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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for August 22, 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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August 22, 2004
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Join the Columbia House DVD Club and Save...
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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.
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It's time once again to talk about new DVDs!
"Ella Enchanted," a hip satirical fairytale about love and adventure, was somewhat overlooked when it was in theatres. But the film, based on the award-winning novel by Gail Carson Levine, has a great cast and a terrific soundtrack.
The story finds our heroine Ella (Anne Hathaway) living in a fanciful and magical world where all children are given a “gift” from their fairy Godmother at the moment of their birth. Little Ella gets saddled with the "gift" of obedience.
As a result, Ella cannot refuse any command, and is often left at the mercy of unscrupulous personalities. To regain control of her life, she goes on a quest to free herself from this mysterious curse.
Also in the film are Hugh Dancy, Cary Elwes, Vivica A. Fox , Joanna Lumley, Minnie Driver and Eric Idle as the Narrator. It deserves to be seen, so take a look.
A slightly less innocent young girl (Elisha Cuthbert) is the object of young Emile Hirsch's desire in the teen comedy "The Girl Next Door." This film deals with the age-old problem of what to do when your hot new neighbor is an adult film star.
"The Girl Next Door" has some good moments, but you'll have to plow through a rather silly and convoluted plot to get to them. This flick is available in both the original theatrical version and a "steamier" unrated version, but nothing in either version is really very racy.
Then again, if you have zero tolerance for teen titillation or if you didn't like "American Pie" or "Risky Business," this film is probably not for you.
Sparks - and tempers - fly in "Laws of Attraction" a predictable romantic comedy kept aloft only by the charismatic performances of Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
Also this week, Nicole Kidman stars in the latest controversial film by Lars von Trier, "Dogville." It's a Depression-era tale of a fugitive on the run. We thought it was pretentious and way too long (the movie clocks in at nearly three hours).
Prince is back in a 20th Anniversary Widescreen Special Edition of his dazzling feature-length music video, "Purple Rain."
And The King takes time out from his tour of America's best convenience stores to release "Elvis Presley: The Signature Collection," which brings together six of his films, including two of his best: "Viva Las Vegas" and "Jailhouse Rock."
Lassie is ready to delight a whole new generation of kids, as three of her classic films come to DVD: "Lassie Come Home," "Son of Lassie" and "Courage of Lassie" (starring a young Elizabeth Taylor).
More family entertainment can be found in "Flipper" and "Flipper's New Adventure," two films featuring the aquatic exploits of a dolphin with an uncanny knack for saving people in distress.
And Angelina Jolie plays "Gia" in the HBO film of the same name.
It's the story of Gia Carangi, the first fashion super-model... her rise to the top, and her rapid decline in a whirlwind of drugs and sex. The film also stars Faye Dunaway and Mercedes Ruehl and is being released in a new unrated edition.
As usual, there are a host of TV shows coming to DVD this week. Our top pick is "The Munsters."
The Munster family lives in a spooky house at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Heights. Decent and loving, they simply can't understand why the outside world reacts to them with shock and horror.
It may just be because the family members bear a striking resemblance to monsters, with the notable exception of daughter Marilyn, whose wholesome beauty they see as a disfigurement.
"The Munsters" stars Fred Gwynne (Herman), Butch Patrick (Eddie), Yvonne DeCarlo (Lily), Al Lewis, Beverley Owen (Marilyn Munster Episodes 1-13) and Pat Priest (Marilyn Munster Episodes 14-70).
The First Season of "The Munsters" (1965) is out this week in a 3-Disc set that includes all 38 episodes, plus a fifteen minute pilot with different actors as Lily and Eddie (but no special features or commentaries).
Also being released this week is "Rod Serling's Night Gallery." Serling hosts over 20 stories of terror in this new boxed set, which includes the original pilot movie and every spine-tingling episode from the complete First Season.
Larry Hagman portrays petroleum magnate J.R. Ewing in the prime-time soap opera "Dallas." Also in the cast are Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Victoria Principal, Linda Gray, Jim Davis, Charlene Tilton, Ken Kercheval and Steve Kanaly.
The new 5-Disc boxed set of "Dallas" includes all 29 of the show's First and Second Season episodes plus a cast reunion special.
A real life mogul stars in another of this week's highlighted discs. Donald Trump doesn't have much screen time in "The Apprentice," but he's definitely the reason for this reality show's great success.
In the first season of "The Apprentice," out on DVD this Tuesday, contestants compete in a "game" where the ultimate prize is the job of a lifetime. The 5-Disc set includes all the moments you didn't see on TV, plus an exclusive sneak peek at the Second Season.
And that's all for this week.
We'll be back next week with more news and reviews. See you then.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: August 24, 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.
Links above are for Region 1 (USA) Editions. Availability and release dates elsewhere may vary.
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| Boldly Go Where No DVD Has Gone Before |
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Long before William Shatner became a TV spokesperson for Priceline, he was actually the star of a little TV show called "Star Trek."
We know "Star Trek" today to be one of the most successful television and merchandising franchises ever, spawning five TV series (including an animated Saturday morning version), ten movies and several theme park attractions. But when Gene Roddenberry created this sci-fi series and put it on the NBC television network in 1966, not many watched.
Those that did, however, were fiercely loyal to the show throughout its run. When NBC announced the show might not be renewed for a third season, fans wrote more than a million letters to protest. Had they not, the original "Star Trek" would surely have lasted only two seasons.
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The show takes place in the 23rd century and documents the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk (Shatner) and his first officer, Lt. Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy).
They have been commissioned by the United Federation of Planets to embark on a five year mission into outer space to "seek out new life and new civilizations" and to "boldly go where no man has gone before."
Along the way, they encounter enough Klingons, Romulans, Vulcans, time paradoxes, tribbles and genetic supermen to fill 79 hour-long episodes.
There were supposedly as many as 400 crew members on board the Enterprise, although we rarely saw more than eight. (That's just not logical, as Mr. Spock himself might say.)
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In addition to Nimoy and Shatner, the principal cast members included DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, the medical officer), James Doohan (Montgomery Scott, a.k.a. "Scotty," the chief engineer), George Takei ("Mr. Sulu," the helmsman), Majel Barrett (Christine Chapel, chief nurse), Walter Koenig (Ensign Pavel Chekov, the navigator) and Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura, the communications officer).
Of course, if you're a fan, you know all this.
And if you're a true Trekkie, you may have already taken a second mortgage on your home to buy the forty Star Trek DVDs that Paramount Home Entertainment has previously released, each containing just two episodes of the series.
You won't be pleased to hear that the epic sci-fi series will now be made available on DVD in complete season sets, at a total price that's about a third of what you paid for the individual discs.
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But these definitive collectors boxed sets of "Star Trek" are perfect for those who've waited.
They feature completely remastered sound and hours of new and never-before-seen extras including text commentary on some episodes by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda (co-authors of "The Star Trek Encyclopedia"), featurettes, easter eggs, original promotional trailers and photo logs.
And then there's the compact and clever space-saving packaging! Each 8-Disc set comes in its own color coordinated capsule, which splits apart to reveal its contents.
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All three volumes of "Star Trek" will be out before the end of the year.
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Street dates have been announced for the first two seasons of "Everybody Loves Raymond," the popular CBS sitcom starring standup comedian Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton. Season One arrives on September 14th and Season Two follows on December 14th.
Emmy-winner Romano stars as Ray Barone, a successful sportswriter who deals with his brother and parents, who happen to live across the street. Frank (Peter Boyle) and Marie (Doris Roberts) love to meddle in his life while older brother, Robert (Brad Garrett), sometimes resents his success. Even so, Ray manages to keep a bright outlook and a sense of humor as he balances his family and work life.
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Extras on this 5-Disc First Season set include audio commentaries on two episodes from Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal and a "making of" featurette with cast and crew interviews. Details for Season Two have yet to be announced.
When you preorder "Everybody Loves Raymond," you'll save 30%.
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| Bovine Beauties Buy the Farm |
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Disney brings home "Home on the Range," their last hand-drawn animated musical feature, on September 14th.
Filled with comedy, fun and adventure, "Home on the Range" follows the exploits of three cows, a karate-kicking stallion and their critter friends as they try to save their “Patch of Heaven” dairy farm from a greedy outlaw.
The film features all-new songs from eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, who also wrote the songs in "The Little Mermaid," "Pochahontas" and "Beauty and the Beast."
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An all-star cast supplies the voices: Jennifer Tilly, Judi Dench, Rosanne Barr, Randy Quaid and Cuba Gooding, Jr., with musical performances by Tim McGraw, K.D. Lang and Bonnie Raitt.
Bonus materials include the "Yodel Mania Game," “Anytime You Need A Friend” music video, a "Joke Corral," deleted scenes; a making-of featurette and more.
Preorder "Home on the Range" today and save 30%.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: August 31, 2004 |
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