DVD releases for Sept 19th and 26th.

Sept 19th
Backdraft: 2 disc Anniversary edition Extras: Introduction by Ron Howard, Deleted Scenes, "Igniting the Story" Featurette, "Bringing Together the Team" Featurette, "The Explosive Stunts" Featurette, "Creating the Villain: The Fire" Featurette, "Real Life Firemen, Real Life Stories" Featurette (Universal)
Ron Howard's thriller involving firemen is an entertaining film with a very strong cast.
It is the cast that brings this film past mediocrity.Donald Sutherland and Robert De Niro are outstanding in their supporting roles, while William Baldwin and Kurt Russell hold the fort as two brothers constantly at odds as they each attempt to fullfil their legacy.
While Backdraft would not be at the top of my list for films to get a special edition,it is entertaining and the bonus features are interesting, particularly those that focus on fire and those who fight it.
Hard Candy (2006) Dir.: David Slade; Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sanda Oh. Thriller about a teenage girl who meets a photographer via the Internet. Extras: Commentary by director David Slade and writer Brian Nelson, deleted and extended scenes, making-of documentary. (Lionsgate).
Review for this mind-breaking thriller to come as soon as I recover from seeing it. It may take some time and therapy. Very good film, but disturbing.
Hart to Hart: The Complete Second Season (1980-81) Five-disc set with 20 episodes, $49.95. (Sony)
Stephanie Powers and Robert Wagner are a rich couple that solve crimes while being stylish. I really can’t think of a whole lot more to say about it. Fun at times, but there is very little substance.
The Unit Season One Four-disc set with 13 episodes, $49.98. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, "Inside the Unit" featurette. (Fox).
From David Mamet and the creator of Shield comes this entertaining series of espionage.

Sept 26th
The Adventures of Dick Tracy: The Complete Animated Series (1961-64) Four-disc set, $39.98. Extras: Limited edition Dick Tracy comic book. (Classic Media).
Let us go back to a time where cartoons looked…not so impressive. Personally, I never really got Dick Tracy, but this should be a fun trip down memory lane for some.

Brotherhood: The Complete First Season Three-disc set with 11 episodes, $56.99 Extras: Commentary by creator/executive producer/writer Blake Masters and executive producer/writer Henry Bromell; "Power Map" interactive graphical guide to the characters' relationships and power struggles. (Showtime).

Down in the Valley (2006) Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse, Bruce Dern, Rory Culkin. Psychological thriller about a young, charismatic cowboy stuck in suburban San Fernando Valley, who by a twist of fate rides into the life of a rebellious young girl. Extras: Q & A with Edward Norton and writer-director David Jacobson, deleted scenes. (ThinkFilm).

Eleventh Hour (2006 -- TV) Two-disc set with four episodes of the investigative sci-fi mystery series starring Patrick Stewart as a government detective who solves mysteries in the ever-evolving world of contemporary science (rogue cloners, resurgent viruses, ruthless polluters, etc.); $29.99. (Acorn Media).

Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, The (2006) Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Nathalie Kelley, JJ Sonny Chiba, Sung Kang. Latest edition in the street-racing franchise. Extras: "Underground Drifting" featurette with real-life drifters, "Drifting School" behind-the-scenes with the stars as they learn to drift, "Cast Cam" behind-the-scenes videos, "The Big Breakdown: Han's Last Ride" featurette on the film's most explosive chase, "Tricked Out to Drift" featurette on the 230 cars used for stunts and crashes, "Welcome to Drifting" featurette, "The Real Drift King" featurette on the legend who put drifting on the map, "The Japanese Way" on-location featurette. (Universal).

This time the gang(which is pretty much all new folk) is running wild in the land of the rising sun. . The first was made by Vin Diesel’s charismatic performance, the second was made by…..well nothing. I am honestly not sure if anyone saw this film in the theatres. If a film is played and nobody shows up, does it really count? But, if fast cars, tough guys and scantily clad women are all you need in a movie, here it is.

Riptide: The Complete First Season Three-disc set with 13 episodes, $39.95. (Sony).
First there was Magnum P.I., which was very good. Then there was Simon and Simon, which was, at times, ok. Riptide is a step below that. Bikinied babes and not much else. There have been rumors of script writers, but that has yet to be proven. Still a fun if you are in the right frame of mind.

A Slight Case of Murder (1999 -- TV) William H. Macy, Adam Arkin, Felicity Huffman, James Cromwell, Julia Campbell, Paul Mazursky, Vincent Pastore. TNT Original Movie.
Based on a Donald Westlake novel, This TNT original movie tells a story of murder, blackmail and betrayal. A full review will be coming soon.

Thriller: The Complete Season One Four-disc set of the British anthology series from the 1970s; created by famed "Avengers" auteur Brian Clemens; $79.95. Extras: "Creating Thriller With Brian Clemens," "Directing Thriller with Shaun O' Riordan," "Filming Thriller with John Cooper," episode introductions with Brian Clemens, archival photo gallery. (A&E Home Video).

All comment in white are mine and mine alone. I don't rule out the possibility that somebody might disagree with me.
Jeremy Lynch