 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for September 11, 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
|
|
September 11, 2005
|
|
|
| Get an iPod or a $250 iTunes Gift Certificate... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coming to DVD this Tuesday: Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in "Fever Pitch," a new movie about a woman whose perfect man has another love in his life... the Boston Red Sox.
Based on the novel by Nick Hornby and directed by the Farelly Brothers, the film features Fallon as a diehard Red Sox fan who thinks that finding romance is about as likely as his beloved team winning the World Series.
The film arrives not only in standard widescreen and full screen editions, but also in a "Boston Red Sox Collector's Edition," The Collector's Edition (same price as the "regular" edition) includes an extended ending with bonus footage of the actual Red Sox 2004 World Series win, which took place during the filming of "Fever Pitch."
Another Collector's Edition out this week is "Ben-Hur," winner of 11 Academy Awards®, now being released in a new 4-Disc Set. William Wyler’s epic (starring Charlton Heston) has been newly remastered from the original 65mm film elements and the DVD includes more than 10 hours of bonus features.
Even by today's standards, Ben-Hur's now legendary chariot race is still astonishing. The lack of computer-generated effects and superior cinematography make the scene one of the most memorable in modern cinema.
"Chicago" is back. Winner of six Academy Awards® - including "Best Picture," the musical arrives this week in a new 3-Disc "Razzle Dazzle Edition" that includes lots of special features... and all that jazz.
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is an odd mix of science fiction, comedy, adventure and philosophy and it comes to DVD this week with extras that include deleted scenes, deleted scene spoofs, a making-of featurette, audio commentaries and more. Both widescreen and full screen editions are available.
Writer/director Todd Solondz returns with "Palindromes," a fable about a 13-year old girl who wants to be a mom.
The complex and somewhat confusing film stars Ellen Barkin, Richard Masur, Debra Monk, Stephen Adly-Guirgis, Jennifer Jason Leigh and seven actors of different ages, races and sizes who play the young heroine.
"Fingersmith," is based on the acclaimed novel by Sarah Waters, author of "Tipping the Velvet." The film concerns the lives of two young women who collide in an engrossing Victorian thriller that alternates between the twisting back alleyways of Dickensian London and the cloistered gloom of a Gothic mansion.
"Fingersmith" was originally broadcast by the BBC and features Imelda Staunton and Charles Dance.
Narrated by Gene Wilder, "EXPO: Magic of the White City" brings the Chicago World’s Fair to life. Many of the world's greatest achievements in science, technology and culture were unveiled there in 1893.
Dubbed the "White City," the Fair inspired future innovators like Henry Ford and Frank Lloyd Wright, debuted the Ferris Wheel and Cracker Jack® and, in many ways, marked the beginning of the 20th century.
We turn to television for the remainder of this week's top picks.
Volume Four of "SCTV" actually contains the Fifth Season of the NBC show (don't ask), still presented in its 90-minute format.
Three cast members have departed at this point - Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis and Catherine O'Hara - although O'Hara makes a memorable return in "The Christmas Show," but Martin Short's came into his own in their absence. His inimitable character Ed Grimley finds his way into many of the sketches. "The Shmenges" are back and John Candy introduces "Mr. Mambo."
The "SCTV, Volume 4" box set features four Emmy®-nominated shows, plus Robin Williams, John Mellencamp, Joe Walsh and Crystal Gayle as guest stars.
Standup comedian Richard Lewis is now best known as one of Larry David's neurotic friends on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." A new 2-Disc set, "Concerts From Hell, The Vintage Years," preserves his earlier standup specials. Included are Showtime's "I'm in Pain" and the Cable ACE Award-nominated HBO specials "I'm Exhausted" and "I'm Doomed."
Speaking of HBO, their excellent adaptation of Richard Russo's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "Empire Falls" arrives on DVD this week boasting an all-star cast (Ed Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Paul Newman, Robin Wright Penn, Aidan Quinn and Joanne Woodward) and 10 Emmy® Nominations.
Also out this week are the Second Season of "Da Ali G Show," the Third Season of "Taxi," the Fourth Season of "Smallville" and the Sixth Season of "Frasier,"
The late Ray Charles was a guest on "The Dick Cavett Show" three times, including one show on which he was Cavett’s only guest. These shows from 1972 and 1973 have been preserved in a new 2-Disc set in which Charles speaks candidly about his life and career and performs 14 songs.
That's all we have for you this week, my friend; we hope to see you back here next week for more DVD news and reviews.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
|
| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: September 13, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Kicking & Screaming" - the family comedy that takes on the cutthroat, do-or-die sport of, um, little league soccer - takes to the field October 11th.
When a laid back vitamin salesman (Will Ferrell) and his hyper-competitive dad (Robert Duvall) face off as coaches of rival soccer teams, the kids and their victory-crazed suburban parents find themselves on a high-stakes collision course - all in the name of good, clean fun.
Also starring Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, "Kicking & Screaming" is loaded with bonus features including deleted scenes (red cards), outtakes (yellow cards), alternate takes and several behind-the-scenes featurettes.
|
|
| Pre-order "Kicking and Screaming" now and save 43%. |
|
|
|
| Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime |
|
|
|
|
Also on October 11th, the critically acclaimed and multiple award-winning indie flick "Me and You and Everyone We Know" makes its way to DVD.
The film is a poetic and penetrating look at how everyday people struggle to connect with one another in an increasingly isolated modern world.
Christine (Miranda July) is a conceptual artist and cab driver who uses her talents and imagination to draw her dreams and objects of desire. One such object is Richard (John Hawkes), a newly-single father of two boys who is hoping for amazing things, yet panics upon meeting the captivating Christine.
|
|
|
But in a world where the mundane is transcendent and people seek meaningful connections despite the risk, magical things can - and do - happen.
Winner of the Camera d'or Award for best first film at the Cannes Film Festival, the movie's situations and plot developments sometimes seem contrived beyond belief, which makes the film almost a parody of the worst of independent cinema.
But "Me and You and Everyone We Know" is full of surprises and almost nothing in this charming and quirky comedy turns out the way you were expecting it to.
Overall, first time writer/director Miranda July (who also stars) succeeds in creating an intensely personal film. It's a touching look at the ongoing difficulties people have connecting with each other in contemporary life.
Pre-order "Me and You and Everyone We Know" now and save 30%. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hailed by many critics as one of the best films of the year, "Batman Begins," debuts on DVD October 18th.
The film tells the story of Bruce Wayne from childhood through his transformation to Batman and his emergence as a force for good.
In the wake of his parents’ murder, disillusioned industrial heir Wayne travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful.
|
|
He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.
|
Directed by Christopher Nolan, "Batman Begins" stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne.
Also appearing in the film are Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe and Morgan Freeman.
The 2-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD comes packed with bonus features including a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, additional information on key characters and weapons that were not revealed in the film, a look at various incarnations of the Dark Knight, an exclusive collectible DC™ Comics comic book and more.
|
|
|
Available on the same day will be a Single Disc Edition of "Batman Begins," in both widescreen and full screen formats and also "Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology."
|
|
|
The Anthology contains new 2-Disc Special Editions of the first four Batman movies ("Batman Begins" is not included) which will be available both individually and in this Special Edition Gift Set.
The new Special Edition DVDs of "Batman," "Batman Returns," "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin" feature all-new digital transfers and more than 18 hours of never-seen bonus features, including director commentaries by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, cast and crew interviews, new documentaries, making-of featurettes and nine music videos from Prince, Seal, and the Smashing Pumpkins.
|
|
| Pre-order any of the Batman titles and save between 30% and 48%. |
|
|
| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: September 20, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
Coming next week: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, James Cromwell, Cloris Leachman and Courteney Cox in the remake of "The Longest Yard," Charlie Sheen, Anna Faris, Eddie Griffin, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall and Denise Richards in "Scary Movie 3.5," David Arquette, Kristin Davis and George Lopez in "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D" and Criterion Collection Editions of "An Angel at My Table," "Naked" and "Masculin Feminin."
TV shows out on DVD next week include the First Season of "Desperate Housewives," the Second Season of "Hogan's Heroes" and what HBO is calling the "Signature Edition" of "From the Earth to the Moon."
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Join the Columbia House DVD Club and Save... |
 |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
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.
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.
Click Here To Subscribe l Click Here To Read More Issues of The DVD Dossier Online
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.
No DVDs were harmed in the making of this newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2005 Stages and Pages. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Home
|
|
|
|
|
