After last week kicked my ass, this week brings one notable new release and only a small handful of older movies. The best releases this week come in the high definition format. I’ll just skim through the week’s releases.
NEW RELEASES
HANNIBAL RISING
d. Peter Webber
c. Gaspard Ulliel, Rhys Ifans
The prequel to the Hannibal Lecktor movie franchise will be released this week. The movie delves into the past that shaped the life of Hannibal. The film marks the first script written by Thomas Harris, the author behind the best-selling book franchise and stars French actor Gaspard Ulliel as young Hannibal. It will be available in it’s Rated theatrical version (117mins, Full Screen) as well as an Unrated version (130mins, Widescreen).
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Five deleted scenes
- Commentary with director Peter Webber and producer Martha DeLaurentiis.
- Hannibal Lecter: The Origin of Evil featurette
- Allan Starski: Designing Horror and Elegance featurette
RE-RELEASES AND CLASSIC FILMS
Kirk Douglas’ announced that his final movie would be 2004’s Illusion. Douglas was one of the greatest actor’s of his time, giving us an Oscar nominated performance in the biting Hollywood insider movie The Bad and the Beautiful as well as an Oscar quality performance in the wonderful Stanley Kubrick directed Paths of Glory. Well, if this is indeed his last movie, it is something worth checking out as it hits DVD this week. Directed by Michael A. Goorjian, who many people know as Justin Thompson from the television show Party of Five, Illusion tells the story of a once-powerful, but now ailing movie director, who nears the end of his life. As he awaits death, he slips into a "dream" and is shown three "snippets" of the movie of his son’s life. Francis Ford Coppola called it “Heartfelt and touching…ILLUSION, based on an ambitious and classical premise, is passionately made by a young and 
promising actor/filmmaker.” That’s good enough for me.
Quentin Crisp was an English writer who became a gay icon in the 1970s after publication of his memoir, The Naked Civil Servant, brought to the attention of the general public his longstanding refusal to conceal his homosexuality. The adaptation of The Naked Civil Servant created a furor in 1975 when it premiered on PBS in North America with viewers threatening to yank their support of their local stations. The movie shows Crisp, a man struggling to live an openly flamboyant, gay lifestyle during a time when homosexuality was against the law in Britain. Crisp staunchly refused to compromise his lifestyle and went on to become a cult celebrity and an international gay icon. John Hurt (Alien, The Elephant Man) starred as Crisp and 
won a BAFTA for best actor in 1976. The DVD will be released this week and will include commentary by John Hurt, director Jack Gold, and executive producer Verity Lambert and the featurette Deja vu with Quentin Crisp: Quentin Crisp’s observations on British and American culture.
Takashi Miike’s masterpiece, Ichi the Killer is being re-released this week in a special edition. Ichi the Killer: Blood Pack will include commentary with Director Takashi Miike and Manga Artist/Writer Hideo Yamamoto (In Japanese with optional English subtitles), a featurette with director Eli Roth, a photo gallery, “The Cult of ICHI” – Featurette, “Memories of ICHI” – The Making of ICHI THE KILLER, Interviews and Trailers.
THE HIGH DEFINITION REVOLUTION
Every week more and more movies are being released on HD DVD and Blu-Ray. This section will let you know what titles are coming your way on the High Def formats this week. The titles listed here are only titles that are already available on DVD and are new to the high definition format. If the movie is released simultaneously with a DVD it will not be listed here.
THE BIG LEBOWSKI [HD-DVD] – Includes an exclusive introduction featuring Mortimer Young, a practitioner of "non-uptight" film preservation. His restoration of the famous "toe scene," presented here, will blow your mind. Also includes never-before available images, photographed by Jeff Bridges, from the set of the film, the Making-Of The Big Lebowski, including interviews with the Coen Brothers and Production Notes.
THE FRIGHTENERS (DIRECTOR’S CUT) [HD-DVD] – Includes feature commentary with director Peter Jackson, The Making of The Frighteners, Storyboards and the Theatrical Trailer.
LOST IN TRANSLATION [HD-DVD] – Includes Deleted Scenes, Matthew’s Best Hit TV-Extended Scene, Lost On Location Featurette, Kevin Shields "City Girl" Music Video and Found In Conversation: Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray
MIDNIGHT RUN [HD-DVD] – Includes The Making of Midnight Run and the Theatrical Trailer.
THE RIVER [HD-DVD] – Includes the trailer.
DRAGONHEART [HD-DVD]
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER [BLU-RAY] – Includes Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: "Secrets Within" and footage from the Los Angeles Premiere.
WEEDS (SEASON ONE) [BLU-RAY]
BASIC INSTINCT [BLU-RAY]
OTHER DVDs TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON
COMING SOON: THE DVD NEWS
THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2
d. Martin Weisz
c. Jessica Stroup, Reshad Strik, Michael McMillian, Daniella Alonso, Lee Thompson Young
release date: July 17, 2007
The Hills Have Eyes 2 will be released on July 17. The Martin Weisz directed film is more along the lines of Southern Comfort than the original movie, as the mutants hunt down a group of National Guardsmen and kills them one by one. While the original movie was about terrorizing a helpless family and causing them to realize their inner beats, this time it is about hunting people who should be capable of defending themselves. There will be an unrated cut of the film and extras will include an alternate ending, deleted scenes, an Exploring the Hills: The Making of The Hills Have Eyes 2 featurette, a Fox Movie Channel Presents: Life After Film School with Wes Craven feature, a Mutant Attacks featurette, a Birth of a Graphic Novel featurette, a gag reel, and trailers.
PREMONITION
d. Meenan Yapo
c. Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahan
release date: July 17, 2007
Sandra Bullock has decided to try to cement herself into the subgenre of time-bending mind fucks. While The Lake House seemed to work for the female contingent, Premonition did not fare as well. In Premonition, Bullock finds out that her husband died in a horrible car wreck. She mourns for about one day until she wakes up the next day, and he is alive and well. Then the next day, he is dead again. And then he is alive again, and she tries to figure out what is going on. Extras will include deleted scenes (including an alternate ending), multiple behind the scenes featurettes, and a blooper reel.
PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER
d. Tom Tykwer
c. Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, John Hurt
release date: July 24, 2007
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man who was born in the middle of the filthy fish market, where he is left to die. In the stench of eighteenth century Paris, he develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world’s finest perfumes. He turns to murder and tries to preserve the various scents of his victims to eventually find the scent for the ultimate perfume. It appears the only extra material will be a Story of Perfume making of featurette. You can read Devin’s review HERE to get a better feel for the film.
FRACTURE
d. Gregory Hoblit
c. Ryan Gosling, Anthony Hopkins, Rosamund Pike
release date: August 14, 2007
Coming off his Oscar nomination (for Half Nelson), Ryan Gosling teams with Anthony Hopkins in this thriller that seems to evoke a little bit of Silence of the Lambs in the trailer. Ryan Gosling plays a young District Attorney who is about to leave his post for a private firm job when he is given a new case as his last big one. See, Anthony Hopkins plays a man who shoots his wife in the face after he catches her cheating on him and then turns himself in, setting up a big game of cat and mouse. The movie relies on Hopkins playing the younger Gosling until he finally reveals how he will get away with murder. The disc will include deleted/alternate scenes, two alternate endings, and the theatrical trailer.
HEROES, COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
d. Tim Kring
c. Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter, Greg Grunberg, Masi Oka,
release date: August 28, 2007
Much debate has risen over the hit shows Lost and Heroes, with both sides having ample ammunition in their arguments over whose show is the best. For those who have skipped over watching the first season of Heroes, August will provide you the chance to see it on DVD and decide for yourself which show you prefer. The seven-disc package will include all 23 episodes with extras including the original 73 minute un-aired pilot episode with optional commentary by creator Tim Kring, 50 deleted and extended scenes, a making of featurette, a special effects featurette, a featurette on the score, a profile of artist Tim Saleand, and a stunts featurette. A HD DVD release will also be available for around $99.98 that will include all of the above, along with additional material (PIP video commentaries, a Genetic Abilities test, and more).
THE BARGAIN BIN
BEST BUY
CURRENT RELEASES
Hannibal Rising – $16.99
Illusion – $12.99
The Naked Civil Servant – $14.99
Ichi the Killer: Blood Pack – $24.99
Wishbone: Bark that Bark – $15.99
Andy Griffith Show: The Complete Series – $209.99
WWE Backlash – $19.99
My Brother – $19.99
The Lost Language of Cranes – $14.99
Chicago Cubs Legends: Great Games – $59.99
The Call of Cthulhu – $14.99
Drive Thru – $19.99
Eating Out 2 – $19.99
Circle of Iron – $24.99
Naruto: Uncut Box Set Volume 3 – $44.99
Rain – $19.99
Rawhide: The Second Season – $34.99
Baltimore Orioles Legends: Cal Ripken Jr. – $44.99
Starhunter – $21.99
The Closer: The Complete Second Season – $33.99
OTHERS
Hannibal (Steelbook casing) – $16.99
The Melancholy of Harushi Suzumiya: Volume 1 – $19.99
R. Kelly: Live – The Light it Up Tour – $11.99
Oceans Eleven / Oceans Twelve 2-Pack – $12.99 – Free movie cash to see Oceans Thirteen
$4.99 DVDs: Good Night & Good Luck, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Syriana, The Fugitive, National Geographic: The Battle For Midway, Sleepers, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, The Wild Bunch: 2 DVD Original Director’s Cut, Swordfish, Three Kings, Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines, Enter The Dragon: Special Edit
$12.99 DVDs: A Bug’s Life (2 DVD Set), The Incredibles, Finding Nemo (2 DVD Set), Toy Story: 10th Anniversary Edition 2 DVD Set, Toy Story 2: 2 DVD Special Edition, Monsters, Inc. (2 DVD Set)
DVD Sets – $19.99 Each
The Gilmore Girls: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
One Tree Hill: Season 1 / 2 / 3
Veronica Mars: Season 1 / 2
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Columbo: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
Emergency!: Season 1 / 2 / 3
Babylon 5: Season 1 / 2 / 3 Available only at BestBuy.com
Babylon 5: Season 4 / 5
HD-DVDs:
Children of Men Combo – $34.99
Letters From Iwo Jima Combo – $34.99
The Departed Combo – $34.99
The Fountain Combo – $34.99
The Hitcher Combo – $29.99
Flags Of Our Fathers – $29.99 2 Disc
Smokin’ Aces Combo – $29.99
Dreamgirls – $29.99
M: I: III – $29.99
Ultimate Matrix Collection – $89.99
Complete Matrix Trilogy – $79.99
CIRCUIT CITY
CURRENT RELEASES
Hannibal Rising – $17.99
Illusion – $12.99
The Naked Civil Servant – $15.99
Ichi the Killer: Blood Pack – $29.99
Wishbone: Bark that Bark – $15.99
Andy Griffith Show: The Complete Series – $189.99
WWE Backlash – $14.99
My Brother – $19.99
The Lost Language of Cranes – $15.99
Chicago Cubs Legends: Great Games – $69.99
The Call of Cthulhu – $15.99
Drive Thru – $19.99
Eating Out 2 – $19.99
Circle of Iron – $19.99
Naruto 3 – $39.99
Rain – $19.99
Rawhide: The Second Season – $34.99
Baltimore Orioles Legends: Cal Ripken Jr. – $49.99
Starhunter – $29.99
The Closer: The Complete Second Season – $34.99
OTHERS
Apocalypto – $19.99
Epic Movie: Unrated – $19.99
Stomp The Yard – $19.99
Music & Lyrics – $19.99
R. Kelly: The Light It Up Tour – $12.99
Bad Boys II UMD – $9.99
Charlie’s Angels UMD – $9.99
Fun With Dick & Jane (Carrey) UMD – $9.99
The Grudge UMD – $9.99
Complete Matrix Trilogy (HD-DVD) – $79.99
Ultimate Matrix Collection (HD-DVD) – $99.99
$12.99 DVDs: Eragon, Borat, Smokin’ Aces, CARS, Peter Pan: 2 DVD Platinum Edition
2 For $20 – Idlewild, The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift, Waist Deep, Miami Vice, Inside Man, The Break-Up, You, Me & Dupree, Accepted, Backdraft: 2 DVD Anniversary Edition, King Kong (Peter Jackson), Nanny McPhee, Barbie: 12 Dancing Princesses, Alexander Revisited, The Ant Bully, Blood Diamond, Superman Returns, Final Destination 3, Snakes On A Plane, Sublime, Tenacious D: The Pick Of Destiny, Star Wars I: Phantom Menace, Star Wars II: Attack Of The Clones, Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith, Star Wars IV: A New Hope, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi, The Mummy: The Franchise Collection, The Riddick Trilogy
20% Off All Box Sets $34.99 and Up (samples below)
The Shield: Season 5 – $49.99
ROME: Season 1 – $79.99
The Office: Season 2 – $39.99
South Park: Season 9 – $39.99
The King Of Queens: Season 8 – $34.99
Entourage: Season 3.1 – $34..99 ($27.99)
ONLINE BEST OFFERS
(Prices listed include basic shipping charges)
CURRENT RELEASES
Hannibal Rising – Walmart.com – $21.34
Illusion – DVDPacific.com – $10.78
The Naked Civil Servant – DeepDiscount.com – $14.63
Ichi the Killer: Blood Pack – DeepDiscount.com – $21.15
Able Edwards – DVDPacific.com – $13.06
Andy Griffith Show: The Complete Series – Overstock.com – $200.40
WWE Backlash – DVDPacific.com – $15.79
My Brother – DVDPacific.com – $17.25
The Lost Language of Cranes – DeepDiscount.com – $14.63
Chicago Cubs Legends: Great Games – DVD Planet – $47.97
The Call of Cthulhu – DVDPacific.com – $13.08
Drive Thru – DVDPacific.com – $19.92
Eating Out 2 – DeepDiscount.com – $15.23
Circle of Iron – DVDPacific.com – $19.24
Naruto 3 – Buy.com – $44.89
Rain – DVDPacific.com – $17.25
Rawhide: The Second Season – DVDPacific.com – $28.67
Baltimore Orioles Legends: Cal Ripken Jr. – Walmart.com – $35.35
The Closer: The Complete Second Season – DeepDiscount.com – $25.89