NEW RELEASES

maskBEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON
d. Scott Glosserman
c. Nathan Baesel
Best Buy: $17.99
Circuit City: $19.99
Deepdiscount.com: $16.29

First up is Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. You have been hearing about this movie here on Chud since it was first released in limited theaters. If you are like me, you are probably really anxious to see if it is as great as everyone said it was. In his review (read here) Devin said the movie is “far too great for you to ignore. Start getting excited about this movie, which continues 2006’s track record for great horror films, and start getting excited about Glosserman, who is going to soon be going on to great things.” Well, the time for you to get really excited is here.

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Audio commentary with actors Nathan Baesal, Angela Goethals, Britain Spellings and Ben Pace
  • The Making of Behind the Mask
  • The Casting of Behind the Mask
  • Deleted and extended scenes, with optional commentary with director Scott Glosserman
  • A trailer and teaser
  • DVD-ROM screenplay

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moanBLACK SNAKE MOAN
d. Craig Brewer
c. Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci
Best Buy: $17.99
Circuit City: $17.99
Target: $16.99
Deepdiscount.com: $19.79

I am amazed at how many people have no idea what this movie is about. People who only saw the trailer seem to think this is a grindhouse type movie, an exploitation flick, and just ignored it. Writer and Director Craig Brewer, who helmed Hustle and Flow prior to this, in an interview by Devin (read here) said “I don’t think anyone who can’t get past [the campaign] doesn’t need to see the film. However I’m hoping that credibility of Hustle & Flow… now a lot of people are seeing it because of DVD who originally said, ‘I’m not into rap, I’m not into pimping,’ who have come up to me and said the movie was about more than they thought.” A morality tale that sees Samuel L. Jackson try to save Christina Ricci, so he can eventually save himself is much more than what you might think it is. To get more of a feel for the movie, read that great interview. HD DVD and Blu-ray will also be available.

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Commentary by writer/director Craig Brewer
  • ”Conflicted: The Making of Black Snake Moan” Featurette
  • ”Rooted in the Blues” Featurette
  • ”The Black Snake Moan” Featurette
  • Deleted Scenes

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shooterSHOOTER
d. Antoine Fuqua
c. Mark Wahlberg
Best Buy: $15.99
Circuit City: $15.99
Target: $16.99
Deepdiscount.com: $17.38

This movie came and went really fast in theaters. I almost did not have time to register it was there before it was announced as a DVD release. The movie tells a familiar story of a marksman who is framed for an attempted assassination of the president. Wahlberg must then clear his name and find the people who were really responsible for the crime. Directed by the man that brought us Training Day and filled with talented co-stars (Michael Pena, Danny Glover, Rhona Mitra and Ned Beatty) the movie looks to be a little fun action flick. Problem is we have all seen this story before and I wanted more from Wahlberg following his Academy Award nominated appearance in The Departed.

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Audio commentary by director Antoine Fuqua
  • 7 Deleted Scenes
  • Survival of the Fittest: The Making of Shooter
  • Featurette: “Independence Hall”

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OLDER MOVIES AND RE-RELEASES

jeteeLA JETEE / SANS SOLEIL
d. Chris Marker
Best Buy: $34.99
Circuit City: $34.99
DVDPlanet.com: $25.98

Like always, if I don’t know something about a Criterion classic release, I will let Criterion sell it for themselves. One of the most influential, radical science-fiction films ever made and a mind-bending free-form travelogue, La Jetee and Sans Soleil couldn’t seem more different–yet they’re the twin pillars of one of the most daring and uncompromising careers in cinema history. Chris Marker, filmmaker, poet, novelist, photographer, editor, and now videographer and digital multimedia artist, has been challenging moviegoers, philosophers, and himself for years with his complex queries about time, memory, and the rapid advancement of life on this planet. These two films–a tale of time travel told in still images and a journey to Africa and Japan–remain his best-loved and most widely seen.

GUILLAUME-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

  • New, restored high-definition digital transfers, approved by director Chris Marker
  • New video interview with filmmaker Jean-Pierre Gorin
  • Chris on Chris, a video piece on Marker by filmmaker and critic Chris Darke
  • Two excerpts from the French TV series Court-circuit (le magazine), directed by Luc Lagier: the first, a look at David Bowie’s music video for “Jump They Say,” inspired by La Jetée; the second, an analysis of Hitchcock’s Vertigo and its influences on Marker.
  • Both films presented in two versions: English and French with English subtitles
  • New and improved English subtitle translations

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frankensteinFRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD
d. Ishirō Honda
Best Buy: $14.99
Circuit City: $15.99
Target: $13.99
Deepdiscount.com: $12.08

I have missed some great Godzilla releases, I have been told. First the boss let me know that I missed (Mothra vs Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again). Then, I was informed by a regular reader that I missed Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster and Invasion of the Astro Monsters earlier this month. Well, I hope to make some people happy by mentioning the release of Frankenstein Conquers the World, which I am told has never been released on DVD or VHS in the United States. That makes this a pretty big deal. This film features a Japanized version of the Frankenstein Monster, who becomes giant-sized to fight a giant subterranean monster, Baragon.

DISC ONE:

  • FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD "English Language Version" (84:47)
  • Special Announcement (40 seconds)
  • Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes)
  • Extra International Footage (alternate octopus ending)
  • Deleted Scenes (approx 5 minutes)
  • Photo Gallery (approx 150 images)

DISC TWO:

  • FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON "International Version" (93:04)*
  • FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON "Japanese Theatrical Version" (89:53)
  • Audio Commentary with Sadamasa Arikawa (Director of Special Effects Photography) with English Subtitles
  • Trailers for ATRAGON, DOGORA, MYSTERIANS, MATANGO

*The FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON "International Version" is the same film as the "Japanese Theatrical Version" except that it includes the alternate octopus ending included as an extra on DISC ONE. The Sadamasa Arikawa commentary appears over this version of the film.

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THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

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THE HIGH DEFINITION REVOLUTION

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THE BARGAIN BIN

CIRCUIT CITY: JUNE 24-JUNE 30

The Departed – $15.99
Black Snake Moan – $17.99
Dead Silence: Unrated – $17.99
Jump In: Freestyle Edition – $13.99
Pride – $19.99

Shooter – $15.99 – Free 40 minute bonus disc which includes features on sniper weapons & training and a Q & A with Mark Wahlberg
The Italian Job (2003) – Buy The Shooter and The Italian Job together on the same receipt and get both titles for $20

Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon – $19.99 – Free bonus DVD with an exclusive first look at “Hatchet”

High School Musical: The Concert – Extreme Access Pass – $13.99 *
Hannah Montana: Pop Star Profile – $13.99 *
* Save $6 when you buy High School Musical & Hannah Montana DVDs together on the same receipt

$6.99 DVDS:
Ocean’s Twelve, Out Of Sight: Collector’s Edition, The Rundown, Swordfish, Friday Night Lights, Payback (1st Pressing), We Were Soldiers, Maverick, Young Guns: Special Edition, Last Man Standing, Spawn: Platinum Series, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), The Mummy: Collector’s Edition, Set It Off, Menace II Society, Any Given Sunday, A Beautiful Mind: Academy Award Winner Edition, American History X, Apollo 13: 2 DVD Anniversary Edition, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle: Extreme Unrated Edition, Friday After Next, The Great Outdoors (1st Pressing), Raising Arizona (1st Pressing), Liar Liar: Collector’s Edition, Kingpin, Zoolander, Road Trip: Unrated, The Mask: Platinum Series (1st Pressing), A Night At The Roxbury, The Big Lebowski: Collector’s Edition, The Players Club, Shaun Of The Dead, Blazing Saddles: 10th Anniversary Special Edition

$12.99 DVDs: Get a Free Ratatouille PEZ Dispenser when you purchase any of these DVDs
Finding Nemo: 2 DVD Collector’s Edition, Monsters, Inc.: 2 DVD Collector’s Edition, A Bug’s Life: 2 DVD Set, Toy Story: 10th Anniversary Edition, The Incredibles

DVD Sets
Reno 911!: Season 4 – Uncensored – $17.99

The Simpsons: Seasons #1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 – $29.99 – Includes movie money to see The Simpsons Movie
* Buy 2 Simpsons season sets and save $5

20% Off All TV Box Sets Regularly prices at $34.99 & UP
Titles listed:
Miami Vice: Season 5 – $31.99
Arrested Development: Season 2 – $27.99
King Of Queens: Seasons 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 – $27.99
Rescue Me: Season 1 / 2 – $31.99
The Boondocks: Season 1 Uncut & Uncensored – $30.99
Nip/Tuck: Season 1 / 2 – $39.99
24: Season 5 – $31.99
House: Season 1 – $36.00
Lost: Season 1 – $39.99
The Wire: Season 1 / 2 – $62.99
Big Love: Season 1 – $63.99
Seinfeld: Season 1+2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 – $31.99

BEST BUY: JUNE 24-JUNE 30

Stomp The Yard – $15.99
Shooter – $15.99
Dead Silence: Unrated – $19.99
Dead Silence: Unrated HD-DVD – $29.99
Pride – $17.99
Black Snake Moan – $17.99
Black Snake Moan Blu-Ray – $29.99
Black Snake Moan HD-DVD – $29.99
Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon – $17.99
Something To Cheer About – $9.99
Louis C.K.: Shameless – $12.99
Ghost Rider – $19.99
Ghost Rider Blu-Ray – $29.99
Bridge To Terabithia – $19.99
Bridge To Terabithia Blu-Ray – $29.99
Finding Nemo: 2 DVD Collector’s Edition – $14.99
The Incredibles – $14.99
Charlotte’s Web (2007) – $14.99
The Pursuit Of Happyness – $14.99
The Rolling Stones: The Biggest Bang – $29.99 Best Buy Exclusive 4 DVD Set
Peaceful Warrior – $19.99 – Free copy of the book “Way Of The Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman with purchase of the DVD

Hannah Montana: Pop Star Profile DVD – $14.99 *
High School Musical: The Concert – Extreme Access Edition DVD – $14.99 *
* Buy The Hannah Montana CD and 1 of the marked DVDs and get both titles for $25

$7.50 DVDs:
A League Of Their Own, Major League (1st Pressing), Bad News Bears (2005), Field Of Dreams: 2 DVD Anniversary Edition, Stand By Me: Special Edition, Caddyshack, The Great Outdoors (1st Pressing), Eurotrip: Unrated / Road Trip: Unrated Double Feature, Old School, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle: Extreme Unrated Edition, Super Troopers, Armageddon, Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Lords Of Dogtown: Unrated, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Blu-Ray DVDs: Save $10 Instantly when you buy 2 of these Blu-Ray discs
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl – $29.99
Apocalypto – $29.99
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $29.99

DVD Sets:
Reno 911!: Season 4 – $19.99
The New Adventures of Batman – $19.99
The New Adventures Of Superman – $19.99

Miami Vice: Season 5 – $39.99 *
Miami Vice: Season 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 – $43.99 each *
* 2 for $50 when you buy any 2 seasons of Miami Vice together on the same receipt

TARGET: JUNE 24-JUNE 30

Shooter – $16.99
Dead Silence – $16.99
Black Snake Moan – $16.99
Pride – $17.99

Hannah Montana: Pop Star Profile – $14.99 *
High School Musical: The Concert – Extreme Access Pass – $14.99 *
* Save $6 with purchase of both the Hannah Montana & High School Musical: Extreme Access Pass DVDs

$11.88 DVDs:
Showgirls, A Night At The Museum, Eragon, The Devil Wears Prada, Little Miss Sunshine, Borat, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Everyone’s Hero, Epic Movie, The Last King Of Scotland

DVD Sets:
24: Season 2 – $17.99
Sex And The City: Season 1 – $17.99
Bones: Season 1 – $17.99
Die Hard Trilogy – $17.99
The Girls Next Door: Season 2 – $17.99
The Boondocks: Season 1 Uncut & Uncensored – $17.99
Arrested Development: Season 3 – $17.99
UFC Presents The Ultimate Fighter: Season 1 – $17.99
Monk: Season 5 – $34.99
Psych: Season 1 – $34.99
RENO 911!: Season 4 – $17.99