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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 23, 2004.
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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May 23, 2004
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You don't need us to tell you that the Academy Award-winning concluding chapter in the "The Lord of the Rings" saga is out this week. The epic fantasy will be available in both widescreen and full screen editions. What you may not know, however, is that you can now purchase all three of the "Lord of the Rings" movies in one set.
"The Lord of The Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy" is out on Tuesday in widescreen and full screen editions that carry a suggested price of around ninety bucks. But discounts are expected to be the order of the day at most retailers and e-tailers, including Amazon. (The superstore is offering it at 35% off, if you preorder before midnight on Monday. It'll probably revert to a 30% discount on Tuesday.)
Also new this week is "Welcome To Mooseport" the big screen debut for the small screen comedian that everybody loves, Ray Romano. Unfortunately, this film is just too darn bland and wholesome for its own good. Romano plays the proprietor of a small town hardware store whose world gets turned upside down when a former US President (Gene Hackman) moves to town. But "Welcome To Mooseport" doesn't really know what to do with this solid premise. Strong supporting performances from Maura Tierney, Marcia Gay Harden, Fred Savage and Rip Torn are not enough to save it from its misbegotten screenplay.
Surprisingly more consistent is "Club Dread," a horror-slash-comedy (with heavy emphasis on the slash) from the Broken Lizard guys. These are the same people who brought you last year's "Super Troopers"... so if you're a fan of broad comedy with lots of flatulence jokes, off-color remarks and bad language, with a generous helping of full frontal female nudity and you don't mind some rather brutal bloody violence ... then this Club's for you!
Far more interesting is "Bubba Ho-Tep," another comedy with horror undertones. In this one, we learn that Elvis didn't really die; he's living out his days in an old folks home in East Texas with JFK (Ossie Davis). The former President, apparently for reasons of national security, was dyed black and has had his brain removed.
Meanwhile, as they say, the title character turns out to be an evil Egyptian soul sucker who's been having his way with the other elderly residents. The movie, from director Don Coscarelli, is way over the top and deliciously campy. Bruce Campbell, as Elvis, is perfect, thank you very much. We can't believe we're saying this, but overall, this very odd flick is a lot of fun, even if it does move like molasses in parts.
Two Criterion Collection DVDs are out this week: Ingmar Bergman's 1957 masterpiece "Smiles of a Summer Night" and Akira Kurasowa's equally brilliant "Stray Dog." The former tells the tale of a distinguished lawyer, his young wife, his former lover, his son, a flirtatious maid and the carnal desires they all share. It's a story of love and loyalty and was the inspiration for the Stephen Sondheim musical, "A Little Night Music." The latter is Kurasowa's 1949 crime thriller that probes the squalid world of postwar Japan and the nature of the criminal mind.
Also coming to DVD this week: "Nora's Hair Salon," a direct-to-home-video release detailing the day-to-day life for regulars at a neighborhood beauty shop. Bobby Brown, Lil' Kim and Tatyana Ali star. In the independent film "Searching For Wooden Watermelons,"a woman faces her fear of leaving the small town she grew up in to strike out on her own. The original cartoon cat is back in "Heathcliff The Movie" and the formula had been worn pretty thin by the time they got down to filming "Cruel Intentions 3," which also comes to DVD this week. Don't these kids have anything better to do than seduce and destroy their classmates?
And "Saving Private Ryan" is being re-released in a 2-Disc Commemorative Edition in honor of the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. Included are lots of special features that weren't made available in the original release, back in the ancient days of the year 2000 (when DVD was in its infancy and fans were happy just to have the film itself on a shiny disc). "Ryan" is available as a stand alone title and as part of a "World War II Collection DVD Box Set" that also includes "Price For Peace" and "Shooting War."
'"Frasier" may have "left the building," but he'll live on in full season set DVDs for quite some time. "Frasier: The Complete Third Season" comes to DVD this week, as does the Third Season of the show that spawned it, "Cheers."
The First Season of "Northern Exposure" comes packaged in a collectible zippered parka, but with the rest of this week's TV boxed sets, you'll have to focus on what's inside the box. "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" is a 6-disc set that includes all 21 episodes from the Sixth Season, plus lots of special features.
The entire First Season of Bravo's gay dating reality series "Boy Meets Boy" gets outed on Tuesday in a 3-disc set with over three hours of DVD extras.
And Series One of the PBS miniseries "Mapp & Lucia" arrives in a 2-disc set from Acorn Media. This highly sought after British series, based on the stories of E. F. Benson, boasts an all-star cast that includes Prunella Scales (Fawlty Towers), Geraldine McEwan (Barchester Chronicles) and Nigel Hawthorne (The Madness of King George).
That wraps it up for another week here at the Dossier. We'll see you again next Sunday.
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases |
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Street Date: May 25, 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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| Perfect Gift for Independent Dads |
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Looking for a gift for Father's Day? Film Movement is a great choice if your father loves independent films. Each month, Dad will receive a personalized note from you, along with an award-winning film on DVD.
Best of all, Film Movement is now offering $10 off any 3-month gift subscription. Simply click this link or enter "FATHER" in the promotion code area at checkout to receive your discount. Alternatively, you can save 10% on any Film Movement purchase (through May 31st) by using the code "MAY" during checkout.
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Film Movement is the first DVD club for independent films. Their unique subscription program releases indie flicks on DVD at the very same time the films are playing in theaters. Selections are chosen from among the best independent and foreign films from top film festivals across the globe, including Cannes, Sundance, and New York.
Learn more about Film Movement |
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A new collection of some of director Martin Scorsese's best films will debut August 17th. The set, cleverly named "The Martin Scorsese Collection," includes five films: "After Hours," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More," "Who's That Knocking At My Door?," "Mean Streets" and a 2-disc Special Edition of "GoodFellas."
"GoodFellas," released in 1990, chronicles three decades of life in a Mafia family. The film stars Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Paul Sorvino, Lorraine Bracco and a bunch of other folks who would later wind up in supporting roles on "The Sopranos."
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In addition to Bracco (Dr. Melfi on "The Sopranos"), the cast includes Michael Imperioli (Christopher on "The Sopranos") in the small but pivotal role of "Spider." Scorsese was nominated as Best Director for "GoodFellas" and Pesci won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as wiseguy Tommy DeVito.
Preorder "Goodfellas" or the entire "Martin Scorsese Collection" now and save 30% |
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The gripping psychological thriller, "Secret Window," will be released June 22.
In this adaptation of a Stephen King novella, Johnny Depp plays a successful author who decides to take some time off at his cottage. His rest is interrupted by an aspiring writer (John Turturro) who accuses him of stealing his work. The film also stars Maria Bello, Charles S. Dutton and Timothy Hutton.
Special features include commentary from director David Koepp, four deleted scenes, three behind-the-scenes featurettes and animated storyboards.
Preorder "Secret Window" today and save 30%
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases |
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If you liked "Old School" or "American Pie," you'll love "Eurotrip," out next week in its R-rated theatrical version and also in a steamier unrated edition.
Also on tap with a street date of June 1st is Robert Altman's "The Company," which stars Neve Campbell and takes place backstage and onstage at a ballet company. Charlize Theron won an Academy award for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster," which debuts on DVD next week, as does the preteen heist caper, "Catch That Kid."
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Everything old is new again as the First Seasons of "Punky Brewster" and "Dukes of Hazzard" come to DVD, along with the third season of the BBC comedy "Coupling" (not to be confused with the failed NBC sitcom clone of the same name).
And Disney finally releases a boxed set celebrating everybody's favorite bug.
The "Herbie The Love Bug Collection" includes the original "Love Bug," "Herbie Rides Again," "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" and "Herbie Goes Bananas. Preorder savings can be had on all these titles if you place your order by midnight, May 31st.
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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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