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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
January 2012
January 3
January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31
December 2011
February 2012
March 2012
April 2012
May 2012
January 3

Angelina Ballerina: Sweet Valentine (2012) Love and friendship take center stage in these five episodes of the popular pre-school series, $14.98. Extras: Picture game, music video. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Five (1959-60) Five-disc set with 38 episodes featuring such stars as Walter Matthau, Steve McQueen, Peter Lorre, Dick Van Dyke, William Shatner and Burt Reynolds. $39.98. (Universal).
Barney: I Love My Friends (2012) Barney takes his friends on a super-dee-duper adventure that shows just what it means to be a friend, $14.98. Extras:Read-along book of hugs, sing-along. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
The Chateau Meroux (2011) Marla Sokoloff, Amanda Righetti, Christopher Lloyd, Barry Watson. Romantic comedy about a San Francisco woman who inherits a beautiful but struggling winery in the Napa Valley from her estranged father. (Anchor Bay).
Contagion (2011) Dir.: Steven Soderbergh; Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, John Hawkes, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Tien You Chui, Josie Ho Josie, Daria Strokous, Monique Gabriela Curnen. Read more about "Contagion" in the January Calendar. Extras: "Contagion: How a Virus Changes the World," "The Reality of Contagion: Go Inside the BioSafety Level 4 Laboratory," "The Contagion Detectives." Available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo. (Warner).

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Dr. Willoughby (1999) Stars Joanna Lumley as Donna Sinclair, an actress desperately clinging to her fading career in a sleazy daytime soap in which she stars as competent and compassionate Dr. Willoughby; off-screen, Sinclair is a holy terror­conniving, vain, and utterly insincere. $29.99.(Acorn Media).
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2011) Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison. Read more about "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" in the January Calendar. Extras: Three-part making-of documentary: "The Story," "Blackwood's Mansion," "The Creatures." Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds conceptual art gallery. (Sony).
Frontline: Lost in Detention: The Hidden World of Immigration Enforcement (2011) Last year, the Obama administration set new records for detaining and deporting immigrants who were inside the country illegally. The government plans to best those numbers in 2011, removing more than 400,000 people. This is a penetrating look at Obama's vastly expanded immigration net, exploring the controversial Secure Communities enforcement program and going inside the hidden world of immigration detention. $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
The Guard (2011) Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Liam Cunningham, David Wilmot, Rory Keenan, Mark Strong, Fionnula Flanagan. Read more about "The Guard" in the January Calendar. Extras: Deleted and extended scenes, Outtakes, "The Second Death" short film, "The Making of The Guard" featurette, Los Angeles Film Festival Q & A, commentary by writer-director John Michael McDonagh and actors Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
I Don't Know How She Does It (2011) Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Christina Hendricks, Kelsey Grammer, Seth Meyers, Olivia Munn. Read more about "I Don't Know How She Does It" in the January Calendar. Extras: Conversation with bestselling author, Allison Pearson, whose book the film was based upon. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay Entertainment).
Justified: The Complete Second Season (2011) Three-disc set with 13 episodes, Extras: Three featurettes, deleted scenes, outtakes. $45.99. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, $55.99. (Sony).
The Last Lions (2011) A resilient lioness in Botswana's Okavango Delta embarks on an epic journey of survival to protect her three cubs in this nature documentary from National Geographic and award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the stark reality that lions are vanishing from the wild; in the past 50 years, lion populations have plummeted from 450,000 to as few as 20,000. Narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Virgil Films and Entertainment).
Man in a Suitcase, Set 2 (1968) Four-disc set with 15 episodes, $59.99. Conclusion to the thrilling British spy series about a rogue agent for hire in 1960s Europe. (Acorn Media).
Mildred Pierce (2011) Two-disc set of the Emmy-winning HBO miniseries starring Kate Winslet, Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood, Melissa Leo, Mare Winningham, Hope Davis and Brian F. O'Byrne. Directed by Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven"), "Mildred Pierce" is based on James M. Cain's classic 1941 novel of pride and status in the middle class. It tells the story of Mildred, a struggling single mother in Depression-era Los Angeles determined to fulfill the demands of her eldest daughter Veda, while surpassing societal expectations and the duplicity of the men in her life. With a talent for baking and a tremendous work ethic, Mildred sets her sights on becoming a restauranteur. Along the way she finds unexpected romance with Monty Beragon, a charming and wealthy idler, but personal tragedy soon strikes and Mildred faces the ultimate betrayal of love by her gifted but haughty daughter. $39.99. Extras: Commentaries from Haynes, co-writer Jon Raymond and production designer Mark Friedberg (who created the historically accurate setting); a menu-based "Series Index" and "Previews" of each of the five parts. Also available as a DVD/Blu-ray Collector's Edition for $52.99, which adds "Inside the Episode" pieces and the behind-the-scenes featurette "The Making of Mildred Pierce." (HBO)
Nova: Finding Life Beyond Earth (2011) Combining the latest telescope images with dazzling CGI, this NOVA documentary immerses audiences in the sights and sounds of alien worlds, while top astrobiologists explain how these places are changing how we think about the potential for life in our solar system. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (PBS Distribution).
Puncture (2011) Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, Marhsall Bell, Vinessa Shaw, Michael Biehn, Jesse L. Martin. A David and Goliath law drama about a drug-addicted lawyer who takes on a health supply corporation while battling his own personal demons. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Millennium Entertainment).
Removal (2010) Billy Burke, Mark Kelly, Oz Perkins, Kelly Brook, Emma Caulfield, Elliott Gould. Gothic horror meets industrial-strength cleaning products in this spine-tingler about a pill-popping cleaning service employee and a sprawling mansion with secrets of its own. Extras: Deleted scene, alternate opening, gag reel. (Lionsgate).
Royal Pains: Season Three -- Volume One (2011) Two-disc set with the first half of Season 1, $26.98. Extras: Select commentary, gag reel. (Universal).
Serendipity BLU-RAY DEBUT (2001) John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven, Bridget Moynahan, Eugene Levy. Extras: Commentary by director Peter Chelsom, a production diary, storyboard comparisons, behind-the-scenes featurette. (Lionsgate).
Shark Night (2011)Sara Paxton, Sinqua Walls, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack, Katharine McPhee, Chris Zylka. Read more about "Shark Night" in the January Calendar. Extras: Shark Attack! Kill Machine! feature to jump to your favorite kills quickly, "Ellis' Island" cast featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds "Shark Night's Survival Guide", "Fake Sharks Real Scares" behind-the-scenes featurette, digital copy. (Fox).
She's All That BLU-RAY DEBUT (1999) Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachael Leigh Cook, Matthew Lillard, Paul Walker, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Kevin Pollak, Anna Paquin, Kieran Culkin. Extras: Commentary by director Robert Iscove, music video from Sixpence None the Richer. (Lionsgate).
SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob’s Frozen Face-Off Seven episodes, $16.99. (Nickelodeon/Paramount).
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventure (2011) Animated tale follows Sammy the turtle's incredible 50-year journey across the world as he meets new friends, including his best friend Ray, finds his true love Shelly and discovers how important it is to protect the earth we live on. Voices of Melanie Griffith, Jenny McCarthy, Kathy Griffin, Tim Curry, Anthony Anderson, Stacy Keach. $19.95. (StudioCanal).
The Windsors: From George to Kate (2011) Absorbing documentary traces the recent history of the British monarchy from King George VI through Prince William's recent wedding. Provides a window into the captivating lives of the British Royal Family. $29.99. (Acorn Media).

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January 10

Answer This! (2010) Christopher Gorham, Arielle Kebbel, Nelson Franklin, Chris Parnell. Comedy set in the world of competitive bar trivia, centering around a group of frustrated academics who finally get a shot at beer, women and nerdy redemption when they enter a citywide trivia tournament. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season (2011) Five-disc set with 12 episodes, $59.99. Steve Buscemi stars as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson -- the powerful and corrupt boss of Atlantic City during the decadent and violent "roaring" 1920s. The Great War was over, Wall Street was about to boom, women got the vote and everything was for sale, even the World Series. The undisputed ruler of Atlantic City was the town's treasurer, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (Buscemi), a political fixer and backroom dealer who was equal parts politician and criminal and equally comfortable in either role. Because of its strategic location on the seaboard, minutes from Philadelphia, hours from New York City and less than a day's drive from Chicago, the town was a hub of activity for rumrunners. And Nucky Thompson took full advantage. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurettes that delve into the creation of the 300-foot Boardwalk set, explore the main characters, reveal Atlantic City as it was in the 1920s and present an insider's view of the show through commentaries from the actors, directors and producers. Includes "Making Boardwalk Empire," "Character Dossier," "Creating the Boardwalk," "Atlantic City: The Original Sin City," "Speakeasy Tour" and commentaries. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (HBO).
A Bronx Tale (1993) Dir.: Robert De Niro; Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato, Francis Capra. (Universal).
Columbo: Mystery Movie Collection 1994-2003 Three-disc set with seven Columbo TV feature movies, $26.98. (Universal).
Dennis the Menace Season Four (1962-63) Five-disc set with all 38 episodes from the final season, $29.93. (Shout! Factory).
Diary of a Single Mom (2011 -- TV) Dir.: Robert Townsend; Monica Calhoun, Valery M. Ortiz, Janice Lynde, Leon, Richard Roundtree, Billy Dee Williams. Chronicles the seemingly endless challenges and ultimate successes of three urban women struggling to create lives that not only sustain them and their extended families, but also inspire others toward self-determination and compassion in their own lives. (Image Entertainment).
Doctor Who Classic: The Android Invasion Ep. 83 -- The Android Invasion, starring Tom Baker (the Fourth Doctor) and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith). $24.98. Extras: Commentary, a making-of featurette, photo gallery, more. (BBC/Warner).
Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs Featuring Jon Pertwee (the Third Doctor) and Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith). Two-disc set. Extras: Commentary, a making-of featurette, photo gallery, more. (BBC/Warner).
The Garfield Show: Dinosaurs and Other Animal Adventures (2012) Six animal-themed episodes, $14.93. (Vivendi Entertainment).
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Series 2, Season 1 Four-disc set with 24 episodes and fan favorite five-part miniseries "Operation Dragonfire," $29.93. In 1989, Sgt. Slaughter once again returned to battle against Cobra and Destro in Operation Dragonfire; and the popular second series began airing thereafter. Loyal G.I. Joe fans and kids were also introduced to a group of new G.I. Joe heroes: Captain Grid-Iron, Ambush, Pathfinder and villains -- Serpentor, Cesspool, Metal-Head, Gnawgahyde, as well as new Viper troops. (Shout! Factory).
Hawaii Five-0: The Twelfth and Final Season (1979-80) Five-disc set with 20 episodes, $54.99. Extras: Crime Wave music video tribute. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment).
Higher Ground (2011) Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, Donna Murphy, John Hawkes, Bill Irwin, Dagmara Dominczyk, Norbert Leo Butz. Read more about "Higher Ground" in the January Calendar. Extras: Commentary by director-actress Vera Farmiga, actor Joshua Leonard and producer Renn Hawkey; deleted scenes, "The Making of Higher Ground" featurette, Los Angeles Film Festival Q & A. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. (Sony).
An Idiot Abroad (2011) Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, co-creators of "The Office" and "Extras," send their friend Karl Pilkington around the world ... against his will. Karl thinks he's visiting the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but along the way the "Little Englander" must endure camel rides, jungle treks, tribal customs and local oddballs while dining on toads and testicle and searching for a clean bathroom. Will this be the trip of a lifetime, or the vacation from hell? And will Karl even know the difference? Extras: Deleted scenes, photo gallery. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Killer Elite (2011) Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski, Dominic Purcell, Aden Young, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ben Mendelsohn. Read more about "Killer Elite" in the January Calendar. Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack with UltraViolet and DVD. Extras: Deleted and extended scenes. (Universal).
A Mile In His Shoes (2011 -- TV) Luke Schroder, Dean Cain, George Canyon. Family-friendly film about Mickey Tussler, an autistic pitcher in the 1940s, who joins a minor-league baseball team and has a profound effect on the team and manager Arthur "Murph" Murphy over the course of a season. (Nassar Entertainment).
Moneyball (2011) Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Brent Jennings. Read more about "Moneyball" in the January Calendar. Available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. Extras: Deleted scenes, bloopers, "Billy Beane: Re-Inventing the Game," "Moneyball: Playing the Game." Blu-ray adds "Drafting the Team" and "Adapting Moneyball" featurettes, UltraViolet digital version. (Sony).
1911 (2011) Dir.: Jackie Chan; Jackie Chan, Li Bing Bin, Winston Chao, Joan Chen, Jaycee Chan. Details a key moment in modern Chinese history-the fall of the Qing Dynasty-and the violent rebellion that brought it down.Extras: On set interviews with Jackie Chan and Li Bing Bing, making-of featurette, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Well Go USA).
NOVA: Deadliest Volcanoes (2011) NOVA travels with scientists who are attempting to discover how likely volcanoes are to erupt, when eruptions might happen and how deadly they could prove to be. $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
NOVA: Iceman Murder Mystery (2011) Join NOVA to defrost the ultimate time capsule -- 5,000-year-old Otzi, the mummified corpse pulled from an Alpine glacier nearly two decades ago. Undergoing an autopsy like none other, scientists attempt to unravel more mysteries from this ancient mummy. $24.99. (PBS Distribution).
Primeval: Volume Three (2011) Four-disc set of the complete U.K. seasons four and five. Extras: Documentary "New Dawn: Making the New Primeval," Season Four episode prequels. $49.98.Also available on Blu-ray Disc, $59.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).
The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption (2012) Victor Webster, Ron Perlman, Billy Zane. Second sequel; direct to video. The Scorpion King's kingdom has fallen, he's lost his queen to plague, and he's now an assassin for hire; he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew. Extras: Commentary by director Roel Reine, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).
Sinners and Saints (2010) Johnny Strong, Kevin Phillips, Costas Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flanery, Bas Rutten, Clifford "Method Man" Smith, Kim Coates, Louis Mandylor, Jolene Blalock, Tom Berenger. The leader of an elite "Street Crimes" task force squad in New Orleans must not only cope with the death of his young son and the abandonment of his wife, he must deal with the ambush and the vicious murder of his partner and a baffling gangland homicide case that points toward one of his childhood friends, a security contractor just back from the Middle East. Features high-powered gunfights, bloody fist fights, high-octane car chases and 100 percent adrenaline-rushing non-CGI action. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).
There Be Dragons (2011) Dir.: Roland Joffe; Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott. Arising out of the horror of the Spanish Civil War, a candidate for canonization is investigated by a journalist who discovers his own estranged father had a deep, dark and devastating connection to the saint's life. Extras: "Facing Your Dragons": Inspiring testimony from Wes Bentley, deleted scenes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).
What's Your Number? Unrated Ex-tended Cut (2011) Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, Ed Begley Jr. Read more about "What's Your Number?" in the January Calendar. Extras: Extended cut of movie, extended flashback dates, deleted scenes, Gag reel. Available in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo and a single-disc DVD. (Fox).

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January 17

Abduction (2011) Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello, Michael Nyqvist, Sigourney Weaver. Read more about "Abduction" in the January Calendar. Extras: Two behind-the-scenes featurettes, a production journal with Taylor Lautner, gag reel. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).
Age of Heroes (2011) Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, James D'Arcy. WWII action-thriller about the formation of Ian Fleming's (yes, James Bond's Ian Fleming) 30 Commando unit -- a precursor to the elite U.K. SAS assault forces -- that operated smash-and-grab missions during the war. Extras: Cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, bloopers, documentary. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. (Entertainment One).
Belle de jour (1967) The porcelain perfection of Catherine Deneuve hides a cracked interior in the actress's most iconic role: Severine, a chilly Paris housewife by night, a bordello prostitute by day. This surreal and erotic late-sixties daydream from provocateur for the ages Luis Bunuel is an examination of desire and fetishistic pleasure (its characters' and its viewers'), as well as a gently absurdist take on contemporary social mores and class divisions. Fantasy and reality commingle in this burst of cinematic transgression, which was one of Bunuel's biggest hits. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Commentary featuring Michael Wood, author of the BFI Film Classics book "Belle de jour"; new video piece featuring writer and sexual-politics activist Susie Bright and film scholar Linda Williams; new interview with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere; excerpt from the French television program "Cinema," featuring interviews with Carriere and Deneuve; original and American release trailers; booklet featuring an essay by critic Melissa Anderson and a 1970s interview with director Luis Bunuel. (The Criterion Collection).
Bill Moyers: Amazing Grace (2011) Inspiring, Emmy-winning PBS documentary traces the history of the beloved hymn. Legendary journalist Bill Moyers explores the song's origins and enduring power through 24 captivating performances including Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Jessye Norman, Marion Williams, the Boys Choir of Harlem, and more. Extras: "Pure Pete Seeger," a 60-minute bonus musical portrait of the folk singer, songwriter, storyteller, and activist, filmed for Bill Moyer’s Journal at Seeger’s home in New York’s Hudson Valley. (Acorn Media).
Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star (2011) Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff. Bucky (Swardson) is a buck-toothed Mid-Western small town grocery bagger, going nowhere in life -- until he discovers that his conservative parents were once adult film stars. Armed with the belief that he has found his destiny, Bucky packs up and heads out to L.A., hoping to follow in his parents' footsteps -- despite certain shortcomings. Extras: Making-of featurettes "Behind the Teeth," "Gary: Tough Customer," "Bucky Sparkles” and "Laugher is Contagious." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
Cold Sweat (201O -- Argentina) Facundo Espinosa, Marina Glezer, Camila Velasco. A pair of whacked-out old men douse women -- lured to their decrepit mansion via the Internet -- in nitroglycerine for illicit terror experiments. Formats: DVD. Extras: Commentary by director Adrian Garcia Bogliano, deleted/extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette, poster gallery, comic book. (Dark Sky Films/MPI Media).
Courageous (2011) Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Kevin Downes, T.C. Stallings. Read more about "Courageous" in the January Calendar. Extras: Outtakes and bloopers, "Courageous in 60 Seconds" featurette, "The Making of Courageous" featurette, "The Heart of Courageous" featurette, "The Story of My Father" featurette, deleted scenes, commentary by the Kendrick Brothers (director-writer-star Alex and writer Stephen). Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).
Dead Poets Society BLU-RAY DEBUT (1989) Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Norman Lloyd, Kurtwood Smith. "Dead Poets: A Look Back" featuring interview footage with director Peter Weir, Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard and others; "Raw Takes"; "Master of Sound: Alan Splet" interviews with David Lynch and Peter Weir; "Cinematography Master Class" intensive and inspirational lighting workshop with cinematographer John Seale; commentary by Weir, Seale and writer Tom Schulman. (Disney).
Dirty Girl (2010) Juno Temple, Jeremy Dozier, Milla Jovovich, William H. Macy, Dwight Yoakam, Mary Steenburgen. It's 1987 and Danielle, the high school "Dirty Girl," is running away. With her is chubby, gay Clarke, a bag of flour called Joan and a Walkman full of glorious '80s tunes. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Abe Sylvia, deleted and extended scenes. (The Weinstein Co./Anchor Bay).
Division III: Football's Finest (2011) Andy Dick, Adam Carolla, Will Sasso. Football black comedy about a psycho coach with a suspect record (the attempted murder of a Pee Wee football team) who takes over the Pulham Blue Cocks when the team's coach drops dead on the sidelines. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
Eclipse Series 31: Three Popular Films by Jean-Pierre Gorin Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin, widely known for his early-seventies collaborations (including "Tout va bien") with Jean-Luc Godard in the Dziga Vertov Group, established his singular voice with this trio of accomplished, fascinating, and nontraditional documentaries, made in Southern California after his relocation there. "Poto and Cabengo" (1978) is a compelling visit with two young San Diego twins who have invented their own language. "In Routine Pleasures" (1986), Gorin conjoins the story of a group of model train enthusiasts in Del Mar with a meditation on the work of critic and painter Manny Farber. And "My Crasy Life" (1992) is an expectation-shredding exploration of a Samoan gang in Long Beach. With these three films, Gorin excavates hidden communities that are a part of everyday American life, and shows himself to be a major chronicler of what is eccentric and beautiful in our common culture. $44.95. (The Criterion Collection).
The Forgotten Bomb (2010) With the unexpected death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the succession of his untried 28-year-old son Kim Jong Un, the threat of nuclear escalation looms once again. Media speculation of the heir is anything but optimistic; some predict that he photo may be even more dangerous than his father. Bloomberg News suggests that Kim's death may prompt his son to accelerate nuclear weapons development and menace his neighbors in a show of force (and with other nine nations who also have nuclear weapons on alert, resulting in 23,000 weapons worldwide, North Korea certainly is not the only one ensuring fear in the world). This timely documentary focuses on gathering a comprehensive perspective of the various sides of the nuclear weapons debate, while surveying the nuclear weapons cycle from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to its continuing effect on the world today. When the Cold War ended, the generations that lived through it were relieved to finally vanquish the specter of a mushroom cloud from their minds. But today, thousands of nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia remain on high-alert, still poised to destroy the planet. In Japan, atomic bomb survivors struggle with nightmarish memories and negative health effects; atomic veterans, down-winders, and atomic workers around the globe also continue to suffer from the effects of radiation exposure. In a globe-trotting journey through various perspectives on nuclear weapons, filmmaker Bud Ryan takes us from the Peace Museums of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to the Nuclear Science museums of the United States; to the place that birthed the atomic bomb (and cares for it still), the state of New Mexico, where Ryan now lives. Featuring former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, authors Gar Alperovitz and Jonathan Schell, Japanese bomb survivors, and many others. Formats: DVD. (Cinema Libre Studio).
Good Morning, Vietnam BLU-RAY DEBUT (1987) Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tung Thanh Tran, Bruno Kirby, Robert Wuhl, J.T. Walsh. Extras: Production diary (five features): "How the Movie Came to Be, Actor Improv"; "Music of the Movie";" Origin of the Good Morning, Vietnam Sign-On"; "Shooting in Thailand & Overview of the Film a Year Later;" raw monologues. (Disney).
The Ides of March (2011) Dir.: George Clooney; Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Read more about "The Ides of March" in the January Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Believe: George Clooney" featurette, "On the Campaign: The Cast of Ides of March" featurette, commentary by Clooney and producer Grant Heslov. Blu-ray adds "Developing the Campaign: The Origin of Ides of March" featurette, "What Does a Political Consultant Do?" featurette.
The Josephine Baker Story BLU-RAY DEBUT (1991) Lynn Whitfield, Louis Gossett Jr. (HBO).
KickOff (2011) Duncan MacInne, Ian Sharp, Jason Maza, Nathan Clough, Jay Brown, Stephen Hoo. British comedy set in the world of 5-a-side footie (soccer to you Yanks) finds a macho football team meeting their match when they're forced to compete against a team comprised entirely of gay men in their Sunday soccer league. Extras: "The Making of KickOff," Adrenaline music video, cast fitness challenge. (Wolfe Video).
Merlin: The Complete Third Season (2010) Five-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.98. Extras: Commentaries on select episodes, "Making of Merlin Season 3" featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes, video from the first-ever Merlin panel at the San Diego Comic Con 2010, more. (BBC Home Entertainment).
Mysteries of Lisbon (2011 -- Portugal) Dir.: Raul Ruiz; Joao Luis Arrais, Afonso Pimentel. One of the final works by legendary filmmaker Raul Ruiz, this acclaimed adaptation of the epic Portuguese novel tells a sweeping and tale of romance, war, passion and betrayal. Adapted from the 19th Century novel by Portugal's Camilo Castelo Branco, the film covers three decades, four countries and a host of rich characters­ -- all sparked by one man's search for the truth. In 19th Century Lisbon, Portugal, Joao, an orphan in a boarding school, sets out on a quest to discover the story behind his origins, his parents and his true identity. From this city of intrigue and secrets emerges a collection of characters who are all somehow linked to Joao's destiny: Father Dinis, a descendant of the aristocratic libertines who later becomes a hero who defends justice; a countess maddened by her jealousy and obsessed with vengeance; and a prosperous businessman who mysteriously made his fortune as a bloodthirsty pirate. Joao's questions are slowly answered -- ­while others are raised -- ­over the course of three decades and a personal voyage that takes him from Portugal to France, Italy, and even Brazil. But as secrets are revealed and Joao's life begins to intertwine with those of the people he meets, he slowly learns that the truth for one isn't always the truth for all. Available as a three-disc DVD/Blu-ray combo. Extras: Interview with Raul Ruiz, roundtable discussion, special radio interview, booklet, more. (Music Box Films).
Sliders: The Fifth and Final Season (1999-2000) Four-disc set with 18 episodes, $34.98. (Universal).
Special Treatment (2010 -- France) Isabelle Huppert, Bouli Lanners. In this darkly erotic drama from cult filmmaker Jeanne Labrune, Isabelle Huppert stars as a high-class prostitute named Alice who serves up sexual fantasies for her clientele, from schoolgirl innocence to S&M. Fed up with the seamy underbelly of French masculinity, Alice crosses paths with Xavier, a neurotic psychoanalyst facing a marriage crisis. The two quickly realize their professions share a thing or two in common as they navigate the overlapping worlds of psychotherapy and sex therapy. Formats: DVD. Extras: Director Q&A, filmmaker bio.(First Run Features).
Thomas & Friends: Curious Cargo (2012) It's a wild ride with Thomas and his friends on the Island of Sodor as they deliver some curious cargo -- from giraffes and cows to birds and bunnies and more. Four episodes, $14.98. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Thurgood (2011) Critically-acclaimed one-man show features Laurence Fishburne in his Emmy-nominated performance as the legendary civil rights pioneer and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as he tells audiences his story. (HBO).
The Tuskegee Airmen BLU-RAY DEBUT (1995) Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., Malcolm-Jamal Warner. (HBO).
Waking the Dead: The Complete Season Six (2007) Three-disc set 12 episodes, $39.98. (BBC Home Entertainment).

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January 24

Annie Hall BLU-RAY DEBUT (1977) Dir.: Woody Allen; Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts. (MGM).
The Apartment: Collector's Edition BLU-RAY DEBUT (1960) Dir.: Billy Wilder; Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston. (MGM).
Beginning of the Great Revival (2011 -- China) Chow Yun-Fat, Andy Lau, Liu Ye. Details the historic events surrounding the Chinese Revolution -- the period from 1911 to 1921 when Sun Yat-sen overthrew the Qing Dynasty and planted the roots of what has become modern-day China's Communist government. Formats: DVD, VOD. (China Lion/New Video).
Beware the Gonzo (2011) Ezra Miller, Jesse McCartney, Zoe Kravitz, Amy Sedaris, Campbell Scott. Teen-angst comedy about a wild-eyed rebel journalist ousted from his prep school's newspaper who starts an underground paper, The Gonzo Files, to give voice to all the school's misfits. Formats: DVD. (Tribeca Film/New Video).
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season One (1979-80) Six-disc set with all 21 episodes, $24.98. (Universal).
The Confession (2011) Keifer Sutherland, John Hurt. On Christmas Eve, a hit man enters a church to confess his sins. Through a series of flashbacks, the Confessor's journey is revealed, laying out what has brought him to this moment and leading to a climax where his chance at ultimate redemption hangs in the balance. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Flatiron Film/New Video).
Dirty Little Trick (2011) Michael Madsen, Dean Cain, Christie Burson. An innocent man goes for the ride of his life after picking up a beautiful hitchhiker, ending up entangled in a web of love, lies and deceit. (Maya Entertainment).
Essential Killing (2010) Dir.: Jerzy Skolimowski; Vincent Gallo, Emmanuelle Seigner. Vincent Gallo gives an award-winning performance as Mohammed, a Taliban fighter captured by the U.S. military in Afghanistan after a violent desert attack goes awry. While being transported to a secret detention center in Europe, the vehicle crashes and he suddenly finds himself free. But his newfound freedom quickly disappears as he is relentlessly pursued in a snow-blanketed forest by an army that does not "officially" exist. Formats: DVD. (Tribeca Film/New Video).
50/50 (2011) Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston. Read more about "50/50" in the January Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Commentary with the filmmakers, deleted scenes, "The Story of 50/50," more. (Summit Entertainment).
George Gently, Series 1 BLU-RAY DEBUT (2007) Three feature-length mysteries based on the long-running series of novels by Alan Hunter. (Acorn Media).
Godzilla (1954) Ishiro Honda's "Godzilla" is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population's fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than 20 sequels and spinoffs. This first thrilling, tactile spectacle continues to be a cult phenomenon; here, we present the original 1954 Japanese version, along with "Godzilla: King of the Monsters!", the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Commentary by David Kalat ("A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series"); new high-definition digital restoration of "Godzilla: King of the Monsters!", Terry Morse's 1956 reworking of the original, starring Raymond Burr; commentary for" Godzilla: King of the Monsters!" by Kalat; new interviews with actor Akira Takarada, "Godzilla" performer Haruo Nakajima, and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai; interview with legendary" Godzilla" score composer Akira Ifukube; featurette detailing "Godzilla's" photographic effects; new interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato; "The Unluckiest Dragon," an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo fukuryu maru, a real-life event that inspired "Godzilla"; theatrical trailers; booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman. (The Criterion Collection).
Happy Happy (2010 -- Norway) Agnes Kittelsen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Joachim Rafaelsen. Family is the most important thing in the world to Kaja. She's an eternal optimist in spite of living with a man who would rather go hunting with the boys, and who refuses to have sex with her because she "isn't particularly attractive" anymore." But when "the perfect couple" moves in next door, Kaja struggles to keep her emotions in check: Not only do these successful, beautiful, exciting people sing in a choir, they have also adopted a child -- from Ethiopia! These new neighbors open a new world to Kaja, with consequences for everyone involved. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).
Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol. 2 Three Roger Corman cult classics: "The Arena," "Cover Girl Models" and "Fly Me." (Shout! Factory).
Manhattan BLU-RAY DEBUT (1979) Dir.: Woody Allen; Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Michael Murphy, Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep. (MGM).
Mannix: The Sixth Season (1972-73) Six-disc set with 24 episodes, $54.99. (CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment).
Memphis (2012) Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical, with the original cast, recorded at the Shubert Theatre in New York. The play takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50s where a young white DJ falls in love with and electrifying black singer and how the pair changed music forever. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Shout! Factory).
The Moment of Truth (1964) "The Moment of Truth," from director Francesco Rosi ("Salvatore Giuliano") is a visceral plunge into the life of a famous torero­ -- played by real-life bullfighting legend Miguel Mateo, known as Miguelin. Charting his rise and fall with a single-minded focus on the bloody business at hand, the film is at once gritty and operatic, placing the viewer right in the thick of the ring's action, as close to death as possible. Like all of the great Italian truth seeker's films, this is a not just an electrifying drama but also a profound and moving inquiry into a violent world -- ­and perhaps the greatest bullfighting movie ever made. New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras: Interview with director Francesco Rosi from 2004; booklet featuring an essay by critic Peter Matthews. (The Criterion Collection).
Notorious BLU-RAY DEBUT (1946) Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock; Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains. (MGM).
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) Christopher Nicholas Smith, Lauren Bittner, Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown, Dustin Ingram, Maria Olsen. Read more about "Paranormal Activity 3" in the February Calendar. Extended and theatrical versions. Formats:Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital Download, UltraViolet (cloud). Single DVD will be released Feb. 14. Extras: Lost Tapes. (Paramount).
Punished (2011 -- Hong Kong) Anthony Wong, Richie Jen, Janice Man, Maggie Cheung. When a tycoon's daughter is found dead of a cocaine overdose after being rescued from abduction, he stops at nothing to avenge her death, turning to his trusted bodyguard to seek out the perpetrators and exact revenge. Extras: Two behind-the-scenes featurettes, photo gallery, international trailer, exclusive QR code for additional bonus material. (Indomina Releasing)
Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? (2011) Documentary about one of the most urgent and crucial environmental issues of our time: The disappearance of honeybees from their hives with no clear single explanation, a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder. It's also a chronicle of man's historic and sacred relationship with bees and the integral role that the honey-fueled insects hold around the world. According to a reported Albert Einstein quote, "If bees disappear from the earth, then man will only have four years of life left." (Music Box Films).
Real Steel (2011) Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand, Hope Davis, James Rebhorn. Read more about "Real Steel" in the January Calendar. Available as a single-disc DVD, two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo and three-disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo. Extras: "Making of Metal Valley" and "Building the Bots" featurettes, bloopers. Blu-ray adds "Countdown to the Fight: ­The Charlie Kenton Story," "Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman's Champ," deleted and extended scenes. (DreamWorks).
Rebecca BLU-RAY DEBUT (1940) Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock; Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson. (MGM).
Restless (2011) Dir.: Gus Van Sant; Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Jane Adams, Ryo Kase. Read more about "Restless" in the January Calendar. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Extras: Gus Van Sant's Silent version of "Restless," deleted scenes, "Enoch & Annabel: One Love," "Enoch & Hiroshi: The Best of Friends," "Gus Van Sant: Independent Voice," "Being Restless," "Coming to Life: This Is Restless. "(Sony).
Revenge of the Electric Car (2011) By 2006, as many as 5,000 electric cars were destroyed by the major car companies that built them. Today, the electric car is back… with a vengeance. Without using a single drop of foreign oil, this new generation of car is America's future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever. Narrated by Tim Robbins, and from the director of "Who Killed the Electric Car?," the film goes behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors and an independent car converter to find the story of the global resurgence of electric cars, following the race to be the first and the best, and to win the hearts and minds of the public around the world. Formats: DVD, VOD. (Docurama/New Video).
Spellbound BLU-RAY DEBUT (1945) Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock; Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Michael Chekhov, Leo G. Carroll. (MGM).
Tales of an Ancient Empire (2011) Kevin Sorbo, Michael Pare, Melissa Ordway, Whitney Able, Sarah Ann Schultz. The world's greatest warriors are summoned to save the peaceful kingdom of Abelar, which is threatened by a demon sorceress and an army of vampires. Extras: Behind-the-scenes footage with cast interviews. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital Download. (Lionsgate).
Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath (2012) Five episodes with the barnyard preschoolers, $14.98. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns: Season 4 (2011) Three-disc set with 20 episodes, $29.98. (Lionsgate).
WWII In 3D (2011) Tells the epic story of the war from the rise of the Nazis, their sweep across Europe, the Allied counterattack and the fall of Nazi Germany. Presents for the first time dramatic moments of WWII that were captured in 3D with stereographs and then shuttered away in secret archives and attics until now. A stunning collection of color 3D photos includes Allied reconnaissance photos, a trove of images that documents the rise and fall of the Third Reich, and photos secretly taken by a civilian in occupied France. Also features an actual 3D motion picture film shot by the Nazis in 1943 to create a fully immersive, three dimensional portrait of history's largest and bloodiest conflict. Formats: Blu-ray. (A&E).
The Woman (2011) When a successful country lawyer captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast coast for decades, he puts the lives of his family in jeopardy. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital Download. Extras: "The Making of The Woman," deleted scenes, "Mi Burro," a short film; music track "Distracted" by Sean Spillane. (The Bloody Disgusting Selects/Vivendi Entertainment).
The Whistleblower (2011) Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Benedict Cumberbatch, Monica Bellucci, David Hewlett. Read more about "The Whistleblower" in the January Calendar. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Cast and crew interviews. (Fox).
Wings BLU-RAY DEBUT photo (1927) Dir.: William Wellman; The inaugural Best Picture Academy Award-winner. Meticulously restored, this World War I drama explores the devastating effects of war through the story of two men who go off to battle and the woman they both leave behind. Featuring groundbreaking aerial dogfights and epic battle sequences, "Wings" is both a cinematic spectacle and a compelling story of love and sacrifice that effectively dramatizes the bitter wages of war. Because the original negative was lost decades ago, contemporary audiences have only seen "Wings" in a compromised form. The restoration process used a duplicate negative housed in the Paramount archive, but despite this being the best element available, the negative was beset by damage, including entire reels that were strafed with scratches and printed-in nitrate deterioration that was literally eating into the edges of the frames. Using state-of-the-art digital tools normally used to create special effects, the film was meticulously restored frame-by-frame. Original tints and effects, such as colors that were embossed onto the film strip to give flames and explosions a fiery look, were also digitally recreated based on a detailed continuity script that still existed and tinting/toning guides from the period. For this release, the film's original paper score was procured from the Library of Congress and recorded with a full orchestra. Like many silent film scores, the music was a combination of original composition, popular songs of the period and themes from classical music. Extras: New documentaries: "Wings: Grandeur in the Sky," which gives perspective on the remarkable cinematic achievements of William Wellman and his team of filmmakers; "Dogfight," which explores the history of early aeronautics; and "Restoring the Power and Beauty of Wings," which details the painstaking process of returning this monumental epic to its original glory. Also available on DVD. Read the complete press release. (Paramount).
The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom (2011) Macha Grenon, Gil Bellows, Julia Stone. It's 1976 and Elizabeth is just your average suburban 11-year-old praying for adolescence to arrive when she discovers her whole life has been a lie. With only her imagination to guide her, Elizabeth runs away in search of her true identity. Her adoptive mother Marion is then forced to break out of the carefully constructed "truth" she's been clinging to and go after her daughter. This leads to a cathartic cross-country trek by a mother searching for a daughter who's searching for a mother. (Osiris Entertainment).

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January 31

Agatha Christie's Poirot, Series 1 and 2 BLU-RAY DEBUT The first and second series of Agatha Christie's beloved Belgian detective, starring David Suchet, newly remastered and restored to their original U.K. broadcast order. (Acorn Media).
The Big Year (2011) Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Joel McHale, Jim Parsons, Angelica Huston, Dianne Wiest, Brian Dennehy, Rashida Jones, Kevin Pollak, Anthony Anderson. Read more about "The Big Year" in the January Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc Combo. Extras: Extended feature film, "The Big Migration" featurette, deleted scenes, gag reel. (Fox).
Chalet Girl (2011) Felicity Jones, Ed Westwick. Comedy about a tomboy champion skateboarder who gets a job slinging burgers at a plush ski chalets in the Austrian Alps and becomes a snowboarder, vying for a snowboard championship and the affections of her boss' handsome son. Formats: DVD. (IFC).
Dead Hooker in a Trunk (2009) Four friends set out on an everyday errand and end up in a fight for their lives when they discover the body of a dead hooker in their trunk. Led by sexy, impulsive Badass, her distant twin sister Geek, their bible-thumping friend Goody Two Shoes and chaotic rock star pal Junkie, the group must put aside their differences to dispose of the body as they face off against persistent police, a sleazy motel manager, chainsaw-wielding triads and a brutal serial killer. All while being followed by the mysterious Cowboy Pimp, who wants to claim the corpse for himself. Formats: DVD. (IFC).
The Double (2011) Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Martin Sheen, Odette Yustman. A retired CIA operative is paired with a young FBI agent to unravel the mystery of a senator's murder, with all signs pointing to a Soviet assassin. Extras: Producers' interviews, commentary with co-writer/director Michael Brandt and co-writer Derek Haas. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Image Entertainment).
Dream House (2011) Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz, Elias Koteas, Marton Csokas. Read more about "Dream House" in the January Calendar. Also available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo with UltraViolet cloud copy. Extras: "Burning Down the House" featurette, "The Dream Cast," "Building the Dream House," "A Look Inside" behind-the-scenes featurette. (Universal).
Drive (2011) Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks. Read more about "Drive" in the January Calendar. Extras: Featurettes: "I Drive," "Under the Hood," "Driver and Irene" and "Cut to the Chase"; "Drive Without a Driver: Interview With Nicolas Winding Refn." Also available on Blu-ray Disc with UltraViolet cloud copy.
Frida BLU-RAY DEBUT (2002) Dir.: Julie Taymor; Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Antonio Banderas, Valeria Golino. Extras: Interviews with Salma Hayek and Julie Taymor, visual effects featurettes, a look at the art of Frida Kahlo. (Miramax/Lionsgate).
Frontline: The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela (2011) Two-hour biography with interviews, unique photos, and rare archival film, $24.99. Formats: DVD. (PBS Distribution).
Frontline: A Perfect Terrorist (2012) It has been called the most spectacular terror attack since 9/11. On the night of Nov. 26, 2008, 10 men armed with guns and grenades launched an assault on Mumbai with military precision that left 166 dead. India quickly learned the attackers belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani militant group associated with Pakistan's secretive intelligence agency, the ISI. But what wasn't known then was that a Lashkar/ISI operative had been casing the city for two years, developing a blueprint for terror. His name was David Coleman Headley, and he'd been chosen for the job because he had the perfect cover: He was an American citizen. "Frontline" and ProPublica reporter Sebastian Rotella team up to learn more about Headley and his rise from heroin dealer and U.S. government informant to master plotter. (PBS Distribution).
In Time (2011) Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Galecki. Read more about "In Time" in the January Calendar. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc/Digital Download. Extras: Deleted and extended scenes. Blu-ray adds "The Minutes" featurette. (Fox).
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead, Ray Collins. Orson Welles directed this brilliant, moving portrayal of an aristocratic American family in what many critics consider a masterpiece equal to "Citizen Kane." Based on a novel by Booth Tarkington, the drama begins in the 1870s when the Amberson family is at the height of its wealth and prestige. But the day arrives when all the Ambersons are stunned by the truth of their financial ruin. The film was severely edited by the studio, altering Welles' intended ending. This is the first stand-alone DVD version of the film (it was previously part of a special Amazon "Citizen Kane" Deluxe Set. Formats: DVD. (Warner).
Malcolm X BLU-RAY DEBUT (1992) Dir.: Spike Lee; Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee, Theresa Randle. Two-disc set packed in a Blu-ray book, $34.99. (Warner).
Matlock The Seventh Season (1992-93) Fourteen episodes, $54.99. (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount).
Outrage: Way of the Yakuza (2010) Dir.: Takeshi Kitano; Takeshi Kitano, Ryo Kase. When a boss of the notorious Japanese crime syndicate (just as likely in today's modern world to be playing the stock market as well as shaking down pachinko parlors) issues an order to his associates to keep a rival gang in line, the task falls on Otomo (Kitano), who soon instigates a play for power that creates an all-out gang war, illustrating the brutal fate that befalls anyone who dares to violate the structured ways of the Yakuza. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc. Extras: Cast interviews, behind-the-scenes documentary, the red carpet premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, premiere screening Q&A. (Magnolia Home Entertainment/Magnet Label).
The Piano BLU-RAY DEBUT (1993) Dir.: Jane Campion; Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin. (Miramax/Lionsgate).
Spiderhole (2010) Emma Griffiths Malin, Reuben-Henry Biggs, Amy Noble, George Maguire. Squatters in an empty flat in London face off against a malevolent force that sets to work ridding the house of its unwanted residents. Formats: DVD. (IFC).
Star Trek: The Next Generation -- The Next Level BLU-RAY Beginning in 2012, Paramount will transfer to true high-definition 1080p -- for release on Blu-ray and eventual runs on television and digital platforms -- all 178 episodes from the seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." This "sample" release includes the feature-length pilot, "Encounter at Farpoint," as well as two fan favorite episodes, "The Inner Light" (Season 5) and "Sins of the Father" (Season 3); $21.99. (Paramount).
Texas Killing Fields (2011) Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jessica Chastain. A local homicide detective teams up with a cop from New York City to investigate a series of unsolved murders in the Texas bayous. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay).
The Thing (2011) Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen. Read more about "The Thing" in the January Calendar. Available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo with UltraViolet cloud copy and a single-disc DVD. Blu-ray Extras: Deleted/Extended Scenes, "The Thing Evolves" featurette, "Fire & Ice" featurette, commentary by director Matthijs Van Heijningen and producer Eric Newman. (Universal).
Thunder Soul (2010) Documentary. Alumni from Houston's storied Kashmere High School Stage Band return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for their beloved band leader who turned the struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s. (Lionsgate).
To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition (1962) Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Mary Badham, Richard Hale, Frank Overton. Two-disc set. Extras: Digital copy, "A Conversation With Gregory Peck," "Fearful Symmetry: The Making of To Kill a Mockingbird," Academy Award Best Actor acceptance speech, American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, excerpt from tribute to Gregory Peck, "Scout Remembers," commentary by director Robert Mulligan and producer Alan Pakula, "100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics." (Universal).
Treasure Buddies (2012) Sixth film in the Buddies franchise with the talking canine superstars Rosebud, B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha and Mudbud on a journey to mysterious Egypt in search of the greatest treasure known to animalkind, the legendary Cat's Eye jewel, from the lost treasure of Cleocatra. Available as a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and as a single DVD. (Disney).
Undocumented (2010) An aspiring documentary film director and his crew set out to record firsthand the injustices and inequities faced by those trying to make it into the U.S. from Mexico, but what they encounter is a horror worse than any they had imagined: they're captured by a gang of sadistic radicals in New Mexico. Formats: DVD. (IFC).
Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears ... And More African Folktales (2012) Five stories: "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears," "Hot Hippo," "The Village of Round and Square Houses," "Not So Fast Songololo" and "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters." Formats: DVD. (Scholastic Storybook Treasures).
You and I (2011) Mischa Barton, Shantel VanSanten. Two teenage girls fall in love after meeting at a t.A.T.u concert and are swept into a dangerous world of obsession, drug abuse and murder. Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc.

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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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January 1, 2012
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