he finds himself performing in a stage play and falling in love with the production's seductive leading lady (Vera Farmiga). Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Little Big Soldier (2010 -- Hong Kong) Jackie Chan, Wang Leehom. Set in the war period in China between 476 BC -- 221 BC. A soldier (Jackie Chan) abducts a downtrodden general (Wang Leehom) from an opposing state and attempts to bring him back to his state to collect a reward, but a mutual enemy forces the pair to join forces in order to survive. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Well Go USA).
Meteor Storm (2010 -- TV) Michael Trucco, Kari Matchett, Kristen Prout, Eric Johnson. San Francisco becomes a target for waves of destructive meteors after a rogue comet orbits around the earth. (Monarch Home Entertainment).
Money in the Bank 2011 (2011) Eight Raw Superstars and eight Smackdown Superstars compete in Money in the Bank matches, with the winners receiving a championship opportunity. Includes John Cena vs. CM Punk, Randy Orton vs, Christian, a Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Sheamus vs Cody Rhodes vs Wade Barrett vs Sin Cara vs Justin Gabriel vs Heath Slater vs Daniel Bryan vs Kane, more. $24.95. (World Wrestling Entertainment).
NCIS: The Eighth Season (2010-11) Six-disc set with 24 episodes. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment).
NCIS: Los Angeles -- The Second Season (2010) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $64.99. Extras: Interviews, featurettes, commentaries. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment).
NEDS: Non Educated Delinquints (2010) Conor McCarron. Gritty coming-of-age drama set in 1970s Glasgow. With no support system at home or school, a young man takes to the savage street life with a vengeance. Written and directed by Peter Mullan ("Orphans," "The Magdalene Sisters"). (New Video/Tribeca Film).
Off the Map: The Complete Series (2011) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.99. (Disney).
OMG! The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2010) The 50 most shocking, surprising, amazing moments in WWE history. What moments will make the top 10, and what is the greatest moment of all time? Is it the King of the Ring tournament where Austin 3:16 was born? Mick Foley's devastating fall off the top of the Hell in a Cell cage? The Montreal Screwjob? The explosion that consumed Mr. McMahon's limo? Three-disc set, $39.95. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (World Wrestling Entertainment).
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011) Two-disc "Ultimate Fan pack." Phineas Flynn and his stepbrother Ferb Fletcher go on their biggest adventure yet. When the boys discover that their pet platypus Perry is in fact a secret agent who battles the forces of evil daily, they join him on a grand adventure that blasts them to another dimension where a truly evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz has taken over an alternate Tri-state Area. $26.99. Extras: Deleted scenes, a music video, an exclusive song, a sing-along "Perry-oke" feature, bonus episode. (Disney).
Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011) A documentary (by Morgan Spurlock) about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising and product placement. Read more about "Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" in the August Calendar. Extras: Commentary by director Morgan Spurlock, producer Jeremy Chilnick, cinematographer Daniel Marracino and editor Tom Vogt; "Workin' Nine to Five (AM)": POM behind-the-scenes featurette; five deleted scenes: "The Greatest Vacation Destination: Aruba," "My Favorite Commercial: A Montage," "Ralph Nadar: Words of Wisdom," "Softer Is Louder: Frank Luntz," "Delving into the Consumer Unconscious: ZMET Extended": five commercials: "Alternate Pom Wonderful Commercial," "The Greatest Airline You'll Ever Fly: Jet Blue In-Flight," "JetBlue Commercial," "Hyatt Commercial," "The Greatest Hotel You'll Ever Experience: Hyatt Welcome." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
Prime Suspect, Series 1 (1991) Helen Mirren delivers a riveting performance as Detective Jane Tennison in this revolutionary police drama broadcast on PBS to universal acclaim and more than 20 major international awards, including seven Emmys. Series 1 finds the skilled Tennison grappling with her first major murder investigation, determined to prove herself worthy of her male colleagues' respect. $24.99. (Acorn Media).
Prime Suspect, Series 2 (1992) DCI Jane Tennison's (Helen Mirren) investigation of a murder is complicated with the unexpected participation of her secret lover in her detective unit. (Acorn Media).
Remembering 9/11 (2011) In observance of the 10th anniversary of the world's deadliest act of terrorism comes this powerfully moving documentary and commemoration that goes beyond the historical facts, exploring the background of the perpetrators and of the U.S. government's response. From amidst the debris rise stories of courage and survival. $12.98. (Inception Media Group).
Secret Sunshine (2007) A master of intensely emotional human dramas, director Lee Chang-dong is a leading light of contemporary Korean cinema, and his place on the international stage was cemented by this stirring and unpredictable work examining grief and deliverance. An effortless mix of light and uncompromising darkness, "Secret Sunshine (Miryang)" stars Cannes best actress winner Jeon Do-yeon as a widowed piano teacher who moves with her young son from Seoul to her late husband's provincial hometown for a fresh start. Quietly expressive, supple filmmaking and sublime, subtle performances distinguish this remarkable portrayal of the search for grace amid tragedy. New digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Lee Chang-dong and cinematographer Cho Yong-kyu, with DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: New interview with Lee; "On the Set of Secret Sunshine," a video piece featuring interviews with actors Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho, as well as behind-the-scenes footage; U.S. theatrical trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Steamy Art House Hits Four-disc set with "Secret Things," "House of the Sleeping Beauties," "Torremolinos 73" and "Don't Let Me Die on a Sunday," $49.95. (First Run Features).
Sword and Sorcery Collection 2-DVD Set "Deathstalker" (1983), "Deathstalker II" (1987), "Barbarian Queen" (1985)and "The Warrior And The Sorceress" (1984). $24.97. Extras: Commentary on the two "Deathstalker" films). {Shout! Factory).
Sympathy for Delicious (2010) Mark Ruffalo, Christopher Thornton, Juliette Lewis, Orlando Bloom, Laura Linney. A newly paralyzed DJ gets more than he bargained for when he seeks out the world of faith healing. Feeling cursed with the power to heal, DJ Delicious contends with all of the glory and attention that comes with his newfound gift. Extras: Behind-the-story featurette with Mark Ruffalo and Christopher Thornton, commentary with Orlando Bloom and Mark Ruffalo, deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Maya Entertainment).
To Die Like a Man (2011 -- Portugal) Fernando Santos, Alexander David, Fernando Gomes. Tonia is a larger-than-life drag icon of Lisbon's night life in the late 1980s. At the peak of her career, she meets and falls in love with Rosario, a young soldier who's gone AWOL. Under pressure from Rosario, Tonia begins a series of operations to become a woman, but the final step proves much harder than she could have guessed. Torn between her love for Rosario and her deeply-rooted religious convictions, Tonia looks for distraction in a trip to the countryside with Rosario. Lost along the way, the couple find themselves in an enchanted forest where everything they think they know about life and love is proven wrong. Part melodrama, part phantasmagorical fairy tale. (Strand Releasing).
Tom and Jerry & the Wizard of Oz (2011) New animated feature has the popular duo whisked to the land of Oz by a tornado; $19.98. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
Trollhunter (2010 -- Norway) Otto Jespersen, Glenn Erland Tosterud, Johanna Morck. Cult hit follows three Norwegian film students as they travel to the mountains to catch a real-life troll on camera, a creature whose existence has been covered up for years by the local government. Their persistence quickly pays off as they trail a shadowy poacher, leading them straight into the path of the menacing trolls and documenting every last second of the Trollhunter's heroics. Extras: Making-of featurette, deleted scenes, an HDNet special on the film, international trailer. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/The Magnet Label)
Win Win (2011) Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Burt Young, Melanie Lynskey, Alex Shaffer. Read more about "Win Win" in the August Calendar. Extras: Deleted scenes, Tom McCarthy and Joe Tiboni discuss "Win Win," "David Thompson at Sundance 2011," "In Conversation with Tom McCarthy and Paul Giamatti at Sundance 2011," "Think You Can Wait" music video by The National. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Wrong Side of the Bus (2011) Sidney Bloch, an internationally recognized professor of psychiatry from Australia, returns to Cape Town, South Africa for his medical school reunion. Sid has suffered from a troubled conscience for 40 years and wants to resolve his guilt for colluding with Apartheid -- but what will it take to free him from his past? He's accompanied on his quest for reconciliation by his son, Aaron, who is also his harshest critic. Narrated by Aaron, the film explores how easy it is for a good person to accept injustice and compromise one's morals. $24.95 (First Run Features).

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August 30

An American Family: Anniversary Edition (2011) On Thursday evening, January 11, 1973 at 9 p.m., American television viewers stepped into the home of the William C. Loud family of Santa Barbara, California, in the ground breaking WNET documentary series "An American Family." Chronicling the lives of its seven members, the television series made parents Pat and Bill Loud and their five children instant celebrities. Over 12 episodes, viewers watched dramatic life events unfold during the seven months the family lived in front of the camera -- including Pat asking for a separation from Bill, and the Bohemian New York life of their gay son Lance. Unlike most documentaries of its day, "An American Family" had no host, no interviews, and almost no voice-over narration. Producer Craig Gilbert presented the family's daily life -- as captured by filmmakers Alan Raymond behind the camera, and Susan Raymond covering sound -- in the style of cinema verite. It was the most controversial and talked-about television program of its era. Now, 40 years later, WNET has brought all 12 hours out of its archives and, working with the original filmmakers, edited them into this two-hour feature-length special capturing the most memorable and compelling moments of the landmark series. $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Angelina Ballerina: The Shining Star Trophy -- The Movie (2011) Angelina Ballerina's first full-length feature. Angelina and friends enter the talent show at Camembert Academy to vie for the Shining Star Trophy; $14.98. Extras: "Talent Show" trivia game. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
BKO: Bangkok Knockout (2010) Tony Ja, Dan Chupong, Jija Yanin. A group of ex-marital arts students attend a reunion party to reminisce about their old "fight club," but the reunion is cut short when some of the members are kidnapped by a group of deadly assassins, leaving the remaining men to save their friends in the ultimate battle for survival. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Blood Simple BLU-RAY DEBUT (1984) Dir.: Joel and Ethan Coen. John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh. In the Coen brothers classic first outing, a rich but jealous man hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife and her new man but, when blood is involved, nothing is simple. (MGM).
Castle Farm Vol. 1 and 2 (2011) An animated preschool series set in an idyllic but busy English country farm based on the grounds of a castle. The series follows the two main characters, Farm Girl and her best friend, Piggy, and their friends, as they embark on a series of quests to find out about the world around them to learn lessons about friendship and responsibility. $14.95 each. (Organa Kids).
The Complete Jean Vigo Even among cinema's greatest legends, Jean Vigo stands alone. The son of a notorious anarchist, Vigo had a brief but brilliant career making poetic, lightly surrealist films before his life was cut tragically short by tuberculosis at age 29. Like the daring early works of his contemporaries Jean Cocteau and Luis Bunuel, Vigo's films refused to play by the rules. This set includes all of Vigo's titles: "A propos de Nice" (1930), an absurdist, rhythmic slice of life from the bustling coastal city of the title; "Taris" (1931), an inventive short portrait of a swimming champion; "Zero de conduite" (1933), a radical, delightful tale of boarding-school rebellion that has influenced countless filmmakers; and, of course, "L'Atalante" (1934), widely regarded as one of cinema's finest achievements, about newlyweds beginning their life together on a canal barge. These are the endlessly witty, visually adventurous works of a pivotal film artist. New high-definition digital restorations of all of the films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Commentaries featuring Michael Temple, author of "Jean Vigo"; alternate shots from "A propos de Nice," featuring footage Vigo cut from the film; animated tribute to Vigo by filmmaker Michel Gondry ; Ninety-minute 1964 episode of the French television series "Cineastes de notre temps" on Vigo, directed by Jacques Rozier; conversation from 1968 between filmmakers Francois Truffaut and Eric Rohmer on "L'Atalante"; "Les voyages de L'Atalante," Bernard Eisenschitz's 2001 documentary tracking the history of the film; video interview from 2007 with director Otar Iosseliani on Vigo; booklet featuring essays by film writers Michael Almereyda, Robert Polito, B. Kite and Luc Sante. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Cougar Town: The Complete Second Season (2010-11) Three-disc set with 21, $34.99. (Disney).
Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season (2010-11) Five-disc set with 23 episodes, $45.99. (Disney).
Detroit 1-8-7: Season One (2011) Four-disc set with 18 episodes, $29.98. (Lionsgate).
Doc Martin: The Movies The two full-length TV movies that inspired the huge hit dramedy; currently airing on public television stations across the U.S. Proving there's more than one way to tell a good story, BAFTA-winner Martin Clunes stars as the kinder, gentler -- but still slightly grouchy -- Dr. Martin Bamford in the made-for-TV movies that introduced the misanthropic doctor and the picturesque Cornish fishing village of Port Isaac before the television series' launch in 2004. (Acorn Media).
Dora the Explorer: Dora's Halloween Parade (2011) Four Halloween-themed episodes, $16.99. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
The 5th Quarter (2010) Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell, Ryan Merriman. An inspiring true story of family, faith and football in which the brother of a football star killed in a tragic accident leads his football team to last minute victories. Extras: Making-of-featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Happy Valley, Vol. 1 & 2 (2011) New pre-school series from England for children aged two to five years, set in a beautiful countryside by the sea. Using traditional and contemporary nursery rhymes and songs, each episode tells a story about the children who live in the valley, in which they go about their daily lives and learn about the world around them, whether it's the seasons, the weather or the animals. The series focuses on experiences familiar to young viewers, such as a school trip to the farm, a visit to grandma to look at old photos, a shopping expedition with mother or a walk in the woods to see the falling leaves. $14.95 each. (Organa Kids).
House Season Seven (2010-11) Five-disc set with 23 episodes, $59.98. Extras: "Meet Martha Masters" featurette, "Huddy Dissected" featurette, "Anatomy of an Episode: Bombshells," "Thirteen Returns" featurette, commentary on select episodes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds "U-Control: A Beginner's Guide to Diagnostic Medicine." (Universal).
iCarly: The Complete 3rd Season (2009-10) Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $19.99. Extras: "Carly's Hot New Room Tour," "Meet Sam's Mom," "Archenemies." (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
The Ideal Husband (2008) Darrin Henson, Shanti Lowry, Jackee Harry, Erica Hubbard. A couple is joyously expecting their first child, but a secret from the husband's past threatens to destroy their happiness. Extras: Behind the scenes; photo gallery; deleted scenes. (Image Entertainment)
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (2011) A rare behind-the-curtain look at the Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI called America's "number one domestic terrorist threat." With unprecedented access and a nuanced point of view, the documentary tells the story of Daniel McGowan, an ELF member arrested in 2005 who faced life in prison for two multi-million dollar arsons against Oregon timber companies. The film employs McGowan's story to examine larger questions about environmentalism, activism, and terrorism. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, extended interviews. (Oscilloscope Laboratories).
In a Better World (2010 -- Denmark) Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen, Markus Rygaard, William Johnk Nielsen. Read more about "In a Better World " in the August Calendar. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. Extras: Commentary by director Susanne Bier and editor Pernille Bech Christensen, deleted scenes, interview with Susanne Bier. (Sony).
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) Dir.: Jack Arnold; written by Richard Matheson. Featuring groundbreaking special effects, "The Incredible Shrinking Man" is considered one of the most innovative and thought-provoking films ever made. When Scott Carey (Grant Williams) encounters a mysterious radioactive mist on a boating trip, he soon finds his life taking on a bizarre and frightening twist. His physical size begins to diminish as he shrinks to a mere two inches. Suddenly, ordinary household situations loom over him with lethal intensity, a playful cat becomes a demon and a spider is a gargantuan monster. Carey finds he must rely on his wits to survive in his new oversized world in this sci-fi classic that remains as terrifying today as it did over 50 years ago. (Universal).
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers ... and More Inspiring Tales (2011) Narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal, this is an animated adaptation of the lyrical Caldecott Award-winning book by Mordecai Gerstein about Philippe Petit, the French man who walked a tightrope between the massive World Trade Towers in 1974. Includes three other tales: "Miss Rumphius," "Crow Boy" and "The Dinosaurs of Warehouse Hawkins," $14.95. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
Murphy's Law Complete Collection BBC's hit undercover cop series offers a gritty and compelling character study of a man with nothing left to lose. This contemporary series stars acclaimed, award-winning actor James Nesbitt. (Acorn Media).
Nikita: The Complete First Season (2010-11) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $69.97. Extras: Commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
90210: The Third Season (2010-11) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $47.99. Extras: Commentaries, deleted scenes, more. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Norwegian Ninja (2010 -- Norway) In 1984, high-ranking Norwegian diplomat Arne Treholt was tried and convicted of acting as a spy on behalf of the Soviet Union. But what if the case against him was a sham and Treholt was not a spy at all but a patriot of the highest order and the leader of a secret ninja force created by King Olav? This fictionalized account of the most notorious political scandal in Norwegian history is a tongue-in-cheek spoof of the Cold War spy movie, with added ninja action, blending historical events and actual newsreel footage of the Treholt affair. (Dark Sky Films/MPI Media Group).
Only in America With Larry The Cable Guy: Volume One (2011) The blue collar comedian crisscrosses the nation, going totally off the beaten path to find the people, places and things that define this nation's unique history. Two-disc set with 10 episodes, $19.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Orpheus (1950) This 1950 update of the Orphic myth by Jean Cocteau depicts a famous poet (Jean Marais) scorned by the Left Bank youth, and his love for both his wife Eurydice (Marie Dea) and a mysterious princess (Maria Casares). Seeking inspiration, the poet follows the princess from the world of the living to the land of the dead through Cocteau's famous mirrored portal. "Orpheus" represents the legendary Cocteau at the height of his abilities for peerless visual poetry and dreamlike storytelling. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Commentary by French film scholar James Williams; "Jean Cocteau: Autobiography of an Unknown," a 1984 feature-length documentary; video piece from 2008 featuring assistant director Claude Pinoteau on the special effects in the film; "40 Minutes With Jean Cocteau," an interview with the director from 1957; "In Search of Jazz," a 1956 interview with Cocteau on the use of jazz in the film; "La villa Santo-Sospir," a 16mm color Cocteau film from 1951; gallery of images by French film portrait photographer Roger Corbeau; raw newsreel footage of the Saint-Cyr military academy ruins, a location used in the film; theatrical trailer; a booklet featuring an essay by author Mark Polizzotti, selected Cocteau writings on the film, and an essay on La villa Santo-Sospir by Williams. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
Paranormal State: The Complete Season Five (2011) Three-disc set with six episodes, $24.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Parenthood: Season 2 (2010-11) Five-disc set with 22 episodes. (Universal).
The Perfect Host (2011) David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford. Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. The table is set and the duck is perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He's just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets. He finds himself on Warwick's doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who's been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, it becomes clear that appearances can be deceiving. Who's the real bad guy? Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/Magnet Label).
Phantom Pain (2009 -- Germany) Til Schweiger, Jana Pallaske. Marc Summer (Til Schweiger) is a passionate cyclist and urban slacker -- good looking, charming, but always broke, a constant heartbreaker and an unreliable drunkard refusing to take responsibility for anything -- whose life changes in an instant when he loses his left leg in a hit-and-run accident. When he falls in love with Nika (Jana Pallaske), he realizes he can either wallow in self-pity -- or tackle the beast called life with the help of love, willpower and his own two feet. Extras: Cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage. (Entertainment One).
Prom (2011) Aimee Teegarden, Thomas McDonell, DeVaughn Nixon, Danielle Campbell, Yin Chang. Read more about "Prom" in the August Calendar. Extras: TBA. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and DVD. (Disney).
Running Wilde: Season One (2011) Two-disc set with 13 episodes, $29.98. (Lionsgate).
September 11th Memorial Edition A comprehensive presentation of definitive documentaries, the two-disc collection, timed to the broadcast of a brand new History special, "Voices from the Towers," includes the Emmy-Award winning program "102 Minutes That Changed America," an intensely personal perspective of the tragedy as it was experienced by people around New York; "Hotel Ground Zero," the incredible tale of the 940 tourists, visitors and staff in the Marriott WTC Hotel, located beneath and between the Twin Towers; "The Miracle of Stairway B," the story of 12 fire fighters, three office workers, and a Port Authority police officer who survived the collapse of the North Tower; and "The Day the Towers Fell," a riveting special that reveals the never-before-told stories of eyewitnesses, including amateur and professional photographers, caught in the horror of the World Trade Center tragedy. $24.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Sinbad and the Minotaur (2011) Manu Bennett, Steven Grives. Syfy Channel original movie. (Entertainment One).
Skateland (2010) Ashley Greene, Shiloh Fernandez. Coming of age tale in the early 1980s about a 19-year-old boy whose life revolves around the skating rink in a small Texas town. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which includes deleted scenes. (Fox).
Sons of Anarchy Season Three (2010) Thirteen episodes. Extras: All-new scenes shot exclusively for the Blu-ray and DVD that bridge Season 3 to Season 4, extended creator's cut episodes, a writer's roundtable featurette, gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, commentaries, a table read with the cast, a bike customizer feature, more. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
Storage Wars: The Complete Season One (2010) Three-disc set with 19 episodes, $19.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).
Strawberry Shortcake: Growing Up Dreams (2011) Strawberry and her friends use their imagination to visualize what careers they will have when they grow up. Extras: Printable coloring pages, music video. (Fox).
True Adolescents (2011) Mark Duplass, Bret Loehr, Carr Thompson, Melissa Leo. Sam Bryant (Mark Duplass) is an aging Seattle rocker with no job, no record deal, and no place to stay until he finds some room at his aunt's house in the suburbs. He's also the last guy anyone would pick to take two teens camping for some quality dude time in the rugged Pacific Northwest, where unforeseen revelations and transformations force them to face adulthood in this coming-of-age story set to an indie rock soundtrack featuring Band of Horses, The Black Keys and Devendra Banhart. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Craig Johnson, producer Thomas Woodrow and co-producer/editor Jennifer Lee; commentary by Mark Duplass; deleted scenes.(New Video/Flatiron Film Company).
Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family (2011) Tyler Perry, Loretta Devine, Cassi Davis, Isaiah Mustafa, Bow Wow, Natalie Desselle, Rodney Perry, David Mann, Shannon Kane, Lauren London, Nicholas Milton. Read more about "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family" in the August Calendar. Extras: TBA. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season (2010-11) Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Three featurettes, deleted scenes, commentaries, gag reel. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).
Vera (2011) U.S. debut of the U.K. series. Based on the award-winning novels by Ann Cleeves, the ITV series stars Brenda Blethyn as cantankerous but brilliant detective DCI Vera Stanhope. Includes four feature-length mysteries that explore the untamed evil that lurks below the surface and exposes the demons that plague even those who dedicate their lives to good, Four-disc set, $59.99. (Acorn Media).
Wrecked (2011) Adrien Brody, Caroline Dhavernas, Ryan Robbins, Adrian Holmes. Brody stars as an unnamed man who wakes trapped in a car in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by two dead passengers, a pile of cash and a gun. He has no recollection of who he is or how he got there. Is he an innocent victim? A dangerous criminal? All he knows is he's fighting for his life and his sanity in the middle of the deep woods. But as he attempts to free himself from the carnage and escape an impossible situation, a darker side is revealed. Even if he manages to survive, the tormented man may have to face the horrible consequences of an earlier, forgotten life. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (IFC Entertainment).
X (2011) Viva Bianca, Hanna Mangan Lawrence. Two call girls -- one just leaving the profession, one just starting out -- become hunted prey after witnessing a murder. (IFC Films).

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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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August 15, 2011
(ISSN 1094-3676).