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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for November 6, 2005.
Click Here To Subscribe To The DVD Dossier Newsletter
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Published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less, the online source for DVD Discounts & Deals
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In This Issue
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November 6, 2005
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| Digitally Restored and Available This Week From Koch Lorber... |
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Federico Fellini's award-winning masterpiece "La Dolce Vita" is back, this time in a digitally restored and re-mastered 3-Disc Collector's Edition. Packaged in a faux-leather box with a gold foil design, this new boxed set includes a 40-page booklet, poster, photographs and lots of bonus materials.
Included is commentary by noted critic & film historian Richard Schickel, a collection of never-before-seen Fellini shorts, interviews with Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg, a featurette on Cinecitta, Fellini’s beloved studio, interviews with Fellini himself and more.
In "Cronicas," John Leguizamo stars as Manolo Bonilla, a tabloid TV reporter who travels from Miami with his news crew on the trail of a story about a serial killer striking a small town in Ecuador.
Convinced this story could be the "big one" that makes him a network star, he is willing to bend the rules to get the facts. But the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the more he finds his carefully planned story spinning dangerously out of control.
Also out this week is Showtime's musical version of "Reefer Madness," based on the propaganda film from 1936 that has become a cult hit.
Framed as a "documentary", a straight-laced high school principal (Alan Cumming) seeks to impart his wisdom about marijuana by telling a frightful tale about the fate of two innocent teens who fall under the spell of the demon weed.
Filled with high camp and outrageous performances by Neve Campbell, Christian Campbell, Kristen Bell and Steven Weber, "Reefer Madness" is fresh and funny and eminently watchable.
"50 Cent: Refuse to Die," the "unauthorized" and "unrated" biography of one of the hottest artists in hip-hop, includes interviews with his closest friends and family. This gritty documentary tells the tale of 50 Cent's life and the obstacles he overcame to succeed.
One of the Roald Dahl's classic novels is reinterpreted yet again in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," out this week in a 2-Disc Deluxe Widescreen Edition, as well as a Single Disc Edition in both widescreen and full screen formats. (The 2-Disc Edition has lots of special features the Single Disc version lacks.)
This is the familiar story of the eccentric candymaker Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore), a good-hearted boy from a poor family who finds a "golden ticket" in his chocolate bar and wins a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility.
The film is visually stunning and bizarrely compelling, but ultimately a little gloomy. Much closer to its source material than 1971's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," this "Charlie" is mostly for those who like their confectionery rich, but dark.
Warner Home Video celebrates the holiday season a bit early with two inspirational tales and one irresistible comedy. Available for the first time on DVD this week are "Boys Town," "A Christmas Carol" and "Christmas in Connecticut." Each is available individually, as well as in the value-priced "Warner Bros. Classic Holiday Collection."
All three titles include vintage shorts and featurettes, archival newsreels and classic cartoons. As for the movies, well, they feature stars of yesteryear such as Spencer Tracy, Barbara Stanwyck, Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart and Mickey Rooney.
And for another holiday treat, try the "Yuletide Fireplace," which will keep you virtually warm and cozy on those chilly nights ahead. The disc includes 10 classic Christmas songs sung by Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Ella Fitzgerald and others.
The aquatic companion to the "Yuletide Fireplace" is, of course, the "Virtual Aquarium," the soundtrack for which includes "chill out tunes" and real aquarium sounds. Buy one of these virtual delights or a 2-pack that contains both DVDs.
Also out this week is "Yes," a passionate and sensual love story starring Joan Allen and Sam Neill and a Special Edition of "Big Fish" with Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup and Albert Finney. No matter how hard I try to watch this Tm Burton fantasy, I simply can't get more than a few minutes into it without stopping.
I'll always remember "Big Fish" - a movie about a dying father and his son - as the movie Spalding Gray went to see with his kids just before the brilliant performance artist and actor killed himself. I'm not claiming the movie inspired him, I'm simply saying that's why "Big Fish" remains on my shelf, unplayed.
From television this week comes something special for my mother (and everyone else who enjoys phrasing their answers in the form of a question).
"Jeopardy: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show" contains five of the most-watched episodes from the popular game show including Alex Trebek’s premiere episode, the last episode of Ken Jennings’ famous winning streak and all three episodes from the 2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions.
Also from TV this week: The First Season of "The White Shadow," the 1978 drama series about a white former NBA player (Ken Howard) who takes a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly black inner-city high school.
Part scripted comedy, part improvisation, part genuine celebrity interview, "The Kumars at Number 42" is like nothing you've ever seen. Unless, of course, you've been watching BBC America since June of last year, when the show was first aired in the USA.
The Kumars - an Indian family living in the north of London - have hit upon a unique method of "keeping up with the Joneses" - they have bulldozed their backyard and erected a state-of-the-art TV studio, where they host their very own talk show.
The son, Sanjeev, pops the questions while his mother (Madhuri), father (Ashwin) and mischievous granny (Sushila) interrupt from a nearby sofa with wildly inappropriate and irrelevant questions. "The Kumars at Number 42" is a critically acclaimed show and the winner of both a 2005 Peabody Award and an International Emmy Award.
Rounding out this week's TV on DVD discs: the First Season of Cosby spin-off "A Different World" and a 6-Disc set (24 episodes) of "Popular Mechanics for Kids."
And on a more self serving note, let's close this week's issue by saying that once a year here at The DVD Dossier we hold a subscription drive. Don't worry, this is not a pledge drive... we don't want your money... we just want your friends!
Do you enjoy reading about the latest DVD releases each week?
Chances are that those you know and love would enjoy reading it, too. Please recommend they subscribe to The DVD Dossier by forwarding them a copy of this week's issue (you'll find a handy link for this purpose at the very bottom of this e-mail). Alternatively, you can simply tell them to sign-up here.
During our subscription drive, we ask you to refer at least one friend before next Sunday, November 13th. If every current subscriber referred at least one new subscriber, why, we'd double our readership overnight!
Can you help us out, my friend?
Thanks... and thanks for continuing to read the Dossier each week.
We'll see you (and all your friends) back here next week.
All the Best,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: November 8, 2005 |
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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.
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"Cinderella Man," the inspirational and heroic true American story starring Oscar®-winners Russell Crowe and Renée Zellweger, arrives on DVD December 6th.
"Cinderella Man" is a powerful and inspiring story that received much critical praise, but a rather lackluster response at the box office. It's a movie well worth seeing.
In a time when America needed a champion, an unlikely hero arose, proving how hard a man would fight to win a second chance for his family and himself.
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Suddenly thrust into the national spotlight, boxer Jim Braddock defied the odds against him and stunned the world with one of the greatest comebacks in history. Driven by love for his family, he willed his impossible dream to come true.
Crowe portrays James J. Braddock, an unlikely hero whose decency, dedication and determination to face any adversity for those he loved inspired an entire nation. Zellweger co-stars as his fiercely devoted wife Mae, and Golden Globe® nominee Paul Giamatti plays his irrepressible manager, Joe Gould.
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The standout-supporting cast in "Cinderella Man" includes Craig Bierko as the arrogant heavyweight champ Max Baer and Bruce McGill as hardball fight promoter Jimmy Johnston.
Cliff Hollingsworth and Akiva Goldsman wrote the screenplay based on Braddock’s life, while Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Penny Marshall produced, with direction by Howard.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release "Cinderella Man" in two editions. A single-disc edition will be available in widescreen and full screen formats and a 2-Disc Collector's Edition - with additional bonus features and exclusive collectibles - will be available in widescreen only.
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| Pre-order either edition of "Cinderella Man" now and save 30%. |
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Sometimes life can bring unexpected joy from the unlikeliest places – even when thrown from the sea.
"Ladies in Lavender," the critically acclaimed directorial debut of actor Charles Dance, stars two Oscar®-winning legends of the stage and screen – Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith – and bows on DVD December 6th.
"Ladies in Lavender" is a heartwarming film about two elderly sisters who find their lives changed by a young man, Andrea, (Daniel Brüh) who has been washed ashore and badly injured.
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Upon taking him in, his presence quietly stirs Ursula’s (Dench's) abandoned feelings of longing and Janet’s (Smith's) maternal instincts, while also arousing suspicion and fear in the township in pre-World War II Europe, especially when Andrea develops a friendship with Olga (Natasha McElhone), a beautiful Russian woman on vacation.
But throughout Andrea’s stay, the two sisters discover his true origins, his talents as a gifted violinist and embark on a journey they had never imagined for themselves.
Featured at the Toronto International and Tribeca Film Festivals, "Ladies in Lavender" has strong supporting performances from Freddie Jones, Miriam Margoyles, David Warner and Geoffrey Bayldon.
Pre-order "Ladies in Lavender" now and save 30%.
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Lest you think we're only going highbrow in this edition of The DVD Dossier, what with all this talk of "Cinderella Man" and "Ladies in Lavender," we're happy to report that "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," is coming to DVD on December 13th.
The film, which has earned over $100 million at the box office, arrives in an R-Rated Theatrical Edition and an Unrated version featuring over seventeen additional minutes of footage filmed specifically for the DVD and not shown in theatres. Both versions will include outtakes and deleted scenes.
Steve Carell stars as Andy Stitzer — a sweet-natured, middle-aged, retail employee with strong geek tendencies and a total lack of experience with the opposite sex.
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He’s not really bothered by his chaste status, but it’s a topic of great interest to his co-workers at the Big-Box electronics store where he works. They have big plans for Andy, and he begrudgingly joins their wildly funny plot to rescue him from his four-decade dry spell.
"The 40-Year-Old Virgin," features an outstanding ensemble cast including Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks and Leslie Mann. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Emmy Award®-winning producer-writer Judd Apatow.
Pre-order "The 40-Year Old Virgin" now and save 47%.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: November 15, 2005 |
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Next week brings Kate Hudson and Peter Sarsgaard in "The Skeleton Key," Lisa Kudrow, Tom Arnold, Laura Dern and Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Happy Endings," Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel, and Jamie Foxx in "Stealth" and the animated hit "Madagascar."
From television comes a new 6-Disc boxed set celebrating the 20th Anniversary of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," the First Season of "Fantasy Island," the Second Seasons of "Scrubs" and "Murder One" (available separately), the Third Season of "That 70's Show," the Fifth Season of "Three's Company" and the Tenth Season of "Friends."
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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
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| Join the Columbia House DVD Club and Save... |
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Choose from big hit films like "Ray," "Shrek 2," "Anchorman," "Meet the Fockers" and more.
For a limited time, get FREE SHIPPING when you sign-up here.
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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.)
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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.
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