 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for April 24, 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
|
|
April 24, 2005
|
|
|
| New Customer Offer From DIRECTV® |
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
There's a whole new crop of DVDs waiting for you this week at your local video store or online merchant, so let's get right to our picks and pans...
Frankly, we had mixed feelings about "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events," one of the big films coming to DVD this week. The film looks great and has a tremendous sense of style, much in keeping with the spirit of the books (by Daniel Handler) on which it is based.
Unfortunately, it's a rather tedious, highly repetitive endurance test. (For a more complete review, check out the March 13th DVD Dossier.) "Lemony" is available in both widescreen and full screen editions this week, as well as in a 2-Disc Special Collector's Edition.
A movie we liked a little bit better is "The Assassination of Richard Nixon."
But that's mostly because Sean Penn is brilliant in the central role of real life nebbish and would be assassin, Sam Bicke. In 1974, Bicke hijacked an airplane with the goal of crashing it into the White House as part of an unsuccessful plan to kill President Richard Nixon.
The film documents that misbegotten plan, as well as the personal and professional disappointments leading up to his decision to enact it. There are no extras on this disc, except for the commentary from writer/director Niels Mueller. Penn's performance is the reason to buy or rent this one.
"Blade: Trinity," the conclusion to the popular vampire trilogy arrives this week in a 2-Disc Platinum Series Edition from New Line Home Entertainment. The movie sucks.
"Blade: Trinity" brings back Wesley Snipes as the deadly Daywalker, "Blade," who pretty much wore out his welcome after the second installment. He's joined this time out by Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds, WWE professional wrestler Triple H, Natasha Lyonne, Kris Kristofferson, Dominic Purcell and - exactly why, we're not sure - Queen of the Indie Flicks, Parker Posey.
And all of them have far more to do in "Blade: Trinity" than Snipes.
Hey, you know what? When the star of your film is relegated to a glorified bit player, you've got a few problems on your hands. Add a sloppy plot that defies logic and plausibility and you have a very dull "Blade."
Unrated and R-rated versions of the film are available, both dripping with special features including a sixteen-part behind-the-scenes documentary, an alternate ending, a blooper reel and more. But only the unrated edition includes 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage, as well as commentaries from the director, cast and crew.
Buy the widescreen unrated DVD and you also get the widescreen R-rated version on the same disc, while the R-rated version includes both widescreen and full screen versions of the film as shown in theatres.
Also being made available this week is the "Blade Trilogy," a 5-disc gift set with all three films (the original and the two derivative sequels).
Two masterpieces of Italian cinema are out in the U.S. for the first time on DVD this week.
"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," directed by Vittorio De Sica, is an anthology of three stories about love and lust, all starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. The film is the 1964 Academy Award® winner for Best Foreign Language Film and established its two stars as the most popular Italian actors of the 20th century.
"Boccaccio '70" is similarly structured, but features four segments, each helmed by different directors: Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, Mario Monicelli and Vittorio De Sica. The international cast includes Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg, Romy Schneider and Tomas Milian.
Extras on these two films include extensive poster and still galleries, the original U.S. theatrical trailers and collectible booklets with re-prints of rare original press materials.
"Yesterday" has been remastered in high definition from the restored original negative and "Boccaccio" has ben digitally remastered from the original vault interpositive and also includes behind-the-scenes archival footage.
Both films feature Italian and English audio tracks (with English subtitles).
Also making its debut on the shiny disc this week is "Orson Welles's F for Fake." The master filmmaker (and self-described charlatan) gleefully engages the central preoccupation of his career: the tenuous line between truth and illusion, art and lies.
Beginning with portraits of world-renowned art forger Elmyr de Hory and his equally devious biographer, Clifford Irving, Welles goes on a cinematic journey that simultaneously exposes and revels in fakery and fakers of all kinds, not the least of which is Welles himself.
Criterion's new 2-Disc DVD edition also features an introduction by Peter Bogdanovich, audio commentary by director of photography Gary Graver, an hour long documentary on Welles' unfinished projects, a documentary on the life and works of de Hory and the theatrical trailer.
The sequel to the 1993 family feature, "The Sandlot" comes to DVD on Tuesday. Cleverly-titled "The Sandlot 2," it comes direct to home video (without appearing in theatres first).
The time is ten years later and there's a whole new crop of kids playing ball now, including - oh, my - three girls! Other than that, everything is pretty much the same here... something goes over the fence and the kids spend most of the movie trying to retrieve it, while avoiding the cantankerous Mr. Mertle (James Earl Jones) and his slobbering dog, "The Beast."
We haven't seen this one yet and we're normally skeptical of anything (other than Disney sequels) that comes direct to home video, but if you enjoyed the first one, it's doubtful that you'll find anything disappointing about "The Sandlot 2."
If you like, you can buy the two films together in a special 2-Pack, perfect for younger kids who may have missed the original the first time around.
Doris Day, whose on-screen wholesomeness, unfailing optimism and understated strength of character helped make her America’s sweetheart in the ‘50s and ‘60s, comes to DVD this week with eight of her films.
"The Doris Day Collection" features six new-to-DVD titles - "Young Man With a Horn," "Lullaby of Broadway," "Love Me or Leave Me," "Billy Rose’s Jumbo," "Please Don’t Eat the Daisies" and "The Glass Bottom Boat" - along with two popular musicals - "Calamity Jane" and "Pajama Game" - which have been repackaged for the Collection.
All DVDs in "The Doris Day Collection" come with bonus features including vintage shorts and featurettes, cartoons, trailers and more.
And, speaking of wholesome, from TV this week we get the First Season of the inspirational family favorite, "Highway to Heaven," with Michael Landon as an angel on a mission from "The Boss."
Accompanied by an ex-cop (Victor French), whose troubled life he once helped turn around, he travels the world, guiding the lost and suffering back toward the "Highway to Heaven." All 24 uplifting episodes from the First Season are included in this 7-Disc boxed set.
Also out this week, the First Season of "Airline," "Survivor: The Australian Outback," "Fraggle Rock: Live By the Rule of the Rock," Season Two of the animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Cold Case Files: The Most Infamous Cases."
And the late Graham Chapman, one of the founding members of the Monty Python troupe, is back in a new DVD featuring the best moments from his final college speaking tour in 1988.
"Graham Chapman: Looks Like A Brown Trouser Job" was videotaped under Chapman's supervision and taken from his personal archives. It captures him at the peak of his comedic powers, at ease and at home before a crowd of adoring fans.
And that wraps up another week of news from us here at The DVD Dossier. Please join us next week when we do it all over again.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
|
| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: April 26, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
The Assassination of Richard Nixon
Lemony Snicket's
Series of Unfortunate Events:
2-Disc Special Collector's Edition
Lemony Snicket: Widescreen Edition
Lemony Snicket: Full Screen Edition
Blade - Trinity:
New Line Platinum Series
(Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Blade Trilogy - 5-Disc Gift Set
The Sandlot 2
The Sandlot 2-Pack:
The Sandlot 1 and The Sandlot 2
Indigo
Emile
Out of the Past
The Plot Against Harry
Leonard, Part 6
Beaches: Special Edition
Sometimes in April
Bad Boy Bubby
Undertow
Larva
Book of Love
Girls Kissing
Cirque Du Soleil: Solstrom
The Doris Day Collection
Criterion Collection:
Orson Welles's F for Fake
Wild Things 3:
Diamonds in the Rush
Wild Things Boxed Set: Three Films
Heroic Duo
Airline: Complete Season 1
Highway to Heaven: Season One
Cold Case Files:
The Most Infamous Cases
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
Season Two
Survivor The Australian Outback:
The Complete Season
The Manson Family:
Single Disc Edition
The Manson Family:
Unrated 2-Disc Special Edition
|
Fraggle Rock:
Live By the Rule of the Rock
Exploring the Da Vinci Code
The Wiggles - Wake Up, Jeff
The 3 Marias
Resurrection of Golden Wolf
Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong
FIFA Fever
Four Jacks
Purple Sunset
Heroic Duo
The Black Gate
Devil's Harvest
Hell's Gate 11:11
Gary Lewis & The Playboys:
Pop Legends Live
The Association: Greatest Hits:
Pop Legends Live
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Boccaccio '70
Until the Night
Hard Ground
The Lost Angel
Marmalade Boy:
Ultimate Scrapbook, Volume 4
Inu-Yasha:
Castle of Evil, Volume 29
Trading Spaces:
Creative Home Decor with Doug Wilson
Trading Spaces:
Great Kitchen Designs and More!
Snow White and the Three Stooges
Soup to Nuts with the Three Stooges
The Three Stooges:
The Men Behind the Mayhem
Scrapped Princess, Volume 1
Scrapped Princess, Volume 2
Scrapped Princess, Volume 1:
Limited Edition with Figurine
Scrapped Princess, Volume 2:
Limited Edition with Figurine
Monty Python's Graham Chapman:
Looks Like A Brown Trouser Job
The U.S. College Tours - Live 1988
Web Girl Diaries, Volume 1
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mr. Smith Goes to New York City |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Hitch," the comedy starring Will Smith, Kevin James and Eva Mendes and directed by Andy Tennant, arrives on DVD June 14th in both widescreen and full screen versions
On the same day, "Hitch" "will also be available in the Universal Media Disc (UMD) format that plays on the new Playstation Portable (PSP) handheld entertainment system.
This $170 million box-office hit will feature four deleted scenes when it comes to DVD, plus a blooper reel, an “I Thing” music video by Amerie, five behind-the-scenes featurettes, director's commentary and more.
|
|
In an unusual move, the DVD release will feature an entirely new score by composer George Fenton. Actually this is Fenton's original score for "Hitch." It seems that the movie performed so well with test audiences who heard an alternate soundtrack filled with popular songs, that the creative team abandoned the original score.
As director Tennant told "Home Media Retailing" magazine, "It's a better film with the score, but it's almost a better movie with the songs." He discusses the painful decision to cut the music from the theatrical release with the composer on the DVD's commentary track.
The story for this agreeable romantic comedy revolves around "Hitch" (Smith), a New York City matchmaker who promises he'll find you the girl of your dreams in just three easy dates.
That's pretty much what happens when Albert Brennaman (James) wins the heart of a society heiress Allegra Cole (supermodel Amber Valletta). So when a tabloid columnist (Mendes) decides to uncover the secret behind the schlub’s success, she's shocked to discover that Alex Hitchens, the charming young man she's been seeing, is the legendary date doctor himself.
Exposed in a front-page scoop, Alex sets out to try to save Albert and Allegra’s relationship - as well as his own.
You can pre-order "Hitch" now and save 35%. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"In Good Company" arrives on DVD May 10th. Both widescreen and full screen versions will be available.
Written and directed by Paul Weitz, this fresh and funny film is about a middle-aged father who discovers his new hotshot boss is not only half his age but is also courting his daughter.
That - or something very much like it - was probably the Hollywood "pitch" for this movie (the 30 seconds or less summary that "sells" the movie to harried studio execs).
But the film is really a lot more than that.
|
|
|
Starring Dennis Quaid, Scarlett Johansson and Topher Grace, "In Good Company" is an engaging look at what happens when contemporary corporate culture and family life collide.
It's the kind of movie your husband, wife or significant other drags you to against your wishes. You're so convinced you know what this paint-by-numbers comedy will be like that you almost don't go. And then, afterwards, you're surprised at just how entertaining and unconventional it really was.
Much of this has to do with the quality of the writing and the performances. Twenty-six year old Grace holds his own with more experienced screen star Quaid and demonstrates the natural charm of a major screen star of tomorrow. There's also an excellent supporting cast, including Marg Helgenberger, David Paymer and Philip Baker Hall.
Bonus features on "In Good Company" include deleted scenes with commentary by director Weitz, feature commentary with Weitz and Topher Grace and behind-the-scenes documentary featurettes.
Pre-order "In Good Company" now and save 30%. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three classic films featuring the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra, make their way to DVD for the first time on May 24th.
Part of Fox Home Entertainment's "Sinatra Celebration," new-to-DVD releases include "Tony Rome," the story of a hard-as-nails Miami detective on the trail of stolen jewelry, "The Lady in Cement," the further adventures of ladies man Rome, who must find a young woman's murderer, and "The Detective," a dark and compelling crime drama based on a novel by Roderick Thorpe.
Each of these films will be presented in their original aspect ratio with no special features, except for the original theatrical trailer.
|
|
All three films will have English stereo and mono sound, as well as Spanish and French mono and English and Spanish subtitles.
Preorder any of the Sinatra films above and save 10 - 25%.
Click on the individual title links for more information.
|
|
|
| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: May 3, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
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.
No DVDs were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2005 Stages and Pages. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Home
|
|
|
|
|
