DVD Dossier Blog: New Releases, Street Dates, Movie Reviews and Commentary

Gangsta Chap

"American Gangster," inspired by a true story, will arrive on DVD February 19th from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe portray one Harlem’s most notorious crime bosses and the outcast cop who pursues him, ultimately leading to a climactic confrontation that alters the destiny of an entire generation in New York City.

Directed by Ridley Scott and produced by Brian Grazer and Scott, "American Gangster" boasts an all-star cast including Josh Brolin, Ruby Dee, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Chiwetel Ejiofor, Armand Assante, Carla Gugino, and the rap artists Common, RZA and Tip “T.I.” Harris.

The film will be available in a 2-Disc Extended Edition that will include an unrated, extended version of the film along with over 18 additional minutes and an alternate ending plus the original theatrical film.

In addition, the "American Gangster 3-Disc Collector’s Edition," available for a limited time only, will include over five hours of bonus features, a 32-page collectible book and the opportunity to download a digital copy of the unrated, extended film.

Also available the same day will be "Gangsters: The Ultimate Film Collection," a 9-Disc set containing four of Hollywood’s most iconic gangster films: "American Gangster," "Scarface," "Casino" and "Carlito’s Way."

The Suggested Retail Price will be $29.98 for the 2-Disc version and $34.98 for the 3-Disc version . We think these will be available in stores, however, for about $20.00 and $28.00, respectively. An  HD DVD version will also be available ($39.98 SRP) for about $28.00.

The film will presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), with audio and subtitles in English, Spanish and French (Dolby Digital 5.1).

Pre-order "American Gangster" now and save 33%.

Pre-order "American Gangster" on HD DVD and save 33%.

Been There, Done That

"Are We Done Yet?," the sequel to the hit family comedy "Are We There Yet?," will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray and UMD (for PSP) on August 7th, distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Directed by Steve Carr, "Are We Done Yet?" follows the adventures of the Persons family as they embark on building a new home in the suburbs.

Now married to Suzanne (Nia Long), Nick Persons (Ice Cube) buys a quiet suburban house to escape the rat race of the big city and to provide more space for his new wife and kids Lindsey and Kevin.

But when his new home quickly becomes a costly "fixer upper" and he finds himself at the mercy of an eccentric contractor (John C. McGinley), Nick's suburban dream becomes a riotous nightmare.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $28.95 (DVD and UMD) and $38.96 (Blu-ray Disc). "Street" prices are expected to be lower, about twenty dollars for the DVD and UMD and twenty-seven dollars on the Blu-ray Disc.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray Disc will be packed with bonus materials including "Kidding Around On Set" (a making of featurette), a quiz, a featurette about Chuck (McGinley) called "Chuck Mitchell Jr: Jack of All Trades" and bloopers.

Pre-order "Are We Done Yet?" now and save 31%.

Pre-order "Are We Done Yet?" on Blu-ray Disc and save 31%.

[Previously: Still Not There]

Her Life Affected By Romance Unexpected

Warner Home Video will bring "And Then Came Love," a contemporary romantic comedy that celebrates life’s little - and big - surprises, to DVD August 14th.

Starring Vanessa Williams and Eartha Kitt, Kevin Daniels, Michael Boatman and Jeremy Gumbs, "And Then Came Love" will arrive with a half hour of extras including three featurettes and deleted scenes. In addition, Williams and the late R & B balladeer Gerald Lavert performed a new duet especially for the film.

Julie Davidson (Williams) seems to have everything every woman dreams of – a glamorous job, a terrific boyfriend (Boatman), a rent-controlled apartment and an adorable six-year-old son (Gumbs).

But her world is turned upside down when she goes in search of the anonymous sperm donor who fathered her child (Daniels) and finds herself questioning her so-called perfect life.

The film wil be presented in widescreen with audio in English (Dolby Digital 5.1), along with English and French subtitles.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.98.

Pre-order "And Then Came Love" now and save 10%.

In Marriage, No One Can Hear You Scream

Successful businessman Richard Cooper’s been happily married for seven years... or so he thinks.  Faced with the temptation of a new “friend” who happens to be alluring, free- spirited and painfully sexy, he must keep telling himself... "I Think I Love My Wife." 

That's the premise of a new comedy written and directed by Chris Rock, making it's way to DVD August 7th from Fox Home Entertainment.

The movie also stars Rock as the man with everything, including the perfect marriage. But despite having it all, he is bored out of his suburban mind and can’t help but fantasize about having nearly ever woman he sees. 

"I Think I Love My Wife," which was also produced by Rock, is based on Eric Rohmer’s French cinema classic about the temptations of married life, "Chloe in the Afternoon." 

The ensemble supporting cast includes Gina Torres as Cooper’s wife of seven years who’s not about to let go of the man she loves, Kerry Washington as the bold bombshell with the power to blow his former routine life right out of the water and Steve Buscemi as his philandering colleague.   

The DVD will include both widescreen and full screen versions on a single "flipper" disc, plus audio commentary from Rock, deleted scenes, a blooper reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes and a music video.

The film will feature audio in English (5.1 Dolby Digital) and Spanish (Surround Sound), along with English and Spanish subtitles.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $29.98, although most stores will be selling this for about twenty bucks.

Pre-order "I Think I Love My Wife" now and save 33%.

Parr for The Course

Warner Home Video will release Russ Parr’s "The Last Stand" on July 10th, marking the feature film directorial debut for the nationally syndicated radio and TV personality.

Written and directed by Parr, a former stand-up comic, and loosely based on his life, "The Last Stand" is a hard-hitting drama that's also a bit like a course in how to become a comedian.

Starring Guy Torry and Anthony Anderson (both known for their work as comedians and dramatic actors), Darrin Dewitt Henson, Tami Roman and Todd Williams, "The Last Stand" explores the drama of comedy through four up and coming comics who meet and become fast friends at a notable Hollywood comedy club. 

Haunted by the demons of their past, and their aspirations for their future, each pursues stardom despite the trials and tribulations of the present.

The DVD will include a “making of” featurette that will take you behind the scenes with Parr and the cast.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $24.98.

Pre-order "The Last Stand" now and save 10%.

Son and Pop in a Story of Hip-Hop

Real-life father and son - and hip-hop impresarios - Master P and Romeo team up and learn to appreciate the true meaning of family in the new comedy "Uncle P," arriving on DVD June 26th from New Line Home Entertainment.

When his sister becomes ill, New York business tycoon and world-famous rapper P Miller is forced to move to California to take care of her three children. The kids are shocked to discover that their estranged uncle and new guardian is a hip-hop legend and fashion industry mogul. And Uncle P is soon faced with trading his glamorous lifestyle for sleepless nights and babysitting.

"Uncle P" is the feature film directorial debut from music video director Bernard Gourley. The supporting cast includes Cheech Marin, Ella Joyce and a cameo appearance by R & B artist Mario.

The film will be presented in widescreen (1.85) with the following audio options: English DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete, English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound, English 2.0 Stereo Surround. Subtitles will be provided in English and Spanish.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.98, but most stores will be offering this for about $14.00.

Pre-order "Uncle P" now and save 30%.

'80s Entourage: Rerun, Dwayne and Raj

"What's Happening Now!!: The Complete First Season" will make its DVD debut on June 12th, distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

In the show, the gang from the hit show "What's Happening!!" returns after 7 years for even more comic misadventures. 

The 3-Disc boxed set will feature all 22 episodes starring Ernest Thomas as Raj, Fred Berry as Rerun, Haywood Nelson as Dwayne, Danielle Spencer as Dee, and Shirley Hemphill as Shirley, all reprising their roles from the earlier, original series.

Loosely based on the 1975 film "Cooley High," the urban sitcom "What's Happening!!" debuted on ABC in 1976 and ran for three seasons. After its network cancellation, the series went into syndication in 1980 and became so popular that the series was resurrected as "What's Happening Now!!," which premiered in 1985 and also ran for three seasons.

Since the end of the original series, Raj and his friends have grown and their lives have changed.

Roger "Raj" Thomas is an aspiring writer married to Nadine (Anne-Marie Johnson), a social worker and civic organizer. They are foster parents to Carolyn (Reina King), who displays the sass of Raj's younger sister Dee, who makes periodic visits home from college.

Raj also purchased a half interest in his favorite high school hangout, Rob's Diner, which he now runs with feisty waitress Shirley. His dimwitted buddy Dwayne has become a computer programmer, Rerun is a used-car salesman and the two bachelors share an apartment.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $29.95, although this should be widely available for less than $23.00

Pre-order  "What's Happening Now!!: The Complete First Season" and save 25%.

The Derivation of Blaxploitation

Image Entertainment will bring "How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It)" to DVD June 5th. The film, a feature-length documentary on the American black cultural icon Melvin Van Peebles, also airs tonight on IFC at 10:30 PM ET.

Humorous, serious and incisive, "How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It)" vividly recounts Melvin Van Peebles' life through interviews with colleagues, contemporaries, critics, family, and friends.

Utilizing archival footage, the film constructs a gripping narrative of a restless artist in an often unforgiving world, and reveals that the 74-year old Van Peebles is still a vital creative force who shows no signs of slowing down.

Van Peebles is a filmmaker with a history that's as fascinating as any of his motion pictures. This award-winning documentary (which includes interviews with Spike Lee, Mario Van Peebles, Gil Scott-Heron, Gordon Parks and others) is a carefully-crafted tale of how Van Peebles ended up making one of the most controversial movies in American history, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," the film that sparked the Blaxploitation era in Hollywood.

The film premiered in 2005 at the Full Frame Documentary Festival and was also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival and at the 2006 Film Forum in New York.

Special features on the DVD will include Van Peebles' Channel 5 TV News Commentaries (New York City, 1985), and Roadkill Featuring Brer Soul: Live at Fez (New York City, 1998), performing Van Peebles' songs "You Cut Up the Clothes in the Closet of My Dreams" and "Lilly Done the Zampoughi Everytime I Pulled Her Coattail".

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.99.

Pre-order "How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It)" now and save 10%.

"Dreamgirls" Unfurls On May 1st

"Dreamgirls," winner of two Academy Awards and three Golden Globes, will arrive on DVD in a Single Disc Edition, a 2-Disc "Showstopper Edition" and on Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD May 1st from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Director Bill Condon’s adaptation of Michael Bennett’s Broadway musical tells the story of three female singers who learn that anything is possible when you hold on to your dreams. It's a rich and vivid tale of fame, fortune and the sacrifices they demand.

The film stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Golden Globe winner Eddie Murphy and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson in a role that won her an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

The "Dreamgirls Showstopper Edition," Blu-ray and HD DVD discs will feature a wealth of bonus materials: 12 extended and alternate scenes, including a DVD-exclusive, never-before-seen performance by Hudson of “Effie Sing My Song,” a feature-length documentary entitled “Building the Dream” presented in nine chapters, a music video directed by Bill Condon for Beyoncé’s Oscar-nominated song “Listen," behind-the-scenes featurettes on the costume design, editing and lighting of the film, cast member auditions and screen tests, previsualization sequences and more.

The Single Disc Edition will feature the 12 extended and alternate scenes, plus the music video.

A complete list of special features and disc specs follows after the jump.

The Suggested Retail Price for "Dreamgirls" will be $29.99 (Single Disc), $34.99 (2-Disc Showstopper Edition) and $39.99 (Blu-ray/HD DVD). Actual "street prices" will vary, but are expected to be about $21.00, $25.00 and $28.00, respectively.

Curiously, Amazon.com is also listing the title with a Suggested Retail Price of $1439.52, which they've thoughtfully knocked down to only $1007.99. Those must be some special features... for that price, I'd expect Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy to both show up at my house and perform their musical numbers live.

Pre-order "Dreamgirls" now and save 29%.

Pre-order "Dreamgirls" on Blu-ray Disc and save 30%.

Pre-order "Dreamgirls" on HD DVD and save 30%.

[Previously: Ladies Sing The Blues]

Reverend Run, Kids & Spouse In Da House

Hip-hop icon Reverend Run (Joseph Simmons) of rap group Run-DMC balances the demands of family, preaching and the music business, in the reality family comedy "Run's House," the first two seasons of which will debut on DVD March 20th from MTV Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

Reverend Run is back in the studio recording his first ever solo album, but the rapping may be the easy part. Being left in charge of the house while his wife, Justine, tends to business in the city... teaching anger management to a grade-schooler? That's hard.

This reality sitcom has been a ratings hit on MTV, with both seasons ranking #1 in their time period against cable competition and Season Two drawing an even bigger audience than Season One.

This 3-Disc set will include all 16 episodes from Seasons One and Two, following Rev Run as he returns to the studio to record his first solo album while also juggling being a preacher, husband and father to his five kids.

The DVD will debut just in time for the Season Three premiere on MTV April 2nd and will include over an hour of bonus footage including interviews, extended scenes, music videos and room tours from "Run's House: Family Confidential."

The show will be presented on DVD in full screen with audio in English (Dolby Digital Stereo).

"Run's House Complete Seasons 1 & 2" - produced by hip-hop moguls Diddy and Russell Simmons - will be available for the Suggested Retail Price of $39.99, but you can do an end-run around that by ordering online for as little as $27.00.

Pre-order "Run's House" now and save 31%.

Still Not There

"Are We There Yet?," a fun family-friendly adventure, will return to DVD on March 20th, distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The release is timed to coincide with the new sequel "Are We Done Yet?," arriving in theaters in April.

In the original film, Ice Cube stars as Nick, a wild-living bachelor who hates kids: "Children are like cockroaches," he says, "except you can't squish 'em." After meeting the lovely mother Suzanne (Nia Long), however, he agrees to take her children on a road trip in an effort to woo her.

What he doesn't know is that the children, still hopeful that their mom will reunite with their deadbeat father, will stop at nothing to keep their mother from dating anyone new. As Nick fights to reunite the children with their mother in time for New Year's, he also fights to survive a series of slapstick adventures involving everything from a boxing deer to a vengeful trucker who’s convinced Nick is up to no good.

"Are We There Yet?" will be presented in widescreen (1.85:1) with audio in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese  (Dolby Digital 5.1), along with subtitles in  English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean and Thai.

The SRP for this value-priced DVD will be $14.94 and most  stores will probably knock at least a dollar off that. The repackaged DVD will include all the original DVD bonus features, plus a sneak peek of the sequel.

Pre-order "Are We There Yet?" now and save 10%.

Lear's Loved Ones Included The Jeffersons

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release "The Jeffersons: The Complete Sixth Season" on March 27th. The 3-Disc boxed set will feature all 24 episodes from Season Six and will be available for the Suggested Retail Price of $29.95, although most stores will be selling this one for about $21.00.

A complete episode breakdown follows after the jump.

Created by Norman Lear as a spin-off of the wildly successful “All in the Family,” "The Jeffersons" debuted as a CBS mid-season replacement in January of 1975.

An immediate hit, viewers laughed along with the antics of hot-headed George (Sherman Hemsley) and kindly Louise Jefferson (Isabel Sanford), a middle-aged couple whose newfound wealth prompts them to “move on up” to a posh Manhattan hi-rise.

A large part of the show’s lasting popularity was its lively cast of supporting characters, including son Lionel Jefferson (Mike Evans), quick-witted maid Florence (Marla Gibbs), mixed-marriage next-door neighbors Tom (Franklin Cover) and Helen Willis (Roxie Roker) and bumbling Englishman Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict).

In Season Six, George and Weezy become grandparents when Lionel and Jenny have a baby girl. Florence joins a dating service when her biological clock begins to tick, Weezie sees a costumed assailant commit a murder on Halloween and then becomes his intended victim and George receives an award as a small business owner – only it’s for his stature, not his business acumen.

During its 9-year, 253-episode run, "The Jeffersons" was nominated for 8 Golden Globes and 14 Emmys, winning one for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy (Sanford).

The show will be presented on DVD in full screen with digitally remastered audio and video.

Pre-order "The Jeffersons: The Complete Sixth Season" now and save 30%.

[Previously: Time To Applaud Maude]
[Previously: Beleaguered and Misunderstood in Fernwood]
[Previously: Bunkers Hunker Down For Sixth Time]

Father and Son Get It Done

Academy Award nominee Will Smith stars in "The Pursuit of Happyness," a heartwarming rags-to-riches story of one man who - for his son - reaches for the impossible. The critically-acclaimed film arrives on standard definition DVD (in both widescreen and full screen editions) and on Blu-ray Disc March 27th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

"The Pursuit of Happyness" tels the inspirational true story of Chris Gardner (Smith), a San Francisco salesman who's struggling to make ends meet. When his girlfriend Linda (Thandie Newton) walks out, Chris is left to raise their 5-year-old son Christopher on his own. (Christopher is played by Smith's real-life son, Jaden Smith, making his motion-picture debut.)

Chris' determination finally pays off then he lands an unpaid internship in a brutally competitive stockbroker-training program, where only one in twenty interns will make the cut. But without a salary, Chris and his son are evicted from their apartment and are forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a bus station bathroom.

With self-confidence and the love and trust of this son, however, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend.

Directed by Gabriele Muccino, "The Pursuit of Happyness" has grossed over $145 million at the box office to date and Smith's performance was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe, a SAG award, an NAACP Image award, a Black Reel award and a Broadcast Film Critics Association award.

His son Jaden has been nominated as Breakout Star by Black Reel, Best Young Actor by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, and Best Supporting Actor by the NAACP Image Awards, who also recognized Newton with a supporting-actress nomination.

The film was nominated for Best Picture by Black Reel and NAACP Image Awards, and "A Father's Way" (performed by Seal) earned another Globe nomination for Best Original song.

The DVD will be loaded with bonus materials including the featurettes "Father and Son: On Screen and Off," "The Man Behind the Movie: A Conversation with Chris Gardner" (the man who's life story inspired the film), "Making Pursuit: An Italian Take on the American Dream" and "Inside Rubik's Cube," an audio commentary with the director.

The Suggested Retail price will be $28.95 on the DVD and $38.96 on the Blu-ray Disc. Street prices should hover around $20.00 and $27.00, respectively.

Pre-order "The Pursuit of Happyness" now and save 31%.

Pre-order "The Pursuit of Happyness" on Blu-ray Disc and save 30%.

Here's To You, Mr. Robinson

Today, SRO Entertainment re-releases "Smokey Robinson: The Greatest Hits Live," a DVD showcasing an incredible night with one of Motown's leading R & B figures. 

Performing before an electrified audience live in Las Vegas in 1998, and backed by an outstanding band, Smokey Robinson's soulful voice thrills the crowd with his lineup of all-time favorite hit songs. 

Smokey performs 17 of his greatest hit songs on this disc, including "You've Really Got A Hold On Me," "The Tears of a Clown" and "I Second That Emotion."

The Suggested Retail Price is $14.99, but you can expect most brick and mortar stores and online retailers to shave at least a dollar or two off that SRP.

More on Smokey Robinson and this 1998 concert event - including a complete playlist - after the jump.

Making A Case For Humorous Discourse On Race

According to veteran comic Paul Mooney, history reveals that Jesus was a black man. "It makes it more fun," he says. "The sun was closer to the earth then. Everyone was black."

So begins Mooney's newest DVD, "Paul Mooney: Know Your History - Jesus Was Black, So Is Cleopatra," arriving in stores from QD3 and Image Entertainment on February 6th.

Mooney's newest stand-up comedy DVD captures him at his funniest - caustic, irreverent, wise and insightful - with many of his comments shedding light on America's racial divide.

It's difficult to take offense to Mooney's brand of humor, when the stories and jokes are so funny and no race (including Mooney's own) is left untouched by the comic's unapologetic wit.

The DVD combines segment's from the comic's appearance last June at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, interspersed with interviews with fellow performers and longtime fans David Alan Grier, Sandra Bernhard and others as they comment on why Mooney's comedy works so well. "There's a big difference between trying to be edgy and somebody who is edgy," explains fellow comedian Red Grant.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.99.

Pre-order "Paul Mooney: Know Your History - Jesus Was Black, So Is Cleopatra," now and save 10%.

Teacher's Double Life Causes Strife

Ryan Gosling gives an award-winning performance as a young teacher leading a double life "Half Nelson," arriving on DVD February 13th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

By day, Dan Dunne (Gosling) struggles to reach the underprivileged, predominantly African-American students in his Brooklyn classroom. By night, he struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction.

When the walls between those two lives crumble and a troubled student (Shareeka Epps) discovers his secret, the two form an unlikely friendship that could have potentially life-altering consequences for them both.

Praised by critics,"Half Nelson" won Best Film at the 2006 San Francisco International Film Festival, Best Actor (Gosling) at the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, and most recently was nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards including Best Director (Ryan Fleck), Best First Screenplay (Fleck along with co-writer Anna Boden), Best Male Lead (Gosling) and Best Female Lead (Epps).

Special features will include outtakes, deleted scenes, a Rhymefest "Wanted" music video and commentary with the filmmakers.

The film will be presented in anamorphic widescreen with audio in English (Dolby Digital 5.1), along with English and Spanish subtitles.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $26.96, but most stores will be selling this for about nineteen dollars.

Pre-order "Half Nelson" now and save 30%.

Eddie Murphy Delirious

The classic comedy concert, "Eddie Murphy: Delirious," will arrive on DVD for the first time on February 6th, from Entertainment Studios Home Entertainment and Starz Home Entertainment, distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment. (That's a whole lot of entertainment!)

The film changed the face of stand-up comedy and influenced some of today’s most popular cutting edge, in-your-face comics including Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.

The year was 1983 and nothing was sacred... jokes about puberty, dating, Mr. T, disciplinarian mothers and Michael Jackson were all fair game when Eddie Murphy - dressed in a red leather suit - took the stage.

Taped live at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., the stand-up special originally aired on HBO.

"Eddie Murphy: Delirious" will arrive on DVD with brand-new special features including an interview with the comedian hosted by Byron Allen (who happens to be chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios) and ten minutes of never-before-seen footage.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.98, but you should be able to find this online for about $13.00.

Pre-order "Eddie Murphy: Delirious" now and save 30%.

American Idle

The Grammy Award-winning members of OutKast - André Benjamin and Antwan A. Patton - headline "Idlewild," a hip and sexy tale about greed, fame and murder  coming to DVD on December 5th, distributed by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The amazingly talented cast also includes Terrence Howard, Ving Rhames, Faizon Love, Malinda Williams, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson, Paula Patton, as well as Patti LaBelle and Macy Gray.

"Idlwewild" is a unique blend of hip hop, blues, jazz and pulse-pounding action. The story is set in a backwater juke joint (in "Idlewild," Georgia) where childhood friends Percival (Benjamin), a shy piano player, and Rooster (Patton), a flashy performer, struggle with life and love. Everything changes for the musical duo as greed, fame and murder threaten to destroy them and the place that ties them together.

The film will be presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) with audio in English and Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.0), along with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

The DVD will include two exclusive music videos from OutKast, plus a song that was cut from the film and an additional deleted scene.

"Idlwewild" will carry a Suggested Retail Price of $29.98, but we think the actual sale price will be closer to $21.00.

Pre-order "Idlewild" now and save  30%.

Ladies Sing the Blues

Warner Home Video will release “Sparkle,” a tale of tragedy and triumph about three sisters who dream of becoming pop singers, on January 9th.

From ghetto rags to R & B riches, three sisters sing and struggle their way to center stage in this tribute to the soulful sounds of the ’50s.

The release is timed to ride the wave of publicity surrounding the much-anticipated limited theatrical release on December 22nd of “Dreamgirls” starring Beyonce Knowles, Jaime Foxx and Eddie Murphy, which is scheduled for broad national release in January.

In "Sparkle," Irene Cara, Lonette McKee and Dwan Smith play siblings who skyrocket from tawdry talent shows to the glamorous life of the nation’s top singing group. They learn (much like the characters in “Dreamgirls”) that wishing on a star is one thing, but being the star can be a one-way ticket to self-destruction.

Set to vibrant music by the late Curtis Mayfield (including songs later popularized by Aretha Franklin), the film also stars Phillip Michael Thomas.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.98, but most stores will be selling this for about $15.00.

Pre-order “Sparkle” now and save 25%.

You Say "Potato," I Say "Potatoe"

Comedian Eddie Griffin asks all the wrong questions in "Who Made the Potatoe Salad?," which the folks at Key Video and Fox Home Entertainment will release on DVD November 7th and which they shamelessly promote as "the hilarious urban version of "Meet the Parents."

When a young police officer (who has just proposed to his girlfriend) goes to meet her family to announce their engagement, he realizes he may be marrying into more than he can handle.

But nothing can prepare him for what her family is about to serve up: Her dad's a Black Panther, her brother's a thug, and her grandparents - well, they've got it goin' on... and on and on.  By dessert time, he's left wondering whether his first meeting of the prospective in-laws should be his last.

Griffin plays the girlfriend's prison inmate ex-boyfriend; the film also features performanes by Jaleel White, Clifton Powell and DeRay Davis.

"Who Made the Potatoe Salad?" will be presented in widescreen (1.78:1) with audio in English (5.1 Dolby Surround Sound) along with English and Spanish subtitles.

The film will have a Suggested Retail Price of $19.98.

Pre-order "Who Made the Potatoe Salad?" now and save 10%.