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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 13, 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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June 13, 2004
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There's an outstanding variety of TV shows being released on DVD this week, so we'll begin The Dossier with a look at the best of the lot.
The Complete Second Season of the HBO sleeper hit "Curb Your Enthusiasm" stars former standup comic and "Seinfeld" creator, Larry David. Playing himself as a sort of an uber-curmudgeon, David is thrust into all manner of misunderstandings and customer service nightmares.
This is one of the best comedies on TV, but at a suggested list price of $39.98 (and a "street" price of around thirty bucks), it's a bit expensive... especially when you consider that the "complete" second season is actually only ten half-hour shows... and there are virtually no extras whatsoever on the 2-disc set.
"Monk," the quirky detective played by Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Tony Shalhoub comes to DVD this week in a 4-disc set that includes all 13 episodes from the First Season, including the 2-part pilot. Adrian Monk is a lot like Larry David, in that they both fear germs and crowds... and each has a host of other neuroses and phobias.
"Monk," however, has been officially diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, which has made him unsuitable for full-time police work. He returns to his former employer as a consultant, assisting the police in solving some of their most baffling cases. Much of the humor in the show comes from watching how his OCD either gets in the way of - or helps him - fight crime. Highly recommended.
Doh! they're back... "The Simpsons" that is, in their eagerly awaited "Complete Fourth Season." The 4-disc set features commentary on each of the 22 episodes, deleted scenes, easter egg bonus commentary and sketches, storyboards, animatics, commercials, a promotional syndication reel, "A word from Matt Groening," and a featurette called "Bush vs. Simpsons."
They say that beauty is only skin deep. "Nip / Tuck" goes deeper, much deeper. Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon play hotshot Miami Beach plastic surgeons in this new series, which exposes the complexities and fragile natures found in patients seeking cosmetic surgery.
"Nip / Tuck The Complete First Season" includes an extended pilot, plus 12 one-hour episodes from the 2003 season. Midlife crises, soap-opera sex, biting wit and body modification make this show alternately engrossing and just plain gross. Don't say you weren't warned: every episode includes graphic and gruesome scenes of actual surgeries.
The First Season of "Dead Like Me" is also out this week. Killed by falling debris - a toilet seat - from a space station, Georgia Lass (Ellen Muth) is recruited for a team of grim reapers led by a guy named Rube (Mandy Patinkin). The reapers are the "undead" who walk among us and take our souls just as we're about to die; they're also the stars of this very entertaining and offbeat series from the folks at Showtime.
But are we the only ones who think that parts of this show are awfully similar to the HBO series "Six Feet Under," about a family owned funeral home? We're not saying that the afterlife can't supply enough raw material for more than one series. We just wish that every episode of "Dead Like Me" didn't contain a tragicomic death scene that has been, um, "inspired" by "Six Feet Under."
Rounding out this healthy crop of TV releases are the pilot episode of "Beverly Hills 90210," Season Four of "Xena Warrior Princess," Season Two of "The Man Show" and Volume 1 of "Braceface," an animated series from Canada about a teen (voiced by Alicia Silverstone) with braces that have a mind of their own.
Another animated tale, Disney's "Teacher's Pet" comes to DVD on Tuesday. This retelling of the "Pinocchio" story is about a dog who desperately wants to be a boy. The film features the voices of Nathan Lane, Shaun Fleming, Kelsey Grammer and a bunch of other talented actors including Paul Reubens (a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman).
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore star in "50 First Dates," a perfectly ordinary romantic comedy with good intentions that are mostly unrealized. The gimmick here is that the Barrymore character suffers from short-term memory loss, so Sandler has to treat every encounter with her as if it were the first. Rather than exploring this potential comedic gold mine, the film is filled with juvenile humor more in keeping with Sandler's other films.
The film does have its moments: the two stars share good on-screen chemistry, the cinematography is great and the Hawaiian locations in which the film is set are breathtaking. So you could say this one is a bit of a mixed bag, perhaps 50/50.
"The Station Agent" is a highly regarded independent film with a strong ensemble cast. Revolving around a train enthusiast and the eccentric locals who befriend him, this poignant film is a low-budget, but beautifully acted, character study. Nothing more, nothing less... don't expect any fancy-shmancy plot twists to get in the way as this gentle heartwarming story unfolds.
From the talented Playwright-Slash-Screenwriter-Slash-Director David Mamet comes his latest film, "Spartan," set in the world of politics. Val Kilmer is a Secret Service agent recruited to find the kidnapped daughter of the President of the United States. Along the way, he stumbles upon a white slavery ring, which may - or may not - have something to do with her disappearance. The film also stars Derek Luke, Ed O'Neill and Oscar winner (and perennial Mamet favorite) William H. Macy,
"The Stepford Wives" is the latest big screen hit to be remade and released in theatres while the original rides the publicity wave to a DVD release. This 1975 thriller stars Katharine Ross and plays it straight; the star-studded remake (which opened this past week) is a campy comedy.
Several interesting music discs are out this week: "The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection," which needs no explanation and "John Mayall: The Godfather of British Blues," which combines a 1969 "rockumentary" with a new film biography featuring contributions from Mayall, his family, fellow musicians, colleagues and friends in interviews and performances.
A Special Edition of "Johnny Cash: A Concert Behind Prison Walls" features the late Man In Black, along with Linda Ronstadt and Roy Clark performing their greatest hits for the inmates of the Tennessee State Prison. This 1976 concert aired on national television and features rare, live performances of this trio of superstars’ greatest hits,
From the National Basketball Association comes "The Foundation: NBA 2004 All-Stars," a 2 disc DVD set that chronicles the careers and off the court lives of the 2004 NBA Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Starters.
And finally, the passing of a President is noted with the re-release of "Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator." This 2-disc boxed set takes a unique look at the Reagan presidency through clips of more than 100 presidential appearances, rare newsreels and Hollywood footage. From the attempted assassination on his life, to his historic speech in Berlin, to his journey to the oval office, this is a comprehensive look at the Reagan legacy.
That's it from us here at DVD Direct 4 Less.
We'll see you next Sunday 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: June 15, 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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| Preview of Next Week's Releases |
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Billy Bob Thornton is one very "Bad Santa" and gets to be an even "Badder Santa," in the unrated edition of this hit film. Thornton works as a department store Santa while he cases the joint, so he can return and steal his way to a very Merry Christmas.
Also next week, Johnny Depp peers through a "Secret Window" and a value-priced disc called "Hit Celebrity TV Commercials" lets you see your favorite stars in their very best - and worst - TV commercials (many of which were shot before they were famous).
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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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