DVD Releases: October 27

[Sonnie]

Angel and the Badman (2009 - TV) Lou Diamond Phillips, Deborah Kara Unger. Remake of the 1947 John Wayne-Gail Russell Western about a notorious gunfighter who's transformed into a man of peace by a good woman. Extras: Behind-the-scenes featurette. (Barnholtz Entertainment/Lionsgate).

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009) Uncensored 90-minute feature (reuniting the series' original TV cast)follows the evolution of the Cylons (built to serve humanity) from metal robots to humanoids, their attempt (and failure) to destroy the human race, and the flight of humanity to survive; told from the Cylon point of view. Tells the story of two powerful Cylon leaders, working separately, and their determination to finish the task. Extras: Deleted scenes; "From Admiral to Director: Edward James Olmos and The Plan"; "The Cylons of The Plan" featurette; "The Cylon Attack" featurette; "Behind The Plan" featurette; filmmaker commentary. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Universal).

The Collector's Choice: Samuel Fuller Collection The third release under the creative partnership between Sony and Martin Scorsese's non-profit film preservation organization, The Film Foundation. This seven-disc collection features two of acclaimed auteur Samuel Fuller's notable films making their DVD debuts: "The Crimson Kimono" (1959) and "Underworld U.S.A." (1961), both directed by Fuller, in addition to five films written by Fuller: "It Happened in Hollywood" (1937, directed by Harry Lachman), "Adventure in Sahara" (1938, directed by D. Ross Lederman), "Power of the Press" (1943, directed by Lew Landers), "Shockproof" (1949, directed by Douglas Sirk) and "Scandal Sheet" (1952, directed by Phil Karlson). All seven films have been restored and remastered and are being released on DVD for the first time ever. Extras: "Martin Scorsese on Underworld U.S.A," "Curtis Hanson: The Culture of The Crimson Kimono," "Sam Fuller's Search for Truth With Tim Robbins,” "Sam Fuller Storyteller" (which explores Fuller's life and filmmaking through the eyes of his family -- wife Christa and daughter Samantha Fuller, and filmmakers Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Robbins and Hanson). $79.95. (Sony).

Criminal Ways (2003) Nick Giannopoulos, Russell Dykstra, Isla Fisher, Michael Carman, Lena Cruz. A no-talent teacher at a performing arts school is hired to turn a clan of shady crooks into a children's theater group in order to infiltrate a child's birthday party and steal a multi-million dollar diamond necklace. (Barnholtz Entertainment/Magnolia Home Entertainment).

Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Season 1 (2004-05) Two-disc set with 12 episodes of the Discovery Health series. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

Death in the Garden (La mort en ce jardin) (1956) A long-unseen Luis Bunuel masterpiece, Available for the first time on DVD, in a new, restored print. Amid a revolution in a South American mining outpost, a band of fugitives - a roguish adventurer (Georges Marchal), a local hooker (Simone Signoret), a priest (Michel Piccoli), an aging diamond miner (Charles Vanel) and his deaf-mute daughter - are forced to flee for their lives into the jungle. Starving, exhausted and stripped of their old identities, they wander desperately, lured by one deceptive promise of salvation after another. Shot in brilliant Eastmancolor and featuring a star-studded cast, "Death in the Garden" is a pulsating film, alive with Surrealist gestures, making it classic Luis Bunuel. In French with English subtitles.Extras: Commentary by film scholar Ernesto R. Acevedo-Munoz, interviews with actor Michael Piccoli and film scholar Victor Fuentes, booklet featuring essays by Javier Espada, Juan-Luis Bunuel and Susan Hayward. (Microcinema International).

Descendant (2003) Katherine Heigl, Jeremy London, Nick Stabile, Whitney Dylan, Matt Farnsworth, Margot Hartman Tenny, Arie Verveen, William Katt. Two indirect, distant descendants of Edgar Allan Poe, exploring the famous author's past, begin a romance, causing the dark and deadly secrets of Poe's legacy to emerge. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment).

The Different Cinema Volume 3 (2009) This DVD is witness to the inexhaustible range of possibilities of contemporary filmmaking. The nine films selected for the 10th anniversary of the Festival des Cinemas Differents de Paris are linked to the heritage of experimental film and the eternal quest for renewal, causes espoused by the festival. From the historical film "Cesaree" by Marguerite Duras to more contemporary creations, this ensemble of films showcases work using various formats (super 8, 16mm, digital video) within the fields of traditional cinema and contemporary art from which the filmmakers have emerged. (Microcinema International).

DogTown: Friends in Need (2009) Three-disc set with 10 episodes from the National Geographic series featuring the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and its resilient canine wards; $29.98. Extras: "Where Are They Now?" recaps; bonus programs "Archie and Electra's New Run" and "Rescue Dogs"; primer on Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. (National Geographic Home Entertainment).

The Fugitive: Season Three, Volume One (1965) Four-disc set, $39.98. (Paramount).

The Guardian - The Complete First Season (2001-02) Six-disc set with 22 episodes, $49.98. (Paramount).

Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) Voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Jane Lynch, Simon Pegg. Available as a Three-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray, DVD and a Digital Copy), a "Scrat Pack" Double DVD Pack, and a standard single DVD. Three-Disc bonus features: Disc One: Blu-ray Disc feature film, "Ice Age Story Maker," commentary, "Evolution Expedition," "Buck ... Easel to Weasel," "Falling for Scratte," "Unearthing the Lost World," two unfinished deleted scenes, "Walk the Dinosaur" music video, two Scrat shorts, "The Sabre-Toothed Squirrel: Natures Nutty Buddy," "Scrat: From Head To Toe" how to draw Scrat tutorial, "Scrat: Breaking Story," "Scrat: News Report," Fox Movie Channel Presents: featurette. Disc Two: Digital copy. Disc Three: Standard DVD feature. "Scrat Pack" Double DVD bonus features: Disc One: Commentary. Disc Two: Two Scrat shorts, "•The Sabre-Toothed Squirrel: Natures Nutty Buddy," "Scrat: From Head To Toe" how to draw Scrat tutorial, "Scrat: "Breaking Story," "Scrat: News Report," "Fox Movie Channel Presents: Making a Scene," "Buck ... Easel to Weasel," "Falling for Scratte," "Unearthing the Lost World," "Walk the Dinosaur" music video, activities. Standard DVD bonus features: Commentary. (Fox).

Life After People: The Complete Season One (2008) Three-disc set with 10 episodes, $34.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).

The Maiden Heist (2009) Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, William H. Macy, Marcia Gay Harden. When three honest security guards learn that their favorite artworks are being sent to another museum, they concoct a plan to switch the real masterpieces with fakes. All goes well until a mistake forces the first-time thieves into a last-minute escapade. Extras: Commentary, "In the Presence of Art: Making The Maiden Heist" featurette, deleted scenes, bloopers reel. (Sony).

Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force: The Complete Season One (2008-09) Three-disc set with 18 episodes, $24.95. Extras: Featurettes "Meet the Task Force" and "Fugitive Task Force: Additional Footage and Interviews." (A&E Home Entertainment).

Mannix: The Third Season (1969-70) Six-disc set with 25 episodes, $49.99. (Paramount).

Medicine for Melancholy (2008) Wyatt Cenac, Tracey Heggins. Sex, race, bicycles and urban demographics are the diverse elements that come together in this first feature from writer-director Barry Jenkins that follows two young black hipster San Franciscans on the day after their one-night stand. (IFC Films).

The Nostradamus Files Two-disc set with two History Channel documentaries: "The Lost Book of Nostradamus" and "Nostradamus 2012", $19.95. Extras: Feature-length documentary "Nostradamus: 500 Years Later", and additional footage: "The Sun," "The Egyptians," "End of Time," "The Hopi" and "The Masons." (A&E Home Entertainment).

Orphan (2009) Peter Sarsgaard, Vera Farmiga, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jimmy Bennett, Lorry Ayers. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Warner).

Predators Three Animal Planet programs chronicle the world's most dangerous and deadly animals: "After the Attack," "Up Close and Dangerous" and "Killer Crocs of Costa Rica"; $14.95. (Animal Planet and Genius Products).

The Rise of Monty Python: The Other British Invasion Celebrates the 40th anniversary of Monty Python. Two-disc set featuring two never-aired documentaries. "Before the Flying Circus" features rare vintage footage and interviews that trace the pre-Monty Python influences that honed the wit of the future Pythons and shaped their destinies. "Monty Python Conquers America" is the story of the other British invasion - the funny one. Monty Python's astonishing American success was due as much to the passion of well-placed fans as it was to a string of absurdly lucky breaks. Featuring interviews with the Pythons, Hank Azaria, Jimmy Fallon, David Hyde Pierce, and others. $19.95. (A&E Home Entertainment).

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Volume 2 Two-disc with 34 episodes taken from various cartoon series. Disc 1 includes "Quick Draw McGraw" (with its full original Kellogg's opening and closing title sequences, bumpers and bridges, seen for the first time in over 40 years), "Space Kidettes," "Young Samson and Goliath," "The Bugs Bunny Show," "The Porky Pig Show," "The Adventures of Gulliver," "The Wally Gator Show" (with Lippy the Lion and Touche Turtle) and "The Jetsons." Disc 2 includes "Quick Draw McGraw," "The Peter Potamus Show" (with Breezly and Sneezly and, Yippee, Yappee and Yahooey), "The Road Runner Show," "The Atom Ant Show" (with Precious Pupp and Hillbilly Bears), "The Tom and Jerry Show," "The Magilla Gorilla Show"(with Punkin' Puss & Mush Mouse and Ricochet Rabbit & Droop-A-Long). Also includes newly created enhanced content featuring Magilla Gorilla. $26.99. (Warner).

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Volume 2 Two-disc set with 21 episodes from various cartoons. Disc 1 features "Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch," "The New Adventures of Gilligan," "Sea Lab 2020," "Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan," "Shazzan and Yogi's Gang." Disc 2 features "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour," "Valley of the Dinosaurs," "The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape Show," "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," "Inch High Private Eye" and "The New Adventures of Batman and Robin "(featuring the voices of TV's original Batman and Robin, Adam West and Burt Ward). Also includes newly created enhanced content featuring Shazzan. $26.99. (Warner).

Stan Helsing (2009) Steve Howey, Kenan Thompson, Leslie Nielsen. Horror film spoof follows the misadventures of hapless video store clerk Stan Helsing and his friends who find themselves stranded in the mysterious residential development of Stormy Night Estates, where they battle evil in the form of parodies of movie monster icons "Freddy," "Jason," "Leatherface," "Pinhead," "Michael Myers," and "Chucky." Along the way, Stan learns of his true destiny as a descendant of the legendary monster-hunter Van Helsing and learns to battle evil with immeasurable courage, grim determination -- and a flair for karaoke. Extras: Commentary by writer-producer-director Bo Zenga and actors Kenan Thompson and Desi Lydic; "Killer Parody: The Making of Stan Helsing"; extended, alternate and deleted scenes; outtakes; still and storyboard gallery. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Anchor Bay Entertainment).

Tales From the Darkside: The Second Season (1985-86) Three-disc set with 23 episodes, $36.98. (Paramount).

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009) Second film in the continuing Disney Fairies Franchise. Here Tinker Bell must venture out across the sea on a secret quest to set things right after accidentally putting Pixie Hollow in jeopardy during the Autumn Pixie Dust festival; $29.95. Extras: "Scenes You Never Saw" alternate scenes, "Magical Guide to Pixie Hollow," deleted scenes, "Pixie Hollow Comes To Florida" showing how the filmmakers helped transform Disney's Florida EPCOT into Pixie Hollow. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Disney).

Whatever Works (2009) Dir.: Woody Allen;Stars: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Henry Cavill, Michael McKean. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (Sony).


Z (1969) Dir.: Costa-Gavras; Yves Montand, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Irene Papas. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by cinematographer Raoul Coutard. A pulse-pounding political thriller, Greek expatriate director Costa-Gavras's "Z" was one of the cinematic sensations of the late 1960s, and remains among the most vital dispatches from that hallowed era of filmmaking. This Academy Award winner - loosely based on the 1963 assassination of Greek left-wing activist Gregoris Lambrakis - stars Yves Montand as a prominent politician and doctor whose public murder amid a violent demonstration is covered up by military and government officials; Jean-Louis Trintignant is the tenacious magistrate who's determined not to let them get away with it. Featuring kinetic, rhythmic editing, Raoul Coutard's expressive verite photography, and Mikis Theodorakis's unforgettable, propulsive score, "Z" is a technically audacious and emotionally gripping masterpiece. Extras: Commentary by film historian Peter Cowie; interviews with Costa-Gavras and Coutard; archival interviews with Costa-Gavras, producer-actor Jacques Perrin, actors Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Vassilis Vassilikos, author of the book "Z"; booklet featuring an essay by critic Armond White/ (The Criterion Collection).