DVD Releases: September 8

[Sonnie]

Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies: Star Wreck (2009) Alvin stars as Captain Dirk, commander of the S.S. Boobyprize; Simon is Mr. Speck, and Brittany is Uhaha. Together, they must rescue fellow crewmember Dr. McRoy (Theodore) after he gets abducted by a weird extraterrestrial family in this animated spoof, $16.99. (Paramount).

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Very First Alvin Show (1961) The very first broadcast show of the classic Chipmunk series from 1961 that started it all, $16.99. (Paramount).

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition (1971) Fully restored and remastered tale about an apprentice witch (Angela Lansbury), three kids and a cynical con man (David Tomlinson) and their search for the missing component to a magic spell useful to the defense of Britain during World War II. Extras: "The Wizards of Special Effects" featurette, "Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers" featurette takes a look behind the scenes from a musical point of view, Deleted song "A Step in the Right Direction," "Portobello Road Recording Session" rare clip of David Tomlinson's recording of the song "Portobello Road." (Disney).

Crank 2: High Voltage (2009) Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Corey Haim, Bai Ling, Dwight Yoakam, Efren Ramirez, Clifton Collins Jr., Reno Wilson, Simone Bargetze, Danna Hansen. Available as a standard DVD, two-disc special edition, and Blu-ray Disc. (Lionsgate).

Criminal Minds: The Fourth Season (2008-09) Seven-disc set with 25 episodes, $55.98. (Paramount).

Dance Flick (2009) Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Damien Dante Wayans. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount)

Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007) Two-disc special edition of the direct-to-video release featuring two animated stories and music with Jasmine from "Aladdin" and Aurora from" Sleeping Beauty." Extras: Exclusive footage of Disney's newest princess from "Princess and the Frog," two music videos featuring Cinderella and Mulan, "Aurora Dress-Up" game, "Find Sahara" game, "You'll Never Lose This Love" music video featuring Belle from "Beauty and the Beast." ($29.99). (Disney).

Edward Said (2009) First in a series of DVD releases of major films on the great thinkers of the modern era. This two-disc special edition contains two critically acclaimed feature documentaries on Edward Said (1935-2003), one of the leading literary critics and political and cultural commentators of the latter part of the 20th century. Borrowing its title from the author's 2000 memoir, "Out of Place: Memories of Edward Said" is a biography of Said filmed in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, and the U.S., tracing Said's childhood influences and celebrating his intellectual legacy. "Edward Said: The Last Interview" is an extended and wide-ranging discussion with Said himself, filmed less than a year before his death from leukemia, in which he speaks at length about his illness, his work, Palestine and politics, his life and education, and his continuing cultural and political preoccupations. $34.98. Extras: 16-page booklet. (Icarus Films Home Video).

Friday Director's Cut (1995) Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long. Extras: Featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (New Line).

Fringe: The Complete First Season (2008-09) Single disc with 20 episodes, $59.98. Extras: "Deciphering the Scenes: Behind-the-Episodes Moments," "Evolution: The Genesis of Fringe," casting featurette, gag reel, unaired scenes, special effects featurette, science featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009) Cuba Gooding Jr., Kimberly Elise, Aunjanue Ellis, Gus Hoffman, Jaishon Fisher, Maestro Harrel. TNT Original Movie is an inspirational story based on Dr. Ben Carson's amazing journey from a rough childhood to a world-renowned neurosurgeon. Extras: "Behind the Scenes of Gifted Hands" featurette, "Triumph and Inspiration: The Journey of Dr. Ben Carson" featurette. (Sony).

Homicide (1991) Dir.: David Mamet; Joe Mantegna, William H. Macy, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ving Rhames. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised by editor Barbara Tulliver and approved by the director. In David Mamet's cinema, nothing is as it seems, so you better know what you're looking for. Unfortunately, the protagonist of Mamet's nightmarish urban odyssey "Homicide," inner-city police detective Bobby Gold (Joe Mantegna), is as bewildered about who he is as who (or what) he's after. Gold's investigation, following the murder of an elderly Jewish candy-shop owner, leads him down a path of obscure encounters and clues, as well as profound reckoning with his own self and identity. Filled with Mamet's trademark verbal play and featuring standout supporting performances from William H. Macy, Ving Rhames and Rebecca Pidgeon, "Homicide" is a taut, rich work from a true American original. Extras: Commentary by writer-director David Mamet and actor William H. Macy; video program featuring interviews with recurring Mamet actors Steven Goldstein, Ricky Jay, J. J. Johnston, Joe Mantegna and Jack Wallace; gag reel and TV spots; booklet featuring an essay by critic Stuart Klawans. (The Criterion Collection).

The Human Condition (1959-61) Dir.: Masaki Kobayashi; Tatsuya Nakadai. Four-disc special edition with a new, restored high-definition digital transfer. Masaki Kobayashi's mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour "Ningen no joken," adapted from Junpei Gomikawa's six-volume novel, tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji (Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet POW. Constantly trying to rise above a corrupt system, Kaji time and again finds his morals an impediment rather than an advantage. A raw indictment of his nation's wartime mentality as well as a personal existential tragedy, Kobayashi's riveting, gorgeously filmed epic is novelistic cinema at its best. Extras: Excerpt from a rare Directors Guild of Japan video interview with director Masaki Kobayashi, conducted by filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda ("Double Suicide"); video interview with actor Tatsuya Nakadai; video appreciation of Kobayashi and "The Human Condition" featuring Shinoda; booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp. (The Criterion Collection).

If the World Were a Village (2009) Based on the best-selling and award-winning book, this animated story delivers an important message using a magical metaphor: what if the world with six billion people were a village of just 100 people? In this village 22 people speak a Chinese dialect (and nine speak English), 20 earn less than a dollar a day, 32 are of Christian faith, 39 are under 19 years old. By exploring the lives of these 100 villagers, children discover that life in other nations is often very different from their own. $29.95. (Master Communications).

Important Things With Demetri Martin: Season One (2009) Single disc with seven episodes of the stream-of-consciousness sketch and variety show from comedian Demetri Martin; $19.99. Extras: Commentary, "Brain Injuries," "Parking Wars Outtakes," "Basketball 1 & Basketball 2," "Cult Leader in Love," "Killing Someone With Kindness," "Killing Time in the Studio," "Dinner With Heroes Outtakes," "A Tiny Guy Helps Find a Contact Lens," "A Yellow Belt Breaks an Awkward Silence," "Safety Dummy." (Paramount).

Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff (2009) The Little Einsteins set out on four rescue missions that take place in all corners of the world. Originally created as a television series specifically for preschoolers in 2005, Disney's "Little Einsteins" was developed with child development experts and musicians to educate pre-schoolers. In "Fire Truck Rocket," the Einsteins rush to rescue an adorable monkey from an erupting volcano on the tropical island of Java; in "Melody the Music Pet" the Little Einsteins are in France, helping a cuddly creature find a lost train ticket; in "Carmine's Big Race," the Little Einsteins are in Monaco at a grand prix to cheer for Quincy's friend Carmine the music car; the team explores the Patagonia region of South America in "Mr. Penguin's Ice Cream Adventure." $19.99. (Disney).

Live Animals (2008) John Still, Christian Walker, Jeanette Comans. Torture film has a group of college students imprisoned and tormented by a crazed horse trainer in an isolated barn before he auctions them on the white slavery market. Extras: "The View From the Crate: The Making of Live Animals," deleted scenes. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Martini Movies: Wave 3 Five newly-restored and remastered films incorporating the themes of the late 60s and early 70s, an era of free-love, anti-conformity and counter-culture politics. Never-before-available on DVD, the films include: "Model Shop" (1969), "The Buttercup Chain" (1970), "The Pursuit of Happiness" (1971), "Summertree" (1971) and "Love and Pain and the Whole Thing" (1973). $19.94 each. For more information on these Wave 3 releases, click here. (Sony).

Menace II Society Director's Cut (1993) Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Samuel L. Jackson, Jada Pinkett. Extras: Featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (New Line).

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland (2009) Mickey, Donald and the Clubhouse gang enter Alice's Wonderland in this new animated tale featuring characters from the Disney Channel pre-school series; $26.99. Extras: Bonus episode: "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Goofy Goes Goofy." (Disney).

The Nail (2009) William Forsythe, Tony Danza, Dayanara Torres, Tony Luke Jr., Billy Gallo. An out-of-shape boxer, let out of prison after serving eight years for an unfortunate accident, gets a shot at redemption by fighting for a young boy's future. Extras: Tony Luke's cheesecake promo, "And We Call Them Coach" slideshow. (MTI Home Video).

Night Stalker (2009) Adolph Cortez, Elissa Dowling, Jeff Dylan Graham. Dramatization of the murder and assault spree of "The Night Stalker" -- Richard Munoz Ramirez -- who terrified Los Angeles in 1984/1985. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Barnholtz Entertainment/North American Motion Pictures).

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency: The Complete First Season (2008) Three-disc set with seven episodes, $59.99. Extras: Featurettes, interviews. (HBO Home Entertainment).

The Office: Season Five (2008) Five-disc set with 26 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Commentary with cast and crew, deleted scenes, gag reel, four webisodes, "Office" promos. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).

Parks and Recreation: Season 1 (2009) Single disc with six episodes, $29.98. Extras: Deleted scenes, gag reel, commentary. (Universal).

Set It Off Director's Cut (1996) Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise. Extras: Featurettes. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (New Line).

That Hamilton Woman (1941) Dir: Alexander Korda; Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier. New, restored high-definition digital transfer. Extras: Commentary by film historian Ian Christie; video interview with author and editor Michael Korda, Alexander's nephew, who discusses growing up in the Korda family and the making of "That Hamilton Woman"; "Alexander Korda Presents," a 1942 promotional radio piece for the film; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Molly Haskell. (The Criterion Collection).

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails The Movie (2009) Thomas' first-ever CGI-animated movie. Thomas discovers an abandoned and broken down engine from a far away land and enlists help from his friends to save the engine before he's relegated to the scrap heap. Extras: Thomas and Spencer racing game, "Guess Which Train" game, "Thomas and Friends Bedroom makeover." $14.98. (HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate).

Valentino: The Last Emperor (2009) Documentary on fashion kingpin Valentino. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Phase 4 Films).

Worst Week: The Complete Series (2008) Two-disc set with 16 episodes, $29.98. Extras: Pilot commentary. (Universal).