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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for February 20, 2005.
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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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February 20, 2005
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The biggest DVD news this week involves a lawsuit, but we'll get to that in a bit. As for high profile new titles on DVD, it's slim pickings this Tuesday, as many of the more interesting movies are Special Editions or re-releases of older titles.
One new film that's definitely worth a look is "I Heart Huckabees," the self-proclaimed "existential" comedy from director David O. Russell, who also wrote the screenplay (with Jeff Baena). Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin lead an all-star cast which also includes Jude Law, Naomi Watts, Isabelle Huppert and Mark Walhberg. The plot revolves around a husband and wife detective team who are hired to discover the meaning of life.
The film comes to DVD two ways: there's a Single Disc Standard Edition and a more robust 2-Disc Special Edition, which adds a phenomenal number of extras not found on the solo disc.
These include 22 extended and deleted scenes, 5 outtakes, the extended version of the "infomercial" seen in the film, several "making of" featurettes, a photo montage, Jon Brion's "Knock Yourself Out" music video (with commentary!) and more.
Both editions of "I Heart Huckabees" utilize a two-sided disc to bring you the entire feature film in widescreen and full screen versions and both editions include two commentary tracks.
Also new this week is "Love's Enduring Promise," a family-friendly film directed by Michael Landon, Jr. based on the best selling books by Janet Oke. "Promise" was first seen on the Hallmark Channel in November and is the sequel to "Love Comes Softly," their highest rated film ever.
A scam pulled off by a Russian "Mail Order Bride" sends the NY mob off to Moscow for revenge in a low budget wise-guy comedy that stars Danny Aiello and Ivana Milicevic.
"Yes Nurse, No Nurse" is another low budget and decidedly offbeat film, this one based on a popular 1960's TV show from Holland. The musical aims to be a candy-coated, all-singing, all-dancing, high camp romp, but the production values, songs and choreography are all of such poor quality, that you'll wish you were at the Melody Barn Theater watching Carol Ann Knippel sing "Memory" in "Cats."
Two more Special Editions arrive on Tuesday...
The "Collector's Edition" DVD of 1995's "Get Shorty" includes a free ticket for the forthcoming big screen sequel, "Be Cool" (valid through 3/25/05). "Get Shorty" stars John Travolta as a loan shark who tries to collect a debt in Los Angeles and winds up becoming a film producer. The movie, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, is based on an Elmore Leonard novel.
Also from 1995, Michael Mann's taut character-driven thriller "Heat" is notable for the only onscreen pairing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. (While the two had been in the same film before, they had never appeared together in a scene.)
This Special Edition includes commentary from writer/director Mann, 11 additional scenes, 3 theatrical trailers and 5 new making-of documentaries featuring the cast and crew.
The three Miyazaki animated films we told you about last time ("Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind," "The Cat Returns" and "Porco Rosso") are out this week, too.
Barbra Streisand stars as a kooky chain-smoking woman with astonishing powers in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," which first appeared in 1970, when the moviegoing public wasn't quite ready for a musical about psychiatry, ESP and the 19th-century English woman who Streisand becomes while under hypnosis.
The movie features Yves Montand as her shrink, the always reliable Larry Blyden and Bob Newhart as fellow doctors and - for some inexplicable reason - Jack Nicholson.
"On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" is directed by master craftsman Vincente Minelli and is worth buying or renting for that fact alone.
And then, of course, there's Streisand. As it happens, two of her most popular films are now available together on DVD for the first time.
The new "Funny Girl / Funny Lady" boxed set collection is not big on extras, but two bonus featurettes are included: “Barbra in Movieland” and “This is Streisand.” Also, subtitles for the two films are supplied in a dizzying array of languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Thai.
Streisand won the 1968 Best Actress Oscar® for her screen debut as rising Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl," which was also nominated for Best Picture and remains one of the most popular movie musicals ever made. Costarring Omar Sharif, the film features the now-classic songs “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
She teamed again with Omar Sharif in 1975 for the sequel "Funny Lady," which featured an all-star cast and was nominated for 5 Academy Awards®, including Best Original Song for “How Lucky Can You Get.”
Television this week brings us The Complete Third Season of "The Shield" starring Michael Chiklis (15 episodes on 4 discs), Season Two of "Ellen" starring Ellen DeGeneres (23 episodes on 3 discs) and the Showtime reality series "Family Business" (available separately).
Also of note is Season One of the animated "Stripperella," which features the voice of Pamela Anderson in the title role, that of a stripper-turned-superhero who fends off evil villains. The series is from the Spike TV cable channel and was created by Stan Lee, the man who brought us such popular superheroes as Spider-Man and The X-Men.
In other DVD news this week, the state of New Jersey sued Blockbuster saying that their new "no late fees" policy is deceptive. (In addition to New Jersey, Attorneys General in at least 35 other states are looking into the policy and contemplating action.) We first told you about it back in December.
At issue is the fact that DVD rentals automatically become "purchases" when not returned in 8 days. If a customer returns a title after having been charged for it, Blockbuster will then charge them a $1.25 "restocking" fee.
Also irking New Jersey's Attorney General is the "no late fees" claim itself, as many of Blockbuster's franchisees never went along with the program. Customers may in fact pay late fees if they rent from a Blockbuster location that's not owned and operated by the parent company or the grace period or restocking fees may differ significantly in these locations.
All of this applies, by the way, to the bricks and mortar Blockbuster stores, not their online DVD rental operation, which really does have no due dates and no late fees.
In far happier New Jersey news this week, HBO Home Video has announced a release date for Season Five of "The Sopranos." Tony and the gang will be back on DVD June 7th. (Please note: the Fifth Season of "The Sopranos" is not yet available for preordering). We'll tell you more as details become available.
In still more news, our friends at Disney - or more accurately, Buena Vista Home Entertainment - had a non-announcement of their own this week. It seems they have quietly ended their "test" of disposable DVDs. The disappearing disc, officially known as "EZ-D," sold for a little more than a rental and a lot less than a regular disc, but could not be watched again and again.
The disc, once taken out of its package, was programmed to "self-destruct" and was no longer playable after a set period of time, usually 48 hours. The discs were sold in test cities around the country, mostly at nontraditional outlets like convenience stores and pizzerias.
No word yet on why the test was stopped or how well the EZ-D sold.
Thanks for reading the DVD Dossier, ${token1}. That's all we have for you this week, but we'll be back next Sunday with lots more.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: February 22, 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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The controversial drama "Vera Drake" comes to DVD March 29th.
Based on a true story, this powerful and moving film tells of a woman in 1950s England who is devoted to caring for her family, but secretly aids women who want to terminate unwanted pregnancies. When the authorities find out, her world and family life rapidly unravel.
Imelda Staunton delivers a brilliant tour-de-force performance in the title role, capturing critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Mike Leigh, the film's writer and director, received 2 additional Academy Award nominations (for Best Director and Best Screenplay).
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| Preorder "Vera Drake" now and save 30%. |
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| Nothing Up Our Sleeve But DVDs |
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Poker’s popularity continues to skyrocket, with an estimated 60 million people in the USA now active players. "World Poker Tour" put the game on television and helped fuel the current poker explosion.
"World Poker Tour: Season Two," arriving on March 29th, is an 8-Disc set stacked with cunning poker stars, fierce competition and record-breaking prize pools.
With tournaments set in some of the world’s most glamorous locations and millions at stake, each of the 14 WPT episodes offers skilled card playing and action on the felt.
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There's also an entire disc filled with bonus material, including profiles of players Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Jennifer Harman, Gus Hansen, and Howard Lederer, tips on improving your own game and a look at Hollywood’s fascination with poker.
Preorder "World Poker Tour: Season Two" today and save 30%. |
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| Classic Comedies Collection |
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"Bringing Up Baby," one of the most beloved American film comedies of all time, starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, makes its DVD debut next week, March 1st.
It’s joined by another Grant/Hepburn classic, "The Philadelphia Story," previously released on DVD, but now beautifully remastered.
Both are being released individually as 2-Disc Special Editions with commentaries, critically acclaimed documentaries and other bonus extras.
Both films will also be available as part of Warner Home Video's new "Classic Comedies Collection."
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The Collection includes four additional titles making their DVD debut: "Libeled Lady," "To Be Or Not to Be," "Stage Door" and "Dinner at Eight." The films feature performances from William Powell, Spencer Tracy, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow and Myrna Loy. (Each of these titles is also available separately.)
Preorder "Classic Comedies Collection" now and save 30%.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: March 1, 2005 |
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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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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.
No DVDs were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
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