This Week on DVD and Blu-ray - January 20, 2009

One programming note for this week. "LOST" returns to ABC tomorrow (Wednesday) night. At 8 pm, there's a recap show. At 9 pm, the two hour season premiere airs. Going forward, it looks like a repeat of the previous week's episode at 8, followed by a new episode at 9. This makes the mid-seasons television schedule nearly complete. All that's left to premiere-of the quality shows, mind you-are "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race."

Now, getting back to the reason we're REALLY here...Fox releases video game adaptation "Max Payne" to disc, arguably this week's biggest release. The DVD includes the widescreen version of the film along with theatrical and unrated cuts on the same disc. A Special Edition is also available, which adds Digital Copy (yay...) and part one of a production featurette, among other features. And the Blu-ray copy adds the second part to the aforementioned featurette, along with all the other stuff from the SE. This week's other mega title is "Saw V." As expected, Lionsgate is loading up on the versions for their horror cash cow. DVD iterations include a theatrical edition (theatrical trailer as the extra), unrated edition, unrated Collector's Edition (including a talking box, spinning blade and booklet); BD has the unrated cut and Digital Copy. All in prep for October, 2009's release of...yep, you guessed it..."Saw VI."

Warner streets a Limited Edition Giftset of tear jerker "The Notebook" (Blu-ray review) on both formats. Fancy add-on's to both versions are a photo album, scrapbook with supplies and movie images, stationary set and bookmarks. "Center Stage: Turn It Up" is the sequel to the quasi-successful "Center Stage" from Sony. Maybe equally as horrific is "Amusement" (DVD review)...or the horrifically bad (according to critics) "Igor." The latter streets with widescreen and fullscreen aspect ratios on the same disc; the BD adds a commentary and alternate opening.

Meg Ryan and William H. Macy star in "The Deal," which counts a featurette and Digital Copy as bonus material on both editions. "The Express" features the story of the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy cuz, ya know, debuting the title AFTER the college football season has been over for two weeks is a GREAT promotional tie in. Pesudo-religious dramedy "Henry Poole is Here" sees visions of rentals on the side of houses; "Poison Ivy: The Secret Society" (aka "Poison Ivy 4") wants to titillate; and "Repo! The Genetic Opera" is a scream. Get it? Scream...opera...alright, so comedy isn't my strong suit.

Criterion bows Oscar-nominated "El Norte" on both formats (DVD and BD reviews), while 1954's "Magnificent Obsession" (also an Oscar nominee for Best Actress, Jane Wyman) is a DVD-only title.

This is a big week for high def catalogue titles. Sony streets "13 Going on 30" and "The Pink Panther" remake from 2006; "The Pink Panther 2" opens February 6. Fox hits with the one-two punch of "Antwone Fisher" and "Unfaithful," tying in with nothing...except maybe Black History Month for the former in February.

Then there's "Domino" from Warner and "Election" (bit late for that one too, isn't it, Paramount?). Last up is some movie called "King Kong," previously available on DVD and HD DVD. Maybe you've heard of it. Maybe not. This edition collects the theatrical and extended cuts of the film (both are too long, by the way). The commentary is ported over, with the rest of the extras MIA.

Children's flick "City of Ember" provides a flipper disc with widescreen and fullscreen presentations on DVD, leading off coverage of DVD-only flicks. Then there's what has to be the interminable "Boogeyman 3." Seriously, did anyone actually see the first movie? More importantly, who in their right mind thought that crapfest was worthy of a second or third installment? (Sony also streets the DTV follow-up to "Vacancy" entitled "Vacancy 2: The First Cut.")

There's a new 2-disc edition of "George Wallace" from 1997 directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Gary Sinise, Clarence Williams III, Mare Winningham and Angelina Jolie. "National Lampoon's Stoned Age" debuts with both R-rated and uncut discs. Strangely, as John notes in his review, the package says Fullscreen Edition, yet the film is in anamorphic widescreen. And then there's "Save Me," featuring my boy Chad Allen, Judith Light and Robert Gant. The disc apparently comes with two covers; the theatrical cover may be too provocative for some audiences.

And so we hit the TV circuit. The Brits are mounting a new invasion this week, considering the number of titles coming. "Jonathan Creek: Season 3" (detective-ish show), "MI-5: Volume 6" (British spies) and "Waking the Dead: Season 3" (think "Cold Case" with accents) hit the shelf, along with "Simon Schama's Rough Crossings" (stories of slavery from a British viewpoint) and "Simon Schama's The American Future-A History" (a Brit traveling the US to learn about our political culture).

Non-accented series offerings feature "Back at the Barnyard: Cowman" (5 episodes), "Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger" in single disc and 3-Disc Collector's Edition configurations, "Emergency! Season 5," "Moonlight: The Complete First Season" (really the complete series since the show was cancelled), "My Three Sons: The First Season Volume Two" (Volumes 1 and 2 pack should also be available), "The Power Puff Girls! 10th Anniversary Collection-The Complete Series" (78 episodes, 5 discs), "The Rockford Files: Season Six" (aka "The Final Season") and "This American Life: Season 2." That last one should be on the shelf at Borders only.

Special mention should be made of the 2-Disc, 3 part PBS documentary "MGM: When the Lion Roars." From 1992, each of the three parts is slightly over 2 hours long, featuring interviews with an entire gaggle of Hollywood A-listers with names like Hepburn, Crawford, Borgnine, Kelly, Loy and Taylor, narrated by Patrick Stewart.

Blu-ray recap: "13 Going on 30," "Amusement," "Antwone Fisher," "Center Stage: Turn It Up," "The Deal," "Domino," "El Norte," "Election," "The Express," "Henry Poole is Here," "Igor," "King Kong," "Max Payne," "The Notebook," "The Pink Panther," "Poison Ivy: The Secret Society," "The Power Puff Girls: 10th Anniversary Collection-The Complete Series," "Repo! The Genetic Opera," "Saw V," "Unfaithful."

DVD recap: "Amusement," "Back at the Barnyard: Cowman-The Uddered Avenger," "Boogeyman 3," "Center Stage: Turn It Up," "Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger," "City of Ember," "The Deal," "El Norte," "Emergency! Season Five," "The Express," "George Wallace," "Henry Poole is Here," "Igor," "Jonathan Creek: Season 3," "Magnificent Obsession," "Max Payne," "MGM: When the Lion Roars," "MI-5: Volume 6," "Moonlight: The Complete First Season," "My Three Sons: The First Season-Volume Two," "National Lampoon's Stoned Age," "The Notebook," "Poison Ivy: The Secret Society," "Repo! The Genetic Opera," "The Rockford Files: Season Six," "Save Me," "Saw V," "Simon Schama's Rough Crossings," "Simon Schama's The American Future-A History," "This American Life: Season 2," "Vacancy 2: The First Cut," "Waking the Dead: Season 3."

FEATURED NEWS STORIES
For Titles Released January 20:
DVD/Blu-ray
• HENRY POOLE IS HERE » Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, Jeffrey Lyons and audiences give praise to this "warmer version of It's a Wonderful Life." (Anchor Bay)

Blu-ray
• Peter Jackson's KING KONG » Universal unleashes Peter Jackson's EXTENDED CUT of "King Kong" on Blu-ray [also contains Theatrical version]. (Universal)

DVD/Blu-ray
• Mark Wahlberg is MAX PAYNE » both the Theatrical & Unrated versions are included, with digital copy, + Michelle Payne animated graphic novel. (20th Century Fox)

DVD/Blu-ray
• THE NOTEBOOK Limited Edition Giftset » Collectibles include a photo album and scrapbook with images from the movie plus space for your own photos; scrapbook accessories such as stickers and photo corners; a stationery set with letterhead and envelopes and collectible bookmarks. (Warner Bros.)

DVD/Blu-ray
• REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA » This is not your parents' opera... for fans of the SAW series who might prefer a musical concept – here you go: a Twisted Pictures "futuristic horror rock-opera" featuring Alexa Vega, Anthony Head, singer Sarah Brightman, and Paris Hilton. (Lionsgate)