DVD Releases: October 6

[Sonnie]

Assassination of a High School President (2008) Mischa Barton, Reece Thompson, Aaron Himelstein, Luke Grimes, Bruce Willis. Dark high school comedy. Sophomore newspaper reporter Bobby Funke is assigned to write a cover story on the popular class president and top athlete. After a stack of SAT tests is stolen, Funke publishes an expose that names the jock as the prime suspect and suddenly, Bobby is BMOC. But when the jock's girlfriend makes a move on him and even his former bullies play nice, Bobby begins to doubt the boy's guilt, mounting an investigation that uncovers a campus-wide conspiracy that threatens to take down students and teachers alike. Extras: Commentary, alternate opening sequences, extended and alternate scenes, deleted scenes. (Sony).

Audition (1999) When director Takashi Miike released this creepy (and acclaimed) film 10 years ago, Miike created a stir around the world that he will forever be associated with. Recently snaring the No. 1 slot on EW.com's 20 Top Horror Films of the Past 20 Years, "Audition" is a cautionary tale of romance gone awry, making men worldwide squirm at its horrific climax. Deceptively innocent at first, Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a middle-aged widower of many years, is urged by his teenage son and his film producer friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura) to get out and start dating again. To help Aoyama meet women, Yoshikawa devises a plan to hold a fake audition for a leading lady. Reluctantly agreeing, Aoyama auditions 30 young hopefuls and falls for the silent beauty of Asami (Eihi Shiina), a former ballerina with a dark past. Their courtship veers from quiet romance to psycho nightmare. Available as a two-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray edition featuring a 1080P high definition transfer from the inter-negative, with a new 5.0 digital soundtack mixed from the original audio elements. A two-disc Collector's Edition DVD is also available to own on the same day. The discs include 75 minutes of new interviews with the cast and filmmaker along with a new commentary by director Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan. Blu-ray: $29.99; DVD: $24.99. Extras: Introduction with director Takashi Miike and star Eihi Shiina; commentary by Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan; new interviews with cast members Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Renji Ishibashi and En Osugi; international trailers; booklet essay by Tom Mes (author of "Agitator: The Cinema Of Takashi Miike"). (Shout! Factory).

Bones Season Four (2008-09) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $59.98. Extras: Three extended episodes, deleted scenes, gag reel, featurettes: "Androgeny: Playing Haru Tanaka" and "Squints In Training." Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).

Chop Socky Chooks Volume One (2008) Two-disc set with 13 episodes of the Cartoon Network series about a crack team of kung-fu chickens who battle their evil arch-nemesis, Dr. Wasabi -- a mutant piranha -- and attempt to foil his diabolical plots to become a one-man global superpower. $19.98. (Fox))

Dark Country (2009) Directed by and starring Thomas Jane; co-stars Lauren German, Ron Perlman. Two honeymooners rescue a mysterious car crash survivor in the Las Vegas desert but they come to regret that decision when the man makes their ride a hellish one. Extras: Commentary, making-of featurette. (Sony).

Elmo's Animal Adventures (2009) Sesame Street's Elmo and his friends embark on three new fun-filled adventures for pre-schoolers. Kids can help Elmo and Telly find Little Bo Peep's missing cow by following clues and working together as a team; use animal facts to help Elmo and Abby succeed in the "Find The Amphibian Game" and join Elmo in a camping adventure as he learns that sharing is fun and discovers the different types of food that animals eat. Includes special appearances by Cameron Diaz and Patricia Arquette. $14.93. (Sesame Workshop/Genius Products).

Get Smart: Season 4 (2008) Four-disc set with 26 episodes, $24.98. (HBO Home Video.

The Hills: Season Five - Part One (2009) Two-disc set, $26.98. Features Lauren Conrad's final episodes as well as the surprise return of "Laguna Beach's" Kristin Cavallari on MTV's pop culture sensation. Extras: "Speidi'Wedding Unveiled," "Lauren's Last After Show," deleted scenes, photo shoot, interviews, more. (MTV/Paramount).

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (2003) Animated Peanuts feature centering on Rerun, Linus and Lucy's lovable and wise-beyond-his-years little brother who wants a dog for Christmas after he sees what a great relationship Charlie Brown and Snoopy share; $19.98. Extras: Bonus episode: "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown." (Warner).

Imagine That (2009) Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker, James Patrick Stuart, Vanessa Williams, Larramie Doc Shaw, Robb Derringer. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Paramount).

Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics Two-disc set with "The Walking Dead" (1936) (directed by Michael Curtiz), "Frankenstein-1970" (1958), "You'll Find Out" (1940) and "Zombies on Broadway" (1945); $26.98. Extras: Commentary. (Warner).

Lost Tapes (2008) Each year, thousands of new species are discovered and classified -- but there are some creatures that science still refuses to recognize. Inspired by the myths and lore that make blood curdle, this thrilling docu-fiction television series depicts traumatic stories featuring a diversity of cryptozoological oddities such as Bigfoot, Megaconda and Chupacabra. Fourteen episodes, $19.99. (Animal Planet/Genius Products).

Mr. Ed: Season One (1961) Four-disc set with 26 episodes, $34.99. Extras: Interview with Alan Young and Connie Hines. (Shout! Factory).

The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season Five (1974-75) Three-disc set with 24 episodes, $29.98. (Fox).

Medium: The Fifth Season (2009) Four-disc set with 18 episodes, $60.90. (Paramount).

A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008) Original holiday animated musical movie features the bickering Miser brothers as they get in Santa's way at Christmas; $19.98. Originally aired as part of ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas." Extras: "What Makes Stop Motion Go" featurette. (Warner).

My Life in Ruins (2009) Dir.: Donald Petrie; Stars: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis, Rachel Dratch, Harland Williams, Maria Adanez, Maria Botto, Alistair McGowan. Extras: Deleted Scenes, Alternate ending, "Everybody Loves Poupi" featurette about Greek star Alexis Georgoulis, commentary by Nia Vardalos, director Donald Petrie and writer Mike Reiss. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Fox).

Nip/Tuck: Season Five Part Two (2008-09) Three-disc set with eight episodes, $39.98. Extras: "Skin Deep? The Science of Beauty" featurette. (Warner).

Scare Tactics: Season Three Part One (2008) Two-disc set with 13 uncensored episodes, $29.98. Extras: Host Tracy Morgan blooper reel, outtakes, uncensored "too hot for TV" deleted scenes. (Warner).

The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter (2009) Documentary takes a look at the "Manson Family" murders in August, 1969, using original Manson Family music recordings, rare vintage photos and never-before-seen autopsy reports.(Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition (1937) High definition debut of the most acclaimed animated movie ever made. Walt Disney's original classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which made history in 1937 as the first full-length animated feature, is the premiere entry in Disney's new Diamond Collection. The release will make its bow on Disney Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (two Blu-ray discs + DVD) a full seven weeks before the Deluxe Two-Disc Classic standard definition DVD becomes available on November 24. Blu-ray Bonus Features: "Magic Mirror": Using the latest in Blu-ray technology, the iconic magic Mirror guides the audience through the "now White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition"features; "DisneyView": Disney's animated feature is brought to the modern era of widescreen high definition viewing by allowing the user to expand their viewing experience beyond the original aspect ratio of the film. Disney artist Toby Bluth was able to draw beyond the borders of the classic full frame cinema and fill the otherwise dark edges of the screen with beautiful custom imagery, giving audiences a new view of the film; "About Toby Bluth"; commentary with Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker; 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; Backstage Disney: Diamond Edition: "Snow White Returns": Newly discovered storyboards suggest a brand new "Snow White" featurette that never got made; "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall": Through BD-Live, the mirror can find the secret princess inside each viewer, then create for them a personal message from their favorite princess who will call them on the telephone; "Hyperion Studios": Audiences are digitally transported to 1937 to discover first-hand the Hyperion Studios, the original studio Walt Disney built where "Snow White" was conceived and developed; "The One That Started It All" featurette; Music & More: "Someday My Prince Will Come" music video by Tiffany Thornton; Family Play (Games & Activities) "What Do You See?" and "Jewel Jumble" games.DVD Bonus Features: Commentary with Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker; "Snow White Returns" storyboards; "The One That Started It All" featurette; "Someday My Prince Will Come" music video by Tiffany Thornton; "Dopey’s Wild Mine Ride" interactive set-top game; animation voice talent; "Disney Through the Decades" video segments with celebrity hosts; "Heigh-Ho" Karaoke Sing-Along; "Learn How to Take Your Favorite Movies on the Go." $39.99. (Disney).

Staunton Hill (2009) Kathy Lamkin, Cristen Coppen, Kiko Ellsworth, Cooper Huckabee. When a group of hikers take off for a weekend of fun and adventure in a remote mountain region, they unwittingly stumble across the Staunton family and find themselves at the mercy of a depraved, diabolical brood that will stop at nothing to rid their property of "trespassers." Directed by Cameron Romero, son of cult filmmaker George A. Romero. (Anchor Bay Entertainment). Extras: Also available on Blu-ray Disc.

TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams Volume 2 (Six new-to-DVD "Aqua-Musicals" from America's favorite mermaid: "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952), "Thrill of a Romance" (1945), "Easy to Love" (1953), "This Time for Keeps (1947) "Fiesta" (1947) and "Pagan Love Song" (1950); $59.92. (Warner).

Trick 'r Treat (2009) Quinn Lord, Brian Cox, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Rochelle Aytes, Anna Paquin, Tahmoh Penikett, Lauren Lee Smith, Britt Mckillip, Jean-Luc Bilodeau. Four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween: An everyday high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer; a college virgin might have just met the one guy for her; a group of teenagers pull a mean prank; a woman who loathes the night has to contend with her holiday-obsessed husband. Extras: "Trick 'R Treat: Season's Greetings" featurette. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).

Year One (2009) Dir.: Harold Ramis; Stars: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Hank Azaria, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Oliver Platt, Paul Rudd. Available as a theatrical DVD, unrated DVD and unrated Blu-ray Disc. Extras: All versions: Two deleted scenes; commentary by director Harold Ramis, Jack Black and Michael Cera; extended and alternate scenes; "Line-o-Rama"; gag reel; "Year One: The Journey Begins" featurette. Unrated versions add "Alternate Ending: Sodom's Destruction"; "Sodom's Got'em" featurette; "Leeroy Jenkins: The Gates of Sodom" featurette. Blu-ray adds "Year One Cutting Room" to create your own video and share it via BD-Live; "cinechat" on-screen instant messages to friends around the world while watching the movie together; "movieIQ" real-time in-movie information about the cast, crew, music and production via BD-Live; digital copy of the film. (Sony).