CHAIN LETTER -- DVD review by porfle

In the dark stalker flick CHAIN LETTER (2010), five twenty-something high school kids discover that modern technology isn't necessarily their friend. 

The film opens with a crackerjack pre-titles death scene which sets the morbid tone of the story.  Switch to a bustling high school campus where teens text while walking together, have continuous music blasting in their earbuds, and scoff when a creepy teacher (Brad Dourif, whose slogan could be "We do creepy right") warns them that there's a dark side to the pervasive technology they enjoy so much. 

Going down the usual check list of stereotypes, we find that our main characters include the jock, the nerd, the rebel, the good girl, the bitchy girl, and the black guy.  When the nerd receives a spooky chain letter on his computer one night instructing him to forward it to five other people, under penalty of death, the unlucky five naturally ignore it.  The only questions now are--when and in what order will they die, and how gruesome will their demises be?


Although there are a few false-alarm "gotcha" scares at first, complete with piercing musical stings, the first elaborate murder setpiece pays off with some quick cuts of extreme gore.  A second victim gets his top half seperated from his bottom half, and later on another one gets "the hook", so to speak.  Rabid gorehounds may find these moments to be too few and far between, though an unsettling mood of paranoia sets in as the other teens figure out the "chain letter" angle and start looking over their shoulders.

In addition to using modern technology to stalk and terrorize his victims, the killer favors the creative use of actual chains during his diabolical misdeeds.  He lacks the playfulness of a Michael Myers or the wit of a Freddy Kruger--and is definitely no Jason Voorhees--but strikes an imposing enough figure nonetheless.  What he lacks in personality is compensated for by an interesting motive, which the investigating homicide detective (Keith David) eventually pieces together. 

The nice girl, Jessie, is played by Nikki Reed (TWILIGHT), who makes a likable lead.  Noah Segan, so effective as the twisted "J.T." in DEADGIRL, plays Dante, the member of the ill-fated five who is so totally out there that he (gasp) doesn't even own a cell phone.  As the two homicide cops, Keith David is joined by former teen-movie queen Betsy Russell, currently best-known for her roles in the SAW films.  Comedian Charles Fleischer also makes a brief appearance.


Direction (by Deon Taylor) and visuals are alternately gritty and TV-commercial slick, with some pretty well-staged suspense scenes.  The soundtrack is ear-splitting at times--I thought the mood in some scenes might've benefitted from less noise rather than the "louder is better" approach. 

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.  There are no subtitles and the sole extra consists of the film's trailer.

To us no-cell-phone Luddites, the atmosphere of inescapable technology eroding our privacy may be the queasiest aspect of CHAIN LETTER.  As a horror flick, it isn't one of the scariest or most shocking splatterfests I've seen, but it's definitely a respectable addition to the genre.  If nothing else, you won't soon forget that ending.


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

HandMade Films' FIVE CORNERS and A PRIVATE FUNCTION coming to Blu-ray and DVD Feb 8 from Image Entertainment

On February 8, Image Entertainment will release two titles from the esteemed Handmade Films library:  Five Corners and A Private Function.  Both will be available on DVD and Blu-ray™, with an SRP of $17.97 for the Blu-ray and $14.98 for the DVD .  Prebook is January 11.


Starring John Turturro (O Brother, Where Art Thou?), two-time Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs) and Academy Award® winner Tim Robbins (Mystic River, The Shawshank Redemption), Five Corners is a unique story about life, love, and the unexpected twists of fate for a group of friends living in the Bronx in the early 1960s.  In this chaotic time Five Corners has a battle of its own to face,  when Heinz (Turturro), newly released from prison, returns with his heart still set on Linda (Foster) – the woman he attacked – and his hatred still burning for Harry (Robbins) the man who tried to protect her.     This is an acclaimed indie thriller - a true original!

A Private Function is an outrageous comedy of manners taking place during a time of extreme food rationing in England following World War II.  One town’s upper class bends the rules by illegally fattening a prize pig for a feast to celebrate the upcoming royal wedding, but when a timid podiatrist (Michael Palin, A Fish Called Wanda) and his bossy wife (two-time Academy Award winner Maggie Smith, A Room with a View) learn of the plan, they seize the chance to climb the social ladder by kidnapping the pig…who has a few unpleasant surprises of its own in store. This hilarious, critically-acclaimed British cult comedy offers proof that some people will truly do anything to get ahead!

Five Corners Blu-ray™
Genre:                         Drama, 80s, United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)      
Audio:                         PCM 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1987
SRP :                            $17.97
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 11
Length:                        94 minutes
UPC :                           014381677850
Cat#:                           ID6778HHBD

Five Corners DVD
Genre:                         Drama, 80s, United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1987
SRP :                            $14.98
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 2011
Length:                        94 minutes
UPC :                           014381657326
Cat#:                           ID6573HHDVD 

A Private Function Blu-ray™
Genre:                         Comedy, 80s, Screwball , United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         PCM 2.0
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1984
SRP :                            $17.97
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 11
Length:                        92 minutes
UPC :                           014381658354
Cat#:                           ID6583HHBD

A Private Function DVD
Genre:                         Comedy, 80s, Screwball , United Kingdom
Rating:                        R
Rating Reason:            N/A
Languages:                  English 
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                         Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:                     English
Year:                           1984
SRP :                            $14.98
Street Date:                 February 8, 2011
Pre-Book:                    January 11, 2011
Length:                        92 minutes
UPC :                           014381658026
Cat#:                           ID6580HHDVD

SINGLE-HANDED: SET 1 -- DVD review by porfle

I've never seen the Emerald Isle look more beautiful than in SINGLE-HANDED: SET 1, which takes place in a picturesque Irish village by the sea and features one breathtaking vista after another.  It's almost enough to make you forget that even in a remote place like this, dark deeds and bad people lurk beneath the surface.  But Sgt. Jack Driscoll (Owen McDonnell), the only lawman for miles around, is reminded of it every day.

Jack's dad, Gerry (Ian McElhinney), was a tough, old-school cop not above bending the rules to catch a crook, something his son would rather avoid.  When Jack gets transferred from the Dublin police force to his hometown to replace his retiring father as head "Garda", he'll uncover things about Gerry's past, both professional and private, that will have him reeling.  It doesn't help that Jack's only assistant, Garda Finbarr Colving (David Herlihy), is part of the old guard whose allegiances are often suspect.

Part of what makes "Single-Handed" interesting is the fact that with such a small and close-knit population, every case involves people Jack knows personally.  His private life always gets tangled up in things, sometimes to an agonizing extent.  In the first episode, "Natural Justice", the apparent murder of a pretty young immigrant girl forces Jack to investigate some of the town's leading citizens, including Gerry.  Even his burgeoning love affair with a girl from his past becomes part of a series of revelations that keep this episode consistently absorbing.  Before it's over, the story takes some turns that are truly unexpected and for Jack, traumatic.


In "The Stolen Child", a young mother's baby is kidnapped and her heroin-addicted ex-husband is the suspect.  Her two volatile brothers hinder Jack's investigation with their strong-arm tactics, but when he resorts to violence himself in order to force a confession, his own integrity is called into question.  His romance with the town doctor causes his love life to get dragged into things again when they bitterly disagree on how to handle the drug-addled suspect. 

As the story of the missing child keeps us in suspense, retired cop Gerry is called before an internal affairs tribunal to account for old indiscretions, which dangerously raises his blood pressure.  The return of a mysterious man from his past complicates matters even more, and as usual the various plot elements turn out to be connected in surprising ways. 

"The Drowning Man" brings two agents from the big city into town on the trail of a drug smuggling ring that may involve some leading citizens.  This episode crackles with danger and intrigue when Jack drags the body of a teenage boy out of the bay, and ends up trampling over the agents' undercover investigation.  One of them turns out to be an old flame, which heightens the drama when Jack begins to disagree vehemently with their methods.  One of the best moments in the series occurs during a confrontation between Jack and their ruthless team leader, and the episode ends with an tense shootout.


Jack's no Sherlock Holmes, but he's dogged and tenacious.  It's fun watching him slogging his way through these baffling mysteries with his limited abilities and resources, while his job constantly intrudes upon his personal life in substantial ways.  Owen McDonnell gives an everyday realism to the role, and the supporting cast, including Ruth McCabe as Jack's long-suffering mother Eithne, is consistently good. 

Each script by Barry Simner is smartly-written and filled with scintillating dialogue exchanges.  You never know when the story is going to stop twisting and turning--there always seems to be one more surprise waiting to crop up before it's over.  Production values are fine and the settings are lushly atmospheric.

The DVD from Acorn Media is in 16:9 widescreen with Dolby Digital sound and English subtitles.  Each of the three discs contains a feature-length episode of the 2007 series.  Extras are text-based and include an interview with the producer plus other production notes.

SINGLE-HANDED: SET 1 proves that there's a lot more to rural Ireland than bogs, shamrocks, and little people.  This trio of tales about a quietly-seething small town and the diligent cop who has his hands full policing it is solid, satisfying entertainment--perfect for those times when you feel like pouring yourself a pint of stout and curling up with a good DVD.


Buy it at Amazon.com

"Battle Of The Warriors" and "Scary Movie 4 (Unrated)" On Blu-ray From Vivendi Entertainment and the Weinstein Company

BATTLE OF THE WARRIORS

Synopsis:
House of Flying Daggers star Andy Lau delivers a power-packed performance in this epic tale of swords, valor, and Sun Tzu-style strategy from the action director of Jet Li’s Hero. In 370 B.C., a small kingdom lies directly in the path of a massive, advancing army. When all hope is lost, the people turn to a lone, mysterious stranger to rescue them from siege and conquest. Based on the sensational Japanese manga series Bokkou, Battle of the Warriors features a gritty, realistic style with an incredible level of historical detail that highlights each of its unparalleled, ferocious battles.

Bonus Features:
- Feature-Length Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
- The Making of Battle of the Warriors

Price: $19.97
Order Due Date: February 8, 2011
Street Date: March 15, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Catalog #: WN3140
Run Time: 133 minutes
Languages: English, Mandarin
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Buy it at Amazon.com
Read our review of the DVD

 SCARY MOVIE 4 (UNRATED)

Synopsis:
In “the best Scary Movie yet!” (Fox-TV), the lovable, dim-witted Cindy (Anna Faris, Observe and Report) and her overheated pal Brenda (Regina Hall, “Law & Order: Los Angeles”) return to help clueless hero Tom (Craig Bierko, Cinderella Man) save the world from a ruthless alien invasion.  In true Scary Movie tradition, the story weaves through a series of hilarious and twisted parodies of familiar films including War of the Worlds, The Grudge, The Village, and Saw.  Longer, funnier, and raunchier, with celebrity cameos from Shaquille O’Neal, Dr. Phil, Lil’ John and more, nothing is off limits in Scary Movie 4!

Bonus Features:
- The Scary Truth: A Conversation with the Filmmakers
- The Man Behind the Laugh: David Zucker
- Zany, Spoof Humor – Zucker Style
- The Visual Effects of Scary Movie 4
- The Youngbloodz
- The Cast
- Improvisation of Craig Bierko
- Bloopers
- Deleted and Extended Scenes

Price:  $19.97
Order Due Date: February 15, 2011
Street Date: March 22, 2011
MPAA Rating: Unrated
DVD Catalog #: WN3141
Run Time: 91 minutes
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Buy it at Amazon.com

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING -- DVD review by porfle

A cautionary tale disguised as a comedy, HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (1989) makes its sometimes preachy message easier to swallow by mixing it with cutting humor and nightmarish fantasy. 

Advertising ace Dennis Bagley (Richard E. Grant) is a master at selling the public what it doesn't need until the task of coming up with a campaign for a boil cream (pimple cream to us Yanks) stops him dead in his tracks.  While agonizing over an effective angle, it occurs to him that he's not selling boil cream, which doesn't work--he's selling gullible teens the false hope that it will work.  He then begins to realize how the government conspires with this same sort of advertising to brainwash the public regarding more vital concerns. 

Bagley is wonderfully rude, arrogant, and argumentive in the early scenes.  There's a wonderful dinner party exchange between him and an overweight feminist Vegan in which he accuses her of secretly eating meat, or at least eels loaded with estrogen that's flooding the oceans due to so many women being on the pill.  He also runs a trio of dignified gentlemen off a commuter train (bellowing "What do you know about God, you wire-haired old Mick!" at an elderly priest) after berating them over a lurid newspaper story they've been slavering over.


These delightful altercations spring up out of nowhere thanks to Bagley's refined hostility being unleashed at anyone he regards as gullible sheep falling for precisely the same deceptive nonsense he himself is complicit in churning out.  Another funny scene occurs as the fed-up Bagley attempts to resign from the game as his disaffected boss carries on an entirely different conversation on his headset telephone.  For me, most of the real belly laughs occur during this early part of the film, before the story veers off on a weirder and more complicated tangent.

With boils on the brain, the final indignity occurs when a huge, inflamed one sprouts on Bagley's neck, then suddenly grows a face and starts talking to him.  As Richard E. Grant's performance grows bigger and more deranged by the minute, so does the interloping boil, until we realize that it represents the evil side which the newly-enlightened Bagley is trying to suppress.  While he may only be imagining it all, the desperate struggle between the conflicting halves of his personality becomes a genuine battle for control. 

Grant handles the role with manic intensity as he goes from unrepentent cynic to born-again crusader to freaked-out mental case and back again.  As she did opposite Steve Martin in DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, the beautiful Rachel Ward (as Bagley's wife, Julia) displays a knack for playing straight woman to a flamboyantly comic leading man.  Both are adept at handling the story's gradual shift from absurd comedy to surprisingly sober drama while keeping their characters consistent. 

The dialogue by writer-director Bruce Robinson (who wrote 1984's THE KILLING FIELDS) is a sharply funny combination of British drollery and over-the-top farce, and it comes fast and furious when Grant gets wound up.  You have to get into the spirit of things to appreciate much of it--I can imagine some people wondering what the heck I was guffawing about during some scenes.  ("My grandfather was caught molesting a wallaby in a private zoo in 1919" Bagley tells his psychiatrist at one point.)


Direction and editing keep things moving along at just the right pace, while certain classical pieces provide a suitable musical backdrop.  Also worthy of mention are the special make-up effects used to create that revolting little bastard growing out of the main character's neck.

The DVD from Image Entertainment is in 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.  Subtitles are in English.  The trailer is included, along with about half an hour's worth of trailers for other titles from Hand-Made Films. 

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING is a very funny satire that makes us laugh while also making us think about how advertisers con us into buying things like cars that help destroy the forests and products that are inherently useless.  Of course, one of the other things it made me think about was whether or not the filmmakers are still driving their cars or buying their useless products.

 
Buy it at Amazon.com:

Watch out...Here Comes DINOSHARK! On Blu-ray and DVD April 26th from Anchor Bay Entertainment

“Dinoshark is epic” - MonstersAndCritics.com

“I loved every minute of it.” - NYPost.com

ROGER CORMAN PRESENTS...A PREHISTORIC HORROR OF MONSTROUS STRENGTH AND APPETITE MEETS THE 21ST CENTURY!

Produced by the legendary Roger Corman and  Julie Corman

Released  on Blu-ray™ and DVD April 26, 2011


BEVERLY HILLS , CA – For millennia, it slept inside a frozen glacier: waiting to be set free.  But with an unexpected shift of climate, the glacier cracked, and what was once extinct was reborn to unleash terror in a brave new world. On April 26, Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the hit Syfy Channel original movie Dinoshark on Blu-ray™ and DVD. Produced by the legendary Roger Corman and Julie Corman, Dinoshark bites with an SRP of $24.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $19.98 for the DVD with pre-book on March 30th.

Born in Antarctica, Dinoshark noses his way down the warmer currents to Mexico , towards a popular vacation spot crowded with party-goers unwittingly ready to fall prey to a prehistoric eating machine.  When the killings begin, it becomes clear that no normal animal can be responsible for such savagery.

Local captain Trace McGraw (Eric Balfour – “24”, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Skyline) and marine biologist Carol (Iva Hasperger – “ CSI ”, “Cold Case”) seem to be the only ones convinced that the creature terrorizing their shores is something other than the expected man-eating shark.  They enlist the help of the world’s only expert on the Dinoshark (Roger Corman himself).  Together, will they be able to reel Dinoshark in?

Dinoshark is the story of a terrifying sea-creature that threatens to turn a holiday swim into a bloodbath.  This fierce, finned predator has to be seen to be believed:   if he will let you live that long!  Bonus feature includes a full-length commentary track with producers Roger and Julie Corman.

Dinoshark – Blu-ray™
Genre:                         Sci-Fi/Horror
Rating:            Not Rated
Language:       English
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:             Dolby TrueHD 5.1  
Subtitles:         English, Spanish
Year:               2010
SRP :                $24.99
Street Date:     April 26, 2011
Pre-Book:        March 30, 2011
Length:            90 minutes
UPC :               0 1313 22964-9 4
Cat#:               BD22964

Dinoshark  - DVD
Genre:                         Sci-Fi/Horror
Rating:            Not Rated
Languages:      English 
Format:            Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:             Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:         English, Spanish
Year:               2010
SRP :                $19.98
Street Date:     April 26, 2011
Pre-Book:        March 30, 2011
Length:            90 minutes
UPC :               0 1313 22850-9 2
Cat#:               NFI 6762 DVD

"Upstairs, Downstairs" New Extras-Packed 40th Anniv. Edition on DVD 2 weeks before New BBC Revival

Iconic British series seen on Masterpiece Theatre and A&E; Featuring more than 25 hours of never-before-seen bonus material

New BBC revival starring Jean Marsh in her original role begins April 10th on PBS

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS COMPLETE SERIES: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
On DVD March 29, 2011

“Great fun and marvelous television” —New York Times

“One of the brightest gems ever to come over the ocean from the British”—Washington Post


Silver Spring, MD — The most popular and successful British drama series in television history, Upstairs, Downstairs Complete Series: 40th Anniversary Edition arrives on DVD from Acorn Media on March 29, 2011, featuring more than 25 hours of never-before-seen extras and collectible packaging with gold foil. Winner of seven Emmy® Awards, two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody, Upstairs, Downstairs tells the epic saga of life in Edwardian England. The series inspired the recent hit Downton Abbey and the contemporary and highly-anticipated BBC revival of the same name beginning on PBS’ Masterpiece Classic on April 10th. The beloved ITV drama series captivated viewers for five heart-tugging, humorous and satisfying seasons from 1971 to 1975 and has been seen by a billion people in 40 countries worldwide. The 21-disc collection contains all five series, in addition to a 5-part behind-the-scenes documentary, 24 episode commentaries, 25th anniversary retrospective, interviews with the stars and creators, and much more ($199.99; www.AcornOnline.com).

Upstairs: the wealthy, aristocratic Bellamys. Downstairs: their loyal and lively servants. For nearly 30 years, they share a fashionable townhouse at 165 Eaton Place in London’s posh Belgravia neighborhood, surviving social change, political upheaval, scandals, and the horrors of the First World War.

The ensemble cast of top British actors includes Jean Marsh (Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse), Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine), David Langton (The Spoils of War), Gordon Jackson (The Professionals), Simon Williams (Sword of Honour), and Lesley-Anne Down (North and South).

Bonus Features: 5-part documentary, The Making of Upstairs, Downstairs; 24 episode commentaries; 25th anniversary retrospective, Upstairs, Downstairs Remembered; interviews with the stars, composer, and editor; alternate pilot episode; essay by star and co-creator Jean Marsh; and more

Acorn Media will concurrently release Upstairs, Downstairs, Series 1 and 2 as 4-Disc standalone sets ($49.99). Series 3 (4-Disc, $49.99), Series 4 (4-Disc, $49.99), and Series 5 (5-Disc, $49.99) will be released later in 2011.

Street Date: March 29, 2011                                           
SRP: $199.99

DVD 21-Disc Set: 68 episodes on 20 discs, plus bonus disc – Approx. 57 hrs., plus bonus – SDH subtitles

“Acorn Media, chief curators of the best Brit TV” –TIME magazine


Buy it at Amazon.com

British TV on DVD Jan. 25 - Stylish Man in a Suitcase and more Pie in the Sky, Agatha Christie Hour, and Wish Me Luck

North American DVD debut of the action-packed 1960s spy series; Accused of treason, a former American agent turns private eye

MAN IN A SUITCASE Set 1 on DVD January 25, 2011

“Stylish action-adventure series” —The Independent


Silver Spring, MD — A gritty spy thriller in the vein of Secret Agent and Danger Man, Man in a Suitcase, Set 1 makes its North American DVD debut from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011. Richard Bradford (The Untouchables) stars as “Mac” McGill, a cynical yet honest spy who has been disavowed by his American bosses and is on the run from a host of international enemies. Packed with tension and Cold War intrigue, Man in a Suitcase had national broadcast exposure on ABC in 1968. Set 1 includes the first 15 episodes of this engaging and stylish series (DVD 4-Disc, www.AcornOnline.com, $59.99).

“Mac” McGill is an ex-spy with a murky past and an uncertain future. Wrongfully dismissed by his bosses in U.S. intelligence, he decides to freelance as a private detective based out of London. McGill’s work takes him far and wide, yet seemingly always on a collision course with the British authorities, the Soviets, and his old colleagues in American espionage. Beset by enemies on all sides, he strives to clear his name and restore his reputation. But until he does, he remains on the run, taking jobs in the dark and dangerous corners of European society.

This action-packed Cold War drama features savvy writing and a host of superb guest stars, including Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice), James Grout (Inspector Morse), Anton Rodgers (Lillie), Nicola Pagett (Upstairs, Downstairs), Peter Vaughan (The Remains of the Day), Stuart Damon (General Hospital), and Judy Geeson (Mad About You).

Street: January 25, 2011                 
SRP: $59.99              
Bonus Features: Photo gallery

DVD 4-Disc Set: 15 episodes - Approx. 779 min. – British drama


Culinary detective series serves up more mysteries; Starring Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter)

PIE IN THE SKY, SERIES 4 Debuts on DVD January 25, 2011

“A pleasure to watch” —The Globe and Mail

“Witty and incredibly entertaining” —Papermag.com

“Excellent cook-detective series” —Daily Mail

“An enjoyable British mix of character comedy and murder mystery” —MSN

“As much a pleasure for culinary enthusiasts as it is for crime fans” —The Times


Silver Spring, MD — Pie in the Sky, Series 4 debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011 with all the right ingredients for an enchanting detective drama. Tony® winner Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter, The History Boys) returns to the whimsical British series as DI Henry Crabbe, a semi-retired detective more interested in cooking than in crime-fighting. Seen on public television, Pie in the Sky debuted on BBC1 in the U.K. in March 1994 and aired for five series. Series 4 guest stars include Keeley Hawes (MI-5, Ashes to Ashes) and Jane Wymark (Midsomer Murders, Poldark). The 2-Disc set includes all six episodes from series four ($39.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe divides his time between catching criminals and his true passion—cooking. The proprietor of Pie in the Sky, his dream restaurant, Crabbe had hoped to while away his retirement serving up his favorite dishes with his accountant wife, Margaret (Maggie Steed, Shine on Harvey Moon). But his boss, Assistant Chief Constable Freddy Fisher (Malcolm Sinclair, Casino Royale), is determined to keep his best detective on the payroll, tackling the cases that only Crabbe’s deft touch can solve.

Series 4 Episodes: Devils on Horseback (Part One), Devils on Horseback (Part Two), Chinese Whispers, New Leaf, Breaking Bread, Gary’s Cake.

Street: January 25, 2011                 
SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 6 episodes - Approx. 296 min. SDH subtitles

Acorn Media previously released the series on DVD with Series 1 (May 2009) and Series 2 (January 2010) in 3-volume boxed sets, $49.99. Series 3 debuted September 2010 in a 2-disc set, $39.99.


More classic Christie tales on DVD for the first time; Seen on PBS Mystery!

THE AGATHA CHRISTIE HOUR, SET 2 On DVD January 25, 2011

“An engrossing, mystery-lover's treasure from beginning to end” —Library Bookwatch

Silver Spring, MD —Agatha Christie’s short fiction comes alive in The Agatha Christie Hour, Set 2, debuting on DVD from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011. Broadcast on PBS’s Mystery! in the early 1980s, these five splendid adaptations feature an outstanding ensemble cast portraying lesser-known Christie protagonists as they grapple with romance, murder and the supernatural in Art Deco England (DVD 2-Disc set, $39.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

The Queen of Crime plumbs the recesses of the human heart in these five tales of mystery and murder, passion and peril, suspense and the supernatural. In these final episodes, Christie protagonists find themselves the victims of false accusations, embroiled in illicit love affairs, torn between duty and desire, and under the thumb of employers with questionable motives. These classic adaptations are Christie at her best, now on DVD for the first time.

The superb ensemble casts include Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding), Amanda Redman (New Tricks, Sexy Beast), Ralph Bates (Dear John, Poldark), Stephanie Cole (Doc Martin), Cherie Lunghi (Secret Diary of a Call Girl), and Christopher Cazenove (The Duchess of Duke Street, Dynasty).

THE STORIES

Magnolia Blossom: An unhappy wife tries to escape her marriage.

The Mystery of the Blue Jar: A young man consults an expert on the paranormal.

The Red Signal: A séance foretells of sudden death and danger.

Jane in Search of a Job: An Englishwoman takes on a dangerous assignment.

The Manhood of Edward Robinson: A henpecked fiancé sets off on the drive of his life.

Thames Television produced ten episodes of The Agatha Christie Hour in 1982. Acorn Media previously released the first five episodes of Set 1 in July 2010.

Street: January 25, 2011                             
SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 5 episodes - Approx. 260 min. - British mystery - SDH subtitles

BONUS: Biography of Agatha Christie


British heroines return in gripping WWII drama set behind enemy lines;
Seen on public television

WISH ME LUCK, Series 2 On DVD January 25, 2011

“A corker” —The Huffington Post

Silver Spring, MD — Based on the true story of British heroines tasked with spying on the Nazis in occupied France, Wish Me Luck, Series 2 arrives to DVD from Acorn Media on January 25, 2011. Featuring more superb performances and plots rife with subterfuge and danger, Series 2 stars Kate Buffery (Trial & Retribution), Lynn Farleigh (Pride and Prejudice), Jane Asher (A Voyage Round My Father), and Jane Snowden (All Passion Spent), with co-stars Jeremy Northam (The Tudors) and Julian Glover (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). Filmed on location in Britain and France, Wish Me Luck combines strong female characters, tension-filled plots and historical authenticity (DVD 2-Disc, 7 episodes, www.AcornOnline.com, $39.99).

In the midst of WWII, brave British women risk their lives as secret agents in occupied France. Their assignment is sabotage, subversion, and propaganda; their fate, if caught, is torture or worse.

Now an experienced operative, Liz Grainger (Kate Buffery) is working in the London home office under the direction of Colonel James “Cad” Cadogan (Julian Glover). Desperately needed recruits join the team, but they bring troubles of their own. Vivien (Lynn Farleigh) carries a secret that may compromise her judgment, while Emily (Jane Snowden) is a skilled radio operator but dangerously raw at the spy game. How will they fare in France, where even the smallest mistake can prove fatal?

Created by Jill Hyem and Lavinia Warner (BBC’s Tenko), Wish Me Luck aired on ITV for three series (1988-90) and broadcast on U.S. public television in the 1990s.

Street: January 25, 2011                                         
SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 7 episodes - Approx. 375 min. SDH subtitles

Acorn Media previously released Series 1 in March 2010, (DVD 2-Vol. Boxed Set, $39.99).

JACK GOES BOATING -- DVD review by porfle

When I saw the trailer for JACK GOES BOATING (2010), I thought, "Oh, no...Philip Seymour Hoffman is aiming for our heartstrings by doing his take on the obligatory 'sweetly-retarded' character."  But it turns out that Jack is just a really repressed super-schlub who's as afraid of life as he is of the water.  And watching him learn to stay afloat in both environments turns out to be pretty entertaining.

Jack drives for his uncle's limo service but wants to better himself by applying with the Metropolitan Transit Authority.  He also wants to find romance, so his best friend and coworker Clyde sets him up with a blind date named Connie.  Connie works with Clyde's wife Lucy at a mortuary and is also trying to move up--from working with cadavers to closing business deals over the phone.  But she's on the verge of getting fired because, like Jack, she lacks assertiveness.

Connie responds to Jack because he's just as withdrawn as she is, and they set a tentative date to go boating sometime in the future when it isn't snowing.  This troubles Jack greatly since he can't swim, so Clyde offers to teach him at a local pool.  Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even I caught on that learning to swim is a metaphor for Jack learning to overcome his fears and live life.  While obvious, it's handled in such a nice way that the effect is uplifting.
 

A nice touch comes when Clyde tells Jack to close his eyes and visualize going underwater, a technique he begins to use when faced with other intimidating challenges such as learning to cook or forcing himself to enter Connie's hospital room after she's been attacked on the subway.  One of the film's most blackly humorous moments comes right after this attack, with a profusely bleeding Connie showing up for work and doggedly refusing medical aid until she closes a phone deal with a stubborn funeral director.
 
While all this is going on, Clyde and Lucy's efforts to help Jack with his love life inadvertently stir up long-simmering problems of their own, a situation which comes to a head during the big night in which Jack plans to cook dinner for the four of them.  As various bad vibes reach a boiling point, Jack has a startlingly violent moment which seems out of character and makes me think the film has taken a really wrong turn into awkward melodrama.  Fortunately, what I thought at first was a misstep is actually what kicks the story into high gear and makes the rest of the film click.

Hoffman is good as Jack, but the part of a big, insecure oaf isn't really much of a stretch for him.  More interesting is Amy Ryan (CHANGELING, "The Wire") as Connie.  Whether recounting the grimmest personal stories imaginable over dinner or claiming that practically every man she comes in contact with has tried to grope her, she's hilarious in a very buttoned-down way, almost without even trying to be.  Her wounded, birdlike strangeness and the way Jack responds to it with his quiet positivity make their odd courtship endearing, especially when they finally attempt to have sex.
 

Hoffman proves himself talented not only as an actor but as a director as well.  JACK GOES BOATING benefits from a pleasing visual style that revels in its New York locations, giving even its wintery scenes a sense of warmth, and makes the most of a terrific cast (John Ortiz as Clyde and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Lucy are both outstanding).  Robert Glaudini has done such a good job of adapting his own play that it never seems stagey and the dialogue sounds natural.  The score, including some reggae songs, works well although the piano music veers into "Mr. Rogers" territory at times. 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and English and Spanish subtitles.  Extras include two very brief featurettes ("Jack's New York" and "From the Stage to the Big Screen"), a trailer, and two short deleted scenes.  One of these, Connie's encounter with an overly-friendly man on the subway, is a howler. 

JACK GOES BOATING isn't anywhere near as maudlin and pathetic as this type of story often gets, with the main character being sort of a modern-day version of Ernest Borgnine's "Marty."  I was pleasantly surprised by how everything turned out, and by how much I had warmed to this movie that I didn't think I was going to like at all.


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

Starz Sells Equity Stake to The Weinstein Company; Anchor Bay & TWC Enter into Multi-Year Agreement

Starz Sells 25% Equity Stake in Starz Media to The Weinstein Company;
Anchor Bay and TWC Enter into Multi-Year, Multi-Platform Entertainment/Distribution Agreement

Englewood, Colo. and New York, NY (January 4, 2011) – In a significant strategic partnership within the ever-changing home/digital entertainment market, Starz, LLC has agreed to sell The Weinstein Company (TWC) a 25% stake in Starz Media, LLC, a programming production, home entertainment and international TV distribution company which includes Anchor Bay Entertainment and other TV/home entertainment assets.  Separately, Anchor Bay has entered into a multi-year domestic distribution agreement for new theatrical content from TWC and its Dimension Films label.

The agreements were announced today by Starz, LLC President and CEO Chris Albrecht and TWC Co-Chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein.  Financial terms of the strategic partnership were not disclosed.

The home/digital entertainment deal, which does not include television rights but spans Blu-ray™, DVD and EST/VOD/PPV electronic/digital distribution, covers up to 20 TWC and Dimension titles per year including the seven-time Golden Globe-nominated Tom Hooper drama The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter; Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine, starring Golden Globe nominees Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling; and John Wells’ feature directorial debut Company Men, starring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner and Chris Cooper.  Other titles include the Kristin Scott Thomas drama Sarah’s Key, upcoming sequels in the successful Scream, Spy Kids, and Scary Movie franchises, and new installments in the Hellraiser, Halloween, and Children of the Corn film series.

“The distribution agreement leverages the scale of the strong Anchor Bay home entertainment business and the Starz Digital Media distribution platform. The Weinstein Company new release content is a quality addition to our distribution pipeline of new releases from Anchor Bay Films and Starz Originals,” Albrecht said.  “Harvey and Bob Weinstein are terrific business partners and we are very pleased to have them as part of Starz Media.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Starz and appreciate the commitment of Liberty Media in bolstering Anchor Bay, allowing it to become a much bigger player in non-theatrical distribution,” offered Bob and Harvey Weinstein in a joint statement.  “We hope this strategic partnership is a first step in not only making Anchor Bay a home for our product, but in potentially housing other companies’ product as well, giving quality independent films the kind of care needed in today’s marketplace.”

“This is an opportunity that excited us, especially given the strong management team and infrastructure at Starz,” stated TWC COO David Glasser.  “It’s a smart, forward-looking partnership that will benefit from the superb skills of Chris Albrecht and everyone at Starz and Anchor Bay.”

"Anchor Bay Entertainment is thrilled to be adding the quality films from The Weinstein Company and its Dimension Films label to our first-class home entertainment and digital distribution businesses. Their track record within the home entertainment category is superb.  The TWC films will allow Anchor Bay to continue its expansion, offering consumers and our retail partners excellent independent films featuring leading Hollywood talent," said Bill Clark, president of Anchor Bay Entertainment.

THE WALKING DEAD arrives on Blu-ray and DVD March 8 from Anchor Bay Entertainment

“THE BEST NEW SHOW ON TV” – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES “THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season” ON DVD AND BLU-RAY™  MARCH 8, 2011


Beverly Hills , CA – Take a walk on the undead side, as the groundbreaking, genre-bending AMC® original series “THE WALKING DEAD” rises again when Anchor Bay Entertainment releases the Blu-ray™ and DVD of the hit show that wowed both critics and audiences. The SRP for the March 8 release is $49.99 for the Blu-ray™, and $39.98 for the DVD. Pre-book is February 9th. Both the “THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season” Blu-ray™ and DVD contain all 6 episodes of the first season on a 2-disc set and are packed with special behind-the-scenes featurettes and insightful extra footage.

Nominated for a Golden Globe® for Best Television Series - Drama, “THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season” breathes new life into the zombie genre as it unfolds a post-apocalyptic saga that follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln, Love Actually), who searches for a safe haven and, hopefully, a new home, far from the undead that now roam the earth hungry for human flesh.  Each episode explores the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies, and the toll it takes on the survivors who now find themselves going to extremes just to see another day. In this horrific world gone mad, each turn brings new surprises and dangers, as the survivors try to regain some semblance of a normal life.

“THE WALKING DEAD” is based on the popular Image Comics’ comic book written by Robert Kirkman. The series premiered on AMC Fearfest Halloween night and immediately became the most watched drama series in cable’s history among Adults 18-49 with 3.5 million viewers. It also gained a following among critics (from People to Vanity Fair) who have hailed it as one of the best new series of the year.

DVD and Blu-ray™ bonus features include:

Featurettes:
The Making of THE WALKING DEAD
Inside THE WALKING DEAD: Episode 1-6
A Sneak Peek with Robert Kirkman
Behind The Scenes Zombie Make-Up Tips
Convention Panel With Producers
THE WALKING DEAD Trailer

Extra Footage:
Zombie School
Bicycle Girl
On Set With Robert Kirkman
Hanging With Steven Yeun
Inside Dale’s RV
On Set With Andrew Lincoln

“THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season” Blu-ray™
Street Date:                  March 8, 2011
Pre-book:                     February 9, 2011
Cat. #:                          BD22647
UPC:                            0 1313 22647 9-0
Run Time:                     292 Minutes
Rating:                          Not Rated
SRP:                            $49.99
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) 1080p
Audio:                          Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Subtitles:                       English and Spanish

“THE WALKING DEAD: The Complete First Season” DVD
Street Date:                  March 8, 2011
Pre-book:                     February 9, 2011
Cat. #:                          DV22646
UPC:                            0 1313 22646 9-1
Run Time:                     292 Minutes
Rating:                          Not Rated
SRP:                            $39.98
Format:                        Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:                          Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:                       English and Spanish


Buy it at Amazon.com:
DVD
Blu-Ray

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Season 4, Volume 2 available on DVD, January 11

SEASON 4, VOLUME 2 DVD -- 11 JANUARY 2011


SUBMARINE MISSION DIRECTIVE 1.11.11

Attention. Admiral Nelson, Commander Crane and the crew of the nuclear submarine, Seaview.

Mission. To conduct classified undersea marine research.

Responsibilities. To defend the planet from world and extraterrestrial threats.

Possible threats. Pirates, extra-terrestrials, paranormal adversaries, time-travelers.

Additional mission intelligence.
Set a course for action and imagination in the final volume of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Irwin Allen's brilliant science fiction classic. Dive into a world of wonder as Admiral Nelson, Commander Crane, and the crew of the Seaview embark on thirteen of their deadliest adventures and face some of their most memorable villains- from Blackbeard the pirate and a malevolent leprechaun to an abominable snowman and the unexpected reappearance of a mysterious time-traveler. Climb aboard the world's mightiest nuclear submarine and re-live some of the greatest moments from one of the greatest science fiction shows of all time...full speed ahead!

Available assets.
- Exclusive DVD extras including original un-aired pilot, original 1964 aired pilot with original broadcast commercials, still gallery
- 3-Disc DVD SRP: $39.98 US / $54.98 CAN
- Runtime: 663 minutes
- MPAA Rating: Not Rated
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.33:1

Buy it at Amazon.com

Best British TV on Acorn DVD - "New Tricks", Must-See U.S. Debuts, Star-Studded New & Classic DVD Debuts

“Acorn Media, chief curators of the best Brit TV” –TIME Magazine

In 2010, British TV on DVD specialist released some of the best series in all of television, including Helen Mirren’s Prime Suspect, Foyle’s War, Life on Mars UK, and The Power of Myth; and 2011 starts off strong with TWENTY new releases in the next two months, including two great, must-see new series available for the first time to U.S. audiences with their DVD releases - Garrow’s Law, a riveting new courtroom period drama seen on BBC; and Single-Handed, following a lone cop fighting crime and corruption in rural Ireland.

Additionally, DVD debuts of New Tricks, Season 3, the smash hit UK crime series; Murphy’s Law, BBC’s undercover cop series starring James Nesbitt (Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit); Murder Investigation Team, the realistic procedural crime drama in the vein of CSI; Napoleon & Love, starring Ian Holm (The Lord of the Rings); Fresh Fields starring Julia McKenzie (Marple) and Anton Rodgers; Man in a Suitcase, a stylish, action-packed 1960s spy series; Pie in the Sky starring Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter); Dirty Tricks starring Martin Clunes; The Guilty starring Michael Kitchen (Foyle’s War); and Discovering Hamlet (Athena) featuring Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi in a behind-the-scenes look at Hamlet, narrated by Patrick Stewart.

Acorn is also releasing Midsomer Murders Set 17, four new episodes available to U.S. audiences for the first time of Acorn’s top-selling series; Blue Murder: The Complete Collection, called “The most fascinating British female cop since Jane Tennison” (San Francisco Chronicle); as well as more from Bill Moyers with In Search of the Constitution and World of Ideas-Writers.

Acorn’s and Athena’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.

February Blu-ray & DVD Releases From Magnolia Home Entertainment

Monsters (2/1)

Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system.  A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America.  Soon after, new life forms began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an “Infected Zone.”  Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures...” MONSTERS story begins when a U.S. journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the U.S. border.

Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray


Night Catches Us (2/1)

In 1976, after years of mysterious absence, Marcus (Anthony Mackie; The Hurt Locker) returns to the Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age in the midst of the Black Power movement.  While his arrival raises suspicion among his family and former neighbors, he finds acceptance from his old friend Patricia (Kerry Washington; Lakeview Terrace) and her daughter.  However, Marcus quickly finds himself at odds with the organization he once embraced, whose members suspect he orchestrated the slaying of their former comrade-in-arms. In a startling sequence of events, Marcus must protect a secret that could shatter everyone’s beliefs as he rediscovers his forbidden passion for Patricia.

Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray


Ong Bak 3 (2/8)

Picking up at the cliffhanger ending where Ong Bak 2 leaves off, Jaa ramps up the epic supernatural elements of the previous film, while still maintaining the trademark full force action. This time he must face his ultimate enemy, a fierce supernatural warrior named “Demon Crow,” played by fellow martial arts sensation Dan Chupong (Born to Fight and Dynamite Warrior). Eagerly anticipated by martial arts aficionados around the world, the matchup between Jaa and Chupong is absolutely explosive.

Buy it at Amazon.com
DVD
Blu-Ray

URBAN JUSTICE -- movie review by porfle

Steven Seagal...a generic action-movie title...you pretty much know what to expect going into URBAN JUSTICE (2007).  But the big surprise for me is that it delivers it so well. 

The plot is simple: a young cop is murdered for getting too close to some shady dealings between his crooked boss, Det. Frank Shaw (Kirk B.R. Woller) and the East Side Gangstas, headed by Tony Montana wannabe Armand Tucker (well-played by Eddie Griffin).  The dead cop's dad happens to be Steven Seagal, who blows into town looking for--you guessed it--revenge. 

And you know what you're in for with this set-up: a lot of cocky, smart-mouthed gangbangers and other sleazy characters getting the ever-livin' crap beaten out of them or shot to pieces for the rest of the movie.  In other words--it's popcorn time!

Now, Steve's hair-and-makeup job in this movie is a bit startling at first.  After his initial closeup, I thought, "Omigod, Dracula just gained 50 pounds, fell asleep in a tanning booth, and joined the Mafia."  But I got used to it after awhile.  His acting, as usual, consists mainly of mumbling while maintaining a steely-eyed glare, but his dialogue isn't all that important as long as you can make out key phrases like "I'm gonna kill the muh-fuggah that killed my son."


We all know that, by now, Steven Seagal is past his physical prime, so most of the time he hides his somewhat substantial spare tire under big, thick jackets--he often appears to have been cocooned.  And when he drives his sports car, it almost looks like he's wearing it, too.  The fight scenes are edited so that all he has to do is stand in one spot waving his hands around in a series of quick closeups, and the stunt guys go flying. 

Thing is, though, the hits look and sound bone-crushingly hard, and when people get shot, squibs spew like geysers.  This movie is filled with several intense scenes that pay off in a big way, even if the main character isn't quite as dynamic as he used to be.

But heck, he's Steven Seagal.  If you're making a Steven Seagal movie, you don't hire a good actor who can leap and twirl like Baryshnikov, you hire Steven Seagal.  He may not be able to move very fast anymore, or display "ooh-ahh" acting skills, but when he goes into kickass mode, he's still da man.

There's a cool car chase that's filmed the old fashioned way--no zippity-doo-dah camerawork or fancy editing, just a couple of cars zooming through various locations at high speed with the occupants blasting away at each other, and ending with a satisfying crash.
 

This goes for the rest of the film too, which is refreshingly free of the pointless, distracting visual nonsense that many current films are stuffed with.  I have to hand it to director Don E. Fauntleroy for being a straight-ahead action director who isn't interested in stringing a bunch of half-assed MTV videos together and calling it a movie.

Besides Eddie Griffin, the capable supporting cast includes Danny Trejo as Chivo, the leader of a Latino gang that Steve initially suspects may have offed his son, and Carmen Serano as a liquor store owner who rents Steve the crummy apartment out back.  It looks as though she may be a romantic interest too, but this doesn't go anywhere.  At one point, though, her character does get to give Steve the old revenge-never-solved-anything routine with the line "You're just as bad as they are", to which he coolly replies: "No, I'm a lot...fuggin'...worse."

There's a rousingly good shoot-out between Steve and a whole bunch of East Siders that could serve as the finale for a lot of straight-to-video action flicks.  But this is topped by the climactic battle, in which Steve goes it alone against the rest of the gangstas and the crooked LA cops, too.  Lots of bad guys get killed real bad, and the fake blood goes flying in all directions.  I won't give away the outcome, but one thing's for sure--you don't want to be the guy who gunned down Steven Seagal's son.  You don't want to work for him, either.  Hell, you don't even want to know the muh-fuggah.

URBAN JUSTICE is a kickass action movie.  The ending's cool as hell.  And, for now anyway, I'm a Steven Seagal fan again.



Buy it at Amazon.com