DVD releases for Nov 14th

Nov 14th
Columbo: The Complete Sixth & Seventh Season Three-disc set, $39.98. (Universal).

Da Vinci Code, The (2006) Dir.: Ron Howard; Tom Hanks, Jean Reno, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany, Jurgen Prochnow. Available as a two-disc special edition and a gift set. Packaging will feature hidden phrases from the film that can be viewed only with a black light or a magnifying glass. One hidden message leads to exclusive online content. Extras: Featurettes: "First Day on the Set With Ron Howard," "A Discussion With Dan Brown," "A Portrait of Langdon," "Who is Sophie Neveu?" "Unusual Suspects," "Magical Places" locations, "Close-up on Mona Lisa," "The Filmmaking Experience," "The Codes of The Da Vinci Code," "The Music of The Da Vinci Code," DVD ROM "Da Vinci Code Puzzle Game" PC demo. Gift set includes full-sized movie prop reproduction of Robert Langdon's (Tom Hanks) journal containing notes, symbols and codes used to decipher the truth behind the Da Vinci Code; and a working replica of the cryptex featured in the film. (Sony).
I am fairly confident that you are all familiar with this story. You might also have heard of the director (Ron Howard) or the star (Tom Hanks).
This edition of the blockbuster film contains quite a few features looking at the cast, director as well as the author of the novel. The two DVD set gives you some bang for your buck.
There is also a gift set that contains a full sized copy of Langdon’s journal. Cool stuff.

The Green Mile: Special Edition (1999) Dir.: Frank Darabont; Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Gary Sinise, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper. Two-disc set. Extras: Commentary by writer-director Darabont, deleted scenes, Tom Hanks makeup tests, Michael Clarke Duncan screen test, "The Teaser Trailer: A Case Study," "Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile" documentary, "Miracles and Mystery: Creating The Green Mile" six-part gallery of featurettes: "Stephen King: Storyteller," "The Art of Adaptation," "Acting on the Mile," "Designing the Mile," "The Magic of the Mile," "The Tail of Mr. Jingles." (Warner).
Based on the Stephen King serial novel (ever notice that Mr. King’s non horror stuff ends up making damn good movies?), Tom Hanks stars as a former prison guard. The movie tells the tale of an extraordinary prisoner and his stay on the Green Mile.

King Kong: Deluxe Extended Limited Edition (2005) Three-disc set of Peter Jackson's take on King Kong, with new bonus content including nearly 40 minutes of deleted scenes, 13 additional minutes of never-before-seen footage, 230 new visual effects shots, special introductions by the director, mini-featurettes, concept art galleries, outtakes and gag reels, trailers, commentary by Jackson for the first time, and much much more; $34.98. A limited edition $79.98 gift set is also available housed in a specially designed collectable packaging with a King Kong figurine created exclusively for the package by the Oscar-winning artists at Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, the company responsible for the film's creature design, special makeups, miniatures and visual effects. (Universal).
An extended release of a Peter Jackson film? I am shocked! Yes folks, Mr. Jackson has put together a three disc set of all things Monkey. For an extra $45 you can get a Kong figurine and have it climb your limited edition Lord of the Rings bookshelves. This nifty action figure…sorry, FIGURINE was designed by Academy Award-winners Weta Workshop and Digital. They did all of the effects for the movie.

NCIS: The Complete Second Season (2004-05) Six-disc set with 23 episodes, $64.99. Extras: Commentary on select episodes, "Investigating Season 2," "What's New in Season 2," "The Real N.C.I.S.," "Lab Tour With Pauley Perrette. (Paramount).

The Paul Newman Collection Seven-disc set with new-to-DVD "Harper," "The Drowning Pool," "The Left Handed Gun," "Mackintosh Man," "Pocket Money," "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "The Young Philadelphians"; $59.92. "Harper" will be available separately for $19.97. (Warner).
Harper (1966) Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Harris, Arthur Hill, Janet Leigh, Pamela Tiffin, Robert Wagner, Robert Webber, Shelley Winters, Harold Gould, Roy Jenson, Strother Martin. Extras: Commentary by screenwriter William Goldman, introduction by TCM host Robert Osborne.
Drowning Pool (1975) Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa, Murray Hamilton, Gail Strickland, Melanie Griffith, Linda Haynes, Richard Jaeckel. Extras: Vintage featurette "Harper Days Are Here Again."
The Left Handed Gun (1958) Dir.: Arthur Penn; Paul Newman, Lita Milan, John Dehner. Extras: Commentary by Penn.
The Mackintosh Man (1973) Dir.: John Huston; Paul Newman, Dominique Sanda, James Mason, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen. Extras: Vintage featurette "John Huston: The Man, the Myth, the Moviemaker."
Pocket Money (1972) Paul Newman, Lee Marvin, Strother Martin, Wayne Rogers, Hector Elizondo.
Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) Dir.: Robert Wise; Paul Newman, Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart, Sal Mineo,Harold J. Stone. Extras: Commentary by Newman, Robert Loggia, Wise, Martin Scorsese and film historian Richard Schickel.
The Young Philadelphians (1959) Dir.: Vincent Sherman; Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Alexis Smith, Brian Keith, Diane Brewster, Billie Burke, John Williams, Robert Vaughn, Otto Kruger. Extras: Commentary by Sherman and film historian Drew Casper.
Mystery fans will be interested in Harper and The Drowning Pool, both are from Ross McDonald novels featuring Lew Archer. While the protagonist’s name has been changed, it is indeed Archer that Mr. Newman is playing.

Quantum Leap: The Complete Fifth Season Three-disc set with 21 episodes, $49.98. (Universal).
End of the road for a very creative series. While based on a science fiction premise, QL rarely wandered into the realms of Sci-fi, instead they used the fantastic concept to create a wonderfully imaginative show. The final episode was not meant to be the series finale, but when it was not renewed they re-edited it and used it to wrap up their run.