By David Weiner
9:01 AM PDT, August 9, 2011
James Franco, Natalie Portman and Danny McBride slay in the stoner comedy 'Your Highness'; 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl;' 'Dazed and Confused' and much more in this week's new releases.
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'Dazed and Confused' on Blu-ray
Universal
The Story: Director Richard Linklater's ode to rock and roll and high school in his Texas town features early performances from the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Joey Lauren Adams, Adam Goldberg and Parker Posey, following a group of '70s partying high school kids in search of alcohol and the opposite sex on the last day of school.
Notable Bonus Features: Retro public service announcements and "The Blunt Truth" institutional film about the dangers of partying. Funny stuff indeed.
Notable Bonus Features: Retro public service announcements and "The Blunt Truth" institutional film about the dangers of partying. Funny stuff indeed.
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' on Blu-ray
Universal
The Story: The 1982 comedy classic from writer Cameron Crowe and director Amy Heckerling is now on Blu-ray! With an ensemble cast featuring a young Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Forest Whitaker, Judge Reinhold and Phoebe Cates, 'Fast Times' follows a group of high school teens as they make their way through the school year, learning about life and love and they endure bad jobs, bad dates and tough teachers.
Notable Bonus Features: Cast and crew reminisce about the film in the featurette "Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
Notable Bonus Features: Cast and crew reminisce about the film in the featurette "Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
'The Fox and the Hound' & 'The Fox and the Hound 2' on Blu-ray
Disney
The Story: Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the beloved Disney animated tale, The Fox and the Hound follows the remarkable friendship between an orphaned fox cub, Tod (voiced by Mickey Rooney), and a coonhound puppy, Copper (voiced by Kurt Russell), who pledge to be lifelong friends, not realizing that they will soon be expected to be enemies. Music takes center stage in The Fox and the Hound 2, with Tod joining up with the harmonizing dog group "The Singin' Strays" -- with dreams of hitting the big time at the Grand Ole Opry -- but Copper finds himself relegated to "roadie." Can these longtime friends sort out their differences to find fame?
Notable Bonus Features: The all-new "Unlikely Friends," a fun and fascinating collection of unlikely friendships in the animal kingdom; "Best of Friends Sing-A-Long"; and an interesting look at the making of the original film in "Passing the Baton: Making of The Fox and the Hound."
Notable Bonus Features: The all-new "Unlikely Friends," a fun and fascinating collection of unlikely friendships in the animal kingdom; "Best of Friends Sing-A-Long"; and an interesting look at the making of the original film in "Passing the Baton: Making of The Fox and the Hound."
'Secret Diary of a Call Girl: The Final Season'
Showtime
The Story: All eight seductive episodes of the critically-acclaimed Showtime series are now on DVD. Based on the real-life adventures of a high-class escort, the show stars Billie Piper as one of London's premiere escorts who tries to balance her unusual career choice with her personal life. The final season finds our heroine in an awkward love triangle and finally forced to decide if she will commit to her boyfriend Ben or leave him forever.
'Mars Needs Moms'
Disney
The Story: Disney and Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, The Polar Express) team up for this CGI-animated, out-of-this-world adventure that follows nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green), who must rescue his mom (Joan Cusack) after she's abducted by Martians, who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own younglings. James Earl Jones, Breckin Meyer, Billy Dee Williams and Tom Everett Scott also lend the voices to the fun.
Notable Bonus Features: Also available on 3D Blu-ray, look for the on-set antics of Seth Green and Dan Fogler as they compete to see who can do their verbal ROM the fastest; also, see how the producer and cast came up with their own unique Martian language -- and learn how to speak it yourself!
Notable Bonus Features: Also available on 3D Blu-ray, look for the on-set antics of Seth Green and Dan Fogler as they compete to see who can do their verbal ROM the fastest; also, see how the producer and cast came up with their own unique Martian language -- and learn how to speak it yourself!
'Paul'
Universal Pictures
The Story: Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz buds Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite for the ultimate road trip in this stoner sci-fi comedy. Pegg and Frost play Comic-Con geeks who stumble across a real-life alien on their way to the mythical Area 51. Voiced by Seth Rogen, Paul turns out to be just a "regular alien" who teaches the pair a thing or two about life and women -- all the while being pursued by shady government operative (Jason Bateman). Directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad), the film also stars Kristen Wiig, Jane Lynch and Sigourney Weaver.
Notable Bonus Features: The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack includes an unrated version of the film, and the cast unites for a musical version of the movie.
Notable Bonus Features: The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack includes an unrated version of the film, and the cast unites for a musical version of the movie.
'Jumping the Broom'
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The Story: In this romantic wedding comedy with an all-star cast, Paula Patton and Laz Alonso who play a soon-to-be married couple with mothers that clash disastrously just days before their Martha's Vineyard wedding. Angela Bassett, Julie Bowen, Romeo, Gary Dourdan, Loretta Devine, Tasha Smith, Pooch Hall and Mike Epps star.
Notable Bonus Features: An "Honoring the Tradition of Jumping the Broom" featurette for those not in the know about this age-old wedding ritual.
Notable Bonus Features: An "Honoring the Tradition of Jumping the Broom" featurette for those not in the know about this age-old wedding ritual.
'Your Highness'
Universal
The Story: Monty Python meets Superbad in this raunchy, smoke-filled medieval action-comedy starring James Franco and Danny McBride as royal brothers Fabious and Thadeous -- one honorable and courageous, the other, not so much. When Franco's bride (Zooey Deschanel) is kidnapped by an evil sorcerer (Justin Theroux), they must go on a quest to save her. Along the way they meet a fierce warrior (a game Natalie Portman) whose own quest converges with theirs. "This film came from a strong passionate love for the '70s, early '80s sword and sorcery movies I grew up on," says McBride, who also co-wrote the film.
Notable Bonus Features: An unrated, extended version of the film; more of Fabious and Thadeous' visit to the Great Wise Wizard; and a montage of alternative jokes from different scenes.
Notable Bonus Features: An unrated, extended version of the film; more of Fabious and Thadeous' visit to the Great Wise Wizard; and a montage of alternative jokes from different scenes.