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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for May 16, 2004.
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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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May 16, 2004
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"Miracle," the film that chronicles the historic victory of the U.S. hockey team over the Soviets at the 1980 Olympic Games, comes to DVD this week. Kurt Russell stars as coach Herb Brooks, with strong support from Patricia Clarkson (who seems to be in every good film and TV show these days).
It's a 2-disc edition with a host of extras: commentary by director Gavin O'Connor, editor John Gilroy and director of photography Daniel Stoloff, four behind-the-scenes featurettes, outtakes and an ESPN roundtable with real-life members of the 1980 team and Russell.
Ben Affleck stars in " Paycheck," a sci-fi thriller about an engineer who has his memory erased after every job, so he can't remember what he's done. The movie has a pedigree... it's based on a short story by Philip K. Dick (who penned the source material for "Total Recall" and "Minority Report") and has been directed by John Woo ("Face/Off"). But it never fulfills the promise of its premise and is best avoided, unless you're a big Affleck fan and don't mind disappointments.
By the way, "Paycheck" is yet another film designated as a "Special Edition" that really stretches the definition of those two words. What the heck is so special about this release? It's presented on a single disc with commentaries by the director and screenwriter, seven deleted or extended scenes and a couple of modest featurettes. Sounds pretty ordinary to us.
On the other hand, the Special Edition of Sergio Leone's 1967 Spaghetti Western, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," is worthy of the designation. In addition to a newly restored, extended three-hour version of the film, you get five documentaries and featurettes, plus deleted scenes, commentary by film historian Richard Schickel and collectible theatrical mini-posters from around the world. Now that's a Special Edition! The film stars Clint Eastwood (Good), Lee Van Cleef (Bad) and Eli Wallach (Ugly).
We can also heartily endorse the new SE of "Around the World in 80 Days," the 1956 star-studded Mike Todd film that was the blockbuster extravaganza of its day. The film won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A big screen remake starring Jackie Chan opens in theatres June 16th.
And in another burst of marketing synergy, a prequel to "Van Helsing" comes to DVD just as the new movie rakes in millions of dollars in theatres. "Van Helsing: The London Assignment" is a short animated film that tells the story behind Van Helsing and Mr. Hyde. Hugh Jackman, Robbie Coltrane and several others from the big screen success lend their voices to their cartoon colleagues. Included on the disc is an interview with Jackman and a "Behind the Screams" featurette on the live action film, "Van Helsing."
Criterion releases two films this week in new digital transfers with restored image and sound: 1980's "The Tin Drum," which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film and Fritz Lang's 1952 shocker "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse.
Season Two of "The West Wing" is out this week in a 4-disc set featuring all 22 episodes, plus bonus materials: commentaries on 4 shows, deleted scenes, outtakes and bloopers (here called "Gag Order") and a tour of the White House set. The West Wing's second season won the Best Drama Series Emmy and multiple Golden Globes. Buy it alone or in a 2-pack that has both Seasons One and Two.
Also out this week is Season Two of "Smallville," the WB series that puts a fascinating spin on Superman lore. You get all 23 episodes on six discs; two of them feature commentaries, while five have deleted scenes. Here, too, you can buy just the Second Season or both Seasons One and Two in a 2-pack boxed set.
Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) takes you along on adventurous missions into deep space in Season Two of "Star Trek Voyager" and Carrie Bradshaw and friends (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattral, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis) take you on adventurous missions deep into Manhattan (and beyond) in Part One of the Sixth and Final Season of "Sex and the City."
This set includes 12 episodes on three discs (the remaining eight episodes will be available at a later date), plus commentaries by Executive Producer Michael Patrick King on 4 episodes and a Museum of TV and Radio Seminar that has the four stars and King discussing the show. It's available by itself or - you guessed it - in a multi-pack that includes all seasons of "Sex and the City" released to date.
Rounding out this week's crop of TV shows is "The Providence Collection," not a full season boxed set, but a "greatest hits" collection of selected episodes from the NBC drama starring Melina Kanakaredes.
Also, the complete Fourth Season of the sci-fi hit, "Farscape," "Undercover Brother: The Animated Series" featuring the voice of Eddie Griffin and Episodes 12 - 23 of the 1967 series "Speed Racer." These 12 episodes have never been released on DVD and they come in a Special Limited Collector's Edition package that plays the "Speed Racer" theme song and has headlights that light up.
Also of note are four new volumes in the "Walt Disney Treasures" series: "The Chronological Donald," "On the Front Lines," "Tomorrowland" and "Mickey Mouse in Living Color 2." These Disney discs are always worth exploring, as they are strictly Limited Editions and come loaded with special features that place the cartoons in their proper historical context.
That about wraps it up... thanks for letting us bring you the highlights of this week's best DVDs. We'll be back next week with more DVD news and views.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases |
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Street Date: May 18, 2004
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Shipping is FREE when your order totals $25 or more.
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Visit us online to see a comprehensive list of new DVD releases for the next six weeks.
The links above are for Region 1 (USA) Editions. Availability and release dates elsewhere may vary.
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| August Release for Passion of the Christ |
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Fox and Mel Gibson's Icon Productions have officially confirmed an August 31st release date for "The Passion of the Christ," which has already earned over $370 million at theatres in the United States alone.
That dollar figure could easily double if, as expected, 15 million copies of the DVD are sold. Fox will promote the release through traditional and nontraditional channels, including churches and religious bookstores.
Curiously, the two-hour film will be presented on a single disc with virtually no extras. But we reckon there will be a more robust "Special Edition" - a second coming of the film - next Christmas or Easter.
Preorder "The Passion of the Christ" now and save a miraculous 40%
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The complete Second Season of the popular HBO series, "Six Feet Under," will be unveiled July 6th. The world outside the Fisher & Sons Funeral Home continues to be at least as challenging - and far less predictable - as the one inside. After all, when death is your business, what is your life?
The show features a fine ensemble cast, including Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall , Frances Conroy, Rachel Griffiths, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodríguez, Mathew St. Patrick, Jeremy Sisto, Richard Jenkins, Lili Taylor and Patricia Clarkson, in her Emmy-winning role.
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This boxed set features 13 episodes with commentaries on five episodes by creator Alan Ball and the writers and directors, plus "Anatomy of a Working Stiff," a thirty-minute behind-the-scenes featurette. You can buy Season Two by itself or in a 2-pack that includes the first two seasons.
Preorder "Six Feet Under" today to save 30% |
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| Netflix Opens New Shipping Center |
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Netflix, the leader in online DVD rental, opened yet another regional distribution center last week.
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This one is located in Louisville, Kentucky and will serve almost three million residents in Kentucky, Indiana and parts of Ohio. Netflix now operates 27 shipping facilities across the US as part of their strategy to provide generally next-day service to their members.
To see a complete list of all the Netflix locations, click here
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| Monster Debuts on DVD June 1 |
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Aileen Wuornos was a prostitute who had the distinction of becoming America's first female serial killer. "Monster," the highly praised film that tells her life's story, will be released on DVD June 1st.
At the center of "Monster" is a gripping performance by Charlize Theron, who gained thirty pounds and went through a major physical transformation to play Wuornos. Her efforts were well rewarded: she took home this year's Best Actress Oscar for her devastating portrayal of this tortured drifter who killed at least seven men in Florida.
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The film also stars Christina Ricci as a young woman with whom Wuornos has an intense relationship and Bruce Dern as an alcoholic who has seen better days.
The special features on this disc are minimal and ultimately unsatisfying, with the most notable lapse being that no commentary of any kind is included. You'll get just theatrical trailers and a featurette, plus a confusing interview with "BT," who composed the original score of the film.
If you're looking to sort fact from fiction, you may wish to buy the film in a 2-pack, together with the Nick Broomfield's "Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer." This documentary includes the last interviews with Wuornos, conducted shortly before her execution in 2002, and includes the filmmaker's own testimony at her trial.
Preorder "Monster" prior to release and save 30%
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| Subscription Confirmation Request |
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It's been about five weeks since we switched over to a new e-mail service provider for this newsletter. And in that time, a significant number of "charter" subscribers - those that have been with since the beginning - have reported that they do not always receive The DVD Dossier every Sunday like they're supposed to.
This may be because their Internet Service Provider suspects the newsletter is SPAM.
One way to prevent this problem is to "confirm" your subscription. This allows us to tell your ISP that you've actually chosen to receive the newsletter. Charter subscribers were transferred over to our new delivery system without being asked to take this extra step. But later today, we'll be sending out an e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Simply click the button or text link in the e-mail notice you'll receive and you'll be done!
(If you've subscribed recently, you're all set... you won't be receiving an e-mail and you need do nothing.)
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases |
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And the complete Sixth Season of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" will come to DVD as a 6-disc boxed set with all 21 episodes (commentary on six of them), behind-the-scenes featurettes, easter eggs and three music videos.
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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 you're having difficulty finding a particular title, you can search current availability for any DVD here.
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