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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for November 7, 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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November 7, 2004
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Preorder Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban and Save 40%...
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There are lots of new DVDs arriving this Tuesday, so let's get right to the good stuff!
Nicole Kidman learns to be the ideal homemaker in "The Stepford Wives," this year's remake of the 1975 cult hit. This time out, director Frank Oz has reinterpreted it as a black comedy, with a screenplay by Paul Rudnick. The movie also stars Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Roger Bart, Bette Midler and Christopher Walken
Robert Redford is a self-made millionaire who is abducted by a disgruntled former employee (Willem Dafoe) in "The Clearing," a taut thriller with a heavy emphasis on character development and top notch acting. Helen Mirren delivers a fine performance as the worried spouse who uncovers startling secrets about her husband as the kidnapping progresses.
Director Richard Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reunite in "Before Sunset," the sequel to their accomplished 1995 film, "Before Sunrise" (about two strangers who meet, talk and fall in love). The new film picks up ten years later and the two lovers meet once again, talk once again and fall in love once again. Nicely written (the two stars collaborated on the script) and skillfully played, "Before Sunset" gives sequels a good name.
Two lovers from an earlier era are back in the 4-Disc Collector's edition of "Gone with the Wind" and, frankly, everyone should give a damn. Newly restored and featuring tons of archival special features, this new boxed set is a treat for old and new fans of the classic film.
Our next group of DVDs also turns back the clock, offering up more prominent re-releases and some old favorites newly available on DVD.
The Official Story (1985 Academy Award-winner, Best Foreign Film) is the moving story of an Argentine teacher living in blissful ignorance of the evils perpetrated by her country's government. Over time, she begins to suspect that her adopted daughter may have been the child of a murdered political prisoner. When she attempts to unearth the truth, her investigation reveals levels of political corruption so abhorrent that the illusions of her past life are irrevocably shattered.
A Collector's Edition of "Bridget Jones's Diary" is out this week, just as the sequel hits theaters. Based on Helen Fielding's bestselling British novel, "Bridget" stars Renée Zellweger as the "singleton" who documents her weight fluctuations and romantic misadventures in her diary.
"The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection" celebrate the 75th anniversary of one of the greatest comedy acts in history. This essential DVD set features the legendary four Marx Brothers in five of their most acclaimed and best loved films: "Duck Soup," "Horse Feathers," "Monkey Business," "Animal Crackers" and "The Cocoanuts." These are the only five movies ever made with all four brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo).
"The W.C. Fields Comedy Collection" brings together some of the curmudgeonly comic's best work in one boxed set: "The Bank Dick," "My Little Chickadee," "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man," "It's a Gift" and "International House." (Sadly missing, however, is "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break.")
"The Fritz Lang Epic Collection" is a new 5-Disc boxed set containing "Metropolis," "Spies, " "Woman in the Moon," and "Die Nibelungen" and "The Grateful Dead Movie" brings Jerry Garcia and the boys back to life in the film not seen since its original mid-1970's theatrical release.
From TV this week, we have the First Season of the provocative Showtime series "The L Word" the Eighth Season of NBC's "must-see" sitcom "Friends" and the Seventh Season of "Star Trek Voyager." Both "Voyager" and "Friends" are available in multi-pack sets, with every season released so far: Seasons 1 - 8 of Friends and Seasons 1 - 5 of Star Trek Voyager.
"Harvie Krumpet" won the 2003 Academy award for Best Animated Short Film. The title character is an unlucky chap, a beleaguered Everyman who waddles through his life encountering one obstacle after another. it's a dark tale, but ultimately quite inspiring.
Our favorite disc this week is another theatre-related DVD, "Broadway: The Golden Age."
This 111-minute film — produced, directed, written, filmed and edited by Rick McKay — recreates the excitement of Broadway's "Golden Age," that magical four decade period from the 1930's through the 1960's that was a time of unequaled creativity and success.
What McKay has done here is nothing short of astonishing.
With no crew, no budget and one digital camera, the former actor-singer set out on a five-year journey that took him to four continents, interviewing over 100 theatrical performers, composers, and writers.
These interviews — with John Raitt (Carousel), Chita Rivera (West Side Story), Barbara Cook (The Music Man), Robert Goulet (Camelot), Angela Lansbury (Mame), Elaine Stritch (Company), Shirley MacLaine (The Pajama Game) and many other luminaries — bring to life those long-gone glorious days when the lights were on in every theatre on Broadway and you could buy a seat in the balcony for less than the price of a movie ticket.
The DVD of "Broadway: The Golden Age" includes almost 90 minutes of bonus material and is probably the best way to see what The Great White Way was like Way Back When.
That's all that's new and different in the world of DVD for this week. As always, announcements of upcoming releases are below; we'll see you again next week.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: November 9, 2004 |
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Friends: The Complete Eighth Season
Friends:
The Complete First Eight Seasons
Highlander: Season Six
The Stepford Wives (2004)
Before Sunset
The Clearing
Harvie Krumpet
A Day Without A Mexican
Dia Sin Mexicanos
Gone with the Wind:
4-Disc Collector's Edition
Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas
Jesus of Montreal
Star Trek Voyager: Season Five
Star Trek Voyager:
The Complete Seasons 1 - 5
My Little Pony:
Season One, Part One
Unsolved Mysteries:
Astonishing Miracles
The L Word:
The Complete First Season
M*A*S*H: Season 7
Hillside Strangler
Mango Souffle
More Tales of the City
Rick
Take A Load Off Your Heart
Iron Butterfly in Concert
Starship in Concert
The Rock & Roll Greats:
Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
Laffapalooza 4
Alan King:
Inside the Comedy Mind, Gold Collection
Alan King:
Inside the Comedy Mind, Platinum Collection
Alan King:
Inside the Comedy Mind, Set One
(Includes Gold and Platinum Collections)
Soundstage Presents Lyle Lovett
with Randy Newman and Mark Isham
John Zorn Masada: Live at Tonic
Johnny Cash Singing at His Best
Crossroads Guitar Festival
100 Cartoon Classics
Britney Spears, Greatest Hits:
My Prerogative
Ahmad Jamal: Live in Baalbeck
Ani Di Franco: Trust
All Star Bluegrass Celebration
Best of the Best: Hot Latin Music
Los Loboa: Live At The Fillmore
MTV Unplugged:
Bruce Springsteen in Concert (Plugged)
The Fritz Lang Epic Collection
Broadway: The Golden Age
Bridget Jones's Diary:
Collector's Edition
Legally Blonde Platinum Collection
Barbershop Collector's Set
W.C. Fields Comedy Collection
Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection
Strip Tease:
The Greatest Exotic Dancers
Taboo:
Beginning of Erotic Cinema
Judy Collins:
Christmas at the Biltmore Estate
Mary Englebreit:
The Night Before Christmas
Christmas Child
Christmas with Jack Benny
Christmas with Ozzie and Harriet
Christmas With Crosby and Kate Smith
Merry Christmas:
Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby
Christmas with Red Skelton
Christmas with The Beverly Hillbillies
Spend the Holidays with Liberace
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WWE: No Mercy 2004
Yoga Journal's Yoga for Back Care
Yoga Journal: Yoga Practice for Energy
Yoga Journal: Yoga Practice for Strength
Yoga Conditioning: Weight Loss
Yoga Poetry & Meditation
Sleep Renewal: Remedies for Life
Stress Relief: Remedies for Life
Brum:
Snow Thieves & Other Stories
Popular Mechanics for Kids:
Super Sea Creatures
Popular Mechanics for Kids:
Rip Roaring Roller Coasters
Last Train From Gun Hill
The Grateful Dead Movie
The Big Dis
Betty Page
The Naked Jungle
The Official Story
Arrowhead
Ace High
Bollywood Queen
Lost Junction
The Love Machine
Suspicious River
Bireli Lagrene & Friends:
Gipsy Project
Rock 'n' Roll Greats:
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
Mason Jennings: Use Your Van
Robert Earl Keen 2: Live Dinner
Petula Clark Live at the Paris Olympia
Salute to Vienna:
A Strauss Gershwin Gala
Lunachicks
Needle Arts Featuring Shay Pendray
The Remarkable 20th Century
Rave Master Volume 2:
Release the Beasts
Zentrix: Last Hope Vol 2
Android Kikaider:
The Animation Perfect Collection
Braceface: Twist of Fate, Volume 3
Ju-on: The Grudge
Bubblegum Crisis:
Special Collector's Set
Carried By the Wind:
The Complete Collection
Fancy Lala: The Complete Collection
Gungrave: Undead War, Volume 3
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi: Volume 3, Destiny
Zentrix: Last Hope, Volume 2
Initial D - Battle 8 - Rain Battle
Submarine 707 Revolution: The Movie
Submarine 707 Revolution:
The Movie, Limited Edition
Dragon Drive Volume 4:
Daring Mission
UC Gundam: Movie Pack
S-Cry-Ed:
The Complete Collection
Fruits Basket Box Set
Martial Temple Collection
Eddie Izzard 3-DVD Bundle
Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody: Bionic Clown
Howdy Doody: Magic Appreciation
Howdy Doody: Magic Contest
Howdy Doody:
Phantom of the Doodio
VeggieTales:
The Complete Silly Song Collection
The Tonight Show: Comedians Vol. 1
The Tonight Show: Comedians Vol. 2
The Tonight Show: Comedians Vol. 1 & 2
Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus
and Life of Python Bundle
Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus
and Monty Python Live Bundle
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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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| Counting Down to Armageddon |
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"Carnivàle," the hour-long HBO drama series, focuses on the primordial conflict of good vs. evil, as played out against a pair of vivid and unusual backdrops: a traveling carnival working the American Dustbowl circa 1934, and an evangelical ministry in California.
The sweeping epic, created by Daniel Knauf, is long on beautiful cinematography, but short on a coherent narrative. If "Twin Peaks" and "The Grapes of Wrath" had an illegitimate love child, "Carnivàle" would likely be the result.
We found the first five or six episodes fascinating and lovely to look at, but soon grew tired as we waited in vain for the Big Moment that would tie it all together.
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The cast is uniformly excellent and includes Nick Stahl, Clancy Brown, Amy Madigan, Clea DuVall, Patrick Bauchau and Adrienne Barbeau. The show won five technical Emmys, including awards for art direction and cinematography.
The Complete First Season of "Carnivàle" arrives on DVD December 7th, in a 6-Disc boxed set with the following special features: audio commentary by director Rodrigo Garcia, a "Making of Carnivàle" featurette, a TCA trailer, a Museum of TV and Radio Seminar and a Tarot Card Game.
Preorder "Carnivàle" now and save 30%. |
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| Feline Fatale on the Prowl |
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The latest big screen superhero thriller, "Catwoman," comes to DVD on January 18th from Warner Home Video.
The edge-of-your-seat adventure stars Academy Award-winner Halle Berry, Sharon Stone and Benjamin Bratt.
Berry plays a sleek, whip-cracking, feline fatale, who is out for revenge, Bratt is the cop torn between romance and duty, and Stone is a former super-model turned cold-blooded killer in the film critics called “sexy, consistently surprising and dazzling,” and “100% pure fun and excitement.”
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The "Catwoman" DVD, available in collectible foil packaging in both widescreen and full screen editions, includes an alternate ending, additional scenes and two documentaries exploring the evolution of the legendary character.
Preorder "Catwoman" now and save 30%.
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"Napoleon Dynamite" is an odd but completely original and strangely compelling film.
The breakout comedy hit and Sundance favorite introduces us to a new kind of hero, an uber-nerd from Preston, Idaho who sports a tight 'fro, sweet moon boots, and skills that can't be matched.
Napoleon (the deadpan John Heder) spends his days drawing mythical beasts, duking it out with his brother Kip and avoiding his scheming Uncle Rico.
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When two new friends enter Napoleon’s life – shy Deb and mustachioed Pedro – the trio launches a campaign to elect Pedro for class president and make the student body's wildest dreams come true.
But if Pedro is to beat stuck-up Summer, Napoleon will have to unleash his secret weapon... proving that every dork has his day.
"Napoleon Dynamite" comes to DVD on December 21st, with some sweet extras including the “Wedding of the Century” five-minute epilogue, “Making of the Wedding of the Century” featurette, deleted scenes, commentary by Heder, director and co-writer Jared Hess and producer Jeremy Coon.
Preorder "Napoleon Dynamite" now and save 30%.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: November 16, 2004 |
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Originally announced for this week, "Elf," the holiday hit starring Will Ferrell, makes its debut next week instead. Also, Vin Diesel stars in the "Pitch Black" sequel, "The Chronicles of Riddick" and Elliott Gould, Dyan Cannon, Robert Culp and Natalie Wood star in Paul Mazursky's late 1960's comedy of sexual politics, "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice."
Most of the other notable releases next week come from TV: watch for new seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Smallville," "Frasier," "The Kids in the Hall," "Space Ghost" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," while "The Andy Griffith Show," "Taxi," "The Commish" and "Pee Wee's Playhouse" come to DVD for the first time.
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