On DVD This Week
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Also New This Week
By Jay Bobbin, Zap2it.com
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" DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON": There's a surprise at the end of this year of the ABC show, meaning a reinvention that will fuel the upcoming season for all of the main characters. As with the first three DVD releases, there's material that wasn't included in the broadcast version, but a major addition remains cast member Dana Delany who reportedly was sought for the series in the beginning as a new Wisteria Lane resident with some big secrets (of course). Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria Parker and Nicollette Sheridan continue their roles. DVD extras: "making-of" documentary; deleted scenes; outtakes. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V) |
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" THE OFFICE: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON": The fun continues at Dunder-Mifflin in NBC's successful-in-its-own-right Americanization of the British comedy series. Among the new wrinkles this time: Michael ( Steve Carell) faces seemingly endless complications in his romance with Jan (Melora Hardin); Jim and Pam (John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer) give a personal relationship a whirl; and Dwight and Meredith (Rainn Wilson, Kate Flannery) have some fun with the new human-resources supervisor (Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"). *** (Not rated: AS, P) |
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"IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN": One of the most charming of all animated "Peanuts" specials, this classic gets "Deluxe Edition" treatment as its believe it or not 42nd anniversary approaches. Linus takes up his vigil in the "most sincere pumpkin patch'' he can find, awaiting the arrival of the rumored Great Pumpkin, as Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang try to find the ideal costumes for trick-or-treating. DVD extra: "making-of" documentary. *** (Not rated) |
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"OUTSOURCED": Realities of the modern business world are folded into a romantic comedy that also merges the American filmmaking industry and India's so-called "Bollywood." Josh Hamilton ("Kicking and Screaming") plays an employee who isn't happy to learn his duties are being transferred to someone in Bombay, and even unhappier to learn he has to go there to educate his replacement. Becoming attracted to another foreign worker (Ayesha Dharker, "Bombay Dreams") brightens his mission. DVD extras: theatrical trailer; "making-of" documentary; audio commentary by director John Jeffcoat; interview with Jeffcoat; storyboards; music video. *** (PG-13: AS) |
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"HONEY WEST: THE COMPLETE SERIES":While there was Emma Peel on the original "The Avengers," and before there was "Charlie's Angels," there was Anne Francis as a karate-skilled private eye who often wore a black leotard and had an ocelot for a pet. This Aaron Spelling produced-show lasted only one season on ABC in the mid-'60s, but Francis plays the title part with just the right amount of sass; John Ericson also stars as her partner in sleuthing. *** (Not rated: V) |
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"HOW TO ROB A BANK": Little is as it seems in this twist on the standard sort of bank-heist tale. Nick Stahl ("Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines") plays a malcontent aptly nicknamed Jinx- who happens to walk in on a robbery while it's unfolding, forcing him to team up with a teller ( Erika Christensen, "Traffic") to outwit the criminal (music star, and Gwen Stefani spouse, Gavin Rossdale). A SWAT team descends on the site and ups the stakes for all concerned; David Carradine also appears. ** (Not rated: AS, P, V) |
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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