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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 14, 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 14, 2004
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Seinfeld Comes to DVD For The First Time...
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"Seinfeld," finally makes its way to DVD next week.
The groundbreaking "show about nothing" will be available in two boxed sets: Volume One includes all 18 episodes from the first two seasons and Volume Two delivers all 22 episodes from the Third Season.
Also available is the "Re-Gift Set" with all three seasons, a deck of Seinfeld playing cards, "Monk's Diner" salt & pepper shakers and a limited edition original script with handwritten notes from "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David.
Preorder now and save 35%.
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Will Ferrell stars in the holiday treat "Elf," out on Tuesday in a 2-Disc Infinifilm Edition from New Line Home Entertainment that includes both the widescreen and full screen formats of the film.
The discs are loaded with extras Including separate audio commentaries by Ferrell and director Jon Favreau, deleted scenes, nine documentaries and "Buddy’s Adventure Game." The game offers four challenges that, when played and successfully navigated, allow the player access to a code that unlocks the secret “Elevator O’ Fun."
"Kangaroo Jack: G'Day USA!" is an animated sequel to last year's live-action hit, "Kangaroo Jack." When poachers kidnap Jackie Legs from the Australian Outback, his friends Louis, Charlie and Jessie leap into action.
Their quest to save their marsupial mate takes them back to the United States, to Las Vegas of all places. They get into a bit of trouble with the FBI (don't ask... something about a jewel heist), while Jack does what any kangaroo would do in Vegas: he goes to all-night discos and eats at the buffet.
Another sequel, "The Chronicles of Riddick," also hits store shelves this week. This is the follow-up to "Pitch Black" and features Vin Diesel in a reprise of the title role, that of an escaped convict. This time out, he finds himself between opposing forces in a fight for the future of the human race.
The film will be available in an Unrated Director's Cut that adds 14 minutes of footage not seen in theaters, plus a new character and never-before-seen visual effects. An R-Rated Edition will also be available and it is the theatrical version of the film.
"Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" is the modern classic from director Paul Mazursky that hilariously captures the sexual revolution of the late 1960's. Bob (Robert Culp) and Carol (Natalie Wood) propose swapping partners with best friends Ted (Elliot Gould) and Alice (Dyan Cannon).
But are these four really ready for an open marriage?
It's good to finally have this timeless comedy back on DVD. It's been remastered in high definition and comes with a special commentary track that reunites Mazursky with his cast (except, of course, for the late Natalie Wood).
Ingmar Bergman’s swan song, "Fanny & Alexander," is the legendary filmmaker’s warmest and most autobiographical film and one of his most accessible.
This week, the Criterion Collection brings to DVD not only the theatrical version — winner of the 1984 Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film — but also, for the first time on home video in the U.S., the original five-hour television version, together in a single boxed set.
Also included is Bergman’s own feature-length documentary, "The Making of Fanny and Alexander," offering a unique glimpse into his creative process and a candid behind-the-scenes look at a monumental film in the making.
The documentary shows Bergman at work with many of his longtime collaborators — including cinematographer Sven Nykvist and actors Erland Josephson, Gunnar Björnstrand, and Harriet Andersson — "The Making of Fanny and Alexander" is a witty and revealing portrait of a virtuoso filmmaker.
"Fanny and Alexander" is also available in a 2-Disc Theatrical Edition.
All the rest of this week's notable releases come from television. There's the Third Season of "Smallville," the wildly popular WB series that examines the life of Superman as a teenager growing up in, well, "Smallville."
There's also the Seventh and Final Season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Office Special," the concluding chapter in the BBC series "The Office."
Both shows are available in megapack boxed sets that showcase the entire series: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Series" and "The Office Collection: Series 1 and 2 and The Office Special."
"The Kids in the Hall" are back with Season Two of their show, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" returns in Volume Two and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" debuts Volume Three.
In a move that has upset many dedicated fans, Paramount Home Video skips Seasons 4 - 10 of "Frasier" and releases the Eleventh and Final Season of the show this week.
It was a good season, not the show's best, but a good season that marked a few milestones, including a wedding, a birth and a long-awaited chance at true love for Dr. Frasier Crane.
But what about those seven missing seasons?
Nobody's talking, but rumors abound that they may never be released. We think otherwise, but you never know. (Heck, we have friends who are still patiently waiting for Season Two of the Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Larry Sanders Show.)
Lots of TV shows come to DVD for the first time this week including "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Commish," starring Michael Chiklis as a former Brooklyn cop who is now the Police Commissioner of a small upstate city and "Taxi," the wonderful character-driven ensemble comedy.
And then there's "Pee Wee's Playhouse," which brings Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi the Genie, Reba the Mail Lady, Captain Carl, Tito, the King of Cartoons and PeeWee Herman himself to DVD for the first time.
The show won 22 Emmy Awards during its six year run and is a delight for children and adults alike. Pick up Volume 1 and Volume 2 and scream the secret word as you watch each episode!
In other news this week, we've learned that "Surviving Christmas," the recent box office flop starring Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini will arrive on DVD just in time for the holiday itself.
The street date of December 21st is less than nine weeks after its theatrical release.
We're not sure if that's a record or not, but it does pose an interesting question: how bad does a movie have to be to go from the cinema to your home in only two months?
Just asking!
We'll be back next week with more questions and maybe a few answers, too.
Until then, take care.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: November 16, 2004 |
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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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| Princess (Soon To Be) Bride |
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The sequel to the original family smash, "The Princess Diaries," comes to DVD on December 14th.
In "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," Mia (Anne Hathaway) finishes college and prepares to assume her role as princess of Genovia.
But no sooner has she moved into the Royal Palace with her wise grandmother Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews) than she learns her days as a princess are numbered – Mia’s got to lose the tiara and immediately take the crown herself. As if getting ready to rule wasn't enough, it seems that Genovian law states that princesses must be married before being crowned.
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So Mia agrees to an arranged marriage and... well, we'd tell you more, but frankly, you could probably figure this all out yourself. The movie is formulaic and simple-minded.
And it may be a fairy tale, but it's overly sentimental and hardly enchanted.
(Speaking of which, you'd be much better off renting the overlooked, but far more satisfying "Ella Enchanted," which also stars Anne Hathaway.)
Still, any movie that introduces a musical number with Julie Andrews by having a character exclaim "Give the queen a shout-out, and she'll sing" has a certain irreverence that is undeniably appealing.
But before you get too excited at the prospect of hearing Andrews sing on film for the first time since her 1997 throat surgery, be forewarned: it's a duet with the Disney Channel's Raven, who is so... oh, never mind.
It doesn't matter because the real market for this film is girl tweens, who will absolutely adore it, as it features cute but non-threatening heartthrobs, a slumber party with multi-culti princesses from around the world and a (somewhat generic) speech about girl power and independence.
Family-friendly bonus materials on "Princess Diaries 2" include royal bloopers; never-before-seen deleted scenes with director Garry Marshall’s introductions, a Kelly Clarkson music video, “The PD2 Makeover” with hip tips on how to transform into a princess, “Find Your Inner Princess” personality quiz, “Making A Return Engagement” a behind-the-scenes look at the music in the movie hosted by Raven and audio commentary with Andrews and Marshall.
"Princess Diaries 2" will be available in separate widescreen and full screen versions.
Pre-order "Princess Diaries 2" now and save 30%. |
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Also out on December 14th is "I, Robot," a big-budget, high-tech action thriller starring Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan.
The film - very loosely based on stories by Issac Assimov - takes place in the year 2035, when technology and robots are a trusted part of everyday life. But that trust is broken when a scientist is found dead and a skeptical detective (Smith) believes that a robot is responsible.
The movie questions whether technology will ultimately lead to mankind's salvation or its annihilation. You will question why you ever put the disc in the DVD player.
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"I, Robot" is a movie about special effects, plain and simple.
But the effects, which are sometimes good (although they look like the special effects in every other $100 million movie), can't make up for the shoddy screenplay and total lack of imagination that is evident in nearly every frame of this film.
But, hey, that's just our opinion... don't let that stop you from buying this film. Especially since you can now save 35% when you pre-order.
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| Hey, Hey, Hey... They're Back! |
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A new "Fat Albert" movie is headed for theaters on Christmas Day, while two DVD collections of "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" arrive in stores on December 14th. These shows originally aired on CBS television from 1972 to 1984 and then again in syndication in 1989.
Live action "bumpers" with Bill Cosby himself opened and closed each episode. In between, viewers saw a series of cartoons about a group of urban adolescents growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood.
The show was based on Cosby's 60's stand up comedy monologues about his own childhood and enjoyed one of the longest and most successful runs in Saturday morning cartoon history.
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The animated adventures revolved around the daily life lessons learned by Fat Albert and his friends. Topics ranged from social issues to personal introspection and were blended with humor and music.
Among the many characters that inhabited Fat Albert's world were Rudy, Mushmouth, Donald, Bill, Weird Harold and Russell.
Choose "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection" and get 20 classic episodes on 4-Discs. It's a deluxe Limited Edition boxed set that includes bonus features, a custom embossed slipcase and an exclusive 12-page booklet.
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The value-priced collection titled simply "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" delivers five of the most requested episodes on a single disc.
Choose either collection and you'll be getting lots of "music and fun... and if you're not careful, you might learn something before it's done!"
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: November 23, 2004 |
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