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

DVD Releases for December 26, 2006

In this week's new DVDs, six friends enter a cave before falling into the abyss, Zach Braff searches for one last kiss, a couple of detectives get rather pissed and a writer and his soulmate reminisce.

But first, in Hollywood, it seems that something's amiss...

An all-star cast, including Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank, headlines "The Black Dahlia," a provocative crime film directed by the modern master of the suspense thriller, Brian De Palma.

Written for the screen by Josh Friedman and based on James Ellroy's novel, the film is inspired by the infamous 1947 killing of an aspiring actress. The film weaves a tale of lust, corruption, greed and depravity around the brutal murder of fledgling Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Short, also known as "The Black Dahlia."

The film follows a pair of Los Angeles detectives, Lee Blanchard (Eckhart) and Bucky Bleichert (Hartnett), as they investigate a shocking and gruesome murder that fascinated the nation and remains unsolved today.

With a corpse so mutilated that photos are kept from the public, the case becomes an obsession for the men, and their lives begin to unravel. Blanchard's relationship with his girlfriend Kay (Johansson) is threatened, while Bleichert finds himself drawn to the enigmatic Madeleine (Swank), a wealthy woman with a dark and twisted connection to the victim.

"The Black Dahlia" is available today in separate widescreen and full screen versions.

"Factotum," starring Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor and Marisa Tomei, is based on the acclaimed novel by Charles Bukowski, first published in 1975.

Henry Chinaski (Dillon) considers himself a writer, and on occasion writes. Mostly he quests for the booze and women that sidetrack and seduce, rather than inspire greatness.

When he falls for Jan (Taylor), the soulful connection fails to save either from their self-destructive ways, and the relationship totters between earnest connection and reflective loathing.

With exceptional performances that capture the intoxicated journey though life and art, "Factotum" is the story of a man living on the edge; a writer who risks everything, tries anything, and finds poetry in life's pleasure and pain.

If you're looking to welcome the New Year with the ultimate gruesome horror flick, you can't do much better than "The Descent."

Writer/director Neil Marshall's eagerly awaited follow up to his 2002 hit "Dog Soldiers," the film stars Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Muler, Nora-Jane Noone and Myanna Buring.

"The Descent" tells the story of six girlfriends who meet in a remote part of the Appalachians for their annual extreme outdoor adventure, in this case the exploration of a cave hidden deep in the woods. Far below the surface of the earth, disaster strikes, and there's no way out.

The group splinters and each woman pushes on, praying for another exit. But there is something else lurking under the earth. As the friends realize they are now prey, they are forced to unleash their most primal instincts in an all-out war against an unspeakable horror - one that attacks without warning, again and again and again

"The Descent" is out this week in separate unrated widescreen and full screen versions, a full screen theatrical cut and on Blu-ray Disc. (The unrated and Blu-ray disc editions include deleted scenes and an alternate ending, previously seen only in the UK.)

That's all we have for you this week, as the DVD release slate is in a bit of a post-holiday slump.

As always, a list of top DVD releases for this week can be found in our left sidebar. You can also click "continue reading" (below) to read this extended post, which also includes a list of top DVD releases for this week.

Subscriptions to the DVD Dossier newsletter are FREE...
Sign up today and have new release information e-mailed to you every Sunday!

Vince Becomes Football Prince

"Invincible " was released on DVD yesterday by Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

This inspiring true story is based on the life of Vince Papale, an ordinary guy who, against extraordinary odds, became an NFL professional football player for his hometown team.

Like the city he lives in and his team, the down-and-out Vince (Mark Wahlberg) has seen better days. But then the Philadelphia Eagles’ new coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) calls an unprecedented open tryout and the 30-year-old bartender who never played college ball makes the cut.

Now Vince needs every bit of his gritty, never-say-die attitude and enormous heart to survive in the high-stakes world of professional football. Heartfelt and triumphant, and filled with body-slamming NFL football action, "Invincible" will have you cheering for the scrappy underdog who helps his team rediscover its winning spirit, and in the process rallied a city when it needed it most.

Bonus features include audio commentary with the real Vince Papale, producer Mark Ciardi and writer Brad Gann; a second commentary with director Ericson Core and editor Jerry Greenberg and a featurette: "Becoming Invincible: The Story of Vince Papale."

The film is presented on DVD in widescreen (2.35:1) with audio in English and French (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound), along with Spanish and French subtitles. In addition to the standard definition widescreen edition, "Invincible" is also available on Blu-ray Disc.

The Suggested Retail Price on "Invincible" is $29.99, although many DVD stores are selling this for as little as $16.00. 

Seagal Takes Flight

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release "Flight of Fury," an espionage thriller starring Steven Seagal, on February 20th.

Seagal stars as a secret agent that strikes a deal with a clandestine U.S. agency to retrieve a hijacked Stealth Bomber in exchange for his freedom.

Filmed entirely on location in Bucharest, this action-packed globe-trotting adventure will have a Suggested Retail Price of $24.96, although we expect most stores will be offering this for as little as $17.00.

The film will be presented in widescreen (1.85:1) with audio in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound), along with subtitles in English.

Pre-order "Flight of Fury" now and save 32%.

DVD Releases for December 19, 2006

In this week's new DVDs, a family vacation goes up in smoke, we bid adieu to a martial arts bloke and a mysterious lady appears after a soak.

Also this week: we learn that some ancient scrolls are no joke, a superhero cavorts with the simple folk, Bart Simpson returns to provoke, Nicolas Cage attempts a remake, only to choke and Spike Lee takes us back to when the levees broke.

But first, the Gods of comedy and satire we invoke...

"Little Miss Sunshine," an offbeat comedy about a family vacation gone awry, arrives on DVD this week with both widescreen and full screen versions included on one two-sided disc.

Featuring an all-star cast including Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano and a charming young actress named Abigail Breslin, "Little Miss Sunshine" is a feel-good comedy that was a big hit at the Sundance Film Festival.

And in theaters, where satire often makes for a critical - but not financial - success, the deeply human film was a crowd-pleasing sleeper hit, grossing over $57 million.

The film details the adventures of the Hoovers, one of the most endearingly fractured families ever captured on film. Father Richard (Kinnear) is desperately trying to sell his motivational success program... with no success. Meanwhile, "pro-honesty" mom Sheryl (Collette) lends support to her eccentric family, including her depressed brother (Carell), fresh out of the hospital after being jilted by his lover.

Then there are the younger Hoovers, the seven-year-old, would-be beauty queen Olive (Breslin) and Dwayne (Dano), a Nietzsche-reading teen who has taken a vow of silence. Topping off the family is the foul-mouthed grandfather (Arkin), whose outrageous behavior recently got him evicted from his retirement home.

When Olive is invited to compete in the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant in far-off California, the family piles into their rusted-out VW bus to rally behind her.

In "Lady in the Water," the latest thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, apartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains.

When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.

"Lady in the Water" also stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey Wright and Sarita Choudhury. This bedtime story for a new generation is available today in separate widescreen and full screen editions, as well as on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

Breaking up can be hard to do, but Luke Wilson discovers it can be downright dangerous in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," out this week on a two-sided disc containing both widescreen and full screen versions.

A comedy, "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" tells the tale of Matt Saunders (Wilson), who thinks he's finally found the perfect girlfriend, the beautiful Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman) - who just happens to be a superhero.

But when Jenny turns out to be needy, neurotic and overly possessive, Matt decides to call it quits. Jenny is crushed by the news and stops at nothing to exact sweet revenge. Matt quickly learns it's not easy to dump a superhero that can fly, lift cars and burn holes through steel with thermal vision.

The film features supporting performances by Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson, Eddie Izzard and Wanda Sykes and was directed by Ivan Reitman.

Based on the best-selling novel by James Redfield, "The Celestine Prophecy" is a thought-provoking movie directed by Armand Mastroianni and featuring performances by Matthew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, Annabeth Gish and Hector Elizondo.

Redfield himself produced and co-wrote this much-anticipated adaptation of his novel in order to preserve his vision of a time when all races and religions will work together in harmony.

Since first published in the mid-90's, "The Celestine Prophecy" has captivated readers around the world with its tale of spiritual adventure and has sold over 14 million copies in 45 languages and spent over 3 years on the New York Times bestsellers list.

The film chronicles the discovery of ancient scrolls in the rainforests of Peru. The prophecy and its nine key insights predict a worldwide awakening, arising within all religious traditions, that moves humanity toward a deeper experience of spirituality.

"The Celestine Prophecy" is yet another film this week that is presented in both widescreen and full screen versions on one disc.

The world's foremost martial arts superstar steps into the role of the most famous fighter in Chinese history this week in "Jet Li's Fearless."

Jet Li, the star of "Unleashed" and "Hero," marks his farewell to the martial arts genre in this film, which combines unparalleled fight sequences and masterful storytelling.

The DVD is available in a new Unrated version in standard definition in widescreen and full screen, as well as in a HD DVD combo disc containing both standard and hi def versions of the film.

The film was inspired by the larger-than-life accomplishments of the martial arts icon and founder of the Jingwu Sports Federation, Huo Yuanjia.

Set in China at the turn of the last century, Huo's transformation from an arrogant and ruthless young fighter to a wise and thoughtful master defined the true spirit of martial arts and inspired his nation.

This year's widely panned remake of "The Wicker Man" arrives on DVD today in a new unrated edition, available in separate widescreen and full screen versions.

The suspense/thriller stars Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski and Christa Campbell and is a pale imitation in every way of the 1975 original starring Edward Woodward.

The original "Wicker Man," which many fans and critics consider to be a modern horror masterpiece, is also out today in a new 2-Disc Special Edition; we'd recommend it over the new one in a heartbeat.

One year after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, director Spike Lee presents "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," a four-hour, four-part chronicle recounting, through words and images, one of our country's most profound natural disasters.

In addition to revisiting the hours leading up to the arrival of Katrina, a Category 5 hurricane before it hit the coast of Louisiana, this HBO documentary tells the personal stories of those who lived to tell about it, at the same time exploring the underbelly of a nation where the divide along race and class lines has never been more pronounced.

Also from TV this week comes The Complete Ninth Season of "The Simpsons," available with and without collectible "Lisa Head" packaging, the Fifth Season of "Hogan's Heroes," the Sixth Season of "ER" and "Married With Children" and "Johnny Mathis Live: A 50th Anniversary Celebration."

All this, plus Season One of "Gene Simmons - Family Jewels" and "Driving Force" and Set 2 of "Prisoner Cell Block H."

As always, a list of top DVD releases for this week can be found in our left sidebar. You can also click "continue reading" (below) to read this extended post, which also includes a list of top DVD releases for this week.

Subscriptions to the DVD Dossier newsletter are FREE...
Sign up today and have new release information e-mailed to you every Sunday!

Changing Courses By Joining Forces

Drag racing superstar John Force is the winningest hot rod driver of all time. A fast-talking, larger-than-life character, he is also the father of three young daughters - 22 year-old Ashley, 19 year-old Brittany and 17 year-old Courtney, all of whom are following his tracks into the family business, burning serious rubber in the male-dominated field of high speed drag racing.

But once their helmets are off and they're back at home, the Forces are a family like any other... and tomorrow, A&E Home Video invites you to see for yourself as they release "Driving Force: The Complete Season One."

Despite being a championship drag racing team on the track, the Forces have plenty of issues on the home front. With a career that kept him on the road for most of the girls' childhoods, Force left parental responsibilities mainly in the hands of his wife, Laurie.

Throughout his fast-paced life, criss-crossing the country from track to track, he has missed all the recitals, the picnics, the tryouts, the ball games and the proms. But now, he hopes that by bringing the girls into his adrenaline-fueled profession, he can bring the family closer together and become the type of father that he always wanted to be.

From the turmoil of a terrifying crash to the excitement of a high school dance and the sweetness of helping Dad get ready for a date with Mom, life is never slow when you're the fastest family on the block.

"Driving Force: The Complete Season One" includes all fourteen 22-minute episodes from the debut season of the series, plus over 45-minutes of featurettes you won't find anywhere else, including "A Force to Reckon With," "Force Family Matters," "Girl Talk," and "Racing Fever Interviews with the Force Family."

The Suggested Retail Price is $24.95, but most DVD stores are knocking about 10% off the price.

Jeff Skilling Can't Hold A Candle To This Scandal

Based on the widely publicized Enron scandal, "Memron" makes its way to DVD this coming Tuesday, December 19th, distributed by Genius Products.

John Lehr, Tim Bagley, Evie Peck and Joey Slotnik star in this Enron satire, written and directed by Nancy Hower. The film is an improvised comedy that takes a mocking, yet light hearted, look at the people and events that lead to the demise of "Memron Document Shredding."

The busted CEO now rules the prison yard golf course, while a group of ex-employees struggle with the absurdities of starting over from nothing in this offbeat mockumentary about corporate fraud.

While the film reveals the betrayal behind both the personal and business lives of the top "Memron" executives, it also offers another perspective of the scandal through an ensemble of eccentric characters playing the laid-off employees. The quirky characters and ridiculous events create an unlikely comedy that supersedes the series of unfortunate and devastating events the film is based on.

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

The Suggested Retail price will be $24.95, but you should be able to pick this up for about $17.00, if your retirement account hasn't already been wiped out by corporate malfeasance.

Pre-order "Memron" now and save 32%.

Soccer Dad

For decades, Gene Simmons - rock and roll and pop culture icon - filled arenas with screaming fans. But, today, it's the legendary KISS rocker who's standing in the front row to cheer on his son's band - when he's not handing out Gatorade at his daughter's soccer games, that is.

What's it like growing up with Gene Simmons for a dad and former Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed as a mom?

With A&E Home Video's "Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season One," you'll discover how one of the most non-traditional families in America manages to make normal life work under the oddest of circumstances. It's "The Osbournes" meets Mayberry at the Simmons' household - a place where the kids act like adults and the parents act like kids.

Gene and Shannon have been happily unmarried for 23 years and have no plans to get hitched anytime soon. Their kids, Nick and Sophie, are surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no other parents on earth.

"Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season One" reveals a side of Simmons that he has kept hidden from the world at large... until now. 

Rock God, Demon or Dad? Who says you have to choose?

This 2-Disc set will feature all 13 episodes from the inaugural season and is set to debut on DVD next Tuesday, December 19th.

Extras will include a rough cut of the pilot episode; unseen couch interviews; Inside the Demon's Lair; Gene's History of Rock and Roll; The Lost Songs; bloopers; Behind The Makeup featurettes; Gene Simmons 24/7 and Simmons family text biographies.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $24.95, but you should be able to find this at many stores for less than eighteen dollars.

Also available - exclusively through Amazon.com (and our own DVD store) will be a "Signature Series Collector's Set" of the series, which will include: the Gene Simmons episode of A&E's Biography, a 20-page hardcover family photo album with photos personally selected by Gene (as well as his commentary), plus a bonus CD with two unreleased songs from Simmons' upcoming "Monster: The Gene Simmons Box Set," due to be released in 2007.

The SRP on the "Signature Series Collector's Set" will be $59.95, with an expected street price of about $45.00.

Pre-order "Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season One" now and save 30%.

Pre-order "Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season One - Signature Collector's Set" now and save 25%.

Dueling Divas Divide and Conquer Domesticity

Hot on the heels of the arrest of Nicole Richie for DUI, comes word that "The Simple Life: Til Death Do Us Part" will arrive on DVD December 26th, distributed by Fox Home Entertainment. (And why not? Apparently, Michael Richards' recent tirade didn't negatively affect sales of the latest season of Seinfeld.)

In the show that broke primetime records on E!, Richie teams up with fellow heiress and sometimes pal Paris Hilton to take turns ruling the roost in a variety of unlucky households... with their heated rivalry in high gear, America's hottest celebutantes participate fiercely to see who would make a better housewife.

Each episode brings a new family, a new challenge, and a new excuse to party.Beyond cooking, cleaning, laundry and yard work, the socialites also experience the simple joys of such life-changing events as "pregnancy" and "breastfeeding."

Not to be defeated by unusual circumstances, Paris and Nicole rise to their new roles and use their party planning skills to host a variety of events including a children's birthday party, a lesbian wedding and a family campout.

"The Simple Life: Til Death Do Us Part" will include 10 episodes on one disc, presented in full screen format. Audio will be in English (Dolby Surround 2.0), along with Spanish subtitles.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $19.98, but we think this will sell at most stores for about $15.00.

Pre-order "The Simple Life: Til Death Do Us Part" now and save 25%.

[Previously: Hilarious Heiresses]

DVD Releases for December 12, 2006

In today's crop of new DVDs we meet the darling of NASCAR, a fashion czar, some animals in need of R & R, a mobster with his hand caught in the cookie jar and a British agent without par.

Also this week: Oliver Stone takes a look at 9/11 heroes and who they are and Disney dishes out some warmed-over Narnia (close, but no cigar).

Let's start with a fast man and his faster car...

The Summer blockbuster, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" arrives today in PG-13-Rated (widescreen and full screen) editions as well as in unrated (widescreen and full screen) editions, on UMD (for the Sony Playstation Portable device) and on Blu-ray Disc (unrated).

The fastest man on four wheels, Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. A big, hairy American winning machine, Ricky has everything a daredevil could want: a luxurious mansion, a "smokin'" hot wife (Leslie Bibb) and all the fast food he can eat.

But Ricky's turbo-charged lifestyle hits an unexpected speed bump when he's bested by flamboyant Euro-idiot Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) and reduced to a fear-ridden wreck. Losing his wife and job to best bud and fellow fool, Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly), Ricky must kick some serious asphalt if he is to get his career back on track, beat Girard and reclaim his fame and fortune.

Special features include deleted and extended scenes, alternate lines, a gag reel, bonus race footage, commentary with director Adam McKay, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly and on-camera interviews with "Ricky" and "Cal."

Based on the best-selling novel, "The Devil Wears Prada" is a sinfully funny movie starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

As assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep), young Andy Sachs (Hathaway) has landed a job that "a million girls would die for." Unfortunately, her heaven-sent appointment as Miranda's personal whipping girl just might be the death of her.

Featuring stand-out performances by Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt, the DVD comes packed with over 20 minutes of deleted scenes, 5 featurettes and audio commentaries from director David Frankel, producer Wendy Finerman, costume designer Patricia Field, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, editor Mark Livolsi and director of photography Florian Balhaus.

The film is available in separate widescreen and full screen versions.

"World Trade Center," Oliver Stone's gripping and inspiring portrayal of the true story of two policemen trapped in the rubble on September 11, 2001, arrives today.

The film is available as a 2-Disc Commemorative Edition DVD, a Single-Disc DVD (in separate widescreen and full screen editions), as well as in 2-Disc HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions.

Starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Pena, Maria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhaal, "World Trade Center" was hailed by critics and audiences alike for its stirring portrayal of the remarkable courage and hope displayed by two of the last survivors pulled from Ground Zero and the rescuers who wouldn't give up on them.

The "World Trade Center" Commemorative Edition DVD, HD DVD and Blu-Ray sets all include commentary by Stone as well as a second commentary by real-life survivor Will Jimeno and real-life rescuers Scott Strauss, John Busching and Paddy McGee, nine deleted or extended scenes with optional commentary by Stone, a three-part "Making of World Trade Center" featurette, a two-part "Common Sacrifices" featurette, "Building Ground Zero," a visual and special effects featurette, "Oliver Stone's New York" and a photo gallery.

The Single-Disc DVD includes just the two commentaries and the deleted and extended scenes.

The "original party animals" come to DVD this week in "Barnyard," available in separate widescreen and full screen editions.

This laugh-filled, tuneful animated adventure stars Otis (voiced by Kevin James), a carefree party cow. To the consternation of his respected father Ben (Sam Elliott), Otis is happy to spend his days singing, dancing and playing tricks on humans.

But all good things must come to an end, and when Otis is suddenly forced into his father's position of responsibility, the animal antics multiply as he struggles to find the courage and talent to be a true leader.

MGM releases "James Bond Ultimate Edition, Volume 3" and "Volume 4," this week.

Included in these collections are "GoldenEye," "Live & Let Die," "From Russia With Love," "For Your Eyes Only," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Tomorrow Never Dies," "You Only Live Twice," "Dr. No," "Octopussy" and "Moonraker."

Each all-new DVD features never-before-seen footage from the Bond archives, including deleted scenes. Other bonus material includes rare interviews, long sought-after documentaries, new menus, interactive film guides, brand new featurettes and, for the first time ever on a Bond DVD, new audio commentaries by Sir Roger Moore.

When Walt Disney Home Entertainment and Walden Media first announced that they would release what they're calling the ultimate "Narnia" DVD collection, we threw a bit of a hissy fit.

We thought the whole proposition was unwise and unnecessary. We still think so.

But that didn't stop them from issuing "The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Extended Edition." It's out today in a 4-Disc boxed set (with and without those specially-designed "heirloom quality" bookends).

The two-time Oscar-winning gangster film "Bugsy" returns to DVD this week in an all-new Extended Cut.

"Bugsy" is the true story of legendary playboy gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel who betrayed the Mafia for love. Starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, the mobster film also boasts an all-star supporting cast including Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley and Elliott Gould.

Completely digitally remastered, this new "Bugsy: Extended Cut" 2-Disc DVD set comes loaded with extras including 13 minutes of additional footage and an all-new bonus disc including deleted scenes, a "Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel" documentary and filmographies.

And from television this week comes the First Seasons of "Stacked" and "Gomer Pyle," the Second Season of "Law & Order Criminal Intent," the Fifth Season of "Full House" and the Final Season of "The Andy Griffith Show."

As always, a list of top DVD releases for this week can be found in our left sidebar. You can also click "continue reading" (below) to read this extended post, which also includes a list of top DVD releases for this week.

Subscriptions to the DVD Dossier newsletter are FREE...
Sign up today and have new release information e-mailed to you every Sunday!

Boarding School Jewel

Arriving on DVD today from Wolfe Video is the controversial and award-winning lesbian romance, "Loving Annabelle," from director Katherine Brooks. 

Annabelle is the spoiled daughter of a US senator sent to a strict Catholic boarding school, where she initiates the dangerous seduction of her English teacher. Inspired by the 1931 German classic, "Maedchen In Uniform,"  the film offers a modern re-telling of a story of "forbidden love" that continues to be controversial to this day.

Simone (Diane Gaidry) is a prized young poetry teacher at Saint Theresa's Catholic school who finds peace and security within the boarding school walls. Annabelle (Erin Kelly) is a charismatic and enchanting new student who quickly draws attention for her rebellious behavior.

Instructed to keep an eye on Annabelle, Simone discovers that the real challenge is not her bad behavior but the attraction budding between the two. As Annabelle pursues her teacher, she unleashes the passion that has been locked deep inside Simone, who must now decide whether or not to enter an affair that could cost her everything. 

This DVD edition of "Loving Annabelle" includes an extensive behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

The film is presented in widescreen, with audio in English, at a Suggested Retail Price of $24.95, although most stores are selling this for about nineteen dollars.

This Bud's For You

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the "Air Bud" franchise, Walt Disney Home Entertainment debuts the Next Generation "Air Buddies" on Disney DVD today. 

It’s a daring rescue mission when five adorable golden retriever puppies (collectively known as “the Buddies”) must save their parents from evil dognappers.

An action-packed, tail-wagging adventure for the whole family, "Air Buddies" was designed to teach kids the thrills and pitfalls of independence, team work and the true meaning of family... while delighting them with a secret – these pups can talk.    

The cast includes Richard Karn, Cynthia Stevenson, and Patrick Cranshaw, along with the voices of Michael Clarke Duncan, Wallace Shawn, Debra Jo Rupp, Tom Everett Scott, Molly Shannon and the late - and legendary - Don Knotts.   

The film is presented in full screen with audio in English (Dolby Digital 5.1).

Loaded with bonus features, the DVD includes “Train Your Dog To Be A Star,” offering an opportunity  to learn how to teach your dog many of the stunts and tricks seen in the film. Also included is “Hollywood Backstage Pass,” that includes press  junket-style "interviews" with the puppies in which the dog stars answer questions and talk about the film, plus the “Puppy Profiler” that allows you to get up close and personal with the canine cast and helps you determine what puppy you are most like.

The Suggested Retail Price is $29.99, although we expect some major discounting of "Air Buddies" during the holiday shopping season; expect to pay as little as $20.00 for this title.

Queer As Folk

In April 1963 – right between Elvis Presley and Beatlemania – the weekly music concert show "Hootenanny" debuted on American television as a celebration of the popular folk music of the day.

Hosted by Jack Linkletter (Art's son) and broadcast on ABC stations from college campuses around the country, the show boasted early performances by such luminaries as John Phillips (later of The Mamas & The Papas) with The Journeymen, Carly Simon (with The Simon Sisters), June Carter (as part of The Carter Family), and solo-artist Barry McGuire (as a member of The New Christy Minstrels), along with stand-up comedy from the likes of Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, Jackie Vernon and Vaughn Meader.

Now available on DVD for the first time since its original airing, "The Best Of Hootenanny" will arrive as a 3-Disc boxed set packed with more than 80 live songs and five comedic performances on January 16th.

A complete rundown of the contents of all three discs appears after the jump.

Immensely popular while it lasted, the folk music craze ended abruptly after the Beatles arrived in America in 1964, and "Hootenanny" was yanked off the air. All of the videotapes from the show were lost, most likely discarded during a time when no one imagined folk music would matter again.

Fortunately, the shows were preserved on kinescopes made from a television monitor and now, more than four decades later, Shout! Factory has uncovered these musical time capsules so fans can relive a brief but important era in American popular music.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $44.98 and - this being a "special interest" title - we expect that most stores will be selling it for very close to that price.

Pre-order "The Best Of Hootenanny" now and save 10%.

Get Your Motor Running

Tomorrow, the very same day many will be flocking to the store to snatch up the fictional "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," A&E Home Video is hoping you'll also take a factual ride through the history of NASCAR with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in "Back In The Day With Dale Earnhardt Jr. - The Complete Season One."

This is a 2-Disc set which serves up an insider's perspective of America's #1 motorsport.

He grew up surrounded by the legends of NASCAR and, today, has become one of racing's most popular and charismatic stars. In his Speed Network series, Earnhardt Jr. steps back in time to look at the vintage racing program "Car and Track" and adapts it for contemporary racing fans with his own commentary, as well as a combination of vintage racing footage and modern technology.

Across the 13-episode series, Earnhardt, Jr., shares his passion for the old school style that brought NASCAR to life and defined the stock car scene where his father Dale Earnhardt, Sr., began a decades-spanning career and established them as one of the First Families of NASCAR.

Revisit the late '60s and early '70s - a time when racing greats like Earnhardt, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, and the Yarborough brothers reigned - with the perspective only afforded a true insider. Mixing incredible racing footage, facts, and trivia with Dale's reflections on the sport's history and evolution, "Back In The Day" uses modern technology to bring NASCAR's past into the 21st century.

Bonus features include an exclusive, behind-the-scenes interview with Dale Jr., vintage Dale Jr. childhood go-kart racing footage and a Three Doors Down music video featuring Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart.

The show is presented on DVD in full screen, with audio in English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo).

The Suggested Retail Price is $24.95, but you should be able to find this online for less than twenty bucks.

Pre-order "Back In The Day With Dale Earnhardt Jr. - The Complete Season One" now and save 25%.

Bells Are Ringing, For Me And My Dog

He is a uniquely modern, larger than life character - a throwback to an era when the law was in the hands of vigilantes. Duane "Dog" Chapman is the world's most successful bounty hunter, an ex-con who has captured over 6,000 people in his three-decade career and also the charismatic star of the most watched series in the history of the A&E television network.

But, recently, Dog chose to be shackled to someone for life: his bottle-blond partner, Beth. Together for more than ten years, Dog was determined, as he puts it, to "marry his common-law wife the Christian way."

And tomorrow, you're cordially invited to the event of the season when "Dog the Bounty Hunter: The Wedding Special" arrives on a value-priced DVD.

Join Dog, Beth and the posse, off to the Big Island for their wedding at the Hilton Waikoloa Resort & Spa. Hoping to relax for a few days and take care of final details, their plans are foiled as there's a fugitive that needs capturing (and, despite limited time, neither Dog nor Beth can resist the opportunity to bring a fugitive to justice).

So, while they wait for leads, canvass his known hangouts and cultivate informants, they mix in dress and tuxedo fittings, marriage licensing and bridal showers. As the hunt continues, the pressure mounts, because the wedding is fast approaching. But true to form, Dog and his team finally catch the fugitive on their last day in town and they can now fly to the Big Island and start the wedding festivities in earnest.

The Suggested Retail Price is $12.95, but you should be able to find this online for about ten bucks.

Pre-order "Dog the Bounty Hunter: The Wedding Special" today and save 25%.

From The Penthouse To The Poorhouse

MGM Home Entertainment will bring Hilary and Haylie Duff home for the holidays with the DVD release of "Material Girls" on December 12th.

Co-starring Anjelica Huston and Lukas Haas, the film is a family-friendly fun-filled riches-to-rags adventure about two sisters who have it all: designer clothes to wear, hunky guys to date and millions of dollars to spend.

Their life has been one big party since inheriting their dad's cosmetics company... but the party ends when a product scandal leaves the celebutantes without a penny to their name.

"Material Girls" will be presented in both widescreen and full screen on a single 2-sided disc. Audio will be in English (Dolby Digital 5.1) as well as in French and Spanish (Dolby Surround 2.0), along with subtitles in English and Spanish.

Bonus features will include full-length audio commentary with director Martha Coolidge, a "making of" featurette, behind the scenes footage of the Duff sisters and a new music video "Play With Fire" by Hilary Duff.

The Suggested Retail Price on this light-hearted comedy will be $29.98, but most stores will be selling "Material Girls" for about twenty dollars.

Pre-order "Material Girls" now and save 33%.

DVD Releases for December 5, 2006

In this week's new DVDs: a pirate has something he wants to get off his chest, two undercover cops get a little stressed, some high school kids sing with considerable zest and some Americans go to a "Beerfest."

An 11-year old boy shares his recipes for fried worms (tastes like chicken breast), an architect is caught in a hornet's nest, Liz and Dick are at their crest and "24" is back, along with a few other TV shows we're pleased to suggest.

But let's begin with that pirate and his quest...

Disney's biggest box office champ of all time - "Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" - arrives this week in a deluxe 2-Disc Special Edition and also as a single-disc DVD.

This action-packed film has grossed over a billion dollars to date (worldwide) and is the epic sequel to the blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl," for which Johnny Depp earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as the rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow.

In the first "Pirates" film, Captain Jack saved the day, but now he finds he has a debt to pay: he made a bargain for his soul with Davy Jones himself, the ghostly, fearsome ruler of the ocean depths. It looks like a one-way trip to Davy Jones's locker, but the crafty Captain Jack won't go down without a fight.

The dashing Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and beautiful Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) once again get caught up in Jack's adventures across the Seven Seas. Escaping hostile natives on an exotic island and fighting the mighty Kraken are just some of the challenges Jack faces, because nothing will stop him from finding the fabled "Dead Man's Chest" and winning his freedom.

"Miami Vice," the movie based on the groundbreaking TV show, comes to DVD in both R-rated and Unrated Director's Editions on Tuesday, as well as on an HD DVD combo disc.

An intense film about globalized crime from acclaimed writer-director-producer Michael Mann, "Miami Vice" explores the complex relationship between criminals and cops who risk everything as they navigate an international marketplace where third-world drug trafficking intersects with billion-dollar conglomerates.

"Miami Vice" stars Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell, as well as an international cast including Gong Li, Naomie Harris, Ciaran Hinds, Justin Theroux, Barry Shabaka Henley, Luis Tosar, Elizabeth Rodriguez and John Ortiz.

In "The Architect," Anthony LaPaglia stars in a harrowing and ultimately human story of two very different families.

Leo Waters (LaPaglia) is an idealistic architect and patriarch of an affluent, suburban Chicago family living with his troubled wife (Isabella Rossellini), blossoming daughter (Hayden Panettiere) and conflicted son (Sebastian Stan).

Tonya Neely (Viola Davis) is a pragmatic activist who is trying to keep her family together while living in one of the city's most drug and crime-infested housing projects.

As part of her ongoing campaign to have the projects torn down and decent housing built, Tonya decides that the one signature she needs more than any other on her petition is that of the projects' original architect, Leo Waters.

"The Architect" is available on standard definition DVD and also on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

Disney double dips this week with a new 2-Disc "Remix Edition" of the Emmy Award-winning "High School Musical," which promises even more musical magic, in addition to all the features found on the original single disc DVD.

A "break into song" production, the movie pits members of a high school's drama club against the "jocks" and "brainiacs" as they learn to believe in themselves and follow their dreams.

Starring are Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, Oleysa Rulin and Alyson Reed. 

This new "Remix Edition" of "High School Musical" includes a "Dance-Along" featurette led by the movie's principal cast, so you (or your kids) can have fun on the dance floor with the stars of the film. And a new "High School Reunion" featurette reunites the cast for an exclusive interview on the remarkable impact of the movie, which was the #1 best-selling DVD during its home entertainment debut earlier this year and the fastest selling TV-on-DVD title in home entertainment history.

Based on the best-selling and award-winning book by Thomas Rockwell, "How to Eat Fried Worms" tells the story of a boy whose bravado lands him in a difficult predicament.

The film revolves around 11-year-old Billy who inadvertently challenges the school bully on his first day at a new school. In order to save face and earn the respect of his new classmates, Billy agrees to a bet that requires him to eat 10 worms in one day.

As the pressure mounts, Billy must summon all his strength to keep his younger brother from blabbing, his weak stomach from betraying him and his big mouth from getting him in even more trouble.

The film stars Tom Cavanagh, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Luke Benward and Hallie Kate Eisenberg and comes with both widescreen and full screen versions of the film on a single disc.

"Beerfest" - a comedy from the Broken Lizard comedy group who created the cult hit "Super Troopers" -  takes us to a super-secret underground chug-a-lug competition in Germany, where, after a bad beginning, the American team hopes to dominate.

Appearing in the film - along with the Broken Lizard five of Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske - are Will Forte, Ralf Moeller, Mo'Nique, Eric Christian Olsen, Juergen Prochnow and Cloris Leachman.

"Beerfest" is available in its original theatrical version, as well as a "completely totally unrated" edition in both widescreen and full screen.

After Bogie and Bacall, but before Brad and Angelina or Tom and Katie… there was Liz and Dick, the '60s most famous on-and off-screen couple.

Warner Home Video honors these two cinematic legends this week with the debut of "The Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Film Collection."

Featured are the 5-time Oscar-winning landmark film, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in a new 2-Disc Special Edition, along with the DVD debuts of "The Sandpiper," "The V.I.P.s" and "The Comedians."

Highlights of the Collection's special features include - for "Virginia Woolf" - new commentary by director Mike Nichols (with Steven Soderbergh), three featurettes about the movie and a 1966 interview with Nichols.

A new 2-Disc Collector's Edition of "Rocky" - the ultimate underdog story and the 1976 Best Picture Oscar Winner - is out this week, just as Sylvester Stallone heads back to the big screen in a new "Rocky" film.

"Rocky" made a bonafide celebrity of its writer and star and received 10 Academy award nominations, including wins in the categories of Best Director (John G. Avildsen), Best Film Editing and Best Picture.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this heavyweight classic still packs a punch with its memorable theme music, quintessentially quotable script and powerhouse performances from Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith.

The "Rocky: Collector's Edition" DVD features all-new commentary by Stallone, as well as commentaries from Academy Award-winning producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, Boxing Legends trainer Lou Duva and International Boxing Hall of Fame writer, boxing historian and reporter Bert Sugar in an all-new disc of bonus material, including a 90-minute documentary, featurettes, deleted scenes and more.

Also available is a newly repackaged edition of "The Rocky Anthology," featuring all five hard-hitting films from the legendary saga - from his unforgettable match against Apollo Creed to his triumphant comeback against former protege Tommy Gunn - available for the first time in a space-saving thinpack collection.

Jack Bauer is back and ready to right the wrongs of the country's most powerful and surprising enemies in the Fifth Season of "24."

Recent winner of 5 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Kiefer Sutherland), the Fifth Season of the critically-acclaimed series features even more plot twists and a higher body count than you may have thought possible, along with several new faces in the cast including Sean Astin, Peter Weller and Jean Smart.

Showcasing one of the most innovative drama series on television, this new 7-Disc boxed set of "24" is packed with bonus features including a DVD exclusive Season Six "prequel," an insider's look at the show's 100th episode, deleted and extended scenes, cast and crew commentary, four behind-the-scenes featurettes and exclusive DVD-ROM content.

Other good TV-on-DVD choices this week include "Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season," "Mission Impossible: The Complete First Season," "Roseanne: The Complete Sixth Season" and Volume 2 of "Pinky and the Brain" and "Anamaniacs."

As always, a list of top DVD releases for this week can be found in our left sidebar. You can also click "continue reading" (below) to read this extended post, which also includes a list of top DVD releases for this week.

Subscriptions to the DVD Dossier newsletter are FREE...
Sign up today and have new release information e-mailed to you every Sunday!

Ladies of Spain, We Adore You

"Queens" is a whimsical, contemporary ensemble comedy starring five of Spain's most celebrated and beloved actresses: Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, Mercedes Sampietro, Verónica Forqué and Betiana Blum.

As Spain prepares for its first-ever mass gay wedding, so must five mothers. Over the course of one weekend, these uncompromising women must learn to cope with a variety of family conflicts surrounding the marriages of each of their sons.

While these very different mothers learn to deal with their own desires and prejudices, a clash of sex, bigotry and love ensues. Amongst the hilarious chaos, all five women must find the strength and love they need in order to give their sons away.

Directed by Manuel Gómez Pereira, "Queens" also stars Raul Garcia, Gustavo Salmeron and Daniel Hendler. The film is out - so to speak - tomorrow from Genius Products and here! Films (a division of  the gay television network here!).

The film will be presented in full screen, with audio in Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), along with English subtitles.

The Suggested Retail Price will be $24.95. This being a "special interest" title, it's doubtful that it will be heavily discounted at all. Expect most stores to sell it for only a dollar or two off the SRP.

Pre-order "Queens" now and save 10%.

Married and Harried

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release "Married … with Children: The Complete Sixth Season" on December 19th. All 26 episodes featuring the most wretched family ever to tickle the funnybone will be included in this 3-Disc boxed set.

Changing the face of family sitcoms forever, "Married … with Children" premiered on Fox television network in 1987 and lasted for 267 episodes over 11 seasons. The series was nominated for seven Golden Globes and seven Emmy Awards over the course of its run, including best actor and best actress nominations for Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal.

In the Sixth Season, the Bundy family – led by ever-scheming Al (O’Neil), tousled housewife Peg (Sagal), promiscuous yet naive daughter Kelly (Christina Applegate) and sexually frustrated son Bud (David Faustino) - conttinue to live their daily lives in complete disarray. 

Kelly lands her own talk show, Al gets a job as a private detective, Bud dates an extreme sporter, Peg and Marcy (Amanda Bearse) discover that they are both pregnant, and Steve Rhoades (David Garrison) returns to reclaim his wife.  The season climaxes with a three-part episode in which the Bundys visit England.

A complete episode breakdown appears after the jump.

Guest stars this season include Joey Lauren Adams, Matt LeBlanc, Jon Lovitz, Denise Richards, Traci Lords, William Sanderson, Wendie Jo Sperber, Fred Willard, Edd Byrnes, baseball player Steve Carlton, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, football player Ed “Too Tall” Jones and the heavy metal band Anthrax.

The show will be presented in full screen with audio

The Suggested Retail Price will be $39.95, which should translate to an actual "street price" of about $30.00 at most stores.

Pre-order "Married … with Children: The Complete Sixth Season" now and save 30%.

Lemon Pledge

In "Pledge This!" Paris Hilton really stretches herself by playing a party girl with a mean streak.

In the film, her sorority is vying to become the hottest in the nation and... well, that's about all you need to know about the plot of this latest installment in the National Lampoon franchise.

The DVD will be released December 19th by Vivendi Visual Entertainment in its original theatrical format as well as in a never-before-released unrated version.

Co-starring in the film are Paula Garces, Holly Valance, Simon Rex, Geoffrey Arend, Kerry Kenney, Sarai Howard, and Sarah Carter. Also featured are Amanda Lee Aday, Bianca Lawson, Noureen Dewulf, Diva Zappa, Rick Najera, Alex Thorpe, Amanda Rowan, Sofia Vergara, Carmen Electra and Randy Spelling.

Paris Hilton is listed as one of the film's executive producers; we're glad to see she has a day job.

The Suggested Retail Price on "Pledge This" will be $26.99, but most stores will be offering only a dollar or two discount on this title.

Pre-order "National Lampoon's "Pledge This!" now and save 10%.

What's New, Pussycat?

"Garfield" is the most widely syndicated comic strip in the world with over 263 million readers daily. With his endearing combination of sass, cynicism and sarcasm, everyone's favorite fat cat has also sold more than six million DVDs to date.

And now "Garfield" will be back on DVD this Tuesday, December 5th, when Fox Home Entertainment releases "Garfield & Friends: Behind the Scenes."

Loaded with Garfield's distinctive brand of attitude, this special collection will feature 15 episodes from the popular "Garfield & Friends" television series. Hand-picked by Garfield creator Jim Davis, these episodes will offer you a one-of-a-kind look inside Garfield's world.

Whether he's hosting his own special about cats in space or animating his own cat cartoon or teaching kittens how to annoy their humans or gobbling lasagna or taking up room on the couch or toying with his dog pal Odie, Garfield is one hip Hollywood cat.

A complete episode breakdown follows after the jump.

The DVD will be presented in full screen with English Stereo and Spanish Mono, along with English and Spanish subtitles.

You can buy this "Garfield" DVD two ways.

In addition to the regular standalone DVD, "Garfield & Friends: Behind the Scenes" will also come packaged with a Ty, Inc. Garfield beanie mini plush - exclusive to this DVD - for just a few dollars more.

The DVD/beanie combo will cary a Suggested Retail Price of $19.98 and without the plush, it'll run you only $14.98. These are suggested prices; we think most stores will knock three to five dollars off those SRPs.

Pre-order "Garfield & Friends: Behind the Scenes" now and save 25%.