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Monday, May 18, 2009

Noteable DVD Releases: May 19th 2009

There are so many DVDs that come out every Tuesday that it would suck to have to list all of them, so I figured I would just list ones that people might actually give a damn about. Here is what is headed to DVD tomorrow. From looking at this list, Fanboys and Mega Shark will for sure be on the rental list, with True Blood Season 1 being on the must buys.

Driven to Kill - While attending the wedding of his estranged daughter, Lanie (Laura Mennell), crime novelist Ruslan Drachev (Steven Seagal) is drawn back into his Russian mafia past when the groom turns out to be the son of his old nemesis, Mikhail Arban (Igor Jijikine). Soon, Ruslan's in the thick of a violent quest for vengeance in this gritty action thriller, also starring Dan Payne, Mike Dopud and Holly Eglington.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s: Vol. 1 - Kick back and relax like it's Saturday morning -- no matter what day of the week it is -- with this collection of classic cartoons from the 1960s that features the Flintstones, Quick-Draw McGraw, Porky Pig and a long list of other popular characters. Highlights include the pilot episode of "The Jetsons" in which the family meets their new maid, Rosey, for the first time and several episodes from "The Magilla Gorilla Show."

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s: Vol. 1 - With a big bowl of sugary cereal and this collection of classic cartoons from the 1970s featuring popular characters like Batman, Tarzan and Yogi Bear, you can turn any time of day into an impromptu Saturday morning on the couch. Highlights include a Scooby-Doo mystery involving a haunted pirate ship; and a deep-sea adventure with Josie and the Pussy Cats; and a pair of "Hong Kong Phooey" episodes.

Fanboys - They've waited patiently for years for the release of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But when one of their own discovers he's terminally ill, a group of pals embarks on a road trip to Skywalker Ranch to steal the long-anticipated film. Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel and Kristin Bell star in director Kyle Newman's labor of geek love. Star Wars alums Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher and Ray Park make cameos.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - Kevin James ("King of Queens") stars in this comedy as Paul Blart, an overzealous security guard who finds himself in way over his head when he attempts to thwart a criminal mastermind's (Keir O'Donnell) plot to rob an entire shopping mall. Bobby Cannavale (Snakes on a Plane), Jayma Mays and Shirley Knight also star in this family-friendly laffer from director Steve Carr.

Russell Brand in New York City - Best known on this side of the Atlantic for scene-stealing roles in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Russell Brand brings his unique brand of stand-up stateside with this Comedy Central special. With teased hair, tight pants and black-rimmed eyes, Brand looks more like a bad-boy rocker than a comic, but he proves looks can be deceiving with a wickedly funny set that pokes fun at everything from horseback riding to his own sexual prowess.

The Pearl - When impoverished Mexican pearl diver Kino (Lukas Haas) finds a magnificent pearl, he believes his troubles are over in this adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel. But things don't turn out quite as planned for Kino and his struggling family. Anxious for wealth and respect, he instead discovers the baser side of human nature as the people around him are fueled by envy and greed. Richard Harris also stars as scientist Dr. Karl.

Valkyrie - Wounded in Africa during World War II, Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) returns to his native Germany and joins the Resistance, becoming involved in a daring plan to create a shadow government and assassinate Hitler. Soon, events dictate that he become a central player -- and he finds himself tasked with both leading the coup and personally killing Hitler. Based on true events, this drama co-stars Stephen Fry, Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard.

My Bloody Valentine - Haunted by the mining-related massacre that took place there on Valentine's Day a decade ago, Tom (Jensen Ackles) returns to his hometown to find some closure. But no sooner does he arrive than a pickax-wielding madman begins a new bloody killing spree. Now, many suspect that the murderous miner has returned to claim his final victims -- including Tom. Patrick Lussier directs this remake of the 1981 horror classic.

Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus - After a series of mysterious disasters occurs in the Pacific, from the disappearance of a plane to the destruction of an oil rig, a group of scientists discovers that a secret military mission has unearthed a prehistoric shark and a giant octopus. When the government learns of the existence of the menacing beasts, the team of scientists is tasked with formulating a plan to destroy the phenomenal creatures. Lorenzo Lamas and Deborah Gibson star.Outlander - Fleeing an interstellar war, Kainan (James Caviezel) crashes on the shores of Norway during the Iron Age. An extraterrestrial monstrosity called the Moorwen also survives the crash, and begins cutting a bloody swath of destruction through the Norwegian countryside. Armed with the high-tech weaponry of his planet, Kainan teams up with the Vikings to end the Moorwen's rampage. Sophia Myles co-stars in this sci-fi adventure epic.

Wrestlemania XXV - Step into the ring with wrestling's biggest superstars, such as the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Randy Orton, the Big Show, Kane and CM Punk, as they duke it out in front of more than 70,000 pumped-up fans at Houston's Reliant Stadium. This 25th-anniversary edition of WrestleMania also includes a special battle royal match featuring 25 female contenders competing for the title of Miss WrestleMania.

24: Season 7 - Emmy winner Kiefer Sutherland returns for a seventh season as agent Jack Bauer in this taut, critically acclaimed series that breaks up the hours of a day into 24 action-packed episodes. While standing trial to defend his unconventional methods, Jack and the rest of the Counter Terrorism Unit learn that someone has hacked into the government's central computer, leaving the nation's infrastructure open to attack.

True Blood: Season 1 - Mind-reading Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse's (Anna Paquin, in a Golden Globe-winning role) life gets complicated when she falls for vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) in a world where vampires live openly and drink synthetic blood. Trying to improve their image and legitimize their finances, the out-of-the-coffin bloodsuckers hire PR firms and contribute to influential Republican politicians. Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under") helms the HBO series.