DVD PREVIEWS & VIEWS
LibraryPreviews.com
POSTED 7 SEPTEMBER 2001
"Marathon Man"
...available here
Dr. Szell: "Is it safe?"
Babe: "Yes. Yes, it's safe. It's so safe you wouldn't believe it."
--The most memorable scene on film involving dentist tools is part
of the nerve-wracking dramatics of "Marathon Man." The 1976 thriller
starring Dustin Hoffman (Babe) and Sir Laurence Olivier (Dr. Szell)
is now available on DVD.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
September 4, 2001
* "Memento"--This ingenious thriller about a man with short-term
memory loss is certain to be named on loads of Top 10 lists at the
end of the year, including ours.
...available here
* "The Princess Bride" (Special Edition)--The charming fantasy now
boasts a new retrospective and commentary from director Rob Reiner
and writer William Goldman.
...available here
* "The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit"--Nick Park's
popular shorts are now released with a commentary track and more
behind-the-scenes materials.
...available here
* "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"--Nope, this is not the popular TV
series, but the original film starring Kristy Swanson as the hip
tracker of the undead.
...available here
* "The French Lieutenant's Woman"--Harold Pinter's intriguing
adaptation of John Fowles's bestseller gives us two tales: doomed
Victorian lovers (Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons) and a parallel
story of two actors performing those characters in a movie
production.
...available here
* "The Fury"--Brian De Palma's take on telekinetic powers stars Amy
Irving and Kirk Douglas.
...available here
* "Little Man Tate"--Jodie Foster's directorial debut is an expert
character study of a child genius and his working-class mom's
struggle to give him the opportunity to succeed.
...available here
* See complete list
...available here
EDITOR'S PICK
"Under Fire"
...available here
This savvy political thriller of journalists in war-torn Nicaragua
follows ace photojournalist Russell Price (Nick Nolte) from the
jungles of Africa to the Central American boiling point. Although
the setup is traditional, Roger Spottiswoode's film feels as alive
and vital as the best of the genre. Along with the usual band of
fellow journalists, there's another memorable Gene Hackman
performance as a rival who believes he's one career-making story
from a lofty news anchor position.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "Forrest Gump"--This Best Picture Oscar(R) winner comes to DVD
loaded with extras.
...available here
* "Gandhi"--Deja vu: This Best Picture Oscar winner comes
to DVD loaded with extras.
...available here
* "Kramer vs. Kramer"--Another Best Picture Oscar winner and perhaps
the touchstone film of 1970s American big city life.
...available here
* "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (30th Anniversary
Edition)--Check out what the actors who played the "Wonka" kids look
like today in this new edition.
...available here
* "Exit Wounds"--Steven Seagal's comeback film is overshadowed by
rapper DMX's breakthrough performance as a smooth gangster.
...available here
* "Blood: The Last Vampire"--This luscious anime film of a mercurial
vampire hunter comes from the makers of "Ghost in the Shell."
...available here
* "Killer Klowns from Outer Space"--This cult favorite is about,
well, killer clowns from outer space.
...available here
* "The Human Face"--John Cleese hosts this BBC special on the
intricacies and trappings of the face, from bedroom eyes to the
perils of being just too darn handsome.
...available here
* "Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport"--This
year's Oscar winner for Best Documentary chronicles one of the
lesser-known stories of the Holocaust.
...available here
* "Frank Lloyd Wright"--Another winner from Ken Burns's universe
comes to DVD.
...available here
* "Waiting for Guffman"--Christopher Guest's mock documentary is the
ultimate parody of small-town community theater.
...available here
* See more titles
...available here
FEATURED BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
"The China Syndrome"
...available here
Although the movie was quickly overshadowed by real events (the
Three Mile Island nuclear disaster occurred days after the film
opened), "The China Syndrome" remains a nervy thriller that expertly
mixes pop entertainment with a contemporary morality play. Jane
Fonda and Michael Douglas star as the reporter-and-cameraman team
who discover a crisis in a pearly white nuclear power plant. Jack
Lemmon gives one of his most compelling performances as the plant's
manager, who learns unsavory truths about his company and then
reacts with dire results. Although shut out at the Oscars, this 1979
film won top acting honors for Lemmon at the Cannes Film Festival.
It comes to DVD for under $15.
MR. MALTIN AND THE MOVIES
"Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide" is the essential film
book to have near your TV. Over 1,600 pages of concise reviews,
updated cast listings, and alternate running times give Maltin's
guide the inside track to help answer the pesky question "Is that
movie worth recording?" The 2002 edition is now available for under
$9.
...available here
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
September 11
* "Blow"
...available here
* "The NeverEnding Story"
...available here
* "Doctor Who: The Five Doctors"
...available here
* "61*"
...available here
* More...
...available here
September 18
* "Spy Kids"
...available here
* "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"
...available here
* "Driven"
...available here
* "Blood Simple"
...available here
* More...
...available here
September 25
* "The Simpsons: The Complete First Season"
...available here
* "Citizen Kane"
...available here
* "A Knight's Tale"
...available here
* "The French Connection"
...available here
* More...
...available here
WHY ORDERING NOW PAYS OFF
Pre-order "Snow White" on DVD and Get One Free DVD by Mail
How did Disney improve on its cinematic crown jewel? By offering a
free DVD just for pre-ordering "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." If
you order the DVD edition of this animated classic now and follow
the simple directions enclosed with your copy when it arrives, you
can receive "The Little Mermaid," "The Jungle Book," "Fantasia," or
any of five other Disney animated features for free.
Read more
...available here
THE JEWISH HERITAGE STORE
Discover the richness of the culture and history of the Jewish
people. Share a story with your kids, learn about the Holocaust,
enjoy a Jewish-themed feature film, and more in our Jewish Heritage
DVD Store.
...available here
DVD TOP SELLERS
Current Top Sellers Include:
* "Shrek"
...available here
* "The Mummy Returns" (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
...available here
* "Willow"
...available here
* "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace"
...available here
* "The X-Files: The Complete Fourth Season"
...available here
* "Hannibal"
...available here
* "The Godfather DVD Collection"
...available here
* "Legally Blonde"
...available here
* "Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific"
...available here
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...available here
"Marathon Man"
...available here
Dr. Szell: "Is it safe?" Babe: "Yes. Yes, it's safe. It's so safe you wouldn't believe it." --The most memorable scene on film involving dentist tools is part of the nerve-wracking dramatics of "Marathon Man." The 1976 thriller starring Dustin Hoffman (Babe) and Sir Laurence Olivier (Dr. Szell) is now available on DVD.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK
September 4, 2001
* "Memento"--This ingenious thriller about a man with short-term
memory loss is certain to be named on loads of Top 10 lists at the
end of the year, including ours.
...available here
* "The Princess Bride" (Special Edition)--The charming fantasy now
boasts a new retrospective and commentary from director Rob Reiner
and writer William Goldman.
...available here
* "The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit"--Nick Park's
popular shorts are now released with a commentary track and more
behind-the-scenes materials.
...available here
* "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"--Nope, this is not the popular TV
series, but the original film starring Kristy Swanson as the hip
tracker of the undead.
...available here
* "The French Lieutenant's Woman"--Harold Pinter's intriguing
adaptation of John Fowles's bestseller gives us two tales: doomed
Victorian lovers (Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons) and a parallel
story of two actors performing those characters in a movie
production.
...available here
* "The Fury"--Brian De Palma's take on telekinetic powers stars Amy
Irving and Kirk Douglas.
...available here
* "Little Man Tate"--Jodie Foster's directorial debut is an expert
character study of a child genius and his working-class mom's
struggle to give him the opportunity to succeed.
...available here
* See complete list
...available here
EDITOR'S PICK
"Under Fire"
...available here
This savvy political thriller of journalists in war-torn Nicaragua follows ace photojournalist Russell Price (Nick Nolte) from the jungles of Africa to the Central American boiling point. Although the setup is traditional, Roger Spottiswoode's film feels as alive and vital as the best of the genre. Along with the usual band of fellow journalists, there's another memorable Gene Hackman performance as a rival who believes he's one career-making story from a lofty news anchor position.
MORE HOT NEW RELEASES
Popular Titles in Recent Weeks
* "Forrest Gump"--This Best Picture Oscar(R) winner comes to DVD
loaded with extras.
...available here
* "Gandhi"--Deja vu: This Best Picture Oscar winner comes
to DVD loaded with extras.
...available here
* "Kramer vs. Kramer"--Another Best Picture Oscar winner and perhaps
the touchstone film of 1970s American big city life.
...available here
* "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (30th Anniversary
Edition)--Check out what the actors who played the "Wonka" kids look
like today in this new edition.
...available here
* "Exit Wounds"--Steven Seagal's comeback film is overshadowed by
rapper DMX's breakthrough performance as a smooth gangster.
...available here
* "Blood: The Last Vampire"--This luscious anime film of a mercurial
vampire hunter comes from the makers of "Ghost in the Shell."
...available here
* "Killer Klowns from Outer Space"--This cult favorite is about,
well, killer clowns from outer space.
...available here
* "The Human Face"--John Cleese hosts this BBC special on the
intricacies and trappings of the face, from bedroom eyes to the
perils of being just too darn handsome.
...available here
* "Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport"--This
year's Oscar winner for Best Documentary chronicles one of the
lesser-known stories of the Holocaust.
...available here
* "Frank Lloyd Wright"--Another winner from Ken Burns's universe
comes to DVD.
...available here
* "Waiting for Guffman"--Christopher Guest's mock documentary is the
ultimate parody of small-town community theater.
...available here
* See more titles
...available here
FEATURED BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
"The China Syndrome"
...available here
Although the movie was quickly overshadowed by real events (the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster occurred days after the film opened), "The China Syndrome" remains a nervy thriller that expertly mixes pop entertainment with a contemporary morality play. Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas star as the reporter-and-cameraman team who discover a crisis in a pearly white nuclear power plant. Jack Lemmon gives one of his most compelling performances as the plant's manager, who learns unsavory truths about his company and then reacts with dire results. Although shut out at the Oscars, this 1979 film won top acting honors for Lemmon at the Cannes Film Festival. It comes to DVD for under $15.
MR. MALTIN AND THE MOVIES
"Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide" is the essential film
book to have near your TV. Over 1,600 pages of concise reviews,
updated cast listings, and alternate running times give Maltin's
guide the inside track to help answer the pesky question "Is that
movie worth recording?" The 2002 edition is now available for under
$9.
...available here
HOT FUTURE RELEASES
September 11
* "Blow"
...available here
* "The NeverEnding Story"
...available here
* "Doctor Who: The Five Doctors"
...available here
* "61*"
...available here
* More...
...available here
September 18
* "Spy Kids"
...available here
* "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"
...available here
* "Driven"
...available here
* "Blood Simple"
...available here
* More...
...available here
September 25
* "The Simpsons: The Complete First Season"
...available here
* "Citizen Kane"
...available here
* "A Knight's Tale"
...available here
* "The French Connection"
...available here
* More...
...available here
WHY ORDERING NOW PAYS OFF
Pre-order "Snow White" on DVD and Get One Free DVD by Mail
How did Disney improve on its cinematic crown jewel? By offering a free DVD just for pre-ordering "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." If you order the DVD edition of this animated classic now and follow the simple directions enclosed with your copy when it arrives, you can receive "The Little Mermaid," "The Jungle Book," "Fantasia," or any of five other Disney animated features for free.
Read more
...available here
THE JEWISH HERITAGE STORE
Discover the richness of the culture and history of the Jewish
people. Share a story with your kids, learn about the Holocaust,
enjoy a Jewish-themed feature film, and more in our Jewish Heritage
DVD Store.
...available here
DVD TOP SELLERS
Current Top Sellers Include:
* "Shrek"
...available here
* "The Mummy Returns" (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
...available here
* "Willow"
...available here
* "Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace"
...available here
* "The X-Files: The Complete Fourth Season"
...available here
* "Hannibal"
...available here
* "The Godfather DVD Collection"
...available here
* "Legally Blonde"
...available here
* "Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific"
...available here
* See the current 100 Top Sellers
...available here