By DNA Smith
PICKS OF THE WEEK
“Beauty and the Beast” — Three-Disc Diamond Edition (G) — The enchanting story of Belle, the young daughter of an inventor who helps a cursed prince find true love is finally getting the high-def release it deserves. This three-disc set contains not only a remastered Blu-Ray disc, but also a standard DVD version of the classic Disney film. And not only do you get the remastered theatrical release, but also two additional versions of the movie: A special extended edition, plus a re-edited cut based on the original storyboards. The third disc contains so many special features, I can’t even begin to list them all. Suffice to say, Disney really knocked this one out the park. You really owe it to yourself to add this to your film library.
“The Karate Kid” (PG) — I have a soft spot for the original 1984 version of “The Karate Kid,” so this remake featuring Will Smith’s kid really didn’t do it for me. (And Jackie Chan is no Mr. Miyagi.) Although the fight choreography is flashier in this version, it wasn’t enough to sway me into liking it. Anyhoo, a lot of other people really enjoyed this flick, and the DVD comes with a Justin Bieber music video, so you know, whatevs, man.
“Grindhouse” — Special Edition (R) — Finally, after three years of waiting, “Grindhouse” is being released in DVD in its proper theatrical format — complete with all the fake movie trailers — instead of being split into two separate DVD sets. This is a two-disc set, with the second disc packed with more than two hours of special features, including the fan-favorite “Robert Rodriguez’s 10-Minute Cooking School.” Some of the other extras: “Death Proof” gag reel, a documentary on the makeup and effects for “Planet Terror,” and the extended trailer for “Werewolf Woman of the SS.”
“Ken Burns: Baseball” (2010 Box Set) — This re-release of Ken Burns’ epic miniseries about the history of baseball not only includes the original nine-episodes, but also the “Tenth Inning” update to the series. Included in the boxed set is an 11th disc loaded with special features. Even though I’m not a huge baseball fan, I absolutely love this documentary. Burns got the inspiration for the series while working on “The Civil War” — and it shows. “Baseball” is like a sequel to “The Civil War,” showing us the history of our nation in the century and a half following the conflict by using baseball as the metaphor for our growth as a nation.
TV SERIES
“Monk” Complete Series Limited Edition Box Set
“Caprica” Season 1.0
“Doctor Who” Dreamland
“All in the Family” The Complete Seventh Season
“Gunsmoke” Fourth Season, Volume One
“Bones” The Complete Fifth Season
“Stargate: Universe SGU” The Complete First Season
“Cake Boss” Season 2
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” The Complete Seventh Season
“Ally McBeal” The Complete Fourth Season
“Ugly Americans 1”
© 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.