Inside DVD

Since 1984, the Criterion Collection has been releasing acclaimed films, often from foreign or independent directors, in beautiful gift sets.  The company began publishing in the DVD format in 1998, although they also offer titles now in Blu-ray and video-on-demand.  The company has a number of important films coming out in the next few months.

The Red Shoes (1948) is being released on July 20^th.  The film is directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.  Moira Shearer stars as a ballerina who becomes involved in a triangle between a composer and a ballet impresario.  The Red Shoes is the central ballet which proves to be the young ballerina’s downfall.  For those worried this is too sentimental, gritty director Martin Scorsese has called it one of his favorite films. (more…)

DVD seems to be made for television fans.  Rather than waiting a week or more between episodes, it gives you the option of watching entire seasons in a matter of days (if you’ve got the time and energy).  The upcoming months will see more releases than ever, both in new series and new seasons of old favorites.

One set that will please fans of ‘90s cartoons is the just-announced Dexter’s Laboratory: Season One.  This will be the first time that a full set of episodes has been available, although individual ones have showed up on other Cartoon Network releases.  The new release is part of a Cartoon Network “Hall of Fame” series and contains episodes from 1996-1997. (more…)

A good DVD player doesn’t have to break your bank.  Companies are producing better equipment at better prices than ever, and with a little research, you can find the player that’s right for you.  You can even get big names like Sony and Toshiba with their newest cost-effective models.

Sony’s DVP-SR200P/B is the right choice if you don’t have a high-definition TV.  Reviews have given the playback a thumbs-up, and the player has the latest technology for playing damaged discs.  The device also has the option for progressive output in compatible TVs.  The major things missing are connections for optical digital audio and HDMI, but without a HDTV, you’ll hardly notice.  The DVP-SR200P/B is in fact one of the only players in its price class without many negative reviews.  While it might be one of your only budget choices, that doesn’t mean it’s not also one of the best.  Priced at $40, you can hardly go wrong. (more…)

It’s the first official week of summer, which means the heat is probably just starting to get to you.  What better way to cool off than with an ice-cold drink, some snacks, and a fresh new DVD?  Here are some of the finest new releases of the week.

• The Closer: The Complete 5^th Season contains all 15 episodes of the latest season.  Kyra Sedgwick plays Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, who uses her unique skills to get the confessions she needs.  The 5^th season saw storylines shifting from a focus on murder-related crimes to stories involving grand theft and fraud.
• Hot Tub Time Machine was one of the surprise hits of the summer, starring John Cusack, Rob Corddry, and Craig Robinson as slacker party dudes who find a way to revisit their glory days via the machine of the title.  The film avoids some of the more sentimental aspects of The Hangover in its all-out hilarity. (more…)

Big things are just plain cool.  Think of Godzilla, or Moby Dick, or Tom Cruise’s ego.  When you’re talking about DVD box sets, things don’t get any better.  Here is a list of some of the largest to pass through the market.

• The 2007 United Artists 90^th Anniversary Prestige Collection features an astounding 110 films from the company on an equal number of discs.  The films are arranged by decade and include classics like 12 Angry Men, Carrie, and Rocky. 8 of the films won Oscars for Best Picture, and the set comes with an exclusive art book showing never-before-seen looks at the movies.  The collection is now obviously out of print, but you can still find copies on sites like Amazon.  Original retail price?  $869.98. (more…)