September 15, 2010 - Kelvin Cedeno reviews Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, the third adventure in Disney's computer-animated direct-to-video series. Set in summer, this one puts Tinker Bell in the custody of Lizzy, a young human girl who's a big fan of fairy culture. The rest of the Pixie Hollow gang sets out to rescue their friend. Available next week, the Blu-ray + DVD Combo pack includes deleted scenes with introductions, a special sneak peek of Disney's upcoming movie Tangled, a music video by "Good Luck Charlie" star Bridgit Mendler, the "Fairy Field Guide Builder" activity, and a short piece on an Epcot fairy house contest. Read the full review.

September 14, 2010 - Take a look at today's many exciting DVD and Blu-ray releases with a visit to our September schedule.

September 13, 2010 - Just in time for street date, we take a look at The Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary. Disney's first PG-rated animated feature, this dark, ambitious fantasy is adapted from Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series. It tells the story of an adolescent pig-keeper who looks to prevent the evil Horned King from acquiring the titular cauldron and reign of the undead army that comes with it. The new disc supplies 16:9 enhancement to one of the studio's widest cartoons in addition to a new game and deleted sequence plus extras held over from the Gold Collection DVD. Read the full review.

Cover art has been posted for the Toy Story Trilogy's Ultimate Toy Box Collection, Grown Ups and The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

September 12, 2010 - Intended to be a new franchise like Pirates of the Caribbean for Disney and mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time saw its sequel chances vanish with a terrible domestic box office showing. Adapted from a video game series (specifically a 2003 sequel), this epic adventure tells the story of 6th century orphan-turned-warrior prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is framed for murdering Persia's king. Fleeing with him is Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), who explains the significance of the powerful dagger he carries. Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley co-star in this Mike Newell-directed sword & sandal fantasy, which cost a reported $200 million to make. It comes to DVD, Blu-ray, and a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy combo on Tuesday, the lattermost of which we review.

September 10, 2010 - Our newest review looks at "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia": The Complete Season 5. Last year's season of the popular FX comedy finds the Paddy's Pub gang taking a road trip, wrestling for America's troops, staging an intervention, and playing flip cup. Available next week, Fox's 3-disc, 12-episode set includes six audio commentaries, deleted & extended scenes, an endless Kitten Mittens loop, a blooper reel, the pilot episode of the animated spy comedy "Archer", and more. Full review...

September 9, 2010 - Loosely adapted from the newspaper comic strip that's been running for over 50 years, Marmaduke tells the story of a huge Great Dane (voiced by Owen Wilson) who moves with his owners, the Winslows, from Kansas to Orange County, California. There, Marmaduke finds himself outcast at the divisive dog park. This family comedy features live-action performances by Lee Pace, Judy Greer, and William H. Macy. Lending their voices to other dogs (and cat) are Emma Stone, Steve Coogan, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Fergie, George Lopez, and Kiefer Sutherland. Our review looks at the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack. Released last week by Fox, it includes deleted scenes, a gag reel, and behind-the-scenes shorts.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice, the summer's second big Jerry Bruckheimer flop, will be coming to DVD and Blu-ray on November 30th alongside its kindred Disney predecessor Fantasia. You can now pre-order this Nicolas Cage fantasy from Amazon.com: DVD (with a making-of featurette and deleted scene), Blu-ray + DVD (which adds 5 more deleted scenes, outtakes, Easter eggs, and 9 more featurettes), and Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy.

September 8, 2010 - Our newest review covers "FlashForward": The Complete Series. Prepped by ABC as the successor to "Lost", this hour-long drama started strong with a much-watched premiere depicting a catastrophic global blackout that showed the world a 137-second glimpse of the future. Viewership numbers fizzled, particularly after a midseason hiatus, leading to a premature cancellation. Centering on the investigation of the Los Angeles FBI department, the show boasted an ensemble cast that included Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Dominic Monaghan, Courtney B. Vance, Jack Davenport and Gabrielle Union. Now available, the 5-disc DVD release adds to February's "Part 1" collection with a two-part audio commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers, featurettes, and a slew of Easter eggs. Our review includes a bonus features clip.

September 7, 2010 - Kelvin Cedeno gives us a look at Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue. The latest movie in this long-running talking train series, this computer-animated outing brings an overconfident Thomas to an island inhabited by the Logging Locos, three hyperactive castaways. Available today, the movie is joined by a game and two sing-alongs. Read our full review of Lionsgate's Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.

September 5, 2010 - Readers have the chance to win a copy of Lionsgate's upcoming DVD "Fraggle Rock": Scared Silly in our simple new giveaway.

September 3, 2010 - Though it stars two recent winners of Best Actor Oscars in Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, The Experiment goes straight to video later this month. A remake of a 2001 German film, this psychological thriller shows us what might happen in a two-week social study where volunteers are divided into prisoners and guards. (Where is Dr. Zombardo's credit?) Kelvin Cedeno takes an early look at Sony's Blu-ray in his review.

September 2, 2010 - Hal Holbrook became the oldest male actor nominated for an Academy Award for his Into the Wild supporting performance. Two and a half years later, Holbrook is still going strong as the star of That Evening Sun. Adapted from William Gay's short story, this independent drama involves an 80-year-old widower sneaking out of his retirement home only to find another family living on his Tennessee farm. A battle of wills ensues. Making his feature debut, Scott Teems directs a cast that includes Ray McKinnon, Walton Goggins ("The Shield"), Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), Barry Corbin, and, in her final performance, Dixie Carter. Available next week, Image Entertainment's DVD piles on the extras including an anti-commentary, two making-of pieces, extensive cast and crew interviews, and the trailer. Read our full review.

September 1, 2010 - Disney has issued a press release for the Fantasia & Fantasia 2000: 2 Movie Collection now scheduled to come to DVD and Blu-ray + DVD on November 30th. The announcement reveals the DVD versions will be even lighter, and the Blu-ray discs more robust, than earlier declared. Full details: Fantasia Blu-ray press release.

August 31, 2010 - Solitary Man stars Michael Douglas as a New York man who has fallen from grace. Far from alone, his destructive tendencies affect his girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker), her teenage daughter (28 Weeks Later's Imogen Poots), his daughter (Jenna Fischer of "The Office"), his ex-wife (Susan Sarandon), and an old college buddy (Danny DeVito). Written by Brian Koppelman, who co-directed the film with his Rounders co-writer David Levien, Solitary Man comes to DVD next Tuesday from Anchor Bay with an audio commentary, a featurette, and the trailer. Full review...

Single-camera ABC sitcom "The Middle" stars Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Neil Flynn ("Scrubs") as a married Indiana couple with three trying kids. Season 1 comes to DVD today and we've got a review. Warner's 3-disc set holds 24 episodes plus deleted scenes, a gag reel, and two featurettes. Read all about the beginning of "The Middle"...

Our Disney DVD & Blu-ray Schedule has been updated with contents for October's Have a Laugh DVDs and other known releases for the remainder of 2010. Check it out!

August 29, 2010 - Lionsgate's upcoming DVD "Fraggle Rock": Scared Silly bundles three episodes of Jim Henson's fondly remembered 1980s Muppet TV series. The theme is fear and the timing ties this compilation to the Halloween retail season. The disc also holds an installment of the animated "Fraggle Rock" series, a sing-along song, and a complete episode of "Jim Henson's Animal Show with Stinky & Jake." Full review...

August 28, 2010 - You may have heard of our latest DVD review subject: "The Simpsons". The Thirteenth Season aimed at make us laugh again following the September 2001 terrorist attacks. In these 22 episodes, the Simpsons visit Brazil, Toronto, and Branson. Springfield makes it into the Duff Book of World Records. Guest stars include Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, R.E.M., Phish, and Stan Lee. There are even Simpsons versions of Homer's Odyssey and Shakespeare's Hamlet. Now available, Fox's 4-disc set pulls out all the stops once again, with an audio commentary on every episode, deleted scenes, storyboard & animatic comparisons, sketch galleries, short featurettes, Ralph Wiggum highlights, commercials, and more than a few Easter eggs. Our thorough 2-page review fills you in on all of the above with lots of colorful screencaps.

August 27, 2010 - Disney has officially announced the Blu-ray debuts of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 for November 30th. Originally primed for the Diamond Edition line, the musical animated features will instead be released as a 2 Movie Collection in a 4-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray + DVD Combo ($45.99 SRP) and a concurrent 2-Disc Special Edition DVD ($39.99 SRP). Rather than delivering the advertised Fantasia World that was believed to have compiled a number of recent unavailable Disney shorts, the movies will be joined only by the Oscar-nominated Walt Disney/Salvador Dali collaboration Destino completed in 2003 and only on Blu-ray. Other Blu-ray exclusives include the documentary "Dali & Disney: A Date with Destino", BD-Live feature "Disney's Virtual Vault", an interactive art gallery, DisneyView sidebar art, and detailed notes from the newly-discovered Schultheis Notebook. Available on both the Blu-ray and DVD discs are audio commentaries and the featurettes "Disney Family Museum" and "Musicana: Walt's Inspiration for a Fantasia Sequel". Click here for cover art.

August 26, 2010 - We've got a look at Fox's Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy combo of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Adapted from the Jeff Kinney book series, this movie offers a comedic look at an average sixth grader's adventures in middle school. Now available, "The Cheesiest Edition" serves up deleted scenes, in-character shorts, a filmmakers' audio commentary, and more in a case that includes two diary entries from best friend Rowley. Read the full review.

August 24, 2010 - City Island centers on a secretive Italian-American Bronx family. This acclaimed independent dramedy stars Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Steven Strait, Emily Mortimer, and Alan Arkin. Now available, Anchor Bay's DVD includes an audio commentary by Garcia and writer/director Raymond De Felitta, deleted scenes, the featurette "Dinner with the Rizzos", and the trailer. Read our review.

As summer winds down, studios increase their DVD and Blu-ray release output. Get informed about all of today's new releases and read our full reviews of "The Simpsons": The Thirteenth Season, City Island, The Back-up Plan, and $5 a Day.

August 22, 2010 - Aaron Wallace renders tonight Date Night, with his look at the Blu-ray release of this hit mistaken identity comedy. Steve Carell and Tina Fey star as a married New Jersey couple who get mixed up with deadly criminals during their night in the city. Fox's set provides theatrical and extended cuts of the film plus deleted & extended scenes, an audio commentary by director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum), a gag reel, outtakes, camera tests, featurettes, and more. Read on.

$5 a Day stars Christopher Walken as a frugal, fraudulent old man looking to reconnect with his estranged son (Alessandro Nivola) on a cross-country road trip. Sharon Stone, Amanda Peet, Dean Cain, and Peter Coyote co-star in this independent dramedy. Available Tuesday, Image Entertainment's DVD includes cast and crew interviews, photo galleries, and a trailer. Full review.

August 20, 2010 - Amazon.com has added a new listing for a 10-disc Toy Story Trilogy Collection. The set will serve up a Blu-ray disc, a DVD, and a digital copy DVD-ROM for each film (with TS3 carrying a bonus Blu-ray as elsewhere). Though the list price is an even $100, Amazon is currently selling the collection for $69.99 (which could lower with their pre-order price guarantee).

August 19, 2010 - The second movie released by CBS Films, The Back-up Plan, provides a return vehicle for Jennifer Lopez after a few years away from acting. Lopez plays a New York pet shop owner who falls for a guy (Alex Loughlin, "Moonlight") immediately after getting pregnant through artificial insemination. This romantic comedy comes to disc next week with deleted scenes and a making-of featurette. Read our review.

Cemetery Junction is the first feature film written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of "The Office" and "Extras." The movie came to DVD and Blu-ray this week, without having received an American theatrical run. Set in 1973 England, this coming-of-age dramedy centers on three friends uncertain if small town life is for them. Gervais, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, and Emily Watson provide support to young leads largely unknown to audiences across the pond. Sony's DVD includes a Gervais & Merchant audio commentary, a cast commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers, and two interview-based featurettes. Read our review.

August 17, 2010 - "Cougar Town", an ABC sitcom from "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence and writer Kevin Biegel, stars Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, a divorced 40-year-old Florida real estate agent. Despite the title, the series quickly strays from Jules' younger man search, instead telling other stories pertaining to Jules, her family (including her 18-year-old son and ex-husband), and her neighbors and friends. Now available, Disney's The Complete First Season DVD holds 24 episodes on three discs. Bonuses include a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, bloopers, two webisode advice series, a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" sketch, and a music video. Our review includes a clip of the show and of a bonus. Read on...

August 13, 2010 - UPDATED with bonus features! Per a tradition now in its fifth year, Disney has announced a November home video debut for this summer's Pixar movie. Toy Story 3 will be available on November 2nd in a single-disc DVD ($29.99 SRP), a 2-disc Blu-ray ($39.99 SRP), and a 4-disc Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy combo ($45.99 SRP). Plans for a two-disc DVD and a Combo gift set appear to have been dashed.

Adding to the trend to devalue the format still bought by a large majority of customers, the DVD will contain relatively few extras: Pixar's theatrically accompanying short Day & Night, the film's epilogue on its own, Buzz Lightyear mission log "The Science of Adventure", a "Paths to Pixar" piece on the studio's editors, "Studio Stories" on a cereal bar and a clean start, the featurette "Toys!" and "A Toy's Eye View" on Hong Kong Disneyland's Playland. Exclusive to Blu-ray are a Cine-Explore with audio commentary by director Lee Unkrich and producer Darla Anderson; an alternative commentary by the movie's lead story, technical, and animation artists; "Toy Story Trivia Dash" with Woody, Buzz, Rex, and Jessie; additional studio story "Where's Gordon?"; roundtable discussion "Bonnie's Playtime"; a Day & Night making-of; and 6 additional featurettes: "The Gang's All Here" (voice cast), "Beginnings: Setting a Story in Motion", "Goodbye Andy" (character design), "Roundin' Up a Western Opening", "The Accidental Toymakers of Pixar", and "Life of a Shot." The 4-Disc Combo Pack will pair up the light DVD and jam-packed Blu-ray discs and add a digital copy of the film.

Recent DVD and Blu-ray Reviews:
• "Wolverine and the X-Men": Final Crisis Trilogy - Marvel's single-season animated TV series comes to a close with a three-part arc involving Jean Grey's abduction, Emma Frost's apparent duplicity, Magneto's war plan and Wolverine's anger at it all. Lionsgate's DVD includes writers' audio commentaries on the full saga, but there is one good reason not to add it to your collection.
• Escape from New York (Blu-ray + DVD) - Set in 1997 and released in 1981, John Carpenter's post-apocalyptic cult classic stars a career-changing Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, a skilled criminal given 24 hours to recover the President of the United States from the tough maximum security prison into which the entire island of Manhattan has been converted. Lee Van Cleef, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, and Isaac Hayes co-star. Both discs in this recent MGM release combo will disappoint some fans.
• The Joneses (Blu-ray) - Demi Moore and David Duchovny star in this dramedy about a perfect suburban family that's really a corporate team trying to sell products to their neighbors.
• Skellig: The Owl Man - Adapted from David Almond's award-winning 1998 children's novel, a boy (Bill Milner) discovers and befriends a strange man (Tim Roth) living in the garden shed of his family's rundown new rural home. Kelly Macdonald and John Simm co-star in this dramatic PG-rated British fantasy with wings.
• The Last Song (Blu-ray + DVD) - Miley Cyrus takes the first step towards a post-"Hannah Montana" acting career in this PG-rated Touchstone Pictures romance written by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook). Tough teen girl Ronnie (Cyrus) finds love with a local boy (Liam Hemsworth) while spending the summer with her divorced father (Greg Kinnear) in Georgia. The combo includes an audio commentary, Cyrus' music video with making-of featurette, and -- exclusive to Blu-ray -- deleted scenes and an alternate opening.
• Death at a Funeral - Closely and questionably remaking the 2007 British film of the same name, this dark comedy about a patriarch's disastrous memorial boasts a large, familiar cast headed by Chris Rock, who also produced and co-updated the original script. Joining him as relatives and family friends are Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Luke Wilson, James Marsden, Danny Glover, and lone holdover Peter Dinklage. Sony's DVD includes deleted scenes, a gag reel, three featurettes, and an audio commentary by Rock and director Neil LaBute.
• Crumb: The Criterion Collection - Ghost World director Terry Zwigoff's acclaimed 1995 documentary about underground comix godfather Robert Crumb and his dysfunctional family. The DVD includes a new Zwigoff audio commentary, a previous one by Zwigoff and Roger Ebert, nearly an hour of unused footage, a stills gallery, and some valuable in-case inserts.

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