New Releases for August 12th, 2008 (Full List)
The Art of War 2: Betrayal Former undercover agent Neil Shaw (Wesley Snipes) hangs up his badge for a cushy job as a Hollywood film consultant in this sequel to the 2000 hit actioner. But when his mentor is killed, he's pulled back into the high-octane world of international espionage. Framed for murder after uncovering an assassination plot against key U.S. senators, Shaw must team up with his mentor's daughter to clear his name and solve the case.
Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Adventures in Courage When Annie loses a race, she lets her fear of defeat keep her on the sidelines. Plato the Buffalo is ready to help with three inspiring classic tales from William Bennett's popular book that illuminates the importance of courage. "William Tell," "The Minotaur" and "The Brave Mice" tell of ordinary folk who stand up for what they believe in despite the odds. The poem If wraps up the program with a thought-provoking message.
Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Adventures in Faith Annie's grief over the death of her friend, Ruth, causes her to doubt the importance of faith. Ruth was faithful, she argues, but it didn't help her. Plato the Buffalo answers Annie's misgivings with two stories from William Bennett's popular book. The tale of Daniel in the lions' den illustrates one of the Bible's core messages. Then, the story of Harriet Tubman tells how faith helped her save thousands of slaves via the Underground Railroad.
Adventures from the Book of Virtues: Adventures in Honesty Zach breaks his father's camera and lies to cover it up. Good thing the gang from Plato's Peak is on hand to set Zach straight with three stories from William Bennett's book that demonstrates the importance of telling the truth. The popular legend of a young George Washington and the cherry tree, along with classics such as "The Frog Prince" deliver the message to Zach and viewers alike. The poem Truth closes the episode.
Berenstain Bears: Family and Friendship The lovable Berenstain Bears are back in this charming animated program featuring stories about family and friendship. Mama, Papa, Brother and Sister Bear's fun-filled adventures always seem to lead to a lesson or two in the end. Here, they learn about the importance of giving, how to deal with bad dreams, showing neighbors and friends the respect they deserve, and why you shouldn't try to grow up too fast.
CJ7 Dicky (Jiao Xu) yearns for the hottest new toy, a robotic dog. Instead, his poor father (Stephen Chow) presents him with a strange green ball he found in a junkyard. Turns out, the unassuming gift is actually a marooned alien endowed with unearthly powers. But is Dicky ready for the responsibility of a pet that's capable of granting his every whim? Director Chow lends his off-kilter sensibility to this fable about being careful what you wish for.
DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures This amazing collection features the adventures of the most memorable DC Comics superheroes to emerge from the legendary Filmation Animation Studios: the Atom, Green Lantern, Hawkman, the Justice League of America and the Teen Titans. Relive all the thrills of these supercharged vintage animated shorts with 18 incredible cartoons in total. Bonus features include a documentary profile of Filmation and its founder, Lou Scheimer.
Eon Kid: Season 1: Vol. 1 Newly fused with the long-lost Fist of Eon, a robotic arm with built-in weapons, young Marty begins a quest to revive his family's secret legacy, master his powers and save the world from the General and his army of evil robots. With his dog, Buttons, by his side, Marty must learn from Master Zhang how to harness the power of the iron fist so he can help the Government Central Defense Force defeat the General's forces.
Frank The lives of a disjointed city-dwelling family are irrevocably transformed when they decide to take in a mangy flea-bitten mutt named Frank while vacationing in their newly inherited island summer home. Starring character actor Jon Gries of Napoleon Dynamite fame, this heartwarming tale from director Douglas Cheney also stars Cynthia Watros, Brittany Robertson, Ashton Dierks, Brian Burnett and Greg Amici.
Holly Hobbie and Friends: Fabulous Fashion Show Beloved icon Holly Hobbie and her friends have fun strutting their stuff and showing off their fabulous fashion sense when the Hey Girls Club decides to put on a fashion show in this sparkling animated program. Based on the popular 19th-century doll with the giant bonnet, the contemporary version of Holly Hobbie has delighted girls since the 1970s. Two included songs provide an opportunity for sing-along fun!
Ni Hao Kai-Lan: Super Special Days Join preschooler Kai-lan and her friends in animated adventures that help youngsters navigate their social and emotional worlds while exploring the intersection of American and Mandarin Chinese language and culture. This collection features "Dragonboat Festival," where Rintoo must learn to deal with defeat, "Twirly Whirly Flyers," in which Tolee accidentally breaks a bridge, and two additional episodes, "Beach Day" and "Everybody's Hat Parade."
Play With Me Sesame: Furry, Fun and Healthy, Too Grover, Frazzle Monster and Bert invite preschoolers to join them for fun and learning in this activity-focused program about the importance of exercise, dental hygiene, getting enough rest and eating right. Frazzle takes viewers along on a trip to the dentist, personal trainer Grover gets kids moving and Bert shows kids how to play the Oatmeal Game! The program features Sesame Street clips, games and activities.
Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll When Strawberry and her friends form a band called Strawberry Jam in the hopes of winning a big talent show, they find that they must learn to respect one another's opinions and cooperate if they want to make sweet music together. Then, when a trumpet-playing friend wants to join the band, Strawberry helps her understand that practice is a virtue if you want to be able to give your very best.
Tom and Jerry Tales: Vol. 5 Everybody's favorite cat-and-mouse rivalry is updated for a new generation in this collection of animated shorts featuring the cute and cunning Jerry, who time and again outwits the ever-hopeful Tom, this time on skateboards, dirt bikes and more. Adventures include surfing in "Endless Bummer," a hunt for elusive prey in "Sasquashed" and a meeting with legendary monster hunter Van Helsing in "Monster Con."
Platonov In this BBC production of Anton Chekhov's first play, Rex Harrison stars as Mikhail Platonov, a schoolteacher who reconnects with an old flame while spending a summer weekend with friends. Seeing Sofia (Joanna Dunham) again revives romantic feelings in Mikhail, and Sofia feels the same, despite her recent marriage to another man. But time has changed both of them -- and may have taken away their one chance at love.
The Cherry Orchard (1962 / 1981) Judi Dench stars in these two productions of Anton Chekhov's play about a spoiled, aging aristocratic lady who loses her cherry orchard estate to foreclosure. A young Dench is cast alongside John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Ian Holm and Dorothy Tutin in the 1962 Royal Shakespeare Company presentation, and in director Richard Eyre's 1981 production, Dench leads the cast as Madame Ranevskaya with her BAFTA award-winning performance.
The Seagull / An Artist's Story All-star casts shine in BBC productions of two plays by Anton Chekhov. The Seagull stars Stephen Rea as struggling avant-garde playwright Constantin. As the curtain rises on his latest work, the interference of his mother (Zoe Caldwell) and her lover (Michael Gambon) threatens to eclipse its success. In An Artist's Story, Anton (Patrick Stewart), a painter, debates his role as an observer of life with a charity worker devoted to social change.
The Three Sisters Olga (Eileen Atkins), Masha (Janet Suzman) and Irina (Michele Dotrice) and their brother Andrei (Anthony Hopkins) share their late father's home in provincial Russia. After enduring 11 years away from their native Moscow, the sisters pin their hopes for return on Andrei's future. But his marriage to a domineering village woman could shatter their dreams of a homecoming. This adaptation of Anton Chekhov's masterpiece was produced by the BBC.
The Wood Demon / The Proposal / The Wedding The BBC presents three short plays by Anton Chekhov. "The Wood Demon," an early version of "Uncle Vanya," stars Ian Holm as a landowner who's determined to stop deforestation in his corner of the Russian countryside. The one-act farce "The Proposal" satirizes the tendency of wealthy families to marry for mutual financial gain. And a prominent naval officer's secret life is exposed when he receives an invitation to "The Wedding."
Uncle Vanya (1970 / 1991) Anton Chekhov's masterwork comes to life in two adaptations by the BBC. Aging Vanya is caretaker of his late sister's farm, now owned by his brother-in-law. The estate, its residents and visitors remind Vanya of better times and missed opportunities. The 1970 version stars Anthony Hopkins, Freddie Jones and Ann Bell; Ian Holm, David Warner, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Ian Bannen headline the 1991 production.
Dick: The Devil Dared Me To Becoming the greatest stuntman in his country is the inspired goal of a crackpot New Zealand daredevil in this twisted comedy that's loaded to the gills with stunts, gore and general mayhem. Randy Campbell (director Chris Stapp) is the fearless lad who hails from a family of failed (and very dead) stuntmen. With the "help" of stunt coordinator Dick Johansonson (Matt Heath), Randy prepares to make the ultimate jump in a rocket car.
Jack the Dog Aptly nicknamed "Jack the Dog" for his womanizing ways, married photographer Jack (Nestor Carbonell) spends much of his time trying to hide his affairs from his wife, Faith (Barbara Williams), who finally gets fed up and walks out on him. Forced to face his faults while raising his young son, Sam (Andrew J. Ferchland), alone, Jack soon learns some important life lessons in this moving indie comedy.
Legacy When a nerdy undergrad (Kate Albrecht) dies on campus in the throes of Rush Week, three of a Greek house's hottest sorority sisters (Haylie Duff, Madeline Zima and Monica Lo) emerge as tempting suspects. But they couldn't have committed such a cold-blooded crime -- could they? While Detective Strasburg (Tom Green) digs deeper to learn the truth, the ladies work their womanly wiles to keep him guessing.
Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment Standup: Season 2 Hosts Doug Williams and Biz Markie oversee this second season of outrageous stand-up featuring a fresh crop of comedians who push freedom of speech to the limit, including Donnell Rawlings, Lavell Crawford, Reggie Steele and Ian Edwards. Sheryl Underwood, Paula Bel, Darryl Brunson, Sexy Marlo, Gary Owen, Marilyn Martinez and A.J. Jamal also make appearances in this series executive-produced by funnyman Martin Lawrence.
Ninja Cheerleaders The kicks and twists come fast in this wild comedy about three lovely community college cheerleaders and martial arts crime fighters who must rescue their sensei from crooks and still keep their GPA high enough to transfer into an Ivy League school. If that wasn't enough, they must also find time to win a stripping competition to finance their academic dreams. Trishelle Cannatella, Ginny Weirick and Maitland McConnell star.
Outside Sales Hapless salesman Paul Wells (Lucas Fleischer) watches his personal and professional life crumble when he discovers his wife's been having an affair with one of his co-workers (Blayne Weaver). But things start looking up when a fresh face (Tricia O'Kelley) joins the office staff. Can Paul pull it together and show his archrival -- who's become his new boss -- that he hasn't completely lost his dignity?
The Search for John Gissing Businessman Matthew Barnes (Mike Binder) is wrapping up an important merger between his firm and another conglomerate. But an embittered employee in his firm, John Gissing (Alan Rickman), feels he should have been the one to get Matthew's job and sets his sights on sabotage. What unfolds is a comically twisted plan to bring down his rival. Janeane Garofalo co-stars in this sharp satire of corporate culture.
The Secret Life of Girls Coming of age in the 1970s with a die-hard hippie mom (Linda Hamilton) and an emotionally distant dad (Eugene Levy) isn't easy for Natalie (Majandra Delfino), and life gets even more complicated when she learns that her father -- a psychology professor -- is sleeping with one of his students. Caught in the crossfire between her warring parents, 15-year-old Natalie realizes she's the only one in the family who's behaving like a grown-up.
Watching the Detectives Owner of Gumshoe Video, movie geek Neil (Cillian Murphy) leads an unexciting life, preferring to get his thrills from his favorite noir films. But when gorgeous flesh-and-blood femme fatale Violet (Lucy Liu) walks into his life, Neil finds that silver screen intrigue, adventure and danger are no match for the real thing. Directed by Paul Soter, this charming romantic comedy co-stars Jason Sudeikis, Heather Burns, Dennis Gubbins and Tara Orr.
Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club After spending nearly a decade in prison, felon G (hip-hop sensation the Game) discovers that it's all too easy to resume a life of violence and crime. But when he falls for a woman who's on the other side of the law, he gains a fresh incentive to walk the straight and narrow. But can he really change into a new man? Ivan Frank directs this gritty urban drama that also stars Shari Headley.
Felon After accidentally killing a burglar while trying to protect his family, regular guy Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) finds himself convicted of involuntary manslaughter and thrown into a maximum security prison for three years. Facing a harsh new world -- including a notorious mass murderer cellmate (Val Kilmer) and regular beatings organized by the head guard (Harold Perrineau) -- Wade soon realizes he'll have to toughen up if he's going to survive.
Gospel According to Harry Viggo Mortensen stars as Wes, a man whose marriage to the lovely Karen (Jennifer Rubin) is disintegrating before his eyes, yet neither Wes nor Karen seem to be capable of reversing their downward spiral. When Wes confides in a strange tax collector, Harry (Jack Kehoe), he discovers only further disappointment. Lech Majewski directs this surreal satire on the transient, television-saturated nature of life in modern America. Michael Kott co-stars.
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer Mexican-American family matriarch Dona Genoveva (Lucy Gallardo), her divorced daughter Lolita (Elizabeth Peña) and teenage granddaughter Blanca (America Ferrera) all tinker with love during one sleepy summer in their Arizona border town. Dona's driving lessons take an unexpected turn, while things heat up at the butcher shop where Lolita works, and Blanca cooks up some romance for herself. This charming drama received a Grand Jury Prize nod at Sundance.
The Glittering Prizes This acclaimed British miniseries focuses on a group of 1950s-era Cambridge University students in their idealistic college days and follows them as they graduate into a world of social upheaval and personal struggle in the decades that follow. Each finds his or her expectations sharply curtailed as they gain or lose their sought-after "glittering prize." Nigel Havers, Tom Conti, Angela Down, John Gregg and Barbara Kellerman star.
3 A.M. Michael is skeptical when his friend claims he is visited every night at 3 a.m. by a ghost, until he has a paranormal experience himself and soon after discovers strange, repeating coincidences with the number three. Now with the help of his sister, he must discover whether the creepy recurring threes are a warning -- or a threat. Greg Niecestro, Suzy Sparacio and Cassie Prena star in this twisted tale of supernatural horror.
Survival A gang of college pals retreats into the forest for a weekend of wild partying, but little do they know that a pair of deranged backwoods brothers have different plans in store for them. The siblings capture the students one by one, physically and mentally torture them until only their basic instincts for survival remain. Joe Francis directs this creepy fright fest starring Don Prentiss and Matt McClure.
Big Fish in Middlesex Partying all night and then going home to his mom's house, 23-year-old Leap (Keith Ward) at least has the comfort of his beautiful girlfriend, Paige (Alexis Katherine) -- until she announces that she's heading for college next year. Leap sorts it all out amid the blue-collar street life of his small southern hometown. Writer-director Jonathan Straiton's absorbing indie drama won Best Feature at the 2006 Myrtle Beach International Film Festival.
Brand Upon the Brain Filmmaker Guy Maddin's intriguing homage to silent films centers on a man (Erik Steffen Maahs) who returns to his childhood home on an abandoned island and uncovers the shocking truth about his mysterious parents. Exploring the orphanage his parents ran when he was a child, Guy unearths a world of disturbing science experiments and diabolical schemes. Narrated by Isabella Rossellini, this unique film recalls some of cinema's earliest works.
Glass Lips Mixing cinema and video art to stunning effect, director Lech Majewski's often surreal experimental feature -- drawn from 33 interconnected short films -- focuses on the musings of young bard Sebastian (Patryk Czajka), who's confined to a sanitarium. Traumatized by recollections of his brutal past and an abusive father (Grzegorz Przybyl), Sebastian finds refuge in bizarre visions of a far-off future.
Irina Palm Desperate for cash to pay for an operation for her ailing grandson Ollie (Corey Burke), 50-year-old Maggie (portrayed by rock legend Marianne Faithfull) finally resorts to prostitution in London's Soho District. Renamed Irina Palm by her new boss, Miki (Miki Manojlovic), she develops a sexual technique that puts her services in high demand in this quirky comedy-drama from Germany.
Smart People An unexpected romance with a charming former student (Sarah Jessica Parker) and a surprise visit from his wild adopted brother (Thomas Haden Church) conspire to turn the life of surly widowed professor Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid) upside down. But after nursing his bitterness for so many years, is the self-absorbed academic ready for change? Ellen Page and Ashton Holmes co-star in this witty dramedy from director Noam Murro.
I'm Through with White Girls After years of dating white women, an unconventional "brotha" (Anthony Montgomery) vows to try his luck with some "sistahs" of his own race. But when he falls for a self-described "half-Rican Canadian" (Lia Johnson), is it possible he's found his soul mate? True, she isn't black -- but her race is only part of the problem. For this longtime commitment-phobe to settle down, he'll have to drastically change his ways.
The American Mall While working in her mother's music store, aspiring musician Ally (Nina Dobrev) finds a kindred spirit in Joey (Rob Mayes), the mall's custodian and a budding rock star. The friends encourage each other's musical dreams until the mall owner's snarky daughter butts in. Now, the pair must find a way to save the music store and realize their own aspirations. Shawn Ku directs this musical romantic comedy co-starring Autumn Reeser.
The Garden of Earthly Delights When British art historian Claudine learns that her cancer is terminal, she abandons caution and takes her lover, Chris, on an extraordinary journey to Venice, where their passion finds fulfillment in the fantastic paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. Videotaping their trip, Claudine intends to leave Chris a haunting record of their emotional and spiritual discoveries. Lech Majewski directs, and Claudine Spiteri and Chris Nightingale star.
Juncture After she's told that cancer will end her life within months, Anna Carter decides to make her final days count by hunting down criminals who have managed to escape justice -- until now. Herself a victim of a heinous, decades-old crime that left the rest of her family dead, Anna now races to somehow right the wrong done to her loved ones before death comes knocking for her. James Seale directs this action-thriller starring Kristine Blackport.
The Killing Gene The crimes of a sadistic killer force a cop who has seen it all to take another look at a case he'd hoped was closed in this grizzly tale of violence and gang warfare. All along someone has been trying to push Detective Eddie Argo (Stellan Skarsgård) and his rookie partner, (Melissa George), into action and make Argo pay for his past decisions by murdering members of a local gang. Selma Blair co-stars.
The Secret In the wake of a tragic accident, the body of 16-year-old Samantha Marris (Olivia Thirlby) serves as a resting place for her dead mother's lingering spirit (Lili Taylor), drastically shifting the dynamic between the teen girl and her still-grieving father (David Duchovny). Swiss-born director Vincent Perez makes his English-language debut with this supernatural drama based on the Japanese film Himitsu.
Go-Lion: Vol. 2 In the aftermath of Earth's destruction, five interstellar travelers are enslaved by the Galra Empire. From their new home planet of Altea, the heroes pilot the mighty robot Golion into battle against the evil Daibazal and his Deathblack Beastmen. This volume includes episodes 19-52 of the original series that was later edited into "Voltron: Defender of the Universe." Darker and more complex, this version brings new elements to the classic story.
Sasami: Season 1 When spunky Sasami was a child, her parents forbade her to use her magical powers, so she kept them a secret. But now that she is in fifth grade, she has formed a Magical Girl Club with the support of her teacher, Miss Washu. Sasami and her friends, who also have special abilities, are learning to control their powers in order to use them both in school and while they partake in adventures in exhilarating, far-off realms.
A Passion for Sustainability Filmmaker Eric G. Stacey chronicles the decisions of 14 Portland, Ore., businesses to operate according to the visionary "Natural Step Network" business model, which stresses environmental sustainability and social justice alongside profitability. Their decadelong, successful journey can serve as an inspirational example of how creative thinking and focused passion can blaze new trails in business and in life.
A Walk to Beautiful In Ethiopia, a country with few hospitals and even fewer roads that lead to them, five women are on a journey to rebuild their lives after suffering devastating losses in childbirth. When the women survive but their babies do not, they are summarily shunned by their families. Now, they must make their way to a hospital in Addis Ababa, where they hope to receive treatment for fistula, a condition caused by obstructed labor during childbirth.
Aftermath: Population Zero What would happen on earth if suddenly every human being on the planet vanished? This fascinating program from National Geographic explores how nature would establish a new equilibrium in the absence of human influence. How long would it take for animals and plants to reclaim even our most majestic cities, or for our greatest architectural wonders to crumble to dust? Eventually, would there be any trace of us left at all?
Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel Featuring photos taken by paparazzi and others who happened on the scene, this documentary examines the tragic 1997 car accident in which Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed died and tells the story of the photographers who were arrested. Produced by the U.K.'s Channel 4, the program reveals a never-before-scene photographic record of the events that transpired in the hour following the crash in Paris's Pont de l'Alma tunnel.
Flying the Secret Sky In 1940, Nazi air strikes decimated Britain's Royal Air Force fleet of American planes. This intriguing documentary tells of the canny solution that helped restore the Allies' dominance. Volunteer civilian pilots departing from Canada braved long flights across the North Atlantic in the middle of winter to deliver new planes. Interviews, vintage footage and home movies profile the valiant few who undertook this little-known mission.
Happy Valley Director R.K. Williams goes behind the shiny façade of a seemingly idyllic Utah community to explore the deep secret many of its residents share: addiction to prescription drugs and other substances. Potent, personal testimonials from recovering addicts and candid interviews with local police, doctors and others also reveal the stifling environment of shame and denial that both hides and contributes to the problem.
Inside the Circle For four years, filmmaker Marcy Garriott followed three young break-dancers -- Omar, Josh and Romeo -- as they struggled to be the best. The result is this kinetic documentary that showcases explosive performances as well as the b-boy lifestyle. Though beset with legal troubles, poverty and limited practice time, the guys put heart and soul into their quest for stardom. Grupo Fantasma's Adrian Quesada provides the pulsating soundtrack.
Jane Goodall's When Animals Talk Primatologist, ethologist and anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall examines how animals communicate with each other and their human friends, through stories of animals that have changed people's lives, scientific research into animal language and more. Goodall, who has earned multiple awards for her work in animal research and welfare, focuses on how communication between animals and humans can lead to surprising mutual benefits.
Naturalist E.O. Wilson: Lord of the Ants In 1975, naturalist E.O. Wilson revealed a concept called sociobiology that made him a lightning rod for controversy. This episode of PBS's "Nova" follows Wilson's path from authority on ants to Pulitzer Prize-winning evolutionary biologist. Does his hypothesis that evolution affects social behavior in every species, including man, follow in Darwin's footsteps, or is it, as critics claim, an argument for eugenesis? Actor Harrison Ford narrates.
Poisoned by Polonium: The Litvinenko File Filmmaker Andrei Nekrasov delivers a thought-provoking documentary about the state of modern Russia under the rule of Vladimir Putin and the role the government might have played in the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. Abandoning all neutrality, Nekrasov points to a history of cover-ups and corruption to make his case that Russia's Federal Security Service has blood on its hands.
Special Forces: Untold Stories: Vol. 1 Two teams of Special Forces -- one during the Persian Gulf War, the other during the Vietnam War -- must draw upon all their resourcefulness, strength and determination in these untold true stories of commando courage. First, British SAS commandos must battle bad intelligence on a mission to dismantle Scud missile launchers in Iraq. In the next segment, eight U.S. Green Berets must endure a night of enemy fire while trapped in a concrete bunker.
Special Forces: Untold Stories: Vol. 2 Two elite Special Forces units face immense tactical challenges during this pair of hostage crises -- one in the Netherlands, the other on a Boeing 737. First, the Royal Dutch Marines face twin threats as terrorists seize a commuter train and a nearby elementary school. Next, Germany's GSG-9 forces must devise a strategy for securing the safety of an 80-passenger jetliner -- without knowing the number of hijackers or the plane's destination.
The Long Ride Home: Run for the Wall This moving documentary follows the annual cross-continent pilgrimage made by hundreds of motorcycle riders as they journey from Ontario, Calif., to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor America's POWs and MIAs. Featuring interviews with veterans along the way, this program pays tribute to those who gave the last full measure of devotion for their country and to those determined to ensure that their memory endures.
Big Sean Allan: Superhuman Bodybuilding Follow the progress of renowned bodybuilder Big Sean Allan as he prepares for the 2007 Mr. Olympia competition, trimming his amazing physique from an off-season 300 pounds to a lean and cut competition weight, in this inspiring documentary. Allan is well-known for his attention to form in the gym, and the film features plenty of jaw-dropping weight-lifting sequences, including his amazing 500-pound bench press.
Bra Boys This documentary focuses on the history and struggles of the Bra Boys, a notorious surf gang from the Australian suburb of Maroubra that's earned a reputation for being legendary partiers, rebellious thugs and incredible big-wave surfers. Continually at odds with the authorities, the tattooed and often criticized Bra Boys have had to rely on one another to survive in a society that would just as well see them displaced.
Chris Cormier: Real Deal Bodybuilding Get ready for the 2004 Mr. Olympia contest with renowned bodybuilder Chris Cormier in this documentary that follows the four-time Iron Man Pro Invitational winner into the gym and through his daily life. With two decades of experience, Cormier explains what it takes to make it as a competitive bodybuilder, with rigorous workouts at the famous Venice Beach Gold's Gym, and demonstrates some of the perks in a shopping spree down Rodeo Drive.
EliteXC: Uprising: Rua vs. Lawler Witness a crowning moment in Elite Xtreme Combat's fighting history as challenger "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler takes on defending middleweight champion Murilo "Ninja" Rua for the right to wear the coveted EliteXC belt. Other fights on the card include Nick Diaz vs. "Iron" Mike Aina, "Smokin'" Joe Villasenor against "Killer Bee" Riki Fukuda, Jake Shields vs. Renato "Charuto" Verissimo and more.
Under Pressure: Diary of a Cage Fighter's Wife Tamera Sturgis documents all the blood, gashes and bruises as her husband, Todd, transforms himself from an amateur wrestling champ to a mixed martial arts star in a revealing look at this popular sport, seen from outside the ring. The film showcases Todd's grueling training routine as he prepares for each bout, while emotional commentary from Tamera and other family members reveals the sacrifices that must be made in pursuit of steel cage glory.
Blue Murder: Set 3 In this popular British series, Detective Chief Inspector Janine Lewis (Caroline Quentin) balances a demanding home life as a single mother of four and an even more demanding job supervising a squad of detectives tasked with solving some of Manchester's biggest crimes. In this collection, Lewis investigates the murder of a teenage soccer star, a deadly accident on a military base and the death of a doctor embroiled in a malpractice suit.
Caroline in the City: Season 1 Lea Thompson stars in this charming sitcom as Manhattanite Caroline Duffy, an up-and-coming cartoonist who infuses her popular comic strip with aspects of her own chaotic private life. Despite her on-again, off-again relationship with sometime boyfriend Del (Eric Lutes), Caroline continues to look for a real romance, never realizing that her colorist, Richard (Malcolm Gets), is madly in love with her.
Comedy Central's Kenny vs. Spenny: Vol. 1: Uncensored One-upmanship reaches new depths as Canadian slackers Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice find new and diabolical ways to prove who's top dog in these episodes from Season 4 of their hit Comedy Central show, including "Who Can Handle More Torture?" Other outlandishly inventive episodes are "Who Can Blow the Biggest Fart?," "Who Can Be Tied to a Goat the Longest?," "Who Can Commit the Most Crime?," "First Guy to Stop Singing Loses" and more.
Dave's World: Season 1 Beloved sitcom star Harry Anderson plays Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Dave Barry (a series contributing writer), who is forever balancing his child-of-the-'60s idealism with his suburban-dad-of-the-'90s reality in this warm and witty comedy. The cast includes DeLane Matthews as Dave's more-responsible spouse and Shadoe Stevens as Dave's editor and best friend. Florence Henderson and Pat Morita guest star.
Prison Break: Season 3 After a season on the run, Michael (Wentworth Miller) finds himself back behind bars, incarcerated in a nightmarish Panamanian penitentiary that authorities have deserted in the wake of a prison riot. With brutal inmates running the show -- led by the vicious Lechero (Robert Wisdom) -- just staying alive will be a challenge for Michael. Meanwhile, Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) is on the outside working on the next jailbreak.
South Park: Season 11 In the 11th season of the wildly popular and outrageously raunchy Comedy Central animated series, the potty-mouthed pals return for more adventures. Randy faces an angry community after he accidentally utters a racial slur on "Wheel of Fortune," Butters is sent to a camp where he can "pray the gay away" when his dad suspects he's sexually curious, Ms. Garrison takes out her romantic failures on the class, and Hillary Clinton comes to South Park.
That Girl: Season 4 While working tirelessly to reach the stages of Broadway and make her parents and boyfriend, Don (Ted Bessell), proud, aspiring actress and model Ann (Marlo Thomas) reluctantly performs some less-than-ideal jobs as a fashion spy, a dancing chicken and a meter maid. Memorable moments from Season 4 of this classic sitcom include Ann making bad stock market moves, becoming jealous of Don's ex-girlfriend and accidentally being hypnotized.
The Love Boat: Season 1: Vol. 2 Join Capt. Stubing (Gavin MacLeod), Doc (Bernie Kopell), Gopher (Fred Grandy), Isaac (Ted Lange) and the gang on that iconic luxury liner, the Pacific Princess, for 13 episodes of romance, laughs and an endless parade of guest stars in this first season of the beloved series. The star-studded passenger list includes Leslie Nielsen, Shelley Long, Marion Ross, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Patty Duke, Jamie Farr, Ricky Nelson and many more.
The Wire: Season 5 Baltimore's labyrinthine drug trade takes on yet another dimension in this Peabody Award-winning television drama. The fifth and final season focuses on the media's role in framing and revealing the fundamental political, economic and social realities depicted over the course of the series, while also resolving story lines of the numerous characters woven throughout the narrative arc of the show.
Wall Street Warriors: Season 2 Six new up-and-coming movers and shakers of Wall Street star in another season of the reality show where only the toughest survive. Tag along with Laetitia as she tries to get her foot in the Wall Street door; watch as Larry and Jessica go for broke on the commodities market; see Brett try to balance his private equity firm with his charitable work; and follow along as Lance and James supervise their team of young stockbrokers.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People In this self-help video, leadership development guru and consultant Stephen R. Covey presents the proven precepts he first popularized with his best-selling 1989 book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey's inspiring and clear-cut Foundational Principles -- which apply to personal and professional issues -- will show you how to profoundly change your life while maintaining your integrity.
Voltio: En Vivo Desde Oso Blanco Urban Latin sensation Voltio -- a one-time gang member -- reconciles with his criminal past in this electrifying concert for prisoners in the notorious Caribbean prison Oso Blanco. Tracks include "Voy Pa'Dentro," "El Concierto," "Guerras Callejeras," "Baby Phillie 352," "Padre Nuestro," "Cementerio Para Los Vivos," "Locked Up," "En Mi Puertorro" and "Claro De Luna." Bonus features include rehearsal footage and scenes with the prisoners.
Jagoda in the Supermarket Jagoda (Branka Katic), who works the checkout stand at the local supermarket, is disillusioned with her love life. In her funk, she's ends up offending a perfectly kind elderly woman. All sanity lets loose when Marko, the war veteran grandson (Srdjan Todorovic), shows up to seek vengeance. The workers are taken hostage, the SWAT team intervenes, and Jagoda and Marko form an unusual bond. Dusan Milic directs this quirky romantic comedy.
Kiss of Death Having contracted a fatal disease from a group of punks who brutally raped her, a once mild-mannered woman persuades a reluctant martial arts master to train her, then sets out to wreak exquisitely bloody vengeance upon her attackers. With nothing left to lose, this one-woman kung fu army shows the gang they definitely messed with the wrong woman. Meng Hua Ho directs this over-the-top exploitation bonanza starring Ping Chen and Lieh Lo.
Sagrado Corazón The members of a dangerous criminal gang, who leave fear and destruction in their wake, slowly realize that while their victims are too scared to seek revenge, their partners in crime can quickly become their deadliest enemies. Félix Lozano and Arturo Macías star in this exciting Mexican action-thriller that proves there is no such thing as loyalty among thieves, and that there may only be one way out of this life of crime.
The Ascent Acclaimed Soviet film director Larisa Shepitko offers the rigorous and surprisingly spiritual story of two Russian World War II partisans isolated from their comrades deep in the woods, trying desperately to avoid capture by Nazi forces. The tense drama also explores the landscape of the human soul and its capacity for loyalty and betrayal, themes masterfully culminated in the film's final scenes. Boris Plotnikov and Vladimir Gostyukhin star.
The Legend of the Shadowless Sword When an invading army conquers the ancient Korean capital of Balhae, beautiful swordswoman Yeon So-ha (So-yi Yoon) sets out to help the kingdom's prince (Seo-jin Lee) return from exile and reclaim his rightful throne. But with assassins and criminals hot on their trail, only by unsheathing their lethal blades can they defeat their enemies and return the prince to power. Director Young-jun Kim's martial arts thriller also features Hyeon-jun Shin.
The Orange Thief When an orphan forced to steal fruit from an orchard in order to survive is caught and thrown into a Sicilian prison, his hardened cell mate decides to help him go straight by making him an offer he can't refuse. Once released, the young man must record the convict's reluctant girlfriend performing folk songs. Andrea Calabrese stars in this comedic pastiche from three directors (each filmed one-third of the movie independently from the others).
The Roe's Room Bound to a suffocating existence, a young man embarks on a marvelous journey of the imagination, transforming ordinary details of his room into fantastic images of natural beauty, where the cycles of life mysteriously play themselves out. Lech Majewski directs this hypnotic hymn to the power of the mind to reveal beauty in the starkest of circumstances. Rafal Olbrychski, Elzbieta Mazur and Mieczyslaw Czepulonis star.
Wide Awake This disturbing Korean thriller centers on a little boy who -- due to a lack of sufficient anesthetic -- remains in a conscious but immobile state during open-heart surgery. Not surprisingly, he's severely traumatized by the torturous experience. Many years later, the now-grown man embarks on a homicidal tear in an attempt to exact revenge on the powers that be for his past and present pain and suffering.
Wings Soviet film favorite Maya Bulgakova stars in director Larisa Shepitko's 1966 moving tale of a once-renowned Soviet fighter pilot, now constrained to a lackluster life as a schoolmistress far from the seats of power. Though her wartime exploits are renowned, she struggles against the despair of a lost love and a life increasingly marked by meaninglessness and waste. Sergei Nikonenko and Zhanna Bolotova co-star.
