Selected home-video releases:
"Eagle Eye"
Shia LaBeouf caps another big year with this hit action thriller about characters caught up in a Web of pervasive surveillance technology. After co-starring in the new "Indiana Jones" blockbuster, LaBeouf hooks up with Michelle Monaghan, the two playing strangers thrown together in a ticking-clock adventure fueled by threatening phone calls from an unknown woman. Single-disc and two-disc DVD editions and the Blu-ray release have deleted scenes and a making-of segment. The Blu-ray and two-disc DVD set also come with an alternate ending and a handful of other behind-the-scenes featurettes. Single-disc DVD, $29.99; two-disc DVD set, $34.99; Blu-ray, $39.99. (Paramount)
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"The Duchess"
Keira Knightley plays dress-up again with her latest costume drama, starring in the 18th century equivalent of a tabloid scandal with this story of an ancestor of Britain's Princess Diana. Knightley plays Georgiana Spencer, a society icon who struggles to juggle an affair with her true love while stuck in a loveless marriage to the powerful Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). Extras on the DVD and Blu-ray include a background segment on Georgiana and a round-table chat at her ancestral home with producer Gabrielle Tana and author Amanda Foreman, whose biography on the duchess was the basis for the film. There's also a segment with the movie's costume designer on the colorful wardrobe fashioned for Knightley. DVD, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99. (Paramount)
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"Ghost Town"
After playing an imbecilic boss in "The Office" and a fame-seeking actor in "Extras," Ricky Gervais takes the lead on the big-screen with this supernatural romance about a man who sees dead people -- and is dying to get rid of them. Gervais plays an anti-social dentist whose near-death experience during surgery makes him a magnet for ghosts demanding favors -- including a slimy guy (Greg Kinnear) who wants to prevent the remarriage of his widow (Tea Leoni). The DVD and Blu-ray come with three making-of featurettes, plus commentary with Gervais and writer-director David Koepp. DVD, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99. (Paramount)
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TV on DVD:
"Nip/Tuck: Season Five, Part One" -- Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon return as plastic surgeons living in the fast lane, with the duo moving their practice from Miami to Los Angeles in season five. A five-disc set has the season's first 14 episodes, accompanied by deleted scenes and a segment on the West Coast move. DVD set, $59.98. (Warner Bros.)
"Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season" -- Matt Dallas is back in the title role as a mysterious teen with superhuman powers and an unknown purpose. Year two's 23 episodes come in a six-disc set, along with deleted scenes, cast and crew commentary and a couple of featurettes. DVD set, $39.99. (Disney)
"Greek: Chapter Two" -- College kids get lessons in life and love in the family series set among campus fraternities and sororities. Season two's 12 episodes arrive in a three-disc set, with audio commentary and a music video. DVD set, $29.99. (Disney)
"The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season One" -- Former teen star Molly Ringwald moves into mom mode as parent to a nice high school girl (Shailene Woodley) whose hookup with a drummer at band camp leaves her pregnant. The first 11 episodes are packed in a three-disc set that also includes a segment on the cast. DVD set, $39.99. (Disney)
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Other new releases:
"Towelhead" -- An Arab-American teen (Summer Bishil) balances racism at school, her growing curiosity about sex, and life with her strict Lebanese father in this tale that co-stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette and Maria Bello. The DVD includes two panel discussions led by writer-director Alan Ball, who examines the social issues in the film. DVD, $27.95. (Warner Bros.)
"An American Carol" -- A Michael Moore-type filmmaker seeking to abolish the Fourth of July gets a lesson in conservatism when he's visited by three spirits that awaken his patriotic spirit in director David Zucker's twist on "A Christmas Carol." Among DVD extras are deleted scenes and commentary from Zucker. DVD, $26.99.
"Eagle Eye"
Shia LaBeouf caps another big year with this hit action thriller about characters caught up in a Web of pervasive surveillance technology. After co-starring in the new "Indiana Jones" blockbuster, LaBeouf hooks up with Michelle Monaghan, the two playing strangers thrown together in a ticking-clock adventure fueled by threatening phone calls from an unknown woman. Single-disc and two-disc DVD editions and the Blu-ray release have deleted scenes and a making-of segment. The Blu-ray and two-disc DVD set also come with an alternate ending and a handful of other behind-the-scenes featurettes. Single-disc DVD, $29.99; two-disc DVD set, $34.99; Blu-ray, $39.99. (Paramount)
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"The Duchess"
Keira Knightley plays dress-up again with her latest costume drama, starring in the 18th century equivalent of a tabloid scandal with this story of an ancestor of Britain's Princess Diana. Knightley plays Georgiana Spencer, a society icon who struggles to juggle an affair with her true love while stuck in a loveless marriage to the powerful Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). Extras on the DVD and Blu-ray include a background segment on Georgiana and a round-table chat at her ancestral home with producer Gabrielle Tana and author Amanda Foreman, whose biography on the duchess was the basis for the film. There's also a segment with the movie's costume designer on the colorful wardrobe fashioned for Knightley. DVD, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99. (Paramount)
___
"Ghost Town"
After playing an imbecilic boss in "The Office" and a fame-seeking actor in "Extras," Ricky Gervais takes the lead on the big-screen with this supernatural romance about a man who sees dead people -- and is dying to get rid of them. Gervais plays an anti-social dentist whose near-death experience during surgery makes him a magnet for ghosts demanding favors -- including a slimy guy (Greg Kinnear) who wants to prevent the remarriage of his widow (Tea Leoni). The DVD and Blu-ray come with three making-of featurettes, plus commentary with Gervais and writer-director David Koepp. DVD, $29.99; Blu-ray, $39.99. (Paramount)
___
TV on DVD:
"Nip/Tuck: Season Five, Part One" -- Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon return as plastic surgeons living in the fast lane, with the duo moving their practice from Miami to Los Angeles in season five. A five-disc set has the season's first 14 episodes, accompanied by deleted scenes and a segment on the West Coast move. DVD set, $59.98. (Warner Bros.)
"Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season" -- Matt Dallas is back in the title role as a mysterious teen with superhuman powers and an unknown purpose. Year two's 23 episodes come in a six-disc set, along with deleted scenes, cast and crew commentary and a couple of featurettes. DVD set, $39.99. (Disney)
"Greek: Chapter Two" -- College kids get lessons in life and love in the family series set among campus fraternities and sororities. Season two's 12 episodes arrive in a three-disc set, with audio commentary and a music video. DVD set, $29.99. (Disney)
"The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season One" -- Former teen star Molly Ringwald moves into mom mode as parent to a nice high school girl (Shailene Woodley) whose hookup with a drummer at band camp leaves her pregnant. The first 11 episodes are packed in a three-disc set that also includes a segment on the cast. DVD set, $39.99. (Disney)
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Other new releases:
"Towelhead" -- An Arab-American teen (Summer Bishil) balances racism at school, her growing curiosity about sex, and life with her strict Lebanese father in this tale that co-stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette and Maria Bello. The DVD includes two panel discussions led by writer-director Alan Ball, who examines the social issues in the film. DVD, $27.95. (Warner Bros.)
"An American Carol" -- A Michael Moore-type filmmaker seeking to abolish the Fourth of July gets a lesson in conservatism when he's visited by three spirits that awaken his patriotic spirit in director David Zucker's twist on "A Christmas Carol." Among DVD extras are deleted scenes and commentary from Zucker. DVD, $26.99.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.May the year 2009 bring you more success and joy to your blog :D. Happy blogging.
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