New Releases for November 25th, 2008 (Full List)
Auto Recovery Slim (Aaron Andre Frazier) and his two partners (Tyrone Burton and Brian Keith Hall) are riding high in the racket of auto repossession, specializing in high-end, highly protected cars. But a new assignment may put the brakes on Slim's future. Assigned to seize the car of a corrupt pastor, Slim falls for the pastor's daughter and finds himself choosing between his heart or a heartbreaking 20-year prison sentence.
Hancock Will Smith stars as Hancock, a down-and-out superhero forced to employ a PR expert, Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), to help repair his image when the public grows weary of all the damage he has inflicted during his life-saving heroics. Ray's idea of imprisoning the antihero to make the world miss him proves successful, but will Hancock stick to his new sense of purpose or slip back into old habits? Charlize Theron co-stars in Peter Berg's action comedy.
Hero Among Heroes / Cheetah on Fire / Dark City / Holy Virgin vs. Evil Dead This quartet of action films starring Hong Kong's Donnie Yen kicks off with Hero Among Heroes, in which a young noble (Yen) comes of age amid a backdrop of the opium epidemic in China. In Cheetah on Fire, the authorities pursue a weapons dealer with a computer chip. Cop Yen helps a group of treasure-hunting teens in Dark City. And a teacher (Yen) must rescue his kidnapped students in Holy Virgin vs. Evil Dead.
Two Tigers Sent to Shanghai as the supposed manager of a technology company, Hungarian Gilda (Andrea Osvárt) is actually an assassin hired to kill a prominent Lebanese official. She soon finds a kindred spirit in the form of her neighbor, Lin (Selena Khoo), a beautiful high-class prostitute. Both women must hide their sensitive hearts behind an armor of independence in this sexy, butt-kicking action thriller set in "the Paris of the Orient."
Lunar Jim Join bold voyager Lunar Jim and his friends as they explore the land of Moona Luna in this collection of animated episodes in which youngsters can learn valuable skills such as problem solving. Episodes include "Meteor Mystery," in which a giant magnetic meteor causes havoc with the village's electrical systems; and "Real Slick, Ted," in which Ted gets his head caught between a pair of moon rocks.
Space Chimps Playful circus chimp Ham III -- grandson of the first simian astronaut -- finds himself knee deep in an intergalactic revolution when NASA drafts him to recover a missing probe in this comic animated adventure. Can Ham and his shipmates, the intrepid Lt. Luna and testy skipper Titan, save a planet under the thumb of a nefarious tyrant? Celebrity voices include Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Daniels and Stanley Tucci.
The Nutty Professor 2: Facing the Fear Jerry Lewis voices his legendary role of Julius Kelp -- aka The Nutty Professor -- in this animated sequel to the classic comedy. Kelp's grandson, Harold (voiced by Drake Bell), finds Julius's special elixir and releases an arrogant alter ego. Soon, his dual life becomes humorously chaotic, ultimately leading to a showdown when Harold's cooler half tries to take over for good. Andrew Francis also lends his voice to the film.
Schoolgirls in Chains Deranged brothers Frank (Gary Kent) and Johnny (John Stoglin) take perverse pleasure in capturing unsuspecting young women. Egged on by their equally psychotic mother, the men chain their prey in the cellar of their remote country house and subject them to sadistic games. Humiliation, torture and rape are only the beginning in this twisted exploitation classic from sleaze master Donald M. Jones, director of The Love Butcher.
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All Ring in the season with some holiday truthiness! Stephen Colbert, star of Comedy Central's satirical gem "The Colbert Report" celebrates the glory -- and unyielding commercialism -- of Christmas with this star-studded holiday special. Elvis Costello, John Legend, Feist, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith and Jon Stewart join America's favorite delusional pundit for an evening of yuletide fun and cheer that's sure to tickle your funny bone.
Fred Claus The joy and happiness of the holiday season is ruined for Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti) when his cranky older brother Fred (Vince Vaughn) comes to stay with him in the North Pole. Always outdone by his saintlike brother, the bitter Fred, a repo man with a rap sheet, threatens to squash the spirit of Christmas. Kevin Spacey, Miranda Richardson, Kathy Bates and Elizabeth Banks co-star in this yuletide comedy from director David Dobkin.
George Carlin: It's Bad for Ya In his final filmed performance and 14th HBO special, counterculture comic George Carlin urges Americans to just say no to BS, serving up sharp-witted takes on society's ridiculous obsessions, the self-esteem movement fallout and spoiled kids. Ever dubious of authority, the 70-year-old Carlin lets his antiestablishment flag fly by riffing on America's follow-the-leader mentality and skewering politicians and other so-called experts.
Loudmouth Soup Fresh off the boat from New York, successful filmmakers Catherine (Melanie Chapman) and Jason Grant (Joe Mellis) navigate their first Hollywood party in Adam Watstein's indie film. Determined not to talk business, the couple quickly learns that friendship is the last thing the partygoers have in mind. Dinner is served, and tension appears to be the main course, but the vibes change completely with the arrival of a surprise guest.
Meet Dave Ingeniously disguised as a human, an alien vessel and its crew of miniature extraterrestrials lands on Earth looking for a way to save their planet from destruction. Eddie Murphy heads the cast in dual roles as the ship's commander and the spacecraft -- which promptly becomes infatuated with a pretty earthling (Elizabeth Banks). Gabrielle Union and Scott Caan also star in this comic sci-fi tale from director Brian Robbins.
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League A team of young hockey players with little skill and a knack for losing gets a chance to salvage its miserable season under the guidance of the outrageous Hanson Brothers, Steve (Steve Carlson), Jeff (Jeff Carlson) and Jack (David Hanson). The third installment in the Slap Shot series, this action-packed sports comedy features Leslie Nielsen and all-star hockey players Mark Messier and Doug Gilmour.
The Donor Conspiracy Expelled from med school after rigging a cadaver with remote-control genitalia, pals Gavin (Ross Kelly) and Curt (Matt Sanford) stumble into the middle of a mafia-run kidney harvest ring. While trying to expose the ring to the doctor who kicked them out of school, our heroes are coerced by Hector the Plunger (Miguel Martinez) and his henchmen, Tiny and Bobo, to perform the kidney surgeries themselves in this bloody-good black comedy.
Waitin' to Live Murdered because he refused to sell his land to a greedy opportunist, Bucko Cassidy (Lee Majors) returns as a ghost to help his grown son, Junior (Derek Hamilton), keep the homestead in the family. While contending with conflicts in his marriage to Ellie (Rachel Wilson), Junior also has to convince everyone around him that he's not crazy -- because he's the only one who can see Bucko. Barry Corbin costars in this quirky comedy.
Another Life After impulsively jumping into marriage with her stodgy boyfriend (Nick Moran), Edith Graydon (Natasha Little) finds herself rekindling a relationship with a worldly friend (Ioan Gruffudd), which ultimately leads to forbidden passion … and murder. Based on a scandalous true story that grabbed the era's headlines, this engrossing period drama (set mainly in 1920s England) also stars Imelda Staunton and Tom Wilkinson.
Beautiful Ohio Actor Chad Lowe makes his directorial debut with this coming-of-age drama about two brothers growing up in the unconventional household of their progressive parents (William Hurt, Rita Wilson). Eldest son Clive (David Call) struggles with expectations of being a prodigy, while William (Brett Davern) contends with living in his big brother's shadow. Set in the 1970s, this quietly provocative film also stars Michelle Trachtenberg.
Cash Rules Written, directed and produced by independent filmmaker Young Antonio, this gritty urban tale centers on the bullet-riddled exploits of a group of hard-core thugs and a crime spree that launches an all-out war in the streets of Newark, N.J. J.D. Williams of HBO's "The Wire" joins a cast made up of a host of noteworthy hip-hop personalities, including Naughty by Nature's Treach, the Outlawz' Hussein Fatal and 3LW's Naturi Naughton.
Over the GW Sent by their well-meaning parents to a drug rehab center for a one-month stint, siblings Tony (George Gallagher) and Sofia (Kether Donohue) spend two years in the cultish clinic, where the center director, Dr. Hiller, presides over a twisted atmosphere of brainwashing. As their free will slowly erodes, the teens begin to buy into Hiller's plan in this disturbing indie drama from director Nick Gaglia, who based the film on his own experiences.
River Queen After her relationship with a Maori man leads to pregnancy, Sarah (Samantha Morton) -- the daughter of an Irish doctor (Stephen Rea) -- raises her son until he's kidnapped by Maori tribesmen in this epic set in 1860s New Zealand. Still searching for him years later, she enlists the aid of Maori warrior Wiremu (Cliff Curtis) and soon finds herself torn between her passion for Wiremu and the security offered by an Irish soldier (Kiefer Sutherland).
Santa and Pete Before a captive young audience of grandchildren, widower Grandpa Nicholas (James Earl Jones) recounts the story of Christian bishop St. Nick (Hume Cronyn), whose miraculous yuletide antics land him in a Spanish jail. It is there that a kindly cook named Pete (Flex Alexander) sympathizes with St. Nick's plight, risks everything to free him and becomes his assistant in this inventive and heartwarming Christmas treat.
Talento de Barrio Inspired by a beautiful woman, Puerto Rican underworld kingpin Edgar (Daddy Yankee) tries to change his criminal ways by pursuing a musical career as a reggaeton artist. But as he begins to leave the barrio behind him, his gang -- along with the corrupt police on his trail -- refuses to let him go without a fight. José Iván Santiago directs this gritty drama that also stars Katiria Soto, Maestro, César Farrait and Angélica Alcaide.
The Mark of Cain After a bomb kills their company commander in Iraq, British soldiers Treacle (Gerard Kearns) and Shane (Matthew McNulty) are ordered to round up suspects and use torture on the detainees. Back home, the press gets the story and the pair achieves instant infamy. Inspired by the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal, the war drama won Amnesty International's Movies That Matter award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.
Boys Briefs 5 India, Norway, Brazil and the United States provide the settings for this globe-trotting collection of top gay-themed shorts. Two Norwegian boys come of age quickly in "Benny's Gym." A gay American Indian teen pays a price for lusting after a high school jock in "Kali May." A gay crush is outed in a night of "Secrets." And after a deadly accident, boyfriends Danilo and Marcos must assume the responsibilities of parenthood in "You, Me & Him."
Dead of Winter After somebody slips them some LSD at a New Year's Eve party, Kevin (Al Santos) and Tiffany (Sandra McCoy) get into a car accident on their way home and end up stranded in the middle of the dark woods -- and their acid-fueled hallucinations aren't helping matters. Things get worse when their imagined stalkers might be real. Brian McNamara directs this chilling horror story that also stars Carl Nasland.
Madhouse Just before her birthday, good-girl teacher Julia (Trish Everly) dreams of a twin sister she never met. That dream turns into a real-life nightmare when her party is crashed by the deranged, deformed asylum fugitive Mary (Allison Biggers). As the women's uncle, Father James (Dennis Robertson), tries to keep peace between the sisters, the bodies of Julia's friends keep piling up anyway. But Mary may not be the murderer in this wild slasher flick.
Crimson Force While leading a mission to Mars in search of a clean power source for Earth, Capt. Baskin (C. Thomas Howell) stumbles upon a bloody civil war between rival martian factions. Caught between the warring parties, his crew must decide which of the martians to trust. Featuring tons of action and an intriguing storyline, this SciFi Channel original movie also stars David Chokachi, Jeff Fahey and Tony Amendola.
Merlin and the War of the Dragons Young Merlin (Simon Lloyd Roberts), apprentice to a mighty sorcerer known as the Mage (Jürgen Prochnow), finds his wizardry tested when a legion of fire-spewing dragons invades England in this fantasy epic. Though destined to become one of the world's most powerful magicians, Merlin has not yet learned to harness his formidable talent, and defeating the beasties will require all his skills and determination.
Conjurer After moving to the country to start life anew after their child's death, photographer Shawn Burnett (Andrew Bowen) and his wife, Helen (Maxine Bahns), begin to suspect that a ramshackle cabin on their property is haunted. Is the malevolent spirit a long-dead witch who once lived there, as local legend says, or has Shawn's past come back to haunt him? John Schneider plays Helen's brother in this chilling indie from director Clint Hutchison.
Half Broken Things Thrown together by fate inside the protective walls of an English manor, three strangers form a tight-knit surrogate family that proves as dysfunctional as the real thing in this unsettling thriller. At first, things are quiet at Walden Manor, where Jean (Penelope Wilton) has been hired as a professional house-sitter. But complications arise when she opens the door to a pregnant woman (Sinead Matthews) on the run and her companion (Daniel Mays).
Kemper By all accounts, Ed Kemper (Robert Sisko) is an ordinary man in an ordinary life. So when he reveals himself to be the infamous "Co-ed Killer" of Santa Cruz, Calif., the news comes as a shock to Kemper's friend, Detective Tom Harris (Christopher Stapleton). Now it's up to Harris to bring his friend to justice and end the bloodshed in this thriller, inspired by the real case from the early 1970s. Sean Thomas co-stars as Detective Bill Ross.
Darker Than Black The sudden and unexplained appearance of "Hell's Gate" -- a mysterious and seemingly impenetrable field -- wreaks havoc on Tokyo's status quo. But it also adds a new element to the city's social structure: psychics who possess supernatural abilities. The dangerous powers of these so-called "Contractors" are disturbing enough. That is, until one of them -- a killer known as the Black Reaper -- emerges as an even deadlier threat.
Go-Lion: Vol. 3 After defeating Prince Sincline and his evil Galra Empire in an intense battle, the Go-Lion team gets its paws on a ferociously powerful cannon. Joining forces with the other slave planets of Galra, our heroes concoct a daring scheme. Aiming the cannon at the protective force field-protecting Galra, the Go-Lion team plans a full-scale attack on the tyrannical empire in this third volume of the beloved Japanese cartoon.
Sasami: Season 2 The fun continues with the sophomore season of this vibrant anime series that centers on the exploits of magic-wielding fifth-grader Sasami and her supernatural friends that make up the ranks of the deceptively named Cooking Club. Led by the enigmatic Miss Washu, Sasami, Misao, Makato and the rest of the club embark on a series of adventures that takes them to distant worlds and realms beyond their wildest dreams.
Animal Planet: Arctic Exposure with Nigel Marven In this captivating series that originally aired on Animal Planet, British zoologist Nigel Marven leads a nine-month expedition across the Canadian Arctic, beginning at Wapusk National Park on Hudson Bay. Along the way, he spots native wildlife such as polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes and wolves, musk oxen, beluga whales, great gray owls, harp seals and moose. The program also includes a mesmerizing view of the Northern Lights.
Border Filmmaker Chris Burgard presents a forceful examination of the violence routinely occurring near the U.S.-Mexico border and the steps that law enforcement officials and everyday citizens are taking to combat it. Illegal crossings, drug smuggling, rape and murder are just a few of the flashpoints that Burgard exposes in order to generate awareness of the crisis and inspire politicians to get serious about ensuring America's border security.
Herod's Lost Tomb Featuring Israeli archeologist Ehud Netzer, this documentary examines his many-year search for the tomb of Herod the Great, who was made famous in the Gospel of Matthew for his massacre of the male infants of Bethlehem. With visits to renowned Herodian-designed sites, including Caesarea, Masada and the Second Temple of Jerusalem, the film provides an in-depth architectural tour of the infamous King's awe-inspiring edifices.
Amy Bento: Advanced Step Challenge 2 If you want a rigorous workout, step up to the challenge in Amy Bento's latest 54-minute odyssey of stepping, in which the acclaimed instructor presents such hot moves as the fly away, hop hop stick, hip-hop repeater, the weave and more. You'll learn five combos, which are performed first in pairs, then combined. And a cool vocals-only feature lets you play your own favorite workout music while Bento provides her ace instruction.
Amy Bento: Hi-Lo Dome Challenge Get ready for plenty of arm circles, power lunges, big jumps and fancy footwork as fitness pro Amy Bento presents a high-energy toning workout featuring four hot combinations set to the music of DJ Brian Howe. Bento follows each combo with a calorie-burning interval "power-up." She also includes a 26-minute body-sculpting routine designed to work several muscle groups simultaneously. The workouts require 3- to 5-lb. dumbbells and a step.
Amy Bento: Slo-Mo Strength Challenge Acclaimed instructor Amy Bento takes a slow-motion approach to weight-lifting that boosts metabolism, burns calories and applies maximum force on individual muscle groups. The three-day regimen consists of legs on the first day; backs and shoulders on the second; and chest, biceps and triceps on the third. You'll need a step with three risers on each side, a plate-loaded bar, 8- to 25-lb. dumbbells, a stability ball and a resistance band.
TNA: Kurt Angle: Champion Discover the amazing career of TNA champ Kurt Angle with more than six hours of match highlights and interviews. Clips follow Angle's success from collegiate to Olympic and beyond, including his more than 20 world championships. Footage from TNA bouts reveal Angle in action against Booker T., Samoa Joe, Sting, A.J. Styles and more, and there's also a glimpse at the making of the "TNA Impact" video game.
WWE: Cyber Sunday 2008 WWE fans get to choose which of their favorite superstars square off against each other -- plus the rules of the match itself -- in this interactive wrestling event that's driven by online voting. Live from Phoenix's US Airways Center on October 26, 2008, this fifth-annual pay-per-view event features the biggest stars of Raw, SmackDown and ECW, such as John Cena, Undertaker, Triple H, C.M. Punk, JBL and Big Show.
WWE: The History of the Intercontinental Championship Retrace the history of the WWE's Intercontinental Championship with this commemorative program that looks back on its origins and touts the Hall of Fame superstars who've held the prestigious title. Highlights include matches featuring The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, the Ultimate Warrior, Bret "Hit Man" Hart, Mr. Perfect, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat.
Women's Extreme Wrestling: War There's enough hair flying through the air in this collection of extreme women's wrestling matches to prove that the so-called "fairer sex" is just as capable of dishing out mayhem as the men are. You'll see hardcore action from a long list of professional female wrestlers, including F.B.I. ("The Full-Breasted Italian"), Lucy Furr, Black Barbie, One Dirty Broad, Annie Social and Lauren Looselips.
24: Redemption While helping his old friend Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle) build houses for the poor in Africa, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) gets caught in the middle of a military coup. Back in the United States, Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) prepares to be sworn in as president. Filmed on location in South Africa, this stand-alone movie serves as a bridge between the sixth and seventh seasons of the popular show "24" and co-stars Gil Bellows and Jon Voight.
Beverly Hills, 90210: Season 6 Dylan, Brandon, Kelly and the rest of the gang return for a sixth season of this phenomenally popular nighttime soap opera, continuing to come to grips with the ups and downs of becoming young adults and finding their way in the world. In this season, Dylan falls in love with the daughter of the man he believes killed his father; Donna's relationship with Ray takes a dark turn; and a beautiful occasion is marred by tragedy.
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: Season 5 Well, golly! Jim Nabors returns for a fifth and final season of this endearing television classic as the affably inept U.S. Marine from Mayberry with a knack for hilarious high jinks and mild-mannered misadventure. Season highlights include Gomer and Sgt. Carter squaring off for the hand of a beautiful actress, and the platoon lands their big break when they get the chance to sing in an upcoming Hollywood movie.
The Big Easy: Season 2 Rule-bending New Orleans cop Remy McSwain (Tony Crane) continues his complicated relationship with law-abiding federal agent Anne Osborne (Susan Walters) in the second and final season of this cable series, based on the feature film of the same name. Shot on location in the city's sultry Latin Quarter, the boundary-pushing crime drama co-stars Barry Corbin, Karla Tamburrelli, Troy Bryant and Eric George.
The Mahabharata A 3-hour television version of the 9-hour stage production that tells the saga of the world-shattering war between two feuding clans in ancient India. Acclaimed theater and film innovator Peter Brook brings this great masterpiece of world literature to vivid life in an elaborate production. The three parts are entitled "The Game of Dice," "Exile in the Forest" and "The War."
The Mod Squad: Season 2: Vol. 1 Linc (Clarence Williams III), Julie (Peggy Lipton) and Pete (Michael Cole) return for another action-packed season of this hit 1960s series that revolves around the crime-stopping adventures of the three delinquents turned detectives known collectively as the Mod Squad. Season highlights include the team investigating an illegal abortion ring, and a good deed lands Pete at the center of a homicide investigation when he's framed for murder.
Bernstein: Schumann: The Symphonies Conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, 20th-century American composer Leonard Bernstein presents all four of the remarkable symphonies penned by 19th-century German composer Robert Schumann, who was also an influential music critic. One of the most popular composers of his era, Schumann hoped to become a virtuoso pianist, but a hand injury prevented him from realizing that dream and instead led him to composing.
Bernstein: Tchaikovsky: Symphonies No. 4 & 5 In a pair of passionate performances, American composer Leonard Bernstein conducts the New York Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky's Symphony no. 4 and Andante Cantabile, then leads the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the Russian composer's Symphony no. 5. Russian violinist Boris Belkin also makes his American debut as the soloist in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major.
Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras Helmed by Sir Elton John's longtime partner, David Furnish, this candid documentary chronicles a year (1995) in the life of the mercurial British musician, on stage and off. Combining concert footage, home movies and interviews, Furnish sketches an insightful portrait of the man who gave the world such enduring hits as "Bennie and the Jets," "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."
Hall & Oates: Live at the Troubadour "Rock and soul" superstars Daryl Hall and John Oates take the stage in 2008 and perform many of their smash hit songs, including "Maneater," "Kiss on My List," "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" and "Private Eyes." The duo also delights the sold-out crowd with "You Make My Dreams," "She's Gone," "Out of Touch," "When the Morning Comes," "Say It Isn't So," "Family Man" and more. This program also features an interview with the artists.
IanniaIannia Xenakis: Electronic Music 2: Polytope De Cluny / Hibiki-Hana-Ma / Vasarley Greek modernist composer Iannis Xenakis offers this second volume of electronic works. "Polytope de Cluny" and "Hibiki-Hana-Ma" are presented in new and restored tape transfers and are released here commercially in surround sound for the first time. Also featured in this program is the first commercial release of "Fer Chaud," Jacques Brissot and Nicolas Schoeffer's 1957 short film about artist Victor Vasarely.
Moses and Aaron Based on composer Arnold Schoenberg's unfinished Biblical opera, this German import (directed by Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet) chronicles the relationship between Moses (Günter Reich) and his brother Aaron (Louis Devos), and their conversations about God and faith. While Moses attempts to explain God to the masses, Aaron tries to convince his sibling that his austere lecture style needs imagery to bring religious concepts to life.
Paul Simon: Live from Philadelphia Philadelphia's Tower Theater hosts this soulful 1980 Paul Simon concert. Backed by a band featuring several members of Stuff, Simon delivers solo favorites and some personal renditions of songs from his days with Art Garfunkel. The 11-track set includes "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Still Crazy After All These Years," "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," "Late in the Evening" and "The Boxer," closing with "The Sound of Silence."
Ricky Martin: 17 This anthology features music videos for 17 unforgettable hits from Latin music superstar Ricky Martin, including Spanish-language versions of "She Bangs" and "Livin' la Vida Loca," plus "Tal Vez" and "Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo." Other videos include "Loaded," "Y Todo Queda en Nada," "La Bomba" and "Juramento." This program also includes a revealing interview with Martin, behind-the-scenes footage and more.
Rush: Snakes and Arrows: Live Combining musicianship with a spectacular multimedia effects presentation, Canadian rockers Rush put on an unforgettable show that features classics such as "Limelight" and "Tom Sawyer," as well as newer favorites from their "Snakes & Arrows" album. Through intense displays of showmanship, band members Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart continue to prove that they are one of the top live bands in the world.
Super 1's Enjoy Latin music's biggest pop stars singing their No. 1 hit songs, including "Gotas de Agua Dulce" by Juanes, "Lloro Por Ti" by Enrique Iglesias, "Si No Te Hubieras Ido" by Marco Antonio Solís and "Hate That I Love You" by Bisbal and Rihanna. Other artists featured in this compilation include Los Temerarios, Belanova, Gloria Trevi, Wisin y Yandel, Luis Fonsi, La Factoria and Don Omar.
Tanya Maria: The Beat of Brazil Singer, composer and pianist Tanya Maria engagingly fuses Brazilian melodies and beats with American jazz in this electrifying pair of episodes from the 1980-81 jazz and blues series "Ad Lib." Songs include "It's Not for Me to Say," "Ven P'ra Roda," "Chiclete Com Banana," "Eruption," "Yatra-Ta" and "O Que E Amar." Brazilian classical guitarist Laurindo Almeida also performs on four tracks. Bonus features include a Maria biography.
Willie Bobo: King Conga Latin percussionist Willie Bobo -- whose fiery talents led to collaborations with Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, George Shearing, Cal Tjader and Carlos Santana -- brings his exuberant sound to these two episodes from the early-1980s series "Ad Lib." Tracks include "Bobo's Theme," "Rise," "Thus Spake Zarathustra," "Pisces," "Love's Theme," "A Snort of Green," "Keep That Same Old Feelin'," "Mister Magic" and "Summertime."
A Perfect Day Fifteen years after her husband left to serve in the Lebanese Civil War, Claudia (Julia Kassar) debates with her narcoleptic son, Malek (Ziad Saad), about whether it's time to have the patriarch declared legally dead. Meanwhile, Malek aims to reunite with his ex-girlfriend, Zeina (Alexandra Kahwagi). Postwar Beirut provides the lyrically haunting setting for this stirring drama, winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival.
Birthday Jerzy Bielecki (Piotr Lysak), a young Pole with plans to study at the Sorbonne in Paris, joins the resistance and participates in the Warsaw Uprising in this World War II epic. Told over the course of four of Bielecki's birthdays in the years 1938, 1939, 1943 and 1944, this film is adapted from screenwriter Jerzy Stefan Stawinski's autobiographical novel. Andrzej Lapicki c-ostars as Jerzy's father, Stanislaw.
Dae Jang Geum: Vol.1 This historical serial drama stars Yeong-ae Lee as Jang Geum, a 16th-century Korean orphan who rises from a position of kitchen maid to become the first female physician to attend the king. As Jang Geum develops her physician's art by experimenting with medicines and new types of cuisine, she must also learn to navigate the treacherous waters of court intrigue. Jin-hee Ji and Ri-na Hong co-star.
Delicious Proposal Although it has long served the best Chinese food in the area, student chef Hyo-dong's (Jung Joon) family eatery faces tough times when a slick new chain restaurant opens up in the neighborhood. Hyo-dong discovers solace and romance with the beautiful Hee-ae (Son Ye Jin), a fellow culinary student, until he discovers exactly who her family is. So Ji Sub, Kwon Sang Woo and endless dishes of delectable food co-star in this Korean serial drama.
Johan van der Keuken: The Complete Collection: Vol. 4 Prolific and Dutch filmmaker Johan van der Keuken trains his eclectic cinematic eye on the changing world in these eight films from his curiosity-filled, daring and compassionate career. The movies, which often blend documentary with narrative fiction, include The Reading Lesson, The Filmmaker's Holiday, The Palestinians, The Flat Jungle, The Master and the Giant, The Way South, The Storm of Images and Time.
Just Sex and Nothing Else Set in Budapest, this romantic comedy follows thirty-something Dóra (Judit Schell), a playwright whose plan to have a baby without getting attached to a man is further complicated when the theater where she works hires a suave new leading actor, Tamás (Sándor Csányi). In search of a biological father, Dóra tests out the sperm bank, online dating and the cute Turkish deli guy, but Tamás's imposing presence gets to her even when he's not onstage.
La Lingerie When Miu (Stephy Tang) hits a romantic dry spell, she turns to girlfriends CC (J.J. Jia), Celine (Kathy Tong) and Donut (Janice Man) for support. But as her friends dispense advice from the lingerie shop where one of them works, they reveal that their own love lives aren't exactly sizzling hot. Meanwhile, a self-proclaimed love guru may have his eyes set on Miu. Hing-Ka Chan and Janet Chun direct this sexy comedy that co-stars Ronald Cheng.
Lady with the Dog While on holiday in turn-of-the-century Yalta, bored Moscow banker Dmitri (Aleksey Batalov) and the wealthy young Anna (Iya Savvina) meet and fall in love. Both married, the star-crossed lovers pledge to see each other only once a year. Director Iosif Kheifits's bittersweet portrait of love is based on the Chekov story of the same name. The overlooked Russian masterwork was nominated for the Palme d'Or award at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.
Life the Way It Is Agnes Tessier (Lisa Heredia) leaves school to work at a chemical factory with her pal, Florence. When they encounter sexual harassment, volatile coworkers and unsafe conditions, Agnes seeks the position of union rep in an effort to bring change to the factory. Shot on 16mm for French television, director Jean-Claude Brisseau -- a protégé of Eric Rohmer -- paints a harsh and gritty portrait of women in the blue-collar workplace.
Maldeamores Luis Guzmán co-stars in this three-part Spanish-language drama about the stranger side of love. At his grandmother's funeral, a young boy finds romance for the first time -- with his cousin; then, a man obsessed with getting a woman to marry him resorts to violence to court her affections; and finally, a long-divorced couple who continue living together to combat their loneliness discover that they might still be in love after all.
My Lovely Sam-Soon This popular Korean TV drama centers on Kim Sam-soon (Kim Sun Ah), a mildly overweight pastry chef who's unlucky in life and in love. But when she meets Hyeon Jin-heon (Hyeon Bin), a wealthy restaurateur, her fortunes begin to change -- first with a new job in Jin-heon's kitchen, then with a new place in his life. But will Sam-soon find a way to inadvertently sabotage the good thing she has going, as she has so many times before?
One Fine Day Orphaned as young children, step-siblings Ha-neul (Sung Yu Ri) and Gun (Gong Yoo) are split up: Ha-neul moves in with a loving but suffocating Korean family, and Gun grows up to be a petty crook in Australia. When the two reunite in Korea years later, they have little in common, but soon, their sibling affection grows and begins to stir deeper feelings. Will this stepbrother and stepsister find genuine love with each other after all this time?
Part-Time Work of a Domestic Slave After she is forced out of her job as a part-time abortionist, housewife Roswitha Bronski (Alexandra Kluge) sheds her complacency to take on the establishment with single-minded intensity as a labor activist. Writer and director Alexander Kluge, sharp-witted pioneer of the New German Cinema, invokes Jean-Luc Godard and Bertolt Brecht in this wryly comic left-wing satire.
Room 213 The troubled relationship between an architect (Allen Dizon) and his photographer wife (Gwen Garci) takes an unexpected turn when the effort to rekindle their passions finds them delving into a world of sexual exploration and carnal desire. Tyron Perez, Maricar Dela Fuente, Leo Meir, Emmanuel Garcellano and Carla Samonte also star in this steamy tale from writer-director Keith Sicat.
Sara Gomez: An Afro-Cuban Filmmaker After studying literature, piano and Afro-Cuban ethnography, Sara Gomez turned her attention to film, emerging as a thoughtful chronicler of Afro-Cuban cultural and gender issues, particularly in her best-known work, De Cierta Manera. Swiss documentarian Alessandra Muller combines vintage archival footage of interviews with Gomez's husband, children and friends to create a vivid portrait of Cuba's first female director.
Silence of the Sea Middle-aged Iranian Siavash (Masoud Rayegany) -- an expatriate living comfortably in Sweden with his wife and children -- yearns to return to his native land for a visit in this haunting allegorical drama from director Vahid Mousaian. But there's a problem: Siavash left Iran illegally, forcing him to try to get home through the free port of Qeshm Island to elude authorities … and leaving him in a state of limbo.
Sombra Verde Ricardo Montalban stars as young scientist Federico Vascon, who's on a mission to locate a stock of plants needed to produce precious cortisone in this subtitled Spanish-language adventure set in the thick of Mexico's Veracruz jungle. He soon encounters a man (Víctor Parra) who's created his own world apart from society, but problems arise when his winsome daughter (Ariadna Welter) proves a tempting distraction for Vascon.
Stairway to Heaven Suffering amnesia from an accident caused by her jealous stepsister Yoo-ri (Kim Tae Hee), Jung-suh (Choi Ji Woo) is whisked away from her wretched step-family -- and away from her longtime sweetheart, Song-joo (Kwon Sang Woo) -- by her protective brother. Thinking his lover is dead, Song-joo grieves, until one day, he believes he sees Jung-suh alive. Now, nothing can stop him from tracking down his beloved and finding out the truth.
Still Life Two couples reunite amid the construction of a new neighborhood along the Yangtze River near the old city of Fengjie, which is now under water after the opening of the Three Gorges Dam. After 16 years apart, Han Sanming returns to look for his ex-wife, while Shen Hong has come back in search of her husband who's been away for more than two years. Like the submerged city, the couples must decide what's worth saving and what's best left behind.
The Jolts of the Heart Just before America's entry into World War II, aspiring novelist Jose (Arturo Beristain) works to spread communist propaganda throughout Mexico. Meanwhile, he is caught between the affections of prostitute Raquel (Maria Rojo) and his love for old-flame Aurora (Dobrina Liubomirova). But acts of personal and political betrayal soon yield life-changing consequences for all involved in this historical drama, nominated for six Mexican Ariel Awards.
The King & I: Vol. 2 Set in ancient Korea, this series follows the exploits of a king, a beautiful concubine and a eunuch. As the king decides which of his concubines to marry, competition, impeachment trials and murder plots disrupt life in the palace. Paying special attention to the role of eunuchs as trusted advisors, this historical drama explores how politics and love complicate lives. Joo-Won Ko, Hye-Sun Goo and Man-Suk Oh star.
The Last Rumba of Papa Montero Explore the sensuous rhythms and movements of the dance style known as the rumba, as demonstrated by the celebrated Havana rumbero Papa Montero in this evocative and bittersweet documentary. Blending vintage documentary footage with meticulously staged recreations, filmmaker Octavio Cortázar subtly connects the dancer's tragic assassination at Carnival with the passing of a cultural era in Cuban life.
The Snow Queen Hyeon Bin stars as Tae Woong, a lonely, washed-up boxer who continues to blame himself for the accidental death of his good friend years before -- until he encounters the beautiful but icy Bo Ra (Sung Yu Ri). Now, Tae Woong sets out to win over Bo Ra, but first, he must relinquish the guilt that keeps him closed off to the world. Lee Hyung Min directs this emotional Korean serial drama.
The Spirit of the Sword Traveling in China in search of seven legendary swords, a Japanese samurai confronts a relentless stream of ferocious Chinese warriors bent on thwarting his quest. As the samurai slowly fights his way to the swords' secret hideaway, the violence escalates until his mission seems all but doomed. Nicholas Tse stars in this epic martial arts-packed TV adaptation based on the popular novel by Chinese author Ku Lung.
The Underneath: A Sensual Obsession With her husband Piotr's (Zbigniew Kaleta) writing career flagging, Iza (Beata Kozikowska) decides to introduce him to her ex-boyfriend Michal (Tomasz Karolak), who can use Piotr at his ad agency. Understandably reluctant, Piotr nevertheless accompanies Iza for a weekend at Michal's country home. But Piotr's fears of sparks between Iza and Michal are eclipsed by his own lust for Ania (Magdalena Boczarska), Michal's new love.
