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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 11, 2006.
Click Here To Subscribe To The DVD Dossier Newsletter
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Published Weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less and The DVD Dossier Blog
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In This Issue
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June 11, 2006
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Before we begin our weekly stroll down DVD lane, I'd like to ask a small favor.
Once a year here at The DVD Dossier, we have a pledge drive. We don't ask for your money; what we want are your friends. Chances are if you enjoy reading this newsletter each week, you have friends, relatives and business associates who would also enjoy reading it.
And we'd love to get some of them to join us as new subscribers.
Hey, I'm no math whiz, but if everyone who subscribes to this newsletter referred just one friend who also subscribed... why, we'd double our subscriber base. Yes, I've just run the numbers and now I'm certain of it... we would indeed double our subscriber list virtually overnight.
Can I count on you to spread the love, pay it forward and bring a ray of DVD sunshine into your friends' uninformed lives?
Send them to our site where they'll find a quick and easy sign-up form.
Thanks for helping us grow The DVD Dossier subscriber base, my friend.
And now it's on to the new and notable DVD releases hitting the street this Tuesday, June 13th...
 Anthony Hopkins stars in "The World's Fastest Indian" as Burt Munro, a man who never let the dreams of youth fade.
In the late 1960s, after a lifetime spent rebuilding a classic 1920s Indian motorcycle, Burt sets off from his home in New Zealand to clock his bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
With all odds against him, he puts his irrepressible kiwi spirit to the test, braving the new world on a shoestring budget. Burt makes fast friends of many he encounters along the way who find themselves swept up in his energy and singular determination. He goes on to set the land-speed world record in 1967 and remains a legendary figure within the motorcycle community to this day.
Special features include an entire bonus film: the original 1971 documentary "Offerings to the God of Speed" featuring historical footage of the real Burt Munro and directed by Roger Donaldson, who also directed "The World's Fastest Indian."
 In "Aquamarine," based on Alice Hoffman's novel, two best friends get exactly what they fish for. The film is the best - and only - "teen mermaid comedy" we've ever seen and stars Emma Roberts, Sara Paxton and pop star JoJo.
It's the end of summer and Claire (Roberts) and Hailey (JoJo) have a major problem. In just five days, Hailey's family is moving halfway around the world.
These girls need a major miracle, and they get one in the form of "Aquamarine," a beautiful mermaid who washes ashore in a late summer storm.
"Aquamarine" has set out on a journey to escape her predestined undersea life, insisting that true love is more than just a myth. Sweet but clueless to the ways of romance, she offers to grant the girls one wish if they help her find the boy of her dreams.
But when they attempt to reel in the cute local lifeguard, the result is something none of them expect and they discover that sometimes what you wish for isn't what you really want after all.
 One of the world’s most famous private investigators returns to DVD Tuesday in "The Pink Panther: Special Edition."
This is not so much a remake as an entirely new film inspired by the 1964 original, but catered to the unique talents of Steve Martin, attempting to fill Peter Sellers' formidable shoes. For the most part, the critics say he didn't succeed. But moviegoers flocked to the film, making it number one on its opening weekend.
In this "Pink Panther," Martin reinvents the role of Inspector Clouseau, a man with limited deductive powers, a frightening command of the English language and a downright dangerous investigative approach.
The film also stars Kevin Kline, Beyonce Knowles, Jean Reno and Jason Statham and the inconsequential story involves a world-famous soccer coach who has been murdered. Meanwhile, his priceless ring with the stunning diamond known as the “Pink Panther” has been stolen.
"The Pink Panther" follows the bumbling inspector as he solves the crime and recovers the gem.
 The fairytale adventure "The Princess Bride" gets re-released this week in a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition. Better make that a 4-Disc Collector's Edition, er, I mean two separate 2 Disc Collector's Editions.
Whatever.
You see, MGM and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have decided to maximize revenue by issuing two nearly identical editions of the film: the "Buttercup Edition" and the "Dread Pirate Edition." We think they've done this so that fanatical fans will rush to buy both editions, the way fanatical fans do.
But apart from the name, the cover art and the image printed on the disc, these two "Editions" appear to be identical... that is to say they feature the same cut of the film and identical special features.
 These include a historical analysis of the "Dread Pirate Roberts," a "Quotable Battle of Wits" trivia game and "storybook romance" and "miraculous makeup" featurettes.
In "The Princess Bride," a young boy (Fred Savage) falls ill and is read a bedtime story by his visiting grandfather (Peter Falk) that quickly springs to life.
The story is a classic tale of love and adventure about the beautiful Buttercup (Robin Wright-Penn) who is kidnapped and held against her will in order to marry the odious Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).
Her childhood beau Westley (Cary Elwes), now known as the Dread Pirate Roberts, attempts to save her. On the way he meets an accomplished swordsman (Mandy Patinkin), a super strong giant (Andre the Giant) and a few bad guys who help him rescue Princess Buttercup.
 Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Wilkinson and director Mike Barker bring Oscar Wilde's witty play "Lady Windmere's Fan" to life as "A Good Woman."
We're betting Wilde would rather they hadn't bothered. They've changed the setting from Victorian England to Italy in the 1930s, horribly miscast Hunt in the central role and pretty much destroyed the very essence of his play.
(Other than that, "A Good Woman" is a sheer delight.)
For the record, this widely panned film concerns a socialite who befriends the husband of a faithful young lady, delighting the gossips who mistake their friendship for an adulterous affair, which in prompts a series of unexpected consequences.
Special features on the DVD include director and producer commentary, which might actually be worth listening to if only they would explain what the heck they were thinking when they came up with this misguided idea.
 In "16 Blocks," loyalty is put to the test when Jack, a burnt-out NYC detective has to transport a fast-talking convict from jail to the courthouse, just 16 blocks away. Jack faces one obstacle after another as his ex-partners try to stop him from arriving at the courthouse through an edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting car chase adventure.
"16 Blocks" is the third title to be released by Warner Home Video in a hybrid HD DVD and DVD combo format, which features both HD DVD and standard definition versions of the film on a single disc. Warner has done a good job of hiding the combo disc from public view, however.
They announced it just about a week ago and it wasn't until late on Friday that we were even able to find it available anywhere for pre-ordering. We suspect it might be absent from many store shelves, as a week is rarely enough time for major retailers to order and inventory a major DVD release.
But the film should be available everywhere Tuesday in its "regular" versions, which will include separate widescreen and full screen editions.
"16 Blocks" stars Bruce Willis, hip-hop star Mos Def and David Morse; the film was directed by Richard Donner. On DVD, the film will include a "shocking alternate ending not seen in theaters."
 Dave Chappelle takes his explosive humor and raw energy on the road in a freewheeling and heartwarming journey from small-town Ohio to the streets of New York City in "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," out on Tuesday in unrated widescreen and full screen editions, as well as in a somewhat tamer R-Rated full screen edition.
The film was directed by Michel Gondry and the DVD includes over 20 minutes of additional material not shown in theaters, plus more than 45 minutes of bonus features.
"Dave Chappelle's Block Party" also features musical performances from Kanye West, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Common, Jill Scott and the Roots plus the legendary Fugees, who reunite in the film for the first time in eight years.
That's it for this week, we'll be back next Sunday to do this all over again.
See you then.
And do remember to tell your friends!
Regards,
 DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: June 13, 2006 |
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Valley of the Dolls:
Special Edition
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
The Pink Panther:
Special Edition
The Pink Panther:
UMD for PSP
Pink Panther
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: 2-Pack
Pink Panther:
Classic Cartoon Collection, Volume 4
L.A. Story:
15th Anniversary Edition
The World's Fastest Indian
Green Street Hooligans
The Big White
A Good Woman
Before the Fall
Aquamarine
Cemetery Man
The Rat Pack Collection
16 Blocks:
Widescreen Edition
16 Blocks:
Full Screen Edition
The Princess Bride:
Buttercup Edition
The Princess Bride:
Dread Pirate Edition
Face the Music
Born in Flames
Minotaur
Folks!
Fatso
End of The Spear
Die Screaming, Marianne
Betty Grable Collection, Vol. 1
The Dolly Sisters
Moon Over Miami
My Blue Heaven
Down Argentine Way
Celebrators of Becoming
Dentist the Menace
Death in the Air - Dr. Leonard Horowitz
Armored Trooper Votoms, Stage 3
Deadworld Sunsa
Oh My Goddess:
The Collector's Edition 3
Gilgamesh, Vol. 7: All Fall Down
Boys Be... Vol. 3 - Autumn
Genshiken:
Premium Collection
Tetsujin 28, Vol. 5
Tenjho Tenge:
Round Seven (Vol. 7)
Cowboy Bebop Remix, Vol. 6
Dragon Ball GT:
Volume 11-15 Box Set
Fantastic Children, Vol. 2
Elemental Gelade:
React, Vol. 1
Divergence Eve:
Complete Collection
Anne of Green Gables:
Trilogy Box Set
Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs
Split Second
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
The Adam Sandler Collection
Getting Played
Room 6
Mother Teresa
Sunday Driver
Where On Earth
Is Carmen Sandiego?
Farscape - Season 4, Collection 1:
Good Neighbors:
The Complete Series Four
Dharma & Greg: Season One
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Frasier:
Complete Eighth Season
Cheers:
Complete Eighth Season
Lancelot Link:
Secret Chimp
Coach - The First Season:
Limited Edition
Medium: Season 1
Waiting for God:
Season 1
Walker, Texas Ranger:
Complete First Season
MacGyver:
Complete Sixth Season
Gallagher:
Sledge-O-Matic Collection
The Victor Borge Show Collection
Aliens from Spaceship Earth
Stargate SG-1: Season 1
Stargate SG-1: Season 2
Stargate SG-1: Season 3
Stargate SG-1: Season 4
Stargate SG-1: Season 5
Stargate SG-1: Season 6
Stargate SG-1: Season 7
Stargate SG-1: Season 8
This Is America, Charlie Brown
Dora the Explorer:
Animal Adventures
Hip Hop Kids:
Hip Hop Homeroom Math
Bad Seed:
The Truth About Our Food
Iwo Jima: 36 Days of Hell
American Experience:
A Midwife's Tale
American Experience:
The Orphan Trains
American Experience:
Transcontinental Railroad
American Experience:
Streamliners - America's Lost Trains
Dave Chappelle's Block Party:
Unrated Widescreen Edition
Dave Chappelle's Block Party:
Unrated Full Screen Edition
Dave Chappelle's Block Party:
R-Rated Full Screen Edition
Dead Zone: Season Four
Mulberry:
The Complete Series
The Rockford Files: Season Two
One Night Stand: Louis CK
One Night Stand: Jim Norton
One Night Stand: Earthquake
One Night Stand: Caroline Rhea
All Aboard Rosie's Family Cruise
The Legend of the Wu-Tang:
The Videos
John Fogerty:
The Long Road Home in Concert
Dave MacKenzie Live:
WC Handy Blues Fest
Criterion Collection:
Jimi Plays Monterey
Shake! Otis at Monterey
Criterion Collection:
Monterey Pop
Seu Jorge:
Live at Montreux 2005
Neil Young:
Heart of Gold
Norman Granz:
Jazz in Montreux - Joe Pass '75
The Cincinnati Reds:
1975 World Series
Mantle:
Definitive Story of Mickey Mantle
Legends in Pinstripes:
Mantle, Babe Ruth & Joe DiMaggio
Beavis and Butt-Head:
The Mike Judge Collection: Volume 2
16 Blocks [HD DVD]
Happy Gilmore [HD DVD]
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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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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: June 20, 2006 |
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| Over at the DVD Dossier Blog... |
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This week at the Blog, we announced a bunch of TV on DVD releases, soon to be in stores. These include the First Season of "Hazel," the Disney channel TV movie "Cow Belles" with singing stars Aly & AJ, the Court TV documentary about the 9/11 Commission "On Native Soil" and the "lost episodes" of "Chappelle's Show" starring Dave Chappelle.
There's also "Joe Dante's Homecoming" from Showtime's Masters of Horror anthology and two complete series: "The Weird Al Show," Al Yankovic's Saturday morning show broadcast from 1997 to 1998 and "The Ellen Show," the second sitcom starring Ellen Degeneres, which aired in 2001.
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Big screen hits making their way to DVD include "Akeelah and the Bee" with Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and newcomer Keke Palmer, this week's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" with Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan and "Annapolis" with James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster and Donnie Wahlberg.
We also announced this past week the complete animated works of Popeye, the direct-to-DVD sequel "Road House 2," the high school comedy "Bring It On: All or Nothing" starring Hayden Panettiere, Solange Knowles-Smith and Rihanna, a Special Edition of "Valley Of The Dolls" (out this week), the horror flick "Sweet Insanity," the paintball mockumentary "Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story" starring Robb Corddry and the Pittsburgh Steelers lovefest, "Steelers: Road to XL."
All this, plus a delay on Blu-ray hardware and an article that explains "What Netflix Could Teach Hollywood." You'll find stories like these every day over at the DVD Dossier Blog. |
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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 the DVD Direct 4 Less and DVD Dossier web sites, as well as advertisements and promotional information provided by movie studios.
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