Movies on DVD

Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition has been restored to what Disney is calling “all new heights on Blu-Ray.” Beauty and the Beast was the first animated feature to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and with good reason. The film was a classic the moment it hit theaters. Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a book-loving beauty, who trades her own freedom for her father’s after he’s taken prisoner by the Beast – who is really a cursed prince. Like a wonderful Broadway show, the musical numbers are spectacular, colorful and exciting. And there are plenty of extras that include behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, enhanced music tracks and games.

The Exorcist was scary when it was released in 1973 and it’s just as terrifying today. And in this new DVD, The Exorcist: Extended Director’s Cut, the curtain is pulled back on the technology used to achieve the special effects. All this thanks to the smart thinking of Director of Photography, Owen Roizman, who filmed movies from behind the scenes and stowed the reels away for nearly 40 years. The special features include footage of Linda Blair being transformed into the demon possessed, how the rigs for the shaking bed were set up and, of course, the truth behind that pea soup vomit that Blair spews onto Father Merrin (Max von Sydow). This is definitely a must-have for all film buff and horror fan’s collections. It is still an unnerving picture.

The Karate Kid stars Jaden Smith (Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s son) in the role created by Ralph Macchio in the 1984 original movie of the same name. Smith portrays Dre Parker, a kid transplanted to China with his mother. He embraces Kung Fu, which is being taught to him by Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), a martial arts master.
Special Features: Chinese lessons - learn Chinese, a music video of Justin Bieber featuring Jaden Smith entitled, Never Say Never, plus The Making of The Karate Kid.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is a remake of the original horror classic. Jackie Earle Haley stars as Freddie Krueger this time around. This is one of the times when there was absolutely no reason for the movie to be made. It’s not bad, just completely unnecessary and horror purists will be disappointed Robert Englund isn’t in the film.

Splice is what happens when two rebellious scientist illegally splice together human and animal DNA. Dren begins her life as a deformed child and quickly becomes a beautiful, but dangerous of course, winged human-chimera. Try to keep control of that combination. The movie stars Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and Oscar-nominated actress Sarah Polley.
Special Features: Director Vicenzo Natali on the set of Splice.

The Year Without Santa Claus features the vocal talents of Shirley Booth (anyone remember Hazel?) and Mickey Rooney. This pic using stop-motion animation tells the story of the year Santa Claus (Rooney) decided to skip gift giving and take a break because he feels the children of the world have forgotten him. Mrs. Claus (Booth) sends two elves to locate people who still believe in Santa to renew his spirit.
Special Features: Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, Nestor the Long-earned Christmas Donkey, We are Santa’s Elves, (a doc focusing on the legacy of Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass of Rankin/Bass Productions), and School of Stop Motion featurette.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Deluxe Edition is another classic tale where for some unexplained reason the letters to Santa Claus are being returned to the children of Junctionville. The reason is that someone has angered St. Nick by calling Christmas “a fraudulent myth!” Albert Mouse is the skeptic who needs to get educated before Santa will show up on Christmas Eve. Oscar winner, Joel Grey, Tony winner, Tammy Grimes, famed character actor, John McGiver and Emmy winner, George Gobel provide the voices.
Special Features: Christmas: A Global Holiday (an animated comic book that explores Yuletide traditions around the world).

If you haven’t seen these Rankin/Bass classics these entries on DVD and Blu-ray and High-Def are a great way to experience the specials that kids have loved for over 35 years.

TV on DVD

Bones: The Complete Fifth Season is another year of dead bodies, forensic sleuthing and sexual tension between the main characters, Booth (David Boreanaz) and Bones (Emily Deschanel).
Special Features: Disc one, episode commentary - Disc two, episode commentary, plus The Tough Man in the Tender Chicken extended version - Disc three, episode commentary, plus The X in the Files extended version - Disc four, episode commentary, plus see David Boreanaz directing the 100th episode House of 100 Corpses - Disc six, episode commentary, plus a gag reel and The Nunchuck Way.

Medium: The Sixth Season continues the journey of surburban wife and mother, Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette), who also happens to solve crimes by dreaming about the dead victims. What makes this series so appealing is the not just the creepiness of the ghostly encounters, but how the stories are balanced with her family life, which is utterly believable.

Caprica Season 1.0 is a spin-off series to Battlestar Gallactica, but set 50 years earlier. The story follows the adventures of two families, the Greystones and the Adamas, who are living on the peaceful planet of Caprica. That is until a breakthrough in artificial intelligence causes unforeseen consequences. When will these sci-fi scientists ever learn? The series stars Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales.

SGU: Stargate Universe – The Complete First Season begins with a team headed to an ancient ship named Destiny, which was used to seed the galaxies with stargates. The team, led by Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle) and Colonel EveretYoung (Justin Louis), become trapped on the ship without a way to reprogram of its mission. Bummer for them as they meet new races, new technology – and, of course, new enemies as they are taken to the far end of the universe.