DVD Reviews - Page 5

Mill Creek Entertainment is proud to release for the first time, the complete first season of Wiseguy, the acclaimed television series from writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell and starring Ken Wahl. Twenty-two episodes of the first season from this ground-breaking program are all together in one DVD set. This Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated series revolutionized the story arc format. This first season featured such guest stars as Kevin Spacey, Ray Sharkey and Joan Severance.

Long before Donnie Brasco brought similar drama to the big screen, Golden Globe® winner Ken Wahl brought charisma, credibility and chutzpah to his small-screen role as Vincent Terranova, a handsome 30-year-old agent with the FBI's Organized Crime Bureau.

As conceived by co-creators Stephen J. Cannell (of The Rockford Files and The A-Team fame) and Frank Lupo, Wiseguy followed an innovative "story-arc" structure, allowing Vinnie's deep-cover missions to last only as long as necessary to bring each case to a sensible conclusion. Since copied by countless TV shows, this unique approach to storytelling attracted a devoted following of viewers addicted to the self-contained plots that forced Vinnie, his sourpuss OCB handler Frank McPike (Jonathan Banks) and disabled covert liaison Dan "Lifeguard" Burroughs (played by double-amputee Jim Byrnes) to achieve their objectives.

In Sonny Steelgrave, Vinnie infiltrates the New Jersey mob family and befriends Atlantic City mob boss Steelgrave (Ray Sharkey) where, with one slip of his cover, he could end up a dead man. Loyalties are tested and moral dilemmas are faced as Vinnie struggles to protect his true identity and bring a band of criminals to justice. Guest stars include Joe Dallesandro, Dan Lauria and Annette Benning.

In Mel Profitt, Vinnie teams up with sociopathic assassin Roger Lococco (William Russ) in an effort to infiltrate the global drugs-and-guns empire of the Proffitt siblings Mel (Oscar®-winner Kevin Spacey) and his incestuously devoted sister Susan (Joan Severance). A deadly triangle of terror develops in this complex and bizarre investigation.

Episodes: Wiseguy (1); Wiseguy (2); New Blood; The Loose Cannon; The Birthday Surprise; One on One; Prodigal Son; A Deal's a Deal; The Marriage of Heaven and Hell; No One Gets Out of Here Alive; Last Rites for Lucci; Independent Operator; Fascination for the Flame; Smokey Mountain Requiem; Player to be Named Now; The Merchant of Death; Not For Nothing; Squeeze; Blood Dance; Phantom Pain; Dirty Little Wars; Date With an Angel

The year 1540 was a crucial turning point in American history. The Great Indian Wars were incited by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado when his expedition to the Great Plains launched the inevitable 350 year struggle between the white man and the American Indians. From that point forward, the series of battles between the United Sates and the Native American Indians began where blood was shed and ultimately tens of thousands of lives were lost on both sides. The Battle of Teppecanoe, The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, all three Seminole Wars and the Battle of Little Big Horn were some of the most important conflicts that led up to the last massacre, the Battle of Wounded Knee, where America’s landscape would be forever changed.

This set is filled with insightful and entertaining bonus features including:

·         Comprehensive gallery of rare and never-before-seen photographs and maps

·         Unique interactive timeline highlighting pivotal events

·         Biographies on notable Cavalry Officers and Indian Chiefs including Tecumseh, Colonel Custer, Black Kettle, Wild Bill Hickock, Crazy Horse, Kit Carson, Geronimo, Sitting Bull and many more

They claim they’re merely a civic-minded fraternity, bound together by harmless rituals. But throughout their long history, the Freemasons have been reviled as devil worshippers, accused of provoking revolution, and suspected of plotting to take over the world. Witness in MYSTERIES OF THE FREEMASONS the untold story of the world’s oldest secret society as clandestine codes, patterns in the sky, and murder reveal a radically new picture of the nation’s founding fathers. Dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, sophisticated CGI, and original location documentary footage transport viewers back to the time when Freemasons led the Revolution, framed the Declaration of Independence, designed our nation’s capital and, in the early years of the Republic, grew to unmatched heights of influence and power. HISTORY™ exposes the origins of this underground society, from the stealing of King Solomon’s treasure to the three evils against which Freemasons believe they’re still struggling: ignorance, fanaticism, and tyranny, to a present-day initiation ceremony attended by 2.5 million Freemasons from around the world. Featuring historians Stephen Bullock, Dan Burstein, Brent Morris, Akram Elias, and author David Shugarts.

BONUS FEATURE: Documentary “Secret Societies”

Full Battle Rattle is a revelatory look at the soul of the American war machine, and a potent allegory of America's military misadventures in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

In California's Mojave Desert, the US Army has built a billion dollar urban warfare simulation - a village they call Medina Wasl, populated with Iraqi exiles, all playing pre-assigned roles ranging from mayor to grocer to doctor to mother.  An Army Battalion has been given the mission to quell an insurgency and prevent Medina Wasl from slipping into civil war.  Covering both sides of the conflict as the mood in the village shifts from friendly banter to violent clashes, the film follows the Army Colonel who commands the Battalion, the Iraqis who play civilians on the battlefield, and the American soldiers cast as insurgents.

From the moment they begin playing their roles, the stakes are high and the emotions at fever pitch.  As reality and fantasy overlap, Full Battle Rattle moves from comic to surreal to disturbing - revealing the challenges and perhaps futility of "liberating" people half a world away.

Just what it’s called: old Jews telling jokes. The 18 joke tellers featured aren’t professionals; rather they’re doctors, lawyers, a garment worker, a wine salesman… With wonderful timing and mannerisms, and bouncy klezmer music backing them up, these funny old alter kockers deliver, with great delight, the off-color and risqué jokes from a bygone era.

James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek) leads the action in this exciting, funny coming-of-age story about a small-town high schooler confronting the pressures and temptations of gridiron glory. At first, backup quarterback Jonathan “Mox” Moxom (Van Der Beek) is nowhere close to being a football star. He’s perfectly content to stay on the bench and out of the win-at-all-cost strategies of coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight in a powerful performance). But when the starting quarterback is injured, Mox is in the game…and in direct conflict with his hotheaded coach and girlfriend. Soon everyone in Mox’s football-crazed community will realize there’s not just a new star quarterback in town, there’s a new kind of hero.

Enjoy all 22 acclaimed episodes of the complete third season of Primetime Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning comedy “30 Rock.”  Season 3 was recently nominated for 22 Primetime Emmys® (the most ever for a comedy series) including Best Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Alec Baldwin), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Tina Fey), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Jane Krakowski). 
 

An old house...a mysterious locked room...a terrifying secret.  Elements that make a horror movie memorably chilling get a taut, spooky reworking in "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark".  Kim Darby and Jim Hutton star as Sally and Alex, young marrieds who inherit a crumbling mansion.  Despite warnings to leave well enough alone in her new home, Sally unlocks the mysterious room, opens a bricked-up fireplace--and unleashes a horde of hideous, whispering, murdering mini-demons only she can see and hear.  Alex thinks she's imagining things.  We know she isn't.  And we know Sally should be very, very afraid of the dark!

1 disc

Full Screen 1.33:1

Audio: Dolby Digital Mono

Subtitles: None

A mentalist is a master manipulator of thought and behavior.  THE Mentalist is Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), a celebrity psychic whose wife and child are murdered by an elusive serial killer named Red John.  Devastated, Patrick admits his paranormal act is fake, renounces his earlier life and uses his astonishing skills of observation and analysis-talents that make him appear psychically gifted-to bring killers to justice.  At crime scenes across California, Patrick now helps an elite team of detectives break their toughest cases.  But no matter how many criminals he catches, Patrick never forgets his central goal: Find Red John.  And bring him down.

6 discs

Widescreen 1.78:1

Dual Layer Single Sided

Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, Portuguese Dolby Surround Stereo

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Thai

The Warner Archive is proud to present the first-ever home video collection of all 52 M-G-M "Our Gang" comedies.  Each short subject is presented complete and uncut, as originally seen in theaters from 1938 through 1944.

Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Porky, Darla, Mickey, Waldo and Froggy have long been names to conjure with in the annals of screen comedy. Theyre fun-loving members of Our Gang, one of the most beloved bunches of movie kids ever. And with this fabulous 5-Disc Collection of 52 Theatrical Shorts, youve struck the mother lode of laughter from Hollywoods Golden Age. Popularized on television for generations following their run in theaters, these rib-tickling short subjects showcased an ensemble of ground-breakingly diverse youngsters, many of whom were skilled at song as well as slapstick. If you belong to the legions of this mischievous gangs fans, this compilation (covering the years 1938-1944) of mirthful memories and lasting laughter belongs in your home collection. Disc 1 (1938 - 1939): Little Ranger, The, Party Fever, Aladdin's Lantern, Men In Fright, Football Romeo, Practical Jokers, Alfalfa's Aunt, Tiny Troubles, Duel Personalities, Clown Princes, Cousin Wilbur; Disc 2 (1939 - 1940): Joy Scouts, Dog Daze, Auto Antics, Captain Spanky's Showboat, Dad For A Day, Time Out For Lessons, Alfalfa's Double, Big Premiere, The, All About Hash, New Pupil, The, Bubbling Troubles; Disc 3 (1940 - 1941): Good Bad Boys, Waldo's Last Stand, Goin' Fishin', Kiddie Kure, Fightin' Fools, Baby Blues, Ye Olde Minstrels, 1-2-3 Go!, Robot Wrecks, Helping Hands, Come Back Miss Pipps; Disc 4 (1941 - 1943): Wedding Worries, Melodies Old And New, Going To Press, Don't Lie, Surprised Parties, Doin' Their Bit, Rover's Big Chance, Mighty Lak A Goat, Unexpected Riches, Benjamin Franklin, Jr., Family Troubles; Disc 5 (1943 - 1944): Calling All Kids, Farm Hands, Election Daze, Little Miss Pinkerton, Three Smart Guys, Radio Bugs, Dancing Romeo, Tale Of A Dog.

5 discs

Full Screen 1:33.1

Dual Layer Single Sided

Audio: English Mono

Subtitles: None