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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 26, 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 26, 2005
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| Vin Diesel in "The Pacifier" Available This Week from Disney DVD |
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We've once again managed to cobble together a few interesting DVDs to tell you about, but we did warn you last week that we're headed into the Summer doldrums, with a weak DVD release slate staring at us straight through September.
But let's begin with a $100 million box office smash... "The Pacifier," which stars action hero Vin Diesel as a tough-as-nails, combat-ready Navy SEAL who takes on one of the most challenging missions of his life: protecting a family of five out-of-control kids.
Diesel trades combat gear for diapers and juice boxes in this family comedy from Adam Shankman, the director of “Bringing Down the House." The film also stars Lauren Graham, Faith Ford, Brittany Snow, Max Thieriot, Carol Kane and two-time Emmy winner Brad Garrett.
"The Pacifier" is available in both widescreen and full screen versions, each with bonus materials including bloopers, deleted scenes, Special Ops TV commercials, audio commentary by the director and writer and two behind-the-scenes featurettes: “On Set With Brad Garrett: Unpacified” and “On Set With Mr. Diesel: Action Hero and Nice Guy.”
Some movies defy description (although that rarely means we don't have a lot to say about them).
"Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman" is one such movie.
We like to think of it as an African American-Christian-romantic-revenge-farce cross-dressing vanity project, with the author casting himself in several featured roles, including that of a pot-smoking, gun-toting grandmother figure named Madea.
The film tries to tell the story of a woman who, having been grievously wronged by her husband, must find a way to heal her wounds and move on with her life. It's a tale of broken hearts, redemption, forgiveness, recovery, new found love, inner strength and the importance of family and faith as revealed through a cast of colorful characters.
The problem is that those characters are so broadly played and the slapstick situations they find themselves in so divorced from reality, that we never buy any of it.
"Diary of a Mad Black Woman" delivered a strong performance at the box office (over $50 million, with a $21 million opening weekend), despite being lambasted by most critics.
The film is based on a popular stage play of the same name, also written by Tyler Perry, and the larger-than-life performances may have worked better on stage, especially in the large venues where it reportedly played.
You can buy "Diary" starting Tuesday in either the widescreen or full screen format.
Also available this week is "Crutch," an earnest and self conscious drama about a troubled and confused teen and two direct-to-home-video releases.
"7 Seconds" is an indie action film starring Wesley Snipes as a professional thief whose high-stakes caper goes murderously wrong and "Shallow Ground" is an indie horror flick that begins when a mysterious boy - dressed only in a coating of fresh blood - stumbles into the small town of Shallow Valley.
In "Cadet Kelly," the fashion-minded and artistic Kelly Collins (Hilary Duff) finds her world turned upside down when her mom marries the new commandant of a military academy. Kelly packs her bags for boot camp and moves with her family to the academy, only to become the school’s newest and clumsiest cadet with the world’s meanest Cadet Captain (Christy Carlson Romano).
"Cadet Kelly" is an original movie made for The Disney Channel and is the wholesome family treat you might expect, even if it is rather workmanlike and lacks the creativity and showbiz razzmatazz of others in its genre.
"The Even Stevens Movie" finds Ren, Louis, and the entire Stevens family battling ferocious squirrels, angry natives... and one another. Christy Carlson Romano and Shia LaBeouf star in this movie inspired by the hit Disney Channel original series.
"Gunner Palace," still playing in theatres in many big cities, is an evenhanded and unsettling Iraq War documentary. Shot on digital video, this is the experience of war in the soldiers' own uncensored, surprising and often humorous words.
Rarely pretty, always honest, their words provide a backbeat and bullseye view of a war that defies sound bites, on-air updates and hidden cameras.
"Beyond the Da Vinci Code" is yet another TV special - this one from The History Channel - that examines the evidence for and against the radical vision of Christianity proposed in the bestselling book.
Also from TV comes "Revelations: the Complete Series," perhaps the most talked about miniseries of last season.
Bill Pullman stars as a Harvard astrophysics professor convinced that all worldly events can be explained by science. He is challenged by a devout nun, played by Natascha McElhone, who leads him on a journey through the unfamiliar world of religious faith.
Drawn together by personal tragedy, these unlikely partners are propelled into a deepening mystery when they discover evidence that the world, as predicted by the Bible’s Book of Revelation, has reached The End of Days.
"Revelations: the Complete Series" features guest stars John Rhys-Davies, Tobin Bell, Limp Bizkit lead singer Fred Durst, Michael Massee and Mark Rendall. Included with the DVD release is a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Rounding out this week's crop of TV releases are the complete Second Season of "Nero Wolfe," the complete Third Season of "La Femme Nikita," the complete Seventh Season of "Homicide Life on the Street" and Season "Three and a Half-ish" of "The Ren and Stimpy Show."
Also out is the first DVD collection from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: "Indecision 2004,"
This 3-Disc boxed set takes a look at the 2004 race for the White House, one of the most memorable presidential elections - as they put it - "of the last five years." And now you can relive it again with this "exquisitely packaged heirloom collection."
Included are such memorable moments as "Election Night ’04: Prelude to a recount," "Democratic National Convention: Race from the White House," "Republican National Convention: Target New York," plus bonus materials including an introduction by Jon Stewart, original segments featuring Stewart and the correspondents in scenarios "too hot for TV," Stephen Colbert’s "award-not-winning" featurette “Requiem for a Show That Was Daily,” voiceover commentary by Rob Corddry, Ed Helms and Samantha Bee, and our National Anthem "sung in 4-correspondent harmony."
The DVD offers your choice of full screen or widescreen letterbox formats, but then explains that for the letterbox version, you should "tape cardboard to the top and bottom of your TV screen."
If you're a fan of The Daily Show, you'll want to get "Indecision 2004!"
And that wraps up this week's roundup of new DVD releases. As always, we have announcements for you below of upcoming titles... and you can always visit us online to see more.
Until next week...
All the best,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: June 28, 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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Fasten your seat bolt, folks, and gear up for the hilarious, heartwarming family-friendly animated comedy, "Robots."
The film, from the makers of "Ice Age," debuts on DVD September 20th in both widescreen and full screen editions.
With the help of his misfit mechanical friends, a small town robot named Rodney embarks on the adventure of a lifetime as he heads for the big city to pursue his dream - and ultimately proves that anyone can shine no matter what they're made of.
"Robots" features an all-star voice cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Greg Kinnear, Mel Brooks, Amanda Bynes, Drew Carey and Robin Williams.
Its groundbreaking visual style pushes the boundaries of animated filmmaking and makes "Robots" a dazzling, fun-filled feast for the eyes and a riveting good time for all ages.
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Special features include an all-new animated short created just for the DVD release, "Aunt Fanny's Tour of Booty."
(It could be just our filthy minds, but doesn't that sound like something you might find at your local adult video store? Hey, we're just asking!)
Other bonus features include commentary from director Chris Wedge and producer William Joyce, technical director's and animator's commentary, deleted scenes ("discontinued parts") and the original "Robots" short that sold the movie's concept to the studio.
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Also included is an Xbox multi-player racing game, a PSA ("public service announcement") featuring the "Fender" character reminding theatregoers to turn off their cell phones, an interactive "Meet the Bots" section and an exclusive inside look at the making of the forthcoming "Ice Age 2."
Pre-order "Robots" now and save a whopping 40%. |
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It's time to raise the curtain on "The Muppet Show!"
Join Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, the Swedish Chef and all their friends, when the First Season of this groundbreaking twist on the classic variety show comes to DVD August 9th.
Season One of "The Muppet Show" features guest stars Joel Grey, Connie Stevens, Ruth Buzzi, Rita Moreno, Jim Nabors, Florence Henderson, Harvey Korman, Lena Horne, Peter Ustinov, Sandy Duncan, Candice Bergen, Ben Vereen, Phyllis Diller, Vincent Price, Valerie Harper, Ethel Merman, and many others.
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This Special Edition of the First Season of "The Muppet Show" contains all 24 episodes from the freshman year of the syndicated TV series, which was first seen in 1976.
All shows have been completely restored and remastered and are now available for the first time together on DVD in this new 4-Disc set.
Extras include Muppets' creator Jim Henson’s original “pitch reel," the reel that propelled the Muppets’ blend of original songs, sketch comedy and guest stars into a primetime hit, the show's original pilot episode and a Season One promotional gag reel.
Discover for yourself the most sensational, inspirational and celebrational pleasures of "The Muppet Show Season One," which will be sold in special collectible packaging with a fun, furry touch!
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Pre-order Season One of "The Muppet Show" and save 30%. |
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The 15th Anniversary Special Edition of "Pretty Woman" is headed your way August 30th.
Julia Roberts plays a spirited, streetwise "working girl" who meets a no-nonsense billionaire played by Richard Gere in the “Director’s Cut” of this 1990 comedy (directed by Garry Marshall). It's a chance encounter that turns a weeklong, um, "business arrangement" into a timeless rags-to-riches romance.
The film's excellent supporting cast includes Jason Alexander, Ralph Bellamy, Laura San Giacomo, Hector Elizondo and Larry Miller.
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This edition features all-new, never-before-seen special features including a blooper reel, feature-length commentary from Garry Marshall, a “What Women Do” music video performed by Natalie Cole, the original theatrical trailer and "Live From The Wrap Party" and production featurettes.
Pre-order the 15th Anniversary Special Edition of "Pretty Woman" now and save 30%.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: July 5, 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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Muppets © The Muppets Holding Company, LLC. and BVHE. MUPPETS and The Muppet Show are trademarks of The Muppets Holding Company, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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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.
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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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