On DVD This Week
FOX's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" spent much of its first season on the defensive. Full Story »
Also New This Week
By Jay Bobbin, Zap2it.com
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"WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS": It actually doesn't stay in Vegas in this slight comedy, as Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher play New Yorkers who go to the gambling haven to escape respective disappointments. Shortly after meeting, they get married while on an inebriated spree, then decide to part company – until a shared payoff at a slot machine leaves them battling over the $3 million. A judge (Dennis Miller) orders them to stay together. Rob Corddry and Lake Bell play the unhappily married couple's friends, and Queen Latifah, Treat Williams and Dennis Farina also appear. DVD extras: audio commentary by director Tom Vaughan and editor Matt Friedman; interview with Diaz and Kutcher; deleted scenes; outtakes; digital copy of the film. ** (PG-13: AS, P) |
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"THE LITTLE MERMAID: ARIEL'S BEGINNING": It's prequel time for the animated Disney character and her undersea friends in this made-for-video offering. In a way, it's a mermaid variation on "Footloose," since Ariel rebels against those – including the scheming Marina Del Rey – who refuse to allow music to be played in her kingdom. Jodi Benson reprises the voice of Ariel, and original cast member Samuel E. Wright is heard again as Sebastian. *** (G) |
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"HEROES: SEASON 2": It was a shorter year than expected for the NBC fantasy series, due to the writers strike, but some fans had expressed dismay with it anyway. Before the show gets a reboot for its third year, this set compiles the most recent episodes, introducing Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") as a special-powered opponent to certain heroes. Adrian Pasdar, Milo Ventimiglia, Ali Larter, Hayden Panettiere, Greg Grunberg and Masi Oka continue their roles. DVD extras: "making-of" documentaries; audio commentary by cast and crew members; deleted scenes; photo gallery; preview of season three. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V) |
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"THE SHIELD: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON": As the start of the gritty police drama's final year on FX approaches, Michael Chiklis continues his uncompromising portrayal of Vic Mackey, the veteran detective who makes his own rules. Here, he must deal with fractionalization within his own ranks, some due to a superior officer (David Marciano) who has his own agenda. CCH Pounder, Walton Goggins and Catherine Dent also star, and guests include Forest Whitaker and Franka Potente ("The Bourne Identity"). DVD extras: three "making-of" documentaries; audio commentary by cast and crew members on selected episodes. *** (Not rated: AS, N, P, V) |
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"PRISON BREAK: SEASON THREE":The original premise of the Fox show is flipped – with Michael (Wentworth Miller) the sibling who's incarcerated, and Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) trying to get him out – in this year of the series, debuting on DVD just before the fourth season begins. Michael is behind bars in Panama, in a facility where none of the regular rules apply. Robert Knepper, William Fichtner and Amaury Nolasco also are back, and Jodi Lyn O'Keefe joins the cast. DVD extras: "making-of" documentaries; "The Unit" episode. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V) |
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"ONE TREE HILL: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON": The CW drama series made a bold move – which evidently paid off in its ratings – by fast-forwarding its characters four years from where the previous season left off. Peyton and Brooke (Hilarie Burton, Sophia Bush) leave their big-city jobs to return to the small town, where their mutual ex Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) is now involved with his book editor (Michaela McManus). And Nathan (James Lafferty) is in a bad way, physically and emotionally, as his schoolteacher wife, Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti), fights to save their marriage. DVD extras: three "making-of" documentaries; audio commentary by cast and crew members on selected episodes; deleted scenes; outtakes. *** (Not rated: AS, P) |
Coming Soon
"BABY MAMA" (Sept. 9): "Saturday Night Live" veterans Tina Fey and Amy Poehler star in the comedy about a no-nonsense businesswoman who hires a highly dissimilar surrogate mother. (PG-13: AS, P)"88 MINUTES" (Sept. 16): A professor and criminologist (Al Pacino) races the clock to find out who is targeting him, after an unknown caller warns him he has only the title duration left to live. (R: AS, N, P, V)
"MADE OF HONOR" (Sept. 16): A man (Patrick Dempsey) realizes his best friend (Michelle Monaghan) is the woman he truly loves – just as she's about to marry someone else. (PG-13: AS, P)
"SPEED RACER" (Sept. 16): Emile Hirsch is the live-action representative of the cartoon character in this fantasy from the Wachowski brothers ("The Matrix"). Christina Ricci and Matthew Fox also star. (PG: AS, P, V)
"LEATHERHEADS" (Sept. 23): The owner (George Clooney) of a 1920s football team vies with his newest recruit (John Krasinski) for a reporter's (Renee Zellweger) affections. (PG-13: AS, P)
"FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL" (Sept. 30): After his TV-star girlfriend (Kristen Bell) leaves him, a distraught man (Jason Segel) heads for a Hawaiian resort – where she turns out to be staying with her new beau. (R: AS, N, P)
FAMILY VIEWING GUIDE KEY: AS, adult situations; N, nudity; P, profanity; V, violence; GV, particularly graphic violence
Now on DVD
'The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season'
Not much more can be said about the greatness of "The Wire," the HBO series that ended its brilliant five-season run in March. Put simply, it's one of the great achievements in television history.
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'Witchblade: The Complete Series'
Seven years after its debut, you can now relive (or experience for the first time) the glory of "Witchblade: The Complete Series" without depending on illegal methods or grainy video tapes thanks to this new DVD release.
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'Spaced: The Complete Series'
An upfront confession: I'm a relative newcomer to "Spaced," having only seen bits and pieces of the feverishly loved British comedy before getting a copy of the long-awaited American DVD release.
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'Step Up 2: The Streets'
If you're the kind of person who liked "Step Up" enough to check out the sequel "Step Up 2: The Streets," then no precautions needed about suspending disbelief or loving dance to the exclusion of needing a compelling story. Since DVD rentals often involve less enthusiasm and more curiosity, however, it's good to note that the bonus features do a creditable job of capturing the passion of street dancing and first-time director Jon M. Chu's love for the film.
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'The Ruins: Unrated Edition'
Consider "The Ruins: Unrated Edition" to be a stiff chaser to M. Night Shyamalan's simperingly simplistic "Oh no, the plants are gonna get me!" enviro-thriller "The Happening."
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'Mad Men: Season 1'
"Mad Men" came out of nowhere -- or at least AMC, the heretofore little-regarded cable network that was not far from nowhere -- last summer. With a meticulous eye for its place and time -- a mid-level advertising agency in Manhattan, 1960 -- and writing and acting that were at times brilliant, the series quickly became one of the best viewing experiences on television.
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'The Spiderwick Chronicles: 2-Disc Field Guide Edition'
Although "The Spiderwick Chronicles" is one of the many book-to-screen children's fantasy series capitalizing on the Harry Potter phenomenon, it doesn't play as a pale imitation of the franchise but instead is an enjoyable adventure on its own. The special 2-disc edition of the film is a fun addition to a home video library because of its clever packaging and numerous entertaining bonus features.
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'Burn Notice: Season 1'
"Burn Notice," which premiered on USA last year, is a quintessential summer show. Set against a Miami backdrop that guarantees clear blue skies and writhing, tanned hardbodies, "Burn Notice" is flashy, clever and tightly paced.
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