DVD Releases Tuesday October 19, 2010

This Week's Top Pick:
Please Give Kate (Catherine Keener) and Alex (Oliver Platt) are a couple living in New York City who specialize in vintage furniture -- which they buy on the cheap at estate sales and mark up at their trendy Manhattan store. Kate and Alex have a teenage daughter, Abby (Sarah Steele) -- who has image problems -- and their apartment is starting to feel a bit small for the three of them; Kate and Alex own the unit next door to them, and once the flat becomes vacant, they plan to knock out a wall and take over the space. However, Andra (Ann Morgan Guilbert), their tenant, is an elderly woman with a poor disposition who doesn't seem eager to go anywhere soon, and it's occurred to Kate and Alex that they're probably going to have wait for her to die, since evicting her would be very awkward. Hoping to make the best of the situation, Kate tries to strike up a friendship with Andra and her fiercely protective granddaughter Rebecca (Rebecca Hall), but Andra isn't especially interested in making new friends, and Rebecca's sister, Mary (Amanda Peet), isn't much easier to deal with. Add in Kate's marriage problem of sharing a partnership in parenting, business and life with Alex but sensing doubt nibbling at the foundations. Add in her guilt over the business -- exploiting grief-ridden relatives to buy furniture at low prices -- and her free-floating 21st century malaise -- the problem of how to live well and be a good person when poverty, homelessness, and sadness are always right outside the door, and this quirky comedic tale of human foibles soon takes an unpredictable turn. Vitals: Director: Nicole Holofcener. Stars: Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Sarah Steele, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Rebecca Hall, Amanda Peet. 2010, CC, MPAA rating: R, 90 min., Comedy Drama, Box office gross: $4.010 million, Sony.


THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

Accidently on Purpose Season 1 (2009-10) Two-disc set with 18 episodes, $41.99. (CBS/Paramount).

Agora (2009) Dir.: Alejandro Amenabar; Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac. Historical drama set in Roman Egypt, about a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hopes of pursuing freedom while also falling in love with his master, the famous female philosophy professor and atheist Hypatia of Alexandria, who proved to be far ahead off her time. Extras: Introduction by Amenabar, commentary by Amenabar, "Journey to Alexandria" documentary, deleted scenes, storyboards: Production and costume design, photo gallery. (Lionsgate).

Bionic Woman: Season One (1976-77) Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).

Colin (2009) Alastair Kirton, Daisy Aitkens, Leanne Pammen. A surprise hit at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, "Colin" was the brainchild of British writer-director Marc Price, offering an original, unique perspective -- a story told through the zombie's eyes. Made for just $75, mostly spent on tea and cookies for his "zombies," Price relied on friends and Facebook to cast his legion of undead extras. Life bites (literally!) for Colin (Alastair Kirton) when, after becoming a zombie snack, he dies and returns as one of the undead. Wandering aimlessly through the streets of London, during the throes of a cadaverous apocalypse, we learn about Colin (from his perspective) ... who he was and, more pertinently, what he has become, through his encounters with objects, places and people. Available as a single DVD with director's commentary and a two-disc Special Edition that adds a "Making of Colin" featurette, deleted scenes, original trailer and Price's new short film, "The End." (Walking Shadows).

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008) Explores the spectacular lives of a million crimson winged flamingos, offering a glimpse of their rare journey. Appropriate for families of all ages, this film showcases a dramatic, never before filmed backdrop, as the regal birds wing to another world in an inspiring and colorful story of majesty. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (DisneyNature).

Forbidden Lies (2009) Norma Khouri is a thief, a saint, a seductress and a sociopath -- depending on who is talking. Khouri won fame and fortune with her "true story," "Forbidden Love," about a shocking honor killing in Jordan, and the book was a runaway bestseller, translated into multiple languages. Khouri became the toast of the literary world, at least until July 2004, when esteemed Sydney Morning Herald journalist Malcolm Knox exposed her book as a work of fiction, and her protagonist, Dalia, a figment of her imagination. Following her shocking "outing," Khouri fights for her credibility and offers to go to Jordan to prove that "Dalia" indeed existed and that the incident in question really took place. Is her story fact or fiction? You decide. Extras: Commentary by director Anna Broinowski and Norma Khouri, director's diary, interviews with the filmmakers, deleted scenes, trailer, featurettes. (IndiePix).

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Ultimate Edition (2004) Three-disc set, $39.92. Extras: New features: "Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 3: Creatures" and "Tour Nick Dudman's Creature Shop"; additional featurettes: "Creating the Vision" interview with J.K. Rowling and the filmmakers, "Conjuring a Scene: Creating Buckbeak and the Dementors for the Screen," additional scenes, more; 48-page creatures photo book; two collectible character cards: Hermione Granger, Sirius Black; Year 3 lenticular card; bonus digital copy of the theatrical film. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Ultimate Edition (2005) Three-disc set, $39.92. Extras: New feature: "Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 4: Sound & Music"; additional featurettes: "Preparing for the Yule Ball," conversations with the cast, reflections on the fourth film, more; 44-Page sound & music photo book, two collectible character cards: Ronald Weasley, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, Year 4 lenticular card, digital copy of the theatrical film. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).

Holy Rollers (2010) Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha. A Rabbinical student gets involved in the gritty drug smuggling scene in Manhattan and Amsterdam. Based on a true story of how nearly one million ecstasy pills were imported into the country in the 1990s using orthodox Hasidic Jews as carriers, their strict religious dress making them less likely to have their bags searched in customs. (First Independent Pictures/Vivendi Entertainment).

Homeless for the Holidays (2009) Matt Moore, Crystal Dewitt-Hinkle, Cole Brandenberger, Gabrielle Phillips. Jack Baker is a self-made executive who enjoys a happy, upper-middle-class life -- until he loses his job, and finds himself working at a burger joint in order to make ends meet. To make things worse, ends are not being met, and, if something doesn't change soon, the Bakers could lose everything by Christmas. Created by TV filmmaker George A. Johnson, who lost his job in 2008 and put this film together with the help of some 500 volunteers. Info: homelessfortheholidaysmovie.com. (Breathe Motion Pictures/Bridgestone Multimedia Group).

Ironside: Season Four (1970-71) Factory-direct set, 26 episodes. (Shout! Factory).

The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) Bob Hope, Lloyd Nolan, William Frawley, Tor Johnson. (Shout! Factory).

The Maze (2010) Shalaina Castle, Brandon Sean Pearson, Clare Niederpruem, Kyle Paul, Tye Nelson. Five friends break into a closed corn maze in the middle of the night and decide to play a harmless game of tag. Little do they know that a psychopathic killer has decided to play along. (Monarch Home Video).

Mirrors 2 (2010) Nick Stahl, William Katt, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Christy Carlson Romano. When Max, a recovering addict, takes a job as a nighttime security guard, he begins to see visions of a young mysterious woman in the store's mirror: It turns out the woman was brutally murdered in front of the mirror -- a portal to the world of the undead -- and she has embarked on a murderous rampage to get the men and women responsible for her horrific death. Extras: "The Other Side: Making Mirrors 2," "Keeping It Real: The Visual and Special Effects of Mirrors 2," deleted scenes, "Into the Mirror" (original Korean film). Also available on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, which adds Picture in Picture: Watch "Mirrors 2" with the Woman in the Mirror. (Fox).

The Misfortunates (2010 -- Netherlands) Thirteen-year-old Gunther Strobbe grows up surrounded by alcohol, trash and his completely useless father and uncles. Slowly but surely he's being prepared for the same hapless life. Can he defy his destiny? Award-winning film, originally presented at the Director's Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, and Toronto, Hamptons and Palm Springs Festivals. (Neoclassics Films).

Monster A-Go Go: Special Collector's Edition (1965) June Travis, Peter Thompson, Phil Morton. Directed by Bill Rebane and Herschell Gordon Lewis. Billed as "The picture that could set our space program back at least 50 years" and voted "The Worst Movie Ever" by Mystery Science Theater 3000. An astronaut about to be launched into space is being prepped for his galactic voyage with doses of "radiation repellent," but the doctor really gives him doses previously tested only on animals. As the mission ends and the space capsule parachutes back to earth, it crash-lands in a field and the astronaut disappears, replaced by a monster who begins wreaking havoc in the area. Extras: Commentary by director Bill Rebane; two short films not seen since their original theatrical release, "Twist Craze" (produced as a short subject/added attraction for the 1961 premiere of Frank Capra's "Pocket Full of Miracles" at Chicago's Oriental Theatre) and "Dance Craze" (1962, released internationally); original theatrical trailer; 24-page booklet with a reprint of a 1965 Scary Monsters magazine article about the making of the film. (Synergy Entertainment).

Night of the Demons (2009) Shannon Elizabeth, Edward Furlong, Monica Keena. Remake of the 1988 classic. A group of friends partying on Halloween night at New Orleans' notorious Broussard Mansion discover a horrifying secret in the basement and unleash the wrath of blood-thirsty demons. (Entertainment One).

Oceans (2009) Directed by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud (both of "Winged Migration"). The two filmmakers venture in, on and around our seas to discover photogenic oddities and endangered wonders, diving deep into the very waters that sustain all of mankind -- exploring the playful splendor and the harsh reality of the weird and wonderful creatures that live there. A breathtaking and unprecedented high-definition journey to discover nature's mysteries, showcasing creatures captured on film for the first time and highlighting the colorful symphony of animals that live under the sea. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Available as a standard DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD). For every Blu-ray Combo Pack or DVD purchased between October 19 and 25, Disney will contribute a portion of sales to The Nature Conservancy. (DisneyNature).

Please Give (2010) Director: Nicole Holofcener. Stars: Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Sarah Steele, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Rebecca Hall, Amanda Peet. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featuette, outtakes, Nicole Holofcener Q&A clips. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).

Predators (2010) Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Oleg Taktarov, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali. Extras: Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal; Motion Comics: "Moments of Extraction" (two prequel vignettes voiced by the cast) and "Crucified"; "De-cloaking the Invisible: Alien Terrain" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc, which adds an expanded "Moments of Extraction" motion comic with six vignettes, "Evolution of the Species: Predators Reborn" six-part featurette ("Bloodline," "De-cloaking the Invisible: Alien Terrain," "Intelligent Design: The Hunting Camp," "Predators as Prey," "Yuatja Transformed," "Rite of Passage"); "The Chosen" featurette; Fox Movie Channel presents "Making a Scene"; deleted and extended scenes; BD-Live extras: Exclusive "Predators" features; "Live Lookup" powered by IMDB. (Fox).

The Psycho Legacy (2010) Two-Disc special edition DVD set that explores the history, impact and mystique of "Psycho" and the films that it spawned. Interweaving rare and never-before-seen interview footage with Anthony Perkins and dozens of interviews with the "Psycho" films' cast, crew, writers and directors including Robert Loggia, Olivia Hussey, Henry Thomas, Diana Scarwid, Tom Holland, Hilton Green, Mick Garris, Richard Franklin, as well as other writers and directors in the horror genre, including Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator"), Adam Green ("Frozen"), Joe Lynch ("Wrong Turn 2"), Michael Gingold and Tony Timpone from Fangoria, and many more. $19.93. Extras: Extended and deleted scenes, panel discussion with Anthony Perkins, the "Psycho" reunion panel, a tour of the Bates Motel, "Revisiting Psycho II," "Shooting Psycho II," a visit with "Psycho" memorabilia collector Guy Thorpe, "Psycho" on the Web, the Hyaena Gallery presents serial-killer-inspired art. (Shout! Factory).

The Real L Word: The First Season (2010) Three-disc set with nine episodes, $39.99. Extras: Behind-the-scenes footage, audition tapes, "The National Gay & Lesbian Winter Party" with Pam Grier. (Showtine/Paramount).

Shaun the Sheep: Season One Gift Set. Two-disc set with 40 full-length episodes, $29.98. Extras: "Sing-Along With Shaun," "The Mini-Making of Shaun," "Sheep Shearing" game, "Building a Pig" featurette, "Meet the Animals." (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).

Shoot the Hero! (2010) Jason Mewes, Samantha Lockwood, Danny Trejo, Nic Nac, Nicholas Turturro, Paul Sloan, Fred Williamson. A thirtysomething couple unintentionally become involved in a botched jewel heist while shopping for wedding rings. Extras: Video production diaries, video director's diaries, photo gallery. (Virgil Films & Entertainment).

Shooting Stars (2009) Documentary follows Johnny Nunez, who was abandoned as a baby and later adopted by a Puerto Rican family, as he overcomes the obstacles imposed by his humble upbringings in Brooklyn to become today's most prominent Hip Hop celebrity photographer. (IndiePix).

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009) Elisha Cuthbert, Tim Allen, Kelli Garner, Andie MacDowell, Jenna Elfman, Lindsay Sloane, Chris Klein, Paz Vega, Edward Herrmann, Larry Miller, S. Epatha Merkerson, Barbara Barrie. A grieving daughter tries to arrange her father's funeral, while putting up with all of his ex-wives. (National Entertainment Media).

Smash His Camera (2010) Documentary about infamous New York City paparazzo Ron Galella, legendary for his restraining order from Jackie O and losing five teeth at the hands of Marlon Brando, all in the service of generating some of the most iconic and memorable celebrity photographs of the 1970s. Features archival footage of Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and more. (Magnolia Home Entertainment).

Tapout: The Complete Series (2007) Five-disc set with 20 episodes of the mixed martial arts series, $29.98. (Image Entertainment).

Thomas & Friends: Best Tales on the Tracks. Six-disc set with 50 episodes featuring Thomas and his friends from the Island of Sodor: "Best of Thomas," "Best of James," "Best of Gordon," "Best of Percy," "Thomas and the Treasure" and "10 Years of Thomas & Friends"; $29.98. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).

Unsolved Suburbia (2010) Johnny Lockhart, Alexander Dissan, David Blanco, Kiyoshi Shishido, Steven Christopher. Quirky sex, gang warfare, peeping tomisim and homophobia come to the fore among teens living in the new suburbia. (MTL Home Video).

Wallander (2010) Two-disc set with three 90-minute features starring Kenneth Branagh as Kurt Wallander, a police inspector in the Swedish town of Ystad: "Faceless Killers," "The Man Who Smiled" and "The Fifth Woman," $34.98. Extras: "Wallander Country" location featurette, "Being Kurt Wallander" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (BBC/Warner).

The Warrior and the Sorceress/Barbarian Queen Double Feature. Two Roger Corman action-adventures filled with sword-and-sorcery fantasy, explosive battles and exotic beauties. "The Warrior and the Sorceress" (1984) stars David Carradine, Luke Askew, Maria Socas, Anthony DeLongis and Harry Townes; "Barbarian Queen" (1985) stars Lana Clark Clarkson, Katt Shea, Frank Zagarino and Dawn Dunlap. (Shout! Factory).