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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for June 12, 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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June 12, 2005
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| Join the Columbia House DVD Club and Save... |
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Choose from big hit films like "Ray," "The Grudge," "Catwoman," "Anchorman" and many more.
For a limited time, get FREE SHIPPING when you sign-up here.
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This week, Will Smith is "Hitch," a New York City matchmaker who promises he'll find you the girl of your dreams in just three easy dates. The agreeable comedy features Kevin James and Eva Mendes and arrives in both widescreen and full screen editions on Tuesday.
Extras on "Hitch" include four deleted scenes, a blooper reel, an “I Thing” music video by Amerie, five behind-the-scenes featurettes, and director's commentary.
Extras on the 30th Anniversary Edition of "Jaws" - also out this week - include a two-hour documentary on the making of the film and a previously unavailable interview with director Steven Spielberg, as well as deleted scenes and outtakes.
The action-suspense film, based on Peter Benchley's best-selling book is available in widescreen and full screen versions. Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw star in this blockbuster thriller about an enormous, man-eating shark that terrorizes a quiet beach resort.
In, "Daddy Who?" fatherhood becomes a many splendored thing when four men and one beautiful woman form a five-sided love triangle.
Gabrielle Anwar stars as the daughter of an Olympic rowing champion, who agrees to coach a quartet of would-be regatta competitors. For the sake of the team - and to preserve their friendship - the guys make a pact not to romance their new coach.
Before long, however, all four friends have fallen in love and/or lust with her. And when she becomes pregnant, the question, "Who's your daddy? " takes on a whole new meaning.
Warner Home Video releases two new DVD collections this week celebrating two of Hollywood’s greatest and most enduring movie stars: Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
The 5-Disc Joan Crawford Collection includes three new-to-DVD releases including the first-ever home video release of "The Damned Don't Cry," plus Crawford’s triumphant role opposite John Garfield in "Humoresque" and her 1947 Warner Bros. classic "Possessed."
Also included are two of her most famous films: "Mildred Pierce" and "The Women."
The 7-Disc Bette Davis Collection includes "Mr. Skeffington" and "The Star" (both new-to-DVD), a new edition of "Dark Victory," "Now Voyager" and "The Letter."
All titles in both collections are available individually.
The incredibly appealing Mena Suvari and the equally appealing Colin Firth star in "Trauma," a sleek but sluggish and altogether incoherent psychological thriller
Disney brings to DVD this week the all-new movie "Tarzan II," the direct-to-home-video sequel to their animated hit “Tarzan.”
"Tarzan II" is the “untold chapter” of Tarzan’s youth.
In the romantic comedy "For Roseanna," Jean Reno and Mercedes Ruehl star in a story of a hopeless romantic who will do anything to please his beautiful but ailing wife.
Marcello, a trattoria proprietor in the tiny village of Travento, is determined to secure his terminally ill wife's dearest wish: to be buried next to their long-deceased daughter in the local cemetery, which has only three plots left.
While Marcello goes to increasingly extreme lengths to keep everyone in the village alive, well and out of his wife's intended graveyard spot, Roseanna occupies herself with taking care of her husband's life after her death.
"For Roseanna" is a radiant romantic comedy that combines knockabout farce with heartfelt emotion,
John Waters once again delivers a hilarious snapshot of suburban Baltimore and a cast of eccentric characters in "A Dirty Shame." Starring Tracey Ullman, Johnny Knoxville, Selma Blair and Chris Isaak, the film is available in both its theatrical, NC-17 version and an R-rated, “Neuter” version.
When an accidental concussion awakens the car*nal urges of Sylvia Stickles (Ullman), the people of Pinewood become pitted against each other in an epic battle of decency (“Neuters”) versus depravity (“S*ex Addicts”).
With her talented go-go dancing daughter (Blair) and devoted husband, Vaughn (Isaak) by her side, along with tow-truck driver and se*xual healer Ray-Ray Perkins (Knoxville) as her guide, Sylvia finds herself on the road to eternal se*xual satisfaction.
Extras on "A Dirty Shame" include feature-length commentary from writer-director Waters and a behind-the-scenes featurette titled, “The Dirt on A Dirty Shame.” Also being released is an updated value-priced 8-Disc John Waters Gift Set with some of the unconventional director’s most popular films, plus the bonus disc "John Waters DVD Scrapbook."
The seven films in the collection - all available separately - include "Hairspray," "Pecker," "Pink Flamingos," "Female Trouble," "Desperate Living," "Polyester" and the NC-17 version of "A Dirty Shame."
The folks at Bravo have decided not to release full season sets of one of their biggest hits, "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy." Instead, the first two in a series of themed discs featuring different members of the "Fab Five" debuts this week.
First up is "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy - Everyman's Guide With Kyan and Jai" in which Kyan Douglas and Jai Rodriguez offer sensible tips on grooming and culture.
"Queer Eye For the Straight Guy - Style With Carson," features Carson Kressley, fashion savant and unofficial "star" of "Queer Eye" who offers his tips on how to achieve that one-of-a-kind style.
If you're thinking of buying these, you may want to wait till July 26th, when the "Queer Eye 4 Pack," uh, comes out. It'll feature these two, plus two more with Thom and Ted and - like most boxed sets - will be specially priced.
Also from TV this week, Season One of "Tilt," ESPN's look at professional poker and Season Three of "Northern Exposure," Due to music licensing rights issues, past seasons of "Northern Exposure" have substituted "generic" music for the show's signature tunes, so buyer beware.
One of our favorite DVDs out this week is "Gun," a 3-Disc collection of six short films originally shown on ABC in 1997. "Presented by" Robert Altman, this anthology series follows the path of a handgun and the impact it has on the lives of those who encounter it.
"Gun" features excellent performances from a superb ensemble cast: James Gandolfini, Kirsten Dunst, Martin Sheen, Daryl Hanna, Peter Horton, Sally Kellerman, Jennifer Tilly, Randy Quaid, Rosanna Arquette, Daniel Stern, Carrie Fisher, Kathy Baker and Sean Young.
Directors include Robert Altman, James Foley, Ted Demme and series creator James Sadwith, who also wrote some episodes.
And that's all your DVD news for this week, folks. We'll be back next Sunday with more; please join us.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: June 14, 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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"Prozac Nation," the emotionally charged story of one woman’s struggle with depression and self discovery debuts on DVD July 5th.
Based on the bestselling autobiography, the film stars Christina Ricci, Jessica Lange, Jason Biggs, Anne Heche, Michelle Williams and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
Elizabeth Wurtzel (Ricci) is an exceptional student writer who earns a scholarship to Harvard. This scholarship finally gives her the chance to escape from her overbearing mother (Lange), put her absentee father out of her mind and concentrate on her true talent.
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But once Elizabeth is on her own at college, she dives into a self-destructive mode of drug abuse, drinking and sex. This ultimately leads her into a dark depression that paralyzes her academically and socially.
Her saving grace is her therapist and the wonder drug of the 80’s, Prozac.
Pre-order "Prozac Nation" and save 30%. |
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"Ben-Hur," winner of 11 Academy Awards®, will debut as a 4-Disc Collector's Edition DVD on September 13th.
William Wyler’s epic masterpiece has been newly remastered from the original 65mm film elements and the DVD now boasts more than 10 hours of bonus features.
Included will be an all-new documentary on the film’s influence with leading filmmakers Ridley Scott, George Lucas and others, a making-of documentary hosted by Christopher Plummer, scene specific commentary by Charlton Heston, rare screen tests, a reproduction of the original theatrical souvenir program, plus the 1925 silent version of the film with musical score by Carl Davis.
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With 100,000 costumes, 8,000 extras, 300 sets and a budget that, at the time, was the most expensive in MGM’s history, "Ben-Hur" is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished Biblical-era epics ever made.
Based on Lew Wallace’s bestselling novel and adapted by Karl Tunberg and a number of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, "Ben-Hur" stars Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnell and Sam Jaffe.
After his boyhood friend Messala’s fanatic loyalty to Rome makes him a powerful enemy, Jewish nobleman Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) is found guilty of an attempted murder he did not commit. His family is banished and he is enslaved on a warship.
Through his ferocity in a fierce sea battle, Ben-Hur is able to escape and become a horse trainer. To exact his revenge, Ben-Hur competes against Messala (Boyd) in the Roman chariot races. They race, locked in a battle to the death. Barely surviving, Ben-Hur forsakes the sword for Christ and finally finds redemption.
Heston brings a solid physical and moral presence to the title role and his charismatic performance earned him one of the film’s 11 Academy Awards® (a feat equaled only by "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"). In addition to the Best Actor award, "Ben-Hur" also captured Oscars® for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Griffith).
The movie was filmed in a process known as MGM Camera 65, one of the widest prints ever made with a width almost three times its height. This allowed for spectacular panoramic shots and bold action sequences.
Even by today's standards, Ben-Hur’s now legendary chariot race still astonishes. The lack of computer-generated effects, the visually stunning MGM Camera 65 process, and excellent cinematography all make the scene one of the most memorable in modern cinema.
Pre-order the "Ben-Hur" 4-Disc Collector's Edition now and save 30%. |
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"A Very Long Engagement" will be released on DVD July 12th. A story of profound love and mystery the film reunites director Jean-Pierre Jeunet with his "Amelie" star Audrey Tautou and features Jodie Foster, Gaspard Ulliel and Dominique Pinon.
"A Very Long Engagement" is set in France near the end of World War I in the deadly trenches of the Somme, in the gilded Parisian halls of power, and in the modest home of an indomitable provincial girl.
The film tells the story of this young woman's relentless, moving and sometimes comic search for her fiancé, who is missing in action.
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He is one of five French soldiers believed to have been court-martialed under mysterious circumstances and pushed out of an allied trench into an almost-certain death in no-man's land.
What follows is an investigation into the arbitrary nature of secrecy, the absurdity of war, and the enduring passion, intuition and tenacity of the human heart.
Pre-order "A Very Long Engagement" now and save 30%.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: June 21, 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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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.
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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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