By David Weiner
9:42 AM PDT, October 25, 2011
Chris Evans kicks butt as Captain America; the Jurassic Park trilogy roars onto Blu-ray alongside Tom & Jerry; Winnie the Pooh is back and much more out this week.
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'Destroy All Monsters' on Blu-ray
Tokyo Shock
The Story: All of your favorite monsters unite in this 1968 Japanese extravaganza, now on Blu-ray! Everything is peaceful on Monster Island, where all of the world's giant destructive creatures are held -- until a group of alien women brainwash the monsters and set them loose! Now Godzilla is free to attack New York City. Mothra takes Beijing. Rodan gets Moscow. Manda devastates London, while Paris is destroyed by Gorosaurus. Enter King Ghidorah, and all bets are off. Can mankind destroy all monsters, or will the monsters defeat humankind once and for all?
Notable Special Features: Commentary by renowned Godzilla scholars Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski; ultimate image galleries that includes lobby cards, poster art, press books, production art; trailers, radio spots and vintage merchandise; options for Japanese or badly dubbed English!
Notable Special Features: Commentary by renowned Godzilla scholars Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski; ultimate image galleries that includes lobby cards, poster art, press books, production art; trailers, radio spots and vintage merchandise; options for Japanese or badly dubbed English!
'The Conversation' on Blu-ray
Lionsgate
The Story: Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall star in Francis Ford Coppola's haunting 1974 story of spying, love and murder, now available on Blu-ray. Written and directed by Coppola, the film follows the story of Harry Caul (Hackman), a pro wire-tapper who becomes consumed by an out-of-control plan filled with murder and secrets. Can he keep his sanity while deciphering the conversation? Also starring Harrison Ford, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams and John Cazale.
Notable Bonus Features: Never-before-seen screen tests of the cast; an on-location retrospective featurette; audio commentary with cast and crew; interviews with Coppola and composer David Shire.
Notable Bonus Features: Never-before-seen screen tests of the cast; an on-location retrospective featurette; audio commentary with cast and crew; interviews with Coppola and composer David Shire.
'Barney Miller: The Complete Series'
Shout Factory
The Story: The classic '70s sitcom about the eccentric characters of a New York City police station is now available in its complete form. Hal Linden is Barney Miller, a cop who would rather be writing than maintain order within his group of detectives who gamble, get hit on and go to renaissance philosophy conventions. Also starring Max Gail, Ron Glass, Steve Landesberg, Ron Carey, Jack Soo and Abe Vigoda.
Notable Bonus Features: New interviews with the cast; the original, unaired pilot; commentary with the writers; and the set also contains the complete first season of the Vigoda spinoff, Fish.
Notable Bonus Features: New interviews with the cast; the original, unaired pilot; commentary with the writers; and the set also contains the complete first season of the Vigoda spinoff, Fish.
'Laurel & Hardy: The Essential Collection'
The Story: The genius of the classic comedy duo is all here on this incredible, must-have 10-disc set for the ultimate film fan. Fifty-eight of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's talking shorts and feature films produced by Hal Roach are now available, made between 1929 and 1940. Laurel and Hardy's films defined a generation, and now the films are available altogether for the first time in the United States.
Notable Bonus Features: Never-before-seen interviews with Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis and Tom Conway on the impact of Laurel & Hardy; a virtual location map with interactive tour of the filming locations; collectible, book-style packaging.
Notable Bonus Features: Never-before-seen interviews with Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Lewis and Tom Conway on the impact of Laurel & Hardy; a virtual location map with interactive tour of the filming locations; collectible, book-style packaging.
'Tom & Jerry Golden Collection: Volume One' on Blu-ray
Warner Bros.
The Story: The timeless cat-and-mouse chase is now re-mastered on Blu-ray! Thirty-seven Hanna Barbera cartoons are included in Volume One, such as Puss N' Toots, The Night Before Christmas, The Yankee Doodle Mouse, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse and The Zoot Cat. One of the most long-lived rivalries in American cinema, the classic Tom & Jerry cartoon series has won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film several times.
Notable Bonus Features: Nine commentaries; a retrospective documentary; and a live-action excerpt from Anchors Aweigh featuring Jerry dancing with the legendary Gene Kelly!
Notable Bonus Features: Nine commentaries; a retrospective documentary; and a live-action excerpt from Anchors Aweigh featuring Jerry dancing with the legendary Gene Kelly!
'Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy' on Blu-ray
Universal Studios
The Story: Steven Spielberg's action-packed, blockbuster dino trilogy is now available on Blu-ray for the first time in a special set. Based on the best-selling books by Michael Crichton about genetically engineered dinosaurs run amok, the Spielberg-directed series (Joe Johnston directed the third film, which Spielberg produced) pioneered special effects with its incredibly realistic, wow-inducing T-rex, velociraptors, stegosauruses and brontos. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, Vince Vaughn, William H. Macy and Tea Leoni face off against the blood-thirsty reptiles.
Notable Bonus Features: Return to Jurassic Park, an all new, six-part documentary featuring cast and crew; making-of featurettes for all three films; early pre-production meeting footage; a discussion with author Michael Crichton about the phenomenon of the films; commentary with the special effects team; deleted scenes; a tour of Stan Winston's studio and much more!
Notable Bonus Features: Return to Jurassic Park, an all new, six-part documentary featuring cast and crew; making-of featurettes for all three films; early pre-production meeting footage; a discussion with author Michael Crichton about the phenomenon of the films; commentary with the special effects team; deleted scenes; a tour of Stan Winston's studio and much more!
'The People vs. George Lucas'
Lionsgate
The Story: This amusing documentary explores the love-hate relationship that fans of Star Wars have for the film phenomenon's director. Taken from over 600 hours of footage, the film attempts to answer the question of whether Star Wars belongs to George Lucas – or the fans. With hilarious Lego and claymation parodies, the documentary goes deep into the lore of the films.
Notable Bonus Features: Selections from poetry slams; Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz interview; commentary with the filmmaker; The People vs. Star Wars 3D featurette.
Notable Bonus Features: Selections from poetry slams; Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz interview; commentary with the filmmaker; The People vs. Star Wars 3D featurette.
'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale'
Oscilloscope Laboratories
The Story: An anti-yuletide story unlike anything you've ever seen, this wild Finnish import takes place on Christmas Eve, when an excavation near young Pietari's home captures his curiosity. His father, a reindeer herder, discovers that his herd has been killed, coincidentally at the same time the children of the town are reported missing. Pietari realizes that the excavation has released the evil Santa Claus of lore, and once captured, Santa's freakish elves will stop at nothing to get him back…
Notable Bonus Features: A look at Rare Exports Inc., the original short that the tale is based on; concept art of the film; a making-of featurette; behind-the-scenes stills.
Notable Bonus Features: A look at Rare Exports Inc., the original short that the tale is based on; concept art of the film; a making-of featurette; behind-the-scenes stills.
'Shaolin'
The Story: Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse and Bingbing Fan star in this epic martial arts period piece about a man who escapes the ravages of feuding Chinese warlords in a hidden mountain Shaolin temple and learns a unique form of kung fu. Of course, the entertaining film includes Jackie Chan's charming wisdom and always-original fight choreography.
Notable Bonus Features: Behind the scenes interviews, including one with Shaolin Abbot; a making-of featurette; deleted scenes.
Notable Bonus Features: Behind the scenes interviews, including one with Shaolin Abbot; a making-of featurette; deleted scenes.
'Father of Invention'
Anchor Bay
The Story: Kevin Spacey plays Robert Axle, an inventor/infomercial king who struggles to connect with his estranged family and catch up with technology after he emerges from a decade stint in prison. Spacey in comedy pitch-man mode is always a treat, and this time he’s a fish out of water with a colorful supporting cast that includes Heather Graham, Camilla Belle, Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson and John Stamos.
Notable Bonus Features: An interesting "Making of" featurette.
Notable Bonus Features: An interesting "Making of" featurette.
'Robot Chicken: Season Five'
Comedy Central
The Story: The fifth season of the Emmy-award winning, stop-motion animated series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich is now available on DVD and Blu-ray – uncensored! Featuring such skits as "Schindler's Bucket List" and "Casablankman," Robot Chicken's hilarious pop culture parodies will keep audiences clucking with laugter. Featuring the voice talents of Breckin Meyer, Seth MacFarlane and celebrity guests.
Notable Bonus Features: Fully animated deleted scenes; 50 deleted animatics; episode commentaries; behind the scenes featurettes.
Notable Bonus Features: Fully animated deleted scenes; 50 deleted animatics; episode commentaries; behind the scenes featurettes.
'Winnie The Pooh'
Walt Disney Pictures
The Story: Come back to the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh and his lovable gang, including Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Eeyore. Inspired by the classic books by A. A. Milne, this delightful animated film follows Eeyore as he loses his tail, and Owl sends everyone out to try to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary perpetrator. With the voice talents of John Cleese, Jim Cummings and Craig Ferguson.
Notable Bonus Features: Exclusive bonus short where Pooh tries to get some honey; a behind-the-scenes look at the film, hosted by John Cleese; deleted scenes; a sing-along option and more!
Notable Bonus Features: Exclusive bonus short where Pooh tries to get some honey; a behind-the-scenes look at the film, hosted by John Cleese; deleted scenes; a sing-along option and more!
'Captain America: The First Avenger'
Paramount Pictures
The Story: Chris Evans transforms from 98-pound weakling to buff, genetically enhanced superhero in the newest Marvel extravaganza, now available on Blu-ray Combo pack and limited edition 3D Blu-ray. Chris plays Steve Rogers, a slight-but-tenacious wannabe warrior, circa World War II, who volunteers to take part in a top-secret military experiment that transforms him into a Super Soldier. Armed with a bulletproof shield, he takes on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), who plans to wield a powerful weapon for world domination. Also starring Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke and Stanley Tucci.
Notable Bonus Features: Commentary with director Joe Johnston, director of photography Shelly Johnson and editor Jeff Ford; deleted scenes with optional commentary; seven featurettes, including the history behind Captain America.
Notable Bonus Features: Commentary with director Joe Johnston, director of photography Shelly Johnson and editor Jeff Ford; deleted scenes with optional commentary; seven featurettes, including the history behind Captain America.