RoosterFlix DVD Picks for Oct. 28th & Nov. 4th

DVD Picks for October 28th, 2008

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Baraka (1993)
dir. Ron Fricke

If I made a list of top 10 movies you HAVE to get in Blu-Ray, this would be on it. Should be required viewing.

Product Decsription:
The word Baraka means "blessing" in several languages; watching this film, the viewer is blessed with a dazzling barrage of images that transcend language. Filmed in 24 countries and set to an ever-changing global soundtrack, the movie draws some surprising connections between various peoples and the spaces they inhabit, whether that space is a lonely mountaintop or a crowded cigarette factory. Some of these attempts at connection are more successful than others: for instance, an early sequence segues between the daily devotions of Tibetan monks, Orthodox Jews, and whirling dervishes, finding more similarity among these rituals than one might expect. And there are other amazing moments, as when sped-up footage of a busy Hong Kong intersection reveals a beautiful symmetry to urban life that could only be appreciated from the perspective of film. The lack of context is occasionally frustrating--not knowing where a section was filmed, or the meaning of the ritual taking place--and some of the transitions are puzzling. However, the DVD includes a short behind-the-scenes featurette in which cinematographer Ron Fricke (Koyaanisqatsi) explains that the effect was intentional: "It's not where you are that's important, it's what's there." And what's here, in Baraka, is a whole world summed up in 104 minutes. --Larisa Lomacky Moore

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The Flintstones: The Complete Series (1960)
dir. Charles A. Nichols

Product Decsription:
Launched as an animated version of THE HONEYMOONERS, Hanna-Barbera's cartoon classic THE FLINTSTONES is family entertainment at its finest. From the town of Bedrock, modern Stone-Age couple Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their goofy best-friend neighbors Barney and Betty Rubble comically trudge through prehistoric daily lives populated by animals-cum-household-appliances with refreshingly sophisticated zaniness and humor. Meanwhile, the Flintstones' affectionate pet dinosaur, Dino, and daughter, Pebbles--not to mention the Rubbles' club-wielding infant Bamm Bamm--cause plenty of havoc in a prehistoric world that's seen through a 1960s lens. This collection includes all 166 episodes of the animated sitcom's six seasons. Yabba dabba doo!

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Hell Ride (2008)
dir. Larry Bishop

Product Decsription:
From Producer Quentin Tarantino (Grindhouse Presents: Death Proof) and Writer/Director Larry Bishop (Mad Dog Time) comes this lean, mean mayhem machine - fully loaded with bikers, babes, and booze. Michael Madsen (Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2), Eric Balfour (TV's "24") and legendary "Easy Rider" Dennis Hopper are part of a wild motorcycle gang bent on avenging the death of one of their own. With Vinnie Jones (The Condemned) as the crazed arrow-wielding rival gang leader, Hell Ride is a savagely enjoyable good-time where the women are hot, the bikes are even hotter, and the action never stops!

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The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection (1929-1938)
dir. n/a

Product Decsription:
The hunt for those seemingly countless LITTLE RASCALS releases is over. For the first time ever, all 80 of Hal Roach's original 1929-1938 classic shorts featuring Buckwheat, Spanky, Alphalpha, and the rest of Our Gang--from the era before Roach sold the rights to MGM--are available here in one package. Included among this complete collection of uncut, remastered, and restored episodes are numerous contributions of various types from noted film historians, an additional 10 silent shorts from Hal Roach's personal library, several documentaries including a look at racism as it pertains to the show, a special "where are they now" update featuring some of the surviving cast members, and much more.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition [Limited Edition] (1988)
dir. n/a

Product Decsription:
Mystery Science Theater 3000 celebrates its 20th anniversary with a specially packaged DVD set housed in a limited-edition tin box featuring 4 custom lobby cards and a figurine of Crow T. Robot! Features four of the show's most-requested episodes--First Spaceship on Venus (1960), Laserblast (1978), Werewolf (1996), and Future War (1997).
The Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 became a pop culture landmark in the '90s by poking fun at horrible movies of every genre and time period, and letting us listen in. They made the unwatchable essential viewing.

DVD Features:
* "The Oral History of MST3K" feature in three parts.
* 2008 Comic-Con MST3K Reunion Panel, featuring Joel Hodgson, Mike Nelson, Jim Mallon, Kevin Murphy, Trace Beaulieu, Frank Conniff, Mary Jo Pehl, Bill Corbett, J. Elvis Weinstein, Paul Chaplin and Bridget Jones-Nelson. Moderated by Patton Oswald.
* Original film trailers.
* "Variations On A Theme Song", featuring all six versions of the theme song.
* Limited-edition version comes in a tin box with 4 lobby cards and a figurine of Crow T. Robot, all exclusive to this set.
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Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection (1940-1955)
dir. n/a

Product Decsription:
Get ready to laugh out loud with the most popular comedy duo of all time in Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection! Now, for the first time ever, all 28 films produced during the height of their popularity at Universal Pictures are available in one collection. Featuring their most popular movies such as Buck Privates, Who Done It? and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, this collection is filled with some of the most hilarious routines of all-time including “Who’s on First?” Loaded with hours of bonus features and an exclusive collectible book, this is the ultimate tribute to two of the funniest, and most enduring, comedians of all time!

Titles Include -
One Night in the Tropics (1940)
Buck Privates (1941)
In the Navy (1941)
Hold That Ghost (1941)
Keep 'Em Flying (1941)
Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942)
Pardon My Sarong (1942)
Who Done It? (1942)
It Ain't Hay (1943)
Hit the Ice (1943)
In Society (1944)
Here Come the Co-Eds (1945)
The Naughty Nineties (1945)
Little Giant (1946)
The Time of Their Lives (1946)
Buck Privates Come Home (1947)
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap (1947)
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Mexican Hayride (1948)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)
Comin' Round the Mountain (1951)
Lost in Alaska (1952)
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)

DVD Features:
The World of Abbott and Costello: This compilation includes classic routines from 18 of Bud and Lou's most popular films.
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld: The popular comic hosts a tribute to Bud and Lou in this insightful retrospective.
Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters: A behind-the-scenes look at the duo's popular series of films as they meet up with Frankenstein, Dracula and The Wolf Man.
6 Feature Commentaries by Noted Film Historians
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Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens (2007)
dir. Barbara Leibovitz

One of the best, if not the best, commercial photographers ever. Certainly one of the most influential. Looking forward to checking this out.

Product Decsription:
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens traces the arc of Annie's photographic life, her aspirations to artistry and the trajectory of her career. The film depicts the various phases that shaped her life including childhood, the tumultuous sixties, her transition from Rolling Stone to Vanity Fair magazine and later her most significant personal relationships including motherhood. The documentary's highlights center on interviews with her most famous subjects, mentors and colleagues, along with personal insight from Leibovitz herself, to reveal the evolution of inarguably one of today's most influential visual artists.

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Death Defying Acts (2007)
dir. Gillian Armstrong

You're a little late to the party, guys. I'd imagine this got shelved because some studio head realized that three movies about magicians released at the same time will probably kill ticket sales, especially if one is clearly better than the others. To be fair, this one is about an actual magician, so it's definitely unique in at least one aspect.

Product Decsription:
Celebrated director Gillian Armstrong (MY BRILLIANT CAREER, LITTLE WOMEN) helms this film about Harry Houdini's romance with a con woman. In his attempts to contact his dead mother, the magician (Guy Pearce) meets a beautiful psychic named Mary (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who isn't all she appears. Joined by her daughter (ATONEMENT's Saoirse Ronan), Mary tries to con Harry out of his $10,000 reward, an effort which is complicated by the love that grows between them. Set in 1926, this lush period drama also stars Timothy Spall (ENCHANTED).

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Body of War - The True Story of an Anti-War Hero (2007)
dir. Phil Donahue, Ellen Spiro

Product Decsription:
At the center of Body of War is Tomas Young, a smart, determined guy who enlisted in the military the day after he saw President Bush stride through the ruins of the World Trade Center. He expected to be sent to Afghanistan to get the people who attacked his country; instead, he was shipped to Iraq, where he took a bullet through the collarbone a week after arriving and was paralyzed for life from the chest down. Young's subsequent struggle to be heard, by speaking out and questioning why U.S. soldiers went to Iraq, is chronicled in this film. Directors Phil Donahue (yes, talkshow host Phil Donahue) and Ellen Spiro cast a wider net, which is where the film begins to feel a little scattered, even if their cause is a fervent one. The Senate vote on authorizing the Bush plan for Iraq is a running theme, with the names of the voters emblazoned on the screen (this would be an even more effective drumbeat if it weren't drowning in overbearing music). Meanwhile, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, an old political hand with a checkered past, emerges as the voice of Constitutional sanity. His soaring speeches leading up to the crucial vote are excerpted at length, so it's no surprise that he and Tomas Young should eventually meet. But whatever the film's ambitions, its finest moments are in following Young and bluntly assessing (with considerable physical detail) his status. Original songs by Eddie Vedder are judiciously placed and passionately delivered. --Robert Horton

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Elite Squad (2007)
dir. José Padilha

Upon first glance, it just looks like a generic urban war movie. Then you notice that it was written by Bráulio Mantovani who also wrote City of God, then you find out that it won the Golden Bear, the highest award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Consider my interest piqued.

Product Decsription:
Though José Padilha's action-packed crime drama won the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival, a steady stream of controversy and acclaim has followed in its wake. Some critics have even accused the director of promoting fascism, while Padilha (Bus 174) contends that Elite Squad argues against police brutality. Like Vic Mackey, who heads up The Shield's LA strike force, narrator Captain Nascimento (Wagner Moura) heads up Rio de Janeiro's Police Special Operations Battalion (BOPE). It’s 1997, the Pope arrives for a visit in six months, and BOPE will stop at nothing to reduce crime in the favelas. The way they see it, drug traffickers have them outmanned and outgunned, so there's no point in playing by the rules. With their black uniforms and berets, the Skulls certainly cut an imposing figure. New police recruits Neto (Caio Junqueira) and aspiring lawyer Matias (André Ramiro) turn to Nascimento when their efforts to operate by the book only lead to frustration (Matias was inspired by author/law student/BOPE member André Batista). The burned-out captain sees his salvation in the two childhood friends; as soon as he selects a replacement, he plans to leave the force and spend time with his pregnant wife. Nascimento may find his man, but the ending is far from happy. Brutal and bleakly funny, Elite Squad depicts 1990s Rio as Danté's Ninth Circle of Hell. Nonetheless, Brazilians made the film an even bigger sensation than City of God, to which it serves as an essential companion piece. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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Black Magic (2008)
dir. Dan Klores

If you watch ESPN on a regular basis, then you're probably sick of hearing about this movie. It looks like a decent doc, though, especially if you're into basketball.

Product Decsription:
Black Magic is dramatic film about the injustice which defined the Civil Rights Movement in America, as told through the lives of basketball players and coaches who attended Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Narrated by Academy Award Nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson and jazz great Wynton Marsalis, with introductions from New Orleans Hornets star point guard Chris Paul and basketball icon Dr. J Julius Erving. Helmed by award-winning director Dan Klores and co-produced by basketball legend and Winston-Salem State University graduate Earl The Pearl Monroe, the film will be aired on March 16th and 17th 2008 on ESPN commercial free.

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The Final Countdown (1980)
dir. Don Taylor

Product Decsription:
With a tantalizing "what-if?" scenario and a respectable cast of Hollywood veterans, The Final Countdown plays like a grand-scale episode of The Twilight Zone. It's really no more than that, and time-travel movies have grown far more sophisticated since this popular 1980 release, but there's still some life remaining in the movie's basic premise: What if a modern-era Navy aircraft carrier--in this case the real-life nuclear-powered U.S.S. Nimitz--was caught in an anomalous storm and thrust 40 years backwards in time to the eve of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor? Will the ship's commander (Kirk Douglas) interfere with history? Will the visiting systems analyst (Martin Sheen) convince him not to? Will a rescued senator from 1941 (Charles Durning) play an unexpected role in the future of American politics? Veteran TV director Don Taylor doesn't do much with the ideas posed by this potentially intriguing plot; he seems more interested in satisfying aviation buffs with loving footage of F-14 "Jolly Roger" fighter jets, made possible by the Navy's generous cooperation. That makes The Final Countdown a better Navy film than a full-fledged time-travel fantasy, but there's a nice little twist at the end, and the plot holes are easy to ignore. James Cameron would've done it better, but this popcorn thriller makes an enjoyable double-bill with The Philadelphia Experiment. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary with Director of Photography Victor J. Kemper
"Lloyd Kaufman Goes Hollywood" - Interview with Associate Producer Lloyd Kaufman
"Starring the Jolly Rogers" - Interviews with The Jolly Rogers F-14 Fighter Squadron
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Enhanced for D-Box Motion Control Systems
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Patrick (Special Edition) (1978)
dir. Richard Franklin

Product Decsription:
After violently murdering his mother and her lover, Patrick (Robert Thompson) lays comatose in a private hospital. When a pretty young nurse (Susan Penhaligon) begins working at the hospital, Patrick tries communicating with her, while others in her life are being hurt and killed in mysterious ways.
PATRICK is a classic supernatural thriller from Australia. Directed with amazing style by Richard Franklin (F/X 2, PSYCHO II), this unsettling film of telekinetic terror ...would give CARRIE a run for her money. (Ivan Hutchinson, TV GUIDE). This DVD contains a totally new, re-mastered transfer of the original uncut Australian version in anamorphic widescreen and digital sound. - Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1)

DVD Features:
- Dolby Digital Mono (English, French & Spanish Language Options)
- Audio Commentary with Director Richard Franklin
- Original Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots
- Chapter Selections
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Strange Behavior (Special Edition) (1981)
dir. Michael Laughlin

Product Decsription:
In the peaceful town of Galesburg, Illinois, a brutal serial killer targets the local teenagers. As the bodies pile up, Sheriff John Brady (Michael Murphy) suspects the killer is connected with the high school s Psychology department. There is something sinister about the school research program on behavioral control and Brady is determined to uncover the truth. But he better find the answers fast before his own son (Dan Shor) gets drawn into the strange experiments himself! Co-Written by Oscar Winner Bill Condon (STRANGE INVADERS, GODS AND MONSTERS), STRANGE BEHAVIOR is a frighteningly gory homage to 50 s pulp horror films. Also starring Louise Fletcher (ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO S NEST, BRAINSTORM), this cult classic is interesting, suspenseful and quite witty. (TV Guide) Contains a haunting, beautiful score from Tangerine Dream.- Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation (2.35:1)

DVD Features:
- Dolby Digital Mono (English & Spanish Language Options)
- Audio Commentary with Writer Bill Condon & Actors Dan Shor and Dey Young
- U.S. & Australian Theatrical Trailers
- Deleted Scenes
- Photo Gallery
- Isolated Music Score
- Filmographies
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Thirst (Special Edition) (1979)
dir. Rod Hardy

Product Decsription:
She was innocent, pure and unsuspecting. Now, Kate Davis has been kidnapped by a bloodthirsty cult and taken to a remote village. It is there that she discovers her unholy fate! According to the prophecies of the Hyma Brotherhood, she must fulfill her destiny by marrying their leader and helping them quench their eternal thirst for blood. Chantal Contouri, David Hemmings (BLOW-UP, DEEP RED) and Henry Silva (DICK TRACY, ABOVE THE LAW) take you on a terrifying journey inside the world of a demonic cult where satanic rituals, grotesque tortures and deadly surprises await!- Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation (2.35:1)

DVD Features:
- Dolby Digital Mono (English & Spanish Language Options)
- Audio Commentary with Director Rod Hardy & Producer Antony I. Ginnane
- Cast & Filmmaker Biographies
- Original Theatrical Trailer & TV Spots
- Photo Gallery
- Isolated Music Score
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The Watcher in the Attic (1976)
dir. Noboru Tanaka, Tanaka Noboru

Dang, it's been a while since Mondo Macabro last released something. Good to see they're still going.

Product Decsription:
The film is set in 1923 in a cheap Tokyo boarding house. The landlord, Goda, roams through the attic, observing the weird lives of his tenants through holes in the ceiling. One day he sees a prostitute murder one of her clients and decides that at last he has found his soul mate... Based on stories by the Japanese master of horror, Edogawa Rampo, the film features some of the most bizarre sex scenes ever, including the story of a man who hides inside a special chair, so that a naked woman can sit on him.

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Zombie Strippers (Unrated Special Edition) (2008)
dir. Jay Lee

If the title didn't sell you, then I don't know what will.

Product Decsription:
Get yourself a snappy title and a couple of marquee names (however disreputable) and you might just snag your no-budget movie a national release--as Zombie Strippers colorfully proves. The names in question belong to porn star Jenna Jameson and Freddie Krueger himself, Robert Englund, both of whom look quite comfortable in this sleazy milieu. As the title suggests (well, "suggests" might be a mild word), there has been an outbreak of the undead in a strip club, with strippers actually improving their onstage antics after they've become zombies. (Given the number of implants on display, it's a wonder the zombies didn't keel over from silicone poisoning.) Englund is the proprietor of the place, Jameson is a star dancer, and a couple of actresses in the "nice girl" roles don't have to take their tops off, although almost everybody else does. Writer-director Jay Lee fills the movie with political gags and a bunch of philosophy references (Jameson reads Nietzsche, the locale is Sartre, Nebraska), all of which play like a lame attempt to distinguish his movie as something other than a puerile horror-comedy. Only thing is, when you try to disguise the fact that you've made a puerile horror-comedy, it kind of takes the oomph out of both the horror and the comedy. The political jibes are about as feeble as those in Southland Tales, but at least Zombie Strippers is shorter. Shot on video, it looks atrocious, but perhaps that doesn't matter very much. --Robert Horton

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Pieces (1983)
dir. Juan Piquer Simon

Product Decsription:
GRINDHOUSE RELEASING is proud to present the first official US DVD release of the sickest and most violent of all the early '80s slasher movies. A psychopathic killer stalks a Boston campus, brutally slaughtering nubile young college co-eds, collecting body parts from each victim to create the likeness of his mother who he savagely murdered with an axe when he was ten years old! PIECES is a wild, unrated gorefest, with enough splatter and sleaze to shock the most jaded horror fan.

Eli Roth, director of CABIN FEVER and HOSTEL
"One of my top horror films of all time! Not only is this the ultimate chainsaw movie, it's the ultimate slasher film. It has everything you could possibly want, by the bucketful. Full on chainsaw violence, absurd amounts of nudity, and the greatest ending in horror history.
A masterpiece of early 80's sleaze. "

DVD Features:
-2 Disc Deluxe Edition
-Original uncensored theatrical version
-Spectacular new hi-definition digital anamorphic widescreen transfer
-Optional Spanish soundtrack with original score by Librado Pastor
-Special 5.1 audio option - the Vine Theater Hollywood Experience!
-Never before seen in-depth interviews with director Juan Piquer and genre superstar Paul L. Smith
-Gallery of stills and poster art
-Exhaustive filmographies
-Liner notes by legendary horror journalist Chas. Balun
-Plus other surprises!
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Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2007)
dir. Lloyd Kaufman

I have an enormous amount of love and respect for Lloyd Kaufman, but mostly everything Troma releases is garbage. I'm not going to claim to have seen their entire catalog (which would be torturous and damn near impossible) but I've seen enough to know when to stop.

Product Decsription:
Only 15,000 individually numbered DVDs will be pressed! From Director Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Studios and the Creator of The Toxic Avenger comes Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead! When the American Chicken Bunker, a military themed fast food restaurant, builds its latest chain restaurant on the site of an ancient Native American burial ground, the displaced spirits take revenge on unsuspecting diners and transform them into chicken zombies! Now, it's up to a dimwitted counterboy, his collegiate lesbian ex-girlfriend and a burqa-wearing fry cook to put an end to the foul feathered menace once and for all.

The 3-Disc Eggs-clusive Limited Edition DVD includes a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary 'Poultry in Motion: Truth is Stranger than Chicken'!

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DVD Picks for November 4th, 2008

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Tenacious D: The Complete Masterworks 2 (2008)
dir. Jeremy Konner, Wayne Isham

I love the D, so this is far and away my most anticipated release of the week. For some reason, the blu-ray version is coming out next week, so I'll be waiting for that one.

Product Decsription:
If you're not a Tenacious D fan already, The Complete Master Works might make you an instant convert (or scare you away; it all depends). One thing's for sure: If you thought "the D" were nothing more than a novelty act, this two-disc feast will set you straight, proving that classically trained guitarist Kyle Gass and fast-rising comedy star Jack Black (School of Rock) are a bona fide acoustic power duo, scorching the pop-cultural landscape with their satirically scathing lyrics while qualifying as legitimate musicians with awesome chops and just enough insanity to make them dangerous on stage. Disc 1 ("For Fans") is all meat and potatoes, consisting of a brilliant concert (taped at London's Brixton Academy, November 3, 2002) in which Black casts himself as an abrasive provocateur, daring to offend "KG" and the audience alike with barbed taunts and spiteful attitude (all faked, of course, but convincing enough to sucker the gullible). The musicianship is first-rate, and Black's vocals remarkably spry, a deft combination of rapid-fire scatting and heavy-metal worship. The HBO episodes chronicle TD's early years as their popularity was still mostly an L.A.-based phenomenon, and without exception they're wet-your-pants hilarious.
Disc 2 is aptly dubbed "For Psycho Fans," offering a potpourri of TD ephemera for true devotees, including three HBO short films that are gross enough (and funny enough) to make any Farrelly Brothers comedy look positively tame by comparison (in other words, this definitely isn't kid's stuff). The TV appearances are somewhat redundant with the concert material, and the "On the Road" video diaries are perfunctory but fun. The best is saved for last: two music videos paired with "making-of" featurettes, including Spike Jonze's fantasy-oriented video for "Wonderboy," and a devilishly adult-oriented video for "FHG" (salacious "D" fans know what that means) from the animators of Ren & Stimpy. If you're offended, don't blame "Kage" and "Jables"--their Tenacious DVD has "Parental Advisory" clearly stamped on its cover, and prudes are well-advised to stay away. --Jeff Shannon

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Kung Fu Panda (2008)
dir. John Stevenson

I think this still might be in my top 10 of the year so far if I'm being honest. It's in the 5-10 range so it might slip out before the year's over, but it's still a great movie.

Product Decsription:
What's a panda to do when his dreams of kung-fu awesomeness awake to the cold reality of noodle-making? Clumsy, overweight Po (Jack Black) dreams of becoming a kung fu master like China's revered "furious five," but instead seems destined to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in the restaurant business. When great leader Oogway has a vision that the imprisoned kung fu warrior Tai Lung (Ian McShane) will soon escape, he declares it time to choose China's dragon warrior--one kung fu master deemed worthy of possessing the dragon's scroll and its secret to limitless power. Po and all the townspeople rush to the Jade Palace atop the highest mountain to witness the contest between Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogan), Crane (David Cross) and Viper (Lucy Liu), but Po is locked outside the palace. After a miracle of sorts, Po lands inside the palace gates, where he is chosen as the dragon warrior and placed under the tutelage of the decidedly non-plussed master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). An unconventional student to say the least, hilarity reigns as Shifu tries desperately to make Po into some semblance of a kung fu warrior. Can Po possibly fulfill his destiny as dragon warrior, or was Oogway's final decision a critical mistake? A film rich with hilarious moments, superior animation, and an important message about believing in oneself and the power that comes from within, Kung Fu Panda is great entertainment that will have the whole family laughing and begging for more. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

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Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection (1983-1987)
dir.

Incredible show, basically anything Jim Henson is associated with will get my seal of approval. A lot of people are upset that HIT Entertainment is releasing this huge set but NOT releasing the 4th and final season seperately, basically screwing everyone that bought the previous 3 seasons earlier. They don't even have any plans to release it in the future, which is really pissing everyone off.

Product Decsription:
The magical underground realm of Fraggle Rock is situated behind a wall in inventor Doc's laboratory, in this charming series from the master of puppets, Jim Henson. Doc's dog Sprocket knows something is back there, and is constantly trying to get to the fraggles, while far below in the brightly lit caverns, the furry fraggles frolic and play, and learn valuable lessons along the way. All 96 episodes of the series are included in this hugely comprehensive set, as Wembley, Gobo, Red, Mobley, and Boober have exciting adventures and present their catchy, infectious repertoire of songs. Adults will revel in the memories while children will delight in the newfound fun, as Boober has to muster his courage after he loses his lucky hat in "You Can't do that Without a Hat," and Red's best-laid plans go awry in "Let the Water Run." Other episodes include "The Thirty Minute Work Week," where Wembley has to choose his occupation; "Catch the Tail by the Tiger," where Gobo ventures into outer space to find Traveling Matt; and "The Finger of Light," which sees Mokey learning how to be in charge.

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Batman - The Complete Animated Series (1992-1995)
dir. n/a

Some of the best Batman stuff available in my opinion, live or animated. I was surprised to see there were only 3 seasons, it felt like this show was on for like 15 years.

Product Decsription:
The legendary caped crusader is back in the Emmy Award-winning BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES. During the day, mild-mannered millionaire Bruce Wayne seems like an average--albeit wealthy--Gotham City resident; but at night, when the criminal comes out, so does his alter-ego. With the help of his trusty sidekick Robin, Batman combats the evil forces that are constantly threatening to overpower Gotham City, including classic villains such as Penguin, Joker, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy. Airing from 1992-1995, this animated BATMAN is acclaimed for remaining true to the original comic book's dark tone while introducing new and exciting storylines and characters. This mammoth collection presents all four seasons of the complete series.

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Futurama: Bender's Game (2008)
dir. Dwayne Carey-Hill

The most important thing that Futurama has that the Simpsons doesn't? Consistency. Granted, it wasn't on NEARLY as long, but there was never a dip in quality. It was always amazing, and these feature length movies are further proof of Futurama's greatness.

Product Decsription:
At once a merciless skewering of all things fanboy and an extremely satisfying addition to the Futurama franchise, Bender's Game is among the best of the animated series' feature length adventures. The game in question is Dungeons and Dragons, and Bender wants in--only robots aren't programmed with the necessary imagination. Naturally, Bender's plans to develop one go completely awry and land him in an android asylum. The role-playing plotline later re-emerges--in typically convoluted Futurama fashion--via a subplot involving Professor Farnsworth's conversion of dark matter into spaceship fuel, which created a key to a very D&D-influenced universe where our hapless heroes eventually find themselves. The alternate world storyline allows for much lampooning of fantasy tropes, with Lord of the Rings receiving the lion's share of the tweaks. Seeing as how the writers have already devoted much of the movie's running time to parodying Star Wars and Star Trek (and their Lego offshoots), one might think that Bender's Game might suffer from pop-culture overload, but surprisingly, it all feels fresh and frequently funny, and the writers are wise to ground the story in their eccentric characters rather than pinballing them through an endless string of gags. The result is probably the strongest of the direct-to-DVD Futurama releases to date, and one that newcomers to the show's cracked universe can appreciate as much as longtime fans. As with previous Futurama DVD releases, the extras come fast and furious on Bender's Game: commentary by members of the cast and production team (including Matt Groening) is both informative and funny, while interviews with the writers and producers discuss, among other topics, the influence of Dungeons and Dragons on the series and the 3D models used in the feature. Aspiring animators might appreciate "How To Draw Futurama in 83 Easy Steps and the storyboard animatic for the first part of the story, while the "Genetics Lab" feature allows for some amusing Dr. Moreau-style cross-breeding of the characters. Recording session bloopers and a deleted scene offer their own laughs, but the most enjoyable extra must be the preview for the next Futurama feature, Into the Wild Green Yonder, which suggests a shocking development for one of the show's regulars. -- Paul Gaita

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A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collector's Edition) (1983)
dir. Bob Clark

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDDGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEE

Still the greatest Christmas movie ever.

Product Decsription:
The Christmas spirit isn't served up with more observant hilarity than in this beloved adaptation of Jean Shepherd's holiday story. In 1940s Indiana, nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) dreams of his ideal Christmas gift: a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. But when gruff dad (Darren McGavin) and doting mom (Melinda Dillion) regularly respond with "You'll shoot your eye out!" Ralphie mounts a full-scale Santa-begging campaign. He encounters a slew of calamities from snowsuit paralysis to the dreaded tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole gambit. We triple-dog-dare you to unwrap a more welcome Yuletide classic!

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Budd Boetticher Box Set
MOVIES INCLUDE:
The Tall T (1957)
Decision at Sundown (1957)
Buchanan Rides Alone (1958)
Ride Lonesome (1959)
Comanche Station (1960)

Product Decsription:
Few hauteur directors are more revered and beloved than Oscar "Budd" Boetticher, Jr., who lived a life more amazing than any movie. And few films have been more eagerly-awaited on DVD than the spare, adult westerns he made at Columbia in the late 1950s, all starring Randolph Scott, most written by future director Burt Kennedy, and co-starring such outstanding actors as James Coburn (in his film debut), Richard Boone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Pernell Roberts, Lee Van Cleef, and Craig Stevens. Now, at last, you hold them in your hand: The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station. Rounding out the set is Bruce Ricker's acclaimed feature-length documentary, A Man Can do That, executive produced Budd's friend Clint Eastwood. Sony Pictures and The Film Foundation are honored to present one of the absolutely essential collections of this or any year.

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Get Smart (2008)
dir. Peter Segal

Steve Carell is makes a great Maxwell Smart, and thankfully he's not just blatantly ripping-off Don Adams. The rest of the movie was not incredible, but it wasn't bad either.

Product Decsription:
Steve Carell is in control as Maxwell Smart, the novice agent often out of his depth but never out of options in this action comedy pitting him against the nuclear scheme of the evil spy group KAOS. Anne Hathaway partners with Max as ever capable Agent 99. And Director Peter Segal (The Longest Yard) guides his stars (including Dwayne Johnson and Alan Arkin) through the dangerous realm of molar radios, multifunction pocketknives, exploding dental floss and more. "Get Smart works as an action film and its funny." (Richard Roeper, At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper)

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Transsiberian (2008)
dir. Brad Anderson

Interesting cast and premise, and I really like The Machinist, one of Brad Anderson's earlier movies. Plus, he directed a couple episodes of The Wire, which instantly makes him awesome.

Product Decsription:
In Transsiberian, a train twisting across the white Siberian landscape becomes a trap for a well-meaning American couple, Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer), who find themselves pursued by a Russian policemen (Ben Kingsley) while on a trip to Moscow. On the train, they befriend a younger couple--but the charming pair hold secrets that draw Roy and Jessie into a frozen nightmare. Transsiberian's snowy setting is both beautiful and eerie, providing an evocative atmosphere that helps carry the viewer through the sometimes bumpy plot. At its core, Transsiberian is about the anxiety of being in a new world--be it a new country or a new phase of your life--and not knowing the rules, the fear of taking the wrong step and falling. The thriller plot is little more than a delivery system for that sensation. But really, all director Brad Anderson (The Machinist, Next Stop Wonderland) needed was Mortimer's limpid face; every tremor that crosses her pale skin reverberates through the camera. Her essential vulnerability first came across in Lovely and Amazing; Anderson makes good use of this rare quality. --Bret Fetzer

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Milarepa (2007)
dir. Neten Chokling

Product Decsription:
In his directorial debut, Buddhist lama Neten Chokling vividly presents the captivating story of Milarepa, the man who would become Tibet s greatest yogi and saint. In the dramatic setting of 11th century Tibet- a time of roaming sorcerers and yogis, according to Buddhist legend- a young Milarepa falls into a world of betrayal and hardships. The greed of others upturns his privileged life, dropping him into a void of despair, humiliation, pain and anger. He sets out to learn black magic- and exact revenge on his enemies- encountering magicians, demons, an enigmatic teacher and unexpected mystical power along the way. But it is in confronting the consequence of his quest for vengeance that he learns the most. Filmed on the breathtaking scenic Indo-Tibetan border, with Tibetan monks serving as most of the cast and crew, Milarepa glows with a unique visual and spiritual charge.

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The Pistol: Special Edition (1990)
dir. Frank C. Schroeder

Product Decsription:
The Pistol is the uplifting story of a scrawny eight grade boy whose stunning basketball skills earn him a spot on the high school team. Unfortunately for young Pete Maravich (Adam Guier), his style of "showtime" basketball is way ahead of its time, making him the target of ridicule and socially separates him from his teammates. Against all odds, Pete perseveres with he constant encouragement of his mentor and father, Press Maravich (Days of Our Lives) and the love of his mother Helen (Academy Award Nominee Millie Perkins). The legend of college basketball's greatest scorer begins in the heart of a thirteen year old dreamer who soon becomes known to the work as THE PISTOL.

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Waterworld (1995)
dir. Kevin Reynolds

Haven't seen this movie in forever, but from what I remember, it is unfairly hated on. Maybe I need to watch it again.

Product Decsription:
Let's be honest: this 1995 epic isn't nearly as bad as its negative publicity led us to expect. At the time it was the most expensive Hollywood production in history (it had a Titanic-sized $200 million budget), and the film arrived in theaters with so much controversy and negative gossip that it was an easy target for ridicule. The movie itself, a flawed but enjoyable post-apocalypse thriller, deserves better. Waterworld stars Kevin Costner as the Mariner, a lone maverick with gills and webbed feet who navigates the endless seas of Earth after the complete melting of the polar ice caps. The Mariner has been caged like a criminal when he's freed by Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and enlisted to help her and a young girl (Tina Majorino) escape from the Smokers, a group of renegade terrorists led by Dennis Hopper in yet another memorably villainous role. It is too bad the predictable script isn't more intelligent, but as a companion piece to The Road Warrior, this seafaring stunt-fest is adequately impressive. --Jeff Shannon

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Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008)
dir. Robert Hiltzik

Product Decsription:
It's summer camp as usual at Camp Manabe where the kids torment each other for fun while the underpaid camp staff provides as little supervision as possible. Greedy camp owner Frank and junior partner Ronnie do their best to keep everyone in line, but something sinister is about to put a slash in the roster. When campers and staff mysteriously begin disappearing and turning into gruesome corpses, paranoid Ronnie can't shake the memory of a series of grisly murders that took place at Camp Arawak, where he worked two decades earlier.

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