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The DVD Dossier is the free newsletter published weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less.
This is the archived issue for April 2, 2006.
Click Here To Subscribe To The DVD Dossier Newsletter
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Published Weekly by DVD Direct 4 Less and The DVD Dossier Blog
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In This Issue
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April 2, 2006
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Some weeks it seems like there's hardly an interesting new title worthy of discussion in this space; at other times, there's so many that we can't cram them all into the newsletter. This is one of those weeks, so we'll get right to the good stuff...
 Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media release C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" on Tuesday.
Through a magical wardrobe, four children embark on an adventure to the enchanting land of Narnia, where they help the great lion, Aslan, conquer the dark magic of the White Witch and restore peace to a land threatened with eternal winter.
The box-office smash - Disney's third highest grossing live-action film of all time - will be available as a Single Disc DVD (with bonus features), as well as a Special 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD.
 The Special Edition will take you on a deeper adventure into the world of "Narnia" with nearly ten hours of bonus features – including a behind-the-scenes tour with the film’s child stars, director’s diary, "Cinematic Storytellers" film diaries, multiple audio commentaries, 3-D map, interactive timeline, featurettes on the creatures and much more.
The “Narnia” DVD production team worked with the filmmakers from the very start of the film’s production, resulting in exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features that deliver unprecedented access into this cinematic blockbuster.
The Single Disc Edition is available in both widescreen and full screen versions, while the 2-Disc Collector’s Edition will be available in widescreen only. (Disney is also releasing this title in the UMD format for Sony PSP).
 "Brokeback Mountain," the sweeping epic about two men who forge an intense, secretive bond, has been rushed onto DVD following the film's surprising loss for Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards.
Oscar nominees Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star in "Brokeback," which became known informally as "the gay cowboy movie" by fans and foes alike. The film costars Academy Award nominee (for Best Supporting Actress) Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway and Randy Quaid.
(Quaid, incidentally, is now suing the producers, saying the film was misrepresented to him as a small independent feature. The actor claims that he is an internationally recognized star who never would have agreed to appear in the film for less than his customary fee had he known it was actually a big budget feature with mainstream appeal.)
Under Ang Lee's skillfully nuanced direction - which earned him an Academy Award - "Brokeback Mountain" unfolds against the raw beauty and splendor of the American West.
The film tells the story of Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal), two young men dispatched to work as sheepherders up on the majestic Brokeback Mountain in the summer of 1963. The ranch-hand and the rodeo cowboy unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection... and the complications, joys, and heartbreak they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.
The film is certainly worth seeing, but Mrs. Dossier and I were both taken aback by the huge critical acclaim for this one. It's a lovely idea for a film and it's beautifully acted, but on screen, it plays like a short story that's been extended far beyond the boundaries of its skeletal plot, endlessly repeating its simple themes.
We "got" it after the first forty-five minutes or so and were bored out of our minds for the remainder of the film. The final scenes are quite touching, though... and there is throughout lots of breathtaking scenery.
Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score (Gustavo Santaolalla), "Brokeback Mountain" comes out on DVD (so to speak) in separate widescreen and full screen editions. Special Features, however, are slim and come mostly from the film's electronic press kit, sparking speculation that there may be a Special Edition down the road.
 Richard Gere leads an all-star cast in "Bee Season," playing a father devoted to training his daughter (newcomer Flora Cross) for the National Spelling Bee. His passion soon becomes an obsession that causes the delicate threads holding the family together to slowly unravel.
Juliette Binoche, Kate Bosworth and Max Minghella costar in the film, which is based on the celebrated novel by Myla Goldberg and which was an Official Selection of the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2005 Telluride Film Festival.
"Bee Season" is presented in both widescreen and full screen formats on a single 2-sided disc.
 Just in time for the Easter holiday season comes three tales of spiritual discovery which celebrate lives of purpose and inspiration - "The Nun's Story," "The Shoes of the Fisherman" and "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima."
Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Anthony Quinn, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud are among the stars; bonus features will include the vintage featurette "The Shoes of the Fisherman" and theatrical trailers.
Each title will be available individually, as well as in a boxed Gift Set called the "Films of Faith Collection."
 "Nine to Five," the quintessential workplace comedy about being overworked, underpaid and pushed to the edge by an ungrateful boss from hell, celebrates its 25th Anniversary this week with a re-release from Fox Home Entertainment.
The film will be presented in a new "Sexist, Egotistical, Lying, Hypocritical Bigot Edition" loaded with extras, including new commentary by stars Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and producer Bruce Gilbert; ten deleted scenes; a "Nine @ 25" featurette with all-new on-camera interviews with the cast; a "Remembering Collin Higgins" featurette; a gag reel; a "Nine To Five" karaoke feature and more.
When three working women have had enough of their lecherous, egomaniacal boss, their ultimate fantasies about sticking it to The Man come true in this witty, satirical send-up of office politics, sexism and what it really takes to get ahead.
"Nine to Five" features Dolly Parton's Academy Award-nominated title song, which became an anthem for working people everywhere struggling to climb the corporate ladder.
 Cuba Gooding, Jr. stars in "Dirty," a hard-edged story of a gangbanger turned cop who is forced to choose between his conscience and his loyalty to the code of blue all in the course of one day.
Special features on the "Dirty" DVD will include commentary with writer/director Chris Fisher and director of photography Eliot Rockett, deleted scenes, a "Gettin' Dirty" premiere featurette as well as a skateboarding/breakdancing featurette, plus a "Chump" music video by Oh No.
 "Little Manhattan" is a feel-good comedy that's perfect for kids and adults alike. Filled with all the magical, marvelous - and maddening - moments of first love, this charming film also features performances from Cynthia Nixon, and Bradley Whitford.
In a city known for excitement, two young friends are about to embark on the greatest adventure of all. Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) and Rosemary (newcomer Charlie Ray) have known each other nearly all of their lives, but when they come face-to-face in a karate class, they see each other in a whole new light.
Also of note this week is "The Mel Brooks Box Set Collection," the Director's Cut of Oscar Winner "Crash," "2005 Houston Astros: The Championship Season" and the DVD debuts of many TV titles, including the Final (Sixth) season of "Dawson's Creek."
Our apologies... The DVD Dossier is coming to you a little bit late this week, due to production difficulties (most involving the fact that it was a really beautiful Spring day here on Sunday in the Northeast USA and the Dossier staff could not be kept indoors).
We'll be back next week with more news of the latest DVD releases; please join us.
Regards,
DVD Direct 4 Less
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| This Week's New DVD Releases - Street Date: April 4, 2006 |
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Visit us online to see a comprehensive list of new DVD releases for the next six weeks.
Links above are for Region 1 (USA) Editions. Availability and release dates elsewhere may vary.
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| Preview of Next Week's Releases - Street Date: April 11, 2006 |
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| Over at the DVD Dossier Blog... |
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Over at the DVD Dossier Blog this week, our most popular post by far was the April 1st announcement of a joint marketing effort between Netflix and Coke, which will provide home delivery of soft drinks in addition to DVDs.
Also this past week, we took a look at "Hoodwinked," out on May 2nd, the First Season of "Joey," out on May 30th and "Liza with a 'Z,'" out this Tuesday.
We also shared photos from a launch event held in Hollywood to celebrate the arrival of this week's re-release of "Nine to Five," plus we have all the details on Season Two of "Rescue Me," the groundbreaking F/X TV series starring Denis Leary.
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| You'll find it all at the DVD Dossier Blog. |
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| Call Ordinary Phones Anywhere in the World with Skype... |
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The DVD Dossier is a free weekly newsletter that contains objective information about new DVD releases that has been researched and written by the editors at the DVD Direct 4 Less and DVD Dossier web sites, as well as advertisements and promotional information provided by movie studios.
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