It didn't take long, did it? Once Warner Bros. said they weren't going to support HD any longer, the blocks fell quickly. Amazon.com, Best Buy and, finally, Wal-mart, came tumbling down like the walls of Jericho. Toshiba saw the handwriting on the wall and gave up the ghost. But what's scary here is how quickly and with the savageness the end came. One radio interviewer we heard wondered aloud if there was a little back-room politics that played into the decision. It wouldn't be surprising. A lot of money was at stake here. Still, Toshiba says they'll still continue to support the format. Here's the full press release:
Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses
19 February, 2008
Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content
TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.
"We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop," said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."
Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.
Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.
This decision will not impact on Toshiba's commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.
Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD. Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement,but is subject to change without prior notice.
We weren't much of a fan of country music when "The Johnny Cash Show" came along in 1969. We liked rock music. And some rock music fans wrongly associated all country music with superpatriotism in the "I'm Proud to Be an Okie From Muskogee" mode. But Johnny Cash and his show was different. Cash not only welcomed all kinds of music, including rock, but he embraced the downtrodden and even allowed a cross-section of political opinion, something not often seen in those days. And though his show was only on TV through three TV seasons, it made an impression on me and everyone who watched it That is why "The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash 1969-1971" will be in our top 10 DVDs for the year, even this early in 2008. The two-disc set features 66 performances from the landmark show. And even those don't begin to cover the wide berth of musical talent and influence the Man in Black's show presented. Just the guest list of performers on the set gives you an idea, though. There's George Jones, doing a medley of his hits including the classic "White Lightning." James Taylor, just an up and coming talent at the time, sings "Sweet Baby James." Neil Young gives a stark, powerful performance of "The Needle and the Damage Done," a song about drug abuse that Johnny Cash himself was a victim of in his younger days. Jerry Lee Lewis, with his usual (in those days, anyway) cocky demeanor, gives a seminal performance of his rock classic "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." Bill Monroe performing his classic "Blue Moon of Kentucky." And that's just the beginning. Several of the performers and performances on the set go beyond just deserving a mere mention. They are outright stunners. Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash get together on "Blue Yodel #9," which Cash introduces as a recreation of an old Satchmo recording session. When Satchmo blew the first few notes of the song, it hit us like a ton of bricks. It was that good. Similarly, the two tracks by Derek and the Dominoes, led by Eric Clapton, are incredible. First, there's "It's Too Late," then Clapton, Cash, Carl Perkins and the band jam on Perkins' "Matchbox." Fantastic. Bob Dylan, then pretty much a recluse, and Cash had something in common -- they were bold but individual, guys whose musical leanings were guided only by themselves. Dylan and Cash were great friends and recording buddies. Dylan's appearances on the Cash show, set around the time of the "Nashville Skyline" album, could only be called "events." This set includes "I Threw It All Away" and a duet with Cash on "Girl From the North Country." And the spirit of his father was never more present in Hank Williams Jr. than when he performs a medley of Hank Sr.'s songs, including "You Win Again," "Cold Cold Heart" and "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You." Of course, the clips of Cash himself really show why we crowded to the TV set on nights the show aired. Cash's songs, such as "Ring of Fire," "Ride This Train," "Man In Black" (in one of his first performances after he wrote it ... he admitted to needing the words on a cue card), "Folsom Prison Blues", "A Boy Named Sue" and "I Walk the Line" became familiar friends to his viewers. (Just one minor complaint is the absence of "Orange Blossom Special," which became a real highlight and an audience favorite.) After seeing this double set, we hope another will be on the way. There are so many great clips not included here. To name just a few clips that have been circulating among collectors: there's the Monkees (post-Peter Tork), Mahalia Jackson, Roger Miller, Tex Ritter and Joe South. In addition to the DVD, Cash fans will also want the audio single disc The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash. It has 17 tracks, including a couple that aren't on the DVD.
From Disney: The Aristocats Special Edition From Paramount: Black Rain / Fatal Attraction Double Feature The Talented Mr. Ripley / School Ties Double Feature The Hunt for Red October / K-19: The Widowmaker Double Feature The Hours / Heartburn Double Feature Standard Blue Hawaii / Paradise, Hawaiian Style King Creole / G.I. Blues Double Feature Go Diego Go!: Diego's Magical Missions Beauty and the Beast: The Third Season Soul Food - The Series: The Third Season Blackout Best of Comedy Central Presents The Jewish Americans From Universal: Elizabeth: The Golden Age From Warner Home Video: Americanizing Shelley Assassination of Jesse James, The Black Woman's Guide to Getting Married Charlie & Lola: Volume 7: This Is Actually My Party Flogging Margaret George Lopez: America's Mexican LOVE AND BASKETBALL MUSIC EDITION Legion of Superheroes: Volume 2 Perfect Strangers: The Complete First & Second Seasons Showstoppers The Brave One Third Watch: The Complete First Season You've Got Mail: Deluxe Edition From Shout Factory: Ironside, Season 2, Vol. 1 Comic Relief: The Greatest and the Latest
(2/12/08) From Classic Media: George of the Jungle: The Complete Original Series From Paramount: Wonder Pets: Save The Dinosaur Girlfriends: The Third Season Family Ties: The Third Season Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav: Uncensored! From Warner Home Video: Batman: Mask of Phantasm Batman and Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero Battle of the Bulge Featuring Bone Crusher Beatrix Potter Collection Black August Blade: The Series Coleccion Pedro Infante: !?Que te ha dado esa mujer?! Coleccion Pedro Infante: Arriba las Mujeres Coleccion Pedro Infante: Las mujeres de mi General Coleccion Pedro Infante: Viva mi Desgracia Dallas: The Complete Eighth Season Introducing The Dwights Joan Crawford Collection Vol. 2 Martian Child NBA Street Series - Volume 5 No Reservations Prehistoric Predators Sopranos, The: Season 6 Part 2 TELL ME YOU LOVE ME: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle & Mr. Jeremy Fisher & Other Stories (Beatrix Potter) Tale of Pigling Bland and Other Stories (Beatrix Potter) WB Home Entertainment Presents: Academy Award® Animation Collection 15 Winners, 26 Nominees Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Presents: Academy Awards® Animation Collection, 15 Winners World of Peter Rabbit & Friends, The (Beatrix Potter)
(2/19/08) From Paramount: Walker, Texas Ranger: The Fourth Season Shark Tale / Antz 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack with Tattoos Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron / The Road to El Dorado 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack w/Tattoos The Prince of Egypt / Joseph: King of Dreams 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack w/Tattoos Shrek Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos Flushed Away Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos Flushed Away Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos Max & Ruby: Springtime for Max & Ruby/Afternoons with Max & Ruby 2-Pack Dora the Explorer:Big Sister Dora/City of Lost Toys 2-Pack Max & Ruby: Springtime for Max & Ruby/Afternoons with Max & Ruby 2-Pack Dora the Explorer:Big Sister Dora/City of Lost Toys 2-Pack Standard DVD SpongeBob Squarepants: Home Sweet Pineapple/SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric 2-Pack Standard DVD SpongeBob Squarepants: Home Sweet Pineapple/SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric 2-Pack Standard DVD Nick Jr. Celebrates Spring/Blue's Clues:Blue's Room: It's Hug Day 2-Pack Standard DVD Dora the Explorer: Super Silly Fiesta!/Nick Jr. Favorites 4 2-Pack Standard DVD Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Shape Detectives/Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 2-Pack Standard Charlotte's Web (1973)/Charlotte's Web 2 2-Pack Standard DVD Full Screen Rugrats: Tales From the Crib: Snow White/Three Jacks & a Beanstalk 2-Pack Standard DVD Drake & Josh: Go Hollywood/Suddenly Brothers - Volume 1 2 Pack Standard DVD Margot At The Wedding Standard DVD Widescreen Comedy, Drama 1/15/2008 Jakers!: Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm Standard DVD Widescreen From Warner Home Video: Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town: Deluxe Edition Father Ted: The Definitive Collection (DVD) Helen Mirren at the BBC In the Valley of Elah Invasion, The Les Miserables (1995) (BBC) Looney Tunes: Movie Collection Vol. 3 Looney Tunes: Spotlight Collection Vol. 5 Michael Clayton My Dog Skip/ Shiloh 3: Saving Shiloh (DBFE) Peanuts: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition Rendition Riverdance: Live from Radio City Music Hall: Collector's Edition Swordfish/Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DBFE) Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers Tom and Jerry: Tales Vol. 1 From Universal: American Gangster Lust, Caution
(2/26/08) From Warner Home Video: Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale Hooligans Hotel Babylon Season 1. Justice League: The New Frontier Justice League: The New Frontier Special Edition NFL Super Bowl XLII Pinochet's Last Stand Silk (DVD) Smurfs, The: Season 1, Volume 1 State of Play (2003) (BBC) From Paramount: Beowulf Standard Caillou's Family Favorites Beowulf Director's Cut The Fugitive: The First Season, Volume Two Backyardigans: Tale Of The Mighty Knights Max & Ruby: Berry Bunny Adventures Standard DVD
(3/4/08) From Disney: 101 DALMATIANS: Platinum Edition From Paramount: Human Giant: The Complete First Season The Love Boat: Season One Volume One Things We Lost in the Fire Into the Wild From Warner Home Video: Ben 10 Season 3 Doctor Who: Beginning Collection, The Doctor Who: Ep. 13 - Web Planet, The Doctor Who: Ep. 45 - Mind Robber, The Doctor Who: Ep. 54 - Inferno Doctor Who: Ep. 57 - Claws of Axos, The Doctor Who: Ep. 69 - Green Death, The Doctor Who: Ep. 78 Genesis of the Daleks Doctor Who: Ep. 81 - Planet of Evil Doctor Who: Ep. 87 - Hand of Fear, The Doctor Who: Ep. 92 - Horror of Fang Rock Doctor Who: Ep.104 - Destiny of the Daleks Doctor Who: Ep.105 - City of Death Doctor Who: Ep.110 - Leisure Hive, The Doctor Who: Ep.143 - Revelation of the Daleks Doctor Who: Ep.157 - Ghost Light Doctor Who: Lost In Time - Patrick Troughton Years Doctor Who: Lost In Time- William Hartnell Years Doctor Who: Mark of the Rani, The (Ep. 140) Doctor Who: Visitation, The (Ser. 120) Horton Hears A Who: Deluxe Edition Johnson Family Dinner No Reservations The Other Boleyn Girl The UCLA Dynasty
(3/11/08) From Paramount: Lil' Bush: Resident of the United States - Season One South Park: Imaginationland Bee Movie Bee Movie Jerry’s 2 Disc Special Edition Love American Style Season 1, Volume 2 The Mod Squad: The First Season, Volume Two From Warner Home Video: Appleseed Ex Machina Appleseed Saga:Ex Machina:LE (2D) August Rush Color of the Cross 2: Resurrection Def Comedy Jam: Hughley Dinosaurs Unearthed (NG) Five Days In the Valley of Elah Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1976 Michael Clayton Michael Palin: New Europe (DVD) Nancy Drew (2007) One Foot in the Grave Season 4 One Foot in the Grave: Season 3 Stompin Tom and Jerry: Tales Vol. 4 WIGGLES: POP GO THE WIGGLES Wiggles, The: Cold Spaghetti Western Wiggles, The: Getting Strong Wiggles, The: Here Comes the Big Red Car Wiggles, The: Hoop Dee Doo! It's a Wiggly Party Wiggles, The: It's a Wiggly Wiggly World! Wiggles, The: Lights, Camera Action Wiggles, The: Live Hot Potatoes! Wiggles, The: Magical Adventure Wiggles, The: Racing to the Rainbow Wiggles, The: Sailing Around the World Wiggles, The: Santa's Rockin' Wiggles, The: Splish Splash Big Red Boat Wiggles, The: Whoo Hoo! Wiggly Gremlins Wiggles, The: Wiggle Around the Clock Wiggles, The: Wiggle Dancing! Live in the U.S.A. Wiggles, The: Wiggly Wiggly Christmas Wiggles, The: Yule Be Wiggling
(3/18/08) From Shout Factory McHale's Navy: Season 3 From Paramount: The Untouchables: Season Two, Volume One The Wild Wild West: The Fourth Season From Warner Home Video: Autopsy: Postmortem with Dr. Michael Baden Extreme Alaska: Denali National Park (NG) I Am Legend I Am Legend Special Edition Justice League: The New Frontier Special Edition Love in the Time of Cholera (DVD) NFL Films Classics: Legends of Autumn Volumes IV-VI Pebbles And Bamm-Bamm Show, The Pup Named Scooby-Doo, A: The Complete First Season The Sickhouse (DVD)
(3/25/08) From Shout Factory: Jayce & The Wheeled Warriors Volume One From Warner Home Video: Black Legion Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie and Clyde: Special Edition Bonnie and Clyde: Ultimate Collector's Edition Brother Orchid FRISKY DINGO: SEASON 1 Greatest NBA Rivalries Volume I IFL Championship 2007 Lady Killer Mayor Of Hell NBA Boston Celtics 1985-86 NHL All-Access (2008) Picture Snatcher (1933) Pu-239 Smart Money (1931) Warner Gangsters Collection Volume 1 Warner Gangsters Collection Volume 2 From Universal: Battlestar Galactica, Season Three
(4/1/08) From Warner Home Video: Appleseed Saga:Ex Machina:LE (2D) August Rush BBC Natural History Collection, The Bette Davis Collection Volume 3 David Attenborough: Wildlife Specials Doctor Who: Ep. 70 - Time Warrior, The Echo and Other Elephants Harold & Kumar: Special Edition (WS/DVD) John From Cincinnati: The Complete First Season Martin: The Complete Fourth Season Terry Jones: Medieval Lives The Return of Swamp Thing
(4/8/08) From Warner Home Video: 11th Hour Ben 10 Race Against Time Born to Dance/Lady be Good Broadway Melody of 1936/Broadway Melody of 1938 Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory Volume 3 Deep in My Heart Eden at the End of the World Hit the Deck I Am Legend Innocent Voices Kismet (1955) Nancy Goes to Rio/Two Weeks with Love Planet Earth: From Pole to Pole/Mountains/Fresh Water Planet Earth:Caves/Deserts/Ice Worlds Planet in Peril (CNN) Private Life of a Masterpiece, The: Collection Private Life of a Masterpiece, The: Impressionism and the Post Impressionists Private Life of a Masterpiece, The: Masterpieces of Sculpture Private Life of a Masterpiece, The: Renaissance Masterpieces Private Life of a Masterpiece, The: Seventeenth Century Masterpieces Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry 6 Sense and Sensibility (2007) (BBC) Sense and Sensibility Deluxe Edition Gift Set Sharkwater Six Degrees Could Change the World
(4/15/08) From Warner Home Video: Bonnie and Clyde Canine Conspiracy, The /The Cat Connection Classical Baby:I'm Grown Up Now:The Poetry Show Human Footprint Tenant of Wildfell Hall, The
(4/22/08) From Warner Home Video: Coleccion Pedro Infante: No desearas la mujer de tu hijo Gettin' Grown My Boy Jack (2007) Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: Season 1
(4/29/08) From Disney: THE CLASSIC CABALLEROS COLLECTION: Saludos Amigos and Three Caballeros From Warner Home Video: Bernard and Doris The Golden Compass (DVD) The Golden Compass 2-Disc Special Edition The Weekend Waltons, The: The Complete Seventh Season
(5/6/08) From Warner Home Video: Allo 'Allo: Complete Series 8 Bridges of Madison County, The: Deluxe Edition Macon County Line Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (2003) DVD Twister Special Edition Twister: Special Edition
(5/13/08) From Warner Home Video: Essential Classic American Musicals Essential Classic Dramas Essential Classic Family Films Essential Classic Musicals Essential Classic Romances Essential Directors: Clint Eastwood Essential Directors: Martin Scorsese Legends, Icons & Superstars of the 20th Century Lovejoy: The Complete Season Three DVD Two and a Half Men: The Complete Third Season
(5/20/08) From Warner Home Video: New Maverick(Pilot 1) Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Hour: Volume One Robot Chicken Star Wars
(5/27/08) From Warner Home Video: Reza: Shooting Back
(6/10/08) Anton Chekhov Collection, The
(6/17/08) From Warner Home Video: Rails & Ties
(8/12/08) From Warner Home Video: Glittering Prizes, The (1976) DVD
(10/28/08) From Disney: Tinker Bell: The Movie
(1/1/09) From Warner Home Video: Brando: Documentary, The
Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead around 3:30 p.m. ET of an overdose of pills, reports the Associated Press. He was to play the Joker in "The Dark Knight." He looked so good in the trailer. This is sad to hear.
With all of today's matter-of-fact technological advances, it's humbling to remember back when science was a world of ooooo's and aaaaaah's. The vintage TV "Watch Mr. Wizard," which began on NBC in 1951 and ran 15 years, was a lightning rod for curious kids in the '50s and early '60s. It showed young viewers (and older ones, too) how science was all around them in every day life. Two new DVDs from Digiview "Watch Mr. Wizard - Everyday Illusions and More" and "Watch Mr. Wizard - Electricity and More" feature three rare episodes each from the vintage series. Mr. Wizard himself, Don Herbert, was the kind of genial kind of guy everyone wished was his teacher. He had the magical knack of taking the mystery of science. The first segment on "Watch Mr. Wizard - Electricity and More" has Herbert guiding young Alex to figure out six different methods of ways of producing electricity in a Rube Goldberg type of labyrinth. Among the objects: a slide projector, a balloon, a speaker, a motor, a hinge, a bicycle wheel, a moustrap, a medicine dropper and a measuring cup. The answers aren't as easy as you might guess. Herbert shows how electricity can be produced from ordinary objects. Some of the methods he uses are quite ingenious. In "Everyday Illusions," he shows a wheel that looks like it's turning in different directions, but it really isn't. He takes a paper plate and cuts off around the middle, leaving the edge. Cut two sections out of the edge the same size, then lay them down side by side. The one on top looks smaller than the one on the bottom. Things like this make these shows fascinating. Adults will surely find themselves drawn to them, too. For a show of this vintage, the quality is exceptionally good. All the shows, three on each DVD, are in black and white. For anyone who grew up with "Bill Nye the Science Guy," these shows will be a revelation. For those of us who watched Mr. Wizard regularly, it will bring back some great memories. "Watch Mr. Wizard - Everyday Illusions and More" features "Everyday Illusions," "Musical Instruments" and Puzzles in Geometry." "Watch Mr. Wizard - Electricity and More" features "Six Kinds of Electricity," "How Animals Move" and "Sticks and Stones."
It's hard to see Toshiba remaining steadfast in its support of the HD TV DVD format in the wake of Warner Bros. announcement abandoning it. The Associated Press reported Toshiba officials were caught by surprise, but were gathering their forces for now. But a quote from the statement issued by Toshiba is telling. "We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps." Next steps as in dropping HD TV? It would be a serious failure for Toshiba. But don't be surprised if they don't go without a fight.
Warner Bros. announced Friday that it is abandoning HDTV DVDs and will make Blu-Ray its HD format of choice. In a written statement issued by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, the two said the company will continue to release in HD TV until May. Here's their complete statement:
“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”
Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
“Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices,” said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner.”
“A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry,” said Tsujihara. “Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”
What does this all mean? It means the battle for the HD format isn't over, but the tide is toward Blu-ray with only two companies -- Paramount and Universal -- releasing in HD TV.
Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Disney release their high-definition videos exclusively for Blu-ray, which is owned by Sony. Paramount and Universal Pictures release for HD DVD -- which is backed by Toshiba and Microsoft. The WB is the biggest seller of DVDs, with 18 to 20 percent of the market, according to the AP.
CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK - THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON : Like most boys, I used to love magicians. I remember watching magician Mark Wilson and "The Magic Land of Allakazam" on Saturday mornings and being fascinated. Magic came into play on TV on a more serious note in "The Magician" with Bill Bixby in the '70s. And in recent years, celebrity magicians such as David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, Siegfried and Roy, David Blaine and Lance Burton have astounded audiences on TV. In 2005, A&E quietly premiered "Criss Angel - Mindfreak," a weekly show spotlighting Angel's illusions and shock magic. The show slowly built up an audience and is a huge success on the network these days. "Criss Angel Mindfreak - The Complete Season Three" will be released Jan. 15. Where seasons one and two seemed to go for more traditional magic, Angel gets into some really scary stuff here. One illusion requires him to escape from a truck full of dynamite as it's heading over a cliff. Another has a steamroller pin him on a concrete slab. (Don't try this at home, kids.) It's not for the faint-hearted. There's also more traditional magic, too. Even with his tendency toward the weird, we enjoy Angel's work. He also published a book recently called, not surprisingly, "Mindfreak," that includes a few of his secrets. But the fun of watching Angel and others like him is watching the illusion of the illusions. Do you still believe in magic? You will after seeing this DVD.
will be in our top 10 DVDs for the year, even this early in 2008. The two-disc set features 66 performances from the landmark show. And even those don't begin to cover the wide berth of musical talent and influence the Man in Black's show presented.
. It has 17 tracks, including a couple that aren't on the DVD. 
, 
, 
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(Warner Home Video): Warner Home Video has become the master of the boxed set. They've boxed up their gangster films, film noir, tough guy and legends, among others. Of course, they have a huge and rich catalog to choose from. 
and 
: Like most boys, I used to love magicians. I remember watching magician