ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR and ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING -- Blu-Ray reviews by Ian Friedman

ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR and ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING have recently made their debut on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Magnolia Films. The two movies themselves are as different as night and day.

ONG BAK is a modern film set in Thailand, while ONG BAK 2 is set during the Middle Ages in Thailand. ONG BAK 2 is like a melting pot of martial arts with Tony Jaa fighting people using various different martial styles in a historical epic situation (such as Drunken Boxing, MMA, and others).

Both are great films featuring innovative action scenes that constantly leave the audience needing to pick their jaws up off the ground. The drastic changes in settings with the two films helps to give the viewer a variety in choosing what they want to watch (a gritty modern film or a historical epic).

Both films receive excellent 1080p High Definition transfers with great picture quality and also excellent audio in both Thai and English. ONG BAK has a short making of on the DVD, while ONG BAK 2 has substantially more behind-the-scenes features.

If you are even the slightest fan of martial arts then you should immediately pick up these two great martial arts films, with excellent picture and sound and extras.

ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR

Buy it at Amazon.com

DVD

Blu-Ray

Buy it at HK Flix:
Blu-Ray

DVD

ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING

Buy it at Amazon.com:

1-disc DVD

2-disc DVD

Blu-Ray

Buy it at HK Flix:
1-disc DVD

2-disc DVD

Blu-Ray

ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR and ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING -- Blu-Ray reviews by Ian Friedman

"HOUSEWIVES FROM ANOTHER WORLD" On DVD April 6th

"Housewives From Another World" -- From Infinity Entertainment Group & Retromedia Entertainment


‘Take Me to Your Leader’ Takes on a Whole New Meaning!

Starring Penthouse Pet of the Year Heather Vandeven

Get Ready to be Abducted on DVD April 6th

LOS ANGELES — April 1, 2010 — For Immediate Release — When space aliens invade the bodies of three beautiful women, they soon learn the meaning of "hot to trot" in Housewives From Another World, beaming onto DVD April 6 from Infinity Entertainment Group.

On a mission to stop the development of a new deep-space satellite, the body-snatched beauties will do anything – and anyone – to accomplish their goals. "Take me to your leader" takes on a whole new meaning!
Starring 2007’s Penthouse Pet of the Year Heather Vandeven and the smoking hot Christine Nguyen and Rebecca Love.

Housewives From Another World is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16 x 9 and Dolby Digital. Includes original trailers.

Housewives From Another World
Retromedia/Infinity Entertainment Group
Genre: Erotic/Sci-Fi/Comedy
Not Rated
Format: DVD Only
Running Time: Approx. 82 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.98
Pre-Order Date: March 2, 2010
Street Date: April 6, 2010
Catalog #: IEG2196
UPC Code: #617742219692

"HOUSEWIVES FROM ANOTHER WORLD" On DVD April 6th

SCARLET: THE FILM MAGAZINE #4-- magazine review by porfle

After reading the latest issue of SCARLET: THE FILM MAGAZINE (number 4--Autumn 2009), I have to tell you--it's pretty gay.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...in fact, the self-described "Queer Horror" issue yields a good deal of interesting reading material regarding "the horror that dare not speak its name." Which, of course, has been a major part of Hollywood, on both sides of the camera, since movies began.

Just in case the cover pic of Ernest Theisiger's "Dr. Pretorius" leering at us through a giant "Q" isn't enough of a giveaway, a glance at the table of contents reveals much emphasis on the gay perspective. Harry H. Long's cover story "Wicked Uncle Ernie" is a fascinating look at the memorably campy thespian described as "the quirkiest genre character actor on and off the screen", whose exquisitely droll presence added zing to such films as BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE OLD DARK HOUSE, and THE GHOUL.

Ken Hanke weighs in with his take on the Frederic March classic "Death Takes a Holiday", exploring not only why he has come to perceive the film as "brimming with gay subtext" but also going into detail about how an individual might "read" a particular film under various circumstances. Pam Keesey's "Vampyros Lesbos" is an erotic tribute to the 1971 Jess Franco film that was released during what has been called the "Golden Age of the Lesbian Vampire."

Scream King? Horror Himbo? Actor-producer-director Joe Zaso (his fans might add "hottie" to that list of hyphens) chats with Bob Gutowski in "Joe Zaso Bares All", a title which also describes the beefcake photos accompanying the interview. Two upcoming gay-oriented horror films that look like they'd be worth checking out are highlighted in Sean Abley's "The Making of 'Socket', about a couple of guys whose sexual activities may be a little too shocking for their own good, and Earl Roesel's interview with writer-producer Joe Moe about his upcoming slasher romp "Red Velvet", which stars Henry Thomas.

As it turns out, the giant "Q" on the cover might also refer to this issue's tribute to the memory of the late Robert "Count Yorga" Quarry, which his fans won't want to miss. A mini-biography by Kevin G. Shinnick is followed by Tim Sullivan's "My Dinner With Yorga", in which the venerable horror icon takes a fond look back at his most memorable character.

In addition to all of this, SCARLET THE FILM MAGAZINE #4 is jam-packed with detailed reviews of the latest books, films, and DVDs (many of them continuing the issue's gay theme) and other goodies. All in all, it's well worth getting your hands on a copy regardless of whether you're gay, straight, or "other."

Order now for $8.95 (no postage necessary in the continental US, all others please add proper postage) with a check or money order made out to SCARLET and mailed to:

P.O. Box 2092

Cleona, PA 17042

or use their PayPal account: scarletthefilmmag@yahoo.com

Issue 1 now is $20.00

Issue 2 is $15.00

Issue 3 is $15.00

All are extremely limited.

SCARLET: THE FILM MAGAZINE #4-- magazine review by porfle

Voting For This Year's RONDO AWARDS Has Begun!

It's that time of year again, fan boys and girls! Nominees for the EIGHTH Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards are ready and waiting for YOUR votes!


For a ballot and instructions on how to cast your vote, visit the Classic Horror Film Board's "Official Ballot" thread here. You'll also find it along with lots of information about the Rondos at the official site here.

This year, there are a whopping 30 categories "recognizing the best in monster research, creativity and genre appreciation." In the words of David "taraco" Colton of the CHFB: "These awards are by fans, for fans. Every Rondo nominee...is being recognized for a significant achievement in the genre during the year of 2009. So take a look at the ballot and please let the nominees know how much we appreciate their work by voting.

"Thanks again to the thousands who have voted every year. We look forward to hearing from you again. Thanks everyone!"

(And HK AND CULT FILM NEWS would like to give special thanks to all of our readers for helping us to get nominated as "Best Website of 2009"!)

Voting For This Year's RONDO AWARDS Has Begun!

Carter Stevens' Guide to TCM This Week (Feb. 22-Mar. 3)

Still part of the 31 days of Oscar. Great Movie after Great Movie after Great Movie. These are just a few of them.


Feb 22

6:00pm Sunset Boulevard (1950)
A failed screenwriter falls into a mercenary romance with a faded silent-film star.
Cast: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson Dir: Billy Wilder BW-110 mins, TV-PG

One of the greatest movies about movies ever made. Miss the first 5 minutes and you are in for the biggest surprise ending you ever saw.


Feb 23


1:15am American in Paris, An (1951)
An American artist finds love in Paris but almost loses it to conflicting loyalties.
Cast: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guetary Dir: Vincente Minnelli C-114 mins, TV-PG

OK Fred Astaire was Mr. Suave, but Gene Kelly was Mr. Cool. He made dancing seem Macho.


Feb 24


10:30am Third Man, The (1949)
A man's investigation of a friend's death uncovers corruption in post-World War II Vienna.
Cast: Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard Dir: Carol Reed BW-104 mins, TV-14

If it takes you more than three notes to recognize this movie's music you're tone deaf. Orson Welles gets all the press but it's Joseph Cotton's performance (his best work short of Shadow of a Doubt ) that sells the film.

2:00pm Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)
Three prospectors fight off bandits and each other after striking-it-rich in the Mexican mountains.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett Dir: John Huston BW-126 mins, TV-PG

The perfect film. Watch old man Huston's speech in the flop house lay out the entire film. Second only to the Maltese Falcon as my favorite film of that period and funny both were directed by the same guy.

8:00pm Diary of Anne Frank, The (1959)
A young girl comes of age while hiding from the Nazis.
Cast: Millie Perkins, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Richard Beymer Dir: George Stevens BW-171 mins, TV-PG

It's OK to get choked up. In fact if you don't you have no soul.


Feb 25

8:00pm Killers, The (1946)
An insurance investigator uncovers a string of crimes when he tries to find a murdered boxer's beneficiary.
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Albert Dekker Dir: Robert Siodmak BW-102 mins, TV-14

10:00pm Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The (1962)
An experienced gunman and a peace-loving tenderfoot clash with a Western bully.
Cast: James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin Dir: John Ford BW-123 mins, TV-14

12:15am Dirty Dozen, The (1967)
A renegade officer trains a group of misfits for a crucial mission behind enemy lines.
Cast: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown Dir: Robert Aldrich C-150 mins, TV-PG

3:00am Ice Station Zebra (1968)
A sub commander on a perilous mission must ferret out a Soviet agent on his ship.
Cast: Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, Jim Brown Dir: John Sturges C-152 mins, TV-PG

SHIT. There goes my whole Thursday!! OK I'll grant you Ice Station Zebra doesn't belong. It's not a great film but I saw it when it opened in Cinerama and to me it was my Avatar.


Feb 26

5:45pm Victor/Victoria (1982)
An unemployed female singer poses as a female impersonator and becomes a star.
Cast: Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren Dir: Blake Edwards C-134 mins, TV-MA

Damn I miss Robert Preston. His musical number at the end would be worth sitting through the whole movie if it wasn't as good as it is. The film also showed that Blake Edwards could do more than churn out bad Pink Panther sequels.

3:00am Seconds (1966)
A bored rich man buys a new life from a secret organization.
Cast: Rock Hudson, Salome Jens, John Randolph, Will Geer Dir: John Frankenheimer BW-106 mins, TV-14

Starring Rock Hudson in one of his best roles and Uncle Johnny Randolph. (OK he wasn't my Uncle but I knew his Brother and his Niece so I still think of him as “Uncle Johnny”) one of the finest character actors to ever grace the screen.


Feb 27


8:45am Dick Tracy (1990)
The intrepid comic strip detective fights off a ruthless gangster and his seductive girlfriend.
Cast: Warren Beatty, Madonna, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman Dir: Warren Beatty C-105 mins, TV-14

A film that proves the old saying, “If you notice the Art Direction, the movie stinks.” But I can't help feeling that Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman had more fun making this picture than any other in their careers.

10:30am Manchurian Candidate, The (1962)
A Korean War hero doesn't realize he's been programmed to kill by the enemy.
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury Dir: John Frankenheimer BW-127 mins, TV-PG

Forget Murder She Wrote, the bitch could ACT. Still chilling after all these years.

2:45pm Elmer Gantry (1960)
A young drifter finds success as a traveling preacher until his past catches up with him.
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Arthur Kennedy, Dean Jagger Dir: Richard Brooks C-147 mins, TV-PG

Burt Lancaster chews the scenery but he chews it well.

8:00pm Tom Jones (1963)
In this adaptation of Henry Fielding's novel, a country boy in 18th-century England becomes a playboy.
Cast: Albert Finney, Susannah York, Hugh Griffith, Edith Evans Dir: Tony Richardson C-122 mins, TV-14

Who knew just eating a meal could be so...dirty.


Feb 28

12:00am Oliver! (1968)
Musical version of the Dickens classic about an orphan taken in by a band of boy thieves.
Cast: Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, Oliver Reed, Harry Secombe Dir: Carol Reed C-154 mins, TV-PG

I'm reviewing the situation... and I still love both of Ron Moody's numbers. A few rough spots but all in all a great musical.


March 1

2:30am Tootsie (1982)
An unemployed actor masquerades as a woman to win a soap-opera role.
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Terry Garr, Dabney Coleman Dir: Sydney Pollack C-116 mins, TV-MA

My then girlfriend was the script girl on this picture and everyday she would come home with stories about Hoffman driving everyone crazy but obviously his method was worth it.

4:30am Little Big Man (1970)
An American pioneer raised by Indians ends up fighting alongside General Custer.
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Martin Balsam, Richard Mulligan Dir: Arthur Penn C-140 mins, TV-14

“Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't.” This time it does.

9:30am Maltese Falcon, The (1941)
Hard-boiled detective Sam Spade gets caught up in the murderous search for a priceless statue.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George, Peter Lorre Dir: John Huston BW-101 mins, TV-PG

My Favorite Movie. The thing Dreams are made of. If you don't love it, you have no heart, you have no soul, you have no taste, and there is no way you are reading this guide anyway.

6:00pm Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954)
When their older brother marries, six lumberjacks decide it's time to go courting for themselves.
Cast: Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn, Tommy Rall Dir: Stanley Donen C-102 mins, TV-G

The greatest argument in favor of letter boxing ever made. The dancing is flawless, the music, not so much.

8:00pm West Side Story (1961)
A young couple from dueling street gangs falls in love.
Cast: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno Dir: Jerome Robbins C-152 mins, TV-PG

I can just picture the pitch...Let's make Romeo and Juliet into a musical. Well, Damn if it doesn't work. From the opening dance number (nothing ever better put on film) to the fade out Leonard Bernstein's music is hypnotic.


March 3


12:15am Heaven's Gate(1981)
A Wyoming sheriff tries to protect immigrant farmers from ruthless ranchers.
Cast: Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterson Dir: Michael Cimino C-219 mins, TV-MA

The single most beautiful outstandingly boring piece of shit ever put on film. 4 hours of my life I will never get back. Stunningly Beautiful but stunningly boring. Go out and try and get laid it will be a much better use of your time.

Carter Stevens' Guide to TCM This Week (Feb. 22-Mar. 3)

See Cannibal Holocaust in NYC TONIGHT (2/19) in Theaters from Grindhouse Releasing

Cannibal Holocaust Midnight Tonight!

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
Landmark's Sunshine Cinema
143 East Houston Street
New York, NY

You can buy tickets online at the Landmark's Website.

See Cannibal Holocaust in NYC TONIGHT (2/19) in Theaters from Grindhouse Releasing

"EX DRUMMER" and "9 SONGS" Coming April-May From Palisades Tartan DVD

Punk Rocks and Shocks--Palisades Tartan’s EX DRUMMER in stores April, 20th 2010

“...an underground classic”
-Ted Fry, Seattle Times

“We have just been introduced to a fierce
and uncompromising new talent.
-Todd Brown, Twitch Films

“Quite a good first feature…. And it's funny”
“The film has a great soundtrack”
-Ain’t It Cool News

LOS ANGELES — Feb. 16, 2010 — For Immediate Release — Dubbed “A thoroughly offensive and often hilarious punk requiem,” by the Seattle Times and fresh off of its limited Stateside theatrical run, Koen Mortier’s EX DRUMMER will hit dvd shelves April 20th, courtesy of Palisades Tartan.

Every village has its band of fools, trying to get to the top, following their idols in drug habits, but staying losers till the end of their pathetic days. They all do this in the name of rock & roll. In this film, three disabled rock musicians are looking for a drummer. Dries, a well known writer, seems the right guy for the job, were it not for the fact that his only handicap is that he can’t play the drums. He joins the group as a perfect, but evil god walking down his mountain to play with the populace. With the arrival of this infiltrator, personal disputes and family feuds start to jeopardize the band’s fragile future. Dries will manipulate them till they are willing to drink each others blood and their only future is written down in many Punk lyrics: “No Future”.


EX DRUMMER played at over 29 different film festivals and collected numerous awards along the way, including Winner, Gold jury prize for Best First Feature - Montréal Festival Fantasia (2008), Winner, Jury Prize, Best First Feature, Raindance Film Festival (2007), Winner, Special Jury Award, Warsaw Film Festival (2007) and Winner, Audience Award, Fantasy FilmFest (2007).

Belgian with English subtitles, EX DRUMMER is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen, with Stereo Sound. Special DVD features include, Making-Of Documentary, Interview with the Director, Choosing Weapons Featurette, Choosing Costumes Featurette and the French Theatrical trailer.

EX DRUMMER
Palisades Tartan
Genre: Action/Foreign
Rating: Not Rated (Special Features Not Rated/Subject to Change)
Language: Black Comedy/Drama (English Subtitles)
Format: DVD
Running Time: Approx 104 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.93
Pre-Order Date: 3/16/10
Street Date: 4/20/10
Catalog #: TVD2060
UPC Code: 842498000175


69 Minutes of Sex & Rock ‘n’ Roll--Two Lovers, One Summer, Nine Songs

Palisades Tartan’s 9 Songs, Featuring Live Performances by Eight of Today’s Top Alternative Rock Bands Available on Blu-ray May 18th

“ (four stars) ”
— Film Review

“An audacious and deeply moving work.”
— Daily Telegraph

“Hard-core.”
— Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

“Non-stop sex romp.”
— John Anderson, Newsday

“Psychologically acute, ultimately poignant and loaded with great concert footage.”
— Karen Durbin, Elle

“Obliterating a century of cinematic sexual conventions.”
— Playboy

“A touching, often poetic, sometimes achingly real snapshot of a brief encounter
almost entirely through the bedroom.”
— Derek Elley, Variety

LOS ANGELES – Feb. 16, 2010 – For Immediate Release – From award-winning director Michael Winterbottom (A MIGHTY HEART, A COCK AND BULL STORY, CODE 46) comes the sexually charged, critically acclaimed 9 SONGS, featuring live performances by eight of today’s top alternative rock bands and available on Blu-ray DVD May 18th, 2010.

Available in an “Unrated Full Uncut Version” (theatrical version) 9 SONGS charts the depths of sexuality and music in one relationship and how they are forever intertwined. Featuring live performances by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Von Bondies, Elbow, Primal Scream, The Dandy Warhols, Super Furry Animals, Franz Ferdinand and Michael Nyman.

In 9 SONGS, Kieran O’Brien, (24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, HBO’S BAND OF BROTHERS) meets Lisa (Margo Stilley in her feature film debut) during a mobbed rock concert at London's Brixton Academy, they are in bed together by night's end. Over the next few months, their growing sexual passion is balanced only by their love of music and the concerts they attend.


Premiered at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, 9 SONGS is winner of the “Best Cinematography” award at the 2005 San Sebastián International Film Festival.

9 SONGS is presented in anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS Surround Sound 5.1. Special DVD features include behind-the-scenes footage featuring the bands of 9 SONGS; concert-only performance option; interviews with cast and crew; original theatrical trailer; and trailers of Palisades Tartan’s upcoming releases.

9 SONGS
Palisades Tartan
Genre: Drama
Rating: Unrated (Special Features Not Rated/Subject to Change)
Language: English
Format: Blu-ray DVD
Running Time: Approx (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.97
Pre-Order Date: 4/13/10
Street Date: 5/18/10
Catalog #: TVD6007
UPC Code: 842498000182

Tartan Films was originally founded in 1984 in the UK and is credited with bringing Asian Extreme film to the West as well as some of the most compelling art house films of the last quarter century. In May 2008, Palisades Pictures acquired Tartan Films US library assets and two months later, acquired a majority of Tartan Films UK’s 400+ film library assets. The new company Palisades Tartan has operations both nationally and internationally. Palisades Tartan will continue to expand an already distinctive and provocative slate of films by focusing on quality film acquisitions, thus significantly increasing the size of their overall library in both territories. Palisades Pictures and its parent company Palisades Media Corp is a prestigious financier of print & advertising for the independent film market. Together with its affiliate, Palisades Media Asset Fund, Palisades has securitized and financed more than 550 films.
www.PalisadesTartan.com

"EX DRUMMER" and "9 SONGS" Coming April-May From Palisades Tartan DVD

MyDamnChannel Presents "The Iceman Chronicles"

"Like 'Twin Peaks,' with more murder."

Vampires aren’t real, but serial killers are. Follow “The Iceman Chronicles” on MyDamnChannel to experience the comedic chiller you’ve been waiting for. In true “Twin Peaks” style, “The Iceman Chronicles” documents the life of small town veterinarian Russel Coldpalm as he strives to uncover the mystery of a local serial killer, The Iceman.

In Episode #1, a shadowy figure eliminates his accomplice, drawing the town coroner/veterinarian, Russell Coldpalm, into a baffling murder investigation.

Brought to you by Drama 3/4, the same team behind the “Breaking Bad” minisodes and “Burn Notice” shorts, “The Iceman Chronicles” is the first in a series of acquisitions and co-productions between 15 Gigs and MyDamnChannel that brings more quality, original content to the web. Expect more from the partnership in the coming months.

Watch the trailer here.

MyDamnChannel Presents "The Iceman Chronicles"

"Shiren the Wanderer" For Wii Wanders Into Retailers Across North America

From Atlus:

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA -- FEBRUARY 16, 2010 -- Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced that Shiren the Wanderer™ for Wii™, the new entry in the long heralded Shiren series, is now available in retailers across North America. This new chapter in the legendary franchise stands as one of the most addictive, highly rewarding, and endlessly replayable games available on the platform, not to mention the most accessible Shiren game yet.

With more emphasis on story than practically any other game of its type, Shiren the Wanderer also stands as one of the more captivating narrative-driven roleplaying games in recent memory. A wealth of authentic Japanese history and mythology, an assortment of mystical beasts to encounter and defeat, a cast of colorful characters to interact with, and novel time-travel elements all translate into an epic adventure for Wii owners. Those who complete the game will be treated to post-game content that offers significantly more gameplay and increased challenge, making Shiren the Wanderer a great value as well!

Shiren the Wanderer for Wii is now available in stores across North America!

For more information about post-game content, check out the final entry in the official Shiren the Wanderer Blog HERE.

About Shiren the Wanderer

For a thousand years, a princess has slept inside the Karakuri Mansion. When Shiren's former master bestows upon him the Karakuri key, he quickly finds himself entangled in a millennium-old mystery, wandering through past and present to unravel the story of the girl and vanquish an ancient, lurking evil...

Key Features
Epic adventure in feudal Japan -- As the wandering samurai Shiren, you will explore a vision of historic Japan that is beautiful and vibrant. An epic story that begins 1000 years prior takes you through villages and dungeons and places you alongside figures straight out of Japanese mythology.
Variable challenge -- A brand new easy mode lets even newcomers to the genre find a foothold while experienced players will find a more rigorous challenge in Normal mode. Post-game activities will test the most advanced gamer with additional quests, super dungeons, a tournament, and the "ultimate challenge"-the Millennium Dungeon, a pain-staking 1,000 floor dungeon crawl.
Challenging depth and strategy -- Control your time in the dungeons down to the details. Choose direct control over your party members or take advantage of the excellent AI that lets you specify attitude and tendency. Power up equipment through the new Dragon Orb system, and imbue them with special abilities via more than 100 Seals. New Spells allow targeted casting of effects on enemies.

Shiren the Wanderer has been rated "T" for Teen with Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, and Mild Suggestive Themes by the ESRB.

"Shiren the Wanderer" For Wii Wanders Into Retailers Across North America

Atlus Releases Fourth Trauma Team Walkthrough Video, "Forensics"

From Atlus:
The fourth entry in the Trauma Team video walkthrough series is here: Forensics! Along with the Diagnosis mode, one of the final two entries in the video series, Forensics represents the most dramatic departure from earlier games in the franchise; you're not dealing with a patient, but rather, a victim. It's more the search for truth and justice that drives you than a race against the clock.

Click HERE to watch the video!

For more info, visit the game's official website!

Atlus Releases Fourth Trauma Team Walkthrough Video, "Forensics"

Resident Evil 5: LOST IN NIGHTMARES Now Available for Download

From Capcom Entertainment:

The fear that we all have been waiting for is finally here! Capcom is pleased to announce the first downloadable episode for Resident Evil 5, “ LOST IN NIGHTMARES” is available today on Xbox Live and will be made available on PlayStation Network tomorrow, February 18.

B.S.A.A. agents, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine have tracked down the location of Umbrella founder Ozwell E. Spencer’s mansion. Previously only told through cut scenes in Resident Evil 5, players now can experience the events that lead up to Jill’s “death”.

Not only is there a new episode but new playable characters are available for THE MERCENARIES REUNION. Consumers who download “LOST IN NIGHTMARES” will receive Excella Gionne and Barry Burton included as part of their download. Each character has their own unique weapon load outs, providing players with additional challenges as they shoot down as many enemies as they can within the time limit.

RE5’s second DLC episode “DESPERATE ESCAPE,” will be available on March 3 for Xbox Live Arcade and March 4 for PlayStation Network. RESIDENT EVIL 5: GOLD EDITION , available March 9, will include the original Resident Evil 5 game plus all downloadable content on a single Blu-Ray disk for PS3, and the original Resident Evil 5 plus a token for the downloads.

Resident Evil 5: LOST IN NIGHTMARES Now Available for Download

MotoGP 09/10 Races To PS3 And Xbox 360 On March 16 In North America

From Capcom Entertainment:

We’re pleased to confirm that MotoGP 09/10 will be released for both PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 16 in North America . Players will also be able to update the game with all the 2010 season content, including all new tracks, team updates, and new bike classes, shortly after launch for free of charge.

MotoGP 09/10 delivers the most definitive game of the MotoGP series yet. For the first time in console racing history, players will be able to compete against 20 players across the globe in an online racing experience.

The robust online mode will give gamers the chance to vote for the circuit, bike class, and number of laps before they take to the track and compete in an online Arcade race or Career mode championship. Once the race comes to an end it’s over to the online leaderboards to see where you rank against the rest of the world. Not only will you find competitors’ lap times but the option to upload and download racing ghosts and riding lines, which will help you compete against the very best or for those new to the series learn the skills they need to race to the top of the leaderboards.

MotoGP 09/10 will be released in North America on March 16. The official Moto GP 09/10 demo will be released before launch on PSN and XBLA.

For more information, check out the blog here.

MotoGP 09/10 Races To PS3 And Xbox 360 On March 16 In North America

HURRICANE SEASON -- DVD review by porfle

Neither an overly sappy heart-tugger nor an exercise in slick hiphop cinema, HURRICANE SEASON (2009) is just a good old-fashioned inspirational sports story about some underdogs who overcame adversity with the help of a dedicated coach. Based on a true story, the film does credit to its subject by treating it in a restrained and realistic fashion.

The always watchable Forest Whitaker plays Al Collins, a highly-respected basketball coach at John Ehret High in New Orleans. The hopes that he and his team have for a winning season are dashed by Hurricane Katrina, which ravages the school and profoundly disrupts their lives. Fighting to keep the team together, Collins recruits players from rival schools that have shut down and offers former championship-winning Coach Simmons (Isaiah Washington, "Grey's Anatomy", GHOST SHIP), now unemployed, a job as his assistant. With heated rivalries erupting within the newly-formed team, Collins must find a way to inspire them to work as a unified force with the potential to overcome the odds and go to the state finals.

Refreshingly free of the usual contrived situations and hokey interpersonal conflicts, HURRICANE SEASON explores its premise in a thoughtful manner that remains believable throughout. The devastation of the hurricane is well-conveyed without trying to turn the sequence into a mini-disaster flick, and we see its overwhelming effect on the characters in ways that we can empathize with and relate to.

The conflicts between the players are similarly realistic and non-sensationalized, with even the most troublesome members of the team given understandable motivations for their actions. Particularly effective is Robbie Jones ("One Tree Hill") as Brian, whose tendency to showboat at the expense of the team is due to the unreasonable demands placed on him by his father (Courtney B. Vance, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER). Coach Collins is also allowed to be human and sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him. His homelife with wife Dayna (Taraji P. Henson, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON) and daughter Alana (China Anne McClain) is sensitively portrayed as they pick up the pieces after the storm and forge ahead.

Director Tim Story handles the court action in a way that makes it exciting without jazzing it up with a lot of slow-motion and other cinematic tricks, and it's always convincing and down-to-earth even during the inevitable "fist in the air" moments. This carries over to the dramatic scenes as well, where he gives his actors room to emote while keeping them reined in at the same time. The script by Robert Eisele gives us characters and situations that are lacking the cartoonishness and superficiality which is so often seen in films of this kind.

As Coach Collins, Forest Whitaker does his usual excellent job, giving a low-key performance that only goes into overdrive when it's right for the character, and he gets able support from Vance and Washington. Taraji P. Henson and China Anne McClain are appealing as his wife and daughter. All of the young actors playing the Ehret High Patriots are good, including (the no longer "Li'l") Bow Wow, and Li'l Wayne is funny as a neighborhood hustler who thinks he can clean up by betting against the Patriots. Unfortunately, the awesome Bonnie Hunt is pretty much wasted as the school principle, in a role that seems to have ended up mostly on the cutting room floor.

The DVD from Vivendi and Dimension is in widescreen with English 5.1 sound and English and Spanish subtitles. Extras consist of 24 deleted scenes (over 30 minutes) which are worth watching and include some of that missing Bonnie Hunt footage. Also, hang on during the closing credits and you'll get to see a clip of the real Al Collins and his team.

I've seen "inspirational" basketball movies that were so maudlin and inept that they either made me sick to my stomach or made me hate basketball, or both. (And then there's ROCK THE PAINT, which made me hate movies.) Here, the Ehret High Patriots' struggle to make it to that fateful final game is played out in a straightforward, believable way and is all the more effective for it. HURRICANE SEASON wants us to feel good, but it doesn't rub our noses in it.

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DVD
Blu-Ray

HURRICANE SEASON -- DVD review by porfle

March & April Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

MARCH RELEASES:

HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL: SEASON FOUR, VOLUME ONE

The show followed the adventures of Paladin (Richard Boone), a gentleman/gunfighter, who preferred to settle problems without violence, yet, when forced to fight, excelled. Paladin lived in the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, where he dressed in formal attire, ate gourmet food, and attended the opera. In fact, many who met him initially mistook him for a dandy from the East. When working, he dressed in black, used calling cards, wore a holster that carried a characteristic chess knight emblem, and carried a derringer under his belt.

Actors: Richard Boone, Kam Tong
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010
Run Time: 490 minutes

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MATLOCK: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON

"Matlock" is a legal drama series starring Andy Griffith as defense attorney Ben Matlock - a Harvard-educated, fiery southerner who charges $100,000 a case to brilliantly defend his clients by finding the real killer.

Actors: Andy Griffith, Linda Purl, Kene Holliday, Nancy Stafford, Julie Sommars
Directors: Burt Brinckerhoff, Christopher Hibler, Frank Thackery, Harvey S. Laidman, Leo Penn
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 6
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010
Run Time: 1133 minutes

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WALKER, TEXAS RANGER: THE SEVENTH SEASON

Texas Ranger Cordell Walker, one of the last old-fashioned heroes in the West, is a protective friend but a relentless foe who will stop at nothing to bring a criminal to justice.

Actors: Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard, Noble Willingham
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 5
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
Run Time: 1081 minutes

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MATT HOUSTON: THE FIRST SEASON

A fabulously wealthy Texan moves to California to oversee his family's offshore drilling enterprises but spends most of his time dabbling in his private investigator hobby. He is handsome, lives in a penthouse, and flies his own helicopter to and from his investigations, and naturally, is always surrounded by beautiful women.

Actors: Lee Horsley, Pamela Hensley
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 6
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
Run Time: 1171 minutes

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HAWAII FIVE-O: THE EIGHTH SEASON

Filmed entirely on location in Hawaii, the show followed Jack Lord as he played Steve McGarrett, head of an elite state police unit invetigating organized crime, murder, assassination attempts, foreign agents, felonies of every type. James MacArthur played his second-in-command Danny ("Danno") Williams, with local actors playing members of the Five-O Team.

Actors: Jack Lord, James MacArthur, Kam Fong, Herman Wedermeyer, Harry Endo
Format: Box set, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Number of discs: 6
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010

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SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH: THE SIXTH SEASON

This year, half-witch teen, Sabrina, decides to make some changes in her life, including attending college and living away from home like a normal freshman. Ecstatic to finally be on her own, she discovers that college life isn't all she'd imagined and finds out how difficult it will be to keep the fact that she's a witch a secret from her unfriendly new roommates.

Actors: Melissa Joan Hart, Nick Bakay, Nate Richert
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
Run Time: 482 minutes

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7TH HEAVEN: THE COMPLETE TENTH SEASON

7th Heaven has captured the essence of a family and the hearts of television audiences with its witty, charming, and heartwarming look at the Camdens - a minister, his wife, and their seven children as they live, love, and laugh together. The series tackles a wide range of issues, from teen sex to drugs and alcoholism, guns, racism, homelessness, in a realistic, compelling and entertaining way and has been praised for providing high-quality entertainment for all ages.

Actors: Stephen Collins, David Gallagher, Barry Watson
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 5
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
Run Time: 943 minutes

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APRIL RELEASES:


PERRY MASON: SEASON FIVE, VOLUME ONE

Perry Mason is an attorney who specializes in defending seemingly indefensible cases. With the aid of his secretary Della Street and investigator Paul Drake, he often finds that by digging deeply into the facts, startling new evidence can be revealed. Relying on his outstanding courtroom skills, he often tricks or traps people into unwittingly admitting their guilt.

Actors: Raymond Burr, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 4
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: April 20, 2010

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TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: SEASON THREE

This 30-minute horror/fantasy anthology series follows in the vein of "The Twilight Zone." Each week presents another stand-alone story of horror, fantasy, and/or science-fiction.

Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Number of discs: 3
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010
Run Time: 476 minutes

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I LOVE LUCY: THE MOVIE (And Other Great Rarities)

In 1953, three classic first season "I Love Lucy" episodes ("The Benefit", "Breaking the Lease", and "The Ballet") were edited together with newly-filmed connecting scenes to create this never-before-released feature-length film.

Special Features:
o Lucy Goes to Scotland
o TV Academy PSA
o Emmy Awards
o The Ed Wynn Show
o Series Premiere Opener
o Rear Window
o Animated Commercial
o Here’s Johnny!
o The Ballet – TV Version
o Handcuffs/Movie
o Wilbur’s Hands

Actors: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, William Frawley
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: Spanish
Number of discs: 1
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010
Run Time: 81 minutes

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March & April Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment

It's Pioneers vs. Aliens In SciFi/Horror Film "HIGH PLAINS INVADERS" - On DVD 4/6

"Buffy" Star James Marsters In Another Fast-Paced "Maneater Series" Thriller

Debuts On DVD April 6 From RHI Entertainment And Vivendi Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA (February 8, 2010)- It's a war of the worlds in the Wild West when HIGH PLAINS INVADERS lands on DVD April 6 from Vivendi Entertainment and RHI Entertainment. After a good-hearted outlaw turns himself in for a fatal accident, the guilt-ridden Sam Phoenix is ready to be hanged when an unexpected pardon arrives in the form of an alien-insect invasion. As the bloody killing spree begins, Sam and a small number of survivors are forced to take refuge in a nearby church. Realizing they are going to need a lot more than a prayer and a pistol to survive this nightmare, the small community enters a showdown where only one species will make it out alive.

A Syfy Channel original movie, HIGH PLAINS INVADERS is the latest installment in the fan-favorite "Maneater Series" and features a stellar cast including James Marsters ("Buffy The Vampire Slayer," "Angel"), Sebastian Knapp (Sand Serpents, 28 Days Later) and Cindy Sampson (Swamp Devil). A ghastly, captivating terror, the HIGH PLAINS INVADERS DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

Synopsis: The hanging of honorable Indian-fighter Sam Phoenix in a small western town is cut short by the unexpected invasion of uranium-based insectoid creatures, forcing Sam and a small band of survivors to take refuge in a church. They'll need more than a prayer and a pistol to survive, as a Wild West landscape is inundated by a killer force of alien pioneers.

BASICS

Price: $14.93

Street Date: April 6, 2010

Catalog Number: RH01329

UPC: 883476013299

Languages: English

Running time: 87 minutes

Rating: NR

Run Time: 134 minutes

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It's Pioneers vs. Aliens In SciFi/Horror Film "HIGH PLAINS INVADERS" - On DVD 4/6

EMMA -- DVD review by porfle

I usually find film adaptations of Jane Austen to be light and enjoyable, and sometimes very funny. BBC's four-episode mini-series EMMA (2009) places the characters and material in a fairly realistic world in which the humor is somewhat subdued and the drama a bit more pronounced, and I find it to be a nice approach that pays off.

In the small English town of Highbury sometime in the 19th century, young Emma Woodhouse lives in a mansion with her widowed father and amuses herself by arranging romances amongst her friends. After a couple of successful pairings, however, she begins to make a series of potentially disastrous mismatches. Her new best friend, Harriett (Louise Dylan), a timid girl of questionable parentage and thus deemed an unfit wife for a gentleman, is Emma's most difficult project, and her attempt to pair the girl up with handsome young vicar Mr. Elton (Blake Ritson) is a dreadful failure.

Returning to Highbury after being raised by wealthy relatives are Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans) and Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper), who, along with Emma's childhood friend Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller), give Emma even more opportunities to wreak romantic havoc. This results in a series of miscommunications, secret affairs, and other complications in which we're never quite sure who's in love with who and how well any of it will turn out. Through it all, Emma finally realizes that not only is she quite fallible as a matchmaker, but her tireless efforts to mold the love lives of others has caused her to neglect her own.

Emma, as played by Romola Garai, isn't all charm and delight, and is in fact rather irritating at times. She often displays a girlish frivolity and self-centered disregard for the way she manipulates the romantic affairs of others as though they were her playthings (while knowing nothing about love herself), and is something of a snob as well. But that's what we expect from our Emma, isn't it? Fortunately, she learns from her mistakes and tries to make amends for her botched efforts at matchmaking, evolving into a better person while retaining her independent spirit.

Jonny Lee Miller is so relaxed and likable as upper-class nice guy Mr. Knightley that I'm almost able to forget that he once played a young Woodrow Call in DEAD MAN'S WALK. (Still finding it hard to get used to the fact that he's British.) Michael Gambon is a dear old thing as Emma's eccentric and always worrying father, and Jodhi May (THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS) is as lovely as ever as Emma's former governess and friend, Anne. The rest of the cast is equally superb, with Blake Ritson noteworthy as the ultimately repellant Mr. Elton and Christina Cole wonderfully insufferable as the woman he eventually marries. I'm particularly fond of Tamsin Greig as the well-meaning but incessantly boring Miss Bates.

The production is very handsomely mounted with ideal locations and great attention to detail regarding costumes, set design, and other period aspects. Direction and cinematography are very good.

The 2-disc DVD set from BBC Warner has a 16:9 aspect ratio and 5.1 surround sound with English subtitles. Total running time for the four episodes is approximately 229 minutes. Extras include four featurettes: "Emma's Locations", "Emma's Costumes", "Emma's Music" featuring composer Samuel Sim, and "Emma's Mr. Woodhouse", an interview with Sir Michael Gambon.

This is the kind of Victorian romantic comedy that can be quite delightful at times, and the more realistic, down-to-earth approach given this version of EMMA lends it a substance that makes it all the more rewarding. I'm no expert of Jane Austen, but I liked this adaptation very much.

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EMMA -- DVD review by porfle

RETURN TO CRANFORD -- DVD review by porfle

A two-part sequel to the original 2007 BBC mini-series "Cranford", RETURN TO CRANFORD (2009) is just the thing when you're in the mood for one of those leisurely-paced, low-key, and excruciatingly genteel British period dramas. Of course, it does take it awhile to get started, at least for someone not familiar with Cranford and its inhabitants. But it's one of those things that I think is going to be a real bore by the looks of it, then find myself getting caught up in.

It's 1844, and the sleepy village of Cranford is poised on the brink of progress as the new railroad approaches, with the citizens split between those who welcome it and those who fear the changes it will bring to their lives. These include retired shopkeeper Miss Matty Jenkyns (Judi Dench) and the eccentric widows and spinsters who comprise her circle of friends. One of them, the diminutive Mrs. Forrester (Julia McKenzie), is never without her beloved cow, which she treats like a child and even makes clothes for.

It falls to wealthy landowner Mr. Buxton (Jonathan Pryce) to decide whether or not to sell land which is needed by the railroad, while also dealing with his son William (Tom Hiddleston), who defies him by wanting to become an engineer instead of a politician and also by falling in love with a commoner named Peggy (Jodie Whittaker), whom he plans to marry. Their illicit Romeo-and-Juliet romance is one of the most moving elements of the story, as is the tragedy that befalls a young married couple and their child whom Matty regards as family.

These are but some of the many subplots which slowly weave their way throughout RETURN TO CRANFORD and form a richly rewarding narrative that deftly alternates between subtle humor and tragedy. It's nice to see Judi Dench shed her stiff "M" persona and give such a warm performance as the kindly Miss Matty, who provides a common thread throughout the various parts of the story. Her efforts to solve the railroad dilemma have her likening herself to Pandora before it's over, especially when a train crash brings many of the subplots together with tragic results. During this sequence, the slow-paced parlor drama gives way to some real excitement as the dark side of progress descends over Cranford.



Much of the show's humor comes from how amazed or horrified the conservative people of Cranston are when they encounter anything new or exotic. The waltz, that modern dance in which the man and woman actually face each other, is often invoked in whispered tones. When the ladies take their first train ride, Miss Pole warns everyone not to watch the scenery flashing past at 30 mph lest they burn out their retinas. The arrival of a traveling magician, wonderfully played by Tim Curry, is cause for much delight and trepidation.

On a show like this, "gags" tend to be on the subtle side. Here's an exchange that takes place after Miss Pole has received the gift of a parrot from Miss Matty's brother Peter:

"Mrs. Forrester, reach for the Chronicle and spread it on the floor."
"But, there is a piece about the Princess Royal on the topmost sheet. We should not want to see that soiled."
"Then turn it about. Mr. Peel is on the reverse--we care not what falls on him."

When Miss Pole attempts to order a fancy birdcage from France, what happens next is probably the most overtly funny thing that happens. But again, the humor in this show comes naturally from the characters and their situations, and nothing is played for cheap laughs. The ladies themselves provide much amusement simply by attempting to be so terribly proper at all times.



In addition to Dench, Pryce, and Curry, the cast is uniformly good. I was pleased to see Francesca Annis as the frail Lady Ludlow, whose refusal to sell her land to the railroad is undone by her greedy son Septimus (Rory Kinnear). Other standouts include Imelda Staunton as Miss Pole and Barbara Flynn as the snooty Mrs. Jamieson, who travels around in a sedan hoisted by servants.

Exterior filming took place in a small village which, with a little alteration, is a beautiful stand-in for the quaint, pastoral Cranford. Production values are first-rate right down to the finest details in costuming, set design, and props. Script and direction are also fine.


The DVD from BBC Warner, which contains two ninety-minute episodes, in in 1.78:1 with Dolby Digital 2.0 English stereo and English subtitles. A half-hour documentary, "Cranford in Detail", contains cast and crew interviews and much information about the production.

Just the sort of high-quality fare that the BBC is known for, RETURN TO CRANFORD is an exquisitely detailed look at the joy and heartbreak of smalltown life in Victorian England, when people were poised between the past and the future and weren't sure which way they wanted to leap.

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Read Ian's review of "The Cranford Collection" DVD

RETURN TO CRANFORD -- DVD review by porfle

Step Right Up...And Die! "CARNY" on DVD 3/23

Lou Diamond Phillips Stars In The Latest Installment Of Fan-Favorite "Maneater Series," Slashing Its Way To DVD March 23 From RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA (February 8, 2010) - Get ready for a carnival freak show that will leave the crowd screaming when Carny slashes its way onto DVD March 23 from Vivendi Entertainment and RHI Entertainment. When a travelling carnival makes a stop in the small town of Reliance, Nebraska, the local townspeople eagerly await the debut of the rarely seen unimaginable Jersey Devil.

When the beast is unveiled and goes wild, tearing through the panic-stricken patrons in a violent, feral rampage, the local sheriff joins the carnival's lovely clairvoyant and sets out to capture the carnivorous fugitive. As the hunter and the hunted cross paths, the blood bath continues and hellfire will be ignited in the shadow of the beast.


The latest installment in the "Maneater Series," the Syfy Channel original movie features Lou Diamond Phillips ("Stargate: Universe"), Alan C. Peterson (Shooter) and Vlasta Vrana (The Last Templar). Carny will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

Synopsis:
When a traveling carnival comes to a rural Nebraska town, the caged attraction everyone is talking about is the alleged Jersey Devil. When the beast escapes, tearing the citizens to shreds, local sheriff Sam Atlas steps up to form a tracking team.

Basics:
Price: $14.93
Street Date: March 23, 2010
Pre-book Date:February 9, 2010
Catalog Number: 1001081
Language: English
Running time: 89 minutes
Rating: NR

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Step Right Up...And Die! "CARNY" on DVD 3/23

From the Producers of The Ring, The Departed, and The Grudge Comes "POSSESSION"

Sarah Michelle Gellar And Lee Pace Star In The Dark Thriller Awakening On DVD March 9

LOS ANGELES, CA. (February 5, 2010) – A woman’s true devotion to the one she loves is tested in the year’s most mesmerizing thriller, Possession, arriving on DVD March 9 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Starring Golden Globe® nominee Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”), Lee Pace (“Pushing Daisies”) and Michael Landes (Lakeview Terrace), this suspenseful mystery explores the darkest secrets of love and grief for one happy couple.

Newlyweds Jess (Gellar) and Ryan (Landes) seem to have it all until a car accident renders both Ryan and his brother Roman (Pace) comatose. But things spin even more eerily out of control when Roman wakes up and tries to convince Jess that he is her husband. Beside herself with fear and grief, Jess grapples with the one question: could the man before her actually be the man she lost…or does something far more sinister await her in his arms?

The Possession DVD features deleted and alternate scenes as well as an alternate ending and will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.98. The pre-book date is February 10.

DVD Special Features: (Catalog # 2251014)
Featurette
Deleted and Alternate Scenes
--He Isn’t Lying To Us
--Jess Confronts Casey
--Ryan’s Life-Support
--Child Finds Body
Alternate Ending
Theatrical Trailer

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

POSSESSION
Street Date: March 9, 2010
Prebook Date: February 10, 2010
Screen Format: Widescreen – 2.40:1
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Spanish Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English and Spanish
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Total Run Time: 85 minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

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DVD
Blu-Ray

From the Producers of The Ring, The Departed, and The Grudge Comes "POSSESSION"

"BIKINI JONES & THE TEMPLE OF EROS" and "D.C. SNIPER" -- Coming to DVD in March

Infinity Entertainment Group in Association With Retromedia Entertainment Proudly Presents "Bikini Jones and the Temple of Eros"

Erotic Adventure Comedy Whips Onto DVD March 2nd

LOS ANGELES - March 1, 2010 - For Immediate Release - Move over, Indiana! Whip into action with the adventure of a lifetime in Bikini Jones and the Temple of Eros, swinging onto DVD March 2 from Infinity Entertainment Group.

Dr. Bikini Jones (the luscious Christine Nguyen) is on the hunt for the lost Temple of Eros. Using a golden idol as her guide, she searches the wild land of Moronica, along the way battling man-eating dinosaurs and fending off the sensuously wicked Evilla (2007 Penthouse Pet of the Year Heather Vandeven).

Bikini will do anything to find the sacred temple … and certainly does (much to the delight of her fans)! Co-starring Rebecca Love.

Bikini Jones and the Temple of Eros is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16 x 9 and Dolby Digital. Includes original trailers.

Retromedia Entertainment was launched in 2001 by CEO Fred Olen Ray, a well-known writer, director and producer of films across a broad range of genres. Among his most successful works are the award-winning films Invisible Mom, starring Dee Wallace, and Inner Sanctum, starring Tanya Roberts and Margaux Hemingway, both of which became "The Number One Most Rented" DVD titles in the U.S., according to the RIAA. The latter film earned Ray the Wall Street Journal headline "B Movie Makes A-Movie Money." Ray also directed the award-winning Black Horizon, starring Michael Dudikoff and Ice-T; Armed Response, starring David Carradine; and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, called the "4th Coolest B Movie of All Time" by Maxim magazine.

Bikini Jones and the Temple of Eros
Retromedia/Infinity Entertainment Group
Genre: Erotic Adventure-Comedy
Not Rated
Format: DVD Only
Running Time: Approx. 81 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.98
Pre-Order Date: January 26, 2010
Street Date: March 2, 2010
Catalog #: IEG2200
UPC Code: #617742220094

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North American Motion Pictures Proudly Presents "D.C. Sniper"


From the Trunk of a Car, They Terrified a Nation--The Inside Story of How Two Real-Life Serial Killers Terrorized Our Nation's Capital, on DVD March 16th

Buy Three DVDs, Receive One Free Blu-ray

"Enemies of the state: Manson, Unabomber, D.C. Sniper."
-- Independent Film Quarterly

LOS ANGELES - March 1, 2010 - For Immediate Release - The infamous, real-life killing spree perpetrated by two mysterious shooters is chillingly dramatized in the horror-thriller D.C. Sniper, on DVD March 16 from North American Motion Pictures (NAMP).

D.C. Sniper takes you back to October 2002 when John Allen Muhammad (Ken Foree, 2004's Dawn of the Dead) and his teenage accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo (Tory N. Thompson), held Washington D.C. and surrounding areas hostage with a terrifying three-week murder spree.

The deadly duo shot and killed 10 people and wounded three more from the specially rigged trunk of a 1990 Chevrolet Caprice sedan before finally being apprehended, allowing the entire country to breathe a sigh of relief.

During three trials and years of appeals, Muhammad professed his innocence and Malvo (who testified against him) tried to "make amends," but to no avail. Muhammed was executed by lethal injection Nov. 10, 2009 and Malvo, protected by juvenile law, is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole.

The inside story of how two sadistic assassins paralyzed our nation's capital.

D.C. Sniper is presented in full frame with an aspect ratio of 16 x 9 and 2.0 stereo. Special features include stills gallery and closed captioning.

To support the title in the marketplace, NAMP has announced a retail promotion: Buy three DVDs of D.C. Sniper and receive one free Blu-ray disc of the film (Blu-ray available only through this promotional offer).

D.C. Sniper
North American Motion Pictures
Genre: Horror-Thriller
Rated: R
Format: DVD
Running Time: Approx. 92 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Suggested Retail Price: $26.98
Order Date: February 9, 2010
Street Date: March 16, 2010
Catalog #: DVD - NAMP 201065
3-DVD/Blu-ray Promo Pack - NAMP 201067
UPC Code: DVD - #812862010659
3-DVD/Blu-ray Promo Pack - #812862010673

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"BIKINI JONES & THE TEMPLE OF EROS" and "D.C. SNIPER" -- Coming to DVD in March

Sandra’s Third Ring of Hell: Meal Mania

CHAPTER THREE: GLUTTONY-VILE SLUSH


As I promised, I have decided to once again fight the good fight against that culinary force of evil, Sandra Lee, by comparing her children’s cookbook to Dante’s classic, The Inferno.

This week’s installment is the third ring of Hell in the Inferno, which appropriately focuses on gluttony, or indulging in something too much, as in food or sex. Gluttony is a controversial subject nowadays in relation to child obesity, and Sandra Lee points out in the introduction to the third chapter of Cool Kids’ Cooking how she aims to prevent obesity in children: have kids, even her six-year-old nephew Brycer, cook food for themselves.

Sandra (or her ghostwriter) explains that “For a long time, Bryce would only eat chicken nuggets. Now he dishes up rad eats like Ritz Sticks and Ranch Slaw and Cowboy Meal Loaf with Glazed Carrots for everyday meals.” Now as you can tell by these recipe titles, Sandra’s culinary expertise does not extend far past packaged crackers and bagged salads, so how she plans to eradicate obesity in kids remains to be seen. I should also mention that Sandra’s names for food are singsongy, childish, often alliterative, and, oh yes, if they can include an actual BRAND in the title that she can shill in her “cookbook” so much the better.

This chapter of the kid's cookbook features fourteen recipes: the aforementioned "Ritz Sticks," "Ranch Slaw," "Pepperoni Chicken," "Caesar Pasta," "Chicken Parmesan," "Pasta Zoo with Peas and Carrots," "Tex-Mex Baked Turkey Burgers," "Chili Chips," "Pineapple Pork Chops," "Vegetable Fried Rice," "Cowboy Meat Loaf," "Glazed Carrots," "Taco Mac," and finally "Ranchers Salad." I will be focusing on three of these horrid recipes, all of which include multiple processed foods and Sandra's ubiquitous product placement.
As you can see in this picture of Sandra “preparing” her Ranch Slaw, a nice fat advertisement for Sun-Maid Raisins is featured prominently. Of course, she could just want her young readers to know that when she says the recipe includes “1/2 cup raisins” she MEANS Sun-Maid and doesn’t want them to use an inferior brand (even if she does get kickbacks from the Raisin people). Sandra’s “Ranch Slaw” consists of three other ingredients besides raisins (better be Sun-Maid, dammit!): ranch salad dressing, sour cream, and tri-color cole slaw mix, all with appropriate brands listed so that your little ones know exactly what they should use. Dante describes the punishment for gluttony as sitting in a vile slush for all of eternity, which is what this combination sounds like it would turn into quickly. What else is wrong with this recipe, you might ask? Well, aside from the fact that it sounds disgusting and like no cole slaw I have ever had in my life, there is not one aspect of this recipe that could be considered “fresh.” Yes, the cole slaw mix is a good start, but how hard is it to cut and clean some actual cabbage? This is exactly the sort of “recipe” that populates Sandra’s book—one that is basically assembling the packaged ingredients rather than cooking anything. I know that salad is usually all about assembly, but who would consider dumping crap into a bowl (don’t forget those Sun-Maid raisins!) a real recipe? All of Sandra’s “recipes” seem more likely to appear on the back of the packages of the products themselves than in a legitimate cookbook.

Another recipe Sandra exclaims will “say sayonara to bor-ring” and will make meals “the awesomest” (nice grammar there, hon) is her Chili Chips (alliterative!). Chili Chips are comprised of two ingredients: 1 package of frozen waffle fries and a packet of chili seasoning. Here is a picture of Sandra “preparing” the recipe in the book.

Can you guess how these are made? That’s right: dump the fries on a baking sheet, bake them, and then dump seasoning on top. Done. What a fantastic recipe, right? You couldn’t have come up with such a brilliant culinary masterpiece in years, admit it. Actually, anyone with even 1/8 of a brain can see that fries that have seasoning sprinkled on top of them will taste pretty good. Have you ever been to a bar that had Old Bay seasoning on the fries? Same principle. Sandra calls this stoner food a “recipe” for kids when in reality it is as basic as a recipe can be. Oh, and forget about the “fresh” component of her 70% store-bought with 30% fresh ingredients philosophy (e.g. the Semiho way). How are store-bought French fries and chili seasoning in any way healthy or fresh? Way to reduce childhood obesity, Sandra.

The final recipe I will be examining in this comparison of Sandra’s cookbook to the Inferno is “Ranchers Salad.”

As you can see in this picture, African-American boys love to toss salads with branding irons that say “S” and “L” on them (representative of Sandra Lee, obviously). This is a WTF image if ever there was one. I can’t stop giggling every time I look at it. First, why is one of the only black kids in the entire cookbook wearing such a ridiculous get-up? He’s got the cowboy hat and sheriff’s badge (Lord knows he probably would have had on boots with spurs if the picture was a full-body image). Next, he is literally tossing a salad. Oh, Sandra…someone hasn’t been on Urban Dictionary or watched that scandalous episode of Oprah, has she? Finally, the branding irons for salad tongs say “S” and “L” because Sandra is not only a lush who cannot cook, but she is also a complete narcissist who must include herself in some way on virtually every page of this stupid cookbook. Okay, aside from the ridiculous image that appears on this page, the recipe itself for Ranchers Salad isn’t that bad. Sandra’s ingredients include “rib celery” (guess she forgot to add “of”), cherry tomatoes, ranch salad dressing (again), romaine lettuce, baby carrots (What? No brand name association? For shame!), and bacon pieces. That seems all fine and good, but then she has to go and add her ubiquitous seasoning packets—barbecue seasoning in this case. I have no clue how or why anyone would want seasoning on their salad, especially after you have added fattening ranch dressing already, but apparently Sandra believes it will make your greens taste like you live on a ranch…or something. Sorry, I can’t stop staring at the black cowboy kid tossing salad (insert obligatory Brokeback Mountain reference here)…who came up with this picture? Was it a collaboration? Did Sandra request it? I doubt Sandra was involved with this cookbook at all. She was probably completely wasted when someone came into her room and asked her if she wanted to write a children’s cookbook.

“Will it feature a cartoon version of me as a teenage girl?”
“Yes.”
“Will it have a black cowboy kid tossing a salad?”
“Uh…okay.”
“Great. Start working on it while I try to seduce a politician.”
“Sure…do you have any recipes for us to use?”
“I’ve got copies of things you can do with Ritz crackers and Sun-maid raisins that I cut off the back of some boxes. Just use those.”

And thus, a cookbook was born.

Anyway, that is it for the third chapter. As always, Sandra has proven time and time again that the “awesomest” meals come from combining packages and not using fresh fruit and vegetables unless absolutely necessary. She is definitely helping reduce childhood obesity with her high-fat and high-sodium recipes for kids. Gluttony is a major force in Sandra’s life, from the alcohol she consumes to the “vile slush” she peddles as Semi-Homemade cooking. And I must be a glutton for punishment for reading this cookbook repeatedly!

Next time, we will consider the fourth ring of Hell, the bizarrely titled “Everyday TV Dinners.” If you missed out on the first two installments, you can read about Limbo (“Bright Breakfasts”) here and Lust (“Lazy Day Lunches”) here.

To use an appropriate Sandra salutation, Dish delish!

Sandra’s Third Ring of Hell: Meal Mania

Fight Dragon! on DVD soon!

since I can't work HTML at all, go here-

thanks to Chris Elam for alerting me!

Fight Dragon! on DVD soon!