Soon on the shelves -- upcoming DVD releases (Revised 1/3/08)

From Warner Home Video:
1/1/08 Shoot 'Em Up
1/8/08 All-New Superfriends Hour: Season 1 Vol. 1 (Warner Home Video) 1 1/8/08 Aviator, The
1/8/08 Broadway Melody of 1929
1/8/08 Cimarron (1931)
1/8/08 Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane
1/8/08 I am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and Peta
1/8/08 The Life of Emile Zola
1/8/08 Lovejoy: The Complete Season Two
1/8/08 Mrs. Miniver
1/8/08 NFL Greatest Super Bowl Moments: XLI Update
1/8/08 Personal Best
1/8/08 Two and a Half Men: The Complete Second Season
1/8/08 The Waltons: The Complete Sixth Season
1/8/08 What's New Scooby-Doo: Complete Third Season
1/15/08 Alex Haley's Queen
1/15/08 All Creatures Great & Small Complete Collection
1/15/08 Allo 'Allo!: The Complete Series 7
1/15/08 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition
1/15/08 The Marva Collins Story
1/15/08 The New Adventures of Old Christine: The Complete First Season 1/15/08 The Royle Family: The Complete Second Season
1/22/08 ER: The Complete Eighth Season
1/22/08 Hustle: The Complete Season 4
1/22/08 NHL: Just Like Me - Profile of NHL legends and the new crop of NHL stars 1/22/08 Torchwood: The Complete First Season
1/22/08 Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume Five
1/29/08 Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Sixth Season
1/29/08 Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton
1/29/08 NFL The Leaders: Breaking Racial Barriers in the NFL
1/29/08 The Val Lewton Collection, The (w/ Martin Scorceses Documentary)
From Sony:
1/15/08 Earth Vs. Flying Saucers
1/15/08 It Came From Beneath the Sea
From A&E:
1/15/08: Criss Angel Mindfreak: Complete Season 3
From Paramount:
1/1/08: The Tudors: The Complete First Season
1/8/08: Gunsmoke: The Second Season, Volume One
1/8/08: Rob & Big: The Complete Seasons 1&2 - Uncensored
1/8/08: The Naked Brothers Band Season One 2 Disc Box Set
1/8/08: Zodiac Director's Cut (2-Discs) DVD
1/15/08: Clue
1/15/08: Dora The Explorer: Undercover Dora
1/15/08: Dragonlance
1/15/08: Oswald's Ghost
1/15/08: Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season
1/22/08: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 3: Fire Volume 2
1/22/08: Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season
1/22/08: The Odd Couple: The Third Season
1/29/08: JAG: The Fifth Season
1/29/08: Pioneers of Television
1/29/08: SpongeBob SquarePants To Love a Patty
Also
1/22/08 Make Room For Daddy Season 6
From Disney:
1/22/08 The Game Plan
1/29/08 Hannah Montana: One In A Million
1/29/08 Twitches Too: Double Charmed Edition
From Shout Factory:
1/22/08 Swamp Thing: The Series Video
1/22/2008 Medabots: The Complete First Season
From Rhino:
1/29/08 Barry Manilow – Songs From The Seventies (DVD)
From Universal:
1/1/08 Seaquest DSV Season 2
Also:
1/1/08: Weird Science: The Complete Seasons 1 and 2
From Warner Home Video:
2/5/08 Americanizing Shelley
2/5/08 Black Woman's Guide to Getting Married
2/5/08 George Lopez: America's Mexican
2/5/08 Legion of Superheroes: Volume 2
2/5/08 Perfect Strangers: The Complete First & Second Seasons
2/5/08 Third Watch: The Complete First Season
2/5/08 You've Got Mail: Deluxe Edition
2/12/08 Batman: Mask of Phantasm Batman and Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero 2/12/08 Battle of the Bulge Featuring Bone Crusher
2/12/08 Beatrix Potter Collection
2/12/08 Blade: The Series
2/12/08 Dallas: The Complete Eighth Season
2/12/08 Joan Crawford Collection Vol. 2
2/12/08 NBA Street Series - Volume 5
2/12/08 Tell Me You Love Me: The Complete First Season
2/12/08 Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle & Mr. Jeremy Fisher & Other Stories (Beatrix Potter)
2/12/08 Tale of Pigling Bland and Other Stories (Beatrix Potter)
2/12/08 WB Home Entertainment Presents: Academy Award® Animation Collection 15 Winners, 26 Nominees
2/12/08 Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Presents: Academy Awards® Animation Collection, 15 Winners
2/12/08 World of Peter Rabbit & Friends, The (Beatrix Potter)
2/19/08 Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town: Deluxe Edition
2/19/08 Father Ted: The Definitive Collection (DVD)
2/19/08 Helen Mirren at the BBC
2/19/08 In the Valley of Elah
2/19/08 Les Miserables (1995) (BBC)
2/19/08 Michael Clayton
2/19/08 My Dog Skip/ Shiloh 3: Saving Shiloh (DBFE)
2/19/08 Peanuts: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition 2/19/08 Riverdance: Live from Radio City Music Hall: Collector's Edition 2/19/08 Swordfish/Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DBFE)
2/26/08 Justice League: The New Frontier
2/26/08 Justice League: The New Frontier Special Edition
2/26/08 The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 1
From A&E:
2/26/08: Los Angeles Dodgers 1988 World Series Collector's Set
From Sony
2/5/08: Across the Universe
From Shout Factory:
2/5/08 Maggie And The Ferocious Beast Recipes For Trouble
2/5/08 Maggie And The Ferocious Beast Rain Showers & Spring Flowers
2/5/2008 Comic Relief: The Greatest…And The Latest
2/5/2008 Kurt Cobain: About A Son
2/19/2008 Punky Brewster: Season Four
From Paramount Home Video:
2/5/08 Beauty and the Beast: The Third Season
2/5/08 Best of Comedy Central Presents
2/5/08 Black Rain / Fatal Attraction Double Feature
2/5/08 Blackout
2/5/08 Blue Hawaii / Paradise, Hawaiian Style Double Feature
2/5/08 King Creole / G.I. Blues Double Feature
2/5/08 Soul Food - The Series: The Third Season
2/5/08 The Hours / Heartburn Double Feature
2/5/08 The Hunt for Red October / K-19: The Widowmaker Double Feature
2/5/08 The Jewish Americans Standard DVD
2/5/08 The Talented Mr. Ripley / School Ties Double Feature
2/12/08 Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav: Uncensored!
2/12/08 Family Ties: The Third Season
2/12/08 Girlfriends: The Third Season
2/12/08 Into the Wild Special Edition DVD
2/12/08 Into the Wild Special Edition HD
2/12/08 Into the Wild Standard DVD
2/12/08 Things We Lost in the Fire Standard DVD
2/12/08 Things We Lost in the Fire Standard HD
2/12/08 Wonder Pets: Save The Dinosaur Standard DVD
2/19/08 Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Shape Detectives/Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 2-Pack
2/19/08 Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Shape Detectives/Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 2-Pack
2/19/08 Charlotte's Web (1973)/Charlotte's Web 2 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Charlotte's Web (1973)/Charlotte's Web 2 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer: Super Silly Fiesta!/Nick Jr. Favorites 4 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer: Super Silly Fiesta!/Nick Jr. Favorites 4 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer:Big Sister Dora/City of Lost Toys 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer:Big Sister Dora/City of Lost Toys 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Drake & Josh: Go Hollywood/Suddenly Brothers - Volume 1 2 Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Drake & Josh: Go Hollywood/Suddenly Brothers - Volume 1 2 Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Flushed Away Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Flushed Away Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Jakers!: Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm Standard DVD
2/19/08 Max & Ruby: Springtime for Max & Ruby/Afternoons with Max & Ruby 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Max & Ruby: Springtime for Max & Ruby/Afternoons with Max & Ruby 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Nick Jr. Celebrates Spring/Blue's Clues:Blue's Room: It's Hug Day 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Nick Jr. Celebrates Spring/Blue's Clues:Blue's Room: It's Hug Day 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Rugrats: Tales From the Crib: Snow White/Three Jacks & a Beanstalk 2-Pack Standard
2/19/08 Rugrats: Tales From the Crib: Snow White/Three Jacks & a Beanstalk 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Shark Tale / Antz 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack with Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Shrek 2 Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron / The Road to El Dorado 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 SpongeBob Squarepants: Home Sweet Pineapple/SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric 2-Pack
2/19/08 The Prince of Egypt / Joseph: King of Dreams 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Walker, Texas Ranger: The Fourth Season Standard DVD
2/26/08 Backyardigans: Tale Of The Mighty Knights Standard DVD
2/26/08 Caillou's Family Favorites Standard DVD
2/26/08 Max & Ruby: Berry Bunny Adventures Standard DVD
2/26/08 The Fugitive: The First Season, Volume Two Standard DVD
From Disney:
2/5/08 Aristocats: Special Edition
2/5/08 Snow Buddies
2/12/08 Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive: Star Of Isis (Vol. 4)
2/12/08 Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive: Pink Emerald (Volume 5)
2/19/08 Little Einsteins(TM): Race For Space
2/19/08 Handy Manny: Fixing It Right
From Warner Home Video:
3/4/08 Ben 10 Season 3
3/4/08 Doctor Who: Ep. 81 - Planet of Evil
3/4/08 Doctor Who: Ep.104 - Destiny of the Daleks
3/4/08 Forbidden Hollywood Collection Vol. II (TCM Archives)
/4/08 Horton Hears A Who: Deluxe Edition
3/4/08 The Other Boleyn Girl
3/4/08 The UCLA Dynasty
3/11/08 Dinosaurs Unearthed (NG)
3/11/08 Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1976
3/11/08 Michael Palin: New Europe (DVD)
3/11/08 Nancy Drew (2007)
3/11/08 One Foot in the Grave: Season 3
3/11/08 Stompin'
3/11/08 Tom and Jerry: Tales Vol. 4
3/11/08 Wiggles: Pop Go the Wiggles
3/11/08 Extreme Alaska: Denali National Park (NG)
3/18/08 The Pebbles And Bamm-Bamm Show
3/25/08 Bonnie and Clyde
3/25/08 Bonnie and Clyde: Special Edition
3/25/08 Bonnie and Clyde: Ultimate Collector's Edition
3/25/08 Greatest NBA Rivalries Volume I
3/25/08 NBA Boston Celtics 1985-86
3/25/08 NHL All-Access (2008)
3/25/08 Warner Gangsters Collection Volume 1
3/25/08 Warner Gangsters Collection Volume 2
From Paramount:
3/4/08 Human Giant: The Complete First Season Standard DVD
3/4/08 The Love Boat: Season One Volume One Standard DVD
3/11/08 Lil' Bush: Resident of the United States - Season One Standard DVD
3/11/08 Love American Style Season 1, Volume 2 Standard DVD
3/11/08 South Park: The Imaginationland Trilogy Standard DVD
3/11/08 The Mod Squad: The First Season, Volume Two Standard DVD
3/18/08 BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 Standard DVD
3/18/08 Go Diego Go!: Moonlight Rescue Standard DVD
3/18/08 The Untouchables: Season Two, Volume One Standard DVD
3/18/08 The Wild Wild West: The Fourth Season Standard DVD
3/25/08 Baldwin Hills: The Complete First Season Standard DVD
3/25/08 Wings: The Sixth Season Standard DVD
From Disney:
3/4/08 101 Dalmatians Platinum Edition
3/4/08 My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Friendly Tails
3/4/08 The Rookie Blu-ray™ Hi-Def
3/4/08 Disney Baby Einstein™ Babys First Sounds
3/11/08 Disney Baby Einstein™: Baby's First Sounds: Discoveries for Little Ears
3/18/08 Johnny and the Sprites: Meet the Sprites
From Warner Home Video:
4/1/08 Doctor Who: Ep. 70 - Time Warrior, The
4/1/08 John From Cincinnati: The Complete First Season
4/1/08 Terry Jones: Medieval Lives
4/1/08 The Return of Swamp Thing
4/8/08 Broadway Melody of 1936/Broadway Melody of 1938
4/8/08 Kismet (1955)
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Collection
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Impressionism and the Post Impressionists 4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Masterpieces of Sculpture
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Renaissance Masterpieces
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Seventeenth Century Masterpieces
4/22/08 My Boy Jack (2007)
From Paramount:
4/15/08 Melrose Place: The Fourth Season Standard DVD
4/15/08 Nick Jr. Favorites: Lullaby Time Standard DVD
4/15/08 SpongeBob SquarePants Pest of the West Standard DVD
From Warner Home Video
5/13/08 Legends, Icons & Superstars of the 20th Century
1/1/09 Brando: The Documentary

Me and Dick Cavett

I was surprised to accidentally discover that Dick Cavett regularly blogs for the New York Times.
Now Dick Cavett and I go way back.
Not that we ever met or encountered each other, you understand. (Yeah, I know. You saw the title and thought, "Here's some neat little gossip." Well, sorry to disappoint you.)
I was a regular viewer of Cavett's late-night show on ABC. So I guess you could say we did meet, in a way. Late-night host Cavett was witty, charming and hip, all in one neat little box.
The great thing about "The Dick Cavett Show" was the guests. In a day when Johnny Carson was still the King of Late Night," Cavett had some incredibile guests.
On one show, he had John Lennon and Yoko Ono by themselves. On another, he hosted a bunch of rock musicians who'd just come from the Woodstock Music Festival. On another, he interviewed Bette Davis in an empty studio.
It was this repartee and knack for intimacy with his guests that made him beat Carson in substance where he couldn't beat him in ratings.
(Many of the great moments of "The Dick Cavett Show" have been released on a series of wondeful DVDs from Shout Factory. We recommend them highly.)
Cavett's writing today is much like his show was then. He's still low-key and very modest, though he loves to make remarks at his expense.
In his current column, he wanders into the subject of coming back to TV.

"A goodly number of you out there have written varied versions of “Why don’t you come back on TV?” I’m not sure. It does help if you’re asked."

It does, Dick. Hell, if we had the power and the resources, we'd ask. We hope there's someone smart enough who will.
So thanks for your great show.
And we highly recommend his column. We're glad the New York Times was smart enough to give him the blog.
Maybe some bright network guy will look away from the reality show blitz that is flooding TV these days and give Dick another shot.
He deserves it. As do we.

If you're not done Christmas shopping

DVDs make a great and easy gift if you're still trying to decide on things. Here are a few recommendations from us:

The Sopranos - Season 6, Part 2 and The Sopranos - Season 6, Part 2 [HD DVD]: The final set of the series goes out with a whimper and not a bang. This one should have been loaded with special features, but isn't. The series, though, stands on its own merits. It wasn't always even quality, but it was heads above most other shows.

The McCartney Years: A comprehensive history of Paul McCartney videos. Completists complain it doesn't have everything and the live shows on the third disc are excerpted, but for most, this set works nicely.

Perry Mason - Season Two, Vol. 2: The most recent release of this fine series. Raymond Burr was steel jawed and tough as nails. A classic series.

Cult Camp Classics 1 - Sci-Fi Thrillers (Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman 1958 / Giant Behemoth / Queen of Outer Space): Warner Home Video released four of these sets in 2007. This was just the first. It contains "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" and "Queen of Outer Space". How can you go wrong?

Cult Classics 20 Movie Pack (4 DVD): And speaking of cult classics, this inexpensive little set has a collection of vintage exploitation films, including "Reefer Madness" and the infamous "Child Bride" (with the quick nude glimpse of its young star). They don't make 'em like this any more.
You can still get all of these by Christmas with one-day shipping.

"Dark Knight," part 3

Seeing the trailers in our last two posts have gotten us really wound up for "The Dark Knight". "Batman Begins" was so much beyond our expectations. It looks like "The Dark Knight" could be just as good. Here are a few more goodies from YouTube.


A teaser trailer.


Some silent footage of a Joker bank robbery scene. Most of the action takes place at the end.


More filming in Chicago

More Dark Knight stuff

Yesterday, we posted three official trailers from the "Batman Begins" sequel, coming in the summer. Here's a few more goodies.


A truck stunt, seen in one of the trailers, as it was filmed.


And a little more behind-the-scenes footage

And is that Heath Ledger as the Joker?

You can't keep anything a secret anymore ...

A teaser for "The Dark Knight"

Just happened to scout around on YouTube tonight for the trailer from the forthcoming "Batman" film called "The Dark Knight."
Good grief, Batman! There are a ton of videos there. Now, certainly, the majority are fake, but there are some vids with stills and at least a couple with footage that appears to be legit. The two posted here are, it appears, actual teasers.
Can't wait till next summer.

(For a little more info, MTV has a long article about the film here.)



Another "Dark Knight" teaser


This last one has the best look at the Joker. Cesar Romero he won't be.



Late addition: Here's the seven-minute prologue for the film. Not the greatest quality, but ....

The reason for the celebration in Red Sox Nation

The Boston Red Sox 2007 World Series Collector's Edition (8 disc/A&E): Didn't this happen four years ago? The Red Sox had a do-or-die hole to dig themselves out from against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series in 2004.
Fast forward to 2007. The Red Sox are again in trouble,
down three games to one against the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series.
But then, it happened. Josh Beckett pitches a gem against C.C. Sabathia in Game 5 to bring the Sox within one game. Then Curt Schilling, though not as dramatic as he was in the 2004 series in the famed bloody sock game, gets the win in Game 6 to tie the series. Then Westbrook pitches a tight six innings in Game 7, then the pen takes over and the Sox explode to win the ALCS and move onto the Big Stage, the World Series.
All that and more is what makes "The Red Sox 2007 World Series Collector's Edition (A&E), a new eight-disc set that makes a nice souvenir for any Red Sox fan and a crying towel for Indians or Colorado Rockies fans.
I say nice because it could have been much nicer. Four years ago, A&E started this series of collector's boxes with a 12 disc set after the 2004 World Series. It contained all seven games of the exciting ALCS between the Sox and the Yankees, all four games of the Sox's sweep of the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals and the World Series disc that was also released separately.
The first set was pretty basic and very complete. The games were presented in their entirety and included everything but the commercials.
The new set makes some trims. The first four games of the ALCS aren't included. Neither is the official World Series disc.
The biggest change, though, is that despite the fact the box labels the games as uncut, they aren't. Trims are noticeable in the video. Fade-ins to commercials, for example, are cut short. No action is missing, though. Completists will be bothered, but the trims seem so nit-picky you wonder why someone bothered to do them.
On the other side, though, the new box adds a nice feature missing in the 2004 set: the radio broadcasts for the Red Sox and Rockies' World Series games are available as alternate audio for the game broadcasts. A nice touch for the hometown fans.
Obviously, this set is targeted at Boston fans.
It's too bad it couldn't include more discs, but the set is nicely priced as it is (around $40 discounted).
And for any Boston fan still needing a refresher of the great 2007 postseason, it's (almost) all here.

Special edition watch

In which we try to give you information on some of the better limited edition specials:
Best Buy Music and Movies

Bourne Ultimatum: Steelbook cover.
Wal-Mart - Movies

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End": The widescreen single disc is bundled with the PC game.

"Live Free, Die Hard: Bonus disc with single disc versions called "Die Hard 4.1 - John McClane: Back In Action".

"Shrek 3" Single disc bundled with Beanie Baby.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix": Single disc version is bundled with a set of pins.
Search here for Amazon.com , Target and Borders Books DVD exclusives

Spider-Man 3 - 3 Disc Deluxe Widescreen Edition (w/Bonus Disc, Collectable Packaging and Production Notebook): Target has a three-disc set that includes cover art and production notes. (It's available through the link.)
(To search for these and more, use the links above and search under movies using the term "exclusive." And if you know of other good exclusives, add a comment.)

Following in the footsteps of the Beatles

The Beatles were quite a world traveling bunch even before they conquered the musical world in 1964. A series of DVDs by Artsmagic retraces those footsteps and gets fans back to where the Beatles once belonged.
The Beatles - Liverpool (Two-Disc Edition), The Beatles London, The Beatles, Hamburg and the Hamburg Sound and John Lennon's New York - A Magical History Tour all focus on Beatles sites in their home country, in Germany where they gained musical experience away from home, and in New York City, where John Lennon spent the final years of his life. Each of the discs features narration by Beatle fans and historians and guest appearances by Beatles associates.
"The Beatles - Liverpool (Two-Disc Edition)," hosted by Liverpool Beatle expert Spencer Leigh and Beatle historian Ray O'Brien, takes you to well-known and little known places in the Beatles hometown and is a pure delight. Along the way, they meet up with Bill Harry, editor of the influential newspaper Mersey Beat, which covered the Beatles early days in print, Allan Williams, better known as the man who gave the Beatles away and Kingsize Taylor, who performed on a Hamburg bill with the band. Harry and Williams have been interviewed numerous times for Beatle history projects, but their stories have an added charm here when coupled with seeing the actual places the Beatles spent their rise to fame. (By the way, all titles reviewed here have been released in two versions, a single "concise" version and a longer expanded. If you're a diehard Beatles fan, go for the longer versions. They're well worth the small extra cost.)

Leigh also hosts "The Beatles, Hamburg and the Hamburg Sound," a special look at the Beatles' sites in Hamburg and their link to British rock 'n' roll. Sites visited include the Indra Club, the Star Club and the Kaiserkeller. The trip concludes with a visit by Kingsize Taylor, now a resident of Hamburg.
In similar fashion, "The Beatles London," takes you around various Beatle-related sites in the British capitol. It's hosted by Richard Porter, whose daily Beatle walking tours take tourists on a magical mystery tour that occasionally have been known to encounter some well-known people. Here, Porter takes viewers to Abbey Road, Decca Studios, where they tried (and failed) to get a pre-EMI record contract, and a few of their earlier homes. He's joined by a host of Beatle experts including Bill Harry, author Keith Badman and special guest Chris Dreja of the Yardbirds. Having led the walking tours, Porter is quite knowledgeable and uses that expertise to guide viewers on the DVD. Lovers of Beatle minutia will love the little-known facts that Porter and friends discuss.
"John Lennon's New York - A Magical History Tour" takes a special trip (over three hours of original footage) around the places in his life that were important to John Lennon during his years in the Big Apple. The Dakota, of course, is included, as is Strawberry Fields in Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, plus many lesser known places. Your tour guides are Trina Yannicos, editor of Daytrippin', and Susan Ryan, editor of the fan fiction webzine Rooftop Sessions. Their guests include photographers Bob Gruen and Allen Tannenbaum, John's Japanese instructor Tamiko Steinberg and musician David Peel, whose interview shows him to be every bit the unique person seen in his music.
Yannicos, in an email to us, commented on the interviews:

Yes, David Peel is quite eccentric. But once you get past that, you see he is a really sincere, nice person and you can see why John and Yoko were friends with him in the early 70s.
All the interviews were fascinating to me. I learned a lot from speaking with each person. The one that stood out was with Tamiko Steinberg. She is a hidden treasure! Here is someone who spent eight hours a day with John Lennon for two straight months. She got to know him quite well and she tells some great stories about her experiences with him.

To sum it up, these are fascinating DVDs. If you've dreamed of getting to Liverpool, London, Hamburg or New York and touring Beatle sites, this is a good way to plan your trip or see what you'll never get to.

It's (still) a wonderful life, Mr. Scrooge

Without a doubt, two of the more cherished holiday movies are "It's a Wonderful Life" and the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol".
Both films have been issued in upgraded DVDs this year. Although we groused in a recent post about the habit of issuing films over and over, both of these upgrades are well worth it.
VCI's upgrade of A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color) (sometimes known as "Scrooge") is a real holiday present. It marks the first time that the original 35 mm film elements have been used. The difference is immediately noticeable in the sharpness and contrast of the new version to the old one.
The sound has also been upgraded. In addition to the original mono, the disc features a stereo surround sound track, an audio commentary featuring George Cole, who played the young Ebenezer Scrooge, and an audio narrative for the blind.
In addition, a 16x9 widescreen ratio version is also available, though we prefer the original aspect ratio.
The color version of the film that has circulated for several years is on disc 2, maybe the only criticism of the set, as is Seymour Hicks' 1935 version of "Scrooge," probably one of the dreariest versions of the Dickens story out there. It makes for a good comparison with the 1951 version.
Other special features include a photo gallery that includes shots of the original press kit, trailers, restoration comparison, a Charles Dickens featurette and a booklet. Suffice to say this thing is loaded with more than enough features to warrant buying it, even if you already have it.
Another holiday favorite that's been around a lot on DVD is "It's a Wonderful Life," which has reissued this year in It's A Wonderful Life (Two-Disc Collector's Set) (B/W & Color). The big sell with this set is not the black-and-white version, which looks good as usual, but the new color version, which looks much more lifelike and real than similar color versions floating around. This one is actually watchable, even for those who detest them. The extras include "The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life'," narrated by Tom Bosley, a tribute to Frank Capra by his son, Frank Jr., and the original trailer.
These movies are true holiday classics. And these new DVD versions only make the holiday that much more enjoyable.

Warner Home Video has announced two more new upgraded DVDs: "Riverdance" and "Les Miserables." Both will be expanded to two-disc sets that will include new documentaries. They'll be out Feb. 19.

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Check out our DVD Watch "A Christmas Carol" store featuring all the different versions of "A Christmas Carol" on DVD.

Just announced -- new "Bonnie and Clyde" upgrade

Warner Home Video has just sent notice that a new two-disc upgrade of "Bonnie and Clyde" is coming Feb. 19. There will be two versions: a Special Edition, retailed for $20.97 list price, with over two hours of extras, including "The Making of Bonnie and Clyde" documentary and Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway wardrobe tests.
An Ultimate Collector's Edition, for $39.92 list, will feature the Special Edition set above, plus a hardcover book with rare photos, a reproduction of the 1967 press kit plus a mail-in offer for a free poster.
Just as an aside, we have to wonder how soon someone will make the lower-priced version include things the higher priced one doesn't.

The many ways to say "Bah! Humbug!"

'Tis the season (don't you hate when a writer says that) for snowflakes, mistletoe and Christmas on TV and video.
And maybe the tale about Christmas that you've all been told more than any other is "A Christmas Carol." No matter where you're reading this, I'm sure there's a production of it within your reach.
Movies and TV have been no stranger to it, certainly. But there certainly are some that are better than others.
Many people (and critics) seem to prefer the Alistair Sim 1951 version. (The cast also includes Patrick McNee, who later played John Steed of "The Avengers", as a young Jacob Marley.)Sim, who died in 1976, was a Scottish character actor who besides appearing in "A Christmas Carol" (also known as "Scrooge"), played Miss Fritton, the headmistress in two of the St. Trinian's films. He also re-created the role of Scrooge in a 1971 animated version of "A Christmas Carol" shown on television.
Most reviewers call Sim's version the most faithful to the book. Personally, I think Sim's version, though quite watchable, is dry and lacking soul.
A version that is somewhat forgotten next to Sim's is Reginald Owen's 1938 version. In the tradition of many MGM films, Owen's is bouncy and has a lot of human touches, making it a nice family film. It was originally intended to star Lionel Barrymore, who played the role of Scrooge annually on radio, but he was forced to drop out of the film because of his arthritis. Gene and Kathleen Lockhart played the Cratchits. The film was indeed a family affair for the Lockharts as a young June Lockhart played their daughter.
For years it remained the most famous film version of the story, and the most lavish, though it only lasts 69 minutes. But its popularity was eclipsed by the 1951 film after it started making the rounds on TV.
In his later years, Owen, interestingly enough, can be seen in a couple of Disney films, "Mary Poppins" (he's Admiral Boom, the commander on the noisy "ship" at the beginning of the film) and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."
Another that often is underestimated and overlooked, primarily because of its age, is the 1935 version known as "Scrooge" starring Sir Seymour Hicks. Of all the versions out there, this one has be to the scariest. Though early in the film, Hicks plays Scrooge as the usual grumpy old man, when confronted by the demons in his life, he is profoundly terrified. There's no whitewashing of the story here. For those who want the coldest and dreariest version of "A Christmas Carol," this is it.
There are, of course, many others. Two recent TV verisions starred George C. Scott and Patrick Stewart. Scott, whose career included playing the stalwart Gen. Patton, shows a multi-faceted side of his acting talents here and is just charming when Scrooge realizes the error of his ways. Stewart, however, is less effective. He comes off more like his Capt. Jean-Luc Picard character from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" early on and his transformation later is not convincing.
There are countless other versions, too. For us, it isn't Christmas until we've watched "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol." Magoo's version butchers the story, adds incompatible songs and theatrics. But, perhaps for sentimental reasons having seen it since its premiere on TV in the '60s, we love it and consider it one of the best versions.
So what is your favorite? We'll put up a poll and you are welcome to add your comments.

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Check out our DVD Watch "A Christmas Carol" store featuring all the different versions of "A Christmas Carol" on DVD.

Over and over and over ....

There's no question I'm a big fan of DVDs. They've opened up a whole new world. They've freed the home viewer of the movie theater (to the theater owner's dismay).
And unlike VHS tapes, they've brought extra information in the form of special features to consumers.
But you know what I absolutely hate about DVDs? The re-packaging syndrome. The same movies over and over and over again. Yes, we're starting to see movies on their third cycle now.
Some of it is understandable. And legitimate. For example, a reissue from a better master is always a welcome thing, especially when the master originally used was in very poor condition. The reissue of "The Wizard of Oz" in 2005 was a great example of a re-release that made sense.
But now, some DVD manufacturers are reissuing just to add special features. Sure, the package will promote a remastered film, but unless you have a high-tech monitor, you're usually not going to notice the difference.
I won't count Blu-Ray or HD versions. Those are legit, though how many of your old DVDs will you replace?
Or even worse ... anniversary editions. The 50th anniversary edition of "70 Million Miles to Earth"? Why?
It all comes down to money, of course. Let's get the consumer for what we can, especially at the holidays.
Consumers, though, should be hesitant about this stuff. Don't buy a new package just because you can.
Let us know what DVDs you've seen or bought that shouldn't have been reissued.

Here's what's coming up ...

11/27/06 - Waitress
11/27/07 - Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score
11/30/07 - Heroes of War Collection - Frontline Combat
12/4/08 - Saturday Night Live - The Complete Second Season
12/4/07 - 24 - Season 6
12/4/07 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
12/4/07 Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Collection 3 - Still Laughing
12/4/07 - Battlestar Galactica: Razor
12/11/07 - Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald Volume 3
12/11/07 - Walt Disney Treasures: The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit -
12/11/07 - Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland: Secrets, Stories and Magic
12/11/07 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
12/11/07 - Frasier - The Complete Tenth Season
12/11/07 - Lost - The Complete Third Season
12/11/07 - Bourne Ultimatum
12/18/07 - Blade Runner - Ultimate Collector's Edition
12/18/07 - Blade Runner - Complete Collector's Edition
12/18/07 - Blade Runner - The Final Cut
12/18/07 - Halloween
12/31/07 - Two-Lane Blacktop
1/1/08 - Naked Prey
1/1/08 - This Sporting Life
1/1/08 - Miss Julie

"Truthiness," justice and the American Way

I feel sorry for the people who had to choose what to leave out of "The Best of the Colbert Report" (Paramount). You want it to be so much longer!
Even at almost three hours long, the single disc compilation, released Nov. 5, barely covers the reasons why "The Colbert Report" is one of the sharpest and funniest shows on TV.
Colbert, by his own admission, owes much to Bill O'Reilly, "Papa Bear," as he called him (to his face) in a fantastic interview Colbert did on the Fox News Channel last year. O'Reilly's guest spot on "The Report" is on the DVD.
But Colbert, in addition to lampooning O'Reilly's overblown sense of self-importance,
has a keen sense of comedy. His "Know Your District" series, in which he profiles all of the members of the House of Representatives, aren't composed of your usual political interviews. In his interview with Massachusetts' Barney Frank, he steps around the usual subject of interviews with Frank and says, "You like .... dogs?"
And the guy is hip, too. The final segments on the disc feature a "Rock and Awe" competition where Stephen shows his (somewhat) musical chops. He has a lot of fun lampooning both politics and rock here. (He manages to get Henry Kissinger, of all people, to kick off the competition. Amazing!)
One of the best sections of the disc is the appearance of Barry Manilow on his show. You wouldn't think a guy like Manilow would even be in the same room as Colbert, but apparently the two have a genuine friendship. Even funnier is the fact that Manilow won (Colbert likes to say "stole") the Emmy that Colbert was nominated for. When Manilow came on the show, Colbert managed to get Manilow to sign a "peace treaty" (duly notarized) in which the two would share custody of the Emmy and even sings Manilow's trademark "I Write the Songs" with him.
And when Willie Nelson comes on the show, Colbert lampoons him for Nelson's Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor competing with his. When Willie sings, "On the Road Again" at the end, Stephen, of course, joins in. Is a music CD next?
"The Best of the Colbert Report" was put out to capitalize on the current white-hot popularity of the show.
And unlike most TV compilations these days, it's very moderately priced. Colbert obviously knows his audience. And they certainly know him.

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Looney Tunes - Golden Collection, Volume Five continues the tradition of the first four volumes and shows once more why these cartoons aren't just for kids. ("The Looney Tunes: Spotlight Collection, Vol. 5," released at the same time, condenses the Golden Collection to cartoons aimed at children.)
In the four-disc set, the first features Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, the second features Looney Tunes versions of fairy tales, the third spotlights the work of Bob Clampett and the fourth features vintage shorts. The special features include some of the brilliant music-only tracks that were Looney Tunes trademarks, tributes to Chuck Jones and Robert McKimson and vault rarities, including Private Snafu.
What's great about these sets is you don't have to feel guilty anymore about liking these cartoons. That's fine with us.
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"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Films) is the most recent film breakdown of the buildup to the war in Iraq by the Bush Administration. The film clearly and distinctly shows how faulty reasoning played an immense part in toppling Saddam Hussein and invading Iraq. One of the most surprising, but maybe not shocking reasons, given the current situation there, is that those in the Bush administration lacking military experience pushed for the invasion and the only ones that had it -- Colin Powell and Richard Armitage -- had reservations.
"No End in Sight" comes at a time when the majority of Americans are disillusioned by the war. As a result, it probably won't change a lot of minds. But a little education can't hurt.


DVDs

Give Netflix a try

After pondering the idea for some time, we decided to give Netflix's free trial a go. (Click through the banner at the top if you want to try.)
For those who haven't tried it, they have plans starting at $4.99 a month. We chose the $8.99 plan, which allows you to get one DVD at a time, plus watch 19 hours of movies on line a month.
So far, we've gotten "Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends" and "The Best of the Colbert Report." We like the convenience, especially watching DVDs (stuff that's just been released, too) without leaving home.
And the queue, which you set up to decide which films you'll get, is pretty unique and a nice idea. You never have to tell them to send you something. They send you what's in your queue automatically when you return the previous one you've rented.
If you're a Netflix subscriber, add your comments.

Wanted on DVD!

The list of most wanted on DVD gets smaller and smaller all the time. Still, there's a few things we'd love to see out on DVD. Here they are in no particular order:

1) "American Hot Wax" -- Great 1978 rock film starring Tim McIntyre as legendary disc jockey Allen Freed and co-starring Jay Leno, Fran Dreschler, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. Why this one isn't on DVD is anyone's guess, but we suspect it has to do with music rights.

2) "The Devil and Miss Jones" -- No, this isn't the porn film, but the 1941 comedy starring Charles Coburn, Jean Arthur, Spring Byington and Bob Cummings. It was originally released on VHS, but has yet to appear on DVD. Why? (It happens to be one of our favorite old films, too.) (Note: "The More the Merrier," which re-teamed Arthur and Coburn two years later, is on DVD and available through Amazon.com.)

3) "Let It Be" -- This 1970 Beatles film may never show up on DVD if the rumors we've heard are correct. This was not a favorite film of the four Beatles. And even though two of them aren't around to prevent it, their widows want to respect their wishes. Still, we've heard that the film has been restored and maybe, just maybe it'll get released. But for now, don't hold your breath.

4) "Batman" -- That's the Adam West-Burt Ward TV series we're referring to. It has yet to show up, though the 1966 feature film, which isn't as good as the series, has been on DVD for several years and priced very inexpensively. West was asked about this possibility a few years ago and said he knew nothing about it happening. A shame.

5) "The Green Hornet" -- The companion TV series is also not on DVD. A great show. Why isn't it there?

6) "Quick Draw McGraw" -- Hanna Barbera has released many of its core cartoon characters on DVD, but not Quick Draw and Baba Louie (or our fave, El Kabong).

7) "Dr. Syn Alias the Scarecrow" -- Patrick McGoohan starred as Dr. Syn in this 1964 Disney adaptation, shown on "Wonderful World of Color" and separately. McGoohan's character gave us nightmares as a young boy. We'd love to see this one released.

8) "The Monkey's Uncle" -- Released on VHS, the 1965 film starred Annette Funicello and Tommy Kirk and featured a great theme song featuring Walt Disney's teen star Annette and the Beach Boys. We'll guess again it's music rights, but this one needs to be out. Walt would have wanted it.

Know of any DVDs you'd like released? Let us know and we'll feature them in an upcoming column.

And if you're interested in discussing this or other DVD issues, join our Yahoo DVD Watch discussion group.

Click to join dvdwatch

Things to come

Here are highlights of what's coming down the pipeline:

11/6: The Best of the Colbert Report (Paramount)
11/6: Help! (The Beatles)
11/6: Up the Down Staircase (WB)
11/6: The Cosby Show: Season 5 (Universal)
11/6: Barry Manilow: The First Television Specials (Rhino)
11/13: Ocean's Thirteen (WB)
11/13: Paul McCartney: The McCartney Years (Rhino)
11/13: Ravi Shankar: Concert for World Peace
11/13: Perry Mason: The Second Season, Vol. 2 (Paramount)
11/13: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Extended Edition (WB) 11/13: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Limited (WB)
11/13: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition) (WB) 11/13: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Limited Edition (WB)
11/13: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Extended Edition (WB) 11/13: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Limited Edition (WB)
11/13: Johnny Cash Christmas Specials from 1976 and 1977 (Shout Factory)
11/13: Shrek the Third (Paramount)
11/20: Mission Impossible: The Complete Third Season (Paramount)
11/20: Love American Style: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Paramount)
11/20: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Complete Seventh Season (Paramount)
11/20: Hairspray (WB)
11/20: Bill Maher: The Decider (HBO)
11/20: Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same Special Edition (also Limited Collector's Edition)
11/20: Santa Clause III: The Escape Clause (Buena Vista)
11/20: The Wild Wild West: The Complete Third Season (Paramount)
11/27: Happy Days: The Complete Third Season (Paramount)
11/27: Laverne and Shirley: The Complete Third Season (Paramount)
11/27: Mork and Mindy: The Complete Third Season (Paramount)
11/27: The 2007 World Series (Shout Factory)
12/4: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
12/4: Best of Gallagher, Vol. 3
12/4: Diagnosis Murder: The Complete Third Season
12/11: High School Musical 2 (Disney)
12/11: Walt Disney Treasures: Chronological Donald Vol. 3, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Disneyland: Secrets, Stories and Magic
12/11: Gomer Pyle: The Third Season (Paramount)
12/11: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (WB)
12/14: Emergency: Season Three (Universal)
12/14: Murder She Wrote: The Complete Third Season (Universal)
12/14: Law and Order: Special Victims Unit - The Third Year (Universal)
12/18: Stardust (Paramount)
12/18: Rawhide: Season two, Volume 2 (Paramount)
12/18: Mod Squad: Season One, Volume 1 (Paramount)
1/8/08: The Waltons, the Complete Sixth Season
1/15/08: Alex Haley's Queen
1/22/08: ER, the Complete Eighth Season
1/22/08: Hawaii Five-0, the Third Season (Paramount)
1/22/08: The Odd Couple: the Third Season (Paramount)
2/5/08: Beauty and the Beast: The Third Season (Paramount)
2/5/08: You've Got Mail: Deluxe Edition (Warner Home Video)
2/12/08: Joan Crawford Collection Vol. 2 (Includes A Woman’s Face, Flamingo Road, Sadie McKee, Strange Cargo, Torch Song)
2/12/08: Dallas: The Complete Eighth Season (WB)
2/26/08: The Smurfs, Season 1, Volume 1 (WB)

America's favorite family

By now, it all seems a bit remote. But back in the 1950s, the Nelson family -- Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky (later Rick) -- were the type of family we all wanted to be.
They seemed to have it all -- a nice house in a respectable neighborhood, a husband and head of the household who spent a lot of time at home (and was never was seen going to work), a wife who was a dedicated homemaker and mother, and two sons, well-behaved boys who respected their elders.
They weren't the Ricardos with the crazy redhead. Or the Cleavers with the goofy, mischievous kid. Or the Brady Bunch with the rambunctious family.
They were the cool, calm and collected Nelsons. They were a comfort zone for TV fans of that decade.
That becomes very clear when watching "The Nelson Family Presents The Best of the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (Shout Factory) and "The Essential Ozzie & Harriet Collection" (Mill Creek Entertainment), two recent releases spotlighting the venerable series.
Fans will want to pick up both, and for different reasons.
"The Nelson Family Presents The Best of the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" from Shout Factory is the first authorized release of shows from the series. The four-disc set features 24 of the show's 435 episodes in chronological order taken from the show's masters. The set includes commentary on a few episodes by David Nelson, the only member of the televised family still living, and Sam Nelson, a member of the Nelsons rock group and the son of the late Rick Nelson. It also includes some Nelson home movies, a trivia quiz and a documentary on the family.

What it doesn't include, though, is the full length versions of the shows with commercials. That's where "The Essential Ozzie & Harriet Collection" (Mill Creek Entertainment) comes in. This charming set rounds up 100 shows, almost a quarter of the series, on 12 discs. Unlike the Shout Factory set, the shows are complete and many include the original commercials, some of them done by the Nelson family members themselves. (Hearing Harriet rave about Aunt Jemima Pancakes or Kodak now-vintage cameras is wonderfully charming and adds an interesting historic perspective since, in the case of the Kodak cameras, those cameras have long been abandoned by more modern cameras.)
While the Shout Factory release is authorized and is the better quality of the two, the Mill Creek set is very watchable, with only occasional rough glitches. The overall difference in quality between the two overall is minimal.
The dilemmas faced by the Nelsons were never more earth-shaking than Ozzie trying to remember if he had to go bowling that night or trying to hide a present from Harriet.
Still, in the cool, calm and relatively collected '50s, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" reflected what we all wanted to be. That dream would be shattered in the turbulent '60s, but at least while Ozzie and Harriet were on the screen, all was right in the world.
In 2007, it seems like a fairy tale or life in a fantasy land. And maybe that's what keeps the series still enjoyable, even though we know life will never be that simple again. It was once upon a time -- or at least this series made it seem that way.

We're back: We've been away from doing this for a few months. Life intervened, so to speak. But we're back and have several reviews in the works we hope you'll enjoy. We'll try to post something at least every two weeks and maybe more often. We hope you'll keep us in your favorites and add your comments on reviews. We'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Serials for breakfast

We've been getting into serials of late. Their age makes them curios, but they're a lot of fun, too.
The one that's been holding our interest of late is Holt of the Secret Service. It stars Jack Holt, a steel-jawed character actor with a long resume from Shirley Temple ("The Littlest Rebel") to Gable's "San Francisco" to Bogie (a bit part in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"). Here he plays a Secret Service agent who goes undercover to catch a group of counterfeiters. Evelyn Brent plays a fellow agent who poses as his hard-edged wife. The 15-part serial throws a bit of humor in, as well.
But the crown jewel of serials is Flash Gordon. And the set to get is Flash Gordon: Box Set (Space Soldiers/Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars/Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe) (3DVD), a triple-DVD set that just dropped $20 to the price of a single DVD. All three Flash Gordon serials with Buster Crabbe are included here and they are an incredible kick. Charles Middleton is outstanding as Ming the Merciless, who you'll sneer at from your living room. This one's a no brainer to get and we highly recommend it.

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Here are highlights of upcoming interesting releases:

July 17 - "Gunsmoke - The First Season" (Paramount)
July 17 - "The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Second Season" (Universal)
July 24 - "That Girl: Season 3" (Shout Factory)
July 24 - "Woody Woodpecker and Friends (Universal)
July 24 - "Zodiac" (Paramount)
July 31 - "Game Shows Of The 50s: Beat The Clock / I've Got A Secret" (Alpha)
July 31 - "Hawaii Five-O: The Second Season" (Paramount)
July 31 - "Popeye the Sailor, 1933-1938 - Volume 1" (Fleischer cartoons set)
Aug 3 - "Blue Hawaii," "Easy Come, Easy Go," "Fun in Acapulco," "G.I. Blues," "Girls Girls Girls," "King Creole," "Paradise Hawaiian Style," "Roustabout" (Paramount)
Aug. 7 - "This Is Elvis" (Warner Bros.)
Aug. 7 - "Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition" (Universal)
Aug. 7 - "The Muppet Show - The Complete Second Season" (Buena Vista)
Aug. 21 - "House - Season Three" (Universal)
Aug. 28 - "The Odd Couple: The Second Season" (Paramount)
Aug. 28 - "Samurai Jack - Season Four" (Warner Bros.)
Sept. 4 - "Game Night Collection" (nine baseball movies) (Paramount)
Sept. 4 - "Desperate Housewives - The Complete Third Season (Buena Vista)
Sept. 11 - "Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Third Season" (Buena Vista)
Sept. 18 - "Superman Doomsday" (Warner Bros.)
Oct. 2: "The Jungle Book: 2 Disc Platinum Edition" (Disney)
Oct. 2 - "Funnyface: 50th Anniversary Edition" (Paramount)
Oct. 9 - "Roots: The Next Generations" (Warner Bros.)
Oct. 9 - "Roots: The Complete Collection" (Warner Bros.)
Oct. 16 - "The Jazz Singer - The 80th Anniversary Edition" (Warner Bros.)
Oct. 23 - "Meet the Robinsons" (Disney)
Oct. 30 - "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 5" (Warner Bros.)

The lions, the witch and the wardrobes

When you can't think of a title, think of anything that pops up....

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We're always on the lookout for unusual DVDs. If you're a music fan, listen up.
Guillotine Films has released three (far as I know, that's all that's available) obscure British '60s music films on DVD. "Live It Up" stars David Hemmings (also in "Blow Up!") and features Gene Vincent, Heinz, Sounds Incorporated (who toured with the Beatles in the U.S.), Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen and a young pre-fame Steve Marriott in an acting role. Hemmings also stars in "Be My Guest" which features music (produced by Shel Talmy, later associated with the Who) by Jerry Lee Lewis, the Nashville Teens, Kenny and the Wranglers and another acting role by Marriott. "Dateline Diamonds" also features Marriott, but this time singing with the Small Faces (he'd become famous by this time), plus Kiki Dee (way before her association with Elton John) and the Chantelles.
All three films are variations on the "A Hard Day's Night"/"Ferry Cross the Mersey"/"Having a Wild Weekend" school of filmmaking. All the plots are associated with the burgeoning British music scene and even namedrop the Beatles occasionally. (It makes for good marketing.) If you're a '60s British Invasion fan, these are very much worth tracking down.

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Best Buy has released "Rolling Stones: The Biggest Bang," its second four-disc live set devoted to the Stones on tour. (To buy it, click Music, Movies and Games and search for "Rolling Stones: The Biggest Bang"). If you love the Stones, this one's a no-brainer, obviously. At any rate, this is much better than any bootleg you'll manage to come across, sound quality is outstanding and the camera angles are gorgeous. Well worth the $30.

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Since we last met, two more releases in the Tojo Master Collection have appeared for Godzilla fans. Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero) are out. Both have both the original Japanese and truncated U.S. films on one DVD. And both, like the others in the series, are worth grabbing.

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Fans of Johnny Weissmuller know the later Tarzan movies were cheesier and some of the plots were more comfortable on a soundstage than a jungle. That's one reason we had to get The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, Vol. 2 (Tarzan Triumphs / Tarzan's Desert Mystery / Tarzan and the Amazons / and the Leopard Woman / and the Huntress / and the Mermaids). The improbable (well, they're all improbable, but these are even more so) plots bordered at times on comedic, but they're more fun than the ones on the first set. "Tarzan and the Amazons" is probably the best example of that. Anyway, Tarzan purists will probably groan, but this set is very cool.