 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for October 23, 2005.
Click Here To Subscribe To The DVD Dossier Newsletter
|
|
|
Published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less, the online source for DVD Discounts & Deals
|
|
In This Issue
|
|
October 23, 2005
|
|
|
| This Week, We're Off To See the Wizard... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warner Home Video has done a bang-up job of restoring "The Wizard of Oz," out this week in two new bonus-packed editions – a 2-Disc Special Edition and a 3-Disc Collector’s Edition, both featuring digital transfers of the original film along with a completely remastered soundtrack.
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, "The Wizard of Oz" stars Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Frank Morgan and was voted by the American Film Institute as the "Best Family Film" of all time,
"The Wizard of Oz" received five Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and captured two Oscars® – Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score, plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland.
Both new DVD editions offer extensive bonus content, including four revealing new documentaries and a new feature-length commentary by Emmy Award®-winning producer and Oz historian John Fricke.
Also included are outtakes and deleted scenes; vintage vault featurettes; and more than six hours of audio-only special features, including original recording sessions for songs and underscoring and rare Oz radio programs.
"The Wizard of Oz" 3-Disc Collector’s Edition adds a DVD of special content, featuring a new documentary about Oz author L. Frank Baum and a newly restored transfer of the 1925 feature-length silent version of "The Wizard of Oz" starring Oliver Hardy and Larry Semon with a new score by Robert Israel.
In addition to the bonus disc, the Collector’s Edition DVD also includes reproductions of the original eight-page Grauman's Chinese Theatre Oz souvenir program from August 15, 1939; the invitation to that premiere; the sixteen-page Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio News magazine from August 14, 1939, celebrating "The Wizard of Oz;" nine restored natural color Kodachrome portraits and publicity photos from the film.
An official selection in the 2005 Cannes Film festival, "Gus Van Sant's Last Days" is inspired by the final hours of Kurt Cobain. The film introduces us to Blake (Michael Pitt), a brilliant, but troubled musician. Success has left him in a lonely place, where livelihoods rest on his shoulders and old friends regularly tap him for money and favors.
Also out this week are two lesser films starring the very talend Will Ferrell: "Melinda and Melinda" and "Bewitched." The former is Woody Allen's casual debate about the comedy and tragedy of life and love. It's a twice told-tale that barely needed to be told once.
In the latter, Ferrell teams up with Niicole Kidman and the two play actors who in turn portray Darrin and Samantha Stevens on a remake of the TV sitcom "Bewitched." It's a clever idea that goes absolutely nowhere, You'd be better off with Season Two of the original TV show, out this week in black and white (recommended) and colorized versions.
In the "King of the Corner," Leo Spivak is drifting through life without a compass. (Spivak is played by Peter Riegert, who also wrote and directed this funny, touching and decidedly quirky indie flick.)
His father (Eli Wallach) is aging fast, his teenage daughter is rebelling, his protégé is after his job and his wife (Isabella Rossellini) is losing her patience. A twist of fate and some bizarre wisdom from a "freelance rabbi" (Eric Bogosian) help Leo navigate the murky waters of his life and turn his crisis into a second-chance.
When "Titanic" was first released on DVD, the industry was in its infancy and studios and fans were happy just to have popular films appear on shiny discs... Special Editions were virtually unheard. That's why one of the most popular films of all time has never been issued as a "Special Edition."
That changes this week with the release of "Titanic" in a 3-Disc Special Collector’s Edition.
Winner of 11 Academy Awards®, including "Best Picture," this digitally mastered and reimagined 3-Disc set has been personally supervised by Oscar®-winning director James Cameron. The epic adventure-romance stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as Jack and Rose, two star-crossed lovers who meet aboard the “unsinkable” ship, the R.M.S. "Titanic" on its ill-fated maiden voyage.
This Tuesday is also time to revisit another older film, "Save the Tiger. Jack Lemmon won an Oscar® for his dramatic performance in the film, considered by many to be his finest.
Lemmon plays Harry Stoner, a man caught in violent collision with his past and present life. He believes there is nothing significant in his life except survival, and that instinct pushes him beyond moral conduct.
He'll juggle the books, supply women for clients... and even set fire to his own dress manufacturing factory. He is drawn to an America when life not only had values and heroes, it all seemed worth living and building. But Harry is frightened to break away from the emptiness of his seemingly successful life.
Another remake of an even older film arrives this week on DVD.
Based on the horrifying 1953 classic, "House of Wax" stars Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton and Jared Padalecki. The DVD release of director Jaume Collet-Sera's film includes a gag reel, "The House Built On Wax" (a visual effects featurette), "Wax On: The Design of the House of Wax" and an alternate opening.
Lindsay Lohan is behind the wheel in the Disney comedy adventure "Herbie: Fully Loaded."
This is a new "Herbie" film, with all-new, exclusive DVD bonus material including deleted scenes and bloopers, the Lindsay Lohan music video “First,” an alternate title opening and audio commentary with director Angela Robinson.
"The Concert for Bangladesh" was the first benefit concert of its kind in that it brought together an extraordinary assemblage of major artists collaborating for a common humanitarian cause - setting the precedent that music could be used to serve a higher purpose.
The concert, organized by George Harrison, sold out Madison Square Garden and has helped to generate millions for UNICEF and raised awareness for the organization around the world, as well as among other musicians and their fans.
It is acknowledged as the inspiration and the forerunner to the major global fundraising events of recent years. (All artists' royalties from the sales of the DVD will go to UNICEF.)
Also arriving this week is a 10-Disc set celebrating the films of Jerry Lewis.
"The Legendary Jerry Collection" includes "The Bellboy," "Cinderfella," "The Delicate Delinquent," "The Disorderly Orderly," "The Errand Boy," "The Family Jewels," "The Ladies Man," "The Nutty Professor," "The Patsy" and "The Stooge."
And from TV comes the Fourth Season of "Alias" and The Second Seasons of "The Munsters" and "Tales From the Crypt." (available separately).
That's all the news on the latest DVD releases.
Check back next week when we'll bring you lots more!
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
|
| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: October 25, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visit us online to see a comprehensive list of new DVD releases for the next six weeks.
Links above are for Region 1 (USA) Editions. Availability and release dates elsewhere may vary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On December 6th, the $151 million box office hit "Fantastic Four" makes its way to DVD in both widescreen and full screen versions.
Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis star in this explosive adventure about a quartet of flawed, ordinary human beings who suddenly find themselves with extraordinary abilities.
After exposure to cosmic radiation, four astronauts become the most remarkable, if dysfunctional, superheroes of all time. Unfortunately, the mission's sponsor has also been transformed – into the world's most lethal supervillain – setting the stage for a confrontation of epic proportions.
|
|
This is a clumsy inept comic book movie, totally devoid of wit and drama. The action scenes have little context and so we don't really care about what happens. Fantastic? Hardly.
Special features on "Fantastic Four" will include a first loook at the making of the highly anticipated theatrical release, "X-Men 3," an excluisve behind-the scenes tour of the "Fantastic Four" worldwide theatrical press junket, deleted scenes, "making of" and casting featurettes, music videos and trailers.
Pre-order "Fantastic Four" now and save 47%. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emmy®-nominated for Best Drama Series, the Fourth Season of "24" is considered by many fans and critics to be the best season for the Fox TV drama. The Fourth Season makes its DVD debut on December 6th.
Starring Kieffer Sutherland in his Emmy®-nominated role as Jack Bauer, Season Four of "24" received the highest broadcast ratings of the series' four year history.
The new boxed set includes a ground-breaking extra, shot on location during Season Five production, which bridges Season Four with Season Five and which gives clues about what is to come. This made-for-DVD prequel includes scenes that will never air on U.S. television.
|
|
|
|
In addition, the 7-Disc set will include three behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and episode commentaries, as well as 24 "mobisodes," one minute episodes, each with its own storyline.
Pre-order "24: Season Four" now and save 35%.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On November 22nd, director Ziad Doueiri’s thought-provoking story of teenage lust at first sight, "Lila Says," arrives on DVD.
"Lila Says" is a provocative film adapted from a best-selling and controversial French novel.
The story follows two inner city teenagers engaged in an obsessive yet innocent flirtation fueled by the sexually explicit overtures of the girl. Chimo (Mohammed Khouas), an Arab Muslim living in a poor neighborhood in Marseilles, is a talented young man who finds inspiration and his world turned upside down when a sed*ctive blonde teenager, Lila (Vahina Giocante), moves into his neighborhood.
|
|
The film garnered great ciritical response during its recent theatrical release.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Jonathan Curiel called "Lila Says" "a mad scramble into a world of sex, desire, youthful rebellion and social pressures" and Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly found it an "unabashedly erotic cross-cultural love story."
Pre-order "Lila Says" now and save 10%.
|
|
|
| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: November 1, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
Up next week are "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," Special Editions of "Big Fish" and cult favorite "Office Space" (available separately), James Cameron's "Aliens of the Deep," "Ghetto Dawg 2: Out of the Pits," "The Brat Pack Movies & Music Collection" and "Heights."
Television brings us "Sex and the City: The Complete Series Collector's Box Set," "Whoopi: Back on Broadway - The 20th Anniversary," "Motown Gold on the Ed Sullivan Show," "WWE WrestleMania: The Complete Anthology 1985-2005," as well as new seasons of "21 Jump Street," "The Partridge Family," "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," "Monster Garage" and "American Chopper,"
|
|
|
|
Support The DVD Dossier by buying your DVDs online from these respected merchants...
Amazon l Barnes & Noble l DVD Empire l  DVDPlanet l ebay  l Half.com l Target l Wal-Mart
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Get an iPod or a $250 iTunes Gift Certificate... |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The DVD Dossier is a free weekly newsletter that contains objective information about new DVD releases that has been researched and written by the editors at DVD Direct 4 Less, as well as advertisements and promotional information provided by movie studios.
We send this newsletter only to those who request it. Each newsletter we send directly to you includes an "unsubscribe" link. (This is an online archived issue of The DVD Dossier which does not contain that link.)
At DVD Direct 4 Less, your privacy is always guaranteed. We promise that we will never sell, rent or trade our subscriber lists. You can view our complete privacy policy here.
Academy Award(s)® and Oscar(s)® are the registered service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Golden Globe(s)® is the registered service mark of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Emmy is the trademark property of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Republishing the content of this newsletter - online or off-line - or posting the content contained herein on other websites without written permission is expressly forbidden.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please let us know.
Savings percentages quoted apply to preorder purchases from amazon.com and were in effect at the time of publication; preorder savings may vary at other online merchants.
Click Here To Subscribe l Click Here To Read More Issues of The DVD Dossier Online
Please note: all DVDs were available for sale as of the original publication date of this newsletter. Some may no longer be in inventory at the present time and preorder savings may not be in effect. If you're having difficulty finding a particular title, you can search current availability for any DVD here.
No DVDs were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2005 Stages and Pages. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Home
|
|
|
|
|
