New DVD Releases: Week of 2-8-10

02.08.10 | Jerry Frebowitz | New Releases This WeekPrint this Post

New DVD Releases for this week include Vince Vaughn in the romantic and very funny comedy Couples Retreat, Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in The Time Traveler's Wife and action fans will be happy to see the return of Steven Seagal in A Dangerous Man... plus one of the most controversial films from The Coen Brothers will cause viewers to decide if A Serious Man is the best work to date from Joel and Ethan or is this one movie that is way over the top?

Couples Retreat (2009)
Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell, and Faison Love and Kali Hawk star as four couples who get a great group rate at a scenic resort, only to learn they're required to participate in a series of therapy sessions and bizarre activities. Can each of the couples survive the trip, or will they leave with more baggage than they came with? Jean Reno, Peter Serafinowicz co-star in this funny and touching comedy, co-written by Vaughn and Favreau.

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)
Audrey Niffenegger's beloved novel comes to the big screen in this emotional drama about the tumultuous relationship between Clare (Rachel McAdams) and Henry (Eric Bana), a man possessed with the strange gift--or is it a curse?--of unpredictable and spontaneous time-travel. As Henry vanishes and reappears without warning, the course of their passionate romance takes surprising and emotional turns. With Arliss Howard, Stephen Tobolowsky.

The Stepfather (2009)
Returning home from military school, Michael (Penn Badgley) is shocked to discover that his divorced mother (Sela Ward) has become engaged to David Harris (Dylan Walsh). While Michael's would-be stepfather appears outwardly to embrace traditional family values, it soon becomes clear that he harbors some creepy tendencies and shocking secrets. Remake of the 1987 cult horror hit co-stars Amber Heard, Sherry Stringfield.

A Serious Man (2009)
Why aren't things going right for physics professor and family man Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg)? Is it pure chance that his wife leaves him as his children take to disregarding his parental authority and one of his students attempts to blackmail him--or, has a curse originating from Jewish tradition been set upon him by an unseen enemy? Modern-day variation on the Old Testament story of Job from Joel and Ethan Coen co-stars Richard Kind, Sari Lennick, Fred Melamed. (Watch Our Movie Buzz Review on A Serious Man)

A Dangerous Man (2010)
That's just what ex-Special Forces operative Steven Seagal, is in this pulse-pounding actioner. Newly released from an Arizona prison after being framed for murder, Seagal gets caught up in the deadly aftermath of an illicit diamond deal. Now he'll need his lethal fighting skills to fend off both the Mexican Mafia and corrupt cops, all while protecting a young girl he rescued from the crooks. Byron Mann, Mike Dopud also star.

Dare (2009)
This slick drama (an expanded remake of the 2005 short) follows an unusual lust triangle that forms between three high school seniors. At first given to maintaining her "good girl" image, Alexa (Emmy Rossum) opens herself to the pursuit of illicit pleasures after becoming attracted to rebellious drama class partner Johnny (Zach Gilford). Meanwhile, her closeted gay friend (Ashley Springer) has his own designs on Johnny. Co-stars Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cumming.

Dante's Inferno (2010)
Acting as a companion piece to the Electronic Arts videogame, this animated thriller based on the epic 14th-century poem follows Dante through a hellish pilgrimage in which he searches for his beloved Beatrice, who has been kidnapped by Lucifer. Experience fiery excitement as the heroic Dante braves the nine circles of Hell, battling fearsome demons in the name of love! Stars the voices of Mark Hamill, Victoria Tennant.

I Hate Valentine's Day (2009)
Writer/director Nia Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") also stars in this biting romantic comedy, playing the proprietor of a Brooklyn flower shop who has an unusually strict rule about dating men: no more than five dates. Ever. Her phobia over long-term relationships is truly put to the test when she meets an irresistibly charming and handsome businessman (John Corbett). Stephen Guarino, Mike Starr co-star.

Maneater (2009)
Is time running short for spoiled, 32-year-old Beverly Hills socialite Clarissa (Sarah Chalke) to find the perfect man? With plenty of contacts in the show business jungle, Clarissa thinks she may have a chance with an up-and-coming new producer (Philip Winchester) who tickles her fancy. Splashy Lifetime miniseries co-stars Judy Greer, Marla Sokoloff, and Paul Leyden.

Endgame (2009)
Set in mid-1980s South Africa when apartheid held sway over the nation, this striking political drama echoes the drug drama "Traffic" in its realistic, multilayered approach to historical drama. While uneasy talks begin between an intelligence officer (Mark Strong) and an imprisoned Nelson Mandela (Clarke Peters), a powerful businessman (Jonny Lee Miller) makes overtures to African National Congress leader Thabo Mbeki (Chiwetel Ejiofor). With William Hurt, Derek Jacobi.

Peter And Vandy (2009)
Set in Manhattan, this time-shifting dramedy presents an inventive (and chronologically unstable) look at the relationship between insecure architect Peter and art gallery employee Vandy. As the couple fight, make up, and find each other, insight into contemporary love is revealed. Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler, Jesse L. Martin, and Tracie Thoms star.

Little Hercules 2009)
The legendary character begins his mighty labors in this engaging family adventure. The 12-year-old Greek hero (Richard Sandrak) decides to abandon Mt. Olympus in favor of becoming a humble human being on Earth, much to the chagrin of Zeus (Hulk Hogan), his father. When little Hercules arrives in modern-day Burbank, California, his fish-out-of-water status causes unpredictable calamities! With Robin Givens, Judd Nelson.

Good Hair (2009)
This hilarious and insightful documentary follows comedian Chris Rock as he sets out to explore the ways that hairstyles impact contemporary African-American culture. From visits to beauty salons and an overview of the wonderful world of hair straightening and extensions to insights from Maya Angelou, Eve, Ice-T, Raven-Symone, and others, Rock looks at exactly what constitutes "good" hair and why.

Eleven Minutes (2008)
Billing itself as "the lowdown on high fashion," this intriguing documentary follows Jay McCarroll--the winner of the first season of "Project Runway"--as he prepares for his first major solo show. As McCarroll deals with the pressures of designing outfits for his New York Fashion Week debut, he experiences numerous challenges that threaten to compromise his artistic vision.

Midgets vs. Mascots (2009)
His name was Big Red (Richard Howland), but he was in reality a "little person" who made his fortune in pornography. After he died, the dispensation of his fortune came with some odd stipulations, leading his midget-hating son (Mark Hapka) to coach a squad of small folks in a crazy competition with costumed mascots coached by his third wife (Brittney Powell). Bizarre, comic mockumentary co-stars Gary Coleman, Jason Mewes, and Ron Jeremy.

Pride & Prejudice (Collector's 2-Disc Edition) (2005)
Keira Knightley shines as Elizabeth Bennet in this stunning adaptation of Jane Austen's classic tale of romance in Georgian England. As one of five wealthy sisters pressured by their parents to get married, Elizabeth, despite being courted by several worthy suitors, finds herself inexplicably drawn to the egotistical young Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen). Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Jena Malone, Rosamund Pike, and Judi Dench co-star.

Bad Girls Of Film Noir, Vol. 1<br />Sheila (Evelyn Keyes) was clever enough to smuggle diamonds into Manhattan from Cuba, but she's also "The Killer That Stalked New York" (1950) because she's carrying smallpox! Noir thriller co-stars Barry Kelley, Dorothy Malone. Two con artists plot to scam a couple by producing a double of their missing son, in "Two of a Kind" (1951). With Edmond O'Brien, Lizabeth Scott. Returning home to Pennsylvania from service in the Korean War, a doctor (Charlton Heston) falls under the spell of a lovely gal (Lizabeth Scott), but they're "Bad for Each Other" (1953). Co-stars Dianne Foster, Mildred Dunnock. Unless a "displaced person" from World War II can locate the soldier whose testimony can break down "The Glass Wall" (1953) keeping him from entering America, the man faces branding as a criminal fugitive. Vittorio Gassman, Gloria Grahame star.

Bad Girls Of Film Noir, Vol. 2 A "Night Editor" (1946) of a busy newspaper passes the time by relating the ripping crime yarn of a cop (William Gargan) whose affair with a beautiful woman (Janis Carter) gets complicated when they both witness a murder. With Jeff Donnell, Coulter Irwin. What's "One Girl's Confession" (1953) worth? A lot, when it's by a waitress (Cleo Adams) with a bead on $25,000. With Hugo Haas, Glenn Langan. The supervisor (Ida Lupino) of a "Women's Prison" (1955) uses her inadequacy with men as an excuse to torment her prisoners. Jan Sterling, Phyllis Thaxter co-star. An ambitious female photographer (Cleo Moore) gets seriously "Over-Exposed" (1956) after snapping a shot that eventually gets her in hot water with the mob. With Richard Crenna, Raymond Greenleaf. (Read our article on "Bad Girls Go To DVD & Other Movie Classics")

Bushido: The Cruel Code Of The Samurai (1963)
Seven generations of a Japanese family--from feudal samurai to 20th-century working-class man--linked by adherence to the rigid code of honor and obedience known as the Bushido are traced in this compelling and often violent drama. Kinnosuke Nakamura stars in a septuple role as the modern "salaryman" and his ancestors; directed by Tadashi Imai. AKA: "Bushido Zankoku Monogatari," "Cruel Story of the Samurai's Way."

Halo Legends (2010)
Seven CGI-animated shorts set in the 26th-century universe of the popular "Halo" video game franchise are presented in this program. Four Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are dispatched to assassinate a prophet, in "The Babysitter"; after an Arbiter rejects beliefs of the Covenant, an Elite is sent to eliminate him, in "The Duel"; a SPARTAN-II raid on a battle cruiser is dramatized in "The Package"; and more.

SGU: Stargate Universe 1.0 (2009)
The third entry in the popular "Stargate" franchise is set aboard the Ancient ship Destiny that has become the unexpected home to a band of human survivors who use it to escape an attack. Stranded billions of miles from Earth on a vessel they can't control, a disparate and eclectic group of scientists, civilians, and military personnel will have to work together to find a way home. Robert Carlyle, Louis Ferreira, Brian J. Smith, Elyse Levesque star. The first 10 episodes from the first season are featured in a three-disc set.

Gary Unmarried: The Complete First Season (2008)
Gary Brooks (Jay Mohr) is a recently divorced dad and house painter trying to get back into the dating world while raising his wisecracking teenaged son Tom (Ryan Malgarini) and environmentally minded young daughter Louise (Kathryn Newton). Gary's contentious relationship with his ex-wife Allison (Paula Marshall) is not helped one bit by her engagement to Dr. Walter Krandall (Ed Begley, Jr.), the couple's former marriage counselor. Jaime King co-stars in this quirky CBS comedy. All 29 episodes from the first season are featured in a three-disc set.

Studio One: Twelve Angry Men (1954)
Lost for decades, the Emmy-winning TV version of Reginald Rose's classic tale about the tensions within a deadlocked murder trial jury stars Edward Arnold, Robert Cummings, Norman Fell, Franchot Tone, Joseph Sweeney, and George Voskovec (the last two the only cast members to reprise their roles in the 1957 film). Making the jump from radio to television in 1948, the highly regarded anthology series known variously as "Studio One Summer Theatre," "Studio One in Hollywood," "Westinghouse Studio One," and other titles became synonymous with the Golden Age of Television. The Emmy Award-winning series "Studio One" produced acclaimed broadcasts of original and adapted material from 1948-58, showcasing the talents of the medium's top and emerging stars.

Rod Serling Studio One Dramas
Included in this twin bill of Rod Serling-scripted "Studio One" installments are "The Strike" (1954), a Korean War drama in which Army major James Daly contemplates an order that could cost the lives of his men; and "The Arena" (1956), with Wendell Corey as a newly appointed U.S. senator dealing with an old foe of his late senator father.

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