LUCIDMEDIA

Lucid Video – November 24th

Written by Nadine Bachan Tuesday, 24 November 2009 16:08

This week’s look at new releases on DVD and Blu-Ray for November 24th

30 Rock: Season 1–3

Former SNL writer and performer Tina Fey created television gold with a comedic series that skirts the fine line of reality. Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer star (along with several notable guest spots from personalities like Conan O’Brien, Jerry Seinfeld, and Al Gore) in the behind-the-scene madness of running an NBC variety show.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 4

“Good evening.” Revisit chilling dramas and mysteries from the 1958-1959 season of the legendary filmmaker’s classic series. Performers in the volume’s 36 black-and-white episodes include Cloris Leachman, Leslie Nielson, Dick York, and Art Carney. The DVD includes a special featurette, “Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock.”

Angels & Demons

This sequel to The Da Vinci Code features again Tom Hanks, but this time leaving the awful hairpiece behind. Hanks’ Prof. Langdon travels into the underbelly of Vatican City where the evil plans of secret society, the Illuminati, must be stopped. The 2-disc DVD set is full of bonus materials, and the Blu-ray edition includes even more. One cool feature is Cinechat, an instant messaging option for you and your friends around the world to make comments to each other while watching the film simultaneously.

Best of Spike Jones Collection

No, this is not a DVD of music videos and works by the contemporary filmmaker Spike Jonze (see the difference in spelling?). The Spike Jones of this compilation is the satirical musician of the 1950s who popularized humorous parodies of classic songs and themes. The 3-disc collection contains over 60 remastered songs and never-before-seen bonus materials.

Beverly Hill 90210: The Eighth Season

In the 1997-1998 season, the rapidly-aging gang is out of school and looking for work. Kelly suffers with amnesia after a drive-by shooting, Donna uncovers a sweatshop, David works on his music career, and Kelly and Brandon almost get married. It seems the drama never ends for the former students of West Beverly High. This season is also notable for the introduction of Carly, portrayed by a young Hilary Swank.

Bill Engvall: Aged and Confused

Best known as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (and close friend and contemporary of Jeff Foxworthy), Bill Engvall’s comedy special showcases that redneck, low-class humour that has taken America by storm the past few years. 

David & Layla

Director Jay Jonroy presents a story of romance between a Jewish man and Muslim woman who connect through the exploration of similarities and differences of their cultures. However, when both their families express mutual disapproval of the relationship, the lovers must make a difficult decision. Many critics have dubbed the 2005 film a lovely, contemporary twist on the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet.

Far Cry

Uwe Boll (known for adapting video games into critically-massacred films) gives us a bloody and very violent movie about mercenaries and conspiracies … naturally.

Four Christmases

Apparently someone wanted to see Vince Vaughn being sarcastic and uncomfortable in a festive setting. This film about the amusing messiness of the modern family also stars an impressive roster of A-list actors including Reese Witherspoon, Jon Voight, Mary Steenbergen, Robert Duvall, and Sissy Spacek. Of course, Jon Favreau pops his irrelevant head into the mix.

Funny People

Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, and Eric Bana star in Judd Apatow’s latest film. This time around, Sandler plays a stand-up comedian who re-evaluates his life after a brush with death with the help of a young struggling comic portrayed by Rogen. The DVD features the unrated edition, which runs 16 minutes longer than the theatrical release.

Gomorrah

Crime runs deep in Naples, Italy as we look at the stories of five individuals who live (and struggle to survive) in a city overrun by the dealings of the Camorra, a Neapolitan mob. The 2008 independent film earned several awards and recognition, including the Grand Prize of the Cannes Film Festival and several European Film Awards.

Hogan’s Heroes: The Komplete Series

All 168 episodes of the 1960s sitcom about a Nazi POW camp are now available in a 28-disc box set. You can watch all six seasons of Colonel Klink, and the rest of the men at Stalag 13, plus a full disc of bonus features and never-before-seen materials.   

Imagine That

Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) lets his daughter Olivia call the shots when the fruits of her imagination become the key to his success as a financial planner. It seems that Murphy still won’t admit that his name in top billing is an instant indicator of a bad film and poor profits. The only time people want to see Murphy’s face these days is as an amusing likeness on the head of an animated donkey.

The Janky Promoters

Ice Cube finally decides to star in a film remotely related to music. The rapper-turned-actor, along with Mike Epps, are two club promoters whose desperate attempts to book a popular rapper turn into mayhem. If you haven’t brushed up on your slang lately, “janky” is defined as shady or untrustworthy. And that’s the word of the day.

My Bloody Valentine

Fans of the Halloween/Valentine’s Day combination have probably been waiting for the special Blu-ray edition of this 1981 Canadian cult classic. Yes, this is the original film, not the poorly-received 3-D remake. The special edition will include featurettes about the rise of the slasher film, and deleted scenes with commentary by the director, cast, and crew.

Shorts

After a young misfit named Toe finds a wishing rock, fun and magic become the name of the game in the little town of Black Falls. When the rest of the townspeople find out about the special stone, everyone scrambles to get their hands on it. Joe Cryer, William H. Macy, and James Spader star as the kind of hapless adults so often present in children’s movies today.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Disney reopened its vault to re-release its first full-length animated motion picture. The 1937 classic has been digitally remastered with enhanced picture and sound. The DVD will also include games, karaoke, and a sneak peek at Disney’s upcoming film, The Princess and the Frog.

Toi & Moi

Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard stars in this 2006 French comedy-romance about Ariane (Julie Depardieu) is a writer of trashy love stories inspired by the real lives of people around her. Her half-sister, Lena (Cotillard), lives an existence rife with juicy material for Ariane’s writings. While Ariane finds Lena’s escapades exciting, she almost doesn’t realize the amorous potentials of her own love life.