New Releases for January 4, 2005

I received many requests, so I've decided to continue posting the list of new releases each week. The most compelling reason is that it creates an archive, so if you miss a week or two, you can look back and see what was released.

I'm starting with last Tuesday, and I'll post the list for this week on Monday morning, as usual.  I'm using a new format for the releases, so I'd love your feedback. I know it's a bit long (it should be every movie released this week), but there is a lot more information on the page so it should save you some time looking up movies. 

Comments?

Troy In 1193 B.C., Prince Paris of Troy (Orlando Bloom) kidnaps legendary beauty Helen (Diane Kruger) from her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta, setting the two nations on a collision course for war. The Greeks, including Achilles (Brad Pitt), marshal their entire armada, sail to Troy and begin a decade-long siege. Eric Bana plays Hector, the leader of the Trojan forces, and Sean Bean is the wily Ulysses (of Trojan Horse fame). Positively Homeric!

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle Sometimes, it takes a strange night to put everything into focus. That's what happens to Harold (John Cho), a Korean-American banker, and his roommate, Kumar (Kal Penn), an Indian-American med school student. Both men are at a crossroads in life, about to make major decisions that will affect the course of their future. They arrive at wisdom by accident as they drive around their New Jersey city to find the best stoner fix: White Castle burgers.

Little Black Book Determined to learn the truth about her secretive boyfriend, Derek (Ron Livingston), Stacy (Brittany Murphy) becomes a bona fide snoop in this comedy. Associate producer of Kippie Kann's (Kathy Bates) popular talk show, Stacy's dying to find out about Derek's past relationships. Helped by Barb (Holly Hunter), she gets the names of his ex-lovers and interviews them, supposedly for an upcoming show. But what she learns only adds to her confusion.

Riding Giants For those who can't get enough of point breaks and "shooting curls," Riding Giants offers a comprehensive look at the history of surfing, from its origins as a tiny subculture to the sport's resurgence and surfers' ongoing obsession with riding the "big one." The film -- which opened the 2004 Sundance Film Festival -- was directed by Stacy Peralta, who also helmed the acclaimed skateboard documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys.

Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 Have you cracked the "baby talk" code yet? Well, here's another chance! In this sequel to Baby Geniuses, the adventure continues with a new generation of talking toddlers. This time, the baby geniuses must foil a nefarious mind-controlling scheme led by media mogul Bill Biscane (Jon Voight). Legendary baby Kahuna -- part ultra-cool spy, part superhero -- joins babies Archie, Finkleman, Alex and Rosita in a race to stop the villainous Biscane.

Hard Boiled In a ruthless world of gun smugglers and mobsters, Tequila (Chow Yun-Fat) is a die-hard cop who'll stop at nothing to see justice done. Determined to avenge his partner's murder, Tequila joins forces with a rebel cop (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) to shut down a sinister mobster and his crew. Soon, the body count increases tenfold as the duo race to stop the mobsters from blowing up a hospital full of hostages. John Woo directs this high-voltage actioner.

CSI: Miami: Season 2 David Caruso continues to win viewers as edge-pushing criminologist Horatio Caine, who leads a team of crime scene investigators in Miami. In this collection, which includes all the episodes of the CBS show's second season, Caine and his team -- Eric Delko (Adam Rodriguez), Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter) and Alexx Woods (Khandi Alexander) -- solve the murders of a model, treasure hunter, a bar owner and more.

Miracle at Oxford At England's prestigious Oxford University, it's a matter of honor to win against its long-standing rival, Cambridge, in the annual rowing competition. But when the team (played by Johan Leysen, Dominic West, Dylan Baker, Geraldine Somerville and Josh Lucas) is served up a heartbreaking defeat, they must pull together and find a way to reclaim the top spot. That won't be easy, however, as they bicker over ways to become the best once again.

Employee of the Month David (Matt Dillon), a congenital loser, seems to have finally turned his life around with a well-paying bank job and his impending marriage to a beautiful woman (Christina Applegate). David's best friend Jack (Steve Zahn) thinks he's blowing it by "settling" -- an ironic comment coming from a guy who impersonates coroners so he can rob corpses. But when David is fired, well, maybe there's truth in Jack's admonitions.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Home Sweet Pineapple Nickelodeon's kid-friendly, animated series about the zany adventures of a kindhearted, enthusiastic sea sponge and his underwater pals -- Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Patrick the Starfish and Sandy the Squirrel -- always delivers the laughs. This disc includes eight installments: "Home Sweet Pineapple," "Band Geeks," "Sandy, SpongeBob and the Worm," "Ripped Pants" "Sandy's Rocket," "Culture Shock," "MuscleBob BuffPants" and "Employee of the Month."

Millennium: Season 2 The second season of creator Chris Carter's Emmy Award-nominated, mystery-thriller series continues to follow the work of FBI profiler Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) as he tracks serial killers. His unique psychic ability to see the murders through the eyes of the assassins presents Black with a difficult task, however: He must solve the crimes and catch the killers while trying to maintain his sanity.

Augustus One of Rome's greatest emperors, Augustus Caesar (Peter O'Toole), rose to power during the Pax Romana, Rome's Golden Age. Beginning with early military triumphs, when Augustus allied with Julius Caesar, this film re-creates some of history's most stirring moments, including Caesar's assassination and Augustus's battles with the armies of Brutus, Cassius, Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Charlotte Rampling plays Augustus's wife; Roger Young directs.

Bullfighter Olivier Martinez plays Jack, a rebel on the run with his pregnant girlfriend, Mary (Michelle Forbes) -- who may, against all odds, be carrying a baby with Messianic powers. Dogged by devil worshippers hunting them down, the pair meanders through Texas and Mexico aided by a controversial priest (Willem Dafoe) who wants to help them protect their unborn child. But will they be able to elude their enemies for good?

Ride the Wild Surf Shoot the curl and get tubular with this vintage surfing flick that includes a cast of cut-ups such as Fabian, Tab Hunter, Shelly Fabares, Barbara Eden and Jim Mitchum. Highlights include the ubiquitous clambake (on the beach, of course) and a wild surf contest to see who rules the waves. Directed by Don Taylor, this comedy includes some campy, wave-riding close-ups with the stars looking like the Wallendas tiptoeing on a high wire. Radical!

Mucha Lucha: The Return of El Malefico When a sinister force by the name of El Malefico gets released unintentionally, the world of Lucha Libre is endangered. The Mascaritas (masked student wrestlers) -- Rikochet, Buena Girl and the Flea -- must rise to the challenge and drive the evil back from whence it came &#8230; because the courageous threesome's battle with El Malefico will ultimately determine the future of the universe. <i>Aye carumba</i>!

Slappy and the Stinkers Five kids devise a plan to rescue a sea lion named Slappy from an aquarium and free him from his detested life in the tank. But what the kids haven't worked into their plan is the fact that Slappy's already been marked for kidnapping by a heartless mercenary (Bronson Pinchot) who plans on selling the endearing, rambunctious sea lion to a Bulgarian circus. B.D. Wong and Jennifer Coolidge co-star in this gentle comedy directed by Barnet Kellman.

Be the Creature: Season 1 Martin and Chris Kratt, those super-smart hosts of "Zoboomafoo," travel all over the world to find out exactly what it's like to "Be the Creature." The show provides an intimate perspective of truly amazing creatures. In Season 1, the adventurers capture the excitement of running with wild dogs, prowling with lions, swimming with manatees, clam-digging with grizzlies and floating in the Patagonian waters with hungry killer whales.

Magic in the Water Reacting to the protestations of his ex-wife, a workaholic radio psychiatrist (Mark Harmon) takes his kids on vacation to a resort that's the reputed home of a legendary lake monster named Orky. Jack's daughter, Ashley (Sarah Wayne), bonds with the monster, who seems to grant the lonely youngster her fondest wish: Her dad becomes kinder and sweeter after getting bopped on the head. Co-stars Harley Jane Kozak. Rick Stevenson directs.

Fourth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival In this jam-packed DVD, a jury-selected panel of media-rights pundits and reformers tackles such topical issues as corporate accountability, culture-jamming, sustainable agriculture and civil liberties. And the platform of these activist experts just happens to comprise an intriguing mix of high-impact short films, digital stories and online media streaming stories that act as a convincing call to action.

Forever Knight: The Trilogy: Part 2 Bring on the Knight! Geraint Wyn Davies is vampy sleuth Nick Knight, living in Toronto and trying to atone for 600 years of bloodletting. In this second season of the ghoulish series, Nick battles Jack the Ripper, gets brainwashed and gets it on with an Anne Rice-type author. It's horror and crime detection that you can sink your teeth into! Catherine Disher, Gary Farmer, John Kapelos and Natsuko Ohama co-star. Brad Turner directs.

The Berenstain Bears: Bears Mind Their Manners Children are lovingly instructed in simple life lessons and family values via the adventures of Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother Bear living in Bear Country. Join the Berenstain Bears in a new set of adventures that focus on good manners and kindness to others. This disc features the following six episodes: "Say Please and Thank You," "Papa's Pizza," "Mighty Milton," "Double Dare," "The Big Blooper" and "Get the Gimmies."

Edges of the Lord Romek (Haley Joel Osment), a 12-year-old Jewish boy, seeks refuge from the Nazis during World War II by hiding out with a family of Catholic peasant farmers. He's soon befriended by a priest (Willem Dafoe) and a young boy named Tola (Liam Hess), who give him solace as he worries with each passing day that he may be sent off to meet his doom. Edges of the Lord won the Best Screenplay award at the 2001 Polish Film Festival.

God, the Devil & Bob: The Complete Series God is getting fed up with humanity, and the devil is delighted about it. Together, they have a plan: One man will be given a chance to prove whether or not mankind is worth saving. But there's just one catch: The devil gets to pick the man, and he chooses Bob, an angry doofus. The world is doomed! The voice cast of this edgy, animated comic series includes James Garner, Nancy Cartwright, Laurie Metcalf and Alan Cumming.

MacBeth English thespian Sean Pertwee plays the painfully ambitious royal who schemes to murder so he can ascend to the throne in this superior version of William Shakespeare's literary classic. Spurred by the pressure exerted by his equally power-hungry wife, Lady MacBeth (Greta Scacchi), the Thane conspires to kill, but is so overcome with guilt that he's unable to wash the blood off his hands -- literally and figuratively.

Twelfth Night Director Tim Supple gathers an extraordinarily multitalented and multicultural cast for this present-day version of Shakespeare's classic play "Twelfth Night," featuring Parminder Nagra as Viola, Ronny Jhutti as Sebastian and Claire Price as Olivia. This time, the Bard's text is mined for connections to the modern world, where immigrants seek freedom and romance crosses cultural borders -- but not without controversy.

Extremely Dangerous Neil Byrne (Sean Bean) has been convicted of murdering his wife and daughter. Of course, he pleads his innocence, unaware that he's being used as a pawn in a huge conspiracy that involves the entire British police department. On the lam, Byrne must discover who killed his family and keep from being offed himself by the British mob and government agents. An evocative thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.

Troubles Ian Charleson, Ian Richardson, Sean Bean and Susannah Harker star in this sprawling, dramatic saga about British veterans of World War I who, after the Armistice, return to pick up the pieces of interrupted lives and severed relationships with varying degrees of success. Christopher Morahan directs this faithful adaptation of the J.G. Farrell novel about the "lucky" survivors of a generation that sacrificed itself on the killing fields of France.

Star Ocean EX This anime sci-fi adventure series follows a father-and-son team involved in an operation to explore uncharted territory on the planet Mirokinia. But things get turned upside down when Claude inexplicably turns up on the planet Expel, instead. While he tries to figure out just where he is and how he got there, he saves a girl from danger, and she later tells him he's a celebrated warrior. Just what is Claude's destiny in this strange new world?

Hanaukyo Maid Team La Verite Taro Hanaukyo is an unpopular youngster who gets shipped off to Tokyo to live with his grandfather after his mother dies. He can't believe his eyes, and his luck, when he arrives at his grandfather's sprawling estate, which is crawling with a bevy of stunning servants. To top it off, his grandfather's nowhere in sight, and Taro is presented with a huge wad of cash -- enough to control the country, and his faithful attendants, for years to come.

Amy A traumatized girl finds her true voice in this moving drama. Unable to hear or speak, 8-year-old Amy (Alana De Roma) hides from Child Welfare with her loving mom (Rachel Griffiths). But when they move to Melbourne's seedier side, Amy's secret is revealed: She sings like a bird. Encouraged by new friends, Amy sings her way out of her shell and faces the traumatic event that led to her long silence. Ben Mendelsohn and Jeremy Trigatti also star.

Bahama Hustle Ace and Cool Breeze feverishly dream of becoming the next rap superstars. So, they make a deal with a pair of shady promoters and get a loan from a shylock dubbed Daddy T. But when the promoters skip town with the dough, Daddy wants his literal pound of flesh from the two wannabes, who have to hightail it to the Bahamas to hustle up the cash -- or they'll soon be missing some vital body parts. Dr. Dr&#233; and Ed Lover star in this urban comedy.

Hiroshima This made-for-TV drama re-creates the events leading up to the Hiroshima bombing that ultimately ended World War II. As President Harry Truman (Kenneth Welsh) takes office, he's forced to weigh the price of war, knowing his decisions could kill, or save, countless lives; after he authorizes the nuclear weapons program, his decisions carry even more serious consequences. Koreyoshi Kurahara and Roger Spottiswoode direct.

The Legend of Gator Face Two local jokesters (John White and Dan Warry-Smith) decide to play a trick on their rural Mississippi town when they re-create the local legend, Gator Face, a creepy half-alligator, half-human swamp creature. Their joke is so convincing that the town is soon filled with reporters investigating the story. Everything is fun and games until the National Guard arrives to find the beast and the real Gator Face decides to make an appearance.

Bellydance Fitness for Weight Loss: Too Hip Belly up to the barre with AFAA-certified belly dance instructor Rainia Bossonis in this intermediate-level program that mixes belly dance combinations with high-energy music for a great cardio workout. You'll tone your muscles as well as burn fat and calories while learning sensuous dance routines incorporating moves that will sculpt and strengthen your abs, waist, arms, legs and butt. It's a complete aerobic workout that's also loads of fun!

Broken Vows A priest, Father McMahon (Tommy Lee Jones), gives last rites to a man murdered on the streets of New York, only to have his life changed forever. With the help of the dead man's girlfriend (Annette O'Toole), Joseph begins to learn more about himself and the world around him. With this awakening, though, comes the realization that he must choose between the life he's always known in the church and the one he's just discovering with this woman.

Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack Brash rodeo star Cadillac Jack Favor (Clint Black) is falsely convicted of a double murder. While serving his time at Angola Prison, he competes in the Angola rodeo, attracting hundreds of outsiders to the prison and giving him the strength to keep fighting for justice. With the help of a fellow inmate who studies law in his free time, Jack files an appeal, while his wife (Lisa Hartman Black) convinces a lawyer to take her husband's case.

Bertie & Elizabeth In 1920, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon accepted a dance from the Duke of York ("Bertie" to his royal friends). Soon, they fell in love, married and had children. And when Bertie's brother, Edward III, abdicated, Bertie improbably ascended to the throne of England -- something he never planned on doing -- as Charles VI. This is the story of their heroic life together as king and queen of England, ruling thoughtfully through eras of peace and world war.

Buffalo Girls This colorful made-for-TV biopic follows maverick cowgirl Calamity Jane (Anjelica Huston) through the closing days of the Wild West -- from her stint as a mule skinner for General Custer to her romantic fling with Wild Bill Hickock (Sam Elliott) to her close friendship with brothel madam Dora DuFran (Melanie Griffith). The star-packed cast also includes country music powerhouse Reba McEntire as Annie Oakley and Peter Coyote as Buffalo Bill Cody.

DNA Dr. Wesinger (J&#252;rgen Prochnow) leads a team of scientists into the jungle, where they find the skeleton of a strange creature. Hoping to re-create the creature by extracting DNA from the bones, Wesinger enlists the help of Ash Mattley (Mark Dacacos). The experiment is successful, but a few years later the CIA asks Mattley to help track down Wesinger because he's turned the creature into a fierce killer and plans to sell it to the highest bidder.

The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells Bringing the works of H.G. Wells to life, this story begins in 1946, when Ellen McGillivray (Eve Best) talks to an aging Wells (Tom Ward) to discover the secrets behind his innovative tales. Wells begins talking about Jane Robbins (Katy Carmichael), a scientist he met decades ago who shared his interest in unnatural phenomena. After some experimentation, the two begin breaking boundaries and traveling back and forth through time.

In His Father's Shoes Clay Crosby (Robert Ri'chard) never got to know his father before he passed away, and this left a hole in him. At age 15, Clay stumbles across a pair of shoes and puts them on, only to be taken back in time to when his father was a teenager; as soon as he takes the shoes off, he returns to his own life. Clay travels back in time repeatedly, each time learning a little more about his father -- and his own life, as well. Louis Gossett Jr. co-stars.

Gene Autry Collection: The Old West Bronco buster Gene Autry trains wild horses and then sells them to the Saddle Rock stagecoach line for a nice profit. When his only competitor tries to wipe him out, Gene teams up with a preacher to tame the town that the law forgot. Gene is at his gunslinging (and singing) best here, warbling tuneful ditties and engaging in numerous gun battles as well as a dizzying stagecoach race. Features Gail Davis and Gene's sidekick, Pat Buttram.

Brett Favre: On and Off the Field "The Pack is back!" Green Bay's favorite son, National Football League quarterback Brett Favre, is profiled on and off the field in this incisive documentary narrated by NFL player LeRoy Butler. Chock-full of interviews from players and friends, the film reveals what makes Green Bay Packer Favre tick during fourth and long yardage -- or when he's just kicking back after game time. It's #4 like you've never seen him before.

Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Nova Criminal or scapegoat? Irish immigrant Mary Mallon -- the cause of an infamous outbreak of typhoid fever in 1906 in New York City -- spent nearly 29 years of her life in quarantine. Diagnosed as a healthy carrier of the disease, Mallon was eventually released from isolation and returned to her career &#8230; as a cook! But soon after, another outbreak occurred, and Mallon was again quarantined until she died. A fascinating documentary.

More Yoga for the Rest of Us with Peggy Cappy Join expert yoga instructor Peggy Cappy and her students as they expand their repertoire and increase their balance, flexibility and energy. Cappy makes yoga accessible to folks of all ages and fitness levels, presenting her program in three easy-to-do segments that tone, stretch and strengthen the lower body; the poses can be done with or without the aid of a chair. There's something here for everyone to reduce stress and quiet the mind.

True Women Based on a true story, this adaptation of Janice Woods Windle's novel is set in the plains of West Texas during the Civil War. Sarah Ashby McClure (Dana Delaney) and her sister, Euphemia (Annabeth Gish), struggle to survive in this male-dominated land. When their homestead falls under attack by Mexican rebels and Native American tribesmen, the two must find a way to bring their family to safety before it's too late. Angelina Jolie also stars.

Kathy Kaehler Basics: Total Fitness Workout Celebrity trainer and "Today" show fitness maven Kathy Kaehler guides you through a succession of 5-minute workouts designed to tone and condition your whole body. With Kaehler's back-to-basics approach to keeping in shape, you'll hit all three legs of the fitness triangle: cardiovascular, strength and flexibility. In addition, you'll increase lean muscle mass and enhance your balance and posture.

Dragon Knight: Wheel of Time It's been years since hero Takeru was at the top of his game. And now, it's time for Takeru's son, Kakeru, to take up the heroic knight's mantle and save the kingdom from a burgeoning evil. Lucifon's minions are on the march, preceded by a mysterious black mist that turns everyone it touches to stone. Led by Eto, Kakeru and his friends must take the fight into the very heart of Lucifon's despotic empire or become statues for his garden.

Megaman: Upon a Star Uh-oh! Dr. Wily has once again escaped from the game world, and Megaman must prevent the fiendish doctor from destroying the Japanese mainland. Will Megaman and his pals be able to defeat the infamous sawbones in time to save Children's Day? Will their combined effort stave off what looks to be the worst typhoon in history looming just off the coast? Will Megaman & Co. keep Mt. Fuji from erupting &#8230; again? We're tired just contemplating it all.

Kathy Kaehler Basics: Workout Class Get fit and feel great with "Today" show exercise pro and celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler, whose step-aerobics program takes you through moves designed to increase endurance; tone and shape your whole body; and burn plenty of calories. If you don't have a step, you can do the routine on the floor for a vigorous and effective cardio workout. Kaehler's unique regimen is a proven path to maximum results.

Mischief Rock Set This collection includes four full-length features. Mischief packs 50 minutes of illegal street racing, outrunning the police, sexy chicks and madcap skits. Next up is Mischief 3000, featuring the 2002 cross-country Gumball Rally. Better put on your seatbelt for the series' third installment, Mischief Destroy -- which chronicles a seven-day, nonstop rally from Los Angeles to Miami. Rounding out the set is the director's cut of Mischief Invasion.

Pink Floyd: Inside Pink Floyd: A Critical Review 1967-1974 From Pink Floyd's early album "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" to their groundbreaking later work "Dark Side of the Moon," this film provides a detailed review of the band's history, performances, albums and films. Comments by critics and band members reveal the ups and downs of Pink Floyd, and concert footage (some of it rare and previously unreleased), television interviews, studio sessions and interviews document the band's history.

Marilyn Horne Sings Famous Arias World-renowned mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne unites with conductor Martin Katz and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana for this moving concert featuring the works of seven master composers. Recognized as one of the top mezzo sopranos in the world, Ms. Horne captivates the audience in this program featuring Cherubini's "Anacreon Overture," excerpts from "Orfeo ed Euridice" and arias by Thomas, Meyerbeer, Saint-Saens, Rossini and Bizet.

Paradise Lost: Live Death For the British doom metal band Paradise Lost, it all began in Halifax, England, in 1988 when the group laid down a pair of demo tracks, ultimately leading to the release of their debut album in 1990. This video recorded at Bradford Queens Hall in fall 1989 contains seven tunes -- complete with Gothic tinges and the band's trademark bleak perspective. Included are "Breeding Fear," "Frozen Illusion," "Deadly Inner Sense" and "Rotting Misery."

Las Vegas: Season 1 What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but for the detectives who keep so-called sinners from preying on the innocent at Sin City's posh Montecito Resort & Casino, the secrets and lies are as insidious as any other poison. It's up to ex-CIA agent Big Ed Deline (James Caan) and his second in command, Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel), to rein in the cheaters and thieves -- if they can -- in this exciting first season of the NBC series.

Boo! The Movie The small Midwestern town of Rankin is plunged into the depths of fear when a young girl, Emma Manning (Molly Kaufman), drowns in an unexplainable accident. The event eats at the foundation of the once-bucolic hamlet, and over the years, the story of the girl's death becomes an urban legend that haunts residents in ways they'd never imagined possible. Stars Jim Tampa and Michael K. Washko. Extras include director's commentary, trailers and more.

Zubin Mehta & Mitsuko Uchida Soloists Mitsuko Uchida on the piano, Zinovi Kaplan on the violin and Dudu Carmel on the oboe interpret the music of Bach ("Concerto for Violin and Oboe"), Beethoven ("Piano Concerto No. 4"), Stravinsky ("Pulcinella") and Schubert ("Rosamunde Overture"). They play under the able baton of maestro Zubin Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Special features include artist bios and a documentary about the life of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Comments

[LaWilson]

I like the new format a lot. It seems like way too much work for you though, especially since Netflix is doing it now. However, if you do choose to continue doing it, consider putting it in alphabetical order. That will allow me to scan faster for certain movies or series. Thanks, and keep up the great work Mike.

[Dan Diephouse]

Maybe make this a seperate rss feed?

[Brian]

Thanks! I really REALLY appreciate you continuing this feature... .it is why i visit most... though i enjoy everything else... keep up the good work, and love the new format!

[Manda]

I subscribe to Netflix's New Releases RSS feed, so it doesn't matter to me. The problem is that the new format clutters up your RSS feed forcing one to scroll and scroll and scroll... If you do decide to stick with this I'll have to switch from full text RSS to paltry excerpts.